2011 July 15 « Feed Limmy

15 July 2011

Melanie C ‘Think About It’ Music Video

Another Melanie C video already! Y’all ain’t ready for this.

The gorgeous Spice memaw is wasting no time in serving new material and if I had to guess, this taste of guitar-driven, dance/pop heaven here is probably a better indication of what’s to come on her forthcoming album The Sea.

‘Think About It’ is catchy and so to the point. I’m really living for the production and sizeable hook. It’s Melanie’s first time collaborating with The Cutfathers (the production team behind Kylie‘s ‘All I See’) and the result sounds like a cohesive evolution on the rock/pop Melanie C sound we’ve all come to love post-Spice.

If there’s one thing you can say about her discography is that Melanie’s sonic transition from one album to another rarely feels forced or jarringly awkward. She has come to a point – I mean, this is solo album number five now – where she’s confident in her sound, what suits her and what her fan base wants to hear.

I have to say, I was a little put off when I heard ‘Rock Me’ but the video restored the faith a little. With ‘Think About It’, the love is a lot more immediate. It works for Melanie in the way of achieving organic danceable pop that fits her style and as for the video, here are three things you need to consider about ’Think About It’:

1) The oh-no-she-di’nt catsuit.

Oh yes she fucking did. A nude lace catsuit, y’all. Mind blown.

2) Screen projections.

It’s a rather inexpensive but effective look for a pop video. Some of these graphics have to be Macbook screen savers, am I right? If done properly, the concept of dancing in front of these projections can be visually stimulating like what Sarah Chatfield did in Freemasons/Wynter Gordon‘s ‘Believer’ video. Melanie hasn’t done too poorly for herself now, has she?

3) Unstoppable.

As I said when I reviewed her ‘Rock Me’ video, Melanie C is looking flawless as ever and she really is ageing quite nicely. I also feel like she is becoming more confident in her figure now and there’s plenty more video vixen realness to deliver in the years to come.

Footnotes:

Melanie C‘s ‘Think About It’ is getting serviced to UK radios as we speak. The single will be released first in Germany, Switzerland and Austria on 26 August. It is out on 4 September globally via iTunes, the same day as its parent album The Sea. Have your coin purses ready.

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15 July 2011

Pixie Lott ‘All About Tonight’ Music Video

Young Pixie Lott is looking rather sun-kissed and full of life here, am I right?

The 20-year old English pop sensation is back with the first single from her forthcoming album and she’s ready to flaunt a sultrier image. Can you handle it? Pixie has had seven consecutive UK Top 20 hits and so there comes a bit of pressure to battle the sophomore slump with this one.

‘All About Tonight’ isn’t connecting with me in a real way. Something about the featherweight dance synths just sound a little dated to me. I just think it’s worrying when The Wanted‘s new single feels more immediate than this. As for the video, it looks like a fun affair that wonderfully captures the frivolity of a night out with the girls.

I don’t really know much about Pixie‘s past videos but is this dancing in sexy one-piece a new thing for her? It seems like it might be. Here are three thoughts about the ‘All About Tonight’ video:

1) Doing Jo O’Meara for the 2011 crowd.

There’s something about Pixie’s look in this video that really recalls the beauty of many British female pop stars of the early 00s era. I’m picking up a little smouldering Rachel Stevens in another scene and the blonde crop is giving Jo O’Meara eleganza. In short, there’s a spirit in this video that makes me wanna believe that it’s channeling the early 00s. All we need is some leather pants and them “futuristic” sets with metal, glass and water cascading down then we’re set.

2) What about this scene?

Look at the trouble they went to to get this scene set up all pretty under the bridge and it was so sorely under-utilised in the video. The heinous wig Pixie has got on has a lot to answer for.

3) Dear me, Ms Pixie.

I always thought that Pixie Lott was designed as a young soul/pop warbler. The exuberant and fun young party girl look is giving me an unexpected spin but none more so than the smoky new look she’s serving here. She a woman now. Comparing this sophomore album transformation with that of say Gabriella Cilmi circa ‘On A Mission’, this one is far less explosive and jaw-dropping.

Footnote:

Pixie Lott will release ‘All About Tonight’ on 4 September in the UK. Side bar: she is featured on the new Selena Gomez & The Scene album track ‘We Own The Night’, a track Pixie wrote with Toby Gad.

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15 July 2011

Jessica Mauboy ‘Inescapable’ Music Video

Jessica Mauboy is so cute when she’s being a coy little video vixen.

Australia’s best selling Idol diva Jessica Mauboy is threatening a repackaged edition of her Get ‘Em Girls album and here to fanfare the new era is this effervescent single: ‘Inescapable’.

Y’all know serial balladeer Diane Warren is behind this and it truly sounds like a pop jam fit for Charice or any of them Disney pop princesses. I just want Jess to come through and do the unexpected again like she did with the ghetto fabulous ‘Get ‘Em Girls’ but for now, she’s gotta catch them hits with something infectious and radio ready. Side bar: I know a lot of fans were gagging for ‘Maze’ to be a single and I’m not completely opposed to that.

It’ll be interesting to see how the seven new songs on the beefed up Get ‘Em Girls alter the album’s feel. But for now, let’s check on three points about the ‘Inescapable’ video:

1) So glam.

The turquoise and gold is so retro glam but best of all, it really brings out Jessica’s gorgeous skin colour. Remember how they tried this palette on Paulini‘s Superwoman album promo shots and it looked divine? In other note, the gold grill frame with a mic protruding from above isn’t quite the business now, is it? It’s like they’ve taken one look at the song title and couldn’t decide if they wanna sequester Jess in the video. That mic was just there for good measure to represent the singingness.

2) Keep it flirty, keep it clean.

I enjoy this playful scene where Jess is all over the dude tied up to a chair. The thing I look forward to in any Jessica Mauboy video is her smile and I’m really glad they kept it fun, flirty and non-sexual. This is not the video to be winding and grinding up on a man. I just don’t feel that. Having said that, gurl, if you’re not going to please that cutie – step aside and let me cater to him.

3) Mirrors and wind machines.

Yes, diva. You better own that shit. No video is complete without hair flicking and wind machines. This scene, especially with the pink lighting, is kinda reminiscent of Kat DeLuna‘s ‘Push Push’. Possibly also a really good Supré commercial. I’m not one to judge.

Footnotes:

Jessica Mauboy‘s ‘Inescapable’ is now released on Aussie iTunes – both radio version (Youngboyz Mix) and OFM remix. The repackaged edition of Get ‘Em Girls is slated for an August release.

7 comments

15 July 2011

Leona Lewis premieres comeback single ‘Collide’ and teases album

Syco’s prized warbler has been out of the game for a minute but she’s been steady on her reinvention grind. Question is, will you approve of the new and improved Leona Lewis?

The X Factor diva has been teasing us with a sexier and more fashion forward image lately. I reckon a lot of it has to do with her growing into her popstardom and making bolder decisions after ditching her long-term boyfriend.

There’s also been talks of Ms Lewis experimenting in the studio with dance music and other upbeat shit we normally wouldn’t put past her. What’s happened to the beige, y’all? Maybe it’s all coming out in the wash now and we’re about to see Leona breakout in a new way.

The 26-year old warbler will premiere her new single ‘Collide’ today on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 1 show – as you do. However, the single won’t hit retail until September. They’re tentatively taste testing this Leona “summer dance anthem” first to see how it sits with the people.

Digital Spy has described ‘Collide’ as a “dance-pop anthem built around a staccato piano riff”. The song was written by Autumn Rowe (the talent behind Alexis Jordan’s hits) and was produced by Sandy Vee, who did tracks on David Guetta‘s One Love album.

Leona’s forthcoming third studio album is still in the works but the roll call of A-list songwriters and producers she has teamed up with thus far include: Claude Kelly (hit songwriter behind Whitney and Jessie J), Steve Robson (Take That), Fraser T Smith (Adele and Clare Maguire), Hurts, Ryan Tedder (the man who gave Leona her epic hits ‘Bleeding Love’ and ‘Happy’), Chuck Harmony (producer behind Ne-Yo and Mary J. Blige), Ammo (producer for Jordin Sparks and Katy Perry), rapper Naughty Boy (who is also on Cher Lloyd‘s upcoming album) and Emeli Sandé (Chipmunk and Professor Green).

It’ll be interesting to see how the project turns out. Last thing we need is for Leona to come through with some hot mess of an album where it’s trying too hard to pitch her as a multi-genre pop artiste.

Footnotes:

Leona will release ‘Collide’ on 4 September in the UK. A remix by Afrojack will accompany the release.

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