This is one of my all-time favourite songs, it's vocally authentic, and just beautiful to listen to. Boyce Avenue replied to my tweet yesterday, the tweet in question can be found below. Boyce Avenue perform at the remains of a wedding, Alejandro Manzano emotional vocal announces he is waiting for his girl, he's on her way to finding her, but she hasn't come into his life yet.
Boyce Avenue are a three piece band consisting of Alejandro Manzano, Fabian Manzano and Daniel Manzano. The drummer seen in the video is Jason Burrows. The band are well known on YouTube as a cover band, they release videos of them singing other people's songs in amazing acoustic versions. They totally flip the song on it's head and fill it with so much emotion that half the time I don't recognise the song. They then release their cover versions on iTunes, which I inevitably buy. I am in love with this band and their songs, and I hope they continue, as I definitely want to see them live. This song was written and composed by Alejandro Manzano. Full with emotion, I swear it made me cry the first time I heard it. Everyone can relate in one way or another, it's just stunning.
This was directed by Mark Staubach. A pure performance piece that makes me want to see Boyce Avenue at a gig, an intimate gig would be even better. They are one of those treasures that people come across, that will never be popular and get a number one record because they aren't promoted enough, however they would certainly start getting chart hits as they build up their fan base and release more songs.
I love the setting, it's like they've set up a wedding to which the bride didn't turn up for and the guests have all left. Alejandro Manzano sings about this girl, who he's on his way to see, he describes life as everyone eventually comes across the person they are meant to be with, even though they've missed so much of that person's life already they don't want to miss any more. This is love and this is what he is singing and performing about, and this is what we are all seeking if we haven't found it already.
The ending where he picks up the ring and announce he is on his way, is adorable. The fact he already has the ring suggests a family heirloom or something of the sort. Such a powerful ending, and a song we all want to sing to our future lovers, because we are all on our way to them.
Britney Spears tweeted about this song, as her sister co-wrote it, Jamie Lynn Spears. The tweet in question can be found below. Twitter seems to be suggesting my country music choices for this blog, as only a few days ago Cassadee Pope tweeted about Lauren Alaina's "Next Boyfriend". Jana Kramer looks beautiful and stunning in this video about a boy she used to date who recently got married, she sings the song whilst going through a memory box.
Jana Kramer first came to my attention by being on the Footloose (2011 Film) Soundrack. She sang a cover version of Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear It For The Boy". however, others will probably know her for her acting roles. I don't remember her being in 90210, but she was there for six episodes. Others will definitely know her as Alex Dupre / Alex Whitehead in One Tree Hill. She is currently focusing on her music career, which is definitely the right direction for her, if the charting positions she is getting in the US is anything to go by. But will she make it over here? Country songs rarely appear on the UK singles chart, however country albums do get a look in every now and again. With an incredible voice like Jana Kramer has, I'm sure she'll make it. The song was written by Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols and Jamie Lynn Spears. Although not written by Jana Kramer, herself, she connects deeply with the song as she has been trying to write a song about her high school sweetheart but never quite getting the lyrics right, then this song appears and it's exactly what she's been trying to write. Perfect and beautiful, this track is a brilliant country song that is vocally amazing in every way.
This music video was directed by Kristin Barlowe, and has an alternate ending, which can be found below. The alternate ending extends the narrative, however it adds nothing to the video, and I probably would've dropped a star for the alternate ending video, as it can seem confusing to many. Whereas this one people totally understand and connect with.
Jana Kramer shows off her acting skills, getting into the role missing a past relationship. The lyrics are sang with so much passion that you would expect the music video not to follow through, and yet the video resembles exactly how the singer is feeling in the song. It's just beautiful.
I love the memory box idea, although what would've made this video that extra special would've been flashbacks to the memories she is picking up. However, this performance based video is so full of emotion already. Some of the memories, in question, manages to link to the song at times.
Overall Jana Kramer is beautiful and manages to effortlessly put so much emotion into this song and it's music video. The styling is on point, and so is the outfits. If you don't want to see her live after this performance based video, then there is something wrong with you, as she is putting everything she has into this video, how a tear didn't escape, I do not know, but that would've definitely cheapen the video. I like how she locks the box at the end; the box will always there, in the back of her mind, but locked away. In the alternate ending she takes the box outside and leaves it by a grave, I believe. I prefer the original ending rather than the alternate ending. What do you guys think?
Zara Larsson is the person who sung with MNEK on that song called "Never Forget You". She is a big hit in Sweden, and to no surprise, I have become a fan of her music, thanks to this song, which is so catchy. She released this in June 2015, in Sweden, but the song got released this week on iTunes here in the UK, as well as other music download sites such as Amazon, HMV and 7digital, regardless to what iTunes release date suggests. Zara Larsson does her thing in front of a green screen, allowing the viewers to see her personality and relaxing performance.
Zara Larsson is only 18, and has already had number one singles around the world, we officially have a new star! Perfect voice with a perfect style and image, this girl is going to go far. Sweden is really pulling out the stops, winning Eurovision with worthy songs, hitting charts globally with their singers, they are seriously a country we have got to keep our eyes on, because they are making stars. Lush Life was written by Emanuel Fredrik Abrahamsson, Christoph Bauss, Iman Hullén, Markus Reza Sepehrmanesh, Linnea Anna Soedal and Fridolin Walcher. It has charted globally, hitting number one in Sweden, as well as the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Finland, Slovakia, Australia and the Czech Republic. This is a massive hit, and I hope will climb the UK charts, because it deserves to, but the music channels won't promote it that much as this video isn't as great as the song. Fingers crossed this climbs, but I doubt it will. I will be buying the song myself after I've posted this review.
Directed by Måns Nyman, the video fails to keep us engaged, there's no choreography and there is a lot of visual, yet not as creative as it could have been.
The reason why this video doesn't fall flat, totally, is because of Zara Larsson. She really does love this song, and it really shows. She performs to us, to the best of her ability, because she knows that this is all they've got for the video. She dances as if there were choreography made for her, enough to look like she made it up, but she pulls it off effortlessly, and it totally works, you go girl!
I hate the visuals behind her at times, as well as the black and white colourisation. We do not need it, it just ruins the music video, although, at times, it is paired with the song lyrics.
The most engaging part is the start, when she pulls her necklace off and flings it behind her. It signifies the end of a relationship, she's finally over it, and she now has a new crush. A potential start to a narrative that never comes.
Overall, it's a perfect song, definitely a worldwide hit, it just needs more radio play here in the UK, it worked for Shawn Mendes with "Stitches". As for the video, this is where Shawn Mendes' "Stitches" does well as the music channels are loving the video, this one isn't one people would go out of their way to watch over and over again. This doesn't quite fall flat, but the low-budget has totally made this awful, and the money spent wasn't well-spent at all, in my opinion, although Zara Larsson does her best to shine throughout.
Liberty X is my revisit this week, as I reviewed their worst single "X", which wasn't as bad as the charting position makes it out to be. This one is the polar opposite, as this song hit number one in the UK. It also was used in a commercial for MoneySuperMarket.com. Liberty X look sexy in their number one song's music video, as they beat every obstacle in their way to steal a diamond.
Liberty X came runners up on TV show Popstars. They consist of Michelle Heaton, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Youing. They have recently signed to 365 Artists Management, but whether this means new music on the horizon for Liberty X is something we beg to differ, where it might mean they might return to the music industry, it might not, and it could be just used as a point of contact. I hope this means new music, the British public love a good comeback, but it looks doubtful. This song was written by Michelle Escoffery, and apparently features no vocals from Michelle Heaton.
The music video is iconic to the band, you think of them, you think of this music video, it was everywhere, which is no surprise since this song got to number one.
The performance side is on point, yet again, this group can dance. Given the right choreography, the dancing would look amazing. Yet again, the camera angle annoys me, degrading the dance sequences, this seems to be a common theme in Liberty X music videos so far.
The narrative side is interesting, although it leaves nothing to the imagination. The skills they use doesn't give us any trepidation, no worries whatsoever. This is something that should've been included. They get past every obstacle effortlessly and we are totally calm about it, as if we know that this is no big deal for them.
I love the ending, I love how they find the diamond, decide to keep it safe, and just as they run away one of them trips and that person just happens to have the diamond, which falls out of that person's hand and down a hole, perhaps a drain? Like, what is the chances of that happening? It shocked me to be fair, I did not expect that to happen.
Overall, an all right video, although it could've been done much better, everything looks too effortless. The dancing is on point, as per usual for this group. Will they ever returned? Well they featured on The Big Reunion, but announced that it would be the last time they performed together as a group, but never say never right?
More country music on my blog. This one came from a tweet from Cassadee Pope, the tweet in question can be found below. I wouldn't have come across this video, if it wasn't for Cassadee Pope. As for Lauren Alaina, I've had a love / hate relationship with her songs, some are brilliant, some are not that great, and most of them are meh! However, a few plays of this and it's already a track I like. Lauren Alaina eyes up a guy, claiming that he looks a lot like her next boyfriend, she teases and tempts him into her arms.
Lauren Alaina, real name Lauren Suddeth, first came to my attention when I bought American Heartland compilation album, where her single "Like My Mother Does" appears next to other great American country songs. She rose to fame by coming second in the tenth season of American Idol, losing out to Scotty McCreery. She has had mild success in the US, and little to none here in the UK, which is to be expected since country music isn't that big over here. This song is the first single off her second album and was written by Lauren Alaina, Emily Weisband and Matt McVaney. It is catchy after hearing it a few times, and if this is the direction Lauren Alaina's new album will be going, I'll definitely be listening to her more. She has transformed her style, image and music, bringing something new to country. She is starting a new path that may just work well. I can't wait to hear more new songs from her, if this is anything to go by, she has a good chance of having a hit somewhere in the near future.
Directed by TK McKamy, Lauren Alaina attempts to pull off miss flirtatious and sexy, and as well as miss available, which made me laugh when I first heard it in the lyrics. And she does a good job of it.
The guy in the video is Lauren Alaina's guy Alexander Hopkins, this explains the chemistry between the two. She is clearly a right tease. It reminds me of the scene in Footloose (2011 film) where the dance battle happens in the car park.
My problem with this video is the camera angles. They could've so made Lauren Alaina look more sexy, and it's not even what she is wearing, as she does look hot in the clothes, but there's just something completely missing, maybe she's uncomfortable acting sexy, or it is just the camera angles, because, at times, she looks perfect and sultry, but most of the time it completely falls flat.
A great relatable music video, with skaters on skateboards with fire extinguishers that release different colours as well as an extremely large piece of material that acts like a wave for the skaters, this is a great unique idea, although I'm not happy they've shown a clip where a guy falls off the skateboard in the background, that was a bad error. The video is meh, like many of her songs, but this song is probably my favourite by her so far. Keep fighting Lauren Alaina and you'll get the chart hits you deserve!
