Ed Sheeran is an uprising new artist, who has already won lots of awards and it looks like he'll win a few more. He started releasing in 2011, this being his first single, and all of his singles have made the top 5 in the UK chart so far, he also has a debut number one album. He will definitely be around for quite some time
This song was written by Ed Sheeran himself, which suggests he has a lot of meaning to the words he sings. This is what I admire in an artist, because the whole song has a strong emotional feeling to the artist. And that is what makes it special. The song is about needing money to get by, and some people will do anything to get that money, but the anything bit is neither pleasant or exciting, and the person clearly doesn't like it.
The music video is PERFECT. It directly links in with the song and makes it clear what Ed Sheeran wants to get across. This song is his highest chart position to date, at number 3, and I reckon the music video has a lot to do with it. However there are a few things I don't like about it, and that is what I'm going to explore.
First off, my little bug bear, is that it is in black and white. I know this is an effect used to display more emotion or to make it look old, but it always gets on my nerves, because we have colour TV, and so you should be able to make a video emotional in colour. This also suggests that in colour it wasn't that emotional, and so they decided upon the black and white effect.
Some bits are also a little vivid, some children who may watch the music channels in the daytime, might wonder exactly what is going on. The person in the video, is portrayed by Stella MacDonald, and she shows off her acting skills in this music video, could she also be someone we see somewhere in the future?
I like the fact that Ed Sheeran appears and buys a "Big Issue" off her, but clearly it isn't enough, and she has to sell herself. As far as I'm aware of, no complaints appeared about this video, but you would have expected it, because she commits suicide at the end. There are videos out there (such as Britney Spears' "Criminal") that has been complained about for far less than what's in this video.
Overall I do like the song, it's soulful and meaningful, it's accompanying music video fits perfectly and although I am not happy about some of the things shown, it directly links with the song. It is controversial and that is usually a good thing in a music video. There are bits I don't like, so I've dropped a star, but that is all, and I hope I come to review more of Ed Sheeran's music videos in the future.
Taio Cruz... What to say about him. Personally I'm never entire sure whether I should decide if I like him or not. He's songs are extremely catchy, and although I may not enjoy the lyrics that are contained within these catchy songs, somehow I'm drawn to the song, and end up singing along without even realising. I have been searching today for a new release (or should I say yesterday?) and this is the only video I have found that is released this week, however there probably is others. I had no idea what this song was until I watched the video on YouTube, and I felt that maybe it was a cover version, with the lyrics changed, but then the chorus kicked in and I realised I had previously heard it on the radio, and so it makes sense why it sounds so familiar.
Taio Cruz has had 2 number ones so far, and has collaborated with a load of different singers. I have only bought one song called "Dirty Picture", but only because Ke$ha collaborated with him on it. This song was written by Taio Cruz and Swedish House Mafia (who consists of Steve Angello, Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk). This may explain why I love the backing track on this song, since I'm quite fond of a lot of Swedish House Mafia's songs. This would have been a really good collaboration, so why does it only have Taio Cruz's name to it? If he was searching for another chart topper, he could have done a collaboration, otherwise this isn't going to work on it's own. I very much doubt it will manage toget ont the UK top 40, although it's really catchy and does have potential.
The video is definitely a typical Taio Cruz video, and probably will not help it chart high. The other videos in comparison were more structured and had lots more narrative, even if they don't necessarily link in with the songs meaning. In this case the song is about having a bit of fun, dancing, and the obvious. To be honest, I am glad the video isn't storyline scripted, because complaints could be alerted here, there and everywhere because of possible vivid scenes, but a narrative would have been nice, it could have been suggested rather than shown, at least.
I don't really think there is a lot to say about this video. I like some bits, such as the many different girls, although what they are wearing are more Lady GaGa style than anything else. The enclosed wall is a little cramped, if I'm being honest, and how they are going to do a ménage à trois in there beats me (sorry using Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" word there), supposing that is their intent. Other than that, the rest of the video is on the boring side with not a lot going on.
Using my Facebook page, I decided to try and get others people's opinions. Only DJD has replied, stating what everyone else is thinking about this video. It's clear that this video probably will not help the single release, but we shall wait and see. Personally, I find the song extremely catchy, but the video is not as good as Taio Cruz's others, and I probably will skip over this when I'm watching the music videos.
Wizzard is a band that are well known because of this hit single, but yet again, in two whole days, we have come across two Christmas songs that everyone knows but have failed to reach Number One in the UK. However this one has a perfectly good reason, and that is because Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" was released at the same time as this song, forcing this to get a number two charting position.
I love the fact that this whole song is devoted to children (well sort of) since this is all they think about, wishing it what Christmas everyday. It was written by Roy Wood, who is the lead singer of the band, and as much as I loved the song as a child, I hated seeing his face, he looks so scary and all the children in the music video look scared. But this song is so catchy that I soon learnt to shut my eyes when I saw him and just sing-a-long anyway.
I'm not sure what to make of the music video, personally I want to cower behind my chair in worry that the wizard look-a-like will zap me. But I think it seems pretty even, there's little going on and it's more of a performance than anything else. The problem with that is there is no audience, so how are we getting any message across at all?
I have to admit, the start and the very end are a very clever idea. I would have preferred it if the Christmas card opened up and there was the band playing, but then again, would that have made it even more over the top? I also like the use of the children, it links in well with the song and it is really all about them.
However, I didn't like the end. I thought it looked mean, and whoever that child was, who is now all grown up, is probably annoyed that actually happened, or probably pretend it isn't them. There really isn't a lot going on in this video, and it looks scary and I reckon a lot of children don't watch it. And this is quite weird since the song is aimed at children, so why make a music video that they would be scared of?
Looks like I'm going around and around in circles today, and I think I should wrap up here. I really do like this song and I'm surprised to learn it never made number one, all I can say about that is that could be because of the music video, they are very influential at times, and this could have been one of those times. Since I pretty much don't like this music video, I'm giving it a low rating, but there are good things about it, especially the very start and the very end, and the inclusion of children.
I have to be honest with you all, I haven't been looking forward to doing any of these Christmas music videos, I don't know why, but there are a few reasons that may just be the combination of all of them. The main reason why, i think, is because I haven't felt in the Christmas spirit this year, which is kind of weird since very year since I can remember, I have been looking forward to Christmas, but this year, something is different and I'm not entirely sure what that is. Another reason could be that all these Christmas songs are old, and so the music video will not be up to scratch compared to all the others I have reviewed since I started this blog. The final, and only other reason I can come up with, is that I have so much going on at the moment, with so much to do, that I seem to be letting things slide and this blog is definitely one of them, and although I love to write, I just want to feel that special Christmas magic again, and I don't know why it is missing.
This song is definitely my favourite Christmas song of all time, there's just something about it that makes it that little bit special. It has made names out of both the artists, and everyone knows who The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl are now, but people only know them because of this song, and it begs to question, would people buy any single The Pogues released, or are they just prepared to buy this one? Kirsty MacColl tragically died while on holiday saving her children. Which suggests that people should buy this song in sympathy of Kirsty MacColl, but surprisingly it still has not reached Number one yet in the UK, will it ever... We'll have to wait and see, but I doubt that it will get to the top of the charts.
The music video is surprisingly natural and interesting, I love the fact that the music video is exactly what the lyrics mean and it's a direct interpretation, preventing me from marking down this music video based on narrative, as the lyrics and the music video match perfectly. Although, the NYPD does not have a choir, instead they have a pipes and drums band.
This song was released in 1987, back then, they actually had colour TV, believe it or not. So why was this made in black and white? That's one big question. My interpretation of it is that it emphasises his sorrows and misgivings, and suggests that he did wrong. Although, if it were filmed in colour I would've been a lot happier, as it took me some time to finally get around to watching this music video.
I like everything about it, I like the fact that the lyrics and the music video match, and I like the use of the NYPD pipes and drums and everything else that was featured in the music video. But like all old music videos, there's something lacking, this clearly could have been more, instead they went down the simplicity road, and although it may not always be the best of roads to follow, it looks like it turned out alright to me.
I was struggling for what to do for New Release, since it's my Christmas week Special, I needed a new release that coincided with Christmas but which also had a music video. I wanted to do Stacey Solomon's "Driving Home For Christmas" however there isn't a music video for it, which is quite worrying,, so after looking at all the others I didn't have a clue what to do, since some doesn't have a link with Christmas, whereas others did but didn't have a music video. This one was a last resort, due to the fact that this is quite short, so probably doesn't count much as a music video, and also hasn't made the iTunes top 1000 downloads as of yet, so could this suggest that this song isn't going to chart?
Joe McElderry won The X Factor back in 2009. His competitors, who have also managed to release songs and become quite known were, Olly Murs (second), Stacey Solomon (third), Danyl Johnson (fourth), Lloyd Daniels (fifth), Jedward (sixth), Jamie Archer now in band Archer (seventh). Joe McElderry has gone up against his former competitor Stacey Solomon this week to see who will get the highest chart position, and if iTunes is anything to go by Stacey Solomon has totally won. After just one album, Joe was released from his contract with Syco, and was then launched into Popstar to Operastar, which he won. Now, under Decca Records, Joe has released 2 albums, one of which got to Number two on the UK Albums chart, which is his highest album chart position to date.
This song is a cover of Wham!'s well known single "Last Christmas". Joe is not the only artist releasing this song this week, as a matter of fact, The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) cast has released this single too (and their single is in the iTunes chart, so where is Joe?) The song was written by George Michael, and has been covered a number of times, including Cascada, Billie Piper and The Crazy Frog. It doesn't look like Joe has a chance of getting into the chart this week, which is unfortunate as he is a really good singer, which is why he has won two singing competitions so far.
The music video is quite short, would I call it a music video? I'm not sure, it is short and I bet the song on "Classic Christmas" or even on the single, is much longer than this. It suggests that this could merely be an advertisement for his album, but for the time being we're going to presume it's a music video.
It's got a lot to do with Christmas, and I like the use of the snow, it makes it even more celebratory, will we have a white Christmas this year? We've had a bit of snow, so it's always possible... It also looks like Joe is having a Christmas party, but all he is doing is singing rather than having conversations with his friends and family.
There is no relationship with the song and the video, for all we know this music video could have been given to any of his songs on his album, as there is no narrative whatsoever. Also some of the time, Joe is singing and his lips are moving at the wrong time so the music doesn't quite match up. This is heightened right at the end, because what he is singing in the video and what he is singing on the track are different.
Overall this looks like a very simple music video, with not a lot happening and not much of a link to the song. It could have been a lot better, and they could have at least matched what he is saying up to the track a lot better. It's an okay music video but I really don't think it is that good, therefore my rating isn't that high.
