Gwen Stefani is back and what a way to make an entrance, back into the music industry and charts across the globe by making the first ever music video to be created on live television. It was performed and recorded during The Grammy's, There have been many live music videos done before, and many done during one take. Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" instantly comes to mind, and this video from Gwen Stefani feels similar. The music video is good none-the-less but doesn't really relate to the song. Gwen Stefani shoots a live music video for her new song, yet was it really worth all the hassle, especially if it doesn't relate to the song?
Gwen Stefani is the front woman of band No Doubt, who are back on hiatus. They had a string of hits, but they are mostly known for their song "Don't Speak". Gwen Stefani has had a successful solo career so far, and even reformed with the band a while ago and released singles "Settle Down" and "Looking Hot" for their most recent album Push And Shove. As a solo act, she has done well in the UK, many of her songs have hit the top 10, and "Sweet Escape" came a close number two. She needs a number one single, much like Avril Lavigne does, but whether either of them will get to the top of the UK singles chart, now that's a question we can't possibly know the answer to. This song isn't one of Gwen Stefani's best, and definitely won't get her a UK number one, although it is a little bit catchy. The song was written by Gwen Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson and Robin Fredriksson.
This music video was shown on live TV on 15th February 2016, and then later appeared on Vevo and YouTube the day after. It was directed by Sophie Muller.
I love the start, this is the old quirky Gwen Stefani we all know and love, it's very reminiscent of her early songs and music videos when she was just kick starting her solo music career.
The video continues as she walks, runs and dances her way through different sets. It's kind of scary because if anything goes wrong, then that is it, it'll be on live TV for everyone to remember. This is then intensified when she's on roller skates, and just as we think about how embarrassing it would be if she fell over, she does. Luckily it's not actually Gwen Stefani. It's a stunt-double who fake falls. Gwen Stefani did not really fall over, this is a fact.
A lot of thought definitely went into this music video, and yet it feels unrealistic, and a little bit on the cheap side, especially when Taylor Swift's music video for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is something much much clever and actually relates to the song. This feels like they just strewn scenes together, without any thought towards the song. However Gwen Stefani has perfect performance attitude in the whole of this. She is someone who would be good on a stage, that much is undeniable.
I think I might end up starting a YouTube recommendations day, as today I have looked at YouTube's suggestions for music videos I should watch and on my first click I find this, which is an amazing song, a should-be hit, with a great music video to boot. Transviolet doesn't let a dark day destroy their mood, rather than letting the storm cloud rain over her, Sarah McTaggart controls the clouds, keeping them on a tight leash, whilst the other band members walk out of the water and through a portal, they are the new bohemia.
Transviolet are a four-piece band from America, they are the supporting act for Twenty One Pilots on their UK tour, starting in just two days time. The band consists of Sarah McTaggart, Judah McCarthy, Michael Panek and Jon Garcia. They have just released an EP and are promising an album later on in the year, they are promoting themselves at the moment, and they are doing a fine job of that, appearing on TV shows and releasing interviews. This is no ordinary female-fronted band; this is a band we all need to be watching out for, because amazing vocals attached to amazing songs is exactly what this band is giving, it won't be long until they get a global hit.
This video is quirky and unusual, no matter how many times I watch it, I'm not going to quite make sense of it. Directed by Ryan Andrews, the video is different and confusing; well to me it is.
Sarah McTaggart gets pulled into the water, by her band mates; as we can only suspect, as they are the ones to come out of the water as she attempts to surface, and they go through a fridge which opens a door to the same place but they're facing towards the camera and not away, and then they go and find Sarah McTaggart and follow her as she rips herself into multicolours, to which Judah McCarthy, Michael Panek and Jon Garcia also do. They look up to the stars and their eyes change. They become the new bohemia, I believe, but it doesn't make this video more understandable.
It is a performance based music video, which Transviolet pull off perfectly. This is a band who has a vibe on stage that will capture you in minutes. I'm actually jealous of the people who are going to see these perform as the support act for Twenty One Pilots.
Overall a great song that I plan to download later tonight, and a quirky music video, that leaves me with many questions, and leaves my head in quite a confused muddle. However, it's artistic, clever and slightly relatable. I wish Transviolet the best of luck for the future, not that I think they actually need it. I predict a hit from this band soon.
This song is at number one hence why I am reviewing it today, catchy and euphoric. It mixes different genres together, and even though this is a hit, and this group has done well in their home country of Denmark, I feel that their other songs will be similar, too similar and so may not chart as well as this one has. This is a similar case with Hozier, who's song "Take Me To Church" got to number one but he's other singles failed to make as much of an impact. Even though Lukas Graham is one to watch, I don't see the band making a constant global success. I just don't. Lukas Graham are showing us the beginnings of song writing, explaining and just plain singing, the video is a bit tongue-in-cheek and it works to a degree.
It's so hard to think of this group as a band, especially with a name as their band name. Anyhow, Lukas Graham consists of four members, these are Lukas Graham Forchhammer, Mark Falgren, Magnus Larsson and Kasper Daugaard. The band have been getting number ones in Denmark since 2012, and have been a total success over there. They caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records who co-signed them. This is the reason why they have become an international sensation with this song. However it begs to question whether they will have hit after hit much like in their own country. Lukas Graham Forchhammer is an amazing vocalist, possibly Denmark's answer to Adele, but whether the success will continue is the question on everybody's lips. The song reminds me of Hozier's "Take Me To Church", but whether they will follow Hozier's downfall is something we'll be keeping an eye on. The song was written by Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Ristorp and Morten Pilegaard.
The music video was directed by René Sascha Johannsen. It is in black and white, which is an instant turn off for me, unless a certain reason is established in the first few scenes, which there isn't apart from making the scene with the trees lined up look detailed and magical, which it does yet I'm sure it would've also looked just as great in colour.
It is mainly performance based, with Lukas Graham Forchhammer singing his song. I love how his story is practically told, through both the lyrics of the song and the music video, it's like he goes back in time and becomes his seven and 11 year old self in which he visits the scenes where he smoke herbs and is drinking liquor according to his lyrics, is that what happens in Denmark? Although it's probably unsurprising as you could probably find that happening anywhere in the world.
The song continues with the story of his life and his future life and so does the music video. It includes a guy much older than him, who has a slight resemblance, so we presume it's his dad, but more of an on-screen dad as his father passed away a few years ago aged 61, as the song tells us.
There's explosions, fire and a performance on stage where they have their tops off, which isn't appealing all that much, but the band has the confidence to do just that, which is exactly what we need in the world, everyone isn't perfect, slim supermodels.
Overall, a great song full of emotion; it's unsurprisingly catchy, no wonder it's at the top of the UK charts, however they will need to follow-up with an amazing song and album to keep their international success, although it seems doubtful. The music video is in painstaking black and white, although it can be considered because of his dad dying and the lyrics about his dad, although it still doesn't make complete sense. The performance seems okay, although emotions aren't displayed as well, and it doesn't encourage me to see them live. The slight narrative is all right, I got totally confused when there was two people lip syncing to the song, it just messed with my head as there is only one singer, hence why I found it slightly tongue-in-cheek. Then it ends and I feel sad, and I have no idea why. I think Lukas Graham has hypnotised us all, now it depends how long for and when we wake up, will we still like their music?
Today I planned on reviewing Viola Beach, as they have sadly passed away today in Sweden in a fatal car accident. However, a quick look on YouTube tells me that they never released a music video, so I can't review any of their music videos as they don't have any. Today, I'm having a Kiesza day, I've only just discovered her newish song "Give It To The Moment", which doesn't have a music video as of yet, although it is an amazing song. So I've chosen this one from Finding Neverland The Album, and wow she has proved herself with those perfect vocals. Unfortunately, the music video isn't up to scratch. Kiesza performs in some weird dance sequences as she puts her full emotions into singing this highly catchy power ballad of a song, no one could've sung this better, it was made for Kiesza!
Kiesza, real name Kiesa Ellestad, is a Canadian singer who has hit global success with her UK number one smash "Hideaway". Her follow-up singles failed to make such an impact and her chart positions dropped. She has recently gone off the radar. She has been writing a lot and featuring in a few songs here and there, and with "Give It To The Moment" appearing out of nowhere, I'm hoping she's getting ready to make a chart impact soon once again, with her vocal talents, I'm surprised DJs aren't snapping her up here, there and everywhere, or maybe she's too focused on her next album to feature on something big... It's a wait and see sort of game, but she has an amazing talent and she is worthy of global stardom. This song is from Finding Neverland The Album. It's a Gary Barlow found musical which first debuted in Lancaster, but has found it's place in Broadway, and next year it will be in the West End. With songs like this one, I am definitely eager to see it, hopefully in London, but if not I'll definitely go and see it when it gets a UK tour, which is inevitable because of the amazing reviews it has had so far.
This music video is extremely simple, and obviously low-budget. It was directed by Mario Hugo.
With not a lot going on, I haven't got much to comment on. The background and editing techniques used are clever, the use of vines and lines that are both behind her and in front of her isn't anything new, and yet it makes the audience focus on Kiesza alone.
Kiesza's dancing is definitely freestyle, unless this was actually choreographed which looks unlikely. This reminds me a lot of my own freestyle which I do when no ones watching, a few regular dance sequences she repeats which is exactly what happens in a bit of freestyle. It's raw and imaginative, and yet it isn't as powerful as a choreographed sequence might have been. Freestyle is freestyle, it's a bit of a let loose kind of freedom, it's difficult to pull off perfectly as it's what you can come up with on the spot. Kiesza does a good job nonetheless though.
Overall, an amazing song, that is one of many amazing songs that was created by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy that is on Finding Neverland The Album, which I'm currently listening to in full, and it is brilliant! I'm so glad I've bought it. However I wish the music videos of the songs was part of the musical or at least relate to it in some way. This is an okay performance piece but it doesn't do anything that interests me into watching it again, other than listening to Kiesza's amazing vocals on this track.
While we await for The Saturdays to come off their hiatus, we have the lovely Vanessa White soloing, creating her own small waves in the music industry, and what a way to start! Soulful, energetic, emotional and sexy, Vanessa White exudes confidence in this fun little song and music video that has got us all screaming for more.
Vanessa White is one fifth of girl group The Saturdays, who have established themselves as one of the most successful girl groups in the UK. At the moment they are on a break so they can all follow their own lives, with various members doing their own things, although it has been reported that they have new music to be released this year. Vanessa White is the first to go solo since the group's hiatus, and it looks like Mollie King will be following in her footsteps soon, although Una Healy released a solo EP before the band got together. Vanessa White is gearing up to release her EP next week, and this song is one of my favourites released so far. The song is so catchy and I can imagine the thoughts behind the single.
Directed by Kristian Young, the video is mostly performance based with a subtle narrative that works well with the song.
Vanessa White is looking sexy and adorably confident in this music video. She shows how great she would be live on stage, and with that gifted voice, she is an artist that you'd definitely want to see in person.
Just as I get comfortable to the music video, and reckon there isn't much more to it, whilst the guy is sitting down on the chair as she explains to him that she don't wanna be his lover, she's just looking for a friend and a bit of a fun time, the video surprises me with amazing contemporary dancing that is magical.
The dancing reminds me of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself", it's perfect and performed to an exact point. Vanessa White proves herself here, that even though she is in one of the hottest girl groups from the UK, she is just as good all by herself. This guy is that little bit too tall for her, but the choreography has taken this into account and the dancing is just perfect. I just wish there was more of it, and I was there in person to watch this chemistry fuelled sequences performed. Vanessa White, and whoever the mystery guy is (if anyone knows his name please comment below), pulls this off amazingly. I hope to see more of Vanessa White dancing in her future music videos.
Overall Vanessa White surprises us all with an amazing song and a brilliant music video to go with it. It may be simple with very little going on, but this just proves that less is more, and it certainly is. I can't fault this video, and I can't stop watching this again and again. Great job Vanessa White, and I cannot wait for what the future will bring! I just wish this would have charted as this deserves a great charting position, at the very least.
