Amerie "Crush"
It’s a shame that American radio doesn’t have the smarts to support the rarely-dull R&B-pop of Amerie, because, as usual, she delivers with another fizzy no-brainer that could surely be a Stateside favorite if really given the chance.
On the revamped “Crush”, supposedly the version to appear on the long overdue US release of her latest album, Because I Love It, the beauty recaptures an ’80′s bubblegum charm as she relishes in the tickly feeling she gets in her no-no place every time she’s around one particular hottie.
“I wish I could save your kiss/ For some other girl to taste/ To see the expression on your face,” she sings on this Human League-ish confection while a busy array of Crayola keyboards and old school rap breaks give off a fresh-faced Miami feel. Later, she dreams of locking the man up in a self-made prison and throwing away the kiss to make sure he’s always around whenever she needs him (Now what heterosexual male do you know wouldn’t jump at the chance to be Amerie’s own personal sex slave?).
American audiences have already proven that they’ll embrace mindless R&B-pop from the likes of Rihanna, and while “Crush” is nowhere near “Umbrella”‘s greatness, this appreciable nugget of sexy goodness could surely make the girl a worthy contender back at home where she deserves to be reigning.
DL: “Crush (US Version)” (YFH)
I think it’s because I LOVE the original version too much (it was pretty much my Summer of 2007 anthem), but this one’s good. Not as good, but it’s good. It might get a few more spins than the original version would if it was released as a single.