Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me



Another Ariana Grande music video a part of my blog, but the first to be a part of a special; she now debuts on my Christmas Special 2016, I knew she had a Christmas music video, even though it does seem pretty unprofessional, as everyone keeps mentioning in the comments, but fun music videos can be unprofessional. Sometimes artists need a fun time, not a popstar big music video, and this is what this is. Fun. Fun. Fun. Watch Ariana Grande spend time in a house with her friends, celebrating Christmas while she sings her song "Santa Tell Me".

We all know who Ariana Grande is, she grew up on our TV screens on TV show "Victorious", and then later as a main star in the spinoff "Sam & Cat", all on Nickelodeon. Afterwards, she launched her music career and the rest is history. Now she's one of the biggest female singers in the world. With her brilliant voice and her amazing career, the future will forever be bright for this girl. This song was released in 2014 and did mediocre on the charts. It was written by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya.

Directed by Alfredo Flores and Jones Crow, the music video is pretty simple. Ariana Grande throws an exclusive Christmas party for her and her friends, at a house.

The opening scene sees her and her friends in a bed with animal hats on, goofing around. They mess around in pretty much every scene.

There's a slight dance sequence on the scenes, but the choreography is too simple as if they came up with it on the spot.

It's cute, it's simple, it's nice, there's not much else I can say. The best part is totally the ending, not because it's finished but because they show some outtakes, which are pretty funny.

Overall, it's cute, it's Christmassy, and it's fun. That's all we need. Ariana Grande deserves some fun in her life at least and this was it. I'm glad she had a good time on set because that really shows.
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Cruz Beckham - If Everyday Was Christmas



Another 2016 Christmas song, and another one where proceeds go to a charity. This one was released a couple of weeks ago and so is now part of my Christmas Special 2016. Cruz Beckham, according to his parents, famous footballer David Beckham and posh spice & fashionista Victoria Beckham, have always stated how Cruz Beckham is musically inclined, so it's no surprise he has launched his music career, even if it is a child-like voice with a cute music video. Watch Cruz Beckham spend time in London skateboarding and performing amongst glitter, snow and smoke in this "If Everyday Was Christmas" music video.

Cruz Beckham is the new boy on the scene. He comes from a famous background. His mother is Victoria Beckham, who was one-fifth of the Spice Girls - one of the biggest girl bands in the world - and then later became a fashion designer. As for his father, David Beckham is known mostly for his football career, he has gone on to be the face of many advertising campaigns and has gone down the fashion route with H&M. Their oldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, has recently gone on to model for brands; but now it's Cruz's turn to hit the fame lights. All proceeds go to Make A Wish Foundation.

Directed by Jesse Jenkins, the music video is definitely super cute. It shows Cruz Beckham rolling around London on his skateboard; as well as studio filming, where he performs his song whilst snow and glitter rain down on him; and don't forget the smoke.

There isn't an awful lot going on, but it is cute and does include family and snow, which is kind of Christmassy. Oh and London, which isn't Christmassy, but it is the place I want to move to and the place I want to live.

I like the failed attempt at a glitter angel; nice idea. There's nothing else I can comment on. It's a super cute music video, that includes family and snow, what more can I say? There's a few segments towards the charity, but not a whole lot.
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Chart Mondays: Matt Terry - When Christmas Comes Around



Here's The X Factor's winner's single, and it's actually a Christmas song this time around. Adding some Christmas spirit might just get the winner's single to the top of the charts once again. Yet, that didn't quite happen, since it was quite the competitive week. Clean Bandit with Sean Paul and Anne-Marie is still at the top with "Rockabye". This song peaked at number three, and since it's a Christmas song, I had to include it in my Christmas Special 2016. Watch Matt Terry perform "When Christmas Comes Around" at the live final, with snapshots of the charity work that is done in support of the sales.

Matt Terry won The X Factor's thirteenth series, in a very close final with Saara Aalto. He later signed with RCA records instead of Syco, in quite a surprising move. Instead, Syco signed Honey G, and possibly has some other up-and-coming plans to sign up other acts. They plan to make Matt Terry the next Olly Murs, but the only comparison we can see is the fact that they're both male and that they are now on the same record label. Will this just be another winner who will disappear? Time will tell. This song was written by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge.

The music video is a pure performance piece, which we watched during the live final of The X Factor. The only difference is that they have put a black and white filter on; which, I suppose, is to give it more of a festive Christmas visual. Yet, it makes no difference and actually makes me want to watch a different video that's actually in colour. I just don't like black and white music videos, unless there is a specific reason for the filter.

The single's proceeds will go to charities: Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star CHASE. Throughout the music video, Matt Terry's performance piece is cut between snapshots of what these charities do, and how they help people.

It's a typical charity music video, it's a typical X Factor winner's music video, although using the winner's live performance of the song instead of a studio visual is something different, that we haven't seen for a while. It just feels like we've seen this sort of music video way too many times and it's the same old same old. We want something new.
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Hello Christmas - Christmas Without You



Another collective that was released this year, it didn't serve as a New Release since it was released a few weeks earlier, but it still one of the contenders for the charts in the run-up to Christmas. And since it's a Christmas song, it's a part of my Christmas Special 2016. This one consists of 25 online influencers from all over the world; this is why you might recognise some of them; if not, all of them. With a cheerful festive song, this deserves a good chance at hitting the charts hard, but it needs a hell of a lot more people buying the single, so go and buy it now! The Hello Christmas collection of online influencers have fun recording "Christmas Without You" and singing together in this music video, whilst we watch some behind-the-scene footage and a comedic narrative.

Hello Christmas are a collection of 25 online influencers who are: Alexa Mae, Brittany Balyn, BriaAndChrissy (Bria Kam and Chrissy Chambers), Cassie Diamond, Carrington Durham, Emma Heesters, Hannah Trigwell, Jake Mitchell, Jayden Rodrigues, Joe Tasker, Julia Van Bergen, Macy Kate, Marina Joyce, Melanie Murphy, Monica Church, Polina Beregova, Riyadh K, Saffron Barker, Sapphire, Shelby Church, Taylor Jones, Toby Randall, VladTeeVee, and Yammy. These online stars have become a sensation by focusing on what they want to do. They're an inspiration to everyone, but you would think they'd easily be able to promote this track and get it to number one but it's just not that simple, clearly. The project comes from Hello Management and came to my attention thanks to Taylor Jones (since I am a fan of his music, it's so good!). So get behind the track and buy it, I sure have and it deserves to climb the charts. The song was written and produced by Jackie Boyz (Carlos Battey and Steven Battey) and The Producers House. The song is in support of Make-A-Wish UK.

The music video was directed by Nick Upshall and is completely festive and Christmassy, but it mostly portrays a performance piece of recording the song.

There is a comedic narration thanks to the filming of Joe Tasker, who arrives late and runs after the bus; then arrives at the studio late; and then, when he finally arrives inside the studio booth, the song is completely done with and there's nothing left for him to sing.

Inside the studio, it's all fun and excitement. All the singers are clearly having the best time of their lives. Some have personally identified with the song adding brilliant emotion; others not so much. Regardless, as a collective, they sing brilliantly. They really have come together on this one.

I love the Christmas decorations and the use of behind-the-scenes visuals to break up the studio booth recordings of the song. It's interesting and comedic. It's full of festive cheer and that's what we needed.

Overall, it's a great Christmas song with brilliant vocals, and the rap just knocks it out of the park! The music video could be more relatable to the song and could've had a bigger narrative, although time and budget may have been reasons as to why we got this type of music video. Nonetheless, it's festive and fun and they clearly all enjoyed themselves, which is what the Christmas spirit is all about. So get behind it and buy it on iTunes now, give it the shot it needs to be number one!
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Bronnie - Modern Day Christmas



Surely this was obvious. Of course, I was going to review Bronnie's "Modern Day Christmas" music video for my Christmas Special 2016. She was a part of my Halloween Special 2016, and now she's a part of my Christmas Special 2016. She's one of my favourite new artists on the scene. This was her first single and it's totally original and authentic; definitely, a Christmas song more people need to hear. Watch Bronnie bring some festive Christmas spirit to us all with this "Modern Day Christmas" music video, where she dresses up as Santa and wishes for an alien.

Bronnie, full name Bronnie Hughes, is an aspiring singer/songwriter, who has gone on to support Josh Taylor and Over Atlantic. She is currently finishing off the Alstar Xmas Party Tour 2016. This is her debut single which she released last year for Christmas. She has followed this up with two more singles that she released this year "High School Sucks" and "Scared Much". This pop/rock Christmas song is passionate and intricate. It was written by Bronnie Hughes.

The music video is mainly a performance piece, with Bronnie adding comedic snapshots of her dressed up as Santa or her admiring the decorations on the tree.

The video is a personal one where she interacts with her viewers throughout. It's an upbeat modern Christmas song, that is easily one of my faves.

It's fun, it's interesting and full of enthusiasm. It shows how far Bronnie has come since she first released this song. She's been building momentum and 2017 is around the corner; no doubt she has big plans for next year and she's one to keep an eye on, for sure.
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