POP SONG REVIEW: "Don't Call Me Angel"

I actually quite like this song and do not think it deserves all the hate. As for the Angels movies, I like all of them.

RedBedroomRecords

Thanks for 1) reminding me of the cover 2) reminding me of that flash video Lol, it's was first result when I googled independent woman elbow

Raymond

Did I see EIGHT songwriters credited on this? That's like seeing 8 producers on a movie- a pretty good sign that something about this isn't going to gel. I'm weary of Ariana's breathy vocal style by now, to say nothing of the tunelessness that seems to characterize a lot of mainstream music, so this one was never going to work for me... but if you told me this was an Ariana song with a Miley guest verse I would have believed it. (I forgot the LdR verse half a second after I heard it.)

Maura Burns

For some reason, Lana's verse reminds me so much of Beyonce's verse on Gaga's 'Telephone'. Same plodding beat. Same really short length in comparison to the rest of the song. And both verses bring the momentum of a high-tempo pop song to a thudding halt. In my mind, they even blend together. "I appreciate the way you make me leave no faster"

Franco del Rosario

You’re so right! It sounds like an ice cream truck. Wtf.

Franco del Rosario

Damn. That song RULED MY LIFE in highschool in the late 2000’s. On repeat in my iPod all the time. I also really liked We Walk, and Shut Up and Let Me Go. But I haven’t thought about that band in years now. This one comment really triggered my nostalgia buzz more than anything.

Franco del Rosario

I never understood why people are so proud of dumping friends just because they have dumb taste in movies.

The main hook appears to be Ariana singing "Don't call me angel". The biggest problem is that it sucks. It doesn't even accent the right syllable of the word "angel".

Strange you would choose to cover this one. Someone You Loved would have made a good episode, or Panini, or if you wanted to do a collapsing flop single the new Maroon 5 one

air budd dwyer

Don't call me angeeeeel of the mooorniiiin' aaangeel!

I remember Independent Woman mostly because at the time someone made a looping flash video of kittens playing along to a cover of it . . . by Elbow.

Paul McA

It’s not just her doing a song for a soundtrack. It’s her doing THIS kind of song alongside Ariana and Miley. She’s mostly known for moodier, dreamy stuff, not lively, raucous, sexy girl power anthems like this. That’s why Todd gave the equivalent thing of James Taylor doing a duet with Iron Maiden. Or it’s like if in the early 2000’s, having Norah Jones do a collab with Amy Lee of Evanescence and Shirley Manson of Garbage.

Tom Carter

Lana del Ray was on a mainstream soundtrack before with a modern rendition of 'Once Upon a Dream' for 'Maleficent'. So I don't know what's so surprising about her here.

Vasyl Kerimov

I was expecting Gregg Allman but the one he chose is funnier

the purple shaman

I could have sworn you'd go for "Angel of the Morning" for the stinger, but I also think you used that one before... "Angel" by Shaggy would also possibly be too close

Rick Griffin

You know, I'm starting to get this feeling they only got Lana Del Rey on this song to give her some actual street cred outside of the hipster scene. And because actually well-known pop singers right now like Billie Eilish, Halsey, Camilla Cabello, and Taylor Swift, as well as possible rappers/singers like Cardi B and Lizzo, just were either not available or too expensive for the studio to get after they already blew most of their budget getting Ariana Grande (at least).

Tom Carter

Love this review! Tackled a lot of important topics on here really well. But I'm surprised Todd never mentioned that weird-ass amateur-ish production. The mixing is shit; after a few listens, I literally did not understand a single word any artist said except for the title drop and maybe a bit of Miley's verse. And what circus-clown- playhouse-disney-theme-song kind of a riff is that?! That is not a beat you want to build your song on. The Destiny's Child production was infinitely better.

Franco del Rosario

You remember every word of "Independent Women" because you were the right age when it hit. For example, I remember every word and beat in "Rumors" by Timex Social Club. So do many people my age, it was inescapable that summer. Despite that, "Rumors" has almost no resonance to anyone younger. It's never on 80's radio or included in compilations. Part of that is independent of the song (if you ever want to expand on the concept of "screwed by the label", Timex Social Club would make an excellent OHW) but mostly it just doesn't fit any 80's pop genre very well and doesn't sound like the pop 80's. But everybody my age knows it because we were young when it hit.

I watched the second Charlie's Angels movie. Was dragged to it by the same friend who went through a big Corey Feldman phase when we were 12, making me watch such classics as Dream a Little Dream 2 and National Lampoon's Last Resort. We are no longer friends.

Cristina Youngren

Never stop doing Space Jam references.

Josh Spicer

We're really stretching the definition of "hit" here.

Josh Spicer

One big problem Todd didn't mention with the song is the beat itself. Maybe it didn't bother him but personally I think that main loop sounds horrible.

Samu Tolvanen

I seriously thought this was an edgier version of the Juice Newton song, which I guess is Angel of the Morning? Lana del Ray is a weird choice for this one. I've only ever heard on song of hers, and it's the cover that's all over the alt rock station here. I hate it. I do wonder if this will get her more airplay on the more "standard" radio stations

Stephanie Martin

That's Not My Name by the Ting Tings is still my go-to song for nickname-based disrespect

Matt Cramp

I think there's this expectation that criticizing a song like this will get you in hot water just because of all the terrible things that have happened to women that have come to light more than ever lately. At this point, with songs like "Don't Call Me Angel (Charlie's Angels)", Meghan Trainor's "No", and "F.R.I.E.N.D.S.", it's gotten so cynical that it's starting to backfire in my opinion. One of the really positive differences about the girl power movement of 20 years ago was that there was more of a proud invincibility, that through the power of friendship and camaraderie, you could live out your life as a woman while still affirming your boundaries. Sure, there's more concrete scrutiny now against sexual harassment and cultural subtleties that are harming women, but that doesn't mean our music has to be so cynical that it's no longer enjoyable or uplifting. Considering the skimpiness still isn't gone, it's not like we're really making progress compared to the girl power movement of 20 years ago, which was still led by good-looking women but at least hinted that there's plenty more to enjoy in life on your own than just trying to affirm your superiority by criticizing others.

Jacqueline Sailer

I have a nagging suspicion Lana's doing the whole thing ironically, which would be freaking hilarious

Jiashu Xing

Lana seems kind of amused to be there. She looks like she's trying hard not to crack up during some of the scenes where they are ostensibly together. Such a weird inclusion.

Brett

I didn't even know they were trying to reboot Charlie's Angels again. I've never been interested in this franchise. As for this song, I have no interest either. Regarding "Independent Women", I had no idea that song was even tied to a movie. I just thought it was meant to be a female empowerment anthem. It certainly fits in with Beyonce's own material. Also, what's Lana Del Rey doing on a song with Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus?

Pass. But I'll take James Taylor in Iron Maiden!

Joe G

... Even though the song is actually angel OF the morning. I just don't hear it. Never have.

Azhrei Vep

Even after watching the review, even after looking it up to listen to on youtube, I still can't see that song's title without immediately following it up with "in the morning."

Azhrei Vep

I would listen to Terry Gross and Joe Rogan co-interview... anyone...

Mark Harviston