Hey everyone!
Here's another short (ish) blog post of some songs that I've stumbled across recently, from YouTube trending recommendations! There's a variety of TikTok stars turned singer songwriters, KPOP singers going solo, rap music, young talented singers and also some unknown artists! Without anymore delay, here's my review!
Ellise 'Feeling Something Bad' - (12th March 2021)
In this music video I was very unsure what the meaning of the song was, other than the fact that Ellise is feeling something bad. The video seems to be set in a tent with people wearing full body protection and face masks, and there seem to be flashing lights everywhere. One of the lyrics she sings is 'making me sick and my stomach hurts, got my hand out and I don't wanna let go', which suggests that there is something making her feel a little at ease, requiring her to get treatment that she wouldn't have had otherwise. Her use of the words 'don't wanna let go' suggest that whoever she's holding onto is a big part in her life, or she trusts them with her life. There are other shots throughout the video including Ellise's head surrounded by doll heads, and multiple of the same person appearing and disappearing in a dark corridor which are very unique and interesting shots! At the end of the video, she sings the line 'how do I say what I want to say, when I can't look you in the eye', suggesting that she has either started to lose her vision, or she's not confident enough to look somebody in the eye while she's speaking to them.
ROSE (from BLACKPINK) 'On The Ground' - (12th March 2021)
In this music video, Rose seems to speak about how she's achieved so much in her career so far, almost suggesting that she has had to prove to people that she's not going to fail. The beginning of the video sees a car that is on fire, with her sitting in a very glamorous room with a chandelier light. She's seen wearing a black and pink dress singing the words 'look at me I'm never coming down' with other shots throughout the video that help bring the lyrics to life. One of my favourite outfits is where she's in a white dress standing in front of a white background, which leads into a variety of slow motion shots with sparkles falling to the ground in the back of the scene. She sings the lyris 'I worked my whole life just go get right' which suggests that she's been able to take care of herself by working really hard, and she adds that 'everything I need is on the ground' which could also suggest that people that are still alive and around her are the only people she needs at the moment. The reference to the 'ground' almost suggests that she's able to stand on her own two feet, and other people that can do the same, are those that she is able to stay connected with. The final parts of the music video see Rose in a pink dress in what seems to be a girly inspired house, and then she floats away over a field of flowers in a pink dress, coming away from the ground, which could suggest that she's now wanting to go her own way and do her own things!
Peach PRC 'Josh' - (12th March 2021)
This next single seems to be a debut single for Peach PRC who seems to be singing about a boy called Josh who she's no longer interested in, but he continues to call her. Some of the opening lyrics include 'ex boyfriend Josh won't stop calling' and Peach can be seen on the television with pink hair, makeup and alternative clothing with her 'Josh remover', singing the words 'you're living as a baller on a budget of £20, including my rent money' which might suggest that any money she is giving him, he's wasting on alcohol or not actually putting towards his rent, and she seems to be singing about the fact that Josh is lazy and isn't looking for a job. Every channel that Josh switches to, Peach appears on the screen, firstly with the weather forecast channel and then the news, where both of the news anchor's beginning joining in with mouthing the lyrics. She sings the words 'I thought you were blocked, f*ck off stop calling me Josh' which suggests that she thought he wasn't going to call anymore, but he's still able to get through to her phone, or her mobile number has changed. Other phrases that appear on the screen include 'clean up your act', 'stop calling' and 'credit card declined' which all suggest that she wants to move on, and it's quite a comedic way of showcasing how she feels! Think this was a great track with a unique music video!
KSI (ft YUNGBLYD & Polo G) 'Patience' - (15th March 2021)
The next song that I decided to watch and review was British content creator KSI along with YUNGBLUD and Polo G! I think this song is really cool and explains the times we are currently in very well. The majority of the video is set in a graveyard with the opening singer Polo G singing the words 'need patience because we've been going through changes' which could be speaking about changes in life, or the regular changes in lockdown restrictions. YUNGBLUD can also be seen in the video with his really cool red hair whilst wearing an all black outfit, and as he throws down his cigarette to the ground, it sets a fire trail to a pile of leaves that nicely introduces KSI to the video. This is a theme throughout the video that easily allows shots to transition in and out, and I think that's a really unique part of how this video was edited together. KSI and YUNGBLUD are both seen on top of an isolated building which seems to be surrounded by water, with KSI singing the lyrics 'the tables are turning, I don't need bad energy' which could simply be aimed at those who are consistently sharing or commenting negative things whether it's about him, or their current situation at the moment, rather than just being grateful that they are still able to live their life.
Imagine Dragons 'Follow You' - (16th March 2021)
The next music video review is of a song called 'Follow You' by Imagine Dragons, and it's quite a comedic video with actors Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson as the main characters. The main theme of the music video is that she's treated him to a performance from his favourite band and after he gets excited it's The Killers, she reveals it's Imagine Dragons, to what he replies 'that's your favourite band!'. The entire music video sees all of the band members trying to impress Kaitlin whilst they sing the song, live, at a private and quite intimate gig in an empty venue. Some of the opening lyrics include 'I want to put you in the spotlight' and 'I'll always be around wherever life takes you' which are both phrases to suggest that whoever they're singing about is quite clearly a very important person. Throughout the video there are lots of big drums and flashing lights, and towards the end, Rob ends up becoming part of the band and holding a rose out for Kaitlin, and they made a swift exit before the band started playing Radioactive, one of their other tracks!
Jessie Murph 'Upgrade' - (17th March 2021)
Viral TikTok star Jessie Murph has released her first music video called 'Upgrade' which seems to be discussing the relationship that she was in with a previous man, who seems to have moved onto another woman, that Jessie doesn't approve on. In the music video, the scene is set in a dark room with blue tints and lights at the back of the room, almost looking very deserted, with a variety of panning shots to help set the mood. Some of the first lyrics she sings include 'you must be crazy if you think you could ever replace me' which suggests that this upgrade isn't at all worrying for Jessie, who further explains that this new woman will make them not have the best looking babies. She comes to a conclusion trhat 'I don't want you back', which sounds like she's more disappointed than angry, and also suggests that she's happy on her own whilst she waits for the next lover to come along!
wewantwraiths 'Know You' - (18th March 2021)
The next song is by a masked Somali rapper from Leicester and the opening of the video showed a snowy environment with trees, and the singer in a black jacket and a mask. Throughout the video there are great video transitions from one shot to the next, with some of his first lyrics 'when was the last time you dressed', almost explaining that it's been too long since people have had normal lives. He goes on to sing 'we've both got demons in our head' which suggests that throughout these recent times, they both have negative thoughts and energy going through their head and there's something almost taking control of their mind. He also speaks about how this girl explains how her ex boyfriend tried to expose her, with the rapper singing 'you're missing out on everything I showed you', which could mean that he has taught her things about life, love or money and she's almost just forgotten about all of that and decided to leave. In the video there are lots of cars and night time shots which could explain that this rapper has a lot of expensive items in his possession, and he further explains 'I can't even find you on Insta and you even blocked me on Twitter', suggesting that she doesn't want to stay in contact with this individual, and the best way to do that was by blocking him wherever she could.
Machine Gun Kelly (ft CORPSE) 'DAYWALKER!' - (18th March 2021)
I feel like MGK is one of those artists that you will either love or hate, and I simply think he's very interesting in the way he writes and performs his songs, as I have seen other music videos of his before and they are most certainly eye grabbing. At the beginning of the music video the initial shot shows a variety of security cameras with Machine Gun Kelly instantly getting in a fight with a guy with pink hair, adding 'I see somebody speaking with the teeth I wanna break' suggesting that he's definitely not a fan of this individual. One of the scenes in the video sees a female in a tight black outfit, sitting on a yellow chair in a blue room and sometimes hanging down from the ceiling with a red eye, which adds a dramatic effect to the song, and suggests that there is some form of anger involving more than just MGK himself. Towards the end of the video MGK whispers 'I wanna know if I tell you a secret will you keep it' and there's also a really weird but also quite colourful shot of him shaking his head around, seen with green hair and a yellow jacket, before the video abruptly ends. It was the craziest 3 minutes of my life but it will definitely be something I won't forget.
Lady XO 'No Hook' - (18th March 2021)
Another female rapper that could be about to make her place in the industry! Lady XO has released another original song called 'No Hook' which seems to explain the parts of her life that she is able to take control of. She is seen wearing a cream outfit and throwing money all over the floor. Her initial lyrics include the words 'memories don't fade' which can suggest that whether previous experiences are good or bad, they will never be forgotten as they are things that you have physically gone through yourself. She adds that 'he be trying to get a hold of me but I'm hard to reach' which suggests also that there are men who are interested in her but can't get through, maybe because she is busy talking to other people or that she's got a successful start to her music career so far and she might think that some of these men are coming after her for her money. She explains that she keeps her circle small, and this is something that a lot of people do anyways; because you don't need to keep up with 100's or 1,000's of friends all the time...you have a small group and then an outer bubble of mutual friends. The variety of shots were filmed in a furnished apartment with a fresh white look to the kitchen, and also on the balcony with Lady XO sitting on a chair!
Lola Young 'Ruin My Makeup' - (18th March 2021)
Lola is one of those artists who has grown up so quickly over the last few years, having already released an EP and now a new single which could potentially be from an upcoming album. The music is very simple and the entirety of it shows Lola's face in a close up shot with a black background filling the empty space around her. The song seems to be about love and the direction of where she wants to go in her life. Some of the lyrics include 'I don't know which path I'm taking because they all look the same name' which could simply be a dig at the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that we can't go anywhere or do anything, so unsure of what the future brings. She admits that she still wants to suffer for a little while, which almost hints at the fact that she's suffered enough already, and she's happy to stay with this new normal before reverting back to our old ways. In the chorus she sings the lyrics 'if I cry about you, about love, I'll only ruin my makeup' and explains that this lover can get down on their knees and pretend that she's Satan, as she explains earlier that she's an athiest, which some people not agree with, but others probably won't care. She explains that she'd love to sing and dance to The Beatles, lie and say that she loves someone and then let them go because she knows they'll be back tomorrow. I think this suggests that this individual likes Lola's company, and for her to get what she wants, she might have to tell a few stories in order to keep people on her side!
Bugzy Malone (ft Emeli Sande) 'Welcome To The Hood' - (18th March 2021)
The overall vibe of this music video seems to cover the struggles of living in a particular area. At the beginning of the video there is a nice sunrise or sunset with a shot of a lady sitting on top of a building. There are various shots throughout the video of people wearing masks, showing signs including 'Bury End Street', the City of Manchester and 'Free the North' graffici writing on a brick wall. Some of the opening lyrics include 'calling Heaven but God never gets in touch' which suggests that some people in this area are reaching out for help and trying to pray that somebody will listen to their calling, but their issues aren't getting resolved or that people are being lost too early. Bugzy sings that boredom leads to depression and depression leads to drugs, and I think that this is a real issue for a lot of students, graduates and young people at the moment, because we're all restricted from going anywhere, seeing anyone or doing anything, unless you've got a job and aren't able to work from home. There are further shots of people in the music showing NHS staff in hospitals emotionally looking down the camera, knife crims victims, arguments between family members, people smoking and single mother's holding their babies. Bugzy descibed the mental health help as being Mum, and that often families have more than one Dad. He adds that 'being a criminal is not part of the plan', but says that if people aren't being accepted into jobs, then it's the easiest thing for peple to turn to. Emeli Sande's lyrics include 'welcome to the place that I call home', adding the lyrics 'be careful it doesn't turn your heart to stone', suggesting that you could come into some problems if you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She adds that you either live or you're dead, and that you lose or you win, so it's all a bit of a game whether you survive or not. I think the music video was really inspirational as it clearly explains the challenges that some people are going through, especially young people, but it also highlights a variety of issues including some of the ones mentioned earlier that people and seek support and advice about if they are struggling to find things to do!
Lana Del Ray 'White Dress' - (19th March 2021)
This relaxing single by Lana Del Ray seems to explain the part of her life where she was a waitress wearing a white dress and speaks about the time before she was famous. The majority of the video seems Lana rollerskating down the empty highway with the sunset approaching behind her, skating next to a sandy desert. Some of her lyrics include 'I was a waitress, working the night shift and you were my man', and there are a variety of collated shots which makes the music video look really interesting. She sings that before she was famous she would be listening to music from The White Stripes and Kings of Leon, speaking about the journey she had been on from being a 19 year old waitress to the singer songwriter she is today. Towards the end of the video she explains that she and her boyfriend would talk about life and sit outside till dawn, probably speaking about their comments interests of love, which is lovely to hear, and as many of the comments suggest, this seems to be a really therapeutic song to listen to! Lana's album 'Chemtrails Over The Country Club' is also out now!
Justin Bieber (ft Daniel Caesar & Giveon) 'Peaches' - (19th March 2021)
In this music video, Justin is seen in a car with two other singer songwriters. The main location for the video is driving down an empty highway with a very dancey music beat in the background. Justin's opening lyrics include that he gets his life 'from the source' adding that he buys some of his drugs from California. He continues to sing the words 'the way I breathe you in, it's the texture of your skin' which sounds like he is describing his use of drugs, rather than speaking of breathing into a human being because that would be a little awkward. Throughout the video there are various outfit changes, with Justin seen in a matching light pink outfit and matching hairband, with transitions to shots with the word 'Peaches' in big letters scattered around the various locations with flashing lights. Giveon's verse of the song includes the line 'hand in my hand because I'm yours' which explains that he might have found his match, adding 'can't ignore you're right for me' which also suggests that he doesn't need to go looking for anybody else, as he might have found them here! At the end of the music video, all 3 of the guys seem to be dancing in an orange bubble and the camera panning around them with extra close up shots edited in as well! I think this song is great, and Justin's new album is out now so I'll be reviewing that soon!
Addison Rae 'Obsessed' - (19th March 2021)
Another TikTok star called Addison Rae has released an original song called 'Obsessed' and it seems to be an obsession with herself, which isn't always a bad thing if you've been the sort of person to go through confidence and self acceptance issues in the past. At the beginning of the music video there is a pink background which sees Addison lying there in a black outfit, opening the song with the lyrics 'you turned our song down baby what for?' hinting at the fact that whoever her 'baby' is, either didn't want to sing or dance to a song that they both loved. She explains that there are roses on the door, asking if they want to say something they've never said before, adding that 'you were obsessed with me, so I took a second and said me too' which is the main lyric of the song that shows that she's confident within her body and herself and doesn't need to be validated by anyone else. The video also has a variety of other interesting shots including some dance routines where Addison can be seen at the front, and she speaks about doing her hair like waves on the beach, and wearing a dress so tight you can't even breathe. There are also shots which almost seem like a split screen, with one half of the screen red and the other half blue. She also explained the times when the sunset would be out, and she was in a car with someone driving past where she first met this lover of hers! It's a really fun and lively song, and I think it's the first of many more to come as Addison is only 20 years old and she's probably not even reached the peak of her career!
Quadeca 'Sisyphus' (20th March 2021)
YouTube content creator Quadeca who is known for his football and rapping videos has released another original single called 'Sisyphus', which after a quick Google is the process of somebody in Greek mythology who was forced to 'roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top', which is what he seems to be describing in this music video. The environment of the video is set in a very snowy environment, and his long brown hair looks really cool. Some of the opening lyrics include 'you're only with me in the back of my mind now' which almost seems that although he might have had feelings for somebody, he's keeping himself to himself. Throughout the song he explains that he would love to live in a log cabin, and not having to reply to messages or log back into anything, adding 'maybe it's my fate, maybe it's all my fault', suggesting that either life or his life actions have got him to the place that he's currently at now, which is an interesting way to think about life, but definitely something not to take for granted, as you might have a really bad week and then your life could change within a matter of hours...so just keep positive I say!
I hope you enjoyed this review of some more of the trending songs over the last few weeks, and I'll be back at some point with some more songs, albums and music videos! But until then, happy lockdown and happy *almost* getting back to ordinary life! Stay safe! x
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