Search - Timbaland :: Way I Are

Excellent song, but what the single itself offers isn't quit

MisterMusicFan | 08/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Way I Are" is the astoundingly good second single from Timbaland's album 'Shock Value,' and it is by far one of the very best from the album. It features up-and-comer Keri Hilson, who I've already become hooked on through not just this but several other songs and hit singles she's been featured on-I'm eager to give her solo work a listen when it comes out. She's already a well-known songwriter, but she's also an excellent vocalist, and gives this song a gorgeously infectious hook. Timbaland has once again concocted a beat that won't leave your head anytime soon, this time sampling the hooks from both Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" into something entirely sleek, sexy, and new. The lyrics are also bizarrely endearing, despite how funnily they're worded. This single release was definitely needed, since I found the album version of "The Way I Are" very good, but far too short, clocking in at less than 3 minutes. This single features both the 'Extended Version' and the 'Timbaland VS Nephew' rock remix. The 'Extended Version' is actually the video version, which features Sebastian along with Keri and D.O.E. The extended version is great, mainly since it has an addictive ending sequence, with Keri and Timbaland's chorus being looped over a dreamlike, hip-pop backbeat (watch the music video if you want to know exactly what this version sounds like). This song definitely has some hip-hop edge, but it's also very pop-accessible, which would explain why it became so big in the UK. The rock remix featuring Danish band Nephew is also very good, and will appeal to those who are bigger rock than pop or hip-hop fans. It's definitely interesting hearing the song's beat with a rock-styled production. In this remix, Timbaland's portion of the chorus is replaced and meshed with one of Nephew's own songs, and it does work surprisingly well. While these two tracks are great, it's disappointing that the 'Radio Edit' version isn't included-this version features just Keri Hilson and removes the raps from both D.O.E. and Sebastian. It's excellent for those who like the pop assets of the song most, and it contains an even longer version of the amazing ending sequence. Unfortunately, that version is only available on the international version of this single and the UK iTunes store (which I am lucky enough to have an account on), so it may or may not be available to those of us living in the U.S. It's also obviously in general a bit disappointing to have a CD with only two tracks, even if it is a single, and because this song is so great, it would've been nicer to have more versions and remixes included. Regardless, this is a pretty good buy if you're wanting one of the longer versions of "Way I Are" and the most popular remix."