Britney Spears and The Smurfs in a music video together... Am I seeing this right, or is it one of my dreams? Nope definitely not a dream, my life is now complete.
Britney Spears, well-known across the world, hasn't had a UK number one since 2004 with "Everytime", unless you count her collaboration with will.i.am on "Scream & Shout". As well as that she has never had a UK number one album, shocking I know, but she will get there one day, we all should keep faith. Her next album is on it's way, and how healthy she looks in this video, and after a year of being a judge on The X Factor US, it's bound to be a great album!
"Ooh La La" was written by Lukasz Gottwald, Joshua Coleman, Lola Blanc, Fransisca Hall, Bonnie McKee, Henry Walter and Jacob Kasher Hindlin. Some well known songwriters right there, so it explains why it is so catchy. It was supposed to be sung by Lola Blanc, but a deal was made to give it to Britney. I have listened to it way too often and I can't stop. It's simple lyrics, it's clubby motives and the beat is all so drawing. This should be a hit, yet it's slowly climbing up the charts, hopefully it will hit the Top 40 this Sunday, but at the moment it looks unlikely.
The song is on The Smurfs 2 soundtrack, and since I'm seeing The Smurfs 2 on Thursday, I definitely expect this song to be played. As expected The Smurfs are in the music video. However I'm a little disappointed that we haven't got any songs from The Smurfs on the soundtrack. The first movie had them singing a few songs, and I expect the Smurf theme to be sung, but no sign of it on the soundtrack. I thought this would be like an Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack, guess that may never happen, I was really looking forward to Smurfette's 'I Kissed A Smurf' cover of "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry.
The music video is mainly performance piece, with interspersed clips of The Smurfs 2. I like everything it's so good and so cute, what with Britney Spears' children and niece being in the music video, they are called Sean Preston Federline, Jayden James Federline and Maddie Aldridge respectively. They go to the cinema to see The Smurfs 2, and Gargamel zaps Britney into the film.
The opening scene with the Cinema is a homage to Janet Jackson's music video for "Nasty". Here Britney goes again with her homages!
The scenes with the boys and Maddie in the background are great to watch, and they perform so well, it makes it believable, and they did a great job.
Britney looks healthy in the entire video, she's dancing and having Smufette (voiced by Katy Perry) on her hand. She's having a great time, and it's good to see her well again. It may be due to having her boys with her, but since the song is for them anyway you can't help but smile. The world has Britney back once and for all.
The Smurfs perform a dance to her song, I keep watching it, and I'm hoping to learn the dance moves. I'm also expecting a lot of DJ's remixing this song for clubs, it has that hook in the middle that will suit clubbing perfectly.
Overall, a great song which should be a global success, yet it hasn't managed to do that well, could the reason be digital downloads? Since when CD Singles were released children could go and buy the single and help it chart, but now it's all digital downloads, the song attracts many younger audiences who probably can't buy the single without bugging their parents to death. The accompanying music video is amazingly cute. I don't know how Britney gets out of the Smurf world (she may be stuck there forever!) This has excited me for her new album, and I can't wait to see what the future brings to Britney.
Mandia Nantsios, 16 year old singing sensation, that although hasn't quite hit the charts anywhere, she has gained an amazing fan base and a lot of people look up to her. Her second single "One Last Time" was a hit in my world, and on my blog especially since it is in the top 10 most viewed blog posts of all-time on my blog! She became my Artist of the Month for March, and she is definitely one to watch. She has been strumming up popularity on Twitter, by following people who would be interested in her music, that's how I came across her and many other fans have been found that way too. Her first single "Never Again" isn't quite so popular, but it definitely shows her voice off... But is this new song as good as her previous singles?
"Smile" is a very catchy song and will be stuck in my head all day. It reminds me a lot of her previous single "One Last Time", it is very similar, and is a great direction for this girl to take. Her voice is phenomenal and I can't help but sit back and relax while such a beautiful voice reaches my ears. If Mandia Nantsios never charts there would be no justice in the world, and the world will have to live with such a huge loss. But she will make it one day, she's driven and that is all you need.
This music video relates to the song a lot, but it also is similar to "One Last Time". It may not be filled as big, obviously the budget couldn't have been stretched out as much as it did last time, nonetheless you can't help but like it and it definitely leaves my face with a smile.
The school presence continues, but they're graduating, and Mandia Nantsios has a new crush, who always makes her smile. They're getting ready for their graduation photos and they get to dress up and have fun, that's clearly the world Mandia Nantsios lives in, don't we all wish we could live in the world of fun?
There's a lot of performance in this, and she's extremely expressive, which is such a great thing, I hope she eventually gets a tour here in the UK, as I shall be in the crowd at one of her gigs! However the presentation of it in the video didn't work, I didn't enjoy the black and white graduation photo book, it just seemed too static, and it needed more substance.
Although, the ending is great to watch as the stern teacher relaxes and just lets rip and has fun too, and even the photographer gets involved too.
Overall a song that is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of today. And a music video that doesn't live up to her previous music videos, but it is great to watch and always makes me smile.
Diana Vickers came fourth on The X Factor, a show that is probably dominating my blog since it started, and I reckon it won't stop being present since the artists are very popular and seem to do well in the charts. Diana Vickers came fourth in the fifth series of the show. She has had a break from music, but is now back with this amazingly catchy song, and an album to follow later on in the year. But where are her competitors from that series? Alexandra Burke (winner) working on her third studio album and has a U.S. record deal; JLS (second) due to break-up and go their separate ways; Eoghan Quigg (third) released a single called "28,000 Friends" and an album back in 2009 but nothing new since; Ruth Lorenzo (fifth) just released "The Night" and is gearing up for her first album release; Rachel Hylton (sixth) getting ready for her first release; Daniel Evans (seventh) released an album that failed to chart and no more new news from him; Laura White (eighth) released a single and now working under the stage name Martha. The others are either disbanded, haven't released anything or are planning to release soon.
"Cinderella" was written by Diana Vickers, Miranda Cooper, Simen Eriksrud and Simone Larson. The song is about being in love and wanting to be with that person no matter what is going on around you and not caring about anything else. The song is catchy and it is something I can't stop listening to, however radio play hasn't really picked it up and although it definitely will be charting this Sunday, it might not be as high as I hope it will be. It deserves a top 20 position but I think it'll be lucky to chart in the top 40 to be honest. More people need to download this now!
The music video works with the whole song, the fact that it is Cinderella-ish, works entirely, although I wouldn't think Cinderella wears what Diana Vickers is wearing, even a modern day version wouldn't be wearing what she is.
I like how they run together away from the ball and the party, to go and have fun and to be together. They clearly wasn't having such a great time there anyway. One of the lyrics in the song just fits this perfectly which is 'If Cinderella was here tonight, she wouldn’t walk out the door leaving you behind'.
The ending is good with the pool and the guards finding her shoe on the stairs. It's a nice little spin of a twist.
Overall a song I fully love and hope will chart high this Sunday as it definitely deserves it, however I doubt that it will, due to not enough radio play. The music video fits wholly with the song and I can't think of a single bad bit to this video. The teasing, the fun, and the sneaking away is just exactly what I wanted and more. So here's my rating.
Basshunter, real name Jonas Altberg, is still awaiting a release of a new album which will be called 'Calling Time', so far three UK singles have been released from the album "Northern Lights", "Dream On The Dancefloor" & "Crash & Burn", and one Swedish single from the album called "Fest I Hela Huset" which is apparently also on the new album. Basshunter has had a few changes recently, from being the most successful act on the Hard2beat / Dance Nation record label, to not charting with on All Around The World Records with "Northern Light" & "Dream On The Dancefloor", he has now released "Crash & Burn" under Rush Hour records, is this a new record deal? I'm not sure. All I hope is that Basshunter releases a song and promotes it so it will get him to become the worldwide star we all used to know him as.
"Every Morning" was written by Basshunter. It's catchy and definitely was a good first single off his second UK album 'Bass Generation', giving us an insight into his new album which wasn't quite as popular as the first album. I think this is one of his better singles, having good emotion in his voice when he sings the song, and I can't help but sing-a-long too.
The music video continues the Jonas Altberg & Aylar Lie relationship. This video is definitely my favourite of them all, as it is funny as you watch it and then at the end the cliff-hanger is scarily amazing, so much so I'm sure I was upset the first time I saw it, it was that shocking to me.
So let's start off with a RECAP! "Now You're Gone" gave us Aylar Lie and Lucas Thorheim breaking up by text yet they both go clubbing with their respected friends and end up in the same club and get back together. "All I Ever Wanted" shows them on holiday in Spain, they have fun and go clubbing, but Lucas finds a 'mate's cousin', is it the end for them? "Angel In The Night" broke Aylar & Lucas up via text again, and Aylar finds Jonas Altberg (Basshunter) and after impressing her with his street racing and singing, they kiss... "I Miss You / Jingle Bells" brings Christmas in Norway, there's snow, presents and a dip in the hot tub, as well as Jonas having to fend off a guy from coming on to Aylar. "Walk On Water" breaks the story as we're shown the touring life of Basshunter (I've made it link, but it is the smallest link ever).
Jonas, in this video, wants to make the next move and propose to Aylar. She obviously makes him so happy, and the bedroom bit at the start is extremely sexy, what with her getting ready for the big day ahead. It looks like they are enjoying being together.
This music video was filmed in Majorca. After leaving the hotel, Aylar and Jonas part ways, Aylar doesn't understand why, but I guess it is to get the engagement ring. She goes onto a boat to party.
Later on Jonas catches up with her on a jet ski. And as he gets prepared to propose he is wrestled down by his mates. Later on they are at a beach and he is prepared to propose, when once again he is thwarted by his mates.
Aylar and her friends go swimming, only her friends return saying that Aylar is lost at sea. Such a dramatic ending, definitely the biggest cliff hanger from all of Basshunter's music videos, yet I'm catching up to his most recent single, and the story hasn't progressed that much.
Overall a song that gets stuck in my head over and over again, and a music video that kept me entertained and left me hanging on the edge until "I Promise You" got released two months later. This is definitely my favourite video from Basshunter, and I hope he manages to top it with the future videos, I also hope Aylar returns to continue the storyline.
Before I even start this, I have to say I'm sorry for not reviewing this video earlier, however I have just found out it has been released, although it's been on YouTube for a month now and there isn't that many hits to be honest. I am quite annoyed with the team behind this girl, it feels like they knew she was going to win and therefore decided to do a winning music video, similar to The X Factor UK's winner's single music video. It just is pretty out of place, and they've left fans waiting... Is this another winner who will disappear from the UK and Europe, only to release in her own country, Denmark?
Emmelie de Forest became the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, therefore bringing next year's contest to Denmark. She was the bookies favourite to win, and that is exactly what she did. This single and an album was released before the contest. Afterwards her album managed to hit the UK charts at 148, meaning she made a big impact, but will her second single "Hunter & Prey" get a worldwide release? And if so will she still maintain her fans, or will people just not realise it's been released, and therefore making her another winner who fails to keep in the limelight, guess time will tell.
"Only Teardrops" was written by Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen and Thomas Stengaard. The song is extremely catchy, I have to admit that, but I feel that the performance at Eurovision was a little bit over the top, so much so that it looked like it had already won, on the other hand, that is exactly what happened and so I guess it worked for them. I just feel the whole team behind Emmelie de Forest were cocky and arrogant, and I'm sure that they weren't, but not posting a music video until afterwards puts this in the arrogant category. So it would've been interesting what this video would've been like if it hadn't have won.
Denmark came 1st easily. Emmelie de Forest gained 281 points. France gave 12 points, Lithuania gave 2 points, Moldova gave 6 points, Finland gave 7 points, Spain gave 8 points, Belgium gave 10 points, Estonia gave 8 points, Belarus gave 1 point, Malta gave 6 points, Russia gave 4 points, Germany gave 10 points, Armenia gave 4 points, the Netherlands gave 10 points, Romania gave 6 points, the UK gave 12 points, Sweden gave 10 points, Hungary also gave 10 points, Iceland gave 12 points, Azerbaijan gave 5 points, Greece gave 7 points, the Ukraine gave 5 points, Italy gave 12 points, Norway gave 7 points, Georgia also gave 7 points, Ireland gave 12 points, Austria gave 5 points, Slovenia gave 12 points, Croatia gave 10 points, Montenegro also gave 10 points, Cyprus gave 7 points, Serbia gave 12 points, Latvia gave 6 points, Macedonia gave 12 points, Bulgaria gave 2 points, Israel gave 8 points, Albania gave 1 point and Switzerland gave 3 points. San Marino were the only country not to give any points to Denmark.
This music video is similar to The X Factor UK's winner's single music video, with highlights of her win from Eurovision. This fails to interest me. I have watched this video once, and I shall not be watching it a second time. There's just nothing concrete that makes this amazing.
The song leeks so much potential for a video, I could imagine a perfect video in my head right now, as the song contains a lot of imagery. And when it started I had to admit that I thought a theatrical music video displaying most of the imagery in the song would be shown to us, yet we are left with Emmelie de Forest performing her song in a forest and lying down in the grass.
This is imagery to an extent but not at all what I expected. And then we had clips in black and white (I really don't like black & white all that much, so bad move on their part) showing her time at Eurovision, as well as winning. But it all makes it look like a fan video, something someone had pieced together to celebrate her winning. Failing to connect with the song and make something amazing.
The song has a lot of potential, and managed to get to number 15 on the UK chart. The accompanying music video could have been perfection at it's greatest, however it's a memoir music video, failing to capture me and keep me entertained. I hope her new single "Hunter & Prey" has a much better video, or she will go from a worldwide star to a Denmark star.
