Music Review: Calvin Harris & Ne-Yo "Let's Go"

Calvin Harris & Ne-Yo

Let’s Go

Album: 18 Months

Year: 2012

         Ne-Yo gets a friend to make an important life-changing choice in the deft “Let’s Go.”

                Frenzied synths open the single,  setting an eager tone.  Ne-Yo’s friend has been talking about making a change for a long time. He’s heard the time isn’t right, there still some things that need to be looked into, he’s not prepared. Finally, Ne-Yo has had enough, takes him aside and says he has to decide right now.  Before he knows it, life will make the decision for him. (“Let’s go!/Make no excuses now/I’m talking here and now/I’m talking here and now/Let’s go!/Your time is running out/I’m talking here and now/I’m talking here and now.”)

           In the pre-chorus, he says his past mistakes shouldn’t be a factor. His friend has been static for two years now, mostly talking about what he would like to do.  His friend is well-educated and creative. He could make his dream happen, despite the obstacles. (“ It’s not about what you’ve done/It’s about what you’re doing/It’s all about where you going/No matter where you’ve been/Let’s go!”)

        In the chorus, Ne-Yo prints out two plane tickets and tells him to get into the car. (“Let’s go!/
Let’s go!/Let’s go!/Let’s go!”)

        On the way to the airport, his friend is freaking out, worrying about where they are going to stay and how to get around. Ne-Yo tells him if they don’t fly out right now, they may not have the chance to ever do it again. His friend has always wanted to backpack around Europe. From there, Ne-Yo reasons, he could write a travelogue, spurring him to go other places. (“There ain’t no better time/I’m talking here and now/I’m talking here and now/Let’s go!/Right now is where you shine/I’m talking here and now/I’m talking here and now.”)

       The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

       In the bridge, they have arrived at the aiport and checking in their luggage. Ne-Yo tells his friend that the start of his dream has begun tonight. It will  be a choice he won’t ever regret. (“Let’s make it happen/Oh, let’s make it happen tonight/Let’s make it happen/Oh, let’s make it happen tonight/Let’s make it happen/Oh, let’s make it happen tonight/Let’s make it happen/Oh, let’s make it happen tonight/Let’s go!”)

         The chorus is sung again.

Ne-Yo’s considerate, spirited vocals are firm, raising his hands and pointing to get his friend motivated. Dreams do not wait and he can’t stand to watch his friend miss one chance after another due to fear.

Harris’ minimalism is his strongest point.  He keeps the lyrics short and straight to the point, backing it up    with a forceful arrangement which urges action.

The  decisive  “Let’s Go” takes all the correct turns.