Matoma & Becky Hill - False Alarm


False Alarm - Matoma & Becky Hill |

This is all so cute, definitely not a false alarm, their love for each other is sweet and lovely, and yet there's is alarm bells going off. This is definitely one of my favourite new songs this year, and Becky Hill has been the one to watch for a few years now, but she has really come into her own this year. Matoma and Becky Hill don't star in this music video for False Alarm, however her vocals are perfection as we watch a couple's loving relationship.

Matoma, real name Tom Lagergren, is a DJ from Norway, who has been going for a number of years and is currently working on an album, which this single will be a part of. He is respected within the music industry, having remixed many songs from Eminem to Enrique Iglesias. This song with Becky Hill proves that his debut album will be a must-hear. Becky Hill is also a part of this song, her vocals have always captured me ever since she appeared on The Voice UK series one, and although she waited many years to push aside The Voice UK as it definitely comes with a stigma, she has really proven herself as an amazing vocalist and she is now the biggest contestant to come out of the singing contest. We are all hoping that there is an album around the corner. This song is effortlessly catchy and was written by Daniel Davidsen, Mich Hansen, Peter Wallevik, James Newman, Kara DioGuardi, Rebecca Claire Hill & Tom Stræte Lagergren.

Directed by Samy Mosher, this very visualised music video really captures the essence of young love that's everlasting. These two are clearly meant to be together, and if the actors aren't then they are amazing at what they do because it comes across so real.

Their experiences take a turn for the worse as scenes turn into a hospital setting where the guy is being assessed for quarantine. After a bit of confusion as to why, we later find out that a burning sensation flows down his veins and fire spurts out of his palms.

Taking some of the lyrics literal, this is a great translation of the song especially from the chorus where Becky Hill sings:
"I'm dancing in flames, I ain't scared of the blaze, Don't rescue me, And now I'm burning in your arms, Endless fire in my heart, No it's not a false alarm."
Overall, a fire song that deserves to rank up the official UK charts, and a visual translated music video that is definitely full of flames and connections. Kind of quirky and different, and surely stands out on the music channels. This unnatural idea is totally developed and is quite stunning, in more ways than one.
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New Release: Bon Jovi - This House Is Not For Sale



This was a hard decision today, considering many of the new releases do not have a music video. Luckily for me, Bon Jovi came through and has a music video for their new song. This catchy little song is quite weird, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Thing is, whenever anyone mentions Bon Jovi, I always think of "Livin' On A Prayer", "It's My Life" or "Always", this song just doesn't live up to the a rock vibes of those songs. This isn't classic Bon Jovi and will be forgotten before we even heard it. Bon Jovi are back planting their roots and singing about a house that is not for sale. A visual video accompanies the song, but more could have been done.

Bon Jovi are a five-piece rock band consisting of Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Phil X and Hugh McDonald. Recently, they haven't been charting on the singles charts, and although their latest album charted well on the albums front, singles-wise this band may never hit the charts hard again. Have they lost their way? Not really, this song is a good rock song, but it's set in the 00's when this sort of music was doing well, nowadays rock isn't really in the charts, and the bands that have made it have totally switched it up. Bon Jovi is just trying to bring classic rock back and it's totally not working, they need a new sound. This song was written by Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks and Billy Falcon.

The music video is directed by Indrani and there is not much going on. Mainly a performance-based video, Bon Jovi are looking totally old.

They are definitely old rockers, and they are just trying to bring back their old sound, but there's barely any energy as they perform the song. This is not what we expect when we watch a Bon Jovi music video and this music video just doesn't make the cut.

Some amazing visual conceptions in the video, but nothing that takes off and not enough are used throughout. I love the ending as the house grows roots and plants itself into the ground, totally suggesting that the house is not for sale, and yet it's not developed whatsoever.

Overall, a very simple music video that isn't all that memorable. I'm all for Bon Jovi continuing on, and releasing music for their fans, and if all my favourite artists did that when they're old I'll be extremely grateful. Yet they need to get on their music video game and improve their sound overall.
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Britney Spears - Womanizer



I actually can't believe I haven't reviewed this music video yet. So lets make amends on my blog. I chose the director's cut, since it isn't much different from the original release, just less steam and more nakedness, but nothing too profound. For my Thursday Revisit, after watching "Make Me...", this is how you do a first single music video of a new album. "Make Me..." isn't a typical Britney Spears music video, THIS IS! This put Britney Spears back where she belonged, it was her name on everyone's lips, "Make Me..." just hasn't done that. Britney shows her man who's boss and proves that he is a womanizer. You don't mess with Britney Spears and get away with it!

Britney Spears is one of the biggest stars around and she is still releasing music, although you may not know it since she hasn't been hitting the charts hard recently. Believe it or not, she has never had a UK number one album, and unless she pulls something out of the bag, her latest album 'Glory', which is set to release at the end of the month, is just not going to get to the top. Especially after the fiasco of "Make Me...". This song, however, should've got to number one. Instead it settled at number three behind Leona Lewis' "Run" and Take That's "Greatest Day". It was the first single to be taken from her 'Circus' album, which got to number four. Could she turn things around? It looks doubtful, although her instant grat singles aren't doing so badly. Womanizer was written by Nikeshia Briscoe and Rafael Akinyemi.

Directed by Joseph Kahn, he strikes again, this music video is fire! We expect nothing less of him nowadays. Britney Spears' love interest is male actor Brandon Stoughton.

This is a Britney video! Narration with a performance piece set throughout. She shows how brave she is in the sauna, proving to the world that she hasn't put weight on and that she is totally healthy once again. This single will always be my mark to Britney being back and healthy again.

Throughout the video, we see Britney in disguise, much like "Toxic", with a few references to the previous video, this almost works as a follow-up, not quite though.

She's seen as a receptionist, a waitress and a chauffeur. Proving to herself and her boyfriend that he is a womanizer and that he gets up to all things when Britney Spears is not around. So at the end she gets her revenge and magically makes him disappear.

The dancing is stiff and not so flawless as we're used to from Britney Spears, regardless there's dancing, which is more than what can be said about new music video for "Make Me...".

Extremely stylish and fashion-based for 2008, it proves that Britney Spears is on form and knows what she wants. And it certainly isn't womanizer: Brandon Stoughton.

Brandon Stoughton is gorgeously sexy, he is one fine on-screen boyfriend, visual-wise, and definitely the perfect fit for a womanizer, he just has that look about him. Brilliant acting from him, he makes it seem so real, whilst Britney Spears is perfect as always.

This music video is amazing, everything is thought of, every detail, every outfit, every style, and every scene. Britney Spears' dancing might be slightly off in the video, but we know she's back on form right now at her Las Vegas residency. If only I could fly out and go and see her.
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Greece Entry: Freaky Fortune Featuring RiskyKidd - Rise Up



Greece's entrant into the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, was definitely a fan favourite, but clearly didn't quite do it on the night, only managing to place at number 20, with 35 points. This catchy track will become one of the great Eurovision songs that never won, or even came close, and yet I will not stop playing it at the parties I host. Freaky Fortune and RiskyKidd team up for this simple performance-based music video for "Rise Up", not quite rising anywhere though.

Freaky Fortune are a Greek duo consisting of Nikolas Raptakis and Theofilos Pouzbouris. The former has gone on to start a solo career, releasing a few singles here and there. Whether the duo is still together, is a question we may not be able to answer, but having already won a Perez Hilton competition early in their career, it suggests we need this duo to return. Featuring on the track is RiskyKidd, real name Shane Schuller, has continued on with his career since this track and is actively releasing singles. Collaborating on this track together, they competed in Eurosong 2014 - a MAD show, Greece's national selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which they won. The song was written by Freaky Fortune and RiskyKidd.

Direction by Alex Grammatopoulos, the music video is extremely simplistic. Freaky Fortune fails to entertain as they sing the song in this video.

Close ups of Theofilos Pouzbouris producing the track is the most advancement of the music video we get. Otherwise we have a lot of jumping from RiskyKidd and Nikolas Raptakis where they really aren't rising up to anything.

Clearly the budget was blown on the stage production of the song, which didn't even help the acts get a high placing on the leader board of the Grand Final. Trampolines used in the stage performance are no where in sight of this music video, unfortunately.

With little else to comment on, because there is literally nothing going on in this music video, the stars fail to give performance vibes for this song, and although their vocals are on point, the video just doesn't do a thing.
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Charlie Puth Featuring Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore



It seems split-screen music videos are a massive thing nowadays, we've already had The Girl and the Dreamcatcher's "Make You Stay" split-screen music video, and now this one, wonder what song will be next. Regardless, Charlie Puth and Selena Gomez harmonise amazingly on this extremely catchy song that I definitely can't get enough of recently. As for the music video, the concept is hard to follow with the split-screen, Charlie Puth and his ex go about their lives apart because they don't talk anymore, whilst Selena Gomez doesn't even appear.

Charlie Puth, Grammy nominated singer and a chart success, he has had many hits already including number ones "Marvin Gaye" and "See You Again". This track marks his third single from his debut album. This won't be the last we hear of him. Featured on this track is the amazing Selena Gomez, although you wouldn't know it from the music video. She compliments Charlie Puth's vocals in this song, making it melodically beautiful. The song only charted at number 26 in the UK, although it's definitely worth a higher peak position. The song was written by Charlie Puth, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Selena Gomez.

Directed by Phil Pinto, it relates to the song perfectly. Showing the lives of two people who's lives used to revolve around one another but now they lead separate lives. Unfortunately, Selena Gomez doesn't appear in this split-screen video as she is busy with her tour. Her absence is badly received since she is a crucial part of the song. This isn't the first time this has happened, most-recently Zara Larsson didn't appear in Tinie Tempah's "Girls Like".

The video, as I previously mentioned, includes a split-screen, which is definitely all the range lately, however it never unites unlike The Girl and the Dreamcatcher's "Make You Stay".

This video shows a broken relationship and how each person wants to reach out but they don't talk anymore so although they constantly think of one another they don't message or talk.

Interestingly, iMessage is used, which tells people when the other person is typing something. This becomes even more heartfelt as the other person knows they're typing and then deleting the message, it's like a double stabbing in the heart.

There's a lot to like about this music video, especially seeing them do variously similar things, such as crossing the road and going out with friends.

Overall, this is a fully narrative music video, that is totally engaging yet a little difficult to follow as it's not easy to concentrate on both sides of the split-screen. The effect is nothing new to us, and is played about and edited interestingly. No one can deny the complexity of this video, nor how it relates to the song. However it's completely missing Selena Gomez!
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Chart Mondays: The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya - Don't Let Me Down



The DJ duo that just keeps coming back and back and back, with hit after different hit after completely different hit. This is nothing like the "#Selfie" song that we experienced a few years ago. The Chainsmokers are on a roll with their most-recent songs and the way they are going, they're not going to go down. With Major Lazer still happy sitting at number one on the UK chart with the "Cold Water" track which features Justin Bieber and MØ and still no music video, it opens my Chart Mondays up to the UK Top 10. This song looks like it's going to be in the chart for some time. Bouncing up and down in a hydraulics car, The Chainsmokers are not allowed to let Daya down, so instead they become stranded in the air, whilst Daya steels the car in this weird video for "Don't Let Me Down".

The Chainsmokers consist of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. They have had various hits over the years and various not-so hits that definitely should've been. Every chart hit has been different from the rest, and they really are proving themselves as one of the hottest DJ duos around. These two definitely don't mess around, or maybe they do in the studio. Featuring on this track is Daya, real name Grace Tandon; she is the new girl on the scene. At just 17, she's already had a global hit called "Hide Away", which didn't quite make the UK chart, but got on the UK indie chart. her follow-up didn't fare so well. She released a self-titled EP. With this song blowing up worldwide, and her vocals killing it, she is definitely one to watch! This song was written by Andrew Taggart, Emily Warren and Scott Harris.

This video was directed by Marcus Kuhne, and it is definitely a low budgeted music video, that or they just spent the entire budget on a car that has awesome hydraulics.

A lot of editing clearly went into this, however the story line really isn't thought out, like why are The Chainsmokers walking into the car in the first place... If they were exiting a building or a house, fair enough, but it looks like they've just been out for a stroll and they've seen this car all by itself and decided to take it for a ride. Or they really did park there and stood around looking at the trees before hopping back in the car... Maybe, just maybe, they were playing Pokemon Go and had found a Mewtwo, we all would pull over to catch that.

Daya is just wondering through the forest with her girls. She's clearly not a dancer, but she is one hell of a performer, I mean this girl was meant to be on screen, although she seems totally out of place as the girls dance around her; it adds a bit more dramatic effect I suppose.

This entire video doesn't make sense whatsoever, apart from launching The Chainsmokers into the air so they are stranded and can't possibly let anyone down. Maybe they did let Daya down once upon a time and this is her revenge, whatever the meaning of this video is, it's something we'll probably never understand. Regardless Daya performs amazingly, whilst The Chainsmokers practise their stability in an extreme hydraulic car.
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Britney Spears Featuring G-Eazy - Make Me...



There is a lot of controversy around this music video. Mainly because the original music video got completely scrapped, you know the one filmed by David LaChapelle, and has been teased for months? Well now we have a video quite different than what was teased, and one that many aren't exactly happy with, but only because we know we're missing out on the original. If we had never known about it, then this would be a perfectly normal Britney Spears music video, that no one had a problem with. Britney Spears and her girls audition male actors, where she chooses one guy to take back to her bedroom, he will definitely Make Me Ooh!

Britney Spears is about to make a career comeback, or so we all thought. But she's lost so many potential pre-orders because of the public controversy over this music video. This song isn't the next "Work Bitch", it's not the next "Womanizer" and it's quite a simple and relaxed single that none of us really expected and doesn't defy the music industry the way we had been promised. Clearly too much hype surrounded this release, and 'Glory', her ninth studio album, might just be one of the worst releases in quite some time. Britney Spears has got to pull it all back, release something to make us go ooh! Something that puts her back on the top once again, Yet it looks completely unlikely that will happen. This song features G-Eazy, real name Gerald Gillum, who is getting around a lot, he is definitely the rapper to watch who is featuring in a lot of songs and is batting out chart hits. This is the first song, he's been in, that I really like his contribution because it goes with the beat of the track. This song was written by Britney Spears, Matthew Burns, Joe Janiak and Gerald Gillum.

Directed by Randee St. Nicholas, this video was planned to be totally different, with a different director. The David LaChapelle version will go unreleased for the foreseeable future, but some clips from the original has been kept.

Britney Spears and her girls starts off this music video, asking a 'Michael' to come along on Saturday and to bring some friends, only Michael never appears again in the video. The cackle of the girls is quite scary and unnatural and Britney Spears looks completely lost and not into it whatsoever.

We zoom forward to Saturday, and we watch them interview guys, most of which take off their shirts to let us marvel at their rippling gorgeous bodies, the winner gets to spend time with Britney Spears in bed.

Relatable and definitely sexy, this video is totally engaging as you try to work out who will win. However Britney Spears doesn't look that into it, a solo dance sequence which includes repeated steps and quite a lack-lustre performance, Britney Spears is totally missing her back-up dancers.

G-Eazy's scene is completely edited from the original video, which would've shown him having sex whilst singing his lyrics, hence the unbuttoning of his shirt. Although his verse is fire, his scene is totally out of place and unnecessary.

Overall, this video fails continuity, it fails to show variety, and we're back with Britney Spears looking a little on the lost side. This music video is easily forgettable amongst her famous releases, and she has got to do something soon to make us all want to buy her new album. She has yet to get a UK number one album, and 'Glory' doesn't look set to make it to the top of the UK charts.
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Katy Perry - Rise



Katy Perry is back with this uplifting track, that is definitely a grower. Dropped at the same time as Britney Spears' "Make Me...", this song took a prominent push back on my listening scale as I repeatedly fell in love with Britney Spears' "Make Me...", hearing this occasionally though has made me love this song too, definitely a grower. It more than describes the situation I'm in, I'm fighting for my career and I'm determined to rise, to become who I'm meant to me, regardless of what others may be saying. Katy Perry proves that you have to fight, you have to keep going, achieve your dreams because you will rise, hard work pays off.

An inspiration to us all, Katy Perry, real name Katheryn Hudson, has really made herself one of the biggest female singers in the world. This single is a non-album single and will be heavily featured during the US viewing of the 2016 Summer Olympics. It has charted worldwide and has been well received. It was written by Katy Perry, Max Martin, Ali Payami and Savan Kotecha.

Directed by Paul Gore, the video features a parachute much like Christina Milian's "Rebel", only Katy Perry adds a much better narrative and performance piece.

Accompanying the music video perfectly, Katy Perry battles with the parachute, trains herself to use it properly so in the end she will rise, rise high into the sky.

During the drama, she almost falls off a cliff, cuts herself on the parachute wires and gets caught up in a rain storm.

But in the end, as we all know she's a fighter, she flies up into the sky. She defeats all the doubts and proves that she can do this. Such an inspiration, we need more music videos like this.

However this video doesn't have much going on, and although it's showing a full story, it's quite slow and gradual and although rising in the real world is gradual, there's just something missing overall.
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New Release: Sam Bailey - Sing My Heart Out



Another X Factor star, this time a winner, who has just released her first song away from Syco, Simon Cowell's record label. The song is weak, it's slightly catchy but doesn't display Sam Bailey's amazing vocal ability the way we know certain songs can. She was a worthy winner of The X Factor, but I feel that she hasn't had a song that shows her off as a worthy winner. This one tries but it just doesn't work. Sam Bailey performs on a stage while scenes of her family life are shown, the "Sing My Heart Out" video is cute and lovely but nothing more.

Winner of the tenth series of The X Factor, Sam Bailey released just one album under Syco before parting ways with that record label. Now free from Simon Cowell, she released this single under Tiger Drum record label. She's an inspiration to a lot of people, proving that you are never too old to make your dreams a reality, and yet she isn't doing so well on the iTunes chart. This song is too weak, I've seen her sing so many better songs whilst watching The X Factor, that's it's kind of disappointing this has been released. However I can't deny that her vocals are strong and although it seems held back, I know she has more to give. I just hope she releases a second single that is much better before dropping the album.

This music video is mainly performance based with snapshots of her home life. It's really cute that she has included her family in this video, although exposing children to the media is a little worrying, but it works well and expresses how happy she is.

The home videos doesn't really go with the meaning of the song, apart from the fact that it proves she is a mother and that she is singing her heart out to inspire them.

As for the performance side, she gives it her all, and yet she looks completely nervous up on that stage, in front of an empty audience. The song is not the best but Sam Bailey gives it her best shot.

Overall an average music video that isn't engaging or interesting, along with a song that fails to impress... What does is her vocals, we know what they are like and even if this song doesn't show them enough you can tell that her vocals are strong. Now please release a follow-up that is something we'd put on repeat any day!
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Lindsay Lohan - Over



Thursday Revisit, so I chose this song from Lindsay Lohan's small collection purely because it's the only single that has charted in the UK to date. It's such a catchy ballad song that it doesn't surprise me that it charted, although I much preferred her debut "Rumours". Lindsay Lohan pines for a guy who she loves across the street, yet his parents are stopping them from seeing one another, she looks like a bad influence, but with a shocking ending, is it really "Over"?

Lindsay Lohan may be known for her film career, but she has dipped into music in the past, and actually did a good job of contributing to the music industry. Weirdly, this song is the only one that charted in the UK, although it's probably the weakest of her singles she released. A powerful song about an on-off relationship the music video twists the meaning which makes it slightly confusing. It was written by Lindsay Lohan, Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks.

Jake Nava directed this music video which contains both a narrative and a performance. It was inspired by the 1999 film American Beauty. Her love interest is played by the actor Drew Fuller.

The narrative is interesting but so bitty, it's hard to follow because there is more focus on Drew Fuller's relationship with his parents, it's a complicated plot line that would probably work much better in a film or a longer music video, but the restraints on the amount of time for this video really impacts the story line, However, Lindsay Lohan's acting skills definitely come natural and Drew Fuller makes this just as good, it's so believable that it's easy to get caught up in this music video.

The performance side of things is cut through the narrative with a series of snapshots and scenes, Lindsay Lohan puts on an acting performance and it's clear this song means a lot to her, you can definitely tell she wrote some of it. She has a clear connection to the song, and has so much energy whilst singing, I'm totally seeing her live if she does a concert in the UK!

The ending is shocking and although it could be a lot worse, it's quite surprising. Honestly, I'm glad I have a family who supports me and I can rely on. They may not agree with all the decisions I make, but they know that it's my life. It's always been like that, and I don't know how I'd have been able to cope if I had parents like he did.

This video is relatable, intriguing and totally engaging. The story is developed too quickly, there's clearly more to this than what we have seen, and it would totally work as a much longer video, maybe as a short film.... But apart from that it has a great interesting narrative and a cracking performance that Lindsay Lohan smashes!
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