Songs, Songs, Songs

Try Sleeping with A Broken Heart-Alicia Keys
Ms. Keys is back, releasing a new album, The Element of Freedom, in December. The first single, Doesn't Mean Anything flopped on the Billboard Hot 100, but here is the beautiful second single, Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart. It's the best thing she's done in a few years (I wasn't a big No One fan). Its got big drums and bits that sound like lightning bolts in an 80's video game. The chorus is fantastic with Keys' defiantly singing: "I'm gonna find a way to make it, without you tonight" Classic Keys. I'm very curious about her new album now.


Orally Fixated-Roisin Murphy
Electro diva Roisin Murphy has released a new single, Orally Fixated. It's very different than all her other stuff. Very sexy with the beat kind of doubling back on itself, stopping and starting at points. The strutting, stuttering beat fades in and out after the chorus. It's quite naughty and delicious. Best bit: "Orally fixated. Never satiated." Can't wait for her new album.



Acapella-Kelis
I never expected to be writing about Milkshake singer, Kelis, on this blog, but this week she's gone and posted her new song, Acapella, online, and it's quite fantastic. It's produced by dance man David Guetta (When Love Takes Over, Sexy Chick, I Gotta Feeling)and features a strutting rhythm and beat similar to Roisin's Orally Fixated. I love the idea of the song that Kelis' life was always acapella before she met this person who her life became a fully orchestrated song. Okay, I know very cheesy, but very effective in a song. I'm super excited for her new album now.



3 Words-Cheryl Cole and Will.I.Am
Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud released her debut solo album in the UK last month and it is a huge hit. Her next single is the dark and sensual, late night clubbing slow burner 3 Words which features Black Eyed Pea and producer, Will.I.Am. It's probably the best song on the album. Anyway, the video premiered today and it's quite lovely. There are dancers with fabric across their faces going loco and Cheryl looks quite stunning. Better than the Fight for This Love video. Her black and gold outfit around 1:52 is gorgeous and Lady GaGa-ish. A lot of the video seems influenced by Lady Gaga especially when Cheryl sports an odd-looking blond wig. Very cool concept though. I like how it is pretty much set in one, museum-like room with a stained glass window. Very interesting Cheryl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfiWXIQ85ho

Mind Blown

Lady GaGa's new video for Bad Romance premiered on Tuesday and it is potentially her best video yet possibly even topping the absolute over the top decadence and drama of the splendid Paparazzi video. First off: the costumes are out of this world. It's sexy and alluring and weird. GaGa wears a stunning, ridiculous polar bear coat, a diamond encrusted top, a bizarre red top, and crazy tall high heels called Armadillos made by the English designer Alexander McQueen. The plot of the video is that GaGa is being sold into the Russian sex slave trade and she rebels and sears her buyer alive in a bed. It is genius. The dancing is odd and awesome. Le Lady looks truly beautiful in this video. My favorite parts: the dance routine when GaGa is being auctioned off in her diamond outfit, the fiery dance routine in the red outfit near the end, the part where the diamonds are suspended around her in the air and she's standing in the middle of a circle of men (the dark shoes in that scene are gorgeous), and the end bit when she enters in the polar bear coat then takes it off and the bed catches on fire, killing her horrible buyer. Also the end is hilarious when she's lying in the bed looking somewhat like Amy Winehouse smoking a cigarette with her cone bra emitting sparks, next to the burnt bones of the evil Russian man. There's also the bit where she is in flames, posing inher polar bear coat. Classic. Oh wait, and there's the crazy big eyes, the freaky cat, and the close ups of her crying! Overall, this video is a triumph that cleans the floor with pretty much every other video out there as well as every other major pop song out there. GaGa's vision is wonderfully original and passion-filled. She inspires me. I wish I was as brave and daring as her. This video is a huge present to the pop music world. I'm infatuated. I don't think my description does it justice. Just watch:

Here are some new photos for her new album The Fame Monster as well as new weird photos from Vogue (I adore the one where she's holding the pot and spoon--regard the shoes!) and retro ones from Vanity Fair Italy that look like old school lingerie ads and propaganda posters. Also, the Alexander McQueen shoes of amazingness (thanks to Coco Perez.com). Ahh, je t'adore, GaGa.

Beautiful Electro

Little Boots next single in the UK is the lovely Earthquake. Bootsy looks absolutely stunning in the video with her gray and purple dress. There are some splendid, gentle "oh woah woahs" and beautiful, soaring high vocals. Good electro pop for the end of fall.



Mini Viva are a new British gal duo (Britt Love and Frankee Connolly), who released their first single, Left My Heart in Tokyo, in the UK in September. They were brought together by genius producers Xenomania (they do the Girls Aloud albums). Their second single is perfect for late fall and early winter. It's called I Wish and I'm quite in love with it. Popjustice was right when they compared it to Girls Aloud's hit from fall 2007, Call the Shots except I Wish is gentler. Britt Love, on left, has a slightly odd, brassy voice that adds a little something extra to their songs. The best section of I Wish is the part that comes after the chorus and at the end:

And I go oh no
He could be the one who hits the light inside my soul
Oh baby, This could be the last of my control
And I go oh no
He could be the one who hits the light inside my soul
Oh baby, This could be the last of my control

Lovely, sweet lyrics. Another great entry in the "sad disco" genre. Also, wonderfully metallic and shiny single cover. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album now. Check out the video below: