Trey Songz Grieves On "Can't Be Friends" Video

R&B stud Trey Songz is back with a new video for his emotionally driven new single "Can't Be Friends," the second release lifted from his eagerly-awaited upcoming fourth alliterative project "Passion, Pain & Pleasure," following up from his "Bottoms Up" single featuring the temptress Nicki Minaj. R&B singer makes it clear that he and his former lover "Can't Be Friends" on his new song of that very same name.
"Can't Be Friends" is a borderline ballad that finds the singer delivering one of his best vocal performances since his debut album. The soothing ballad samples Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Bibo no Aozora" from the 2006 film Babel. The track is a departure from his usual 'sex and alcohol' gimmick and actually has substance. This is the direction Songz needs to be going; he's proved, for better or worse that he can deliver radio hits but he's still not taken seriously as viable artist. Understated, low-register piano chords combine with a thudding, tension-building drum beat as Songz expresses regret and sets his boundaries. It's the classic love jam expressing how you wish you never screwed your homegirl, and now there is no way you can be friends.
In the video, madly in love with a woman he can't be with, the heartbroken Songz is frustrated and angry with himself and is seen sitting anxiously in an empty room all alone going through the painful emotions of dealing with a breakup and he's hurting because of it on his latest "Can't Be Friends" video. This a rather simplistic but powerful new video at the same time, is very different from his past clips because of the addition of Anthony Mandler, who is also known as Drake's favorite director. Songz gives the already somber record even more emotion for his fans. The lyrics and motion of the video are in perfect sync with Songz's movements, whether it's just Songz alone or him with his woman. It's dramatic and draws you in. The video does a good job of showing the thoughts running through Songz's mind as we listen to the story and feel his pain. Songz goes crazy while thinking about a lost love.
"Passion, Pain & Pleasure," a piano-laced and finger-snaps-embraced beat that serves as a foundation, which the R&B performer has reportedly described as his most personal album yet, is expected in stores on September 14 via Atlantic Records. He has already started his first-ever headlining tour to promote the new record. You can decide for yourself if you agree with his post-breakup strategies by checking out "Can't Be Friends" over on AOL Radio's New R&B First station.