Music Review: Cassie "Long Way 2 Go"

Cassie

Long Way 2 Go

Album: Cassie

Year: 2006

         Cassie puts the aggressive guys in their place in the stiff  “Long Way 2 Go.”

            Mousy synths open the single, setting a plain tone.  The nerve of some guys irks her. She was talking with a guy at a party. All of sudden, he went behind her and started rubbing her shoulders. She propped her arms on the counter and tried shaking his hands off. However, he kept going. A male voice interjects, surprised. She said, it’s true. She used to think that trick was sweet. Until the guy started touching her on her breasts and wouldn’t listen when she told him to stop. She has learned to become self-reliant. She works full-time and pays all of her bills. Shes’ fortunate that if she sees something she likes, she can buy it. Those type of guys would try to take down a peg. They have a lot of growing up to do before she would even consider dating them. (“I love it when they try to get intimate/Even though they know I really ain't into it/(You're not into it?) I'm not into it/I already know the game and I've been through it/See I buy my own bags, my boots, my jeans/Wear La Rok with my Rebel Yell underneath/You wanna step to me?/Said you gotta long way 2 go (Rock wit me now.”)

          In the pre-chorus, they are in love with themselves, stating they are gorgeous and would easily satisfy her with a simple touch. They use cheesy pickup lines while pretending to be ironic. She chats with them a little. However, each time she refuses to go home with them, they ignore her. They like to pit their girlfriend against her, planning schemes for her to run into them. The compliments are heaped upon her while trashing the girlfriend once she asks them what it’s all about. (“You claim that you're so hot/And you say you got skills in the bedroom/You try to flirt when you're so not/Had a chance you still never come through/You say you wanna come and see me/Cause you know your girlfriend wanna be me (Uh)/I'mma tell you why you can't/Said you gotta long way 2 go/Say you wanna love me?”)

          In the chorus, she tells the guys to back off and leave her alone. They don’t have a chance. They begin to protest, telling her she doesn’t know what’s she missing. She tells them they don’t want to mess with her. (“Wanna love me? Wanna touch me?/Think twice cause you gotta long way 2 go/Don't know howda act, bettah fall back/It's like that cause you gotta long way 2 go/It's not that deep, take it easy, you wanna please me?/Got a long way 2 go, I'mma bad girl/You wanna get close? Ease up cause you gotta a long way.”)

           She found out of one of her dates had a fiancee who was pregnant with his baby. A week ago, he made dinner plans with her. After hearing the news, she told him she wouldn’t be able to make it. She doesn’t want to be involved in that drama. It should’ve tipped her off then that he was giving her too much information. Then, she figured out why he did it. The surprised male voice interjects again and she tells him that guys like him couldn’t even be honest with themselves.  (“I love it when they try to get scandalous/Even though they know they really can't handle it/(They can't handle it?) They can't handle it/Try and take me out to dinner, I'll cancel it/If you really wanna know me first of all/You should never try to get too personal/Cause I meant it when I said:/That you gotta long way to go.”)

               The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

                 The pre-chorus doubles as the bridge.

                  The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

                  Cassie’s tinny half-spoken delivery lacks a steely attitude.  Midway through, it’s as though she’s bored and lost interest. She sighs and pauses. Any second, it’s expected for her to say “Line?”

                   The  laborious “Long Way 2 Go” must have some entertaining outtakes.