Music Video Roundup!

explosion

A musical bomb went off and when it exploded a gazillion music videos fell to the Earth. Here’s a couple that were released recently!

1.) “Omen” by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith: Ok…you guys. I have been waiting for this song to hit the web for FOREVER. It’s everything I thought it would be and more. Hypnotizing beats and Smith’s perfected falsetto is all I need in this world. The video plays along with the current storyline Disclosure has been working on. I don’t quite understand every part of it, but it seems like different characters have different special powers and it takes place in a different country. Smith croons in the middle of a sepia toned sweaty club as dancers grind and “almost” kiss around him. We see professional dancers, slo-mo fingers combing through damp hair, and several intense pairs of hoop earrings. YAS.

2.) “All Eyes On You” by Meek Mill feat. Nicki Minaj & Chris Brown: Who doesn’t love an aesthetically pleasing plush mansion with Nicki Minaj sprawled out in a bodycon on the couch?!? I’m not usually a big Meek Mill fan but this song is so so good (Chris Brown’s heavy chorus helps..) The truth is, you didn’t think you liked Nicki and Meek together until you see this video. It’s almost as if they were like “Bring some cameras and hang out with us for a couple days.” Looks like the two of them send sultry glances at each other all day long, followed by flirty booty grabs here and there. Not to mention, she wears a denim bikini in the pool…DENIM.

3.) “Powerful” by Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley: I actually was not a fan of this song when I first listened to it on the Major Lazer album but after watching the video I really love it. Goulding is seen in a coffee shop working some magic on the coffee and silverware in front of her. Riley is seen doing the same, with some spare change on his table. Lights flicker, the TV glitches, and forks bend as the power of love takes over. Goulding begins to wreak havoc on the diner with a solemn look on her face as her perfectly beach tousled hair falls in front of her face (why does her hair always look so PERFECT?!). Definitely shows the more emotional side of Major Lazer, but still a fantastic song.

4.) “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd: Abel’s half closed eyes grace our screen as he serenades us into an 80’s pop dream we never thought we needed. The video portrays him as a crazy good karaoke contestant at a flashy bar where the people really start to feel the song… #goodvibes all around. The music video really takes a turn for the weird when an old man throws his lighter at The Weeknd, lighting him on fire, which surprisingly just makes him dance and sing even harder. COOL.

-Abbey 🙂

Spotlight On: The Weeknd

photo via http://static.idolator.com
photo via http://static.idolator.com

Sultry crooner, The Weeknd recently released two new songs off his upcoming album Chapter |||; “The Hills” and “Can’t Feel My Face”. Both give fans the two things they love most about The Weeknd; that sexy falsetto and a crazy good vibe. I haven’t always been a fan of The Weeknd, some of his earlier songs are a little too racy for my liking, but this new batch of music could be changing my mind. The music is less vulgar (AKA- radio ready) and more in tune with what’s poppin’ in the music scene as of lately.

“The Hills” is a moody/darker tune, touching on a sexual relationship; “I only call you when it’s half-past, five, the only time I’d ever call you mine.” Abel’s voice drags nonchalantly through the verses as the story progresses. The chorus is sinister-like with heavy bass while Abel’s voice takes front and center. His infamous muffled vocals add a haunting element to the song, especially near the end as he sweetly sings “the hills have eyes, the hills have eyes, who are you to judge?”. “The Hills” is a slow-going song, something only certain people could enjoy listening to. Late night cruises with friends is what this is meant for.

On the other hand, “Can’t Feel My Face” is a straight up pop tune. My first thoughts while listening to this song…MICHAEL JACKSON. Abel’s voice on the verses is so so insanely similar to MJ, it’s incredible. His punchy word annunciations add to the immediate dance groove of the song. The backup vocals near the end are something you would hear off a funky greatest hits album. This is pop with a twist of modern R&B, sung by a man who is capable of harnessing so many different energies just with the wavering tone of his voice. There’s no doubt, The Weeknd, is a truly unique artist who spends time creating his music, which is essentially his art.

Safe to say, this next chapter will be glorious to listen to.

-Abbey

Fifty Shades of YES!

No, I haven’t read the books. No, I probably won’t. So don’t ask me. But…. THE FIFTY SHADES OF GREY SOUNDTRACK IS COMING OUT.

You guys, this is going to be the most EPIC soundtrack. It’s going to be released on Feb. 10th and the hype is unreal. I love soundtracks so much, especially when they are so beautifully done, like I assume this one is. The track listing has finally been released on iTunes and I have been obsessing over it ever since.

If you’re up to date, you’ve probably already heard the exquisite song “Earned It” by The Weeknd. This song could not be more divine if it had to be. A beautiful orchestra accompanies the subtle sensual vocals of singer Abel Tesfaye as he croons, “cause girl you’re perfect/ you’re always worth it/ and you deserve it/ the way you work it.” Tesfaye recently stated in a behind the scenes video for “Earned It” that his music and Fifty Shades of Grey are a “match made in heaven.” He also said, “If you listen to my album, even the past work I’ve done, it’s very Fifty Shades of Grey” which could be why he not only has one song on the soundtrack but two; the second is titled “Where You Belong”. Not to mention, Tesfaye’s falsetto literally could make any grown woman melt into a warm puddle. The music video for “Earned It” was just released and if you’re mentally prepared you can watch it below:

Another artist who was granted more than one song on the album…BEYONCE. Duh.

She lends her vocal prowess to her own songs, including a new remix of “Haunted” from her self titled album BeyoncĂ©. “Haunted” happens to be one of my favorites off the BeyoncĂ©, because of its diverse electronic sound mixed with heavy bass and monotonic vocals dealing with the pressures of life and later shifting into a fast paced fantasy. As usual, “Haunted” also has a strong amount of sex appeal; “You want me?/ I walk down the hallway/ You’re lucky/ The bedroom’s my runway/ Slap me/ I’m pinned to the doorway…” you get the point. This song werkkkkks.

BeyoncĂ© also brings one of her classics back to life. That’s right, they are calling it “Crazy In Love” (the 2014 remix). If you’ve seen the trailer for Fifty Shades, you’ve probably already drooled over how flawless this song sounds (pun intended). BeyoncĂ© slows down the song and brings a more romantic feel with muffled vocals and what sounds to be like a full orchestra accentuating every half whispered note escaping her lips. Here’s the trailer featuring the song, if you haven’t already seen it:

Sia makes an appearance on this album singing a song called “Salted Wound” which I can only predict is probably emotional perfection to the ears and I absolutely can’t wait to hear it.

Ellie Goulding comes back with her fairy-like vocals spreading the message of “Love Me Like You Do” in a powerful pop ballad with truly stunning lyrics. The video (released today) has footage from the movie and also shows Goulding with her usual gorgeous blonde waves caressing the camera with every angle. Check it out:

This album not only dabbles into a recent musical trough of artists, but revisits the past with classics like, “Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones, “I Put A Spell On You” covered by Annie Lennox, and “Witchcraft” by the incomparable Frank Sinatra. These songs will give the album a more wholesome feel, proving love songs can de diverse whilst still making a cinematic impact in the year of 2015. Being a Sinatra fan my whole life, I can only imagine where “Witchcraft” will fit into this movie (insert excited heart eyes emoji here). And “Beast of Burden” is probably one of the sexiest songs of the late 70’s. With lyrics like, “I’ll never be your beast of burden/ So let’s go home and draw the curtains/ Music on the radio/ Come on baby make sweet love to me.” I think it’ll fit in just fine…

Other songs feature the sweet Jessie Ware, powerful AWOLNATION, talented Skylar Grey, newcomers Vaults, soulful Laura Welsch, and composer Danny Elfman.

February 10th, sit back and listen to this album.

-Abbey