Britney, Britney, Britney. What else can I add to this blog post, that I haven't added in previous posts? I just feel like I'm going to keep on repeating myself. So let's start with what's new... She is a judge/mentor on The X Factor US, which I have been watching, and I'm definitely rooting for Britney's Teens, however the UK is one episode behind the US, so please don't spoil what happens for me. She has been through a lot in her life, and I really like how this video shows the stages of her life.
"Hold It Against Me" was written by Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke), Bonnie McKee and Mattieu Jomphe (Billboard). The song was almost given to Katy Perry, but they decided it wasn't a "Katy Perry song". It's extremely catchy and very different to what we expect from these amazing song-writers. The single was pushed forward as demand was high for it, even in the UK. However it peaked at number six on the UK chart. It deserved higher. Will Britney ever get a new number one? She hasn't got there since "Everytime" was released back in 2004 (almost 10 years ago now). It shows she's not quite fully back just yet, but I bet we'll see her top the charts once again in the next few years.
This music video doesn't link in with the song,. however it does show Britney is back. It shows her life and how she has battled through it, and she isn't going to give up.
I like the progression that this video gives. We see her as a strong, on-her-game sort of person that represents the late 1990's, where she was on top. Then things start to go wrong, showing her meltdown. I like the use of Britney fighting herself, representing her fighting her inner demons, trying to hang in there. She collapses, every Britney falls to the floor. Showing her breakdown. But she gets back up again showing she is back and ready to get back on top again. The question mark at the end means the future is what you make it, and that there is a future for Britney.
I like how we see all her past music videos as well. And it's extremely brave to show her breakdown. It proves that she realises it's a part of her past, and although she isn't proud of it, she has to accept it to move forward, and that is exactly what she is doing. Again we see a couple of references, one of Madonna's music video "Bedtime Story", a reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and there is also a reference to the paparazzi who just won't leave her alone.
Overall a very catchy song that should've charted higher. The music video doesn't link in that well with the song, however there is product placement, from Sony TVs, "Make Up For Ever" and "PlentyofFish", the latter adding into the meaning of the song, so it is there. Now what should my rating be? Since this video is superb and the only thing I can find wrong with it is not linking with the song all that well, I have no choice but to give it the rating it clearly deserves.
Eagle-Eye Cherry is a Swedish singer, who is in theory a one-hit wonder in the UK. Everyone knows this song, and although it didn't quite get to number one, people do know what the song is called and it is extremely catchy.
Believe it or not, Eagle-Eye Cherry is his actual name. He got it from when he was born; he opened one eye and looked at his father, and that is where he got his name.
"Save Tonight" is one of those songs that will never go away, it is one that will always fit into society, no matter what year it is, as it has that longevity that other songs are missing. Will Eagle-Eye Cherry ever manage to sing another hit song? Who knows? But this song has made him, and no matter what he will always be remembered as the guy who originally sung "Save Tonight".
The music video is very clever. I cringed at the thought of watching a black & white music video, it's just something I don't like watching, however it makes it look more detailed, and surprisingly heightened my interest.
I like how he is all the characters and that it looks like they film this in one consecutive run, however that is pretty impossible, clearly filming was paused and they edited it.
The only thing I have with this music video is that it is too low-budget, it's not something I would willingly go out of my way to watch, however I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
The song keeps getting into the UK chart year after year. We really need someone to cover the song on a TV show, and it could possibly sore high enough on the charts to beat it's top position of number six. The music video needs to be updated. However, it's fun and different.
Friendly Fires are a three-piece English band consisting of Ed Macfarlane, Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson. Their highest charting single is "Kiss Of Life" which got to number 30. However I know this song more than any of the others, but I think it took it's time to become popular, and therefore that's why it didn't chart so well the first time around. "Live Those Days Tonight" is an extremely catchy song, and I tend to be hearing a lot nowadays.
This music video is really not something I was expecting. I have heard this song so many times and I was expecting something very good, but this just looks like a fan-made music video, and it's missing a lot.
Hands up! I can't even find more than one good thing to say about this video, however they have got something right, and that's the link in with the song. The clips all show what it was like back in the '80's ('89 to be specific according to YouTube). However everything else is wrong.
There is no narrative, no performance, nothing. We don't even see the band. Also if you look into more detail about the lyrics "I'll live those days tonight", where's tonight? All we see is clips from the late 80's and what we supposedly "missed out on".
And that is all I have to say, the song is catchy and stuck in my head, and will probably be there for the next few days and then some. But I'm extremely disappointed with the video, and although I can actually find one good point, it's just not enough to budge this rating up. If I was rating the song it would get five stars, but because the rating is based on the video alone, I'm giving it a totally different rating.
Robbie Williams, one of the biggest male solo acts from the UK, and now the first time he has appeared on my blog. He was one fifth of the band Take That, and even re-joined the band for their most recent album. But now he is back as a solo artist, and after that performance last night on The X Factor, I'm sure his new single will shot to the top of the charts.
"Candy" was written by Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and Terje Olsen. Personally I don't like the song, no matter how many times I hear it, it just won't grow on me, however it has clearly made an impression on a lot of people as it's soaring up the iTunes chart.
This music video is confusing, I don't quite get it, and I feel like it doesn't make sense. It's a pure narrative video, featuring Kaya Scodelario (skins) who has appeared in a lot of music videos, including a few Plan B videos. She plays "Candice", and she seems like she's extremely independent and believes she's unstoppable. This links in with the song as that is exactly what the song is about.
But what is Robbie's role? I never quite get it. At a guess he is her guardian angel, and therefore manages to stop things from possibly killing her. Is she really that accidental prone? Or are people after her?
It is similar to a few videos I have seen, but definitely reminiscent of Twin Atlantic's "Make A Beast Of Myself".
What I don't get is that at the start he is protecting her, but then near the end it just looks like he is hurting people for the sake of it, such as that bicycle, is there any need to keep making him go over? Also it makes me question what children think of this video, surely they might think they can do the same, such as surviving when a car goes over you etc... But maybe I'm just looking for things to dislike about this video.
Overall a song that I will probably never like, however others do and it's because it's quite catchy. As for it's music video, it is very different and is an interesting idea, I do worry what impression it gives to children. And some of the things don't quite add up, but it does seem a lot of effort has gone into it, and as much as I want to, I just can't find any more negative points about the video.
Aerosmith, Aerosmith, Aerosmith. Even words can't describe them as they are above words. They are definitely one of rock's great, and when I knew new music from them were going to be released, I was surprised. Could they really manage to live up to their previous songs? That was the single question running through my mind. After watching this, it's clear to me that they are back and with a vengeance as this song is extremely catchy.
Aerosmith are a five-piece band consisting of Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford and they have been going for a very long time, longer than I've been alive. "What Could Have Been Love" was written by Russ Irwin, Steven Tyler and Marti Frederiksen. It is one of those songs that I am not sure of in the first minute or so, and then it starts to get better, so much so it's stuck in my head. Will this song do well when it is officially released in the UK? Who knows, it depends how much it gets promoted, it's possible that it will chart high, but I doubt it will be the song to give Aerosmith their first UK number one single, it's just not commercial enough.
The music video is weird, but in a good way. I like how it's both performance and narrative, however they have released so many music videos that I just don't think this one is quite up there with the others.
I don't really understand the narrative, however I do have my own take on it. As far as I can work out, he is lost after they broke up therefore he is "missing". As to why he is painting the town in these posters is a different story altogether that I don't quite get as he has to take them all down again the next day as he is no longer lost. Guess this is just a video I'm not going to fully understand.
I like the performance side to this, it's different and not something you would expect. But I can definitely see other bands doing something similar in the future. This one is quite laid-back and chilled.
Overall a very catchy song that is still stuck in my head, and a music video that is not as bad as I first thought, but one that I don't quite get. However there are no other problems with this video and so...
