19 January 2012
What if Katy Perry records were good? That’s the intriguing, albeit low-stakes, premise of ‘Domino’. Sure, its parts don’t hold much promise. By early 2012 I was well weary of big-budget in-your-face EDM. The Jessie J school of brash naffness has limited appeal. Neither EDM nor Jessie J are a good fit for the clunky opening line of “I’m feeling sexy and free!”
And yet, as with ‘Price Tag’, I find myself liking ‘Domino’ quite a lot. Opening lyrical clunker aside, it’s a solid tune. We’re spared the cartoon archness of Perry and the bling-bling crassness of EDM to focus instead on a feel-good party anthem. Two strong pre-choruses is Xenomania level of lavish pop creativity, all topped off with a skyscraping chorus. Fair play to Jessie J too; her energy and commitment help that chorus soar. Simply put, ‘Domino’ is bright, positive, enjoyable and full of pizzazz.
