Critic Jonni

She is about to perform on the X Factor this Sunday, and I really hope it will help her get this song to number one, it's one of those songs that are very powerful and should get to the top spot. Kelly Clarkson won the first ever series of American Idol. Ten years on and she's still making amazing music, and although she is still classed as an American Idol winner, she would very much like to push that label aside. She has already proven to be one of the best international winners, and will probably be a success for a very long time, so expect to see more from her. I'm kind of wondering if a greatest hits may be in the works? Or maybe it's something that will be available in a few years time, but I definitely think she's qualified for one, as she has had a number of great hits, and this song definitely will be another.

This song was written by Brian Seals, Ester Dean, Brett James and Dante Jones. And it's a break-up song. Kelly's vocal is amazing and she has totally pushed the boundaries on what you would expect from her, and I'm definitely interested in this song. The song is very different to her other releases, and that's always a good thing as it suggests that there is something differently intriguing about her, which is exactly what she wants. So that hopefully her album and singles will gain a lot more interest from others who aren't necessarily her fans, but I bet they will become one as soon as they hear this!

I really like the music video, first up, we have the wall with all the newspaper cuttings, I think this is a really good idea, as it suggests at how much Kelly finds this troubling, and most artists tend to sing about the paparazzi, when really it is also the journalists who are giving these celebrities a bad name. My only question is whether or not they are actual newspaper clippings or they are made up for the purposes of this video. I also like the shadow technique used with this wall of articles, it shows that she does have a backing band, but also that she and the director appreciates them, which is similar to Avril Lavigne, as her backing band appears every now and again.

I find it funny how there's this guy standing doing nothing, and Kelly is screaming the song lyrics at him, whether he is a dummy or not, I'm unsure, but I can imagine the take-outs of this, they must have been in giggles a lot of the time. I also like the fact that Kelly is watching over past videos, but if you watch closely you'll notice that during "I Do Not Hook Up" music video, she imagines how she would hook up with certain people, and she doesn't have the guts to do it. When she fall off the bar table, that is also a figment of her imagination, and doesn't actually happen, so why is she able to watch it? Or maybe this was some filming error?

Overall I really like this music video, and it's accompanying song, I think they link in perfectly, and although the video isn't one of the best, I'm glad it has a narrative storyline and it fits in perfectly with the song. I am looking forward to seeing her perform this, but it's already been a big hit in Australia and the US, let's hope it's as big here. I also like the ending in the video, it suggests a whole new route she plans to take, which is what I'm really looking forward for.

January 2: Goo Goo Dolls - Stay With You (2006)
- Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Since I've already mentioned this song in a previous post, I thought for my Sunday recollection, I'll do this song. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if I've ever seen this music video before. I don't think I have, but it's one of those music videos that you could watch a number of times and then simply forget you ever watched it. Which makes it very similar to "Iris". The Goo Goo Dolls are a 3-piece rock band consisting of John Rzeznik, Robby Takac and Mike Malinin, they have released a number of songs but rarely make it on the UK singles chart. In fact this song managed to get to number 39, which is one of their highest charting positions.

This song was written by John Rzeznik himself, therefore allowing the emotion to run straight to us. As I have mentioned before his husky voice makes tracks such as this one and "Iris" a classic rock song, and there's no artists out there at the moment with such a voice. The song is about staying next to his partner and being there for her, and they'll run away together and be free once and for all, and they belong together so they will not break up. It's a really sweet song and John's husky voice makes it that little bit more powerful.

The music video is a normal rock sort of video, with little going on, there really isn't a lot to say about the video to be totally honest, there is not narrative storyline, and it's just the band playing together. I like the concept of the lights and how they hang from the ceiling and at certain times they're either on or off, and they change due to the song. I also like the use of a girl appearing behind them on some sort of "billboard"-like poster thing, it's a nice idea, and it suggests they're staying together to a moderate amount.

I really like this song, but I can see why it didn't chart very high, as many people might not have liked this song as much, but it is still good that it managed to get to number 39, and I think the influence was of the B-Side, which may have pushed it into the top 40. However there is not a lot going on in the music video, and it kind of reminds me of "Iris" a little bit, but without the telescopes and the film scenes.

Overall I really do like this song, it's quite powerful and there is so much emotion displayed right in front of you, surely you have to agree with me. However it's music video is not as good as it could be, and I could easily become bored with it. I like some aspects of the music video, but there's just nothing that great about it.

I will always be a fan of Basshunter, he showed me what dance music was all about and introduced me to this whole new genre that I'm currently obsessed with. I will have to admit I am going to try my very best not to be biased at all, and I know it's going to be extremely difficult but I will try. Basshunter, real name Jonas Altburg, is a big hit here in the UK, but also a big hit in his own country Sweden, who are definitely in competition with Romania with the amount of dance artists they are releasing, we've had September and Swedish House Mafia I wonder who is next? Basshunter was the first artist on the Hard2beat (also known as Dance Nation) record label. This song was the first UK release and it went straight to number one. Since then top ten has been quite far off, so he entered Celebrity Big Brother and came fourth over all, with Alex Reid winning. Now he is ready for a comeback, and I so hope he has a number one in store as I will back him no matter what.

This song went straight to number one back in 2007, and is the first in a long line of music videos that is continuous, but more about the music video later. The song was originally called "Boten Anna" which is the Swedish version. Although the song lyrics are not direct translation, people refer to this as the English adaptation. "Boten Anna" was first remixed as a DJ set for DJ Mental Theo, it was this beat and mix that was used to create Now You're Gone. The song was written by Basshunter/Jonas Altburg, which then allows him to show his emotions and life experiences, which is exactly what the public wants, and I really admire those who do such a thing. Boten Anna is actually about when someone signed up on his website and he thought she was a computer bot administrator, later he found out that Anna was his girlfriend's best friend, and he was so embarrassed that he wrote this song. Now You're Gone, is about a couple breaking up and the love between them was surprisingly strong. I love this song and it gets stuck in my head whenever I hear it.

I really like the music video, and the whole idea that one leads off to another and then another is extremely intriguing. The most recent video was "I Promise Myself" and I really hope that Basshunter's future videos carry on the narrative storyline, as I know it's what sets these videos out from the crowd. This one was really good, the break-up starts at the very beginning with Aylar Lie and Lucas Thorheim, and then they both decide to go out clubbing with their friends, and they end up being in the same club together and then they text each other to meet on the dance floor, and then they kiss. It suggests that second chances can be made.

Some people have said that they think it is wrong that they get back together in the music video, but I think it's right because the song does say "I realise my love for you was strong", therefore if it's strong love they deserve to be together right? Others have said why they end up in the same club? I kind of understand where they are coming from, but if you're in a social group of people with your girlfriend, you'll end up having a certain favourite club you would go to, if you and your partner broke up and then your friends asked you for a night out to cheer you up, you would totally expect them to go to your favourite club, and so it's purely a coincidence they were both there. People are seriously looking too much into this music video.

Aylar Lie, plays Aylar (the lead girl) in this music video. Aylar Lie has a dodgy past, appearing in pornography to try and make her fame. She grabbed the attention of Basshunter's directors and producers and she has definitely now made her fame due to these music videos. I just hope that her new stardom hasn't affected her appearances in Basshunter's music videos because otherwise I can see Basshunter failing here in the UK. Aylar recently appeared as a celebrity on Skal Vi Danse which is the Norwegian version of Strictly Come Dancing. The media ended up releasing reports on her past life, and she showed sadness to this as she wants to wipe the slate clean, she did what she did because there was a crisis in her personal life. She wants to be known for something else, and she's tired of the past being brought up. Recently she has set out to release a singing career, she collaborated with Ocean Drive to create "Some People" that unfortunately didn't make the UK chart. She is signed to Hard2Beat/Dance Nation just like Basshunter is.

Overall I really like this song and it's music video is really good, it relates to the song pretty well and it's the start of a very long storyline that could stretch for forever if Basshunter and his team wants it to, and I'm sure all of his fans are expecting another music video to follow after the shock cliff-hanger at the end of "I Promised Myself". I hope you think I'm not being biased with my rating, and I think it definitely deserves this rating.

Buy on iTunes

I have been a fan of Pixie Lott for a while, her real name is Victoria Lott. Her most recent single "All About Tonight" became number 1 here in the UK, and it looks like this song will be doing the same, and also helping Pusha T, real name Terrence Thornton, make the UK chart once and for all. This song definitely reminds me of "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)", I think it has a similar tempo and that is what is probably going to push this song all the way to the top spot. However her release date clashes with a big chart topper, so it'll be interesting who will get that number one top spot.

Pixie Lott likes to have writing credits to her name, this single probably has some lyrics written by her, and of course by Pusha T, however no writing credits have yet to be released. [EDIT: Songwriters are Pixie Lott, Anne Preven, Christopher Mercer and Terrence Thornton]. This song is the second single to be taken from her upcoming second album "Young, Foolish, Happy" and I can definitely see it getting top 10 at least. Pixie Lott currently has eight top twenty hits, let's hope this makes it nine. The song is about being in a relationship that isn't actually working and he's taking Pixie Lott for a ride that she isn't enjoying. I like the concept and it's very "in you face" sort of song, which some people need, to be honest.

There have been a lot of people saying all sorts about this music video. It kind of leads off from "All About Tonight" and it's definitely one that will be played on the music channels and in clubs a lot of the time. Comments such as people thinking it's a little over the top, to others saying the choreography is a little too sexy. But does it really matter? The main comment should be what has it got to do with the song? The only thing I can come up with is that the guy just wants her in his bed and then chuck her the next time he sees her, and therefore the music video is showing what they would've experienced if he had stayed with her.

The video features Lee Bridgeman (well secretly). He competed in "So You Think You Can Dance" UK series 2, and came 5th. He was a good contender and also appears in a new ITV2 documentary called "Models, Misfits and Mayhem". He is definitely getting a lot of career opportunities, and he definitely is a good dancer. I'm just shocked that the previous winners have not had better opportunities so that we realise that all that voting didn't go to waste.

There's definitely not a lot to say about this music video, there's not a lot that's going on and although there is a massive choreography used, I feel it didn't show Pixie Lott's dance ability off like her various other music videos do, and I think that's the main reason why a lot of people have commented saying they are disappointed.

What to say about Pusha T? I don't really know that much about him. There are various other better rap singers Pixie Lott could have collaborated with, and so I don't quite understand why she chose Pusha T. But maybe this single could possibly help him into the UK charts more, and then maybe we might see what he truly is like. On this song, I'm not totally convince I like him, and I hope you all think the same. His voice is more of a whisper than anything else and it's not that clear, you kind of struggle to hear him over the song, which is a definite no-no in music. But maybe that's what it is like on the music video, and maybe the album and single versions will be a lot better; we all hope.

Overall I really like Pixie Lott, and her voice has that special twist to it, that makes her the star she is. I like the fact that she is a song writer, and so emotion will help, and although writing credits have yet to be released, I'm sure she is a part of it in one way or another. Pusha T definitely knocks this song down a bit, and the music video isn't that great. If they had decided on this, they should have done an amazing choreography that would make you go WOW, but there isn't so you're left with subtle narrative and little to make you watch. I'm sorry but this is probably the worst Pixie Lott music video I've watched.

Buy on iTunes

I have been aware of the Goo Goo Dolls for quite some time. They released "Stay With You" back in 2006, and that was when I realised how powerful this band really is. It was one of my favourite songs back then, and I still find it great, but this song "Iris" is just as good, ALSO Iris was released as a B-Side on the "Stay With You" CD single. The Goo Goo Dolls is a 3-piece rock band. They consist of John Rzeznik, Robby Takac and Mike Malinin, and they have been going since 1986, they were originally a 4-piece band, but George Tutuska left in 1995. They have had a number of releases, and less than a half in the UK was actually released. They have rarely managed to break into the UK Top 40, and until 2011 this song's highest chart position was number 26.

This song "Iris" is definitely the Goo Goo Dolls' most iconic and signature hit, although the song isn't necessarily, easily linked to this band. The music channels have recently been playing this video again and again, since the song managed to get to number 3 in the UK chart in 2011. The reason the song re-entered was because of the UK X Factor, and Frankie Cocozza sung this song. It's rare for something like this to happen, but this song definitely deserves this chart position, and it's difficult to believe that it has never got there before hand. The song was written by John Rzeznik, and that explains why there is a lot of emotion that comes across in the voice and the video. He's voice is husky, and sometimes that is a really good thing for a rock band as emotion is easily sent our way, but at the end of the day, his voice wouldn't suit and up-tempo happy song. The song was written for the "City of Angels" soundtrack that features Nicolas Cage. Songwriter Johnny Rzeznik has been quoted as saying he broke several years of writer's block and several years of sobriety simultaneously the night he wrote this track.

The music video is really good and I really like watching it, although I don't think it relates to the song as well as it could have done. John is shown high up in the skyscrapers watching from above using telescopes. Nicolas Cage is seen through out the music video with scenes from the film. The theme reflects what the angels do in the film.

I like the fact that they linked it up with the film and made it as if it was unseen footage from the film, this kind of reminds me of what Paramore did for the Twilight Soundtrack "Decode". And although both videos are completely different, they have both used similar techniques so that it links perfectly with the film.

There's not a lot I can say about this video, it looks like it was made in 2005 maybe even later, which is why it surprises me that it was made in 1997. Although the video is really simple with little going on, the film connects well with it and definitely makes it into one of the better soundtrack videos.

Overall I love this song, but it never gets stuck in my head long enough. The music video is different and although it links in with the film I don't think it links in well with the song. Soundtrack music videos are often difficult, and I'm always struggling to review them. But I try my best, and so here's my rating, I hope you all agree.