The Bottom Line
Ne-Yo makes his strongest bid here for major pop success since the debut single "So Sick." The Stargate production team pulls out the dance stops for an intimate, erotic club romp.
Pros
- Driving dance beat
- Ne-Yo's Michael Jackson inspired vocals
- Intimate, sexy lyrics
Cons
- Fails to reach a climactic moment
Description
- Written by Ne-Yo
- Produced by Stargate
- Released April 2008 by Def Jam
Guide Review - Ne-Yo - "Closer"
If Ne-Yo's recent work seems heavily inspired by Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson, the biggest compliment for "Closer" may be that it holds up to classics like "Rock With You" and "Off the Wall." Stargate, who turned on the retro dance juice in producing Rihanna's big hit "Don't Stop the Music," pull out a thumping beat, the sound of acoustic guitar breaks, and slashing strings to weave a pop-dance concoction worthy of the King of Pop at his peak.
The most frustrating aspect of "Closer" is the song drives up tension reaching toward a climactic moment that, in the end, never comes. However, the head of steam built up is intoxicating enough the song is not easy to forget.
"Closer" has already reached the top of the UK pop singles chart and is riding the top 10 in a number of other countries. It's a strong return to form for Ne-Yo not only as a songwriter, but also a performer in his own right.
