Praise and criticism for Doc Jazz’s ‘FRIENDZONE’

On January 2, Doc Jazz released his new song ‘Friendzone’, starting the new year with an upbeat dance track. In total, so far, three reviews have praised the song, while one has expressed criticism of the lyrics.

On the Youtube channel, the song received a good number of views, and many comments, all of them positive.

Woman-unfriendly?

According to Jer, a reviewer who is familiar with the music of Doc Jazz, “Doc’s potentially set himself up for a bit of a battle in the court of public opinion this time around”. While expressing his surprise at the popularity of the song on Youtube, he doubts that the lyrics are “gonna fly with the more progressive way the world views relationships these days”. He adds that he considers it “a bit of a dicey subject that is going to be more polarizing than he might be aware of.” 

While being critical of the theme, he admits that “only Doc Jazz knows the true story behind Friendzone.” Despite his criticism of the lyrics, Jer does have words of praise for the music itself. “When you listen to it, you can hear the complexity in its design and how much is put into the structure of a track like Friendzone.” He adds: “I still found many positives…mainly found in the musicianship overall – Doc Jazz plays this new single with the passion & skill that we know the man has.”

Check out Jer’s review at SleepingBagStudios, do you agree with his criticism?

TopAfric: Friendzone is a Must-Listen!

Reviewer TopAfric has no qualms with the song, on the contrary. “Friendzone is a well-crafted and polished track.It is sure to start the new year off with a striking and positive vibe. The vintage synth sounds and upbeat rhythms give the song a retro feel, while the vocals are smooth and full of personality. The lyrics, which focus on the theme of being stuck in the “friendzone,” are relatable and conveyed with honesty and vulnerability.”

He continues: “Friendzone is a finely tuned classic that showcases his talents. He handles all the instruments and vocals himself, and the song’s melody, vocals, and production are all top-notch. The theme of the song, the “friendzone,” is explored through emotional lyrics and a moody, upbeat sound. Overall, his use of well-blended instruments and excellent vocal coordination make this track a true standout.” Check out this great review here!

Leech Music: “a live performance would be an absolute joy to experience”

Music review website Leech Music ends its review with this surprising angle. The rest of the article is also full of praise. Just like TopAfric, they are charmed by the voice of Doc Jazz: “The depth and the emotion, the delicacy and the grit, all work smoothly together to give the story-line a certain weight and authority that leaves you hanging on every moment.”

They don’t seem to take issue with the lyrics either. “The subject matter alone opens the door to a whole new world of ideas and enhances the mood and feel of the track with every new lyric.”

The review by Leech Music is full of other positive descriptions, you can read it here.

Stereo Stickman: “inescapably catchy tune”

Rebecca Cullen of Stereo Stickman has a more cool and analytical approach in her review. Still, she has no issue with the lyrics either. “It’s a fun song, in short – easy to listen to, offering a lightness and addictive groove combined – nothing about the set-up or lyricism takes itself too seriously.”

Her final verdict: “Always mixing things up creatively, Doc Jazz maintains a subtle edge of unpredictability with Friend Zone. Nicely done.” Read the rest of her review here!

The Youtube comments

With this release, people apparently felt inclined to express themselves. There is something to say for this actually being worth more than the opinions of reviewers. One comment stood out especially:

There are many other great positive comments posted under the song on Youtube. Whether this is a surprise to Jer, or not, they are spontaneous reflections by people who loved the song. Go check them out!