Saturday 29 September 2018

New Music Friday review is back: Taki Taki is Yucky Yucky

After a couple of months break I have decided to bring back New Music Friday review, largely because there's two releases that I felt in need of review. I am going to do a ARIA Chart top 20 ranked very soon so to catch up with some of the songs that I haven't reviewed while giving New Music Friday review a break but lets get started with a brand new reggaeton song that some a predicting to be a huge hit.

Song: Taki Taki
Artists: DJ Snake, Ozuna, Cardi B, Selena Gomez


This song has been earmarked for sometime as being a huge hit what with break out star of the last two years rapper Cardi B and pop songstress Selena Gomez on board, it was bound to be pretty good, right?

Sadly, its not. The title is an apparently made up word and the production from DJ Snake is pretty ordinary what with the recorder that really does get old about 20 seconds into the song and generally it's all pretty underwhelming.

However the biggest issue with "Taki Taki" comes in the lyrics because the song plays off on sexual suggestion which I guess is okay however what is not okay is a line coming from Ozuna's verse where he sings "Her booty blow up like Nagasaki" meaning this young woman's backside is going to blow up like the atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Nagaski during the 2nd World War and killed an estimated 80,000 people which is something I hope is NEVER repeated, I cannot stress enough how disrespectful and appalling this lyric is from Ozuna and the fact that the record label green lit the song for release without demanding the lyric be changed means they should stand condemned as well. Sadly seems most media have failed to notice the disgusting line.

Let's not make this tasteless and near enough to offensive piece of garbage a hit if we can help it, please because if it does become a hit, it's probably going to be an automatic pick for my top 3 worst songs of the year.

Rating: 2/10


Song: Honey
Artist: Robyn



Robyn is back with the title track of her forthcoming album and I will say that it is better than the previous track I talked about...a mile better actually. There's a nice build and energy through out the song that makes it feel reminiscent of an early 90s dance pop song only the sound feels very much more refined. It's a pleasant listen, not sure how much I am going to come back to it though.

Rating 7/10'



Thursday 27 September 2018

ARIA top ten/chart review 24th September: George Ezra rides Shotgun to number 1

Well this week didn't pan out as bad as I thought it would, that's not to say I ain't worried about some songs that are coming including one song in the top ten that is a shot at going number 1 (unfortunately) and we got a new number one that I really like,

That new number one is "Shotgun" by George Ezra, it's already been a huge hit in the UK and now it's finally gone number one here in Australia. "Shotgun" is Ezra's first number one single, his previous best was "Budapest" which reached number 5 in July 2014 while "Shotgun" is the tenth song to hit number one in Australia this year.

The previous number one for five weeks, "Be Alright" by Dean Lewis slipped back to number two this week and I would expect this song to slowly start falling away soon.

This all saw "Eastside" by Benny Blanco feat. Halsey and Khalid slip back to number three, now this probably isn't going to reach number one unfortunately (it's a pretty good song so kind of annoyed that it won't reach number one like it has in New Zealand).

What has a chance of hitting number one because it's dominating on streaming at the moment is the unbearably unimaginative and pretty damn awful 'I Love It" by Kanye West and Lil Pump (Uthe lyrics of this song are asinine, we'r

The current US number one "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B fell back to number 6 as it gradually leaves the chart.

"Rise" by Jonas Blue feat. Jack and Jack jumped up two places to number 7, I doubt it can make top five but hey I'll be happy if it does as it is a decent song.

"Happier" by Marshmello feat. Bastille jumped 5 places to be a new arrival to the top ten at number eight.

"High Hopes" by Panic! At The Disco remains in the top 10 despite a one place drop to number 9.

Rounding out the top ten is former number one "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer awbich fell four places to number ten, I expect this song to be fighting it out with "Be Alright" by Dean Lewis  for ARIA song of the year come the ARIA Awards in November.

Gains

:The biggest gainer this week was the European smash "In My Mind" by Dynoro which busted up to number 25 from 41. Could be a future number one.

Speaking of big dance hits elsewhere starting to rise up the charts, "Body" by Loud Luxury feat Brando jumped from 25 to 14. I expect this song to break into the top ten next week.

"Electricity" by Silk City feat. Dua Lipa also enjoyed a good rise up to 24 from 33 while "Natural" by Imagine Dragons rose 9 places to 28 (I am meh about that song, a stereotypical Imagine Dragons song really)


For some inexplicable reason "Goodbye" by Jason DeRulo feat. David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Willy William jumped 12 places to 36.

Kian's "Waiting" got a decent 12 place boost to 38. Great news for the young Aussie artist!


Re-Entries

"Shape Of You" by Ed Sheeran is back again to spend a 79th week on the chart at number 50. What the hell? Maybe it's time for ARIA to look at a recurrent rule.

Losers

Eminem lost hard this week with "The Ringer" the biggest loser of the week down to 31 from 18 last week, "Kamikaze" fell to 23, "Not Alike" with Royce Da 5'9" down to 44.

Ariana Grande announced she was going to be taking a long break as "God is a Woman" fell 7 steps down from heaven's gates to 27.

"Fire/Reprisal" by Peking Duk lost it's fire in flaming out to 32. "Better Now" by Post Malone slipped to 33 from 28 and the generally crappy "FEFE" by 6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj dropped to 34/


Drop Outs

The only drop out I am a little disappointed about is "I Wanna Know" by NOTD feat. Bea Miller. That song was pretty good so kind of sad to see it fall out.

That siad not sorry to see "Solo" by Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato gone...good riddance to atrocious garbage, both Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato are capable of so much better.

The other two that fell out were Eminem "Kamikaze" album tracks those being "Fall" and "Greatest"


New Entries

Highest debut of the week went to Khalid's "Better" at number 15 which isn't surprising considering it seems that Australia appears to love the guy.

Now a song that has done well overseas and has finally debuted on the Australia charts at 41 is Tom Walker's 'Leave a Light On". Seriously, number 1 in France and also hit the top 10 in a number of countries around Europe, the song is an unhinged load of awesome. Check it out.

Finally we end it with Machine Gun Kelly's diss track toward Eminem "Rap Devil" debuting at 45.

Next week we'll see the probable top ten debut of Eminem's response to MGK called "Killshot", Avril Lavigne could also turn up with her comeback track called "Head Above water". I do expect George Ezra to retain number one.







Friday 21 September 2018

My Thoughts on "Head Above Water" by Avril Lavigne

Ever since Avril Lavigne promised new music toward the end of 2016, I will admit to be a little impatient and very excited to hear what she and others had been working on in the studio even despite the fact I was not impressed with her self titled album which was released in 2013 apart from a couple of songs like 'Here's to Never Growing Up" so part of me was wary.

However before we even talk about the music we need to talk about the fact that Avril hasn't released any music since 2015 when she released "Fly" for the Special Olympics and had various guest appearances on other people's songs in 2017 so why the long wait? Quite simply, Avril had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, a horrid disease that is carried by black legged and deer ticks that had left Avril bedridden, and as she wrote in her emotional letter to fans announcing the release date of the first single from her 6th album, had left her 'accepting death'. 

So that leads us to the first taste of the new album which still doesn't have a name, the lead single called "Head Above Water" which is an emotional, empowering piano ballad that makes Avril's vocals the star and that's almost immediate because Avril sounds absolutely stunning on this song to the point where I'd dare say her voice has improved A LOT given the five years away.

I know a few people were wanting a loud, brasive rock song as the lead single but given what Avril has been through that was NEVER going to be the case, it was always going to be a ballad.

The lyrics are to a degree simple but that's always been Avril's strong point, she's never needed to make complex songs to connect with her fans take songs like "Here's to Never Growing Up" and even her first major hit "Complicated" where both really get to the point and that is the same with "Head Above Water" where Avril tells her story about her determination in fighting lyme disease with the support of God which makes a heck of a lot of sense, having a brush with death naturally would bring a person closer to whatever religious figure is in their lives and coming to grips with their own mortality and reaching acceptance that they may well die. 

Moving away from the lyrics and to the overall sound of the song and just where it fits in terms of Avril's discography, I actually see "Head Above Water" as being a song that could have made her second album "Under My Skin" as it bares a lot of the hallmarks of some of the songs from that album and it's also a sign that Avril has matured as a person.

I really like "Head Above Water" a lot, am hoping it becomes a hit in Australia and around the world because my goodness it deserves it and if it can also draw attention to the horror that is lyme disease than we're all going to be better for it. Thank you Avril. 


Thursday 20 September 2018

ARIA Singles Chart top ten/chart review: 17th September: Kanye and Lil Pump debut inside top ten

There's a change a-coming to the ARIA singles chart...just not this week...but seriously there's something brewing and I don't know if it is any good especially considering the new entry to the top ten but we'll get to taking that trash out.

Anyway Dean Lewis spends his fifth week at number one with "Be Alright" but things aren't looking promising for fifth week at the top as digital sales and streaming have started to slow.

The favourite to take number one is "Eastside" by Benny Blanco feat. Halsey and Khalid at number two, its still doing well on streaming but digital sales have slowed.

Another contender for number one is George Ezra's "Shotgun" which remains at number three for another week, it still leads on digital sales and I can only see digital sales improving.

Heck the top five is actually okay with the terrific "Promises" by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith being the biggest gainer across the chart this week leaping eight places to number four and is a genuine contender for number one.

What's not is "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 and Cardi B which somehow leapt one place to return to the top 5 at number 5 largely due to the weakness of "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer which remained at number 6

However it could be overtaken by the new entry at number seven and the garbage that needs to go into a bin, "I Love It" by Kanye West feat. Lil Pump. This song is just utter drivel from start to finish but its got good streaming and that's about it, hopefully radio doesn't pick it up (given the language used, I doubt they will)

"High Hopes" by Panic! At the Disco remains at number 8 again this week. Good sign as I really like that song so the longer it stays in the top ten is good at least to me

"Rise" by Jonas Blue feat. Jack and Jack returned to the top ten at number 9, up two places on last week but I don't see it lasting much longer in the top ten

Finally, "In My Feelings" by Drake slipped one place to number ten meaning next week could be the first week without a Drake song in the top ten for awhile.


Gains

Most songs got their gains back as the Eminem album bomb predictably receded with "Happier" by Marshmello feat. Bastille jumping from 19 to 13 (probably cracks top ten next week), "Brautiful" by Bazzi feat. Camila up to 15 from 21 (Camila has announced "Consequences" as the next single from her album (obviously after 'Real Friends' remix with Swae Lee flopped).

The major hit in Canada and the UK, "Body" by Loud Luxury and Brando jumped from 32 to 25 as it seems likely to become the next major electronic hit in Australia.

"Happy Now"  by Zedd feat. Elley Duhe regained some lost ground climbing from 35 to 27 (It's an okay song, doesn't really have much impact on me one way or the other if I am being honest)


Losers

Let's blow through all the Eminem losses this week because the biggest was his song "Greatest" which fell from 15 to 38. "Lucky You" with Joyner Lucas fell out of the top ten to number 11. "Kamikaze" fell down one place to 14, "The Ringer" to 18, "Not Alike" with Royce Da 5'9" down to 32 from 23 and finally "Fall" lived up to it's name plummeting to 36.

Outside of Eminem though, "Healing Hands" by Conrad Sewell find 5 to 19, "God is a Woman" by Ariana Grande slipped four to 20 and "Nevermind" by Dennis Lloyd dropped from 27 to 31.

Finally in good news, it looks as though "Solo" by Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato is on the way out as it fell from 41 to 49.

Re-Entries

The only re-entry is Jason DeRulo's "Goodbye" feat. David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Willy William at 48 (Australia, really, you can do better)

Drop outs

Five of the six drop outs are Eminem songs including both songs with Jessie Reyez "Nice Guy" and "Good Guy" along with "Normal", "Venom" and "Stepping Stone"

The only non Eminem song to fall out was 'Hurt Somebody' by Noah Kahan which actually had a pretty decent run spending 25 weeks on the chart, it may well make the year end list.


New Entries

So apart from Kanye and Lil Pump's new entry inside the top ten, we got "Electricity" by Silk City (Mark Ronson and Diplo) feat. Dua Lipa at 33 (I am hoping this song does well, I really like it a lot), "Natural" by Imagine Dragons at 37, "In My Mind" by Dynoro (this song has been HUGE in Europe especially in Germany)

16 year old Triple J unearthed act Kian has his first ARIA top 50 single with "Waiting" debuting at number 50 (I hope it sticks around but wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't)

So that was the week and it was a mixed one at that. Dean Lewis time at number one seems limited but I am not sure what is going to replace it.





Thursday 13 September 2018

ARIA top ten/Chart Review: 10th September: Kamikaze lived up to its name as an Eminem album bomb detonates

Fair to say this week wasn't pretty at all, only few songs made gains and those songs that were climbing lost ground while others that had been falling continued their descent all because of an Eminem "Kamikaze" album bomb.

Let's begin with the top 10, Eminem didn't manage to cause a change at number one with Dean Lewis remaining at number one for a fourth straight week with "Be Alright" but it could have some competition for number one soon more on that in a moment.

It's probably not going to come from "Eastside" by Benny Blanco feat. Halsey and Khalid at number 2, its digital sales are just not matching the song's streaming unfortunately. I actually don't mind this song at all, it's the best Halsey has sounded on anything she's done.

The real challenger for number one comes in the form of George Ezra's "Shotgun" which jumped three places to number 3 this week, it's ruling digital sales and if it gets some streaming gains then there's a fair chance that we might see this song go number one (I'd be happy with that because it's a pretty great pop song)

This where we hit the first and second of the eleven new Eminem songs that reached the ARIA top 50 this week with "Lucky You" feat. Lucas Joyner at number four and "The Ringer" at number five, I don't expect either of these two songs to stick around in the top ten though.

Former chart topper "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer fell three places to number 6 as it continues to rise on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, it currently sits at number thirteen and is a chance of breaking into the top ten there.

It was the same sized drop for Maroon 5 and Cardi B with "Girls Like You" dropping to number seven.

Perhaps mostly surprisingly is the fact "High Hopes" by Panic! At the Disco remaining at number eight. It's actually in Australia where this song is performing the best which is a bit of a surprise.

"In My Feelings" by Drake slid for four places because the novelty of the challenge for this song is being replaced by similarly annoying challenges for crap songs.

Rounding out the the top ten is "No Brainer" by DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo at number ten which is a drop of three places.

I expect most of those that dropped places will regain them once the Eminem album bomb recedes.

Gains

Very few gains of note this week, the biggest mover was "Happier" by Marshmello feat. Bastille which jumped from 25 to 19.

Losers

There were some big losers across the board, I am not going to go through every single song that lost this week because most of them will regain ground next week with the album bomb fading away. The biggest loser was "Solo" by Clean Bandit featuring Demi Lovato fell from 28 to 41.

Other songs to fall big included "I Like It' by Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin (I am not convinced the Australian public love Cardi B just yet to be honest), "I'll be There' by Jess Glynne falling from 29 to 36 and "No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande down to 42 from 31 however I suspect those songs may well have been on the way out anyway.

Taking a hit were "Happy Now" by Zedd and Elley Duhe down to 35 from 27 and "Beautiful" by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello down to 21 from 18.


Drop Outs 

So let's start with songs that will make the year end list that fell out of the top 50 this week: "One Kiss" by Calvin Harris feat. Dua Lipa, "Back To You" by Selena Gomez",  former number one"God's Plan" by Drake (thank godness), "Nice for What" by Drake and "Psycho" by Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla Sign.

Songs having their run cut short. "Nonstop" by Drake (not a good week at all for Drake) and "Just Friends" by Hayden James and Boy Matthews.

Gone and probably won't return: "Idol" by BTS (Good, a pretty awful song),

Might return with Eminem's album bomb receding: "Goodbye" by Jason Derulo feat. David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Willy William, "I'm A Mess" by Bebe Rexha and "Don't Leave Me Alone" by David Guetta feat. Anne-Marie.


New Entries

So I am going to make this quick and get through all of these Eminem new entries as quickly as possible because I doubt any of them are sticking around.

Outside of "Lucky You" and "The Ringer", there was "Kamikaze" at 13, "Greatest" at 15, "Fall" at 23, "Not Alike" feat. Royce Da 5'9", "Stepping Stone" at 34, "Venom" at 37, "Good Guy" feat. Jessie Reyez at 46 and finally "Nice Guy" also feat. Jessie Reyez at 48.


Ugh, I dislike album bombs, hopefully the one recedes quickly. ARIA will post the latest chart update at 5pm on Saturday.



Tuesday 4 September 2018

ARIA Singles Chart top ten/Chart Review: 3rd September. Calmer week with Eminem on the horizon.

So this week felt like a much calmer week as the Ariana mini album bomb recedes and the chart braces for another this time because Eminem, of all people, dropped a surprise album called "Kamikaze" on Friday but we'll deal with all of that later.

Let's get to our top ten and very much stable at number one is "Be Alright" by Dean Lewis for a third consecutive week, it does look like losing number one at this stage.

Well at least not to "Eastside" by Benny Blanco feat. Halsey and Khalid at number two which is also looking like it might well be willing play the waiting game because its pretty strong right now however it's a matter of seeing whether it will be as strong when "Be Alright" weakens because I am not convinced it's going to be the case.

Quite surprisingly "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer climbed back up one place to number 3 (don't get me wrong, it's probably going to make my year end best hits list but this is sticking around much longer than I expected) and also a surprise rise for "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B back up to number 4.

That said those rises could have come because "In My Feelings" by Drake began losing streams hard this week and as a result fell two places to number 5.

The song that appears likely to be a challenger for number one quite soon is George Ezra's "Shotgun" which jumped 3 places to number 6 and given it's number one on iTunes right now, if it's streaming picks up, this song could get HUGE.

What finally is starting to fall away is the 2nd worst song in the top 10 which is "No Brainer" by DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper and Quavo which fell one place to number 7.

Panic! At the Disco are enjoying their biggest hit in Australia with "High Hopes" regaining lost ground up two places to number 8. I actually really like the song so am glad it's doing well.

Jonas Blue feat. Jack and Jack's "Rise" returns to the top 10 this week up two to number 9 courtesy of the Ariana Grande album bomb falling away.

Speaking of Ariana Grande, "God is a Woman" slipped 3 places this week back to number 10.

Gains

Not sure if I am all that happy about our biggest gainer this week which is "Happier" by Marshmello feat. Bastille which jumped from 48 to 25. I mean really? We can do better than that song, Australia!

Speaking of better EDM songs, another big riser was "Promises" by Calvin Harris feat. Sam Smith up from 30 to 14. This song will be in the top ten next week if it isn't affected by the Eminem album bomb.

"Beautiful" by Bazzi feat. Camila Cabello breaks into the top 10 at 18.

Zedd feat. Elley Duhe's "Happy Now" jumps from 31 to 27,

"Body" by Loud Luxury feat. Brando jumped seven places to reach 33.

For some strange reason "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran also jumped from 44 to 38. I can't explain that one.


Re-Entries

"Leave Me Alone" by David Guetta feat. Anne-Marie returns after being bumped off the chart by Ariana Grande at 48.

While "Psycho" by Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign just won't disappear for good, it returns at 49 because we can't always have good things on the ARIA charts right now.

Losers

I did mention that the Ariana Grande's mini album bomb fell away this week and that meant "No Tears Left to Cry" fell ten places to 31.

There is good news with utter crap like "Fefe" by 6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj continues to fall, this week down to 24 and "Solo" by Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato down three places to 28.

"One Kiss" by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa continues to move it's way out of the top 50 down to 37 from 33 however that song will make the year end list so am happy about that because it's grown on me quite a bit.

Also on it's way out is "Back to You" by Selena Gomez down four places to 39.


Drop Outs

Nothing significant  dropped out of the top 50 as far as year end list  goes this week with two album tracks from Ariana Grande with "Sweetener" and "Everytime gone" taking with it "Stargazing" by Travis Scott and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.


New Entries

The two new entries are two pretty awful songs however I am also expecting at least one of them to not stick around.

"Idol" by K-pop band BTS debuts at 35, it's the band's highest debuting song in Australia and sadly is one of the band's worst songs. It is a mess of a song from start to finish.

Jason DeRulo returns to the charts at number 50 with "Goodbye" feat. David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Willy William.

So apart from that Eminem album bomb, am expecting a move into the top ten for "Promises" by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith, also think "Shotgun" by George Ezra will break into the top 5 but we'll find out on Saturday at 5pm AEST.