I reviewed No Doubt this week as a new release, and I definitely had to do one of their songs for my Sunday revisit, but I had trouble deciding which song. But looks like iTunes DJ once again chose for me as it played this song yesterday. No Doubt has recently reformed and released "Settle Down" along with a new album, they will definitely be sticking around this time and I cannot wait for more new music from them. The band consists of Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont. This song features Bounty Killer, real name Rodney Price, who has had a slightly successful career in the US, but has only ever touched the UK with this song.
"Hey Baby" was written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Bounty Killer. It's extremely catchy and it's definitely one of those songs you expect to go straight to number one, however it just missed out grabbing the number 2 spot, being beaten by Enrique Iglesias' "Hero". They have only ever had a number one with "Don't Speak", however I expect them to top the chart once again in the future.
This music video is a typical 2001 music video, I have seen quite a few similar ones while blogging, and I have come to expect to see this sort of side to music videos, it really reminds me of Pink's "Get The Party Started".
The video is both narrative and performance and manages to link in with the song effectively. The video represents the band and what they get up to on their tour bus and while out at clubs and stuff. The events in the video are based on true events.
That does mean that Tom Dumont really did defeat a woman in a drinking game (in this scene the woman is played by Sonya Eddy). And Adrian Young actually won $200 (US) on a dare to hang upside down on gymnastic rings naked, this happened in a club in New York. The video hit controversy for that scene especially since Bounty Killer is Jamaican and it was considered an act of homosexuality, and back then and even now, Jamaica isn't as accepting of LGBT rights as other countries are.
I like the performance side of things too, it looks like it's been done many times before, but I cannot think of any video using similar effects, although I'm sure I've seen other videos that are alike.
This is an extremely catchy song that you definitely can't help but sing a long to. The music video is a typical 2000's video however it is very controversial too. I have to give it 10 out of 10 for effort, with the amount of similar videos out back then it's difficult to stand out, and this is exactly what they have managed to do. I wish the song had got to number one, but guess we can't have everything we want, but maybe a new song might top the UK chart, we lay in wait for No Doubt to finally get their 2nd UK number one.
Yesterday I was listening to my iTunes on shuffle and this song got played twice, I believe I've already listened to it today on shuffle too, clearly iTunes wanted me to review it, so here I am, and here it is.
The All-American Rejects have been one of my favourite bands for ages, they never fail to disappoint and they are evolving better and better, I wouldn't have thought they would release a song like this, but they have and they have made it their own. They are a four-piece band consisting of Tyson Ritter, Nick Wheeler, Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor. They have had a number of hits and a number of songs that should have been, they are getting a bigger and bigger UK fan base and it won't be long before they are on a lot of people's playlists, in my opinion the sooner the better, this band needs to promote a lot more.
"Walk Over Me" was written by Nick Wheeler and Tyson Ritter, it is potentially their 3rd single from the amazing album Kids In The Street, the first being "Beekeeper's Daughter" and the second being "Kids In The Street". Only the first single has been released in the UK so far, with limited success, however the album is currently their highest charting album to date, so clearly they are getting more and more fans as the years go by.
This music video is the sort of video I hate. I don't know why, but it really grates on my nerves, and seriously I cannot be the only one who feels this way. I think the main thing is that it has been done so many times before that every time I see a new video using this concept I cringe away from it. However, The All-American Rejects has gone all out on it. At the end of the day if you're going to do this sort of video you HAVE to take the mickey out of it and break as many boundaries as possible with it, otherwise you will get a low rating from me. And well done, The All-American Rejects have managed to make this video good and a lot more watchable.
I cannot help but laugh at this, the fact that it's a bit scary with fish munching heads off and a knife stabbing people, makes this one of my favourite music videos in this style, if not, the best. How can you not crack a smile at this, and the fact that it looks like it was extremely difficult to make and the fact that there was obviously a lot of thought going in is exactly what I want from a video like this.
There are a few things that I'm not sure on such as there isn't an overall link, just subtle links with some of the lyrics, but they've made this video really work and I can't help but be happy that they have managed to change my opinion of this video within the first few seconds.
Overall a great song that may not be officially released but if it is I hope it does well as it clearly deserves it. The accompanying music video is not something I'm happy with, it's not a style I like to see in music videos, however The All-American Rejects has pushed the boat out and made it much more enjoyable, will I be watching more of this style of music video? Probably not, but I shall be a lot more aware of it. And I doubt I'll find a video in this style that will beat this one.
Franz Ferdinand are another band that I both like and don't, the main reason is because they disappear for too many years and you eventually get bored of playing all their old songs and then when you give up hope on them ever returning a new amazing song pops up that you can't help but like, which is really annoying. They are a British band from Glasgow, Scotland and they consist of Alex Kapranos, Nicholas McCarthy, Robert Hardy and Paul Thomson. They are working on their fourth studio album and it is supposed to be really good. However they have been gone since 2009, and 3-4 years is too long for me to wait, I have already given up on them, however I will be blogging about them and their new songs if they are up to scratch, and I bet they will be.
"Take Me Out" was written by Alex Kapranos and Nicholas McCarthy. It is their best hit in the UK thus far managing to get to number 3 on the UK chart and just missing out on the top spot, it also did well internationally too, and it's definitely one of a few of their signature songs, but I think they will have a hit fairly soon and everyone will know who they are.
The music video isn't my sort of thing, it's very 1930's and that is exactly what the band wanted to do, so they get 10 out of 10 for effort from me. There is a lot of imagery and I definitely like how they have used things they have seen and discussed and put them all together and spun it up in their own little way. I shall not list everything they have managed to incorporate as that can be found easily on the Internet. But the fact they have managed to do exactly what they wanted to do is definitely worth the stars I'm giving the video.
The downside is that it didn't grip me, it's a typical performance piece and although it is different to what is about, there is nothing to keep me entertained and involved. I feel like I'm watching some old film at the cinema, and I cannot stop fidgeting as I wait for it to finally end.
Overall a great song that is actually worthy of the chart position, but a music video that doesn't seem to involve the audience the way it should. I am balancing out my rating as this is what the band wanted to make and they have thought about the video massively, so much so that they didn't want to make a typical pop video, and that makes it go up in my books, even though the video didn't suit me.
It looks like it's indie week on my blog this week, so think I'm going to stick with that genre. One Night Only is one of those bands who you don't really want to like but they seem to record songs that are irresistible for some very unknown reason. The band consisted of George Craig, Mark Hayton, Daniel Parkin, Jack Sails and Sam Ford. Since 2010 Sam Ford has left and was replaced by James Craig. They have since disappeared off the radar, but they will probably pop up again out of nowhere with a cracking new song and album, it's to be expected.
"Just For Tonight" was One Night Only's biggest hit and managed to secure a place in the UK top 10 at number 9. They have released better songs since, and I'm surprised they have yet to beat that chart position, let's hope they can in the next few years.
This music video really doesn't have much substance to it, compared to their other videos it makes you question what they thought of the song, clearly they didn't think it would do well or they would've made a much better video, this is lacking a lot and although it is a typical One Night Only music video, it's missing a lot we like from this band.
It looks like they are just strolling around Scarborough and although we have seen this happen a lot in their other videos, at least there is a hidden narrative, in this case there's nothing, it's just showing their typical strolling and that's just something I'm not interested in watching.
Overall the song isn't as catchy as their other songs, the music video that goes with it is lacking and doesn't draw me in at all, the only reason for watching this video is for the song, and maybe to find out how to stroll around Scarborough. However it's expected from this band and so it's on the way too safe side and at least it's not something worse.
Green Day is another band that Miss Moirae got me into, they also have never appeared on this blog yet, surprisingly and I know for a fact that they will pop up again at some point, MARK MY WORDS. Green Day are a three-piece band consisting of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. They have been going since 1987 but didn't release their first album until 1990. Since then they have released a number of albums and singles but have never ever topped the UK Singles chart, but have come pretty close a number of times. They also have their own musical as well, where has this band got left to go? Clearly to the top of the UK Singles Chart, but how long will it take them?
"Basket Case" is one of these songs that never goes away and gets stuck in my head way too easily. It's a very good song to get those pesky annoying songs out of your head, although you will probably be stuck with this song for the rest of the day, which is fine by me. It was written by Billie Joe Armstrong and it's about his battles with anxiety, he thought he was going crazy however he was later diagnosed with panic disorder. Writing songs about it was the only way he could control it, and I know this sounds sinister but that is usually how great songs come about and this is definitely one of many of Green Day's signature songs and we, as fans, have a lot to thank these guys for as well as this song.
This music video always freaks me out whenever I watch it. It is a performance piece with a narrative intricately added in, which makes this music video very different as it's usually the other way around. It was filmed in an actual mental home due to the request of the band, which makes this video top notch! The institution is called Agnews Developmental Center in California.
I like how everything is constructed, you can clearly see the performance and you are worried that is all you'll going to get, but you see more as it progresses, and I like the ominous atmosphere, it's quite freakish but interesting.
Overall the song is a classic that is already embedded in history and I guarantee I will hear this song at least once a year, definitely for the rest of my life. It's music video still scares and worries me today, but the way it's been filmed and thought through makes it different and to be able to stand out from the crowd is something that is difficult to do, and even in today's market this music video stands out.
