Critic Jonni

The Band Perry is a new country music band from Mississippi in America (where a lot of country stars start up, but now they're making an impact over the ocean too). This band consists of Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry and Reid Perry. I find them quite exciting, and country is currently becoming more popular here in the UK. Thanks to the likes of Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Sugarland, we are now able to have our own Country chart, not only that but country stars such as Blake Shelton, The Civil Wars, and of course The Band Perry, can now have a crack over here. If you would have told these people last year that they'd be releasing in the UK with a bit of chart success they wouldn't have believed you.

There are two music videos to this song, the one released in the UK is the one I'm reviewing (see above) and is also titled as the "Pop Version". Whereas the one that has been released elsewhere can be found to the right. Personally there isn't much difference, but some important scenes have been cut. However the pop version is much easier to promote here in the UK as there are certain instruments used in replace of others, such as the guitar for the violin (yes I did take quite a few minutes trying to find the difference). Although I think they didn't need to change it, as it still would have interested the UK audience using the original version.

The song "If I Die Young" was written by Kimberly Perry. She really connects with this song, and you can tell she means everything she's singing. Some of the song lyrics are quite surprising, although you have to kind of expect that from a title like this one. This band is quite new and so I was quite surprised to find out Edges hadn't caught onto the band as strongly as other country stars. However I've only heard this one song so I should really listen to others before passing judgement on them as a whole.

I really liked this music video when I first saw it on the music channels. It felt as if the band knew what they wanted to portray and they did it exactly the right way. However, I've now watched the original one and again the cuts have annoyed me. Original has her waking up, half-drowning, and although that can be quite disturbing, it's understandable and fits in with the song. So why they took it out for the "Pop Version", I have no idea.

There's some great bits, like the chasing through the plants, a suggestion of young love that the lyrics mention how she never got to really experience it (if she were to die young). And telling her family not to shed a tear as there may be a time when they're going to really need it. However I would have liked to have seen the river filled with roses as the lyrics suggests to "lay me down on a bed of roses".

Overall I love this song and I hope to hear more from this band, along with their amazing music videos. I also have this feeling that they'll hit it big here in the UK, just like Taylor Swift has, and who Kimberly Perry looks quite similar to, although that might be done to draw our attention in. But because I'm rating the top music video (as that's the one shown in the UK), I have to give this star rating, however if there was a bed of roses and/or the full version was shown in the UK, they would have got 5*'s from me.

So again Cascada has grabbed my Sunday revisit, but why? Purely because no other artists from this week have released music videos in 2007 and earlier, and so we are back to Cascada. This was their first ever single, and it went international and became a big hit. Cascada is comprised of Natalie Horler, Manian (Manuel Reuter) and Yanou (Yann Peifer).

This song was written by Yann Peifer and Manuel Reuter. I have always thought this was a cover version, but obviously when I had heard it on the radio previously it must have been Cascada's song I was listening to, and that's what surprised me about this.

This music video is a typical, first international music video. It really hasn't got a lot going for it, and no wonder the music channels do not play this anymore, especially since Cascada has released much more interesting and engaging music videos recently.

There isn't much going on in this video, but there's quite a bit to like about it, which is a bit conflicting. I really like the mirrored scene, I think that's done really cleverly. I also like the "box tunnel" scene, as I call it.

But that's all the substance this music video has, which is a little disappointing for Cascada, especially since their recent videos are so much better, and this song is amazingly catchy.

Overall it's a good first international music video, but an extremely catchy song that you can't help but sing a long to. I very much doubt I'll be seeing this on the music channels in the future as there are far better Cascada music videos available, and I cannot wait to hear their new music.

Gotye, real name Wouter De Backer, is Belgian-Australian, and has been going for a number of years. This is his first international single, gaining number ones everywhere including the UK chart, but I can't understand why it's so popular, but I guess it's what people like, and it's not my sort of music at all. Gotye collaborated with Kimbra, real name Kimbra Johnson, on this track. This is also her first international single, and so it'll be interesting where these two singers will end up, personally I don't see them surviving for long if they stick to this sort of music... But we'll see.

This song was written by Gotye himself, which means every single lyric he sings means something to him, and you can definitely tell that he is passionate about this song, as his emotions come over amazingly. The song is about reminiscing over times in a relationship, then he goes on to sing about hating the fact that he was treated like a "stranger" during the break-up. Kimbra's bit emphasises how she didn't enjoy the break-up either. I think a lot of people can relate to this song, and the fact that it sounds like they're having an argument makes people enjoy it even more. But I doubt I'll ever start to like this.

The music video creeps me out a bit, sometimes I eave, believe it or not. However it's clever and done interestingly with the use of stop-motion animation. However I never quite watch this all the way through before now, and I just don't see how this is that great, it wouldn't be something I'd personally watch out of pleasure.

I think it is clever and must have taken a lot of time, as you can tell that they sped some of the bits up, I like the fact that we follow the lines and the colours, and the fact that Kimbra ends up having her colouring removed suggesting the break-up.

Overall there isn't a lot to say about this music video, it's clever but not my sort of thing. The song is at the top spot here in the UK, and again it's not my sort of song, but I reckon a lot of people can relate to it. I feel a little grossed out at this music video, as I presume a few people would be, but being realistic, it's not that bad of a music video, therefore it is worthy of this rating.

We Are The In Crowd are a five-piece rock band, but what makes them stand out is the fact that they have two vocalists. They consist of Taylor Jardine, Jordan Eckes, Mike Ferri, Rob Chianelli and Cameron Hurley. They are quickly becoming known, and especially on here with the amount of blog posts I've already done. As you may be aware of DJD is a big fan of theirs, and I'm really interested what this band has coming up, I just know they're going to get onto the UK chart fairly soon.

This song was their first ever single, it is also the most played video from this band on the music channels. This is the first video I ever saw from this band, and I've been looking forward to reviewing it. The song was written by the band, with pretty surprising lyrics such as: "you're not quite Satan, but I really think I hate you".

The music video is an act of pure genius, and I don't see them topping it any time soon. I think it may have been on the low-budget side, especially since it was their first music video, but it's done amazingly and I don't know whether to laugh until I fall over or be grossed out by it. It's just incredible and well made.

I love the use of the social network site: Twitter. And I like the use of people (possibly fans) that are included in the video. There are very memorable parts, such as the guy sitting next to Taylor who picks his nose then eats it; to the guy who has a Japanese tattoo that was meant to say Peace, but instead says Pervert.

There's some bits that don't fit very well, such as the degrading music videos clip, and the Patronus at the end where he's a magician... It just doesn't quite add up. As for the performance side of things, I have to laugh at some of the comments on the video, such as Jordan's tight leg-ware and the fact that people are agreeing that they'll never love anyone more than they love music.

Overall I like this music video lots, but some of the clips don't necessarily add to the video and there could have been better clips. I kind of feel sorry for Cameron Hurley who had to step into the muck... Was it the luck of the straw? Anyway, this music video is well created, and is worthy of 5 stars however because not everything fits as well as it should I'm going to give it this rating.

Cascada is a 3-piece dance act that comprises of Natalie Horler, Manian (Manuel Reuter) and Yanou (Yann Peifer). As you may have guessed I'm quite a big fan of their music, and have created quite a few blog posts on this band. I always thought, after buying the album, that this would have been their next single, and it sounds like the sort of song that would put them high in the UK charts, unfortunately, with lack of promotion, the song failed to make it. The album "Original Me" is an amazing album, and I can't stop listening to it. There are collaborations with Carlprit, that throw off the scent of a possible single, that would surely have made number one, but it looks like they're going to start on a new album, and hopefully a great comeback in the UK.

The song was written by Manuel Reuter, Yann Peifer and Allan Eshuijs, who has worked with Cascada in the past, on a few hit singles. Personally I think this is one of the most catchiest songs on the album, and I'm interested in Cascada's new album and what would be in store for us.

The music video is interesting, as it's not the sort of video you expect from Cascada (but neither was "Fever", which was another single that failed to get onto the UK chart). It looks like they had fun with it, and I have to admit it is quite a good music video, but this was the only promotional work Cascada did for this song here in the UK, and the music channels didn't think much of it. I am totally surprised it came onto the music channels today.

The best thing about this music video is that we see Natalie Horler have choreographed dance moves. It is the first time we've seen her dance in a music video, leaving sceptics realising she can dance and she's very good at it. It's nice to see it, and I hope it appears more in Cascada's upcoming music videos.

As for the story, it's pretty good, I like the fact that Natalie Horler teases guys in the corridor, and then does a tango-styled dance. I like the wink at the end, it's reminiscent of Avril Lavigne's "What The Hell". And the first few seconds makes us think we're watching Michael Jackson's "Thriller". It's all very good, but it's missing that Cascada spark, and it's just lacking that special bit.

Overall it's a very good music video, and links in slightly with the song, although there could have been more of a narrative (however that is what we expect from Cascada). I like the fact that we actually see Natalie Horler dance, and I cannot wait to find out what's around the corner for these guys.