Train is releasing their new song this week, and by looking at the iTunes chart, it's climbing high already. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of this band, but I do enjoy their music. I have seen this video on the music channels and flipped over it, as I thought it was Robbie Williams... How wrong could I be?
Train are a three-piece pop/rock band from America, they consist of Patrick Monahan, Scott Underwood and Jimmy Stafford. Their biggest hit in the UK was "Hey, Soul Sister", but as of last week "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" got to number 10 on the UK chart on album downloads only. We all know that this single will do amazing.
"Drive By" was written by Patrick Monahan, Espen Lind and Amund Bjørklund. The latter two make up the production team Espionage, who have worked with Train for quite some time. This single is being played a lot here in the UK, and I can see it being pretty big here. Cannot wait to see where it will chart.
The music video is both narrative and performance, which most of the best music videos are. I like how they have intricately cut the music video, it's interesting and really clever.
I like how you start off with her talking on the phone to Patrick saying "You should be sorry, you're the one who left. Listen erm... I'm going to be late for work." Then we are given footage from the past, that all leads up to when they were in bed together and he left.
He drives his car, and other cars follow, and he manages to get his girl back. But who is she? I'm sure I've seen her before, but then again I might be wrong. I've been searching for a name but haven't found it as of yet.
The only bit I have left to comment on is the YouTube comments, that make me laugh so much. People are saying that she is too young for Patrick, and I have to agree, he is 43, and she looks like she's in her early twenties... What is with that?
Overall a great music video that I'll be watching again and again, and I definitely will not be mistaking it for Robbie Williams, never ever again. As for the song it's amazing and I love it, and I'm sure others will in the UK, I can definitely see this getting far in the chart.
So last but not lease DJD has been picked from my randomiser (by default). He has chosen Hot Chelle Rae - Honestly, again another band I've never heard of, so therefore I've never seen this video. But after one watch and listen I really like them.
Hot Chelle Rae is a rock band from America, as far as I can tell they haven't attempted to crack the UK yet, but it will be happening really soon with "I Like It Like That" released on the 28th May, and I can see them doing pretty well over here. The band consists of Ryan Follesé, Nash Overstreet (brother of Chord Overstreet and son of Paul Overstreet), Ian Keaggy and Jamie Follesé.
The song was written by Ryan Follesé, Nash Overstreet, Ian Keaggy, C. Kelly, Sam Hollander and Dave Katz. Which is quite a big writing team. But usually when there is a big writing team the song is either really really good, or really really bad. However "Honestly" is really good.
The music video is amazing, although I think it's missing something, but only slightly. It stars Ashley Benson (of "Pretty Little Liars" fame, but I also know her from "Christmas Cupid"). It is both performance and narrative, which is always a great thing to have in a music video.
The plot outline is basically that Ryan and Ashley are going out together, but he has stopped liking her, so she tries to get his attention, but he has stopped caring for her. She tries to scratch his mini, but ends up getting the wrong one, it makes her look desperate and embarrassing, which is probably what is missing from this music video, she should attempt to hurt him more, and there's only a few incidents, which isn't enough for me.
Overall I really like this song, and it's a well thoughout music video, but it's just missing that little something that would tip me into the 5*'s, I like how they incorporated the performance side of things into the narrative. I'm not sure whether it will be released here in the UK, but it might do if "I Like It Like That" does well when it's released.
So my randomiser chose Dolly for today's special, and I was really interested in what Dolly would choose, but then she put this one. I have not seen the video before, and then I got a reason from Dolly who said it was one of the worst songs and music videos she's ever seen. Now that really scared me. I have not had a friend request a music video they hate, yet. So this marks the first one and I'm worried...
Nicki Minaj, real name Onika Miraj, is a world-wide star at the moment, but I have to say that if she releases any more songs like this one she will disappear forever and ever. She has never had a number one here in the UK, and I wonder if she ever will...
Stupid Hoe was written by Onika Miraj, Tina Dunham and Safaree Samuels. It is described as an anthem to Nicki Minaj's female haters. Apart from referencing her performance at the 2012 Superbowl she also includes names such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. And she also takes a stab at her long-time rival Lil' Kim. But even with all these references I'm only able to listen to this song once, and even then it was painful. It's just something I wouldn't listen to again voluntarily. Maybe they should use this song to try and get information out of people. Definitely a great song for punishment or torture...
The music video is equally as bad as the song, so it is relatable in an unbelievable kind of way. There are a few references to other music videos as well, which makes it quite clever, however what it has to do with the song I have no idea. Not only that but the flashing and cuts between different footage are really annoying.
I don't even know where to start with this... It just has everything that could possibly be bad in a music video all rolled into one. There's a lot of things happening, such as her makeup changing, and various other things. The bit I really don't like is when her eyes are extremely big in the last minute, it kind of scares me.
As for the references of other music videos, there is Shakira's "She Wolf" which is where the leopard in a cage comes from. Then there's Jessie J's "Price Tag" which is where the big chair becomes involved. There is also a reference to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" when her eyebrows wiggle in an animated way. There may be others, if you know of more don't be afraid to comment below.
Overall, one of the worst songs I've ever heard, and although the music video links well because it is just as equally bad, it has no common factors with the song whatsoever, I don't even know why they chose this idea, surely better ones had been suggested. The song reached number 64 on the UK chart, and I don't see it making another appearance ever again.
So today my randomiser chose Tink09, and after telling her I'd already reviewed "DJ Fresh Featuring Rita Ora - Hot Right Now" she chose this music video. Another video I haven't watched and the sort of song I don't listen to, but here goes nothing.
Sean Paul, real name Sean Paul Henriques, is from Jamaica, he is a reggae artist siding on the border of Rap and R&B. He used to be a big hit here in the UK, with hits such as "Like Glue" and "We Be Burnin'", but lately he hasn't been doing very well, until this single popped up (which has so far got to number 2 in the UK). He has never had a number one single in the UK as lead singer, but managed to get one by being featured on "Breathe" by Blu Cantrell.
The song was written by Sean Paul Henriques, Shellback and Benny Blanco. Shellback has written for the likes of Avril Lavigne, Britney, P!nk and Ke$ha. Whereas Benny Blanco has worked with Ke$ha, 3OH!3, Katy Perry, Britney and Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger". So this was obviously going to be a hit, but will it get to that number one spot? It's pretty doubtful.
The music video relates to the song pretty well, and although the song is about dancing in a club, there are other meanings to it. So it's pretty understandable why the music video is quite sexy.
It also kind of supports LGBT's since that security woman likes to feel all those girls who walk through the security gate. I bet a lot of people would enjoy having that job. Although I'd never go on a plane if security really did that...
There's not a lot going on in the video, there's a bit of a performance side, which is obviously where Sean Paul and the cabin crew are dancing, but he's really not doing much is he? As for the plot it's about a girl who needs to give Sean Paul something, but she has to go through security first, and make sure they don't find it on her. So that bit of the video interested me, as I wondered how she's get past them, especially since reinforcements on the security side jumps in... Also how come all the girls were being checked over? There was no guys who went through those gates...
Overall a catchy song although not my sort of thing, a great relatable music video, to a certain degree. But there's just not enough going on, and it just doesn't make me go wow. There's just something missing, and so I'm giving it this rating, which it is worthy of at the end of the day.
So as you all may already know, I am not into rap music at all, I can appreciate the music, but it's just not for me. So I leave rap music to my brother, CamCam, who my randomiser decided to pick today. So CamCam chose this music video, and I've been worried about doing it since it's not my sort of music, but here goes.
Lil Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, Jr., has been around since 1992, he has had many hit singles all over the world, and have recently been quiet here in the UK, but now he is back, and is pretty strong about it too. This song comes with a collaboration with Bruno Mars, real name Peter Hernandez, who is very hot right now, which is probably why this became a hit single. Bruno Mars has a very successful career ahead of him, and I don't see him disappearing anytime soon.
"Mirror" was written by Dwane Carter, Jr., Peter Hernandez, Phillip Lawrence and Ramon Owen. This got to number 17 on the UK chart and it is his biggest selling single in the UK to date (was that due to the help of Bruno Mars?). Lil Wayne gets a bit personal with his rapping, he raps about his father: "Lookin' at me now I can see my past. Damn, I look just like my fuckin' dad." and also raps about Michael Jackson: "And no message could have been any clearer, so I'm starting with the man in the mirror," "MJ taught me that.".
The music video is surprisingly good, and pretty different to other rap music videos available. Lil Wayne is obviously painting something from the very beginning and you kind of wonder what this masterpiece will be. Surely it can't amass to anything. Bruno Mars' involvement is very little, he's just standing around as if he was admiring the finished painting.
I like how Lil Wayne is just throwing paint here there and everywhere, I really doubt he actually made that painting at the end, it just doesn't seem possible, but for all I know, he might have created it. The painting is of Lil Wayne on a crucifix with a microphone in his hand, behind him is a face and clouds and lightning coloured in red. It's quite a surprising and revealing painting, but definitely one that took quite a lot of time to make (but did Lil Wayne really do it, or was an artist brought in?)
Overall a great music video, and although this isn't the sort of song I listen to, I can see how personal it is to Lil Wayne. There's not a lot I can say about the video, but it is very interesting, although not a lot is going on. Does it link in with the song? To a verifying degree, yes, and so it is worthy of this rating.
