The Bottom Line
RedOne is swiftly becoming the name of the moment for pop dance production. Sean Kingston has wisely jumped on the bandwagon for the first single from his upcoming sophomore album Tomorrow. Fuzzed up bass lines, potent vocals, and a clear call to head to the dance floor stand a good chance of making this a summer smash and demonstrate RedOne's success with Lady GaGa is no fluke.
Pros
- Clarion call to the dance floor
- Sean Kingston's energetic vocals
- Fuzzed up bass tracks
Cons
- Standard synth dance sound
Description
- Written by K.Anderson, N.Khayat, and B.Hajji
- Produced by RedOne
- Released April 2009 by Beluga Heights
Guide Review - Sean Kingston - "Fire Burning"
Every summer needs a big dance smash, and it's quite possible that in 2009 it will be Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning." With confident pop-dance production from RedOne, the man behind Lady GaGa's smash hits, Sean Kingston has moved beyond the cuteness of "Beautiful Girls" and reliance on sampling past pop and rock hits. There is not a lot of lyrical depth here, but not much is needed to get pop fans to the floor in the summer.
RedOne has mastered the difficult craft of putting together songs that sound great on the radio, through headphones, and booming at a party. There is plenty of room for remixing for the club, but an unadulterated "Fire Burning" would do well on its own. Sean Kingston's Jamaican accent is still strongly present, but his vocals do have a new confidence and clarity that rise powerfully above the mix.
Many fans and critics saw Sean Kingston's rise as little more than a novelty, but "Fire Burning" is a strong statement for sticking around. Due to his unique voice, there is no mistaking this is a Sean Kingston record. However, this is a move forward and no hint of sameness with his first album. "Somebody call 911!"
