Sorry this is so late, truth is I have been really lazy and New Music Friday last week really wasn't anything to get overly excited about, sure, Justin Timberlake brought in one of my favourite country artists Chris Stapleton for a collaboration on JT's new album, and there's a strange collaboration between country singer Maren Morris with EDM stars Zedd and Grey and also Lady Gaga.
Song: Say Something
Artists: Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton
Part of me is annoyed that it's taken Chris Stapleton collaborating with Justin Timberlake for Stapleton to have any kind of mainstream currency on the Australian singles chart given Stapleton's back catalog includes the incredible "Parachute" from the album "Traveller" o "Second One to Know" from "From a Room Volime 1' both of which are still better than this song. Oh sure, the song is okay with it's more acoustic Latin than Americana/roots vibe in the production and the harmonies between Timberlake and Stapleton are alright, it's okay without really being anything great.
Rating: 6/10
Song: Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?) - Piano version
Artist: Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is finally bringing down the curtain on the Joanne era with a piano version of the title track and really for all the attention seeking loud and kind obnoxious pop songs she has done, this might well be the best thing she has ever done, a tribute to her Aunt Joanne that is deeply emotional and played completely from the point of view of Lady Gaga's family with the production with just a piano and acoustic elements with Lady Gaga's voice bringing the emotion. Nice job from Gaga and Mark Ronson.
Rating: 8/10
Song: The Middle
Artists: Maren Morris, Zedd, Grey
Zedd has a habit of collaborating with mostly female pop singers with his most successful collab being "Stay" with Alessia Cara which spent some time in the ARIA singles chart top ten last year and I have to say that the least impressive thing about this song is that Zedd repeats the formula for "Stay" with the similar ticking sound etc to make "The Middle" sound perilously close to "Stay" part 2 except trading Alessia Cara for country singer Maren Morris. None of this awful production is Maren's fault, she is doing her level best to sell the song but I think I'll stick with "My Church" and Maren's collab with Niall Horan "Seeing Blind".
Rating: 5/10. Maren Morris singing is literally the best thing about this and saved it from lower.
Song: Perfect
Artists: Topic, Ally Brooke
For those who aren't familiar with the name Ally Brooke, she is a member of Fifth Harmony, this song is her second venture outside of the Fifth Harmony environment, she's teamed up with German DJ Topic who in 2016 scored a top 20 hit with "Home" featuring Nico Santos, so how is "Perfect"? Honestly it's your stereotypical EDM love song with Brooke singing about her partner telling her she's perfect every time she's feeling "not really worth it", the lyrics are kind of cute but the production isn't any different to what I hear from a Marshmello or Zedd song
Rating: 6/10. It's okay but it's not great by any measure.
Best of the week: I am giving this to Lady Gaga for "Joanne (Where do You think You're Goin')". That song connected for me
Worst of the Week: I hate myself for doing this because I adore Maren Morris but "The Middle" by Maren, Zedd and Gray is getting basically for being 2nd part of a previous hit song.
Next New Music Friday review:
"Savior" by Iggy Azalea feat Quavo (as if there hasn't been enough Migos related material around lately)
"Wasted" by Peking Duk
"Mistakes' by Middle Kids
"Tonight" by Baby Animals
See you soon for ARIA top ten/chart review and "A Hit Somewhere Else in the World"
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
ARIA Top ten/chart review: January 29th
This week is interesting, there's a potential challenger for number one and a new song in the top 5 (pity it isn't all that good but we'll get to that), the song that (unfortunately) left the top ten was "Finesse" by Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B which slipped from 9 to 11 but I am confident it will rebound following the performance at rhe Grammys this week.
Now to the actual top ten where "Perfect" and various remixes by Ed Sheeran feat. Beyonce/Andrea Boccelli spends an eighth week at number one but I have a feeling this song may well be vulnerable.
And I say this because the song ruling the iTunes chart in Australia, "Meant To Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line which jumped from 4 to number 2 and looks to be a very real chance of replacing Ed Sheeran at number one.
This meant "I Fall Apart" by Post Malone and "River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran both slipped one place. "I Fall Apart" back to number 3 and "River back to number 4/
New at number 5 is the US and UK number one "God's Plan" by Drake from his "Scary Hours" EP, it's streaming numbers have been extraordinary, time will tell if it can make a play for number one in spite of what I think of the song.
Former chart topper "Havana' by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug slipped out of the top 5, dropping two places to number 6. Not really a surprise, this song has had a fantastic run. Don't worry Camilizers, there's more Camila to talk about shortly.
Beyond that, "Let You Down" by NF and "Silence" by Marshmello feat. Khalid remain static at 7 and 8 respectively.
"Rockstar" by Post Malone and 21 Savage looks to finally be exiting the top 10 after dropping three places to number 9.
Rounding out the top ten is "This Is Me" by Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble for another week. Expecting to see this song climb into the top 10.
As for the biggest gainers this week, well the biggest gainer of the week was Zac Efron and Zendaya with "Rewrite the Stars" from The Greatest Showman musical which climbed 6 places to 24.
I mentioned there was more Camila news and this time it's good news with "Never Be The Same" jumping 5 places to number 12, wouldn't surprise me if it spent a week or two inside the top ten even though it's not the best song from the album..."Something's Gotta Give" should have been the next single.
"Go Bang" by PNAU climbed two places to 14 and with a certain boost ahead courtesy of the Triple J Hottest 100 on the weekend, it might well break the top 10.
What won't be breaking the top 10 is our biggest loser this week which was unfortunately "My My My!" by Troye Sivan which dropped from 14 to 27 which is disappointing. Come on Australia, get behind Australian music or do you only do that when it comes voting for the Hottest 100?
Rita Ora's "Anywhere" dropped 5 places to 28, "New Rules" by Dua Lipa dropped from 24 to 32, "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake dropped from 27 to 33 and "Good Old Days" by Macklemore and Kesha dropped from 33 to 40.
As for what dropped out? All the songs that fell were hits of 2017 with "Unforgettable" by French Montana feat. Swae Lee gone after 32 weeks and "Glorious" by Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey (Although could get a return because of the Hottest 100), "Lay It On Me" by Vance Joy (a pity because I really like that song), "Beautiful Trauma" by Pink, "Feels Great" by Cheat Codes featuring Fetty Wap and DVBZ and finally "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons.
Drake's "God's Plan" was the highest new entry at number 5. Rudimental, Jess Glynne and Macklemore arrived at 18 with "These Days", Dua Lipa turned up inside the top 50 at number 23 with "IDGAF", The Chainsmokers self aggrandising "Sick Boy enters at 42.
Kylie Minogue's "Dancing" is getting plenty of airplay on the radio which is fantastic as it entered at 46 and finally Keith Urban's "Parallel Lines" enters at 47.
Outside of the top 50? Drake's second song from "Scary Hours" EP, "Diplomatic Immunity was the best of those entering at 54, "Miss You" by Cashmere Cat, Major Lazer and Tory Lanez at 91 and Kesha's version of "This is Me" at number 93.
That completes this week's look at the ARIA Chart, with the Grammys and Hottest 100 this week, it could be a full meltdown on the chart, will "Perfect" retain number one for a ninth week? We'll wait and see.
The ARIA singles chart is released at 5pm AEDT on Saturday.
Now to the actual top ten where "Perfect" and various remixes by Ed Sheeran feat. Beyonce/Andrea Boccelli spends an eighth week at number one but I have a feeling this song may well be vulnerable.
And I say this because the song ruling the iTunes chart in Australia, "Meant To Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line which jumped from 4 to number 2 and looks to be a very real chance of replacing Ed Sheeran at number one.
This meant "I Fall Apart" by Post Malone and "River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran both slipped one place. "I Fall Apart" back to number 3 and "River back to number 4/
New at number 5 is the US and UK number one "God's Plan" by Drake from his "Scary Hours" EP, it's streaming numbers have been extraordinary, time will tell if it can make a play for number one in spite of what I think of the song.
Former chart topper "Havana' by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug slipped out of the top 5, dropping two places to number 6. Not really a surprise, this song has had a fantastic run. Don't worry Camilizers, there's more Camila to talk about shortly.
Beyond that, "Let You Down" by NF and "Silence" by Marshmello feat. Khalid remain static at 7 and 8 respectively.
"Rockstar" by Post Malone and 21 Savage looks to finally be exiting the top 10 after dropping three places to number 9.
Rounding out the top ten is "This Is Me" by Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble for another week. Expecting to see this song climb into the top 10.
As for the biggest gainers this week, well the biggest gainer of the week was Zac Efron and Zendaya with "Rewrite the Stars" from The Greatest Showman musical which climbed 6 places to 24.
I mentioned there was more Camila news and this time it's good news with "Never Be The Same" jumping 5 places to number 12, wouldn't surprise me if it spent a week or two inside the top ten even though it's not the best song from the album..."Something's Gotta Give" should have been the next single.
"Go Bang" by PNAU climbed two places to 14 and with a certain boost ahead courtesy of the Triple J Hottest 100 on the weekend, it might well break the top 10.
What won't be breaking the top 10 is our biggest loser this week which was unfortunately "My My My!" by Troye Sivan which dropped from 14 to 27 which is disappointing. Come on Australia, get behind Australian music or do you only do that when it comes voting for the Hottest 100?
Rita Ora's "Anywhere" dropped 5 places to 28, "New Rules" by Dua Lipa dropped from 24 to 32, "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake dropped from 27 to 33 and "Good Old Days" by Macklemore and Kesha dropped from 33 to 40.
As for what dropped out? All the songs that fell were hits of 2017 with "Unforgettable" by French Montana feat. Swae Lee gone after 32 weeks and "Glorious" by Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey (Although could get a return because of the Hottest 100), "Lay It On Me" by Vance Joy (a pity because I really like that song), "Beautiful Trauma" by Pink, "Feels Great" by Cheat Codes featuring Fetty Wap and DVBZ and finally "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons.
Drake's "God's Plan" was the highest new entry at number 5. Rudimental, Jess Glynne and Macklemore arrived at 18 with "These Days", Dua Lipa turned up inside the top 50 at number 23 with "IDGAF", The Chainsmokers self aggrandising "Sick Boy enters at 42.
Kylie Minogue's "Dancing" is getting plenty of airplay on the radio which is fantastic as it entered at 46 and finally Keith Urban's "Parallel Lines" enters at 47.
Outside of the top 50? Drake's second song from "Scary Hours" EP, "Diplomatic Immunity was the best of those entering at 54, "Miss You" by Cashmere Cat, Major Lazer and Tory Lanez at 91 and Kesha's version of "This is Me" at number 93.
That completes this week's look at the ARIA Chart, with the Grammys and Hottest 100 this week, it could be a full meltdown on the chart, will "Perfect" retain number one for a ninth week? We'll wait and see.
The ARIA singles chart is released at 5pm AEDT on Saturday.
Friday, 26 January 2018
New Music Friday Review: 19th January. Kylie's BACK!
Another week, another New Music Friday but this week, it's got a bit of an Australian edge with new Kylie Minogue and Shannon Noll. Plus new music from The Chainsmokers and Drake (unfortunately) and this week I am going back to using Youtube because Spotify has effectively shat the bed tonight.
Let's get the garbage out of the way first.
Song: God's Plan
Artist: Drake
So this is apparently Drake's feel good track about his future and how apparently people want him to fail but God won't let him fail all set to a beat that isn't even remotely interesting or changes at all while Drake drones on and on about not a heck of a lot, there's not enough detail in this song that makes it all that compelling or even makes me want to give it repeated listens, that said it's probably bound to be a hit unfortunately.
Rating: 4/10.
Song: Sick Boy
Artust: The Chainsmokers
The self aggrandising and annoying duo are back with a brand new song that is pretty much a sloppy rip off of 21 Pilots, Jon Bellion and AJR but with a ironic political bent aimed at the United States and quite honestly I don't see this being a hit because I largely do not see what they are getting at and it would be oh so easy to claim this song is about US President Donald Trump but that would be easy and also a lot of past Chainsmokers songs have come across as pretty narcissistic so let's leave it that shall we?
Ratings: 2/10
Now onto the better stuff....
Song: Land of Mine
Artist: Shannon Noll
Now let's talk about somebody I rarely have a chance to mention, I am disappointed "Southern Sky" wasn't the Australian smash it deserved to be but Nollsy is back with a single off his new album "Unbroken" and he is going country which is not surprising given the heel turn "Southern Sky" took in terms of an apparent country undertone and quite honestly it's not a bad fit for Shannon's voice. The instrumentation reminds me of an old Bruce Springsteen track and I am loving REAL guitars and drums in this song. GO NOLLSY!
Rating: 8/10
Song: Dancing
Artist: Kylie Minogue
I haven't had much of an opportunity to talk about Kylie Minogue here so I was looking forward to talking about "Dancing" but when I heard that Kylie was embracing country music, I got worried. Would Kylie lose her pop vibes to be this country artist? As it turned out, I didn't need to be worried because "Dancing" is an oddball country/electronic banger that works and I love that the song is about going out dancing, I love that line in a pop song. Only thing is I am not convinced it's that good it's a lead off single.
Rating: 7/10
Best of the week: Shannon Noll for "Land Of Mine"
Worst of the week: The Chainsmokers for "Sick Boy" for basically being a confused mess of a song
Next week: Lady Gaga, Maren Morris teaming up with Zedd and Grey, Justin Timberlake's collaboration with Chris Stapleton and Camp Cope.
Let's get the garbage out of the way first.
Song: God's Plan
Artist: Drake
So this is apparently Drake's feel good track about his future and how apparently people want him to fail but God won't let him fail all set to a beat that isn't even remotely interesting or changes at all while Drake drones on and on about not a heck of a lot, there's not enough detail in this song that makes it all that compelling or even makes me want to give it repeated listens, that said it's probably bound to be a hit unfortunately.
Rating: 4/10.
Song: Sick Boy
Artust: The Chainsmokers
The self aggrandising and annoying duo are back with a brand new song that is pretty much a sloppy rip off of 21 Pilots, Jon Bellion and AJR but with a ironic political bent aimed at the United States and quite honestly I don't see this being a hit because I largely do not see what they are getting at and it would be oh so easy to claim this song is about US President Donald Trump but that would be easy and also a lot of past Chainsmokers songs have come across as pretty narcissistic so let's leave it that shall we?
Ratings: 2/10
Now onto the better stuff....
Song: Land of Mine
Artist: Shannon Noll
Now let's talk about somebody I rarely have a chance to mention, I am disappointed "Southern Sky" wasn't the Australian smash it deserved to be but Nollsy is back with a single off his new album "Unbroken" and he is going country which is not surprising given the heel turn "Southern Sky" took in terms of an apparent country undertone and quite honestly it's not a bad fit for Shannon's voice. The instrumentation reminds me of an old Bruce Springsteen track and I am loving REAL guitars and drums in this song. GO NOLLSY!
Rating: 8/10
Song: Dancing
Artist: Kylie Minogue
I haven't had much of an opportunity to talk about Kylie Minogue here so I was looking forward to talking about "Dancing" but when I heard that Kylie was embracing country music, I got worried. Would Kylie lose her pop vibes to be this country artist? As it turned out, I didn't need to be worried because "Dancing" is an oddball country/electronic banger that works and I love that the song is about going out dancing, I love that line in a pop song. Only thing is I am not convinced it's that good it's a lead off single.
Rating: 7/10
Best of the week: Shannon Noll for "Land Of Mine"
Worst of the week: The Chainsmokers for "Sick Boy" for basically being a confused mess of a song
Next week: Lady Gaga, Maren Morris teaming up with Zedd and Grey, Justin Timberlake's collaboration with Chris Stapleton and Camp Cope.
Sunday, 21 January 2018
ARIA Top Ten/ Chart Review: January 22. A Perfect Seven at number one for Ed Sheeran
On first glance, this week's ARIA chart looks run of the mill boring, the top couple didn't change and the number one doesn't look like being removed from it's place for awhile but if you go beyond the top 5, wow, it was a busy week.
We lost two songs from the top 10 this week with "Wolves" by Marshmello and Selena Gomez slipping from 9 to 11 and "Him & I" by G-Eazy and Halsey slipping from 10 to 13.
Now on to the top 10 where for a 7th week, "Perfect" and its various remixes by Ed Sheeran feat. Beyonce and Andrea Boccelli remains at number 1 and like I said it's hard to see when or how it's going to be knocked off the top spot.
"I Fall Apart" by Post Malone remains at number 2 for a second week which isn't a surprise as it is ruling streaming services right now.
"River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran has gone number one in the UK this week but it sits at number 3 in Australia this week.
The boost of the back of the release of the album helped "Havana" by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug recoup some of it's previous week's losses back up to number 4.
That meant "Meant To Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line fell back to number 5.
Post Malone's second top 10 hit and former number 1 'Rockstar" featuring 21 Savage remains at number 6 and refuses to go away
NF's "Let You Down" switched with Marshmello and Khalid's "Silence". "Let You Down" moving up to number 7, "Silence" down to number 8.
Then you have the first of two new entries to the top ten, Bruno Mars scores his tenth Australian top ten and Cardi B her first with "Finesse (remix)" entering the top 10 at 9 having moved up six places.
Also moving up nine places this week to round out the top ten and be the second new top top ten entry is "This Is Me" by Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble at number 10.
As for the big movers up the chart outside of, there weren't many of those this week with "Candy Paint" by Post Malone breaking into the top 20 at number 19 and the bland "I Miss You" by Clean Bandit feat. Julia Michaels also breaking into the top 20 at number 20 but the biggest move of the week went to a song from The Biggest Showman soundtrack with "Re-write the Stars" by Zac Efron and Zendaya moving up from 42 to number 30.
"All The Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA moved up from 34 to 31,
As for the major losers, Pink's "Beautiful Trauma" continues to be a non starter falling from 36 to 47. Drops also came for Rita Ora's "Anywhere" which fell from 17 to 23, Charlie Puth's "How Long" which fell from 25 to 32 (not going to be as big as "Attention" was which is unfortunate because's it's an okay song), "I Like Me Better" by Lauv falls from 31 to 36 (Looks like finally breaking into the Billboard Hot 100 in the upcoming week). "New Rules" by Dua Lipa fell from 16 to 24 and finally "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons fell from 38 to 46.
There are five new entries to the top 50 with week with the highest new entry being an Aussie (YAY!), Troye Sivan new single "My My My!" has entered the chart at number 14 to be the highest new entry for this week, Camila Cabello's "Never Be The Same" rode the album release hype to enter the ARIA chart at number 17 then we have to go all the way down to number 38 to find the new entry for Taylor Swift feat. Future and Ed Sheeran entitled "End Game" (A desaturated mess of a song that Ed Sheeran doesn't fit on at all).
"The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman soundtrack by the cast and ensemble of same musical arrived at number 42 and finally "Chateau" by Angus and Julia Stone finally arrived in top 50 at 49.
As for new entries in the top 100: the best of those is "IDGAF" by Dua Lipa at number 53, "We're Going Home" by Vance Joy at 57 (really would like to see this song and Dua Lipa's "IDGAF" break into the top 50), "Real Friends" by Camila Cabello at 86 and "One Last Song" by Sam Smith at number 98.
There were three re-entries this week courtesy of The Cranberries after the untimely death of Dolores O'Riordan with former ARIA chart number 1 "Zombie" at number 58, "Linger" at number 59 and "Dreams" at number 78.
So with the five new entries to the top 50, what dropped out? Mostly 2017 hits like "Friends" by Justin Bieber and Bloodpop, "1-800-273-82455" by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, "Man's Not Hot" by Big Shaq and "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato. The other song to drop out was a debut last week in "The Weekend" by SZA.
Next week should be interesting as to whether Kylie Minogue can still land charting hits with "Dancing", it's doing pretty damn well on iTunes so we'll see what happens and whether or not anyone or anything can challenge for "Perfect" for number one.
We lost two songs from the top 10 this week with "Wolves" by Marshmello and Selena Gomez slipping from 9 to 11 and "Him & I" by G-Eazy and Halsey slipping from 10 to 13.
Now on to the top 10 where for a 7th week, "Perfect" and its various remixes by Ed Sheeran feat. Beyonce and Andrea Boccelli remains at number 1 and like I said it's hard to see when or how it's going to be knocked off the top spot.
"I Fall Apart" by Post Malone remains at number 2 for a second week which isn't a surprise as it is ruling streaming services right now.
"River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran has gone number one in the UK this week but it sits at number 3 in Australia this week.
The boost of the back of the release of the album helped "Havana" by Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug recoup some of it's previous week's losses back up to number 4.
That meant "Meant To Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line fell back to number 5.
Post Malone's second top 10 hit and former number 1 'Rockstar" featuring 21 Savage remains at number 6 and refuses to go away
NF's "Let You Down" switched with Marshmello and Khalid's "Silence". "Let You Down" moving up to number 7, "Silence" down to number 8.
Then you have the first of two new entries to the top ten, Bruno Mars scores his tenth Australian top ten and Cardi B her first with "Finesse (remix)" entering the top 10 at 9 having moved up six places.
Also moving up nine places this week to round out the top ten and be the second new top top ten entry is "This Is Me" by Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble at number 10.
As for the big movers up the chart outside of, there weren't many of those this week with "Candy Paint" by Post Malone breaking into the top 20 at number 19 and the bland "I Miss You" by Clean Bandit feat. Julia Michaels also breaking into the top 20 at number 20 but the biggest move of the week went to a song from The Biggest Showman soundtrack with "Re-write the Stars" by Zac Efron and Zendaya moving up from 42 to number 30.
"All The Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA moved up from 34 to 31,
As for the major losers, Pink's "Beautiful Trauma" continues to be a non starter falling from 36 to 47. Drops also came for Rita Ora's "Anywhere" which fell from 17 to 23, Charlie Puth's "How Long" which fell from 25 to 32 (not going to be as big as "Attention" was which is unfortunate because's it's an okay song), "I Like Me Better" by Lauv falls from 31 to 36 (Looks like finally breaking into the Billboard Hot 100 in the upcoming week). "New Rules" by Dua Lipa fell from 16 to 24 and finally "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons fell from 38 to 46.
There are five new entries to the top 50 with week with the highest new entry being an Aussie (YAY!), Troye Sivan new single "My My My!" has entered the chart at number 14 to be the highest new entry for this week, Camila Cabello's "Never Be The Same" rode the album release hype to enter the ARIA chart at number 17 then we have to go all the way down to number 38 to find the new entry for Taylor Swift feat. Future and Ed Sheeran entitled "End Game" (A desaturated mess of a song that Ed Sheeran doesn't fit on at all).
"The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman soundtrack by the cast and ensemble of same musical arrived at number 42 and finally "Chateau" by Angus and Julia Stone finally arrived in top 50 at 49.
As for new entries in the top 100: the best of those is "IDGAF" by Dua Lipa at number 53, "We're Going Home" by Vance Joy at 57 (really would like to see this song and Dua Lipa's "IDGAF" break into the top 50), "Real Friends" by Camila Cabello at 86 and "One Last Song" by Sam Smith at number 98.
There were three re-entries this week courtesy of The Cranberries after the untimely death of Dolores O'Riordan with former ARIA chart number 1 "Zombie" at number 58, "Linger" at number 59 and "Dreams" at number 78.
So with the five new entries to the top 50, what dropped out? Mostly 2017 hits like "Friends" by Justin Bieber and Bloodpop, "1-800-273-82455" by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, "Man's Not Hot" by Big Shaq and "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato. The other song to drop out was a debut last week in "The Weekend" by SZA.
Next week should be interesting as to whether Kylie Minogue can still land charting hits with "Dancing", it's doing pretty damn well on iTunes so we'll see what happens and whether or not anyone or anything can challenge for "Perfect" for number one.
Thursday, 18 January 2018
New Music Friday Review: Troye Sivan, Another 50 Shades Freed soundtrack song
So this week was weird, we got some new Troye Sivan, another song from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack and a song for the NFL Superbowl.
Song: The Champion
Artists: Carrie Underwood, Ludacris
So this is the song being used by the TV networks for the Superbowl and by NBC for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Here's the thing, if you like Jessica Simpson's "Irresistible' meets Katy Perry's "Roar", its another cliched empowerment pop song about an athlete getting up again after they've been 'beaten' etc. In context for what it is, I guess it's okay if it's just for TV networks to use for their sports coverage. Carrie sounds fine, Ludacris guest verse is decent but both have done better but any other purpose? I can't say I'd want to hear these cliches from a pop song. Carrie, you are better than this.
Rating: 4/10
Song: My My My!
Artist: Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan is back with a new single and look, this song has some good moments, the verses and the pre chorus are pretty darn great and even the chorus is good even though it does feel like that Troye's voice is lost in the back of the mix somewhere however what kills me about this song is that introduction, it's sounds like a cassette tape running on it's last legs and really considering the rest of the song, it should have been better but definitely potential there.
Rating: 6/10
Song: Capital Letters
Artists: Hailee Steinfeld, Bloodpop
So the latest song released from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack and I have got to say this probably the best Hailee Steinfeld has sounded on a song and really this isn't all that bad even if the meaning of the song does come across as a little pretentious (honestly) 'a metaphor for the power of love, then compared to the strong emphasis on capital letters" Ugh.
Even with this song continuing modern music's frustrating obsession with beats over any discernible melody, I actually don't mind this at all.
Rating: 7/10
Song: We're Going Home
Artist: Vance Joy
I was hoping that "We're Going Home" would be better than the painfully dull "Like Gold" however "We're Going Home" is pretty darn excellent. A quite rambling song that Vance Joy wrote while touring with Taylor Swift about stepping into the unknown and finding out what you as a person are made of inside and man, that chorus just springs a lot to my mind right now. I really enjoyed this song a lot largely because of the melody that is allowed to shine through.
Rating: 8/10
Best of the week: "We're Going Home" by Vance Joy
Worst: "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris
New Music Friday next week
- "Dancing" by Kylie Minogue
- "Sick Boy" by The Chainsmokers.
Song: The Champion
Artists: Carrie Underwood, Ludacris
So this is the song being used by the TV networks for the Superbowl and by NBC for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Here's the thing, if you like Jessica Simpson's "Irresistible' meets Katy Perry's "Roar", its another cliched empowerment pop song about an athlete getting up again after they've been 'beaten' etc. In context for what it is, I guess it's okay if it's just for TV networks to use for their sports coverage. Carrie sounds fine, Ludacris guest verse is decent but both have done better but any other purpose? I can't say I'd want to hear these cliches from a pop song. Carrie, you are better than this.
Rating: 4/10
Song: My My My!
Artist: Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan is back with a new single and look, this song has some good moments, the verses and the pre chorus are pretty darn great and even the chorus is good even though it does feel like that Troye's voice is lost in the back of the mix somewhere however what kills me about this song is that introduction, it's sounds like a cassette tape running on it's last legs and really considering the rest of the song, it should have been better but definitely potential there.
Rating: 6/10
Song: Capital Letters
Artists: Hailee Steinfeld, Bloodpop
So the latest song released from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack and I have got to say this probably the best Hailee Steinfeld has sounded on a song and really this isn't all that bad even if the meaning of the song does come across as a little pretentious (honestly) 'a metaphor for the power of love, then compared to the strong emphasis on capital letters" Ugh.
Even with this song continuing modern music's frustrating obsession with beats over any discernible melody, I actually don't mind this at all.
Rating: 7/10
Song: We're Going Home
Artist: Vance Joy
I was hoping that "We're Going Home" would be better than the painfully dull "Like Gold" however "We're Going Home" is pretty darn excellent. A quite rambling song that Vance Joy wrote while touring with Taylor Swift about stepping into the unknown and finding out what you as a person are made of inside and man, that chorus just springs a lot to my mind right now. I really enjoyed this song a lot largely because of the melody that is allowed to shine through.
Rating: 8/10
Best of the week: "We're Going Home" by Vance Joy
Worst: "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris
New Music Friday next week
- "Dancing" by Kylie Minogue
- "Sick Boy" by The Chainsmokers.
Sunday, 14 January 2018
ARIA top ten/chart review: January 15 2018. Influx of new entries leaves a shake up
So we got some major action on the charts this week, some major shifts up and down the chart and influx of new entries to the chart and even a new entry to the top ten (just a pity it's not all that good) but we'll get to that.
The lone song to fall out of the top ten was "Feel It Still" by Portugal, the Man which dropped to number 11 which was no surprise.
However it's a sixth week at number one for "Perfect" and various remixes by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyonce and Andrea Boccelli but I am not certain how much longer this song has left number one with a huge push likely for "Havana" by Camila Cabello following the release of her album this week and momentum for a couple of new songs outside the top ten.
What was a surprise was the sudden jump from 4 to 2 for Post Malone's "I Fall Apart", really came out of nowhere until it's seen that the song actually had a pretty good week on iTunes and has been getting plenty of radio airplay.
"River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran remains at number three, I am not sure where this song is going to get it's push from to go higher as it doesn't seem like it's going to be a single from "Revival"
The big non surprise of the week was the jump from 7 to 4 for "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia and it could go higher with the song absolutely ruling iTunes in the past week.
What all this meant was that "Havana" by Camila Cabello and Young Thug dropped from number 2 to number 5 but with the album getting rave reviews and to number 1 on iTunes, I can see this getting a boost...maybe not back to number 1 but a boost back to maybe 2 or 3.
"Rockstar" by Post Malone and 21 Savage remains at number 6 but time in the top 10 may well almost be up with stronger songs down further.
"Silence" by Marshmello and Khalid fell from 5 to 7 while NF remained steady at number 8 with "Let You Down", "Wolves" by Marshmello and Selena Gomez also remained where it was at number 9.
Now for the new entry to the top 10 which was "Him & I" by G-Eazy featuring Halsey which jumped six places to reach the top ten. I'll bite my tongue on the sarcasm. not thrilled at all to see this in the top ten.
As for outside of the top ten in the gains department, "This is me" by Keala Settle and the Greatest Showman Ensemble claimed biggest gainer of the week with a move from 34 to 19. The only decent song to have any kind of significant gain was Sheppard's "Coming Home" which jumped from 28 to 22 this week and oh, "Candy Paint" by Post Malone is okay, it went from 26 to 20 but the rest? "Cola" by Camelphat and Elderbook jumped from 48 to 40 off it's debut last week, "Congratulations" by Post Malone and Quavo continues to hang around like a bad smell by jumping from 38 to 33.
As for the losers, well, the biggest loser was "Man's Not Hot" by Big Shaq which fell from 30 to 44, most of the losers are really 2017 songs on the way out again this week with "Sorry not Sorry" by Demi Lovato falling to 50 from 43, "1-800-273-8255" by Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid falling to 48 from 42. Also on way out because they are hits from 2017 are "Too Good at Goodbyes" by Sam Smith which fell to 32 from 24 and "Glorious" by Macklemore feat. Skylar Gray which dropped from 27 to 35.
We did indeed get a whole slew of new entries and most of these are pretty excellent, the highest new entry of the week went to "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B at number 15 (this might just be the song that launches Cardi B in Australia) but that's not the only new entry that involves Cardi B because "No Limit" by G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B entered at number 43.
Justin Timberlake's "Filthy" entered at 28 which is a bit lower than I would have thought for a Justin Timberlake song but then again the song is fairly polarising, a lot love it, a lot hate it.
"The Greatest Showman" continues to lodge songs in the chart with "Re-Write the Stars" by Zac Efron and Zendaya entering at 42.
The upcoming "Black Panther" movie has seen Kendrick Lamar return to the charts with SZA for a song I don't mind at all even if SZA just OWNS the track completely. "All the Stars entering at 34.
Speaking of SZA, "The Weekend", a song that was a reasonable sized hit for her in the US last year. has finally arrived in Australia at number 49.
There was two new entries to the top 100 with the arrival of the increasingly bad "End Game" by Taylor Swift feat. Future and Ed Sheeran (I manage to find something new that pisses me off about that song every time I hear it) and the unsexy "For You" by Liam Payne and Rita Ora from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack
The one re-entry this week saw was "Came here for Love" by Sigala and Ella Eyre at number 100.
As for the drop outs, I ain't complaining about any of these being gone... well okay, "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee plus the remix with Justin Bieber, the original of that song wasn't at all bad but I am happy to see the remix gone. Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang", Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" and "What about Us?" by Pink are also gone after all having better than expected or should have chart runs.
The other two exits are no surprise given they were re-entries last week with "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William and "Stargazing" by Kygo feat. Justin Jesso exiting.
The lone song to fall out of the top ten was "Feel It Still" by Portugal, the Man which dropped to number 11 which was no surprise.
However it's a sixth week at number one for "Perfect" and various remixes by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyonce and Andrea Boccelli but I am not certain how much longer this song has left number one with a huge push likely for "Havana" by Camila Cabello following the release of her album this week and momentum for a couple of new songs outside the top ten.
What was a surprise was the sudden jump from 4 to 2 for Post Malone's "I Fall Apart", really came out of nowhere until it's seen that the song actually had a pretty good week on iTunes and has been getting plenty of radio airplay.
"River" by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran remains at number three, I am not sure where this song is going to get it's push from to go higher as it doesn't seem like it's going to be a single from "Revival"
The big non surprise of the week was the jump from 7 to 4 for "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia and it could go higher with the song absolutely ruling iTunes in the past week.
What all this meant was that "Havana" by Camila Cabello and Young Thug dropped from number 2 to number 5 but with the album getting rave reviews and to number 1 on iTunes, I can see this getting a boost...maybe not back to number 1 but a boost back to maybe 2 or 3.
"Rockstar" by Post Malone and 21 Savage remains at number 6 but time in the top 10 may well almost be up with stronger songs down further.
"Silence" by Marshmello and Khalid fell from 5 to 7 while NF remained steady at number 8 with "Let You Down", "Wolves" by Marshmello and Selena Gomez also remained where it was at number 9.
Now for the new entry to the top 10 which was "Him & I" by G-Eazy featuring Halsey which jumped six places to reach the top ten. I'll bite my tongue on the sarcasm. not thrilled at all to see this in the top ten.
As for outside of the top ten in the gains department, "This is me" by Keala Settle and the Greatest Showman Ensemble claimed biggest gainer of the week with a move from 34 to 19. The only decent song to have any kind of significant gain was Sheppard's "Coming Home" which jumped from 28 to 22 this week and oh, "Candy Paint" by Post Malone is okay, it went from 26 to 20 but the rest? "Cola" by Camelphat and Elderbook jumped from 48 to 40 off it's debut last week, "Congratulations" by Post Malone and Quavo continues to hang around like a bad smell by jumping from 38 to 33.
As for the losers, well, the biggest loser was "Man's Not Hot" by Big Shaq which fell from 30 to 44, most of the losers are really 2017 songs on the way out again this week with "Sorry not Sorry" by Demi Lovato falling to 50 from 43, "1-800-273-8255" by Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid falling to 48 from 42. Also on way out because they are hits from 2017 are "Too Good at Goodbyes" by Sam Smith which fell to 32 from 24 and "Glorious" by Macklemore feat. Skylar Gray which dropped from 27 to 35.
We did indeed get a whole slew of new entries and most of these are pretty excellent, the highest new entry of the week went to "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B at number 15 (this might just be the song that launches Cardi B in Australia) but that's not the only new entry that involves Cardi B because "No Limit" by G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B entered at number 43.
Justin Timberlake's "Filthy" entered at 28 which is a bit lower than I would have thought for a Justin Timberlake song but then again the song is fairly polarising, a lot love it, a lot hate it.
"The Greatest Showman" continues to lodge songs in the chart with "Re-Write the Stars" by Zac Efron and Zendaya entering at 42.
The upcoming "Black Panther" movie has seen Kendrick Lamar return to the charts with SZA for a song I don't mind at all even if SZA just OWNS the track completely. "All the Stars entering at 34.
Speaking of SZA, "The Weekend", a song that was a reasonable sized hit for her in the US last year. has finally arrived in Australia at number 49.
There was two new entries to the top 100 with the arrival of the increasingly bad "End Game" by Taylor Swift feat. Future and Ed Sheeran (I manage to find something new that pisses me off about that song every time I hear it) and the unsexy "For You" by Liam Payne and Rita Ora from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack
The one re-entry this week saw was "Came here for Love" by Sigala and Ella Eyre at number 100.
As for the drop outs, I ain't complaining about any of these being gone... well okay, "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee plus the remix with Justin Bieber, the original of that song wasn't at all bad but I am happy to see the remix gone. Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang", Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" and "What about Us?" by Pink are also gone after all having better than expected or should have chart runs.
The other two exits are no surprise given they were re-entries last week with "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William and "Stargazing" by Kygo feat. Justin Jesso exiting.
Thursday, 11 January 2018
New Music Friday Review: It's back for 2018!
New Music Friday Review is back for the new year, ladies and gentlemen! Boy, we have a loaded line up of new songs to talk about including collabs by Bruno Mars and Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and SZA team up as do Liam Payne and Rita Ora plus Justin Timberlake just happened to casually drop a new single so let's get started with...
So this is the lead off single from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack, now the problem with most songs from the 50 Shades soundtracks is that they are incredibly unsexy just look at "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" by Zayn and Taylor Swift which got a Dishnourable mention from me last year and as hard as Liam Payne tries to stretch it into be sexy, this song just doesn't do it for me, Rita Ora just sounds so incredibly pitchy on that first verse, that said the chorus is pretty damn good in amongst the messy production that doesn't match what is supposed to be a sexy song for what amounts to a porn film!
Bruno Mars got Cardi B on a song from 24k Magic for a remixed version that is a throwback to the late 80s/early 90s and Cardi B fits right in with an 80s type flow that seems so effortless for her, she sounds awesome here meanwhile Bruno Mars sounds like he just having fun with plenty of charisma that you almost don't care that the song lyrically in some places doesn't make a great deal of sense. This song is blowing up huge in the US right now debuting at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and early predictions for next week have it leaping to number 3 and you know what? It deserves to be huge, this is a FANTASTIC song.
So two of the most successful artists who broke into the mainstream last year have teamed up for a song for the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther and well, it's really quite the excellent song. SZA is just killing it with her vocals, she really does do a good job with this song and Kendrick is on point with a voice about how he doesn't want other people's expectations or congratulations. Really only some of the production is my only objection with an annoying beeping type noise playing intermittently through the track, otherwise decent song.
Best song: Easily "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B
Worst: Not really anything that awful, I'm going to give it to "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake. That vocal delivery is not great.
New Music Friday Review next week:
- Troye Sivan's "My My My!" (Is released today at 4pm AEDT!)
- Vance Joy's "We're Going Home"
- "Capital Letters" by Hailee Steinfeld and Bloodpop (Another song from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack)
- "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood and Ludacris (WTF, such a strange pairing that. One's a pop country music darling, the other is a rapper popular in the 2000s)
- Dua Lipa dropping yet another new single from her album, this one is "IDGAF" (video tomorrow)
- Camila Cabello releases her debut album and given the reviews for it so far, it could do pretty well and give "Havana" a boost toward a return to number one on the singles chart.
Song: For You
Artists: Liam Payne and Rita Ora
So this is the lead off single from the 50 Shades Freed soundtrack, now the problem with most songs from the 50 Shades soundtracks is that they are incredibly unsexy just look at "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" by Zayn and Taylor Swift which got a Dishnourable mention from me last year and as hard as Liam Payne tries to stretch it into be sexy, this song just doesn't do it for me, Rita Ora just sounds so incredibly pitchy on that first verse, that said the chorus is pretty damn good in amongst the messy production that doesn't match what is supposed to be a sexy song for what amounts to a porn film!
Rating: 5/10. The chorus saves it from a lower rating
Song: Finesse (Remix)
Artists: Bruno Mars, Cardi B
Bruno Mars got Cardi B on a song from 24k Magic for a remixed version that is a throwback to the late 80s/early 90s and Cardi B fits right in with an 80s type flow that seems so effortless for her, she sounds awesome here meanwhile Bruno Mars sounds like he just having fun with plenty of charisma that you almost don't care that the song lyrically in some places doesn't make a great deal of sense. This song is blowing up huge in the US right now debuting at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and early predictions for next week have it leaping to number 3 and you know what? It deserves to be huge, this is a FANTASTIC song.
Rating: 9/10
Song: Filthy
Artist: Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake's lead off single from his upcoming new album "Man of the Woods" and it plays out like something from a dramatic action film soundtrack, the production on this song is EPIC to say the least and it might just be the best thing about this song because I am not a fan of Justin's vocal delivery at all which sounds very similar to Kelly Clarkson's delivery on "Love So Soft" which tired on me in short time, it just doesn't work for me at all.
Rating: 5/10
Song: All The Stars
Artists: Kendrick Lamar, SZA
So two of the most successful artists who broke into the mainstream last year have teamed up for a song for the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther and well, it's really quite the excellent song. SZA is just killing it with her vocals, she really does do a good job with this song and Kendrick is on point with a voice about how he doesn't want other people's expectations or congratulations. Really only some of the production is my only objection with an annoying beeping type noise playing intermittently through the track, otherwise decent song.
Rating; 8/10
Song: If You Leave Me Now
Artists: Charlie Puth, Boyz II Men
So if there was one artist who showed signs that his music was improving in 2017, it was Charlie Puth. "Attention" and "How Long" stuck around for a surprisingly long amount of time but the latest song from his delayed second album "VoiceNotes" sees him team up with R&B legends Boyz II Men for an acapella song that is basically Puth urging his partner not to walk out on him, the harmonies are great and Boyz II Men bring a lot of emotion to this song however there really isn't enough detail to the song, what is triggering this girl to consider walking on the relationship?
Rating: 7/10
Best song: Easily "Finesse (remix)" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B
Worst: Not really anything that awful, I'm going to give it to "Filthy" by Justin Timberlake. That vocal delivery is not great.
New Music Friday Review next week:
- Troye Sivan's "My My My!" (Is released today at 4pm AEDT!)
- Vance Joy's "We're Going Home"
- "Capital Letters" by Hailee Steinfeld and Bloodpop (Another song from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack)
- "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood and Ludacris (WTF, such a strange pairing that. One's a pop country music darling, the other is a rapper popular in the 2000s)
- Dua Lipa dropping yet another new single from her album, this one is "IDGAF" (video tomorrow)
- Camila Cabello releases her debut album and given the reviews for it so far, it could do pretty well and give "Havana" a boost toward a return to number one on the singles chart.
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