Ok ladies and gents. It's time for the most ridiculous and simultaneously one of the most amusing awards shows out there, the MTV VMAs (Video Music Awards). This one is for the music videos of the past year. There's a list the size of my arm of ridiculous stunts that have taken place at these awards, for now though, let's talk about the actual awards.
BEST SONG OF THE SUMMER
'I Need Your Love' - Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding
'Get Lucky' - Daft Punk featuring Pharrell
'We Can't Stop' - Miley Cyrus
'Best Song Ever' - One Direction
'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.
'Come and Get It' - Selena Gomez
This award is a new one to the VMAs but is also unfortunately a public vote. Based on this, I am predicting that One Direction's frightening band of loyal followers will do enough to take it.
BEST POP VIDEO
'Locked Out Of Heaven' - Bruno Mars
'Carry On' - fun.
'Mirrors' - Justin Timberlake
'We Can't Stop' - Miley Cyrus
'Come and Get It' - Selena Gomez
Both 'Locked Out Of Heaven' and 'Mirrors' have enough to take this award. However, I am going to call this one on the fact that 'Mirrors' never hit number one on the US chart and Bruno Mars's present popularity should be enough to outdo Justin Timberlake.
'Can't Hold Us' - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have topped charts everywhere from the UK to Australia. Their international acclaim meant that they were able to create the epic 'Can't Hold Us' video and everybody could connect to it. Without a doubt, this award goes to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for 'Can't Hold Us'.
BEST MALE VIDEO
'Locked Out Of Heaven' - Bruno Mars
'Lego House' - Ed Sheeran
'Mirrors' - Justin Timberlake
'Swimming Pools (Drank)' - Kendrick Lamar
'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.
My favorite of these videos is Ed Sheeran's 'Lego House'. However I don't think he's popular enough in the US to win one of these awards. This again becomes a battle between 'Locked Out Of Heaven' and 'Mirrors' and as before, the winner should be Bruno Mars. I will display the 'Mirrors' video below, in case any readers believe differently
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
'Heart Attack' - Demi Lovato
'We Can't Stop' - Miley Cyrus
'Just Give Me A Reason' - P!nk featuring Nate Reuss
'Stay' - Rihanna
'I Knew You Were Trouble' - Taylor Swift
In a year when Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus all displayed themselves onto the pop scene, this was always going to be a bleak looking category. However Rihanna's 'Stay' is a shining jewel, a beautiful piece of work that fits a hauntingly gorgeous song by the biggest pop star on the planet. All hail Rihanna!
BEST VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
'I Was Here' - Beyonce
'People Like Us' - Kelly Clarkson
'Same Love' - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert
'Candles in the Sun' - Miguel
'No Guns Allowed' - Snoop Lion featuring Drake and Cori B
Many countries have recently legalised gay marriage. However, for many especially in the US, it is a very delicate topic. For somebody to make a song that gets the kind of airplay that 'Same Love' has received is nothing short of incredible. I will be behind this Seattle music duo all the way to take this award. I hope that their performance of this song will be enough to send it into the Billboard top 10 and put Macklemore and Ryan Lewis firmly in the status of music legends.
BEST COLLABORATION
'I Need Your Love' - Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding
'Suit and Tie' - Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z
'Just Give Me A Reason' - P!nk featuring Nate Reuss
'Feel This Moment' - Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera
'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.
As much as I hate to say it, I think that 'Blurred Lines' is the obvious winner in this category. For the record, 'I Need Your Love' would be my favorite to win.
BEST ROCK VIDEO
'My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)' - Fall Out Boy
'Radioactive' - Imagine Dragons
'I Will Wait' - Mumford and Sons
'Up In The Air' - 30 Seconds To Mars
'Diane Young' - Vampire Weekend
'I Will Wait' is the video that actually represents the rock music feel, in contrast to the bizarre nature of these other videos.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
'Locked Out Of Heaven' - Bruno Mars
'Mirrors' - Justin Timberlake
'Thirft Shop' - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I.
'I Knew You Were Trouble' - Taylor Swift
It's a rather big ask having already given Macklemore and Ryan Lewis two big awards. However, the world comes to a sad state of affairs if 'Thirft Shop' walks from the VMAs with nothing. I'm going to predict MTV will give this one to 'Thirft Shop'. If you haven't seen this video yet, I'm not sure where you've been, but you missed a lot.
These awards take place on the 25th of August. I will be looking forward to seeing who wins, and seeing what strange things the artists get up to. BE PREPARED!
'TheCivil Wars' is the self-titled second album from male and female music duo The Civil Wars.
It is very clear from just listening to the first couple of songs that The Civil Wars have shed the frailty of their previous album 'Barton Hollow'. The electric guitars are a key sign that these two mean business. This isn't to say that there are none of their specialty delicate songs. In fact, there are many ('Dust to Dust', 'Sacred Heart'), but they have more of an upgraded, deeper and poignant sound than the songs on 'Barton Hollow'.
The amazing thing about the Civil Wars is that they write ultimate relationship songs and yet Joy Williams and John Paul White are not a couple. Their lyrics are beautiful and meaningful and seem so legitimate and real. It is a beautiful experience to listen to a man and a woman duet on relationship songs such as these two can.
'The Civil Wars' has poignant moments, exciting moments and despairing moments. It will take you through the emotional ringer and at the same time have a relaxing sound that is perfect for after a long day. Buy this album, you won't regret it, another excellent album from what has been an excellent year of music so far...
All People is the new album from multi-genre man Michael Franti and his band
Spearhead.
The great thing about a Michael Franti album is that you never know exactly
what to expect going in. In the past, Franti has made music with reggae sounds,
hip-hop sounds, jazzy stuff. With 'All People', the larger focus is making
happy music. He does this using many different instruments and no two songs
have exactly the same sound as a result. The amazing thing about 'All People'
is that it is a bubble of light, colorful music that you can escape into, even
if only for 40 minutes.
The lyrics match the music in terms of creating the happy world that you
know you are getting into simply from looking at the cover. Franti
does a combination of rapping, spoken word and amazing vocals over the course
of the album, and you can really feel the effort that has been put in. It's
easy to write sad songs, but to create 11 uplifting, feel good songs (albeit
some quicker than others) is something that some might call hippy, happy
songwriting. However I see it as a lot of hard work put into a masterpiece
album.
In 'All People', Franti has finally been able to bottle up memorable beats
with matching lyrics and turn it into a joyful, laid back piece of musical
genius. This album is only out in North America, but all those North American
readers that I may have, should go out and buy what is his best albums and
potentially one of the best of this year.
In a change of plans, the album I will be reviewing today is Wild Cub's 'Youth'. 'Youth' is the debut album from upcoming American alternative pop band Wild Cub.
The thing that really catches your ear on this album is the music. The combinations of tropical drums and synths on 'Thunder Clatter' for instance really grab your attention as a listener. Generally, the songs have a certain campfire feel to them, the kind of song that would be nice to sit around with all your friends and listen to. The music isn't perfect but it is a really good punt for a first album.
The thing that altogether lets the album down is the lead vocals. I hate to have to single a specific faction out like this, but having somebody that can sing well is very important. In Wild Cub's music, the vocals are drowned out by the music to the point where I can't remember any of the lyrics as I normally would with other bands. Presently, Wild Cub are in the process of making new material, I would suggest that they try to experiment with the vocals of the lead singer to try and see where it can go.
All in all, buy this album to listen to a wide range of stunning and exciting instrumental parts from many different instruments. This band is up and coming and will be a name to watch out for in albums to come.
This is the perfect opportunity for me to tell readers about the blog posts coming down the line from here until November. Hope it's looking like a tasty line up... (dates in brackets are UK album release dates)
'Love Never Fails' by Jahmene Douglas (22/7/13)
'All People' by Michael Franti (29/7/2013)
'The Civil Wars' by The Civil Wars (5/8/2013)
'Halcyon Days' by Ellie Goulding (26/8/2013)
'Hotel Cabana' by Naughty Boy (26/8/2013)
'Studio Zoo' by Newton Faulkner (26/8/2013)
'Roaring 20s' by Rizzle Kicks (2/9/2013)
'The Diving Board' by Elton John (16/9/2013)
'The Bones of What You Believe' by CHVRCHES (23/9/2013)
'The Fifth' by Dizzee Rascal (30/9/2013)
'The World from the Side of the Moon' by Phillip Phillips (7/10/2013)
'Growing Up in Public' by Professor Green (14/10/2013)
'ARTPOP' by Lady Gaga (11/11/2013)
It's looking good for the next few months, so buckle in and prepare for AWESOME!
'Settle' is the debut album from the up and comingEDM music duo Disclosure.
Throughout the album there is a tone, a style that defines Disclosure from other dance music acts. This tone is that of laid back, chill EDM music that is perfect for the beginning of a night of perhaps towards the end of a night. None of the tracks want to make you dance around and go crazy but there are still nice simple drum beats combined with relaxing synths like 'F For You' and 'When a Fire Starts To Burn' that will make you smile as you sit back into a couch.
Where this album also succeeds is Disclosure's ability to reign in voices such as Sam Smith and Eliza Doolittle who add an extra dimension to 'Settle'. Despite the fact that this is their first album, their collaboration list is still an impressive bunch of people who give soul and emotion to their tracks.
The lyrics are the only thing that let the album down slightly as they don't have much structure to them. Sure, they blend in well with the music and the individual songs, but next time Disclosure are making an album they need to focus more on lyrics. I would suggest that they bring in a lyricist who can write meaningful lyrics that will strengthen the albums mellow dance beat backbone.
In any case, I recommend this album to anybody looking for a chilled out dance album. Disclosure won't let you down on being able to provide an album that will be as relaxing as a trip to the beach while having the soulful, exciting voices to keep you from being bored.
'LondonWith the Light On' is the debut album from up and coming girl group Stooshe.
When I first bought this album it had been a year since Stooshe first hit the scene with 'Love Me'. There was a lot of excitement to see if these three London women could keep walking the vintage R&B-pop line over the course of an entire album. They passed this test with flying colors with all their quirky mid-song conversation querks and were able to throw in tracks with a different kind of sound as well ('My Man Music'). The sound of this album is very much the chill R&B sound of about 20 years ago but with a more fresh feeling to them. Stooshe succeed in that they can sing songs that sound like they are ages old and still make them relevant to today's pop audience, something that other girl groups (*cough* Little Mix) can learn from.
As for the lyrics, they feel like they're sang right from the hearts of these three songstresses. The most important thing is that they're sang with power and with feeling, something that you don't find a lot of in many singers today. They are showing not only girl groups but also boy bands everywhere how the game is played and they're doing an excellent job.
I would recommend this album to any music fans out there who like to listen to some older sounding music but with the freshness of these three insane but talented women whose voices and strange quirks make the album a pleasure to listen to.
