David Guetta, real name Pierre David Guetta, is a DJ. I'm not the sort of person who enjoys he's music but I can't help liking and appreciating it for what it is. Many people reckon his songs tend to sound the same, and I can understand where people are getting this idea from, but then again, they stand alone so well. He has collaborated with Nicki Minaj in the past on "Where Them Girls At". Nicki Minaj, real name Onika Tanya Maraj, has released a number of singles and managed to hit the UK by storm in a matter of a few years, no UK number ones yet, but I'm sure they're just round the corner for her.
Now I have to admit, I heard this song on the radio and I had no idea who was singing it, I would have placed bets on some new upcoming artist, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Today when I switched on the music channels and I was flipping through, I saw that this collaboration was going to be on next, and I flipped it over presuming it'll be another rap collaboration. Luckily there was nothing better on the other music channels, so I switched back, and I'm sure my mouth hit the floor when I heard the song. I just wouldn't have paired the voice in this song with Nicki Minaj, no way.
The song writing credits are Ester Dean, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort and Onika Maraj. Ester Dean has written a lot of songs, and most of them you may know, she has written for the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and many many more, she is set out for a solo career, so watch out. David Guetta usually has participation in his records, and Giorgio Tuinfort has helped David Guetta out with his album. As for Onika Maraj (or should I say Nicki Minaj?), maybe she wrote her rap verse? The person who's last on the writing credits TENDS to be the person who had minimal input, but this is not always the case. She has a cracking voice and this shows it, even if it is auto-tuned here and there.
The music video is extremely clever, since the song has two meanings, first one being sexual (which is probably where the songwriting came into it), but the other one is robotics and that is exactly what the music video has decided to link in with however also combining the former meaning too.
I like the fact that we don't even see Nicki Minaj at the start, instead we see some mad scientist constructing a robot, who has pure white lips and is singing along to Nicki Minaj's lyrics. I like how step by step we're revealed who she is and who the mad scientist is (obviously David Guetta). Which could be a reference to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I also like the whole narrative with the jealousy and had to laugh at the fact that David Guetta is really a man made out of chain mail... And it's probably got people guessing, is he really that toned?
I like how the dolls are naked, but not totally and so, for some reason, the UK have allowed the video to be shown during day time, oh the horror... Makes a change to switch on a music channel and see dolls... I'm not sure if I like her rap, some people may say that it spoils the whole song, but then again I'm not sure if it does. We know Nicki Minaj as this rap artist, and why can't she include her own little spin to the song?
I like Nicki Minaj's style, the fact that she's confident and is made out to look prim and proper. And it works, surprisingly, since she has bright pink hair, that actually suits her perfectly. I think Nicki Minaj is becoming a superstar, and I know that a number one in the UK is just around the corner for her, and it may be this very song that does it.
I love this music video, I don't think there's anything wrong with it, apart from the fact that it may be misleading children, and it could be considered scary, to a slight degree. But, as if that will make me lose a star on this narrative filled music video. I hope it does well on the chart, whenever it gets released.
Cher Lloyd has changed within a year and a half. She appeared on the X Factor Series Seven, and has already done really well for herself. Now she's teamed up with Astro for her latest single.
The Seventh series of the UK X factor has given us quite a few stars so far such as: Matt Cardle (Winner), Rebecca Ferguson (2nd), One Direction (3rd), Cher Lloyd (4th), Mary Byrne (5th), Katie Waissel (7th), Aiden Grimshaw (9th), Treyc Cohen (10th), Belle Amie (11th), Storm Lee (13th) and Nicolò Festa (16th). It's definitely was the year with the most success I reckon, so I'm interested where the stars of the Eighth series, will end up... As for Astro, who's real name is Brian Bradley, ended up 7th in the first series of the US X Factor. But will he go far? We'll have to wait and see.
"Want U Back" was written by Shellback, Savan Kotecha and Astro. Again Shellback and Savan Kotecha have collaborated creating such another fantastic song, they have been featured on this blog a number of times. As for Astro, I reckon he wrote his little rap, and to be honest I am quite surprised, for a 15 year old to write something so personal and sing it from the heart, is just really surprising, he's younger than CamCam... The song is released this week, in DIRECT competition with label mate and ex-winner of The X Factor: Matt Cardle with "Amazing"... I wonder who will win this time around. "Want U Back" is about splitting from your relationship and the jealousy that sparks when you see you're ex out with another person, doing the exact same things that you used to do together. It's a great song, so catchy, and suits Cher Lloyd perfectly, can definitely see this being a big song. BUT where does the ending link in with it? "Does this sound like a helicopter? Brrrrrrrrr"... According to most people, not really...
This music video is fun and creative and clever, I loved watching behind the scenes, and although it isn't as great as other behind the scenes videos it confirmed something to me, that makes me laugh. Those actors that were put in for this music video are definitely amazing.
I love the idea of the Polaroid pictures on the bed (reminds me of Inna's "Un Momento", don't you think?) I also like the magazine, I'd definitely subscribe to any magazine that has moving pictures. I like the idea of Cher going into the pictures and changing them to suit her, like the throwing of water and popcorn, and the skater and definitely loved the tattoo scene, that is quite evil...
Personally I think it's set in an alternative reality, as if she's dreaming or something, or it's set majorly in the future, choose your pick... MAYBE it's just the technology of America? I like a lot about this and Astro adds he's own spin on the song, giving a reply to Cher, that's quite interesting, and makes the song interact more with the people who are watching, but I feel like something is missing.
This music video is fun, energetic and exciting, but it's missing something, maybe it's the helicopter at the end that puts me off... I just don't know. I can see this song charting very high this week, as it's really catchy. But I think the music video is just missing that little something, it may be the fact that we can't see a spark between Cher and the guy, or maybe it's the way Astro is involved... I just don't know but something is holding it back.
Kelly Clarkson was the first ever winner of American Idol, and this is her first ever international single (second in America & Canada after "Before Your Love / A Moment Like This"). Since then she has dominated charts worldwide and she has quite a few UK fans.
This song has some quite surprising writing credits, they are Rhett Lawrence, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Matt Morris. This song was originally written for Christina Aguilera, which is understandable as this song would have suited her. But they never finished writing it and so gave it over to Kelly Clarkson, who added to the lyrics and put her own unique spin onto the song. The song is about letting down your emotional barriers to fall in love, but does the music video really reference that?
When I first saw this music video I was young, I got excited when I started watching World Idol and I backed Kelly Clarkson all the way. Now I look back and realise this music video isn't as good as I initially thought it was, but I think it is clever the way it's been created and I kind of wish I was there. It's the sort of party that you wish you had but you don't want the clean up afterwards.
I like the fact that people jump in the pool fully clothed, although I'm surprised Kelly Clarkson resisted the urge to jump in, or rather she did and it was edited out? I like the fact that some bits are during the morning after and at other times there's footage from the night before. I also find the karaoke clever and interesting, and quite similar to various other music videos that are about.
Overall there really isn't much to comment on, but at the end of the day, it's edited good and it's really interesting, I cannot believe this song only got to number 6 here in the UK. I also like the fact that it links in with the song slightly and I like seeing how much she has changed over the years, not a dramatic difference as you can tell who she is, but she's definitely grown up a lot.
Evarose is a band I've recently started following. They plan to put a new riff into the whole world of rock music by being an all female rock band, and they are quickly becoming more and more known. They consist of Dannika Webber, Imogen Leslie, Connie Raitt and Robyn Griffith. I have only seen their music video for "Cough It Up", and I reviewed it on this blog, I found it surprising, but will their other music videos do the same or leave me wanting more?
I have to admit, on first play, you can believe they haven't really got much to themselves, it's not powerful and not as catchy as their other songs. But once it finishes and you wait a few seconds, you realise you've already clicked the replay button. It's one of those sneaky songs that you don't think you will enjoy and you aren't sure if you do after one play but then you realise it's stuck in your head anyway so you might as well keep on playing it. These girls are good and infectious and I believe it won't be long before chart success comes knocking at their doors.
The music video, in comparison to Cough It Up, is not surprising at all, and doesn't have an ending that leaves you shocked. But at the end of the day, they can't do that with every music video, otherwise it becomes repetitive. This one is simple and basic, with not a lot going on.
This music video looks like your typical third or fourth single that would be released, it doesn't have a lot going for it, but you can see the emotional side of everything that's happening, but I wouldn't stop to watch unless there is nothing better on.
Evarose is a brilliant band, but this music video is missing something, it's plain but emotive, it's good and then it's not, I like the forest aspect and the fact that Dannika is alone and it looks like she's probably found something out and she's angry and upset, which is where the "throwing the stones in the water" comes from, and sitting down by the water. But we don't really know why she's doing that, which could also suggest some blanks we're supposed to fill in.
I like this band, they're new, upcoming and exciting, but after a brilliant music video "Cough It Up", this one lacks in comparison. However it is emotive and drawing, and we want to know more but in a good way. I have mixed feelings about this one, but it's good, however there could have been more to it.
30 Seconds To Mars are one of my all time favourite bands, their music is such an inspiration to us and Jared Leto's voice is amazing, and this song just proves that. The band consists of Jard Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević. They have recently beaten a Guinness World record, as I mentioned in my most recent 30 Seconds To Mars review. But they haven't released a single since two years ago, could this mean that their new songs will be the best they've ever released? We're all hoping so, but how they will beat a single like this, I'm not sure.
As expected Jared Leto wrote this song, and you can really tell that he thinks strongly about this song, it has a musicality that is both amazing and brilliant and his voice... It's definitely one of those song that when you listen to it, you can shut your eyes and just think it's bliss. As far as I can work out (thanks to the lyrics) the song is about going down your own path... The way I worked this out was "We were the Kings and Queens of promise" which suggests what your parents believe you can be anything once you are born. "Maybe the children of a lesser God. Between Heaven and Hell." Suggests a kinder God, one who will protect us and prevent us from prejudicing everyone. However the verses tell us something different. 1st verse tells us that we've changed we are who we've become and we have started judging people just like God tells us to do. 2nd verse could be reference to our parents, we took our lives into our own hands and decided to lead our life the way we want to. The bridge suggests that we will never be sure what's right or wrong until we've done it, and darkness descends, we learn our 1st lesson of many to come and will learn from it and become better people because of it. This song is so inspirational, and this is what I get out of it. However if you were to look at the lyrics you may come up with some other meaning. This song touches people in different ways and it's one of those songs that is inspirational and means something different to everyone but in a positive light. It's also a song people learn from, one that makes people become inspired. And this is what makes a song, the most perfect song. I could imagine this song live and it would be the epiphany of perfection
Putting the song aside and focusing on the music video... It fits in perfect and I'll always watch it whenever I find it on the music channels, as soon as I see it on a music channel I stop flicking through and watch it. Again it has narrative and performance which is what we usually expect from a band and it links in just right, although if you had heard the song and not watched the music video you really wouldn't have thought this would have been the music video.
The narrative side is the biking, they start from downtown Los Angeles and go all the way to Santa Monica Pier, there are quite a few artistic forms in this music video, and some bits are shocking. I like the man who's riding the big bike, it's really hard to miss him, and it makes me eager to have a go. I like the different places they ride, such as the tunnel, and the spiral they create in the middle of the road. Some people find the horse a little weird but it relates to Los Angeles. When the bike gets hit by the car it scares me every single time, because I never quite know when it's coming up and it just happens out of nowhere.
The performance side of things is filmed on top of a cliff edge in Griffith Park that overlooks the city.I like the use of the sunset which casts shadows of 30 Seconds to Mars, and gives the music video this feel of motivation.
Overall, I would normally give this song 5 stars purely because it's emotional and I can feel every word Jared Leto is singing. However this is a music video review, but I haven't got a bad this to say about it, it's interesting and easily watchable. It has everything you need and more so how can I not put this rating?
