2011 June 30 « Feed Limmy

30 June 2011

The Reason 4 ‘Take It All’ Music Video

Remember the hot trade pieces that showed up to the UK X Factor auditions last year? Here comes their debut single and video.

The Reason 4 (formerly known as just The Reason) is determined to not let their newfound fan base crumble to the curb so here they come forging ahead despite not making the Final 16 in last year’s mega jam-packed series. I remember being royally annoyed that they didn’t make it far in the competition. Need I remind you how utterly charming and on point they were with their acapella rendition of Cheryl Cole‘s ‘Fight For This Love’ [watch]?

The sexy man band – made up of Mark, Scott, Glen and Nathan – has since signed a publishing deal with Sony/ ATV and a record deal with Far West music to launch their recording career. The forthcoming debut album is a work in progress now with super producers Eliot Kennedy (hit maker for Take That and Boyzone) and Andy Murray (the man behind records for Christina Aguilera and Natasha Bedingfield).

Check out the mid-tempo new single ‘Take It All’ and three interesting points about the video:

1) They’re not selling eye candy, why?

There’s a perfectly dignified and rational response to this, girls. It’s their debut video and single – how can you expect them to be taken seriously if they come out dressed like the Roman back up dancers from Kylie‘s Aphrodite Les Folies tour? I think the angle these lads are going for here is respectable harmony man band. Think more Take That circa 2011 than say, Blue circa 2011.

2) The star-lit effects.

I am not crazy about the distracting overuse of lens flares and starlight screen saver. I think for a debut video that’s meant to give us a proper introduction to the band and these guys as individuals, they could’ve kept the production a lot more simpler and to the point. Think, beautiful close ups and well shot scenery scenes evocative of a classy Calvin Klein commercial.

3) The stuttering “oh” breakdown.

See – 2:19 mark. Yeah, I quite enjoyed that.

Footnotes:

The Reason 4 will release ‘Take It All’ in the UK on 7 August. Head to their website to hear more demos.

1 comment

30 June 2011

Taste Test: Chris Sebastian

We could all use with a bit more feel good pop in our lives and this guy delivers.

Introducing Chris Sebastian, an upcoming local pop/R&B sensation who is about to charm the airwaves with his debut single ‘F.L.O.W.’. Y’all might’ve already clocked the family resemblance but yes, he is Guy Sebastian‘s younger brother, and damn straight he is just as vocally gifted.

It’s interesting to hear that show producers actually approached him to try out for Australian Idol after his brother won the inaugural series but Chris declined and was determined to carve out his own path in the industry. The show would’ve given him instant exposure and thrown him right into the limelight but I’m glad he saw beyond the fast forward fame to do it this way. For all the immediate comparisons to his brother, appearing on Idol would not have been the look.

Chris has been writing and collaborating with the likes of Gary Pinto, Paulini, Kate Ceberano and ace Melbourne producer Jhay C.

Take a listen to Chris’ debut ‘F.L.O.W.’:

Footnotes:

‘F.L.O.W.’ is set to impact radios and be released digitally on 4 July. Get into it.

2 comments

30 June 2011

Paulini returns with new single ‘Show Me Your Colors’

I was actually gagging for some Paulini a few weeks ago so the arrival of a new single from the gorgeous Australian Idol warbler couldn’t have come at a better time.

‘Show Me Your Colors’ [Editor's note: Did you clock the Americanised spelling? Ms P, can we have a word?] is the second single released from Paulini‘s long awaited third solo album and it’s well sublime.

The ‘Ping Pong Mix’ of the song was cleverly released to coincide with her performance at China’s Volkswagon Table Tennis Championship. Yes, sista gurl got to perform at the opening and closing ceremony with a humble entourage of gorgeous Chinese dancers. Who would’ve thought that Paulini was coming for the Chinese market? I say, get it gurl.

Watch her flawless performance in Shanghai:

I first came across ‘Show Me Your Colors’ when it premiered on JOY 94.9‘s Sound Museum last night and the immediate reaction was, sure it’s not hawt enough to be considered single material for most pop stars reigning the charts these days but its simple breezy pop production is actually refreshing on the ears.

‘Show Me Your Colors’ kinda harks back to the early 00s pop balladry of say, ‘Pure Shores’. It showcases Paulini‘s sublime vocals and harmonies with delightful subtlety. The ping pong inflected beats might’ve been done by Enrique many a years ago but it fits the gig she was doing so stop haterading.

Fingers crossed for more music to come at a quicker pace. The last sighting was when Paulini guest vocalled and co-wrote Wildboyz ‘Touching A Stranger’ – a stomping dance number that could’ve easily been her ‘When Love Takes Over’. Check it out here:

I completely stan for this song and it really pains me to see that she wasn’t featured in the video or even credited as the vocalist. This needs to be corrected.

Footnotes:

Grab Paulini‘s new solo single ‘Show Me Your Colors (The Ping Pong Mix)’ on iTunes here.

5 comments

30 June 2011

Kelly Rowland reveals “Here I Am” tracklisting

Kelendria, we need to have a talk about this.

The gorgeous R&B and dance music glamazon Kelly Rowland is winning right now. She has won over the affection of her American urban fan base with the sexy new single ‘Motivation’ – returning her to peak relevance there for the first time since ‘Dilemma’ – and over in the UK, she has copped a Top 10 dance smash in Alex Gaudino‘s ‘What A Feeling’ plus a lucrative X Factor judging gig.

Her time has finally come and while I still believe that Kelly will be the Donna Summer of this generation, I might have to suspend all hopes for a full-fledged dance album. The much delayed third solo album – Here I Am – is looking like a predominantly sexy R&B affair featuring productions by Jim Jonsin, Darkchild, Rico Love, Tricky Stewart and the A-list songwriting talents of Ne-Yo and Ester Dean.

Check out the full tracklisting as revealed on Toya’s World:

1 – I’m Dat Chick
2 – Work It Man (feat. Lil Play)
3 – Motivation (feat. Lil Wayne)
4 – Lay It On Me (feat. Big Sean)
5 – Feelin’ Me Right Now
6 – Turn It Up
7 – All of The Night
8 – Keep It Between Us
9 – Commander (feat. David Guetta)
10 – Down for Whatever

Deluxe edition bonus tracks:

11 – Heaven & Earth
12 – Each Other
13 – Motivation (feat. Lil Wayne) [Rebel Rock Remix]
14 – Commander (feat. Nelly) [Urban Remix]

As much as I love ‘Commander’ [Editor's note: Feed Limmy Song of 2010], I gotta throw a side eye at its inclusion on the album. What business has this wig-snatching empire state of a dance single got in an R&B album? I just hope the surrounding new recordings back up and mingle well with this. I do not want a disrupted listening experience, Kelendria, do you hear me?

Another questionable choice is the omission of her flop urban singles ‘Grown Woman’ and ‘Rose Coloured Glasses’. I am probably most pressed about the omission of the latter because ‘RCG’ spoke to my soul. Out of the many Ester Dean-penned smashes recorded and released by the likes of Rihanna, Keri and Nicole Scherzinger – this was the gem I wish everybody didn’t sleep on.

Watch the video for ‘Rose Coloured Glasses’ here:

I am hoping that it surfaces in an eventual album repackage or revised tracklisting for different territories. I know the single wasn’t formally released in Australia but I think it could have a fighting chance on our airwaves. It’s not the Kelly Rowland Australians want to hear, as she’s still fondly remembered here for ‘When Love Takes Over’, but it’s a quality track that deserves to be heard.

Meanwhile, it’s nice to see the ferocious ‘I’m Dat Chick’ [Editor's note: can we formally call this Kelly's 'Diva'?] and ‘Each Other’, an immensely sensual track co-written by Rico Love, making the final cut. They weren’t groundbreaking songs by any means but definitely some of the more promising Kelly leaks.

My theory is that the European or international version of Here I Am will feature a slightly different tracklisting with more dance tracks slotted in. Let her get on with the American release first and then we’ll see how the rest unfolds.

Footnotes:

Kelly Rowland will launch Here I Am in America on 26 July.

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