Music Review: Kelly Rowland "Commander"

Kelly Rowland

Commander

Album: Here I Am

Year: 2010

          Kelly Rowland feels at home while out at the club in the superb  “Commander.”

          The beats stretch as producer/DJ David Guetta says “dance” a couple times, setting a knockout tone.   She orders several shots from the server. In the V.I.P. section, she sees a couple people she knows. She begins rubbing against one of the guys as the bass slams. She steps out of the V.I.P. room for a moment to say hello the DJ. He gives her a hug and asks her how she’s doing. He tells her she’s going to love the set list tonight and to get her ass down on the floor. She blows him a kiss and walks down the stairs to dance floor. People automatically make room for her and stare as she whips her hair as she dances. They know she’s the star. (“I feel like the DJ is my bodyguard/You see the way he keeps me safe/With the treble and that bass/I feel free enough to party hard/This dress won't go to waste/Feel like I own the place/V.I.P to to be the boss/You see the way these people stare/Watching how I fling my hair/I'm a dance floor lover/Baby there's no other/Who do it like I do it yeah.”)

          In the chorus, she runs the place and tries to get the crowd excited for the music. She spots some people doing some spectacular moves and begins cheering them. She’ll be the reason everyone is having a good time. (“From here on out/I'll be your commander/No fear no doubt/I'll provide the answer/Right now I command you to dance/I'll be your commander/Right now I command you to dance/I'll be your commander/Right now I command you to/ I'll be your commander/I'll provide the answer.”)

           She doesn’t have anything going on. She and her friends decided to hang out at the club. They plan on staying there until closing. They’ll talk with the bartenders and the owners for a while before leaving. In between, she’ll call her driver and let him to know to pick her up. By then, it’ll be 8 am. Then, they’ll stay at one of her friend’s houses and continue on there. (“Ain't no reason to celebrate/But you know we gone have a ball/Champagne spilling' from the wall/And I'll be partying till hella late/But I ain't worried not at all/I just give my driver a call (yeah)/Tell him pick me up at 8am/No we ain't stopping right here/We'll take the party to the crib/Let's go all night baby/You won't find no lady/Who does it like I does it yeah.”)

            The chorus is sung again.

            In the bridge, the club is filled with people. Unfortunately, not many people on the floor. She looks up to the DJ booth to see he has noticed the lull. She tries to get his attention but no avail. She heads up the stairs instead and decides to tell him what’s going on. He listens to her suggestions. She can hear the difference in the next song he plays. She is going to dance like crazy. People are going to think she’s on something more than just alcohol. She wants to see the rainbow lights circling over the club, bouncing from one sweaty face to another. (“It's jam packed/So DJ where you at?/I know you got my back/So make that bass attack/Let's make these people move/You know I need some room, to/Do what I do, I'm ‘bout to act a fool/Turn the lights on.”)

           The chorus is sung again to close the single.

          Rowland’s confident vocals take on the leadership role with ease. She guides and listens. She’s not the type to bark orders and snap her fingers. The owner takes her opinions seriously.

          Guetta deserves a mention for getting Rowland out of the dredges of the R&B genre and giving her a chance to do something different. He has a great sense of what works with her voice. Other than Sia, Rowland seems to be the only other singer he seems to really gel with and get.

        The electric “Commander” shows that there was more to Destiny’s Child than Beyonce.