Kelis is the antithesis of Beyonce. One is sexy, suggestive and with a glint in her eye hinting at all manner of pleasures and freedoms; the other is an R&B industry puppet with a blank expression and Jay-Z for a boyfriend.

I've never been quiet so pro-Kelis, after her debut single, the ex-hating anthem 'Caught Out There', I gave her a wide berth. The coloured hair and all that shouting, it reminded me of a time spent living with art students and we can all do without a big-mouthed harpie in our lives. But over time, by catching bits and pieces of her music I've grown to enjoy the tunes and appreciate the different R&B path she's following to most of her contemporaries.

This, her second single from the album Tasty is a slow and loping lament of her man's unfaithful behaviour with a distinctly retro dub beat and guitar riffs. It sounds like the bastard child of 'Caught Out There' and Jimmy Cliff as sung by a Kelis whose temper has mellowed. Production is by Dallas Austin, who's worked with TLC, Pink, Boyz II Men and Michael Jackson. Fortunately this sounds like nothing Michael Jackson ever released and the simple, yet sophisticated production makes this just catchy enough to have your head nodding along.

Kelis is quite clearly from another planet, she's not of this R&B world anyway. She's about as close to tackiness of Usher and Beyonce as Neil Armstrong is to walking on the moon again.

I like Kelis's trick - she manages playful and sexy without looking cheap.
(3/5)

Release date: 24 May 2004