OK Go are a four piece American Alternative rock band consisting of Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka and Andy Ross. I have never heard of these people before and one of my flatmates mentioned them a few days ago. Then all of a sudden, today I got a request for this song... Seems a bit shifty to me, but it might just be a pure coincidence because I just completely embarrassed myself by talking about this suggestion to him and he had no clue what I was talking about, or he is a very convincing liar. I'm thinking the former. This week really haven't been my week at all. Anyway, OK Go have had a few hits in America, the UK and Australia. It'll be interesting what the future will bring.
"Here It Goes Again" was written by Damien Kulash. The song is currently the band's only single to dip into the US Billboard Hot 100, managing to chart at number 38. In the UK it managed to chart at number 36. However it is believed the reason for this is the music video, as it became one of the most watched YouTube videos, until it got taken down. See I told you the music video does count towards sales. It's not my sort of thing, but I don't cringe listening to it, so clearly my flatmates are slowly getting through to me.
The music video is pure genius. It is one continuous take of the band dancing on treadmills, all choreographed amazingly. Apparently, it is common in their videos, for Tim Nordwind to lip-sync the song's lyrics when it's actually Damien Kulash who sings the vocals.
This video is definitely a statement and it's always great to watch, even though I've only seen it once. It took seventeen attempts to finally get it right, and they pulled it off perfectly... Or have they?
Time for the nitty-gritty... There are a few steps in the choreography that is missed, and videos like this clearly make them stand out, and I can't help but express how important it is to be in sync at all times. However I give it the benefit of the doubt as they must have been tired after seventeen attempts.
Furthermore, the song and the video doesn't relate, this is usually a must, and even performance based videos manages to convey the meaning through the expressions, again I'm willing to let it slide because this is a totally unexpected video. I also feel that something else should be included. I just feel it's pretty uninteresting. However it's fun eye-catching and not something I expected.
Bayer parodied this for their Effervescent drink: Berocca (which I take regularly). Their adverts are always fun to watch. See right for the video.
Overall, the song is not my thing, but it is others, and I respect that. The video is a great idea, it's fun, it's different, and it definitely stands out. However it's a bit bland and missing that extra little spark that's needed to make me go WOW!
Tulisa, full name Tulisa Contostavlos, first found fame in N-Dubz, with cousin Dappy and friend (now former boyfriend) Fazer. The band recently split with all of them going in different directions. Tulisa got a number one hit with "Young". It has recently been confirmed N-Dubz will be getting back together. However, personally, I feel Tulisa's perfect by herself, and this song just proves how credible of an artist she actually is.
"Sight Of You" was written by Tulisa Contostavlos and Terius Nash (The-Dream). She described it as a Christmas ballad that will stand the test of time. And I was blown away by it. I first heard it today and I was shocked, it's so different to "Young" and "Live It Up", but it works so perfectly beautiful, I just couldn't believe this was a Tulisa track. The only problem is the bit at the end when she says "The End", it worked just the way I wanted it to and then BAM! Right at the end it's ruined just that tiny bit.
The music video is amazing. That's the only word to describe it. It's exactly what I expected and more and made me want to know what was going to happen. It kept me engaged and that is what I want from this sort of video.
It features quite-known actor Jody Latham as Tulisa's lover. They break apart and Tulisa then finds him with another girl shortly after. She then tries to make him jealous, and it works. They finally get back together at the end, and it's like nothing has gone on. It reminds me of so many soap opera relationships and ones in the real world too.
Overall a great song that should definitely stand the test of time. I personally think it should be a hit and become Tulisa's signature song, however it looks doubtful. The music video is out of this world, it just couldn't have been done better, leaving me partially speechless and happy that after some while I can finally give this rating. I look forward to future music videos by Tulisa.
After thinking it over and over, about what to do for my Sunday Revisit, I finally settled on this one from KT Tunstall, purely because my next-door flatmate is playing it everyday. Honestly, I'm not that interested in this song, but I don't really know why.
As I mentioned in my previous blog post of "Suddenly I See". KT Tunstall, real name Kate Tunstall, has been going since 2004. Even in 2012, almost 2013, people are still playing her songs, it shows longevity, but without a top 10 behind her, is she slowly disappearing? Or will her future single have that top 10 stamp of approval?
"Other Side Of The World" was KT Tunstall's highest charting single at number 13, until the following single of "Suddenly I See" got 1 position higher. It was written by KT Tunstall and Martin Terefe. It's about a long distance relationship and is based on a true story as 2 friends of KT Tunstall's were in a long distance relationship where one was in Britain and the other was in New York. They took this idea onto the music video.
The music video is narrative based. Featuring KT Tunstall and an unknown male actor (anyone who knows who it is please comment below and I'll add it. I have a few names but can't be certain). They are on opposite sides of the world. It looks like he isn't quite over her as we might first think, and she is still in love with him. I love how the ending is a complete reverse from the start.
The only problem I have with this music video is that it doesn't keep me entertained, I find it difficult to watch two simultaneous scenes, however I like the idea, and it's extremely clever, I just feel it's hard to keep up with it.
Overall a great song, that isn't something I would go out of my way to listen to, unlike one of my uni flatmates, however I understand why he likes it so much. As for the music video, it's a great concept and should've worked great, but it's missing something, and I won't be watching it again, unless I have to.
For the last few weeks I've been planning on reviewing this song, but its music video has always stopped me. I think I just don't want to give a bad rating to an amazing song, one of which is Swedish House Mafia's last single before their indefinite hiatus. However here goes nothing.
Swedish House Mafia are a three piece dance band from Sweden. They consist of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. They are currently in the middle of their final tour before they go on their hiatus. Their reason for breaking up is that they aren't sure where they want to go next. By the looks of things, they want to do different things. However I reckon this won't be the last we'll see of them, and it's quite possible future collaborations between the members will be on the cards. John Martin once again collaborates with this band, the first song being "Save The World". He has such a great voice, and if he doesn't get around to releasing songs himself I will be left shocked and surprised as he deserves to do well.
"Don't You Worry Child" was written by Axel Hedfors (Axwell), Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, John Martin Lindstrõm and Michel Zitron. The band says the inspiration for the song comes from the beauty of Australia. However if that was the case why do we have footage from Milton Keynes, UK?
Okay I have to admit, I really don't like these types of music video, as you have probably guessed in similar blog posts. I just feel these have been done over and over again, and if you are willing to do a music video like this, at least switch it up!
A few examples that come to mind for switching it up, is DixonBeats & Dante's "Afraid" and Avril Lavigne's "Losing Grip". This music video just shows footage from their concert at Milton Keynes and it leaves me bored.
I totally understand that these music videos are done for their fans. That if you were in the crowd at that time you would be so happy that you'll be featuring in a music video. However it doesn't make it a good music video. If you were going to do this, then at least release it as a promotional video and then a few weeks later release an official music video. Personally, when videos like this come up, I can't help but think "lazy", it's the one word that runs through my mind every time.
Overall a great song, that I love every time the clubs play it. The song definitely deserved that UK number one, and if I were reviewing the song it would be getting five stars. However I'm reviewing the music video alone, and this is a video I see artists releasing every single year, or more often, and I really don't enjoy watching it.
KT Tunstall, real name Kate Tunstall, has been around for quite some time. This song, however, is her highest UK charting single to date. I woke up with this song in my head, thanks to the amazing show "Being Erica" as this song sounds pretty similar to the theme tune which is "All I Ever Wanted" sung by Lily Frost.
"Suddenly I See" was written by KT Tunstall, as expected. The song is a tribute to female power, however it is one of those songs that could mean a whole range of stuff. This is what truly makes a song good. 2 people could listen to a song, both could like it lots, however for one it holds a dear emotional link and makes them stronger, for the other it may make them reflect on life and realise what they've been doing wrong. A song this powerful that can help the whole world deserves to be number one, unfortunately it only got to number 12 on the UK chart.
This music video is a pure performance piece, but what makes it stand out is that they've mixed it up and made it very different to what we are used to. It's a clever concept, and makes it seem symmetrical but they're two different performances of the song, put together. Which shows the variety we might get if we saw her live. Not my sort of thing, but a lot of people will enjoy it, and like how different it will be.
Of course I have a few things I don't like. That guy moving about. I don't know what he is doing, is he taking photos, or is he recording? I'm not sure, so why did they include him? Not only that but he messes it all up when the 2nd band comes through as he is standing right where the first one should be. It's confusing and annoying.
Overall a great song that I have already mentioned, should have been number one. The music video is interesting and different, however not much is going on to really draw my attention. However I like how you can see the looks the two bands give each other. Personally, I would've liked that to have been played up just that little bit more, like they were competing against one another.
