Search - Nelly Furtado :: Turn Off the Light

Turn Your Lights Down Low. . .

Busy Body | London, England | 05/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When she first burst onto the scene in late 2000, Nelly Furtado made a very big impression. With a unique, if nasal, voice that made you stand up and take notice, she commanded respect from the very beginning. The first thing you noticed about her is that she was cool - very cool. A 20 year old Canadian chick singing about being a bird was different and very exciting. Was she the new Alanis Morissette? The new Fiona Apple? The new Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan? No, she was none of these because Nelly is different to them all in that she is individual and completely unique from anything else out there. Her debut album "Whoa, Nelly!" was hailed by many critics as one of the most diverse and varied-sounding albums in years and she picked up much praise for this. The album went Platinum and sold around 7 million copies worldwide, making Nelly an international superstar. There wasn't many artists who had a bright and shining career ahead of them, but Miss Furtado was definitely one of them!"Turn Off The Light" was the second single to be taken from Nelly's debut album after the infectious pop of "I'm Like A Bird." This second single was completely different from her debut single - it was much more mature. Granted, it took a few listens to truly sink in, but once it did, you found a much more acceptable and almost bearable Furtado on the few remaining members of the public who had not already fallen madly in love with her. It was with this second single that Nelly's album sales started to soar around the world by the millions. And with a ditty this fresh and catchy, who could resist it? The song opens with the soft, gentle hum of men who harmonize the song in preperation for Nelly's arrival. Scratching is present, along with all sorts of dark, jungle-like noises that set the tone. Nelly then starts singing the verse after a rather lengthy intro, "It's getting so lonely inside this bed. Don't know if I should lick my wounds, say woe is me instead. And there's an aching inside my head. It's telling me you're better off alone." Nelly then sings the bridge, "But after midnight, morning will come and the day will see if you will get some."Nelly then sings the brilliant chorus, "They say that girl, you know, she acts too tough tough tough. Well, it's 'til I turn off the light, turn off the light. They say that girl, you know, she acts so rough rough rough. Well, it's 'til I turn off the light, turn off the light. And I say follow me, follow me, follow me down down down down 'til you see all my dreams. Not everything in this magical world is quite what it seems." Nelly then sings the second verse, "I looked above the other day. Cuz I think I'm good and ready for a change. I live my life by the moon (by the moon). If it's high play it low, if it's harvest go slow and if it's full, then go." Nelly then sings the bridge and chorus again.Nelly then gets into the best part of the song which is a middle section where she sings, "I'm searching for things that I just cannot see. Why don't you, don't you, don't you come and be with me? I pretend to be cool with me, wanna to believe. That I can do it on my own without my heart on my sleeve. I'm running, I'm running, catch up with me life. Where is the love that I'm looking to find? It's all in me, can't you see, why can't you, why can't you see? It's all in me, yeah!" The song then breaks into a fantastic guitar solo which is definitely influenced by Nelly's Portuguese roots. She then sings the chorus a few more times and sounds the song out as she wails and cries, "Where can you turn? Where is your logic? Who do you need?" The crickets buzz, and the song slowly fades out. The video to this song is probably Nelly's best video to date, and it's very atmopsheric and misty. Love it. Not really much else to say really! Buy this now, it's a highlight in Nelly's career so far!"