Ukraine Entry: Mariya Yaremchuk - Tick-Tock



Definitely one of my favourites from the 2014 contest. Mariya Yaremchuk was one of the first entrants to be announced for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. Representing Ukraine she came sixth overall with 113 points. This song is definitely catchy, and it was well received. Mariya Yaremchuk performs in a dark room pouring her heart into the song for the video whilst lanterns cast light and shadow around the room.

Mariya Yaremchuk has been performing in Ukraine contests since 2012. First up was Holos Krainy (translated as The Voice of the Country, the Ukraine's version of The Voice), where she came fourth in the second season. Next, she took part in New Wave 2012, an international contest of young performers. She came third in the contest. Then, she attempted to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with a song called "Imagine". She came fifth in the national selection titled Evrobachennya 2013. A year later she tried again with this song and won the 2016 Ukraine national selection. Since coming sixth in Eurovision 2014, Mariya Yaremchuk has released a few singles under Марія Яремчук, hopefully, there's an album on the way. The song was written by Mariya Yaremchuk and Sandra Bjurman.

The music video is a pure performance piece, showing that Mariya Yaremchuk was meant to be on a stage singing her heart out.

Light effects definitely make this music video, the editors and the light technicians use the lanterns and the shadows to their advantage. Spotlighting the dancers whilst making Mariya Yaremchuk look amazing.

There's not a lot to say about this music video, Mariya Yaremchuk is stunning throughout. She performs with emotion whilst showing off her voice. There's no narrative and not a lot else to comment on. She connects with the audience through her vocals and her performance, igniting and teasing the viewers.
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Bridgit Mendler Featuring Kaiydo - Atlantis



She is back! We've been waiting for her return for ages now and here she is, with a totally different sound, that might just surprise you. I've supported her since Lemonade Mouth and her debut single "Ready Or Not". Yet, I'm not so sure on this song. It's a totally different vibe and sound for her. I totally loved her first album, so this song has to grow on me because it's so different. However, if it's the music she wants to do, I respect that and I'm glad she can do that now. In this video for "Atlantis", Bridgit Mendler hosts a party at her ex's house whilst he's unconscious. Kaiydo also appears for his rap section.

Bridgit Mendler is an ex-Disney star and is definitely following in the footsteps of many great well-known singers and actors. Focusing on her music, she released a debut single that did well, "Ready Or Not" quickly became a favourite and quite the international success. Follow-up single "Hurricane" didn't do so well and neither did her debut album even if it was packed full of tunes! With her new EP on the way in November, this single acts as the first single from the EP. Featured act Kaiydo, real name Keiondre Boone, is a 19-year-old rapper who is definitely getting his name out there, he is perfect on this track, so keep an eye on him! This song was written by Bridgit Mendler, Spencer Bastian, Mischa Chillak and Kaiydo.

Directed by Allie Avital, the video is totally different, much like the song. This is not something we would expect to see from this ex-Disney star, definitely following in the footsteps of some ex-Disney stars.

Mainly a narrative piece, we watch as Bridgit Mendler and her mates break into an ex's house and throw a party, all while her ex is unconscious. She tends to hang around with the unconscious male, so it looks like they're doing things together.

Kaiydo's performance piece is fully energetic, and a total contrast to Bridgit Mendler, who packs in emotion in her visual. I feel like she's experimenting with her sound and her voice, whilst writing songs that have a lot of her heart in. This EP is something new for her, but I expect this is just a side step, giving music to her fans rather than it sitting in the studio doing nothing.

Overall it's an interesting video. It's quite tongue-in-cheek and engaging. Definitely relatable to the song, and it perks up the song a lot more since the song isn't something you would expect from Bridgit Mendler. I'm interested in what the EP will be like, but with vocals like that, I'm sure it'll be amazing.
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Chart Mondays: The Weeknd Featuring Daft Punk - Starboy



It's Monday which means it's Chart Mondays, and with James Arthur reigning supreme at the top of the UK singles chart with "Say You Won't Let Go", it opens the Top 10 to my Chart Mondays review. In this case, it leaves me with no choice but to review this music video as I have either reviewed all the other music videos in the UK top 10 singles chart, or they don't have an official music video. Therefore I am reviewing this one which is currently at number two on the chart. The Weeknd kills his previous self and smashes his apartment up before jumping in a car with a cat that transforms into a panther. He is definitely a "Starboy", look what you've done.

The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, has really come into his own in the past few years. Having done all right when he first hit the music scene, he has definitely built his name and had batted out hits left, right and centre. This one just proves how far he has come, and how much more he has to give. Recently he has changed his hair style, which definitely goes well with this whole new direction. Featured on the track is Daft Punk, an electronic music duo consisting of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They have been going for years and years and have many hits. Most recently "Get Lucky" brought them back into the public eye and since then they have released hit song after hit song. They'll always be popular. This song has had international success and was written by Abel Tesfaye, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Thomas Bangalter, Martin McKinney and Henry Walter.

Directed by Grant Singer, this video is The Weeknd reinventing himself. With a new album a new sound and this is definitely the start of something new, so why not say goodbye to the previous era and start a whole new one. He has changed his hairstyle, killed his previous self and smashed everything in his apartment that was a part of the previous era.

The narrative is interesting, watching him kill his former self through asphyxiation using a plastic bag; it's definitely surprising. He finds a pink neon cross which he uses to smash the place, before setting alight his wardrobe. It all a part of the previous album, saying goodbye to it.

He next goes to the garage and chooses a car and rides off into the night with a black cat in the passenger seat, which soon transforms into a panther. The entire video says goodbye to his previous album and the music that definitely made him popular.

It's clear The Weeknd likes his cars, his choices in the garage are the Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster, a Bentley Mulsanne and the McLaren P1. The latter is actually owned by The Weeknd himself, which is the one he chooses to drive away in.

Daft Punk appears only in a portrait of themselves which is hung on the wall. Otherwise, they are nowhere to be seen, which isn't really surprising. This usually is the case when DJs and producers are featured on a track.

Overall, this is a well-planned music video that is fully in-depth. It has a performance and a narrative built in one. The Weeknd pulls both off at the same time perfectly, while also killing his previous self. His performance vibes pour from him, and boy can he put on a show!
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Leah McFall - Wolf Den



Leah McFall made quite the impact on this song, having bided her time for the past few years, she's back now and wow does her voice still astonish us since the first time we heard it. Her voice is amazing and it's surprising she didn't win The Voice UK, but then again neither did Becky Hill and look how far she has got now. Leah McFall will definitely become just as amazing as Becky Hill, mark my words. Leah McFall gives a powerful performance to the viewers in this music video for her most recent single "Wolf Den".

Leah McFall was the runner-up in the second series of The Voice UK. She was mentored by will.i.am who went on to record debut single "Home" with her coach. Unfortunately, the song didn't do so well on the UK chart and she was later dropped by Capitol Records. After years of wondering where she's been, Leah McFall made a comeback with this gorgeous soulful song. Released independently, it's no wonder it didn't chart, but that doesn't mean it was a bad song, it just means that promotion for the single wasn't possible. She stated it was a gift to all who have supported her. Hopefully, an album is on the horizon, as we need a lot more tracks with her amazing voice on.

Directed by Phil Harrison, The clip is a pure performance piece where Leah McFall shines throughout.

She puts her all in performing this piece, and you can see this song is close to her heart. Emotion runs out through her pores of her skin. No one can deny that this song is powerful. It's clear that she was born to sing and born to perform, Leah McFall proves why she should've won The Voice UK series two.

There's not a lot to this music video, no narrative, no storyline; just Leah McFall and this song. Yet she still manages to stun us. Who needs all the theatrics when you have her performance presence and her astonishing vocals?
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Inna - Say It With Your Body



As you all already know, I'm obsessed with Inna, and I'm excited to announce that I will be going to see her live in Dublin, Ireland for the first time and I literally cannot wait... She released this song and music video recently and I knew I'll end up reviewing it soon. Having already covered it for CelebMix, there's not a lot more I can comment on, although I will certainly make this review more of an opinion piece, like many of my reviews on here. Inna flaunts in this promotional online music video for "Say It With Your Body" and that is definitely what Inna and her love interest are doing.

Inna, real name Elena Apostoleanu, is one of the biggest Romanian female singers in the world. She launched onto the scene with debut single "Hot" which definitely gave her international success, since then she has gone from strength to strength, and this is the latest song from her next album. This follows the amazingly catchy single "Heaven", and both tracks are cut from her fifth studio album. Released under Global Records.

The music video is definitely sexy and sultry, but we expect nothing less from Inna. There is also a love interest, but the male actor is unknown unless someone knows who he is (comment below or message me on Twitter).

In one of the rooms, Inna is in, there is writing on the walls. They are lyrics from her previous album, check out my CelebMix article to find out more.

Inna gets all wet in what seems like shower rooms, whilst her love interest walks around her. She is clearly the central focus and the love interest is more background eye candy.

There's another scene where she's dancing, slightly, to the song in what could be a bedroom. It really looks like it belongs in the "Endless" music video if I'm honest, and although it does relate to the song, it just seems less inviting than the rest of the scenes. It feels out of place; on the other hand, it definitely breaks up the other scenes.

Overall, as a music video, this doesn't quite work, but since it is a promotional online video for a promotional song, we can give it some slack. It's relatable and there is a love interest. Inna is looking gorgeous as always and the song is another grower to add to her collection.
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