Monday, February 28, 2011

Ke$ha - Blow

Ke$ha has released the her latest video for 'Blow', directed by Chris Marrs Piliero. And she's enjoying herself at a unicornparty! You heard me. People are dressed up and have unicorn heads, except for Ke$ha that is. And for some reason James Van Der Beek of Dawson's Creek fame are sneaking around at the party aswell as Ke$has nemesis.

It's an alright video that try to be weird and funny, and manage to be so quite alright. It also looks like Ke$ha is trying to clean up(or just got a new stylist), she's still got her trashy tongue-licking ways, but she's got nice straight hair and are donning fashionable designer dresses strangely enough(for being Ke$ha that is).

The song is written by no other people than Klas Åhlund, Lukasz Gottwald, Allan Grigg, Benjamin Levin and Max Martin. And it's produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, whom is busy producing Britney Spears upcoming album.

Ke$ha - Blow

Thomas Ring - Break The Silence

Thomas Ring won Danish X-factor 2010. Normally this 31yo is a teacher, but now he's put in everything for a music career. And if you're this talented, why not?
'Break The Silence' is his latest single and is a perfect radio friendly rock song.

Thomas Ring - Break The Silence
 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Helena Paparizou - Baby, it's over

Swedish-Greek artist Helena Paparizou is about to release a compilation album called 'Greatest Hits and More". The album will be released in two editions, a Greek one and one International. The album will also include five new songs.

The first single from the compilation is called 'Baby, it's over'. Helena premiered the song live on a televised fashion/music show for charity.

At the moment 'Baby, it's over' is topping the Greek iTunes chart. And it comes as no surprise. The song's lyrics is about a breakup, and a very catchy chorus that screams hit, on top of that Helena is one of the absolute most popular artists in Greece with all her 5 solo albums certified with platinum records.

Helena Paparizou - Baby, it's over

Hurts - Sunday

Hurts are releasing the video for the 4th single from their debut album 'Happiness'.

And as you can see, it's not the most happy scenario happening in the video.

Hurts - Sunday

Monday, February 21, 2011

Namie Amuro feat. Afterschool - Make it happen

Namie Amuro has released the video for her new single 'Make it happen' featuring Afterschool. And it's a major campfest! In every scene Afterschool are dressed in skimpy small outfits reminding you of a traditional housecleaning-outfit, and in the middle of it all almost raigning on her pop-trone you have a fierce Namie Amuro. There's no question about who's the star is in this video.

The song itself is what you would expect, a catchy J-Pop track with a hooky refrain that has tendencies to get stuck in your head.

The single will be featured on Namie Amuro's upcoming collaboration album titled 'Checkmate'. The release is set to march 23rd.

Namie Amuro feat. Afterschool - Make it happen

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Feral - Radiohead

Ok, this isn't mainstream pop. It's Radiohead.

I'm posting this because I just love the beats in this song. The New York Times calls it: "It programs a galloping rhythm and a throbbing low bass line akin to the British dance music called dubstep, and chops Mr. Yorke’s vocals into unintelligible stray syllables."

This track, "Feral," is from Radiohead's latest album "The King of Limbs," a release after their 2007 album "In Rainbows."

Saturday, February 19, 2011

M. Pokora - 'Mirage/Oblivion'

Matt Pokora participated in the third season of French Popstars, released his solo first album a year later in 2004 and had a huge success in France ever since. He's always done RnB in French, but on his 3rd album he collaborated with American producers and writers such as Timbaland and Ryan Leslie, and 12 out of 14 songs were sung in English.
For his new album he seem to have made an French album again, but translated several of the songs, not much unlike what Enrique Iglesias has done for a while with his Spanish/English releases.

Matt Pokora released a single from his new album last june in called 'Juste Une Photo De Toi' -a ballad in French. Now he's released the follow up to that single and a video - or as a matter of fact - two videos.
They're awefully similiar though, the only difference is that one of them is called 'Mirage'(number 1 on the sales charts in France) and targeted toward the French-speaking market and that the other one is called 'Oblivion' and is targeted towards USA and the rest of Europe that doesn't speak French.

The album is already out in France(where it's sold gold), Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. The Deluxe version also includes English language versions of several of the songs.

Here's the video for 'Oblivion'. A Matt Pokora video is always a treat for the eyes.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Video Update: Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me

And here we finally have it -the video for Britney's latest single.

The video is directed by Jonas Åkerlund, whom also directed videos for P!nk, Lady Gaga, Roxette, Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Christina Aguilera, Madonna etc..

In this video Britney is on a soundstage in a rocketship. The video is very pretty, and the cat fight and the white dress getting sprayed with a variety of colors during the middle-8 is cool, and although her dancers is awesome, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed by the fact that you don't really see Ms. Spears getting in more on that awesome dancing herself.
I wonder if that is because that knee-injury that she got a few years back while touring and she will never be the same or if the choreographer or the editing is to blame.

Although I think it's a lot better than Radar, If you seek Amy and 3, it's not succeding the video for womanizer.

And I'm still just as excited for the rest of the album as when I first heard this dance club record, that 'Hold it against me' is.

Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Introducing: Bright Light Bright Light

Bright Light Bright Light is an act consisting of Welsh songwriter, producer, remixer and multi-instrumentalist Rob Thomas. Bright Light Bright Light is signed to the independet indie UK-label Popjustice HiFi.

Bright Light Bright Light have previously released an EP on iTunes called Love Part II. However, now they've unleashed their fist video which is called "How To Make A Heart" and it's rather electro/indie/pop-ingenious! The video is directed by Gavin Leisfield -and a rather good animated one at that. I suggest you have a look/listen below.

If you wanna listen to a few of Bright Light Bright Light's previous songs you can check out their myspace or the official website.


Bright Light Bright Light - How To Make A Heart

Fenech-Soler - Demons

I'm listening to Fenech-Soler now, and instantly it reminds me of some bands, but I just can't figure who. Maybe it's their electro pop beats that reminds me a little bit of MGMT. But no comparisons here.

I think French-Soler brings out that electo pop soul that makes you listen to it more and more and then you realize that you're hooked to it. I really like how the song starts and the beats that follows.

Here's the latest from the Brit band "Demons."

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Video Update: Nicole Scherzinger - Don't hold your breath

Here's the video for Nicole's latest single 'Don't hold your breath'. It's directed by Rich Lee and Nicole is pulling out her acting skills potraying a woman who seem depressed, bitter and angry during a long taxig ride back home after having her heart broken by her now former lover.

For me this is probably the best song Nicole released as a solo act.

Nicole Scherzinger - Don't hold your breath

Gripin - Sen Gidiyorsun

'Sen Gidiyorsun' is nothing less than a rock ballad from the turkish rockband Gripin. At one hand it's a classic power ballad, on another it got traditional Turkish ways of singing and Turkish strings.

Gripin is a medicine name for flu, and the band comes from Istanbul and was established in 1999 and has been on the Turkish rock scene since with several albums and awards behind them.

Gripin - Sen Gidiyorsun

Jessie J feat. B.o.B - Price Tag

Jessie J - the girl who 'did it like a dude' is back with her second single called 'Price Tag'.  Is it only me who get Natasha Bedingfield vibes by this song?

Jessie J feat. B.o.B - Price Tag

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Apollo - Birds Playing Guitar

 Apollo is a Danish act and their 'Birds Playing Guitar' is the exact mix of pop and rock that we love. It reminds us of american bands like Goo Goo Dolls or Train. Have a listen.

Apollo - Birds Playing Guitar

Lena Philipsson - Idiot

One of the biggest Schlagerpop divas in Sweden is making a comeback with a new sound after a couple of years in abscence.

She still sings in Swedish and the new sound I would describe as lounge-ish and Kylie-esque. The latter may not come as a surprise as one of the songwriters, Magnus Lidehall produced 'Cupid Boy' for Kylie's latest album 'Aphrodite'.

Lena's new single is called 'Idiot' and the lyrics is written by no other than Oskar Linnros who we mentioned on this blog before.



Lena Philipsson - Idiot

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Theophilus London - Why Even Try feat. Sara Quin

Theophilus London defines his musical genre as "New Wave." Yet another production from the creative suburb of Brooklyn, New York, Theophilus London is out with his album "Lovers Holiday." I must say his music is certainly new wave with a splash of some 80s feel.

Take a listen to the album. But here's one my favorite featuring Sara Quin from Tegan and Sara.

Theophilus London - Why Even Try feat. Sara Quin

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Video Update: David Guetta feat Rihanna - Who's That Chick? (Day Version)

It seems that Rihanna is all over the music sphere, we cannot ignore the fact that she is doing pretty well. She's collaborated with many artists and DJ, and this time around she has done it with David Guetta, a French House music prodicer DJ. To make it a little easier, you might know David Guetta from the song "Club Can't Handle Me Right Now" with Flo Rida from Step Up 3D.

We've already featured the night version before. Here's an update of the video. Looks cleaner than the night version and has that retro 60s feel but I quite didn't like the first 30 secnds of the video, sci-fi-ish, wher I'm just thinking, "when will the video start?"

Here's Rihanna and DG teaming up on "Who's that Chick?" (Day Version)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Rihanna - S&M

Rihanna releases a video for her current single 'S&M', produced by Stargate.

The video is directed by Melina Matsoukas, who also has directed previous Rihanna video's like 'Hard' and 'Rude Boy'.


I must say that although the song is my fav after 'Only Girl' on her latest album, the video is dissapointing. It's messy and colorful and all over the place, and brings up the theme of 'Oh, I'm hunted down and attacked by Papparazzi's, poor me" -done a zillion times before. It gets slightly better halfway through though. My favorite part is Perez Hilton's cameo.

If you're gonna go and do neon colors and rubber, it doesn't have to look like someone tossed a 10 cans of paint on you. Here it's done right: Dannii Minogue - Touch me like that 

 Rihanna - S&M