Feature Song: “Let’s Get Loud”
Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969), also know by her name J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, dancer and businesswoman. She has been dubbed the “Queen of Dance” and is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking barriers for Latina Americans in Hollywood and helping propel the Latin pop movement in music. She is also noted for her impact on popular culture through her fashion and branding. She began her career as a dancer, debuting on television as Fly Girl on the sketch comedy series In Living Color in 1991. Several years later, she rose to prominence as an actress, with leading roles in three films, Selena (1997), Anaconda (1997), and Out of Sight (1998), which established her as the highest-paid Latin actress. A year later, she successfully ventured into the music industry with her debut album, On the 6 (1999). In 2001, she became the first woman to simultaneously have the number one album and film in the United States with her second album, J Lo, and the romantic comedy The Wedding Planner.
Lopez has sold over 80 million records, with a long list of hit singles including the featured song, “Let’s Get Loud,” which is from her debut album and regarded as her “signature” song. It was originally written by the song’s co-writer, Gloria Estefan (another Latin woman who was a powerhouse in the music industry, starting her career with the Miami Latin Boys later renamed the Miami Sound Machine) for herself. She felt that the song was too similar to her previous material and passed it onto Lopez. Estefan, who co-wrote the song with Kike Santander, stated that Lopez would have “more fun with it,’ putting, as she said, “a new spin on it,” which is somewhat prophetic considering it went on to be Lopez’s signature song!
It will come as no surprise that the cover I have chosen for this “energetic” song is by yet another music collective, Sexy Sunday Jams (SSJ), who also happen to hail from Australia. They are a powerhouse pop outfit composed of a group of high energy multi-instrumentalists. They are musically eclectic, and extremely diverse in talent as well as musical backgrounds. They are a collaboration of some of the finest musicians, singers, dancers in Australia. Between them, they have a mass of credits spanning theatre, television, opera, touring concerts and more.
Flip Simmons is a founding member of SSJ and frontman as well as its creative director. He is an entertainer, director, and vocalist who has worked, since childhood, across all facets of the performing arts with a career spanning across television, film, theatre, dance and always – at the core – music. He is a “flexible vocalist, singing in six languages, and across multiple genres.” SSJ’s lead singer and front woman, Gemma Lynn, is a Sydney based session and corporate vocalist whose performances are a culmination of a “dynamic sound fused by a blend soul and R&B, compelling dance moves, an edgy fashion sense and a brave untamed energy.” All of this and more are on display in their cover of “Let’s Get Loud.”
Enjoy!
Jennifer Lopez. “Let’s Get Loud” 1999.
When Estefan said that Lopez would have more “fun” with this song, I feel that this only becomes apparent when you see her performing the song live. So, on that note…
Jennifer Lopez. “Let’s Get Loud.” Official video filmed at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sexy Sunday Jams. “Let’s Get Loud” cover 2017. Flip Simmons & Gemma Lynn (vocals), Kyle Mercado (bass), DCD Cabera (drums), Dan Maher (guitar), Michael Dench (keys), Kei Araoka, Jordan Tulinsky, & Des Cannings (horns).
Los Angeles 2024
I hate to admit that I don’t remember ever hearing this Lopez song, and certainly had no idea it’s considered her signature song. The first song I remember hearing by her was her 1999 hit “If You Had My Love”. I’ve only been a casual fan of hers over the years, and I must say that she’s barely aged one bit (though I’m sure she’s worked extremely hard to have made that happen). Sexy Sunday Jams certainly live up to their moniker with their wonderful jazzy cover.
I can’t say I recall this song but do remember her musical debut around that time. If there’s anyone with more energy on the planet I’d like to see them! Really enjoyed the different take on the cover, and it did get loud! Got a typo on the first date reference buddy.
Thanks for that. I will edit that PDQ!
I’m a big fan and I love this song – JLo’s version and SSJ’s. I think something’s wrong with me – the male singer reminds me of the Hassidic Jews in my neighborhood, and I kept looking for the fringe on his tallit to pop out!
I’m dying!!! The fringe of his tallit. I read this a while ago, just now stopped laughing to type this response. Glad you liked it.