Music Review: Nicole Scherzinger "Poison"

Nicole Scherzinger

Poison

Album: Killer Love

Year: 2010

         Nicole Scherzinger revels in breaking boys in the postmodern  “Poison.”

             Futuristic synths open the single,  setting a metropolitan tone.  Every word she says has a purpose. She will get the guy she’s been eyeing on to like her. She finally has manipulated him into a corner. He’s staring into her eyes, wondering if he should make a move. She moves from her hands from his chest to his waist. (“Got venom dripping from my lips/Know who you're about to kiss/Think that you can handle it, boy, it's on/Just step into the danger zone/Shake it if you wanna roll, never bend/Just take control, stakes are on.”)

            In the pre-chorus, she says she’s the aggressive type and isn’t ashamed of it. (“So sick, get a grip, gonna stick to a stick/I don't think that I can stop this/Pick it up, let it drop, when it drops slip it up/Oh no, I'll never stop.”)

         In the chorus, she’s going to flirt with every man she sees. She’ll get them to fall for her and then she’ll leave them for another one just for fun. (“That bad girl power I got, I'll abuse it tonight/Cause tonight got poison on my mind/That power I got you'll be mine when I stay till real late/Got poison on my mind/I got that poison (uh huh), I got that poison (uh huh)/I got that poison, that poison on my mind/I got that poison (uh huh), I got that poison (uh huh)/I got that poison, that poison on my mind.”)

               She places her hand on the guy’s hand and it nearly slips off. The guy is sweating. She’s simply interested in getting laid. However, he’s pretty enough that she’ll think of him long after. (“So cool out, let her in the scene/Cause tonight I need to kiss a sexy little dirty scream, yeah, it's on/Then I get you in my sleep, it ought to be extreme/You're so cool, baby, you're so mean (Turn me on, turn me on.”)

              The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

               In the bridge, she repeats most of what’s been said already. (“I got that poison, that poison, that poison/I'll make you fall in love with me (Turn me on, turn me on)/I got that poison, that poison, that poison/I'll make you fall in love with me (Turn me on, turn me on)/That bad girl power I got, I'll abuse it tonight/Got poison on my mind/That power I got, you'll be mine till the light/Got poison on my mind.”)

                           The chorus is sung again to end the single.

                          Scherzinger has too much attitude. She’s still in Pussycat Doll mode instead of creating her own persona outside of it. The single is too good for her.

                       The untraceable “Poison” may have been truly killer with either Lady Gaga or Jennifer Lopez.