Ashlee Simpson becomes my Sunday Revisit, purely because I've been stuck for choice, and I distinctly remember watching this music video on the music channels. She has a famous sister Jessica Simpson, who is also a singer/actress. Ashlee Simpson is finally gearing up to releasing a fourth album, but is she past her peak of her career, or is it time to get back on track and become a hit once again?
"Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" was written by Ashlee Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White and Kenna. It marks Ashlee Simpson's lowest charting position in the UK, to date, managing to get to number 24. "Pieces Of Me" got to number four, "La La" number 11, and the recently reviewed "Boyfriend" got to number 12. The song is about having all these voices in your head, from the people who think they should advise you on what you need to do, and sometimes it's a bit too much. Always do what you want, regardless of what everyone else thinks, that's my advice.
This music video is over the top of wackiness. There's so much going on, so much that you find it hard to keep up with, that it explains the song and connects with it perfectly.
There is a lot of references included, so much so that it reminds me of Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go". There's a reference to Salvador Dalí's 'The Persistence Of Memory' with the melting clock, she is also seen with dark hair on top of a 'Rubik's Cube'. She also gets tied up by tiny people, which is a reference to 'Gulliver's Travels'. And once again the constant attack of the paparazzi, which has been featured in so many videos that I'm tired of mentioning it. One person even has a camera as a head. One of the co-writer's Kenna features as a reporter in the video.
This is clearly identifiable as an Ashlee Simpson video, even if she wasn't in the video, it's noticeable as her due to the quirkiness of it all. That still reminds me of the other videos I have reviewed "Boyfriend" and "L.O.V.E." that I question whether we'll find something different from this artist, or will she stick to this niche that is clearly her... Guess we'll find out when she starts releasing singles and videos for her new album.
Overall, a catchy song that has a messed-up quality to it that you can't help but admire, it feels like so many people talking to you at once, and that is exactly what the song is about. The video follows the song perfectly, going over the top and adding the perfect messed-up side with mental institutes and paparazzi and a robotic Ashlee Simpson.
Ashlee Simpson is currently getting ready for a come back in music. She is both a singer and an actress, along with her well-known sister Jessica Simpson. Her albums have failed to gain much chart success in the UK, her first album managed to get to number 31, and her subsequent albums didn't even make the top 40. It's a total different story for the singles, 4 of which has charted high, "Pieces of Me" got to number 4, "La La" number 11, this song got to number 12 and her most recent chart position is number 24 with "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)". My favourite single "L.O.V.E." did not get an official release in the UK.
"Boyfriend" was written by Kara DioGuardi, John Shanks and Ashlee Simpson. The song is apparently "not about one person in particular". But the song is about a girl who insists you've stolen her boyfriend, she's claiming she didn't. Various rumours have popped up about who this song might be about, guess we'll never know. Since "L.O.V.E." didn't get an official release in the UK, this is henceforth the only single released from the album 'I Am Me'.
This music video is mainly performance piece, but so full of vibes that you can't help but enjoy it for what it is, she has this stage presence that is gripping to watch. Her performance is extremely watchable, she's moving about, rocking out, striking sexy dance moves. It's fun to watch. And given the chance, I definitely would see her live.
I like the use of the band behind her, it shows she isn't afraid of showing who the band is that helps her make music, therefore giving her a lot more respect in my eyes.
There is a slight narrative to this, where she is running from the cops at the start, this kind of makes me think someone has called the police on her because she "stole" a boyfriend, making something become much more serious than what it is. Also a bunch of people start running towards something, although it is never clear who or what they are running to, my guess is that it's Ashlee Simpson's gig they are running to. It kind of reminds me of Lostprophets' music video to "Shinobi Vs. Dragon Ninja".
Overall, a great catchy song that should've charted higher than number 12. The music video fits the song pretty well, they could've added more to the narrative side, as well as making it clear what or who all the people are running to. At the end Ashlee Simpson jumps into what is possibly her boyfriend she references to in her song. He is played by Efren Ramirez.
Basshunter popped up on my iTunes reminding me of how far behind I am on his music videos, and I really need to start to catch up, especially since he has an album around the corner, apparently.
Basshunter, real name Jonas Altberg, is a Swedish DJ and singer, who had a few hits in his career, making him the most successful artist on the Hard2Beat/Dance Nation Records. The label has currently dropped all of their artists, and as far as I can tell it's all down to the music channel. Basshunter is now currently signed to All Around The World Records, but it seems to me he has left his fans in his old record company, and I reckon people are unaware of his new stuff. He needs to pull something out the bag quickly.
"Walk On Water" was the final single cut from his debut album in the UK 'Now You're Gone - The Album'. It was one of my favourite songs from the album along side 'Camilla'. It is known as professional boxer Nathan Cleverly's entrance song.
The music video disappointed me the first time I saw it. Basshunter is the guy who introduced us to the movie music video, his music videos follow one after the other, creating this complete storyline, and this is the song that breaks it, or is it?
RECAP: "Now You're Gone" Aylar Lie and Lucas Thorheim break up
by text at the start. They go out clubbing with friends in separate groups, and end up in the same club. Aylar invites Lucas over, they get back together. "All I Ever Wanted" they go to Spain. They have fun with water guns and dressing
up. While clubbing, Lucas talks to a "mate's cousin", Aylar doesn't believe him. "Angel In The Night"
starts with the break up of Aylar and Lucas (again via text). A minute later she meets Basshunter. He impresses her by winning a street race, and singing at the end. "I Miss You / Jingle Bells" they go on holiday to Norway for Christmas, Basshunter says he can't go, but it's a joke and he really is there. They invite friends, open presents and have a dip in the hot tub. A house party happens, and Basshunter has to fend off a guy who makes advances towards Aylar.
Does this video fit in? Well I've kind of found a connection. Basshunter sings in "Angel In The Night" so maybe he is actually playing himself, and so maybe he is a singer, and this video is part of his tour. For all we know, Aylar could have been backstage. It fits in the story, but only slightly, but it's there. His job as a singer, in the story also explains why he might not have been able to go to Norway in "I Miss You / Jingle Bells".
This video doesn't purposely try to fit in the story. It shows his presence on stage, and we get to see what it would be like to go to one of his gigs... But the whole point of this thing is to make me want to go, and to be honest I wouldn't want to.
If he is performing like that on stage with dancers who aren't dancing all that much and he is purely singing while jumping up and down... Well I feel no vibes at all from him, and I'd rather not see it.
I imagined his tours would be like going to a club, where he is the DJ. That has always been my idea of what his tours would be like. However according to this I may be completely wrong.
Overall, an amazing song, that could have brought a lot to the whole story for the music video, maybe Aylar Lie wasn't available at that time? The video is a representation of what seeing him live would be like, however I have my fingers crossed it is not at all like that. This is definitely full of disappointments, and the only thing I really like about this is the fact that he gets a camera out and we manage to see his fans, through editing.
When I get a song stuck in my head it's inevitable that it appears on here, and right now is another example of that.
High School Musical spawned 3 films and a spin off called 'Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure'. They became so popular they managed to release the third movie at cinemas, whereas the first two and the spin-off were television movies. The films also gave us a few very well-known stars, the likes including Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman. Will there be another film? I doubt it, however I wouldn't be surprised to find a reunion movie popping up in a few years maybe? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
"I Don't Dance" was written by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil and Giancarlo Binando. The song is sung by Lucas Grabeel and Corbin Bleu. It is one of my favourites from the second movie, and I think the whole production behind it was engaging and surprising. A lot clearly went into this.
The video is full of the typical musical dancing and acting. But this manages to make me laugh for a number of reasons, Mainly because you're not actually watching the film, and so in theory you are watching it out of context, and so some parts is much more great to watch. I especially like how Corbin Bleu is singing 'I don't dance' while dancing... Which shows that even the unlikely person can dance if they set their mind to it.
I like how Lucas' character 'Ryan Evans' tries to get Corbin Bleu's character 'Chad Danforth' dancing, proving that if Ryan can do this then Chad can do that.
I like the inclusion of sport, in this case it was baseball. I don't believe there is a music video that features baseball (as far as I'm aware of). The choreography is in total sync, as you would expect from these guys, and the use of the baseball gloves and bats gives you more to look at and not one falls out of place; but if they did, it would've been very obvious.
Overall a very catchy song and definitely one of my favourite scenes from the second movie. The music video (or scene from the movie) is well made, and relates to the song perfectly. The choreography is exceptional, and I have no choice but to give this video the rating it deserves.
Mandia Nantsios is my "Artist of the Month" for March (her profile will be up later), so it's only right I review her first music video and single with it. She is just 16 years old, and with a very meaningful voice, every word is sung with conviction and you know she means it all. Her second single was "One Last Time", she got five stars from me for that one, will this follow? The world better watch out, because this Canadian superstar is on the verge of stepping into the spotlight.
"Never Again" was written by Mandia Nantsios. It's engaging, raw and emotional, all the aspects of a perfect song.
This music video follows the song in every way. There's both a performance and a narrative. The narrative side is crisp and follows through from the song.
It's the usual boyfriend cheats on girlfriend, we've seen this in a few videos in the past, but this one stands out because we get to see what the past was like for them, and then return to the story in the present, with her dropping the necklace he bought her.
The performance side takes dominance during the centre of the video, she is seen in various locations, some of which, such as the boat, shows what he is missing out on. Other settings add to the raw emotion, leaving you surprised at how strong of a performer Mandia Nantsios is.
The one problem I do have is the dancers in the background, they kind of feel out of place, almost like they're trying to be more important than Mandia, however the editing has made Mandia Nantsios more in the picture, preventing her from being empowered. After a second watch I can almost forget that the dancers are there. On the other hand, I feel that they shouldn't have been included, Mandia's such a good performer she doesn't need them.
Overall a song that is perfect in every way and just proves that Mandia Nantsios is an up and coming star. The music video reflects the song the way we want it to, adding more emotion to the song, which seems impossible. Although I don't like the dancers, I'm prepared to let it slide, since they're easily ignorable.
