Music Review: Jason Derulo "The Other Side"

Jason Derulo

The Other Side

Album: TBA

Year:  2013

           A friendship turns into an unexpected romance in the burning  “The Other Side.”

          A blissful guitar opens the single,  setting a beaming tone.  He had been invited to a concert by a friend. In the group of people that went, he first met his current girlfriend. They were introduced but didn’t get to talk much that night. However, he got to know her through his friend. A few months later, they started seeking each other out at parties and hanging out on their own. One of his favorite memories was when they decided to go the movies and on the way to the theater, there was a photo booth. She pulled him inside and starting making funny faces. Goofy is not how he usually described. With her, he felt ok crossing his eyes and sticking his tongue out. Six months into their friendship, he was spending more time with her than their mutual friend. He started talking to her about wanting to be closer with his siblings and if she wanted to try some of his food, he would hold the spoon and let her take from it. (“In the beginning/I never thought it would be you/When we were chillin’/Smiling in the photo booth/But we got closer (Yeah)/‘Till you were eating off my spoon/And coming over/And we would talk all afternoon.”)

        In the pre-chours, it’s ike most Saturday nights. They are hanging out together with a group of friends. At about 11 pm, they decide they are ready to leave the party and head home. Once they are in his apartment, she gets out the Pinot Noir and pours two glasses. He stares as she reaches over to pu the wine back, the back of her top slips up a bit, revealing some of her back. He wants to run over there and start making love to her. (“Tonight we’ll just get drunk/Disturb the peace/Bind your hands all over me/And then you bite your lip/Whisper and say, “We’re going all the way”).

           In the chorus, he realizes they have a relationship that is deeper than friendship. She catches him looking and blushes. She walks over to the couch with the wine and lays down in the nook of his shoulder. He caresses her hair and kisses her on the forehead. She lifts her head up, her face even with his and he asks her if he can kiss her. She responds yes. (“Tonight, take me to the other side/Sparks fly like the Fourth of July/Just take me to the other side/I see that sexy look in your eyes/And I know, we ain’t friends anymore/If we walk down this road/We’ll be lovers for sho/So tonight kiss me like it’s do or die/And take me to the other side.”)

          They have been making out on the couch. He notices her shaking hand and entwines it with his. He assures her she means a lot to him and he will take care of her. (“This could be perfect/But we won’t know unless we try (Try)/I know you’re nervous/So just sit back and let me drive.”)

        The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

         In the second pre-chorus, he adds that he wants her to let herself give into her feelings for him. (“(Whoa)/Kiss me like it’s do or die/And take me to the other side/Tonight we’ll just get drunk/
Disturb the peace/Let your love crash into me/And then you bite your lip/Whisper and say, “We’re going all the way”).

           The chorus is sung again.  

        The last lyric of the chorus is sung to end the single. (“(Whoa)/Take me to the other side/(Whoa)/
And take me to the other side/(Whoa)/Kiss me like it’s do or die/(Whoa)/And take me to the other side

       Derulo’s caring, thoughtful long for the words but can’t reach them. The clear glance in her eyes told him all he needed to know.  The thought of dating her has crossed his mind. However, he didn’t want to pressure into a relationship she might not want.

The anticipating “The Other Side” waits for the right moment and acts, unable to hold to contain its emotion for much longer.