Music Review: Usher "Scream"

Usher

Scream

Album: Looking 4 Myself

Year: 2012

             Usher hits on a pretty woman in the club in the bawdy “Scream.”

                A ravening beat opens the single, setting a crooked tone. In the intro, he says it’s Usher, namechecks the single and that it’s going to be a hit. (“Usher, baby/Yeah, yeah, we did it again/And this time I'm a make you scream/Usher! Yeah, man.”)

          He’s at the bar with his friends. While they are chatting about work, he is transfixed by a woman with long, chestnut brown hair and a cherry red sequined top moving her body in time with the thumping bass. He imagines giving her a passionate kiss right there and then eventually, sleeping with her back at his place. He can’t stop grinning, which his friends have begun to notice. He shows them his empty glass filled with a bit of melting ice. They check his eyes and he laughs. He points his head in the direction of the woman. (“I see you over there, so hypnotic/Thinking 'bout what I'd do to that body/I'd get you like oh baby baby/Oh baby baby, ah-oh baby baby oh baby baby/Got no drink in my hand/But I'm wasted/Getting drunk on the thought of you naked/I'd get you like ooh baby baby/Oh baby baby, ah-oh baby baby ooh baby baby.”)

         Usually when he’s at the club, he admires the women from afar but he doesn’t act on his attraction. He’s not sure what he might get in the morning. However, there’s something about her. He can’t help but watch her. She’s caught his glances once or twice and responded in kind. When she stares at him again, he takes that as his opening and starts moving across the dancefloor to her. (“And I've tried to fight it, to fight it/But you're so magnetic, magnetic/Got one life, just live it, just live it/Now relax, just get on your back.”)

        In the chorus, he asks her if she would like to go home with him tonight. He assures her it will be worth her while. (“If you wanna scream, yeah/Let me know and I'll take you there/Get you going like/Ah-oh baby baby oh baby baby/Ah-oh baby baby oh baby/If you wanna turn right/Hope you're ready to go all night/Get you going like/Ah-oh baby baby oh baby baby/Ah-oh baby baby oh baby/If you wanna scream.”)

        She continues the conversation with him, wanting to know more. He compliments her, telling her she’s a beautiful dancer. Her flirty eyes were calling to him and he had to come over to say hello. A smile appears on her face and she gets shy, turning away. He intends to be persisent tonight. (“Kill the lights, shut 'em off/You're electric/Devil eyes telling me "Come and get it"/I'll have you like/Oh baby baby oh baby baby/Ah-oh baby baby oh baby baby/Girl tonight you're the prey/I'm the hunter/Take you here, take you there/Take you under/Imagine me whispering in your ear/That I wanna take off all your clothes and put something on ya.”)

            The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

          In the bridge, he does a call and response, asking for people to yell along with him. (“Out louder, scream (Usher) louder (if you wanna scream)/Louder, louder, louder, louder/Hey, tonight I scream, I'm on need (if you wanna scream..)”

        The chorus is sung again to end the single.

        Usher’s heated, red-blooded vocals are scalding, bruising the tips the notes with even a slight touch. He wants to sleep with her and will do whatever he has to do to make it happen. Even though he’s only out for sex, he manages to be human. However, it only masks the sleaziness.

       The crass “Scream” drools all over itself, unable to form a coherent sentence.