Colton Dixon

My American Idol favourite makes it through this year!



Spyke

Last year I spent quite a lot of time watching American Idol, The Voice and The X Factor, but now that I've finished University I find that I just don't have the time to keep up with them all; and I am growing rather tired of the whole charade. It has been a long time since one of my favourites in any of these shows has actually made it that far. With a growing list of Lucie Jones, Aiden Grimshaw and Lascel Woods to name but a few, I often find myself quite indifferent to the final result. Especially as these shows have shown us time and time again that it's not all about the winner. So during last year's American Idol I was very disappointed to see the guy I was supporting leave just before the live shows...But this year Colton is back!

For the second year running he turned up to the auditions in support of his sister and ended up getting his arm twisted into applying himself. I think last year he very much flew under the radar until he performed a superb version of What About Now during the 'Bootcamp' stage. He made enough of an impact to warrant an appearance on the Ellen Show post elimination to perform the track. For me, he manages to capture the true essence of the Daughtry track - that raw passion and emotion.

After Colton's moving performance of Coldplay's Fix You he made it through to the final 24 and I for one hope to watch him progress for MANY a week through the live shows. Hopefully he'll have some great performances lined up where he can demonstrate some more of his awesome ability on the piano.

Usher - Climax

New song released on Valentine's Day...

McLovin

As an avid Usher fan, I'm always excited but slightly apprehensive about any new songs launching. His last two album campaigns have been patchy affairs, with the best material normally lurking deep in album track wilderness.

Thankfully, from a couple of listens it's clear that 'Climax' is a cut above more recent Usher offerings. Imagine The Weekend deciding to release something slightly more immediate (and erm, more romantic) and you'll have an idea of what territory he's in. With a title like 'Climax', I was concerned* that it was going to be a Jeremih 'Birthday Sex' type-of song, but it's a far classier affair.

The production by Diplo is intricate but subtle, always in service to Usher's vocals. After his stunning performance on David Guetta's 'Without You', his voice appears to be in consistently fine form. A lovely, restrained slow number then, and a very promising start to more Usher songs on the way.

*I seem to have a lot of anxieties about new Usher songs that I wasn't aware of before!

Fun. - We Are Young (Feat. Janelle Monae)

My favourite song of 2012 so far . . .



Spyke

It would appear that Madonna wasn't the only one to befit from musical exposure during the Super Bowl this past week. After featuring on an ad (which apparently cost $2.2 million per 30 second slot) this track shot straight to #1 on US itunes and is looking set to make a massive impact upon next week's chart. So far it has managed a modest peak of #53 on the Hot 100; but when Glee covered the song back in December it became one of their best performing singles of the series, charting at #12.

The more I listen to the song, the more I revel in its depth and discover new aspects which I haven't noticed before. In many ways it reminds me of a couple of My Chemical Romance tracks. The thudding drums establishing the marching beat is very reminiscent to Welcome To The Black Parade, and I can imagine a whole procession of youths marching in protest along to this song. Like another MCR track Sing!, the chanting 'na na na na' backing helps build momentum and captures the passion and anthem-like nature.

But We Are Young offers more than that. It really is a celebration of youth and showing the world what you can do. 'so let's set the world on fire; we can glow brighter than the Sun' is all about relishing the glory of the good times. In a way this is the song that Mika should have made his comeback with. However I can't help but feel that would have been accompanied by a street festival with rainbows everywhere - completely spoiling the subtle undertones of pain and sadness present in the song. I love how the video follows the course of the song so perfectly; gradually building up the anticipation for what is going to happen on this particular night. The slow motion shots of the milk splurging out of the guy's mouth and the insides of the soft toy spraying everywhere are just superb.

The way it ends by stripping everything back to the lone 'so if by the time the bar closes, and you feel like falling down . . . I'll carry you home tonight' sends a shiver down my spine every time. I really hope this track gets an opportunity to explode in the UK charts as it deserves to, just as Apologize and Hey There Delilah previously broke through from the Indie American Rock scene.

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away (7th Heaven Club Mix)

This is spectacular

McLovin

I've always had a cautious relationship with remixes. This stems from my single-buying days, which would often (always) come with some horrible ten minute 'bonus track' butchering of everything I loved about the original. Remixes should change the way you hear a song, perhaps breathing new life into something that you've overplayed. Until now, I don't think there's ever been a remix I've enjoyed more to an original version of a song.

This has all changed with the 7th Heaven club mix of Katy Perry's 'The One That Got Away'. The sixth cut from 'Teenage Dream' is a solid mid-tempo ballad about lost love and regret. Whenever I hear it, I'm constantly caught off-guard by how fast it is. It has a insistent, driving rhythm that stops it becoming a bit too mawkish (I go to the acoustic version when I need to satisfy my sappier needs).

Seventh Heaven have built on this quick tempo to produce something quite remarkable. Taking the word 'one' and making it a vocal hook is a brilliant idea, and instantly draws the listener in. By the minute mark, the synth chord pattern begins, which (to my ears) takes the song to another level. The wistful lyrics are matched by a far more dramatic production, which gives the song a greater sense of urgency. Rather than just sitting back and reminiscing, this version makes you want to dance like mad in a club, arms aloft in a defiant gesture of carrying on regardless of what's gone before (tears running down your face are an optional extra).

Basically, I've fallen in love with this remix and you may well do yourself.

Will.i.am [Feat J.Lo & Mick Jagger] - T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)

Did they just rhyme Geometry and Trigonometry as 'The Hardest Ever'?



Spyke

What a HOT MESS! There really is no other way to describe this song upon first listen - everything about it is just so bizarre: from the production to Mick Jagger's contribution. That said, a few listens in and my harsh criticism had mellowed and I'm beginning to enjoy the track. I remember the exact same thing happening with Boom Boom Pow a couple of years ago; it's all about that moment where you realise the logic behind Will.i.am's apparent chaos.

Now it's not all that long ago that The Black Eyed Peas decided to have an extended break. I very much think this is what was in line to be the lead single for their next album (alas it wasn't to be). So what to do with a song with BEP references, BEP production and obvious parts for Will.i.am, Fergie and Apl De Ap? You find some of the hottest names around at the moment to fill in the missing bits. After her global smash On The Floor Jennifer Lopez is the ideal candidate to replace Fergie on the track (and it puts an American Idol performance on the cards). Now who else? Well despite not actually contributing to the track, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera certainly did get a lot of people to move like [Mick] Jagger in 2011 so let's put him on there as well. Albeit to limited success - as I still think the final minute of the single is just awful.

The video is rather effective in this trio's attempt to find The Hardest [thing] Ever. It would appear that the three of them didn't have time to get together and film a video so it is left to Will.i.am to do most of the work (genuinely injuring himself in the process). After showing off his new phone he sets off on a bit of a run, then does a bit of cycling, before upgrading to a motor cycle, then a sports car . . . before eventually flying a spaceship through some weird Mick Jagger time warp. It does get all rather odd.

Chart Predictions:
Spyke 3
McLovin -
Actual -

Jason Derulo - Don't Wanna Go Home

Jason Deruuuulooooooooo strikes again



Spyke

I was pleasantly surprised by how good Jason Derulo's debut album was, despite only being nine tracks long. The fact that over half of them were warranted a single release shows that it was indeed filled with some great pop tunes. So coming off the back of three big top 3 hits, whatever Mr. Derulo released (in the same vein) was going to do well.

As much as Don't Wanna Go Home does exactly what it needed to do, it doesn't really strive for anything more. It's just rather forgettable, that's all. In the same way that Ke$ha topped the charts with We R Who We R, a few months down the line I had no idea how the track actually went. With the exception of the line 'From the windows, to the walls, this club is jumping...' I would struggle to even hum a part of this. That said I do rather enjoy the video; it's very simple and shows off some of Jason's rather impressive dance moves in the rain. Unfortunately this was the best his sophomore album had to offer. After the dwindling chart sucess of It Girl and Fight For You, maybe we'll be luckily with his third album.

Once Pitbull had spent 3 weeks at #1 then Example had had two, this track spent a further 2 weeks at the summit. Things were getting a bit static, but that was all about to change with a rapid turnover of the top spot - only seeing one act hold it for more than a week until October. Just like Love The Way You Lie stalled at two but became one of the year's million sellers - Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera would have to settle with Moves Like Jagger at #2 in the charts for weeks and weeks and weeks on end...