Undergroundiscofunk: Part One (I Want You - CZR)

Member Name: samredmore

Product:	I Want You - CZR
Date:	22/08/01 (175 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very Uplifting, Good vocals, Excellent track

Disadvantages: Sound quality of record could be better

I doubt many people reading this opinion will have heard of this track, apart from those of you who regularly visit my opinions that is.

So like I said, not many of you will have heard of it.

No chart success and no music video; just two things which, maybe surprisingly in some people's opinions, contribute to securing CZR's "I Want You" as one my favourite house tracks. Ever.

After all, the more people who have heard of it, the more people that like it, thus meaning the more times it is played on the radio. Only this time it would be the poor radio edit, spoiling the track and putting me off it for good. Take Delerium's "Silence" for example, loved the DJ Tiesto remix of the track long before it was released. Then a poor radio version shot to number 1 in the charts, and immediately relegated the track to the back of my record box. Just as well then, that CZR's "I Want You" is still a relatively unknown track, despite being nearly as good as Andy Cole's belter "Outstanding".

CZR is a Chicago based DJ, who first became acquainted with the joy of 1210's when he was just 8 years old. CZR describes his music as "Undergroundiscofunk". Make of it what you will, but from what I've heard of him, his music could also be described as "damn good stuff", not that he'd say it himself.

The track was originally released in the U.S on the record label Subliminal, which is run by top American DJs Erick 'More' Morillo and Harry 'Choo Choo' Romero, and have released such quality as Kid Crème's "Austin's Groove" and Bob Sinclair's "I Feel For You". Incidentally, Erick Morillo was also the man behind Reel 2 Real's collaboration with The Mad Stuntman to produce "I Like To Move it". "I Want You" was re-released in the U.K on 18th September 2000, on the record label Credence. Cred
ence is part of Parlophone Records, and specialises in bringing out fresh new talent in the house scene. Credence is run by Mark Brown and Nick Corelli, who collectively make up the MYNC Project, (who you may have heard me speak of from time to time), and DJ Yousef, a Cream resident. Credence is also responsible for the releases of tracks by artists including Bel Amour and Aphrohead (Felix Da Housecat).

Despite "I Want You" being one of my favourite tracks, I have to admit had I not owned the record, I would have only heard the track on one occasion; on a guest mix on Danny Rampling's Radio 1 show by MYNC.

Written by C. Hernandez and G. Hernandez, with vocals by Delano and remixed by Julian Jonah & Danny Harrison (a.k.a Stella Browne), "I Want You" was recorded at The Funk Parlor, in Chicago.

The track is a very lively, uplifting little number, but also has quite sad vocals, sung by Delano. Delano, as he states in the song, and you will discover in this opinion, "acted like a boy when he should have been a man", but unfortunately had no excuse - he was "doing the best he can". Poor fella'.

The 12" vinyl version of "I Want You" features two different mixes on it; the original vocal mix and the Stella Browne remix, which I feel is more lively and has more energy to it than the original. It's just a matter of personal taste though - I know someone who prefers to play the original mix.

Despite the fact that this track has not received much play on the radio, there is in fact a radio edit on the CD single. Fortunately, in my view, I haven't actually heard this radio edit, which is good as it might put me off the track. I imagine, it's just a shortened version of the original vocal mix however.

Back to the 12" vinyl copy then, and on side A is the Stella Browne remix. This mix lasts 8 minutes 10 seconds, which is a fairly standard time f
or this kind of record - neither too long or too short. This track is all about the lively, uplifting tune, played on violins I think, and the soulful, quite sad vocals of Delano.

The track starts with just a cymbal, and a short sample of the violin melody, with the beat coming in soon after. The track builds, with the beat becoming stronger and stronger, until the bass line comes in after about a minute. The track really begins to get going at this point, and continues building up to a mini break down. At this breakdown, there are a few vocals of saying "I want you, I need you, I want you" getting louder and faster each time. The beat comes back in, and after more building, the full melody finally comes in, at which point, I feel the track is at its peak.

The tune plays a couple of times before the track reaches the first full breakdown, where the chorus comes in.

"Well I want you,
And you know that,
You can't push me away, no not like that,
This time I'm gonna do what I gotta do,
And tonight I'm coming for you."

This vocal plays a couple of times with the tune playing behind, before the beats comes back in. The vocal plays twice more, before the track starts breaking down a bit.

The second breakdown is soon reached, when there are more vocals.

"I think of all the times that I have let you down,
Left you lonely to walk around with a frown,
I should have told you my love for you was true,
I don't know why I kept it from you.

I acted like a boy, when I should have been a man,
Had no excuse, I was doing the best I can,
Never realised that all would fall apart,
And now you've gone and broken my heart.?

The beats, tune and the rest all then come back in, as does the chorus, which plays four times, before the track again starts to break down as it comes towards the end.

There is another mini breakdown, a
nd gradually the bass line and tune fade out, until there is only a beat left playing. Which is handy for mixing in the next track.

Overall, I give this top tune 10/10.

Onto side B then, and the original vocal mix. This mix is 8 minutes 59 seconds, which again, is not too long and not too short, in my opinion. This mix features more vocals than the remix; hence the fact it is the vocal mix.

The track starts off with very little going on, with just what sounds to me like maracas playing. A short sample of the string melody soon starts to play as well, and there is a vocal saying "I want you, I need you, I want you, I need you, I want you, I need you, yeah", before the beats, bass line and full melody come in. These plays a couple of times before the chorus (same as on the remix) comes in as well.

However, after this vocal, the track breaks down a bit to just the beat and bass line, when the "I think of all the times that I have let you down..." verse plays. After which, in comes the tune again, along with the chorus.

After the chorus, again the track breaks down to just the bass line and a beat, but there is a verse not featured on the remix.

"Always trippin' to keep you from goin' out,
I couldn't see what any of love's about,
While I kicked in until the break of dawn,
I came home and found you was gone,
I tried to lock you down but wanted to be free,
I can't believe that you would run out on me,
When I had you, should've treated you like a queen,
Cos being single ain't all that it seems."

After this verse, again the full melody comes back in along with the chorus, which plays a four times, before the track reaches its one and only breakdown.

The vocals during this breakdown are more talking than singing.

"Always trippin' to keep your ass at home,
While I was out doin' whatever the h
ell I want,
Never realised that all would fall apart,
And now you've gone and broken my heart.

I was out with the fellas,
Kickin it til the break of dawn,
While you were sat home, waitin' for me to come home,
I'm so sorry baby, sorry baby,
I'll never do it no more."

The beats come back in in-between these two verses as do the melody and bass line. When these vocals finish, the melody plays twice more before ending, from which point there are only beats running through to the end, which is also very nice for mixing into.

Although a good track, this mix just seems to be lacking something, and is just nowhere near as good or uplifting as the remix. Also, the added vocals, I feel, do nothing to enhance the track, and make this mix sound a little tacky when compared with the remix.

Overall, this mix gets 6/10.


Those of you who happen to own my mix tape featuring this track (Jeff, Tom, Quy, Louisa, Matt), I'm sure you'll understand what a great track this really is. For those of you who haven't heard it, if you like house music, I have no doubt you'll love this, rather brilliant track.

If you do happen to like this track, also check out "Bringin The Funk" by CZR & ITO and "My Feeling" by Junior Jack. Both have a similar feel to "I Want You". Which can't be bad.

Thank you for reading my opinion. Feel free to leave a comment.

Sam

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