In the past year, singer and producer Pharrell has risen to the forefront of popular music. Features on Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” drew him considerable attention, as the songs skyrocketed to #1 and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. He’s also produced music for many prominent artists throughout the year, including 2 Chainz, Nelly, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, the Creator, and Beyoncé. It was this success that led to his signing with Columbia Records at the end of 2013 for a solo album, his first solo effort since the release of his previous album, In My Mind, in 2006. On G I R L, released on March 3rd, Pharrell shows off his unique vocal style and proves he can carry an entire album. Unlike In My Mind, G I R L only includes singing, as he has recently set aside his rapping career. A blend of R&B and funk, the album shows off Pharrell’s silky-smooth vocals.
Pharrell dedicates his album “to women across the world,” a much different message than that the controversial song “Blurred Lines,” which featured Pharrell and drew criticism for promoting rape culture. If Pharrell felt the need to redeem himself after his involvement with the song, G I R L certainly has earned him the world’s forgiveness. The album cover depicts Pharrell standing besides women of different races, and each song on the album is an ode to women. The opening track and second single off the album is “Marilyn Monroe,” in which Pharrell describes how his girl is greater than famous female figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Queen Cleopatra, and Joan of Arc.
The Academy Award-nominated lead single, “Happy,” is unapologetically cheesy, with lyrics such as “Because I’m happy/ Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.” The song’s title is an apt one, as the infectious hook and melody instantly cheer one up and make the listener want to dance along. On “Come Get it Bae,” Pharrell teams up with Miley Cyrus to deliver an overtly sexual song. Cyrus sounds uncharacteristically calm and toned-down on this track, as the two artists deliver a sexy, smooth track with a rapid beat. “Gust of Wind” is a strangely futuristic-sounding song, with Daft Punk providing the vocals for a catchy and memorable chorus.
Pharrell is strongest vocally on “Know Who You Are” with Alicia Keys, as the two take turns empowering a downtrodden woman. As Keys emphatically croons, “I want every woman to make a pledge with me/ Say your name, I pledge, to live life, on the edge/ Want you to know, I see, the power, is in me/ No more, acquiesce, standin’ up, with no stress/ Will do, what I need, ’til every woman on the Earth is free,” it’s hard not to feel liberated. The album ends strongly with “It Girl.” Although the song is not the album’s strongest, lyrics such as “You the it girl, hey hey, my inspiration/ My compass spinnin’, baby, it’s the right destination” keep up the feel-good mood of the album and end it on a positive note.
On G I R L, Pharrell is showing the world that he is more than just a featured artist on other tracks. The album is easy to listen to and enjoy, packed with radio-friendly tunes and party jams, and that’s more than enough. It doesn’t expand his boundaries too greatly and only reinforces what we already know about Pharrell– that he is an excellent vocalist and producer. He isn’t strongest lyrically here, either. However, the album is still commendable for its message of female-empowerment.
With the release of this, his seventh album, Pharrell has undoubtedly proved himself a credible musician and doesn’t need to take many risks, for now. It seems Pharrell’s success can only grow from here, which promises us, the listeners, even more great music to come.
Rating: 85/100