Summer anthem candidate shows off girl power, familiar Ciara beats

Pile up the girl power like a Jenny and the Holograms outfit and you’re bound to win a number of souls to your party anthem. This trend is nothing new. It works, for the most part. Remember Moulin Rouge’s “Lady Marmalade” reinvent featuring Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink? The all-star teamup of that joint has inspired countless off breeds. Count “Bang Bang” one of its successors. With Brit pop star Jessie J, Mariah 2.0 Ariana Grande and rapping queen Nicki Minaj on board, the throwback-sounding midtempo jam offers up a few pleasantries. Each girl show off their flavorful brand of sass on their timed verses as they each proclaim they’ve got the good stuff: Jessie J sends you into overdrive, Grande shows you how to graduate and rhyme-spitting Minaj doesn’t hold back on her sexual deviance (“Kitten so good/It’s drippin’ on wood.”). With its repetitive “clap-clap” sequences and charming quasi-drumline percussion, “Bang Bang” instantly wins the ear-candy game. But after a few listens, the sticky goo loses its suction. That’s because under the surface it’s nothing more than a copy-and-paste of Ciara’s “I’m Out,” which also featured Minaj. Plus the hooks aren’t strong enough to warrant summer hit status. It will perform well, just because it’s featuring a sweet dose of girl power. But that’s about it.

About the Author

J Matthew Cobb

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Managing editor of HiFi Magazine

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