Literally had no choice but to review this music video for my Chart Mondays, purely because his "Shape Of You" is still at number one, and every other song in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart either has been reviewed already or doesn't have a music video. I have a feeling it will not go my way next week, and we'll have to skip Chart Mondays again, but let's hope that that doesn't happen. Ed Sheeran is currently dominating on an international scale, and can we blame him? Just listen to his recent songs, his album (which I reviewed for Outlet Magazine) titled "÷", pronounced "Divide", He's truly knocked it out of the park. Watch this awesome music video that has Ed Sheeran reflecting on his life, whilst we watch his childhood adventures over the "Castle On The Hill".
Ed Sheeran has literally made the biggest album masterpiece of his career. "÷" or "Divide" beats everyone's expectations, and every song is set to chart in the UK Singles Chart this Friday, which isn't a surprise at all. I reviewed it for Outlet Magazine, and I was honoured to be hearing this music because it really is a masterpiece. This song was released alongside "Shape Of You" as a duo single. It was written by Ed Sheeran and Benjamin Levin (Benny Blanco).
Directed by George Belfield, the music video was filmed in Suffolk, which is where Ed Sheeran grew up; making the scenes even more personable and relatable. The young Ed Sheeran is played by high school student - clearly turning actor - Hugo Fairbanks Weston, who also attends the high school that the artist once went to.
There's so much going on in this music video, so I'm going to try and keep it short. We see Hugo Fairbanks Weston hang out with his mates, doing various normal things that they get up to, all the while relating it to the lyrics of the song. Some parts are perfect translations of the lyrics, and it's clear they had a lot of fun on set.
There is also a brilliant performance visual from Ed Sheeran, who is clearly thinking about the past events mentioned in the song as he sings it. I hope he manages to express all the emotion into this song whenever he performs it live. This one is definitely close to his heart, and it's nice of him to share this with everyone else.
Overall, the music video is fully relatable to the song. It's fun, it's clever, it's interesting and a complete match. Although, Hugo Fairbanks Weston is going to be called Ed Sheeran for the rest of his life now, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. The music video couldn't have possibly been any better.
Whenever I think about my blog, I think of how many female artists are on my blog; so I've decided to switch it up a bit and try to feature more male artists; hence why I've chosen Bruno Mars' new music video today. This song came to my attention after Relley C did a cover version, to which she totally smashes! Regardless, Bruno Mars' original version is just as good, and the music video is technically brilliant even if it does have a simple concept. Watch Bruno Mars give an engaging performance piece whilst drawn items relating to the lyrics interact with his dancing in the music video for "That's What I Like".
Bruno Mars, real name Peter Hernandez, is one of the top male artists in the world at the moment. He has had a solid career and has really pushed R&B and Funk into mainstream pop music, this is what you call an artist. This song is the exact same style, and it's highly addictive. It's the second single, the follow-up to the internationally successful single "24K Magic", from his latest album 24K Magic.. The song was released at the start of this year, but the music video has just been released, which will definitely give much-needed promotion for the song. It was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Johnathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves, and Ray McCullough II.
Directed by Bruno Mars and Jonathan Lia, the music video is a pure performance visual with a creative but simple visual drawing effect - switching the music video up to make Bruno Mars' choreography turn into an out-of-this-world experience.
In the simple music video, we see Bruno Mars dancing his funky choreography, nailing every move as we expect. We believe he'd be an amazing artist to see live on stage. However, that is not all this music video is.
Switching the choreography up completely, are simple drawings that are superimposed on the video. The various drawn images completely relate to the lyrics and totally keeps the audience engaged as Bruno Mars' dancing is incorporated with the lyric-based images. It's a beautifully edited music video, that is enticing from start to finish. Simple but effective!
I had planned to review this last week for my New Release, since it was released on 24 February, but Era Istrefi's "Redrum" was also released then, so I shifted this back a week, and I'm glad I did, as it's given me a fresh new look to this music video. I previously wrote an article on CelebMix for this group, then one for Outlet Magazine; so it's now time for it to feature on my blog. Watch LORIS perform their amazingly catchy "Dirty Bass" song in this music video that features a pole dancer.
LORIS are a three-piece electronic band consisting of Frances Mitchell, Tommy Keery, and Michael Mormecha. The band has had a lot of support from BBC Introducing, with their song "Yeah" becoming Track of the Week. They already have a debut EP out on their website, along with three singles. This group is building up their fan base, and with this amazing new track, how can anyone not become a fan? Be ready for their follow-up songs, because if this one is anything to go by, this band is ready to be heard.
This music video is a pure performance piece; it shows a black and white visual, as well as showing a pole dancer. Frances Mitchell is fully feeling the bass whilst suggesting us to feel it too. She bounces the energy around to the other LORIS band members, who are just as energetic.
The pole dancer cuts this black and white visual music video up perfectly. She stuns us with her incredible flexibility and amazingly technical pole dancing.
But, what really stands out is the performance vibes from LORIS. They definitely deserve to be on a stage, and it's clear that anyone who sees this band live will be in for a real treat. They completely ooze enthusiasm, they clearly love "Dirty Bass" and they want you to love it too. If they can bring such a passion in a performance-based music video, imagine their potential on a stage.
Overall, there isn't a lot going on in the music video, it's a pure performance piece, with a pole dancing visual segmented throughout. Although a narrative is lacking from the video, the band makes up for it with their vigour for the song and the music video. LORIS are definitely a band we all need to keep watching and keep our eyes on. The future is definitely bright for them.
Well, I have been gearing up, all day, to review Barei's "I Don't Need To Be You" music video for my New Release blog post; instead, I am reviewing Lorde's "Green Light", because Barei's music video has been exclusively released on Vevo, and not YouTube - not yet anyway. So, instead, here is Lorde who wants the green light, and we're so ready for her to have it. Such a catchy song, that deserves to be an international hit, regardless of the surprisingly mean comments on the video. Watch Lorde fill this song with such a passionate emotional performance, it's clear "Green Light" is close to her heart.
Lorde, real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor, became a global superstar overnight with her debut single "Royals". Just as she started to disappear from the world, lasting as a one-hit wonder, she's returned with "Green Light", which is a complete hit and deserves to chart all over the world. The song is about all the silly little things you gravitate towards when your life changes. This is the girl who is dancing wildly in a club crying about her ex, the one we all think is a mess but she will get a hold on her life tomorrow. That is what Lorde said in an interview on Beats 1 interview with Zane Lowe. The song was written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Jack Antonoff, and Joel Little.
Directed by Grant Singer, this music video is a pure performance visual. Lorde is giving off a bunch of emotional vibes and lashes out with her stage presence.
The opening scene sees her in a bathroom, singing to her reflection - imagining it's her ex she's singing to. Scenes follow that show her in a club, exiting the club, getting into a Chevrolet car, that we could presume is a taxi. Then the bridge of the song happens, and she hangs out the window, feeling the air whipping by.
The chorus kicks in and she's on top of the car, dancing on the roof. As the next verse kicks in, we watch her walking the streets, she puts in her earphones and starts to dance like no one is watching, dancing to a beat all to herself. The video is not at all polished, it is a mess, but it's a well shot, erratic mess that we can't help but love. Lorde pulls it off perfectly.
This song and music video is for all the girls (and guys) who look a mess, crying over their ex's in clubs. This one is for them, the one clubs should play to give them life, to add a bit of sass to their clubbing experience. We've all been there and, hell, we all need it. Nice one Lorde, a brilliant single and music video, that deserves global recognition.
I had quite a few options for my Thursday Revisit today but decided to go with a bit of Carrie Underwood since she hasn't appeared much on my blog, and this is another awesome song from her. I don't understand how her songs don't quite make it on the UK chart; they're incredibly catchy with a hell of a lot of promotion she could chart internationally. Country music is just difficult to sell to the UK, but I'm sure she can get there if she pushes just a little bit harder. This should've been an international hit. Watch Carrie Underwood save herself from a tornado, but let her drunken father get taken by the storm in the "Blown Away" music video.
Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Since then she has established herself as a country music female artist. She's at the top of her game but hasn't managed to crack the UK market, just yet; not lack of trying, though, she even performed on The X Factor. This song is one of three singles that has charted in the UK, but none have been in the Top 100; this one in particular charted at number 155. This song was written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear. It won a GRAMMY award for 'Best Country Song' in 2013.
Directed by Randee St. Nicholas, the music video is, once again, a brilliant translation of the lyrics, completely developing the storyline of the song into a brilliant narrative; all of which is set amongst a Wizard of Oz theme. There is also a killer performance piece throughout, which totally knocks this video out of the park. It has got it all. The video won 'Female Video of the Year' at the American Country Awards and 'Video of the Year' at the CMT Music Awards, both in 2013.
The opening scene sees Carrie Underwood working on some homework, whilst her father pours alcohol into his coffee. He imposes on her work, and says that he can help, then grabs her arm. All before saying: "I am your father, young lady." He is played by actor Pepper Sweeney. The opening scene was completely unscripted and, apparently, very intense. Carrie Underwood's arm was left bruised afterwards.
The first scene is displayed in black and white, showing that it is a part of her past. The song starts up and we return to full colour. Carrie Underwood and the viewers watch a storm start to brew. Which links in with the opening lyrics, right from the start. She also walks through a graveyard, where we're to presume her mother is, due to the lyrics at that point.
She runs into the house, in an attempt to wake her abusive drunken father, but he has drunk too much and is asleep on the couch. She's not sure what to do; considering her options, she then decides to hide out in the basement, just as the lyrics suggest. We see flashbacks of how her father has treated her, and how this all leads to revenge; karma if lack of another word. When the storm is over, she comes out the basement and walks away in the beautiful sunshine; now free from her father.
Throughout, there are references to the 1939 Victor Fleming-directed film The Wizard of Oz; which can be seen on the TV inside the house. There are also yellow bricks embedded in the road, leading to her house; and at the end, there is a dog, although it looks nothing like Toto.
Not only that, but the music video is segmented with a performance piece, which Carrie Underwood nails throughout, as expected. The narrative also becomes part of the performance when she is in the basement, upset about her father being taken by the storm and yet it's much-needed karma. She is one of these singers that I need to see live and anyone who does get to see her, are definitely in for a treat. She puts so much heart into every song she sings, it's no wonder she's one of the biggest female country stars in the world.
Overall this music video has got it all. Once again, Carrie Underwood stuns us with her visual performance. "Blown Away" is out-of-this-world incredible. It blows the audience away and totally hits home with everyone who watches it. Amazing, Brilliant. Stunning.
As Avril Lavigne announces AL6 plans and also reveals that she's teamed up with BMG (check out my CelebMix Article), I decided to review one of her many awesome music videos. This song was definitely my favourite to be released from her latest album. I'm surprised I haven't reviewed it before today, but I distinctly remember deciding to wait for an official release; unfortunately, the song never got a UK single release, hence why I never got around to reviewing it. But in promotion of her new announcement, it's time to review this awesome heartbreaking music video. Watch Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroger perform in a stunning house for their music video "Let Me Go". The video is totally filled with emotion.
Avril Lavigne announced she signed with BMG today and that her new album will be released this year. This is exciting news as fans have been waiting for her sixth studio album patiently. She has never had a UK number one single, so I'm hoping that her new music is a complete hit. She's had a break to battle Lyme Disease, but now she's back. As we wait for new music I decided to look back at this amazing song and review it on my blog. The song was never released as an official single in the UK, and so only charted via album downloads at number 66; it's such a shame, as this deserved to be a hit and might've got her to the top of the UK singles chart, with the right promotion. The song was written by Avril Lavigne, Chad Kroeger, and David Hodges.
Directed by Christopher Sims, the music video has a full narrative, with a performance visual set within. It's haunting, it's intricate, and it's completely stunning. It makes me sad to see Chavril here together, knowing that they aren't together anymore; but clearly, they are happy apart.
The video opens with an old man sweeping the leaves of the courtyard. He is played by actor Herman Sinitzyn, to which you might recognise him from Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away". He walks inside as Avril Lavigne starts to sing.
We see him put on a suit before sitting in front of a mirror and playing his guitar. Reflected back in the mirror is Chad Kroeger. After some time, Avril Lavigne looks at Chad Kroeger on her tablet, clearly a memory, before she puts it aside as a sand timer is shown. The old man gets up and smashes the sand timer to the floor - breaking time. In doing so, Chad Kroeger appears beside Avril Lavigne, and they perform this song together. He steps away, and time reverses. The sand timer is back, and Herman Sinitzyn takes off his suit, and Avril Lavigne is all alone once again.
The performance side of things is as outstanding as you can imagine. Avril Lavigne has her usual performing vibes that we are used to seeing her have. She exudes energy and projects the song emotionally and powerfully. Chad Kroeger is less so, but he only features in the song and doesn't want to take the spotlight. He's subtle but just as present.
As a whole, this video is one of my favourites. It tells a story, like no other. It's given a haunting and lonely theme, which is exactly what the song is about, even if it is about breaking free from those memories; they're still there but not majorly so. There's not one thing I don't like about this video, and therefore it can only get this rating. I cannot wait for Avril Lavigne's sixth studio album.
I was going to do Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee", since my iTunes shuffler keeps playing it day-in-day-out, but the embed code is disabled on the music video, and so I chose my favourite country song, instead. I don't know what it is about this song, but Carrie Underwood really hits home with every note and every word of this awesome track. This one always gets stuck in my head every time I hear it and it is currently my alarm to wake me up in the morning. Carrie Underwood demolishes her boyfriend's car because he's cheating on her, and then her temper lashes out to the entire street. maybe next time he'll think "Before He Cheats".
Carrie Underwood is a major country female singer, who has been doing well ever since she won American Idol. She is totally on her game and one of the leading female country singers at the moment. She's been trying to hit the UK for some time, and even performed on The X Factor; although her albums chart well over here, her singles have not faired well at all. Country music is just difficult to sell to the UK market, but if she keeps pushing, I'm sure she'll make it over here. Many others have done so, so why not Carrie Underwood? This song is written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. It has won a bunch of awards, namely a GRAMMY in 2007.
Directed by Roman White, the music video is a full narrative that completely relates to the song, in a literal translation. There is also a killer performance visual snapshot throughout. The ending is a homage to the 1976 Brian De Palma film Carrie, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
The narrative sees Carrie Underwood follow through with every single thing mentioned in the chorus of the song. She scratches a key along the side of a 'souped-up four-wheel drive'. An image of her name is carved onto leather seats, which we presume are inside the car. She brandishes a Louisville Slugger (a branded baseball bat) around, smashing 'both head lights'. We then see her slash all four tyres.
As the video goes on, the car becomes a battered mess. But that's not the end of the video, oh no! We see her walking with a group of girls. We see her guy making out with another girl. He is played by actor Tabb Shoup. Carrie Underwood catches up with him, and she freezes for a bit, seeing him with another girl; she then drops his keys in his half-empty drink and walks away. We see him pick up the keys, and it's such a shame we don't get to see his reaction to finding his cherished four-wheel drive battered and crushed.
Instead, we see Carrie Underwood turn into Carrie White, and completely unleash her anger whilst walking down a street. Windows blow open and electrical signs shatter. All the while, a gale force wind is blowing. What an incredible ending scene.
Not only that, but there's a whole performance piece shown throughout. Carrie Underwood proves exactly why she deserves to be on stage. She feels this song and unleashes the emotional energy it deserves, giving it her all within the performance side of the video. Anyone who is lucky enough to see her live are definitely in for a treat. She is one of a few singers on my must-see-live list because I bet her shows are out of this world.
This music video has got it all, and it doesn't surprise me that it won 'Music Video of the Year' at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards, as well as 'Video of the Year' and 'Female Video of the Year' at the 2007 CMT Music Awards. Overall, it is absolutely incredible; completely relatable to the song, and shows Carrie Underwood off perfectly. This is one music video I could watch over and over and over again.
With Ed Sheeran totally dominating the UK Singles Chart, with three songs in the top ten at the moment, of which, "Shape of You", is still chilling at the top; ZAYN and Taylor Swift will be my Chart Mondays review today, instead. To me, this is an unlikely pairing, and yet the collaboration is total fire from start to finish. ZAYN and Taylor Swift's voices work totally well together and I sure hope this isn't the last song they collaborate on. This song was done for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack, although the music video isn't an obvious soundtrack video. Watch ZAYN and Taylor Swift perform this very sultry song in a hotel during this music video for "I Don't Wanna Live Forever".
ZAYN, full name Zayn Malik, is mostly known for being one-fifth of boy group One Direction before he left the band to focus on a solo career in music. He wanted to release music authentic to him, and he's definitely done that. His "PillowTalk" is still one of the most incredible debut singles that people are still talking about and covering today. As for Taylor Swift, she's brought country music to the world, and then made giant leaps into pop music, ones we totally forgive her for because they're amazing songs. She has a new album coming out sometime in the future, and I cannot wait for it to drop. This collaborative effort has had global success, as we expected. It was written by Taylor Swift, Sam Dew, and Jack Antonoff.
Directed by Grant Singer, the music video sees ZAYN step out of a car in the rain and enter a hotel, this is where he starts to sing and where the rest of the music video takes place.
The start of the video shows the problem stars face in their everyday lives. Paparazzi. These people have always been a problem for celebrities, and there are a lot of songs that cover this from Britney to Lady Gaga. Many stars have hit out at how annoyingly ruthless paparazzi are, and there have been several hundreds of music videos showing this. Now it's time for ZAYN to hit back at them.
Performing in their separate hotel rooms, Taylor Swift and ZAYN deliberate on their relationship, getting angry and smashing things up, while also having subtle lost moments. It really shows how powerful each of these stars are. They're meant to perform, they're meant to sing, and here they are doing just that. It's a great music video but it's just missing the wow factor.
We'll all be runnin' away with Rykka. This awesome song can be found on her album, and I'm so glad that it got a brilliant gentle music video to accompany the track. Filmed in Switzerland, the Swiss music video is engaging and interesting, with Rykka giving her all as usual, for this sweet and relaxer of a song. The "Runnin' Away" music video shows Rykka in the best possible limelight, she may not have done well at Eurovision, but we all missed out on the star she is.
Rykka, real name Christina Rieder, first came to my attention at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where she represented Switzerland with "The Last Of Our Kind". The song was incredibly catchy, but her performance led to her not making the Grand Final. Yet, it gave her international exposure, and looking back at her released songs just proves that Rykka is someone we all should be keeping an eye on. This song was never released as a single, but it is available on her "Beatitudes" album. A music video has been released for it, which led to people thinking it would be the next single. I'm guessing it's a way of saying goodbye to this album; and, hopefully, new music from Rykka is on the way, instead. The song was written by Wayne Livesey, Christina Maria Rieder, and Ryan Carl Dahle.
Directed by Brianne Nord-Stewart, the video accompanies the song perfectly. It's gentle, peaceful, and shows Rykka off in such a positive light. I hope she continues to release music and show to the world she's a superstar, This music video practically proves it.
Filmed in Switzerland, in Lucerne and Meilin, the music video shows Rykka in some amazing profile scenes. The first scene is one of many where Rykka shows her performance vibes and her stunning beauty. The following scenes, Rykka is in a convertible car driving through a forest lined road. Then comes the empty swimming pool dance scene, which is completely on point throughout. Rykka nails the choreography in perfect sync with the dancers and adding a stand-out rhythmic vibe to her performance.
Then as the song switches up for an incredibly sultry verse, Rykka does the exact same in the visual in a very sexy outfit within a barn, she also poses with a lamb. Rykka proves with this music video that she is an allrounder, one we should all be watching, and one we will never forget. Great music to fit with a very catchy relaxer of a song. We're all runnin' away with you Rykka!
We're all chained to the rhythm. Katy Perry is back with this brilliant, dark and raw song that utilises what we all are, in a powerful catchy way. Katy Perry is hitting out these great songs, but they're not instantly catchy like her previous songs were, which probably explains why they're not performing as well. This one has started doing better than "Rise" for many different reasons, but her performance at The Brit Awards and The GRAMMY Awards definitely ignited more downloads and streams. Watch Katy Perry have fun at a futuristic theme park with Skip Marley in the "Chained To The Rhythm" music video.
Katy Perry, real name Katheryn Hudson, has really established herself as one of the main female artists in the world, Forgetting all the shade towards plenty of other well-known singers, she is definitely one who is bringing unstoppable hits and brilliant music videos. Many of her songs are hits and it's surprising she hasn't released a greatest hits album yet, although I'm sure there's one on the cards in the near future. This song is about how we're all attached to social media, how we all comment the same thing about something, and how we're all chained to the rhythm. It's a powerful message, hidden in a very catchy song. It was written by Katy Perry, Max Martin, Sia Furler, Ali Payami, and Skip Marley.
Directed by Matthew Cullen, the music video is set in a futuristic theme park called Oblivia. There are various theme rides at this theme park, including a rollercoaster that has a gap in the tracks, I so want to go on it. There are springing houses, which intrigues me. There's a rocket roller coaster where the cars shoot off into the sky and then fall down. Don't ask me what the weird seat ride is, but it looks like fun. Then there's the hamster wheel.
I totally don't get the hamster wheel, like I want to give it a go, see if I can beat it, but I don't think it would be fun. I think Katy Perry is trying to make us see that we're all hamsters, running around in a wheel, sometimes we fall, sometimes we can't keep up, sometimes we conquer it, but regardless, we're still running around not going anywhere. It's a very in-depth theory that still doesn't make sense to me, but that's what I make of it.
Skip Marley, who is the son of Cedella Marley, and the maternal grandson of Bob Marley, brings some reggae to Katy Perry's track. He comes out of the TV during the outdoor cinema scene, where everyone is dancing the same dance to his part of the song. He brings some fresh performance vibes that really showcases him as an artist, whether he'll have a subsequent hit, is a different story; but this song has actually given him a much-needed spotlight, so we'll be watching to see what he releases next.
Overall, this is a theme park I want to go to! Although, some rides seem way too dangerous, but I think we should presume they passed all the safety checks so they're all good. It looks like a lot of fun, although the petrol station scene doesn't make much sense to me; to be fair, a lot of this music video doesn't make sense, and yet works in a weird and strange way.
