{"id":1905,"date":"2014-04-08T15:55:45","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T19:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=1905"},"modified":"2014-04-08T15:55:45","modified_gmt":"2014-04-08T19:55:45","slug":"pharrells-girl-a-funky-hit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=1905","title":{"rendered":"Pharrell’s ‘GIRL’ a funky hit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted April 8, 2014<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By NATALIE GOENAGA<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that 2013 was the year of Pharrell. Whether it be stealing the spotlight at the Grammy\u2019s with his big Arby\u2019s hat or sitting at No. 1 on charts across the nation with \u201cBlurred Lines\u201d or \u201cGet Lucky,\u201d Pharrell finally got lucky with his newly released album \u201cGIRL.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pharrell had has much success as a songwriter, producer, rapper, musician, record producer and fashion designer, but unfortunately has never made a name for himself with one of his own albums. He is part of The Neptunes, a group of producers who have been friends since high school and who\u2019ve taken Robin Thicke to new heights, written hit songs for Britney Spears, Nelly, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, and others.<\/p>\n

Besides singing on \u201cBlurred Lines,\u201d \u201cGet Lucky,\u201d and \u201cLose Yourself to Dance,\u201d all big hits in 2013, Pharrell finally established himself as a solo artist with the No. 1 hit song \u201cHappy\u201d featured in the hit movie \u201cDespicable Me 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

The song\u2019s euphoric, funky vibe gives a taste of the 10 songs on Pharrell\u2019s newly released album \u201cGIRL,\u201d where all there really is to do is listen and enjoy yourself.<\/p>\n

Each song is soaked in a happiness and groves with beats that make your eardrum melt into a pool of funk. \u201cGIRL\u201d is so different and refreshing, especially in a day in age where the radio is played by the manufactured pop produce of Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Justin Beiber, and Drake. It\u2019s like tasting fresh, cool water on a hot summer day. All you want to do is dance along and relax with a smile on your face while listening to Pharrell and his many eclectic beats.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s truly magical in particular is the use of actual instruments like the trumpet, drums, guitar all heard so perfectly clear over the smooth sounds of Pharrell and a couple of featured artists including Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and Alicia Keys. The entire album still carries the cool, fresh, funky vibe Pharrell is known for but also hints of his love of R&B and classic acts like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder.<\/p>\n

While the album is totally what one would expect from Pharrell (especially hearing some of his earlier work on featured tracks) that\u2019s exactly why it\u2019s so refreshing. With Pharrell you never know what to expect exactly, but know that it will be different, it will be catchy, it will be joyful, it will be a hit and you will like it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very clear that Pharrell loves girls, hence the title of his album. The way he approaches it, though, is not in a creepy or degrading manner, he genuinely appreciates women and their bodies and their souls and through the beats and lyrics of these songs he makes his point.<\/p>\n

The album begins with \u201cMarilyn Monroe,\u201d a track about a girl more precious than her or any other one of Hollywood\u2019s biggest bombshells, other favorites (besides \u201cHappy\u201d) are \u201cBrand New,\u201d featuring Justin Timberlake and \u201cLost Queen\u201d which sounds something out of a South African romance story.<\/p>\n

Back in 2001 Pharrell and the Neptunes released their first album as N.E.R.D in Europe and later they recreated their sound before making their debut in the U.S. While the album did OK, Pharrell and The Neptunes kept doing what they did best \u2014 producing.<\/p>\n

Pharrell has had plenty to keep him busy throughout the years. He is an art connoisseur and has worked closely with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, bringing him to Miami\u2019s Art Basel in 2009 and 2013. He is the co-founder of Billionaire Boy\u2019s Club clothing line and Ice Cream Footwear, and has a wife and son. He debuted his first solo album, \u201cIn My Mind\u201d in 2006 that was shortly forgotten, but finally<\/i> 2013 was the year of the genius that is Pharrell.<\/p>\n