Jamiroquai - (Don't) Give Hate A Chance (Sony BMG)
UK release date: 7 November 2005
Love him or hate him, it's impossible to deny that Jay Kay has a
knack of implanting his songs in the consciousness, making sure they take
root after several listens. In fact the same happy trick has been
associated with the band ever since they were out of short trousers,
continuing to produce respectable funk for the home stereo. And yet this
most recent addition left me strangely unmoved.
The discofied number seems innocuous enough on first listen, but it
lacks the immediate charm of previous single Seven Days In Sunny June. Once
again though, it happens... after a few attempts, there he is in the back of
your mind, exhorting; "Don't you wanna rise up". After a while, however, this
fades from memory, leaving the most interesting feature as the particularly
athletic bass line, which manages to save the track from losing any sort of
momentum.
Very much an album track, this, and though Jamiroquai may note that
"we've been giving hate a chance", it's unlikely this will win any new
converts for the love-in they desire.