October 19, 2010
ONCE YOU CHOOSE HOPE, ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE
It's a piece of beautiful dreamy melody backed with a euro synthpop beat and filled with nostalgia. But the highlight of the song are the lovely and full of hope lyrics that deals with a love that is gone.
Looooovely, bland colorful, beautiful visuals, hopeful, flawless photography...
October 16, 2010
A SOLID POP ALBUM: TEENAGE DREAM
How can we describe the album?... Hmmm, Pop at its finest, guilty pleasure, brilliantly produced, 90s, sweet and nostalgic.
She proved with this album that she is no longer a one-hit wonder, having California Gurls and Teenage Dream "and maybe Firework" to reach the top of the Hot 100 and also the Uk's
Here's my review track by track:
1. Teenage Dream: a mid-tempo "ballad" with quite romantic, sweet and nostalgicverses and a explosive chorus with guitars. Exceptional songcraft, just perfect pop song for valentine's day. 10/10
2. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.): 90s, mid-tempo feel-good song. Includes a bluesy and jazzy saxophone solo at the middle 8 that is AMAZING. Thanks Max Martin for putting a sax-solo to a pop song. 9/10
3. California Gurls: definitively a summer anthem - sunchiney sinthethizers, electronic funky, wah wah guitars - surefire hit, addictive and guilty pleasure but it have no soul, it feels empty. 7/10
4. Firework: a song with classical music mixed with a house beat and great uplifting lyrics. HaS a lovely and hopeful middle 8. Without a doubt, a wonderful song. 10/10
5. Peacock: addictive as hell, amazing production with a chorus full of cock chanting and a FUNNY middle 8. Very cheerleaderish, but as California Gurls it feels empty. 7/10
6. Circle the Drain: Alanis Morissette-esque, angry song. great lyrics but it doesn't fit the album. 6/10
7. The One That Go Away: lovely and full of nostalgia. Has a stomping beat, piano and melancholic lyrics. 8/10
8. E.T.: Great production full of beeps, stomping beat, explosive chorus, industrial and dark sound. 8/10
9. Who Am I Living For?: R&Bish beat with tone-deaf vocals. It totally doesn't fit the album. 4/10
10. Pearl: low-tempo song full of synthethizers, darky start and bright epilogue. story-teller and uplifting lyrics. 7.5/10
11. Hummingbird Heartbeat: 90s, full of guitars and a happy cloudy sound. 8/10
12. Not Like The Movies: sweet piano based ballad. 4/10
OVERALL: 7.4/10
October 13, 2010
SPRING/SUMMER 2011 TREND: THE TEE DRESS
Trend or not, I noticed t-shirts in different and innovative ways for the upcoming summer season. Tees are basically an easy way to upgrade our wardrobe - I know mine is full of them! - and being the t-shirt sucker than I am, I was beyond excited to see such a classic statement coming in interesting proposals.
CALVIN KLEIN
Simple, sensual and pure - Francisco Costa's purity connotations at the Calvin Klein show gave us this minimal, crisp white tee dress.
JIL SANDER
The perfect juxtaposition between the nonchalance of a white tee and the unspoken elegance of a couture bottom, Raf Simons did simple white tees attached to exquisite couture-y skirts.
Quick stardom was the theme of the latest Miu Miu show and Miuccia Prada's way to show this was including bold stars on a pure tee dress. There's no need to go unnoticed when you are the star of the show!
October 06, 2010
A YEAR WITHOUT RAIN REVIEW
1. Round and Round: first single, upbeat, electrorock-technobeat covered, melody wise, flawless pre-chorus but boring repetitive chorus. The glued section in the two last chorus is pretty good. 5/10
2. A Year Without Rain: second single, balladry with midtempo dance beats, pretty mature sound. With a killer dance mix it could be on top of the dance charts. 8/10
3. Rock God: Katy Perry written song, stomping rockish beat, fiery sound and addictive. 8/10
4. Off The Chain: best song on the album, synthpop-clubby, sweet, lovely and dreamy sound. 10/10
5. Summer's Not Hot: Redone produced song, very childish, summery-electro eurodance funness. "it features -vamos a la playa- in the lyrics". 7/10
6. Intuition: cheerful, well produced but so autotuned.Features Eric Bellinger raping. 5/10
7. Spotlight: incorporates a reggea-dancehall beat, it doesn't sounds so Selena but it's intersting to listen to. it's addictive. 6/10
8. Ghost Of You: the only ballad on the album, deals about a breakup, personally I skipped this the first time. 4/10
9. Sick Of You: Dr Luke-esque (not produced by him BTW) produced track, electropop consistent beat on the verses and a rock oriented chorus. Sounds very "Kiss & Tell". 8/10
10. Live Like There's No Tomorrow: power-ballad song with marvelous uplifting lyrics. excellent choice to close the album. 9/10
OVERALL: 7/10
P.D. On the bonus track is included a spanish version of A Year Without Rain, she delivers the lyrics real good and the album artwork is beautiful, it features the band since K&T did not.
October 03, 2010
SALEM AT GIVENCHY S/S 11
Imagine a dark gothic scenery.
Add some romantic poetry to it.
And now some ethereal creatures start to walk down.
What do you get?
The closing theme to Riccardo Tisci's Spring/Summer 2011 collection at Givenchy.
Source: daylife
August 27, 2010
KYLIE MINOGUE PERFORMING IN THE USA
Everything in the perfomance is just flawless.
* Chair routine
* Backdrop of her past videos, yea that's like a "in ya face America" I have been really good in these past years.
* New choreography, although I prefer her epic moves from her past perfomances of GOMW.
* Fit dancers.
* Amazing outfit (fierce mini dress, bitch high heels and drag hairdo), according to Quirky Will, she's wearing high fashion! by David Koma.
* It's elegant, energetic and remembers me of Madonna's Vogue.
Here's the perfomance, enjoy
August 22, 2010
SKY FERREIRA'S OBSESSION
The song has a radio-friendly catchy nature that is no wonder that it's a smart move to catch americans attention. With a instant catchy intro that could serve for a big hockey game, a electronic beat backed with 80s styled glam guitars and almost four minutes of irresistible killer hooks and sing-along clever lyrics, Sky demands us that she wants to be our obsession while she's delivering a deep and heavy voice that makes her sound like a really badass!
Although this is produced by mainstream producer Ryan Tedder, you can notice that he's delivering new and fresh sounds for "Obsession".
Now I believe at love at first listen.
all rights reserved to Parlophone and Emi Music
America get ready, because this girl is going to be your new obsession.
August 21, 2010
WHY SEPTEMBER IS THE COOLEST MONTH
August 15, 2010
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL
The music video was directed by her then-husband, Guy Ritchie, responsible of die-hard testosterone injected films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. The video itself portrays the perfect femme fatale, breaking all rules and doing everything a good girl shouldn’t do by entering the bad boys' world and proving that girls can be just as bad as them and even better, all of that while wearing high heels! In a way, it’s an undertone critique to society expressing dealings women have to be summoned since the beginning of civilization.
Girls can wear jeans
August 10, 2010
ALBUMS THAT DESERVED THE No.1 SPOT ON THE BILLBOARD
You might know him from being a runner-up on American Idol, losing to thegirlwithanincrediblevoice Jordin Sparks. The truth is that maybe he's not that good on vocals but he's incredible talented on the studio, just have a little taste to his sophomore production where he was really involved on the album's musical way and I can really see that he had fun with it.
Musically Heartbreak On Vynil is 10 times more dancey and memorable than his debut effort which is also really good. The album cuts mainly consists of techo-pop and dance-pop songs with melancholy lyrics and melodies.
Billboard peak: #135 sadly
Recommended songs: Heartbreak On Vynil, Afraid, Rythm Of My Heart and Binary Love.
Good Girl Gone Bad Best Rihanna's album released yet. why? because each song of this piece of work looks like it has been created to deliver hits, from beggining to end. This album ranges from a variety of genres including pop, rock, R&B, dance, reggea and hip-hop.
Billboard peak: #2 blocked by T-Pain's Epiphany
Recommended songs: Umbrella, Push Up On Me and Good Girl Gone Bad.
For Your Entertainment
Just like Blake Lewis, Adam ended being a runner-up on American Idol (why do like all runners-up are better than the winner ?) and For You Entertainment is just like Good Girl Gone Bad, a album that explores a good range of genres.
I'm still pissed that the best track on the album got censored on all american airplays, that's why it did'nt make the possitive impact it deserved. If we talk about the songs on the album there is just one way to describe it: back to 70s glam rock with a conteporary feeling.
Billboard peak: #3
Recommended songs: For Your Entertainment, Music Again, Fever, Sleepwalker and Whataya Want From Me.
You can't deny that this lady has dominated big part of the planet. From her debut single she has proved that she's here to stay, always releasing quality products. It' so curious that a album with 7 top 10 on the billboard haven't reached the top spot of the chart instead have stayed in it for nearly 100 weeks.
Billboard peak: #2
Recommended songs: Bad Romance, Poker Face, Telephone, Just Dance, Monster, I Like It Rough and Dance In The Dark.
Blackout, the best album she has ever recorded and that came out in her worst period of time in her life. The album at first received poor and negative reviews from critics paying more attention to her private life than her music. Well, now some years later is her most acclaimed album, being her most danceable, modern, experimental and fully of bouncy electro elements. Even with her voice fully autotuned, she has the unique skill to add her own personality to her songs, telling you that she's in charge, the beat just can't blackout her.
Such a piece of Synth-Heaven.
Billboard peak: #2
Recommended songs: Gimme More, Piece Of Me, Radar, Break The Ice, Toy Soldier, Freakshow and Heaven On Earth.
August 09, 2010
CÉLINE RESORT 2011
August 08, 2010
MY NEW OBSESSION: DANGEROUS MUSE
Their first single from their debut album is - I WANT IT ALL - a dark alternative dance electropop song produced by masterminds Bloodshy And Avant.Enjoy!
MODEL ALERT: FASCINATING FACES
QE TOP 16 SONGS OF 2010 S/S
How about startin the first thread about a rank of songs!
and why top 16? because 16 is my lucky number!
Remember im not a professional editor so dont blame my English (blame the teacher). xD.
So here we go, just sit and relax!
16. Glam - Christina Aguilera
Walk, turn, pose, stop! Give em what you got! – Yeah it’s a Christina empowering song, it’s been months since the album have been released, and I just can’t get enough of this glamorous tune(yeah just like the name *by the way* it kind reminds me of Adam Glambert) and its fashion themed lyrics. There is also a lot of clappy beats through all the song, her vocals are really sweet, at the middle 8 or bridge its her diva screamin moment. The best part of the song is the pumpin after chorus beats - it’s just amazing – “Live it, love it, breathe it, work it, GLAM!”
15. E.T. - Katy Perry
At first when i used to know California Gurls and that she was releasing her sophomore album, i didn’t feel nothing special about it. Then… E.T. leaked! (also the second self titled single is amazing) and I started to feel interested about her new album (DrLukes all the way) that is going to be an album full-of-hits.
Ok, E.T. has an industrial and darkish sound (with beeps running through the whole song) with aslo a darkish and extraterristrial lyrics; The beat is just as amazing as eating McDonalds after being half day without eating, the pre-chorus is the highlight of the whole song -you can also notice that at the very end of it and nearly the start of the chorus, the beat starts to get crescendo and very bassy and pumping-, the chorus is priceless (the kiss me, ki ki kiss me it’s very catchy)and in the middle 8 there is a sweet Katy singing about risking everything for love. Are you ready for abduction?
14. Pyramid - Charice feat. Iyaz
This girl has a great voice! So bad she didn’t get enough airplay in the USA. Pyramid is an Pop/R&B song with lyrics talking about a love that is stronger than everything like a pyramid. Her vocal perfomance is amazing like always specially after the bridge - Beyonce/Christina-esque moment- and she sounds very sweet. Iyaz perfomance through the song is good, but his rapping at the bridge is pretty cute. The pre-chorus has a natural disaster vs love lyrics that is really awesome.
13. Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Not a big fan of Train music but this just caught my attention after the first listen, this also remind me of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” musically and that both spent lot of weeks at the billboard chart.
This is a good feelin song with a country-esque beat and amazing lyrics(the rhyme at the chorus is quite funny). The signature of the song are the catchy “Heey, Heeys”. You can also listen to Madonna’s reference in the song in the second verse lyrics /Like a virgin you’re Madonna/. The use of an ukulele instead of a guitar makes the song sound more lovely and its gives you a little dancy feeling.
12. Turn It Up - Pixie Lott
The girl with a mature voice and a teen spirit. Turn it up is my favorite song from Pixie’s self titled album, it’s a yearning, R&Bish, Synth-Pop song with lyrics that talks about splittin up and wishing for both the best. I really love the pre-chorus part, it’s very sing-along; the chorus and hook is catchy and cheering, at the middle 8 the beat stops and some clockwise sounds and piano gets on the ride to give it a healin-feelin.
Turn it up for the people that say, we’re movin on and will be okay.
11. Two is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls feat. Taylor Swift The first time I listened to this song I was passing through a series of sad moments. It’s impressively cute, yearnin, beautiful and a relaxin song. The best parts of the song are the verses and the bridge that repeats the first verse “I remember what you wear on the first day, you came into my life and i though hey.” The instrumentalization has a classic soft pop-rock sound (guitars, drums, bass, violin, tambourine).
Warning: you might get eye-teared listenin to this.
10. Hope & Glory - Måns Zelmerlöw I started listening to Måns accidentally when I was searching about music on a blog that I don’t remember the name, then I downloaded his last album that is incredible dancey. This song is eurovisionish – of course, this was going to be Sweden’s entry.-
It's a dance-classicalmusic-esque song, his vocals are awesome and he’s a great live performer, there is also clockwise sounds through the song and a classical instrumentalization incorporated in it. (when he says love story in the chorus it reminds me of Taylor’s song).
9.Delusional - Simon Curtis
Simon Curtis first album is incredible accepting the fact that is self-produced without a label or production team behind him. All the tracks on album are worthwhile.
Delusional is a very noisy pop song, it has a boybandish feelin to it and a great production: Lots of beeps and background voices. As Britney he doesn’t let the beat blackout him, he let people know that he’s taking the lead. The pre-chorus is my favorite part of the song. There is no middle 8 and I think personally that he should has shortened the song’s length. But whatever give it a try if you like 90s teen pop.
8. If We Ever Meet Again - Timbaland feat. Katy Perry
Is a really nostalgic happy song with R&Bish beats. A “bomb-fallin” sound can be heard at the beginning(with guitar arpeggios) and through the song, I think it really fits the song well. Katy and Timbo vocals are easy-singing that makes it a sing-along style and it has a pop/rock chorus running through a Timbo beat. The song could have been perfect removing the change of beat at the end of the song.
Now turn the song on and imagine you’re at a cold city walking through the streets, it really gives me such a relaxing feeling.
7. Stay - Miley Cyrus
Not a big fan of Miley, “Breakout” was average but Can’t Be Tamed overall is a really good album (it’s a grower). Stay is my favorite track from the album, is a piano-driven acoustish ballad, the lyrics are very beautiful, the song itself is musically simple and structured. After the first chorus and the start of the second verse it kicks out with a beat that resamble R&B songs. The piano played through all the song is really awesome specially at the beginning of the last chorus that sounds lovely. Her vocals are amazing. –Since she suits better with ballads and soft rock songs –
6.When I Say So - Britney Spears
When a song is leaked who gets more attention than Queen B? No one. This unpublished track its from her “Britney” era. Very 2000 sounding. The beginning kinda reminds me of “Before the Goodbye” another “Britney” track. The pre-chorus beat sounds very Djish and the chorus is rockish with a touch of synthpop. The middle 8 is a rap by Darkchild, after it, Britney starts repeatin “get some when I say so” that sounds very fierce! backed by synths, following up the start of a acoustic-esque soundin chorus.
5. One - Sky Ferreira
Sky is the new musical promise for 2011, yea there still a lot of time till we can hear more of her. But at least “One” is released for Europe, to give us a taste of her “experimental and sophisticated electro-pop” courtesy of Bloodshy & Avant.
The beat of the song is well produced, there is a lot of repeaty vocals through the whole song(at first I disliked it, but now I see how good it is and its what distinguishes this song). At the bridge she sounds really sweet. It’s totally a grower.
4. Get Outta My Way - Kylie Minogue
Finally Kylie is releasing a album that is worth like “Fever”. The best track on it is going to be released as the second single, if you didn’t know a some other female artists wanted this song to be their first single.
I predict this is going to hit all the clubs through Europe because cause of its danceyness and fun-ness. Her vocals on the song is sweet as usual, the verses and the pre-chorus are pretty good and catchy but the chorus and hook are killer!.
3. Beautiful Life - Jose Galisteo
So bad that this song wasn’t selected by Spain for the Eurovision Contest. It’s a really great and catchy song fueled by dancey-synths. Although he’s spanish, he doesn’t sound noobish singing in English and yeah he’s a great vocalist. The backing vocals in it that repeats progressively “beautiful life” gives the song a robotic feeling.
So bad the video version is a techno remix (just like Madonna did, pullin Celebration as a dance song and then puttin a techno remix for the video) because I think the song it’s perfect the way it is.
2. Telephone - Lady GaGa feat. Beyoncé
I love Gaga’s tunes, they never dissapoint! I remember when this song leaked on the internet it caught my attention at the first listen specially the chorus with is noisy synths (OMG its so awesome).
The structure of the song is interesting. It starts with piano and gaga singing on it, then the beat with double claps kicks in and she starts singin the rapid-fire verse, therefore is the amazingly catchy chorus that includes a eh eh eh hook and a Keri Hillson “The Way You Are” singing part. The second part of the song starts with Bey singing on a R&B beat and then things slow down with Gaga trading verses with Bey before the last chorus starts. The song ends with an epilogue where a voice announces that the telephone line is not reachable.
There is also a classical musicalization on the song that can be heard if you pay attention to it (listen to the instrumental).
1. Naturally - Selena Gomez & The Scene
And finally the top of the rank, its…. Naturally!, this was my Spring jam, it is so addictive and feel-good. The song has an amazing production, its fresh, electronic, poppy, fun, light, and dancey. The verses are catchy, the pre-chorus is catchy, the chorus is catchy, the bridge is catchy and the outro is catchy(with oh ohs from the band’s guitarrist and some ramdom guy repeating naturally). I love how the pre-chorus ends to boom with the amazing chorus.
Not a very fan of Antonina Armato but she rocked out this track! that is as amazing as a relaxing rainy day, however we can’t deny that this also has a “See You Again” vibe. (she produced both tracks). But Naturally is fresher, less pretentious and it has everything to become a hit. Also the remixes are so awesome that went No.1 on the dance club charts! Yea! Being a Disney Star. Popjustice praised the song saying :"It's a cavalcade of cliche but 'Naturally' seems like a boundary-smashing avant garde curiosity when you put it alongside most other Hollywood Records output (ie it's not a dreadful load of old rubbish)."Selena Gomez & The Scene - Naturally by HouL
all rights reserved to hollywood records