Starting off my #FreeKesha and similar stories special this week, is Kesha, unsurprisingly. She has amassed a tonne of support on social networks around the globe after her injunction has been denied. She is obligated to record six more albums with a guy she claims sexually assaulted her, which Dr. Luke has denied. However, she wasn't looking for justice or punishment, all she asked for is to be released from her contract. We've all seen the photos of her being upset about the verdict, but Kesha is one brave woman, and she will overcome this. Kesha looks like she's having a great time in this music video, being daring and partying hard, it's her only UK solo number one, and I hope she makes a great come back in the next few years.
Ke$ha, real name Kesha Serbert, has got to be strong right now, it's upsetting to see anyone go through what she has gone through. Just looking at her success, three UK number ones, including this song, and many top ten hits. Kesha should be an international star, but with her being caught up in this legal battle, she hasn't been able to release any new music. Surprisingly, this is her biggest chart hit, whereas "TiK ToK" has sold more copies, it only peaked at number four. This song was written by Kesha Serbert, Joshua Coleman, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke), Jacob Kasher Hindlin (Ammo) and Benjamin Levin (Benny Blanco). The song is to inspire people to be themselves, Kesha hoped it would become a gay anthem.
Directed by Hype Williams, the video is self-appreciated and it's free, which is everything Kesha had hoped for after her trial. She gave us gays an anthem we can sing and shout, because We Are Who We Are, yet all we can give back to her is support through social networks and petitions. We're here for you Kesha, and you know it.
The music video plays on the fact that it's a party anthem, so Kesha attends the party, glammed up and sexy, she is ready to party like no one's watching, and that is all about being who you are, if Kesha wants to dance she can because she's free to do so, or was in this music video. She's not free of her contract, unfortunately.
Apparently famous faces appear in this, but none I can find personally and I can't find concrete references for them either.
I have to talk about the jump, this is pretty well known in this video. We all know Kesha is wacky, so maybe keep her away from the Tequila; jumping off a building isn't anything major for her, although obviously this didn't literally happen, and yet they've pulled it off well, making it look real.
Overall a great song that is empowering for the majority of LGBT+ people out there, as for the music video, it's a main performance piece, that has Kesha giving us great vibes and free emotions, it relates to the song and it looks like it'll never get old. However, I think a small narration would've helped this flow slightly better.
I have been waiting and waiting for the next Steve Grand music video and here it is, finally and I am so not disappointed. One of my favourite songs off his debut album and not only has it finally been released as a single, had a music video released too, but it has also been remixed by no other than Dave Audé. I woke up this morning thinking I was still dreaming as an alert came through on my phone announcing my future husband (I wish) has released his new music video, I literally screamed. Can Steve Grand look any more hotter? Gorgeous, sexy and totally fit, Steve Grand looksstunning in this video for his most uplifting song on his album, which has been remixed by Dave Audé who has elevated the track even more.
Steve Grand is my favourite male singer in the world, he is such an inspiration to a lot of LGBT+ people out there. He was formerly a model, the money of which he used to further his career as a singer. He has been knocked down time and time again for his looks, his choices of clothes, as well as his past. But if we were him we would have done the exact same thing, besides who doesn't flaunt themselves in one way or another? He created a kickstarter campaign to record and release his debut album. Which not only smashed his target but became the number one most-funded Kickstarter music project among musicians who have never been affiliated with a label. He had 4,905 backers who pledged a total of $326,593. Quite the achievement. Steve Grand has been working on this album for a number of years, and every single track is worthy of being an actual single. This is the fifth single from the album, and possibly the last one as it is a remix, although I really wish "Soaking Wet" would be released, imagine the music video to that song! That song will forever become a single that never was. This song was written by Steve Grand, along with the rest of his awesome album. This is the one song that shows off his amazing vocals, he totally proves that this is the career for him. I cannot wait to hear new music from him, and I think Dave Audé should remix his entire album, as he has done a great job on this one.
Directed by John Lavin, this music video is beautiful. It's one that I definitely won't be forgetting, it's artistically brilliant. Everything has come together for this music video.
First off I want to talk about Steve Grand's jacket. I first spotted it on one of his Instagram posts, he obviously was recording the music video at the time, and it was love at first sight. This jacket would go with everything I've got, I need it in my life, and yet I know I have no chance of getting it, plus the price range would be so out of my league, so is Steve Grand for that matter, yet the jacket and Steve Grand are welcome to continue to appear in my dreams tauntingly. If anyone sees an affordable red jacket just like he is wearing in this music video, please direct me to a place where I can buy it from.
The narrative is interesting. Following different people in their lives, obviously listening to this song and finding it an inspiration. This is what Steve Grand is. He uses music to inspire LGBT+ people, if I he had been releasing music when I was younger, I would've had the confidence to come out earlier, I would've looked up to him as my inspiration, if he can do it and go through everything he did with it, then coming out of the closet is no big deal. He is not only an inspiration, but a supporter, with no prejudice, he is a fighter, one we can all look up to.
The performance piece is spot on. Steve Grand looks ultra-sexy in that red jacket that I so need in my life. He looks gorgeous as he walks towards the camera in his white tee. He lets loose and he wants to show that we are free. He puts so much effort into his performance, you can tell that this song means the world to him, it's so personal in a non-relationship kind of way. This is my anthem for LGBT+ people, it's the song I use to uplift myself, I used to use the album version of the song, which is amazing, but this dance remix by Dave Audé is even better. I shall be dancing my way into work from now on, nothing will get me down when this amazing song is around. We are the night.
Overall a brilliant song, that is so meaningful and utterly inspiring, everyone needs to hear this! The remix is good in it's own right, it doesn't change Steve Grand's emotions on the track one bit, yet makes it available to be played in clubs and at parties, which is exactly what I've been waiting for, thank you Dave Audé. The music video is fully relatable and it is next to perfection. I love the actors used, who are Tiaday Ball, Jay Jay German III, Jason Greene and Johnny Liner. The only problem could be the dancers, although they are diverse and are all in-sync, I felt the choreography could've been better. It was performed okay too, it wasn't stand out and it wasn't full of emotions for the song, it just didn't relate to the song and more related to the beat, it felt slightly out of place. But that is nitpicking, and I can't drop a star because of it, as this is perfect from start to end. Thank you for this video John Lavin, thank you Steve Grand for the empowering song and thank you Dave Audé for the remix! I needed this in my life, all I need now is that jacket.
As of yesterday, I realised I had screwed myself over as none of the five artists I had reviewed in the past week had a music video older than 2011. Thursdays are always my revisits, where I review a music video that is more than five years old, from one of the artists I have reviewed in the week. Therefore I had to review a music video from an artist who has been in the music industry for some time. Gwen Stefani's new song popped up "Make Me Like You", and I hadn't seen the music video yet, so I chose that one, and hence why she has become my revisit today. Gwen Stefani is stuck in a golden jail, as she tries to tempt the dog to give her the key to let her our, she turns herself into Repunzel and escapes.
Gwen Stefani, if you don't already know, is attempting a comeback in the music industry; top 10 hits used to be easy for her ten years ago, but now it's quite the struggle. She reformed with her band No Doubt in 2012 for one album, before going back on hiatus. Gwen Stefani is attempting to continue her solo career, but it looks like she is struggling, is she a singer we're all done with? Does she belong in the past? Are her new songs not current enough? They definitely aren't hit songs she's been releasing. Gwen Stefani is definitely stuck in the past, and she needs to come across a banging song some time soon, or she won't be furthering her career. This song is her biggest hit in the UK so far, it hit number two in 2007. The song was written by Gwen Stefani, Aliaune Thaim and Giorgio Tuinfort. The middle songwriter is Akon, who features on this single. He has had a string of hits and have dipped in and out of charts across the world in the last few years, he has managed to stay current, he can easily get a hit single if he needs another one.
Directed by Joseph Kahn, whose name keeps popping up again and again. It features Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls, who appeared often in her music videos and stage performances. The Harajuku Girls consist of Maya Chino, Jennifer Kita, Rino Nakasone and Mayuko Kitayama.
A lot is going on in this video, there's reference to not being able to escape from yourself, which is the jail. The penthouse suite is also another jail as she needs to be rescued by the Harajuku Girls. They meet Akon in the car park where they are pursued by two more Harajuku Girls who put her back in the golden prison.
It's a quirky narrative, a typical word used for Gwen Stefani, it's not always easy to understand what is going on and her choice of outfits usually only work for her, and no one else.
She out performs herself again and again, it's obvious she cares about this song and she does a good job of it. Let's all be honest, if we ever saw her live, we know we'll have a show and a half on our hands.
Overall, a great performance from Gwen Stefani, if a little cheesy, but we all love a bit of cheese now and again. The song is catchy, and should've got her an all important number one, especially since her most recent efforts haven't had much of a chance. The narrative of the video is relatable, and yet isn't exactly easy to follow.
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.
