Music Review: Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX "Fancy"

Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX

Fancy

Album: The New Classic

Year: 2014

           Iggy Azalea proves money can’t buy class in the deplorable   “Fancy.”

               A rancid beat opens the single, setting a diseased tone.  She says her image, crafted by marketers and the record company, is entirely her. People will hear her music and can’t believe what an amazing talent she is. She says she liked by her peers. She proclaims she can out drink anyone while she is clad in designer jewelry. (“First things first, I'm the realest (realest)/Drop this and let the whole world feel it (let 'em feel it)/And I'm still in the Murda Bizness/I can hold you down, like I'm giving lessons in physics (right, right?)/You should want a bad bitch like this (huh?)/Drop it low and pick it up just like this (yeah)/Cup of Ace, cup of Goose, cup of Cris/High heels, something worth a half a ticket on my wrist (on my wrist)/Taking all the liquor straight, never chase that (never)/Rooftop like we bringing '88 back (what?)/Bring the hooks in, where the bass at?/Champagne spilling, you should taste that.”)

          In the chorus, Charli XCX, as Iggy’s mouthpiece, says she’s living a glamorous life. She adds she’s going to be really famous. (“I'm so fancy, you already know/I'm in the fast lane, from L.A. to Tokyo/I'm so fancy, can't you taste this gold?/Remember my name, 'bout to blow.”)

She won’t listen to any criticism. She then her music will be able to talked about. She only buys couture and wouldn’t even think of stepping into a mall. She demands her check right away. Otherwise, she’ll stiff the person and not fulfill her duties. She only cares about money and has more than enough to spend on trivial things. (“I said baby, I do this, I thought that, you knew this/Can't stand no haters, and honest, the truth is/And my flow retarded, each beat dear, departed/Swagger on super, I can't shop at no department/Better get my money on time, if they not money, decline/And swear I meant that there so much that they give that line a rewind/So get my money on time, if they not money, decline/I just can't worry 'bout no haters, gotta stay on my grind/Now tell me, who that, who that? That do that, do that?/Put that paper over all, I thought you knew that, knew that/I be that I-G-G-Y, put my name in bold/I been working, I'm up in here with some change to throw.”)

           Charli XCX sings the chorus again.

           In the bridge, Charli XCX breaks lamps and tosses the bedspread on the floor. She vomits on the floor and doesn’t even bother to clean it up. She taunts the hotel to scold her. She will only damage the room more. She says her next project is a movie and all the little people who listen to her music don’t have a chance in getting to know her. (“Trash the hotel, let's get drunk on the minibar/Make the phone call, feels so good getting what I want/Yeah, keep on turning it up/Chandelier swinging, we don't give a fuck/Film star, yeah, I’m deluxe/Classic, expensive, you don't get to touch.”)

She says she has handbags people salivate over and guys staring at her, wanting to date her. (“Still stunting, how you love that?/Got the whole world asking how I does that/Hot girl, hands off, don't touch that/Look at it, I bet you wishing you could clutch that/That's just the way you like it, huh?/And so good, he's just wishing he could bite it, huh?/Never turn down nothing, slayin' these hoes/Gold trigger on the gun like.”)

          Charli XCX sings the chorus again.

          In the final section, Azalea spells out her first name as Charli XCX harmonizes. (“Who that, who that? I-G-G-Y/That do that, do that, I-G-G-Y/Who that, who that? I-G-G-Y/Blow/ Who that, who that? I-G-G-Y/That do that, do that, I-G-G-Y/Who that, who that? I-G-G-Y/Blow.”)

         Azalea’s thuggish rap is outright hilarious. There is absolutely nothing gangsta about her. Her need to imitate Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown should’ve stayed in the confines of her bedroom. Though, her sense of entitlement and goals of becoming trainwreck famous are current. She also manages to be offensive by using the word retarded.

      Charli XCX’s smug vocals recite every bratty celebrity trope, turning into an unintentional parody of Lorde’s “Royals.” Unfortunately, she ends up being the much cooler sidekick with a fraction of talent, propping up her self-centered, fame obsessed friend.

The contemptible “Fancy” can’t be taken seriously for even a second.