Stormzy is in the top ten of the UK chart, again! Can you believe it? We all thought this wouldn't ever happen, a grime artist in the UK top ten singles chart for the second time, but he's here! He grabs my Chart Mondays review today due to Ed Sheeran still being at number one with "Shape of You". This definitely is catchy, and it's no surprise it is in the top ten. Watch Stormzy sing about being too "Big For Your Boots" all the while including controversial issues in this brilliantly crafted music video.
Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, has really turned into a defining artist and rapper amongst the grime music genre that has been popular for years in the UK. However, it's very difficult to chart, let alone get a second single in the UK's top ten, which just goes to show how big Stormzy has become. He previously got to number eight in the UK with his song "Shut Up". Now he's peaked at that position again with "Big For Your Boots". This song is his first single from his official debut album. It was written by Michael Omari.
The music video was directed by DAPS. It's mainly a performance piece set within a narrative that is strong nonetheless.
He totally brings it on the visual, we expect nothing less of Stormzy. He can rap in style with so much energy that you just want to see him on stage doing his thing. His music videos always have this energetic vibe about them, that it's no surprise it turns up in this one too.
There are some great profile shots of additional characters, although the scenes aren't fully fleshed out into the narrative. We don't know why he is chilling in the sunroof of a cop car, but he does sing 'Drug money in my shoebox' at that point so maybe they lyrics explains it all.
Either way, this is a killer music video. It's full of energetic vibes and great profile scenes. The first half is way better than the second half, but that is due to camera angles and the settings of each scene rather than anything else. The music video is progressive and totally relatable to the song. It works.
I had no idea what to review today, so I let YouTube recommendations decide. Now, Wiktoria first came to my attention when she performed in Melodifestivalen 2016. She is performing once again in Melodifestivalen 2017, and maybe she'll do better. Her song last year was "Save Me" which definitely was catchy. Hopefully, her new one will be just as good. This song was released recently, as a little bit of promotion for her before she graces the Melodifestivalen stage. Her voice is phenomenal as always and I cannot wait to see how she does in the contest, can she go all the way and represent Sweden at Eurovision 2017? Wiktoria brings all her stage presence in the performance music video "Unthink You" that also introduces a talented dancer who interprets the song into dance effortlessly.
Wiktoria, full name Wiktoria Johansson, is fairly new to the music scene, with only a few singles, but she has already made her name known. "Save Me" was quite the banger of Melodifestivalen 2016 and it charted well in Sweden, managing to get to number three and going on to achieve a platinum status. She has released a few singles since, including this one; but her main focus is on Melodifestivalen 2017, where she will perform "As I Lay Me Down". She is hoping to win and become the representative of Sweden for Eurovision 2017. She also voiced Moana in the Swedish-dubbed version of the Disney film of the same name. This song is a banger of a tune and should've been big. She has a killer voice that just oozes future success.
Directed by Michael Sjösten, this music video easily displays Wiktoria's amazing performance vibes, all intercut with an amazing dancer who does look quite like Troye Sivan, but it's not.
The dancer takes on an interesting interpreted dance that is so intricate that it just goes to show how technically great he really is. He kind of takes the spotlight from Wiktoria, though. His moves are incredible and we just want to keep watching, which totally distracts us from the artist.
As for Wiktoria, she brings her usual flair to the music video, seriously giving the camera all the great shots, and performing the song with all she's got. It works well but if the dancer and Wiktoria met in a final scene, it would bring an unthinkable narrative that is clearly missing in this music video.
Another new music video in promotion of her newly released single, Zara Larsson is quickly becoming a full-on international Swedish star. Collaborating with Ty Dollar $ign, just shows how far in her career she is and we're still waiting on an album, but is she attempting to crack America before hand? Especially since she performed on Ellen the other day. Filled with sprinkles of glitter, Zara Larsson's "So Good" music video is a brilliant portrait performance piece with popular rapper Ty Dollar $ign.
Zara Larsson is a total household name in most of Europe; as for America, she's dipped in and out of their Billboard Hot 100 chart. Maybe this collaboration with Ty Dollar $ign will help her to become more well-known over there. Either way, her new album, her debut international album, will be released in March, with the same title as this song. She previously released an album back in 2014 in Scandinavia, but it didn't get released globally; as much as I need it in my life, along with all her other songs in the world - This is why I think they should also release that old album at the same time, because people will no doubt buy it as well. Ty Dollar $ign, real name Tyrone Griffin Jr., has become a rapper everyone wants to collaborate with. He has solidified himself as a popular American rapper and has totally launched quite a few successes. This song has done moderately well in many countries, but it totally hasn't lived up to the successes of her previous singles. It was written by Zara Larsson, Charles Otto Puth (Charlie Puth), Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Gamal Lewis (Lunchmoney Lewis), and Danny Schofield.
The glitter-filled music video was directed by Sarah McColgan. It is a pure performance visual, with a few dance sequences and choreography throughout. Unfortunately, Zara Larsson is missing her stage presence spark that we are used to seeing in her music videos.
We watch Zara Larsson sprinkle glitter on her face in the opening scene. Other scenes follow where she is looking sexy throughout, but there's not much movement or involvement. In the dance scenes, we see her just do the moves, but she doesn't pull them off like in the original "Lush Life" music video. There's just no feeling behind them.
It feels like she hasn't connected to the song at all. She's not bringing any substance to this as a whole.
Ty Dollar $ign brings it like he always does, but again the style of the music video just doesn't work and although the spotlight brings him out more, the emotionless vibe coming off Zara Larsson totally taints the video as a whole.
It's definitely a disappointing music video, one that I don't want to watch again, regardless of the fact that I'm a Zara Larsson fan. I'll be going back to watching her other music videos and leave this one be. I'm hoping she releases a new single in promotion of her album in March, hopefully it'll have a much better music video. The song itself isn't something that I would've thought Zara Larsson would record. It feels like it's going to be a stand-out track on the album for all the wrong reasons. It's certainly a new direction and one that hasn't worked out well in her favour, considering the chart positions.
So many new releases today, some of which are from some big names, and yet no music videos, which means I have to discover a whole new artist. This is Aura, who has an incredible voice. Slightly cheating with this because the EP to this song isn't out until March, however if you pre-order the EP you will get this song and a remix as an instant grat download, although I don't see why they have it as pre-order as it just stops two remixes of this song from being released, which people aren't all that fussed about. Nonetheless, you can actually download this song, and with vocals like that, how can you not? Aura stuns us all with this emotional performance music video of her new song "Can't Steal The Music". You can't take it away.
Aura, real name Maria Joensen, has already established herself as an artist amongst Europe, most notably in Scandinavia, especially her home country of Denmark. She previously went under the name of Aura Dione, and had a trio of hits: "I Will Love You Monday (365)", "Geronimo", and "Friends", the latter of which featured Rock Mafia. Now going with a monotonous name of Aura, she is set on releasing more music and a third studio album, named after this track. The album itself will also feature previous singles "Love Somebody" and "Indian Giver". The song was written by Aura and Jamie Hartman.
Directed by Michael Sauer, the music video shows off Aura brilliantly. She easily gets into her role proving that no one can steal music away from her.
She brings a natural stage presence to the video in the various scenes. She's completely emotional throughout, clearly thinking of her past relationship that stripped her of who she was. But music was the one thing that got her through it, hence the song and her amazing acting skills in the video.
Passionate and effective, there's also some dance sequences mixed in. Aura shows that she can dance, interpreting the lyrics amazingly into a few slow steps that accentuate this music video as a whole. There's also a possible love interest, as Aura cuddles up to a hooded person; is this the person she has been singing too, telling them that they can't steal the music from her? Who knows, but he or she looks quite shady to me. Great music video, I'm glad I chose it for my New Release music video review, and I can't wait to see what the future brings for Aura because that voice is incredible.
We have to admit, this is definitely a catchy song, it's just a shame that they didn't continue the love triangle narrative found in Basshunter's previous music videos. However, I can totally make this music video fit in with the narrative, slightly - but more on that later. I actually thought this song and music video would've been a feature, and an attempt to promote a whole new sexy girl group, however, the female vocalist or vocalists were never revealed and went on as uncredited. Watch Basshunter go clubbing, he gains supernatural powers that enable him to control scantily-clad girls in this "Saturday" music video.
Basshunter, real name Jonas Altberg, hasn't released anything new for years now, and he is practically just promoting himself by doing clubbing tours. We need new music from him, to speak the truth. This song in itself was his last biggest hit in the UK, and I very much doubt he could make a comeback unless he actually releases something amazing. This song was written by Erick Morillo, Mark Quashie, Mich Hansen, Thomas Troelsen, and Engelina Larsen. It contains a sample of Real 2 Real's "I Like To Move It".
Directed by Alex Herron, the video has more to do with Basshunter's love for video games, hence the whole reason why he can control the women in the club. However, I know exactly how this can fit into the whole narration, even if it's actually stepped aside and like "Walk On Water", it's its own music video.
So let's RECAP! "Now You're Gone" gave us Aylar Lie and Lucas Thorheim breaking up by text yet they both go clubbing with their respected friends and end up in the same club and get back together. "All I Ever Wanted" shows them on holiday in Spain, they have fun and go clubbing, but Lucas finds a 'mate's cousin', is it the end for them? "Angel In The Night" broke Aylar & Lucas up via text again, and Aylar finds Jonas Altberg (Basshunter) and after impressing her with his street racing and singing, they kiss... "I Miss You / Jingle Bells" brings Christmas in Norway; there's snow, presents and a dip in the hot tub, as well as Jonas having to fend off a guy from coming on to Aylar. "Walk On Water" breaks the story as we're shown the touring life of Basshunter. "Every Morning" saw Jonas building up the courage to propose to Aylar, but the right moment never happens, and then the water takes her and she disappears. "I Promised Myself" revealed that Aylar had been found and is being treated at hospital, Jonas hops in a taxi and goes over his past memories; however, when he arrives Lucas is the one next to her bed. So how does this music video fit in? I hear you ask... Well Jonas is clearly upset at what he's seen, and instead of talking it out, he leaves the hospital in search of the nearest club so he can get a drink. He just happens to come across a new-age strip club that allows you to control the women. There's my link, and it does fit, but the video itself should still be treated separately even if it does fit within the narrative. As a whole, the video is clever and incredibly sexy. It's fully relatable to the song and Basshunter is definitely looking hot throughout. There isn't a lot of substance to the video, but it's intricate in the ideas. Overall, it works well with the song, but I would've liked to have seen the female vocalist fully credited. It's more her song than Basshunter's, especially since he didn't write or produce this song, so I'm not quite sure what he did to this song himself, apart from his own vocals. Regardless, it works but I kind of wished the girls could control him at the end as a role reversal.
