Billie Piper - Day & Night


I have been obsessed with Billie Piper since she released her first music video way back in 1998, now, after draining her music career down the plug, she is now into acting and she's most notable for playing Rose Tyler, the doctor's companion in the revised series of Doctor Who. I have to admit this song is probably my favourite from her, it's one of her most up-beat singles that have amazing choreography. This song is very reminiscent of the late 90's early 00's. And it's very early Britney, in the choreography and the song, and to be honest some people thought Billie Piper could have been the UK's answer to Britney, and it's a shame that she has given music up altogether, I know that if she did comeback, even for one album and a few singles, it would be the most hyped up comeback of the past decade, beating the likes of The Stone Roses, Steps and probably Take That too.

Day & Night was written by Billie Piper, Eliot Kennedy, Mark Cawley, Mike Percy and Tim Lever. I like it when the artist also gets writing credits, it suggests he or she can put emotion and interest into the song and it possibly helps to get the single higher in the UK chart. Mike Percy and Tim Lever are best known as being in a band called Dead or Alive (known for their single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and their lead vocalist Pete Burns). Although I could not see Dead or Alive singing this song at all.

This music video doesn't link in with the song at all, it doesn't have a narrative, and I think this is the one problem with this music video that I can come up with. I like everything else though. At the start when she enters that really weird club (seriously who would want to go there if it's so secluded and empty?), she is wearing something that people think is similar to what Rose Tyler from Doctor Who would wear and to be honest I think I agree. I'm quite surprised that a few of Billie's music videos have links with Doctor Who, like "Because We Want To", which suggests she was destined to be the companion.

I really like the dance choreography, it is very early 2000's and she is a really good dancer. I also like the washing powder bit where she spins and lets the washing powder spread everywhere, I bet she was really dizzy after that. I also like how they use technology to show how she gets up on that perspex square, I think it's funny and I bet she wished she could actually jump that high.

Overall I like the song and I like the dance sequences, however there's no narrative storyline, and I think that's what lets it down compared to other music videos. I will hope for the whole of my life that she will return to music at one point, even if it is only for a short while, because I think it would be interesting in how she would fair in today's market, and I think she'd get a number one easily.

Katy B Featuring Ms. Dynamite - Lights On

These are two artists I have never been quite sure what I think of, and this is what I find most difficult about this song, because how can 2 people that I still can't make up my mind on whether I like them or not, create this fantastic club/dance song that I can't help but sing-a-long to. Katy B, real name Kathleen "Katy" Brien, is an artist with an unusual voice, one that no other singer has, and one that, although may not be the strongest, is easy to listen to and one that you could get used to after a few constant listens. She has one of those voices that when you hear it on the radio, you know exactly who it is. Maybe she just ends up getting the wrong song choices? I'm not entirely sure, but her voice fits nicely with this song. Ms. Dynamite, real name Niomi McLean-Daley, has released a lot of songs, including her signature song "Dy-na-mi-tee" which I remember watching on "Top of the Pops" and loving the song back then. She also won a number of awards between 2002 and 2003, but she went quiet for some time. Now she is back and I'm not entirely sure I like her new music path, and it kind of made me unsure of what I think about her. This double act works really well, in my opinion, but maybe others might disagree.

Believe it or not but the writing credits for this song is: Katie Brien and Niomi McLean-Daley, which has totally shocked me, but then again has made me re-think what I think about these artists. I am very happy that this is their own song, I feel like they can put their heart and soul into it because they co-wrote it together (or they wrote their own lyrics and combined them to create the song, which is usually the case). The song is about being in a club and dancing the night away, hoping that one more song will be played every time another song finishes as they don't want to leave yet. For a little twist of fate you could imagine some DJs deciding to use this song as the penultimate song to use, which is a really clever idea, but I bet you they probably play it a few times before, but it definitely wouldn't work as the very last song, because then it would be really unfair.

I'm not entirely sure what to think about this music video, funny that since I don't know what to think about these artists either. I think they've had a lot of freedom to create this music video, since the song is simplistic in the narrative storyline, then they could experiment, and that is exactly what the backing team have done. Which can sometimes work and sometimes not work, in this case it meets it in the middle.

In this video, Katy B looks similar to Amy Studt, only Katy B does look like she's falling asleep like so many have commented on the YouTube video. She is in a club (to an extent, it kind of looks like a studio though), along with Ms. Dynamite. Various other shots picture her in various places. I don't really know why but this music video does stand out from the crowd, which is weird since many music videos are similar to this one, maybe it's just the way both the artists look? Or is it just me?

There's not a lot else to say about this to be honest. The song is currently stuck in my head and will probably be stuck for the rest of today. I don't really like some of the blurriness that has been used as part of experimenting, but these artists are still very new (or are trying to comeback in Ms. Dynamite's case), so I am looking forward to where their future lies.

Overall I should like this song or it's music video, I know this song is extremely catchy, but it's accompanying music video and both the artists, I'm not entirely sure what I think, which is weird since I rarely feel this way. The music video does link in with the song, but it has also been experimented with because the song lyrics have given a lot of leeway.
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New Release: Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All

She is about to perform on the X Factor this Sunday, and I really hope it will help her get this song to number one, it's one of those songs that are very powerful and should get to the top spot. Kelly Clarkson won the first ever series of American Idol. Ten years on and she's still making amazing music, and although she is still classed as an American Idol winner, she would very much like to push that label aside. She has already proven to be one of the best international winners, and will probably be a success for a very long time, so expect to see more from her. I'm kind of wondering if a greatest hits may be in the works? Or maybe it's something that will be available in a few years time, but I definitely think she's qualified for one, as she has had a number of great hits, and this song definitely will be another.

This song was written by Brian Seals, Ester Dean, Brett James and Dante Jones. And it's a break-up song. Kelly's vocal is amazing and she has totally pushed the boundaries on what you would expect from her, and I'm definitely interested in this song. The song is very different to her other releases, and that's always a good thing as it suggests that there is something differently intriguing about her, which is exactly what she wants. So that hopefully her album and singles will gain a lot more interest from others who aren't necessarily her fans, but I bet they will become one as soon as they hear this!

I really like the music video, first up, we have the wall with all the newspaper cuttings, I think this is a really good idea, as it suggests at how much Kelly finds this troubling, and most artists tend to sing about the paparazzi, when really it is also the journalists who are giving these celebrities a bad name. My only question is whether or not they are actual newspaper clippings or they are made up for the purposes of this video. I also like the shadow technique used with this wall of articles, it shows that she does have a backing band, but also that she and the director appreciates them, which is similar to Avril Lavigne, as her backing band appears every now and again.

I find it funny how there's this guy standing doing nothing, and Kelly is screaming the song lyrics at him, whether he is a dummy or not, I'm unsure, but I can imagine the take-outs of this, they must have been in giggles a lot of the time. I also like the fact that Kelly is watching over past videos, but if you watch closely you'll notice that during "I Do Not Hook Up" music video, she imagines how she would hook up with certain people, and she doesn't have the guts to do it. When she fall off the bar table, that is also a figment of her imagination, and doesn't actually happen, so why is she able to watch it? Or maybe this was some filming error?

Overall I really like this music video, and it's accompanying song, I think they link in perfectly, and although the video isn't one of the best, I'm glad it has a narrative storyline and it fits in perfectly with the song.  I am looking forward to seeing her perform this, but it's already been a big hit in Australia and the US, let's hope it's as big here. I also like the ending in the video, it suggests a whole new route she plans to take, which is what I'm really looking forward for.

Goo Goo Dolls - Stay With You


January 2: Goo Goo Dolls - Stay With You (2006)
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Since I've already mentioned this song in a previous post, I thought for my Sunday recollection, I'll do this song. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if I've ever seen this music video before. I don't think I have, but it's one of those music videos that you could watch a number of times and then simply forget you ever watched it. Which makes it very similar to "Iris". The Goo Goo Dolls are a 3-piece rock band consisting of John Rzeznik, Robby Takac and Mike Malinin, they have released a number of songs but rarely make it on the UK singles chart. In fact this song managed to get to number 39, which is one of their highest charting positions.

This song was written by John Rzeznik himself, therefore allowing the emotion to run straight to us. As I have mentioned before his husky voice makes tracks such as this one and "Iris" a classic rock song, and there's no artists out there at the moment with such a voice. The song is about staying next to his partner and being there for her, and they'll run away together and be free once and for all, and they belong together so they will not break up. It's a really sweet song and John's husky voice makes it that little bit more powerful.

The music video is a normal rock sort of video, with little going on, there really isn't a lot to say about the video to be totally honest, there is not narrative storyline, and it's just the band playing together. I like the concept of the lights and how they hang from the ceiling and at certain times they're either on or off, and they change due to the song. I also like the use of a girl appearing behind them on some sort of "billboard"-like poster thing, it's a nice idea, and it suggests they're staying together to a moderate amount.

I really like this song, but I can see why it didn't chart very high, as many people might not have liked this song as much, but it is still good that it managed to get to number 39, and I think the influence was of the B-Side, which may have pushed it into the top 40. However there is not a lot going on in the music video, and it kind of reminds me of "Iris" a little bit, but without the telescopes and the film scenes.

Overall I really do like this song, it's quite powerful and there is so much emotion displayed right in front of you, surely you have to agree with me. However it's music video is not as good as it could be, and I could easily become bored with it. I like some aspects of the music video, but there's just nothing that great about it.

Basshunter Featuring DJ Mental Theo's Bazzheadz - Now You're Gone

I will always be a fan of Basshunter, he showed me what dance music was all about and introduced me to this whole new genre that I'm currently obsessed with. I will have to admit I am going to try my very best not to be biased at all, and I know it's going to be extremely difficult but I will try. Basshunter, real name Jonas Altburg, is a big hit here in the UK, but also a big hit in his own country Sweden, who are definitely in competition with Romania with the amount of dance artists they are releasing, we've had September and Swedish House Mafia I wonder who is next? Basshunter was the first artist on the Hard2beat (also known as Dance Nation) record label. This song was the first UK release and it went straight to number one. Since then top ten has been quite far off, so he entered Celebrity Big Brother and came fourth over all, with Alex Reid winning. Now he is ready for a comeback, and I so hope he has a number one in store as I will back him no matter what.

This song went straight to number one back in 2007, and is the first in a long line of music videos that is continuous, but more about the music video later. The song was originally called "Boten Anna" which is the Swedish version. Although the song lyrics are not direct translation, people refer to this as the English adaptation. "Boten Anna" was first remixed as a DJ set for DJ Mental Theo, it was this beat and mix that was used to create Now You're Gone. The song was written by Basshunter/Jonas Altburg, which then allows him to show his emotions and life experiences, which is exactly what the public wants, and I really admire those who do such a thing. Boten Anna is actually about when someone signed up on his website and he thought she was a computer bot administrator, later he found out that Anna was his girlfriend's best friend, and he was so embarrassed that he wrote this song. Now You're Gone, is about a couple breaking up and the love between them was surprisingly strong. I love this song and it gets stuck in my head whenever I hear it.

I really like the music video, and the whole idea that one leads off to another and then another is extremely intriguing. The most recent video was "I Promise Myself" and I really hope that Basshunter's future videos carry on the narrative storyline, as I know it's what sets these videos out from the crowd. This one was really good, the break-up starts at the very beginning with Aylar Lie and Lucas Thorheim, and then they both decide to go out clubbing with their friends, and they end up being in the same club together and then they text each other to meet on the dance floor, and then they kiss. It suggests that second chances can be made.

Some people have said that they think it is wrong that they get back together in the music video, but I think it's right because the song does say "I realise my love for you was strong", therefore if it's strong love they deserve to be together right? Others have said why they end up in the same club? I kind of understand where they are coming from, but if you're in a social group of people with your girlfriend, you'll end up having a certain favourite club you would go to, if you and your partner broke up and then your friends asked you for a night out to cheer you up, you would totally expect them to go to your favourite club, and so it's purely a coincidence they were both there. People are seriously looking too much into this music video.

Aylar Lie, plays Aylar (the lead girl) in this music video. Aylar Lie has a dodgy past, appearing in pornography to try and make her fame. She grabbed the attention of Basshunter's directors and producers and she has definitely now made her fame due to these music videos. I just hope that her new stardom hasn't affected her appearances in Basshunter's music videos because otherwise I can see Basshunter failing here in the UK. Aylar recently appeared as a celebrity on Skal Vi Danse which is the Norwegian version of Strictly Come Dancing. The media ended up releasing reports on her past life, and she showed sadness to this as she wants to wipe the slate clean, she did what she did because there was a crisis in her personal life. She wants to be known for something else, and she's tired of the past being brought up. Recently she has set out to release a singing career, she collaborated with Ocean Drive to create "Some People" that unfortunately didn't make the UK chart. She is signed to Hard2Beat/Dance Nation just like Basshunter is.

Overall I really like this song and it's music video is really good, it relates to the song pretty well and it's the start of a very long storyline that could stretch for forever if Basshunter and his team wants it to, and I'm sure all of his fans are expecting another music video to follow after the shock cliff-hanger at the end of "I Promised Myself". I hope you think I'm not being biased with my rating, and I think it definitely deserves this rating.
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