Nelly Furtado has only ever got to number one in the UK once. She has released a lot of songs, although none of them have made an impact on the UK much like this one. Even now, some music channels still show this music video, proving that this is still the sort of song people like listening to, and if it were re-released or covered on a reality show, I can definitely say it'll break the charts once again.
"Maneater" was written by Nelly Furtado, Tim Mosley (Timbaland), James Washington (Jim Beanz) and Nate Hills (Danja). Individually, their writing credits are shocking, you wouldn't think they would have so much behind them. So of course collectively, they would come up with such an amazing song like this.They got inspiration from 80's songs including the original "Maneater" song by Hall & Oats. Apparently, it's about people becoming 'hot on themselves', which basically means that people are arrogant because they know someone will do anything they ask.
The music video is amazing, it's one of those ones that you rarely skip over when it comes up on the music channels, and the song is so very catchy that you can't help but move to it. Which makes the music video even better as it has amazing choreography involved.
I love the start and the ending of this, it includes a narrative that you understand clearly, and she just happens to walk into this old building looking for her dog called 'Toby'. But being a dog owner myself, why on earth would you let go of your dog's lead? (Presuming Toby has a lead on him).
The dance choreography is amazing, it makes Nelly Furtado confident and empowering within an out-numbered crowd. I like how everyone dances around her, this relates perfectly with the song as she is the main focus and everyone is doing exactly what she wants them to do, making her the maneater she's singing about.
There is a slight similarity to Emeli Sandé's "Next To Me" as there are clips embedded within the video, that doesn't quite fit, and although added towards the end, it puts you off. How can she be up on top of the roof in broad daylight, when it was night time when she entered the building? And the flames footage doesn't add up either. Again my the only reason I can come up with is that they ran out of footage, or they thought that if they did different footage it would make this video better. However I find it distracting and not very helpful.
Overall a great song with a good relating music video. It is definitely worthy of this rating; however, I've dropped a star for the extra footage that wasn't needed. I can definitely see this song charting again in the near future.
Emeli Sandé is definitely a singer to watch out for. She recently won the Brit Award for Critic Choice award, and it is definitely deserved. The previous winner was Jessie J, and I'm sure Emeli Sandé will be one of the greats pretty soon. However surprisingly she has not gained a number one single yet, she has got to number one by featuring on Professor Green's "Read All About It", but haven't got to the top spot with her own single, however gaining number two, twice, is a pretty good achievement. I think the competition at number one when she releases is just difficult to beat.
"Next To Me" was written by Emeli Sandé, Hugo Chegwin and Harry Craze. The song is so powerful, meaningful and vivid, and you can believe every word she is singing. I would like to believe that the song is about the long-term boyfriend she is currently with (who has asked to be unidentified and all we know is that he's a scientist). It's such an amazing song, and I bet there's a lot of girls out there wishing they had a boyfriend like the guy she's singing about. Although you'd have to be careful that the boyfriend wasn't too clingy...
Whenever this music video has appeared on the music channels I have always skipped over it, I really didn't want to review it as I was scared of what rating I will end up giving it. However it was requested, and so this is why I'm doing it right now. The music video is pure performance, and you all should know how I feel about these sorts of music videos, hence the reason why I skipped over this video on the music channels...
I like the use of the spotlights and the fact that you can clearly hear the drum in the music. I like the piano, it shows that Emeli Sandé can use different instruments (as most artists can). However, did they run out of video footage by any chance?
It just seems weird how towards the end of the music video, we have a completely new setting and it's still performance side of things, and although the editors have done a great job interspersing the video footage, it just seems out of place.
Overall the song is powerful and heart-wrenching, you can tell she means every word. But I'm a little disappointed with the music video, a very good narrative could be used; but instead, we have a performance, that would have been really great to watch, except for the footage at the end as it looks like it's in the wrong music video. But putting everything aside, it's interesting, and definitely something I'd watch again and again. So here's my rating, remember I'm judging the music video solely, and not the song, otherwise it would have been 5*'s.
VS is a R&B band from 2004, and contains a famous face. The band consisted of Jaime Summaz, Chinyere McKenzie, Blimi, Ryan Taylor and Marvin Humes (who is now in JLS). I always thought this band was going to do really well, and be around for a long time. They reminded me of Big Brovaz, but their album didn't perform well (getting to chart at 184), and they sub-sequently disbanded. Guess these sort of bands aren't meant to be around, we recently got a new similar band called Six D, but after one single they too split up. It's such a shame, especially since this song is still considered a good song.
"Call U Sexy" managed to be the band's second single, and their second best hit, managing to get to number 11. Apparently the song samples Imagination's Body Talk. I like the song, it's really catchy and if it were covered by a band in the future, I'm sure it'll be a hit again.
The music video has a lot going for it, I especially like the choreography in it, which could have been put together by Chinyere since she is a dance choreographer. And it looks like they had a lot of fun with it. Why did this band split up? They could have made it big. Is there a reunion on it's way? Hopefully there is, but no sign as of yet.
I like the party, as it references the music video perfectly, it's definitely the song they'd play at a party. I like the cinema drive in, I really want to go to one of them, but there isn't one near me at the moment. It's weird seeing Marvin Humes in this band, especially how popular he is now. I've reviewed his videos twice in one day, as my new release was JLS' "Proud".
Overall this band is really good and it's a shame they split-up, I think they could have become big. As for the music video, it's pretty average, but memorable nonetheless, so it's definitely worthy of this rating.
Well, start of a new week, and a lot of new songs have been released. My favourite is Katy Perry's "Part Of Me", however there is no music video for it yet, so couldn't use it as a New Release. So instead, after following a New Release from Alexandra Burke last week, I've decided to do JLS' new song.
JLS (Jack the Lad Swing) is a boy band that consists of Aston Merrygold, JB Gill, Marvin Humes and Oritsé Williams. They competed in The X Factor UK 2008 coming second. So far the acts from that series who have done well are: Alexandra Burke (Winner), JLS (Second), Eoghan Quigg (Third), Diana Vickers (Fourth), Ruth Lorenzo (Fifth), Daniel Evans (Seventh) and Laura White (Eighth). Personally, I think that year was the most competitive and the most powerful. But who is the real winner. By the looks of things JLS has done better than Alexandra Burke, however that could always change.
"Proud" is the official Sport Relief single, however they clearly haven't timed this right with the fact that Katy Perry's "Part of Me" is released on the same week. JLS may get the most sales Sport Relief has ever had, but it's going to be extremely difficult to get to that top spot, which they seem to claim a lot of the time. It's a really good song and it's very catchy, but compared to others near the top of the charts, it's just not as memorable.
The music video is great, it definitely shines out from the other music videos, especially since they have both a great storyline, and an unbeatable performance stories.
The performance takes part in Wembley Stadium however it's empty, allowing them to take as long as they need. Bet you they've never performed a song in an empty stadium before...
As for the storyline, it blows me away. I like how you have the Athletes and then it shows them growing up, and what it was like for them as a child. I laugh at Rebecca Adlington (child version) when she just stands in the rain and is loving every bit of it (she's a swimmer for anyone who isn't aware of that). As for Phillips Idowu (who is a Triple Jump athlete), the child jumps on top of school tables, and runs and jumps for a jar in a supermarket, which is quite clever and must have been a lot of fun to do. The third athlete is Louis Smith, who's a Gymnast, which explains the break dancing the child does in school.
I like the fact that this music video relates perfectly, it's all about making people proud and doing the best for yourself (as well as your country, in this case) and going after your dream. And I love the use of the child counterparts, it makes it more of an inspirational music video.
I haven't got anything bad to say about this music video, I'm not a fan of JLS, but I can appreciate their music and their music videos, so I have no choice but give them this well deserved rating.
Lady Antebellum is another country band that has started releasing in the UK, and they've been doing extremely well so far, and their helping to bring Country back into the UK, and it's working just fine. The band consists of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. They joined forces and their name Lady Antebellum comes from when the band was taking photos of Antebellum Houses which are the large plantation homes in the American South. Antebellum commonly refers to the pre-Civil War America. Edges is quite a big fan of theirs and knew about this band way before me, it's definitely the sort of songs he enjoys.
According to an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, Hillary Scott claimed that she had been rejected from American Idol twice. Simon Cowell has sure missed someone great, this band is exciting and new and their voices fit beautifully, they will be around for quite some time, mark my words.
"Need You Now" was written by Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott. So basically the band wrote the song along with Josh Kear, who is well-known for writing quite a few country songs. You can almost tell this band wrote the song as they connect magically with the song, and you just feel every word go through you. The song is about needing your loved one and not wanting to be without him/her.
The music video is deep and thoughtful and just flows perfectly with the song. I love the use of the love interests and the fact that Dave Haywood hasn't had an argument or anything with his, and they're still going strong (there's always a friend who's still in a relationship). And this is sort of what makes Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley to go after their love interests.
I like the start, it makes you think that Charles and Hillary are the ones that are together, or was together and they're singing about one another. Then when they both rush to the masked ball, you think they're finally going to get back together, but then they find the ones they've been after... Well it's just a little disappointing, you build up all this hope and then you realise it's for no reason at all as they weren't together in the first place, however this is what makes it so great.
I love the piano with Dave Haywood, and the fact that they add those few key notes at the end, it's like it's settling everything back to the way it was.
So I have no choice but to give this music video this rating, it's very well deserved. The song managed to get to number 21 on the UK charts, which is a great chart position for a country band. And I'm sure they'll get higher than that in the future at some point.
