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LOCKDOWN LISTENING - Charli D'Amelio's sister Dixie, KPOP band Red Velvet and London singer Mabel!

Updated: Apr 8, 2023

Hey all!


Another music roundup for songs that I've heard recently. This week has a massive variety of songs; including those from TikTok, X Factor UK, YouTube and even KPOP! Take a read and I hope you find some new music to add to a playlist!


Dixie D’Amelio - Be Happy (1st July 2020)

Before TikTok, we wouldn’t have heard of Charli or Dixie D’Amelio - (well to be honest, we wouldn’t have heard of any of the D’Amelio family!). Anyways, after they both became famous through the social media app, she released her first music video for the song ‘Be Happy’. It seems to be shot in their house including outside in a swimming pool where Dixie seems to be standing still with an umbrella above her head? - but the water’s already in the pool so what’s the umbrella for lol? I believe this song is about raising awareness of being sad and spending time alone - ‘If I’m down, just leave me there let me be’ is the perfect example of this meaning! The location where the music video has been shot at, is a lovely house - and if you watch the ‘behind the scenes’ video on Dixie’s YouTube channel, it shows how nervous she was to fall backwards into the pool for the final scene!

AJ Tracey & Mabel - West Ten (2nd July 2020)

After the release of Mabel’s album ‘High Expectations’ (which I was lucky enough to attend the tour for), she released her latest collaborative single with AJ Tracey. The music video has two main locations; a nightclub and a galaxy themed scene. AJ sings lyrics from one of his other songs which includes the words ‘live and direct’ and I believe the song is about achieving all that you can and showing the progress in your life. Some of the lyrics state that AJ used to let his friends sleep on his sofa and that he would usually have a straight face when playing poker, which could be referring to nights out with friends and the idea of gambling? Either way the music video was really well shot and instead of the typical tracking shot of the artists, there were purposeful glitches which made the music video very interesting!

Charli XCX - Enemy (2nd July 2020)

I can’t remember the last time I watched a vertical music video, but anyway here’s my review of Charli XCX’s new song and music video. The whole video was shot in black and white which is a lot more unique to some of her previous music videos. Charli has also gone makeup free and it’s good to see that she’s feeling body confident - without having to worry about those internet trolls who may say negative things behind the screen. The song is called ‘enemy’ and I believe she’s either singing about somebody who she used to be friends with, who’s now become her enemy, or it’s a self-reflective song where Charli was her own enemy at one point in her life? To bring a most realistic element to the music video there is a short audio tape of her explaining that it’s difficult to be yourself when you’re around a lot of people, and apparently however she is feeling, hurts her inside. The music video was mostly shot on a main road from the back of a car but the meaning of the song is therefore able to be focused on a lot more as there’s not much happening in the background!

Spencer Elmer - Way I Feel (3rd July 2020)

YouTuber and content creator Spencer Elmer known online as ‘Elmo Films’ has released a new single and I thought I would write a quick review about it. At the beginning of the music video Spencer is seen in his house walking down the stairs before the video transitions to a variety of different locations. I believe the song is about comparing how simple life was for everyone in the past, and during these difficult times, things have become a little more complicated. The overall vibe of the song is quite relaxing, and it’s good to see some more online content creators become braver to share their music - no matter how big or small their platform is. We’ve seen the likes of Dani Cohn, Saffron Barker, Millie T, KSI and many others who have found an additional route to entertain people through their music and it’s great to see!

Jessie Ware - Step Into My Life (5th July 2020)

From the first frame I knew this music video would have been filmed in a bowling alley...and then I saw a human dinosaur come to life which was interesting, but definitely something that I am going to remember. The song is very relaxing and I believe it’s about bringing somebody that Jessie has a ‘crush’ on, into her life! One of the things about love and relationships is that people often know when they have found the right person for them and those that don’t, will sometimes be surprised with an invitation to be a part of someone’s life. In the music video, I noticed that the very over dramatic dancer had a lovely golden jacket on, which almost matched the wooden floor of the bowling alley...idk it was a nice jacket, that was all I wanted to share!

Jake Quickenden - When you kissed him (5th July 2020)

Everytime I see my boy Jake releasing a new song, I have to make sure that I listen to it and support him, as I have from the beginning! Jake is seen in his black and white jacket, ripped jeans and a black hat to make the look! I’m sure that this song is about an ex girlfriend of his (as he’s currently with Sophie and I know he’s not a bad boy!). Apparently his ex girlfriend may have moved on very quickly with another boy and Jake’s wondering if she thought about him? I mean...if I had the chance to kiss Jake, I wouldn’t say no! The music video is shot on a beach location and I loved the different shots used to make this music video. I wonder if his new girlfriend helped him to make the music video?? Just a thought...

Red Velvet’s IRENE & SEULGI - Monster (6th July 2020)

I’m sure we’ve all heard of Red Velvet, BUT did you realise that two of the members were releasing their own little album called ‘Monster’? - no, neither did I. Some of the beginning lyrics explain that they are going to ensure somebody only dreams about them...and that they’re the monsters! Scary! The music video seems to be set in what looks like a spaceship and a galaxy, both mixed into one? I have actually started to like and appreciate KPOP music a lot more, because even though I don’t know what the lyrics mean (other than reading the brief translated lyrics); the dancing, tunes of the songs and the backdrops of the video make it very interesting to watch!

Korede Bello - Mi Casa Su Casa (6th July 2020)

The final music video on this week’s blog list is another international song by Korede Bello. The title of the song translated into English is ‘My house, your house’ - so I’m guessing he’s planning on inviting a girl to stay with him. These sorts of songs I have a soft spot for, because there’s a mix of English and another language - like what we see with KPOP music. The beginning of the music video was shot at his house filled with romantic lighting and a smart suit, which transitions to shots of him outside on the grass (with a first hand perspective of the person he seems to be in love with). The vibe of the song is very catchy and dancy, and with the mix of transitions and colours it’s definitely something that can become more mainstream. The song is just below three minutes which means that as you’re getting into the feel of the lyrics, it ends, BUT the colours, graphics and simplicity of this music video definitely made it stand out, and reminded me of an afro caribbean type of song with an English extra!


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