One of the hardest parts in the process of creating something is getting past the starting line and putting down those first notes, strokes or words. Pharrell Williams, the most sought-after producer on the planet, has a technique for those first moments that he’s deployed more than once. Mark Savage aka Mr Discopop, on his always excellent blog, has mashed together a bunch of intros from some of Pharrell’s most famous tracks, starting with one of his early co-productions on SWV’s ‘Right Here’ to the recent ‘Happy’. The discovery? Every one of those tracks starts with a four-beat DOOP DOOP DOOP DOOP before launching straight into the meat of the track. The behemoth producer’s been criticised for being lazy and formulaic but I think it’s pretty simple and genius. If it’s not broke, why fix it?
Here’s the track-list of intros:
1) SWV – Right Here
2) Jay-Z – Frontin’
3) Kelis – Milkshake
4) Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like Its Hot
5) Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
6) Shakira – Why Wait
7) Frank Ocean – Sweet Life
8) Pharrell Williams – Brand New
9) Paloma Faith – Can’t Rely On You
10) Pharrell Williams – Happy
11) Pharrell Williams – Hunter
12) Jay-Z – I Wish
13) Pharrell Williams – Gust Of Wind