Marina and the Diamonds – Radioactive

So, an interesting turn here from Ms. Marina. The Stargate-produced (Katy Perry, Beyonce, Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow”) “Radioactive” is a big dance pop song. Like worldwide #1 big. Very interesting. Marina’s turn here reminds a bit of Jewel’s 2003 record “Intuition” which although was parody of that era’s pop music sound/visual affectations, behind that parody-front though “Intuition” was, at its heart, still the attempt of an artist to maintain relevance. (This was essentially Jewel’s last pop record). “Radioactive” seems to play that way. Marina doesn’t need “Radioactive” to have a career but she does need “Radioactive” if she wants to be a star. America, the West, the world’s relationship to pop music/culture/relationships in 2011 is kinetic, its changeable (“When you’re around me, I’m radioactive”). Girl can wink wink nod nod all she wants (the song is a parody of American Top 40/American culture/whatever), this is still her track, she owns it. And now she owns a potential worldwide smash. (“Love is all that I fear.”)

Marina and the Diamonds (Official) (Facebook)

Rating 7.6

Reviewed by b3