Galantis - Peanut Butter Jelly



Their follow up to "Runaway (U & I)", which can also be heard at the start of the video, is this amazing smash of a song, with a music video that has got everyone talking, who doesn't want peanut butter jelly now? Galantis is impacting the charts well, and with videos like this, sexy, fun, full of cultural diversity and full of variety, they are appealing to everyone; I'm expecting many more hits.

Galantis consist of Christian Karlsson (Bloodshy) and Linus Eklöw. The former has won multiple awards including an Ivor Novello for Britney Spears' "Toxic", he is also one half of Bloodshy & Avant and part of Miike Snow. The latter is most commonly known as Style of Eye, and has remixed a lot of well known tracks. In this collaboration, they have come together and are charting globally. Written by Phillip Hurtt, the song samples Bettye Swan's "Kiss My Love Goodbye".

This is the sort of supermarket I want to walk into, Galantis please take me here, I want to strut around dancing to your track in the middle of the aisles! The awesome video is directed by Dano Cerny.

The video starts off normally, the typical people you see around a supermarket, yet it advances to something so much more when the beat kicks in. Strangers clothes are whipped off by an invisible source and they're dancing in tight bodysuits. It's like an infectious wave and as the music continues and the dancing becomes more sexualised, more and more people transform into confident dancers.

What more can I say really? It's nothing normal, it's got everyone talking, got everyone praying this would happen in real life and cheer grocery customers up, yet it seems totally random, Although the song is sexualised, the video follows suit. Great catchy song, and a very surprising interpretation into a video, that none of us saw coming. The video features Jillian Sipkins, who is the girl on the roller skates.
Buy on iTunes

Shawn Mendes - Stitches



Saw this for the first time today on the music channels, I hadn't even heard this song before today and yet I just had to review this video. Just an invisible ex beating him up, a ghosty ex, or him beating himself up where the relationship went wrong? Either way Shawn Mendes shines through wishing I was the one healing Shawn Mendes.

Shawn Mendes first came to light on Vine, singing covers of songs. He soon became popular and got a record deal. He released an EP, and an album that has done well, and this song is his biggest hit. Most recently he has released a collaboration with Camila Cabello, one fifth of Fifth Harmony, called "I Know What You Did Last Summer". This guy, with this voice, will definitely be in the music charts for some time. Personally he looks a little like Nick Robinson, definitely a dead ringer for him.

Music video was directed by Jay Martin, it's simple. That is the only word to describe it.

Shawn Mendes sings the song in an abandoned car park, and gets beaten up by some unseen person. Figuratively speaking he could be beating himself up after a relationship gone bad, or a ghost has come to get their revenge. Either way it works easily, and definitely stands out; shockingly so.

I do have a slight problem, there is no wall behind him when he gets hit and flies through the air. At first I thought he fell through the car park floor, but I was definitely mistaken by that. So, other than invisible ex's, we also get walls appearing from thin air. The bathroom scene is a little dodgy, where did the bathroom come from? Yet he could've walked to the bathroom, who knows what the car park is attached to, some offices or corporation maybe? They would definitely have bathrooms.

Overall, great music video that definitely stands out on the music channels. An amazing song to go with it too. Dropped one star because of bad continuity edits, there was no wall behind him, just saying.
Buy on iTunes

New Release: Nathan Sykes - Over And Over Again



Nathan Sykes has done something no one else has ever done! First time watching this and tears roll down my cheeks. This video has officially made me cry. A real Romeo and Juliet feel to this video combined with The Notebook, a truly amazing storyline full of love, devotion and such a sweet ending with an emotional song to boot.

Nathan Sykes is one fifth of boy band, The Wanted, who are currently on hiatus. Therefore Nathan Sykes is making a career for himself as a solo artist. His debut single "Kiss Me Quick" hit number 14 on the UK chart, however this follow up single has been played on the radio more often and has got a lot of people talking, and now with a video like this, it's bound to get heaps more attention. The song sounds more like John Legend than Nathan Sykes, but kudos to him for creating an emotional ballad that's bound to be a hit.

Directed by Frank Borin, the narrative side of the video is amazing, I love the old woman, painting scenes in which we get to see, like they're her memories. Going back into the past and watching their dates and how they met. A few errors bring questions up such as the film they see which was released in 2015, along with the smart phone he uses to get her number... Was that on purpose? Suggesting the old woman's memory isn't as accurate?

The young woman is played by MaeMae Renfrow, and they build an amazing on screen relationship, one you can't help but wish you had. As for the performance side of things, Nathan Sykes plays the piano well, and sings well, however there isn't much performance that can happen when one is sat behind a piano. Some people can pull it off such as Avril Lavigne in "Let It Go". Nathan Sykes, take notes.

But who cares about his performance behind the piano? When we have him taking his shirt off in a raunchy scene? This music video has everything I want and more for a song that is full with passion. Beautiful song, perfect video, and teardrops rolling down my cheeks. Nathan Sykes and Frank Borin, what have you done to me and everybody else?
Buy on iTunes

Martin Solveig & GTA - Intoxicated



Right... well... What the hell do I say about this? Martin Solveig continues he's weird and colourful music videos with this out there, confusing and a little pathetic excuse to call a music video, like what is this? Clearly intoxication.

Martin Solveig, real name Martin Picandet, has been trying to globally attack the charts for a while, he is well known for his song with Dragonette "Hello", which only reached number 13 in the UK, however this one has beaten that chart number, peaking at number five. Written by Martin Solveig, Julio Mejia and Matthew Toth, "Intoxicated" is ultimately catchy, perfect for the clubs, and definitely something special. GTA, which is an acronym for Goons Take America, is the collaboration of the latter two songwriters. They are quickly becoming known in the EDM world and have featured on a number of hit songs, I'm expecting more to come.

Weird colourful and bright, Martin Solveig doesn't disappoint in his usual and unsurprising video.

Full of block colours, some ice cream, a bath, some dance off in a boxing arena, and weird badminton, is there anything that isn't weird in this video, but is it intoxicating? Nope.

Martin Solveig is competing against Ed Sheeran for worst looking artist in the music industry, like seriously, why would you dress yourself like that and have hair and a moustache like that? You need some style Martin Solveig and maybe you'll get that number one you so clearly deserve!

Overall a typical video from Martin Solveig, which fails to insight me or make me even watch it again, however amazing song that is definitely my tune in the clubs!
Buy on iTunes

Troye Sivan - FOOLS



Troye Sivan continues his Blue Neighbourhood series with the second instalment to the three part music video, narrative and telling, Troye Sivan melts everyone's hearts connecting straights and gays everywhere, there isn't one person who doesn't at least sympathise but the majority can definitely feel empathy for this as many have been in such a situation. He is one artist leading the way for the LGBT community, and quickly becoming someone people look up to within the gay world. The third video has also been released but for the purposes of my blog I shall review it next week. "Wild" was the first video.

Troye Sivan, real name Troye Sivan Mellet, is getting ready to release his debut album called "Blue Neighbourhood". He's 20 years old and of YouTube fame. He is definitely one of my favourite gay singers, and I like how he is easily an inspiration to others. "FOOLS" is written by Troye Sivan, Alex Hope and Pip Norman, it describes how he's feeling about falling for a certain guy, we've all been there, calling ourselves a fool for falling for that guy, it happens to everyone in either a minute way or an extreme way. Troye Sivan turns us all into empathising with him.

The video continues on from "Wild", and I love that the first few scenes contrast. Both acts happen in the same room, one is an act of love and pleasure, whereas the other is an act of violence. Directed by Tim Mattia, the series of music videos easily pull at the heart strings.

Homophobia is a big topic, and kudos for Troye Sivan in tackling it. A lot of people can relate easily, especially me as my dad openly admits he's homophobic, yet no where near as severe as the drunken dad in this video.

As the story continues I can empathise with both main characters, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. The ending is truly sad, although you cannot blame the guy because of his dad and the way he is. Yet the guy isn't being true to himself and locking that closet behind him and swallowing the key. The ending definitely reminds me of Steve Grand's "All-American Boy".

Overall a perfect narrative and great performance scene. Troye Sivan tackles a difficult subject that is rarely talked about. I cannot wait to watch the third instalment, which is totally teased at the end, and if it's anything like this one and "Wild", it's going to be amazing!
Buy on iTunes