Tag Of the Day! Ne-Yo ‘Champagne Life’
It’s no secret that Michael Jackson was a big influence on the R&B crooner Ne-Yo. His dance moves, vocal delivery and knack of writing huge cross over soul/ R&B tunes all owe a certain debt of gratitude to the King Of Pop. On his latest single, however, Ne-Yo ups the ante and goes full on MJ crazy and the results are truly impressive. The video sees the singer in ‘Smooth Criminal’ mode donning a trilby, suit and trademark black loathers. He even uses Jacko’s signature trademark breathy beatbox style interjections to give the record a spookily familiar feel.
Going against the grain of most urban artists, Ne-Yo also shuns the gangster image of many of his contemporaries by painting himself as an Eliot Ness style crime fighting figure. It’s evidently a move that fails to decrease his flair with the ladies such is the bevy of attractive females throughout the video.
Once again Ne-Yo delivers another fine R&B hit to add to his already impressive list of work. ‘Champagne Life’ may owe more than a little to Jackson’s unique vocal styles, but in many ways it’s exactly the kind of record Jacko’s many fans would have hoped he’d be making if he were still around.
Ne-Yo’s new album ‘Libra Scale’ is due out September.
