An Add-Shot of Pop: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso”
Breathy and a bit bratty, in the best possible way, Sabrina Carpenter’s breakout hit, “Espresso” is easily a song-of-the-summer contender. As the track awakens, it’s cool and quiet, just the sound of shimmery synth keys, handclaps, and a deep bass line in the background can be heard. But it’s quick to rise and shine into a caffeinated eight-line chorus (repeated four times in less than three minutes) that proudly boasts the effect one can have on a partner, specifically the prowess of delivering a shot of love so strong, it’s enough to instill a bout of insomnia (“Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know/That’s that me, espresso”).
And while this hook and most of the lyrical content, for that matter, are far from grammatically correct (“Walked in and dream came trued it for ya”; “One touch and I brand newed it for ya”), certain liberties are allowed when crafting a smart, sugary pop song, the kind of sonic addiction that gets into a listener’s veins and brain, and won’t let go. Is it that sweet? I know so.
Life After Death: The Cult Classic That is Clue
It boggles the mind to think that the 1985 comedic murder mystery, Clue flatlined upon its initial theatrical release. Opening on December 13, 1985, the film, co-conceived by John Landis, and based on the classic Parker Brothers’ board game, was up against The Jewel of the Nile, the sequel to the successful adventure-comedy, Romancing the Stone, with Rocky IV and Landis’ Spies Like Us also continuing to do well commercially. One thing I don’t understand (one thing?): Why Clue didn’t get an October or Halloween-season release-date, considering its murder-mystery genre.
However, with the help of cable television, and the birth of the VHS rental market, Clue was brought back to life by viewers, in their living rooms, with the remote control. From John Morris’ Hitchcockian, Bernard Herrmann-inspired orchestral score during its opening credits, to the solid cast of “colorful” characters that the viewer meets one by one as each arrives at a spooky manor on a dark and stormy night, Clue is “cozy murder” at its best.
The screenplay’s mid-1950’s timeframe allowed the director and screenwriter, Jonathan Lynn, to weave in satirical jabs at McCarthyism, conservative moral codes, even good ol’ fashioned capitalism. But mostly, Clue works because of the sharp lines of dialogue, quickly delivered between characters. Tim Curry’s Wadsworth, the Butler, not only tidies up the kitchen and the dining room, but takes it upon himself (as a workingman’s Hercule Poirot) to neatly wrap up the mystery via a zany, fast-paced, cartoon-caliber reenactment of the evening’s events, where the viewer discovers the whodunit and two other who(could’ve)dunits.
Repeated airings and rentals in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and purchases, of Clue have earned the film a large fan base, to the point where it’s easily reached cult-classic status. In particular, Madeline Kahn’s improvised “flames” monologue is a fan favorite, and probably the movie’s most recited section.
Long story short (too late): Clue certainly proves that just because something doesn’t break box-office records doesn’t mean it’s destined for the bargain bin and into obscurity; with a strong ensemble cast, a witty script full of memorable lines, and the support of a deeply loyal following, a film such as Clue can take on a life (after death) of its own.
The Pop Zeal Project (Track 81): Madonna: “Give Me All Your Luvin’”
What’s the Name of the Game?
“Give Me All Your Luvin’” was the lead single from Madonna’s 2012 album, MDNA. Its merge of cheerleader chants and a ‘60s surf-music guitar riff would perhaps lead one to believe Madonna had gone go-go or bubble gum. But as the music video shows, Madonna as covered-up, stroller-pushing suburbanite is short-lived, and with the subsequent colorful bridge of the song featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., any notion of Madonna adopting a “domesticated” persona gets wiped out.
What she does sport, also evident in the video, is an acknowledgement and acceptance of her title as the “Queen of Pop”:
All Hail: The clip features a robotic squad of football-player clones, programmed to cater to every step Madonna takes (quite literally), carrying her, lifting her, catching her, even risking robotic life and limb to protect their quarterback queen. Fittingly, the song appeared in the setlist to Madonna’s impressive 2012 “Halftime Show” on “football’s biggest night,” where the performance’s visual aesthetic involved Madonna as modern-day Cleopatra, carried (once again) into the “coliseum,” surrounded by golden pageantry deserving of a, well… queen.
Say My Name: Also of note, some of Madonna’s lyrical content at this point in her career started to include self-references. In 2008, Pharrell Williams, the producer of and guest vocalist on “Candy Shop” from 2008’s Hard Candy, spells out Madonna’s name; here on “Luvin’,” the opening lyric is shouted, in the style of the aforementioned cheerleader call: “L-U-V Madonna!” And three years later, Madonna upped the ante by including her own name in the title to “B**** I’m Madonna,” from Rebel Heart. All three lyrical examples could be seen as attempts at solidifying relevance in contemporary pop culture, and viability in the pop-music landscape, which is where Minaj and M.I.A. at the time helped garner additional commercial and critical cred.
Check out (or revisit) the video below. Ready? OK!
Photo: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott