I think we’d rather talk about the original…
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[2.71]
Brad Shoup: Is that their excuse? That title’s asking for a lot of trouble from their primary demographic: Tumbling 20-something rock critics. The harmonies are parceled stingily, and the digital cooing arrives too late to exalt the proceedings.
[4]
Katherine St Asaph: Every right-rhymed brand is drafting a giddy commission note to these guys’ handlers, asking them to replace “you” and retrofit this junk as a jingle. The sound’s already there! Meanwhile, Jay Sean is drafting a cease-and-desist in regards to “Do You Remember.” I didn’t think that was possible either.
[2]
Erick Bieritz: The toothiness of the inevitable comparison makes it hard to miss that this lacks any sort of edge, which is a key ingredient to any boy band hit. And really, if you’re going to nick the line, do it right.
[4]
Iain Mew: “She’s my music enhancer”! Yes, not only does this song offer a joyless version of “Music Sounds Better With You” for a chorus, it also demonstrates a literal understanding of what those words mean. Well done.
[3]
Jonathan Bogart: Well, uh, good for the team of professionals writing a proper chorus to go along with the swipe of a title. Pity they didn’t put as much work into the verses. Or into the precision-tooled smarmery of the performances.
[2]
Edward Okulicz: I’m half-inclined to convince myself I love this just because I whole-heartedly approve of the brazenness of a boy band molesting one of the 00s’ most horrifically overrated sacred cows (but if you bozos do anything to “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)” I will get you) but, no, it’s not really possible. At least the original teemed with enthusiasm; this is so featureless, even hearing it sung from (or hearing it while standing next to) the most beautiful person in the world couldn’t make this sound better than a…
[3]
Alfred Soto: Imagine Enrique Iglesias singing “You Get What You Give.” Then try harder.
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