This post has been in development for ages. Sorry I haven't updated in forever.
Alexandra Burke ft. Pitbull-All Night Long
Definition of a feel good song. Alexandra Burke has released three splendid singles in a row. This is out in May in the UK. I adore her. Way more fun than Leona Lewis who is still in the corner bleeding love.
Sia-Clap Your Hands
I've never really been a huge fan of Sia, but when I heard this piece of giddy, good time joy I couldn't help but succumb. This song which is produced by Greg Kurstin ( who did great work on Lily Allen's second album, Little Boots debut album, Marina and the Diamonds splendiferous song Oh No!, and is a member of The Bird and the Bee) and it has a funky bassline. Kurstin is the primary producer for Sia's album which comes out June 22. It's supposed to be a fun album. Can't wait. Boogie down to this for the moment.
Kate Nash-Do-Wah-Doo
Kate Nash is back. Her new album, My Best Friend is You was released in April. This is the first single, Do-Wah-Doo. It's short and features some plinky plonky piano and is extremely catchy. As many of noted, it's a bit of a new sound for her with its Motown girl group edge and old school guitar line. Welcome back, Kate.
Mini Viva-One Touch
This song is completely frantic, busy, coy, winking, and all gussied up and it crashed and burned on the UK charts last month. It's well-constructed/built and giddy, shimmy-inducing. The chorus is Peeps exploding with happiness in the microwave. A pop collage or a puzzle that fits together swimmingly. Enjoy.
The Pipettes-Stop the Music
British gal group The Pipettes revived the 50's and 60's gal group sound back in 2006 albeit with a sexy, cheeky, kinky edge with their fun debut album. Now they are back as a duo and this is the first single off their new album called Earth vs. The Pipettes which is out in June. Stop the Music kind of gallops along through the verses, sounding like its on the verge of bowling over. It's got trumpets, bongo-like, effervescent drums and a funky groove going. It's a new direction for them. Can't wait for the album. Check out Who Made You the Doctor? as well.
-M.I.A. will release her third album, Maya, on July 13! I can't wait. (Thanks to Pretty Much Amazing). A recent article about her in the New York Times magazine did not please Miss M.I.A. so she put the author's phone number on her Twitter. I thought the article was very interesting, well-written, and an honest, intriguing representation of M.I.A., but words were twisted and M.I.A. did not like Lynn Hirschberg's interpretation/rendering of her I guess. Judge for yourself here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/magazine/30mia-t.html?ref=magazine
-Kylie Minogue is back! The new album has the superbly camp title, Aphrodite, and the first single is All the Lovers. All the Lovers is moving, metallic, like a Herve Leger dress, one of the skyscrapers in its video, and resplendent pop. It's one of those songs where the beauty of dance-pop shines through similar to Robyn's new song Dancing on My Own and you are unexpectedly emotionally awakened. The chorus is glorious, smooth, soft, gentle, reassuring, comforting, personal, hopeful and incredibly sweet. The beat that weaves in and out, up and down in the verses is very effective. It makes you want to fall in love, fall in love and dance to this song with your boyfriend or girlfriend. This song makes me want to giggle with dizzying, Ellie Goulding-ish "starry-eyed" energy. And the video, released last night, is a kooky, peculiar and very sensual love shack. It includes a pile of lovers and couples in their undergarments and Kylie is on top being Kylie. Behind all the sexy stuff, the "forget your troubles and obligations and go love" subtext is pleasant. It's quite scintillating. This album is going to change the orbit of my core being.
Alphabeat-DJ
The next single in the UK off their second album, The Beat Is... This has really grown on me. It's giddy and super, super fun. I hope this is a hit for them because their other two singles from this album haven't done that well in the charts. This is a great spring/summer party, feel good song. Danish joy.
Kele-Tenderoni
Bloc Party goes solo with this amazing, delectable dance track. Immediately awesome. Infectious.
Thanks to We are Pop Slags, MuuMuse, Pitchfork, XO Middle Eight, Chart Rigger, It's Getting Boring by the Sea, Pretty Much Amazing, and Perez for all the info.
Showing posts with label Alexandra Burke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexandra Burke. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Music Update!
Sorry I haven't posted in forever. Here's some music.
JLS-One Shot
UK boy band wonder, JLS, will unleash their third single, One Shot, across the pond next month. It's a very good, satisfying piece of modern pop sleekness. Like most of their videos, this one features the boys dancing except this time they have wicked sick microphones that appear and disappear. I'm totally into this song after a couple of listens. It's nothing new, but it hits all the right buttons: semi-emotive singing, repetition of words in the chorus (watch this moment go by eeey eeeye), an intro where you think the whole thing is going to be a standard piano ballad then some crazy synths surprise you and the groove begins, and also the reference to Boys Like Girls obnoxiously catchy, Love Drunk as well as the lyric: "She's the kinda girl boys read about in magazines, glossy magazines". I'm really impressed about the use of glossy in a song. Great single from the boys.
Alexandra Burke-Broken Heels
This single is the definition of campy and I love every second of it. Alexandra Burke has thankfully proven herself to be the opposite of fellow X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. Burke's songs are upbeat rushes of pop amazingness (see last year's Bad Boys). Broken Heels is produced by RedOne (Lady GaGa's frequent collaborator) and for once, a song he produces isn't instantly recognizable as a RedOne song. There are plinky plonky piano keys and an overall sound that don't just make it sound like Just Dance, Part 2. The song is a thundering beast though especially when we get into that chorus. Alexandra knocks another one out of the park. This is a good collaboration that appears to be continuing as it was reported last week that Alexandra is working on some new songs with Mr. RedOne. Also, the video: hilarious and genius at the same time. Girl can dance!
Fenech-Soler-Lies
A UK band I seriously have my eye on for 2010 are Fenech-Soler. They make sublimely funky electro-pop. Here's their most straightforwardly catchy song yet, Lies. How awesome is that high note Ben Duffy hits in the chorus when he sings LIES! They have two EP's out on iTunes that are both very good. Check out their song Airbrushed. Also, they have two other songs up on their myspace called Stop and Stare and Golden Sun. Golden Sun has a sexy horn undercurrent. All their songs are immensely likable and ever so different so as not to seem like every other band out there who likes to mix some electro in with their guitars and drums. Can't wait for a full album.
http://www.myspace.com/fenechsoler
Awesome glittery, silver cardigan in the video!
The Drums-I Felt Stupid
This is one of the bands I'm most excited about for 2010. These fellas from New York (they moved there recently from Florida) have a melange of sounds going on: down-on-the-beach-on-a-summer's-day guitar giddiness as well as 80's drama and melancholy drenched vocals from blonde-haired lead singer, Jonathan Pierce. You've heard these sounds before on Oldies 103.3 with the Beach Boys and any 80's song of your choice, but these guys use their influences to great effect especially on this gem, I Felt Stupid, which has a sweet chorus complete with yes, word repetition, (Ha Ha Ha Heart!) and a splendid bit where Pierce sings "And have I lived my life too selfishly baby". See the track and field-themed video below. Check out all their other songs on their myspace. Instruct Me is quite lovely and Submarine demonstrates the Happy Days/ 80's smoothie the boys like to make.
http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
Plan B-Stay Too Long
British rapper makes old school R&B/soul and rap hybrid to strange and quite great effect.
JLS-One Shot
UK boy band wonder, JLS, will unleash their third single, One Shot, across the pond next month. It's a very good, satisfying piece of modern pop sleekness. Like most of their videos, this one features the boys dancing except this time they have wicked sick microphones that appear and disappear. I'm totally into this song after a couple of listens. It's nothing new, but it hits all the right buttons: semi-emotive singing, repetition of words in the chorus (watch this moment go by eeey eeeye), an intro where you think the whole thing is going to be a standard piano ballad then some crazy synths surprise you and the groove begins, and also the reference to Boys Like Girls obnoxiously catchy, Love Drunk as well as the lyric: "She's the kinda girl boys read about in magazines, glossy magazines". I'm really impressed about the use of glossy in a song. Great single from the boys.
Alexandra Burke-Broken Heels
This single is the definition of campy and I love every second of it. Alexandra Burke has thankfully proven herself to be the opposite of fellow X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. Burke's songs are upbeat rushes of pop amazingness (see last year's Bad Boys). Broken Heels is produced by RedOne (Lady GaGa's frequent collaborator) and for once, a song he produces isn't instantly recognizable as a RedOne song. There are plinky plonky piano keys and an overall sound that don't just make it sound like Just Dance, Part 2. The song is a thundering beast though especially when we get into that chorus. Alexandra knocks another one out of the park. This is a good collaboration that appears to be continuing as it was reported last week that Alexandra is working on some new songs with Mr. RedOne. Also, the video: hilarious and genius at the same time. Girl can dance!
Fenech-Soler-Lies
A UK band I seriously have my eye on for 2010 are Fenech-Soler. They make sublimely funky electro-pop. Here's their most straightforwardly catchy song yet, Lies. How awesome is that high note Ben Duffy hits in the chorus when he sings LIES! They have two EP's out on iTunes that are both very good. Check out their song Airbrushed. Also, they have two other songs up on their myspace called Stop and Stare and Golden Sun. Golden Sun has a sexy horn undercurrent. All their songs are immensely likable and ever so different so as not to seem like every other band out there who likes to mix some electro in with their guitars and drums. Can't wait for a full album.
http://www.myspace.com/fenechsoler
Awesome glittery, silver cardigan in the video!
The Drums-I Felt Stupid
This is one of the bands I'm most excited about for 2010. These fellas from New York (they moved there recently from Florida) have a melange of sounds going on: down-on-the-beach-on-a-summer's-day guitar giddiness as well as 80's drama and melancholy drenched vocals from blonde-haired lead singer, Jonathan Pierce. You've heard these sounds before on Oldies 103.3 with the Beach Boys and any 80's song of your choice, but these guys use their influences to great effect especially on this gem, I Felt Stupid, which has a sweet chorus complete with yes, word repetition, (Ha Ha Ha Heart!) and a splendid bit where Pierce sings "And have I lived my life too selfishly baby". See the track and field-themed video below. Check out all their other songs on their myspace. Instruct Me is quite lovely and Submarine demonstrates the Happy Days/ 80's smoothie the boys like to make.
http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
Plan B-Stay Too Long
British rapper makes old school R&B/soul and rap hybrid to strange and quite great effect.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Bad Boys-Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke won last year's X Factor (the UK American Idol) and here is her debut single, Bad Boys. She did not take the Leona route and release a Bleeding Love-esque ballad. Instead, Ms. Burke put on a slinky sliver outfit and released a relentlessly uptempo gem. The song (especially tempo-wise) is similar to Britney's Womanizer (as Popjustice noted), and it gallops along at a frenetic pace. It rarely stops for air and builds splendidly to the chorus. I didn't love it after the first listen, but now I really enjoy it. It's super fun and the chorus is super catchy and satisfying. I love the "ooo way, ooo wah'' part in the chorus. Flo Rida rides the fast beat like he's in the Kentucky Derby, but honestly his presence isn't really necessary. Alexandra holds her own. Now I'm super psyched for her album.
The Saturdays-Forever is Over
So the video for The Saturdays new single leaked before the full song did. Odd. Anyway I enjoy the Satz new song. It's pop rock instead of the electro R&B pop of their first album. The video is pretty dull except for some cool, documentary-style and black and white camera shots and when blondie Mollie rubs off the heart tattoo with her finger. That's fantastic. Frankie and Rochelle's hairdos look really good as well. Rochelle sounds splendid in the second verse (she sings with conviction). The guitar-tinged middle eight is great, but too short. I think this song could do well for them if they released it in the US. It is very likable.
Miley-Party in the USA
Oh Miley, sometimes you have a really good knack for pop songs. I've fallen in love with this irresistible, funky, and sweet jam known as Party in the USA. The chorus is fun, joyful, and catchy. The verses feature amusing, original, and endearing lyrics about Miley's journey from Nashville to scary LA. "Nodding my head like yeah, moving my hips like yeah". Amen, sister. Gotta love it.
I'm Not Your Toy-La Roux
One of my favorite new acts of the year, La Roux, released the video for their next single, I'm Not Your Toy the other day. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs with it's gentle steel drums and superb lyrics. The video is kooky, filled with a strange array of people (dancers that all look like the lead singer of British band Noisettes) all in a glass pool house staring awkwardly at each other until everyone starts to dance a little. Watch for lead singer Elly Jackson's hair emerging from the water. Crazy beautiful.
Now I'm That Bitch-Livvi Franc
Another pop gal has emerged from Barbados (home of my love, Rihanna). Her name is Livvi Franc and her debut single is called Now I'm That Bitch. The electro-pop beat is minimalist, but effective because it let's Livvi deliver the sharp lyrics with sass and oomph. The first 40 seconds build spectacularly with the ominous beat slowly invading the song as Livvi gets more and more sassy. The video is pretty cool (crazy fabric dance) and I like Pitbull's rap. It's a modern pop song, but it doesn't sound like everything else out there (i.e. some variation on the Lady GaGa/RedOne sound). Choice lyrics: "Hi, my name is (genius pop music song pause BRAVO)....you won't remember, wait till December". Great debut.
Alexandra Burke won last year's X Factor (the UK American Idol) and here is her debut single, Bad Boys. She did not take the Leona route and release a Bleeding Love-esque ballad. Instead, Ms. Burke put on a slinky sliver outfit and released a relentlessly uptempo gem. The song (especially tempo-wise) is similar to Britney's Womanizer (as Popjustice noted), and it gallops along at a frenetic pace. It rarely stops for air and builds splendidly to the chorus. I didn't love it after the first listen, but now I really enjoy it. It's super fun and the chorus is super catchy and satisfying. I love the "ooo way, ooo wah'' part in the chorus. Flo Rida rides the fast beat like he's in the Kentucky Derby, but honestly his presence isn't really necessary. Alexandra holds her own. Now I'm super psyched for her album.
The Saturdays-Forever is Over
So the video for The Saturdays new single leaked before the full song did. Odd. Anyway I enjoy the Satz new song. It's pop rock instead of the electro R&B pop of their first album. The video is pretty dull except for some cool, documentary-style and black and white camera shots and when blondie Mollie rubs off the heart tattoo with her finger. That's fantastic. Frankie and Rochelle's hairdos look really good as well. Rochelle sounds splendid in the second verse (she sings with conviction). The guitar-tinged middle eight is great, but too short. I think this song could do well for them if they released it in the US. It is very likable.
Miley-Party in the USA
Oh Miley, sometimes you have a really good knack for pop songs. I've fallen in love with this irresistible, funky, and sweet jam known as Party in the USA. The chorus is fun, joyful, and catchy. The verses feature amusing, original, and endearing lyrics about Miley's journey from Nashville to scary LA. "Nodding my head like yeah, moving my hips like yeah". Amen, sister. Gotta love it.
I'm Not Your Toy-La Roux
One of my favorite new acts of the year, La Roux, released the video for their next single, I'm Not Your Toy the other day. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs with it's gentle steel drums and superb lyrics. The video is kooky, filled with a strange array of people (dancers that all look like the lead singer of British band Noisettes) all in a glass pool house staring awkwardly at each other until everyone starts to dance a little. Watch for lead singer Elly Jackson's hair emerging from the water. Crazy beautiful.
Now I'm That Bitch-Livvi Franc
Another pop gal has emerged from Barbados (home of my love, Rihanna). Her name is Livvi Franc and her debut single is called Now I'm That Bitch. The electro-pop beat is minimalist, but effective because it let's Livvi deliver the sharp lyrics with sass and oomph. The first 40 seconds build spectacularly with the ominous beat slowly invading the song as Livvi gets more and more sassy. The video is pretty cool (crazy fabric dance) and I like Pitbull's rap. It's a modern pop song, but it doesn't sound like everything else out there (i.e. some variation on the Lady GaGa/RedOne sound). Choice lyrics: "Hi, my name is (genius pop music song pause BRAVO)....you won't remember, wait till December". Great debut.
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