The guys at work have been talking about this song, singing this song and suggesting I should review it. So here I am and here it is. I have never really like The 1975, although I do agree their songs can be catchy, but I'd never go out of my way to listen to their songs or watch their videos. Glitzy, pop-ish and an attempt to be sexy, The 1975 gives us a video we really want to forget.
The 1975 are a four piece band consisting of Matthew Healy, Ross MacDonald, Adam Hann and George Daniel. They have had mild success in the UK and various other countries, "Chocolate" being their highest charting single. They're the talk of many people and if you have never heard of them, then you must not live in the UK, as they are pretty well known. Their debut album went straight in at number one, and they're hoping their follow-up does the exact same. This is their first single off the new album, a mock of pop music and how they don't like how people can become famous now. Tricks and bending what used to be, all caught up in an 80's feel. Effortlessly catchy even if you don't like the band.
The video follows suit perfectly, giving us the 80's feel, as well as mocking celebrities and their own fans as well as technology such as the selfie stick, a lot of thought clearly went into the video which is directed by Diane Martel.
However it fails to amaze, things are the way they are because it's the 21st century. Guys and girls can be sexy, and Matthew Healy may be mocking that, yet he still pulls it off. The selfie sticks aren't that shocking, and people make such better photos and videos from them. We are not stuck in the old age for a reason.
Drunk and wild, Matthew Healy drinks in front of cardboard cut-outs of well known stars, some from the past, some from the present. As well as including a hot tub, and a guitar on strings. Not something I want to watch again. Mocking can be all good when done properly and light heartedly, yet it seems like they're trying to get a message out at the same time. A messy video at best. At worst, scenes compiled together of a general day in The 1975's life.
Inna has a new video, so obviously it will appear on here. Currently the richest Eastern European artist in the world, Inna continues to release music based on her fans, and this is why I like Inna, rather than sticking to one language she has delve into languages from all over the world in her lyrics, exciting her club rockers. Yalla, delves into Arabic, and the video follows suit, set in Marrakesh, Morocco, Inna looks sexy, sultry and playful, Inna as we've always known her as.
Inna, real name Elena Apostoleanu, continues to release singles from her self titled forth album. Officially this serves as her third single, following "Diggy Down" and "Bop Bop". Written by Marcel Botezan, Sebastian Barac and Nadir Tamuz Augustin, this is a song many artists would be jealous of yet Inna pulls it off to perfection, infusing two languages into one song is difficult enough, but to do it and appeal to people around the world and connecting people is truly a difficult thing to do, especially through music.
The video, directed by John Perez, follows suit and sticks to an Arabian theme. Inna is quite the tease in the video, and her male lead can't keep his eyes off her, clearly, and we can't blame him. Yassir Lamrani Selmane plays the love interest. This is the first Inna male actor we've found the name of, thank you Yassir Lamrani Selmane for contacting me and letting me know that you are the male actor in this video.
Inna is dancing. This excites me, she rarely danced, we saw a little in "10 Minutes" but it has been something of a rarity in her videos apart from the recent collaboration with Alexandra Stan and Daddy Yankee in "We Wanna", where she proved that she can dance, totally in sync and pull off choreography perfectly. In this video she does the exact same thing, we need more dancing from Inna.
Teasing and sexy, Inna appeals to her Arabian club rockers, and hopefully she has gained more fans in that part of the world. A catchy song that I can't help but sing a long to, as well as a perfect video that is helping her turn into more of a worldwide star, soon enough all she'll have to hit is the Western World, she's done it before, she can surely do it again.
Missy Elliott is BACK! She has just proved how amazing she is. It's been 15 years since she last released a studio album, She has proven that there's still a spot for her in the music industry with where this song has already placed in the iTunes charts. She will be getting international chart numbers soon, and cementing herself back into the rap genre, but she's never truly left.
Missy Elliott, real name Melissa Elliott, has been working on production work since her last album, a much needed break. Yet this comeback is stylish, perfect and on point, I'm like wow, you go girl! Pharrell Williams is a nice addition to the song, although his appearance doesn't impress me in the slightest.
Directed by Dave Meyers with a surprising come back video, something definitely to get people talking... But lets start off with the marionette puppets, Pharrell Williams clearly was not available for the day and yet they have made it work so good, it has totally got people talking about the music video and not only that it is done so well that you can tell a lot of effort and time has gone into the marionette puppets alone to get them just right, and it works. However, stars that were able to make the video included Les Twins and Sharaya J.
Choreography in the video is also on point, can't have it any other way, and Missy Elliott take centre stage, I just can't believe she's 44 and moving like that, she looks classy, edgy and full of sass, which is exactly what we like to see.
I love this video, although I'm ashamed at them having to resort to marionette puppets because Pharrell Williams wasn't in the video. However, stylish, out there, and definitely a video to remember, with a catchy song to boot. Missy Elliott is finally back, and hitting those chart numbers all over again, I am expecting a number one on the cards soon.
After reviewing "Tom's Diner" how could I not review her biggest hit? Especially since it's rare for me to write reviews of old music videos, usually opting for songs that are in the charts now. A music video that subtly relates to the song, filled with simple emotion and understanding.
Suzanne Vega never really did well in the UK, apart from the DNA remix of "Tom's Diner". Otherwise she charted badly considering the year her songs were charting. Nowadays it's an achievement to get those chart numbers. Her biggest hit in the UK was a re-release of her debut single "Marlene on the Wall". She is still releasing music as of today, and her latest album even charted in the UK's top 40. "Luka" was written by Suzanne Vega and is about a boy that used to live across the street from her who always was just different compared to the other children who were playing. In the song the child is abused by a family member, in real life, she believes, Luka was just a normal average kid, only acted differently.
Directed by Michael Patterson and Candice Reckinge, who opted for a blue and white toned video which fails to intensify the video whatsoever.
The actor who plays Luka in the music video is Jason Cerbone. The scenes involve him shutting doors, walking up stairs and being out on the street.
Like I said before, the song speaks for itself, Suzanne Vega's narrative lyrics come across so well, we don't even need a video to interpret the song, however they have done a good job and subtly included the child abuse. The song is so catchy it's stuck in my head, and I am not shocked it charted so well in other countries.
As we all patiently await Giorgio Moroder's music video to his updated version of this song, that features vocals from Britney Spears, I thought I might take a look back at the old music video. Giorgio Moroder's version has been stuck in my head for the past few days, "Tom's Diner" has been released as a single on iTunes, and a lyric video has been uploaded onto YouTube, but whether there will be an actual music video is something we're going to have to wait for.
Originally sung and released by Suzanne Vega who did an a capella version, it was later remixed by DNA in 1990. Rather than take DNA to court for copyright infringement, since DNA used the track without permission, her record label decided to release it as a collaborative effort. Suzanne Vega's version didn't get a music video as it wasn't released as an official single, she had a hit previously with "Luka". DNA did consist of Neal Slateford and Nick Batt, they remixed quite a few songs, however this song became their biggest hit. Just falling short of the number one spot in the UK. Written by Suzanne Vega, it is about grabbing a coffee in Tom's Diner, it's narrative lyrics are full of visual imagery. The DNA remix also contained writers Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye.
The music video is very typical of 90's music videos, it's definitely old school.
Certain images link in with the song, but only a few, the rest are totally random. It looks totally low budget even for a 90's music video.
The choreography is tight, and great to watch, it just proves how dancing changes in all the years. However the two dancers nail the moves consistently and in time with one another.
There's not much else I can comment on. Not something I'd go out of my way to watch again, and it fails to promote the song. I have also included Suzanne Vega's original a capella video version below, along with the amazing version by Giorgio Moroder and Britney Spears. We definitely need a music video from the latter!
