Album-Review: Diana King - AgirLnaMeKing

by Justine Amadori Ketola

11/08/2011

Diana King, Jamaica's #1 selling female with over 5 million units sold worldwide of her debut album Tougher Than Love has returned on her third release, AgirLnaMeKing.  She trods ground that is similar to that followed in her past success formula with lyrics that explore love and romance seasoned with a mix of Jamaican patois and rhythm ideas,  R&B styled vocal runs and dance beats.  What is different is her approach,  as this is the first time she produced and wrote several of the songs herself. 

She was propelled to pursue this creative direction after a recent diagnosis with the debilitating autoimmune disease, Multiple Sclerosis, when she was told that she may not walk again.  She turned this diagnosis around and began pursuing natural methods to reverse the effects, rejecting the traditional drugs that the doctors suggested.

During the time that she could not perform, she found therapy in writing.  King had always written her own songs but had never produced, so she became certified in the Pro Tools writing and recording software platform and taught herself to play the piano well enough to produce what she was hearing in her head.  The more she wrote, the more her symptoms miraculously disappeared.  By the time she finished she had written nearly 100 songs.

The 13-song set released now as AgirLnaMeKing includes songs that were released in Japan under the album title, Warrior Gurl.  Through her company ThinkLikeAgirl Music Inc., she signed a licensing deal with Warner Music Japan for an alternate set of these self-produced tracks.  This deal allows her to maintain 100% ownership of her music.  

As for the concept behind the company Diana explained,  in an interview last year with the Jamaica Gleaner, "I do think like a girl. Most of my songs are about being in a relationship, love and tenderness. I chose think like a girl because I wanted to focus on female artistes. The pressure they face is not equal to that faced by men. In many things, it's like that."
On the new album she is joined by some of her collaborators from the past including Handel Tucker, who co-wrote the lead track Yu Dun Kno along with Paul Kastick and the singer Gunjan Singh who is featured on what is a moody, Indian chant combined with a modern rhythmic sound.  The song sets the tone for the album and for the new Diana, an updated version of a classic. 

The next tune, Jeanz N T Shirt is a message straight to the hype heads and swaggerific scenesters, those obsessed with their appearance and the pursuit of the extreme to get attention. Diana declares, "Simple life me love me simple life,  me bare foot with me long skirts" and "the glamourous things them no phase me, look inna me heart and you will see my beauty. Simple life, love the simple love, love me Jeanz and me T Shirt, love me sneakers with a little dirt, pin stripe suit and me Converse….."

King moves into Warrior Gurl which makes a bold case for both her comeback and her challenges, with lyrics like "strength is never a curse, some people have it much worse."  It begins in a ballad tempo and at around 3 minutes the track shifts into a wild run in dance rhythms and high energy vocal exercise for the next 2+ minutes, a version destined for dance floors globally no doubt.

The slow reggae-tinged groove on Closer is like a slow jam from back in the day, aiming  to remind the love interest, that there is no love as deep, fiery, sweet or comforting, "I'll wrap you up in my comforter, burn you up in my fire, make you stronger when you weaker…"  the heights of love's passion reached here. 

With Bad Gyal, King is really providing some motivation for the females. The vibe and energy of it feels like a perfect fit for the runways of the fashion industry.  This song has some bubbling percussion sounds and programming that was developed with assistance from Norris Webb.

On what is the most personal ode to a love interest,  Boobai King marvels at the good fortune of finding love after some bad experiences. "Giving thanks that the rain washed over me, cause now I am nice and clean and I feel just like a queen."   Juxtaposing this is the song  Bruises which addresses the downside of passion and romance, domestic violence.

Proud asks "What have you done today, to make you proud?"  an inspiring note to self, to be more conscious of one's actions, with a wonderful woy yoy type of reggae refrain, her signature detail, mixing the roots with the contemporary, making the message accessible to many. Michael Jackson's passing is paid tribute through the tune Mi-Cha-el which she pronounces in the ancient form, lamenting his passing, and reminding us that she grew up with his music, he was with her when she was a child.   The bonus tune  Murdaraa uses the patois as metaphor, "killing you with my passion, killing you with my niceness…."   Indeed Diana King, do your thing!