Music Review: Pitbull & John Ryan "Fireball"

Pitbull & John Ryan

Fireball

Album: Globalization

Year: 2014

               Pitbull reassures everyone his libido is intact in the inadequate “Fireball.”

            A winking guitar opens the single, setting a ribbing tone.  In the intro, Pitbull says he’s going to get the ladies dancing and fill them up enough liquor that they will sleep with him. (“Mr. Worldwide to infinity/You know the roof on fire/We gon' boogie oogie oggie, jiggle, wiggle and dance/Like the roof on fire/We gon' drink, drink and take shots until we fall out/Like the roof on fire/Now baby give a booty naked, take off all your clothes, and light the roof on fire/Tell her, tell her baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby/I'm on fire/I tell her baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby/I'm on fireball.”)

           A bouncy mariachi band appear and Pitbull tags a “fireball” at the end of the solo.

       Pitbull proudly says he got laid. Guys are complimenting him on his taste and ability to land such beautiful women. When most guys fail, he is able to do naturally. (“I came, I saw, I conquered/Or should I say, I saw I conquered, I came/They say the chico on fire and he no liar/While y'all slippin’ he runnin’ the game/Now big bang boogie/Get that kitty little noogie/In a nice nice little shade.”)

               In the pre-chorus, he taps a young woman on the butt named Suzie. She immediately says yes and goes home with him. (“I gave Suzie a little pat up on the booty/And she turned around and said/“Walk this way.”)

             In the chorus, John Ryan says even as a child, he was big flirt. His mother called him a baby gigolo. He has left many women satsified and wanting more. Even though he is getting older, his sex drive requires no medical assistance. (“I was born in a flame/Momma said that everyone would know my name/I'm the best you've ever had/If you think I'm burning out, I never am/I'm on fire/I'm on fire/I'm on fire/I'm on fire/Fireball.”)

     The bouncy mariachi band comes backs and Pitbull says “fireball” at the end.

     Other guys call him a user and a slut. He brushes it off and thinks that one day they will be begging for him advice when they are alone. (“Sticks and stones may break my bones/But I don’t care what y’all say/Cause as the world turns, y’all boys gonna learn/That chico right here don’t play/That boy’s from the bottom, bottom of the map/M.I.A U.S.A.”)

          Pitbull says the pre-chorus and Ryan sings the chorus again.

         In the bridge, Pitbull says it’s time for the saxophones to go lower and then bring the volume on them up again. (“We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down /We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down/ We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down/We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down /We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down/ We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down /We're taking it/We're taking it/We're taking it down/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/ /Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Now, we're bringing it/We're bringing it/We're bringing it back/Fireball.”)

        The bouncy mariachi bands returns, ending with Pitbull saying “fireball.”

       In the final single, he repeats yet again that he’s horny. (“I tell her, tell her baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby/I'm on fire/I tell her baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby/I'm on fireball.”)

        Pitbull’s stringent  rap drains the humor (what little there is) out of the lyrics. He is the master and hey, don’t laugh! It’s not the scheduled time for it yet! Wait for the cliched punchline just like everyone else!  During the bridge, he finally lets loose and changes the subject, having some fun with the music.

      Ryan’s bombastic vocals play up the manwhore role and doesn’t make any apologies. He maintains the scene stealing tradition, outperforming Pitbull.

     The  uptight  “Fireball” is too afraid to get near a match.