Well, anyone who has followed my Eurovision Special would have realised that this is from the wrong year. The thing is Måns Zelmerlöw hasn't released an official music video to "Heroes"; unfortunately, there is only a lyric video available. So that left me a little unsure of what to do. Then I remembered Jamala had released this video for her winning entry from Eurovision 2016, and I've been trying to find the time to review it. So today is as good of a day as any, but the today is the best day because it totally completes all my Eurovision blog posts. Watch Jamala perform "1944" amongst an intricate contemporary dance that raises goosebumps and gives chills. Absolutely amazing.
Jamala, full name Susana Jamaladinova, has released a lot of songs and albums. She has really embedded herself as a confident professional singer with amazing vocal ability. It's not much of a surprise that she did well in the contest, and she managed to win it even when the top was very competitive. She won the Ukrainian national final, after initially tying with second place. She represented Ukraine and won with 534 points. Due to a change of the points system, this marks the highest score of the Eurovision Song Contest, ever. There was controversy over the fact that she won because Australia won the jury vote, and Russia won the public vote; Ukraine came second in both and with a combined total, Jamala won overall. The song also gained a lot of controversy due to the potential political content of the song, however the Eurovision Broadcasting Union looked into this and claimed that the song didn't contain any political speech and therefore ruled that the song doesn't break any of the Eurovision rules. Jamala's song tells a story and it really packs a punch, definitely a worthy winner in my books. The song was written by Art Antonyan and Susana Jamaladinova. The song is in English and Crimean Tatar.
Directed by Anatoliy Sachivko, who was also the choreographer for this video; the music video interprets all the emotion Jamala expresses into the song, into an emotional contemporary dance that completely flows and presents the song in the most beautiful way.
Jamala proves that she can dance too, throwing in her ability to perform this song with full emotion. The video was set an abandoned military base: Pamir. Which is on top of Tomnatik mountain.
The weather plays an important part of this music video, I love the rain effect on the camera, as well as the tornadoes that affect the people dancing.
It's all shot under an undue expectation of emotion. There's dark depths to this video and the visual shows it off perfectly. The choreography is amazing and all the dancers manage to stand out and prove their worth.
There's not much else left for me to say. It's quite a battle, one they obviously can't beat and yet they show a strength in unity. It's completely intricate and easily displays the emotions found in the song.
This one was just being played randomly on my iTunes today, and I loved it so much I HAD to see if there was a music video I could review today... And sure enough, here it is. This country duo has been making waves with their music and are quickly becoming an identifiable act within the country music genre. Watch Maddie & Tae perform on two floating chairs as scenes of sweet strength and independence flow throughout this video for "Fly".
Maddie & Tae are an American country duo consisting of Madison Marlow and Taylor Dye. They have so far released one album, one EP, and four singles. Their debut song "Girl in a Country Song" totally launched them in the country music world. This song was their follow-up single, but since then their chart positions have deteriorated. However, things could all change when they come back with a second album. These voices deserve their place within country music and it's no surprise that there is a buzz in the air around these two. This song was written by Taylor Dye, Madison Marlow, and Tiffany Vartanyan.
Directed by Brian Lazzaro, this music video really allows the viewers to identify with Maddie & Tae. They announce who they are and prove that they have beautiful voices to match their gorgeous good looks.
The video is a full sign of female empowerment. The girls encourage their viewers to keep climbing in the song, and that is exactly what is happening to the girl on the ladder, she keeps climbing. The woman who becomes a teacher keeps fighting for the career she wants and the girl on the swing saves herself from falling.
It's all wrapped up in scenes of Maddie & Tae writing the song. This shows complete strength and a love of what they are doing. They are having fun and a good time. There is also a butterfly that is super cute in this video too. Overall, this is neatly packaged, it's strong and it is fearless. It inspires people to keep going.
It's so sad to have heard that George Michael has passed away, on Christmas Day too! Unfortunately, I have already reviewed Wham!'s "Last Christmas", where George Michael was one-half of the duo, in my Christmas Special 2012. So I googled to see if he had released another Christmas song to finish off my Christmas Special 2016, and this one came up. It's a great vocal from George Michael, and it's sad to hear that this legend of a voice has gone from this world. He was also a brilliant gay idol and LGBT activist. This is the second George Michael animation music video; "December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)" easily represents the festive date as well as love and lights from a child's perspective.
George Michael, real name Georgios Panayiotou, is one of the biggest male artists in the world. Not only has he had his singles and albums in his duo Wham! but he also did amazingly solo and quickly became a legend. So many people know his songs that it's difficult just to think of one favourite from him. This song was another Christmas song he released recently, then he later performed it on The X Factor. The song was planned for the Spice Girls, but personally, I believe, it sounds so much better from George Michael himself. It charted at number 14 in the UK, but shops sold out of the physical CD so it could've charted higher if they had stocked up more. "December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)" was written by George Michael and David Austin.
As previously mentioned, the music video is George Michael's second animated music video, after "Shoot The Dog". It depicts George Michael as a child, who walks through a TV.
It describes a child's representation of Christmas, all wrapped up in quite a sad and lonely way. Since there is only a mother in the whole video, maybe he is thinking of his dad? Who knows?
Inside the TV, we watch him have a snowball fight with a panda, and ride some light bulbs that have wheels on. All the while, his mouse or hamster follows him with every step; mainly in a comedic way.
Towards the end, the child falls from a great height, but luckily he wakes up in his bed; there are presents under the tree, and his mother gives him a cuddle. It's quite dreary, and sad, although the reason why isn't clear. However, it's still quite adorable.
Another new Christmas song and this one is another joyous festive track, that spreads the Christmas spirit throughout everyone, so this had to be included on my Christmas Special 2016. Kelly Clarkson has always been one of those singers who would release a song I like, but then radio overplays it and I don't like it anymore, or even if they don't overplay it, I end up overplaying it and then not liking the song anymore. This only happens to her songs, and I don't get why this happens to me with her songs, all the time. This one is the exact same, but I can't help liking it because it's a jolly Christmas song. In this music video for "Underneath The Tree", watch Kelly Clarkson perform on her Christmas TV Special, while behind the scenes are cut throughout.
Kelly Clarkson hit fame when she won the first series of American Idol. Since then she has really set herself as one of the biggest female recording artists in the world. Recently, she hasn't been charting that well globally, although she manages to come back time and again with a hit first single from each album that she releases. This song is from her Christmas album and managed to hit number 30 in the UK. Since 2013, the song has received great radio play every Christmas, and the song is a favourite around Christmas time. The song was written by Kelly Clarkson and Greg Kurstin.
The music video was directed by Hamish Hamilton and Weiss Eubanks. It consists of Kelly Clarkson performing on her Christmas TV special titled "Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale", which was shown on NBC.
She gives a stunning performance in a beautiful white and red dress, that is totally festive. She proves why she won American Idol all those years ago, she proves that her place in the world is on a stage, singing to people. Her voice is magnificent and this song manages to portray her vocal abilities.
As for the segments between her amazing performance, they're fun and cheeky, showing Kelly Clarkson's lightheartedness behind the scenes. She's clearly an easy person to get along with, and she has a brilliant attitude. Imagine being real life friends with Kelly Clarkson... That'd be the life, and you'll always have a good time when she's around.
Overall, it's great to see Kelly Clarkson on a stage performing. It's where she belongs. It's festive, it's fun, it's just a shame there isn't a narrative to incorporate the beautiful and meaningful song lyrics.
