Ronald Isley, “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” | Track Review 🎵

Musical icons Ronald Isley and The Isley Brothers enlist superstar Beyoncé for a superb remake of the 1975 Isley classic, 🎵 “Make Me Say It Again Girl.”

In case you weren’t aware, 🎙 Ronald Isley, the lead vocalist for the iconic soul collective, 🎙 The Isley Brothers, is a young, 81 years old.  Back in 2021, he released a song readymade for a cookout, 🎵 “Friends & Family”.  In 2022, he returns with a new version of The Isley Brothers classic, 🎵 “Make Me Say It Again, Girl”.  Joining him on this remake is none other than… 🎙 Beyoncé.  What? Yes, Beyoncé collaborates with Ronald Isley for the very first time, with superb results.

Did 🎵 “Make Me Say It Again Girl, Pts. 1 & 2” require a remake? Of course not.  The original, from the 1975 album, 💿 The Heat Is On, is awesome.  That said, this rework is legit. The smooth pipes of Ronald Isley remain elite – it’s truly surprising he’s in his eighth decade.  Furthermore, Beyoncé proves to be the perfect duet partner, showing how refined her instrument truly is.  She’s duetted with other veteran artists (those many years her senior) many times, and the results never fail to impress.  Given the timbre of Isley’s voice, as well as her own distinct pipes, the chemistry between the two is epic.  “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” reduces the length of the seven-and-a-half-minute original to five-and-a-quarter minutes, still giving the listener that lusciousness, sigh.

Final Thoughts 💭 

No, 🎵 “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” won’t change your life, or the face of R&B music, but this remake is absolutely beautiful! The familiarity of the record bodes in its favor, of course.  That said, adding Beyoncé also adds new freshness and introduces this joint to an entirely new audience.  All in all, this is a well-rounded, totally worthwhile record.

🎙 Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers • 🎵 “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” • 🏷 RI Top Ten • 🗓 8.12.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, RI Top Ten]