He's the Critics' Choice Brit Award Winner 2017, and since Clean Bandit is still on top with the incredible "Rockabye" song that is always stuck in my head because of Anne-Marie's amazing vocals and Sean Paul's voice; it opens my Chart Mondays up, and this is really the only music video I can do from the UK Singles Chart. Standing up for himself and everyone else, this song has really captured all our hearts; its music video shows Rag'n'Bone Man as well as various other people as "Human", we're all the same.
Rag'n'Bone Man, real name Rory Graham, has been around for a couple of years, dropping EPs and a couple of singles; but when this hit came around, it totally blasted him into a star. All it takes is one song. Some talent is never found because they never get the right song. This song comes from his debut album, which will be released in February, and is also titled "Human". He has recently won the Brits Critics' Choice Award, against some stiff competition including Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie. I am - kind of - interested in his following releases. Will he be a one-hit wonder? With a voice like his, he shouldn't be. This song was written by Jamie Hartman and Rory Graham.
Directed by Charlie Robins, this music video is performance based, with personal portraits.
They have shown Rag'n'Bone Man simply as "Human", showing no difference between him and any of the other people in this music video.
With skilled editing work, everyone morphs into one. It shows a strong message, a message of unity and hurtfulness. Everyone shown could have something wrong with them, enough where they have got bullied, been abused physically and mentally. But they're just human, just like we're just human.
This music video may not be exciting or engaging, but it's showing that we're all human beings. Relating to the song perfectly, it comes across with a fighting spirit. And yet, where there's room to grow this into a wonderful narrative, it stays flat and leaves us guessing.
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".
Heard this on the radio after Christmas shopping, so thought it would be the perfect excuse to review the video. This is such a sweet music video, yet could've easily been chaotic... Wait! It pretty is chaotic in a relatable way. I'm not so keen on the song, it's too nicey-nice for the lyrical context, and yet the music video does the exact same thing. Watch children take over Olly Murs' music video set in this visual of "Grow Up". Adorable but not engaging.
Olly Murs made his name by coming second in the sixth series of The X Factor. He has done the best from the contestants of that year, although that could be due to being signed to the Syco label and managing to hit out bangers in his early career. Now, he's totally been underperforming, releasing growing songs, much like this one. After hearing it over and over, it easily embeds into my head, which is his signature style of songs, and yet they're never easy hits, and never memorable enough. This is just another to add to the Olly Murs collection. This song was written by Olly Murs, Steve Robson, Camille Purcell, and Wayne Hector.
Directed by Jim Canty, children take over completely and make the video instead. See them reorganising the set, doing his make-up and being fashionistas.
Annoyingly they talk over the song, which doesn't make it that great to view. Not only that but it seems very messy.
This sort of video has been done plenty of times. We've seen people behind cameras and in director chairs often, enough that I can't even list them all because there's been too many. Yet, this is just another one; there's nothing unique or special about this one, apart from it being children, but they're not mischievous enough.
Olly Murs is known for being a cheeky chappy, and therefore, we expect the kids to be just as cheeky. Yet, this just falls flat.
The music video feels totally low budget. It should've been so much bigger, but it's not. The kids should be troublemakers but they're not. There's no doubt that Olly Murs will be a great father one day, but that is not what this song is about.
Time for a bit of house music on my blog today, although the only reason is because I struggled to find a music video for any songs that were released this week. It seems this is the only one I could find, and it's pretty unimaginative. Watch a guy with painted eyelids dance away to this house song titled "Closer To You" by WHOISJODY.
WHOISJODY, real name Jody Koenders, has been known by various different names in the past including Jody Meyer and Jody San. He is from the Netherlands and has released various different songs, but he has described this project as Super House. This song has already been released on Beatport and will follow onto iTunes in 2017. I can't deny that the song is full of beats that I'd love to rave to. A perfect tune for the clubs.
The music video is a performance visual of a guy dancing. That is basically it. There's nothing else to it.
It's not engaging whatsoever, although it is kind of shocking when he removes his sunglasses. You have to give yourself some time to adjust to the weirdness of it all and to understand what is happening.
There is a guy who is dancing with his eyes closed. Only, painted on his eyelids are eyes. It reminds me of a scene out of Tom & Jerry, where they don't want to be seen to be asleep.
At the end, he opens his eyes and confuses us even more. I don't understand what is going on. Yet, I can't deny how catchy this song is.
It's Thursday Revisit time, and I thought I had cocked it all up. I went through every artist I have reviewed this week, and none of them had released anything more than five years ago, apart from Inna, but I've reviewed all of hers; until I realised Gucci Mane was a featured artist on Rae Sremmurd's track "Black Beatles"; and so, I had to do one of Gucci Mane's old songs. Since this is the one that has charted on the UK chart, why not? Gucci Mane teams up with Usher who is hosting a party, but the rapper isn't up to it after parting ways with his girl. Watch some jealousy sparks in this "Spotlight" music video.
Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis, has been going for years, but it isn't until he teamed up with Rae Sremmurd for track "Black Beatles" that he gained global chart success; even if the song is only known as the Mannequin Challenge song. He has previously charted a number of times, in his early career in the US; however, this is the only song that charted in the UK by him. The reason it charted may have something to do with Usher. He is the featured artist on this track, real name Usher Raymond IV. If you don't know who he is, he has been killing it for years. Global success all over; hence why this track charted in the UK because he was at the height of his fame then, and still is. This song was written by Radric Davis, Usher Raymond, and Jamal Jones.
Directed by Benny Boom, the music video also has cameos from Nicki Minaj (before she became famous), and Eddie Murphy's daughter: Bria Murphy.
The opening creates a narrative which sets up the performance piece, ending full circle. We watch as Usher urges Gucci Mane to come to his party, but the rapper isn't feeling up to partying as he is upset. We learn that he and his girlfriend has split up.
Usher wins him over, naturally. This is where the performance piece kicks in, and we see Usher doing his thing. Gucci Mane and Usher are a great duo, one we wish will happen again. They have a close energy, that has a lot of pumped up vibes.
We see some old dance moves, that is better left off in the 00's; although, I guess dabbing has been adapted from one certain move clearly shown in this music video.
Nicki Minaj can clearly be seen talking to Gucci Mane, which flits a whole lot of jealous looks from Bria Murphy, who we later work out is Gucci Mane's girlfriend, that he had just split up with. The ending sees him rushing out to her and they make it up.
Overall, the music video has a brilliant narrative and an energetic performance. What more can we ask for? It's relatable, interesting and story-focused. It works well but doesn't really grip the audience all that much. It's great to watch, and totally gets kudos for not putting a bunch of provocative girls in the performance piece. Nice one!
One of my top favourites from this year. It still shocks me to this day that it didn't get nearer to the top! I don't really know what happened during Eurovision 2015, but it wasn't as good as the previous years, and yet there were definitely some treasures that we still haven't got over; this is one of them. Aminata represented Latvia and scored 186, placing them sixth. This should've done much better. Aminata gets soaking wet during her performance and narrative music video for "Love Injected", sexily involved with her love interest, who also gets fired up.
Aminata, full name Aminata Savadogo, was definitely one of my favourites from this year, her unique vocals will make her an international star, if she continues to stay focused and fights to become a global singer. She previously entered Dziesma 2014, the Latvian national selection for Eurovision 2014; unfortunately, she came fifth with "I Can Breathe". It clearly wasn't meant to be, especially when she went on to win Supernova 2015 and became Latvian's representative to Eurovision 2015. Then in 2016 she wrote Justs' winning entry "Heartbeat", where he came eighth in Eurovision 2016. Now, she's competing in Golos (the Russian version of The Voice), where she's a part of, fellow Eurovision 2015 contestant, Polina Gagarina's team. This song was written by Aminata Savadogo and Kaspars Ansons.
Directed by Andžejs Gavrišs, the music video is gripping from start to finish. Aminata controls the viewers attention all the way through. She has so much potential that, in this video alone, she proves her star quality.
The performance side of this music video is completely powerful. Wow! She can easily grip an audience in a second. With her beautiful vocals and her stunning looks, Aminata is definitely someone who will go far.
The narrative part sees Aminata and a very sexy love interest, who is played by actor Martiņš Kapzems, completely soak themselves with the contents of a fuel can. We can presume they plan to burn themselves alive by pouring fuel all over them in a gorgeously sultry way.
Martiņš Kapzems can be seen lighting a match, which he brings to a cigarette, before they both free fall over the edge. The cigarette has previously been dropped after some erotic smoke scenes, lighting the floor.
However, they aren't committing suicide, they are honing a power. Martiņš Kapzems is pretty much similar to The Human Torch from the Fantastic Four, being able to control fire now that he has fuel all over him. Can he become any more hot? In more than one sense of that word.
Much like the song, this music video is strong and sexy. It's hot all over, and is so captivating that I can't stop watching it. The song is one that is worthy of being a winning song, and yet totally under performed. Aminata is going to be a big star, no doubt; I literally can't wait for what the future will bring for her.
If there's one newcomer to the table who has hit it off well globally, it's DNCE! They unleashed internationally with the globally successful song "Cake By The Ocean" which was followed up with the equally addictive "Toothbrush", yet this is the one song that launched their album, that said album is one of the best albums I have heard all year. DNCE get completely sexy in a strip-like type of a music video for "Body Moves", but what do we really expect?
DNCE are a four-piece band consisting of Joe Jonas, Cole Whittle, JinJoo Lee, and Jack Lawless. They kept this project a secret until they were ready to launch their debut single, and it definitely worked out well for them; especially with Joe Jonas being such a well-known figure in the music industry. The group recently released a self-titled debut album which is for sure one of the best albums I have listened to in a while, don't forget to check out my review for Outlet Magazine. This song hasn't done as well as their previous singles and isn't quite the chart success it clearly deserves to be, what with the extremely catchy hook. The song was written by Joe Jonas, Rami Yacoub, Albin Nedler, and Kristoffer Fogelmark.
The video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, a name we keep on having to type out since she has certainly made herself known amongst the music video industry.
It's extremely sexy, with a main performance piece where DNCE are looking so hot. Full of energetic vibes, DNCE definitely know how to perform.
There are quite a few people reacting badly to this music video due to the provocative sexual theme, however just look at the lyrics and you'll realise that it is completely relatable to the song.
Joe Jonas is seen kissing model and actress Charlotte McKinney in the music video. All four band members have their own love interests, keeping it equal, regardless of the extra airtime that Joe Jonas gets since he is the frontman and lead vocalist.
Overall, it's a sexy relatable music video with a brilliantly underrated catchy song that we constantly have stuck in our heads.
Taking a look at the UK Top 10 reveals this song as the only one with a music video that I haven't reviewed. Clean Bandit is still at the top with "Rockabye" that features Sean Paul & Anne-Marie; they are totally fending off this climber, which has become an overnight sensation all thanks to the Mannequin Challenge, where this song is usually used as the backing track. Rae Sremmurd collaborates with Gucci Mane in this pure performance music video with literal lyric visualisations throughout.
Rae Sremmurd is an American duo consisting of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi. They have really done a number with this song, with thanks to the Mannequin Challenge, this song has skyrocketed up the charts around the world, probably thanks to people attempting the Mannequin Challenge, no doubt. They have previously released a number of singles and two albums, all of which haven't impacted the charts as much as this song alone has. They have been more of a hit in the US over the past couple of years, but with international fame, the question on everyone's minds is if they can follow through with another hit. Featured on this track is Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis; he is a massive US rapper, who has released a number of albums, EPs, and singles. He has worked with some of the biggest stars, and had quite a few hits back in 2009. Once again, this is possibly his biggest hit to date too. This song was written by Khalif Brown, Aaquil Brown, Radric Davis, and Michael Williams. The latter produced the song and is better known as Mike Will Made It.
Directed by Motion Family, this music video is a collection of videos that have been combined to create this intricate music video.
It is mainly a performance-based music video with Rae Sremmurd mainly seen performing in various places and stages. They clearly have a lot of energy, enough that it can be felt by all the viewers. Gucci Mane also performs in this music video, giving just as much energy and totally performing well. If anything, these guys will be amazing live.
There are some great lyric visualisations throughout, especially the smoking. It's so intoxicating that it really makes us think we're there and someone is blowing smoke into our faces. Clearly Rae Sremmurd's parties are welcome to many different people, much like the song suggests.
There is no sign of a Mannequin Challenge anywhere in this music video, which totally makes us question why this song is chosen for the said challenge. Regardless, the music video is relatable and hazy in it's own right. It's very basic, with not enough going on.
Sometimes new music excites me, and this is one of those cases. Chosen from my emails that I get every so often, Robyn Paige completely stuns in this beautiful narration visual of a music video. She's definitely beautiful in this clip and for sure a looks like an artist. Robyn Paige plays the other woman in this emotionally beautiful music video for "Righteous".
Robyn Paige is definitely making her sound heard, having managed to gain 10,000 hits on this music video alone really shows that "Righteous" has got people talking, and it's no surprise when a beautiful voice comes from this stunningly gorgeous girl. The song is about being torn between the right thing and the wrong thing but being unable to resist the wrong thing. Robyn Paige's vocals easily display the emotion of the song and really manages to hit home with it. It is the official debut single from Robyn Paige, and follows on from her previous song "Say You Will". This song was written by Robyn Paige, Johnson Orchid, and Corazon Baguma.
This music video was directed by Olan Collardy, and features Robyn Paige as the other woman. It's quite loving throughout, and it's clear from the start that something is up when she doesn't even move from her position in the bed whilst he reaches for his phone.
It's a great visual narration, showing how their relationship has unfolded previously and how they built it. Until, three quarters of the way through, the entire music stops as we watch another girl strut her stuff across a car park and enters his car.
We learn that Michael has been cheating and that the someone else is Robyn Paige. The storyline reminds me of Britney Spears' "Perfume", although both visuals are totally different in their own right.
Overall, it's a great concept, with Robyn Paige giving some fire acting skills. The song is intricately beautiful, and has a relatable accompanying music video that easily engages the audience throughout.
For anyone who knows, I actually went on a mini holiday to Dublin to see Inna last weekend. This is the song that started off her set, although it was only part of the countdown and she never actually sung it live. As I'm doing catch-up blogs, today's blog would've been released on Saturday, the day she performed at The Wright Venue in Dublin, Ireland. The song is a grower, and I admit that I didn't like it, myself, at first; but now it's one of my favourite tracks, and I really wish it had been a global hit for her. Inna collaborated with Pitbull on this upbeat pop song titled "Good Time", where we can see her group follow messages on a screen with hashtags.
Inna, real name Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu, is my favourite female artist in the music industry; however, you should already know that she's my queen if you follow my blog as I never stop talking about her. She was completely amazing live and I so want to see her again. She also spotted me in the crowd and pointed to me twice, I have video evidence of that. This song didn't make quite the impact and people had hoped and although Pitbull is a massive name, it didn't really help. Pitbull, real name Armando Pérez, is definitely 'Mr World Wide' as he calls himself, he also has nicknames for various other stars, Inna is: 'International Sensation'. He has collaborated with so many stars and has had various hits, so much so that he's made his name globally known. This song gained popularity much later on from its release, when it featured on the adverts for US drama 'Young & Hungry' as well as in 'Pitch Perfect 2'. The song was written by Steve Mac, Ina Wroldsen, and Armando C. Pérez.
Directed by Barna Nemethi, the music video is completely simple and relaxed, and yet completely fun. It is getting comparisons to Katy Perry's "This Is How We Do", which was released much later than this one.
A coin is inserted into a slot, then computers go looking for Pitbull. He appears on the screen, ready to introduced the song with his rap, as Inna prepares for a dance sequence; the choreography of which is simplistic, yet fun.
The entire music video is fun, the dancers and models and Inna react to each hashtag, which requires them to do something or present something. These action varies from bubbles to her blonde hair, from a pyjama party to golf, from paintball to cheer leading.
A lot of scene changes and costume changes. Surprisingly, it's compact, attempting to include as many actions as possible in such a short video is quite admirable. The ending ends with the need to insert a coin again, much like turning this music video into a continuous loop. Have this video on repeat, and it'll never end.
Overall, it's a total explosion of fun. Inna looks as sexy as ever, and yet her most happiest as she performs all these different actions with her backing dancers and models. It's bright and colourful, and it definitely unleashes fun into the world. It's time to have a good time with Inna & Pitbull.
