The addition of this song to a list of ‘greatest songs of the decade’ may leave many shaking their heads in “they’ve-only-picked-it-in-a-overly-knowing-and-deliberately-ironic-‘pop-can-be-intellectual”’ disbelief. Well, in many ways, that is true. But this song, aside from being a very well crafted example of modern American pop also contains within it an interesting slant on the complex life of the modern American teen.

On the surface, this is a fairly benign R’N’B pop song. The faux-guitar riff, syncopated drum beat and multi-vocals arranged into crisp, ‘Logic Pro’ perfection are reminiscent of the Destiny’s Child and TLC tracks of the previous decade – and honestly both these acts have released better songs. What gives this song a place on the list is the singer. Joanne Noëlle Blagden Levesque was thirteen years old when ‘Leave (Get Out)’ reached number one in the USA, the youngest solo artist to do so apparently. When listening to the track it is instantly obvious that Jojo is technically a very good singer – and the melody provides sufficient vocal gymnastics to demonstrate this. Particularly impressive is the yodel-like flitting between falsetto and modal vocal ranges immediately before the track’s disappointingly throw away middle eight.

But crisp production and vocal prowess are not enough on their own; rather they are pre-requisites for a career in pop. What sets this song apart is Jojo’s conviction in delivering a lyrical message almost laughably at odds with her age. The song details Jojo’s apparent conversation and subsequent break-up with an unfaithful boyfriend – concluding that he has to leave; get out right now. What?! She’s thirteen! Leave where exactly? Her parents’ house? The school? Where?

. . . read more . . . http://www.whatisthegrain.com/2009/07/tunes-of-the-decade-41-leave-get-out-by-jojo/