Annie

"I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me"

BY Cam LindsayPublished Mar 5, 2008

It’s been 43 months since I first typed about Norwegian pop goddess Annie and her "Chewing Gum,” and with the exception of a couple low-profile non-album singles ("Crush” and "The Wedding”), it’s been pretty quiet for the last three years. So thank god there is something new. (I mean, really, even bears come out of hibernation regularly each year.)

This was actually supposed to be yesterday’s entry and then – poof! – the song went missing from the ’Net. One minute it was on her MySpace page (the only place it seemed to be streaming), and the next it was gone — only to reappear later in the day.

Perhaps a sign of some hesitancy on her part? Not sure, but she’s got Richard X back in the chair to turn the knobs with his snap, crackle and pop expertise, and no surprises here, it’s a winner… though not quite "Chewing Gum” or "Heartbeat.” The two collaborated on Annie’s Anniemal, particularly "Chewing Gum,” which, with its infectious chorus and snapping beat, launched Annie’s massive buzz.

And while it’s pretty damn sweet to have Annie back in the game, "I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me” comes off pretty subtle in its build, using some restraint with its shuffling electro bump.

That said, it’s still a brilliant slice of pop, dropping a delicious lyric like "I know your girlfriend hates me/I see it in her eyes/The way she looks right at me/It happens every time,” putting Annie in the perfect place to go through her motions as the divine storyteller confronting a friend with, "Who’s wearing your trousers now?” Ouch! No she didn’t! Then pulls out a "ring-a-ding-a-ding-ding-ding-ding” melody just because she’s so damn adorable.

Her new album, expected some time this year via Island, just can’t come soon enough…

Annie "I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me"

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