New release in music: Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj pull together for number one single

Bang bang! - look out, three of the biggest female names in popular music have joined forces!

If you follow the three ladies (Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj) on Instagram you'll have noticed the images and snippets that the girls have been posting in the lead up to the trio's new single 'Bang Bang'.

Now before I sat down to listen to the song, I set up a blank document to jot down any thoughts I had whilst listening to it. Here's what was written:

*Pauses ARTPOP and loads YouTube video of official song 'Bang Bang'*

• Jazzy. Very jazzy.
• I like the clapping. I want to clap tooooo!
• I KNEW Ariana and Jessie would sound amazing. I KNEW IT. AND WHERE IS THE GOSPEL CHOIR COMING FROM?!
• I wish I could sing like Ariana...
• Why did I just imagine the cast of High School Musical singing this in the cafeteria though.
• Nicki just came in saying so many words... I think I made out the word 'slanging' out of all that. Wait she is spelling, what is she spelling... *moment of thought* oh yeah Bang Bang duh #facepalm
• Oh...wait, what, it's over?

Then I took a few minutes for the song to sink in and found that the chorus 'Bang bang doo doo doo dooo' (I can only remember two words of the chorus) was stuck in my head as I was thinking about what I thought of it.

Image taken from @NickiMinaj on Instagram

Now this song is Number 1 in 16 countries around the world (as discovered on Nicki Minaj's instagram), the song is catchy and probably sounds better after the fifth listen. But my first thoughts are the reasoning behind why it's number one.

Think about just how many fans each female artist in this song has. It's undeniable that their loyal fans will purchase the song to support their favourite singer. But listening to the song I didn't feel that it was a Jessie J song, or a Nicki Minaj song, but it definitely had an Ariana Grande feel to it. And after Ariana's recent successes with Iggy Azalea with 'Problem', it's not hard to wonder why they would choose Ariana's style. It's different to most music being released at the moment and harks back to a time where Jazz and ballads where popular, and auto-tune wasn't really invented yet. Ariana herself is probably a happy chick after seeing that Bang Bang, Problem and Break Free (a song she made with Zedd) are in the Top 15 on iTunes in America.

Bang Bang is fun and will definitely have people singing along to the chorus as the gospel sings 'Baanng Baaaanngg' while they're swaying along to the song. And it has the formula of pop-song-then-throw-in-a-verse-of-rap-to-open-up-to-more-listeners, and I always find that a rap in a song helps to change up the pace and feel of the song, which sometimes helps to prevent the song from sounding too repetitious and boring. As do trumpets (at least in my opinion).

Reaching number one in many countries, it's great to see three women topping the charts. Yet although the song has potential, you have to think: if someone else were to sing it, would it still have the same feel to it, the same success? Or would it just be seen as another radio-friendly song that keeps people happy for a few days? I guess only time will tell...

What did you think of the song? Are you a fan? If you agree or disagree with this post, feel free to post a constructive comment below!

A Trip To The Cinema: How To Train Your Dragon 2

An action-packed fire-filled film for the family!

Now it doesn't really matter too much if you haven't seen the first of the sequel, 'How To Train Your Dragon' because (although you might want the back-story of just how dragons came to exist within the Viking town in which main character Hiccup lives), the film is just as dynamic, funny, touching and entertaining without it. I went to see the film with two other HTTYD fans and one guy who had never seen the first one, and we all unanimously agreed that it was a good film. 

Much like my review of Despicable Me 2, I have to say that it is the children (of course) that may enjoy this film particularly more than the adults. But that's not to say that if you are a parent taking your children to see this movie that you should find something else to do whilst they're watching. And that's not to say that you need to be a parent or a child to enjoy it either, as my 21-year-old also found it to be entertaining. Like most animated films aimed largely towards a younger audience, How To Train Your Dragon 2 has the ability of delighting the youngsters and upholding the adults' interest. I'll refer to my Despicable Me 2 review again here, because although there are plenty of main characters that we can and do attach ourselves to, we also begin to enjoy the company of the dragons (particularly Hiccup's dragon Toothless) much like we enjoy the yellow minions of Despicable Me. Although I'm not sure whether my attachment to Toothless comes from his remarkably similar qualities to my pet dog (although sadly he cannot breathe fire or fly through the air like Toothless...). 

With humour, romance, tragedy and action, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is entertaining and with the summer holidays here it is one to take the whole family to see!

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?