Whoa! Whooooa! I'm loving this song and the band at the moment. Yeah, there has been many comparisons between Florida-based Hey Monday and Paramore, and perhaps they are bound to occur when both lead vocalists are women. But the voices between HM's Cassadee Pope and Paramore's Hayley Williams could not be anymore different. Hayley has a distinctly charged punk rock sound while Cassadee's voice is saccharine-sweet and youthful (reminds me of Canadian indie pop singer Lights), which suits the type of music her band is putting out there, representing the "pop" end of the pop-punk spectrum, and by the sounds of their interviews, they are fully embracing it. Anyway, the band premiered their new video for the second single "How You Love Me Now" from their Decaydance/Columbia debut album Hold On Tight on Myspace today. Here are some screencaps, in which the very pretty Cassadee and her rocker boys work at an exclusive summer beach club, in which their emo/punk styles seem out of place with the predominantly preppy Abercrombie & Fitch clientele they serve. A preppy Casanova dude tries to pursue Cassadee (his bitches are giggling, so was it a dare?) but it's pretty much a fail as Cass is too smart not to fall for his shizz. The title of hero truly belongs to bassist Jersey Moriarty who had two great moments in the video: (1) he leads the tug-of-war win in which his extra pull sends preppy Casanova into the mud along with his deflated ego, and (2) shows that even emo boys possess athletic prowess by throwing the touchdown pass to Cassadee. (Pssst...of course, the emo/different/unconventional kids are truly the coolest.)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Fresh Video - Hey Monday's "How You Love Me Now"
Monday, March 30, 2009
Top 25 Playlist for March 30, 2009
Friss Zene Top 25 for the week ending on Monday, 03.30.09
Ne-Yo just can't get a break...he's at number 2 yet again while a debut KC non-single makes it on top. It's THAT GOOD. Look for a future "Love At First Listen" post very soon...
01. Kelly Clarkson - Don't Let Me Stop You (#1 for 1 week) (DEBUT)
02. Ne-Yo - Mad
03. Hey Monday - How You Love Me Know (#1 for 1 week)
04. James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado - Broken Strings (#1 for 1 week)
05. Valencia - Where Did You Go? (#1 for 1 week)
06. The Real You - Unwound
07. Hoobastank - So Close, So Far
08. Lady GaGa - Poker Face
09. Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
10. Holiday Parade - Getaway (DEBUT)
11. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
12. All Time Low - Weightless (DEBUT)
13. New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends
14. Shinedown - Second Chance
15. Lights - Ice (DEBUT)
16. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 2 weeks)
17. The Veronicas - Take Me On The Floor (DEBUT)
18. The White Tie Affair - Candle (RE-ENTRY)
19. Craig David - Insomnia
20. Kevin Rudolf feat. Kid Cudi - Welcome To The World (DEBUT)
21. Artist Vs Poet - Runaway
22. Jesse McCartney feat. Ludacris - How Do You Sleep? (RE-ENTRY)
23. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
24. This Providence - That Girl's A Trick
25. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
So close, yet so far
Ciara feat. Young Jeezy - Never Ever
Taylor Swift - Forever & Always
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
Hikaru Utada - Come Back To Me
Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
Aranda - All I Ever Wanted
Friday, March 27, 2009
Peace out, Blender
Bad/Sad news: A popular music publication is folding...and that magazine is Blender. Born in the beginning of the decade, Blender was really the only mainstream music magazine worth browsing through because of its witty writing, hip recommendations (The Blender Bible, Guide, and Top lists of whatever), and coverage of the aritsts and musicians I love...and were willing to put the biggest pop stars on their covers (Kelly! Katy! Leona!) I had a feeling that the end was coming, since the last few issues of the magazine had lost its original binding and quantity (their latest and final print issue contains a paltry 72 pages). And to think, I was about to subscribe to Blender after my rather disappointing subscription affair with Rolling Stone ran its long, long course. Mainstream music mag heir apparent, where are you??!?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Top 25 Playlist for March 22, 2009
Friss Zene Top 25 for the week ending on Sunday, 03.22.09
Whoa! Whoooa! Newbie pop-punkers Hey Monday claim Numero Uno this week.
01. Hey Monday - How You Love Me Know (#1 for 1 week)
02. Ne-Yo - Mad
03. The Real You - Unwound
04. James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado - Broken Strings (#1 for 1 week)
05. Valencia - Where Did You Go? (#1 for 1 week)
06. Craig David - Insomnia
07. Lady GaGa - Poker Face
08. Hoobastank - So Close, So Far
09. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
10. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 2 weeks)
11. Ciara feat. Young Jeezy - Never Ever
12. This Providence - That Girl's A Trick
13. Taylor Swift - Forever & Always
14. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
15. New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends (RE-ENTRY)
16. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
17. Artist Vs Poet - Runaway
18. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
19. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
20. Shinedown - Second Chance (DEBUT)
21. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
22. Hikaru Utada - Come Back To Me
23. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
24. Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas (DEBUT)
25. Aranda - All I Ever Wanted
Valencia - Free (#1 for 2 weeks)So close, yet so far
Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up
The Veronicas - Hook Me UpCheck back next week for the next top 25 playlist.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Happy Birthday to Us: Lady GaGa et Moi
Left: Lady GaGa; Right:
LMAO. Twenty-three years ago today, Stefani Germanotta a.k.a. Lady GaGa was born, along with a certain Friss Zene blog writer by the name of Ray V. ;)
Privileged to share the exact birthday with the freshest face of electro-dance pop, I dedicate this post to the quirky OTT blonde fashionista who has brought us hits with liners like "Puh-puh-puh poker face, puh-puh f*ck her face" and this little ditty...just...'cuz!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Top 25 Playlist for March 16, 2009
Friss Zene Top 25 for the week ending on Monday, 03.16.09
British troubadour James Morrison takes it to the top with Nelly Furtado with their tragic ballad...
01. James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado - Broken Strings (#1 for 1 week)
02. Craig David - Insomnia
03. Ne-Yo - Mad
04. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 2 weeks)
05. The Real You - Unwound
06. Valencia - Where Did You Go? (#1 for 1 week)
07. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
08. Taylor Swift - Forever & Always
09. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
10. This Providence - That Girl's A Trick
11. Hey Monday - How You Love Me Now (DEBUT)
12. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
13. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
14. Hoobastank - So Close, So Far
15. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
16. Lady Gaga - Poker Face
17. Artist Vs Poet - Runaway
18. Aranda - All I Ever Wanted
19. Hikaru Utada - Come Back To Me
20. Ciara feat. Young Jeezy - Never Ever
21. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
22. Valencia - Free (#1 for 2 weeks)
23. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name (DEBUT)
24. Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up
25. The Veronicas - Hook Me Up
A Rocket To The Moon - Dakota
Shontelle feat. Akon - Stuck With Each Other
Check back next week for the next top 20/25 playlist.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Top 25 Playlist for March 8, 2009
Friss Zene Top 25 for the week ending on Sunday, 03.08.09
Twenty-five, because there's much more to love // Kelly's newest album hits stores Tuesday!
01. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 2 weeks)
02. Valencia - Where Did You Go? (#1 for 1 week)
03. Ne-Yo - Mad
04. Craig David - Insomnia
05. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
06. Aranda - All I Ever Wanted (DEBUT)
07. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
08. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
09. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
10. The Real You - Unwound
11. James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado - Broken Strings (DEBUT)
12. The Veronicas - Hook Me Up
13. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
14. Valencia - Free (#1 for 2 weeks)
15. Hoobastank - So Close So Far
16. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
17. Artist Vs Poet - Runaway
18. Taylor Swift - Forever & Always (DEBUT)
19. This Providence - That Girl's A Trick
20. Hikaru Utada - Come Back To Me (DEBUT)
21. Ciara feat. Young Jeezy - Never Ever (DEBUT)
22. A Rocket To The Moon - Dakota (DEBUT)
23. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (RE-ENTRY)
24. Shontelle feat. Akon - Stuck With Each Other (RE-ENTRY)
25. Kelly Clarkson - I Do Not Hook Up (DEBUT)
The Fray - You Found Me
The Saturdays - Issues
Christina Milian - Us Against The World
David Cook - Avalanche
Check back next week Sunday for the next top 20/25 playlist.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The elimination of Ricky Braddy sealed the coffin for Season 8
It is a sad day when being a the best singer in a supposed singing competition is not enough, as it was the case for Ricky Braddy, the North Carolinian dude who served chicken fingers but possessed an amazing vocal talent, yet was cut short of the American Idol Top 12 again. He had virtually no screen time in the lead up to his first public vote but instantly won fans based on ONE performance. He was, thankfully and rightfully, brought back as a Wild Card contestant because he showed legitimate vocal ability and was arguably one of the better singers than those who became finalists.
But instead of celebrating, it was a night of heartbreak as tonight, the judges harped on his performance of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" even after taking the criticism that he previously lacked personality and proved to the judges that he could be an entertainer, as well as a great vocalist. I was slightly hoping that Paula would be his lifesaver, but this time around, the judges, as a collective, gave him the boot. And let's face it. The cards were stacked against him. America never really got to know his personality and was dismissed as a boring but good singer, as alluded by Simon. He certainly was never given his due and the judges/producers/TPTB really disappointed me on passing people like Ricky, Felicia Barton, and Mishavonna Henson, especially over the likes of Megan (Joy) Corkrey, who cannot carry a tune but the judges claim she has this great appeal that I cannot comprehend, and Jasmine Murray, whose "commercial" viability is simply overhyped vanilla. It is a given that these two will not win American Idol, so why even give them shots? Oh right...this isn't a singing competition. Right.
Goes to show the harsh reality of this damn television show: good guys finish last while the dramatic and pretty Miss Personalities win this kind of rat race. Who is the David Cook, Carrie Underwood, or Kelly Clarkson of Season 8? I am hard-pressed to find someone like them to root for.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Fresh Band Love - Aranda - All I Ever Wanted
So I couldn't help but give a listen to a leak of Kelly Clarkson's newest album All I Ever Wanted, thanks to the iTunes Norway store, and did a little digging to find out a good handful of the songs on the disc are covers from other artists and bands: two songs came from Katy Perry's abandoned debut rock album ("Long Shot" and Kelly's second single "I Do Not Hook Up") and another two songs came from a little-known indie rock band by the name of Aranda. The band lent Kelly two songs from their eponymous 2008 disc: the eventual title track "All I Ever Wanted" and the rock headbanger "Whyyawannabringmedown". Kelly's versions, thankfully, strayed very little from the originals, in terms of melodies and vocals. The instant I heard Kelly's version of "All I Ever Wanted", my curiosity lead me to learn more about this band.
Aranda is a Oklahoma-based band, consisting of brothers Dameon and Gabe Aranda. Upon hearing a bit of their live performances on YouTube, they create a very distinct musical sound that defies singular musical classification. Namely, "All I Ever Wanted" is a shining example of the band's best sound, as it infuses rock with a little bit of funk and sung with an ample amount of soul. Then there are straight-up rock songs like "Still In The Dark" and the aforementioned "Whyyawannabringmedown", raspy soul on "It Ain't Easy", a brief country appearance on "Hooked On You" and southern blues on "Testify" and "Another Day". Collectively, the songs amazingly work well together as it stands as a testament to the band's love for different styles of music and how they are able to compliment those sounds to their fantastic vocals. It is no wonder why such a popular mainstream artist like Kelly Clarkson and TPTB felt confident with Aranda's songs having pop sensibility and crossover appeal. Anyway, I hope this band goes very far from this exposure, as they will finally deserve some recognition for their fantastic songs.
BUY Aranda's album HERE!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Top 20 Playlist for March 1, 2009
Friss Zene Top 20 for the week ending on Sunday, 03.01.09
Happy March, folks! Valencia gets toppled by...Valencia. What a coup.
01. Valencia - Where Did You Go? (#1 for 1 week) (DEBUT)
02. Craig David - Insomnia
03. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 1 week)
04. Ne-Yo - Mad
05. Valencia - Free (#1 for 2 weeks)
06. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
07. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
08. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
09. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
10. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody (DEBUT)
11. Hoobastank - So Close So Far
12. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
13. David Cook - Avalanche
14. The Real You - Unwound
15. Artist Vs Poet - Runaway (DEBUT)
16. The Veronicas - Hook Me Up (DEBUT)
17. The Saturdays - Issues
18. This Providence - That Girl's A Trick (DEBUT)
19. Christina Milian - Us Against The World (DEBUT)
20. The Fray - You Found Me
Leona Lewis - I Will Be
VersaEmerge - Past Praying For
Ricky Braddy - A Song For You
Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll
Shontelle feat. Akon - Stuck With Each Other
The All-American Rejects - I Wanna
Check back next week Sunday for the next top 20 playlist.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Love At First Listen - Valencia's "Where Did You Go?"
Let me formally introduce you to Valencia. I've never been to any of their shows (although I would love to) but they are a band that I have been digging since I got a hold of their music. This relatively young quintet started out in 2004 and were originally on indie label I Surrender and now has a home on the major label turf of Columbia.
The band: Shane Henderson (vocals, top left), JD Perry (guitar, top middle), and George Ciukurescu (bass, bottom left) are 23, Brendan Walter (guitar, top right) is 22, and the elder statesman of the group is (Filipino/Pinoy!) 26-year-old drummer Maxim Loria (bottom right).
I've listened to a good chunk of pop-punk bands and so I can't fathom how a band as good as Valencia managed to escape my ears last year as they released their remarkable sophomore album (and major label debut) We All Need A Reason To Believe late last summer. I guess it is a case of sooner rather than later, since the album is full of pop-punk gems that are reminiscent of another Philadelphia band's latest album -- The Starting Line's Direction. Like the latter, the former is full of thoughtfully-written lyrics, wrought with emotion, and brought to full-force impact through anthemic rock choruses and power melodies.
Aside from my first love of "Free", the end trak on WANARTB, I gave Valencia's latest single, "Where Did You Go?" a listen and instantly found it as a track I could literally listen on a loop for a month. It is that powerful.
The song's message is indicative of the general themes of WANARTB: maturation, reflection, and mourning. In interpreting the song's lyrics, Shane tells the story of a man who is coping with the difficult end of a relationship. I later learned that Shane's girlfriend was killed in an accident in 2006 so this revelation does enhance the meaning of the song as the subject mourns the loss of his lover with his last words to her:
And it feels like this is the last chance I have to say every word that I've been fighting / Well, I have finally decided to hold my head up with pride and accept the way life takes you through these changes / 'Cause when you reach the stars, you've made it
Max's drumming throughout the song, the crunching guitars, and Shane's vocals all contribute to the song's message in the chorus: I get a little down on myself but when you came around, my whole world felt new / I opened up my eyes to the light and I saw deep inside of a love I felt was true / And if I ever let you go, I'm hoping that some time will show / That you're the one, You're the one for me
Check out their video, in which the band pays tribute to their hometown of Philly. The video may look low-budget (which makes me question the amount of money Columbia actually invested in promoting this band, alas I digress) but the song and this amazing band far makes up for it.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Rock Idol + Country Idol
To celebrate the opening of the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World, Season 4 AI winner Carrie Underwood and most recent crowned David Cook were on hand to perform a duet of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Go Your Own Way". They both sounded great together. Perhaps they can go into the studio and record the track??
Take a look of their performance video by JeffLangeDVD:
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Top 20 Playlist for February 22, 2009
Friss Zene Top 20 for the week ending on Sunday, 02.22.09
"Free" stays put...
01. Valencia - Free (#1 for 2 weeks)
02. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 1 week)
03. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
04. David Cook - Avalanche
05. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
06. Ne-Yo - Mad
07. The Fray - You Found Me
08. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
09. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
10. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
11. Hoobastank - So Close, So Far
12. The Real You - Unwound (DEBUT)
13. The Saturdays - Issues
14. Leona Lewis - I Will Be
15. VersaEmerge - Past Praying For
16. Ricky Braddy - A Song For You (DEBUT)
17. Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll
18. Shontelle feat. Akon - Stuck With Each Other
19. Craig David - Insomnia
20. The All-American Rejects - I Wanna (RE-ENTRY)
We The Kings - Secret Valentine
Beyonce - Halo
Secondhand Serenade - Your Call
Check back next week Sunday for the next top 20 playlist.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Top 20 Playlist for February 15, 2009
Friss Zene Top 20 for the week ending on Sunday, 02.15.09
Sorpresa! Valencia is #1 - rock is finally on top (of the world :) for the first time in '09.
01. Valencia - Free (#1 for 1 week)
02. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
03. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 1 week)
04. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
05. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
06. The Saturdays - Issues
07. Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll
08. The Fray - You Found Me
09. David Cook - Avalanche (DEBUT)
10. Leona Lewis - I Will Be
11. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
12. Craig David - Insomnia
13. Ne-Yo - Mad
14. Shontelle feat. Akon - Stuck With Each Other (DEBUT)
15. T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone (DEBUT)
16. We The Kings - Secret Valentine
17. Hoobastank - So Close, So Far (DEBUT)
18. Beyonce - Halo
19. VersaEmerge - Past Praying For (DEBUT)
20. Secondhand Serenade - Your Call
John Legend - Everybody Knows
Leona Lewis - Run (#1 for 1 week)
David Archuleta - A Little Too Not Over You
New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends
The Veronicas - Untouched
Check back next week Sunday for the next top 20 playlist.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
V'Day Playlist
It is Singles Awareness Day Valentine's Day February 14 V'Day -- the day loving becomes official. In that spirit of love, not that I can say I've ever been in love, I can certainly appreciate the words of others who have. Here is a list of twelve of my favorite L-O-V-E songs of the bands and artists who have done their job of tugging at the heartstrings...
David Cook - Avalanche: "I feel alive beside you, and all at once I am whole again"
Sum 41 - With Me: "In front of your eyes, it falls from the skies. When you don't know what you're looking to find" Lifehouse - Everything: "How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you? Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?" Dashboard Confessional - Hands Down: "Just lay entwined here, undiscovered. Safe in here from all the stupid questions, 'Hey did you get some?' Man, that is so dumb. Stay quiet, stay near, stay close they can't hear...so we can get some" We The Kings - Secret Valentine: "When guilt fills your head, brush off, rise up from the dead. This is the moment that we will come alive. Brace yourself for love, sweet love, secret love" No Doubt - Underneath It All: "So many moons that we have seen stumbling back next to me, I've seen right through and underneath and you make me better" James Morrison - You Give Me Something: "Cause you give me something that makes me scared, alright, this could be nothing but I'm willing to give it a try. Please give me something 'cause someday I might know my heart" Motion City Soundtrack - Antonia: "She's the pizza of my eye, without her near me I would not survive" New Found Glory - Hold My Hand: "The way your words keep me in line, I know what I'm here for, waking up to the green of your eyes, it's something I'll get used to" Snow Patrol - You're All I Have: "You're cinematic razor sharp, a welcome arrow through the heart. Under your skin feels like home, electric shocks on aching bones" Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine: "Tied up in ancient history, I didnt believe in destiny, I look up you're standing next to me, what a feeling." Ray LaMontagne - Hold You In My Arms: "When you kissed my lips with my mouth so full of questions, my worried mind that you quiet. Place your hands on my face, close my eyes and say that love is a poor man's food. Don't prophesize"
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fresh Coverage: Pop-punk boys take on dance, country, and folk...
Because covering a song may very well be the biggest form of musical flattery, here are a few discoveries from some of my favorite pop-punk bands/indie artists as they bring interesting twists to some familiar mainstream hit songs...and while you're at it, go check out their original stuff...you won't soon regret it.
Forever The Sickest Kids - Love Story: The power pop sextet takes on Taylor Swift's country-pop hit about teenage love) from Romeo's P.O.V.
A Cursive Memory - Disturbia: This teenage foursome surprisingly give a funky/soulful rendition of Rihanna's '08 summer jam)
School Boy Humor - Realize: This little known Arkansas-based band may be new to the scene (their Vagrant Records debut album hits stores this month), but they are groomed to be the next big thing as they take on this Colbie Caillat classic.
A Rocket To The Moon - Forever & Always: Last, but certainly not least...ARTTM a.k.a. Nick Santino proves that with two instruments (his voice and guitar), his stripped-down acoustic effort is, perhaps, more earnest-sounding than the original. But then again, a song such as this is owed to amazing lyrics by Miss Swift.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Grammys 2009 Hi-lites
The Grammy Awards was full of a whole lotta drama when it was announced moments prior to the telecast that Chris Brown pulled out of the show for allegedly being accused of making a felony domestic battery against a female victim, who many sources are confirming to be Chris's significant other Rihanna, who was also scheduled to perform. The two were nominated for multiple awards, yet neither showed up. In Rihanna's place, Justin Timberlake & Al Green gave an impromptu performance. Rihanna was to also perform "Live Your Life" with T.I. but it was J.T. who accompanied the rapper with his vocal performance on their next single "Dead And Gone":
Another dramatic moment of the evening belonged to American Idol 2003 alum Jennifer Hudson who finally won a Grammy award for best R&B album and gave an emotional performance which alluded to the tragic murders of her family members this past year.
Of the four British ladies nominated for multiple awards this year -- Duffy, Estelle, Adele, and Leona Lewis -- it was only Leona, the mainstream breakthrough artist of the past year, who left empty-handed. Adele won the "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for her song "Chasing Pavements", Duffy won "Best Pop Vocal Album" (Rockferry), and Estelle won for her collaboration with Kanye West on "American Boy".
For the rock awards, Coldplay racked up three wins for Best Rock Album (Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends), Song of the Year for "Viva La Vida", and Best Pop Vocal Group Performance. Radiohead's In Rainbows won Best Alternative Album while John Mayer has proven to have the best singing chops in two categories: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Say" and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Gravity", both from his '06 album Continuum.
Friss Zene fave Katy Perry performed "I Kissed A Girl" and it garnered very mixed reviews.
Oh well. At least she successfully channeled the spirit of Carmen Miranda as a lovely vision in fruit.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Top 20 Playlist for February 8, 2009
Friss Zene Top 20 for the week ending on Sunday, 02.8.09
Lily Allen takes the (cup)cake this time...
01. Lily Allen - The Fear (#1 for 1 week)
02. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 1 week)
03. Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll
04. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
05. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
06. The Fray - You Found Me
07. Leona Lewis - I Will Be
08. We The Kings - Secret Valentine
09. Beyonce - Halo
10. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
11. John Legend - Everybody Knows
12. The Saturdays - Issues (DEBUT)
13. Valencia - Free
14. Secondhand Serenade - Your Call
15. Ne-Yo - Mad (DEBUT)
16. Leona Lewis - Run (#1 for 1 week)
17. Craig David - Insomnia (DEBUT)
18. David Archuleta - A Little Too Not Over You
19. New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends
20. The Veronicas - Untouched
Thriving Ivory - Angels On The Moon
30H!3 - Don't Trust Me
Erin McCarley - Love, Save The Empty
The Grammys telecast is tonight. Check back in seven days for the next Top 20 update and Grammy Award highlights.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Top 20 Playlist for February 1, 2009
Friss Zene Top 20 for the week ending on Sunday, 02.1.09
A Yankee tops a Brit this week, but this time it's Kelly Clarkson over Lily Allen...
01. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You (#1 for 1 week)
02. Lily Allen - The Fear (DEBUT)
03. Katy Perry - Thinking Of You (#1 for 2 weeks)
04. Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll
05. The Fray - You Found Me
06. Leona Lewis - Run (#1 for 1 week)
07. Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts
08. Secondhand Serenade - Your Call
09. Valencia - Free
10. Leona Lewis - I Will Be
11. Beyonce - Halo
12. We The Kings - Secret Valentine (DEBUT)
13. Katy Perry - Hot N' Cold
14. New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends
15. John Legend - Everybody Knows
16. Thriving Ivory - Angels On The Moon
17. 30H!3 - Don't Trust Me
18. The Veronicas - Untouched
19. David Archuleta - A Little Too Not Over You
20. Erin McCarley - Love, Save The Empty (DEBUT)
Kanye West - Heartless
Jesse McCartney - How Do You Sleep?
Nicole Scherzinger
Saturday, January 31, 2009
I've been taken over by 'The Fear'
I am not a fan of Lily Allen.
That being said, I have fallen in aural love with her latest song, "The Fear". I love it so much, it has been on non-stop repeat on my iTunes player since my discovery yesterday. Released as the first single off her sophomore album, It's Not Me, It's You, the sassy Brit has really captured my attention with a very synth heavy, hypnotic beat and lyrics so profound and acerbic about the consequences of celebrity and wealth. It is delivered in such a blasé way -- what I usually dislike about Lily's music -- but it works so well here.
Lyrics:
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don't care about clever, I don't care about funny
I want loads of clothes and fuck loads of diamonds
I heard people die while they're trying to find them
And I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
'Cause everyone knows that's how you get famous
I'll look at the sun and I'll look in the mirror
I'm on the right track, yeah I'm on to a winner
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by The Fear
Life's about film stars and less about mothers
It's all about fast cars and cussing each other
But it doesn't matter 'cause I'm packing plastic
And that's what makes my life so fucking fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And it's not my fault, it's how I'm programmed to function
I'll look at the sun and I'll look in the mirror
I'm on the right track, yeah we're on to a winner
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by The Fear
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
'Cause I'm killing 'em all on my own little mission
Now I'm not a saint, but I'm not a sinner
Now everything's cool as long as I'm getting thinner
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore
And I don't know how I'm meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by The Fear
In addition to amusing lyrics, the video is another highlight, in which Lily starts off in a trailer in the middle of a (presumably English) field and ends up in a elegant mansion full of cupcakes, dancing presents, and male servants skipping and gliding in unison.
