Back in 2008, the Tickle City Award Committee posted about an extremely ticklish funk song by the Brothers Johnson called Strawberry Letter 22.
The post must have made an impression on the music industry, because Strawberry Letter 22 has just been given a hot R&B remix featuring Akon. It’s certainly a different interpretation than the classic funk versions (the song was written by the soulful Shuggie Otis before finding more success with the Brothers Johnson), and this has lead to initial disapproval by some fans.
However, the song is actually part of a new project by Quincy Jones, the famous composer-trumpeter-producer. Jones happens to be the very same man who produced the Brothers Johnson version and made it a hit in the first place.
Akon’s voice is a nice complement to the light and fluttery notes and he does a good job with the chorus; it’ll be hard to get out of your head.
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on June 24th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
You need a ticklish (aka ‘like’) button!
on June 24th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
That’s a great idea! It’s easy to add a Facebook like button, but they don’t really let you customize it… We’ll keep looking into it to see what the best way.
on July 20th, 2010 at 7:06 am
Sorry, but the ‘new’ version by Akon falls flat. He and Quincy have twisted this classic beyond recognition, and that’s shameful.
Brothers Johnson made this song what it was, and is, to this day, and some respect for that should have been observed. And by Quincy Jones, of all people!
It was never intended to be a RAP song (or whatever Akon’s doing to it here), but a sweet, funky soulful pop slice of joy.
on July 20th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
It’s a bold departure from the Brothers Johnson version for sure. I can definitely see how those true to the original funky notes would resist this new sound. I even hesitated the first couple listens…
I still think it’s a creative move by Quincy, especially in the context of his whole new album of interesting remixes. And we should also remember that the Brothers Johnson was also a BIG change in sound from the original Shuggie Otis version.
on July 20th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
True… there will always be those of us ‘old school’ folk going kicking and screaming into the night with change…
😉
on July 21st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Yeah, if you’re making a radical change to any song then some harsh critics are unavoidable. For what it’s worth, I do think the Brothers Johnson version is superior though…