Regurgitation

Success in not always a measure of talent when it comes to showbiz. Consider Jennifer Lopez. A multi-million selling persona in different industries from cosmetics to audio, yet she lacks the diligence and talent behind an artist. Even her execs realize that so they rely heavily on image and packaging to market Lopez.
Her ear for hits is so in limbo that she has to copy and steal to achieve chart success. Firstly, she stole the Ja Rule remix idea from Mariah Carey’s Glitter by way of Tommy Mottola (Carey’s ex-hubby) and released it as a remix of “I’m Real.” Now, if you change the melody and the lyrics of a song isn’t that a whole other song and not a remix?
Then, more recently, she released a song already recorded by another artist. This time Usher’s “Ride” becomes Lopez’s “Get Right.” The latter is probably one of the worst pop songs ever released. It sounds like an annoying ringtone that never stops. The remix with Fabolous doesn’t lose the horrid horns and adds irritation.
Lopez’s new album Rebirth is really not what it claims to be. It is better than the vile This Is Me…Then but way down from J.Lo.
Mid-tempo tracks that wouldn’t be the light of day if it weren’t for Lopez’s image like “Step Into My World” and “Hold You Down” featuring Fat Joe are plain and featureless. Even when Lopez tries to muster up some spice with the funk-laden “Whatever You Wanna Do” she falls flat on her face with dreary lyrics and a bleak chorus.
Then the rest of Rebirth relies solely on hype from “I, Love” to “Ryde Or Die.” Even when she manages to catch some mid-tempo flow on “I Got U,” she loses it from the ghastliness of the record.
To further the painful trip through this effort, J.Lo unapologetically attempts mimicking Prince on “Cherry Pie,” which is more balderdash and less “Raspberry Beret.”
It comes as no surprise that Lopez continues to release filler after filler and then the filler remixes. Celebrities like her are walking conglomerates. Her face is trademark and her talk is the PR. No wonder that she can cross borders from being a singer to an actress to a fashion designer. When it comes to music, however, she is nothing special. Her vocal ability sounds like a Karaoke hopeful and her dancing is passable, but no Janet Jackson.
On the last track on Rebirth Lopez asserts “(Can’t Believe) This Is Me.” To tell you the truth, we can’t either.

Music: Keep The Fire Burning - Beverly Knight