Hit or Miss: The Other Side – Jason Derulo
ROM 2009 to 2011 Jason Derulo never got the credit he deserved for being the sole person of African descent making a huge impact on the pop music market. This came on the heels of Chris Brown having to rebuild his image after his physical altercation with Rihanna.
The problem that Derulo faced during this period was that despite his hit singles such as Watcha Say, Don’t Wanna Go Home, It Girl, and more, he failed to develop a strong personality to the public. This led to popular singles but poor album sales, a similar situation faced by Flo Rida.
Fast-forward to 2013, Jason Derulo has released his latest single The Other Side. The song is about a friendship transitioning to a relationship. The track’s narration is loosely based upon Derulo’s current engagement to fellow singer Jordin Sparks.
The Other Side features a soft rock guitar-driven pop instrumentation, which is usually employed for singles by artistes such as P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, and Katy Perry. Derulo doesn’t sound unnatural on this type of production, as his demeanour and delivery has never been one of belligerence.
The problem with Derulo’s latest single, however, is that it’s just good, but not great. Nothing stands out during the song’s entirety, as not even the chorus contains a climax.
If Derulo wants to live up to his potential, his single choices cannot be this calculated and meticulously constructed. No risks were taken during the construction and execution of The Other Side, so the result is a single that is too bland to be memorable.