Maybe I'm getting older but I'm getting into chilled out, minimalistic, pop stuff. Lorde also has a slight accent, being from New Zealand as she is, and has an interesting turn of phrase, presumably one of the few upsides to having a stay at home poet for a mom.
In the video for Royals she looks like a 'real artist' as she stares into the camera as if she's unsure about putting an image to the music in case it dilutes the value. She also is relatively plain looking, plays up the 'working class, everyday young adult' lifestyle, doesn't say things like 'errbody' or twerks, so you can see why she is the latest female singer to sit atop the hipster throne. I just hope she can keep the insufferable Lana Del Ray off the radio for a while.
Did I mention she's sixteen? She's sixteen. I've done nothing with my life.
Whenever I tell people I genuinely like Ke$ha, they think I'm being a wind up merchant. I'm not. I'm really not. As the 'pop music I like' section on this blog has stated over and over again, I love annoying girls rapping in a sing song voice about partying, and the Ke$hmeister is the be$t in the bu$iness.
It's not even a looks thing, the 'David Bowie in a blonde wig' look never really did it for me. So seeing photos of miss Kesha Sebert in her graduation photo do not horrify me as much as they might.
Do not particularly want without all the glitter either
Moving on, the first single of new album WARRIOR, is the song Die Young, a catchy ditty that furthers the themes expressed on Animal. This theme, as you might have guessed is partying, having fun and living in the moment. In other words #YOLO. And this is the (marketing) genius that is Ke$ha (or at least the team behind her). She 'gets' it. Young ppl liek fun.
A lot has been made, by the top heads that are Youtube commenters, of the imagery in the video (inverted cross, triangles etc). Apparently there is some srs business behind this stuff, I just think she is tapping in to the Madonna/Lady Gaga style of presentation. While the four chord intro is similar to a plethora of songs (the first to mind is Va Va Voom by Nicki Minaj) the tempo drop of the drum chorus is pretty sweet as a buildup into the dance part, right?
Even better (if that's possible!?) is 'C'mon', which has been posted as an audio track online. While the chorus isn't as banging as I'd like, the vaguely faux-reggae verse and DAT SING SONG RAP!
I've only listened to it about 3 times so far so I'm hoping the chorus grows on me. Pumped for the album! Srs.
I've always liked the idea of Pink more than her music. I mean, I get it, she's edgy and not your average pop star but I've never really felt her songs stacked up.
Could her eyes get any smaller? Could her mouth get any bigger?
Ah..
Anyway, she'll be happy to know she can stop making these feisty, empowered woman poses and bask in the glory of her latest single, which is a certified choooon, the cleverly titled Blow Me (One Last Kiss). OMG SHES SOOO FIESTY!!1!
Of course, being Pink, she has to cling to the image of being a REAL ARTIST, so she adds in French, that's right, FRENCH credits and a black and white film filter. After a strange Killers/generic indie intro the song picks up, she throws wine or something in the lads face and at about 00.43 she takes off some clothes (this is classy/empowering though, not like that skanky ke$ha..) and the chorus starts! And now we have a choon, straight out of the Kelly Clarkson songbook!
The gamechanger however is around 1.00 when she throws in some swear words, hits some ridiculous high notes and some hooky backing vox that are just 100% instant hit powder. The second verse is great for all da single ladies/recently dumped ladies who can feel like edgy women singing along to the 'whiskey dick' line. The rest of us can put up with the NOTHING COMPARES 2U verse because the bangin' chours isn't far away.
I kind of zoned out of the video towards the end, I dunno it all goes a bit Lady Gaga and then there's something about a flying machine..good song though.
It's summertime (sort of) and that means it's time for a particular genre I have a soft spot for: faux-reggae pop! I think this style was biggest in the 90s/maybe early 00s (think coco jambo) and it's pretty much instant hit powder! When I first heard Drive By I was all like 'yeaaah boi, I'ma feelin dis' but then it got to the 'groovy' lyric and I recoiled in horror. But after a few more listens I was able to get over that and enjoy it for the summer jam that it is.
lol, remember when videos had annoying intros like this?
the lyrics are just awful but they rhyme nicely and it's summer and you're into it, you know you are
00.25: hooold on now, she moved away to get away from you.. strong stalker vibe here so.
in b4 every douchebag with an acoustic in the corner of a party plays this
Not sure what's going on in the vidjo.. is this how old ppl meet and hangout? :/
Oh wait, they're in cars...and it's called DRIVE BY..
1.40: Wait..waiiit..it was just one night? dude..STALKER VIBE.
Also, do these guys know what a drive by actually is?
2.36: Dat weird bridge.. Should have gone dubstep, lads.
So it seems to have worked out for him anyway..by stalking her and telling her he's not going to shoot her then drive away..
A few months ago I wrote what I thought would be a once off post about the Marina and the Diamonds song 'Hollywood', which was a bit of a choon. I tried to explain her (yeah, 'the Diamonds' are her fans.. :-/) appeal and how I linked her sound/themes to System of a Down. In the last week her new single Primadonna has been battering the airwaves and her new album is top of teh chartz. (yeah, they're still a thing).
Dat accent! Plus the melody is so good.
I prefer the old, brunette Marina. If ur listening Marina, u have the ability, ur hair was nicer back den. Though it's probably a STATEMENT. Actually this is 'part 4' it seems.. who is real marina???
00.37: Snare hit! And that's what I call generic club-girl pop...
...until 00.50 where her vocals drroooppp in that unique way
Love the backing vox that are perfect 'I'm a dumb rich girl' shtyle.
Not sure what's going on in the video really, if u such a primadonna y u spend ur time in an empty old house??!
Dem eyelashes and dat tat :-/ not sure if want. Though she is pretty adorable usually it seems.
She has a dog and turtle/tortoise though, that's pretty cool.
brb, starting a 'bring back "hollywood" version of marina' campaign
There's something inherently funny about the situation when a pop-punk band, who have lots of fans who really want the band to be REAL PUNK, release what is essentially a pop song and the fans get mad. The band may have been 'more punk' in the beginning, previous singles may have been 'ironic' or 'sarcastic', but it all boils down to the 'fans' being slightly embarrassed of liking a band that's becoming mainstrm, and therefore not their special little obsession that sets them apart from everyone else. They want to believe so much that the band are different to all the other bands and that they'd never 'sell out'. The problem is pop punk bands like a)music that is catchy, b)making enough money to fund being in the band, c)fun, and when you put these elements together...
So it's basically a timid parody of Katy Perry et al? Cutting edge!
In fairness though, I would have thought Offspringers would have been pretty used to having the skatepunk rug of security pulled from under them by now, after a series of singles over the years including:
Hit That
Spare me the Details
Pretty Fly For A White Guy
Why Don't You Get A Job
But if we go back further, what about I Choose, Don't Pick It Up, or even fan favourite Self Esteem? Y u no hate these non fast songs? And don't get me started on the occasional nirvana-inspired travesty they spewed out.
Tbh the reaction on APnet is more lol than the (possible) parody song ever could be! A sample:
Pretty Fly was made to make fun of people who listen to Pretty Fly? Srsly? lolololol. Also love the solution, delete their songs - real fanz
AND THEN ppl start praising the late pass of a band that is Bowling For Soup and Spare Me the Details, one of the worst Offspring songs evar (if we're basing it on how much it sounds like Smash or not)
Oh noes Noodles! guitarguy211 doesn't liek r musack!!1
I dunno, I haven't listened to anything from these dudes since the under-rated Splinter. I mean, they're getting to dinosaur age after all, it's only natural that they start making songs like the Foo Fighters (oh yeah, that's the other single lololol)
***disclaimer: I have no clue as to what this genre is, or even if these songs belong to the same genre. All I know is, they are played in nightclubs/on the radio. I'm a complete genre fggt for music I know. Feel free to suggest what this music is/similar songs, thaaanks***
I've noticed lately that most of the songs I like on the radio or in the clizzub follow the same kind of song structure. Basically a simple hip hop/dance beat + rap verse + hook = WIN!
The formula can change slightly as seen in Breaking my Fall by Bressie, which I posted here a while ago, and it has since plagued the radio waves and wrecked heads across Ireland. But I digress.
Here's a song by example that illustrates my point.
The riff could srsly be used in metalcore
00.52 Is that a FILTHY DROP?
Dem lyrics. As bad/good as Chilli Peppers for just throwing in words that sound good.
Needs to be covered by a pop punk band. Needs a pop punk jump at 2.20.
Lol at them trying to come across as srs artists with the black and white vid/crowd/band footage. Y u no make fun alcohol video in tha club?
Next up is Hangover by Taoi Cruz and ft Flo Rida. Don't know who Taoi Cruz is but ft Flo Rida is in a lot of songs I dig.
Follows the intro riff and chorus sung over it formula.
Ok, I'll get it out there now. It's obv but Taoi if u hungover, y u singing so well? y u no croakily asking shop assistants for sausage rolls and energy drinks/ordering takeaway food?
00.37 *gap* *snare hit* *riff* EVERY song should have a part like this. For the pop punk jumps.
The pop industry is really scraping the barrell 4 lyrics. Ehh.. so there's a popular song about looking forward to a good night..a song about partying at present..a song about not wanting the party to be over..wat do? A song about the morning after. BOOM.
Dat chorus doe. Damn.
It sounds good I guess but I have NO IDEA what ft Flo Rida is on about. Champagne was in there?
Rhyming 'Woah' with 'Sure' via 'Sho' = never not cool.
B.O.B. ft Rivers Cuomo - Magic
Slightly different but at the same time - chorus at the start, then verse, repeat.
Dat Bob guy got flow, afaik.
Mega lol at Rivers acting gangsta, esp. dropping the 'r' in 'floor'. Sure he probably gets the girls but I doubt he hits the flo and I doubt any snapping occurs.
And srsly, what is he wearing. Did he think rappers still rep adidas?
So I think what I'm saying is - generic, formulaic pop music is great as long as it's the recipe that I like?
I'd forgotten all about this song until I heard it in the car earlier. This goes beyond me just liking dancey pop songs by dumb girls who smell like vodka and desperation. It isn't a club song but I really like it.
For some reason her vocal style reminds me of Daron and/or Serj from System of a Down. That might seem mental but....
Non american accents but good use of english language, metaphors etc
Dipping in and out of accents/tone of voice to bring home a point/use sarcasm - the 'oh my gawd' line isn't far from the kind of satire SOAD use
The American/Hollywood theme/lyrics
Dat 'man in drag singing karaoke'/sexually ambiguous style at the start of the verse is what Daron goes for sometimes..see She's Like Heroin
Does anyone else see the crossover appeal? Just me?
So unless you've been living in China or somewhere you will have heard Somebody That I Used to Know by Walk off the Earth, which has exploded via novelty viral video and super-talented vocals and teamwork. I may be unfashionably late to this party but my girlfriend has been delving into their other stuff and it all seems pretty bitchin'.
So here's a cover of Magic by B.O.B., which is a choon by itself btw.
Some points though...
I preferred the long haired guy when he was playing the socially awkward, fggty upset guy in the other video.
Srsly what is he wearing on his head, is he actually a wigger?
Clearly there's studio 'trickery' going on. Or does everyone know that? I'd love to think they pulled this off in one take but unless they're looping their own vox as they go along...hmmm..
I actually love the choreographed instrument change/throws...
Super jelly of their setup tbh.
And look, look, they know their memes! Nerds will inherit the earth....
Bressie is a dude who used to be in a band called The Blizzards and now has a pop album out. He also provides advice and mentoring on a talent show for some reason. Anyway his new single 'Breaking My Fall' is a bit of a puzzle for me.. It combines 'teenage matters really matter' lyrics, redonk rapping that's as far away from Easy-E and the lads as you possibly could get and a chorus that you know every goddamn gaggle of teenage girls down the back of the bus will sing constantly.
The puzzle clearly is working out if I like it or love it. It's so non offensive, my goth. It sounds like 5ive or S Club 7 mixed with the owl city fggt (fireflies is a choon btw). That or 'You only get what you give' choon that was, yes you guessed it, a choon. The main thing to remember is that it's fun and not Adele whining on about some cake she left on a behind in a cafe or whatever she sings about.
It's a common misconception amongst my friends, family and many wellwishers that all the music I listen to is played by ugly guys to ugly gys in sweaty rooms where everyone is shouting and generally unkempt. My cousin has referred to all my music from 3rd wave ska through pop punk onto deathcore and back round again as 'wah wah waaahh' music. And 85% of the time these people are right. However, I feel I have to set the record straight somewhat. As I have previously outlined, I enjoy sing-song rap by annoying female pop stars like thenew Ting Tings single, and some other stuff too.
This brings me (sort of) to documenting some pop songs I like, starting with 'Dedication To My Ex', which despite it's super fggty title actually has some male chromosones in there as well as some great vocals. I had only heard the clean version but for bonus lols, here's the explicit version, which is wonderfully offensive.
00.21 - Dat Michael Jackson style vocal part
DEM LYRICS.
Not quite sure if they're making fun of white ppl with this, hopefully!
How bitchin' are the backing vox?
I love the bro just chillin' at the back of the garage who gets some beure grinding on him halfway through.
2.27 - Why is the cat rapping? Ohhhh.....
Andre has got floooow. But I've no idea what he's on about..
