The Problem With.. Enrique Iglesias’ “I Like It”

Here we go again: Another star from a decade ago is making a come back this summer, armed with the beats of today and processed robot vocals–and, yet, it’s another song that isn’t about robots!

Enrique Iglesias was a big part of the the late ’90s “Latin Explosion”
phenomenon. Surely, you remember him: He was the one who looked good, but couldn’t sing at all?

Last I remember of Enrique was the tear-jerker single “Hero.” He hasn’t
done much of note since, except for “Escape” in ’03. Oh, and Anna
Kournikova.

His latest single, “I Like It,” includes those
industrial-influenced beats by RedOne and even a guest spot from Pitbull,
who once punched an audience member for throwing money at him.

(You
see, folks, live audiences can throw shit at a performer with impunity.
All performers can do-without getting the police on them-is threaten
to leave the stage. I feel that. But money? That’s a sweet deal,
and I wouldn’t care if someone threw that at me, even if just to make some spiteful stripper joke.)

Anyway, the track starts with Enrique yelling out “One Love!,” a phrase one hears
from hippies nowadays, and usually as a goodbye. I was ready to check
out when he said it, but apparently there was a whole song to go through afterward–a
whole song featuring over-produced vocals and entire lines of interjections.

Uh-oh!

A
part of this track even samples a line out of Lionel Richie’s “All Night
Long”. Why it’s there at all, I have no idea. Maybe the video can explain? Not really: It just shows Enrique balancing Matrix-style on a couch (was Richie’s
“Dancing on the Ceiling” an inspiration?) around good-looking women. And then there’s an impromptu pillow fight
with good-looking women, to boot.

Sounds a bit like a dream I had once…
but for some reason, I couldn’t turn off the sink. Why!?!?!?!

But I digress. Back, one last time, to the song and how I feel about it. In short: No
me gusta.