Music Review: Nivea "Don't Mess With The Radio"

Nivea

Don’t Mess With The Radio

Album: Nivea

Year: 2001

         Nivea gets anal-retentive while driving in the bossy   “Don’t Mess With The Radio.”

                   Straitlaced synths open the single, setting an uptight tone. The chorus starts the single. Her friend gets into the car and reaches for the radio. She sets the rules right away and tells her to leave the radio alone. Since she’s the one with the keys, she doesn’t need directions. She’s a great driver so no commentary. Then, she tells her friend it’s going to be fun and to live in the moment while following every rule of hers. (“One, don't mess with the radio/Two, don't tell me which way to go/Three, just leave it up to me cause/Four, you ridin with a pro/Five, you gotta leave it all behind/Six, we bout to get up in the mix now/Seven, everyday is a blessing/Eight, don't make no mistake about one.”)

                 She had an urge to go somewhere. She decided to dress down in jeans and a t-shirt. Yet, she still get compliments from people. School’s over for the week and she wants to relax. She thinks they’ll go the everyone’s favorite diner and hang out there. Once she gets there, the real fun will begin. (“I'm just riding out trying to figure out/What's up, this feeling can't be controlled/Trying not to look so fly and it's 3:25 but I'm ready to roll/Cause I've been waiting all week just to find/A party just to get out and jam/My destination's unclear/Cause I know the party's wherever I am.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

            She looks at the clock hanging over by the kitchen of the diner. It’s 9 pm. Some of her friends are still eating. She rolls her eyes. She is so ready to go. She gets her keys out and makes noise on the table with them to get their attention. Her friends give her dirty looks but she doesn’t care. She is so over the restraurant. (“Now that the hour is nine, time to check for this dime/Breakin hearts at the door/No time for standing in line/The beat is playin’ in my spine and I can't take it no more/Throw your hands up, let's cut this rug up/And party like it ain't no thang/We can do it all night til the daylight/No, it ain't no shame in my game, yeah.”)

                The chorus is sung three times to end the single.

               Nivea has been told she’s been special far too many times. She has to be the one everyone has to be pay attention to. She even tells her friends who to date. She’s the girl other people pass in the halls, purposely in front of everyone in her clique.

             The dictariorial  “Don’t Mess With The Radio” is a killjoy, ruining the fun before it can even start.