My cable package was recently expanded (for free!) to include VH1’s Mega Hits channel. I love it, and watch it on a regular basis, even though they play the same song over and over and over. (When they do, I switch to VH1 Classic.)
Anyway, I see J Lo’s video Jenny From the Block like 4 times a day. The first time I saw it, I was horrified. Oh, it’s just awful. For some reason it’s disgusting and ridiculous. But then I got to thinking…maybe it’s a parody? If it’s a parody, it’s fucking hilarious. But if it’s sincere, then…I don’t even know what to say.
So teeming masses, what say you?
I heard it took 8 writers or something just as outrageous to write her THAT song.
I know that BEn and her were being facetious about the whole press ordeal by kissing while looking at some pics of themselves in a tabloid.
She’s REAL, yo.
I don’t think J.Ho is capable of ironic thinking. It’s no parody. I think she really believes her own hype and lyrics. Anybody that’s gotta keep saying how real she is, isnt.
“For me it’s like breathing!”
Then I guess you’re hooked up to an iron lung, eh Jen?
I say you’re putting more thought into this than did the entire corps of people responsible for creating it. 
The first (and only) time I heard it was in trapped in the middle seat of a car cruising down the highway. Had I been on either end, I would have jumped, I’m sure. What’s worse is that my two friends were singing along with the lyrics oblivious to the fact that I kept cringing while rocking my head in my hands. The lyrics are downright awful.
Fortunately, I’ve forgotten them all so I don’t have the ability to discuss exactly why they’re awful. Thank god for small miracles.
Anyway, a parody would make sense…but I don’t think it’s true.
I’m afraid she is quite serious. The first time I saw her do her little buffalo stance and say “Bronx!!” I damn near pissed myself.
Well, if she said “Bronx” then she’s definitely a poseur. It’s either “Da Bronx” or “Da Boogie Down”. If your my dad then it’s “The Bronx”. It is never just Bronx.
Biggirl, from 'round Tremont way.
yeah she’s real. that’s why she jacked the whole beat of that song off of the tragically underappreciated beatnuts.
thnaks for ruining abother song for me, j.lo
I don’t know if it’s sincere or not. Either way, what baffles me is why she’d need or want to claim that she’s still just a street kid from the Bronx.
Look, whether you like her or not (I think she’s a decent actress, but I can’t stand her music), let’s give her credit: she worked hard to become a world-famous actress and singer. She’s become an international star and a multi-millionaire. To my way of thinking, that’s something to be PROUD of! She wanted something a lot better than blue collar life in an apartment house in the Bronx, and she GOT it!
After all that, why the need to proclaim that she hasn’t changed a bit? Never mind for a moment that it isn’t true- why the need to pretend at all?
I’m from a blue collar neighborhood in New York, too. But you know what, when an Italian kid from Astoria grows up to be a lawyer or doctor, I don’t expect (or even WANT) him to proclaim, “Forget my advanced degrees- I’m still just a Guido from the old neighborhood!”
What’s wrong with moving up in the world and being proud of THAT? Why the need to pretend you haven’t changed?
I think she does say “Da Bronx” – it’s just kind of hard to hear with all of the other noises going on in the song. Not that this redeems the song all that much.
Are you sure? I’ve only heard small bits of the song in passing but I could’ve sworn it was a Krs-One beat.
The five note flute lick played every measure is from the Beatnuts’ “Watch out Now” which they apparently lifted from Herbie Mann’s “Hi-Jack”. (although others think Enoch Light’s cover of the song is a more likely source.)
The beat behind the rap Lox does in the middle of the song is from KRS One’s “South Bronx”.
Anyway, if the whole thing is a parody then it’s lost on the current residents of the Bronx. They’d rather give her a curb job than a blow j… er…
What amazes me about this song is the need to repeat the chorus an astounding TEN times.
Must… beat… listeners… over… head!
As an aside, are there any songs that re-use the chorus more often?
I hate that song. Yet every time I hear it playing I can help but sing along. That stupid chorus over and over again has a way of burning itself in my brain.
Sometime I am ashamed of myself.
Well there is Heartland by The Sisters of Mercy where the chorus My heartland, heartland, heartland is repeated at least 50 or 60 times. The song is 8 minutes long though.
Well this song repeats the chorus/title twelve times, and with all due respect to George and all due disrespect to JelLo, it’s not much less annoying.
(I love the Wierd Al parody “(This song’s just) six words long”)
That darn dress at the Grammys (or AMAs or whatever) made her famous.
I curse that designer!
What I object to is the fact that it’s J.Lo (OK, the people who wrote the song, but I feel no compunction ascribing blame to her) telling me why I should like her and her music: because “don’t be fooled by the rocks that [she’s] got/[she’s] still Jenny from the block.” Like don’t beat me over the head with reasons why I should buy your record/see your movie/wear your clothes/spritz your perfume/eat at your restaurant–give me a quality product to contemplate and I’ll let you know. The song’s nothing but an advertisement for the product: J.Lo. And that’s what I resent.
If you don’t like her, folks, you could start by calling her “Jennifer Lopez,” rather than this ridiculous “J.Lo” thing.
I think she is putting spin on her image. She is genuinely trying to sell listeners that she has street credibility.
To a naive listener (most younger kids) who are predisposed to like her, perhaps they can nod to each other and say “see - she gets it and is still street but makin’ it, too!”
With the song I’m Real and her use of the n***a word in it controversy, it is clear that she is trying to maintain some form of street cred. What is funny is that it seems so clearly forced and having 11 writers on the song only drives the point home - “no, I need another writer on this - it still doesn’t sound spontaneous and natural enough - I wanna come across more street”
eeesh.