Bronnie - Modern Day Christmas



Surely this was obvious. Of course, I was going to review Bronnie's "Modern Day Christmas" music video for my Christmas Special 2016. She was a part of my Halloween Special 2016, and now she's a part of my Christmas Special 2016. She's one of my favourite new artists on the scene. This was her first single and it's totally original and authentic; definitely, a Christmas song more people need to hear. Watch Bronnie bring some festive Christmas spirit to us all with this "Modern Day Christmas" music video, where she dresses up as Santa and wishes for an alien.

Bronnie, full name Bronnie Hughes, is an aspiring singer/songwriter, who has gone on to support Josh Taylor and Over Atlantic. She is currently finishing off the Alstar Xmas Party Tour 2016. This is her debut single which she released last year for Christmas. She has followed this up with two more singles that she released this year "High School Sucks" and "Scared Much". This pop/rock Christmas song is passionate and intricate. It was written by Bronnie Hughes.

The music video is mainly a performance piece, with Bronnie adding comedic snapshots of her dressed up as Santa or her admiring the decorations on the tree.

The video is a personal one where she interacts with her viewers throughout. It's an upbeat modern Christmas song, that is easily one of my faves.

It's fun, it's interesting and full of enthusiasm. It shows how far Bronnie has come since she first released this song. She's been building momentum and 2017 is around the corner; no doubt she has big plans for next year and she's one to keep an eye on, for sure.
Buy on iTunes

New Release: Christmas Collective - Dance Tonight (It's Christmas)



Time to start my Christmas Special 2016. It's quite the battle for the top spot this year, with lots of people wanting the number one to be a Christmas song, but it seems unlikely that that will happen; what with all the UK Christmas Number Ones rarely being Christmassy at all. Hit Christmas songs, usually, settle for the top 10 and year after year climb back onto the chart. This year will be just like any other year... Only with more Christmas songs competing for the top spot. Watch the Proclaimers' Christmas Collective bring the spirit of Christmas with their song "Dance Tonight (It's Christmas)". They've got strong vocals and a sweet narrative.

The Christmas Collective are a collection of six vocalists, consisting of Faye Snelling, Hannah Roberts, Gina Natasha Cummins, Rianne Collins, Ryan Hase, and Sam Cousins. They came together for this Christmas song which is completely cheerful with so many identifiable Christmas traditions and thoughts, filled with beautiful vocals that really brings the stunning quality of this song. Some come from a musical background, hence why you might recognise them. Some are new singers on the scene. Each adds a special flavour to this song, so much so that each artist could push for a solo career and easily become successful. This is what makes this new release one of the best for Christmas number one, this year because their vocals are on point. This song was written by Mark Harvey and Sam Cousins. Public suggestions helped create the lyrics. Put together by Proclaimers Church. All proceeds from the single will be donated to local charities Break and Love Norwich.

The music video has a whole lot of festive Christmas spirit behind it. Both narrative and performance based, is there any better way to represent a Christmas song than give it a cheerful loving music video?

The performance side of things are very festive. It's good to see each of the singers get a spotlight; granted that some are seen more than others, but they equally add something fresh to the track. Each artist is different in their own right, and they've crafted the song wondrously around their voices with brilliant harmonies. The visual brings emotion into the video; this song means a lot to these singers and it really shows.

The narrative is just as festive. Christmas brings people together, and that is shown throughout. The actors bring a realness to the video, some normalcy amongst traditions such as exchanging presents. It's loving and understanding. However, Sam Cousins clearly just danced and grooved out by himself to fill the video up; this comes off slightly weird, but it's all in good spirit.

Overall, as Christmas music videos go, this is one of the best from a collection of artists. Usually, these sort of music videos come off completely flat; but this one is honest and real, with great emotion behind. If you haven't bought the track yet, you really ought to. These guys need the support, and it deserves to top the charts, even if it doesn't seem likely.
Buy on Amazon

Machine Gun Kelly Featuring Waka Flocka Flame - Wild Boy



It's a Thursday, which means it's Thursday Revisit once again. I chose Machine Gun Kelly since he is super hot in "Bad Things" with Camila Cabello, and I haven't actually heard any of his other songs, so this was a perfect opportunity. This one was released in 2011 and is the only other Machine Gun Kelly song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, next to "Bad Things". Watch Waka Flocka Flame knock out the father of Machine Gun Kelly's girlfriend, as they both announce that they each are a "Wild Boy".

Machine Gun Kelly, known as MGK during this time, is a US rapper and actor. His real name is Richard Colson Baker. He first came to my attention playing Ty in the film Nerve. Then he released "Bad Things" and that was it. I know I'll be seeing more of him. As for the featured artist, Waka Flocka Flame, real name Juaquin Malphurs, he has been popping up here and there. He's a rapper that people have heard of but has yet to have an internationally successful single that people identify his name with. He is also building up his rapping career, so I also expect we'll hear more from him soon. This single charted at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It was written by Richard Colson Baker, Juaquin Malphurs, and Joshua Luellen.

Directed by Spliff TV and Maybach Music Films, the music video is mainly a performance-based video with narrative scenes throughout. It also features cameo appearances by Johnny Dang, Katt Williams, and Layzie Bone.

The video starts off with a girl introducing her boyfriend to her parents at a dinner table. The boyfriend, in question, is MGK, which he tells the parents stands for Machine Gun Kelly. It's a great way to introduce himself to the viewers of the music video, with a comical segment as he has also brought along his friend, Waka Flocka Flame, to the intimate meeting.

Waka Flocka Flame smashes a bottle on the father's head, claiming he is a "Wild Boy". This is where the performance side jumps in, with both artists giving it their all whilst shirtless.

The music video is intricate and interesting. Both rappers give it; showing passion for the song, whilst adding comedic segments. It's relatable and engaging, yet the narrative is weird and not easily understandable. Why? Just why? It doesn't make sense, completely wild but with no reasoning.
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Belgium Entry: Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside



There are two music videos for this song, this is the original one, whilst the other was released months after his performance on the Eurovision stage. This was another favourite of mine at the Eurovision  Song Contest 2015, and was definitely worthy of winning; instead, Loïc Nottet came fourth with 217 points for Belgium. In this video for "Rhythm Inside", Loïc Nottet gets all wet and sexy whilst contrasting similar types of people.

Loïc Nottet first made a name for himself in Belgium by coming second in The Voice of Belgique third series. He was chosen through internal selection to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Since coming fourth, he has gone on to release a second single titled "Million Eyes", as well as announcing some concerts. With a voice like his, Loïc Nottet deserves international fame, and he must never give up. I love this song and it's follow-up single, and I cannot wait for an actual album from him. This song was written by Loïc Nottet and Beverly Jo Scott.

Directed by Josh Brandão & Nicolai Kornum, this music video is a pure performance piece, with actors showing differences between similar people, all the while Loïc Nottet giving a very sexy performance as he gets wet and looks sultrily into the camera.

There isn't an awful lot going on in this music video. People are displayed wondrously, showing complete contrasts in people who look similar. It just goes to show that what you see isn't always what you get. It's quite comedic at times.

As usual, Loïc Nottet's performance piece is intense and exciting; although, it was so much better on stage at Eurovision 2015. The water makes him totally sexy, and even the red paint does things you wouldn't expect. I hope more sexy music videos are on their way.

This music video totally differs to the other one that was later released. The other music video is purely narrative and totally interesting if a little confusing. This one, however, is quite stripped back - although not as much as the single cover suggests - and could've done with more of a narrative.
Buy on iTunes

Lyon Hart - Falling For You



Well, YouTube sure knows how to draw me in, by showing this amongst my recommended videos. This thumbnail is totally what drew me into watching this music video today, and I am now a fan of the song, it is right up my street - in more ways than one - and YouTube Recommendations has got it right once again! Lyon Hart's music video for "Falling For You" is a sensual sexy love/hate relationship between dancers Lonnie Poupard, Jr. and Kile Hotchkiss, who are spiralling out of control.

Lyon Hart, real name Mark Sanderlin, is a singer/songwriter who debuted his EP, "With Or Without Me", last year. He has written for some of the best and some of the well-known, as well as featured on tracks you probably know but haven't connected his name to. He is reaching out, taking opportunities as they come; which is totally admirable. Music is difficult to get into, yet this is just the start for 'Lyon (like neon) Hart (like Melissa Joan)' as it states on his Facebook Page. Now he has a big important music video, that could've been susceptible to a lot of abuse; instead, it has gained a lot of admiration from people all over the world. This is the beginning of Lyon Hart, and now he needs to ride this success. This song was written by Robert Grimaldi, Douglas Larsen, Benjamin Lindel, and Mark Sanderlin.

Directed by Matt VanDaniker, the music video shows the relationship between two gay men intercut between a beautiful contemporary dance that was choreographed by the dancers and actors themselves: Lonnie Poupard, Jr. and Kile Hotchkiss.

The editing team behind this has brilliantly transitioned a choreographed danced scene into a loving narrative. At times, it feels too quick and less explanatory. The thing about contemporary dance is that it is supposed to show emotional feeling and tell a story. This does exactly that, only they're giving us the emotional feeling and the storyline within the narrative; which leaves the audience quite transparent as they don't have anything to take in.

Regardless of this, the transitions are crafted brilliantly. The narrative is inviting, sexy, sultry, and totally sensual. It makes me miss having someone there to be sensual with; yet, taking me back to the times that I have been; I know my future husband is out there for me, time will be worth it. For the time being, I can watch Lonnie Poupard, Jr. and Kile Hotchkiss kiss, touch, and love each other.

Showing the ups and down of a relationship. This music video definitely supports the LGBT+ community, and it's amazing to see this up on YouTube and with positive comments. There was no performance piece from Lyon Hart himself, but this music video is amazing, regardless. I hope to see Lonnie Poupard, Jr. and Kile Hotchkiss choreograph more male-male dance sequences. This is beyond beautiful. Please choreograph my wedding dance with my future husband, whoever he may be.
Buy on iTunes

Chart Mondays: Rag'n'Bone Man - Human



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.
Buy on iTunes

Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things



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".
Buy on iTunes

Olly Murs - Grow Up



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.
Buy on iTunes

New Release: WHOISJODY - Closer To You



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.
Buy on Beatport

Gucci Mane Featuring Usher - Spotlight



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!
Buy on iTunes