Well I thought Joe and Jake hadn't released a video, but guess I was wrong. I always review the UK entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest for my Eurovision Special so that I am not just choosing my country over other countries. Honestly, this is a grower of a song, but on the night, the nerves clearly got the better of them, failing to capture the audience the way we all expected them to do. Performing in front of '200 million people' (according to Måns Zelmerlöw), clearly got the better of them. As for the music video... Joe and Jake perform You're Not Alone whilst a wall of lights change colour. Jake Shakeshaft is stiff and unrelaxed as Joe Woolford totally out performs the song. This duo look more alone than together.
These two formed a duo after competing in the fourth series of The Voice UK. Joe Woolford was on Team Rita Ora and got to week two of the live shows. As for Jake Shakeshaft, he was on Team will.i.am, where he was eliminated during the knockouts. They paired up and entered Eurovision: You Decide, where they won the UK national final, not that there was much of a choice. They were a clear favourite, but this song is a total grower, not for Eurovision unless you are going to promote it and give a brilliant visual performance, which didn't happen on the night. The song was written by Matt Schwartz, Justin J. Benson and S. Kanes.
The music video is a pure performance piece. They don't work that well as a duo, their on-stage presence is either too much from Joe Woolford or not enough in the case of Jake Shakeshaft. They don't mesh at all, and the ending looks completely awkward.
Joe Woolford is a natural performer, however he totally is trying too hard. He's loving every minute of the music video and everything that goes with being part of Eurovision.
Jake Shakeshaft just looks like he's embarrassed, he's not sure he wants to be here, let alone sing this song for Eurovision. He hides behind his guitar in the opening of the video, and even when he puts the guitar on his back, he's not as involved as he should be.
Overall this is a slight improvement on the Grand Final performance they did last Saturday, but this wouldn't have helped them get a better result. It's an all right effort, but considering what the rest of the world is sending for Eurovision, with great promotion, the UK needs to pull something out of the bag.
With Drake's "One Dance" still at number one in the UK and still without an official music video, the top 10 is available for my Chart Mondays' review. This is currently at number 10 on the UK chart, and with Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling" set to top the charts next Friday, I thought I'd review this music video. What a mistake that was, because this is absolutely brilliant, and might have me writing for days! DJ Snake and Bipolar Sunshine give a brilliant music video for Middle, with actor Josh Hutcherson and actress Kiersey Clemons giving a superhero portrayal of love and hurt, how can you not love this video?
DJ Snake, real name William Grigahcine, has had hit single after hit single. He produced Lady Gaga's album 'Born This Way', which earned him a Grammy nomination. He is definitely the one to watch in music lately and I'm pretty sure we will be seeing a lot more of this global sensation. He also has a sneaky role in this music video. Bipolar Sunshine, real name Adio Marchant, is an upcoming English singer who's name is certainly being used quite often. However maintaining popularity isn't always an easy thing to do. His singles have charted in the UK, nothing of impact, just yet. Surely this song would've helped. The song was written by William Grigahcine, Aaron Kleinstub and Adio Marchant.
A Colin Tilley directed music video, it's no wonder it's so good. As mentioned above, the actor Josh Hutcherson plays the superhero and the actress Kiersey Clemons plays the love interest.
Our main character feels lost and alone, he doesn't quite fit in the world we live in. He stretches his imagination out into his reality, making himself a superhero, who still doesn't fit in.
He comes across a girl who is dressed as a superheroine, suggesting she has the same feelings as he does; not quite fitting in society. They join up and stretch their imagination together; flying through the streets, climbing walls, as well as bedroom entertainment.
The next morning, she's gone. He searches for her, but can't find her. At this point he passes DJ Snake on the street in a surreal scene. He gets to a sidewalk that tells him not to cross, and in a suicide attempt, or maybe just an attempt at flying that goes wrong, he crashes into a taxi. And guess who's in the back, it's Kiersey Clemons with her boyfriend, not dressed up as a superheroine.
Hurt and betrayed, Josh Hutcherson is all alone and in a lot of pain from the crash. Kiersey Clemons returns at the end, helping him to heal.
It's a great story about being lost in the world, but having someone who is lost with you, that's true love, but there's also a perfect betrayal that you don't really expect. Yet, as usual, the guy is ready to take the girl back. Boy has she got some explaining to do.
A brilliant narrative of a music video, that relates perfectly and effortlessly with the song. Two very well-known actors too, with this on rotation on the music channels, it's not surprising this song got in the top 10 of the UK chart.
A typical Eurovision song that definitely should've made the final, but it all went wrong. With only 33 points in the first Semi-Final, Lidia Isac's music video for Falling Stars is my next video to review for my Eurovision 2016 Special. This was a good song with a good performance. However on stage, with Lidia Isac, was an astronaut, which is a definite no-no when it comes to Eurovision. Lidia Isac gives a great performance of Falling Stars in this music video, going with a plain theme and a simple visual.
Lidia Isac has been competing in Moldova's national finals for the past four years, finally succeeding in 2016. Previously she entered either as a solo singer or as a duo in group Glam Girls. This amazing vocalist should definitely have made the final of Eurovision, if it weren't for that astronaut. End of the day, she has stunning vocals, and definitely deserved to win O Melodie Pentru Europa 2016, just a shame she didn't make the Grand Final. With strong vocals, and her desire to work in music, I'm sure this won't be the last we hear of Lidia Isac. Maybe she'll take another shot at representing Moldova, she certainly has the voice to do well in the competition. The song was written by Gabriel Alares, Sebastian Lestapier, Ellen Berg and Leonid Gutkin.
The music video has no substance to it, her strong vocals are complemented by a strong performance that she definitely displayed during the first Semi-Final, however there's no sign of an astronaut in this video.
Slightly more understanding, this video is a pure performance piece that includes falling star confetti, which definitely links in with the song.
No more visuals, Lidia Isac does the best she is given with, much like on the day of the first Semi-Final. There was nothing more she could do in this video or on the Eurovision stage. Hopefully, she'll make a much deserved comeback, because with a voice like that, who needs theatrics?
Have I just watched some Sia promotional video? This certainly isn't anything professionally official, and yet is is classed as the official music video for the Switzerland Entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, which came 18th in the second semi-final with only 28 points. Actually a really nice song, but the performance totally let itself down. Rykka performs side-on during this emotional song that is not portrayed visually at all, but is definitely better performed than her Eurovision performance, although visually it isn't.
Kicking off my Eurovision 2016 Special is Rykka, real name Christina Rieder. She comes from Canada, and originally released acoustic folk music under her real name, She soon developed a taste for pop music and Rykka was born. She is on a new path now and although she failed at Eurovision, it may not be the last time we see her, clearly she's a trier, and triers always come on top, eventually. The song is about standing for love at the end of the world. It was written by Christina Maria Rieder, Mike James, Jeff Dawson and Warne Livesey.
This music video is completely bland. Rykka stands out purely because there is nothing else in the video, just black space.
Rykka is put on a spotlight, but there's nothing to watch because she isn't even looking at the camera, and as for performance vibes, they are aimed the wrong way.
There is just nothing to this, nothing for me to comment on, and I am pretty sure Rykka is a much better performer than she is in this music video. She showcased that during the Semi-Finals, apart from her awkward knee-bending that made no sense whatsoever. However, great song that would've done well if not for the performance of the song.
This is one massive collaborative effort, not only is CAZZETTE joining forces with AronChupa and The High, they also join forces with Hello There Games. This is not the first time an artist has worked with this gaming company, they follow in the footsteps of Avicii, who released 'Avicii | Gravity', however switching it up entirely making a whole dramatic music video which is more like a prologue to the game. CAZZETTE, with the help of AronChupa and The High gives this entertaining music video for She Wants Me Dead, featuring a survival rhythmic game of the same name.
CAZZETTE is a Swedish musical duo consisting of Alexander Björklund and Sebastian Furrer. Friends with Avicii, they have toured and performed with the DJ. Attempting to make an impact with their own music, already slightly known in their home country, their music is ready to hit the world. They just need much more promotion. AronChupa, real name Aron Ekberg, gained prominence in 2014 with his song "I'm An Albatraoz" which topped the Swedish chart as well as peaking at number 25 here in the UK. His follow-up singles didn't fare so well. He is one fifth of band Albatraoz, who are part of Byttorps IF, which is a fourth division professional football club. Music is a side project as they all focus on their football careers. As for the featured artist, The High, I can't find any information whatsoever, apart from The High being a UK vocalist. If anyone knows anything more than that about The High, please let me know below. The song overall is catchy, definitely something I would listen to over and over again. Quite reminiscent of a few songs, especially "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega & DNA.
The video is a fully narrative animation piece that is in almost total black and white. The video has segments of the game shown in certain scenes, allowing the viewers to see actual game footage.
Lula is our main character, she is a cat who is not happy with the way her owner, Max, is treating her. Pushing her off the bed, spilling toothpaste on her face, not letting her eat the goldfish. So Lula hacks a plan to get her own back, she will kill Max. First she kills him when he wakes up, an axe to the head. Then she sends a missile to his apartment.
Lula is an eccentric. She has an extremely vivid imagination that we are clearly invited into. In theory the narrative has a weird ending, because Lula ends up killing Max twice from what we can see, even though she has many different plans.
I am not so keen on the black & white theme, however it goes with the game as the game wouldn't work in full colour. On the other hand it makes the music video and the game cheap and low budget, and although the low budget games are usually the best, this doesn't quite meet expectations.
As for the game itself, it's difficult to play, and gets more challenging in itself. A very unique idea, where the game changes to the beat of the music. Intricate and detailed, it totally works well. Very addicting and slightly aggravating, this will have you screaming with joy to get to a checkpoint, and throwing your phone when you have to start from the beginning again.
Overall a brilliant idea of a collaboration, the first music video prologue to a game I have come across that works amazingly as a promotion for the game, the song, the artists and the game developers. Great idea, great translation, dysfunctional narrative full of illusion with a double confusing ending.
