This song is at number one hence why I am reviewing it today, catchy and euphoric. It mixes different genres together, and even though this is a hit, and this group has done well in their home country of Denmark, I feel that their other songs will be similar, too similar and so may not chart as well as this one has. This is a similar case with Hozier, who's song "Take Me To Church" got to number one but he's other singles failed to make as much of an impact. Even though Lukas Graham is one to watch, I don't see the band making a constant global success. I just don't. Lukas Graham are showing us the beginnings of song writing, explaining and just plain singing, the video is a bit tongue-in-cheek and it works to a degree.
It's so hard to think of this group as a band, especially with a name as their band name. Anyhow, Lukas Graham consists of four members, these are Lukas Graham Forchhammer, Mark Falgren, Magnus Larsson and Kasper Daugaard. The band have been getting number ones in Denmark since 2012, and have been a total success over there. They caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records who co-signed them. This is the reason why they have become an international sensation with this song. However it begs to question whether they will have hit after hit much like in their own country. Lukas Graham Forchhammer is an amazing vocalist, possibly Denmark's answer to Adele, but whether the success will continue is the question on everybody's lips. The song reminds me of Hozier's "Take Me To Church", but whether they will follow Hozier's downfall is something we'll be keeping an eye on. The song was written by Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Ristorp and Morten Pilegaard.
The music video was directed by René Sascha Johannsen. It is in black and white, which is an instant turn off for me, unless a certain reason is established in the first few scenes, which there isn't apart from making the scene with the trees lined up look detailed and magical, which it does yet I'm sure it would've also looked just as great in colour.
It is mainly performance based, with Lukas Graham Forchhammer singing his song. I love how his story is practically told, through both the lyrics of the song and the music video, it's like he goes back in time and becomes his seven and 11 year old self in which he visits the scenes where he smoke herbs and is drinking liquor according to his lyrics, is that what happens in Denmark? Although it's probably unsurprising as you could probably find that happening anywhere in the world.
The song continues with the story of his life and his future life and so does the music video. It includes a guy much older than him, who has a slight resemblance, so we presume it's his dad, but more of an on-screen dad as his father passed away a few years ago aged 61, as the song tells us.
There's explosions, fire and a performance on stage where they have their tops off, which isn't appealing all that much, but the band has the confidence to do just that, which is exactly what we need in the world, everyone isn't perfect, slim supermodels.
Overall, a great song full of emotion; it's unsurprisingly catchy, no wonder it's at the top of the UK charts, however they will need to follow-up with an amazing song and album to keep their international success, although it seems doubtful. The music video is in painstaking black and white, although it can be considered because of his dad dying and the lyrics about his dad, although it still doesn't make complete sense. The performance seems okay, although emotions aren't displayed as well, and it doesn't encourage me to see them live. The slight narrative is all right, I got totally confused when there was two people lip syncing to the song, it just messed with my head as there is only one singer, hence why I found it slightly tongue-in-cheek. Then it ends and I feel sad, and I have no idea why. I think Lukas Graham has hypnotised us all, now it depends how long for and when we wake up, will we still like their music?
Today I planned on reviewing Viola Beach, as they have sadly passed away today in Sweden in a fatal car accident. However, a quick look on YouTube tells me that they never released a music video, so I can't review any of their music videos as they don't have any. Today, I'm having a Kiesza day, I've only just discovered her newish song "Give It To The Moment", which doesn't have a music video as of yet, although it is an amazing song. So I've chosen this one from Finding Neverland The Album, and wow she has proved herself with those perfect vocals. Unfortunately, the music video isn't up to scratch. Kiesza performs in some weird dance sequences as she puts her full emotions into singing this highly catchy power ballad of a song, no one could've sung this better, it was made for Kiesza!
Kiesza, real name Kiesa Ellestad, is a Canadian singer who has hit global success with her UK number one smash "Hideaway". Her follow-up singles failed to make such an impact and her chart positions dropped. She has recently gone off the radar. She has been writing a lot and featuring in a few songs here and there, and with "Give It To The Moment" appearing out of nowhere, I'm hoping she's getting ready to make a chart impact soon once again, with her vocal talents, I'm surprised DJs aren't snapping her up here, there and everywhere, or maybe she's too focused on her next album to feature on something big... It's a wait and see sort of game, but she has an amazing talent and she is worthy of global stardom. This song is from Finding Neverland The Album. It's a Gary Barlow found musical which first debuted in Lancaster, but has found it's place in Broadway, and next year it will be in the West End. With songs like this one, I am definitely eager to see it, hopefully in London, but if not I'll definitely go and see it when it gets a UK tour, which is inevitable because of the amazing reviews it has had so far.
This music video is extremely simple, and obviously low-budget. It was directed by Mario Hugo.
With not a lot going on, I haven't got much to comment on. The background and editing techniques used are clever, the use of vines and lines that are both behind her and in front of her isn't anything new, and yet it makes the audience focus on Kiesza alone.
Kiesza's dancing is definitely freestyle, unless this was actually choreographed which looks unlikely. This reminds me a lot of my own freestyle which I do when no ones watching, a few regular dance sequences she repeats which is exactly what happens in a bit of freestyle. It's raw and imaginative, and yet it isn't as powerful as a choreographed sequence might have been. Freestyle is freestyle, it's a bit of a let loose kind of freedom, it's difficult to pull off perfectly as it's what you can come up with on the spot. Kiesza does a good job nonetheless though.
Overall, an amazing song, that is one of many amazing songs that was created by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy that is on Finding Neverland The Album, which I'm currently listening to in full, and it is brilliant! I'm so glad I've bought it. However I wish the music videos of the songs was part of the musical or at least relate to it in some way. This is an okay performance piece but it doesn't do anything that interests me into watching it again, other than listening to Kiesza's amazing vocals on this track.
While we await for The Saturdays to come off their hiatus, we have the lovely Vanessa White soloing, creating her own small waves in the music industry, and what a way to start! Soulful, energetic, emotional and sexy, Vanessa White exudes confidence in this fun little song and music video that has got us all screaming for more.
Vanessa White is one fifth of girl group The Saturdays, who have established themselves as one of the most successful girl groups in the UK. At the moment they are on a break so they can all follow their own lives, with various members doing their own things, although it has been reported that they have new music to be released this year. Vanessa White is the first to go solo since the group's hiatus, and it looks like Mollie King will be following in her footsteps soon, although Una Healy released a solo EP before the band got together. Vanessa White is gearing up to release her EP next week, and this song is one of my favourites released so far. The song is so catchy and I can imagine the thoughts behind the single.
Directed by Kristian Young, the video is mostly performance based with a subtle narrative that works well with the song.
Vanessa White is looking sexy and adorably confident in this music video. She shows how great she would be live on stage, and with that gifted voice, she is an artist that you'd definitely want to see in person.
Just as I get comfortable to the music video, and reckon there isn't much more to it, whilst the guy is sitting down on the chair as she explains to him that she don't wanna be his lover, she's just looking for a friend and a bit of a fun time, the video surprises me with amazing contemporary dancing that is magical.
The dancing reminds me of Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself", it's perfect and performed to an exact point. Vanessa White proves herself here, that even though she is in one of the hottest girl groups from the UK, she is just as good all by herself. This guy is that little bit too tall for her, but the choreography has taken this into account and the dancing is just perfect. I just wish there was more of it, and I was there in person to watch this chemistry fuelled sequences performed. Vanessa White, and whoever the mystery guy is (if anyone knows his name please comment below), pulls this off amazingly. I hope to see more of Vanessa White dancing in her future music videos.
Overall Vanessa White surprises us all with an amazing song and a brilliant music video to go with it. It may be simple with very little going on, but this just proves that less is more, and it certainly is. I can't fault this video, and I can't stop watching this again and again. Great job Vanessa White, and I cannot wait for what the future will bring! I just wish this would have charted as this deserves a great charting position, at the very least.
I'm kind of cheating today... Since all day on Friday I've been looking for a New Release and it wasn't until the day after I found this one... So technically it's Saturday, but I've changed the date to Friday. Plus this music video was released on Saturday 13th February, so technically I wouldn't have been able to review this on Friday. I have had to stretch my rules for New Release, because all of the new releases this week don't have a music video, or the ones that do weren't officially released on Friday 12th February. This is the only one I can find, and I'm glad it's from someone I've heard of. Hozier attempts to show how make-up can hide the lies inside, domestic violence is very real in the world and they manage to portray perfectly how it is hidden from the world.
Hozier, real name Andrew Hozier-Byrne, is an Irish musician who had a hit single with "Take Me To Church", it was held off the top spot by Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk", in the UK. He's big in Ireland, where all his singles have charted. Whereas in the UK, a few have charted but quite low. In the US, "Take Me To Church" also hit number two, but his other singles either haven't charted or are bubbling under the hot 100. His album did well around the world. This is probably the last single from his album, or it could be his first single of a new album... Since the song is a live version on the album... The song was written by Andrew Hozier-Byrne. All proceeds for the song will be donated to international domestic abuse charity organisations.
The music video is directed by Dearbhla Walsh, and features actors Saoirse Ronan and Moe Dunford. The former has played lead roles in many films and has been nominated for a number of awards in her career, As for the latter he has appeared in a few films and TV series, mainly known for his role in Vikings.
The video relates well to the song as it is all about domestic violence. Saoirse Ronan is wearing some heavy make-up to hide that black eye she has got, and although Moe Dunford looks very sad and sorry for what he has done, he is completely ashamed by it, hiding her eye behind her hair so he doesn't have to see it.
There's very little to this music video, but we don't need something massive, the pace goes well with the songs and Saoirse Ronan and Moe Dunford act extremely well, showing off their acting skills allowing us to get wrapped up in their story. This is pretty good, but it's not something that kept me entertained. For all we know Saoirse Ronan did fall over, or someone else could have gave her that black eye. We are left to presume it is her lover, and so I feel everything isn't proved and wasn't exactly thought out. I think a performance piece from Hozier included in this video would've also made it more interesting.
Almost six years old now, in the UK, and I cannot believe I haven't reviewed it until now. I have been a fan of Inna since this music video was released on the music channels and radio picked up the song. To date, this is Inna's highest charting single on the UK chart, although many of her most recent singles are worthy of that claim, however she is not promoted much, if at all, in the UK and so her music isn't widely popular here, not yet anyway. Inna looks fly and hot and sexy in this music video, with a passionate love story narrative infused.
Inna, real name Elena Apostoleanu, is one of the biggest artists to come out of Romania, if not the biggest, she holds the title as the richest Romanian and Eastern European artist as of the end of 2011, I presume this still stands. This is her debut single, that shot all across the globe, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart, I remember when and where I bought this single, surprisingly. I was in Wales on a family holiday, and as soon as it was released in HMV, I begged my dad to let me go inside and buy this one CD. I still have it today in my bedroom. It was written by Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. The title of the song is not listed in the lyrics, it was originally going to be called 'Fly', however they chose 'Hot' instead as it relates and describes a certain type of relationship.
There are actually two music videos for this song, which I only just found out today. I will be focusing on this one alone, and might review the other one in the future. This is the one I know and love, the other one is a complete mess, and I'll only ever review it if I need to.
This video is both performance and narrative. Inna is looking sexy and sultry, not giving too much away as she performs. The scenes are beautifully subtle and works well with her looks. We know she can perform better than this, however there's something simple and relaxed about this, as she floods the song with emotion.
The narrative follows a blonde girl in the backstage dressing room, getting ready. She receives a bunch of roses with a card that says in Romanian: 'Un admirator...' which means in English: 'An admirer...' We then see scenes of her doing her job as a stage dancer. We then are cut to a scene of her at home, arguing with her lover in front of her daughter. She walks out and the father comforts the child.
She receives another bouquet of roses, and the card reads, in Romanian: 'Un admirator care te adora...' which means in English: 'A fan who loves you...' A few scenes of her stage dancing and being with her friends are included and in the morning another fight ensues at home, where she inevitably packs her bags and leaves.
When she returns backstage there is another set of roses. This card says in Romania: 'In seara asta vreau sa ne cunoastem. Te astept ,dupa program ,in fatza clubului' which basically means in English: 'Tonight I want to meet you. I will wait after work', the end bit doesn't directly translate, I'm presuming it means outside the club, or round the back of the club, or somewhere specific in the club. When she goes to meet him, it turns out that the guy who we've seen clips of is actually her lover. He takes his sunglasses off and his ring (which doesn't make sense to me), and they hug and make up.
Overall a perfect video that can't be faulted, a perfect narrative that is totally related to the song. The performance piece could've been better, but Inna has released much worse performance pieces in her music videos, and yet a quick look at any of her live sessions proves that not only does she have an amazing voice, but she has a brilliant on-stage presence that is filled with performance vibes, this video slightly shows that, but the narrative is so thought out and special, it makes the video complete.
