It’s unforgiveable, I stole and burnt your soul.

Is that what demons do?

Ah, Angel Haze, your soulful delivery line on that couplet engulfed in flame any lingering distrust I had for the original. Of course, it helps that those almost percussive shouts and claps are divine. Still, I’m surprised I’m writing about this track. I hated the original and surely I can’t be the only one who found Newman’s version of  ‘Love Me Again’ super creepy, right? There’s something about the way  Newman screams his lyrics that’d make me run for a restraining order if he tried to croon that shit out my window. Take a Xanax, buddy, I’ll get to you in a second. Are you going to die if you don’t know right the fuck now? How is that kind of pleading romantic to anyone? I never felt like there was enough self-awareness behind his cries for love that didn’t reek of white dude privilege—like: “Why don’t you love me? I’m cute and that quintessential TV nice guy!’ Blech.

So, leave it to the unusual source of Angel Haze to rescue this song from my rubbish bin–a feat, no matter how much I love them, not even Love Thy Brother could do.  Haze has upped the sensuality factor of the chorus, lowered its volume an octave of indignant desperation (or two), and fucked up the funk of the track into a dark dancefloor ditty that’d you’ll be screaming, three sheets to the wind at a one night stand you’re hoping will go a second round.  Suddenly, “Love Me Again” has all sorts of layers, self destructive as they might be. There’s nothing but confident swagger in Haze’s pleadings, married expertly with a touch of vulnerability to show a chink in an armour of amour few get to peek into. Take the offer, you fool.

And its requisite to mention these days, but I don’t give a fuck about dueling wars between Angel and Azealia. Nope, just don’t. Sexist bullshit, that is, focusing on it as some kind of epic feud the way music blogs do. But in terms of raw talent, I’ve been team Angel all the way. This cover being a perfect example of why.

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