Music Review: Jessie J & 2 Chainz "Burnin' Up"

Jessie J & 2 Chainz

Burnin’ Up

Album: Sweet Talker

Year: 2014

            Jessie J is aroused by her boyfriend in the arresting “Burnin’ Up.”

             A howling guitar builds up the sexual tension, setting a heated tone.  The second pre-chorus opens the single. Her face is flushed. She is tingling all over. (“Walkin' through the fire, please don't let me go/Take me to the river, I need you to know.”)

           In the chorus, she says she has to have sex with him right now. She’s been wanting him all day. (“I'm burnin' up/Come put me out/Come and put me out/I'm burnin' up/Come put me out/Come and put me out.”)

             It’s as though the stove has been on all day while the sun beats through the windows. His hand graces the small of her back as he walks to the refrigerator. She gets her spoon for her yogurt and as he closes the door, he gives her a warm smile. (“Hot in the kitchen like a thousand degrees/That's how I'm feelin' when you're next to me/I got a fever, tell me, what did you do?/Temperature risin' when I look at you, look at you.”)

              In the first pre-chorus, they sit at the table together. She touches her bare foot to his a couple times and rubs it against his leg. It’s taking all her energy not to grab him right there and throw everything on the table onto the floor. (“Subliminal, sex/Drippin' in, sweat/I'm losing my, breath (Huh, huh, huh, huh)/Look what I've, found/It's 'bout to go, down/I want it right, now (Huh, huh, huh, huh.”)

         The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

          She is the one initating it. All he has to do is respond. It’s going to be as awesome as classic music video. If anyone saw them, they could see the chemistry between them. (“I got the matches, you got the gasoline/Light up the floor like it's Billie Jean/The way we're movin', by the end of the song/They're gonna have to pull the fire, fire alarm.”)

                 The first pre-chorus and second pre-chorus are sung again.  

           In the bridge, 2 Chainz announces himself and says his teeth are made of diamonds. He adds he’s a tall guy and if she wants to kiss him, she’s going have some sexy stilettos around him. He would like to buy a Lambourghini but there isn’t enough room for all his friends. He and his friend are hitting on a pretty white girl, noting they look an Oreo. After offending people, he counts out of order and references Lil’ Jon’s “Turn Down For What” single. He adds that God is at the club, playing the music. He, however, drives a Ford Focus but can manages to wear designer Tom Ford. He likes watching Jessie J shake her butt and hoots at her to dance for more. (“2 Chainz!/Everything hot like it's fresh off the grill/Million dollar grill look fresh on the hill

Plus I'm 6'5", she need to step in some heels/'Fore she step up in here you need to step up your gear/Wish a Lamborghini had four doors (four doors)/From the corner store to the corridor (corridor)/Me and my homie on the dance floor/White girl in the middle, looking like an Oreo (I'm burnin' up)/2, 4, 5 we can burn up/Turn down for what, ***** turn up/

************ must ain't learn nothin'/Back in the day used to down with a burn coat (I'm burnin' up)/Light got the Lord on the top floor/In a Ford, wearin' Tom Ford/Walk in the club and her ass start clappin'/Tell shawty I want an encore.”)

                    The chorus is sung four times to end the single.

                  Jessie J’s high voltage vocals titllate, withering around the lyrics without it going too far. She has a clear bite to her vocals that can saw off mediocrity in a clean manner.

                 2 Chainz’s gravelly rap begins the typical way (shameless self-promotion, the girl’s looks and cars. Then, he uses a racial slur – Oreo, to describe he and his friend dancing with Jessie J. How could he not know to not use the term? Does he not have Google?  Does he not have ears or eyes? There is no excuse. After that, he rattles off some nonsense, which includes a mention to God (not that it’s going to help him in any way) with the disconnected image of a wealthy man wearing designer clothes while coming out of a Ford Fusion.

            However, the Michael Jackson reference is possibly the best well- written pop culture reference ever.  It doesn’t use like at all but rather describes what it’s talking about, which is the Billie Jean music video. It hardly ever happens.

              The torrid  “Burnin’ Up” will have people reaching for their fans while shooing 2Chainz away.