Goodies (20th Anniversary)＜完全生産限定盤/Hot Pink Vinyl＞

R&Bポップ・アイコン=Ciara(シアラ)のデビュー・アルバム『Goodies』20周年記念盤(ホット・ピンク・ヴァイナル)

アメリカ出身のR&Bポップ・アイコン=シアラは、アーティストの他にも、ソングライター/モデル/ダンサー/女優というマルチ・タレントなエンターテイナー。2006年グラミー賞では「ルーズ・コントロール」が最優秀ショート音楽ビデオを受賞、12曲ものシングルが全米R&B/ヒップ・ホップチャート初登場トップ10入りをした、輝かしい経歴を持つ。今作は彼女のデビュー・アルバム『Goodies』の発売20周年を記念した2枚組ホット・ピンク・ヴァイナル。
「One, Two Step (feat. Missy Elliott)」「Oh (feat. Ludacris)」他、豪華アーティストをフィーチャリングしたヒット曲に加えて、インドネシア出身のプロデューサー/アレンジャー、ディファ・バルスによって新しくリミックスされた「Ciara x Dipha Barus - Goodies 2024」を収録。

Thanks to a few productions by hitmakers Lil Jon and Jazze Pha, there are indeed some Goodies to be found on Ciara's debut album, even if the young dance-pop singer does little to distinguish herself from the legion of fellow young dance-pop singers filling the urban American airwaves. The title track is far and away the highlight here, one of seemingly countless Lil Jon songs to become hits in summer 2004 (others including Usher's "Yeah!," Trillville's "Neva Eva," Lil Scrappy's "No Problem," Pitbull's "Culo," and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek"). "Goodies" is fairly similar to these songs, except that it's sung by a young girl. In fact, the song is an apparent response to "Freek-a-Leek," employing a near-identical beat and the services of that song's rapper, Petey Pablo. The difference is that while "Freek-a-Leek" took the hardcore rap perspective of courtship, boasting of Petey's sexual exploits and how he can provide all a woman could possibly want physically, Ciara takes the contemporary R&B perspective, boasting contrarily that she has what all the guys want but won't be exploited: "I bet you want the goodies/Bet you thought about it/Got you all hot and bothered/Mad 'cause I talk around it/If you're looking for the goodies/Keep on looking 'cause they stay in the jar." It's a simple song, yes, but it's quite a rousing album opener. From there, the next four songs -- "1, 2 Step," "Thug Style," "Hotline," "Oh" -- are good, if not great, as executive producer Jazze Pha serves up some first-rate beats and catchy hooks here and there. But just as Beyonce's Dangerously in Love descended into boilerplate balladry during its second half, Goodies unfortunately follows suit, bringing the initial festivities to a cloying conclusion. In the end, the beats of Lil Jon and Jazze Pha are the true Goodies here. Ciara is likeable enough, especially on the dance songs, where she resembles a young Janet Jackson, not so much actually singing as projecting a personality onto the productions. However, when she turns to run-of-the-mill ballads on the album's second half, she seems just as faceless as the songs themselves, lacking panache and, at times, personality. ~ Jason Birchmeier

体内にまで響く低音とピーヒャラな脱力ループ、艶めかしい歌声にピティ・パブロのアオリも加わり、聴くほどにハマるユルエロなデビュー曲“Goodies”が早々と全米制覇!!　アッシャーの“Yeah!”に続いてリル・ジョンが仕掛けたニュー・スタイルのクランク配合型R&B＝〈cRunk&B〉の第2弾的な触れ込みで見事ブレイクを果たしたシアラは、アトランタ生まれの弱冠18歳。完璧に近い抜群な容姿も人気の要因だろうが、媚びたところのないクールさや、日常を綴ったリアルなリリックは、同性からも確実に支持を集めそう。彼女をデビューに導いたジャジー・フェイ、ミッシー・エリオット、R・ケリー、リュダクリスらが参加した強力体制のもと、旬なサウス味が盛り込まれた新感覚のアップや、しなやかなミッドも上出来で、次世代R&Bの幕開けを感じさせる好作となった。とにかく、出現自体が嬉しい存在!
bounce (C)池田 貴洋