"Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
The Artist
It seemed like most of the world had forgotten about the seemingly short-lived career of singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado after her song “I’m Like a Bird” hit it big in 2000. The Canadian artist attributes her eclectic style to her Portuguese background and interest in all types of music, which explains her less spectacular second release, 2003’s “Folklore.” Anyway, she’s back on the charts -- for how long it’s hard to say. Fans love her; critics are, well, critical, calling her voice girlish and her newest album too “eighties.”
The Album
“Loose” was released June 20 and has taken a little while to find its way to the Billboard charts. The album wasn’t exactly on anyone’s “much anticipated” list. Nevertheless, Nelly, in partnership with Timbaland, has been able to gain some momentum. This CD’s most notable songs include the very sexual “Promiscuous” and the hard hitting “Maneater.”
The Song
“Say It Right” is the album’s song of the moment, but it does leave one to wonder why. Besides a catchy beat, Nelly doesn’t say much at all, much less say it right. Just because the lyrics rhyme doesn’t mean they’re good.
The premise of the song seems be that in order to mean something to her, a guy has to “say it right.” “In the day/ In the night/ Say it all/ Say it right/ You either got it/ Or you don’t/ You either stand or fall.” If he’s able to woo her with words, she’ll give him much more. “Oh you could mean everything to me…And all of what I feel I could show/ You tonight.” The song then takes the sexual implication even further (and to a more offensive place) by associating sex with heaven and her body with a holy place.
It’s pretty sad that Nelly’s view of a romantic relationship basically comes down to the right formula of words in exchange for sex. There’s no mention of trust, faithfulness, or commitment, without which real love cannot exist. But she doesn’t seem to have enough self-respect as a person created in God’s image to protect her body, heart, and mind by abstaining from sex outside of marriage. She’s ready to give it all away if a guy will just say the right words to make her feel special for the moment.
Sadder still is that a lot of people share Nelly’s view of sexuality, which is one reason “Say It Right” and other sexually shallow songs are so high on the charts. God wants so much more for us than this. He wants us to hold on to our sexuality until someone says “I do” and promises to commit to us for life.
I Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
So What Do You Think?
1. Do you think Nelly will be able to stay in the spotlight this time or disappear again?
2. How would you describe Nelly’s style in comparison to other top female artists?
3. Have you ever been convinced by someone’s words to do something, sexual or otherwise, you knew you shouldn’t?
4. How can you respond when someone is leading you in a direction you know is wrong?