“Naked” is the latest single to come from singer/songwriter AND protege of electro-hop duo The Cataracs, DEV. If you haven’t heard of DEV, you might recognize her voice from Far East Movement‘s #1 hit back in 2010, “Like A G6.” “Naked” featuring Latin heartthrob Enrique Iglesias is included on DEV‘s debut album, The Night The Sun Came Up, which was finally released here in America on March 26th, following the international release last September. While the album flopped its way onto the Billboard 200, peaking at #61, it managed to do better as a dance album, peaking at #6.
“Naked” is your average, run-of-the-mill dance-pop single, chock-full of standard vocal effects & other aural embellishments that we’ve come to expect from a Cataracs/DEV collaboration. While by no means BORING, “Naked” just doesn’t go anywhere for me. There’s a lot of build up on the production side of things, but the minimalist vocals and lackluster lyrics don’t allow it to fully blossom as a song. I keep expecting a big chorus and all I get is more sound effects. All in all, just a bit disappointing, considering how much I loved DEV‘s last single, “In The Dark.”
Released December 20th on Universal Republic, “Naked” was co-written by DEV, Enrique Iglesias as well as the song’s producers, The Cataracs. The song serves as the third official single lifted from DEV‘s album, following the release of 2010’s “Bass Down Low” and 2011’s “In The Dark.” “Bass Down Low,” featuring The Cataracs was a Top 10 hit for DEV in the UK but only managed to peak at #61 in the States. Followup single “In The Dark” peaked at a rather impressive #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 but in the UK only squeaked through at #37. Since being released to radio in January, DEV‘s third single “Naked” has peaked at #99.
Check out the sexy BBGun-directed video for “Naked” below which features both DEV and Enrique partying it up in Las Vegas. The video was uloaded onto VEVO on March 29th. Download The Night The Sun Came Up on U.S. iTunes HERE and look out for a “Naked” Remix EP, due out April 10th, featuring mixes by R3Hab, Trevor Simpson, MK, DJ Vice, DJ Reflex, DJ Carnage, Alfa Paare and Static Revenger.
Check out DEV on the web: