The final big announcement for Birmingham Pride 2016 was Blonde! This duo has been setting the chart alight in recent years and they are releasing banger after banger. They will be the perfect act on the main stage as they are definitely not short of hit singles. Blonde and Alex Newell collaborate on this awesome track which relinquishes a woman's past love, she's all cried out and is over it now.
Blonde are a house production duo consisting of Jacob Manson and Adam Englefield. They hit worldwide success with "I Loved You" which features Melissa Steel. Continuing on with that success, they have recently released a song with Craig David, "Nothing Like This", which is firing up the UK singles chart. This duo is the one to watch, they're current, they're releasing hit after hit, and I'm sure a number one is going to be their next step. Alex Newell features on this track, he is going much further than we all first thought he would when he appeared on The Glee Project, and later Glee. He has pushed for a music career and boy has he got one, he is making waves on both sides of the Atlantic, more so in the UK. Alex Newell is the name we're all watching out for, a vocal superstar, he is a talent that will reach new heights soon enough. This song hit number four on the UK charts and was written by Lucas Secon, Cass Lowe, Jacob Manson, Adam Englefield, D. McLean and Rachel Keen.
Directed by Can Evgin, and features Louise Monot as the actress in this fully narrative music video.
The story develops as the song continues. It fully relates to the lyrics, as we watch her pack a bag, that contains a photo and a gun. Louise gets alcohol from a store before going to a garage and holding a mechanic hostage whilst stealing a gas cylinder.
The whole experience doesn't make sense especially since the getaway could be easily spotted by any police car. They arrive at a dock to which they get on board a speed boat, and just as I think the storyline has nothing to do with the song, they send the bag on it's floating merry way and shoot at it from a far distance.
This is where the budget was not blown. They spent so much money on everything that leads up to this monumental point, that they clearly didn't have enough to afford a special effects team or an amazing animation team to make the explosion look real. Instead we are left with an obvious fake blast that fails in every aspect. Very unexciting ending, with an incredible anticipated lead-up.
Overall, a perfect narrative video that epically fails at the end, and yet it's still believable regardless. The ending may look unrealistic, yet it answers all our questions and relates it right back to the song.
Stooshe was the last but one artist to be announced for Birmingham Pride 2016 on 8th April, this will be their fourth year performing at Birmingham Pride. They released their most recent single in January called "Lock Down", which failed to chart. They have a new album in the works, which they will no doubt promote at Birmingham Pride. This song was the follow up to "Love Me". Stooshe focuses on the love relationship of one of their band members, Alexandra Buggs, in this video, who is being cheated on, all during a performance set.
Stooshe are a three piece pop group consisting of Alexandra Buggs, Karis Anderson and Courtney Rumbold. They recently had disagreements with their label over their debut album, which is not surprising since they haven't had an exact chart hit; no number ones and this one from 2012 is their biggest hit to date. Hopefully under their new label they'll be able to release the songs they want to release. Thing is with this group is, style wise, they look like three female solo singers collaborating on a track. They need to tighten their style, they need to look like a girl band to consistently get hit after hit. This song charted at number three, and was written by Jo Perry, Shaznay Lewis, Iyiola Babalola and Darren Lewis.
Directed by Matt Stawski, the video is inspired by old-skool girl band music videos, with the 60's style and a simple performance piece.
The narrative coincides with the 60's performance making Alexandra Buggs centre stage as we see her love life unfold right before our eyes and during the entire performance set.
It works well, it relates, and I love how the Alexandra Buggs' bandmates know that her love is a bad one, but she doesn't believe, she is lost in her love for him, until it is revealed right in front of her.
This reminds me of Destiny's Child "Girl", it's a similar music video in a totally different setting.
Overall, great video that relates to an extent, but the song can be interpreted as something much more stronger than the visual of the video shows. I like the idea behind the video, though, and it really proves that Stooshe's ballads are just as strong as their pop tracks.
This is one of those rare songs you find on a compilation album, and love at first listen. This happened in my case, and now it's on my phone and gets played now and again as I walk to work. Kelli Leigh has been confirmed for Birmingham Pride 2016, hence why I chose this song, which I really hope she sings, although it's doubtful considering she is the vocalist for many more popular songs. Flashrider flashes up in scenes in this video, but is rarely noticeable as Kelli Leigh and Renald take centre stage in the performance side of the video. The narrative is slow going but interesting.
Flashrider released his first single in 2003, ten years later he followed up with this song, not much is known about him other than him doing some remixes for artists I've never heard of. Kelli Leigh, real name Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davila, has one of the most successful careers as a hidden vocalist. She has provided vocals for Secondcity's "I Wanna Feel", Duke Dumont's "I Got U" and Bingo Players' "Cry (Just A Little)". She has amazing vocals, she just needs the right promotion, and she might be getting there slowly, especially since she'll be on the main stage at Birmingham Pride. Renald is pretty unknown, he has featured on a couple of other tracks, but that is all the info I can find on the guy. He has strong vocals on this track, and I'm surprised he hasn't had a hit single so far. This song was written by Marc Lennard and Judge Flow.
There is a performance piece and a narrative piece to this music video. The narrative is slow going, as I have previously mentioned, it develops slowly and there isn't much going on.
The performance side of things is energetic. Kelli Leigh shines throughout, whether she is in casual clothes, or that beautiful purple dress, she is a vision of beauty. She can move, she can sing, and she looks good, what is she doing hiding amongst the credits of hit songs? Someone get her to centre stage please, because she deserves to be the next big thing. I am hoping she sings this song at Birmingham Pride, although I doubt she will.
Renald doesn't exactly fade into Kelli Leigh's shadow. He is the main vocalist on this track, with great rapping lyrics and a good lead-up to the chorus. His performance is fiery but falls short compared to Kelli Leigh. As for Flashrider, he appears very little and fails to make an impact in any of the short scenes he appears.
The narration links in with the song, it's a clear concept of love at first sight, but they could've had more desirable actors, Nevertheless, they make a cute couple, and it's interesting to watch how they meet. The ending falls flat, it's on the stupid side, and they don't pull it off that well.
Overall, a very catchy song that gets better with every listen, and an accompanying music video that relates, is energetic and is vibrant. The narrative could've expanded the story much more, it's way too basic. The performance is solid though.
This has to be one of the most underrated tracks of all time. It should've been a chart hit, to say the least. Great vocals, amazing track, and incredibly catchy. This girl would've been one to watch, if she could get the promotion she clearly deserves. She has a real shot, and performing on Birmingham Pride 2016's main stage might be the shot she needs. KStewart shows her life in this visual display video; quirky and fun, this girl would be an awesome friend.
KStewart, real name Kate Stewart, first shot to fame last year when she featured on Oliver Helden's "Last All Night (Koala)". Since then she has released a few singles, this one being her highest charting single to date at number 86. Totally the most underrated song I've ever heard, and I'm sure she has more to come. This should've been a hit, but without the right amount of promotion and without radio picking it up, stars like KStewart haven't got a chance. KStewart's career has just started, this is just a little thing she needs to overcome. A few more features, which become hits, and a perfect solo song will have KStewart's name on everyone's lips. She definitely has the voice for it.
Directed by Debbie Scanlan and edited by Liz Adams, this video is full of extremely visual clips and a performance piece at the end which is snapshot scenes at the Nightingale in Birmingham as well as a snapshot scene of the Hippodrome. The stage scene includes drag queen, Anna Lies, who is one of the best drag queens I've seen in Birmingham.
The videos concept is basic, probably low budget with an amazing filter and editing effects that bring KStewart into the limelight.
The video is too simple, on the other hand. It feels more like a promotional video, rather than an actual music video. There's no relation to the song whatsoever, and as a whole it feels completely messy.
Overall, stylish, cool and relaxed, this video is an insight into KStewart, she clearly likes her music, her fashion and performing on stage. She's obviously LGBT+ pro, performing at the Nightingale, as well as including, drag queen, Anna Lies in the music video. She just needs a better music video, a hit song, and radio and music channel play. As well as featuring on a few next big thing tracks.
