And because “2 On” is still a big tune, that’s why.
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[6.12]
Kat Stevens: I was never 100% sure at the time how to recognise whether something was actually funky house or not, because asking someone about it would involve uttering the words “funky house” out loud. If you told me “Just Say” was part of the funky house revival, I’d believe you and nod approvingly like I definitely knew what you were talking about. However there’s a subtle element of Rui Da Silva trance in there to give me a moment’s doubt. Was there ever such a thing as funky trance? “funkytrance.com’s server DNS address could not be found” suggests not, but if so then Tinashe’s Pentium-Dual-Core-Fembot vocal is a decent pairing for it.
[7]
Thomas Inskeep: Tinashe is much more well-suited for singing sultry R&B than for dance diva-dom, and KDA does her no favors whatsoever here.
[2]
Danilo Bortoli: This Ashley Beedle remix, undoubtedly one the year’s best tracks, exposes what the original could have been: an explosion of joy and kitsch that instead sounds cold and restrained. Don’t blame Tinashe though: here she is the best house vocalist we’ve had in a while.
[5]
Iain Mew: It bumps in a similar, slightly harder way than “Rumble” and Tinashe proves at least the lower key equal of Katy B, but I can’t help but feel this too would be enhanced by a couple of Tinie Tempah verses, or at least something to break it up a bit more.
[6]
Claire Biddles: A dangerous and sexy fever dream; like coaxing a confession from your beloved’s speeding heart whilst holding a knife to their throat.
[9]
Will Adams: More a proof of concept for “Tinashe as house vocalist” than an actual song.
[5]
Edward Okulicz: I love Tinashe, and she’s best when she’s laid thickly over something dirty and desirous like “All Hands on Deck.” This one’s desirous on paper, but it’s frictionless and empty; it’s too neat and clean to communicate the need of the words.
[5]
Ramzi Awn: “Just Say” hits refresh on pop and brings freestyle back into the mix, making for a seamless dance banger. Put this on your playlist.
[10]