Bambi | 3BOPS

1. Clairo, “Bambi”

💿 SLING • 🏷 Fader / Republic • 📅 2021

“I’m stepping inside a universe / Designed against my own beliefs…” 🎵 “Bambi” sets the tone of 💿 SLING, the sophomore album by 🎙 Clairo (Claire Cottrill).  Here, Cottrill establishes SLING is going a starkly different direction compared to her debut album, 💿 Immunity. Following a stunning intro, Cottrill sings beautifully with poise and restraint.

“… They’re toying with me and tapping their feet / The work’s laid out, cut out to the seams / It’s not that I crave any more company.” Notably, the musicianship exhibited on “Bambi” continues throughout the course of the album. I adore the use of keys, guitar, and various wind instruments on “Bambi” (🎛 Jack Antonoff puts in work on the production). Besides gorgeous, thoughtful music – the backdrop is picturesque – the songwriting is elite too as Cottrill reflects on her music career and the resulting fame.

“Once I make a choice to move forward, I’ll take
I’ll take a picture for your locker.”

2. Jidenna, “Bambi”

💿 The Chief • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2017

“Bambi, Bambi / My dear, my dear, my dear / My dear, I want you here / But don’t get too near for there’s lions beware.” Um, okay… 🎙 Jidenna first created a buzz back in 2015 with a single entitled 🎵 “Classic Man” (“I’m a classic man / You can be mean when you look this clean, I’m a classic man”).  In 2017, the Nigerian American rapper/singer quietly released his debut album, 💿 The Chief. 🎵 “Bambi” marks one of the best moments from The Chief.

Rather than rapping, Jidenna sings, creating contrast. Everyone who’s been following the “Classic Man” knew he possessed singing and rapping abilities, this marks the first instance he focuses exclusively on singing. The only time he drifts from singing is the bridge, pop-rapping briefly. Ultimately, it is a fantastic record that plays superbly into his Nigerian roots.

“Oh Bambi, it’s my design
To run the jungle, I must be a lion
Or be a cheetah but neither is fine
Don’t wanna hurt my dear love of my life.”

3. BAEKHYUN 백현, “Bambi”

💿 Bambi • 🏷 SM Entertainment • 📅 2021

K-pop has solidified its spot in pop music in the United States, period.  🎙 BAEKHYUN marks one of the genre’s stars.  Not only is he a solo artist, but he also is a member of several groups, including 🎙 EXO and 🎙 SuperM. BAEKHYUN sounds fantastic on the R&B-infused 🎵 “Bambi,” the second track (and title track) from his 2021 EP, 💿 Bambi – The 3^rd Mini Album.

“Bambi,” expectedly, is performed almost exclusively in Korean – it is K-Pop, after all!  Regardless, without being able to understand most of the lyrics, it’s clear BAEKHYUN is dabbling in L-O-V-E.  We get confirmation of this on the chorus, where he references Bambi numerous times, and specifically asserts, “You’re so precious, I can’t take it / You are dream, Bambi, Bambi.” Also worth noting, in the few English lyrics, he mentions Tinkerbell (“Tinkerbell… Make me fly high”) and Neverland, all noted Disney gems. BAEKHYUN’s singing is fantastic, particularly his falsetto.  He rides the smooth, lush production work like a champ.