The newest torchbearer in the Disney pop princess lineage has arrived: Ladies and gentlemen, meet Zendaya.
For the above tweenage crowd, here’s the deal in brief: Zendaya is the star of a Disney series called Shake It Up alongside fellow up-and-comer, Bella Thorne. (You might remember Bella because of her unbelievably catchy sass smash with her BFF Pia Mia called “Bubblegum Boy.”) She also starred in a Disney original called Frenemies which I can’t say I’ve seen, although I assume it has to do with making friends with people on Twitter.
Apart from acting, Zendaya also used to dance in a group called Future Shock Oakland, and she came in second place on Dancing With The Stars this year — the youngest contestant in the show’s history! And that’s not all: She sings, too! Basically, she’s a multitalented lil’ firecracker.
After releasing a track independently called “Swag It Out”, as well as “Watch Me,”, a solid electro-pop banger with Bella Thorne in 2011, Zendaya signed with Hollywood Records in 2012 to begin working on her debut solo album.
Tonight, she unveiled the debut single from her upcoming record called “Replay.” And…wow.
From the first few seconds, the production on “Replay” doesn’t exactly scream 16-year-old: This ain’t no “Call Me Maybe”! In fact, it’s sort of strange and drippy, full of spacey, “something more urban” electro-R&B pulsations and 8-bit beats. “I don’t know / Don’t stop, don’t move, just keep it there / Keep it right there,” she breathily urges along the tripping production, bringing Cassie and JoJo to mind. And then, in comes THAT CHORUS with a whoosh…
YEAH-AY! WANNA PUT THIS SONG ON REPLAY! I CAN LISTEN TO IT ALL DAY! I CAN LISTEN TO YOU ALL DAY!
I couldn’t have said it any better myself, Zendaya. This is absolutely massive! I really do wanna put this song on replay! And then listen to it all day! I can quite literally listen to it all day!
“Replay” is a majorly impressive debut — consider me a full-fledged Zendaya stan! (They’re called “zswaggers” by the way, just in case you were wondering how your new tattoo should read.)
Watch for remixes of “Replay” coming next week from the likes of Jason Nevins, Jump Smokers, Ralphi Rosario and my friend Belanger. YEAH-AY!
“Replay” will be released on July 16. (iTunes)
