Here comes a prolific ballad sure to melt our hearts, not quite the pop ballad we expect to hear from Shawn Mendes, and one that is totally a different direction. It manages to show versatility, becoming a possible stand-out track on his new album (something we won't be able to be sure of until it drops in it's entirety later on in the year). Flooding it with emotion in both the song and the performance-based music video, Shawn Mendes releases frustration in Ruin.
Shawn Mendes, the Canadian superstar we just keep hearing about again and again, and for all the right reasons. He previously climbed the UK chart with "Stitches" finally grabbing number one, weeks after it was released. Now he just launches right into the chart and yet still climbs later on, just like he has done with "Treat You Better". This album is set to be one I won't be able to stop listening to, and as each new track is dropped I fall in love with his vocals more and more. This song was written by Shawn Mendes, Ido Zmishlany, Scott Harris and Geoffrey Warburton.
The music video was directed by Ryan Pallotta and was set in Madison Square Garden.
There is very little going on in the video, since it is a pure performance piece in this empty arena, although I bet it would be packed if Shawn Mendes' fans could've got tickets to see the filming of this music video.
Filmed purely in black and white, which fails to add any texture to the music video apart from heightening the emotion of the song, it feels like an insight in to Shawn Mendes' life.
This is the sort of arena he would play at, it's like it's being filmed before a big show and something has got under Shawn Mendes' skin, something that makes him want to release his frustrations by singing this song. Something that will calm him down before the show, and it's obvious that that is what this song does for him.
Although basic, this music video is inclusive and feels more like a gift to his fans, something to keep them going. This song is clearly personal to him, and he portrays that perfectly in his performance of the song. Yet there is so much they could have done with this video, only there's no point since it is just a promotional instant grat single, just like Fifth Harmony's "Write On Me" was. So mainly we can be thankful that this actually has a music video, because his other promotional singles might not get one.
This is my new banger and I am so glad that it has a music video for me to review too. It is a timeless anthem that will definitely be something I'd constantly listen to even if I am actually sorry for something I've done. This marks the return of JoJo, especially with her new album on the way, which will be called Mad Love, and will include this song as it is the first single from the said album. JoJo performs with her natural flair, she isn't apologising for no reason and especially when she doesn't mean it.
JoJo, real name Joanna Levesque, has been finally making her comeback in the music industry, after a legal battle with her now previous record label. Finally out of her contract, she signed a new one and has been releasing new music since last year, including the incredible tringle of singles "When Love Hurts", "Say Love" and "Save My Soul". She's back and it's looks like it's going to be a solid return! Featured star is Wiz Khalifa, real name Cameron Thomaz, has dipped in and out of hits, most notable for number one single "See You Again", he will always be a prominent rapper. This song was written by Joanna Levesque, Taylor Parks and Cameron Thomaz.
Directed by Francesco Carrozzini, this music video is a pure performance visual with snapshots of extras who have nothing to apologise for, although society might think otherwise.
It easily relates to the song, removing shade and highlighting pride. Everyone is different in their own ways and they have nothing to apologise for, being different is not wrong whatsoever.
JoJo really takes a stance on this overall, working with the video and even getting into a pool naked. To do so is completely brave, and yet she has nothing to apologise for. She does what she wants now, especially after being released from her previous contract. She has freedom, and her fans are following her more than ever, helping to promote her any way we can.
As for Wiz Khalifa, he's rap shines in the song, and the visual does the exact same thing. Smoky and hazy, he puts on a performance that stuns, he means every word of that rap just like JoJo means every word of the song. This is why he will always have a career.
Overall, it's a great performance piece from JoJo, which is totally nothing new from her. As for the side clips, it's freeing to see so many people not caring and not apologising for who they are and what they do. Everyone should have the freedom to be themselves, to be able to show themselves to the world without hatred, without criticism and without apologies.
Not an easy decision to pick between this and "Never Had A Dream Come True", but this was another favourite of mine and rolls nicely on from "Don't Stop Movin'" for my Thursday Revisit. This wasn't my initial plan but I didn't realise how much Reach meant to me, looking back on this song, I thought it was complete cheese with extra on top, but it really isn't, it's still a banger even if it isn't in my head. S Club 7 takes the party bus on the road, living it up large and dancing away on top of it, the group members have a blast as they Reach for the stars.
S Club 7 is a fond memory of nearly every 20-30 year old's childhood, they hit the charts hard in the UK, and their popularity never stopped, creating hit TV shows and TV movies as well as spawning a junior band. Yet all good things come to an end, and they ended up going their separate ways. The group consisted of Jo O'Meara, Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole and Rachel Stevens. This song didn't quite reach number one and had to settle for peaking at number two, behind Sonique's "It Feels So Good". It was written by Cathy Dennis and Andrew Todd.
The music video is a simple performance piece, the song served as the theme tune for L.A. 7, the next instalment series of the group's TV shows.
The video doesn't link back to the TV series, this time around like "Bring It All Back" did. Instead settling purely on the performance side of things.
There's a few possible narratives, especially with all the extras used in the video, where they have a sweet with the letter 's' on (which definitely reminds me of Skittles), which turns them into loving the group too.
The extras follow the party bus, which kind of copies the Vengaboys bus in "We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)", yet explodes it much more. It looks quite dangerous.
As for performance wise, they are on form as always, although no grouped dancing, all members are pretty apart meaning it's difficult to see any mishaps and so it looks more of a collective in-sync production.
Overall, there really isn't anything to this music video, it's pretty bland and totally simple with no narrative or an outstanding performance visual. It's remembered because of the party bus, yet it's easily forgettable compared to their other music videos.
This was supposed to be the start of the return of Booty Luv, it was planned as the first single from their second studio album, yet the low charting position (number 16 is far from low if you asked me) suggested the end of the second album, which got cancelled and therefore scrapped. This was a new direction for Booty Luv and it's such a shame we didn't see how this could have developed. Booty Luv are sexed up and loving life as they finally have a high budgeted music video for "Say It" which became their last charting single.
Booty Luv, consisting of Cherise Roberts and Nadia Shepherd, had a string of hits after their group, Big Brovaz, split up. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be and although they tried to make a great comeback in 2013 with "Black Widow", it never pushed them back into the limelight enough to carry on their career. This song was written by Carl Björsell, Didrik Thott and Sebastian Thott.
Directed by Emile Nava, and set in a luxury hotel that literally has everything, the girls settle into a character role that seems similar to the young doppelgangers found in their previous music video "Don't Mess With My Man".
Crazy and over the top the video heightens on men's desire of Booty Luv and how they never build up the courage to say something. Not that they are giving these guys a chance to do so.
The song tells guy to go and say that they like them, to just come out and say it. But life is never that easy, especially in a club, or just in a corridor or at an event as this video suggests. However confidence gets you everywhere, even in my books. Pluck up the courage and just say it.
Fun and sexy the girls put so much energy into this video, however they look a little possessed, over acting everything which totally makes this video slightly off-putting. There's a lot to like and a lot to not like about this video, I am one of Booty Luv's biggest fans, but their videos rarely engage. This should've worked well, but it just fails completely, over done and overly emphasised.
Oh how this video brings back memories, I swear the music channels had it on repeat, so much so that I never stopped singing, dancing and watching "Don't Stop Movin'". If I had to pick a favourite song back when this was released, this was it, this was my jam! How embarrassing to think of that now, but I still know every lyric, every memory and every bit of this music video. S Club 7 dances in a club to "Don't Stop Movin'", with motion-blurring snapshots and a full choreography.
Still embarrassing to watch now, and what is with that choreography? S Club 7 consisted of seven singers who were: Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt, Rachel Stevens, Paul Cattermole, Tina Barratt and Jon Lee. They had a tonne of success in the UK, but it soon fell as Paul Cattermole left the group. This song won them a few awards and hit number one in the UK. It was written by Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens, Sheppard Solomon, Simon Ellis and Tina Barrett. The verse of the song samples Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".
Directed by Andy Morahan, the video is set in a club, with the group taking over the dance floor as they show off their moves.
At the time this may have been current, but it is totally embarrassing to watch and definitely makes sense as to why I was such a confident child with my dancing. I had this group in my life, with their choreography on my screen, no wonder I was like that.
Taking Bradley McIntosh and Jo O'Meara into the main vocals, this really pushed the other members back. Nowadays a song like this would be separated between each of the group members, but since there is seven of them, this would be possible but pretty difficult. The music video definitely showcases Bradley McIntosh and Jo O'Meara more than the other members, which must have been quite disconcerting for the other S Club 7 singers.
There is very little else going on, the choreography is sort of in-sync, but not to an exact point, and when looked into detail it seems kind of flimsy. This is not as tight as we've seen previous dance choreography from these guys. Overall this could have been better, but it just isn't and looking back on it nowadays, it looks worse than what I thought it was.
