Ole' Ola'

Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj get a lot of props for how they harness multiple personalities and characters in their music. To be able to both sing and rap is quite a unique combination of talents, so when you listen to "Ole Ola" by reggaeton princess Adassa and DJ Samuel Kimko, pay close attention. On the surface, it is a happy, singalong dance song that sounds like a surefire radio hit. The second verse slows down slightly when she starts to rap, but it is the third verse where it goes down to hip-hop tempo that you can really her exceptional lyrical flow. Then, when you add in the "sing and dance" and "ole ola" hooks, you realize that this is a brilliant summer pop song unlike anything else out there right now. Remixes by Andry J, D@niel Tek, Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni, and Gil Sander, all add a bit of electro to the song and dub out the rap, keeping the sung vocals as the focus. This makes sense for clubs where everything needs to stay uptempo, but it also makes the original extended mix stand out as something really special (and great for a surprise reaction from dancers when the song unexpectedly changes tempo). Maybe one more mix is in the works with the downtempo part over a trap or dubstep break? Who knows. Either way, with the World Cup FIFA action in the air, "Ole Ola" makes a great dance-pop confection for the summer heatwave. --Notable Dance (Song Of The Day)