Olly Murs: Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida)
Details
Pros:
Catchy hooks and cool bubblegum funk swag are in placeCons:
Maroon 5 and Adam Levine's "Misery" redpulicated, and it's so obviousThe first major import to the U.S. from UK X-Factor runner-up is a decent rehash of Maroon 5 funk
The first major import to the U.S. from UK reality star is a decent rehash of Maroon 5 funk
The other day I found myself in a testy squabble with a fellow critic about Justin Timberlake’s latest single, and the conversation leaned towards the strong similarities it and his previous output has with lesser-known, but highly talented singers. Obviously “Suit & Tie” leaned towards Robin Thicke, but the critic went as far as to call Timberlake a “rip-off.” On a side note, Timberlake was even pelted for taking ideas from UK’s Will Young (!)
Let it be said: Good music is meant to be emulated. Whatever is good to the ear, artists influenced by the good vibrations want to follow and trace it. It works every time. So even though the questionable debate over true originality and copyright may be far removed in our world of pop music, we should just accept that musicians are going to sound like their influences. And let it be said that no single artist is going to be original, so go ahead and throw that damn idea right out the window.
Having said all of that, Olly Murs’s “Troublemaker” could be labeled a rip-off of Maroon 5. The funky guitar riffs, the melodic pop-funk and the Adam Levine whiny tenor is all there. Close your eyes and listen, this is “Misery” simply remixed. But I have to give props to the UK X-Factor runner-up for discovering a Maroon 5 single that deserved a better shelf life than “Moves Like Jagger” and giving it a 2013 polish. It’s cute, even enhanced with another one of those Top 40 rap cameos from Flo Rida, but I guess if you had the eyes of the aforementioned critic, you would call this a total “rip-off.” Still, is it a good song? Play it only once, and you’re bound to repeat the melody in your brain.
LISTEN TO:
OLLY MURS | TROUBLEMAKEER (FEAT. FLO RIDA)
[audio:http://www.hifimagazine.net/music/ollymurs-troublemaker.mp3|titles=Olly Murs – Troublemaker]
