Eva – Bella

Something about this song inspires light praise and use of colons/semicolons, apparently…

[Video]
[6.00]Iain Mew: The giggle at the start is a good indicator for what is to follow: laid back, uncomplicated and elevated by charming details in Eva’s throaty vocal.
[7]

Alfred Soto: Although nothing special beyond Eva’s gurgle, “Bella” works as Latin pop for early summer: unfussy, determined to swivel your hips.
[7]

Katherine St Asaph: In sound it’s completely timely Latin-ish pop; in essence it’s solid late-2000s radio filler by Rihanna.
[6]

Will Adams: Those opening “No Scrubs” guitar plucks had me fearing more bland early-’00s pastiche; instead we get robust dancehall that still allows for sweetness in the titular hook.
[6]

Alex Clifton: French Latin-inflected trop-house which is fine but ultimately uninspiring. There’s nothing wrong with it, but if this played on the radio in the background I probably wouldn’t realize when it had started or when it ended. A point added because I kept getting distracted by the very cute panther in the music video.
[5]

Jibril Yassin: Eva proves herself capable, her strong delivery working in spite of the generic trop-house backing. The nonspecific vibe is a shame; there’s more than enough hooks crammed in the chorus alone to save this but Eva deserves more.
[5]