Normani, Motivation | Track Review 🎵

[usr 3.5]

Continually ascending R&B/pop artist Normani delivers a sexy, surefire summer bop with her highly ‘motivating’ single, “Motivation.”

“(And when we’re done) I don’t wanna feel my legs / (And when we’re done) I just wanna feel your hands all over me, baby.”  Yeah, that was some “Motivation” Kelly Rowland.  And once more, we have “Motivation” only this time it comes courtesy of Normani.  A member of Fifth Harmony who are on an indefinite hiatus, she’s already experienced success beyond the group with big-time collaborations with Khalid (“Love Lies”) and Sam Smith (“Dancing with a Stranger”).  Can “Motivation” give her another hit? Perhaps.

Whether fair or not, the reason I cited Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation” is because of the thematic similarity to “Motivation” by Normani.  The connecting piece between both songs is S-E-X.  The sexual innuendo is ripe, with the chorus exemplifies what’s going down:

“I’ma break you off, let me be your motivation
To stay and give it tonight
And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation
Hey, ‘cause I do it so right
Think about it, ooh, I think about it
Think about it, ooh, take a look at me now
Hey, a little motivation, alright.”

In this case, Normani is the motivation herself, asserting how great she is.  “You got a bad one, baby, don’t you?” she sings on the second verse, later adding, “‘Cause you know that there’s no / One better, boy, no one better, boy.”  The lyrics are pretty basic, chocked-full of repetition, but easily and successfully convey the point.  The production is well-rounded, fitting for quickly ascending R&B star.

Final Thoughts

So, how good is “Motivation” by Normani? All in all, it’s a bop even if it’s not ‘the second coming.’ The record is well sung and well produced, with Normani exhibiting plenty of attitude and exuding sexiness.  Won’t change your life, but your summer playlist is better for it.

[usr 3.5]

Normani • Motivation [Single] • Keep Cool / RCA • Release: 8.16.19

Photo Credits: Keep Cool / RCA