Music collabs that will go down in history:

With my previous music review being single 'Bang Bang' by female pop divas Nicki Minaj, Jessie J and Ariana Grande, I take a look at what could arguably be the best collaborations in the history of music or ones that will at least bring back great memories.

Lady Gaga and Beyoncé: 

The two biggest names in pop came together to release the track Telephone that peaked at number one and sold 7.4 million copies in 2010 WORLDWIDE. This song and its video really stood apart from the rest and is still popular today.

Eminem and Rihanna:

Rapper Eminem and singer Rihanna released Love The Way You Lie, also released in 2010, and was the UK's best selling song of that year. Singing about a love-hate relationship, it was clear that it was all pure love when it came to buying the song. 

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys:

*NEW YOOOORRRRRRKK* Alicia Keys went back to the streets, New York's streets to be exact, when she collaborated with Jay Z for Empire State of Mind way back in 2009. With Alicia's vocals and piano, and Jay Z's lyrics it wasn't hard for this song to become a hit.

Big Sean and Ariana Grande:

When pop princess Ariana Grande and rapper Big Sean released the catchy Right There in 2013, after her success with songs The Way and Baby I, it was clear the two had musical chemistry. The two seem to be great pals, with Ariana rapping Big Sean's track Guap in a radio interview.

Timbaland and Aaliyah:

Timbaland and the sorely missed 'baby girl' Aaliyah worked in numerous musical projects, one of them including Try Again, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The song reached Number One in America and Number Five in the UK, also winning two MTV VMAs for its music video.

Avicii and Aloe Blacc:

Mixing country and dance together was a bold move for Avicii when it came to this hit Wake Me Up in 2013, but it paid off when it reached number one in over 20 countries.

Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk:

You couldn't drive anywhere without hearing this hit on the radio. When Get Lucky was released in 2013 its success boomed, winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year at the Grammy awards.

What are your favourite music collaborations? Or is there a collab that you wish you could un-hear? Leave a comment below!

The latest exciting trailer for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For

Prepare yourself for the return to the city of sin:

After analysing the Fifty Shades of Grey trailer and seemingly a little unsure as to whether or not I should put myself through the film's release, it was great to finally watch a trailer that built up my excitement with each shot! Of course, I'm talking about the new 3 minute 23 second red band trailer of the second Sin City film - Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. 

As I'm a fan of action, Noir and all films that cleverly execute special effects that take you to a whole new dimension, A Dame To Kill For definitely looks like a film to watch. Starring Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and new additions Eva Green, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and even Lady Gaga (who must have enjoyed her time shooting - equipped with a golden gun of course - with director Robert Rodriguez in his film Machete Kills), the trailer gives us not a snippet, but almost a starter course to get us prepared for the main meal! 

Directors Frank Miller and Rodriguez will clearly be giving us another stunning film filled with violence, women and more violence. What I like about the Sin City films is that the women are also capable of kicking butt themselves, even if they are watched by men who call them 'dames to kill for' (which is still a compliment right?). The emphasis is definitely on the ladies, even if we do see the male characters that are also in the film.

Watching the trailer over and over, you notice the little tricks that make the film look like something from a video game; it's introductory shots that are something from a comic book page that fade to black and white camera shots, shots like at 00:39 where we see a character overlayed with police cars and the shots of the same character running, and of course its infamous emphasis on particular colours (red lips and blood, pink clothes, blonde hair or green eyes).


Filled with a killer cast (no pun intended...), stellar effects and released August 22nd, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For is one to add to your diaries. 

APPLAUSE vs ROAR

GAGA vs PERRY

[originally posted 13 Aug. 2013]

 

 It's been a hectic week in the world of pop. With the leaking of Katy Perry's latest release 'Roar' and Lady Gaga's new song 'Applause', both Katycats and Little Monsters were sent into a meltdown! Both pop artists are head to head with their releases, and with both set to make an appearance at the MTV VMA's, it's only a matter of time before we see which one comes out on top.

Roar

Catchy, inspiring and uplifting, Katy Perry brings back the big guns that she used with anthem 'Firework' to create a summer track set to battle with Gaga's 'comeback' single. Using popular emoticons in her lyric video that are regularly used by teens and young adults, it's clear that Perry is out to sell a happy, fun record - one which people of all ages will find themselves singing "You're gonna hear me rooooaaar!" I mean, imagine driving home after a hard days work and yelling out the lyrics "I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, 'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar". The lyrics are motivating and leave you wanting to climb a mountain - almost Rocky-esque style in the infamous scene when he runs up the stairs!
Take a listen and try to prevent yourself from joining in the chorus' "oh oh oh oh oh ohh!"
♡ Below is the lyric video to Roar, or you can watch by clicking here

Applause

Gaga is back!!! Monsters rejoice! Applause is fast-paced and is definitely the rave song that Gaga hinted at way back in November regarding her latest album ARTPOP (to be released in November this year) with the tweet: "#HappyBirthdayTheFameMonster a special day when you were born, your techno raver little sister is in my uterus she says hello in glowsticks"

Never one to disappoint and always filled with surprises (after releasing the song early), Gaga has penned a dance song laced with lyrics that might escape some people such as 'One second I'm a Koons, then suddenly the Koons is me!' (referring to artist Jeff Koons). But despite the poetic and cultural lyrics, Gaga delivers a pumped-up and celebratory track as she asks us to "Give me the thing that I love, put your hands up make 'em touch!"

How could we ever say no? 

♡ Below is the official audio for Gaga's 'Applause', click here and get your hands ready for some clapping!

Comment below with your opinions of the songs! Who do you think has won this week's battle of releases? Gaga or Katy? Are you a Katycat that loves Applause or a Monster that loves Roar? Or are you still stanning for your favourite diva?