Ruth Lorenzo - Burn

August 31, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

The fifth series of The X Factor had to be one of the most competitive years ever. But I always had a favourite, and that definitely was Ruth Lorenzo. So why not use her video for my X Factor Special? She has been trying to release her music for some years now, she first got a record deal with EMI Records but soon left due to artistic differences. She has been trying to fund her own music, through the help of her fans. So far she has managed to make a video and release this song in Spain. Since then she has been trying to release her album, but there is no sign of it as of yet. The fifth series was very competitive, there was so many artists that came from this series, which proves how difficult it was. The following artists managed to get record deals: Alexandra Burke (winner), JLS (second), Eoghan Quigg (third), Diana Vickers (fourth), Ruth Lorenzo (fifth), Rachel Hylton (sixth), Daniel Evans (seventh) and Laura White (eighth).

"Burn" is Ruth Lorenzo's debut single, and it is currently over a year old, and suggests what's to come, but if this is what she could do back then, then WOW! She is bound to become a big star, if only she will start releasing and promoting in the UK. The song reminds me a lot of her performance on The X Factor, where she sung Prince's "Purple Rain", that is a performance that is stuck in my mind, and I'll never forget it (video of her performing it on The X Factor can be found below). The song got a bit of success in Spain and charted at number 16, but it was never released in the UK, it had various rumoured release dates, but it never happened! Apparently the album will be released next year, but it might be another rumour, so I guess we will just have to sit and wait in apprehension.

This music video is low budget, but all we need is Ruth Lorenzo and her incredible emotional face to be drawn into. You can definitely tell that it's a self-penned track and she sings it beautifully. It's a performance piece and it's great to watch as every note she manages to hit makes you really feel every single emotion she is feeling.

There are various scenes, some bits suggests her stage work, some scenes look like a photo shoot, and then you have her walking down a street which sounds boring, but so many people just walks down a street thinking a lot, and that is exactly what she is doing.

 Overall an amazing song that does become catchy towards the end, the accompanying music video is low budget, simple and oh-so emotional, I would've like a narrative, but I totally understand that it would've cost money they couldn't afford. However if you are going to do a performance piece video this sure cuts close to a top notch video!

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Same Difference - Shine On Forever (Photo Frame)

August 30, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Same Difference was definitely my favourite act from series four of The X Factor, so of course I was going to review one of their videos for my X Factor Special. Same Difference is a band consisting of siblings: Sarah Smith and Sean Smith. They came third overall, and Simon Cowell put them on his label, but since they didn't chart very high they were soon dropped, and then picked up by PopLife Records. As of now... I'm not sure where they stand, I think they may have been dropped, but I could be wrong. The fourth series of The X Factor gave us a few artists, the following people managed to get a record deal: Leon Jackson (winner), Rhydian Roberts (second), Same Difference (third), Niki Evens (fourth) and Daniel DeBourg (eleventh).

"Shine On Forever (Photo Frame)" was Same Difference's second single, their first on PopLife Records. And I have to admit it is a good first single, but there were clearly better songs on their album "The Rest Is History", which may have charted better. It was written by Sean Smith, Sarah Smith and John Myers. The fact that they have helped write the song has clearly shown how much it means to them. The song charted at an extremely low number 100. The reason was because Same Difference offered the single cheaper if people texted in, in doing so they received a code to then go on to 7digital to get the track. The main problem, however was that people forgot to get the track from 7digital, so therefore people had paid for something they didn't collect, and so it didn't chart very high. But apparently sales suggested it would've charted pretty high if people had downloaded the single.

This music video shows Same Difference all grown up, they decided to change their sound and their appearance as their fans had all grown up as well. This shows them sexy and very different from the childish songs they sung on the album they released under Syco (Simon Cowell's label). It's got a big choreography sequence and also sees them clubbing, suggesting what their new sound is like.

However, Same Difference are great dancers, but no one can make that choreography sequence good, it's quite cringe-worthy and quite worrying, didn't anyone tell the director that dancing in a smart jacket is one of the worst things people do? Sean just looks out of place, the jacket makes it difficult to move in. But this is the only complaint I have about it.

Overall a catchy song that I could listen to over and over again, it's accompanying music video is missing a few things, but as a whole it works well, and shows that they are growing as artists and managing to centre their audience and keep with them. I hope this isn't the last we will see of these guys, as they have yet to find the popularity they clearly deserve.

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Leona Lewis Featuring Avicii - Collide

August 29, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Continuing with my X Factor Special, we have finally turned to a winner! Leona Lewis became the first X Factor female winner, not only that she went on to release chart topping hits, not just in the UK, but in the US as well as worldwide, not bad for someone who was a receptionist before auditioning. She was a clear winner as soon as we saw her audition, and I don't think anyone stood a chance, Simon Cowell will never get rid of her, she's bound to his label now forever, and she is never going to stop doing well. The third series of the X Factor gave us a few stars, these include: Leona Lewis (winner), Ray Quinn (second), Ben Mills (third), The MacDonald Brothers (fourth), Eton Road (fifth), Kerry McGregor (ninth) and The Unconventionals (twelfth). Leona Lewis teamed up with Avicii (one of my favourite house artists), his real name is Tim Bergling, for this track. There was actually a court order for Avicii to be a part of the song, as apparently Simon Cowell used Avicii's song "Penguin" without permission, it looked like it was going to be a major battle, but Leona and Avicii put a stop to it and came to an agreement.

"Collide" was written by Arash Pournouri, Autumn Rowe, Sandy Wilheim, Simon Jeffes and Avicii. The song also samples Avicii's song "Penguin". This is Leona Lewis' most recent single release, showing us a glimpse of her new album "Glassheart" which is bound to surprise us all since this is a totally new direction for her. Is it going to work? Who knows, but I believe it may take us a while to get used to it. She has a phenomenal voice, no one can refuse that, and I can't wait to see what the future will bring.

The music video is a typical Leona Lewis music video, yes she actually has a style! Personally there's something missing, every time I watch her videos I know exactly what to expect, and that is exactly what I get. I like how it's consistent, but that is all I can say about them!

There's not a lot going on, I love how the waves "crash" into people when she sings that bit of the song, which shows she has a brilliant editing team, but I'm missing a narrative, it's exactly what she sings about and we managed to see it in "Bleeding Love" but there's no sign of it here.

Overall a catchy song the more times you hear it. But it's music video is the same old same old from Leona. Personally I want some sort of risk video that shows she can do something different. She's changing her musical style now, so why not give it a go and change up the videos too!

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Chico - It's Chico Time

August 28, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments



Well this is a bit embarrassing right? Please bare in mind that I was only 12, and so I decided to cheer on Chico, now as I'm older and I look back on it, I realise it was done on purpose to attract the younger audience watching. Chico, real name Yousseph "Chico" Slimani, has had a bit of success, I think quite a lot of people are aware of who he is. He got a number one single with his first song "It's Chico Time", but since then he has gone on to release a couple more singles which got a bit of popularity, and an album which failed to chart. From then on he has been popping up on a variety of reality shows, from "CelebAir" to "Dancing on Ice". Will he return to music? It's doubtful since he keeps popping up on TV Shows and it looks like he is setting out on a film career, but I wouldn't put it past him to try again in the future.

It's Chico Time was written by Mark Hudson, with the help of Chico. It was first sung live on The X Factor during the live shows. The second series of the X Factor gave us a few more stars than the 1st series, these include: Shayne Ward (Winner), Andy Abraham (second), Journey South (third), Brenda Edwards (fourth), Chico (fifth), Maria Lawson (eighth), and a few more as well. This song got to number one, and most recently Chico re-released it under a new name called "It's England's Time" with all proceeds going to charity, however it failed to chart.

The music video is definitely low-budget, clearly it didn't matter since it got to the top spot. It's a pure performance piece, with still a catchy tune, believe it or not. There is a lot of children in the video that must hate seeing the video right now, it is on the embarrassing side!

There's not a lot going on, there's a big choreography scene which makes the song more appealing, especially for children as it isn't too difficult to follow the dance steps, and I have to commemorate the video for being able to teach the kids how to copy the dance moves, although I doubt many will realise. I also like the reference of the clock at the end!

Overall, I believe the song is still catchy, it's definitely stuck in my head, but the video is lacking, I know that it's low budget, but some low budget music videos still look amazing. This is clearly missing a lot and not many people will go out of their way to watch it, especially the kids who performed in the video!

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G4 - Bohemian Rhapsody

August 27, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments



Okay, G4 was a band I didn't like much during The X Factor series 1. I was rooting for Tabby Callaghan and Cassie Compton, but Cassie has not released any material thus far, and as for Tabby, even though he has released a number of songs, none of which happen to have a music video. So after looking at all 9 finalists it was down to the final 2, and I have to admit I do prefer G4 over Steve Brookstein. Since this was the first series not many of the artists got recording contracts, a lot of them are still trying today. As for G4, I wanted them to win, but I'm glad they didn't as they soon broke-up. The band consisted of Jonathan Ansell, Mike Christie, Matthew Stiff and Ben Thapa. Jonathan Ansell is the only one who still appears on TV and even though he shares the same name as me, I really don't like him, he comes off extremely arrogant and annoying. The others have appeared now again, one is well-known in the operatic world, and the other two are doing various projects. Will they ever reform? Don't make me laugh, my bet is that Jonathan Ansell was the reason they split up.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a cover version of the extremely well-known Queen version. Queen's version is a rock style, whereas G4 has gone more into an operatic version, which is a clever twist, and a different take on the song, but yet again, Jonathan Ansell is centre of attention, and although he is the lead singer he takes it too far. He very much reminds me of Andrew Stone. There has been many cover versions of this song, along with different versions of the original video. This is definitely not one of my favourites. Not even close.

This video is attempting to do the same as Queen, however it fails badly, mainly because it looks low budget. There are various scenes, but it was probably done in one complete day. G4 really aren't doing much, maybe they were instructed to pose in certain ways or was told to just stand/sit there.

I bet when they look back at this video now, they regret some of the things they did, especially Jonathan Ansell who acted very weird when the flirtatious girls came on screen, there's exactly one second during one of the scenes and he kind of jumps up and down.

Overall a great song that wasn't initially G4's song. But it's a great cover version idea, on paper, but I don't think it quite works in real life. As for the video... Well there's no link, it's purely a performance piece, but they don't even perform it very well. And even though I keep saying Jonathan Ansell wants all the attention, that's exactly what I've done with this review, as there clearly is nothing else to comment on, Jonathan Ansell is what made G4, I'm afraid to say. And even now, if any of the other members popped up on TV, none of us would realise they were too a member of G4.

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New Release: Little Mix - Wings

August 27, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Starting off my X Factor Special, is LITTLE MIX. They were the winners from the 8th series of The X Factor UK. They are the first and could quite possibly be the only band to win The X Factor. They all auditioned separately, and the judges, during boot camp didn't think they were strong enough to go through individually, so the judges put them together, and made an unstoppable band, who was mentored by Tulisa. They consist of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall. I can see Simon promoting these here, there and everywhere, and that is exactly what he has been doing. But could these girls be the next Spice Girls? Who knows but they are definitely spreading their own little message and I can see them being unstoppable and liked all over the world. The 8th series of The X Factor UK has actually spawned quite a lot of artists so far, all the following has managed to get a recording contract, and I bet there will be more to come. So far we have: Little Mix (winners), Marcus Collins (second), Amelia Lily (third), Misha B (fourth), Janet Devlin (fifth), Craig Colton (sixth), Kitty Brucknell (seventh) and 2 Shoes (joint thirteenth). It will be interesting who will do well and who will not...

"Wings" was written by Little Mix, Iain James, TMS, Erika Nuri, Michelle Lewis, Heidi Rojas and Mischke. The song is all about beating bullies and not letting anyone hurt you with words. It reminds me of the Sticks and Stones Nursery Rhyme, but not only that the song pattern seems similar; furthermore there is many references to other songs and sayings, and when I first heard this song I could name a few, there's the saying "Water off a duck's back" but the song changes it to "Water off my wings". And I always think "Mama told me..." reminds me of "The Clapping Song".

The music video isn't amazing, but it's not dull either. It's a pure performance piece, edited well and intricately. There is choreography that does remind me of the Spice Girls. I also like how close of a group they are, you can really tell how much they have connected, and how much this song clearly means to them.

I like how this song is telling the world not to let anyone bring us down, it's a perfect message, that I hope they manage to spread throughout the world. I like the British flag they put in and the editing shots used, however it does leave me with little to comment on, personally I wouldn't go out of my way to watch this video alone, however the music totally makes up for the video and I can't stop singing the song. I also like how the video appeals to children because it's colourful and eye-catching, meaning their message can be spread much quicker.

Overall, an amazing song that will surely soar to the top of the charts... Will it stay at number one? Who knows, we'll just have to wait and see. As for the video their is not much going on, but I like how it's edited and has been made, obviously a lot of thought went into it, especially since the video may not have had a big budget. And what would have been the point in an amazing music video, if the song is perfect anyway? If I was reviewing the song, it would've got 5 stars, but since I'm reviewing the video I have to be honest and give it this rating.
Buy on iTunes

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Spice Girls - Wannabe

August 19, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

The Spice Girls are my revisit today, purely because I don't think I'll have another opportunity to review their music videos again. Unless requested or a surprise reunion starts up again. They were a 5-piece girl group who all had little aliases to their names. They were Victoria Beckham (née Adams, Posh Spice), Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Mel B (Scary Spice) and Mel C (Sporty Spice). They were worldwide superstars, that made the biggest impact ever in the 90s. They spread Girl Power across the globe and were famously known for some of the dresses they wore, or the projects they went on to do. Apparently another reunion tour is going to start soon, but I believe it's highly doubtful.

"Wannabe" was written by Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard and Spice Girls. This song was written really quickly, apparently, and the girls came up with various parts of the song along with "zigazig-ah". They were having fun and they all just got hooked to this one word, which I have to admit is a great word and should appear in more songs, shame it hasn't. The song is more about friendship than anything else, and also has an in-direct link to their most recent single: "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)". This video is their most memorable, and the song got to number one in lots of different countries.

This music video shows the girls having fun. I love the start and the end where you hear them laughing and jumping about and then singing Wannabe a cappella. I also like the setting, they are obviously in this posh hotel, and they are singing and showing how street they are compared to the people around them.

Now you'd think Posh Spice (Victoria) would fit in, and it looks like she's trying to do just that, flirting with the guys and stuff, but we don't see much of her at all, and funnily enough she doesn't even get a singing part, which is quite surprising to be honest. I also like how Melanie C does a back flip, showing her sporty side, but can she do that now? I doubt it...

Overall a great video that shows how young and free they were, I didn't like it when they broke up, and when Geri left the band, but I totally understood why, their schedule got too hectic and there was just no way around it. The accompanying music video is fun, lively and there's only one word I can use to describe it: "Zigazig-ah".

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Cover Drive Featuring Dappy - Explode

August 18, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Cover Drive has featured on my blog a couple of times, first time was for "Twilight" and then their follow-up single "Sparks". This is their fourth single overall, and I wasn't that keen on it, like all their singles, but since their performance on Red Or Black, how could I not review this song today? This Barbados band consists of 4 members who are Amanda Reifer (Karen Reifer), Thomas-Ray Armstrong, Barry Hill and Jamar Harding. It took me some time to get into this band, but Tink09 was hooked immediately and kept telling me to review them, eventually I did and this band will not stop appearing on my blog. This song features Dappy, real name Costadinos Contostavlos, who used to be a member of N-Dubs before they broke off, he is also the cousin of Tulisa. He has had a UK number one along with a few more chart topping hits that just missed out on the top spot. It will be interesting where these 2 artists will go in the future.

"Explode" was written by Karen Reifer, Thomas Ray Armstrong, Jamar Harding, Barry Hill and Steve Mac. The song is about falling for someone, and then Dappy comes in and adds something extra to the mix. This song is definitely similar to their other songs, but it is so catchy you can't help but like it. The theme to it is exactly what is enticing people into buy their album, even I want to listen to their album now. I can't wait to see what the future will bring to Cover Drive.

This music video is quite clever, Dappy is a judge and they are holding open auditions, after a bland band the crowd is restless and really bored, then Cover Drive comes along and perks them all up again, Dappy even decides to sing with them. Personally, I think it's a little jibe to Tulisa since she is a judge on the UK X Factor, but it's insignificant.

It is a performance based video, and I like how Amanda comes off the stage and dances while Dappy is rapping. I like the scenes of the band as they get into the groove of Dappy's rapping. I also like the other shots of the band just generally having fun, it kind of reminds me of the video for "Twilight".

Overall a great song that is definitely stuck in my head. And a great music video that I cannot fault. It's both performance and narrative and just seems so effortless that makes you question if there is something missing, but I can't find a problem anywhere, so I have no choice but give this the rating it clearly deserves.

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Owl City Featuring Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

August 17, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Owl City is one of those singers that you hear again and again, and you just know that he will be getting hits here there and everywhere, he's just that sort of guy. His real name is Adam Young, and Owl City is his electrical project. He does various other projects, some I have heard of, others may not be so well known, and it'll be interesting to see if any will come to light any time soon. Owl City stormed the charts a few years back with "Fireflies", since then he has released a few of his singles in the UK, but has had limited success, however I can totally see this song being the thing that turns his luck around, it has already got quite a few high chart numbers from other countries, and with the addition of Carly Rae Jepsen, how can anyone not like this song? She auditioned for Canadian Idol, which is where she got her big break. She came third overall in the 5th series and also got a chart hit in the UK with "Call Me Maybe" which also has one of the best music videos I have ever seen. I'm interested where her new found fame will take her, let's hope she never fades away. This song was written by Adam Young, Matthew Thiessen and Brian Lee, it's all about having a good time obviously.

The music video definitely captures the essence of what the song is all about. Both artists are quite young and therefore it wouldn't be too difficult to aim this video at a young audience, which is exactly what they do. Believe me I have had fun camping with just friends and doing what I want. It was the best weekend of my life, and that is exactly why I did it again this year.

There is not much of a narrative, but there doesn't need to be. There isn't a lot going on either, there is much more fun things they could do, and maybe they were filmed doing those things, but they decided to cut it out.

Overall a catchy summer song that is definitely going to chart well, it's accompanying music video is exactly what you would expect and more, it relates to the song perfectly. I just feel that some scenes are a little on the long side, and there's just something missing, but what that is I'm not too sure. But taking everything into account, this is clearly the rating the video deserves.
Buy on iTunes

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Alyssa Reid Featuring Snoop Dogg - The Game

August 16, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments



Alyssa Reid stormed the charts not long ago with "Alone Again" just missing out on the number one spot. It has two versions out, one featuring P. Reign and another featuring Jump Smokers. However they have totally gone overboard with this one. There are currently 3 different versions out, there is the original which is just Alyssa Reid on her own; then there is one that features JDiggz and then the UK version which features Snoop Dogg. Guess they can't decide which one they like best, or maybe they are too lazy to make a whole new song and just decide to add new things to already made songs.

"The Game" is a song I'm not too keen on the be honest, it's different from her previous single, and it takes a while to get used to it. It's becoming catchy to me now, but it did take some time. However the original song also features lyrics that can be found in her previous single. This is what surprised me the most, clearly they are struggling with this girl. There are a few obvious differences, like this one is confident Alyssa where as the one before showed her vulnerable side. I haven't got a clue where they're going with her, and the album.... Well I'm dreading what it's going to be like as there is clearly no theme, maybe it will be a bunch of random tracks.

This music video is performance based, they could've easily added a bit of a storyline but, there's no sign of one, which makes the video similar to the first one, which is slightly on the annoying side as I want to see something new.

I like how she's singing in a club, it suggests this song is more of a dance tune, which it actually is. It shows her being very confident but not arrogant. However there's nothing of significance going on in this video. I've already watched it 3 times now, and I still can't see anything to comment on.

The best bit about this video is they way they have added Snoop Dogg, which is through her phone, but then again it doesn't make him shine out, and it's clearly lacking something. You kind of expect Snoop Dogg to rap perfectly because he tends to make us feel every word as if he truly means it, like he does in Katy Perry's "California Girls" but here, he sounds bored, as if he's been told to rap these words and he can't be bothered to do it.

Overall, a song that takes some listening to finally like it, and an accompanying music video that fits with the song to an extent but is clearly lacking a lot. I hope for narrative music videos in the future from this girl, we want it to be spiced up a bit. Hoping for a better video soon, I have to give it this rating.

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Tyler James - Foolish

August 15, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments



Today I was struggling for a music video to review, so once again I went on the music channels, and guess what I saw, this exact video was being shown on a "best of the boys" show. I was so surprised I couldn't resist but tweet about it. Tyler James, most recently, appeared on The Voice UK, he didn't win, but he came very close, and he was technically brilliant. However, his life has been really difficult, not only did he release an album which spawned 3 singles and then was subsequently dropped from the label, he also lost one of his best friends; who was, in fact, Amy Winehouse. I would bet that she was looking down on Tyler during The Voice UK and she was helping him along the way. I know he is going to have an amazing career very soon, and I cannot wait for his new material. I also could see him being a werewolf in Twilight or some other vampire film/TV show, he would definitely look the part.

"Foolish" was the second single released from Tyler's debut album The Unlikely Lad. It was definitely his best selling single and he even performed it on Top Of The Pops, do you remember that programme? I kind of really want it to return, been missing it for ages now! It got to number 16 on the UK chart, which is currently his highest chart position to date, but he's going to knock that position out of the park soon with his upcoming songs, they're bound to be chart hits!

Now this music video actually links in with the style of this song. If I heard this song without seeing the video, I would really think of this sort of performance. But does Tyler James pull it off? Or does it not work out exactly the way it should do?

This is totally a performance piece, no sign of any narrative sections, which is quite interesting since I'm used to a performance piece being in front of a crowd while the artist is on tour. However this is totally set produced. To be honest, in an overall sense, it seems like a good top-notch music video, however it doesn't turn out that great.

We see all 4 girls, a few more here and there, and they really aren't that great at dancing are they? Those flirtatious poses, if you can call them that, was disastrous. I can't help but laugh every time I see it. As for Tyler, he does a great job at keeping in one place, and he looks smart and in-style at the same time. However we are still greeted with those awkward dance moves, or should I say aeroplane wings? I think in his future music videos that there should be an on-screen choreographer, just to instruct him how to move, because nothing has changed. This was released in 2005 and it's now 2012 and during The Voice UK he did the exact same thing.

Overall a great song that is incredibly catchy, and an accompanying music video that fits in well with what you would've expected from this song (which makes a change), however there is many small problems that can been a bit on the obvious side. On the other hand, this may have been low-budget, and I commemorate them for making a music video that we sort of expect, without being typical.

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Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life

August 14, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

These girls were a phenomenon in the late 90s I was a huge fan when I was younger, and could you blame me? I was only 5-7 years old. After watching them on the closing ceremony of the Olympics I knew one of their videos would be popping up on this blog. I chose this one because the song has been stuck in my head all day, and it has in fact managed to calm down my nerves about my results, which I get on Thursday. Spice Girls consisted of Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Mel B (Melanie Brown), Mel C (Melanie Chrisholm) and Victoria Beckham. They all had "spice" names within the group, they were called Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Scary Spice, Sporty Spice and Posh Spice respectively. Geri left the band to do her own thing leaving the 4 remaining girls to release one last album together in 2000, they soon disbanded and it looked like there will be no reunion. Then after a lot of speculation in 2007/2008 they did a comeback reunion tour with a greatest hits album and a new single called "Headlines (Friendship Never Dies)" the album and single didn't perform as well as expected, the girls also found it difficult as they are all mothers and so being away from their children was difficult too, so it was never a full-on reunion. Now rumours have came up again, some of them are so strong that there are quotes from the band members. But Victoria has her own life in the states, according to rumours she will not be re-joining the band, meaning if the Spice Girls come back for good, it might be a four-piece again.

"Spice Up Your Life" was written by Matte Rowe, Richard Stannard and Spice Girls. It was inspired by Bollywood films and the colour they show, they found it difficult to get it into a song, but they sure did it. The girls had very little inspiration by this point as they were also filming "Spice World" which was a Spice Girls film. They were so busy that they had little time to do anything, the worst part was that the girls wanted a circus-themed music video, but the director had this idea instead, the girls were so drained by then that they couldn't be bothered to argue and they just went along with it. Was it the right choice? I'll never know as they never actually filmed this so-called circus-themed video, but no matter what they did it probably would've turned out great anyway.

This music video is definitely different. It was also considered as way before its time. If it were released today, it would fit perfectly, there would obviously be the few changes that is needed such as the graphics and the storyline, they would definitely make it much more clearer.

To be honest I never knew what this video was about when I first saw it, I must have been only 4/5, but even now I'm not sure what it is about, except that I might understand it a little bit better, so here goes: The girls have taken over the world, but it isn't the way it's supposed to be, it's dreary, it's horrible and definitely dark. The only exciting thing is the posters and advertisement, which are all about the Spice Girls, there is even Spice Girls Coffee! That look a lot like Starbucks. They are ruling the world and all we can watch on TV is the Spice Girls.

It definitely resembles their promotional side, you couldn't go through a whole week back then without seeing them pop up on one TV show or another. They promoted, promoted, promoted, and that is essentially what got them their number ones. Nowadays it's not like that, fair enough you can still go on TV shows and promote, I know quite a few artists who have done it, but the problem is the spots are usually on daytime TV and we already have so many channels, you might not be watching, at the end of the day it might help the sales, but not by much.

Overall, a great pop group that we all totally miss. Fine I agree they are my guilty pleasure, HEY everyone's got one right? And I was super-excited when they appeared on the Olympics Closing Ceremony. This video on the other hand is missing the Spice Girls enthusiasm, where is all the colour and the fun? I imagine a spice world to be the total opposite of what is shown in this video, I feel like I want to paint that world, maybe the girls should have been doing that in the video! I have my fingers crossed that a proper comeback will happen in the future, but to be honest I don't really want to get my hopes up.

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Nicki Minaj - Pound The Alarm

August 13, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Today I was not sure at all what music video to review next, so to look for inspiration I decided to flip through the music channels. After hearing Amelia Lily's "You Bring Me Joy" about 3 times, this song appeared on three of the channels at the same time. And for the next hour this music video popped up over and over again, I presume Nicki Minaj was trying to tell me to review her, so here I am.

Nicki Minaj, real name Onika Maraj, was born in Saint James, a "suburb" of Port of Spain which is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. When she was five she moved to New York and that was where she was brought up. For this video, she has gone back to her roots and it is filmed in Trinidad & Tobago with loads of references to her home country.

"Pound The Alarm" was written by Onika Maraj, Nadir Khayat (RedOne), Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, Bilal Hajji and Achraf Jannusi. Quite a team don't you think? However it's got "Starships" written all over it, I can hear the musical difference, it's there but it's not quite so clear, therefore I could imagine this song to be the same with just the lyrics being different. I also find "Starships" much more catchy whereas this song isn't so sing-a-long-able, if that makes sense.

At first I was not impressed at all, to be honest I was quite disgusted, I thought once again she has created another rubbish music video one that may be slightly better than "Stupid Hoe" but still really bad. However now I've looked into it and found out the meanings and the reasons as to why she's dressed like that and the reasons why she does the things that she does, I find it more of an inspirational music video because she's gone back to her roots and where she began, literally. It doesn't make it the best music video, clearly but it has made me see it in a different light.

The video was set in Trinidad & Tobago as I have previously said, Nicki Minaj is parading around in quite a revealing costume, which is more of a traditional costume that is to be worn at the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. It made me laugh the way everything moved as she walked. There is a lot of Trinidad & Tobago flags and the fact that Nicki Minaj has focused on her home town and their traditions makes me inspired by her, and I hope many people feel the same.

There are a few known people appearing here and there, these people are: Machel Montano (a soca singer), Bunji Garlin (a reggae/soca singer) and Fay-Ann Lyons (a soca singer). Nicki Minaj also starts a conga line, dances sensually and also does a lot of choreography, this is traditional of Trinidad & Tobago Carnivals, and it's nice that they have kept with the free spirit of the traditions.

Overall a song that sounds very much like a previous single, and an accompanying music video that looks not so good at first, but when you find out more about it, you realise that it is not so bad, on the other hand, the song and the music video has next to nothing in common. So weighing up everything I've decided to give it this rating, I hope I come across much better music videos from Nicki Minaj in the future.

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New Release: Aiden Grimshaw - Curtain Call

August 13, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Well you all knew this was coming, I had to make a choice, it was between Rita Ora's "How We Do (Party)" Vs. this song as both singles have been released this week. I had a big feeling that Rita Ora's song will chart well, and I'm right as it is currently number one on the UK iTunes chart, and that is why I reviewed it last week. This song, on the other hand is currently in the top 100 and is climbing higher and higher, but I thought it might help if I reviewed it as my new release.

Aiden Grimshaw first became known on the seventh series on the UK's The X Factor. He was stiff, nervous and just looked like he wasn't comfortable. Now we know why, it was all down to the song choices, there are no songs out there that's right for him, hence why he hasn't released any covers, instead he has his own songs and they are so different to anything I've heard of before, and he's the only one who could sing such songs. His album is released soon and I cannot wait to listen to it, as I can see it being perfect in every way. It will also have his brilliant first single on there "Is This Love". The seventh series of The X Factor produced quite a few artists who are: Matt Cardle (winner), Rebecca Ferguson (second), One Direction (third), Cher Lloyd (fourth), Mary Byrne (fifth), Katie Waissell (seventh), Paije Richardson (eighth), Aiden Grimshaw (ninth), Belle Amie (eleventh), Storm Lee (fourteenth) and Nicolò Festa (sixteenth).

This music video is much happier than the first single, however it's more of a performance piece than a narrative video, as there is not much to the storyline, instead we have people having fun and doing exactly what they want to do. Which doesn't exactly link in with the song as the song is about loving someone and them loving you back.

I like some of the things you see like that biker jumping off the bike. I love the bit where the couple is lying down on the car and the plane flies over the top of them, that must give you a high adrenaline rush. However I do not agree with the scene where the bikers are setting off fireworks, fair enough it's part of the video, but it can be considered to be encouraging kids to do the same, there is no warning that it is highly dangerous.

Overall a great song that I could listen to again and again, it's accompanying music video, on the other hand, is simple and clear, but it's missing quite a lot that could potentially make this video great. The rating would be higher but there is dangerous things going on in the video that could influence other people to do the same.

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Rascal Flatts - What Hurts The Most

August 12, 2012 Critic Jonni 7 Comments

Rascal Flatts has got my Sunday Revisit this week, why? Well this is one of my favourite songs ever written, it's one of those songs that has to be sung with a lot of emotion, so I couldn't resist but review this one, besides it is one out of 2 Rascal Flatts singles that have managed to get on the UK chart, although this did get a low charting position of 103. Rascal Flatts are a 3-piece Country band consisting of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney. They have only ever officially released albums in the UK, so this song managed to chart from Album downloads only. Edges is a fan of these too.

"What Hurts The Most" was written by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson. It was Mark Wills who recorded it first, but it was only an Album Only version. It was Jo O'Meara (of S Club fame) who released it first as a single. Then Rascal Flatts released it in 2006, and then the most known version comes from Cascada. It is one of those songs I can see being covered a lot in the future. I'm not sure if this works, as a country song, Gary LeVox has a great voice, but I just think I might be too used to Cascada's version.

This music video is again quite different to what I expect. What makes it different is that there are scenes where the characters speak, during these parts the music dies. Over the years there have been numerous ways of doing such a thing, such as subtitles or talking over music, none of which really works and this way also doesn't work either.

This narrative and performance piece is amazing, I like how they are separate too. This storyline is well thought out and amazing to watch. I like how well the actors and actresses perform. No one knows who the actors and actresses are, but if anyone knows please tell me.

Overall this is a sad song but I don't think it works as a country song. However it's accompanying music video is amazing, I cannot fault it, and I like how it builds up, you have no clue as to what exactly has happened until the very end. It's an emotional music video and a totally different take than Jo O'Meara's and Cascada's. And for that, this is obviously the rating it deserves!
Buy on iTunes

7 comments:

Amy Studt - Misfit

August 11, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments


Amy Studt - Misfit on MUZU.TV.

All day I've had Amy Studt's song: "Going Out Of My Mind" stuck in my head all day. Unfortunately it was never officially released as a single, so I couldn't review it. However "Misfit" is definitely the next best thing. Besides, the only way to get rid of a Amy Studt song that's stuck in your head, is by singing another Amy Studt song. Amy Studt hit the UK in 2002 at age 16, with her first single "Just A Little Girl", she released a few more singles including a cover version of "All I Wanna Do" in 2004, however due to low sales she was dropped and disappeared. She returned with a mature look and a mature sound in 2007 with 3 single releases including "Nice Boys", however her album failed to chart, and the single releases didn't perform as well as they should have done. She is now getting ready to release her third album, but she is also part of MercyMadeMe, who have just filmed a music video, I cannot wait to watch it and review it on my blog.

"Misfit" was written by Amy Studt, David Eriksen and Karen Ann Poole. This is what makes Amy Studt's songs catchy, because she's written most of them herself, or she has connected with the song amazingly. This song has started appearing here and there, it's been mentioned in a few books and has even been mentioned for the "Fifty Shade Of Grey Soundtrack". I think it will be one of those songs that probably isn't the best Amy Studt song, but will be the most memorable and the one that will forever be popping up here there and everywhere.

Now putting all biased views aside since I am kind of a big fan of Amy Studt, this music video isn't that great. Even for the time era, there was definitely better music videos, on the other hand this definitely looks low budget, but even then it could've been better. However it links in with the song, which is exactly what we wanted.

I like the Grease theme to this, you have "the pink ladies", and I have to laugh at Amy Studt all dressed up like Sandy, it definitely looks wrong. This song is all about being a misfit, and how it's good to stand out and be yourself rather than being in someone's shadow. I also like the ending and how she hopes that she gets spotted by potential talent scouts and the other girls are unhappy that she's the one who gets spotted. We all have those types of wishes right?

Overall a great song, however there are better ones on her album, it's accompanying music video isn't great, but it does link in with the song, and it also has a narrative that is easy to understand. I can't wait to hear new music from this girl, and I hope she gets the popularity she clearly deserves.

0 comments:

Wiley Featuring Ms D - Heatwave

August 10, 2012 Critic Jonni 1 Comments

I was initially planning on writing a review for this song today, and then out of nowhere I get an anonymous request for me to review this music video.

Wiley, real name Richard Cowie, has been going for a number of years, he is also one of the band members of Roll Deep. He hasn't been quite so successful, his albums seem to get low charting positions, and as for his singles, "Wearing My Rolex" was his best single which got to number 2. This song has beaten that and is currently settled at the top of the charts, but I can see Rita Ora knocking this song off next week with "How We Do (Party)". Ms D is a new solo singer, her real name is Dayo Olatunji, she has sung on Chipmunk's song "Oopsy Daisy" but it was uncredited. That too got to number one, looks like Ms D is currently on a winning streak, but can she keep it up? Especially when she might be releasing her own music pretty soon.

"Heatwave" was written by Richard Cowie, making this song his own. This is one of a few reasons why it managed to get to the top of the chart, and defend itself against Calvin Harris and Example's "We'll Be Coming Back". In my opinion both songs aren't as good as many others that have been released, I admit it is quite catchy if you hear it a few times, which everyone does thanks to the radio, but there are definitely far better songs available. This is definitely a Marmite song, most people will like it, but there will be a large minority that don't.

This type of music video is the sort of thing I dislike. I feel like I'm watching an old Pitbull music video or a Flo Rida music video, it's typical and expected, it's been done before. It kind of makes it seem safe, the sort of video you just make with hardly any thought going into it.

My biggest problem with this is that Ms D does not feature in this at all, instead she is replaced by models? And it gives off the impression that they are Ms D, which then really annoys me because she did give important vocals to this track. Where is she?

And that is all I have to say, there is no narrative, however it does fit in with the song, since they filmed it in a hot country, suggesting a heatwave. But there's nothing to this, it makes it an average music video, that you watch because you like the song, not because the video is great. I really am getting bored of seeing these sorts of videos, change the record (or should I say video?) So I have no choice but give this rating, it would be higher if Ms D appeared, but there's no sign of her!
Buy on iTunes

1 comments:

Miley Cyrus - The Climb

August 09, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Miley Cyrus, real name Destiny Cyrus, has been having a break from music lately, but she is currently back in the studio and ready to release more material. This song has been stuck in my head all day thanks to a Facebook application called SongPop. She is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. She has released a number of songs and have featured in a number of films. She is well-known for playing Hannah Montana. She has charted a few times on the UK chart, her highest chart number is 11 in which 3 of her singles have managed to peak at but she has never beaten it just yet. The singles are: "See You Again", "The Climb" and "Party In The U.S.A."

"The Climb" was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe. It was originally called "It's The Climb" and was given to a number of country artists who turned it down, it was finally given to the Hannah Montana director who asked them to change some of the lyrics so it fits in with the film, and that is exactly what it does.

This music video works great, it is a soundtrack music video, but they've included the movie scenes cleverly. This song is a ballad, and as all great ballads, music videos aren't that great. However this one is different to what we expect.

I like how she walks down the road, but I think there should be a mountain as it would link in more with the song. Overall it's a great song with a great music video, however I don't think there is enough going on for me to comment on, I also feel that there is quite a lot missing, that could have made this music video so much better.

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Rascal Flatts - Banjo

August 08, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

As you already know, I've been playing SongPop a lot lately, and I just bought the Modern Country pack from coins I've earned by winning games, and this song keeps standing out at me, so I thought I'd review it.

Rascal Flatts are a 3 piece Country band consisting of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, they released their first album in 2000, and have been extremely popular in the US. However they've only released 3 albums in the UK, and have charted twice on the UK Singles chart, with "Bless The Broken Road" and "What Hurts The Most". Country music is getting slowly more popular in the UK, with the likes of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry all doing well over here, could it be possible Rascal Flatts will give it a go? I sure hope so as this song is so catchy I can't stop clicking the repeat button, I hope this song gets released soon, I can see this being a chart hit.

"Banjo" was written by Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher. The latter two have written many songs for Rascal Flatts. The idea of this song came to Wendell and Neil as they followed directions to Gary LeVox's farm. As it's in the middle of nowhere and you go across creeks and past shacks. It's got one catchy chorus that I can't help but sing-a-long to, and I don't think I'm the only one. If it were to be released in the UK, then I think Radio 1 would definitely pick it up, some radio play will get this song high on the chart, it's amazingly catchy, just wish it were released in the UK, I want it!

This music video is uniquely different. I have to admit it's hard to stand out as there are a lot of music videos out, and no matter what you do it's probable that you'll do the exact same thing as someone else without even realising. This steps out from Rascal Flatts predictable music videos, they all play different characters Gary's a bus driver, Jay is a lecturer and Joe Don is a lawyer. I laugh at the fact that they don't even meet up, it's quite different you have Gary singing with no instruments, and the others are playing instruments with no lyrics.

The girl who is playing the banjo is Ashley Campbell, most known for being the daughter of Glen Campbell. And it fits in perfectly as she looks great and it's exactly what we need to see in a country music video. It fits with the video as you have "to go-go-go-go-go till you hear a banjo."

Overall a great catchy song that needs to be released in the UK, it's accompanying music video is great, perfect and fits with the song amazingly. I have no problems with this video at all... Well maybe one... Please give it to UK music channels! I've been unsure of what rating to give to this, but since I can't think of anything bad to say of this video, it deserves this rating!
Buy on Amazon

0 comments:

R. Kelly - If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time

August 07, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

I got an unofficial request for me to review this music video by Incubus27, it's definitely not the sort of song I listen to, although I have heard of it before, on the other hand I have never seen the video. This is the first time R. Kelly, real name Robert Kelly, has appeared on my blog... Will it be the last time? It's doubtful. He released his first album in 1992 (I wasn't even born then), and has managed to stay on top of things especially with people still talking about his music now, including his new songs. His most known song is "I Believe I Can Fly". His new songs have stopped being released in the UK, but I believe he will return at one point and when that happens the song is bound to be a chart hit.

This music video is in reverse, but it's the sort of video that you watch and totally forget that it's going backwards, the reason for that is because you connect with the story easily and you just accept it for what it is. Which is extremely clever, also some of the footage is going forwards as well so it's difficult to concentrate properly.

The narrative is gripping, you want to know why he wants to turn back the hands of time, not only that but you want to know what makes her argue with him. We see him not showing up at a dinner, and not answering his phone. But what really got me is when she "blows the candle on" (as it's in reverse) , she walks backwards to the bathroom, with footage of someone having a shower which I presumed was our main character, however as we see the bathroom there is another person entirely in the shower, as Nikki Grahame would say "Who Is She?"

I think that's all I can comment on, I like the ending, however it is expected. I believe there might be a few other issues hidden here and there if I look for them, but I like the use of the reverse footage, and I can't think of any other music videos that uses it to this extent. I like how the scenes they used make you think wow, like the candle and the basketball, as you forget it's going backwards. Overall great music video with a few faults here and there although they do their best to hide them.

0 comments:

Rita Ora - How We Do (Party)

August 06, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Rita Ora has captured the UK in one sweep gaining 2 number ones in a few months, she is definitely the girl who's hitting the UK hard, she is being compared to Rihanna all the time, but could she shake that comparison in the future? This is her second single to be released in the UK and everyone is talking about it, could it be her third number one in a row? It's quite possible, although it is difficult to do nowadays, especially with the number one changing every few weeks, it's just rare to always expect an artist to top the UK chart, but if anyone can do it it's got to be Rita Ora. But she has competition on her hands as the week she releases this song, a number of popular artists also releases the same week and they could potentially grab that top spot, it sure will be an interesting week.

"How We Do (Party)" was written by a huge range of songwriters because it samples "Party and Bullshit" which was a single released in 1993 by Notorious B.I.G. So here goes nothing. The people involved in writing the song were Alex Delicata, Andrew Davidson, Jermaine Jackson, Andrew Harr, Berry Gordy Jr., Bob West, Bonnie McKee, Christopher Wallace (Notorious B.I.G.), Hal Davis, Kelly Sheehan, Osten Harvey Jr., Sean Davidson and Willie Hutch. It seems the more songwriters that collaborate the bigger the hit, I can so see this going straight to the top just like "R.I.P." and "Hot Right Now".

This music video isn't the best, it's basically a huge party that Rita Ora is a part of, and it's showing exactly how they do. There's so much going on, but then also there isn't and this is exactly why I've been finding it difficult to review as there's so much I could comment on but there's little going on.

So let's keep it short and sweet, I like the cut off bit in the middle where you here her say "On that note party and bullshit". I also like the bit when she hits the balloon, that looks like a total unexpected, unrehearsed clip but done so well they kept it in. Other bits such as when the guy throws paint over "God save the queen" seems a bit stupid and doesn't relate, it felt like they were showing off. The UV lighting was unexpected, again doesn't relate exactly but makes this video more interesting.

Overall an extremely catchy song, and it's accompanying music video fits nicely, I could talk about all the little things for ages, but we'll all just get bored as there is little going on, maybe they thought that they didn't need to do a great video because the song's amazing no matter what. But at least it isn't totally different from the song.

0 comments:

New Release: Rizzle Kicks - Dreamers

August 06, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Rizzle Kicks has been popular on my blog for quite sometime now, especially after I wrote the review of "Mama Do The Hump", which is still getting views to this day. Rizzle Kicks are a duo made up of Rizzle and Sylvester, but their real names are Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule respectively. They have had a number of hit songs, that keep appearing on the charts, this is one duo we are going to see a lot more of. However they have never had a number one, will that change in the future? Or will they be stuck, just like The Saturdays, keeping an eye on the chart and always hoping for that hit song that makes it to the top.

"Dreamers" was written by Harley Alexander-Sule, Emily Phillips, Jordan Stephens, Ant Whiting, Patrick Lyons and Alex Spyropoulos. There are two versions of this song that has been released, the one that you can hear in the music video and the Epic Remix (which is currently charting a lot higher than this one). The reason why the second one is charting better is because it is a collaboration with Pharoahe Monch, Hines, Professor Green, Ed Sheeran, Dappy, Foreign Beggars and Chali 2na. A big collaboration and I can see this charting high by Sunday! I'm not sure what to think of this song, it's good it's catchy but a bit on the repetitive side, so much so that I got bored at the end.

This music video isn't as good as I expected it to be, Rizzle Kicks are the duo that are leading the way on how to make good music videos, but this one is just not up to scratch. It's more of a performance piece than anything else, with various hip hop dancing included. There is also a cameo appearance from Dappy which shows him playing tennis on his own, that's one way to win I suppose. Personally I would've made the video as the Epic Remix featuring everyone in the song, although there are a few stars that are quite a bit busy, but they still should've done it.

My favourite bit of this video is the various messages that pop up. The one at the start and at the end says "You can check-in. But you can never check-out", which I think goes for dreaming, as once you come up with something you're guaranteed to come back to it. The next one is "Keep calm and carry on" which has been hitting the UK hard recently. Near the end "No accredited sheep beyond this point" and "It's not over until the fat lady sings", which could relate to the song since dreams do send you weird messages sometimes.

The whole video has an Alice in Wonderland feel, it reminds me of Avril Lavigne's "Alice" and Daisy Dares You Featuring Chipmunk's "Number One Enemy". What Rizzle Kicks are showing us is that Alice in Wonderland could have been a dream that Alice stepped into, or fell into, and they aren't the only ones who think that. However that is the only link I can think up of.

Overall a catchy song that is a bit on the repetitive side, it's accompanying music video isn't up to standards we expect from these guys, although it is technically great and has everything you expect, along with hidden references that become more clear when you watch it.
Buy on iTunes

0 comments:

Dizzee Rascal Featuring Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me

August 05, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Dizzee Rascal, real name Dylan Mills, has had a few number ones and I'm sure he'll be getting a few more. However I never find his songs not that memorable, I'll remember it when I hear it but I couldn't work out the song off the top of my head. In this one he has collaborated with Calvin Harris (which links us back to the start of my Collaboration Special), his real name is Adam Wiles, and is probably the main reason why this song got to number one as he is a DJ so he came up with the music which makes this song very catchy, his vocals is great to listen to and I can't help but sing-a-long to them. As for Chrome, there isn't a lot about him, I've heard that he has featured on quite a few songs, but there's no profile to be found...

"Dace Wiv Me" was written by Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Nick Detnon and Tyrone Paul. Again another possible reason why this song did good was because it was written by the artists who sings the song. It's catchy because of the music, in my opinion, if it wasn't a collaboration with Calvin Harris and it was left to someone else, I doubt this song would have charted as well as it did.

The music video is a typical rap/R&B music video, there's nothing special about it in my opinion, just a couple of guys singing in this place with a lot of girls. It links in well with the song, however it is more of a performance video over a narrative video.

I think a lot is missing to make this video better, they could've been singing to a couple of girls, but instead they were more focused on the camera, which could link in a way if you considered the camera to be a girl in who they are singing to, however Dizzee Rascal spoils all ideas of that as he walks away with a girl leaving the camera all alone.

Overall, you can tell I haven't got anything more to say about this video, I'm seriously grasping at straws here. I'm glad that it's typical of this genre of music, it could've been a lot worse, the song is catchy especially after a few listens but I would put it down to Calvin Harris' music. So I haven't got a clue what to rate this, so I'm going with my gut, and I'm sorry if people think the video is better than this.

0 comments:

Shakira Featuring Dizzee Rascal - Loca

August 04, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

Shakira, real name Shakira Ripoll, has never made it on my blog before I decided to do this Collaboration Special., guess she just isn't as big over in the UK as she is everywhere else, especially since this catchy little song failed to chart in the UK, or maybe it wasn't even released... She has a very unique voice, one that if you hear it on the radio you'd be able to identify it within seconds. She released 2 versions of "Loca" one being a Spanish version featuring El Cata, and an English version featuring Dizzee Rascal. Since I live in the UK and only speak English I have decided to review the English version. The Spanish version can be found below. Dizzee Rascal, real name Dylan Mills, is one of those British rappers who has had quite a few number ones for songs that are easily forgettable, in my opinion, which seems a little disappointing, but he is coming back soon with new songs that are definitely going to be chart worthy, let's hope they're memorable too.

"Loca" was written by Shakira, Edward Bello (El Cata), Armando Pérez (Pitbull) and Dylan Mills (Dizzee Rascal). Which is definitely quite a collaboration, and I'm surprised to see Pitbull once again. Again the artist has written the song, hence why she sings it so well, I also like how it shows us a bit of her personality as she is singing about being crazy, which she is from various news reports we have heard about in the last 1-3 years that has had me surprised and laughing.

This music video was set in Barcelona, Spain. It shows her being crazy as we have all come to expect, and we sure do like it. She roller skates, she rides a motorcycle and she dances in a public fountain. However being crazy doesn't mean you have to throw all safety aside, she ended up going on a motorcycle with no helmet (which is against the law in Spain), and she didn't get any permits to film or to jump in the fountain, hence law suits was probably going to happen, but as far as I know nothing really came of it. But then again it does come from being crazy, however doesn't that encourage people to do the same?

Overall I haven't got much to say about this video, the song is catchy, and the video matches the song, but I don't believe in teaching kids to disregard rules, at the end of the day she should've been fined for what she did and we as the public should have known about it, on the other hand it may not have been Shakira's fault at all, maybe it was the director or someone else entirely, she's crazy, we like it but don't throw safety out the window!


0 comments:

Pitbull Featuring Shakira - Get It Started

August 03, 2012 Critic Jonni 0 Comments

My Collaboration Special continues, luckily, this was the one I was worried that might not be released in time, luckily it happened. Pitbull, who's real name is Armando Pérez, is definitely an international star, some even call him "Mr. Worldwide" as everyone wants to collaborate with him, hence why in nearly every song of his he calls himself Mr. Worldwide. Now it's Shakira's turn to properly collaborate with him. In the past they have made remixes, so officially it's their third time collaborating together. Shakira, real name Shakira Ripoll, has become very well-known around the world, but recently she has disappeared, but she's back with an amazing collaboration with Pitbull, this could possibly be what brings her back.

"Get It Started" was written by a number of song writers, I dread typing them all, but here I go... Armando Pérez, Bigram Zayas, Durrell Babbs, Kris Stephens, Marc Kinchen, Sidney Samson, Urales Vargas and Shakira. It would be interesting to know who wrote what, but that would be difficult to find as they may have came up with the lyrics together, or the music together and so therefore they can't claim certain parts. However this song I wasn't too sure about after first listen, I really didn't think Pitbull's rapping and Shakira's voice fit well, and I didn't like how much the song changes when the next person sings, it's like they've matched up two songs together, but extremely poorly. On the other hand, after hearing it a couple of times it's grown on me and now it's stuck in my head.

A lot of people are currently talking about this music video, on first watch I thought it was not good at all, but on the second time I looked more closely and saw the hidden narrative that you don't see the first time around. This is a new music video, it was released yesterday, it could have been delayed, and if it were, I wouldn't be sure what music video I would be reviewing as my Collaboration Special would have been a disaster. So thank you Pitbull and Shakira and Vevo for releasing the music video on time.

It's both a performance and a narrative piece, and the performance is included in the narrative which is quite clever. It took me a while to realise there was a storyline, but I've worked it out. This woman has fallen out of love with her husband, and has fallen in love with Pitbull, she wants to leave her husband, but it's not as simple as just walking away. He is a high-profiled person with lots of money, he gets his work-force to find her and bring her back, she keeps running away until Pitbull comes along and drives her away, but they are still after her and chases Pitbull in their car, after a few manoeuvres he evades the people after them. He takes her to his concert where she's safe back-stage. What would have made this interesting if someone stole her right at the end, leaving a cliff-hanger ending, but I guess a fairytale ending is perfectly fine too.

There's a few surprising things such as references to Pitbull and his lover having sex. Which is totally a reference in the title, especially since "It" is a generally used term. I like how we hear him whisper to her "don't start what you can't finish", which is usually spoken by a woman to a man... What would've made this that little bit better would be if Shakira had been the woman who fell in love with Pitbull as she is singing the song, however I totally understand that these are two very busy artists and getting them to film together would be very difficult.

Overall they have done an amazing job, the song is catchy after a few listens, and the accompanying music video is amazing, it's one of those videos that every time you watch it you see something new and it excites you even more. I haven't got a bad thing to say about this, so I have no choice but give to this video the rating it clearly deserves.

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