This is for sure one of Ashlee Simpson's most underrated songs, most people don't even know about it. It's definitely one of my favourite Halloween songs, probably next to the other Halloween songs I choose for my Halloween Special! This is freakishly good, the song is so personal and although may come off a bit bland on first listen, it becomes an emotional party banger, on second listen, that will be perfect for all those spooky playlists out there! Trust me, this song is fire for any Halloween themed party. Raw and emotional, the song and the video work well together, Ashlee Simpson is in pain because of a guy who has a "Bat For a Heart".
Ashlee Simpson is probably best known as the sister of Jessica Simpson, yet she has established a career for herself both in the music industry and in the acting world. She has more a rock-edge to her tone, that definitely fuelled her chart success in the 00's. She is apparently working on a new album with her husband. Since this single was released back in 2012, I doubt it will be included in the said album. This single was apparently written by Linda Perry & Ashlee Simpson.
The music video is incredibly basic from start to finish. A consistent theme throughout as Ashlee Simpson pours her emotions out in a chaotic way.
Filmed totally in black and white, which definitely gives this an eerie feel, the video is quite quirky, to say the least. Ashlee Simpson has unlocked some sort of possessive beast from within, possibly a bat-transforming vampire.
At times we see her in a vocal booth or displaying dysfunctional dance moves, which doesn't fit singularly, however, would work fluidly with a full-set choreography, but then again something clean and perfect wouldn't work.
As a whole piece, it's quite unnerving yet interesting. Definitely haunting and perfect for my Halloween Special. On the other hand, I feel it doesn't quite relate to the song, and by itself, it's nothing special.
I've had this song stuck in my head. Yes I admit, I am a fan of Hilary Duff and comparing this song to her most recently released album, which includes "Chasing The Sun", "Sparks" and "All About You", it really shows how she has changed to adapt to the music industry. This video is definitely reminiscent of my childhood and Hilary Duff is looking a bit like Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson, with her rocker chick look and backing band, as well as getting her own back on her ex.
Hilary Duff's new album isn't as much as a success as it should have been. In the UK, it only just charted inside the top 100, yet in America it peaked at number five in the Billboard 200. There was little promotion over here, and she has disappeared from the UK's public eye. When you mention Hilary Duff in the UK, people automatically think of Lizzie McGuire and maybe her hits, this song, and "Wake Up", maybe "Come Clean" if you're lucky. I am glad she has returned to music, and hopefully she can get back to being as popular as she once was. She totally deserves it. This song was written by Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, Graham Edwards and Charlie Midnight.
The video is fun to watch, it's getting back on your ex, and yet she's singing a song saying that she's over him, it's a bit contradicting. Yeah, some could say she's doing it to get over him, but I personally think she's still obsessed with him. To be fair, one of my ex's could do this too since he still has a t-shirt of mine which he wears regularly. Oh well, at least it was a couple of quid from Primark, and not one of my expensive tees.
Directed by Chris Applebaum, the performance side is perfect, definitely sending me Avril Lavigne vibes in every way. The narrative is a little weird but works with the song. He is definitely So Yesterday. A typical video narrative and performance for the year it was released, and it totally works.
Ashlee Simpson becomes my Sunday Revisit, purely because I've been stuck for choice, and I distinctly remember watching this music video on the music channels. She has a famous sister Jessica Simpson, who is also a singer/actress. Ashlee Simpson is finally gearing up to releasing a fourth album, but is she past her peak of her career, or is it time to get back on track and become a hit once again?
"Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" was written by Ashlee Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White and Kenna. It marks Ashlee Simpson's lowest charting position in the UK, to date, managing to get to number 24. "Pieces Of Me" got to number four, "La La" number 11, and the recently reviewed "Boyfriend" got to number 12. The song is about having all these voices in your head, from the people who think they should advise you on what you need to do, and sometimes it's a bit too much. Always do what you want, regardless of what everyone else thinks, that's my advice.
This music video is over the top of wackiness. There's so much going on, so much that you find it hard to keep up with, that it explains the song and connects with it perfectly.
There is a lot of references included, so much so that it reminds me of Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go". There's a reference to Salvador Dalí's 'The Persistence Of Memory' with the melting clock, she is also seen with dark hair on top of a 'Rubik's Cube'. She also gets tied up by tiny people, which is a reference to 'Gulliver's Travels'. And once again the constant attack of the paparazzi, which has been featured in so many videos that I'm tired of mentioning it. One person even has a camera as a head. One of the co-writer's Kenna features as a reporter in the video.
This is clearly identifiable as an Ashlee Simpson video, even if she wasn't in the video, it's noticeable as her due to the quirkiness of it all. That still reminds me of the other videos I have reviewed "Boyfriend" and "L.O.V.E." that I question whether we'll find something different from this artist, or will she stick to this niche that is clearly her... Guess we'll find out when she starts releasing singles and videos for her new album.
Overall, a catchy song that has a messed-up quality to it that you can't help but admire, it feels like so many people talking to you at once, and that is exactly what the song is about. The video follows the song perfectly, going over the top and adding the perfect messed-up side with mental institutes and paparazzi and a robotic Ashlee Simpson.
Ashlee Simpson is currently getting ready for a come back in music. She is both a singer and an actress, along with her well-known sister Jessica Simpson. Her albums have failed to gain much chart success in the UK, her first album managed to get to number 31, and her subsequent albums didn't even make the top 40. It's a total different story for the singles, 4 of which has charted high, "Pieces of Me" got to number 4, "La La" number 11, this song got to number 12 and her most recent chart position is number 24 with "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)". My favourite single "L.O.V.E." did not get an official release in the UK.
"Boyfriend" was written by Kara DioGuardi, John Shanks and Ashlee Simpson. The song is apparently "not about one person in particular". But the song is about a girl who insists you've stolen her boyfriend, she's claiming she didn't. Various rumours have popped up about who this song might be about, guess we'll never know. Since "L.O.V.E." didn't get an official release in the UK, this is henceforth the only single released from the album 'I Am Me'.
This music video is mainly performance piece, but so full of vibes that you can't help but enjoy it for what it is, she has this stage presence that is gripping to watch. Her performance is extremely watchable, she's moving about, rocking out, striking sexy dance moves. It's fun to watch. And given the chance, I definitely would see her live.
I like the use of the band behind her, it shows she isn't afraid of showing who the band is that helps her make music, therefore giving her a lot more respect in my eyes.
There is a slight narrative to this, where she is running from the cops at the start, this kind of makes me think someone has called the police on her because she "stole" a boyfriend, making something become much more serious than what it is. Also a bunch of people start running towards something, although it is never clear who or what they are running to, my guess is that it's Ashlee Simpson's gig they are running to. It kind of reminds me of Lostprophets' music video to "Shinobi Vs. Dragon Ninja".
Overall, a great catchy song that should've charted higher than number 12. The music video fits the song pretty well, they could've added more to the narrative side, as well as making it clear what or who all the people are running to. At the end Ashlee Simpson jumps into what is possibly her boyfriend she references to in her song. He is played by Efren Ramirez.
Bridgit Mendler is new to the UK, she has had a few hits in America, but she is most known for her television acting roles in Good Luck Charlie, playing Teddy Duncan. And her role in Wizards of Waverly Place as Juliet van Heusen. She is also known in films such as Labour Pains, Alice Upside Down, and most notably Lemonade Pains. Now she's embarking on a singing career with her solid fan-base from Lemonade Mouth, she has become quite popular in the states and over here, even managing to get her US second single to chart here in the UK as "Deteminate" Featuring Adam Hicks got to number 198. However her first two singles, which includes "Somebody" was released as part of Lemonade Mouth. Now she's embarking on her own, and you could go as far as saying that this is her first single.
"Ready Or Not" was written by Bridgit Mendler, Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. The song samples the Fugees song "Ready Or Not". The song is about no longer waiting for the world to come after you, and going after the world yourself. There's a romantic twist to it too, as she goes out to find the guy she's been waiting for. I first heard this song on The X Factor (US) when Bridgit Mendler performed during the Live Shows, I remember liking it and being disappointed at the thought it might never be released in the UK, guess I was wrong. The song reminds me of something Ashlee Simpson would release and it looks like it's going to chart next week (as that's when it's released in the UK), as it's very popular over here so I am definitely buying this.
The music video isn't what you expect, and although it links slightly, you kind of want to know what they win at the end after all they've just done, as well as finding the romantic side, which there was none of.
This whole scavenger thing looks fun, I want to do it too. The only similar thing I've done is a zombie experience day in the city centre of Birmingham called "2.8 Hours Later". On the other hand there's a few things I didn't like...
The scavenger hunt looks like it's filmed good, however after closer inspection, we don't always stick to Bridgit Mendler and her team, not only that but the other team that is filmed has a total different set of instructions. As well as that they don't all complete their required tasks, or they did but they edited them out.
The use of the Polaroid camera is fun, and I always like seeing them being used in music videos.
Overall a great song that will definitely chart next week. It's accompanying music video is missing the romantic side, and they do all these tasks and get nothing out of it, by the looks of things. Not only that but we never get the satisfaction of seeing all the tasks completed. On the other hand, it's fun, but maybe a bit on the forgettable side, I have now watched it four times, and I still can't remember everything that went on.
For those of you who are unaware, Ashlee Simson is the younger sister of Jessica Simpson. Ashlee's music has turned a bit recently and it has a rock vibe to it now, which has totally gained my interest and I really can't help liking it (personally, I think she has a better voice than Jessica Simpson). Ashlee Simpson has had a lot going on recently. She married Pete Wentz (most known for being in the band Fall Out Boy), and also got an acting role on the new updated series on Melrose Place. Over the years she has changed her hair colour, she originally had black hair, she then died it blonde, and now it's red, I like the new red colour, it makes her look more like herself and makes her seem confident in herself. She hasn't done very well over the years on the UK chart but she is set to release a 4th album, and I believe it will be bigger and better.
L.O.V.E. was written by Ashlee Simpson, Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks. Kara used to be a judge on American Idol, and has worked with a number of artists over the years, John Shanks has written a number of tracks to famous stars such as Miley Cyrus and Bon Jovi. So in theory this song should have been a success, why wasn't it? I think it was due to the music video. The song is all about love, and the catchy chorus leaves you singing along to the whole song for the rest of the day "LO, LO, LO, LOVE, LO, LO, LO, let me hear you say".
The music video is simplistic, and it could have been a lot better. Obviously they had a house party with various people, and Ashlee Simpson had some choreography to do, which she works well. However the people in the background are pretty annoying, they're just trying to have fun, which includes jumping on top of people...
I don't think Ashlee Simpson suites the blonde hair, it seems like she's trying to be her sister, and that is definitely something you don't want to do. However now I think she's found herself and I can't wait for her return to music.
Now not many people have noticed this, so I'm a little unsure if it's just me.... But I think the guy who's sitting on the sofa, with the braces on but no t-shirt looks a little like Ashton Kutcher. I may just be me who thinks this, but I think he actually does. I suggest you pause the video at the bit where Ashlee ruffles his hair, and then find a picture of Ashton Kutcher and compare, because that is what I did, and their facial features are similar.
Overall I really am obsessed with this song, it's one of those songs that no matter how old it is, it'll get stuck in your head once again. However the music video doesn't match up as well as it could have done, an I think this is what lets it down. I have to admit if the people who made this music video knew about "heart hands" then it would definitely have got used quite a bit.
