Echo Park, is a new band that came to my attention after James, the bass player, asked if I would review them on my blog, and here we are. They are June's "Artist Of The Month" with a special twist... Usually I'm not normally impressed with these requests, new unsigned bands don't usually have the quality and the connection that most famous bands do... But this band is different, and I'm sure Echo Park will be a name we'll be uttering with excitement. They are a five-piece band consisting of Laurence Brundson, Michael Walden, Jordan Buck, Max Santos and James Gregory. They sound totally original and I can't think of a single band they sound like, they are unique, and so great to listen to. They have aspects of Kids In Glass Houses, Hundred Reasons and Brand New. Keep an eye on these guys, they won't be quite unknown for long.
"Circles" was written by the band, they usually write as a collaborative effort, sounds like song writing comes naturally to them. Echo Park said of the song: "It's about being fatally attracted to someone you can't have and you know will only be bad for you." It's extremely catchy and I have played it too many times, I think I know most of the lyrics. It gets stuck in my head and I can't stop singing along to it. If you like it too, you can get a free download of the song from here: http://echoparkofficial.bandcamp.com/
The music video is a performance piece. I was expecting a typical first music video from a new band, they tend to be music videos where the band performs the song, and there's nothing special about the video, and the band fails to give any energy vibes. But like I said before, this band is different and this video proves that.
They are full of energy and emotion, and I just want to see them live now, knowing that the vibes they send out to their fans are real.
The lighting makes this video much more interesting to watch and definitely points out each of the members of the band. This is such a great introductory music video, one for the fans to recognise and identify the band members so that their future music videos will be just as great to watch.
Overall a great song that I can't help but tell people about, and I hope I am making more fans of this band. The music video relates so well and gives us an introduction to what this band is like. I have no problems with the video, and I can't wait to see what the future brings for these guys... Don't forget to download the song here: http://echoparkofficial.bandcamp.com/ as well as checking out my EXCLUSIVE in "Artist Of The Month".
Avril Lavigne is officially back, and you knew I was going to review this music video. This song is released next week, but will she score her first UK number one single? Well going back to her roots in this video could be exactly what puts her on the top of the chart, and I guess this planned performance on The Voice UK this weekend could go in her favour, unless it goes completely wrong, which it won't. She is getting ready to release her fifth album at the end of the year. And if this single is anything to go by, it could be her best album thus far.
"Here's To Never Growing Up" was written by Avril Lavigne, David Hodges (Evanescence fame), Chad Kroeger (Avril's fiancé as well as lead singer of Nickelback), Jacob Kasher and Martin Johnson (lead singer of Boys Like Girls). Seems like an all-star writing cast, and hence why this song is so catchy, and has hit various charts across the world. But the only number one coming from the Philippines. Could the UK follow suit, and get Avril her first UK single number one, we did it for The Saturdays with "What About Us", it's about time Avril got a single UK number one.
The music video has Avril written all over it. Back to the roots with her song, so the music video does the exact same. What with the "Complicated" skater costume, as well as bringing back her old backing band.
That's right, Evan Taubenfeld and Devin Bronson return on stage with Avril and her current backing band drummer Rodney Howard. No wonder Avril had fun on set, who wouldn't when meeting up with old friends?
There isn't really a narrative, just her having fun with a load of other people, there's a prom and she's performing with her band, as well as wrecking the school, making sure the whole school can hear her sing the lyrics, as well as having fun in a pool. Just a normal day in Avril's world.
Overall a great song that I can't stop listening to, I have my fingers crossed that it hits the charts at number one here in the UK next week, but guess we won't know for sure until next Sunday, you can do it Avril! The music video is typical Avril Lavigne, not growing up, having fun and just letting loose, I have no problems with this video because it's exactly what I expected and more, and relates to the song perfectly. I am not being biased with my rating, this video deserves this!
While I wait for my exclusive Artist of the Month for this month, and it is such a big surprise! I am left with choosing other songs.
I decided on this one since the song got stuck in my head thanks to 90210's season five première here in the UK, where Carly Rae Jepsen performs this song. She is a Canadian artist most known for coming third in Canadian Idol. She has a big fan base all around the world. She has hit the UK a few times especially with the funny music video to number one single "Call Me Maybe". As well as hitting number five here in the UK with Owl City with the song "Good Time". This is one artist we will be hearing more and more of, I assure you.
"This Kiss" was written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Matthew Koma, Kelly Covell and Stefan Kendal Gordy (AKA Redfoo from LMFAO). The song was written all over text messaging, e-mails and phone calling. It's quite a unique way of writing a song, but I presume it gives the song writers the chance to help when they have time. It also shows that you don't need to be together to write together. The song didn't do well here in the UK, only managing number 166, but her more recent singles have done better, so why did this fail? Lack of radio promotion as well as no performances here in the UK. Once again here is another example why promotion is so important. If we don't hear the song how are we to know about it?
The music video has made me realised I really need a night out. It's been a total of a month and a half since I last went clubbing, and I'm missing it like crazy. But I also want to go to the place Carly Rae Jepsen is at in this music video, it looks totally fun.
Once again two aspects of this music video, a quirky narrative and a performance as well. Which always puts music videos up there in my eyes. The performance is energetic, involving, and you can just tell she's loving every minute of performing, and so is her fans.
The narrative is fun and different, with another key love interest, who isn't gay this time. However has she downgraded? What with going after someone up there in "Call Me Maybe" and finding out he was gay, it's no wonder she's having feelings for this guy. However they look like they make a good couple.
I like the different scenes how she's clubbing, how she becomes different people in the costume stages, as well as the ending where they jump into a pool, it's fun, it's different and it's crazy. A perfect moment as some would say.
A great song that didn't do as well as it should've done and an accompanying music video that fits well and I have no problems with, it may not be as funny as "Call Me Maybe" or lust-loving, but all her videos can't be the same. Guess it's going to be hard for her to have a better video than that, one that people will remember.
I spent ages looking for a new release that didn't include Mark Owen. The other options were Taylor Swift Featuring Ed Sheeran with "Everything Has Changed" but I don't think it is having an official single release in the UK, and others I looked for was Bridgit Mendler's "Hurricane" which also hasn't been released. I struggled, and finally came up with this one.
I always thought Tegan and Sara were a new duo, but I have just been surprised to find out that they released their first album in 1999. They are a Canadian duo consisting of twins Tegan Quin and Sara Quin. They have only recently hit the UK, and managed to become known for their song "Closer".
"I Was A Fool" was written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin. It's a very emotional song, and could possibly be about past love interests. The song is one of those that gets stuck on my brain, and no matter how much I try to shake it, I end up singing it or at least tapping along to it in my head. It's currently climbing up the UK iTunes chart, but will it manage to hit the top 100 before Sunday? I haven't heard it much on the radio, and radio play is so important. Maybe they'll only be known for "Closer" here in the UK.
The music video matches the song, there is a performance side and a narrative side. The performance is simple with little to it. I feel the piano is a little on the distracting side, so much so that we don't quite see her emotional face. However I love the back drop and being able to see both the twins in the performance piece.
The narrative side is extremely emotional, clearly her and her partner has split, and she misses her partner. But she's so angry or upset that she won't take Sidney's phone calls. I like the idea of seeing the Quin girl in the narrative, it's almost as if she is a ghost or a guardian angel watching over her.
Overall a great music video, that has no flaws what so ever. The song is highly emotional and the music video reflects that perfectly. So here's my rating.
Farid Mammadov almost brought the competition back to Azerbaijan. He came runner-up in the competition, and I predict Azerbaijan will be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest again in the near future due to it's great performances in the last few years. Farid Mammadov is a new artist and has released three singles so far. This one being the most popular. Azerbaijan holds a national selection so the public can choose who will represent the country, it is called Milli Seçim Turu. And this country has been doing well since they first entered.
"Hold Me" was written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, who has written many Eurovision songs. The song is so engaging and emotional, but then the Turkish version is heard, retitled as "Bana Dönsen", and it has this sad spin on things, and pulls at my heart strings. I feel like they are two separate songs, and I can't choose which one I prefer, naturally I would go for the English version, but this Turkish version has a special feel to it.
Azerbaijan came 2nd, and it was very close at the start. Farid Mammadov got 234 points. 8 from France, 12 from Lithuania, 8 from Moldova, 7 from Spain, 5 from Belgium, 10 from Belarus, 12 from Malta, another 12 from Russia, 4 from Germany, 2 from the Netherlands, 10 from Romania, 12 from Hungary, 7 from Iceland, 12 from Greece, 10 from Ukraine, 12 from Georgia, 2 from Ireland, 12 from Austria, 3 from Slovenia, 7 from Croatia, 12 from Montenegro, 8 from Cyprus, 5 from Serbia, 3 from Latvia, 2 from San Marino, 12 from Bulgaria, another 12 from Israel, 7 from Albania and 6 from Switzerland.
Although Farid Mammadov didn't sing the song in Turkish, there is no English music video, and henceforth, I will have to review this one.
The music video is lacking the staging we had at Eurovision, check the video below, that staging is definitely one of my favourites, and if I were reviewing it, it would definitely get five stars, as for this one...
It's a pure performance piece, but I feel there are too many different scenes that lead to nothing, why do I want to see him performing in all these places, it's not as if he is touring or anything. I just think there's too much variety in the places we see.
On the other hand, he has perfect performance skills, you know how he's feeling, you can tell he just wants to be held, and it's so full emotion, I can't take my eyes off his face, it tells me everything, I don't even care that it's not in English, and it certainly doesn't need to be.
Overall the song, in whatever version, is amazingly emotional, one of those songs you'll sing along to when you're upset, and it gets your sadness out of you. The accompanying video fails to entertain me with the backgrounds, but Farid Mammadov's stage presence is fill of hurt and sorrow that I just want him to be happy again.
