Title: “Like Me”
Category: Single
Runtime: 3 min 01s
Genre: Afro-pop
Release Date: 19.September.2024
Rating: ★ ★★★★★★★☆☆- 7.7/10
Interesting duet, that much we can say. Even more than we’d anticipated. First things first, the tune’s started off with jolty sound effects & subdued percussion which is soon beefed up into dense electronic beats. Amidst that initial transition, Izabel launches into some dramatically salty lines about vengefully ghosting back a past partner who walked out on her. Her vocals are consciously restrained, and you can tell she’s saving some mojo for later in the piece.
Then comes that ice-cold line, just before the main refrain, which hits just right on every listen. Gotta give it to her on that! The main refrain itself is sufficiently arresting, only that we’d hoped it’d be more central to the piece. You know, it’s kinda the title line or a chorus of sorts. Guess our intuition was misdirected.
All that takes place against a restless sonic background, morphing from scratchy to ringtonesque and similar motifs, but always leaving the vocals at the helm by a good bit. It’s in the thick of this feel that Kohen launches in with his lyrical counterpoints typical of these “you say, I say” boy-leaves-or-meets-girl typa templates. He goes on about his sour withdrawal sentiments & how her revenge is unfeeling & all. Drama, yay! So that goes as expected.
In terms of artistic cohesion, the first major spark surfaces when the pair jointly croon the lines “I’m lying alone/I’ve lost my way” (which is situationally ironic since it’s the first time their vocals sync together). Another high point is when Izabel finally looses her glorious pipes, belting out, “Nebwogamba gwe byogamba…” Now that’s Lizzy at the peak, more like it! Given that she’s paired with another great talent, obviously the magic is not limited to just these moments, and you bet their harmonies too are a mood whenever they’re occasioned. The tune would’ve been even more elevated if it had a central anchor, something to hang onto. There’s such a thing as being dynamic to a fault. And that’s slightly kinda what happens here. The material for memorable lines is there, & a good bit of some good old repetition could’ve gone a long way.
All things considered, the pair gifted us a cool tune in this one, and their sheer charisma & talent make up for any few flaws in the execution. We’d really like to see them have a go at another duet. Make it happen soon, guys!
