She's only nine years old!
Spyke
When you've got a mega-star father such as Will Smith, why not release your debut single at the young age of just nine? Having such high powered parents can provide you with the ideal platform to launch yourself into the world of media. Miley Cyrus was only 12 when she gained the role as Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel, and she's gone from strength to strength since.
The chorus is pretty infectious, if a bit annoying after a while. With the constant repetition of 'whip my hair back and forth' leaving this song on repeat would surely wind up your neighbours. However I think the verses are great, loaded with swagger and attitude, Willow delivers a good vocal showing maturity beyond her age. With a nice break down in the middle and an under tone similar to that of early Rihanna you can see there's potential here.
But she's only nine! There's a slight issue as to whether it's morally right to put children into the spot light at such a young age. The pressures involved must be intense and we've seen stars in the past take the strain for that (see Britney or Michael Jackson). It seems a bit bizarre when you think that you're listening on itunes to someone that hasn't left primary school yet. Having just got to the point where it's almost acceptable for a 21 year old guy to listen to Miley Cyrus I'm not 100% sure where I stand on this.
Despite that I must say she seems a lot more mature than her age. Watching her in the video and hearing her sing, she has got more swagger than Cher Lloyd could ever dream of. The styling and production is top quality on this track. It could be the introduction to one of the worlds newest pop stars but I can't help feeling the track might have been have been more suited to someone slightly older. I don't think the lyrics 'I gets it in mmmm yea I go hard, when they see me pull up I whip it real hard' are all too relevant for a nine year old to be singing.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 4
McLovin 1
Actual 2
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Ke$ha - We R Who We R
The sequel to Tik Tok in all the right ways...
McLovin
Ke$ha exploded onto the pop scene in 2009 with the mammoth single Tik Tok. Staying on top of the US hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks, it even stopped the We Are The World 25 for Haiti campaign reaching the summit. Culturally, the song took on a life of its own, from The Midnight Beast's parody launching their own career, to (possibly the highest accolade ever) being used in the opening credits of a Simpsons episode.
It may come as a surprise then, that Tik Tok only reached number 4 in the UK charts. Since then, she's had a strong run of top twenty hits, including Blah Blah Blah (11), Your Love Is My Drug (13) and Take It Off (15). She also featured prominently in 30h!3's My First Kiss (7) and Taio Cruz's Dirty Picture (6). With the new single We R Who We R, it launches the eight track EP Cannibal, the sequel to her debut album Animal. In this way, it follows the enormously successful model of Lady Gaga's The Fame/The Fame Monster combo.
While We R Who We R is certainly no Bad Romance (what is!?), it should help Ke$ha move away from Tik Tok and establish her credentials as a great party anthem singer. Still keeping with her valley girl speak-singing/rapping for the verses, We R Who We R isn't afraid of being slightly ridiculous. With lyrics like 'Stockings ripped all up the side' and 'Looking sick and sexified!', it builds on Ke$ha's party animal/drunk and wasted image. But there's something very enjoyable about a song confident enough to include lyrics in the chorus like 'We're dancing like we're Dumb-Dumb-Du-Du-Du-Dumb!'.
In many ways, this line sums up the appeal of Ke$ha. Despite being a massive pop star, her whole persona is based on the idea of 'Hey! Look at me! I get drunk and throw up like you guys too!'. Yes, she's brash. Yes, she looks like she might need to wash a bit more regularly. But when I hear We R Who We R next time I go out, I will certainly be looking dumb dancing to it, and I will be completely loving it.
Chart Predictions:
McLovin: 3
Spyke: 5
Actual: 1
McLovin
Ke$ha exploded onto the pop scene in 2009 with the mammoth single Tik Tok. Staying on top of the US hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks, it even stopped the We Are The World 25 for Haiti campaign reaching the summit. Culturally, the song took on a life of its own, from The Midnight Beast's parody launching their own career, to (possibly the highest accolade ever) being used in the opening credits of a Simpsons episode.
It may come as a surprise then, that Tik Tok only reached number 4 in the UK charts. Since then, she's had a strong run of top twenty hits, including Blah Blah Blah (11), Your Love Is My Drug (13) and Take It Off (15). She also featured prominently in 30h!3's My First Kiss (7) and Taio Cruz's Dirty Picture (6). With the new single We R Who We R, it launches the eight track EP Cannibal, the sequel to her debut album Animal. In this way, it follows the enormously successful model of Lady Gaga's The Fame/The Fame Monster combo.
While We R Who We R is certainly no Bad Romance (what is!?), it should help Ke$ha move away from Tik Tok and establish her credentials as a great party anthem singer. Still keeping with her valley girl speak-singing/rapping for the verses, We R Who We R isn't afraid of being slightly ridiculous. With lyrics like 'Stockings ripped all up the side' and 'Looking sick and sexified!', it builds on Ke$ha's party animal/drunk and wasted image. But there's something very enjoyable about a song confident enough to include lyrics in the chorus like 'We're dancing like we're Dumb-Dumb-Du-Du-Du-Dumb!'.
In many ways, this line sums up the appeal of Ke$ha. Despite being a massive pop star, her whole persona is based on the idea of 'Hey! Look at me! I get drunk and throw up like you guys too!'. Yes, she's brash. Yes, she looks like she might need to wash a bit more regularly. But when I hear We R Who We R next time I go out, I will certainly be looking dumb dancing to it, and I will be completely loving it.
Chart Predictions:
McLovin: 3
Spyke: 5
Actual: 1
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Alexandra Burke - The Silence
I thought this was going to get forgotten as just an album track.
Spyke
Last year saw the launch of the X Factor's own Alexandra Burke with the up-tempo number Bad Boys. Whilst her album did seem like half filler, low and behold it held this little gem. Following the release of Broken Heels and All Night Long it seemed like the project was over with the announcement of Start Without You (No comment). It turns out we're getting a re-release of 'Overcome' this Autumn with a few additional tracks on there. It's like when Rihanna went back to an original album track with Rehab once the deluxe tracks had been put out there - some tracks are just too good to miss.
This is what Leona needed to launch her second album (well this or Halo). It seemed like the record company were trying to distinguish the shows two biggest solo winners, giving Leona the ballads and Alexandra the floor fillers. Now with that coveted Sunday performance slot on the country's most influential entertainment show, this song will finally get it's moment to shine! This emotional ballad gives Alexandra the chance to demonstrate her true vocal ability, for possibly the first time since she sang Listen with Beyoncé. This epic track comes fully accompanied with a black and white video, so with a bit of momentum before her X Factor performance this track could do wonders for itself and the album's re-release.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 3
McLovin 8
Actual 16
There's a rumour that the follow up single is a duet with Bruno Mars, so lets hope it's this wonderful track:
Spyke
Last year saw the launch of the X Factor's own Alexandra Burke with the up-tempo number Bad Boys. Whilst her album did seem like half filler, low and behold it held this little gem. Following the release of Broken Heels and All Night Long it seemed like the project was over with the announcement of Start Without You (No comment). It turns out we're getting a re-release of 'Overcome' this Autumn with a few additional tracks on there. It's like when Rihanna went back to an original album track with Rehab once the deluxe tracks had been put out there - some tracks are just too good to miss.
This is what Leona needed to launch her second album (well this or Halo). It seemed like the record company were trying to distinguish the shows two biggest solo winners, giving Leona the ballads and Alexandra the floor fillers. Now with that coveted Sunday performance slot on the country's most influential entertainment show, this song will finally get it's moment to shine! This emotional ballad gives Alexandra the chance to demonstrate her true vocal ability, for possibly the first time since she sang Listen with Beyoncé. This epic track comes fully accompanied with a black and white video, so with a bit of momentum before her X Factor performance this track could do wonders for itself and the album's re-release.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 3
McLovin 8
Actual 16
There's a rumour that the follow up single is a duet with Bruno Mars, so lets hope it's this wonderful track:
Thursday, 21 October 2010
The Black Eyed Peas - The Time (The Dirty Bit)
From the beginning:
Spare link: http://dipdive.com/member/iamwill/media/152490
Spyke
Watch out as the most over played song for this Christmas party season has just dropped. With I Gotta Feeling still in the itunes top 100 all across the globe it seems about time for a new party song. The clubs will be playing this song to fill the dance floor and then putting it back on to conclude the night. Featuring one of the most recognisable samples I've heard in years; taken from the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing (I've Had) The Time Of My Life. The song itself managed to peak at #6 here in the UK back in 1987 then re-charted back at #8 three years later with the debut TV broadcast of the film. I've got a feeling it may chart a little higher this time around.
The track begins with an epic intro which builds up momentum for when Will.i.am comes in with that all too famous chorus accompanied by Fergie. It's from here on in that the Peas put their original stamp on the song, with the electro feel that has become so prominent for the band during their latest project 'The E.N.D'. Between the distinct choruses the song sounds like a cross between Imma Be and one of David Guetta's FMIF remixes. When they played The Time Of My Life at the end of our Graduation Ball last year it seemed awfully cheesy so using the sample would look more risky on paper than JLS sampling The Sound Of Music for their #1 earlier this year, but it works!
As all three of the Black Eyed Peas #1s last year managed weeks of clearing 100k to top the charts I could see this doing exactly the same. If you wanted a song with the force to genuinely challenge the X Factor winner for that Christmas #1 this is the sort of one that could do it. I even have the suspicion that the song could hit the top then actually climb back there for the first week in January like Bad Romance did this year.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1 (grudgingly)
Actual 1
Spare link: http://dipdive.com/member/iamwill/media/152490
Spyke
Watch out as the most over played song for this Christmas party season has just dropped. With I Gotta Feeling still in the itunes top 100 all across the globe it seems about time for a new party song. The clubs will be playing this song to fill the dance floor and then putting it back on to conclude the night. Featuring one of the most recognisable samples I've heard in years; taken from the soundtrack of Dirty Dancing (I've Had) The Time Of My Life. The song itself managed to peak at #6 here in the UK back in 1987 then re-charted back at #8 three years later with the debut TV broadcast of the film. I've got a feeling it may chart a little higher this time around.
The track begins with an epic intro which builds up momentum for when Will.i.am comes in with that all too famous chorus accompanied by Fergie. It's from here on in that the Peas put their original stamp on the song, with the electro feel that has become so prominent for the band during their latest project 'The E.N.D'. Between the distinct choruses the song sounds like a cross between Imma Be and one of David Guetta's FMIF remixes. When they played The Time Of My Life at the end of our Graduation Ball last year it seemed awfully cheesy so using the sample would look more risky on paper than JLS sampling The Sound Of Music for their #1 earlier this year, but it works!
As all three of the Black Eyed Peas #1s last year managed weeks of clearing 100k to top the charts I could see this doing exactly the same. If you wanted a song with the force to genuinely challenge the X Factor winner for that Christmas #1 this is the sort of one that could do it. I even have the suspicion that the song could hit the top then actually climb back there for the first week in January like Bad Romance did this year.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1 (grudgingly)
Actual 1
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Pixie Lott - Broken Arrow
Pixie's lovely new single
McLovin
I did not seek out Pixie Lott's new song - it came to me through the stealth tactic of playing in my local Co-Op's tannoy. Walking down one of aisles looking for pasta sauce, I stopped to listen closer, wondering what this song was.
Broken Arrow gets more interesting with each listen. At first, it seems like a pretty standard heartbroken lament (perhaps taking the arrow metaphor a bit too far with lines like 'He's the thorn in my flesh'). However, what makes the track stand out is who it is addressed to - she isn't singing this to the heartbreaker, but to the rebound guy! 'And you're sitting in the front row, wanna be first in line'. She clearly wants to move on, but can't stop thinking about her past love. Rebound guy sounds great ('You could be my hero'), but his presence underlies the difficulties of getting over a previous relationship.
A lot of credit has to be given to Pixie's vocals. Whereas in previous singles such as Mama Do (Uh Oh Uh Oh), her husky tone has been used in a sort of sex kitten-ish way, here it creates the right amount of anguish needed to lift the song to another level (especially in her 'oh's!' before the chorus hits). Put simply, I find her performance completely believable.
I'm not sure how this single fits in with her new album campaign (I assumed it was another cut from her debut album, Turn It Up). It doesn't look like it's going to set the charts alight this Sunday, but I hope it hangs around for a while and gets the audience it deserves.
Chart Predictions
McLovin: 9
Spyke: 10
Actual: 12
McLovin
I did not seek out Pixie Lott's new song - it came to me through the stealth tactic of playing in my local Co-Op's tannoy. Walking down one of aisles looking for pasta sauce, I stopped to listen closer, wondering what this song was.
Broken Arrow gets more interesting with each listen. At first, it seems like a pretty standard heartbroken lament (perhaps taking the arrow metaphor a bit too far with lines like 'He's the thorn in my flesh'). However, what makes the track stand out is who it is addressed to - she isn't singing this to the heartbreaker, but to the rebound guy! 'And you're sitting in the front row, wanna be first in line'. She clearly wants to move on, but can't stop thinking about her past love. Rebound guy sounds great ('You could be my hero'), but his presence underlies the difficulties of getting over a previous relationship.
A lot of credit has to be given to Pixie's vocals. Whereas in previous singles such as Mama Do (Uh Oh Uh Oh), her husky tone has been used in a sort of sex kitten-ish way, here it creates the right amount of anguish needed to lift the song to another level (especially in her 'oh's!' before the chorus hits). Put simply, I find her performance completely believable.
I'm not sure how this single fits in with her new album campaign (I assumed it was another cut from her debut album, Turn It Up). It doesn't look like it's going to set the charts alight this Sunday, but I hope it hangs around for a while and gets the audience it deserves.
Chart Predictions
McLovin: 9
Spyke: 10
Actual: 12
Friday, 8 October 2010
Take That - The Flood
This will be MASSIVE...
Spyke
It looks as though there might be a little bit of an upset in this week's chart as Robbie and Gary's duet Shame will be held off the top by Cee-Lo Green. However, the song will clear 100k and give them the biggest one week sales for a #2 of the year. I do love a good chart battle and when you have a fan base the size of Take That you'd think the guys would be able to come out trumps but it's not always the case. The amazing Rule The World put up a good fight but flailed in comparison to Leona's opening sales for Bleeding Love; on the 15th November the guys take on another X Factor force - JLS. That week Nelly's Just A Dream, Katy Perry's Firework and JLS's Love You More all get their main physical release alongside The Flood. The latter two will both be searching for the big opening numbers but I reckon this could come out on top.
Despite sounding like Robbie Williams featuring Take That as he dominates the vocals, this is spectacular! If we hadn't had the mediocre Shame this would have been quite the epic comeback - with all the hype around the full re-union this song doesn't disappoint. Beginning with Robbie's solo vocals the song continues to build up momentum when Take That join in with a epic and momentously catchy chorus which you'll be joining in with by the end. 'Although no one understood, we were holding back the flood'. The bold vocals from the band and thundering backing beat makes this track an anthem that people won't forget about in a hurry. It's almost as though the song was written specifically for the massive arena tour that will follow the album. Renown for Knebworth and The Circus, both sides of the re-union can pack out any stadium and put on an unforgettable show.
With this preceding the album, I have a suspicion that the album 'Progress' could be able to sell a million copies quicker than The Circus did (only 19 days), a fair challenge for the guys but easily giving them the biggest album of the year overtaking The Fame which is currently leading the way with 900k this year alone.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 2
Spyke
It looks as though there might be a little bit of an upset in this week's chart as Robbie and Gary's duet Shame will be held off the top by Cee-Lo Green. However, the song will clear 100k and give them the biggest one week sales for a #2 of the year. I do love a good chart battle and when you have a fan base the size of Take That you'd think the guys would be able to come out trumps but it's not always the case. The amazing Rule The World put up a good fight but flailed in comparison to Leona's opening sales for Bleeding Love; on the 15th November the guys take on another X Factor force - JLS. That week Nelly's Just A Dream, Katy Perry's Firework and JLS's Love You More all get their main physical release alongside The Flood. The latter two will both be searching for the big opening numbers but I reckon this could come out on top.
Despite sounding like Robbie Williams featuring Take That as he dominates the vocals, this is spectacular! If we hadn't had the mediocre Shame this would have been quite the epic comeback - with all the hype around the full re-union this song doesn't disappoint. Beginning with Robbie's solo vocals the song continues to build up momentum when Take That join in with a epic and momentously catchy chorus which you'll be joining in with by the end. 'Although no one understood, we were holding back the flood'. The bold vocals from the band and thundering backing beat makes this track an anthem that people won't forget about in a hurry. It's almost as though the song was written specifically for the massive arena tour that will follow the album. Renown for Knebworth and The Circus, both sides of the re-union can pack out any stadium and put on an unforgettable show.
With this preceding the album, I have a suspicion that the album 'Progress' could be able to sell a million copies quicker than The Circus did (only 19 days), a fair challenge for the guys but easily giving them the biggest album of the year overtaking The Fame which is currently leading the way with 900k this year alone.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 2
Friday, 1 October 2010
JLS - Love You More
Battle of the boy band ballads
Spyke
After reviewing the second single from The Wanted yesterday, today we have the second single from the sophomore album by JLS. After these lads went to #1 earlier this summer with The Club Is Alive we have a much more subdued effort. The track actually very reminiscent of Take That back in the mid 90s; with the black and white video similar to Back For Good and an ice cold vocal which is almost spoken at times like Babe: both of which made it to the top of our charts.
Being the Children In Need single this year and having an almost guaranteed slot on the X Factor live shows this song isn't going to lack the promotion it needs. The track itself does show a bit of maturity and development from the band but I find the song itself lacks the spark to give it longevity. Having said that I'm sure it will do the business, reaching #1 and setting the album 'Outta This World' in perfect stance to repeat the opening numbers they managed last year leaving Robbie Williams to claim his first #2 album of his career.
Out of the two ballads I prefer The Wanted's Heart Vacancy but suspect Love You More will have the bigger hype and perform better out of the two unfortunately.
Now with Take That moving the release of The Flood a week earlier to avoid a chart battle this has every chance of hitting that top spot!
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 1
Spyke
After reviewing the second single from The Wanted yesterday, today we have the second single from the sophomore album by JLS. After these lads went to #1 earlier this summer with The Club Is Alive we have a much more subdued effort. The track actually very reminiscent of Take That back in the mid 90s; with the black and white video similar to Back For Good and an ice cold vocal which is almost spoken at times like Babe: both of which made it to the top of our charts.
Being the Children In Need single this year and having an almost guaranteed slot on the X Factor live shows this song isn't going to lack the promotion it needs. The track itself does show a bit of maturity and development from the band but I find the song itself lacks the spark to give it longevity. Having said that I'm sure it will do the business, reaching #1 and setting the album 'Outta This World' in perfect stance to repeat the opening numbers they managed last year leaving Robbie Williams to claim his first #2 album of his career.
Out of the two ballads I prefer The Wanted's Heart Vacancy but suspect Love You More will have the bigger hype and perform better out of the two unfortunately.
Now with Take That moving the release of The Flood a week earlier to avoid a chart battle this has every chance of hitting that top spot!
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 1
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