Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift - Everything Has Changed

*CUTE VIDEO ALERT*
Quick music post... couldn't not blog this because it's just too damn cute. Plus, the song is pretty awesome thanks to a dream duet. 

#nowplaying

My Week in Pictures #1

NEW FEATURE: Decided to start doing 'my week in pictures' that I'm hoping to routinely update, depending on how medial my week may have been. This week's is coming slightly late, so it now spans from last Monday - yesterday (Tues 5th June). 

Now Playing: Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

1. Last Monday was glorious, so we decided to move our sofa outside into our (disappointingly not so glorious or sunny) garden. Best idea we've ever had, and I think I may consider a career move to a removal person...

2. Below this, Monday night is Q Bar night... for any Reading students, need I say more? Picture 2 is me and my housemate Prema.

3. On Wednesday, we headed to Anna's house in Gloucester, which has an amazing view (which sadly I don't have a good picture of), as Gloucester is a lusciously green and serene place which we are now all in love with. Picture 3 is the first night of late-night, Bachelor-watching snacking.

4. On Thursday, we went to Anna's family friend Julianna who gave us our first manicures for just a fiver. I loved the pink sparkly colour I went for, and Julianna did a fabulous job. Highly recommended!

5. The day we left ( :( ) we went to see the bluebells Forest is infamous for, and they were glorious. The top picture is my housemates Emma and Prema in the bluebells, and the picture at the bottom shows a close up.

6. On Saturday, we went to Surrey to celebrate our bonus housemate Lucy's 21st Birthday at an amazing party (as you can see by the champagne). Free bar, gorgeous buffet (which we may or may not have run to as soon as it opened) and loads of dancing... what more could you want?! Happy Birthday Lucy!

7. Last but not least, yesterday I went with my home friends to El Mariachi, a Mexican restaurant which has recently opened in Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge. I had spicy beef nachos, chilli con carne potato skins and spicy chicken enchiladas, all of which were delicious. However, perhaps my favourite part of the evening was the £3 cocktails (it was Senõritas' night... wahey!), so I (obviously) took full advantage, opting for a Piña Colada, a Chiquito and an Amaretto Choco Cream... or words to that effect. They were SO good, and I would highly recommend giving the restaurant a visit if you're in the area.

I'm now onto a week of job and internship applications, followed by a trip to Manchester, so I'll be posting more pictures very soon!

Day Three - Beats, BAFTAs and Bikini Body Battles

ALBUM OF THE DAY

Bit of a long one today...

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

After 7 years without a studio album, Daft Punk are back with the collaboration-filled Random Access Memories. Since Get Lucky has already maintained four glorious weeks in the number one spot, and doesn't look to be going anywhere anytime soon (thank GOD, since it is the only song I know that has the ability to be played 24 hours a day without getting boring or repetitive), the album has a lot to live up to. There aren't many compliments I could pay this album that haven't already been said elsewhere, so I'll be keeping this to a very brief mini-review.

From the punchy opening beats of Give Life Back to Music, to the slightly strange ending of Contact, via the chilled-out The Game of Love, the musings and teachings of Giorgio by Moroder, the string-based build-up of Beyond and the old-school, disco, relaxing feel of Fragments of Time, RAM is full of brilliance and surprises, forever keeping you on your toes. Coupling a feeling of nostalgia with sounds that are as fresh and relevant as ever, RAM proves just why this duo have still got it after 20 robotic years. 

You can stream the album now on iTunes, by going to their artist page, and feel free to comment below with your thoughts and any favourite tracks!

BAFTA Fashion

In other recent news, the BAFTAs happened on Sunday [winner's list], and as expected, there were some amazing and not-so-amazing dresses all round. Thought I'd present some of my favourites here, although feel free to pop a comment below if you disagree (or agree!). All pictures thanks to Google Images... naturally.

Monochrome seemed to be the trend of choice at the awards, with Sheridan Smith, Louise Redknapp, Tess Daly, Laura Whitmore and Claudia Winkleman, to name a few, all in dark ensembles.

Some of my favourites, however, came from Zoe Hardman, who's fitted number beautifully showed off her enviably figure, and Millie Mackintosh's thigh-high Sass & Bide dress, with gold detail, showing off her long legs and slim figure. 

Away from black, nudes, whites and creams were another favourite amongst many, such as Jenni Falconer and Louise Thompson, with my favourites being Jenna Louise Colman's simple maxi dress, completed with statement clutch, and Lucy Watson's white embellished design.

Finally, a pop of colour provided many glamorous red carpet moments, from Binky Felstead's pink jumpsuit (below), to Imelda Staunton and Mary Berry showing that you can look fabulous at any age. My favourite, however, and perhaps one of the best outfits of the night came from Sienna Miller, who wore a gorgeously detailed powder blue dress from Matthew Williamson teamed with an up-do hairstyle, a simple clutch and studded heels.

Like any of these? Any favourites I haven't mentioned? Let me know :)

And Finally...

With a mere 35 days until I head off to Tenerife (TAKE ME THERE NOW PLEASE), the battle for a bikini-ready body is definitely on, so I'm ending this post with a little insight into how I've tried to start to get into shape today aka the healthiest day I've had in a VERY long time (nb. I am definitely no fitness expert!!). Starting the day with a bowl of porridge, I then completed 50 squats, 50 sit-ups and 2 minutes of butt-kicks, high knees and mountain climbers. Afterwards, I had the best Covent Garden Leek & Potato soup, with one slice of white bread (preferable wholemeal but we had none), followed by a banana. I'm hoping that a few changes here and there will help me get ready for the beach, so I will keep you all updated!

AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies

A little slow on the uptake of this I know, but I've become really addicted to it. It's really catchy, and has already hit the Radio 1 A-List, so I've no doubt big things are coming to this duo.

Paramore - Now

Uploading this is far more entertaining than my essay. This is another review I wrote months ago, which has been sitting as a draft on here for far too long. So here it finally is... Paramore are one band I haven't outgrown since their new material is still brilliant (in my eyes at least). I'm definitely looking forward to their new album.

Paramore have had a tough few years, with the departure of two members surrounded by controversy thanks to a questionable post-leaving statement. Not letting that deter them, Paramore are back as a trio, with new single Now.

Despite losing two members, it seems the band has lost none of its spirit nor energy. Hayley’s vocals are as powerful as ever, though this time having somewhat of a more ‘pop-y’ edge to them, fitting the direction this new track seems to go in. Instrumentally, Now has the rawness and determination that Paramore have perfected over the years, making it almost impossible to remember that there are only three members of this band now (aside from a studio drummer). 

Paramore have seemingly come back fighting to give us a track that shows us why they still deserve their place in the music industry. Clearly their sound has progressed, but this is certainly a good thing. Welcome back guys.

4/5

Bastille - Pompeii

It is a sickening amount of time since I last blogged, thanks to my good friend THE DISSERTATION. Since said friend has now been all submitted and deleted from my life (aside from today's finding of a mistake when looking for a quote... WEEP), I will try and get this blog back in action. Gonna start with a review of Bastille's Pompeii that I wrote months ago, but never found time to upload. Seems like a good time to whack it on here, since it's currently flying high in the charts, and deservedly so. I am in love with this song and this band.
[NB. I might try out some new layout-y font-y things on this. Bare with me].

In the three years they’ve been together, Bastille haven’t done too badly for themselves. Performing at various festivals, securing major tour support slots and having their songs featuring on Made in Chelsea and Dancing on Ice to name just a few achievements, it seems they’ve set themselves up for a pretty successful 2013.

Starting as a solo project and developing into a quartet, Bastille seem set to break the swarms of generic ‘alternative’ band we’ve had over the years. From the opening seconds of Pompeii, there’s a feeling of empowerment and optimism, needed for most at this miserable time of year. Aided by the lyrics “how am I gonna be an optimist about this,” and a simple yet intricate musical arrangement, particularly the drum solos, there’s nothing not to love about this.

There’s so many layers to this song that’s it’s almost impossible to fit them all into one review. 2013 is most definitely going to be the year for Bastille, and that’s fine by us. Now, anyone for summer?

5/5

Brit Awards 2013

It's horribly long since I last wrote one of these. The stress of third year has definitely got to me lately (cue Tragic Tuesday breakdown last week and three days of drinking honey and lemon constantly) so sorry about that! Coming back with a (slightly delayed) little review of last week's Brit Award ceremony. It was a mutual feeling between my friends, my Dad and I that there was something missing this year. There was nothing wrong with the hosting or award winners, and I enjoyed all the performances, but there was some sort of spark or controversy that we always look forward to that just wasn't there, almost like everything was too controlled. Hopefully this won't be the case next year, and we can look forward to the controversial and risky Brits that we're used to and we love.

The Brit Awards have always been met with an air of tension, and a feeling that anything could happened.  From Jarvis Cocker’s stage invasion to Samantha Fox and Mick Fleetwood’s disastrous hosting, and the cutting off of Adele’s acceptance speech, there’s hardly been a year when there hasn’t been some sort of Brits’ controversy. However, this seemed to be lacking this year. Yes, James Corden was an excellent host, and yes, there were plenty of drunken celebrities to go round, but this celebration of British talent just didn’t seem to deliver this year.

The problem was not in the performances. The ceremony opened with a expectedly loud and proud performance from Muse, setting the tone for the level of performances during the ceremony, with a variety of acoustic, pop and a certain American music star. One Direction gave an exclusive, energetic, pinball-inspired performance of their Comic Relief cover of One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks), a cover which has divided the public over the song choice (just take solace that it’s for charity).

The Brits even had international superstars take to the stage, starting with Justin Timberlake making a super slick appearance, adding a huge level of class to the evening. Making women all over the UK drool, faint or scream over his performance of new single Mirrors, this was probably a much-needed highlight of the evening for many. Taylor ‘legs for miles’ Swift later took to the stage in an unusually ferocious get-up, perhaps taking inspiration from having ex Harry Styles sat metres away in the audience. The night ended with Female Solo Artist and British Album winner Emeli Sandé, who luckily decided to end with Next to Me, thankfully more upbeat than her Olympics’ appearances.

There were no massive surprises when it came to the winners either. There was some confusion over who Ben Howard was from disappointed Olly Murs fans, and of course mixed reactions over acceptance speeches. Aside from this, other winners could have easily be predicted, and were all well-deserved (according to most). There was no protest over winners like that seen a few years ago from Kanye West, and no cutting off of speeches because of time constraints, although mocked by host James Corden and Adele herself. Everything seemed too rehearsed, as if the winners were actually briefed beforehand that they had won.

           

It’s not like there wasn’t plenty of opportunity for scuffles or misbehaving, what with Taylor Swift and Harry Styles in the same room, along with more than enough drink to go round. There was Sharon Osbourne’s mention of Harry Style’s manhood and Robbie William’s confused award presentation, yet these moments were overtaken quickly but some table interviews that were seemingly only used to fill time. Perhaps it was the calamity of last year’s ‘speech-gate’ that caused producers to be over-careful of what was broadcast which shattered any hopes of an actual talking point for this year’s ceremony.

As the night carried on, even the free-flowing of alcohol couldn’t provoke outrageous behaviour, although jokes became looser and more adult-friendly, sometimes falling flat to those of us not lucky enough to be there in person. Even the mini-concert we’re used to at the end of the night wasn’t there, as the Outstanding Achievement Award is no longer awarded, meaning the end of the night was met with little impact. Maybe this summed up the night as a whole.

If it wasn’t the performances, hosting or actual winners that caused the fall-down of this year’s ceremony, then perhaps it was the lack of a competitive atmosphere and an over-cautious producing approach that denied us the controversy us viewers always look forward to at the Brits. With so much talent in the UK at the moment, it seems a shame that an event that so many across the world will see failed to produce a talking point on the same level as previous years. Music stars, start planning your stage invasions and protests for next year’s ceremony please. 

The Night’s Food in Numbers
60 chefs
100kg of tomatoes
120 litres of fresh lime juice
130kg diced lamb shoulder
150kg butter
220kg red cabbage from Cambridgeshire
550 front of house waiting staff
1200 lamb best ends
1500 food preparation hours
3000 eggs
5200 pieces of crostini from 175 foccacia slabs
7800 “truffles” rolled
15000 glasses

List of Winners

British Male Solo Artist – Ben Howard

British Female Solo Artist – Emeli Sandé

British Breakthrough Act – Ben Howard

British Group – Mumford and Sons

British Live Act – Coldplay

British Single – Adele – Skyfall

Mastercard British Album of the Year – Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events

International Male Solo Artist – Frank Ocean

International Female Solo Artist – Lana Del Rey

International Group – The Black Keys

Brits Global Success (For International Sales in 2012) – One Direction

British Producer of the Year – Paul Epworth

Critics’ Choice Award – Tom Odell

Special Recognition Award – War Child

(I was trying to get a video of JT doing Mirrors but that didn't work so here's Taylor Swift instead)

Steps - Light Up The World

The second delight I got to review was Steps' Christmas album. Yep, I kid you not, Steps have decided to bring out a Christmas album in ANOTHER attempt for a comeback. I'll be honest, I was a massive Steps fan back in the day, and I am pretty gutted I didn't get to go to their comeback tour (yes, I am THAT sad. I was pretty jealous of my friends that went). Unfortunately though, I just didn't like this album. Sorry. It's 5,6,7,8 all the way for me.

Thought you’d rid yourself of cheesy 90s pop? Think again. Having already attempted one comeback, Steps are yet again trying to infiltrate the charts by entering the dreaded Christmas market. Yes, they are releasing their own Christmas album… sorry. As much as they are a guilty pleasure for me, being a fan of them however many years ago, I think a Christmas album may prove to just be a cheese overload.

This, their first studio album in twelve years, mixes their unapologetically cheesy pop sound with some Christmas classics, although I’m not sure how many are recognisable at first listen. The album opens with History is Made at Night, complete with seasonal saxophone and standard Christmas beat. Perhaps an attempt to secure a more mature audience, they have chosen an album opener that compares a romantic night scene with a school-based scenario. I’ll quickly gloss over the error over ruining a Stevie Wonder song, and talk about the one original song on the album, Light up the World, conveniently also the title track. Not exactly encompassing the Christmas theme, this is where the cheese really hits, and messages of encouragement are showered upon us. “Imagination will set you free/just gotta work it out” is the height of this, encouraging us, I assume, to be creative and achieve our dreams. Only at Christmas I suppose.

If you recognise When She Loved Me, it’s probably from Toy Story 2, as Sarah McLachlan performs it beautifully as Jessie (the cowgirl, if you can’t remember). Although Steps’ vocals aren’t tragic, they can’t match Sarah’s voice, and if you’re anything like me, you may fast forward the song pretty quickly so as not to ruin the film. From Christmas [Baby Please Come Home]¸ the idea of this being a Christmas album really starts, and it’s from here that you can really imagine this being on in the background on Christmas day. Ok, their vocals aren’t great, but they’re not the worst… and there’s always the option of minimal volume. The album ends on the classic Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a relaxed, pleasant end with a lot of instrumental, to an album that you’re probably sick of by now.

I’m in two minds about this album. The child in me loves the cheese, which you can’t slate Steps for, as their bubblegum pop is still loved by many around the world. The vocals aren’t completely tragic (note: completely), but this album brings an amount of cheese and an element of boredom that doesn’t quite click. I’d love to love this, but for some reason, it just doesn’t work. Sorry Steps.

2/5

Little Mix - DNA

Long time, no blog. Hashtag third year problems. Anyway, I recently did some new reviews for Spark*, the first of which was Little Mix's new single, DNA. I loved this from my first listen, and I still love it now. They're the first successful girl group to come out of X Factor, and the first to actually get past the first few weeks of the show in the first place, and they're continuing to go from strength to strength. They've got great voices, and I think they've got a long, fantastic career ahead of them. 

Look at today’s charts and you’ll see an abundance of girl power, from the ever-present Rihanna to the return of Girls Aloud. Pretty convenient for X Factor winners Little Mix. Having broken the curse of the girl-bands on the show, Perrie, Jesy, Leigh-Anne and Jade have consistently hit big in the charts and gained many a-fan along the way.  

DNA shows a darker and more mature side to Little Mix, far removed from the polished pop sound we’ve come to expect from them. This more grown-up style makes a bleeding good tune, and moves them away from the X Factor manufacturing that has perhaps befallen previous winners. All four girls also get a chance to show why they were chosen in the first place, with solo sections highlighting their fantastic vocal abilities.

Little Mix are definitely bringing back girl power, and we’re more than grateful for it. I’m pretty confident we can expect more pop gems from these four for many years. Dare I say the new Girls Aloud?

4/5 

Panama - It's Not Over

I was a bit dubious about this album, as when I googled the band, I was linked to a heavy metal band... not really my cup of tea. Turns out I was on the completely wrong band, and luckily this Panama is a lot better. Perhaps the album is a little repetitive in places, especially on some songs, but overall it's a fantastic chilled-out listen. I really enjoyed it, and I think they could go onto big things.

Put together the electronic sound of 80s pop and a modern summer anthem and you’ll probably have the sound of Australian five-piece Panama.  Creating a sound that sounds both retro and current simultaneously is a hard feat, but Panama seem to have it spot on, with songs that wouldn’t sound out of place in the coolest clubs then and now.

From the opening synths of Heartbeat, you’re taken to a place where the sun is shining and the alcohol is free flowing.  Though the melody seems simple on first listens, it’s actually packed with layers of synths, keys, drumbeats that mould perfectly together and complement the layered vocals.  Magic, the first single from the EP, sounds like something we might expect from the likes of Friendly Fires, and a song you might listen to the morning after the night before.  More synth focused than Heartbeat, the vocals, however good they are, seem to take a backseat for this track, the complex and hypnotising music speaking for itself.

One Piece brings up the tempo, this is the track that really makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time – in a good way of course.  Listen once, and there’s no doubt you’ll be singing “It brings us back together/one piece at a time” for days.  Along with title track It’s Not Over, it’s one of the rare songs on the EP that brings variety with the melody, with small breaks in the main melody to break up the song.  Ending on a high, We Have Love is an upbeat, happy track that really sums up what Panama seem to be about – fun, dancing and 80s.

You can smell the cocktails and feel the sun with every song on this EP – perfect for forgetting those winter blues.  If you need to relieve the disco years or are bored with looking at the dreary November skies, whack this on.  You’ll be on the beach in no time. 

4/5

M83 - Steve McQueen

I fell in love with Midnight City last year

( just in case you've been living under a rock for the past year)


and luckily for me, their new single is even better. Can't fault it, so I'll let the review do the talking. Get listening.

M83 has quickly established himself as someone who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries to create music that is inspiring and daring, but has undeniably gained critical success.  Steve McQueen is no exception, initially sounding like part two of former massive hit Midnight City (if you haven’t heard it, I’m guessing you’ve been sleeping for the past year).  Laden with mesmerising synths and big drumbeats, building into a massive track with so much to give, it’s hard to take it all in with just one listen.  Not that this is a bad thing, since it leaves you wanting more with every listen.  The vocals are layered to perfection, and are enhanced by the instrumentals, rather than being lost in them.

Overall, M83 has done it again.  Steve McQueen is a gloriously uplifting track, screaming of creativity and ambition.  As everyone seems to be saying, their time in the spotlight is coming.

5/5

Leona Lewis - Glassheart

I was all ready to attack this album, really not being a Leona Lewis fan myself - Bleeding Love is one of my least favourite songs of the last few years. However, I was pleasantly surprised by her latest album. I didn't like it QUITE as much as Mumford & Sons' album, but it was still much better than I thought. 

These days, it’s rare that someone can actually develop a long-lasting successful career from winning the X Factor – think Steve Brookstein  and Matt Cardle. Luckily for London-born Leona Lewis, she seems to have overcome this ‘X Factor Curse’ and has managed to create a outstanding music career for herself. Since winning in 2006, she has gone on to win an Ivor Novello, two MOBOs, an MTV Video Music Award, three World Music Awards to name but a few. The list really is endless, especially if you add in all the award nominations she also received. With her ever-powerful voice continuing to grow, Leona Lewis is going from strength to strength.

Leona seems to take a new turn for this album, evident from opening track Trouble, a completely different sound to previous hits. Faster paced and a more complex and dark beat, clearly Leona’s sound has progressed for the better, while still showing off her mezzo-soprano voice brilliantly. The lyrics seem to be personal too, as she sings “I’m a whole lot of trouble/We’re in a whole lot of trouble”. This album opener sets the theme for the majority of the album, with Come Alive and Shake You Up, a particularly old-school pop nugget, following suit and showing a more upbeat, dance-y and perhaps darker side to Leona’s music. It’s refreshing to see this new direction, as not only are they good tracks, but it shows how much variety she is capable of. Glassheart brings perhaps the biggest shock of the album, as it unlike anything we’ve ever heard from the usually down-tempo singer, with elements of dubstep as well as dance, a hook of “and I love you with my glassheart,” and an infectious beat that draws you in.

Of course the album incorporates the classic Leona Lewis songs we’ve come to know and love. From Stop the Clocks to Un Love Me to the beautiful and serene album closer Fingerprint, these tracks are the ones that really showcase how good her voice really is. Fireflies is a particularly highlight, as it’s completely calming and one of those ‘feel-good’ tracks that can always put a smile on your face. From the piano opening, to the addictive “Fire/It’s only fire” through what sounds like an amazing gospel choir, this track fits the album like a glove.

Leona Lewis has outdone herself with this new offering, challenging herself to try new styles and succeeding. Perhaps not an outstanding album of 2012, but a triumph for Lewis none the less. Most definitely worth a listen, at least.

3/5

Everything Everything - Cough Cough

I've always been a bit on/off about Everything Everything, although I've definitely been a fan for the most part. I had to listen to this new offering a couple of times, but now I constantly have it on repeat. I can almost guarantee it will be stuck in your head for days to come.

Nominated for two Ivor Novello awards and shortlisted for Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize, Everything Everything have made a name for themselves in the music world. Not wanting to follow any specific genre, and with one of the most eclectic influences lists ever seen, ranging from Nirvana to R. Kelly, the band simply make the music they want to make.
Cough Cough follows a string of successful hits, including MY KZ,UR BF and Photoshop Handsome. Characterised by an infectious drumbeat and fast vocals, cough cough is the recipe for the perfect fun indie hit. The track keeps you on your toes, switching between fast-paced and the slightly more chilled sections,  giving you a breather from all the dancing that you’ll no doubt be doing. As well as all this, the main hook of “I’m coming alive/I’m happening now,” is sure to turn into a chant at their live shows, which won’t be a bad thing.

Get ready to have this on repeat all day and all night. You have been warned.


4/5

Mumford & Sons - Babel

First review for Spark* this year was Mumford & Sons new album, 'Babel.' Although it sounds a lot like the last album, you can hear how they have progressed their sound and I really liked it. The album's out now if you wish to buy it.

There will always be the myth of the ‘difficult second album’ for any band, regardless of any first album success.  Mumford & Sons can’t escape this, needing a show-stopping second album to follow a debut album that went 4 times Platinum in the UK and achieved the Brit Award for Best British Album in 2011.  No pressure then.

From the opening notes of Babel, the powerful and bold opening track as well as the album title, it’s pleasing to hear they haven’t lost their folk charm.  That’s not to say their music hasn’t progressed, as their time in Tennessee seems to have influenced them and given a different edge to their well-recognised folk style.  I Will Wait, the first single to come from Babel, has already proved to be a hit, with the infectious “I will wait, I will wait for you” hook that begs to be sung by the festival crowds.  Broken Crown echoes the theatrical and dark point in Sigh No More, giving Babel the variety it needs to match the success of their debut.

But it’s not all fast, live-inspired tracks.  There are moments where the album slows right down, and an offering of peace is given.  Ghosts That We Knew is a chance to sit back and reflect for five minutes, and admire how good Mumford & Sons really are as both musicians and songwriters, as Marcus Mumford pleas “just promise me we’ll be alright.”  Babel hits an even better note, when these slower tracks are combined with the energy of I Will Wait to create something like Lover’s Eyes, that builds to a triumphant and riling climax.  

More ambitious and transatlantic writing and recording sessions, as well as the introduction of the 10 song game during recording, where each band member has to write 10 songs in a certain time period, has led to Babel.  The result is a bigger album, with more instruments and a slightly less polished sound.  Although Babel doesn’t offer anything particularly new or outrageously different than we’d expect, there’s no denying the band have progressed, and that this is a great album, from the opening energy Babel down to the closing calmness of Not With Haste.

4/5

Nicki Minaj - Pound the Alarm

I've been back from Japan (which was AMAZING, just FYI) for a while now, but I am FINALLY getting my butt in gear and getting back into this blog, so sorry for the long break. I'm back with a banger too, as Nicki Minaj released the video for Pound The Alarm just a few hours ago. Featuring lots of boobs and bums, à la Starships, I actually prefer this video, because it has a lot more in it. Really like the carnival theme, and I think it fits the song well. Like it or not, I think we can all agree that the video will yet again please the majority of the male population. If not all of them.

Conor Maynard - Vegas Girl

I'm going away for two weeks, so I'll leave you with Conor Maynard's new song, 'Vegas Girl.' Just like Can't Say No, it's ridiculous catchy, and I can't not like it. The video is here:



Also, I'm really addicted to Rita Ora's How We Do (Party), and I'm currently regretting not putting it on my iPod for my stupid long flight. Hmph.

Video of the Day - Lana Del Rey - National Anthem

Decided to make a 'Video of the Day' thing, since Lana Del Rey has released a 7 minute video for latest single 'National Anthem.' This is one of my favourite songs off the album, so I'm glad it's being released. The video features A$AP Rocky, as they play the roles of John F. Kennedy and his wife. I won't spoil any more of it for you, so have a watch, and feel free to let me know what you think.

Katy Perry and The Killers

Finally got myself a spare moment to do a brief update here. Firstly, here is Katy Perry's video for new single 'Wide Awake.' Bit strange, and I'm not quite sure what's going on, but what else did we really expect?

Secondly, The Killers have released an album trailer for 'Battle Born.' They're not giving much away, but it sounds like it's going to be very good as per usual. I personally can't wait.

A longer update is due, and I'll try to do it in amongst packing up my uni room and panicking about packing for Japan next week.

Usher - Scream

Yesterday, Usher released the much-anticipated video for his latest single, 'Scream.' The video is filmed at a New York show of Fuerza Bruta ( http://fuerzabruta.net/). I first saw this on America's Next Top Model, and it is pretty cool. Youtube it or look on that link and you'll see for yourself.

Anyway, here's the song. I feel a bit wrong when I sing along to it, but it's just too catchy.

Coldplay - Princess of China

I went to see Coldplay last night, and they were absolutely amazing, as usual. If I've got a chance these next few days, I'll do a quick review, but in short, everything was so perfectly planned to make more than just a concert - it was a show. From the flashing wristbands to Coldplay and the songs/performance themselves, I couldn't fault it. Yes, I did almost cry at one point. I think it was even better than the Wembley show, and they never disappoint.

Anyway, yesterday they released the video for 'Princess of China,' featuring Rihanna. And here it is: