What day is it ????
Photo: YouTube
“Friday” was hyperpop for hyperpop: born of the internet, edited in oblivion, bordering on parody and bubbling with energy. Calling the number good or bad is almost reductive; it is, to say the least, far from being the ‘worst song ever’ label that sparked years of bullying and fear of Black. More so, it’s fun – hard to like, sure, but impossible to hate, let alone sing or dance when it comes up. It’s made with the same playful attitude that most good hyper-pop is rewarded for today, which is why the stacked hyperpop remix for Friday’s 10th anniversary this week actually makes a lot of sense.
On paper, the ‘Friday’ remix has the best lineup to hit hyperpop since 100 cs ‘ringtone’ remixed with Charli XCX, Kero Kero Bonito and Rico Nasty. Black’s team consists of provocateur Dorian Electra, crunkcore pranksters 3OH! 3 and Queen of Bounce Big Freedia, featuring the cs’ new sought-after Dylan Brady. And there is reason to believe that all of these musicians would work well together: Electra links with Black on their own song “Edgelord”; 3OH! 3 just tapped 100 cs for the surprise return to form “Lonely Machines”; Freedia has been the glue for other stacked lineups such as Charli XCX’s “Shake It”; Brady spearheaded that striking 100 cs remix.
And when particles collide on this new ‘Friday’ mishmash, they make a delicious mess. Each guy sounds like they’re trying to make a different song, and despite what Brady does to stage Black’s original song, he can’t sew all the parts together. That’s not to say that every artist doesn’t belong in the song. Electra slides on the track best with a few short lines; it’s clear they’ve worked with Black and know their way around a Brady beat. Freedia brings signature high energy levels and it’s good to hear she’s getting real lines rather than just some ad-libs. And it is appropriate at 3OH! 3, who experienced their own wave of criticism for creating music that is questionably good but undeniably enjoyable. If Black and her team had come back with a polished song meant to rewrite ‘Friday’ history, it just wouldn’t feel right. (Not to mention, Black is already working on proving her pop abilities on her new song ‘Girlfriend’, not that she needs it.) So instead, Black and her associates just gave us more folly and joy – simply presented as a haphazardly wrapped gift.
Some great collaborations practically come with a listener scorecard, but not this one. No artist will jump on a ‘Friday’ remix to show how well they can compete with their peers; they hop on “Friday” for a good time. So what if it’s an exaggeration?