Diana King first hit us in 1995 with her single "Shy Guy," an uptempo,
R&B "crossover" song laced with a little reggae. It was a fun tune
that allowed King's personality and vocal style to radiate. Despite her
strong voice, she does not deliver with the same infectious style this
time around.
King's sophomore effort is unmoving in the way of melody, lyrical content
or production. The songs are bland and formulaic, even with her Island
twist. On songs like "Supa-Lova-Bwoy" King's talent is lost in lackluster
construction and a feeble attempt to mesh R&B, pop and contemporary
reggae.
The title cut, "Think Like a Girl," aside from inviting the question of exactly what Diana means by that, makes you wonder if this is 1997 or 1987. Its dated feel, tinny percussion and boring background vocals don't provide the essential nuances that make great songs great.
King, as many performers do these days, presents some remakes; Dionne Warwick's classic "I Say a Little Prayer" and Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Recording remakes are a grand opportunity for an artist to update and pay tribute to a wonderful song while showcasing her own style. These renditions miss the mark by not following the remake rule: if you can't make it better, make it different. Neither is done here on these watered down versions of songs that were original and melodically contagious the first time around.
King has a better and more interesting voice than her material allows. She has the power and presence to make a definitive and modern mark on the music world, but sadly, Think Like a Girl sounds empty and thoughtless.