I will still be reviewing the latest music and film reviews, adding more personal posts and ensuring that you guys are kept in the loop! Check it out and see what you think.
It's been a few weeks since Nicki Minaj posted the snap of her Anaconda single cover that caused a stir online, but Nicki has now released a lyric video for the song. Sampling Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot, Anaconda isn't one of Nicki's best songs (I think I always think back to her verse in Kanye's song 'Monster' when I think of her best).
The song is all about Nicki knowing guys named Troy and Michael who buy her nice things like Balmain and Alexander McQueen, and then goes back to the chorus as if to emphasise the fact that they buy her these things because they love her 'bunz'.
With lyrics that when repeated almost sound like they could be from a adult-version of a playground rhyme - "Boy toy named Troy used to live in Detroit" and "This dude named Michael used to ride motorcycles" - Anaconda is a song not to be taken seriously. But I think that's the point Nicki's trying to make. And the Barbs know that Nicki can make songs not to be taken too seriously (eg Pound The Alarm) but will sure to come back with fire power with her next singles.
Ella Eyre - Comeback
Ella Eyre's new video for her latest single 'Comeback' is here, and the video shows Ella showing her fighter side as her boyfriend apologises to her for his sleeping around.
Smashing plates and destroying the home they had together, Ella sings "We've all been played, we all get hurt. Just take that pain and let that motherf***er burn!"
The song packs a punch, making it a great break-up song. Jazzy and fast-paced, Ella has fun while having pillow fights, destroying the bed and TV - showing any recently broken-hearted viewers that you can still have some fight in you even if your world's been turned upside down! With her big, bouncy curls, red lipstick and soulful voice, Ella is the advocate for the strong and undefeated woman in this video.
Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora - Black Widow
Taking a leaf out of Gaga's and Beyonce's Telephone video, Iggy and Rita take inspiration from film director Quentin Tarantino with the music video for Black Widow. With a Kill Bill-inspired sword wielding Iggy and Rita, the video starts with a diner scene with Iggy as waitress and Rita as the unhappy girlfriend of a bossy grumpy man. Drama unfolds as Iggy takes hold of the samurai sword and the pair fight together against mob men.
Ariana Grande ft Zedd - Break Free
Taking the world by storm with each new single, Ariana does no wrong with new song Break Free.
The song is accompanied by a video set in space in a futuristic alien world, with Zedd taking control of the spaceship's music decks for an alien party that's filled with people dancing to the upbeat dance track.
It's also safe to say that Zedd's collaborations are ones to pay attention too, after his smash hit with Stay The Night that featured lead singer of the band Paramore, Hayley Williams.
Ariana and Zedd deliver a great summer track for all those parties in the sun and sunny car rides!
After two weeks away on holiday - one week kayaking and sunbathing in Wales, a day trip to Dublin, and a week camping in a tent (and a couple of scheduled posts during that time) - I can now return to my regular music and film review posts!
Have you seen a trailer for a film that you can't wait to see? Or heard a newly released song that you can't stop playing? Let me know in the comments below and I'll write a post on them! :)
On another note, I finally managed to read all three Hunger Games books!! I loved the first and second, but I'm still unsure as to what I think about the third... Maybe it's because I've seen the first two films which may have added an extra element to the story, but I guess I wasn't satisfied with the ending. Although there was a conclusion and a glimpse of the future, I still couldn't help but feel as though there were elements missing or that had perhaps not been written about in as much detail as I'd hoped, particularly in relation to one relationship and one death (sorry if that's a spoiler but it is the Hunger Games after all... What would it be without at least one character dying?) But I can't say too much without ruining the story for those that haven't read it yet!
Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying the summer and don't forget to let me know about any films or songs you'd love for me to write about!
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!
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.
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?
When a cast includes Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, you can take your seat in the cinema safely knowing that what you are about to watch will be magnificent.
Directed by Louis Leterrier, this sleek crime thriller is filled with great acting and an amazing plot. It is one of those great films that gradually leads you into one direction and just when you think you're close to figuring out who is behind it all, BAM! You are pulled into another direction, left constantly doubting your intuitions until the film finally gives the game up. The film is centred around four magicians, Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson). They call themselves 'The Four Horsemen' and their performances involve robbing from banks, causing them to be chased and investigated by FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Mélanie Laurent). However this is not just your ordinary, formulaic cat-and-mouse chase type of film. There are twists and turns and one hell of an ending. As magician J. Daniel tells the audience 'Look closely, because the closer you think you are, the less you will actually see'. When stepping into the cinema I don't think that I expected such a great film that was entertaining, funny and thought provoking. I would definitely recommend that you watch it. ♡ The film trailer is below:
Have you seen the film Now You See Me? Comment your thoughts below.
Abel Tesfaye has released a video to his new single Belong To The World! It's been a year since the release of his album Trilogy, an album that helped to further spread Abel's popularity and grow his fanbase since the release of his three mixtapes. The song comes from The Weeknd's new album Kiss Land, which will be released this summer on August 27th. Belong To The World emanates The Weeknd's style which consists of echoes of Abel's slow and soft voice mixed to a beat which when heard creates a dream-like experience. The song, as like much of The Weeknd's work, is centred on love but also has the ability to create a dark, saddening element to it with lyrics such as 'I'm not a fool I just love that you're dead inside,I'm not a fool, I'm just lifeless too'. With the song being the first to be released and heard from the new album Kiss Land it gives us new music from Abel to treat our ears to and gives the excited fanbase of The Weeknd wondering what will be next.
♡The video was released on July 16, 2013. You can hear the song and watch Abel in the video directed by Anthony Mandler by clicking here.
Jay Z - Holy Grail ft Justin Timberlake
After the release of Kanye West's eagerly awaited album Yeezus and the release of HOVA's new album Magna Carta Holy Grail, it felt like the two biggest names in hip hop were out to show the world how it should be done. With Yeezus' fresh and innovative beats, Jay Z had a lot to follow on the release of M.C.H.G. Released on July 4th, just over two weeks since Ye's album release, Magna Carta... opens with the song Holy Grail. Featuring Justin Timberlake, the song is arguably the best song on the album and will most likely get the most airplay on the radio, with JT being the highlight of the song with his verse's and chorus. Jay Z makes reference to Mike Tyson, Kurt Cobain (and adding the lines 'And we all just entertainers, And we're stupid and contagious, And we all just entertainers' from the popular Nirvana song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit') and Michael Jackson. Magna Carta Holy Grail is definitely an album to buy to join your collection of albums that top the rest. But with this being Jay Z's sixteenth studio album, it does make you wonder if he will ever run out of things to rap about. But then you have to remind yourself that Jay Z has been in the game since 1986, and won't be going anywhere for a very long time(hopefully).
♡The album was released on July 4, 2013 for those on Samsung phones. For those without, the album could be heard from July 8, 2013. You can hear the album on Spotify and or watch a video uploaded for 'Holy Grail' here.
What do you think about The Weeknd's new song? Who's album is better - Jay Z's or Kanye's? Leave a comment below.
The English rapper is back with a new song called 'Trampoline' and it's definitely one to jump around to. Featuring the American rapper 2 Chainz, the song is definitely one that is aiming to be heard worldwide. With lyrics such as 'Sydney, what's going down. New York, what's going down. LA, what's going down. Vegas, what's going down...', it is clear to see that Tinie wants people all over the world to be dancing to this track.
With hits like 'Pass Out' and 'Written in the Stars' it has been 3 years since his first major album 'Disc-overy' was released. 'Trampoline' doesn't disappoint, and Tempah's catchy lyrics, which made him the star that he is today, are heard with the hook repeating 'Shake' and 'Jump'. And his cheeky style is evident with 'I'm high end, you're high street'. 2 Chainz enters the song with his usual announcement '2 Chaaainz' and begins his verse with 'First of all I'm swagging'. Produced by Diplo, this beat is definitely one that you'll be hearing in the club.
♡The lyric video was released on July 2, 2013. You can hear the song for yourself and watch Tinie jumping on a trampoline in the slick black and white video by clicking here.
Mario - Somebody Else ft. Nicki Minaj
It's been a while since we have had an album from Mario, but his new album 'Restoration' will be released in September of this year. To give us a taste of his sound, he released the video to 'Somebody Else' which features Nicki Minaj. The first we see of Mario is when he is lying on the top of a smashed car, and Nicki is introduced to us on the balcony of a building with lightning flashing in the background. Put two and two together, and it seems Nicki and Mario have had a huge bust-up and she pushed him from the balcony to land on the car, all because she met Somebody Else.
Nicki plays the girlfriend of Mario and her verse lets him know just how angry she is with him for the way he has treated her in the video. Spitting lines like 'But I let you get mad disrespectful, huh. You couldn't be serious, was you? Looking at my new man, wish it was you?But you're dead now', it's clear to see Nicki is one unhappy girl.
With Mario's smooth vocals and Nicki's hard-hitting verse, this song leaves you waiting for the album's release: especially when you remember that the next song to be released will feature J. Cole.
♡ The video was released on July, 9 2013. You can watch the video here.
What do you think of the songs? Are there any newly released songs that you think top these? Leave a comment below.
So yesterday I went to the cinema with a couple of friends to see Despicable Me 2. As a twenty-year-old university student sitting in the back of the cinema, I could see parents dotted around the seats with their children and began to wonder whether they would think it questionable for girls our age to be watching a film whose main audience appeared to be small children.
Fast forward past the trailers and adverts to the beginning of the film and all worries melt away as you become enthralled into the world of imagination and fun that makes most of us who are past our teens feel like we have a part of our childhood back, which is what most of us wish for.
It was evident in the first film, Despicable Me, that the minions were the characters that added those extra laughs and that extra something special. I found myself at some points watching the minion in the background of the scene to see what mischief they were getting up to rather than what was happening at the foreground! It's no wonder they're having their own film, Minions, in 2014. I think what is so likeable about the yellow minions is that they are fun-loving! There are plenty of scenes in this film that have you giggling as the minions party and dance, and how they are portrayed as a large group of friends that are just out to have fun. There are a couple of scenes in the film towards the ending (which involves them singing) that remind you of drunken karaoke sessions that you might have had with your friends, or just the fact that you would only allow your closest friends to see you do the most random things (and that's what makes it more fun right?). With their language consisting of sounds like 'beebobeebo' and 'ekko!', it wasn't long before the kids in the cinema could be heard mimicking the sounds that they were making, which I think pretty much proves the minions popularity as a whole.
As for the children in the film (Agnes, Edith and Margo) you can't help but feel your heart warm by the character of the small and adorable Agnes. With lines that make your heart melt (she heads off to sleep and reveals to Gru"Your bald head!...Sometimes I stare at it and imagine a little chick popping out. Peep, peep, peep!"), she is another character that adds to the film's surprising amount of sweetness. This is a film involving villains and plots to take over the world, yet it still manages to tackle the topics of love and first dates, and a motherless child wanting a mother. And it does all of this with giggles, heart-warming moments and those mischievous minions!
The plot to the film is very easy to follow but it's not the plot entirely that makes this film. It's the characters in it and the way in which the writers have made them so special; such as the minions, Agnes, Agent Lucy (voiced by the hilarious Kristen Wiig), and even your average chicken out for revenge (trust me you'll understand when you see it). All in all I found myself giggling lots and wishing that I was one of those kids that were staring up at the large cinema screen, watching without a care in the world, that could leave the cinema without having to deal with 'grown-up' responsibilities. But whilst leaving the cinema to the outside world and the problems it brings, I was still able to watch the credits roll up and suddenly outburst 'I want a minion!' -Definitely a film to watch that will lift your spirits. Family friendly and with lots of giggles! -
