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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Samantha's mix of R&B, bubblegum, and surprises, November 6, 2003
With a successful formula on her second album, I wonder if Samantha Fox theorized that the more producers the better, a strategy that works to some extent for Jennifer Rush. In addition to the Steve Power/Steve Lovell team and that of Stock-Aitken-Waterman, I Wanna Have Some Fun boasts two songs each done by Rob and Ferdi Bolland and Fred Zarr, with others doing one song only, and yes, their distinctive styles emerge. 80's dance pop definitely predominates here, but there are a few surprises here as well.The title track might as well be called "Naughty Girls Still Need Love." "Hello it's me again/don't you know it's hard to keep a good woman down/but then again, maybe that could be fun." After a giggle, the song begins in earnest with a funky bass backbeat and harmonies by the Full Force boys and some monologue rap in the middle. "Are you ready to do things tonight that you never dreamed were possible? Follow me." With that spoken intro, we get "Love House", a more danceable single, which has harmony vocals, a cacophony of rap-scratched words, strange voices, special effects, and ominous vocals of the guide of the house. I initially thought this was produced by Full Force, because of the heavy bass beat but it's a Bollands production. I really enjoyed my visit to this house, all right. Samantha must have really fallen in love with drum machines and bass beats, as "Your House Or My House" mixes those and sundry keyboards, computerized voices, and a strong backing chorus and monologue by Sam. Pure dance pop, call it Stock-Aitken-Waterman vanilla with some chocolate mousse and sprinkles. The Full Force-produced "Next To Me" is similar to but injects a trice more fizzy pop to Full Force's 80's R&B formula. Fred Zarr produced "Ready For This Love," a spright thumping drum machines and funky synths that resembles something Kim Wilde might have done on her Close album, also released in 1988. Power and Lovell were responsible for the haunting "True Devotion" on her eponymous album. They do another one, "Confession", which explores sin in a religious aspect, only this time, a heavy bass synth beat, drum track, quick bursts of string synths, and satanically deep voice saying things like "Je t'accuse." The rhythm reminds me somewhat of Mick Jagger's "Just Another Night." Then comes the two typical S-A-W bubblegum songs, the first one, a single, being a cover of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Wanna Be With You." It's only fair to give Foxy a 60's song after Kylie did "The Locomotion," right? "You Started Something" is of a slightly slower tempo, though the sound is unmistakable. On both these songs, Foxy blows the S-A-W bubblegum without it messily sticking on her face like those who don't chew Hubba Bubba gum-remember those commercials? If S-A-W was upbeat, then what does one call "One In A Million"? S-A-W songs on steroids? The Bollands produced this song, with a rapid fire chorus and a sound Bananarama would've peeled their skins for, there's even a fierce guitar solo midsong. A must have on any disco mix tape. "Walking On Air", produced by Fred Zarr, is more Kim Wilde, Close-era pop and reduced the BPM compared to the previous barnburner. The next song, "Hot For You" boasts synths but also a guitar that's alternatively wails and grinds like light metal. Is she trying to do Pat Benatar or Vixen, I ask, complimenting the laudable guitar solo that could fit in 80's pop-metal? Nothing wrong with the song. "Out Of Our Hands" is another atmospheric Power and Lovell ballad, sporting piano, bombastic power synths, and haunting vocals by Sam. The variety of sounds, be it Full Force-style R&B/pop, bubblegum synth pop, or the attempt at pop-metal, makes I Wanna Have Some Fun a masterpiece for Foxy. And just think, when I first got this, I was thrown by what I perceived to be an incoherent mess.
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