Critic Jonni: Fifth Harmony

Hey Ma (feat. Camila Cabello) - J Balvin & Pitbull |

Out of all the releases this week, this is the only one I've actually bought. There are two versions of this song and two versions of this music video (although they are very similar). One of them is in Spanish with Pitbull & J Balvin as the main artists, and then there's this English version as J Balvin & Pitbull - which was released today. There isn't much difference between both music videos, hence why you can find the previously released Spanish version below. This song is part of The Fate of The Furious (Fast & Furious 8), and as a soundtrack music video, there are scenes from the film in this visual. Watch J Balvin and Pitbull's English/Spanish music video for "Hey Ma" that features Camila Cabello for The Fate of The Furious, as they dance and sing amongst cars.

J Balvin, real name José Balvin, first came to my attention when he collaborated with Inna, on her song "Cola Song". I actually have to sing his name every time I read it - just like he does in the said song. He also collaborated with Sofia Carson for "Love In The Name". But this is the first song of his I've heard, the first one that he doesn't appear as a feature - instead, he's the main singer. He's a Columbian latin singer and has won a few awards for his songs, yet this one is definitely going to give him more of a spotlight, especially teaming up with American rapper Pitbull - who has also had success with Latin-inspired music as well as thousands of different genres. His real name is Armando Pérez, and has also worked with Inna - twice, but mainly known for "Good Time". He's a successful international artist, and there is definitely no stopping Pitbull. Featured on this track is Camila Cabello, now officially away from Fifth Harmony, she's stepping up her game and pushing her name out there through featured tracks. Having already been successful on collaborations with Shawn Mendes and Machine Gun Kelly, on tracks "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Bad Things", we're sure her career is going to go places in the future. This song was written by Armando Christian Pérez (Pitbull), José Balvin (J Balvin), Karla Estrabao (Camila Cabello), Jamie Sanderson, Tinashe Sibanda, Philip Kembo, Soaky Siren, and Johnny Yukon.

Directed by Gil Green, the music video is definitely spicy and sexy. It has quite the Spanish flair to it, and as an English version, it's not quite so intimate as the Spanish version is (which can be found at the bottom of this review).

The opening scene is a welcome sight, as we watch Camila Cabello walk the streets and interact with the people around her; before making eyes at J Balvin who kicks off the singing. There are some great interactions between this trio, although it looks like Pitbull was unavailable on the first day since he isn't in the scene with Camila Cabello and J Balvin; instead, he jumps out of a car that looks like it's from the set of The Fate of the Furious (Fast & Furious 8). He's scene involves him dancing in the middle of a group of women dancing around him. Typical Pitbull, and yet he's stylish and looking cool, in his posh clothes. He's not the best dancer, but he knows that and rolls with it, giving his scene perfect fire.

There are a few scenes from the film they are promoting, although not enough that it distracts from the music video itself. The film is something that I do plan to see, but I don't think this music video shows enough to make people want to see the film.

As the music video progresses, there's a night scene with J Balvin and Camila Cabello. It's sexy and full of flirting, and they do well to show just that. But our favourite scene is where the whole trio is dancing together in front of the camera. Unfortunately, it's clear that lighting was a problem with this specific scene, but they've done well with it and all three of them clearly got along well.

Overall, it's a Latin-inspired music video, that feels so right when you are watching the Spanish version of the song. As for the English version, it doesn't quite fit so well. It's clear that that language doesn't quite belong in this specific place. Regardless, the English version is something radio will be playing, and as it gets warmer here we expect this to become an early summer anthem for us all.

Buy on iTunes (English Version)
Buy on iTunes (Spanish Version)

Hey Ma (feat. Camila Cabello) (Spanish Version) - Pitbull & J Balvin

This is one of my favourite duet songs of 2016, talk about a collaboration and a half. This is beyond mesmerising; but, once again, Camila Cabello doesn't make a hit. This song and her other duet with Shawn Mendes, "I Know What You Did Last Summer", hasn't really done well on the UK chart. Regardless of that fact, it doesn't take away from how amazing this song is! It's totally underrated. Watch Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello do "Bad Things" together and slightly to each other, in this music video, with a shocking heartfelt ending that leaves us all guessing.

Machine Gun Kelly, real name Richard Colson Baker, is a rapper and an actor. He first came to my attention in Nerve. Since then, he released this song and I'm hooked. He looks beautiful in this music video, and I'm eager to listen to more of his songs and watch more of the films he has starred in. The whole reason I bought the single was because of Camila Cabello, as I'm a massive fan of Fifth Harmony. She's the first of the five girls to go on and release music away from the group. As previously mentioned, she teamed up with Shawn Mendes on the amazing track "I Know What You Did Last Summer", and then she's done this one. But, she hasn't made it solo just yet, so I don't think Fifth Harmony are going to part ways anytime soon, even if Lauren Jauregui has done the same and released her own featured single. This song was written by Colson Baker, Camila Cabello, Madison Love, Tony Scalzo, Joe Khajadourian, and Alex Schwartz. It features an interpolation of Fastball's "Out Of My Head".

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, no wonder it's so amazing, this music video is highly memorable and totally infectious.

The collaborative artists are childhood lovers, who have grown up together doing bad things. There are so many amazing scenes that it is impossible to comment on them all. But I totally love the car drifting scene, that really made me think they were going to crash and die there.

They find an abandoned warehouse where they throw a party, and Camila Cabello adorns a princess tiara. Machine Gun Kelly gets wrapped in tape, I'm sure a few of us wouldn't mind doing that to him.

He gets in a couple of fights, and they also steal a car, which leads to the police running after them. That then brings us right back to the start of the music video where they can be seen at the top of a building, but the ending leaves it on a total cliff-hanger, do they jump?

Both artists look incredibly sexy in this music video, just by being themselves and the perfect camera angles and shots.

What else can I say? Other than going into how gorgeously sexy Machine Gun Kelly looks, but then again, the same could be said of Camila Cabello. The song is pure fire, but the music video has stepped up the song so much more. This will forever remain an underrated track, and it so should've gained momentum. It'll be a lost treasure that I will be playing for years. The music video follows suit and is worthy of awards across the board. Side note: I love the comments saying that this was what Shawn Mendes was on about, this is what Camila Cabello got up to last summer; in reference to her previous collaboration "I Know What You Did Last Summer".

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Ever since this song was announced as their next single, we've been waiting for a music video, and it's been such a long wait. But the Olympics have finished and here's the video, and it was definitely worth that long wait! A total relief after waiting so long for Major Lazer's "Cold Water" and being disappointed; but Fifth Harmony has made us completely forget about "Cold Water" and totally smashed this video! Fifth Harmony appear in a post-apocalyptic world and attempts to save everyone, whilst performing this strong and empowering track. "That's My Girl" is a true sign of girl power!

Fifth Harmony is one of the biggest girl groups in the entire world at the moment. Formed on The X Factor (US), and much like One Direction, they came third in their season; they have become world renowned. They consist of Normani Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane Hansen, Camila Cabello and Ally Brooke. They're currently on their 7/27 world tour, promoting their second album. This single is their third single overall, and may be their last from the said album. Girl power and totally empowering, this song is beyond strong. It was written by Tinashe Kachingwe, Alexander Kronlund and Lukas Loules.

Now this music video is FIRE! The director is Hannah Lux Davies; so, of course, it was going to be FIRE! This is one of the best Fifth Harmony music videos I have seen.

Interpreting the lyrics into a whole difference imagination, this music video goes a lot further than we initially thought it would. The song itself is about independence and being strong, encouraging their fans to be determined and do what they want because they can do it and they certainly don't need a man beside them.

So how this song turned into a post-apocalyptic video, about strength and caring, I do not know, but let's be honest this is completely amazing, especially with everything going on in Syria at the moment.

The girls wave white flags in the air in a brilliant dance sequence that they nail, before saving the survivors and rescuing them. They then dance with red flags in amazing choreography, they're totally in-sync throughout.

The girls are perfect throughout. Their performance vibes are totally off the radar, if you've ben lucky enough to see them live like I have, then you'll know how amazing they are, just like they are in this video.

Overall this video has it all, a relatable strong narrative all infused amongst various performance pieces that contain amazing choreography which is performed flawlessly. These girls are already one of the biggest girl groups in the whole world, but this song and video just enforces that even more!

Buy on iTunes

All day I've had Fifth Harmony's "All In My Head (Flex)" all in my head, literally the catchy tune had embedded itself inside my mind, definitely stuck in my head. It was because the girls performed the song on the Grand Finale of The Voice Australia which I wrote an article on for CelebMix. As I've already reviewed "All In My Head (Flex)", I thought I'd review this song, as it is one of my favourites. Fifth Harmony elegantly display their natural performance style in this Write On Me music video, for the promotional single.

Fifth Harmony are a five-piece american girl group, consisting of Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Kordei and Camila Cabello. They formed on The X Factor US, and have gone from strength to strength as they release more and more songs. Worldwide domination is definitely on the cards for this group, but with stiff competition in other countries, it is slightly difficult. This ballad song strips back the club melodies and gives us their perfect voices. Technically great, this song is one of the best on their new album '7/27'. The song was written by Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll (Kygo), Priscilla Renea and Simon Wilcox.

Directed by Sam Lecca, this music video is a simple performance-piece, stripped back and classy. Although I usually don't like black and white videos, this one pulls it off.

I love the writing elements that is worked throughout, and it must've been a nightmare trying to edit in the finger clicks or finger snaps.

The girls are relaxed, looking elegantly sexy as they sing this very classy song. The video is a perfect performance piece, and it's so nice to see the girls in their natural element.

This is what they do, when they're on stage, when they're being themselves, when they're dancing freestyle. Perfect performance video! However a narrative would've been perfect for this song, they totally missed out on a good opportunity.

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Another club hit from these girls, Fifth Harmony's second single is more than we expected. Clearly the combination of fans worked on the last single "Work From Home" so they've done it again, featuring a rapper, this time Fetty Wap. This is the second single from their second album, having already hit the UK charts hard with "Work From Home" and the album did well all by itself, it's time for them to storm the UK chart with this amazing summer relaxer of a song, they just need the radio to pick it up! Fifth Harmony are sexily drawing in the guys on a beach, telling them to flex to try and impress, it's not all in our heads, this is happening!

Fifth Harmony are a five-piece girl band, who formed on The X Factor (US). They consist of Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Kordei. They are being pushed as the next big girl group, and making it over here in the UK is their biggest difficulty especially with label mates Little Mix being the biggest British girl group around at the moment in the UK. However, their most recent single "Work From Home" peaked at number two in the UK, and it's still going strong, their previous singles haven't fared so bad either, could they push this single to the very top? Or will they turn into the american version of The Saturdays, not quite getting to the top until much later on in their career, and will they stick together long enough? Their most recent album proves that the girls like different genres within the group, separating their vocals and yet combining the genres to make the album. This song has Dinah Jane Hansen and Normani Kordei leading the chorus. It was written by Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen, Benjamin Levin, Willie Maxwell, Daystar Peterson, Nolan Lambroza, Julia Michaels, Simon Wilcox, Brian Garcia, Ewart Brown, Clifton Dillon, Richard Foulks, Herbert Harris, Leroy Romans, Lowell Dunbar, Brian Thompson and Handel Tucker. The song samples DJ Mad Cobra's "Flex", which incorporates elements of The Temptations' song "Just My Imagination", hence the massive list of song writers.

Directed by Director X, famous for his videos with all the stars, his recent performance based videos haven't been that intriguing, most notably is Rihanna's "Work". He did well on Fifth Harmony's previous single "Work From Home" so we were expecting high hopes for this follow up.

Definitely branding this group as sexy, this video follows on from "Work From Home". Filmed on a beach, it brings tropical vibes to this club summer anthem, that would get me on any dancefloor, I'm ready to flex to this song.

Full on choreography and perfect freestyle there seems to be more focus on each individual member who then collaborate in the end scenes, with one of the most relaxed styled choreography I've seen. They're all in-sync and yet they have slight differences in the way they perform some of the moves, making it look more freestyle than what it actually is, which definitely works in their favour.

The guys are sexy, but they should have been wearing less, they may just be the love interests and aren't developed in this video, but if the girls are on the beach in their bathing suits, why are the guys just simply shirtless? I want less clothes on them, fairs fair at the end of the day, more body parts to flex and impress. Although they do have great bodies, both the girls and the guys. Although, I'm not so keen on the chosen bathing suits for Fifth Harmony, as they could've worn something much more stylish. However they do a grand job of pairing them up with additional wear in the end scene.

Fetty Wap, real name Willie Maxwell II, adds nothing to this, although kudos on his clip in a cave, which could be off from the beach, but it would've worked better if he was actually with Fifth Harmony. His rap works with the song, and definitely adds to the beat, but visually he doesn't add much to the video.

Overall an all right music video. Definitely sexy, although not so stylish. Choreography is on point, as always from these girls, and visual scenes are beautiful. Performance vibes to the max, I already know they're amazing live, but this video emphasises it. However there's nothing going on, no development in the love interests, definitely not much impressing or flexing, and no narrative whatsoever. Just an average video with a tropical theme.

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Absolutely loving this song right now, working seems to be hot topic at the moment in the music industry, as Rihanna has just released her single "Work" featuring Drake. Now Fifth Harmony has released this song, which is just as catchy. Fifth Harmony become builders in this sexy new video, and their builder love interests are just as hot.

Fifth Harmony was united on The X Factor USA, where each girl originally performed as a solo singer. The band has become the biggest act from that entire show, although many artists from the show are world class, they just need to get promotion and release music. The girl group consists of Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello and Dinah Jane Hansen. This is their first single from their new album, which is expected in May. This is not an official single as of yet, and has only been released as an album track for the pre-order of the album. The song features rapper Ty Dollar $ign, real name Tyrone Griffin, Jr. who has yet to score a chart hit in the UK, surprisingly. However, he is known over here. Maybe this will be his first UK charting position, since it looks like it will hit the Top 10 this week. The song was written by Joshua Coleman, Jude Demorest, Dallas Koehlke, Tyson Griffin Jr., Alexander Izquierdo and Brian Lee. It was originally titled "Work", but soon got changed to prevent confusion with Rihanna's "Work".

Directed by Director X, the music video is another pure performance piece from this group, with an inserted narrative. I love how this director has done both this video and Rihanna's "Work", yet he's done a much better job on this one.

Different and exciting, I can't think of another video that I've seen that is set in a builder's workplace, and only Fifth Harmony can make it look dead sexy. What girl or gay guy wouldn't want to become a builder for that music video?

Ty Dollar $ign does just that, he raps as he walks around with his hammer in his hand, whilst the Fifth Harmony girls dance and twerk. The choreography is on point, we expect nothing less from this girl group, and their energy on stage is just as electric as it is in this music video, I can vouch for that.

Normani Kordei stands out in this video, girllllll she can twerk! Limelight is on her throughout, this choreography was made for her, and she pulls it off with style! The other girls are just as good, and I have no problems with this music video, it's sultry, sexy, and flirtatious. It relates slightly to the song since the girls are doing some work, as they suggest in the video, but maybe we needed a bit more of a storyline.