Hot Like Fire (Irresistible - Jessica Simpson)

Member Name: 150983

Product:	Irresistible - Jessica Simpson
Date:	28/07/01 (246 review reads)
Rating:

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 Introduction
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Jessica Simpson first burst onto the music scene in 1999 with her debut single “I wanna love you forever”. The number ten single was then followed by her debut album “Sweet Kisses” (see past op). The first album by Jessica was not much of a success compared to the likes of Britney Spears. It is evident in this her second album entitled “Irresistible” that, in an attempt to gain more sales, Jessica has become raunchier and also has gone down the pop path a bit more trying to rival the pop princess Britney Spears. Does she succeed? Well she certainly tries!

 The Album Songs
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*Irresistible [3:14]

This is the namesake of the album and also was the first release off this album. It was released a few weeks ago and got to number 10, I watched Jessica sing this live ton TOTP and she was really good. It is a catchy pop track which is really good to listen to. Track begins with a nice synthesised guitar sound playing a little melody along with chimes until the song opens with Jess talking then leading into the verses where the song gains funk through better beats and more synthesised sounds and vocals. The chorus is the catchiest part of the song. This song reminds me of a mixture of groups such as N Sync and Britney Spears. The climax that leads to the second chorus is good as Jessica blasts out the notes. The middle eight in this song goes rather dance and funk like and then leads back into the more decorated chorus. This song is really catchy and all the instruments that are used, work well. This song is irresistible! 9/10

*A Little Bit [3:47]

This song could well be the next single off this album. The beats are stronger and the repeated phrase in the accompaniment is different from the last. The chorus is again a catchy track and it took me about 3 listens to really get into this song but it is really worth the wait.
The song is really catchy and uptempo it is a good funky song with a lot of the beat. Jess’s voice is again great in this track she puts her all into it. Good listening. 9/10

*Forever in Your Eyes [3:38]

This is a great Spanish sounding track. Beginning with instruments reflecting the Spanish feel, the song opens with a Spanish guitar and Jess saying “Forever in Your Eyes”. This song is a really great summery
Song, I can picture it being played on a really hot day. This song is in the same kind of league as ‘Mi Chico Latino’ by Geri Halliwell but it takes a slower pace and there is a contrast in the chorus where it picks up a bit of pace and gains more beats. This is a really catchy song and had a similar ending to the first track. 9/10

*There you Were [4:25]

This is the first ballad off this album. It is a duet sung by Jessica and Marc Anthony, I remember Marc from when he sung a duet with Tina Arena for the Mask of Zorro film called ‘I want to spend my lifetime loving you’ and it was a very powerful duet and this is exactly the same! Opening with a piano melody, Marc first sings the first verse leading into the chorus where they both sing together and it all is a powerful culmination where other instruments join in as well as gaining dynamics. Jessica then sings the second verse that again leads into a climatic chorus. There is a good instrumental accompaniment in this song as well as the backing vocals. This is a powerful love song which is rather uplifting. 8.5/10

*What’s it Gonna Be [4:41]

This song gains pace once again. It begins a bit slow and then moves to a more melodic verse then leading into the catchy chorus the most predominant part of the lyrics included “Tell me more tell me more, what’s it gonna be” this is sung by the backing vocalists as well as Jessica. I like the bridge that leads into the chorus that has a good fell to it.
This is again a good number and also could be a future release. A good song very catchy. 8.5/10

*When you Told me you Loved me [3:48]

This is a great slow song, beginning with a gentle guitar intro, this calm and relaxing track is just that, a nice contrasting song which demonstrates Jessica’s voice well where she still manages to put real emotion into the song even though it is sung gently and quietly. The chorus is a more emotion filled part in the song, the lyrics to the chorus are reflected in the way it is sung with a backing singer singing in harmony with Jessica. “When you told me you loved me did you know it would take me the rest of my life. To get over the feeling of knowing a dream didn't turn out right. When you let me believe that you weren't complete without me by your side. How could I know that you would go that you would run baby, I thought you were the one. The song includes a great orchestral accompaniment also, which sets the song off perfectly. A romantic song. 8.5/10

*Hot Like Fire [4:17]

This song begins with a phone type conversation which talks about Jessica’s boyfriend cheating on her with another woman. In the background the backing track is evident then leading into the verse. The chorus to this song is a really good sing along “You go out with your friends at night like it's all right ‘cause you're hot like fire”. It is much more RnB influenced I think with the funkier beats and so. This is another potential hit single but lets wait and see. Another great part to this song is the middle eight which includes Jess phoning up her supposed boyfriend and screaming done to phone to him. Because it is a song, she sings these words but the tone and emotion she puts into the voice is what tells you that she is angry and it is a very clever idea. A nice song. 9/10

*Imagination [4:25]

This song begins with a really funky type computerised beat
then a strange beeping also joins. This is a rather simplistic song which involves various sounds and vocals but it is nothing special. “I wished upon a tonight, that you will grant my wish tonight and take me to the one in my imagination. The beat is the only good thing in the song really. 6/10

*To Fall in Love Again [4:57]

This is a slow ballad it is a nice relaxing track, it is sung gently as well as the accompaniment doing likewise. A nice orchestral accompaniment is again evident adding to the romantic feeling. This song is helped by the backing singers singing in harmony with Jessica. A simple beat adds to the love of the song and the mood. The climatic part of the song is a great part of the song that again shows Jessica’s voice. It grows on you each time. 7.5/10

*For Your Love [4:20]

This song when it begins, reminds me of the intro of an Ace of Base track “It’s a beautiful life”. This is again a slow track. The chorus is definitely what makes this song, the chorus is catchy, good to listen to as well as the backing vocals which add to the full uplifting. Jessica demonstrates her vocal talent well in this track and the vocals in the background really polish off the track. This is another emotional track which is clearly evident throughout. 8.5/10

*I Never [4:34]

This song is the last of the pop type tracks. It begins rather quiet and then gets funkier. This song, I don’t know why, but it reminds me of a Destiny’s Child song. The clapping in the song adds to the beats and the accompaniment is a good addition to the song. The song tells about cheating and this is evident in the lyrics. “So don't you try to tell me you've been true to me, when I can plainly see that in your heart you're still a cheat, and I know that you're lovesick it's not happening so don't you come to me thinking I'll believe 'cause it won't work for me
”. 7/10

*His Eyes on the Sparrow [4:37]

This song was a surprise for me, it is a gospel type track which shows Jessica as a good Christian girl after singing all the raunchier songs such as “Hot like Fire” which is a total contradiction in terms really. The song begins rather slowly with a piano and some sort of synthesised sound of a woodwind instrument. The song is rather soft and quiet. There is a string section in the backing adding to the mood as well as an organ emphasising the gospel influences. After the first verse is over, the song gains a bit more pace and then a drum kits is added included cymbal beat insinuating that something is about to happen. And happen it does, the song gains pace again and the piano begins to play a syncopated rhythm and the drum kit gets louder and a gospel choir joins in and when repeated, the choir gets louder as well as Jessica using more emotion. Then the song goes totally berserk! It gains a really fast pace and it truly reflects the gospel influences and then it just gets more and more fast tracked. This song is a surprise as it is a strange song to have on a pop album but at the same time, it does show Jessica’s voice off well as she uses pure climaxes and dynamics in her voice and she’s has soul. She really pushes her vocal talents her and still doesn’t strain. This song is a good contrast to the rest of the album and is a nice although unsuspecting ending. 9/10

 The Verdict
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This album to me, is a completely different one to the first album which seemed much more mature and also relied more heavily on the ballads rather than the pop tunes probably because they did demonstrate Jessica Simpson’s voice really well. This album’s highlights are more the catchier pop track as compared to the ballads. The ballads are all great songs but are real no match to the last album’s ballads but on the other hand, the pop track a
re much better. They are catchier, funkier as well as more sellable if you understand my meaning. This album should spawn some good track and hopefully they will get the recognition they deserve as well as Jessica herself because unlike Britney, she can sing!

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