Nelly Furtado - "Powerless"

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Time to dust off another artist that ILM likes to kick around and say, "Wait a minute, she's actually really really great." Ms Furtado's new single is the greatest thing she's done to date and is seriously making me consider buying her new album. But what do YOU think of it?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 05:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Her past singles have always had a hook, but the new one ain't reeling me in. I'm kind of underwhelmed by the chorus.

― Christian Rawk (Christian Rawk), Thursday, 18 December 2003 06:13 (twenty-one years ago)

The new one is quite nice, but then I really like both Sinead's "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" and Kylie's "Cowboy Style", so anything that lands dead in the middle between the two is gonna appeal to me.

There's a pretty good bhangra mix too.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 18 December 2003 06:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard her do this one live on CBC the other morning and I thought it was quite good. Then I saw the video for the one that's on the album and it really didn't do much for me at all. Ah well.

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 18 December 2003 06:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I listened to the album. A bit rubbish. Best song is "Explode" - though admittedly the charms of the single took a few listens to become apparent.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 18 December 2003 07:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I always thought the song was crap... go figure

― Jole, Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't like it at all though I'll admit it's interesting - the chorus feels forced to me and also it reminds me of REM :(

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Its got a banjo in it. I'm bound to love it. I fear this means Tom will think it sounds like REM or Crowded House

x-post.

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the handclaps remind of the new Justin single

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

because i havent heard this song this thread reminds me of the parable of the blind men and the elephant

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 18 December 2003 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha, poor Nelly can't even get the indie boyz to work up a good froth of hate these days!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, I hate her plenty, Dan. "I have listened to the first Tori Amos record and something on Luaka Bop and now I am a my own woman" garbage. The lyrics to "Powerless" are sub-Jewel sanctimony. One of the most irritating live shows I've seen, too--I was reviewing it and I walked out early anyway.

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Thursday, 18 December 2003 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

she has nice hoop earrings

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 18 December 2003 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I absolutely cannot stand her.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 18 December 2003 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I love 'powerless', despite the fact that everything else she's ever done grates. (Have I think said this on some other thread, but it can be said again!)

The lyrics I haven't paid any attention to: it's just the banjo and the sparse syncopation on the beat, and the way it sounds like water bubbling in cartoons looks.

― cis (cis), Thursday, 18 December 2003 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

All right--high five, Alex!

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Friday, 19 December 2003 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

First off: the lyrics are great! The first line alone is one of the most striking things I've heard in a mainstream pop song (possibly because it's an explicit "FUCK YOU STOP DOWNPLAYING MY ETHNICITY" sentiment that you wouldn't think would be the label's choice as an intro to the new album).

Secondly: I could go on and on about how great that banjo riff. So, let's pretend that I did because I don't actually have time to write about how perfect and wonderful it is.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 19 December 2003 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Quality of lyrics aside, Dan, in 2003 marketing yourself as someone who rebels against her label is no big thing. It worked for Pink. (Doesn't seem to be working for Nelly, though.)

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Friday, 19 December 2003 02:17 (twenty-one years ago)

she has nice hoop earrings

We all know what that means.

― ModJ (ModJ), Friday, 19 December 2003 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

There's a substantial difference between general "I'm an individual; fuck off, authority!" posturing (and even if that doesn't accurately describe what Pink did, "Get The Party Started" was really brimming with "FUCK YOU, OVERBEARING SUITS" sentiment) and blatantly stating "STOP PAINTING MY MY FACE WHITER THAN IT IS, BASTARDS".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 19 December 2003 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Sure it's a more specific sentiment. The point I was making is that there's no reason the label would care about being lashed out at any more than they would about "LA told me, you'll be a pop star." Or Reprise (right label?) would have been pissed at Lola vs. the Moneygoround.

Before I say anything else I'll listen to the single again. I listened to the full disc twice, but not closely enough to really comment beside a general blech.

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Friday, 19 December 2003 03:00 (twenty-one years ago)

its very good and i dont know why but it kind of reminds me of later Prince

― Chupa-Cabras (vicc13), Friday, 19 December 2003 04:30 (twenty-one years ago)

!!! That would never have occurred to my, Chupa! Even now that I've thought about it for awhile, I'm still not hearing it.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 19 December 2003 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

she is also a mean-spirited person who ripped off her first collaborator, the one who got her noticed in the first place.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 19 December 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Who was that???

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 19 December 2003 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

'powerless' took about five spins to really get to me, but now i think it's superb. the lyrics are, as dan points out, quite pointed and don't remind me at all of the 'i am my own woman' type that keith worryingly labels as garbage. it also reminds me quite a lot of the dixie chicks.

also: i am stunned - nay FLABBERGASTED - that alex in nyc hates it

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 19 December 2003 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan is OTM that the first couplet is really striking but I didn't like the India Arie single much either.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 20 December 2003 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"Like a bird" was brilliance. Richard Clapton did a great version with only a Rhodes (or a rhodes ripoff) for accompaniment.

― Jole, Saturday, 20 December 2003 11:25 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

I've hated everything she's ever done... apart from this. Which I absolutely adore.

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 9 January 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I would like to hear it. i will download it when I get home.

Also...is she still a stunningly beautiful woman?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 9 January 2004 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

YES.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 9 January 2004 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Good...because I heard working with The Roots makes your hair fall out and your tits touch your kneecaps.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 9 January 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

For an example: see Common.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 9 January 2004 22:40 (twenty-one years ago)

love it.

― OCP (OCP), Saturday, 10 January 2004 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)

she is also a mean-spirited person who ripped off her first collaborator, the one who got her noticed in the first place.
-- Huckleberry Mann (handsomishbo...), December 19th, 2003.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who was that???
-- Dan Perry (djperr...), December 19th, 2003.

"She was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
When Horace met her..."

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

This song is fucking great and anyone who disagrees is wrong/rockist/deaf.

― Enrique (Enrique), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I EVER HEARD.MESSAGE TO NELLY
"COME ON CARRY ON NELLY"
SHE WAS LOOKING SEXY BEAUTIFUL AND SWEET IN THE SONG

― sourav sengupta, Wednesday, 2 June 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I was wondering why it had been quiet on the random googler front.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i like it :( / :/ / :)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

four years pass...

I still love this song so damned much.

― Kublai Khan Paw Paw Chow Chow Chow (PappaWheelie V), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 19:33 (sixteen years ago)

i was happy that it got a nice lil underdog turnout against all the Timbaland stuff in Nelly Furtado singles poll

― the cef (united nations children's fund ha ha) (some dude), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 19:37 (sixteen years ago)

It's pretty fucking great.

― Ca-hoot na na na oh oh (HI DERE), Wednesday, 10 December 2008 19:37 (sixteen years ago)

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