Hey there, everyone! In case you haven't realised, I haven't been blogging recently on here and my focus has now turned to other adventures. I have some thrilling news to share with you, though. After a lot of thought and consideration, I've made a move to a new platform, and I'm now writing exclusively at Good Star Vibes. I want to take a moment to explain this change and what it means for this blog.
Why the Transition?
First and foremost, I want to assure you that my passion for delivering positive celebrity news and entertainment content remains as strong as ever. The move to Good Star Vibes allows me to expand and enhance the quality of the content I provide while reaching an even broader audience.
What to Expect:
At Good Star Vibes, you can expect the same level of in-depth celebrity coverage, reviews, and insights you've come to expect from me across all the brands I've written for, but on a more expanded variation, rather than focusing entirely on music videos - which is the niche of this blog. Plus, I'll have exciting new features, interviews, and collaborations in store that I can't wait to share with you.
How to Stay Connected:
To continue following my work and staying up-to-date with the latest celebrity news, simply visit Good Star Vibes and browse through my articles. You can also connect with me on social media to ensure you don't miss a single update.
A summer explosion of an anthem is here as Becky G collaborates with Kizz Daniel on a remix single of his track "Cough". This sees the Latin and Afrobeats superstars combine forces for an Afro-Latin summer-energised hit that we cannot get enough of. This acts as the follow-up to Kizz Daniel's single "Shu-Peru"; and Becky G's collaboration with Gabito Ballesteros on the single "La Nena".
Watch the official lyric video to "Cough" by Kizz Daniel & Becky G here:
Kizz Daniel, born Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, is a Nigerian recording artist, performer and entertainer, and one of Africa’s highly sought-after Afropop/Afrobeat kings. He rose to fame with his chart-topping single “Woju” under his previously known name, Kiss Daniel, and has continued to impress with critically acclaimed songs such as “Yeba”, “Nesesari”, “Buga”, and “Cough”. Kizz Daniel is signed to his own record label, Fly Boy Inc. Born in Ogun State, Nigeria, and hailing from Abeokuta North, he graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in 2013, with a degree in Water Resources Management and Agrometeorology, but decided to pursue music as a career alongside his studies. With three studio albums and an EP under his belt, Kizz Daniel is set to release his highly anticipated new album this summer, featuring the first single “Shu-Peru”. He was officially the most streamed African artist in the first two quarters of 2022 with his collaboration with Philkeyz, titled “Nesesari”, being his most-streamed track on Spotify, with 87.3 million streams. He is set to go out on an African and European tour to support his upcoming album set for the summer.
As for Becky G, the multi-talented American singer, songwriter, and actress has undoubtedly carved her place in the spotlight with an iconic career. From her breakthrough posting cover videos online to earning a record deal with Kemosabe Records and RCA Records, Becky G's star has continued to rise. Her chart-topping hits like "Shower", "Can't Stop Dancin'", and "Lovin' So Hard" propelled her to mainstream success, while collaborations with industry giants like Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, and J Balvin solidified her status as a global superstar. Apart from her musical achievements, Becky G's activism and inspirational platform have earned her accolades such as the Agent of Change award and recognition from the Latin Recording Academy. Moreover, her passion for giving back to the community is evident in her "En La Sala" podcast, where she donated to charity with every episode and hosted high-profile guests on various impactful topics. Not stopping at music and acting, Becky G recently launched her own beauty brand, Treslúce Beauty, celebrating Latinx heritage and culture with conscious, vegan-friendly products. As she continues to make her mark in the entertainment industry, Becky G's journey is a testament to her versatility, artistry, and commitment to positive change.
Written by Maurice Simmonds, Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe, and Skylar Mones, whilst it was produced by Marcel Larry Akunwata and Philip Ahaiwe Chukwuja, "Cough" is the remix of Kizz Daniel's 2022 hit "Cough (Odo)" which has amassed over 400 million streams across all platforms, and is currently his most popular song on Spotify with 48.1 million streams, making it his third most-streamed track on the platform, behind his collaboration with Philkeyz, titled “Nesesari”, which has 87.3 million streams, and "Buga (Lo Lo Lo)" which is a collaboration with Tekno at 62 million. The remix brings new life into the track and sees a Latin crossover, fusing incredible beats from both Afrobeats and Latin pop to create an addictive summer hit like no other. Becky G impresses effortlessly as her gorgeous vocals shine in her verse, while her tone wraps around Kizz Daniel's voice for the chorus bringing unforgettable harmonies that bring chills to the listener. Inspiring and catchy, "Cough" is set to become the Afro-Latin summer anthem of 2023.
Talking about the original track, Kizz Daniel shared how “for this song, I wanted to highlight the feeling of new love. The song itself is energetic and celebratory, and it really captures what it’s like to fall for someone new." A year later, this awesome remix has dropped with Becky G expanding that message and further bringing it to life.
"Cough", by Kizz Daniel & Becky G, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Flyboy Inc / Empire.
Jax Jones and Calum Scott's latest music video for "Whistle" takes viewers on a nostalgic journey through London's streets. The video was shot on an old bus that Jax Jones used to use in his local borough, Elephant & Castle. The official video features a special motion control (MoCo) camera that follows the lives of various passengers as they travel throughout the day, from morning to evening.
Jax Jones co-directed the video with Charlie Sarsfield, who has previously worked with artists like Stormzy and George Ezra. The cinematography is stunning, capturing the vibrant energy of the city and showcasing the unique lives of the passengers on the bus.
The song itself is a feel-good, upbeat pop track with catchy lyrics and a memorable melody. Calum Scott's soulful vocals add a whole bunch of emotion to the track, while Jax Jones' production skills shine throughout, with a thumping bassline and infectious beats.
Overall, the "Whistle" music video is a nostalgic and heartwarming production that showcases the beauty and energy of the city of London. The song is infectious and the visuals are visually stunning, making for a memorable and entertaining experience.
This light-hearted anthemic track, titled "small towns", really makes an impact as Michael Eddy completely shines from start to finish. His voice is soft and sweet giving the perfect teen heartthrob that we all have in our lives over the decades and generations. Michael Eddy's songwriting ability completely plays out as we hear about a girl he fell for and how she changed him into being someone worthy of her love but also allowed him to become a better version of himself.
"small towns" focuses on the fact that Michael Eddy and his love interest are from a small town and so he's grateful for that as he may never have found her. This is the debut single from the singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and dancer, who worked with acclaimed producer Michael Orland who is best known for being a mentor, vocalist, trainer, and pianist on the TV show American Idol.
The music video has a cartoon production vibe to it and has been shot, directed, and edited by Typo at the Apogee Studios. We first watch Michael Eddy on the side of a stage with his guitar over him as he kickstarts the song with guitar chords and vocals, he later stands up on the stage and starts to perform with a bandmate on keys and backing vocals, and Michael Eddy also jumps onto the drums. The next lot of scenes are him recording the song at a studio and we watch as he produces, lays down some vocals and plays his guitar. The entire thing sees him transition from reality to the cartoon version of himself and his bandmate as well as the stage and the recording studio. The animation flows through various styles and conceptual art that infuses a variety of styles giving you different perspectives. Every time you pause the video you get something new from American animation to Japanese anime to overly CGI art.
Newly released, Emily Henry brings it for her latest single and music video, "How It Feels". Easily describing what it's like having someone in your corner, someone who turns any bad day into a good day, just by being there. Her voice is magnetic and her lyricism is off the charts, with the song easily addictive and one I'll have stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
The music video takes a different spin on what would normally be a relationship narrative and instead makes the suggestion that her cat is the one that brings sunshine into her life. There are scenes of her spending time with her cat (named Frenchie for the video, but really named Harry), as well as spending time playing board games and cards with her friends - once again suggesting that friends, too, can choose to spread positivity in others.
Directed by Rah Foard and starring Emily Henry, Aubryn, Evan Moross, and Henry the Cat, this music video relates well with the song, twists up the narrative to surprise the viewers and brings something positive to the world overall. With cute simple edits that make the video pop, "How It Feels" is exactly what the world needs right now. Positivity is always a good force.
A twist of words, "Mourning Coffee" is easily a stand-out track by Scott Goldbaum, bringing heart-touching lyrics that are sure to make everyone feel, in more ways than one. This marks his second single from his upcoming EP, following on from his debut single release, "Drive Too Fast". With the help of Molly Rogers on violin and viola, Kiel Feher on drums and percussion, and Kaveh Rastegar on upright bass, Scott Goldbaum has created this awesome folk ballad with hints of indie-rock mixed in. He mixed the track while Reuben Cohen mastered it, making "Mourning Coffee" this peaceful and calming number that hits us right inside. The poetic lyrics are full of so much meaning and integrity, that it's impossible not to relate to this song.
Scott Goldbaum said that "Mourning Coffee" is "the distinction between codependency and partnerships that are chosen and decisively cared for while the world is falling apart around you."
An animated music video, directed by Britt DeVandry, resembles what looks like a gift card, like a virtual gift card, in my personal opinion, which relates well with the theme of the song, and as the video progresses, it really manages to showcase the heart-wrenching lyrics. We watch an insect/bug-type person, sitting on a bench reading a newspaper; a few seconds later, we watch a bird fly across the screen. Later, a blurred person walks up to the bench, sits down and seems to be moving their limbs. As time progresses, we watch the new person start to materialise and we realise they're in an orange hoodie and drinking from a cup however the insect/bug-type person starts to blur and they get worse as time goes on. The most interesting bit is watching the seasons change and how that affects the entire image.
Recently released is this music video by Marshall Oakman for his 2021 song "She's No Doll, She's A Woman", and gosh was it worth the year or so wait because this is such a good music video! It's really refreshing to come across this song, a track that is full of female empowerment, sung by a male singer-songwriter. Marshall Oakman wrote and produced this song, with the full intention of recognising, with appreciation, how much women bring to this world, as a whole.
It's an uplifting song full of power to women and full of respect, and the music video, directed by Ethan Felizzari, follows the essence of the song by adding an incredible narrative, intercut with scenes of Marshall Oakman performing the song with additional backup musicians (Samantha Coughlin on Bass, Hope Woodason on drums, and Daria Meyer on guitar). Marshall Oakman impresses on the keys and vocally during these performance scenes and it's clear there's a lot of passion for the song as you see him giving the song strength and sentiment. Samantha Coughlin, Hope Woodason, and Daria Meyer bring a tonne of stage presence and energy to these scenes too, clearly feeling dedication and devotion for the song itself.
This CK Films production showcases a developing narrative that interprets the song beautifully, as we watch Rosie Dean start off as a doll-like character before coming across a TV programme that reveals women who have changed the world - this new energy brings to light a different way in which she views the world, and she sees strong women out in reality, from incredible autobiographies to women in high-powered jobs, and even incredible mothers in the park. This frees her from who she was before and allows her to become freer and believe in herself more.
Another week has gone by, and Sam Smith & Kim Petras are still at the UK top spot on the chart with "Unholy", so this time I'm reviewing "Super Freaky Girl" by Nicki Minaj, and I never know what to expect when it comes to this queen of hip-hop, but I can guarantee she serves in every visual, and this is just another serve and a half! Selling sex, fierceness and charged energy, Nicki Minaj doesn't disappoint both with this song and the music video, and you can totally understand why she has hit after hit after hit.
Sampling Rick James' "Super Freak" throughout, Nicki Minaj transforms the track creating lyrics about sexual fantasies and desires while also rapping about the length of her career. The songwriters are listed as Rick James, Alonzo Miller, Lukasz Gottwald, Aaron Joseph, Lauren Miller, Vaughn Oliver, Onika Maraj, and Gamal Lewis, with Dr. Luke, Malibu Babie, Vaughn Oliver, and Aaron Joseph acting as producers.
The music video sees Nicki Minaj as a Barbie-like character who also has a love interest who resembles Ken - played by Alexander Ludwig (known for being in The Hunger Games, Vikings, and Heels, as well as The Band Perry's music video "Gentle On My Mind"). The video feels like it's straight out of Fergie's music video for "M.I.L.F. $", it's that suburban lifestyle, only Nicki Minaj has a more sexed-up style, with sexual intentions and suggestions. There's choreography, of sorts, passionate delivery from this queen rapper, and there are also some vicious (freaky) accessories within the scenes including a very sharp knife and some scissors.
I've been a fan of As December Falls for a couple of years now after first discovering them from a Facebook advert, and I've never looked back since, having bought their signed CDs from their store (yes I love signed CDs, I'm addicted), and signed up to their Patreon (the BEST Patreon account I've ever signed up to), and I've listened to their songs again and again. They've literally filled the gap of mainstream-rock female-led rock that I've been needing to fill ever since Paramore went synth-rock, and while some bands and artists occasionally stepped into the gap like Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, The Pretty Reckless, Olivia Rodrigo, and Bronnie, I never quite filled that gap until As December Falls came along, and now they're my favourite female-led rock band and I've loved every single track, cover, and demo they've ever dropped (including the ones on their Patreon, in addition to the track that Ande Hunter took lead vocals on, exclusive to Patreon).
The four-piece, consisting of Bethany Hunter, Ande Hunter, Timmy Francis, and Lukas James, hail from Nottingham and have been on the music scene since 2014, rising and building their fanbase. Two studio albums later and they're boasting millions of Spotify streams and sold-out tour dates! They've definitely on the verge of huge success, and I am totally here for it, especially as they're an independent band.
Directed by Justin Griffiths, this music video is a pure performance piece that totally showcases the band's vibe and energy. "Mayday" is hard rock at its finest and allows each of the band members to shine with the music video visually showcasing that during awesome cut scenes and unforgettable visuals.
It was shot in a prison, and the band recruited some of their fans to star in the music video. There's also a slight narrative as we watch Bethany Hunter start singing in the corridor of the prison with orange overalls in her hands as arms reach out to her through the bars - easily referencing the lockdown that the pandemic caused - and later we see her performing the track whilst wearing the orange jumpsuit.
Such an amazing music video, that correlates well with the track, as "Mayday" is all about coming out of lockdown and struggling to be back outside and socialising - it really was a tough time for everyone.
“'Mayday' is our heaviest track to date. It was inspired after coming out of lockdown, we were so used to being trapped in our houses that getting back to normal life and going back to socialising outside was a struggle. It’s about becoming acclimated to things that aren’t healthy for you and breaking down those walls,” Bethany Hunter said of the track. She also went on to talk about the upcoming album, "The album is a call to arms. We were so tired of the music industry being full of sharks and just the world in general at the moment. Everywhere you look, it’s just falling to shit. It’s about not sticking to the rules when you know there’s a better way. It’s a middle finger up to old ways, that we can do this without that bullshit. That’s why we called it 'Join The Club'.”
With Sam Smith & Kim Petras still at number one on the UK chart with "Unholy" - a song I adore and I hope will continue its reign for many weeks, I decided to choose to review "Bad Habit" by Steve Lacy for my Chart Mondays review. This song has peaked at number eight here in the UK after being stalled at number nine for the past two weeks, will it rise again next week? The track has had global success managing to chart at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as charting in the top five in Australia, Israel, and New Zealand, becoming his biggest global hit to date.
Written by Steve Lacy, Diana Gordon (yes, that's Wynter Gordon who sang that hit song "Dirty Talk"), John Kirby, Britanny Fousheé, and Matthew Castellanos, "Bad Habit" is an addictive R'n'B indie song that has a hint of dance thrown in which is what makes this song extra catchy. Steve Lacy has been in the music industry for a few years and seems to be underrated so it's great to see him get the recognition he deserves.
The music video, directed by Julian Klincewicz, doesn't have a lot going on, Steve Lacy performs the track in a studio space where he can be seen dancing and moving to the track while a pulsating light switches colours, freestyling and just being himself, almost as if the camera was left running and the song was played on repeat and he was left to do his own thing. There's a clear passion for the track displayed, and the scenes with his dog are adorable. Halfway through, the visual takes on a blurred concept which then intercuts the other scenes in the rest of the video - my takeaway from it is that it suggests that things could be different in an alternative reality, which links in with the concept of the track.
Spreading a bit of laid-back country and western music onto my blog is the recently released debut single by Rutherford Royal, titled "Back Burner". The song goes on to add an element of rock about three-quarters of the way through, bringing the listener right back in, before slowing it down to a mild and chill level as the song comes to a close.
Rutherford Royal, real name Andrew Christopher Rutherford Royal, is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer/songwriter, who manages to showcase everything he has got on this track, "Back Burner". He hails from the barrier islands of South Carolina and likes to use his deep connection with the land in his non-traditional music, gaining inspiration from the eastern south, transforming dark rock and indie Americana with current country and western rhythmic vibes. "Back Burner" totally showcases his awesome and unique art. He is set to release a debut album soon.
Talking about the track, Rutherford Royal said: "The boy has been waiting for the girl to fall in love with him as he watches her burn through several brief, meaningless, and destructive relationships. Despite clear signs that he should move on, he is determined to die on this hill. Often it feels like the right thing to do is take the side of love and wait for the one you know you’ll never get over. This can be the single most destructive decision you ever make, but half-measures will only lead to a life of what-ifs."
I might be making Chart Mondays difficult for me by covering this music video right now, but it's new in the UK chart at number five and it's full of such cute visuals, that I just had to cover it today, so I'm hoping it doesn't rise up to number one - although, it is Ed Sheeran, and it's one of my favourite songs he has released. Since Sam Smith & Kim Petras are still at number one with "Unholy", I chose this song from the UK Top 10.
Written by Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, and Johnny McDaid, with the former two songwriters co-producing the track, "Celestial" is an addicting track that has a cute autumnal vibe to it perfect as the weather changes from summer to autumn. Clear and crisp, the song has that exciting feeling of love mixed throughout with Ed Sheeran's vocals on fire from start to finish.
The music video, directed by Yuichi Kodama with Genki Kawamura and Masami Hatanaka acting as producers, is a fun day in the life of Ed Sheeran the Pokémon trainer. The visuals mix real life with cartoon animation warping both worlds into almost an augmented reality concept as if both complement each other. I like the idea of Ed Sheeran being the only person who can see the Pokémon, so when he's travelling on Lapras or Charizard, the average general public sees Ed Sheeran travelling on invisible creatures.
The first half of the video comes off better on story concept, I love the idea of us all having our own Pokémon in our homes, helping around the house (or making things worse). The second half becomes more skewed, with Ed Sheeran just going about and walking on the street, but then ending up at the end trying to stop Mew and MewTwo, regardless of that, the imagery in the second half is beautiful, that field with the Bulbasaurs is just epic!
This is a cute and fun music video for "Closer" by Hunter and is definitely something you should have on your radar. The song signifies a variety of things, from the honeymoon feeling when you are crushing on someone as well as the wanting of being closer to loved ones, which is now becoming more and more possible as COVID restrictions relax with the pandemic becomes less of a worldwide threat - although cases have been rising in the UK, apparently. The track has been gaining in popularity and has been added to the Now That's What I Call Music 83 (the US compilation album).
Hunter said that "Closer" was inspired by "the feeling of driving down the road with the windows down on an easy summer afternoon. We've been through a lot over the last few years and I wanted a song that could help my listeners escape what's around us."
According to Spotify, the song was written by David Ryan Harris, Hunter Elizabeth, Jesse Siebenberg, and John Alagia, with the latter two songwriters being the producers of the track; as for the music video, Ra Dreyfus acted as Director with Ron Geffen being the director of photography. The cute video sees Hunter trying to impress her adorable little puppy, who is played by Yuki Newman, but nothing seems to be working from posing for an artist painting to playing crochet in the garden to being wined and dined al fresco style.
On top of all that, there are four hot guys attempting to grab Hunter's attention, hoping to get closer to her, from the artist who is painting them, to the hot guy gardener (played by Branko Presley) who is topless and has a hose in his hand - he could shower me with his hose any day, amen! But, Hunter is not impressed with his advances and swiftly moves away when he soaks himself (feel free to send him my way instead).
Her next scenes see her in the kitchen where the hot guy chef (played by Scott Camaran) comes on to her by offering her a taste of his soup (I'm pretty sure it's just as yummy as he is), but she declines while he doesn't want to take no as an answer (come on, we all should know about consent by now), and she ends up spilling the soup over him, and in doing so, he rips his shirt off and sexually spreads the soup on himself - she rightfully escapes the kitchen and has her meal with Yuki, but the puppy still isn't happy even though he's dressed smartly. She does a dance for Yuki and eagle-eyed viewers will recognise the guitarist in the scene as it is Nash Overstreet, who is known for being in the band Hot Chelle Rae as well as being the brother of Chord Overstreet (he played Sam Evans in Glee).
Overall, a great concept with a fun spin on the lyrics deciding that she wants to get closer to her dog rather than closer to a man - regardless of how hot the guys are. Clever, interesting, and memorable, this is a brilliant, iconic music video. The track is set to be part of Hunter's forthcoming debut EP which is expected to be released later this year.
I've been a fan of Restless Road ever since The X Factor US where they were formed on season three of the show, placing fourth. During the show, they met future collaborator, Kane Brown, who signed them and they've gone from strength to strength in the country music world. They consist of Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols, and Colton Pack, and filmed this music video while they were on tour in Australia.
“We couldn’t believe that fans were singing our songs back to us halfway around the world at these shows! What really sent the trip over the top was that we got to film a music video for our new song ‘Sundown Somewhere’ in Newcastle, Australia. We knew we wanted to really show all of what Australia has to offer in this video, so we used a local director and crew. This was a trip that we will never forget and can’t wait to get back”, shared Colton Pack.
The song, written by Cole Swindell, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, and Cole Taylor, is all about the hope of meeting that special someone, the one person you are meant to be with for the rest of your life, the one. I certainly know that feeling having been single for two years now, but I believe my future someone is out there just waiting for me too. This song totally speaks to me and this music video interprets the song brilliantly.
"No matter what point you’re at in life, we’ve all dreamed about the person we’re going to end up with. Where they are, what they look like, and what they’re like. ‘Sundown Somewhere’ is a song that really captures that feeling and the moment we heard it we were excited to record it and get it out to our fans,” shared Garrett Nichols.
The video is split into two parts, firstly Restless Road showcases their stage presence by performing this song on the Newcastle beach with the scenic waves crashing behind them. Then there's the incredible narrative as we watch a man feel a connection or spark with a blonde-haired woman who he spots from afar. He crosses paths with her a few times, and it isn't until he sees her car in the same parking lot he ends up at, that he starts to write a song about her, the lyric sheet gets caught by the wind and she ends up with it. He later returns to his car to see that she's waiting for him (although how she knew the lyric sheet was his is beyond me).
A brilliant music video with an engaging romantic storyline that connects with the song easily. This simply just works and continues to show how incredible Restless Road is. This trio is really making waves in country music, and I'm excited to continue to follow their career path.
Now, this is what we call an all-out music video, but what do we expect from a Sam Smith & Kim Petras team-up with the title "Unholy"? There's literally so much to unpack in this four-and-a-half-minute music video, there's just so much going on and I always see something new. The LGBTQ+ representation is undeniable and effortlessly done - again, we expected this from Sam Smith and Kim Petras.
They've topped the UK Singles Chart this week with this song and I hope it's a chart mainstay as we need these unapologetic queer artists at the top of charts around the world! In topping the UK Chart both Sam Smith and Kim Petras have made history (ermmm... I mean herstory), because this is Sam Smith's first number one in the UK since he came out as non-binary becoming the first, and only ever (to date), non-binary artist to top the UK charts, and Kim Petras follows suits becoming the first, and only (to date), trans artist to top the charts; time for this LGBTQ+ duo to break records and stereotypes around the world!
Other than the UK, this track has seen itself sit atop global charts including Australia, Canada, the Billboard Global 200, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, and Slovakia. I'm sure more chart number ones are around the corner, since it's at the top spot on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube charts globally - including Romania, Singapore, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States, amongst others.
As a Kim Petras fan, I instantly love this song, (how "Coconuts" wasn't a worldwide hit I'll never know) and I've been pretty keen on Sam Smith's latest tracks, with their "Diamonds" single easily being one of my top songs of 2020 (it just speaks to me as it was released a few months after the breakdown of my relationship of nearly three years). "Unholy" was written by Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Blake Slatkin, Henry Russell Walter, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Omer Fedi, and James Napier, whilst it was produced by Sam Smith, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Cirkut, Omer Fedi, Jimmy Napes, and Blake Slatkin.
Directed by Floria Sigismondi with Joel Honeywell acting as director of photography, this "Unholy" music video is stunning, incredible, and truly unforgettable. It has all the elements of a great music video, especially with an engaging narrative whilst also making Sam Smith and Kim Petras totally shine. The choreography was created by French dance collective (LA)HORDE, with notoriously-known drag queens Violet Chachki (winner of season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race) and Gottmik (third place in the 13th season of RuPaul's Drag Race) acting as the bosses of the club - which is the only issue I have with this music video, as these two queens do not have the best reputation and I don't understand why UK drag queens weren't used instead, or even local drag queens, as the RuPaul Drag Race UK already spans four seasons with many credible alumni who have already proven their brilliance in music videos, although special shout-out to Baby who is one of the dancers in the video and is also currently on series four of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
The music video opens up with a couple, where the husband (played by Henry Davis) decides to attend a sex club cabaret venue instead of being beside his wife (played by Maren Bjorneseth) at a Poetry and Literature party. He drops her off, makes sure she takes his coat as it's cold, and tells her not to wait up; only in his rush, he forgot about the unopened condom wrapper with the venue, "The Body Shop", emblazoned on the front, the name of the club, which was in the coat pocket. We then watch him go into a garage where Sam Smith and Kim Petras are mechanics, but it's all a front for the cabaret show that's around the back.
Taking inspiration from The Clockwork Orange, Moulin Rouge, Madonna, Claude Cahun, Crazy Horse, Mr. Pearl, and Bob Fosse, this music video really has it all. Sam Smith is a legend for the dance spotlight they have on them with the incredible backing dancers highlighting them in every way. Their confidence and strength on stage really is bright and it's clear that Sam Smith is owning who they are and hands down their stage presence is out of this world. Sam Smith loving themselves is a total goal! Kim Petras brings it in her Madonna and Moulin Rouge moment too! This is just beyond epic!
The ending sees the husband's scandals shown publicly with a car behind him that has spray-painted words on which are "Liar", "Cheat", and "Fumier", the latter being in French which means "Manure" or as we brits would say, "Shit", or any combination of that word which the husband can definitely be described as. The wife walks into "The Body Shop" and sees this on display, but instead of letting it get to her and breaking her apart, she is liberated by the entire show and feels free to be who she is, with confidence, and so removes her coat and her wig, feeling sexually liberated.
This music video is everything I wanted it to be and more. The song is about a straight relationship where the man cheats on the wife and the music video is not just fitting, but explodes the meaning of the song and creates this awesome concept that makes me want to watch it again and again, constantly wishing it was longer, as this is something I never want to end, yet Sam Smith ends it with a fan saying "fin" - the French word for "end".
The cast includes dancers Daniel Allwell, Aleshia Williams, Emily Haygarth, BABY, Jordan Boury, Megan Charles, Novaya Shey, Samuel Mena Garcia, Pfion Vince, J’Adore La Vie, and Sakeema. There's also a lot of featured cast, including Yuri Park, Nancy Violet, Jolene, Brett Tatham, Louise Gibb, Nicholas Tredrea, Kitt Ibbott, William Darby, Lulu Kapansa, Armando, Fern G, Ego Valentino, Treasure Iyamu, Daragh Mccann, Lewis Walker, Jamie, Paddy O’Brian, Amani Hussain, Miriam Veil, and Max The Tribrid.
Snailmate have just dropped this awesome single and music video, titled "Trash, Baby" which is genre-defining with hints of pop and rap infused in the hard-rock theme of the song. The LGBTQ+ duo consists of Kalen Lander and Bentley Monet, and they describe Snailmate as a project which fuses synthpop, grindcore pop and nerd rap, and if this song is anything to go by they are masters of music creation. "Trash, Baby" is stuck in my head after just one listen, and the lyrics are pure perfection, this duo sure knows how to write a song! The song was written by Snailmate, while it was produced by Kalen Lander, with Ari Leopold mixing and recording the track; the music video has been directed by Chase Warren with Levi Elizaga acting as director of photography.
Creating art is never an easy task especially when your inner saboteur is attacking you at every step of the way, and this is exactly what Snailmate is showcasing in this song and music video, "Trash, Baby". We watch as Kalen Lander creates and then destroys a beautiful garden, and then later we watch Bentley Monet paint some awesome artistic imagery on canvases which he also destroys. The whole video is a concept in itself as music is an art form, as well as music videos being an art form, and so it comes full circle as we watch the music video be deleted at the end.
On top of the awesome narrative piece, there's an interesting performance visual which sees Snailmate as heads on spikes, linking completely with the opening lyric, with the song's narrator being the person on the spike who has been brought back to life "warning passers-by of the dangers of trying too hard. As the music video illustrates, it’s very easy to go from enamored with something to hating it. Hopefully, we can all overcome the negative thoughts and self-sabotaging to become better artists," Bentley Monet states.
Last weekend I was at Birmingham Pride 2022, where Steps was the headliner for the Sunday event, and it made my childhood dream come true seeing them perform on the main stage, and this song "Stomp" is the one that is stuck in my head. I forgot all about this song until they sang it and I remember playing this on repeat again and again - it's probably my favourite Steps song from their whole discography. They also revealed that they've been together for 25 years now (minus the 10-year split). This song was their second UK number one, following "Heartbeat / Tragedy". It was written by Mark Topham, Karl Twigg and Rita Campbell, with production by Mark Topham, Karl Twigg and Pete Waterman.
This music video has both narrative and performance visuals which coincide well with each other. There's an amazing dance section which is totally in sync and although may have seemed dated 10 years ago if you were looking back at old music videos, with TikTok becoming a viral social network, these dance segments are extremely popular and this would be something that goes viral on the app.
We watch as Lisa and H are given the keys to a penthouse apartment while the owner, Bill (who is played by Dave Legeno - who is no longer with us, having passed away in 2014), is away on business. He tells them to look after the apartment, but Lisa and H decide to invite the rest of Steps round for a huge party, so we see scenes of Claire, Faye, and Lee getting invited to the party and making their way there. In the end, they all help to clean and tidy up, and when Lisa and H think they're in the all-clear, the camera transitions to the painting that's hanging on the wall, where someone has drawn horns, glasses and a moustache on Bill's face.
She has finally done it, after 10 years in the music industry releasing music, Bebe Rexha has scored her first UK number one, that's right, "I'm Good (Blue)" becomes her first UK chart-topper, in collaboration with David Guetta, making this his seventh UK number one. The song was recorded years before it was officially released, with David Guetta first playing it during a set at Ultra Music Festival 2017. It heavily samples Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)", creating a nostalgia sensation.
Tiktok tends to rule the charts, worldwide, at the moment, with the video-creating social media platform allowing users to use snippets of audio to create sounds in the videos that they make, and this is precisely what happened with this track, going completely viral on the video sharing platform. The original song was catchy back in the day, so it's not a surprise that when a worldwide DJ samples it on a track with an incredible singer, it once again becomes a hit. The track has been written by David Guetta, Kamille, Phil Plested, Bebe Rexha, Massimo Gabutti, Maurizio Lobina, and Gianfranco Randone, whilst it was produced by David Guetta and Timofey Reznikov with additional production by Ahh.
The pure performance music video, directed by KC Locke, doesn't really showcase the song that well with the lyrics suggesting that they're having an epic night out on the dancefloor of a club, and yet we see sexualised visuals from Bebe Rexha showing her amazing body, as well as the glimpse of David Guetta's amazing toned body as he gets changed. The visuals are separated via a split screen, reminding us of Charlie Puths music video for "We Don't Talk Anymore" which features Selena Gomez.
The artists eventually meet up at Ushuaia, Ibiza where David Guetta is performing, with Bebe Rexha singing "I'm Good (Blue)" live on stage. Amazing camera shots and visuals are used that capture Ushuaia in all its glory and we certainly want to attend a David Guetta residency at Ushuaia, for sure.
As expected, Ariana Grande jumped straight to the top spot of the UK Singles Chart with her latest track "positions" and so I am reviewing the music video for my Chart Mondays review. I am not so impressed with the song, she has definitely released better songs in the past, but this is her official seventh UK number one. As usual, her voice is superb, but the song just doesn't hit me unlike some of her previous songs. It is the lead single from her brand new album of the same name which has been released this week and is more than likely going to chart at number one on the UK Albums Chart. The track's lyrical content suggests that Ariana Grande is willing to try new things for the person she loves and her overall dedication to him and willingness to switch positions (from sexual to stereotypical).
The music video has been directed by Dave Meyers and sees Ariana Grande acting as president and fulfilling some of the tasks that the president undertakes whilst also taking on typical female stereotypical roles such as being in a kitchen. It also stars her mother, Joan Grande, as well as frequent collaborators Tayla Parx and Victoria Monét. The release coincides well with the 2020 US Presidential Election. I feel like this could've been iconic and there is substance to it, but it's just missing so much, I also don't like how it transitions between her positions. I truly believe if this was wrapped up in a complete narrative storyline, it would've worked amazingly.
Today we have a brand new single and music video from Karmen in collaboration with BRUJA, titled "Belladonna" and I am addicted! Beyond catchy in every way, Karmen shines vocally and visually. It reminds me of INNA's deep house tracks mixed with the vocal brilliance of Antonia. Romanian female singers are totally on top of their game at the moment and Karmen is up there with the best of them. This collaboration with BRUJA allows her to start a new musical journey that brings a new take to Eastern European pop music and I am excited about this era. BRUJA switches up the track with a brilliant rap that further adds to the unique quality of the song, which has been written by Alexandru Pelin, Krishane Murray, Maria Teodora Mizgoi, Octavian Ioachim Petre, and Vlad Lucan.
The music video has a Halloween feel to it, which isn't a surprise since it is Halloween tomorrow. It also goes well with the song as it does have a creepy spooky vibe in the track itself. It is set in what looks like an asylum, which is giving me Lady Gaga "Marry The Night" vibes. Karmen is one of the nurses and she is fiercely working it in the music video as she rolls a guy who is wearing a straight jacket around in a wheelchair. There are split-second scenes throughout that showcases a different reality where Karmen is dressed in black and is knocking out killer dance choreography with a group of dancers. BRUJA is scarily freaky, acting as another patient in the asylum, which adds to the creepy aesthetic of the video and the song itself. This just works as a complete package and I could so watch it again and again.
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