Gabriella Cilmi « Feed Limmy

22 January 2012

Gabriella Cilmi returns with ‘Vicious Love’

One of my favourite scrubs from the Aussie pop hemisphere is back – sadly without them camp-as-tits disco beats. So hide your mirror balls and lines of cocaine because Gabriella Cilmi is keeping it sober and organic this time around.

The gorgeous Melbourne-born girl first caught our attention a few years back when – at the sweet age of 16 – she broke out with her debut single ‘Sweet About Me’. The song went #1 in Australia and became the third-biggest selling single in the country of 2008.

After a flawless, but albeit momentary, foray into disco pop on her sophomore album Ten, the 20-year old has now reverted to a more organic and rootsy style.

‘Vicious Love’ is the first taste of Gabi‘s forthcoming third, yet-untitled studio album. Take a look at the low-key music video she has uploaded for it:

Stylistically, ‘Vicious Love’ sounds dreamier than anything you’ve heard the girl do before. It’s a nice closer track for an acoustic set one might perform at a cafeteria, I suppose? You can definitely hear greater strength and control in Gabi’s voice too when she’s singing in the higher register.

Personally, I preferred it when Ms Cilmi took a risk with her disco pop album. I know on paper making straight up pop may seem like an easy way out for an artist of her standing, but really y’all need to study the quality she was serving on Ten.

The lush intergalactic 80s ballads ‘Robots’ and ‘Love Me Cos You Want To’ (which was co-written by Ellie Goulding) are simply timeless. There was nothing easy or sell out-ish about servicing disco beats and Bee Gees-style falsettos on tracks like ‘Hearts Don’t Lie’ or doing a bit of Donna Summer for the present century in ‘Superhot’. I feel like most of Ten was more inspired and captured a greater deal of imagination than something like ‘Vicious Love’.

I don’t wish to look back on Gabriella Cilmi‘s discography in five years time and find that Ten was her one and only foray into intelligent, fun pop. Basically, Ten cannot end up like the 0304 of Jewel‘s career – brief moment of colourful, quality pop followed by slabs of beige until the end of time.

Footnotes:

Stay tuned for more from Gabriella Cilmi in 2012 as she readies her third studio album.

It’ll be interesting to see if ‘Vicious Love’ does end up becoming her first single or if it’s just unleashed as a buzz track. My money’s on the latter.

25 December 2010

Feed Limmy Albums of 2010: #10 – #1

Yet another annual passes by without any sign of a Holly Valance or Sophie Monk comeback. How do I live? Seriously.

I guess these ten will have to do.

Hark! The final chapter in Feed Limmy‘s massive Top 30 Songs and Albums of 2010: here are the records that have been on repeat – amazed me, taken me on a journey, and had me grooving and miming badly in my car.

Here’s my ten for 2010:

#10 – Aphrodite by Kylie Minogue

Goddess MinMin crafts her most cohesive album since Fever. But where Aphrodite lacks in standout tracks, it makes up for in euphoria and Mykonos pop. You love it.
Key tracks: ‘All The Lovers’, ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Mighty Rivers’ and ‘Better Than Today’.

#9 – Progress by Take That

It takes an almighty manband like Take That to define 21st century boyband pop for us. Yet another glorious Stuart Price-helmed LP soundtracking my year.
Key tracks: ‘The Flood’, ‘SOS’ and ‘Kidz’.

#8 – Ten by Gabriella Cilmi

This nouveau disco affair wasn’t an immediate record for me but it endeared with every listen. It was refreshing to hear Gabi‘s soulful tone manoeuvre in a falsetto style.
Key tracks: ‘Love Me Cos You Want To’, ‘Robots’, ‘Hearts Don’t Lie’ and ‘On A Mission’.

#7 – Bionic by Christina Aguilera

Snortcackle all you like at this cough drop of a flop but sonically, experimental Xtina worked for me. A nod to the Sia ballads and left-of-centre tracks courtesy of M.I.A. and Ladytron.
Key tracks: ‘Lift Me Up’, ‘I Am’, ‘Elastic Love’ and ‘Woohoo’.

#6 – Night Work by Scissor Sisters

An insatiably camp and dark Sodom and Gomorrah affair.
Key tracks: ‘Invisible Light’, ‘Night Work’ and ‘Any Which Way’.

#5 - The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae

One of my favourite concept albums of all time. Janelle Monae is a game changer.
Key tracks: ‘Tightrope’, ‘Cold War’, ‘Dance or Die’ and ‘BabopbyYa’.

#4 – Sweeter Side by Erika Heynatz

Endearing with its personal lyrics and effortless delivery. The real revelation is Erika‘s gorgeous vocal tone complemented by the stripped back production.
Key tracks: ‘The Best’, ‘Holding On’ and ‘Sweeter Side’.

#3 – Flesh Tone by Kelis

A concise, personal and potent collection of futuristic electro dance. Complete rabbit-out-of-the-hat moment for the urban artiste.
Key tracks: ‘Brave’, ‘Home’, ’4th of July’ and ‘Acapella’.

#2 - We Are Born by Sia

The unabashed Crayola pop record our Aussie songbird has always wanted to make. An utterly flawless body of work: hook-intensive, soulful and colourful. Everything a big pop album should be.
Key tracks: ‘Clap Your Hands’, ‘Be Good To Me’, ‘Bring Night’ and ‘Hurting Me Now’.

#1 – Body Talk by Robyn

A colossal modern day dance anthology from the most important pop communicator of present time. Energy, angst, restlessness and brokenness fused to an icy, futuristic electro pop backdrop.
Key tracks: ‘Dancing On My Own’, ‘Hang With Me’, ‘Indestructible’ and ‘Fembot’.

Footnotes:

Inspect the full listing of Feed Limmy‘s Songs and Albums of 2010. What would you add to the round up?

4 comments

21 December 2010

Feed Limmy’s Songs of 2010: #10 – #1

This is it, bitches. Like, Dannii/Michael Jackson for realz this is it.

You’re now parked right in front of them pearly gates of our heavenly Feed Limmy Top 10 Songs of 2010. These are the tracks that have touched me, intrigued me and moved me out of my seat – and as such – have woven themselves into the soundtrack of my year.

One hand on your heart and the other grasping for your dancing shoes, please:

#10 – ‘Rose Coloured Glasses’ by Kelly Rowland

I’ve never heard a break up song dealt from this perspective before. Just a strong statement about how you can never judge a relationship based on what you see on the exterior.
Line: “They ain’t been through the things that you put me through. They ain’t never cried the tears you made me cry.”

#9 – ‘Settle Down’ by Kimbra

This song is so quirky and incessantly catchy, I find myself crooning the chorus all day long while cleaning and shit.
Line: “I wanna settle down, won’t you settle down with me? Settle down…”

#8 – ‘Push Push’ by Kat DeLuna

Criminally slept on. Kat could’ve had a global smash with this one. It’s everything a mega radio hit should be: festive, brazen and catchy.
Line: “Sweet boy, I just wanna be your fantasy, boy…”

#7 – ‘Love Me Cos You Want To’ by Gabriella Cilmi

Every year you’ll see a dance ballad up in these ranks. 2010 goes to this sparkly 80s Europop affair. Don’t get mad ’cause Robyn‘s ‘Dancing On My Own’ didn’t bag this spot. We’ll slot that between #6 and #7.
Line: “Love me ’cause you want to, and not because you wanna be kind.”

#6 – ‘All The Lovers’ by Kylie Minogue

My grown up Kylie ballad: tender, universal and bittersweet.
Line: “Dance. Is all I wanna do, so won’t you dance?”

#5 – ‘The Best’ by Erika Heynatz

This is very special and personal to me. I can totally relate to the patterns of self-sabotage and self-doubt mentioned on song.
Line: “This is half of what I ask for, half of what I deserve… this is what I get for expecting less than the best.”

#4 – ‘The Harold Song’ by Ke$ha

Utterly unexpected. Everyone’s favourite crunk-talkin’ glitter monger unveils a tender side with a modern power ballad that rips into your heart, soul and tear ducts.
Line: “They say that true love hurts. Well, this could almost kill me… I would give it all to not be sleeping alone. “

#3 – ‘Poison’ by Nicole Scherzinger

Absolute dynamite. A cantankerous RedOne production amalgamating fierce lyrics with industrial-strength Euro club beats.
Line: “That bad girl power I got, I’ll abuse it tonight!”

#2 – ‘Whip My Hair’ by Willow Smith

In a word: Iconic.
Line: “I whip my hair back and forth… I whip my hair back and forth…”

#1 – ‘Commander’ by Kelly Rowland

Strobe lights flare out behind me and smoke fill the floor the minute that opening synth line comes on. A mighty, fierce and all-conquering strut song. I still can’t get enough of it.
Line: “I’m a dance floor lover. You won’t find no leader, who does it like I does it.”

Footnotes:

Brace yourselves for one more king hit – Feed Limmy’s Top 10 Albums of 2010 will be revealed later in the week.

Check on the full Top 30 countdown here.

5 comments

3 August 2010

Gabriella Cilmi ‘Defender’ Music Video Notes:

This is just what A&R peeps would use to bait Pat Benatar out of retirement.

While I started off a little skeptical about Gabriella Cilmi‘s Ten album, the overwhelming overall plays on my iPod now speaks for itself.

The amount of times Cilmi referenced this track in early interviews was telling – ‘Defender’ was always going to be a single, even if ‘Robots’ and ‘Superhot’ would’ve made for more sensible alternatives.

In the video we see Gabi strip away from her popstar guise to prepare for combat mode. Who or what exactly is she defending in a wet tank top and baton, we’ll never know.

Here are three key shots in ‘Defender’:

1) Gabi getting hosed down

Yes, really.

2) Silhouette in the corridor (3:04 mark)

This video could’ve done with more drama. Would it have hurt to have Saving Private Ryan projected against the bare walls?

3) Gabi getting hosed down

I’m still not over it. What’s incredible about this shot is considering how easy it could’ve been maligned into some FHM-style shoot, instead, the director has allowed for Gabi’s silhouette in heels and that gust of wind in her hair to make the statement.

Footnote:

Gabriella Cilmi will release ‘Defender’ as a double A-side single with ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ – the latter being a B-side from her ‘On A Mission’ single and also, a feature track on indie film Soul Boy.

The single is out on 22 August.

2 comments

7 June 2010

Chart Feed – 07.06.10

German singer Lena has become the first Eurovision winner to crack our Aussie charts in 23 years! Thanks to Eurovison expert, Liam Clark, for pointing that out. Lena’s single ‘Satellite’ came crashing in at #37 this week, leaving the door wide open for a possible album release in Australia. Her debut LP, My Cassette Player, features a track written by Ellie Goulding and covers of Adele and Jason Mraz album tracks.

Sound Museum host Petro played a part in the Alexandra Burke sales bump here. During her promo stopover last week, Petro bought two copies of her ‘Bad Boys’ single and look what happened? It came bolting back up the physical singles chart at #45 this week. Don’t miss the Sound Museum’s exclusive interview with Alexandra Burke on 8 June, 10pm on JOY 94.9.

There must’ve been a big ass clearance sale somewhere because we’re seeing truckloads of chart re-entries on our physical singles chart this week. We’ve seen a return to the Top 50 for the likes of Cascada, Katy Perry, Gossip, Hilltop Hoods, The Presets and Gabriella Cilmi. Good to know there are folks out there still buying CD singles. If you come across one, give them a hug for me.

Enrique’s saucy new single ‘I Like It’ debuted at #32 on our Aussie singles chart this week. Elsewhere, the brand new N.E.R.D and Nelly Furtado track ‘Hot ‘N’ Fun’ jumps up to #52.

I feel nothing for them because while N.E.R.D is making a chart leap here, the gorgeous Cheryl Cole‘s ‘Fight For This Love’ continues to elude our Top 50. ‘Fight For This Love’ is reportedly sitting at #45 on Australia’s iTunes chart this week. Justice, please.

Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Olivia Archbold has brought Kate Winslet back to the UK charts. I didn’t even know Kate Winslet was ever there in the first place. The Academy Award-winning actress released ‘What If’ in 2001 as part of the Christmas Carol: The Movie soundtrack and it charted as high as #6 in the UK. This week, after Olivia’s rendition on BGT, Kate’s version was bumped up to #76.

David Guetta’s gang bang of a single ‘Gettin’ Over You’ – featuring LMFAO, Chris Willis and Fergie – has raced up to #1 position on the UK charts this week. Believe it or not, this is Guetta’s third UK chart topper – the first two being the forerunning One Love singles ‘When Love Takes Over’ and ‘Sexy Bitch’, both lighting up the charts around this time last year.

Jack Johnson scores his third consecutive UK #1 album this week with To The Sea. The boyfriend is threatening to drag me to a Jack Johnson concert if he tours this year. Oh Lord. To be fair, I think I still owe him one for Beyonce.

Pop Idol patriarch Will Young‘s ‘Leave Right Now’ has finally cracked America, albeit over six years too late. The song debuted at #81 this week, reportedly selling over 50,000 copies so far since his American Idol performance two weeks ago.

Maybe I’m misreading his nonchalant expressions but Will really couldn’t care less about cracking the States, could he? The Leave Right Now EP – America, you can thank Simon Cowell later – will showcase eight of his most popular singles.

Feed Limmy Top 20 Most Played:

#1 Kylie Minogue – All The Lovers
#2 Christina Aguilera – All I Need
#3 Jennifer Lopez – What Is Love?
#4 Christina Aguilera – Birds of Prey*
#5 Kelis – Home
#6 Shontelle – Impossible
#7 Christina Aguilera – Lift Me Up
#8 Christina Aguilera – Woohoo
#9 Beyonce – Irreplaceable
#10 Janelle Monae – Cold War
#11 Kelis – Brave
#12 Christina Aguilera – Prima donna
#13 Girlicious – Maniac
#14 Christina Aguilera – Not Myself Tonight
#15 Christina Aguilera – Vanity
#16 Kelly Rowland – Bad Habit
#17 Alanis Morissette – Torch
#18 Lady Gaga – Alejandro
#19 Charice – In Love So Deep
#20 davidlim – Sitting In The Dark
* = Added to playlist this week.

2 comments

15 April 2010

‘Relationship Drama’ Playlist

Fuck it. Why not call this the Maury or Dr Phil playlist?

Everyone knows what I’m talking about when I say, “love is no bed of roses”. It sounds odd but when times get tough in a relationship, I look for Oprah-like wisdom to console me in song.

I need to hear lyrics that validate my feelings and situation.

I need songs that point me to the high road and encourage me to work things out.

Here are some songs that have brought wisdom and comfort to my relationship dramas:

Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love
“Anything that’s worth having, sure enough worth fighting for. Quitting’s out of the question, when it gets tough gotta fight some more…”

Jewel – Again & Again
“If you’ll try, I’ll try… there is no giving in, there is no giving up in love.”

Jennifer Hudson – We Gon’ Fight
“I won’t let everything we’ve done in the name of love be nothing…”

Melanie C – Don’t Let Me Go
“Don’t make up the wrong mind. Don’t forget the good times. Let me stay a little longer cause if I’m gone, I can’t make it right…”

Jordin Sparks – Battlefield
“If we can’t surrender, we both gonna lose what we have…”

Natasha Bedingfield – Piece of Your Heart
“Give me a piece of your heart. Not a piece of your mind…”

Beyonce – Satellites
“Satellites. If we don’t communicate, we’ll exist in our own space…”

Jade Macrae – I Wanna Be In Love
“I’m so tired of falling in and out of everything we used to think was our love…”

Shakira – Dreams For Plans
“Can you tell me how it used to be when we really cared? And when love was on our side.”

Gabriella Cilmi – Glue
“We stuck together through things that hurt me in so many ways…”

Mary J. Blige – Roses
“You just want to really push all my buttons. Cause you Mr Right and I’m Mrs Wrong? Well I’m gonna be Mrs Right today. It’s my way or the highway.”

Michelle Williams – The Way of Love
“I learned the way of love… if you see it in your lifetime, learn to stay in love.”

Also on the ‘Relationship Drama’ playlist:

Cheryl Cole – Make Me Cry
Cheryl Cole – Rain On Me
Mary J. Blige – Come To Me (Peace)
Mary J. Blige – If You Love Me
Mary J. Blige – Fade Away
Mary J. Blige – Talk To me
Delta Goodrem – Woman
Guy Sebastian – Art of Love
Annie – No Easy Love
Sugababes – Bruised
Gwen Stefani – Danger Zone
Melanie C – Forever Again
Jill Scott – Talk To Me
Whitney Houston – Worth It
Jennifer Lopez – Wrong When You’re Gone
Jennifer Lopez – Stay Together

29 March 2010

Chart Feed – 29.03.10

It’s never a good sign when I have to trawl through Wikipedia to find where your album has dropped off to.

Sugababes‘ much-dissed new album Sweet 7 is officially the band’s lowest charting album since their 2000 debut, One Touch. The album has completely tumbled out of the Top 40 by its second week, landing at #46 in the UK.

This is the first album ever in Sugababes history to have only spent one fucking week in the UK Top 40.

Ouch, bitches! That’s gotta hurt. Keisha is up to some voodoo. I know it!

Boyzone goes straight to #1 with their first studio album in 12 years. Brother, named in memory of the late Stephen Gately, got a big plug last week with one TV performance in particular featuring a Boyzone duet with Nadine Coyle. The album’s lead single, ‘Gave It All Away’ still features Gately’s vocals.

Gabriella Cilmi‘s retroglam Ten enters our album charts at #17 and the UK charts at #28 this week. Despite the tireless promo work, uptake on the album has been slow in both territories. Having said that, the corker of a single ‘On A Mission’ made a jump up to an all new peak of #16 on our charts this week.

Goldfrapp‘s much hyped new album Head First debuts at #6 on the UK charts and #14 here this week. I’m still sifting through the hay in search of motivation to sample their new material.

Usher is now flogging a new single with Will.i.Am just when I thought he had given up on the industry.

‘OMG’ (not to be confused with that hot mess of a single by Sabrina Washington) enters the UK charts at #13 this week. Usher‘s much delayed album Raymond vs Raymond – please Jehovah, don’t let this be another ridiculous pop star alter ego – is out tomorrow in the States.

Monica is seizing that comeback Brandy let slip with her last record.

All signs suggest that Mo’s new album Still Standing should debut at #2 behind Justin Bieber this week. In the meantime, her new single ‘Everything To Me’ has taken out the #1 position on the US R&B charts. And on a less notable front, she’s also got the most played song on my iPod this week.

Feed Limmy Top 20 Most Played:

#1 Monica – One In A Lifetime*
#2 Che’Nelle – Feel Good*
#3 Robyn – Fembots*
#4 Lady Gaga – Alejandro
#5 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home*
#6 Lady Gaga – Monster
#7 Alexandra Burke – All Night Long (feat. Pitbull)
#8 Toni Braxton – Yesterday
#9 Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Bittersweet (Freemasons Remix Edit)
#10 Monica – Still Standing
#11 Che’Nelle – Tear Jerker
#12 Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (Live at Capital FM)
#13 Lady Gaga – Dance In The Dark
#14 Lady Gaga – Telephone (feat. Beyonce)
#15 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Janglin’*
#16 Lady Gaga – Speechless
#17 Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart
#18 Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
#19 Gabriella Cilmi – Robots
#20 Brandy – Fall (feat. Natasha Bedingfield)*
* = Added to playlist this week

Feed Limmy

Tag: Gabriella Cilmi

22 January 2012

Gabriella Cilmi returns with ‘Vicious Love’

25 December 2010

Feed Limmy Albums of 2010: #10 – #1

21 December 2010

Feed Limmy’s Songs of 2010: #10 – #1

3 August 2010

Gabriella Cilmi ‘Defender’ Music Video Notes:

7 June 2010

Chart Feed – 07.06.10

15 April 2010

‘Relationship Drama’ Playlist

29 March 2010

Chart Feed – 29.03.10

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