The dance arena for Birmingham Pride 2017 is set to go off! They have a whole host of amazing DJs in their line-up and it looks like it's going to be the place I spend most of my time. Tom Shorterz will be one of many amazing DJs set to perform this year, and he actually has a music video for one of his songs, hence why he's a part of my Birmingham Pride Special. Watch people dance to this catchy beat in profile scenes whilst crazy bubbles float around in this colourful music video for Tom Shorterz "Colours" featuring Lucy Love.
Tom Shorterz is one of the rising Birmingham DJs around at the moment. He is one of the DJs behind the leading 2:31 at the Rainbow Venues in Birmingham. It's an event I've always been meaning to go to but never had the chance to; now I might get the chance to experience his club tunes in the dance arena. He also did a killer remix of Katy B's "Crying For No Reason" which became very popular. It's no surprise he is part of the Birmingham Pride 2017 line-up. Featured on this track is Lucy Love. She is a singer/songwriter from Copenhagen, Denmark. This song is originally her song, Tom Shorterz did a remix edit, changing it into a house/club song. I much prefer this version, although Lucy Love's original is definitely interesting. This just shows how amazing Tom Shorterz is.
Directed by David Strindberg, the music video features various dancers in a very colourful setting. Their choreography is controlled and stylistic. It easily goes with the music being played.
The bubbles are an interesting addition to all that is going on, and they certainly keep the audience entertained whilst the scenes focus on the dancers and their moves.
However, there's nothing else for me to comment on for this music video. It's relatable because it's really colourful. It's intricate whilst the dancing rhythmically infuses with the song.
Another amazing DJ that will be playing at Birmingham Pride 2017. I'm so excited that Kissy Sell Out will be there, and is now a part of my blog due to my Birmingham Pride Special. His songs are pretty awesome and he has been going for over a decade now, proving himself as a DJ we all need to get behind. He was, previously, a Radio 1 DJ and has remixed plenty of big songs from internationally-known artists. Watch JJ Inkpen dance in various locations for Kissy Sell Out's music video for his single "Tell You" that features Holly Lois.
Kissy Sell Out, real name Thomas Bisdee, is a British/Canadian DJ and producer. He had his own slot on Radio 1, but his last show was back in 2012. He has collaborated with some of the best, including Tinashé and Angie Brown. His career has spanned over a decade, and he was a fundamental part of the rise of electronic music, especially when he was on Radio 1. As for his remixes, he's done some of the best I've ever heard, and I cannot wait for what the future will bring for him. His career is something many DJs inspire to have, yet there's always more he could do, he just needs one hit song, and with his focused mentality, I'm sure he can achieve this. Featured on the track is Holly Lois. Back in 2010, she was a part of girl group Vanquish, now she's focusing on a solo career. Her vocals are stunning on this track and I'm interested in what the future has in store for her.
Directed by Kissy Sell Out, this music video is a pure performance visual of JJ Inkpen. The dancer also came up with the choreography, for the music video.
We watch JJ Inkpen dance in various settings. There is a lot of foot shuffling going on, which was extremely popular two years ago when this music video was released. It's still quite popular nowadays, but not quite so obsessively over the top as this music video suggests.
The dancing isn't progressive, it looks like total freelance, and it could well have been. It relates to the song every now and again, but it's not fully focused on doing that. Some moves are hilarious though, to the extent where it is abnormal, and not something someone would actually do.
The music video, as a whole, isn't that interesting. The various settings are much more interesting, especially the painted walls, than JJ Inkpen dancing. It's nothing new and nothing exciting and doesn't bring more to the song if anything it distracts from the song because of the comical moves.
I wasn't really planning on including the dance arena acts into my Birmingham Pride Special, but since they have drawn in some big names this year, and since it will probably be the place I spend the most time at, I just had to include some of the acts into my Birmingham Pride Special. The biggest announcement for the dance arena, so far, is Tough Love, who had a total hit with this song, and it is still a club banger to this day, two years after its release. Although, I really didn't want to review this music video after coming across it; guess I was one of the lucky ones who has never seen this video before today; now I can't forget it. Watch this comedic visual, starring Rob van Vuuren daydreaming about being a lifeguard for an outdoor pool, in this music video for Tough Love's song "So Freakin' Tight".
Tough Love are a British DJ duo consisting of Alex Prinzivalli and Stefan O'Brien. They have released a range of songs and have really proven themselves as one of the top DJ duos around. However, they have only had two hit songs so far, this one being their biggest to date. If they can do it once, they can do it again and have another hit song. This happens a lot for DJs, they come and go when it comes to the chart, without lack of trying. This song samples the Jodeci song "Freek'n You". It was written by Donald Degrate Jr.
Directed by Craig Moore, this music video stars comedian Rob van Vuuren. This explains why it's very comedic, and it works well since he is a confident guy and not worried at all about what he looks like. This works because he's clearly a great actor.
A daydream turns Rob van Vuuren into a lifeguard of a busy outdoor pool. He fantasises that there are a lot of girls in bikinis at the pool, which he gets to watch over. He finds suncream in the pool, which the dream character, Rob van Vuuren, imagines sexily squirting the suncream over a woman lounging by the pool, yet it doesn't turn out that way and goes completely wrong.
This happens again in a scene involving ice cream, where the dreamed-up lifeguard comes across two women eating ice cream. He imagines sexily caressing the ice cream over the women's bodies whilst they do the same to him. A choreographed scene ends the imagination and the women are not happy when he grabs for the ice cream.
Rob van Vuuren really gets into the lifeguard character as he drools over the women at the pool. The last scene makes us realise it was all a daydream, and he's just the cleaner. It's comedic, but it's also interesting since there are many men who have daydreams just like this one; although, I doubt they have daydreams inside of daydreams... It's a complex idea for a music video, one that's really unappealing to watch, but they have actually managed to pull it off. Yet, it's unrelatable and definitely something we don't want to see again.
Not my usual pick for New Release, but it makes a change to switch up my blog with a possible future hit single, especially since I'm on a Birmingham Pride Special at the moment, which is currently showcasing some oldish songs; make sure you check it out when you have a chance, by clicking the link. This does seem quite the group, yet it's a catchy number and it works quite well. Watch DJ Khaled throw a party at his house with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne; where they bring a chilled out relax performance vibe in this music video for "I'm The One".
DJ Khaled, real name Khaled Khaled, is a record producer and DJ amongst many other professional titles. He has had a successful career in music for many years and has definitely made a name for himself; although, I reckon this song will become his biggest worldwide hit. Featured on the track is Justin Bieber, who is the sole reason why this track is completely popular, as he is a full-on international star with many hits to his name. As for Quavo, he is mostly known for being in a three-piece group called Migos who also appear in the visual. They're definitely one of the rising hip-hop groups around; I expect to see more of them in the future. Then there's Chance The Rapper, real name Chancelor Bennett, he has been going for a few years and certainly made his name known through collaborations with Justin Bieber and Snakehips on "Confident" and "All My Friends" respectively. Then there's the rapper who needs no introduction, Lil Wayne, who's real name is Dwayne Carter, Jr. He's a multi-award winning hip-hop artist who has had various hits. He truly has established himself as one of the top rappers in the industry. This is quite a collaboration, one that could've easily gone wrong, but it works and this is certainly a future hit. I wonder where it will chart in the UK next Friday. The song was written by Khaled Khaled, Jason Boyd, Quavious Marshall, Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter, Jr., Nicholas Balding, David Park, Bobby Brackins, and Ray Jacobs.
Directed by Eif Rivera, the music video starts off with DJ Khaled's son, Asahd Khaled, in the director chair, in a very cute snapshot. He also appears on the front of the single cover artwork in quite the tropical themed picture. We continue to watch as DJ Khaled talks on the phone to Chance The Rapper, organising a party; whilst he stares at a woman riding up to him on a horse.
The party is in full swing later on as we watch Justin Bieber singing the song whilst adding some awkward dance moves throughout; yet, it shows how relaxed he is in this setting.
The other artists come in at certain intervals and the music video easily showcases each artist. Lil Wayne gets the biggest spotlight of all, which is understandable; and yet, he doesn't take it for granted and works it to his advantage.
There are women dressed sexily in the music video, and we seriously do see this a lot in hip-hop music. It's nothing new; but I admire the fact that they have kept it subtle and relaxed. There isn't much focus on the women which makes a very nice change. It keeps focus on the song as a whole, and this is why this music video works.
It's very relaxed and easily watchable for anyone who is viewing. It's not too much compared to a variety of music videos I have seen. It's calm, sunny, and definitely something I wouldn't mind catching on the music channels. This music video could've been over-the-top and could've been a typical hip-hop party music video. Instead, they drew it back, focusing on the song and the presentation of it. Nice one!
It's Thursday, so it's time to look back on a music video that is 5 years old or more. My only option, really, this week, was Saara Aalto, and I'm glad to be revisiting her since my previous review has had a lot of hits and is currently one of my most viewed posts this month! Saara Aalto will be performing at Birmingham Pride 2017, hence why she's a part of my Birmingham Pride Special. She probably won't be singing any of the songs she has released officially in the past few years, and I fully expect to hear her sing cover versions; I am definitely hoping for Sia's "Chandelier" since she never sang that at The X Factor Tour, which was a complete disappointment, I needed to hear her sing that song. This one is just as impressive though, her range is amazing. Watch Saara Aalto unleash energetic performance vibes, as she sings this ballad debut single "Blessed With Love" that is certainly filled with a lot of heart.
Saara Aalto is an inspiration to us all. She never ever gave up on her dream and her love of singing. She has built her career up and up, and it just shows that if you carry on, if you keep fighting, you can make it. Her voice is stunning to no end. She competed in the thirteenth series of The X Factor, which is where most people from the UK know her from, where she ended up as the runner-up. Coming second is something she's used to, she came second on the first series of The Voice of Finland, and she's also been runner-up twice at Finland's national selection to Eurovision in 2011 and 2016. The show was called Euroviisut, in 2011, but in 2016 they went for a different approach which was called Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. It was with this song that she competed and came second in Euroviisut 2011. The song is good and catchy; Finland missed out on a good one with this. The song was written by Saara Aalto.
The music video is a pure performance visual, with a slight longing narrative included. She's a stunning performer even five/six years ago.
It's hard to give out a strong performance behind a piano, and only the best of artists manage to pull it off, and it's clear from the get-go that Saara Aalto is one of those artists. She fully brings it, like no other artist, and she definitely had stage presence, even back then. How she never made it to Eurovision, I'll never know.
She looks as if she's in a castle, which goes well with her fairy princess personality. There is clearly a lot of longing in this music video, and she is fully passionate about the song and its portrayal. It's so nice to see her giving it her all but controlling her voice and her acting throughout.
Overall, this music video just proves that Saara Aalto has always been a full-on talent. She's definitely a future international star, and she has recently signed a five-album deal with Sony Music UK and Sony Music Finland. I'm excited to find out what the future brings for her, surely she deserves a hit and I hope one gets released when she's ready. Her voice is amazing and deserves worldwide attention.
