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Song of the Week 8/3/14 : GIVE IT 2 ME


Mooncrown11

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Give_It_2_Me.jpg

What are you waiting for?
Nobody's gonna show you how
Why work for someone else
To do what you can do right now?

Got no boundaries and no limits
If there's excitement, put me in it
If it's against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

They say that a good thing never lasts
And then it has to fall
Those are the the people that did not
Amount to much at all

Give me the bassline and I'll shake it
Give me a record and I'll break it
There's no beginning and no ending
Give me a chance to go and I'll take it

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

[Pharrell:]
Watch this

Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it

Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right)
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it
(to the left, left, right, right, left, left, right, right)
Get stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid...
(left, left, right, right, left, left, right, right)

Don't stop me now, don't need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there's no one left
I can go on and on and on

Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new

You're only here to win
Get what they say?
You're only here to win
Get what they do?
They'd do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain't nothing new

Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now

Give it to me

This was the second single from the Hard Candy album and one of its defining moments as well. This is the kind of anthemic song that M does so well - Don't Tell Me being another example and a kind of companion song to this one. When you first hear the title, you may assume it is a sexual reference but listening to the lyrics, the phrase rather means - give me whatever you can dish out and I will not only be able to handle it but will outlast all the others. This is a perfect metaphor for her career - she's still standing and still a force to be reckoned with. I like how the pre-chorus (The don't stop me now part) is literally about being able to dance all night but also on a deeper level is a nod to her having this incredible enduring career when so many around her have come and gone even after she has been written off countless times. The music also has a circus/carnival vibe to it which also is fitting for the crazy ride her career has been. Though Hard Candy is not among my favorite albums of hers, this song is one of the reasons that keeps me going back to it.

It's interesting to listen to the "Infinity" demo (most likely produced by Timbaland and Timberlake I believe) to see how the song evolved. There are definitely some elements in the demo that influenced the final Pharrell version but I think it went in the completely right direction and ended up much stronger than its original incarnation:

Favorite lyric: Don't stop me now , don't need to catch my breath, I can go on and on and on

Favorite vocal moment: "Give me the bassline and I'll shake it"

Favorite musical part: The stabbing synths in the chorus

One word that sums up this song: Unstoppable

What do you think of this song?

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I prefer Infinity, although her vocals in that one are crowtatstic :chuckle:. I've never been too fond of Give It 2 Me. It's one of the Pharrell produced songs on HC that still sound like unfinished songs, demos to be exact. The other ones being Candy Shop and Incredible. I think his work was kinda hit or miss on HC I still respect and admire him as a producer, though.

However, Give It 2 Me is one of those songs that you can't resist dancing or singing along to when it comes on on shuffle. That said, I keep catching myself doing exactly that, lol.

Edited by JimmyJimmy
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I have to admit that my initial reaction to the song was that I felt disappointed the music sounded somewhat outdated at the time. I also thought after seeing the video for the first time, that it was not a good enough to promote the single . Over the years, I've watched the video a lot more & it has ground on me big time!!

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:thumbsup: Completely agree with your assessment, Mooncrown

Definitely one of the highlights of Hard Candy. I hope she remembers this for future tours, even though it wasn't a huge hit. I think it went top ten worldwide, at least?

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:thumbsup: Completely agree with your assessment, Mooncrown

Definitely one of the highlights of Hard Candy. I hope she remembers this for future tours, even though it wasn't a huge hit. I think it went top ten worldwide, at least?

Thanks rocknrolla!

Here's a link to the Wiki page for the song. If the charts are accurate, it looks like it went top 10 in several countries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_It_2_Me

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i love this song and video!!!!

agree every word Mooncrown.....this is my fave review until now!!!!

Thanks so much for the feedback Vande :thumbsup:

I really enjoy talking about M's music and hearing other fans opinions and feelings about it.

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Why do so many people dislike the get stupid bit. It's brill

I agree! The song wouldn't be the same without it!

This is such a great, energetic song... Love it!

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Guest Pud Whacker

Give It 2 Me!!! YEAH!!!

After 30 years of being a fan, one of my top 5 Madonna songs of all time. It's perfect. X

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Guest Pud Whacker

Why do so many people dislike the get stupid bit. It's brill

Of course it is. It was just something for them to bitch about. I can't with these mall going ray of lighters!!!! 😝

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