Little Mix. For those who don't know this fresh pop group, they are the winners of UK X Factor 8th edition. Originally presented as 4 solo singers (and obviously failed) they had their second mirac...ehm chance when judge Tulisa of hip hop crew N-Dubz had the (brilliant) idea to put the four girls together. And I have to admit it...she was right. The result is quuite good my rate.
As music industry orders, they immediately released their first single Cannonbal, cover of the original Damien Rice's track, after the mediatic victory. But then no news from the band until...now. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Wings, first original single from LM girls!
This track has definetely what it takes to become a huge success. Why? Simply because it has all the elements that a pop song requires to become singable and danceable: starting horns, heavy drums over a cool dubstep beat, handclaps and an ending march band (Hollaback girl style). Trite lyrics about being proud of yourself, but it's really what it takes to create the perfect recipe to take a spot in the industry.
Wish you all the best LM. God only knows if you will be the next Spices!
Fasten your seat-belts please, Muse lovers. It's official. Matt Bellamy and friends are going to release their next studio EP on September, the 17th. The title? The 2nd Law.
Don't ask me about the meaning of this title. I just discovered the artwork of the EP and find it kinda artistic and disquieting at the same time. You can see it at the top of the post. It represents a human brain with all its white fibres. The different colours represent the different level of brain activity. I find it quite fascinating even though I really don't know what to expect from their last musical effort. Have you heard their anticipating single Unsustainable? Personally, I can still recognize myth sonorities as strings opening, choir in the background and then a futuristic voice that suddenly change the song into a hard dubstep track. Definetely innovative. But can't completely understand it.
The group revealed that The 2nd Law will be very diverse from all the previous Muse albums, except for one song. Matt Bellamy admitted that with this album: "We've basically tried to do what Rage Against The Machine did with
hip-hop in the 1990s and take a bit of the electronic world and dubstep
and play it with real instruments". Such a huge comparison Matt! Remember that the line between confidence and cockiness is very, very thin. Let's hope that The 2nd Law will definetely match the expectations!
I simply love this girl. Maybe it's because this young singer has got such a strong aura around her, full of positive energy. And energy is, of course, the only way she knows how to express herself. Ladies and gentlemen I am talking about miss Rita Ora, the new big talent of the "made in UK" music industry.
Rita has Albanian roots. That's a part that teases me quite a lot. Love new and exotic talents. But (damn!) she just borns in Kosovo 22 years ago, but then soon left the Balcanian paeninsula with her parents. Destination: LDN (the old Lily would say).
This pure energy girl declared she always sang. And I definetely bet it's true. That's maybe why Mr. Jay-Z decided to take on board of his Roc Nation label this pretty brat. Yes, his majesty Jay-Z.
Platinum blonde hair and look like miss Gwen Stefani (named as her biggest influencer), voice like Emily Sandè. I think Rita has all the ingredients to be a huge star. Oh I forgot! Same face of Rihanna. Too many times this girl has been criticized for being too similar to hot RiRi. So? What's the problem? They are totally different in styles and, most important, in voice sonorities. In fact Rita is a mezzo-soprano, while the S&M addicted girl is a contralto. Did you know it? But let's move now to what it matters the most: music.
RO released her first single How We Do (Party). A good to hear party song. Much more for teenagers rather than for mature listeners. But (and that's kinda weird) this song doesn't drive me mad. Normally I would have screamed and yelling against the artist. But I'd say this song leaves me pretty indifferent.
My love with Rita started with her real first single: R.I.P. Rest in peace. An hymn against her look-a-like Rihanna. I think the chorus lyrics are brilliant: "R.I.P. to the girl you used to see. Her days are over. Baby she's over". Collaboration with London rapper Tinie Tempah definetely gives a boost to this already hot track. Hard synth and guitars, dubstep notes and low beats give the whole track something very hip hop with nice dark sonorities. However, the powerful but delicate voice of the platinum blonde girl refines the whole atmosphere. Results? #1 track in UK after one week from the track release.
I really wish to this girl to go far. In the meanwhile unknown artists like Will.I.Am, Kanye West, Drake and The Dream are working on her debut album. Not bad, ah? Enjoy R.I.P.
Fever. When you kiss me. Fever when you hold me down. That's what Little Willie John sang in the 50's. And he was damn right. From a different perspective for sure, fever knocks you down, and definetely not like Keri Hilson does! Beyond the obvious fact that I'm sick and with a temperature (what the hell is wrong with me?! getting sick in summer?! oh c'mon please!) I wanted to write something before going to bed and get some sleep.
I want to review to you guys a basically average song: average in the lyrics, average in the # of copies sold...but with a damn booty-shaking rhythm! If it wasn't for this damned fever you could have found me dancing this track like a maniac somewhere near the beach.
I am talking 'bout Temperature (exactly) by the king of Jamaican dancehall and raggamuffin: Mr. Sean Paul.
I'd say that SP can be described as an archeotype of Nicki Minaj. Because just like the lil old Nicki, he collaborated with almost every (especially female) singer on the planet, with good market results. Just to quote few of them: Baby Boy with Mrs. Beyoncè Knowles, Rear View Mirror with lady Mya or Break it off with Caribbean R&B first lady Rihanna.
I quoted Baby Boy because I think that basically the structure of these two track is the same. Especially the chorus hook. But never mind. Getting "inspired" by collaboration is a common habit in the current international music industry scenario. Especially at those hugely high levels. An entertaining and pushing bass goes right through the booty veins of the listener and he just can't help it, but to shake it like a Pom Pom (hail to Missy the Misdeameanor Elliot). The right song to the get down on the dance floor. I just got a problem with SP. I can't understand a s*** of what he says.
July, 23rd 2011. One of the brightest supernovas of the contemporary music scene implodes, pushed away by her own talent and fragility at the same time. I am talking about the last soul lioness of present days: Amy Winehouse. The first white soul lady borned 29 years ago in Northern London suburbs, in Southgate neighborhood. Don't worry this is not a wikipedia page! Isn't it?
What I wanna do, in beloved memory of the passed lioness, is to write about her (commercial) masterpiece: Back to Black.
1. Rehab 3:34 2. You know I’m no good 4:17
3. Me & Mr. Jones 2:33
4. Just friends 3:13
5. Back to black 4:10
6. Love is a losing game 2:35
7. Tears dry on their own 3:06
8. Wake up alone 3:42
9. Some unholy war 2:22
10. He can only hold her 2:46
11. Addicted 2:45
11 tracks of pure nu-soul. The comparison with contemporary Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray, Duffy and so on goes 100% natural. But Amy's voice has something that turned herself into the huge star she's been: I am talking about pain, inner pain. A cursed artist whose only way to express herself was shouting loud her powerful voice outside. I'd say Amy is pretty similar to those big past stars, too much six-feet-under to be remembered by the frenzy mainstream scenario. Who remember Doris Duke or Esther Phillips, just to quote two of the biggest? Certified soul atmoshperes cover the whole EP: He can only hold her, Wake up alone and Addicted are nice examples of a fresh blast of past memories. "For you I was a flame/Love is a losing game": that's how the only ballad of the EP, Love is a losing game indeed, begins. Beyond the combed notes, I think that the power of this track is the perfect fit between music and lyrics.It just says things in the right way those things should be told. Another great example of it, is Rehab, lead single of the whole EP. For 3:34 minutes AW shows her impertinence by joking on her little bad habit: drinking. Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. On Me and Mr. Jones Amy argues on her boyfriend who stopped her from watching the concert of her idol Slick Rick. Regular soul notes leave the space to hip-hop beats in You know I'm no good. Syncopated intro in Some unholy war and the rocksteady of Just friends send the listener back in the '50s. The AW, with the help of producer Mark Ronson, decided to introduce a Marvin Gaye flavour: Tears dry on their own is so damn similar to Gaye's Ain't no mountain high enough that I just can't understand when Amy's voice finish and when Tammi Terrell's begins! And then the lioness ends the album with Back to black: a creepy prophecy. Amy warned us that soon we'd have gone back to black. R.I.P. Amy, even one year later.
