Sam Callahan has done it again, he has released one banger of a song I can't stop playing over and over again. 'What is it you do to me?' High energy, amazing vocals, and the perfect path for him to go down. A past Artist Of The Month, is setting clubs alive with this song, and I'd definitely be requesting it in any club I'm in, and will definitely be playing it at any predrinks and house parties I host. 'I don't know what you do to me'. Sam Callahan is back stronger than ever, sexy upbeat tempo track that compliments his vocals, and a club style music video that accompanies the song effortlessly.
Sam Callahan is another one of The X Factor alumni, but that wasn't where I first came across him. He was promoted before The X Factor and appeared in both Attitude Magazine and Gay Times Magazine, it's where I spotted him over three years ago. He released "Runaway Train" and "Crazy" before entering for the competition. He got to the live shows, with his callafan army behind him. It gave him more exposure and many more fans. After a wayward dip in the rock world, he has turned his sights on dance/house music and this definitely suits him much more. After the release of "Bigger Things", I wondered what was next, and here is my new favourite song from him. I Love It When You was written by Sam Callahan, Warren Meyers, Jenna Donnelly and Matthew Meyers.
Directed by Harvey Lewis, I instantly prefer it over "Bigger Things". A mainly performance piece with a hidden narrative, Sam Callahan finally has perfect stage presence and portrays this song amazingly, he's heart is definitely into this one, and he's loving every minute of it.
Set in Talk Nightclub in Southend, the video has the same feel of the song, with edited scenes that are repeated at times, allowing for an upbeat video. It features Tiffany Theatre College and Vapour Creations (the latter provided the smoke table which holds the drinks in Sam Callahan's booth).
The narrative never quite forms, it works to an extent, but this girl is jumping from one guy to the next, which isn't exactly a rarity in clubs. The first guy she's talking to at the bar is presumable later found in the men's toilets with another girl. Then she comes across Sam Callahan, and after a few exchanges they head back to his booth, where he says something stupid and she pushes him away. Whatever you said Sam Callahan, never say it again!
There's a few people with scary masks on, suggesting alcohol is going to the clubbers heads. Allowing a distorted version of events which totally relates to the song
More clubbing enfolds, including a crowd surf, a champagne soaking (who wouldn't like to get Sam Callahan wet?) and plenty of dancing; with a cheeky UV kiss on his cheek, right at the end.
Overall, an amazingly catchy song that has been stuck in my head since it was released on SoundCloud. The music video finally got released, along with the pre-order of the radio edit. The video relates, it's energetic, has perfect performance vibes from Sam Callahan, and attempts at a narrative that leaves us wanting more. Sam Callahan has found his sound, he just needs promotion and success. I Love It When You is a banger, and it's going to be one of those uncharted treasures that should've been popular.
Becky Hill is back with another smash hit that is no doubt going to be big sometime soon... She's also back with a video that has got us all confused once again; very weird. It does have meaning though, bare with me, there's a total back story to this that can make sense and is open to interpretation, but definitely works and relates to the song. MK and Becky Hill have created a perfect hit that instantly gets stuck in my head, the music video is just as memorable, in it's weird but wonderful ways, nothing new when it comes to Becky Hill music videos.
MK, real name Marc Kinchen, is an american DJ and music producer. He's remix of Storm Queen's "Look Right Through" hit number one in the UK. He has done extensive remixes, which is unsurprising since he has been in the music industry for decades. He had a few hits in the 90's, especially in the clubs. "Always" which features Alana was remixed by Route 94 and re-entered the UK chart at number 14. In doing so, it has kickstarted his career once again. Becky Hill is the new starter, the girl from The Voice UK season one, the girl who's already had a number one and who has been on everyone's lips for a few years. She's been the one to watch in the last half-decade, she's been hyped beyond degree, we've been patient for her album to drop, but she's only released two solo singles, with a third right around the corner. She deserves a lot more success than she's been getting, but I feel she's still trying to find her sound, she found it once with "Gecko (Overdrive)" and definitely this song. She is going down the right path, although I am in love with "Losing". Hope to hear more amazing tracks from this girl. This song was written by Marc Kinchen, Rebecca Hill, Tim Powell and Mary Leay.
Directed by Carlos López Estrada, this video is beyond weird, and yet all makes sense if you look deeper. A pure narrative that contrasts the past with the present and how much has changed.
There's two main cars, two main time zones. The first one is set in the past, the girl is wearing a respectable skirt. There's burgers on the side, the entire car and upholstery is old fashioned and there's car dice, who doesn't love car dice?
The second zone features a more modern scene. The couples clothes are more stylish and the car is much more advanced. There's also a CD walkman, which suggests it's still a past time but much more closer to the present day.
The cars bump into each other, and the white girl kisses the black man, proving that interracial relationships aren't a bad thing, and is definitely not uncommon. It's defining perception, although they could've gone one better and made the girls kiss each other, but I guess they can only tackle one thing at a time rather than taking on every perception.
My favourite part of the video has to be seeing the couples kissing in the cars while there's a full profile shot of the skaters, it's well thought out and technically great. Although a few glitches, such as when the black couple fly out of the car, the girl's red top is back on and then it disappears in the next shot. There's a few little inconsistencies, which drops the greatness of this video.
Overall, a well planned out music video that has a much deeper thought behind it all. It's fun, it's sexy, it's imaginative, if a more than a little weird. Weird is what we've come to expect off Becky Hill though.
For a third time overall and a second time consecutively, there is not a song in the top 10 UK singles chart which I can write a music video review for.
The collaboration we have all been waiting for, and it's even better than we expected. Surprisingly their voices mash perfectly giving us amazing harmonies from two powerful singers, but does the music video match up to the epic sound of the song? Eli Lieb and Steve Grand can't look away from the camera giving us piercing stares as they tell us that this is the end.
Eli Lieb is currently working on his second album. He has released a number of singles and a debut album. He has been on my radar since I first came across Steve Grand, however his music never appealed to me, although I am encouraged to support him because he is an out gay singer, and there isn't enough of them in the world. On the other hand, I don't have a keen interest in his music apart from this song because of the collaboration. His music just isn't to my taste, although he might make me like his songs if he releases more like "Lightning In A Bottle". He hasn't achieved world wide popularity, but with a voice like his, he has the chance. The only thing is, he seems emotionless in his music videos, especially in this one, where Steve Grand puts his all into the visual. Steve Grand, Steve Grand, Steve Grand. He became popular because of his country song "All-American Boy", he then had a successful Kickstarter campaign, and now he is apparently working on a second album. I am obsessed with Steve Grand, and if he ever does a gig in the UK, I'll definitely be there! This song was written by Eli Lieb and Steve Grand. Perfect harmonies, amazing emotional words and two soulful voices.
The music video is a pure performance piece, it really puts the stars on the spotlight, every little thing is seen.
Steve Grand is a much better actor than Eli Lieb, as I have previously mentioned. The song is full of emotion, but Eli Lieb looks like a newly painted white brick wall, not a crack not a smudge, just two piercing eyes as he sings to the camera, it's like he has closed his emotions off totally, although his voice tells us different.
Steve Grand is the total opposite, he puts so much emotion into his visual that we can tell he means every single word he is singing, he really can't look away and he is trying to face the truth. Steve Grand seems much more real whereas Eli Lieb is closed off.
The video includes black and white snapshots, this is where a narrative could've been planned, but it never happened, instead we're seeing a series of shots that look like they have potential for a story line, but it just doesn't work. This could easily have been memories of what they had, and certain scenes does show that, but as a collective, it's more of behind-the-scene shots.
Overall, a great emotional song, with only half the emotion purely thanks to Steve Grand. Eli Lieb needs to learn how to get across what he is singing, or it's never going to work, this is probably the main reason why I'm not a fan of his songs. There should've been a narrative, it would've worked really well as snapshots, and even though in some scenes Steve Grand and Eli Lieb look longingly at each other, it just doesn't have the feel of a narrative. This could've been so much better than it is. The performance piece is the main piece, with perfect lighting, it anticipates the narrative, there should be more but there isn't.
Previously released as an instant grat single for their album, this song was an obvious choice for their next single. Little Mix are churning out hit after hit, although I'm still not so keen on "Secret Love Song". This one has already became a ratings hit on YouTube and these girls are just going from strength to strength. In a "Wings" style music video, Little Mix have a sleepover as they attempt to get Leigh-Anne's guy, Sean Paul, out of her mind and her hair.
Little Mix are still the only group to with The X Factor here in the UK. They consist of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall. They are one of the biggest girl bands out at the moment, especially in the UK. Fifth Harmony is pretty much their only rivals (until the return of The Saturdays, I hope it's not much of a wait), and they're both on the same record label. This song features guest vocals from Sean Paul, real name Sean Paul Henriques. He helped The Saturdays score their first number one with "What About Us", but this song isn't doing as well for Little Mix, although a top ten is within reach. He has only ever had number ones as a feature, the other being his hit with Blu Cantrell "Breathe". This song was written by Edvard Forre Erfjord, Henrik Michelsen, Iain James, Anita Blay and Camille Purcell.
The video was directed by Director X, and is inspired by the bonus original video that was released to fans who pre-ordered the album. Both videos are slumber party based.
The video starts off with Leigh-Anne Pinnock looking through Instagram, where she discovers that Sean Paul has a new girl. So she calls her girls and they come over to help her get him out of her head, well hair.
The girls clearly had the best time ever doing this music video, what with pizza and cocktails what more do they want? I feel that this is a normal day in the Little Mix house. (Also YouTube commenter Aimee Johnson joked that Fifth Harmony built this house for Little Mix, because of the music video "Work From Home").
I feel Sean Paul adds a little something special to the song and the music video, even though he isn't really needed and his verse is difficult to hear and understand, it allows Leigh-Anne to be the central character for a change and the girls now have a direct link as to why they're trying to get someone out of their hair.
Overall, one of the best slumber party music videos I have seen. Little Mix are happy and acting themselves. Sean Paul appears on Leigh-Anne's phone, making this all seem real, they are definitely relaxed. I don't understand how they get through five pizzas in total though. Relatable, energetic, meaningful, emotional. This is a perfect music video, even if it is a little embarrassing.
