Eurovision 2014 Winner: Austria Entry: Conchita Wurst - Rise Like A Phoenix



Finally, after this review, I've reviewed all my favourites from Eurovision 2014; next week I will be starting on Eurovision 2015, and then I'm completely caught up, maybe in time for the new year? Maybe; I doubt it. Conchita Wurst was the talk of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, and so winning wasn't quite a massive surprise since she had a killer song, brilliant vocals, a stunning dress and performance, and a tonne of support from the LGBT+ community. She represented Austria and took the contest to her country after winning with 290 points. Tom Neuwirth dressed in drag as Conchita Wurst gives a solid sexy performance of "Rise Like A Phoenix" in this music video.

Tom Neuwirth has tried being a successful solo singer, he even managed to become the runner-up in Austrian TV show Starmania. He then became a part of boyband Jetzt Anders! but they disbanded the same year they were put together. Conchita Wurst came about a little bit later, where she entered Die Große Chance, Conchita Wurst came sixth in 2011; then came second on Eurovision Selection show Österreich rockt den Song Contest 2012; as for 2014, she was internally selected, and what a great choice that was. It pretty much launched Conchita Wurst as one of the world's most known drag queens, she just needs to keep her limelight. This song was written by Charlie Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, and Julian Maas.

The music video is a full performance piece. Conchita Wurst is looking incredibly confident and sexy. This just wouldn't work if it were Tom Neuwirth. People can say what they like about drag queens, but there's something incredible about spending all that time on makeup and clothes and wigs, and in Conchita Wurst's case, her beard; and then working it like no other.

There are a few different scenes, but the main focus is on the bath and the rose petals. It's quite sultry, definitely sexy. Her performance is fire throughout, passion for every single word Conchita Wurst really identifies with this song. Considering no record label would record this, and then it won Eurovision, and charted well globally, just proves the impact of this song and the artist.

Yet the video is lacking. This could've had a beautiful narrative, yet we're given a performance piece that doesn't quite engage. Conchita Wurst looks good throughout, but she brought more to the table during the Eurovision 2014 Grand Final than in this music video. This song will always be a favourite of mine and resonates deeply within.
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The Vamps & Matoma - All Night



Totally not sure what to make of this one, couldn't decide what video to review, but since Matoma and Becky Hill are doing well on my blog with "False Alarm", I thought I might as well do this one. I love the concept of this video and yet it doesn't quite flow as well as we hope, plus it is extremely short, this is over before we know it. The Vamps take a trip around town, "All Night", whilst swapping the camera in an eerie Cloverfield-like music video, which also includes Matoma DJing.

The Vamps are a four-piece band consisting of Connor Ball, Tristan Evans, James McVey, and Brad Simpson. They are going from strength to strength, although it's been quite the rocky road, not quite getting a noticeable hit. All it will take is a number one, their debut single "Can We Dance" hit number two, as well as third single "Last Night"; but even with the help of Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, and Pixie Lott on tracks "Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)", "Somebody To You", and "Wild Heart" hasn't got them to the top. As for Matoma, real name Tom Lagergren, he totally made his name with Becky Hill on track "False Alarm". He's probably going to be a name we'll end up hearing a lot from if he keeps collaborating and keeps releasing. The song was written by Justin Franks, John Mitchell, Daniel Majic, and The Vamps.

Directed by Craig Moore, this video definitely takes inspiration from the Cloverfield movie, and yet switches it up with this massive camera transferring from one person to another. However, this three and a half minutes are way too short to fully enjoy.

The start is a clear product proposal for got2be by Schwarzkopf. Hair products, makeup, and fragrances always do well for product proposals in music videos. If these stars are using them, why not us?

We watch The Vamps disappear out into the city, planning on spending all night out. They pass the camera through touch, but it's clear from the start that continuity errors will make this video completely fail. Plenty of times a camera man is filming, who we never get to see. Disregarding this as well as the fact that sometimes we are watching from the wrong camera because they touched hands with someone else; this video is incredible.

The crossover to Matoma is clever but kind of lets the video down. I wanted more from Matoma, maybe have The Vamps actually there on stage, or maybe even get the audience involved and pass the camera to them. The Vamps do it with the dancer, the drifting car driver, and the basketball player; so why not Matoma's audience too?

There are too many scenes to comment on in this video, and yet it's way too short. It's quick snapshots of a fantastic music video, that is, unfortunately, full of continuity errors and failed viewership. This was released, just under a month ago. This means they have worked hard on this, and kudos totally go out to the editing team, but more time and effort to make this a solid flowing video would've made this perfect. Love this concept, though!
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Chart Mondays: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey - Closer



It's a Monday, and Little Mix is still at number one with "Shout Out To My Ex", which is amazingly catchy. This opens the top ten to my Chart Monday review. I've chosen this one because it was at number one for many weeks without a music video, but finally it has one just as it's dropping out of the top ten. Sexual tension between The Chainsmokers' Andrew Taggart and Halsey at a party is completely visible, as flashbacks of a past night where they slept together is reminisced over.

The Chainsmokers are a duo consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. They made their name known when they released "#SELFIE" but it wasn't until a few years later, through a reinvention of their music, that they once again hit fame, but this is clearly their best-selling single. I am hoping they will reinvent themselves once again, something we aren't expecting and it'll be even bigger than this was. Featured artist is Halsey, real name Ashley Frangipane, who has made quite the name for herself in the media, but has yet to have a hit song. Then again, this one is totally her best yet. This song was written by Andrew Taggart, Ashley Frangipane, Shaun Frank, Frederic Kennett, Isaac Slade, and Joe King. Highly compared to The Fray's "Over My Head (Cable Car)", the latter two songwriters were added for credit.

This music video was a long time coming, but it's here now, directed by Dano Cerny, it's a great concept. An elaborate performance piece situated in quite an awkward narrative.

Sexual tension is obvious between these two singers. As they lock eyes at a party, Andrew Taggart and Halsey remember what happened between them some other night in the past. This is where things get even more steamy.

They start making out in the middle of a different party, which is then taken back to a bedroom, where both artists are in a state of undress. They both look incredibly sexy. Full of sexual chemistry, with tantalising quirks that we all wish we were doing with another person in a bed instead of watching this video, which is totally making us jealous; or just me.

The ending sees Halsey walking out of the party, not being able to deal with her ex being at the same party as her; I know exactly how she feels. Yet, this is where our similarities end because Andrew Taggart follows her outside, and it's clear there's still an attraction between them. Some sort of unfinished business.

A fully fleshed narrative that everyone can relate to, with a sexy performance piece during a gorgeous bed scene. We've waited so long for this music video, yet it was so worth it especially since they have knocked it out of the park!
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Louisa Johnson - So Good



This dropped recently, and I just HAD to review it, especially after hearing it live at the Kiss Haunted House Party 2016. This full on party anthem was initially sung for the first time at the Kiss Haunted House Party 2016, where I captured the entire performance of the song. It was released the following day and then was performed on The X Factor, just last week. The song is her first solo effort since winning the contest, not counting the winner's single "Forever Young". Louisa Johnson goes out, it was only meant to be for an hour or two. A bar performance and a brawl all happen in this "So Good" music video.

Louisa Johnson won the twelfth series of The X Factor. She is known as the only winner never to hit the top two with her winning song; unfortunately, she got to number nine with "Forever Young". However, teaming up with Clean Bandit for song "Tears" was an amazing idea and once again pushed her into the limelight. This definitely helped to further her potential success. This song is completely catchy, it's party inspired but quite a slow ballad pop song that we can't get out of our heads! It was written by Steve Mac, Chelcee Grimes & Ed Drewett,

Directed by Emil Nava, a constant name we hear often in the directing of music videos. this was obviously going to be theatrical from the first few seconds.

Louisa Johnson performs in bed, clearly waking from a possible nap? Other scenes show her performing at an empty petrol station and a bar.

This bar is an important part of the music video. She steps onto the stage and sings the song. The bar is practically deserted apart from the drunken guys, one of who steps up to her and dances. This guy is shoved away by her crowd.

The girl group later go outside to beat up the men outside who are ranting at them. It would've been good if they had all cartwheeled forwards at the same time, but it's slightly out of sync. Louisa Johnson just stands in the middle and sings.

As a whole, it's an okay music video. It's clearly high-budgeted and has a similar feel to Alexandra Burke's "Bad Boys", yet it's trying to make Louisa Johnson way more classy. It incredibly theatrical, yet nothing to follow-up. The video does suit the song well, though.
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will.i.am Featuring Justin Bieber - #thatPOWER



Literally didn't know what to review today, so I let my iTunes pick by playing all my songs on random, this one came up and I was like, okay. I am slightly surprised I haven't reviewed this yet. It was released after the awesome collaboration with Miss Britney Spears on "Scream & Shout". It worked well. will.i.am becomes robotic whilst Justin Bieber is a hologram in a futuristic take during the music video of "#thatPOWER".

will.i.am is quickly becoming a household name, if he isn't already. Definitely one of the leaders in the music industry, his real name is William Adams. He has worked with some of the biggest stars, and his own band, the Black Eyed Peas, are embedded in history as one of the biggest groups. There is really no stopping will.i.am and I cannot wait to see where The Voice UK coach ends up. Collaborating on this track is Justin Bieber, another high-profile male artist, with various hits under his name just like will.i.am. Such a massive collaboration, it's no wonder this song did so well. It was written by William Adams, Damien Leroy, and Justin Bieber.

Directed by Ben Mor, and filmed in Japan, the video features will.i.am as a robotic dancer, Justin Bieber as a hologram and there are appearances from Japanese dance group World Order.

There is an alternative music video available to watch alongside this one through Shazam. This additional video has no audio; it is supposed to give you an alternative viewing experience by allowing you to view it alongside this one so you can notice the differences.

As a whole, it's an innovative idea, definitely futuristic, which makes it quite clever since the music video is futuristic.

The dancing is on point throughout, we expect nothing less from will.i.am. However, I find it very unfortunate that Justin Bieber wasn't there in person. The hologram makes him look dead or something, suggesting he never made it to the future. The dancing is occasionally out of sync, but it can be forgiven since they are subtle.

World Order are amazing in their scene. Defying dancing as we know it and managing to easily stun us throughout.

There's not a lot else to comment on. This is totally interesting from start to finish, and it feels like it's part of a bigger picture. There's just something missing, there should be a more expansive narrative. Nothing continues the video on, it's hard to understand what is going on.
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