I experienced this single on two occasions. The second time, forgetting the first entirely. The first time I heard it on the radio and I quite embarrassingly thought, “What knobhead is singing about the Crimea River? Ooooooh … dammit!” I didn’t find out whom it was by. Obviously. Then I saw it on the television and thought, “Ooooh he hasn’t covered that Julie London song from 1956, destroying all memory of her lush, downy drawl, has he?” [The wonders of an internet search], but no, it was indeed found to be neither, on later reference. Thank fuck.

He was a flunky, lackey muppet - mostly in a mediocre boyband, but occasionally in some wannabe strumpet. Doesn’t look too good does it? But clearly it was he that was bringing the *hip-hop beats *to the streets of his little world. It was going to be him that was going to build upon his unfeasibly and unfairly large fanbase. Damn him. He so should’ve failed.

Instead he’s actually managed to ‘Justify’ himself in his work that among other essential things (decent tunes, lamo lyrics, sexy promo vids) has the vital production of the Neptunes/Timbaland behind it. Obviously that’s wicked.

It’s lo-fi but mo’fo, all at once; it’s digital but orchestral, at the same time; it’s credible, but still naggingly pretentious. You _have _to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially seeing that some of the best in hip-hop have taken time out to help the urchin out of the hovel boyband territory that he trod so efficiently for so many years.

This level of success and quality splits boybands up. More, please, goddammit.