Here's a Thursday Revisit for us all. It's Raluka with black hair when she dominated the Romanian charts with her undeniably catchy songs. Nowadays, she's bringing fire with authentic emotional songs that we can't help but love, but we also can't help loving her old songs too - although we much prefer the red hair. She has a Tulisa look about her during this music video, all the while her music reminds me of Lasgo. Watch Raluka get revenge on a guy whilst acting sexily and totally nailing some choreography in her music video for hit Romanian track "Out Of Your Business".
Raluka, real name Alexandra Raluca Nistor, is one of my favourite Romanian female singers, she's up there with the best such as Inna, Antonia, and Alexandra Stan, amongst others. I had the amazing opportunity to interview her for CelebMix recently, and that was certainly a dream come true. This was one of her early hits when she was totally on form and nailing the Romanian charts. Unfortunately, none of her tracks have ever become international successes, although they certainly all deserve to be. I believe that she will have an international smash one day - with vocals like this and her crazy determination, she'll make it. This song apparently hit number eight on the Romanian Top 100 chart. We believe the song was written by Stefan Mihalache and Cristian Maier.
This music video mainly focuses on Raluka's performance scenes, because sex certainly sells and she is definitely bringing it when it comes to singing the song. There is an interesting but slight narrative intersected throughout.
Mainly, her performance piece sees her lying on a bed, looking directly at the camera. This is definitely the main scene throughout, and she certainly knows how to keep the audience interested. Yet, my favourite performance scene is where she's nailing the dance choreography - in this scene she fully brings it, with her two backing dancers, proving that she can dance. I so wish I get the chance to see her perform live.
As for the narrative side of things, we watch Raluka and her backing dancers ride an elevator and then walk into a business meeting, where her ex is sitting at the head of the table. She proclaims that they're over whilst being a tease and wrecking the place. Now, this is total revenge.
Overall this music video is polished and totally memorable. I feel that the narrative takes a backstep whilst the performance comes to the forefront; when, really, it should be the other way around since the revenge plot is certainly entertaining and grips the viewers throughout. Raluka knows how to perform, that's for sure, but there's just not enough substance there compared to the narrative.
We have new music from Ashley J and a brand new music video to go with it - that I'm totally loving. She came to my attention recently when the music video to "Trapped" was sent through my email, now I'm a fan and I really can't help it. This music video, however, is probably one of her best to-date, and I literally can't stop watching. The song is crazily addicting too. Watch Ashley J show the process of songwriting, whilst she performs her passionate and emotional new single in this music video for "Unbreakable".
Ashley J, full name Ashley Jean, is building up her career and I am so loving her music to-date. This song is a fan-favourite, and it's not a surprise at all because it is brilliant in every way. Unlike her previous songs, this one is a bit more stripped back, fully exposing her emotions within the song. I was lucky enough to interview her for CelebMix, as well as write up an article on the song and the music video. She's definitely a rising star in the music industry and this song and music video is completely powerful. She plans on dropping an EP very soon - we really cannot wait for that. This song was written by Ashley J, whilst it was produced by Jamie Sellers and Warwick Matthews.
Directed by Ashley J - yes she directed this awesome music video all by herself - this visual is engaging from start to finish, fully showing off all sides of herself. She's beautiful, genuine, sweet, sexy, and focused in this confident visual.
There are various scenes throughout; our favourite is where she's in the woods as she is so confident and genuine during this scene. She expresses herself completely, to the extent where we wish we were friends with her as she'd definitely be an amazing friend to have.
The other scenes show her in her house songwriting. There's the casual day where she has a cup of tea with her - perhaps an ode to London where the song was produced since Britain is known for their tea. There's the sexy evening scene where she has a glass of wine as she writes her song, she then takes it to the piano, later on. Then there's the scene with the mirror as she sings to her reflection as she dyes her hair with Marilyn Monroe framed behind her.
Overall, this is one polished music video. Ashley J completely shows herself off as an artist and as a person in this visual. She displays her songwriting process as well as her confidence - relating well with the song. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us in the future.
I previously wrote up about this release for CelebMix so, of course, I was going to write about it on my blog. Especially since I'm a big fan of Raluka. This song is completely beautiful in every way, fully showing off her vocals, more so than her previous songs. This is why I love this so much, and clearly, I'm not the only one because it is racking up the YouTube views. This visual displays Raluka as the brilliant female singer we know her as. Watch Raluka perform her song on a beach, full of professionalism and dance technique in this beautifully crafted music video for "Cine sunt eu".
Raluka is a Romanian singer who has had a number of hits with DJ Sava during her early releases. He real name is Alexandra Raluca Nistor. She has had a great solo career to date with plenty of amazing songs. Her recent releases have been pure fire, and I even had the chance to interview her for CelebMix on the release of "Tattoo" which was an English version of her previous track "Du-ma Spre Noi". She's clearly bringing it with her releases, and her future is certainly bright. I cannot wait to see where her career takes her, I hope I get to watch her live on stage, and I hope she gets to release an album. This song was written by Irina Rimes & Raluka.
Directed by Alex Ceausu, this music video is a pure performance piece visually shown in black and white set on a beach - we all know how much I hate black and white music videos. Although, I'll give this credit as it allows Raluka to fully step into the spotlight and fully allow the shades to blend - not something that can be shown in colour.
As expected, Raluka gives it her all in this music video. She's clearly passionate about the song - the title means "Who Am I" in English whilst the song is about breaking away from a relationship that held her back. The visual shows how strong she is all by herself; she doesn't need anyone else.
Not only that, but Raluka treats us to a choreographed scene that proves she can dance. This is the YAS moment of the music video. Raluka shows she doesn't need anyone, she brings flames of fire and sparks of energy during this dance sequence, just WOW!
Overall, there isn't a lot to this music video, and although relatable to the song, there's nothing at all that memorable. She brings it for the performance, but the black and white visual does leave the viewers wishing there was more to this.
Okay, so I'm still on my catch-up spree, in case you haven't guessed. I'm behind by seven days now, which sounds so much better than 13 days like I was a few days ago. Anyhow, what I wasn't expecting was a music video that would make me cry because that usually equates to a very long review, one that will take me some time to write up; time of which I don't have because I'm trying to catch up with myself. Low and behold, here is the perpetrating music video, and it just so happens to be Chart Mondays too. Since Post Malone is holding reign at the top of the UK Singles Chart with "Rockstar" featuring 21 Savage, which doesn't have a music video, it opens the top ten, and just sitting at number ten is this song, with the video that made me cry. Watch Coy Stewart play a gay character who is contemplating suicide in this heart-wrenching music video for Logic's song "1-800-273-8255" featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid.
Logic, real name Sir Robert Hall II, is an American artist and rapper who has really been building up his career in the last two years. Previous song "Sucker For Pain", which was a massive collaboration, became an international success; a year later, he's hit it off with this song, fully raising awareness for homosexuality and suicide prevention that this track is a smash around the world. Personally, I want to thank him for this song and video, it's rare for these issues to be shown in the media, let alone in rap and hip-hop music, so this track certainly has my support in every single way. Featuring on this track is Alessia Cara and Khalid. The former, whose real name is Alessia Caracciolo, is another star who's built up her career and who is still fighting for a certain song to be identified with her name and image - she's had hits but nothing that she's mostly known for. Then there's the latter feature, who is one of the top rising stars out at the moment. Khalid, full name Khalid Robinson, is someone we're all keeping an eye on. He's made such an impact, this year alone, that he's going to be monumental in the direction of the music industry as the next year rolls in. This song is iconic, it's stamped itself into 2017, and it will never go away, and nor should it. This track is Logic trying to help people, and when you make something this powerful, it deserves to be a hit. "1-800-273-8255" is actually the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States; the song itself was written by Sir Robert Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Alessia Caracciolo, and Khalid Robinson.
Directed by Andy Hines, this music video has touched the world. It's left people speechless, it's left people in tears (including me), and its left people annoyed - because they don't agree with people being gay. It's a powerful visual, one I'll never forget. The video stars Coy Stewart, Nolan Gould, Don Cheadle, Luis Guzmán, and Matthew Modine; it lasts for almost seven minutes, turning it into quite a film-like short.
Coy Stewart plays our main character and can be seen from the very start as he deals with his life. The opening scene sees him running down a street, clearly running away from his life. The following scenes show his childhood, how he's grown from a baby into a man.
As a teenager, he arrives home to his father finding out about his sexuality by discovering a copy of Gay Times Magazine - boy, would I have hated my parents finding out about my homosexuality that way. After a discussion with his father, who clearly doesn't understand, we return to him running down the street. Other scenes see him detached from his college life; worried about his father's words.
We previously saw him acting out a secret handshake with a guy in school, and the following scenes see him hanging out with this guy - played by Nolan Gould. They end up in bed together, and when Nolan's father walks in on them chilling in bed together half-naked, Coy Stewart grabs his clothes and hastens out of the house; disapproval on the father's face, tells all.
This is where Alessia Cara comes in, who can be seen performing her song on screens within the school, adding a passionate and caring vibe to these hard-hitting scenes. Logic also joins in, appearing on computer screens in a tech room; he adds flames to the performance piece, bringing an energetic yet meaningful vibe to the scenes. A joke is played on Coy Stewart in the locker room, where someone's attached a dildo to the inside of his locker.
More depressing scenes follow; one suggesting that he's living at the school since scenes show him sleeping on the floor, and taking a shower at the school. He also falls asleep in class, where his teacher asks if he is okay. His teacher offers him some food, to which he is thankful for.
The next scene sees his father, played by Don Cheadle, heading down the school's corridors and chatting to the kind teacher. Even more distressing scenes follow, where Coy Stewart is seen to be back home in his bedroom with a gun, extremely upset and clearly contemplating suicide - man, this is tough to watch, especially since we've all been there at one point or another, probably not to this extreme but a simple thought or more.
This is the most heart-breaking scene, seeing him acting out with the gun, putting it to his head, to his reflection in the mirror, all the while having flashbacks on certain moments of his life. We are cut away from this scene to what looks like a hook-up scene, where he meets this guy and the car is driven to the top of a parking lot. It's intercut with Khalid performing on the computer screens where we previously watched Logic sing.
Then we see Coy Stewart in the school's bathroom, dialling a number - we presume his calling "1-800-273-8255", the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The turning moment in his life, where he seeks help. The cute scenes that follow show him getting married to a guy, and his parents there to celebrate with him - to know that this scene is part of my future makes me a bit teary, because I never thought I'd be able to get married, and now that it's legal, the thought of going through this process and to marry a guy I love with the support of my family and his family, really gives me goosebumps. To see the proud face of his father is simply amazing.
And to add further cuteness to this ending, we see the happily married couple welcoming a child into the world. Another thing I hope my future brings me. The ending is beautiful and brings it around perfectly. It really does feel like a film, totally representing the LGBTQ+ community as well as suicide, which is something we're used to the media hiding, or not fully taking it into account. It's one of the biggest killers and just talking to someone can actually save a life. This video is brilliant in every way.
How has it taken me this long to review this music video on my blog? Could've sworn I had already done it, but that's what happens when I also write things up for CelebMix. I absolutely adore this song and its visual, it's so serene and gorgeous, that I've seen this way too many times. Alexandra Stan and Monoir make one beautiful couple. Monoir was a surprise as he is extremely hot with his top hat and suit. Watch Alexandra Stan walk around Santorini, Cyclades, Greece acting as if she's searching for someone or something, as Monoir follows her like a ghostly apparition in this music video for their song "Save The Night".
Monoir, real name Christian Tarcea, is a Romanian DJ and producer who previously went under the name of Chris Thrace. You might recognise that name, as he has remixed some of the biggest Romanian songs from the likes of Inna, Alexandra Stan, and Raluka. He's also had some hits of his own, under this new name, including "The Violin Song" and "We Had Love". He's certainly a male Romanian artist to keep our eyes on; one who will keep releasing massive hits like this one. "Save The Night" features Alexandra Stan, who is one of my all-time favourite artists. She went international with her song "Mr Saxobeat" and has continued to bring sure-fire hits that I cannot get enough of. She's currently in Los Angeles for the next few months as she works on new music; just imagine the album she'll be releasing! I cannot wait! This song was written by Christian Tarcea and Alexandra Stan.
The music video is gorgeous visually, in every way. It was set in the delicately beautiful Santorini, Cyclades, Greece - a place we all want to visit. Monoir and Alexandra Stan really showcase this serene city perfectly.
The video is perfect as there's a narrative and a performance piece. Alexandra Stan fully gives it during her singing scenes, fully embracing the song and really getting the meaning of the song across to the viewers.
As for the narrative, we watch Alexandra Stan exploring the city. She talks to various people who tell her the direction she needs to go; there are even a few sweet moments, which sees her talking to an elderly person and a child, the latter of which she gives a badge to.
Throughout, Monoir followers her in his sexy suit with that top hat we are fond of. She doesn't realise that he's following her, and there's something ghostly about the way he appears to be keeping up with her. Throughout, the walls of the city are digitally edited, creating intricate but subtle colours within the visual.
The ending sees Alexandra Stan looking lost, as if she's met her destination but hasn't found what she is looking for. Monoir sits down beside her and there's an instant connection - unsurprising since they both look stunning in this music video. He passes her a gift, which is a pocket mirror, she glances at her reflection, instant feeling happier; but, when she turns back to Monoir, all is left of him is the top hat.
Overall, the concept is interesting throughout, with the ending showing that being who you are and being confident brings everything you want. Alexandra Stan goes looking for herself, but little did she know that all she needed to do was realise how beautiful she really is. The narrative is in-depth and slightly relates to the song. As for the performance, it has Alexandra Stan's usual stage vibes all over it, and it's clear she loves this song as much as we all do.
