Chart Mondays: Adele - Hello



This sailed straight into number one in the UK three weeks ago and it's solidly staying put. Adele has promoted this song so much it's unsurprising it impacted the charts this way, managing to be number one in 26 countries so far, with an amazing vocal what do we expect? Adele performs beautifully with an understanding narrative. Adele is truly back!

Adele, real name Adele Adkins, had writing block when it came to this song, however she managed to come back and complete it. She has one of those voices that would sound good singing anything, it has been trained to perfection. The song was co-written with Greg Kurstin. Surprisingly the song isn't about a relationship, although that is what many may interpret it as, but instead is about how everyone is getting older and moving on with their lives, and she wanted to sing a song they will hear, and understand. Vocally amazing, I can't help but fall in love with this song even though I am not at all an Adele fan.

The video was directed by Xavier Dolan, which is based off his semi-autobiographical film J'ai Tué Ma Mère (I Killed My Mother). It was filmed at a farm in Québec and features actor Tristian Wilds (most known for playing Dixon Wilson in 90210, I knew it was him as soon as I saw him).

The start launches into Adele phoning someone and not getting through, having no signal. She pulls curtains down and dusty covers. She has clearly come back to revisit the house of her past.

I love the cuts that intersperse of Tristian Wilds, showing us the past and of the relationship she once had. We all daydream of our past relationships don't we? And how they all went wrong.

Instead of a black & white filter, we have a sepia filter instead, this is mildly better, but still a no-no, it adds very little depth into this video, but I can see why it is used.

Overall not a video I would enjoy watching again, however it looks like it's going to stay atop of the charts so the video is probably playing constantly on music channels, so I'll probably come across it once again. I can't say much bad about this video, other than it is unsurprising and expected. Nothing new, nothing great and nothing to make me go wow. But with a vocally amazing song like this, the video doesn't have to be any of those things.
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Carly Rae Jepsen - Your Type



I was going to pick JoJo's "Say Love", however this popped up on my YouTube homepage. I first heard "Your Type" at a Caryl Rae Jepsen acoustic gig (click here for more details) and fell instantly in love with the song (the acoustic version I heard live is below). It was so full of emotion, and it connected with me so much as I can't count the amount of times I've been in the same situation. Tears literally appeared when she was singing this at the gig, it hadn't been long since I broke up with my most recent boyfriend, who would've been at the gig with me if we had still been together. I am delighted to know it's the next single from her amazing album, and I was ecstatic to watch this video. Compassionate and devoted, Carly Rae Jepsen, proves that her music deserves to be heard and that her album isn't called "E•MO•TION" for no reason.

Carly Rae Jepsen is totally underrated, her most recent album under performed on charts globally, although I personally believe it is much better than her second album "Kiss". Third in season five of Canadian Idol, she has gone on to become the most known internationally from the TV show. She's someone everyone still mentions, they know of her, but aren't aware of new music, no matter how much promotion she does, she never is going to get another worldwide hit like "Call Me Maybe". The song was written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, Wayne Hector and Tavish Crowe.

The music video, directed by Gia Coppola and David Kalani Larkins, the latter being Carly Rae Jepsen's boyfriend, is a new take on this song's meaning.

The song is about falling for a guy who she will never get, as he doesn't see her that way... I'm sure everyone has felt this way, no more than the LGBT people. I have been here plenty of times, myself. The directors have changed the meaning and spun it on Carly Rae Jepsen's music. She was on everyone's lips when "Call Me Maybe" came out, and nowadays people are rarely talking about her, and they wouldn't identify "Run Away With Me" or even this song, on the radio, with her.

She has proven she has matured a lot in the space of an album, and the video shows that too... Still sporting her Joan Jett look she had at the acoustic gig I went to, she feels lost and alone, her headphones get stolen right in front of her nose and at her gig people don't seem interested or recognise her, like many of her fans would. She performs with a band called Escandalosos.

She gets over her nerves, continues on, and the scene changes to her own gig, people start clubbing to "Your Type" which is definitely a confident booster of a song as she makes you realise others are feeling the same way. Carly Rae Jepsen finishes her gig in a much better mood than when she started.

Overall, great narrative full of emotion and meaning, but what do we expect when her album is called Emotion? I would totally buy gig tickets to see her live, if she ever does a tour in the UK. And a brilliant performance piece to match. Can't fault this video.
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Cassadee Pope - I Am Invincible



My go to song when I feel like the world is on top of me, as I previously explained, fitting everything into one day is not exactly easy for me (click here for my blog post), and this song is my feel good song, where I prove everyone wrong. I am invincible. A perfect bully music video, reminding me of Taylor Swift's "Mean". Empowering and inspirational, Cassadee Pope shows that no matter what is going on in your life, anything is possible.

I have rooted for Cassadee Pope ever since she was in rock band Hey Monday. After the band went on hiatus, she entered The Voice, and eventually won, releasing her amazing heartfelt country song "Wasting All These Tears". Country suits her voice and country has accepted her, now she just needs a worldwide hit, and with her vocal range and her emotional lyrics, it's more than possible. The song was written by Brett Boyett and Nash Overstreet. Similar to Rachel Platten's "Fight Song", it's self-empowerment, a song that should've been a hit. It surprisingly wasn't written by Cassadee Pope herself, however her portrayal of the lyrics is completely emotional. She means every word. My go to song to lift my spirits up.

Directed by Roman White, known for his music videos for Carrie Underwood, he has portrayed Cassadee Pope's background. The song is about bullying and not letting anyone put you down, We know this is from Cassadee Pope's personal experiences and this has been perfectly captured in the video.

Bullying is something close to most people, as they have either been through it, received some form of it, or know people whose lives have been totally affected by bullying. I love how it shows Cassadee Pope's childhood, I love the transition of the tattoo, even from that early age, it helps us identify her in different stages of her life.

The performance piece is electrifying, Cassadee Pope please do a tour in the UK, I need to hear your vocals live, and watch you perform on a stage. I truly believe she will become the next big country artist, she has fought for many years to get to where she is now, and with that kind of effort, she deserves much more. Hopefully it'll come sooner than we all think.

Roman White has done a stunning visual with this video, capturing us from the first second to the very last. Hope is a powerful thing, as well as achieving what you set out to do. This video proves that, and helps to communicate the lyrics of the song.
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New Release: WSTRN - In2



Okay what have I just watched? Some 90s hip-hop song enveloped in a much worse black and white music video that experiments with crayons. Considering I really wanted to review Fleur East's "Sax", unfortunately there is no music video for that, I am not impressed with watching three friends, rap and sing whilst messing about with colourful crayons.

WSTRN, consisting of Akelle Charles, Haile and Louis Rei, are probably one of these groups who have nabbed a record deal because of who they know rather than their amazing vocals. Their song "In2" does have a catchy one line, however their rapping lyrics are unmemorable. As each new member goes to sing I'm hoping their vocals will get better, but I become more and more disappointed, especially when paired with this music video.

Directed by Sally Sibbet, I feel like I've been transported to the low-budget music video world, ones that decide to entertain the audience with bad visuals and camera work as well as effects that just fail.

This explains entirely why I hate black and white music videos, someone explain to me why it's in black and white, other than to empahsise the crayon visual effect.

The crayon idea works well in some cases, yet it is both overused and some scenes just infuriate me as there is clearly no need for it and it does not relate whatsoever. What on earth were these guys thinking?

Catchy song yet annoyingly so. WSTRN is one group that probably will not be around longer than a couple of years. "In2" will sadly become a hit, the only one from this group. As for the music video, I'd be happy never to see it again.
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Where Has Jonni Been: Work, Job Applying, Nikki Grahame, Pride Bracelet and Halloween

I've been a bit inactive lately on here, so I thought I'd give you all a little insight into my chaotic life.


First off I'm taking extra shifts at work to get more money. Roughly doing 45 hours a week and gaining the extra money I need. My plans are to save up as I attempt to find a job in London. With all these hours I'm doing finding time for everything else in my life is proving difficult, there is just not enough hours in a day.

Job applying is also keeping me up late. Some applications take two hours to fill out, is it not enough to email my CV and personal cover letter? And I don't even get a rejection letter in response. However if you don't apply, you don't get the job, so I keep fighting and applying, I will get on the ladder to my dream career.


On Thursday 29th October I met Nikki Grahame at the Nightingale in Birmingham. She seemed a little on the drunk side, but it was fun to watch her gunge someone. However it was all fun and games, and she seemed to love every minute of it. During the meet and greet photos she was adorable, and lucky for me I got two photos with her, at her request.


On 31st October, I bought my pride bracelet. I came up with the concept for it after Birmingham's Gay Pride. I wanted something I would wear everyday, something out of the last of the money my grandparents' gave me on my 21st birthday. I'm sad they will never get to see it in person, but I am sure they would think it is as beautiful as I do. It was made at Vault 88 in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, and they seemed excited to make something unique and different. They came up with the design, after I explained that I would like the gay pride colours in the bracelet. After some discussion we came up with a sketch of the bracelet and each stone for each colour. Garnet for red (which is also my birthstone), Topaz for both orange and yellow, Peridot for green, Sapphire for blue and Amethyst for purple. My bracelet couldn't have come out any better, and I will never stop wearing it. I especially hate taking it off for work.



Halloween wasn't all I thought it would be. I had my sexy Magic Mike costume on, and adorned wings and some dead make up in the hope to turn Magic Mike into a sexy dead vampire. And it worked to some extent, I always feel confident in my Magic Mike outfit, and yet Nightingale was packed, and it was just me and my friend, drinks were expensive, which I totally expected, and the music was great as usual, but as I failed to have a good time the night just went from bad to worse. Oh well, some nights are amazing and others just aren't, can't always have the best night, even when you are dressed up as a dead vampiric Magic Mike.
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