Far East Movement are a four piece hip-hop band consisting of Kev Nish (real name Kevin Nishimura), Prohgress (real name James Roh), J-Spliff (real name Jae Choung) and DJ Virman (real name Virman Coquia). This is definitely their signature song at the moment, but as we all know it is just as easy to become popular again with a whole new song. Their band is also shortened to FM, hence the list in this video. The features are The Cataracs and Dev. The Cataracs were a duo consisting of Niles "Cyrano" Hollowell-Dhar and David "Campa" Singer-Vine, they have heavily been involved with Dev, but have gone on to release a few singles of their own as well as albums. David Singer-Vine has recently left the duo, leaving Niles to continue under the name. Dev, real name Devin Tailes has had a great couple of years in 2010 and 2011, scoring quite high charting positions around the world and featuring with many credible artists on their singles. Recently, however she has been under the radar working on a new album, but will it push her back in the limelight? Or will she become buried like many other artists?
"Like A G6" was written by Jae Choung, Virman Coquia, Kevin Nishimura, James Roh, Niles Hollowell-Dhar, David Singer-Vine and Devin Star Tailes. The song is extremely catchy and it is definitely the song that pushed Dev into the spotlight.
We have a narrative and a performance piece so this pushes it right up to the good videos. But is it all it's cracked up to be?
We are shown a list at the start of the narrative. Erica Ocampo is holding the list at 8pm. The list is a "To do list for FM" and includes: "1) Grab Champagne" which is done at 10pm, "2) Pick up CD", I don't actually see this happen, but I presume it happens at 11pm, "3) Get Stickers & Posters" which is done at 11pm and "4) Meet at FM show" which is done at 12:30am.
I like the timings in this including the following morning at 7:30am when they board the Gulfstream IV which is the reference in the song: "G6".
The performance side is very club-like, reminding me that this song is played in the clubs a lot, or it used to. Dev is the main focal point, however Far East Movement does appear quite a bit.
Overall a great song that easily gets stuck in my head. The accompanying music video is good to watch, but I feel that they make this list idea really important, but I don't know where it fits. So here's my rating...
Rizzle Kicks are still the most viewed artist on my blog, their music video "Mama Do The Hump" has gained so many hits on my blog, that I don't think any other blog post will ever catch up. The duo, who consists of Rizzle, real name Jordan Stephens, and Sylvester, real name Harley Alexander-Sule, have been doing well in the UK, but have been dropping slowly. Their most recent single "Dreamers" failed to reach the top 100 of the UK chart. Is it really all down to the music video that made their name? Or can they conquer the charts once again and finally get their own number one single? Guess time will tell.
"Down With The Trumpets" was written by Jordan Stephens, Harley Alexander-Sule, Dag Nabbit, Darren Lewis, Iyiola Babalola and Will Davies. The song is really catchy and managed to get to number 8 on the UK chart. Showing that it caught the UK with the song. I just hope the second album will bring much more unique sounds but also something that people will like. These guys need to pull something out of the bag, or they might be lost forever.
This music video is very similar to what the song portrays, making it an exact conversion to an extent. Hence why we see certain scenes such as them getting down to the ground with a trumpet, as well as Rizzle touching knuckles with someone while Sylvester is rapping about feeling 'Safe'.
This sometimes fail to bring audience attention, on the other hand they are very mischievous, and this is what makes this video great to watch. The best scene has to be when they are hiding behind the wall.
Overall a song that easily grows on people and before you know it you're singing along by the end of it. The music video is too much of a replica for my liking, I want a bit of a narrative at least, or a bit of performance, however we get to know what they are like to an extent, making them funny and great to watch.
BishopRadio recently came to my attention by a comment on my Suggestions page. And as I always say, I never say no to any suggestions. So here is a totally new artist, and they have made me laugh with their first music video. BishopRadio releases his first EP 'Aliens' soon, after getting creditable claim for his mixtape, 'Live From A Park Bench II: Alien Run'. This is his first video release from his upcoming EP. And I cannot wait to find out what is around the corner, especially since I have quickly become a fan with this amazingly catchy song, and hilarious video.
The video had me in giggles, but I can't help thinking that it has a very similar style to Rizzle Kicks' "Mama Do The Hump". Although, they've switched it up and made me surprised, so I'm glad it's not a straight copy. I am surprised there isn't more of these sorts of videos around after the success of Rizzle Kicks' "Mama Do The Hump", guess people don't want to step on their shoes, but then again we need someone like BishopRadio in our music circle.
I like watching the elderly people walk into the shop and they even order two teas. For the first time watching, you are not aware of what will happen, especially since 'Bishop' and 'Babz' are in the tea room too.
I have to admit, I love 'Bishop',. his eyes are so funny, he is good at pulling a shocked face. The music video develops where the elderly people are standing up, dancing and grooving to the music. Even pulling good hip-hop moves. This definitely adds to the music video's uniqueness.
Seeing 'Babz' and 'Bishop' get involved showed their stage presence, it's full of movement and energy, as well as emotion. This is exactly what I want to see in a performance side, and they have it right there. I want to be there watching them.
Overall, a great song that becomes infinitely catchy that I'm definitely going to buy it when it gets released. The music video makes me giggle, no matter how many times I watch it. If it had stuck to the elderly people sitting in the tea room and lip-syncing, not only would it be repetitive, but it would feel too similar to Rizzle Kicks' "Mama Do The Hump", but because of movement, dancing, and 'Bishop' and 'Babz' getting involved as well as the woman in the corner, I just have no choice but to give it this rating.
So two weeks ago this song got released, I was so wrapped up in my exams that week that I never got around to blogging about this single and so it never became one of my New Releases, although I had been looking forward to reviewing it on my blog. So I am making up for it right now.
Platnum is a three piece dance band from the UK. They consist of Aaron Evers, Michelle McKenna and Mina Poli. They gained success when they were signed to Hard2Beat records, which later changed to Dance Nation records, and now they seem to have dropped all their artists. The label had well known artists such as Basshunter, September and Sash!. This group is now on All In Recordings and Platnum are leading the record label. They are one of my favourite bands, and I really thought this song would hit the UK charts, and although I saw it climb up the iTunes top 1000, it never seemed to break the top 100. With an album being released soon, I don't know what more this group can do. They need more promotion, they also need their album to chart. We could lose these guys altogether, and that will leave a black hole in UK music.
The song and the music video reminds me a bit of their first song, which got to number two on the UK chart, as well as it being a collaboration with H "Two" O. "What's It Gonna Be" was a hit, but it's gone sour since then.
This video relates to the song perfectly, with an interesting narrative, and a performance piece that is engaging, I just want to be there with them and hang out. They look fun and great to be with. They are also very relatable, and you can't knock the vocals on this track, so full of emotion!
The narrative has each member being with a person, this shows they've backed away from one another as their first single suggested, as well as that I'm so glad they each like different people unlike One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful". Michelle seems to be getting on with Lucien Laviscount (Waterloo Road, Big Brother Contestant and various other shows), the other two people I do not know, so if anyone knows the names comment below and I'll add them.
I like the warmth, suggests summer's coming soon, still waiting for it though. I like the boat idea, and the various locations, it seems there was quite a high budget for this, unfortunately they didn't spend it on trying to get promotion, various appearances on shows could've helped, or getting it played on radio and music channels. Granted I saw it once or twice on a couple of music channels, but that was rare.
Overall an amazing song that should've charted, this group needs a strong fan base, and also needs to be back on top, they can do it! The music video is everything I want and more, I cannot knock it at all, and I can't help but watch it again and again. The one thing missing is Heart Hands, since this is a song about love. However they definitely can't look back on this and feel embarrassed by heart hands!
Misha B, real name Misha Bryan, is another X Factor star (that's two in a row for my New Release and even from the same year, the eighth series). Last week was Amelia Lily's "Party Over". So can Misha B get a better charting position than number 40? Well we'll have to wait and see.
Misha B came 4th, in front was Little Mix (1st) who have done amazingly, Marcus Collins (2nd) who has done well but needs to be in the public eye again and Amelia Lily (3rd), who has been hitting the UK charts well. I think there's a real competition between Amelia Lily and Misha B. Both their albums are out soon, their singles have had similar charting positions here and there, let's hope we don't lose any of them, as theere is space for both of them. The finalists who finished behind Misha B were: Janet Devlin (5th) whose just starting up and getting exposure, Craig
Colton (6th) also just starting, Kitty Brucknell (7th) who is touring,
Frankie Cocozza (8th) who released an EP, Johnny Robinson (9th) released
a Christmas single as well as doing a lot of presenting, The Risk
(10th) released a single "Missiles", 2Shoes (Joint 14th) is signed and
have a song and music video for "Turn Me On (Turn Me Out)" out there but
nothing more. This seems to be one of the most active years, and I'm interested in the future of these finalists.
"Here's To Everything (Ohh La La)" was written by Misha B and Talay Riley, who is a singer himself, and is most known for singing "Make You Mine". He also has a bunch of collaborating writing credits including Chipmunk's "Oopsy Daisy" and Jessie J's "Who's Laughing Now", so surely this song should be a hit, right? Wrong. It's catchy, but needs more radio airplay, I haven't heard it at all, and it only becomes catchy after hearing it a few times over. However I do see it charting this Sunday, but I'm expecting another low charting similar to Amelia Lily's most recent single.
The music video follows the music in the way that it fails to capture me in, and there's nothing to make me want to watch it again. On the other hand I would rather watch it over other videos I have seen, the fact they've linked it in with the song lyrics as well gives the video a bit more credit.
The dancers and the choreography is a nice touch, although I did worry at the start that it wouldn't be quick enough, and that it might lose all timing. But they proved me wrong and kept to the beat of the music. The one thing missing is Misha B dancing in perfect timing with them, that would have made the video much more engaging.
The solo bits of Misha B is presented well making her centre of attention. She clearly enjoys dancing, and the few bits makes me believe she should've been given the choreography. The only other thing is that I think her music videos are all becoming similar, especially "Home Run", I hope a totally different one appears, "Do You Think Of Me" was a nice break.
Overall a song that grows on you the more you hear it, and a music video that contains elements of intriguing aspects, but fails at keeping you entertained and needs Misha B dancing with the dancers. It links in with the song, though, so it's not all bad.
