Racking Up Plays: “Bright Lights, Bigger City” by Cee Lo Green

For the inaugural post on All the City Lights, here’s a look at an appropriately titled song that’s currently getting a lot of plays on the ol’ iPod:

“Bright Lights, Bigger City,” Cee Lo Green

What’s more shameless? Building a song around a barrage of F-bombs or totally aping the bassline to “Billie Jean”? Either gimmick could be a complete disaster, but Cee Lo Green has managed to do both on his latest solo album and still come away looking classy.

Surely by this point everybody and their disapproving grandmother has heard the Atlanta rapper/singer’s profane kiss-off anthem, “Fuck You.” While it’s certainly an amusing stunt, the track off The Lady Killer that has really captured my attention is “Bright Lights, Bigger City.” It’s a less retro affair, but the vocal half of Gnarls Barkley brings the same soulful singing and almost-over-the-top production to the party.

Furthermore, the man born Thomas Callaway and his songwriting partners have crafted perhaps the ideal “getting ready for a night on the town” pop song. (Sorry, Loverboy, your time has come and gone.) I don’t recommend examining the lyrics too closely — there are some clunkers in there. Just put the song on the stereo next time you’re splashing on aftershave or shrouding yourself in perfume, and get to ready ride along with Cee Lo on a wave of “alriiiiiiiiiight.”