Jenn D was reviewed by me last month. My plan was to review this song the week after and include her as my Artist of the Month. My problem arose when I had exams to revise for and to complete along with essays to hand in and 'News Days' to deal with (the latter is where trainee journalists, such as myself are journalists for a website for a day). With all this university work I had little time for my blog. But I'm ready to rectify that right now.
Jenn D is a new artist currently signed to All Around The World Productions. She used to be in a band called Soft Toy Emergency, now she is hitting it out on her own, but had struggles as she wanted her name to be Vela but had to change it due to someone else using that name. She has released a second song: "You Keep Giving Me Love", which also failed to chart. Could she disappear before she's started? Or can her fan base help her get prominence when she really needs it? I hope her third single brings the popularity she needs it.
This music video fits well with the song. I have to admit a lot is going on, and when the skater jumped over that guy sitting on the steps, I knew I was in for a treat with this video.
There is a lot to like about the video, I'm sure many people like the topless guy at the start, and clearly Jenn D enjoyed that part too, but the choreography is interesting to watch, as like in her most recent music video, she is doing little compared to the dancers behind. I like how she is centre of attention, always a good thing.
The idea of her being arrested for disrupting the peace, which is what she is doing with her loud music. And then she escapes and climbs on top of the police car, which is a complete shock, she is definitely showing her daring side.
Overall a song that is catchy but failed to chart, and a music video that is engaging to an extent, but looking at it in a different way proves that there isn't much going on, however they've made it so that there is not one thing you focus on, apart from Jenn D. There's so much going on behind her, but she's doing very little. Here's my rating.
Little Mix, a winner of The X Factor here in the UK, yet this song; probably one of their most catchiest songs, got their lowest charting position to date, what happened? Well a push release is what happened. High demand is what made it get released in the middle of the week, and as we all know, it is difficult to get a high charting position when so many singles have been bought already, especially since some of us wasn't aware of it's release until the next week (some of us includes me myself). Little Mix is a four-piece group consisting of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall. They were the first, and so far only, group to win The X Factor, and they are currently working on a second album. Second was Marcus Collins, released an album and now in a musical. Amelia Lily came third, who has three singles and an album which keeps getting pushed back. Fourth is Misha B, following in the footsteps of third place, with three singles and an album to be released. Next was Janet Devlin who is just starting up. Sixth place follows suit, but has much exposure recently with his new look, and that's Craig Colton. Kitty Brucknell came seventh, she's touring at the moment with new songs. Eighth was Frankie Cocozza, who got ejected, appeared in Big Brother, and went on to release two EPs. Presenter Johnny Robinson came ninth, he also released a Christmas song. Tenth was The Risk, who released single "Missiles". And finally 2Shoes came joint fourteenth, and released "Turn Me On (Turn Me Out)". Could this be the most acts signed and released from one single series? And some critics said that series wasn't up to scratch, guess the finalists had the last laugh.
"How Ya Doin'?" was written by Darren Lewis, Iyiola Babalola, Shaznay Lewis, Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, James Stanley Carter, Glenn Francis Skinner, Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot, Nicholas Bernard Thorp, Julian Godfrey Brookhouse, Miguel Drummond and Missy Elliott. This is a lot of song writers, however it is because the song samples two songs (hence why those writers have to be named in the song writing credits), the songs that have been sampled are Curiosity Killed The Cat's single "Name And Number" and The Walnauts' single "Help Is On The Way". Both of these songs have previously been sampled on De La Soul's "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)". The song should've been a hit, and I was expecting it to hit the top 10 at least, if not, go straight to number one. But it was pushed out in the middle of the week, and some fans (including me) were unaware until it was too late. If the record label had waited until the Sunday and announced that they were going to bring it a week or two forward, it would've got the promotion it needed.
Long paragraphs behind, let's start to focus on the music video. Another performance piece from these guys, reminding me of "Wings" as well as Belle Amie's "Girls Up". It has the bubblegum pop feel, and suggested that this should have been a hit. I am definitely blaming the record label, since airplay was strong.
The video links in with the song, adding various phones that Missy Elliott snips with a pair of scissors. The choreography is short but still noticeable.
There is Product Placement. Not as much as Avril Lavigne's "What The Hell" but still there. This time Little Mix promotes Live Colour XXL in a sponsorship deal. Hence why each of the girls have bright colour hair.
Overall a song that should've topped the charts and shouldn't have been pushed out by the record label. But it happened and there's nothing we can do about that. As for the music video it features the awesome Missy Elliott, whose credits are incredible, she's one rapper who will never disappear. It also features great dancing, phones to link in with the song, and catchy colours. This is their last single from this album, leaving me disappointed that 'Going Nowhere' co-written by Nicola Roberts (from Girls Aloud) will never get a single release.
Miley Cyrus, real name Destiny Cyrus, is called Avis Cyrus in this music video for no reason I can think of. Maybe it's another alter ego? Or is she playing a part? Is this not who she is, or a whole different side to her that wanted to come out and play? This is the song and music video that hit major controversy for Miley Cyrus, leaving her 6-12 year old fan base to try and get credibility between her own age which is young adults. Now she is 20 years old (same age as me) and has short hair, and is working on a fourth album. Could this be her most daring album yet? She has left her old good-girl image behind her, much like Britney Spears did with "I'm A Slave For You" and Christina Aguilera did with "Dirrty". So this new album could take any form she wants.
"Can't Be Tamed" was written by Miley Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Tim James, Paul Neumann and Marek Pompetzki. The song can be taken and be seen in various different lights, I always saw it in a relationship side and how she doesn't want anyone to turn her into someone she isn't. However it can also be seen as a school situation and trying to be oneself instead of being involved in a clique. The song hit the UK chart at number 13 making it her fourth highest charting position behind the joint firsts of: "See You Again", "The Climb" and "Party In The U.S.A.". Will Miley Cyrus ever get a UK Top 10 hit? Or will she constantly be getting number 11?
The music video is held in a museum and it starts off with the cage keeper announcing: 'a creature so rare it was believed to be extinct. In captivity for the first time, the rarest creature on Earth, Avis Cyrus'. Miley Cyrus is in the cage and when someone takes a photo she protects herself with those awesome wings.
The music video continues with her and her backing dancers taking over the museum and causing a bit of a havoc.
There is a lot of choreography, which is performed well and shows that she can dance (although we already know that from various previous music videos). The setting is extremely interesting, teaching younger audiences that it is cool to go to a museum and learn about extinction.
The ending proves that everything will end up in rubble. Again, I believe this also manages to hit out at the paparazzi, with the camera at the start, and the song could also be linked to them, she doesn't want to be a good-girl, she wants to be who she is, and would rather the paparazzi leave her alone.
A lot of people have referenced this to Britney Spears, the paparazzi angles can be found in "Hold It Against Me", "If U Seek Amy", "Everytime", "I Wanna Go" and "Piece Of Me". Miley has even done her own music video that hits at the paparazzi which was "Fly On The Wall". Is there never going to be an end to music videos hitting out at the media? On the other hand, some of them are the best videos I have ever seen.
Overall a song that has been stuck in my head, and should've also hit the Top 10 of the UK chart, and a music video that is perfect in every way. I do think they should've used the wings more as they were only in a few scenes for a few seconds. The video portrays the song exactly the way we want it to and also manages to show off her dance ability.
Demi Lovato is setting herself up to hitting the UK charts big style. Her highest charting single "Skyscraper" only managed to get to number 32, yet here comes her new single, raking up the chart, making this song her best charting position to date. But will her album be such a success as this single is. She has failed to reach the top 40 in the album chart, but let's hope her new album 'Demi' will be just as good. Last year she was a judge on The X Factor US, winding up Simon Cowell much to our amusement, and clearly to his as she is to also be a judge on the third series as well. I can't wait to see what the future brings for Demi Lovato.
"Heart Attack" was written by Demi Lovato, Mitch Allan, Jason Evigan, Sean Douglas, Nikki Williams and Aaron Phillips. The song has been compared to Kelly Clarkson, and it is definitely her kind of style. The song is about being scared of falling in love again after being rejected. Demi Lovato, as usual, manages to put her own spin on things and push the song emotionally. I don't think this is her best song over the last few years, I still think "Skyscraper" is her best, but I can see why this one is more of a commercial success.
The music video fails to excite me. I was expecting something narrative similar to "Give Your Heart A Break". Instead we get a performance piece that doesn't quite fit the emotional song. She has proven herself in "Skyscraper" with an emotional performance music video, but this seems to lack emotion.
The song announces she's scared of being in another relationship, afraid to fall in love again, as she thinks she might have a heart attack. But the video shows her as a strong independent person, could that mean she is happy being single?
I like the black and white scenes, it shows she doesn't know what to do, and what she thinks. However there's still not enough to this music video than there should be. Showing her backing band also gave us a more rockier Demi Lovato, could that show us what her album is like?
Overall a commercially great song, although not her best. And a music video that fails to convey her emotional side, and lacks very much. On the other hand, her backing band, and the song shows us that she would be good to see live, but I am not impressed with this video compared to her others.
So new this week is a new artist called Chris Malinchak, and with this glorious sunshine, it's obvious this is going to be a hit, however if it wasn't so hot and summery then this wouldn't have done well at all. There isn't much on the internet about Chris Malinchak. His twitter feed is used now and again, and information about him is hard to find. I'm sure a Wikipedia page will pop up after this song has charted, so I'm interested in how much is known about him. All I know is that he's American, and has previewed a few songs on his Soundcloud. The song is the perfect summer relaxer (yeah I did just make up that word). It's not a summer anthem it's a summer relaxer, one to listen to as you are sunbathing or relaxing in the sun.
The music video continues the relaxing element from the song. A cute little girl loses one of the tallest animals in the world, a pet giraffe! And goes looking for it, then it sneaks up on her and they play hide and seek and have fun.
The girl is adorable, and the story line is a little too simple for my liking, but I can't help but appreciate it for its relaxing quality and the summer sunshine spirit.
Overall a summer relaxer song that will have everyone listening to it in the sun. The music video has next to no substance to it, but it relates to the song, and is a video I would watch while relaxing. The only fault is that it needed a bit more to it, maybe scenes of when she first got the pet giraffe.
