Grab your passport and my hand, I can make the straight guys gay for a weekend. This is the sentence I have to nail every time I hear this song. The video resembles a mix of Avril Lavigne's "Let It Go" and P!nk's "Please Don't Leave Me". Quirky and narratively fun, something I don't mind watching again and again, and Taylor Swift is looking damn sexy, even when she's crying.
Taylor Swift, country singer turned international pop star, was lining the way for country here in the UK, yet she's dropped all ties to her first few albums, no more "Love Story" or "Mean" or "Teardrops On My Guitar", yet she still manages to make powerful emotional songs that you can't help but love. Written by Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, it's no surprise that this is a hit, just look at those songwriters' backgrounds. Taylor Swift takes a dig at the media with the song... Pretty sure Britney Spears have done that a few times "Piece of Me" and "I Wanna Go" amongst others. Blank Space only charted at number four in the UK, as no official single was released. This is what annoys me the most as a swiftie (Taylor Swift Fan), at least give us a UK single release too, could've scored a number one with this song.
Linking in well with the song, the video, directed by Joseph Kahn, contains both narrative and performance. In her performance side she's sexy, entertaining, emotional and full of passion. She really proves her acting skills in both parts of the video and you can't help but be drawn in.
The male lead is Sean O'Pry, who is a model. I really believe Taylor Swift could've found someone better. He looks good, not going to lie, but he fails to be as captivating as Taylor Swift is, and it brings the video down, just slightly.
I like how they go from being a couple, to Taylor Swift becoming a maniac and an obsessive freak, it suggests that that is what the media is portraying her as, only she's heightened it a lot more and put her own spin on it. A perfect video, one that everyone is watiching again and again, hence the YouTube views.
I had to review this music video, especially since I saw Carly Rae Jepsen live at an acoustic gig along with a meet and greet, read all about it here. With an extreme comedic effect this video got everyone talking, and they're still talking about it now.
Carly Rae Jepsen came third on the fifth season of Canadian Idol. It's taken her some time, but now she has definitely reach international fame. She hit charts all over the world with "Call Me Maybe" and this song was set to do exactly the same, with it catchy chorus, yet failed to become as big of a hit, only reaching number three in the UK. Written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Peter Svensson, it's an emotional song announcing that you really like someone, but it's still too soon to say I Love You.
Peter Glanz directed this video, and he has done a good job, however I do have to mention that Tom Hanks lip-syncing isn't exactly perfect.
Tom Hanks looks like a father figure to Carly Rae Jepsen in the video, and it all came about because he is friendly with Scooter Braun, Carly Rae Jepsen's manager, this also explains why Justin Bieber appears at the end of the video too, although I give him kudos for not taking centre stage of the video. Also making appearances are Vine stars Rudy Mancuso and King Bach.
Tom Hanks attempts to be down with the kids, being able to text using emotions, taking selfies, being on tinder, and clearly being able to follow choreography, although his jacket does not help to prove he can dance, he should've lost that jacket for the dance scene.
Overall amazing video, one that has got everyone talking, which has a fantastic song to go with it. Definitely as catchy as "Call Me Maybe" if not more, and was so good to hear live too, blog post about that can be read here.
Since Justin Bieber is still at number one with the amazing "What Do You Mean?", I can review any song in the UK's top 10. It's Pia Mia everybody! Currently at number nine on the UK chart. This song is such a hit and is definitely a tune when I'm out clubbing. The accompanying video is so annoying, it's supposed to be sexy and engaging, yet it's easily forgettable and just falls to the bottom of the music video heap. It's all the cameraman's fault during the choreographed scenes and the final scene too, no one could have salvaged this.
Pia Mia, real name Pia Mia Perez, was born in Guam, and will probably have a long-lasting career. Her problem in the UK is that she has come out at the same time as Natalie La Rose, who is on top of her game, and her most recent video "Around The World" puts this video to shame. The song was written by Pia Mia, Jerry Afemata, George Veikoso, Nic Nac, Marc Griffin, Tyga and Chris Brown, it came from when J Boog performed in Guam and Pia Mia went to see him live and loved his song so much she remade it into this hit. The collaborators heard the song and asked to be featured on it, which is definitely an honour. Pia Mia has everything going for her, but her next few singles are going to have to be crucial, or she could end up being a one-hit-wonder, which we definitely don't want to see.
Directed by Colin Tilley, who has a vast amount of experience when it comes to directing videos, he has some amazing ones, such as Rita Ora's "Body on Me" as well as JLS's "She Makes Me Wanna", this video seems a mess and not only is it unmemorable, it fails to engage too.
It makes sense why the editor used most of the scenes of her performing on the beach singing the song, Pia Mia can definitely sing and give an emotional performance.
She can clearly dance too, yet the camera is shaking a lot and constantly moving. This is the why Natalie La Rose looks amazing and on point in "Around The World" and why Pia Mia looks sloppy, out-of-sync and unsure of herself. Yet we can tell this has nothing to do with her but more to do with the cameraman.
Chris Brown and Tyga, the latter's real name is Michael Nguyen-Stevenson, both feature in the song and video, although their dress sense isn't really the most fashionable thing around, I wouldn't be seen dead in that, and I would probably laugh inside at such a dreadful clothing outfit if they had walked past me. However, they attract attention straight to Pia Mia, which is probably the idea.
An extremely catchy song that definitely gets me on the dance floor in any club. Yet the video fails to stay in my memory, and what should have been an amazing dance choreographed sequence not only falls short but isn't even good. This should've been a lot better.
HaHaHa Production collaborates with Global Records to make this amazing Romanian duet which has got me reminiscing of Morandi Featuring Inna "Summer In December". These songs are in no way similar, even though fans of Inna and Alexandra Stan seem to make out there is some sort of competition, but there really is not. Maybe it's too late for Romanian music to make an impact in the western world, what with all these amazing songs sifting under the radar, but if it's happened once, it can happen again. Inna is on top form, and Alexandra Stan is not far behind, both girls are leading the way, proving you can be successful, They both deserve to chart here in the western world and it's such a shame they aren't. This is another hit that just fails to chart.
Dorian, real name Dorian Micu, is an up and coming Romanian artist, and have released a fair few singles. Very active on social media, he will soon be charting in his own country, I foresee, he is talented to say the least, and to bag Alexandra Stan, as well, to feature is an honour. She has been on top form since the whole fiasco with her manager/ex-boyfriend, and her song "Thanks For Leaving" pushed that problem out of her life. Although she hasn't come into prominence recently, her collaboration with Inna & Daddy Yankee on "We Wanna" definitely hasn't gone amiss. I wouldn't be surprised if her third album does well worldwide, let's just hope we don't wait too long. Motive, written by Andrei Mihai, Dorian Micu and Elena Morosanu, is in their native tongue, and is beautifully and emotionally sung. It is about not knowing how you feel in a relationship and maybe it is too late to get past the hurt and confusion.
The video, directed by Ionuț Trandafir, reflects the song well. Clearly Dorian and Alexandra Stan have had an argument and he's stormed out, into his car and is driving away, whilst Alexandra Stan throws a cushion.
It's clear they both don't know what to do. She doesn't run after him, so maybe she hasn't fallen too hard for him, and he is driving whilst rapping.
I think Alexandra Stan looks a bit like Davina McCall only with blonde hair, when she's on the bed, however Alexandra Stan has had a new hair cut which looks good. Her performance piece in front of the concrete makes me desperate to see her live, so effortless in her moves with so much feeling. She can definitely sing, and I hope I get to see her live in the future.
She made this song, let's be honest, without her vocals this wouldn't have worked out that good. The video fails to be memorable and exciting, relying on both artists presence and demeanour, as well as lacking visually, however the narrative succeeds, if only slightly.
I was on holiday last week. Spent my time up in Stoke-on-Trent at Staffordshire University for Freshers Week. I had a brilliant time, was great catching up with all my friends, clubbing almost every night, meeting new friends and just having the perfect drunken holiday.
I do wish I was still a student. However I can't keep looking back. I have to live in the now and look towards the future.
Friday 18th September, I met Carly Rae Jepsen. She was so adorable, I just wanted to stay talking to her forever. She performed at HMV on Oxford Street, an intimate acoustic gig, where there were about 150 people in the audience. She sung "Run Away With Me", "Your Type" and "I Really Like You" before signing CDs in a meet and greet as well as posing for photos.
I also met Verne Troyer at LRV, Staffordshire University's Club on campus, on the 13th September.
My last night out was spent at Gossip, one of my favourite gay clubs in the country, if you are ever in Stoke-on-Trent, you have to give it a go at least. And you just have to try their alcoholic ice slushies, perfect for drinking on the dance floor so you don't get too hot!
