Review: Why Postmodern Jukebox Vocalist Robyn Adele Anderson Can't Get Ailee's 'U&I' Out Of Her Head [VIDEO]

This week, I discovered the Ailee song "U&I."

Although this unique single was released last summer, it just made it into my iTunes collection.

"U&I" is one of those songs that hooks you in right away, with an intro that is full of enough bravado to be the grand finale of a Broadway show.

The big band horns and sliding vocal riff in "U&I" are reminiscent of Christina Aguilera in the 2010 film "Burlesque." The song then breaks down into a more modern and funky horn arrangement, somewhere between The Tower of Power Horns and Kanye West's "Touch the Sky," which features an iconic Curtis Mayfield horn sample from the song "Move On Up."

The use of live instrumentation alone is enough to make Ailee's "U&I" stand out from the robotic synthesized backing tracks used in many K-pop songs (which, don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy).

Not only do the horns, electric bass, and drums provide a classic all-American sound, they create a strong bassline and a memorable melody. Needless to say, the song has been stuck in my head all week.

In addition to the instrumentation, there is something else about "U&I" that sounds uniquely American.

As soon as I discovered that Ailee was born in the US and lives in New Jersey, I presumed her American accent to be the explanation for her clear pronunciation of both the English and Korean lyrics. Her pitch-perfect pronunciation of both languages, almost made me feel as if I understood both.

Like most K-pop songs, most of "U&I" is in Korean with a few key English lines that sum up the tone and message of the whole song.

The lines "tired of all your lies and excuses" and "now just get out my face," were enough to infer that this is a typical break-up self-empowerment anthem without needing to see a translation of the rest of the lyrics.

While I appreciate and can certainly relate to the message of the song, the lyrics aren't anything groundbreaking in the realm of pop music.

But Ailee's powerful and dynamic voice is what stands out on "U&I." ,

Her powerhouse vocal stylings remind me a lot of Filipina YouTube sensation Charice Pempengco, as well as American divas like Christina Aguilera, Beyonce and Nicole Scherzinger. The combination of Ailee's rich timbre, wide range and ornate riffing makes her somewhat of a novelty among her K-pop peers.

The music video for "U&I" is also worth mentioning, as it contains even more elements of creativity and artistic expression than the song itself.

The clip starts with glimpses of Ailee's blinged out and edgy accessories, a clear influence of Lady Gaga and her impact on American fashion. 

As soon as the horns come in and the beat picks up, the backdrop becomes a spitting image of a Pussycat Dolls music video, complete with a "Moulin Rouge"-esque stage, a flirtatious hip-hop dance routine and close-up images of beauty products. The transition between shots of energetic dance steps and slow-motion sultry movements create a sense of sensuality and sexual empowerment.

It appears that Ailee has embraced a sexier, stronger and more mature image as opposed to the cute, fragile and younger image that many K-pop girl groups portray. 

As a lover of American pop music, Ailee's "U&I" was a refreshing discovery. With a sound that is unique yet familiar and a look that is sexy yet strong, Ailee has become one my new favorite K-pop artists.

Watch the music video for "U&I" by Ailee RIGHT HERE

Robyn Adele Anderson is the lead singer of the genre-bending New York City musical collective Postmodern Jukebox. The group has received over 60 million YouTube views for their innovative jazz, doo-wop and soul reinventions of modern pop hits, including "Gangnam Style" by Psy.  

Tags
Ailee
U&I
Robyn Adele Anderson
Postmodern Jukebox
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