It has been four years since R&B Songstress, Kelly Rowland, last released her sophomore album, Ms. Kelly, and here she is, finally, all geared up for her latest offering come July 26th.
Despite all of the countless push backs and delays, Kelly Rowland pretty much had a fantastic year going for her ever since she danced her way to the top of the UK Charts with 'When Love Takes Over', a track she collaborated with DJ David Guetta back in 2010. Since then, she has been producing a string of Top 10 hits in the UK (Commander, Forever And A Day & What A Feeling) and her success has earned her a position as a judge in The X Factor UK.
Her previous efforts may not be worth mentioning with the exception of 'Dilemma' and after much experimentation, Kelly Rowland has finally found her distinctive sound in the industry. Gone are the days when Kelly used to live in the shadows of Beyonce, her ex-bandmate from Destiny's Child.
Unlike her past efforts that did nothing but bore me to death, 'Here I Am' has the perfect blend of Soul, R&B and Dance music and features a different side of Kelly. She's a much more confident singer this time 'round as she sings on the album-opener, 'I'm Dat Chick', on which she brags "Yeah I be the one that they love to mention." But she's still as sexy and sensual as ever (I still can't get over her provocative music video for her hit single, 'Motivation') and her vocals never sounded this good before.
'Here I Am' is filled with plenty of great tracks that's bound to keep you listening to the album over and over again. I love songs with a great piano hook and that's probably the reason why I fell in love with the track 'Feeling Me Right Now' almost instantly, in which she sings about falling in the club and realizing her self-worth. Really interesting lyrics, Miss Kelly. Though this song could easily be mistaken about Kelly singing about another girl she met at a club. She sings in the beginning, "Oh you're just my type, baby" and that kinda scares me a bit.
Feeling Me Right Now. My new sexy jam.
All in all, this is a perfect album. The addition of Commander and Down For Whatever (Feat. The WAV.s) may be awkward on paper, but it seems to mix seamlessly with the rest of the other tracks in the album. I'm not gonna complain. Though if I had the choice, I'd replace Big Sean with Missy Elliot on the track, 'Lay It On Me'. It's still good. But why settle for good when you can get something that is brilliant?
Go get Kelly Rowland's 'Here I Am' album (July 26th) 'cos right now she commands you to! I know I'll definitely be getting my copy! And hopefully Kelly Rowland finally gets the success she deserves with this release.
Other standout tracks: Down For Whatever (Feat. The WAV.s), All Of The Night (Feat. Rico Love), Lay It On Me (Feat. Big Sean)
Labels: Destiny's Child, Here I Am, Kelly Rowland, Music, Music Monday, Music Review
Sunday, December 19, 2010
No. This is not going to be a vulgar post or an angsty post of some sort. Just in case you were reading the title and thinking otherwise. Anyways, this song is pretty amazing and catchy..
... and sorta a bad influence. I swear I have never said 'Fuck You' this many times in my entire life within a time span of 4 minutes. I'm an angel, trust me.
The video should definitely deserve some award for making me laugh uncontrollably. I loved especially the part when they were showing Cee-Lo as a little kid and his mom slapping him every single time he says 'Fuck You'. Now ain't that some shit?
And if you hate Cee-Lo's version (which I presume a situation to be HIGHLY UNLIKELY to happen), here's another version by CJ Baran (who is definitely more pleasing to look at)
... Quite not as epic as Cee-Lo's version but still works nevertheless. He made the song fresh! And the video is still hilarious and fun to watch tho especially the bridge at the end where he goes whining that starts ard 2:40. I don't quite get the girl's stupidity in the video. Girl, ditch the Asian boy and get on with CJ.
And if you rather much have a preference (or I'd call it a fetish, in this case) for a female's voice.. here's Eliza Doolittle.
.. Having not heard of Eliza Doolittle at all, I initially thought it was gonna be some sort of a terrible video but minus the hideous outfit of hers, she's actually QUITE A GOOD SINGER.
This is actually quite a useless post. Well if you agree to that, then Fuck You.
... and sorta a bad influence. I swear I have never said 'Fuck You' this many times in my entire life within a time span of 4 minutes. I'm an angel, trust me.
The video should definitely deserve some award for making me laugh uncontrollably. I loved especially the part when they were showing Cee-Lo as a little kid and his mom slapping him every single time he says 'Fuck You'. Now ain't that some shit?
And if you hate Cee-Lo's version (which I presume a situation to be HIGHLY UNLIKELY to happen), here's another version by CJ Baran (who is definitely more pleasing to look at)
... Quite not as epic as Cee-Lo's version but still works nevertheless. He made the song fresh! And the video is still hilarious and fun to watch tho especially the bridge at the end where he goes whining that starts ard 2:40. I don't quite get the girl's stupidity in the video. Girl, ditch the Asian boy and get on with CJ.
And if you rather much have a preference (or I'd call it a fetish, in this case) for a female's voice.. here's Eliza Doolittle.
.. Having not heard of Eliza Doolittle at all, I initially thought it was gonna be some sort of a terrible video but minus the hideous outfit of hers, she's actually QUITE A GOOD SINGER.
This is actually quite a useless post. Well if you agree to that, then Fuck You.
Labels: Music Review, Random, Song Of The Moment
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Uh Oh. It looks like The Saturdays are creating 'Headlines!' once again with their third album/ mini-album/ 8 Track EP/ whatever you wanna call it. They are notably known for creating spectacular album covers and 'Headlines!' is no exception. It's so colourful and bright and very tongue-in-cheek. I love these girls and putting my dancing shoes on, I absolutely can't wait to listen to the new tracks! I hope I don't faint.
Missing You: Imagine eating chocolate cake minus the sugar and chocolate. That's probably how this track really sounds like. You crave for new songs by the girls and you get 'Missing You'. But it's not really that bad honestly. Forgive their dance choreography, which is really weak and emotionless and you'll realise that "I miss missing you, sometimes" is actually a genius lyric on their part and you'll have no choice but to agree, right?
Ego: There's really nothing else to say about this track, taken from their sophomore effort, 'Wordshaker'. It's old, but still great nevertheless and still overpowers some of the tracks -coughs- in this EP/ Mini-Album or whatever you wanna call it.
Higher: "I'm doing nothing. Cos then at least I'm doing nothing wrong." is another genius lyric on their part. This is set to be their second single from 'Headlines!'. Smart move, I'd say. From first listen, you'd start expecting for something huge to happen and when the chorus arrives, the song explodes in bursts of ecstasy and excitement bringing you 'Higher' and 'Higher' after subsequent listens. Now, where did I put my dancing shoes?
Forever Is Over: Someone desperately, i repeat, desperately, needs to send a message over to The Saturdays HQ that this song is not as fantastic as they think it really is. This song is old and although it grows after subsequent listens, it's really not a favourite of mine at all. At least put a remix edit of the song or something. The whole dark theme is so tacky and over the top. It's the kind of song that you'd never realize of it's existence 10 years from now. Nothing to be sad about. Move along now.
Died In Your Eyes: If there's something that The Saturdays are not really strong at, that's probably ballads. Few people would realise that this is actually a cover of Kristinia Debarge's song and that is actually quite sad. But do we really care? The Saturdays' version is very uplifting but it gets very boring after a few listens. Look, I want to dance with The Saturdays, not weep over their -coughs-notsogood-coughs ballads. Next, please!
Karma: Momma told me to prepare my dancing shoes for this song. Hell it's infectious from first listen! And catchy as hell! The lyrics are really witty and impressive! (I need to stop raving about the lyrics, but I just can't help it! I apologize.) "If you wanted diamonds, why you settle for a rock!" - Haha! Okay maybe one more "Then I hope that you'd choke on some really hot coffee!" - I'm choking already. Are these girls serious with these lyrics?! Haha! Please choose this as a single, I'm beggin' you! This song has Girls Aloud written all over it with the signature The Saturdays sound! This song is living proof that the world does not need Girls Aloud.. well not for the time being at the very least.
Puppet: Critics raved strongly about this song. I sat down. Listened to the song. Started bobbing my head slowly without knowing. I feel a little ounce of excitement and when the chorus came, my legs started shaking uncontrollably. Help! This is a typical example of a sure-fire hit from The Saturdays and what it does to you. Oh god. I love this song. Yeap, you critics were right, this song is really amazing and gets you hooked after the first listen!
One Shot (Starsmith Remix): I still wonder why this was never a single from their sophomore effort, 'Wordshaker'. Looks like they're giving this song 'One Shot' more and I'm super pleased they bothered including the remix version instead of the original. (Shame on you people from Saturdays HQ for not bothering to do the same with Ego & Forever Is Over) 'One Shot' was already impressive on its own and now that you have this StarSmith Remix, it keeps gettin' better!
And then, that's it. I'm annoyed. I really wanted more tracks! The Saturdays definitely got me hooked 'like a puppet on a string' (no pun intended) with 'Headlines!'. Please have a new album ready by 2011! Oh girls, please come to Singapore! I'll sing, I'll dance and I'll do anything for you to come here!
P.s If you're in the UK, go buy the album from HMV! There's a free giant poster included! I'm jealous! The HMV in Singapore sucks so I bought my album (with the poster of course) online!
Labels: Music Review, The Saturdays
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Guess whose name appeared on The Saturdays' Official Website?
Need a closer look?
Oh boy. You don't know how proud I am to have my own music review up on The Saturdays' Official Website!
P.s Take that, haters.
Labels: Music Review, The Saturdays
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
As seen on The UrbanWire
Queen of R&B, Mariah Carey, is finally back with her 12th studio album entitled Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel. Forget the Miss Diva that you once knew from her past antics, odd mannerisms and demands. This album takes on a more serious tone and it’s the closest thing for any fan curious about her. She describes that the album was named as such because it was very “personal and dedicated to her fans”.
Filled with many mid-tempo jams and sultry ballads, Mariah’s latest album is definitely an enjoyable listen from start to finish. It may seem that Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel doesn’t match up to her previous efforts such as Butterfly or The Emancipation of Mimi, but nevertheless, the 39-year-old manages to prove that she still has the special voice that made all of us fall in love with her.
Her first single from the album was “Obsessed”. The song speaks about a “boy” who is so “Obsessed” with her. The “boy” is then described as being “delusional” and “lyin’” about “sexin’” her up. Well, it’s clear for those who are fans that in this song, Mariah is taking a dig at Eminem, whom she once dated. This is more obviously seen in the music video, where the sensual lady dresses up as a rapper. The perceived “Eminem” then stalks her around town. The tongue-in-cheek effort by Mariah has indeed displayed her ability to maintain humour and produce a chart topping hit.
Kicking it back old school Mariah style is the cover “I Want to Know What Love Is”. This song was originally a power ballad sung by the Foreigners in 1984. Unlike the rest of the album, this number was mainly piano driven. Minimal digital snapping sounds were added at the to give the R&B feel that was pretty unnecessary. The song progresses and evolves into a chorale-supported anthem that showcases Mariah as still having what it takes to be a Diva. Her effort to stay true to the same style that matched her 1994 cover of Badfinger’s “Without You” will surely pay off. We expect this cover to eventually reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
One more notable song from the album is “Up Out My Face”. The chorus is as infectious as Rihanna’s “Umbrella”. The lyrics show off her tough front when it comes to dealing with failed relationships. “So look who’s crying now/ Boohoohoo/ Talking about your missing your/ Booooo”. She really is harsh. Besides snide lyrics, the chorus jumps straight in your face boy! “Up out my face boy! Up out my face!” Well, Mariah has surely shown that she is a force to be reckoned with.
All in all, the album is not something that would be stuck on your iPods for long. The similar drum beats throughout the songs make the album as droning as Gregorian monks. The only song that probably utilised the bass beats proper would be “Candy Bling”. It’s a song where Mariah reminisces a previous “perfect” relationship. That is probably the only noteworthy point to mention about that song.
The 17-track album eventually became terribly boring. Listening to all the songs in one sitting could probably tire you out quicker than watching “Ken Lee”* a dozen times.
Urbanwire gives Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel 3.5 out of 5.
Standout Tracks: H.A.T.E.U, Ribbon, Angels Cry, I Want to Know What Love Is and Obsessed.
Our Obsession With Mariah Carey!
Queen of R&B, Mariah Carey, is finally back with her 12th studio album entitled Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel. Forget the Miss Diva that you once knew from her past antics, odd mannerisms and demands. This album takes on a more serious tone and it’s the closest thing for any fan curious about her. She describes that the album was named as such because it was very “personal and dedicated to her fans”.
Filled with many mid-tempo jams and sultry ballads, Mariah’s latest album is definitely an enjoyable listen from start to finish. It may seem that Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel doesn’t match up to her previous efforts such as Butterfly or The Emancipation of Mimi, but nevertheless, the 39-year-old manages to prove that she still has the special voice that made all of us fall in love with her.
Her first single from the album was “Obsessed”. The song speaks about a “boy” who is so “Obsessed” with her. The “boy” is then described as being “delusional” and “lyin’” about “sexin’” her up. Well, it’s clear for those who are fans that in this song, Mariah is taking a dig at Eminem, whom she once dated. This is more obviously seen in the music video, where the sensual lady dresses up as a rapper. The perceived “Eminem” then stalks her around town. The tongue-in-cheek effort by Mariah has indeed displayed her ability to maintain humour and produce a chart topping hit.
Kicking it back old school Mariah style is the cover “I Want to Know What Love Is”. This song was originally a power ballad sung by the Foreigners in 1984. Unlike the rest of the album, this number was mainly piano driven. Minimal digital snapping sounds were added at the to give the R&B feel that was pretty unnecessary. The song progresses and evolves into a chorale-supported anthem that showcases Mariah as still having what it takes to be a Diva. Her effort to stay true to the same style that matched her 1994 cover of Badfinger’s “Without You” will surely pay off. We expect this cover to eventually reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
One more notable song from the album is “Up Out My Face”. The chorus is as infectious as Rihanna’s “Umbrella”. The lyrics show off her tough front when it comes to dealing with failed relationships. “So look who’s crying now/ Boohoohoo/ Talking about your missing your/ Booooo”. She really is harsh. Besides snide lyrics, the chorus jumps straight in your face boy! “Up out my face boy! Up out my face!” Well, Mariah has surely shown that she is a force to be reckoned with.
All in all, the album is not something that would be stuck on your iPods for long. The similar drum beats throughout the songs make the album as droning as Gregorian monks. The only song that probably utilised the bass beats proper would be “Candy Bling”. It’s a song where Mariah reminisces a previous “perfect” relationship. That is probably the only noteworthy point to mention about that song.
The 17-track album eventually became terribly boring. Listening to all the songs in one sitting could probably tire you out quicker than watching “Ken Lee”* a dozen times.
Urbanwire gives Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel 3.5 out of 5.
Standout Tracks: H.A.T.E.U, Ribbon, Angels Cry, I Want to Know What Love Is and Obsessed.
Labels: Mariah Carey, Music Review
Friday, September 11, 2009
As seen on: The UrbanWire
Naming themselves after a day of the week, platinum-selling 5-member The Saturdays is finally back with their second album, Wordshaker, and they’re on a mission to establish themselves as one of Britain’s biggest girl group in the decade.
It seems that Lady Luck is on their side this time round, as their competitor Sugababes is imploding due to their recent change in lineup while Girls Aloud, on the other hand, is on a short hiatus. Keeping our fingers crossed, we hope that The Saturdays will make the best out of this situation to finally score their first number 1 hit and possibly a number 1 album.
The Saturdays are famous for their catchy dance-pop tunes such as “Up” and “If This Is Love” and it’s very surprising to find out that the girls take on a bolder and brasher offering on their sophomore effort, sounding more confident and edgier.
Take “Forever is Over”, the brilliantly-produced first single of the album, which was originally intended for Kelly Clarkson. It left many fans worried and questioning the new direction that these girls are taking – pop rock and brimming with attitude. However, fans would be relieved to hear that The Saturdays are standing by their original dance-pop genre for the rest of the songs. Nevertheless, “Forever is Over” was successful on the UK charts as it debuted at number 2, making it their sixth top 10 hit.
The girls also proved that they aren’t afraid to spice things up by showing off their fierce and sassy attitude, especially on notable tracks such as “Ego”, “One Shot” as well as UrbanWire’s favourite, “Wordshaker”. The title track sees the group experimenting with different sounds and it’s one screaming to be a hit. In the song, the girls describe a fickle-minded guy as a “Wordshaker”, someone who twists the truth by saying one thing and doing another. The track is highly infectious with its addictive hook, “You such a wordshaker/ Talk and you take it back/ Twisting turning”.
The Saturdays also bring a refreshing side, especially on noteworthy ballads such as “Here Standing” and “Deeper” for which they were given writing credits. Both numbers sound sincere and heart-felt, exuding a fresh experience for your listening senses. In the song “Deeper”, the girls talk about going “deeper and deeper, head over heels” about a certain guy “hoping its for real this time” round.
Although the girls need some work on their ballads, the album makes an enjoyable listen from start to finish, with the perfect blend of various up-tempo and mid-tempo jams, which makes it more impressive than their debut album. Don’t belittle The Saturdays, they may still be a new girl group but they’ve constantly proved that they’re in a league of their own with a distinct and individual sound, setting them apart from others like Girls Aloud. This album didn’t disappoint and it definitely sounds as good as it looks.
Get ready to shake up the entire room with Wordshaker.
Standout Tracks: “Wordshaker,” “Here Standing”, “Deeper”, “Ego”, “Forever is Over”
The Saturdays Shake Things Up!
Naming themselves after a day of the week, platinum-selling 5-member The Saturdays is finally back with their second album, Wordshaker, and they’re on a mission to establish themselves as one of Britain’s biggest girl group in the decade.
It seems that Lady Luck is on their side this time round, as their competitor Sugababes is imploding due to their recent change in lineup while Girls Aloud, on the other hand, is on a short hiatus. Keeping our fingers crossed, we hope that The Saturdays will make the best out of this situation to finally score their first number 1 hit and possibly a number 1 album.
The Saturdays are famous for their catchy dance-pop tunes such as “Up” and “If This Is Love” and it’s very surprising to find out that the girls take on a bolder and brasher offering on their sophomore effort, sounding more confident and edgier.
Take “Forever is Over”, the brilliantly-produced first single of the album, which was originally intended for Kelly Clarkson. It left many fans worried and questioning the new direction that these girls are taking – pop rock and brimming with attitude. However, fans would be relieved to hear that The Saturdays are standing by their original dance-pop genre for the rest of the songs. Nevertheless, “Forever is Over” was successful on the UK charts as it debuted at number 2, making it their sixth top 10 hit.
The girls also proved that they aren’t afraid to spice things up by showing off their fierce and sassy attitude, especially on notable tracks such as “Ego”, “One Shot” as well as UrbanWire’s favourite, “Wordshaker”. The title track sees the group experimenting with different sounds and it’s one screaming to be a hit. In the song, the girls describe a fickle-minded guy as a “Wordshaker”, someone who twists the truth by saying one thing and doing another. The track is highly infectious with its addictive hook, “You such a wordshaker/ Talk and you take it back/ Twisting turning”.
The Saturdays also bring a refreshing side, especially on noteworthy ballads such as “Here Standing” and “Deeper” for which they were given writing credits. Both numbers sound sincere and heart-felt, exuding a fresh experience for your listening senses. In the song “Deeper”, the girls talk about going “deeper and deeper, head over heels” about a certain guy “hoping its for real this time” round.
Although the girls need some work on their ballads, the album makes an enjoyable listen from start to finish, with the perfect blend of various up-tempo and mid-tempo jams, which makes it more impressive than their debut album. Don’t belittle The Saturdays, they may still be a new girl group but they’ve constantly proved that they’re in a league of their own with a distinct and individual sound, setting them apart from others like Girls Aloud. This album didn’t disappoint and it definitely sounds as good as it looks.
Get ready to shake up the entire room with Wordshaker.
Standout Tracks: “Wordshaker,” “Here Standing”, “Deeper”, “Ego”, “Forever is Over”
Labels: Music Review, The Saturdays
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Somebody Else - LeToya Featuring Avant
(Sorry for the awful quality. I don't want you to be downloading this illegally. :p)
I'm in love with her. I'm in love with her songs. And this is my favourite song from her at the moment. Wow! The lyrics are so powerful! Talk about empowering women! Comparing to the other tracks from her latest album, 'Lady Love', this track presents a different side of her that we rarely see.
She had enough of all the man bashing in her record. One seems to wonder whether she has completely lost all faith in guys. It's disgusting to think that Slim Thug was her ex-boyfriend and she was so devoted to him (for three years!) until he cheated on her. Boy, if i ever had a chick like her, I'd cherish her till the very end.
LeToya, Lady Love definitely shows that she has a lot of love for her man. It starts off with LeToya saying, "You make this a lil hard for me." Then instead of arguing with her man, she's tired of all of it. LeToya shows that she needs her man in 'Somebody Else'; "I'd rather stay than to see you baby, Kissing and hugging somebody else." Of course she'd be jealous if she sees her man with somebody else. I know I would. I know you would.
And the track features Avant, his sleek vocals almost makes any women just wants to forgive him for all his wrongdoing.
& The best part of this track is definitely LeToya's vocals. Wow. Amazing.
Having this track on repeat every hour, maybe it is true that what you don't know won't hurt you.. cos
Ignorance is bliss.
P.s Yes, Full review of her album coming soon!
Labels: LeToya, Music Review
Monday, August 24, 2009
For all of you whom has not heard of LeToya, well... let's start with one of her latest music videos shall we? This one's called She Ain't Got and it is her second single from her sophomore album, Lady Love, which will hit stores on August 25th!
Fantastic uptempo song and a catchy chorus! The song is so full of energy and full of brash attitude, something that we would not expect from LeToya! She's definitely stepping up her game in her second album, that's for sure!
Omg I love this song. And if i must admit, I did LeToya's dance routine in the toilet and in my room, when no one is watching. Haha! Guilty pleasure, much?
I'll definitely be getting my album when it comes out and getting a few copies for my friends. Buy 'Lady Love' when it comes out!
I'll be posting my review on the album .... pretty soon! Watch out for it!
Goodnight peeps!
Fantastic uptempo song and a catchy chorus! The song is so full of energy and full of brash attitude, something that we would not expect from LeToya! She's definitely stepping up her game in her second album, that's for sure!
Omg I love this song. And if i must admit, I did LeToya's dance routine in the toilet and in my room, when no one is watching. Haha! Guilty pleasure, much?
I'll definitely be getting my album when it comes out and getting a few copies for my friends. Buy 'Lady Love' when it comes out!
I'll be posting my review on the album .... pretty soon! Watch out for it!
Goodnight peeps!
Labels: LeToya, Music Review
