Pitbull: 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)'

Released on Monday, Jul 27 2009

Published Friday, Jul 10 2009, 07:47 BST | By Alex Fletcher | 30 comments

Pitbull: 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)'

What is it about summer that makes the British public lose their sense of musical decency? It only takes a few days of 30° heat, a cheap package deal to Magaluf and a jug of Woo Woo and suddenly the 'Macarena' sounds like a long-lost nugget of Latin-pop genius. Looking to cash in on these lowered standards is Miami-born Pitbull, whose records to date have been based around crunk, hip-hop and Cuban influences.

'I Know You Want Me', however, finds him trying his hand at the latest hip-hop craze - mixing rap and Eurodance. Featuring the sampled-to-death brass from Chicago's 'Street Player' and the lecherous refrain "I know you want me, you know I want cha", this track doesn't seem like it can sink much lower. But then it does. Pitbull starts rapping in Spanish ("Que ola Cata, Que ola Omega"), he brags about having a girl in his "cockpit", and somehow manages to slip in a rhyme about Alfred Hitchcock. Even five fishbowl cocktails and a foam party couldn't make this drivel bearable.

> Click here to watch the 'I Know You Want Me' video

More: Pitbull, Music

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30 Comments

Your Responses

Ross, on December 19th, 2010
I have to agree with your review Alex it wasn't a song just complete rubbish (talking and rapping in spanish) one of the worst songs of 2009 :/

shawn, London, on March 26th, 2010
if this song had its lyrics cut off then it'll probably be rated higher.

Nancy Torres 3415 S. madison St., on January 20th, 2010
i lov this song OMG!!!!

Iceman, Leeds, on October 29th, 2009
Yes Pitbull You Know I want you to...f**k off! Please stop making my ears, eyes, nose rectum bleed with this horse turd you call music. P.S Uno Dos Tres is Spanish not Portuguese, in Brazil they speak Portuguese Capiche (that's not Spanish by the way, it's Italian just thought I'd point that out before you go nicking my catchphrases to go with all those samples you've nicked!

VS, Australia, on October 19th, 2009
How anybody can think this songs sucks is beyond me! I LOVE IT, I play it on repeat at times and no I don't have awful taste in music (I'm actually a rock and metal fan but when in Europe listen to other types of music as well). This song was a major HIT and played in every European country I was in this year- 9 countries! Who cares what he sings about, it's very catchy and I love the tune and the "Rumba, ella quiere su rumba!" is the coolest part. 5 stars from me!

Rainer norway, on September 3rd, 2009
I would like to see the people liking this song show us what other kinds of music they listen to, to like this song, you'd Have to have a crappy taste of music in general, all i've seen now is: it's catchy... Well, so is the caramelldance... And i'd rather listen to that, than this crap xD But anyway, you brainwashed people(i do hope you do not take me too seriously, cuz you probably aint brainwashed) who think this song is even remotely enjoyable, post other 'music' you listen to xD This will be interesting"/

Seb Switzerland, on September 2nd, 2009
The fact that this song is in the Top 40 makes me lose faith in humanity... I mean HALF the song is basically a guy showing that he can count to four in two languages (how impressive!)... It makes me sad, and I pity the fools who put themselves through the torture of listening to this solely because of their lack of musical taste.

Emmanuel England, on August 8th, 2009
I'M LOVING IT, BIG HIT IN GREECE AT THE MOMENT!!

Ben, Witney, on August 2nd, 2009
one of the worst songs i've heard all year.

Natalie from Maidstone, on July 29th, 2009
I love this song it so catchy and a feel good summer tune.

Alex, Cheshire, on July 26th, 2009
I love it!!! Catchy summer tune!!

Aled, South Wales, on July 24th, 2009
Really schocked at your review! i really really like this song! Its really catchy and fun, something to blast out loud and sing along to!

Deano, Nottingham, on July 23rd, 2009
The song's better than 1 star!! Ok, it's hardly award winning but it's decent enough - a good club hit!!

QueenofLouth, Manchester, on July 22nd, 2009
I agree with your review, Alex. This is just simply awful. It has absolutely no redeeming features - no tune, no originality and is boring. I'm sure it sounds better in a club, but probably only because you are drunk ;-) Who buys this rubbish?! Peace.

James, Watford, on July 21st, 2009
really weird song! this guy's rapping and lyrics are just like 'what the hell are you on about?!' but i find the beat annoyingly catchy, i hate to admit. probably something that goes down well in the clubs, not that i'd know. i agree the term 'lowered standards' springs to mind more than anything, but many people seem to be buying it, which i suppose at the end of the day is what counts more than anything else, whether we like it or not.

ben,london, on July 21st, 2009
this is a quality summer song, it's loud, catchy and you can sing along. Who cares what he says in spanish it is just so addictive. His other song hotel room service will also be a big hit

miles pearce basingstoke , on July 18th, 2009
It really awful, but it is listenable. shouldn't chart within the top 40.

John, Liverpool, on July 17th, 2009
I think it's quite catchy to be honest.

alive in the superunknown , on July 16th, 2009
These other reviews are missing the point. It's exactly about "a cheap package deal to Magaluf"... in that context, you will be hard pushed to find a catchier tune this summer.

stev, on July 16th, 2009
excellent song

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