I Like It (Enrique Iglesias) - Review

For some odd reason, superstar Enrique Iglesias tends to have hit-or-miss successes in the US. Despite a string of consistently quality pop fare, consumers don't always get him. He tends to ride a similar (but more fortunate) line to Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams. The US pop market is surprisingly insular, and simply tonal or lyrical variances play needlessly large roles in musical success. Sadly homogenous, but getting better over the last decade.

With "I Like It," Iglesias may have found the perfect combination. The lead English single from both his upcoming album Euphoria and the Jersey Shore Soundtrack (which he amusingly admitted to Ryan Seacrest he's never watched), RedOne, Pitbull, and even Lionel Richie team up to create possibly the best pop single of the year so far. Enrique's not-so-bad-boy image is front and center as he weaves a suggestive tale of dancefloor shenanigans that come across more cute than dangerous.

The production is top-notch, hitting all the trendy notes without seeming generic. With Lady Gaga and David Guetta, the dance craze is still in full swing, and this hasn't gone unnoticed by any of the players here. The genre is more suited to Enrique's vocal styling than the previously dominating pop-rock or pop-hop. Enrique soars on each "Baby, I like it!" with a confidence that seemed a little lacking on his last English studio effort.

From the smart appropriation of "All Night Long (All Night)" to the Michael Jackson allusions during the falsetto section, this track hits all the right notes without ever seeming to try too hard. All in all a surprisingly solid and unexpected release. Time will tell if the US catches onto this one. Hopefully they well, 'cause, well... I like it.

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