Ne-Yo has given us no shortage of hits throughout his career, from “Miss Independent” and “So Sick” to “She Knows” and “Time of Our Lives.” Even with all that he’s achieved, the R&B singer says that Jay-Z still won’t let him live down his decision to give 2004’s “Let Me Love You” to Mario. Ne-Yo reflected on the hit song during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, revealing that Hov gives him hell to this day about not keeping the single for himself.
As the 43-year-old tells it, he was primarily working as a songwriter prior to signing with Def Jam Records in 2005. Because he wasn’t focused on a career as a vocalist at the time, he happily passed “Let Me Love You” off to another artist. “So this song goes on and stays at number one for 12 or 13 weeks, something like that, becomes one of the most played songs in radio history,” Ne-Yo said of Mario’s work. “The first time I got to meet Jay-Z, I’d been signed for a couple of months at this point. I walk into the room and he’s in there,” his story continued.
“It’s in L.A. Reid’s office. I walk in, ‘Hey it’s nice to meet you.’ He’s like, ‘Man, why you give that damn song away?’ Nice to meet you too bruh, cool. I’m Ne-Yo,” the Arkansas native joked. “To this day, he yell at me about giving that damn song away. But I was just a songwriter when I wrote it, I didn’t write it for myself.” After listening to his guest’s story, Sharpe asked Ne-Yo if he believes he could’ve outdone Mario’s version of the song.
The father of five gave his contemporary his flowers, saying, “I’ll be the first to tell you that Mario got chops that I don’t.” However, because he knows he’s got chops of his own, he “feels like it would’ve worked out either way.” Do you think Ne-Yo could’ve found more success by keeping “Let Me Love You” for himself? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has officially broken the $1 billion mark at the box office. At the time of writing, the joint project between Nintendo and Illumination Studios has grossed $1.045 billion worldwide. It is now the eighth-highest-grossing Universal release of all time. Furthemore, it is just $7 million shy of becoming Universal’s second-ever film to gross $500 million at the box office.
The film is also still being received incredibly well. While it still holds a 59% critics rating, it also has a 96% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has proven to be a smash-hit, both with fans of the games and general audiences alike. But where does the genre go from here?
What’s Next For Video Game Adaptations?
‘THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE’ has passed $1 billion worldwide.
2023 has been a year of both critical and financial success for the video game adaptation genre. On the financial side, you have The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first video game adaptation to make $1 billion at the box office. But 2023 has also seen critical successes. The primary example of this is HBO’s The Last Of Us. Also upcoming is the much-anticipated third season of The Witcher. Elsewhere, Season 2 of Halo is reportedly in production, despite middling reviews for the first. In short, video game adaptations are big business right now.
So now the genre stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, this year’s successes have shown that there is a market for well-received, financially successful video game adaptation. But to find that success, you need to invest the time, effort, and money to create an adaptation that the engrained fanbase you are inheriting will enjoy. Because at the end of the day, while mass appeal is all well and good, the driving force behind the success of your video game project is getting the long-standing fans on board. For example, the Jason Mamoa-led Minecraft has been relentlessly mocked on social media after it was announced. There are dozens of reported video game adaptations in the works. However, the current “golden age” of the genre depends on studios learning the right lessons from the successes of Mario and The Last Of Us.
So much of the worry about The Super Mario Bros. Movie before the film came out was about Chris Pratt and his Mario voice surrounding like, well, Chris Pratt. It turns out: he did fine! He wasn’t the Oscar-worthy MVP (that was always going to be Jack Black, and it was), but he wasn’t the low point of the otherwise fun animated movie. No, that would be the use of a certain song during the scene where Mario and Peach are in the Jungle Kingdom.
The time has come to shut the door on “Take on Me” by a-Ha.
As explained by Henry Gilbert of the Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts, “Drivin’ Me Bananas,” a better, more Mario appropriate song, was swapped out to make room for the overplayed 1980s hit. “No joke, this awesome piece of music isn’t in the movie,” he tweeted. “It was cut to instead play ‘Take On Me.’ That obvious song choice was one of the most painfully lazy moments in the film, and it’s even more annoying knowing they previously had a great score it replaced.”
The scene works much better with “Drivin’ Me Bananas.”
Mario spoilers:
No joke, this awesome piece of music isn’t in the movie, it was cut to instead play Take On Me. That obvious song choice was one of the most painfully lazy moments in the film, and it’s even more annoying knowing they previously had a great score it replaced https://t.co/MhLalyTAF2
A note to studio executives, soundtrack producers, and 1980s-loving film editors everywhere: it’s 2023. Can’t we be done with “Take on Me”? It’s a fine song and all, but it’s been overused to the point of exhaustion. Since 2018, “Take on Me” has been heard in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Last of Us (to be fair, it served a narrative purpose there), something called My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Love Island, The Goldbergs, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Single Parents, Bumblebee, Riverdale, America’s Got Talent, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Beat Shazam, Deadpool 2, Ash vs. Evil Dead, and Antiques Road Trip. Antique is right — at least Bones and All had the guts to use a different a-ha song.
“Take on Me,” originally released in 1984 and re-recorded in 1985, wasn’t always a cliché, however. It had to start somewhere. According to IMDb, the first use of the song in a scripted TV show or movie was… Beavis and Butt-Head! It’s supposedly in season two’s “The Butt-Head Experience,” but the episode isn’t available anywhere online. The streaming model works again.
(There’s also a compilation album called The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience with songs from Nirvana, Megadeth, and White Zombie. Let’s replace every “Take on Me” with “I Hate Myself and Want to Die.”)
If Beavis and Butt-Head doesn’t technically count (they are just watching and commenting on the music video, after all), the first non-diegetic “Take on Me” needle drop is 1997’s Grosse Pointe Blank, the John Cusack assassin movie with a score from Joe Strummer. So if you want to blame anyone for the exhausting use of “Take on Me” in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, blame the lead singer of The Clash (please do not do this, he didn’t pick the soundtrack).
As for the best use of “Take on Me”: to paraphrase Steven Yeun in Nope, Kattan crushed it.
Grant Kirkhope composed the scores for some of the most well-known video games ever, including GoldenEye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie. But his greatest contribution to culture is rhyming “dudes” with “mood” — and he’s OK with that. Kirkhope penned the lyrics to the Donkey Kong 64 intro song “DK Rap,” which Seth Rogen, who voices Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, called “objectively one of the worst rap songs of all-time.”
In response, Kirkland tweeted, “If you’d told me in ‘97, when I wrote the worst rap track in the history of rap tracks, that it would go on to be in a Mario Bros movie I’d would’ve burst with excitement! Long live the DK Rap!”
If you’d told me in ‘97, when I wrote the worst rap track in the history of rap tracks, that it would go on to be in a Mario Bros movie I’d would’ve burst with excitement! Long live the DK Rap! @Sethrogenhttps://t.co/CtrTr2eb8Z
Rogen discussed his opposite of method acting approach to voicing DK in the Mario movie (let Jeremy Strong voice Diddy Kong). “I was very clear, I don’t do voices,” he told Comic Book. “And if you want me to be in this movie, it’s gonna sound like me and that’s it. And that was the beginning and end of that conversation.” He is the leader of the bunch, after all.
Mario is a highly valued R&B artist with not only great quality vocals but a fantastic catalog of albums that fans just need to get to know. To celebrate the legacy in R&B history, we’ve put together a top 6 Mario album ranked list. Ever since his debut album, “Mario” his fame and progression as a modern artist has seen no limits. The album named after his own title reached number 9 on the Billboard 200, while Just a Friend scored number 5. With music ever-expanding, streaming, and evolving, here are a few albums that we appreciate by Mario and why they stand out to us. Along with the reasons we love to listen, we’ve included some stats as well, such as when they were released and the immediate response to the drop.
1 – Mario
This breakout album with the artist as the same name is a debut released in 2002. Producers fro the album are Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Scott Storch, and Tim & Bob. The album features multiple upbeat tracks that keep the tempo high. The individual song, Just a Friend, hit number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying this album’s place in the hearts of many.
2 – Turning Point
Turning Point truly was a turning point in Mario’s career as an artist. As an album, Turning Point brought new points to light about Mario’s capabilities, including his thematic change from generic to more personal themes in R&B. The album’s lead song, “Let Me Love You” grew into massive popularity upon release, setting Mario up to be one of the most promising rising stars at the time. The song ended up reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100, nominating him for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. What makes Turning Point so great is that it explores Mario’s impressive range. It also takes what everyone loved about the first album and improved upon it in the second, pleasing both old and brand-new fans at the time.
3 – Go
As the third studio album in Mario’s history, Go had a lot to work up to. Not only had the previous two albums been stellar hits, but they featured a lot of producer and artist talent along the way. The album Go was released in 2007, being produced by a handful of people. These included Stargate, Timbaland, and Polow da Don.
One of the standout features of Go is the improved versatility that Mario displays throughout the album. For example, Cryin Out for Me is a mid-tempo song. It features not only a good hook but a versatile expression of Mario’s great vocal range. The song hit the crowds successfully, scoring number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
4 – D.N.A.
DNA is the fourth album Mario released into the world in 2009. It takes a shift away from the work that Mario chronologically had accomplished so far, taking a more somber turn into the introspective. This was both in lyric and theme. The producers varied this time too, including names like Jim Jonsin, Bangladesh, and Rico Love.
The production skills of Jim Jonsin proved to be helpful during the creation of the album since Mario’s smooth vocals could only translate through a well-written song. The rockstar track of the album was undoubtedly Break Up, which featured Sean Garrett and Gucci Mane.
5 – Dancing Shadows
Dancing Shadows is an album that took everybody by surprise. After a little while of absence, the album Dancing Shadows represents Mario’s return to the stage and fans with a fresh take and hot new songs. By the time Mario had returned from almost ten years away, he had to come back with something that fit the current climate of R&B times. And clear that climate he did, with progression into more modern conventions, such as a moody sound and aggressive effects on vocals. The aspects of what made Mario great didn’t stop though. All 11 tracks in the album showcase his ability as not only a singer, but as a songwriter. The album also features collaborations with producers like Jake Gosling, Prince Charlez, and Pham, who help to bring a modern edge to the classic R&B sound.
6 – Never 2 Late
“Never 2 Late” is the fifth studio album by American R&B singer, Mario Barrett, released in 2014. The album features collaborations with a variety of producers and songwriters, including Polow da Don, Rico Love, and Troy Taylor.The album showcases Mario’s vocal prowess and maturity as an artist, and it features a mix of classic R&B sounds and modern production techniques.
The album’s standout tracks include “Fireball,” a catchy and upbeat song that features a driving beat and infectious hook, as well as “Fatal Distraction,” a slower ballad that showcases Mario’s emotional depth and vulnerability.Another standout track is “Somebody Else,” which features a guest appearance by Nicki Minaj and explores the theme of heartbreak and moving on from a relationship. The song’s soaring chorus and Minaj’s fiery verse combine to create a powerful and memorable track.
Overall, what makes “Never 2 Late” great is the way that it showcases Mario’s continued growth and evolution as an artist. The album finds him exploring new sounds and themes, while still staying true to the classic R&B sound that made him a fan favorite. Mario’s vocals are as strong as ever, and he brings a sense of honesty and sincerity to each track that makes the album feel personal and relatable.
Mario EP 2019
“Mario” is a self-titled EP released by American R&B singer Mario Barrett in 2019. The EP is a short, six-track project that showcases Mario’s soulful vocals and songwriting abilities.
The EP opens with the upbeat and catchy track “Drowning.” The track features a bouncy rhythm and a catchy chorus that showcases Mario’s signature falsetto. The song was released as the lead single from the EP and was well-received by fans and critics alike.
Another standout track on the EP is “Gold Plates.” It features a more stripped-down sound and highlights Mario’s smooth and emotive vocals. The song explores themes of self-love and self-acceptance, and its raw and honest lyrics add to its emotional impact.
One of the unique aspects of the EP is its mix of genres and influences. For example, the track “Goes Like That” features a Latin-inspired rhythm and showcases Mario’s ability to sing in Spanish, while “Closer” has a more electronic sound and features distorted vocals and glitchy beats.
The self-titled debut album “Mario” released in 2002 was a major label release on J Records, whereas the 2019 self-titled EP “Mario” was an independent release. Apart from the difference in their release strategies, the two albums also differ in several other aspects.
What’s the difference between Mario 2002 and Mario 2021?
In terms of their musical styles, the two albums are quite different. The 2002 album “Mario” is a more traditional R&B album with a mix of ballads and uptempo tracks that feature a lot of live instrumentation. The album was produced by a variety of well-known producers, including Scott Storch, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Tim & Bob, and featured collaborations with artists such as Jadakiss and Ginuwine.
In contrast, the 2019 EP “Mario” is a more modern and eclectic R&B project. It incorporates elements of electronic music and hip-hop. The EP was produced by a mix of established and up-and-coming producers. These include Jack Knight and Jake Gosling, and it features a more stripped-down sound that emphasizes Mario’s vocals and songwriting.
Another difference between the two albums is their length. The 2002 album “Mario” is a full-length album that features 13 tracks. The 2019 EP “Mario” is a shorter project with only six tracks.
Rihanna began and ended her set standing on a platform that was suspended high over the field. Her dancers flanked her on similar platforms. And for a certain kind of fan, the whole setup wound up looking vaguely familiar…
That’s right: Rihanna’s a Super Smash Bro. now (give us the DLC, Nintendo!).
For those who don’t know, Super Smash Bros. is a Nintendo fighting game series that brings together characters from the company’s most popular properties (Super Mario Bros., The Legend Of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Starfox, to name a few) to beat the hell out of each other on… suspended platforms hovering over a bottomless pit. The goal of the game, unlike many fighting games, is for fighters to throw their opponents off the stage — the last man (or Pokémon or anthropomorphic animal or whatever-the-hell-Kirby-is) standing wins.
So many fans had a ball making the same Nintendo-related jokes and adding graphics from the game, but there’s one, clear winner here:
Things are heating up in R&B after a clip of Lyfe Jennings went viral. The veteran singer recently took to the stage to revisit his hits for a crowd of fans, but not everyone was impressed. In videos shared on social media, Lyfe is seen belting out on the microphone while in a fan’s face. The person who recorded the clip also expressed their displeasure in a caption.
“I went to see Lyfe Jenningz last night & when I tell you never tf again,” the user wrote. “I want my mf money back.” The Neighborhood Talk also reposted the video, Lyfe took to the comments to defend himself.
“Better put some respect on my sh*t,” he penned. “Ima whole legend out here Pronto. 80 shows this year alone 80% of em sold out. Go check my new video ’till you gone’ it’ll explain this gas lighting wit cheap gas ass blog.”
Further, the outlet wasn’t the only thing Lyfe was upset about. The comment section was flooded with reactions, but it was a face-palm emoji from Mario that prompted Jennings to return.
“That’s why I f*ck wit the rappers,” wrote Lyfe. “R and b n*ggas be fake AF. So much I could say but my number speak for themselves and my rep do too.” It was a response that wasn’t lost on Mario.
“Yo what is this niggas life’s IG, I been tryna find him Nah FR help…?” he asked. There hasn’t been an update on whether or not the two singers talked out their differences, but Lyfe shared an Instagram post to suggest he didn’t appreciate becoming a meme.
Omarion is still reflecting on one of the most chaotic VERZUZ events yet. After the event was over, Mario was praised for his vocals, while Omarion was on the other end of the words from fans. In a recent update, Omarion spoke to WGCI-Chicago and stated the audio issue was because Mario’s team controlled the sound.
“Mario’s people were representing the sound in the beginning. So, you know, there could have been some level of sabotage there,” Omarion said.
Omarion is insinuating that somebody from Mario’s team possibly sabotaged his sound during the #verzuz and Mario ain’t having it pic.twitter.com/uSHVRuY683
Mario heard the words, and he wasn’t having it. “This guy man! How can someone sabotage your [vocal] chords bro?!” Mario wrote on Instagram. “Stop smoking bruv! That’s it fam! Some artists can’t do that! You not one of them.”
R&B singer Mario announced a new single is on the way and it features Tory Lanez. While some fans are excited about the collaboration, others are not feeling it. Mario took to Twitter to announce new music is on the way. When fans got word that Tory Lanez would be the featured artist on the […]
Nah FR help…?” he asked. There hasn’t been an update on whether or not the two singers talked out their differences, but Lyfe shared an Instagram post to suggest he didn’t appreciate becoming a meme.
