The first big Diva related release of the year is here: Shakira and Rihanna's team-up, Can’t Remember To Forget You.
Thankfully, and somewhat surprisingly, the track isn't an EDM club banger- whoopie! Hopefully 2014 will finally put that trend to bed. Instead the song has a ska rhythm to its verses and a rock-ish/indie chorus that's not dissimilar to Shakira's past hit, Don't Bother. The combination of genres certainly gives it a freshness that will help it stand out on the radio. But ultimately I'm just glad to hear Shakira return to her roots after 2009's foray into electro-pop with last (English) album, She Wolf .
Vocally, the Colombian Diva sounds pretty much as she always does; hitting no big notes, or providing no real surprises. That's not a bad thing, as she sounds best when she sticks to her comfort zone. Rihanna, being the vocal chameleon, does lighten her tone for this duet, imbuing the song with a youthful vibrance- similar in sound to 2007's Don't Stop The Music. In choosing to sing this way, a nice contrast is created between the pair, meaning the two voices never become interchangeable or muddied. However, I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say the voices compliment each other in any meaningful way.
Can’t Remember To Forget You hasn't immediately stuck with me after a few listens. As it is, I don't think the song has that spark necessary for it to be a hit on its own merits. The names on the song will help bring it immediate attention, but we all know that it's the video that will really sell this duet to the public. Let's just hope they keep it classy when the time comes to shoot it.
Rating: B-
Thoughts?
