Music Review: Nelly Furtado "Say It Right"

Say It Right
Album: Loose
Year: 2006

Nelly challenges her crush to let her into his heart in the hushed “Say It Right.”

Muted drums and ethereal synths open the single, setting a tiffany tone. In the first verse, she says he can tell her that she can talk to him. He won’t hurt her or treat her badly. She says he can cry to her and have faith in her. She says love is an emotion a person feels completely. It’s something a person doesn’t question. She says once he gives in, he can either own up to his feelings or run from them. He stops her in the middle of a dumb joke and tells her they need to talk. She knows he’s realized he can’t control what he feels.

“In the day/In the night/Say it right/Say it all/You either got it/Or you don't/You either stand or you fall/When your will is broken/When it slips from your hand/When there's no time for joking/There's a hole in the plan.”

In the chorus, she says he has no meaning in her life. But if he allows himself to fall for her and let her hold him, they could have a wonderful relationship.

“Oh you don't mean nothing at all to me/No you don't mean nothing at all to me/Do you got what it takes to set me free/Oh you could mean everything to me.”

In the second verse, she says she’s a lot like him. She’s made a lot of mistakes and often doesn’t know which direction she should go in. She tells him she can be cheerful person but she can be gloomy, too. Some days she would like to flee and live in a place alone. She isn’t certain if she’s living life the way she should, but she tries. She explains he can understand her in the evening.

“I can't say that I'm not lost and at fault/I can't say that I don't love the light and the dark/I can't say that I don't know that I am alive/And all of what I feel I could show/You tonight, you tonight.”

The chorus is sung again.

In the third verse, she says if they begin a romance, he will be appreciated and learn everything about her, even the muddiest corners of her mind. She says he will be loved each time he presses his body against her own. She asks him if he’s ready to take the chance.

“From my hands I could give you/Something that I made/From my mouth I could sing you another brick that I laid/From my body I could show you a place God knows/You should know the space is holy/Do you really want to go?”

Furtado has known her crush for a long time. She thought he liked her, but he dismissed it. She became friends with him but believed he hadn’t told her what he really felt. She also knew he had shut people down if they even get near to loving him. However, after almost kissing each other, she finally gets him to break and feel.

Her pressing, soothing vocals are matter-of-fact, challenging him to face his emotions.

The gliding synth arrangement cascades and pulses, penetrating the rhythm with silent strokes.

The exquisite “Say It Right” is yet another stellar single from Furtado.

For price, tracklisting and other album information please visit Amazon.com.