Another club hit from these girls, Fifth Harmony's second single is more than we expected. Clearly the combination of fans worked on the last single "Work From Home" so they've done it again, featuring a rapper, this time Fetty Wap. This is the second single from their second album, having already hit the UK charts hard with "Work From Home" and the album did well all by itself, it's time for them to storm the UK chart with this amazing summer relaxer of a song, they just need the radio to pick it up! Fifth Harmony are sexily drawing in the guys on a beach, telling them to flex to try and impress, it's not all in our heads, this is happening!
Fifth Harmony are a five-piece girl band, who formed on The X Factor (US). They consist of Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Kordei. They are being pushed as the next big girl group, and making it over here in the UK is their biggest difficulty especially with label mates Little Mix being the biggest British girl group around at the moment in the UK. However, their most recent single "Work From Home" peaked at number two in the UK, and it's still going strong, their previous singles haven't fared so bad either, could they push this single to the very top? Or will they turn into the american version of The Saturdays, not quite getting to the top until much later on in their career, and will they stick together long enough? Their most recent album proves that the girls like different genres within the group, separating their vocals and yet combining the genres to make the album. This song has Dinah Jane Hansen and Normani Kordei leading the chorus. It was written by Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen, Benjamin Levin, Willie Maxwell, Daystar Peterson, Nolan Lambroza, Julia Michaels, Simon Wilcox, Brian Garcia, Ewart Brown, Clifton Dillon, Richard Foulks, Herbert Harris, Leroy Romans, Lowell Dunbar, Brian Thompson and Handel Tucker. The song samples DJ Mad Cobra's "Flex", which incorporates elements of The Temptations' song "Just My Imagination", hence the massive list of song writers.
Directed by Director X, famous for his videos with all the stars, his recent performance based videos haven't been that intriguing, most notably is Rihanna's "Work". He did well on Fifth Harmony's previous single "Work From Home" so we were expecting high hopes for this follow up.
Definitely branding this group as sexy, this video follows on from "Work From Home". Filmed on a beach, it brings tropical vibes to this club summer anthem, that would get me on any dancefloor, I'm ready to flex to this song.
Full on choreography and perfect freestyle there seems to be more focus on each individual member who then collaborate in the end scenes, with one of the most relaxed styled choreography I've seen. They're all in-sync and yet they have slight differences in the way they perform some of the moves, making it look more freestyle than what it actually is, which definitely works in their favour.
The guys are sexy, but they should have been wearing less, they may just be the love interests and aren't developed in this video, but if the girls are on the beach in their bathing suits, why are the guys just simply shirtless? I want less clothes on them, fairs fair at the end of the day, more body parts to flex and impress. Although they do have great bodies, both the girls and the guys. Although, I'm not so keen on the chosen bathing suits for Fifth Harmony, as they could've worn something much more stylish. However they do a grand job of pairing them up with additional wear in the end scene.
Fetty Wap, real name Willie Maxwell II, adds nothing to this, although kudos on his clip in a cave, which could be off from the beach, but it would've worked better if he was actually with Fifth Harmony. His rap works with the song, and definitely adds to the beat, but visually he doesn't add much to the video.
Overall an all right music video. Definitely sexy, although not so stylish. Choreography is on point, as always from these girls, and visual scenes are beautiful. Performance vibes to the max, I already know they're amazing live, but this video emphasises it. However there's nothing going on, no development in the love interests, definitely not much impressing or flexing, and no narrative whatsoever. Just an average video with a tropical theme.
Stretching my rules a little bit, this song has been released today on iTunes as a two-track single, the second track being a remix. The song was previously released at the start of the month, so in theory this is a remix release, however they have included the original track in this release, and so it's kind of like a re-release, therefore allowing me to review this for my New Release section.
Ace Wilder, real name Alice Gernandt, is sexily selfish in this video, not caring about anyone but herself as she walks through this crowd, just staring at the camera provocatively. This song is a stunning ballad, proving that she can really hit home with her words when she wants to. Captivating as always, she's already had a number one in Sweden, her home country. Having applied for Melodifestivalen twice, the first time with "Busy Doin' Nothing" (the song that got to number one), that placed her just two points away from being sent to Eurovision 2014, and then coming third with "Don't Worry" in 2016. She is keen to hit the international market, she has the voice, the songs, just not the promotion. But her determination is contagious, and she will continue to try, because that is who she is. I reckon she would be perfect for Eurovision. This song is different to her previous singles, personal and emotional, she puts her all in this song, she isn't just any old pop singer, her catchy lyrics and emotional lines are full of the singer-songwriter capabilities she has.
This music video is not your average video, although can be considered an average ballad video. Definitely out of Ace Wilder's comfort zone, I was totally expecting the track to change and her to start off some massive dance choreography. But she doesn't need that at all.
Fully emotive throughout although it's in slow motion with blurred visuals, this music video doesn't have her singing the lyrics of the song, instead she is looking deeply at the camera. She's apparently selfish and she knows it and she wants you to know it. Hell, she doesn't even need to sing the lyrics.
The cold steel look in her eyes never fails as she a party soon turns into chaos behind her. Confident and determined is what Ace Wilder has always been, and this music video definitely amplifies that. Although the song wavers in doubt and fragility, the song is an empowerment. It perfectly follows on from previous singles, and the perfect follow up to "Don't Worry". I hope a full album is around the corner for this girl, or some international success, she definitely deserves it.
Debut music videos are always interesting to watch, especially if the artist becomes well known and their debut single wasn't a hit. This is exactly why I love doing my Thursday Revisits.... Today it's Rizzle Kicks turn, and I have never heard this song let alone seen this music video. The song is now five years old, and definitely one that will be staying in the past in the case of this music video and song, although it's catchy and seriously their vocals are on point! Rizzle Kicks prove they can sing in their debut single, the motion morph is a visual annoyance throughout the video though.
New on the scene back in 2011, Rizzle Kicks didn't get a hit single until their second single "Down With The Trumpets", which was the follow-up to this one. They consist of Jordan Stephens (Rizzle) and Harley Alexander-Sule (Sylvester). This song is known as a total flop and many suggest their breakthrough came with their second single and highly regard "Down With The Trumpets" as their debut single. This song isn't as catchy, but there was little promotion around it, this proves they can sing and the rapping is next to perfect. This should've been a commercial success, but it didn't pick up radio play and this music video is definitely not appealing for the music channels. The song was previously released as a free download before appearing on iTunes. It was written by Jordan Stephens, Harley Alexander-Sule, James Dring and Jody Street.
Directed by Toby Lockerbie, filmed in Brighton apparently, this used 960 long exposure photos to combine this stop motion morphing video. The beachfront is definitely Brighton beach.
The entire video messes with my eyes and my mind, it's difficult to follow and to understand. At the same time it works and it's engaging. It has a visual concept of an angel and a devil.
The virtual translation visuals from the lyrics work really well and there is definitely some innovated ideas that proved that even back then Rizzle Kicks were doing something different.
This is the song that gained them a few fans, that kicked off their career, but it wasn't until that later singles that truly made them famous. Now they've just returned with "Always Late", hence why this is my Thursday Revisit. Making their fans feel like they're drunk or high, this video messes with the brain and yet works as an accompanying music video to this song.
This was the folk song that was loved by the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, and quickly hit it big all over twitter at the time, unfortunately it only managed 33 points in the first semi-final of the contest, placing them 13th, and therefore failed to advance to the Grand Final. Aarzemnieki has a good singsong around a camp fire as they explain how they've never baked a cake before.
The name of the band comes from the Latvian word 'ārzemnieki' which means 'foreigners'. The band consists of Jöran Steinhauer, Guntis Veilands, Katrīna Dimanta and Raitis Viļumovs. They are an on-going project but have yet to release any more songs on iTunes or globally. Folk music is hard to promote and make current, when this first dropped it looked like Aarzemnieki might be the band to bring it back, but failing to make the Grand Final definitely deterred them, and perhaps stopped the band from continuing. This song was written by Guntis Veilands.
This music video is a simple performance piece, however this comedic song is failed to be represented as a visual in this video. Where is this cake they've got to bake?
Clearly they're too busy singing around a camp fire to bake the cake that is so urgent. With no kitchen in sight, and none of the events, that they have apparently done in the verses, around; there's not a lot to expect from this video.
Proving they can perform and give out energetic vibes the little group turns into a big camping party, it slightly reminds me of Rascal Flatts' music video for "Banjo".
There's nothing more to comment on from this music video. I don't think they give a great performance, especially considering other artists. Jöran Steinhauer totally stands out alone in this music video. Confidence is definitely attractive, and he proves it in this. I'm guessing this is the last we'll see of Aarzemnieki, but if Jöran Steinhauer pushes he might just make it on his own, but it won't have the same feel as this band. This works as a group, it just needs to be a bit more current with a lot more support as well as promotion.
After reviewing the single for Outlet Magazine and then going on to review the music video, I knew I'd end up reviewing this video for my blog eventually. This song is the start of Slumberjack taking over the world, or at least my music, because I am loving this song and it's very shocking video which is a futuristic take on the gaming world. Slumberjack collaborate with Daniel Johns to Open Fire on the technological advances of the gaming world and how it could influence the minds of the youngsters who play nonstop which could influence their decisions later on in life.
Slumberjack are a duo from Perth, Australia. They consist of Morgan Then and Fletcher Ehlers. Having millions stream their songs on Soundcloud, surely this duo is destined for success. Praises around the world because of their unique sound and electronic beats. With their EP ready to drop, this is a duo to watch out for! This track features Australian frontman icon Daniel Johns, formerly known as the vocalist for Silverchair. "Open Fire" has so many energetic vibes, it's the perfect insight into Slumberjack's soon-to-be-released EP, that is bound to be fire.
Directed by Jonathon Lim, this video makes quite the statement, proving that people can get caught up in the gaming world, that then can blur the lines of reality and fiction. This video attempts to separate the different worlds after they have been infused.
I love how the middle scene is of the girls playing League of Legends, yet the world they are transported to is nothing like the game play. It's a whole different game where they have to find crystals, to make one big crystal that links in with the cover art for this single.
Dangerous and definitely shocking, especially when the blood is clearly visible on the knife used on the fictitious cyber wolf. It proves that even though it seems like it's just a game, it can be very real.
I love the idea of blending the two worlds, and if we are not careful, this will happen what with technology advancing this much. The shocking twist at the end is something that could most-definitely happen as games advance, we're already blurring the lines between the real and the unreal through virtual reality, something like this is surely not far off at all.
