Here’s an upbeat song for a happy Monday — it is still Labor Day Weekend, after all — “Magic” from B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo.
The rise of Atlanta alternative hip-hop artist B.o.B. (aka Bobby Ray Simmons) has been one of the most pleasant surprises in pop in recent months. He’s landed three consecutive Billboard Top 10 singles from his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, released in late April. First there was “Nothin’ On You,” his #1 hit featuring Bruno Mars, followed by “Airplanes,” featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore, which came in for a #2 landing. (I think the Adventures bonus track take of “Airplanes,” on which Eminem is also on board is better.)
Last week, “Magic” reached #10, before dropping a notch to #11. But now that B.o.B. has released a music video for the song, coupled with his upcoming performance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (he’s nominated for five awards), I bet B.o.B. is gonna work a little more “Magic” and get right back up there.
Produced by Dr. Luke (the current subject of a Billboard cover story), B.o.B. wrote “Magic” with Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, who delivers the hook on the best pop song to feature “Ah-ooooooh” since Shakira’s “She Wolf.” It’s also the track on which B.o.B.’s flow sounds most like Andre 3000. So it’s fitting that in the video for “Magic,” the new Polaroid 300 makes a cameo appearance.
Take a break while you’re resting today from your typical labors, turn up “Magic,” and shake it like, well, you get the picture:
Purchase B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo – “Magic” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.