This week was a wild one. Shifts and changes all over the place and resulted in some major stories including two songs breaking into the top 10 for the first time and ended the runs of two fairly major songs inside that top 10.
This week saw the unsurprisingly departure of "HUMBLE" by Kendrick Lamar from the top 10 after a good run inside where it peaked at number 2 but also it saw the departure of former number 1 "Shape Of You" by Ed Sheeran which means that for the first time since early January, there are no Ed Sheeran song in the top ten.
What hasn't changed is that "Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber remains at the top of the chart for a seventh week although I am not sure for how much longer it will be number 1, sure it's still strong on streaming and radio but on iTunes, it has been taking a few hits with it falling from number one largely due to strong promotion for Niall Horan and others.
"Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller climbs to number 2 and looks like challenging for the number one song soon give or take a week or two.
"Strip That Down" by Liam Payne and Quavo dropped back to number 3 after a week at number 2. Not sure if this song has peaked or what the go is here.
Off the back of the release of "Grateful". DJ Khaled's song "I'm The One" with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne climbed back up to number 4.
The yo-yo performance of "Slow Hands" continues for Niall Horan, it's back down to five but a strong week on iTunes after performing at the Voice Australia finale should see it return to somewhere close to the top of the summit.
Shawn Mendes hangs on in the top 10 at number 6 with "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" up one from last week.
Then we get to one of two new entries to the top 10 with "Mama" by Jonas Blue feat. William Singe leaping from 11 last week to 7 this week. It's a good song. Deserves the success for sure. Happy to see it here.
"2U" by David Guetta feat. Justin Bieber wasn't able to pull back the gains lost week and in effect fell to number 8.
Miley Cyrus run in the top 10 looks as though it could be coming to a close with "Malibu dropping one place to number 9.
Charlie Puth holds the second of the new top 10 entries with slow but effective mover "Attention" climbing from 12 to number 10 to round out the top 10 this week.
Of the new entries, Jessica Mauboy also benefitted from being on The Voice Australia with "Fallin'" entering the ARIA chart number 20.
Drake had one new entry of the three new songs released last week with "Signs" entering at number 39.
Finally a new entry that shocked me given it was around in the USA for some time last year. Khalid's "Location" enters at number 43.
Best of the year so far coming up as as well as New Music Friday review featuring Adam Lambert and maybe some songs that you may not have heard of in 2017 that are well worth a listen.
Wednesday, 5 July 2017
Saturday, 1 July 2017
My Top 10 Worst Hit Songs at halfway point of 2017
2017 to date has been a pretty good year for popular music, songs that were good to great became hits, the songs that were mediocre to awful got what they deserved but some of those god awful songs somehow slipped through the cracks to have a chart run unfortunately. There's only one rule for this list, the song needs to have appeared on the ARIA top 100 at some point in 2017, this list is purely based on my opinion.
Let's get to those songs that have been forgettable rather than outright bad.
Let's get to those songs that have been forgettable rather than outright bad.
Dishonourable Mentions
"Issues" by Julia Michaels | Peak: 5
Largely due to this song just purely being a hit for the hook and the chorus but other than a decent hook and chorus there is really nothing to this song about a relationship hitting crisis point, it just lacks emotional depth and the instrumentation is nothing special.
"Play That Song" by Train | Peak: 8
Somehow this song wound up as a top ten hit and I have no idea why. The lyrics are god damn AWFUL "Play that song the one that makes me go all night long". What the hell? Music is not designed to be some bizarre form of increasing a woman's sexual performance in the sack.
"Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber | Peak: 1
It being unnecessary doesn't make this a bad song per se so I couldn't bring myself to put this in the top 10 worst songs of the year so far, the original was going to be a hit around the world regardless and the recent behaviour of Justin Bieber by refusing to learn the words to the song show just how blatantly unnecessary the remix is. I'll take the original ANY DAY over this remix.
"Now or Never" by Halsey | Peak: 16
The lady who thinks she is alternative but continues to write blatantly awful pop songs as "Now or Never" demonstrates. The production and lyrics are sloppy and boring. Halsey attempts to be sexy and she doesn't pull it off at all. This isn't as bad as "New Americana" but geez, Halsey can stop pretending she's an alternative artist cause she is anything but.
Rightio so that's the mediocre at the midway point of 2017, now for the absolute worst of 2017 so far.
10. "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne | Peak: 1
So you would think there would be a real swagger in a song about being the one guy for any woman but truth be told none of the artists involved with this song deliver much swagger apart from maybe Chance the Rapper. Bieber's vocals are passable but he really doesn't deliver that passion or that edge that would hook me into a song that supposed to be about being number 1. Lil Wayne steers the song way off course with references to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's relationship which was abusive and toxic!. All in all, its just not a good song at all. Saved from being higher up because there's far worse ahead.
9. "Heavy" by Linkin Park and Kiiara | Peak: 33
I was really looking forward to seeing what Linkin Park were going to do and how they would change things up while keep their sound...until they veered way too far in the direction of pop which okay given pop/EDM/dance are kind of the big trends at the moment, maybe it's not the worst move but is "Heavy" really the best result of that new sound from Linkin Park. A bland,somewhat forgettable song that I really haven't been in a hurry to hear again. Ugh.
8. "Everyday" by Ariana Grande feat. Future | Peak: 96
Yeah, this song makes this list purely for that shit chorus which is basically Ariana repeating "He give it to me" and Future repeating one word "Everyday", there used to be a time when choruses would have some depth or point to them but clearly judging by this, there's no need. There's just nothing to this song lyrically and the production is absolutely TERRIBLE, Ariana's vocals don't save it.
7. "Bad and Boujee" by Lil Uzi Vert feat. Migos. | Peak: 34
This song is why on occasion the ARIA Chart is better than the Billboard Hot 100, this lazy garbage inspired from a meme only peaked at number 34 on the ARIA chart but somehow it got to number 1 on the Hot 100, USA, what were you thinking?. Lil Uzi Vert can't stay on the beat to save himself here and most of Migos contribution is purely shallow bragging. Can we pretend this song NEVER happened?
6. "Mo Bounce" by Iggy Azalea | Peak: 63
Well we can be grateful for small mercies, this song got the short shrift it deserved chart wise, it seems people are sick of the big arse anthems. Any song that has to repeat the title over 100 times is not worth my time to listen to it. Says as much I can't get through the video without laughing. Seriously, Iggy, come back when you have something remotely interesting to say.
5. "Still Got Time" by Zayn feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR | Peak: 20
2017 has so far been the year of Drake and unfortunately the forgettable "I wanna be like Drake club" and at the top of that list is Zayn Malik's effort in teaming up with PARTYNEXTDOOR for this drone called "Still Got Time" which I think is an absolute waste of Zayn's talent as a vocalist, he can do so much better than this mess of a song and probably the fact that he disappointed with this song is the reason it's up so high on this list.
4. "Cold" by Maroon 5 feat. Future | Peak: 27
A sterile song with not a lot to say really, it's more about Adam Levine as a solo artist now than about Maroon 5 as a band but honestly this song lacks any killer punch or any reason for it to stay inside your head so yeah fair to say I am really very cold on this song and I don't see myself warming to it any time soon.
3. "Kissing Strangers" by DNCE feat. Nicki Minaj | Peak 96
The reason this abomination is here is not because of the production which is actually pretty catchy and does get stuck in your head but do we really need a song advocating kissing random people until finding somebody they love. You'd hope DNCE understand that sharing a bond or connection with somebody special is also apart of being in love not just kissing.
2, "Bon Appetit" by Katy Perry feat. Migos. | Peak: 35
This song has got to be one of the stupidest and most ill concieved pop songs to appear on the charts in ages. It basically uses all manner of food double entendres as Katy Perry sings about smelling seduction, "fresh out of the oven" and "spread at the buffet". Really? Food double entendres as a method of singing about sex become boring and stupid back when Justin Timberlake made a song using them and no giving Migos a third of a verse each does nothing to improve the song. That said given the lack of single friendly songs on "Witness", kind of not surprised they released this mess.
"Bon Appetit" is bad but wasn't bad enough to claim number 1, so what could possibly be so bad to top it?
1. "Body like a Back Road" by Sam Hunt | Peak: 48 (It's still climbing the Australian charts too)
This thinly disguised excuse of a 'country' song (it's barely country) sees Sam Hunt claim he has explored his partner's body so much he knows her body as well as he knows a road riddled with cracks, pot holes and generally is in a state of disrepair. WTF? Fair to say if he ever did that to me, he'd be shown the door pretty damn quick.
Everything to be said about how utterly redundant and stupid this song is is in the line "Imma take it slow just as fast as I can"? It makes Pat Monahan from Train look like a lyrical genius and I outlined how bad lyrically "Play that Song" is.
Gah. Please don't let this song stick around. 48 and out of the top 50 next week, Please, Australia?
Anyway, we'll flip over the coin and look my best hit songs of this year so far plus the ARIA top 10 for this week as there have been some big moves on that front.
"Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber | Peak: 1
It being unnecessary doesn't make this a bad song per se so I couldn't bring myself to put this in the top 10 worst songs of the year so far, the original was going to be a hit around the world regardless and the recent behaviour of Justin Bieber by refusing to learn the words to the song show just how blatantly unnecessary the remix is. I'll take the original ANY DAY over this remix.
"Now or Never" by Halsey | Peak: 16
The lady who thinks she is alternative but continues to write blatantly awful pop songs as "Now or Never" demonstrates. The production and lyrics are sloppy and boring. Halsey attempts to be sexy and she doesn't pull it off at all. This isn't as bad as "New Americana" but geez, Halsey can stop pretending she's an alternative artist cause she is anything but.
Rightio so that's the mediocre at the midway point of 2017, now for the absolute worst of 2017 so far.
10. "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne | Peak: 1
So you would think there would be a real swagger in a song about being the one guy for any woman but truth be told none of the artists involved with this song deliver much swagger apart from maybe Chance the Rapper. Bieber's vocals are passable but he really doesn't deliver that passion or that edge that would hook me into a song that supposed to be about being number 1. Lil Wayne steers the song way off course with references to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's relationship which was abusive and toxic!. All in all, its just not a good song at all. Saved from being higher up because there's far worse ahead.
9. "Heavy" by Linkin Park and Kiiara | Peak: 33
I was really looking forward to seeing what Linkin Park were going to do and how they would change things up while keep their sound...until they veered way too far in the direction of pop which okay given pop/EDM/dance are kind of the big trends at the moment, maybe it's not the worst move but is "Heavy" really the best result of that new sound from Linkin Park. A bland,somewhat forgettable song that I really haven't been in a hurry to hear again. Ugh.
8. "Everyday" by Ariana Grande feat. Future | Peak: 96
Yeah, this song makes this list purely for that shit chorus which is basically Ariana repeating "He give it to me" and Future repeating one word "Everyday", there used to be a time when choruses would have some depth or point to them but clearly judging by this, there's no need. There's just nothing to this song lyrically and the production is absolutely TERRIBLE, Ariana's vocals don't save it.
7. "Bad and Boujee" by Lil Uzi Vert feat. Migos. | Peak: 34
This song is why on occasion the ARIA Chart is better than the Billboard Hot 100, this lazy garbage inspired from a meme only peaked at number 34 on the ARIA chart but somehow it got to number 1 on the Hot 100, USA, what were you thinking?. Lil Uzi Vert can't stay on the beat to save himself here and most of Migos contribution is purely shallow bragging. Can we pretend this song NEVER happened?
6. "Mo Bounce" by Iggy Azalea | Peak: 63
Well we can be grateful for small mercies, this song got the short shrift it deserved chart wise, it seems people are sick of the big arse anthems. Any song that has to repeat the title over 100 times is not worth my time to listen to it. Says as much I can't get through the video without laughing. Seriously, Iggy, come back when you have something remotely interesting to say.
5. "Still Got Time" by Zayn feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR | Peak: 20
2017 has so far been the year of Drake and unfortunately the forgettable "I wanna be like Drake club" and at the top of that list is Zayn Malik's effort in teaming up with PARTYNEXTDOOR for this drone called "Still Got Time" which I think is an absolute waste of Zayn's talent as a vocalist, he can do so much better than this mess of a song and probably the fact that he disappointed with this song is the reason it's up so high on this list.
4. "Cold" by Maroon 5 feat. Future | Peak: 27
A sterile song with not a lot to say really, it's more about Adam Levine as a solo artist now than about Maroon 5 as a band but honestly this song lacks any killer punch or any reason for it to stay inside your head so yeah fair to say I am really very cold on this song and I don't see myself warming to it any time soon.
3. "Kissing Strangers" by DNCE feat. Nicki Minaj | Peak 96
The reason this abomination is here is not because of the production which is actually pretty catchy and does get stuck in your head but do we really need a song advocating kissing random people until finding somebody they love. You'd hope DNCE understand that sharing a bond or connection with somebody special is also apart of being in love not just kissing.
2, "Bon Appetit" by Katy Perry feat. Migos. | Peak: 35
This song has got to be one of the stupidest and most ill concieved pop songs to appear on the charts in ages. It basically uses all manner of food double entendres as Katy Perry sings about smelling seduction, "fresh out of the oven" and "spread at the buffet". Really? Food double entendres as a method of singing about sex become boring and stupid back when Justin Timberlake made a song using them and no giving Migos a third of a verse each does nothing to improve the song. That said given the lack of single friendly songs on "Witness", kind of not surprised they released this mess.
"Bon Appetit" is bad but wasn't bad enough to claim number 1, so what could possibly be so bad to top it?
1. "Body like a Back Road" by Sam Hunt | Peak: 48 (It's still climbing the Australian charts too)
This thinly disguised excuse of a 'country' song (it's barely country) sees Sam Hunt claim he has explored his partner's body so much he knows her body as well as he knows a road riddled with cracks, pot holes and generally is in a state of disrepair. WTF? Fair to say if he ever did that to me, he'd be shown the door pretty damn quick.
Everything to be said about how utterly redundant and stupid this song is is in the line "Imma take it slow just as fast as I can"? It makes Pat Monahan from Train look like a lyrical genius and I outlined how bad lyrically "Play that Song" is.
Gah. Please don't let this song stick around. 48 and out of the top 50 next week, Please, Australia?
Anyway, we'll flip over the coin and look my best hit songs of this year so far plus the ARIA top 10 for this week as there have been some big moves on that front.
Sunday, 25 June 2017
ARIA Top Ten: 26th June. Wild Thoughts
The ARIA chart this week...wow, it's all change and movement and we even have a new entry in the top 10 to boot and even three of four new entries outside the top ten that I haven't as yet previewed however I have some mixed feelings about this chart personally and it comes down to the songs that have entered the top 50 but...we'll get to those.
Before we get to the top ten, we lost "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran (not surprising) which dropped down to number 13 from 9 last week.
Remaining at number 1 is "Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber for a sixth week. Although it's no longer number 1 on iTunes with it replaced by a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's classic song "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Artists for Grenfell which is a charity single for the victims of the awful Grenfell tower fire so there's a distinct possibility of a chllenge for number 1 next week.
Liam Payne and Quavo have a climbed a rung on the ladder to number 2 with "Strip That Down". Be interesting if this song can mount a challenge for number 1 but it needs to improve it's streaming numbers big time which is it's let down.
Niall Horan's "Slow Hands" continues it's yoyo performance on the charts, this week, it's a 2 spot climb from 5 to 3. "Slow Hands" is actually outperforming his previous single "This Town" which peaked at number 5.
Now we got a new entry in a four with DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller's Wild Thoughts" making its debut and with DJ Khaled dropping a wildly long album called "Grateful", can see this getting close to challenging maybe for number two next week.
Former chart topper "I'm the One" by DJ Khaled and his posse including Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne drops from 4 to 5 this week. Like "Wild Thoughts" should get a boost off the back of the album. So its not done yet.
Bieber's third feature appearance inside the top 10 "2U" with David Guetta dropped to number 6 this week off it's debut at number 2.
The next three songs suffered one place falls as they gracefully look to be exiting the top 10 after a decent run "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" by Shawn Mendes at number 7, "Malibu" by Miley Cyrus at number 8 and another former long time chart topper " Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran at number 9 (Hardly surprising with Ed though given "Shape of You" has been 24 weeks inside the top 10 and "Divide" lost number one on the album chart to Lorde's "Melodrama)
Kendrick Lamar holds steady at number 10 with "HUMBLE"
So now to the four new entries outside of the top 10, the first of which is from Macklemore, he has teamed up with Skylar Grey for a song called "Glorious" which has entered at number 34. I am not a fan of this but check it out if you think you might like it.
New at number 35 is "Feels" by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Sean Paul. A song that was featured on New Music Friday review last week. This is a decent song but the hell is the go with Calvin Harris making music that is interesting rather than bland and generic? Its excellent.
If there was one good thing The Voice Australia has done this year, it has been to spotlight this gem of a song from singer and actress Jennifer Hudson entitled "Remember Me" with the song getting sales on iTunes this week so much so it landed at 41 on the ARIA chart. I beg you all to get this song top 20, it is a fantastic song.
We do still have one new entry to the top 50 and because radio won't leave it alone despite being one of the dumbest...ugh...I'll talk about it more when I do my mid year lists of best and worst. Sam Hunt has his first Australian top 50 hit with "Body Like a Back Road".
So the plan for this week is a little different than usual, no New Music Friday Review (Best: Check out Sheppard's "Edge of the Night") due to no real interesting releases this week apart from Drake dropping three songs in one go yesterday...sigh...but I am sick of him, so seeing as this week will mark the mid way point of the year on the ARIA chart, it's time to look back on the first half of the year with the top 10 best and worst hit songs of 2017 so far so until then I will see you all later.
Before we get to the top ten, we lost "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran (not surprising) which dropped down to number 13 from 9 last week.
Remaining at number 1 is "Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber for a sixth week. Although it's no longer number 1 on iTunes with it replaced by a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's classic song "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Artists for Grenfell which is a charity single for the victims of the awful Grenfell tower fire so there's a distinct possibility of a chllenge for number 1 next week.
Liam Payne and Quavo have a climbed a rung on the ladder to number 2 with "Strip That Down". Be interesting if this song can mount a challenge for number 1 but it needs to improve it's streaming numbers big time which is it's let down.
Niall Horan's "Slow Hands" continues it's yoyo performance on the charts, this week, it's a 2 spot climb from 5 to 3. "Slow Hands" is actually outperforming his previous single "This Town" which peaked at number 5.
Now we got a new entry in a four with DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller's Wild Thoughts" making its debut and with DJ Khaled dropping a wildly long album called "Grateful", can see this getting close to challenging maybe for number two next week.
Former chart topper "I'm the One" by DJ Khaled and his posse including Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne drops from 4 to 5 this week. Like "Wild Thoughts" should get a boost off the back of the album. So its not done yet.
Bieber's third feature appearance inside the top 10 "2U" with David Guetta dropped to number 6 this week off it's debut at number 2.
The next three songs suffered one place falls as they gracefully look to be exiting the top 10 after a decent run "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" by Shawn Mendes at number 7, "Malibu" by Miley Cyrus at number 8 and another former long time chart topper " Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran at number 9 (Hardly surprising with Ed though given "Shape of You" has been 24 weeks inside the top 10 and "Divide" lost number one on the album chart to Lorde's "Melodrama)
Kendrick Lamar holds steady at number 10 with "HUMBLE"
So now to the four new entries outside of the top 10, the first of which is from Macklemore, he has teamed up with Skylar Grey for a song called "Glorious" which has entered at number 34. I am not a fan of this but check it out if you think you might like it.
New at number 35 is "Feels" by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Sean Paul. A song that was featured on New Music Friday review last week. This is a decent song but the hell is the go with Calvin Harris making music that is interesting rather than bland and generic? Its excellent.
If there was one good thing The Voice Australia has done this year, it has been to spotlight this gem of a song from singer and actress Jennifer Hudson entitled "Remember Me" with the song getting sales on iTunes this week so much so it landed at 41 on the ARIA chart. I beg you all to get this song top 20, it is a fantastic song.
We do still have one new entry to the top 50 and because radio won't leave it alone despite being one of the dumbest...ugh...I'll talk about it more when I do my mid year lists of best and worst. Sam Hunt has his first Australian top 50 hit with "Body Like a Back Road".
So the plan for this week is a little different than usual, no New Music Friday Review (Best: Check out Sheppard's "Edge of the Night") due to no real interesting releases this week apart from Drake dropping three songs in one go yesterday...sigh...but I am sick of him, so seeing as this week will mark the mid way point of the year on the ARIA chart, it's time to look back on the first half of the year with the top 10 best and worst hit songs of 2017 so far so until then I will see you all later.
Thursday, 22 June 2017
New Music Friday Review: More new DJ Khaled, Calvin Harris, Macklemore
So it was an...interesting new music Friday, we got new Calvin Harris who yet again has another interesting collaboration, Demi Lovato apparently just wants people to follow a simple instruction while DJ Khaled and Rihanna are having some wild thoughts.
So how did things pan out? Let's start off with the Canadian queen of country music first.
Song: Life's 'Bout to Get Good
Artist: Shania Twain
Shania Twain is back, ladies and gentlemen! Back with what probably won't really hit the ARIA singles chart in the way it deserves to. "Life's 'bout to get good" is about looking beyond the pain of a relationship breakdown and realising that life is still pretty darn great and you'll heal from the pain of a partner cheating eventually and realizing that life will always get a lot better. This song just works for me, Shania, you've done it again! I hope this becomes an unlikely hit. Check it out if you haven't done so already!
Rating: 8/10
Song: The Man
Artist: The Killers
The Killers will be in Australia later this year for a tour and to play the AFL Grand Final but in the meantime they've dropped the first single from their upcoming new album entitled "Wonderful Wonderful" and I tell you what if they replaced the Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" with this song for the introduction to the Saturday Night Fever movie where John Travolta is pretty much strutting down the street, they wouldn't have skipped a beat, its a very late 70s early 80s throw back song and damn I love it even though I do cringe at the talking in the song which does sort of fit and USDA certified lean? Really?
Rating: 8/10. Not completely sold on aspects of this song but yeah the retro feel is soo good here.
Song: Don't Matter Now
Artist: George Ezra
I was really taken by surprise by this song so much largely because it feels very un George Ezra. "Don't Matter Now" has some pretty cool chilled guitar vibes and I do love the summer feel of the song but I so hear Jason Mraz or similar everytime I hear this song and that for me isn't a good thing.
Rating: 6/10. It's not bad per se even with the Jason Mraz vibe that sets it back a little
Song: Instruction
Artist(s): Jax Jones, Demi Lovato, Stefflon Dennis
Ugh. This song pisses me off no end. Demi, songs on the basis of Vine videos went out of the style in 2015! Basically its a song about following instruction on how to get that thang grooving on the dancefloor. It also features a line "If you're The Supreme then I'm Diana Ross". Ugh, it's just an autotuned lyrical mess along with a phoned in verse from a rapper known as Stefflon Don, if you want 2017 pop songs that are fantastic check out "Cut to the Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen cause this song is hot GARBAGE.
Rating: 2/10 (That's being positively nice)
Song: Feels
Artists: Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, Sean Paul
"Feels" is the fourth song to be released from Calvin Harris new album "Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1" due to be released next week and this really does feel like the like of song that Katy Perry should have written for Witness because believe it or not this is pretty damn good. Sean Paul and Pharrell are pretty great and even Katy is good here. Not the best of the week because some of the effects don't quite land their mark but otherwise, hey, I'll take this.
Rating: 7/10
Song: Wild Thoughts
Artist: DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller
So this song contains a wonderful guitar sample from Santana's 1999 song "Maria Maria" and to be honest it might be just about the best thing about this song although that said Rihanna doesn't sound too bad but it's not the kind of song that really inspires Wild Thoughts. Actually would have loved a little more mystery to the sound. Also is it necessary for DJ Khaled to remind everyone of who he is through out the track? It adds NOTHING,
Rating; 5/10
Other songs of interest
- "Walking the Wire" by Imagine Dragons (Better than "Believer" or "Thunder". 6/10)
- "Relationship" by Young Thug feat. Future (Yeah hey Young Thug has somehow improved. This isn't bad 6/10)
Best of the Week
I'm giving it to The Killers for "The Man" just for invoking the John Travolta images with that throwback disco rock sound
Worst of the Week
"Instruction" by Jax Jones, Demi Lovato and Stefflon Don for what essentially could be mistaken for a bad song that came off Vine in 2015
Upcoming New Music Friday (23rd Jume)
Fallout Boy dropped a song today called "Champion"
Beyond that we're riding by the seat our pants!
So how did things pan out? Let's start off with the Canadian queen of country music first.
Song: Life's 'Bout to Get Good
Artist: Shania Twain
Shania Twain is back, ladies and gentlemen! Back with what probably won't really hit the ARIA singles chart in the way it deserves to. "Life's 'bout to get good" is about looking beyond the pain of a relationship breakdown and realising that life is still pretty darn great and you'll heal from the pain of a partner cheating eventually and realizing that life will always get a lot better. This song just works for me, Shania, you've done it again! I hope this becomes an unlikely hit. Check it out if you haven't done so already!
Rating: 8/10
Song: The Man
Artist: The Killers
The Killers will be in Australia later this year for a tour and to play the AFL Grand Final but in the meantime they've dropped the first single from their upcoming new album entitled "Wonderful Wonderful" and I tell you what if they replaced the Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" with this song for the introduction to the Saturday Night Fever movie where John Travolta is pretty much strutting down the street, they wouldn't have skipped a beat, its a very late 70s early 80s throw back song and damn I love it even though I do cringe at the talking in the song which does sort of fit and USDA certified lean? Really?
Rating: 8/10. Not completely sold on aspects of this song but yeah the retro feel is soo good here.
Song: Don't Matter Now
Artist: George Ezra
I was really taken by surprise by this song so much largely because it feels very un George Ezra. "Don't Matter Now" has some pretty cool chilled guitar vibes and I do love the summer feel of the song but I so hear Jason Mraz or similar everytime I hear this song and that for me isn't a good thing.
Rating: 6/10. It's not bad per se even with the Jason Mraz vibe that sets it back a little
Song: Instruction
Artist(s): Jax Jones, Demi Lovato, Stefflon Dennis
Ugh. This song pisses me off no end. Demi, songs on the basis of Vine videos went out of the style in 2015! Basically its a song about following instruction on how to get that thang grooving on the dancefloor. It also features a line "If you're The Supreme then I'm Diana Ross". Ugh, it's just an autotuned lyrical mess along with a phoned in verse from a rapper known as Stefflon Don, if you want 2017 pop songs that are fantastic check out "Cut to the Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen cause this song is hot GARBAGE.
Rating: 2/10 (That's being positively nice)
Song: Feels
Artists: Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, Sean Paul
"Feels" is the fourth song to be released from Calvin Harris new album "Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1" due to be released next week and this really does feel like the like of song that Katy Perry should have written for Witness because believe it or not this is pretty damn good. Sean Paul and Pharrell are pretty great and even Katy is good here. Not the best of the week because some of the effects don't quite land their mark but otherwise, hey, I'll take this.
Rating: 7/10
Song: Wild Thoughts
Artist: DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller
So this song contains a wonderful guitar sample from Santana's 1999 song "Maria Maria" and to be honest it might be just about the best thing about this song although that said Rihanna doesn't sound too bad but it's not the kind of song that really inspires Wild Thoughts. Actually would have loved a little more mystery to the sound. Also is it necessary for DJ Khaled to remind everyone of who he is through out the track? It adds NOTHING,
Rating; 5/10
Other songs of interest
- "Walking the Wire" by Imagine Dragons (Better than "Believer" or "Thunder". 6/10)
- "Relationship" by Young Thug feat. Future (Yeah hey Young Thug has somehow improved. This isn't bad 6/10)
Best of the Week
I'm giving it to The Killers for "The Man" just for invoking the John Travolta images with that throwback disco rock sound
Worst of the Week
"Instruction" by Jax Jones, Demi Lovato and Stefflon Don for what essentially could be mistaken for a bad song that came off Vine in 2015
Upcoming New Music Friday (23rd Jume)
Fallout Boy dropped a song today called "Champion"
Beyond that we're riding by the seat our pants!
Sunday, 18 June 2017
ARIA Top Ten 19th June 2017: Bieber here, Bieber there, Bieber everywhere
It's been an interesting week on the ARIA charts. Plenty of movement all over the place and it saw the exit of "Symphony" by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson from the top ten after reaching a peak of number 2.
No change at number 1 though with "Depacito (Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber remaining at number one for a fifth week despite proving Bieber proving the remix is completely unnecessary wit his behaviour through the week in refusing to perform Despacito because he didn't know the words.. How hard is it to learn the words of the song that is likely your biggest hit since "Love Yourself"? Sheesh. Grow up, Bieber and get professional, your fans are going to request it at your shows.
At number 2 is a new entry for David Guetta and Justin Bieber called "2U". Personally don't mind this song. It's far and away the best of the three soings that Bieber is involved with that are on the chart (I prefer the original version of Despacito).
Liam Payne and Quavo move up two places to number three with "Strip that Down". Check out the acoustic version of this song that Payne performed. It is exquisite.
Despite having all the swagger of a toddler in toilet training, "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne drops to number 4. Making it the third song inside the top 5 where Bieber is a feature artist.
Niall Horan, unfortunately, drops to number 5 with the excellent "Slow Hands"
Shawn Mendes falls two places to number 6 this week with "There's Nothing Holding Me Back"
"Malibu" by Miley Cyrus drops to number 7 from number 6 last week, She has a new song out called "Inspired"
"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran" continues it's slow, plodding fall from the top 10, it drops one place to number 8. Sheeran held off Katy Perry's new album "Witness" to hang onto the number one spot on the album chart this week, faces a stronger challenge next with the arrival of Lorde's album "Melodrama".
Sheeran's second song "Galway Girl" also dropped one place to number 9.
While Kendrick Lamar's hit "HUMBLE" looks headed for the top ten exit after it fell one place to number 10.
Only two new entries beyond the top ten and they are quite low down, an appearance on The Voice Australia helped The Veronicas enter the chart at number 41,
While French Montana's collaboration with Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee entitled "Unforgettable" has entered the chart at 46, its actually a big hit in the UK right now at number 3 and inside the top 20 at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 so this song could do well in Australia.
So that wraps up the ARIA Chart top ten run down. New Music Friday Review to feature George Ezra, Shania Twain and Calvin Harris amongst others. Toward the end of the month I am going to have a couple of mid year lists with top 10 best and worst hit songs of 2017 plus my top 20 songs of 2017 so far.
No change at number 1 though with "Depacito (Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber remaining at number one for a fifth week despite proving Bieber proving the remix is completely unnecessary wit his behaviour through the week in refusing to perform Despacito because he didn't know the words.. How hard is it to learn the words of the song that is likely your biggest hit since "Love Yourself"? Sheesh. Grow up, Bieber and get professional, your fans are going to request it at your shows.
At number 2 is a new entry for David Guetta and Justin Bieber called "2U". Personally don't mind this song. It's far and away the best of the three soings that Bieber is involved with that are on the chart (I prefer the original version of Despacito).
Liam Payne and Quavo move up two places to number three with "Strip that Down". Check out the acoustic version of this song that Payne performed. It is exquisite.
Despite having all the swagger of a toddler in toilet training, "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne drops to number 4. Making it the third song inside the top 5 where Bieber is a feature artist.
Niall Horan, unfortunately, drops to number 5 with the excellent "Slow Hands"
Shawn Mendes falls two places to number 6 this week with "There's Nothing Holding Me Back"
"Malibu" by Miley Cyrus drops to number 7 from number 6 last week, She has a new song out called "Inspired"
"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran" continues it's slow, plodding fall from the top 10, it drops one place to number 8. Sheeran held off Katy Perry's new album "Witness" to hang onto the number one spot on the album chart this week, faces a stronger challenge next with the arrival of Lorde's album "Melodrama".
Sheeran's second song "Galway Girl" also dropped one place to number 9.
While Kendrick Lamar's hit "HUMBLE" looks headed for the top ten exit after it fell one place to number 10.
Only two new entries beyond the top ten and they are quite low down, an appearance on The Voice Australia helped The Veronicas enter the chart at number 41,
While French Montana's collaboration with Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee entitled "Unforgettable" has entered the chart at 46, its actually a big hit in the UK right now at number 3 and inside the top 20 at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 so this song could do well in Australia.
So that wraps up the ARIA Chart top ten run down. New Music Friday Review to feature George Ezra, Shania Twain and Calvin Harris amongst others. Toward the end of the month I am going to have a couple of mid year lists with top 10 best and worst hit songs of 2017 plus my top 20 songs of 2017 so far.
Thursday, 15 June 2017
New Music Friday Review: Two major collabs and Jess Mauboy
So it was a bit of a slower week for new releases with the US into summer and a bit of a traditional slow down which is pretty evident on the Billboard Hot 100 this week but we still have some big new releases to look at including collabs between DJ Khaled and Drake and also between David Guetta and Justin Bieber so let's get stuck into it.
Song: To The Max
Artist(s): DJ Khaled, Drake
We're off to a bad start here because man, this song is just a collection of samples that really don't seem to add to the overall song or give off much of a message other than DJ Khaled and Drake bragging about their feats in the music industry and calling out their haters. Seriously. I got better things to do with my time than listen to more pathetic bragging labelled as music. Stop wasting my time with more pointless rubbish, also whatever happened to that 'break' you were supposed to be on, Drake?
Rating: 2/10
Song: 2U
Artist(s): David Guetta, Justin Bieber
So David Guetta has finally returned with a brand new single and engaged the help of Justin Bieber. Now albeit that I really dislike Bieber and putting him on a track makes me a little reluctant to listen to it, I have heard '2U' and I have to say it isn't all that bad, Bieber's vocals aren't too bad. It reminds me of Daniel Bedingfield's "If You're Not the One'. Wouldn't say its great but it is good for a listen every now and then
Rating; 6/10
Song: Touch Me
Artist: Starley
Starley is back looking for a follow up hit to "Call on Me" and somehow "Touch Me" winds up being more forgettable than "Call on Me". For a blatant song about sex, it lacks any kind of passion from Starley herself and the production really adds nothing here either. Ugh. I'll have forgotten this song by the time it hits the ARIA chart.
Rating: 4/10
Song: Fallin'
Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy is back with a brand new single entitled "Fallin'". Mauboy's vocals just dominate what production there is on this song but damn you put Jessica's passion on "Touch Me" by Starley and you'd have a killer song. I don't mind this in all honesty as Jessica's vocals keep it interesting more so than what limited production there is on the song.
Rating: 7/10
Song: Look at Us Now
Artist(s): Lost Kings, Ally Brooke, A$APFerg
Ally Brooke has become the latest member of Fifth Harmony to strike out on her own with the help of producers Lost King and rapper A$APFerg and quite honestly just listening to this song about bringing a swift end to a relationship that isn't working out but they keep getting back together makes think it's not that far removed from a Fifth Harmony song or a Fifth Harmony song with decent production behind it.
Rating: Gets a pass. It's okay. 5/10
Sing: Give Love
Artist(s): Andy Grammer, Lunchmoney Lewis
2017's goofball anthem, Andy Grammer is clearly intent on providing people with cute feel good money and you know what? You'll find yourself singing along to the chorus in no time. It's a sweet, goofy, puts a smile on your face kind of with a great melody behind. Perfect for the US summer and can totally see this getting a good run on radio, it's cute!
Rating: 8/10
Best of the week
Just for being ridiculously feel good, goofy and cheesy all at once, it's going to "Give Love" by Andy Grammer featuring LunchMoney Lewis,
Worst of the week
Less said about "To The Max" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake the better
Coming on 16th June
"Instruction" by Jax Jones featuring Demi Lovato
A new Nicki Minaj song if the stories about her releasing a song each week for the rest of June are to be believed,
"The Man" by The Killers (That song dropped today actually but it will be on the New Music Friday playlist on Spotify, it is worth a listen)
"Life's About to Get Good" by Shania Twain
New albums from Lorde and Calvin Harris to drop tomorrow.
Song: To The Max
Artist(s): DJ Khaled, Drake
We're off to a bad start here because man, this song is just a collection of samples that really don't seem to add to the overall song or give off much of a message other than DJ Khaled and Drake bragging about their feats in the music industry and calling out their haters. Seriously. I got better things to do with my time than listen to more pathetic bragging labelled as music. Stop wasting my time with more pointless rubbish, also whatever happened to that 'break' you were supposed to be on, Drake?
Rating: 2/10
Song: 2U
Artist(s): David Guetta, Justin Bieber
So David Guetta has finally returned with a brand new single and engaged the help of Justin Bieber. Now albeit that I really dislike Bieber and putting him on a track makes me a little reluctant to listen to it, I have heard '2U' and I have to say it isn't all that bad, Bieber's vocals aren't too bad. It reminds me of Daniel Bedingfield's "If You're Not the One'. Wouldn't say its great but it is good for a listen every now and then
Rating; 6/10
Song: Touch Me
Artist: Starley
Starley is back looking for a follow up hit to "Call on Me" and somehow "Touch Me" winds up being more forgettable than "Call on Me". For a blatant song about sex, it lacks any kind of passion from Starley herself and the production really adds nothing here either. Ugh. I'll have forgotten this song by the time it hits the ARIA chart.
Rating: 4/10
Song: Fallin'
Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy is back with a brand new single entitled "Fallin'". Mauboy's vocals just dominate what production there is on this song but damn you put Jessica's passion on "Touch Me" by Starley and you'd have a killer song. I don't mind this in all honesty as Jessica's vocals keep it interesting more so than what limited production there is on the song.
Rating: 7/10
Song: Look at Us Now
Artist(s): Lost Kings, Ally Brooke, A$APFerg
Ally Brooke has become the latest member of Fifth Harmony to strike out on her own with the help of producers Lost King and rapper A$APFerg and quite honestly just listening to this song about bringing a swift end to a relationship that isn't working out but they keep getting back together makes think it's not that far removed from a Fifth Harmony song or a Fifth Harmony song with decent production behind it.
Rating: Gets a pass. It's okay. 5/10
Sing: Give Love
Artist(s): Andy Grammer, Lunchmoney Lewis
2017's goofball anthem, Andy Grammer is clearly intent on providing people with cute feel good money and you know what? You'll find yourself singing along to the chorus in no time. It's a sweet, goofy, puts a smile on your face kind of with a great melody behind. Perfect for the US summer and can totally see this getting a good run on radio, it's cute!
Rating: 8/10
Best of the week
Just for being ridiculously feel good, goofy and cheesy all at once, it's going to "Give Love" by Andy Grammer featuring LunchMoney Lewis,
Worst of the week
Less said about "To The Max" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake the better
Coming on 16th June
"Instruction" by Jax Jones featuring Demi Lovato
A new Nicki Minaj song if the stories about her releasing a song each week for the rest of June are to be believed,
"The Man" by The Killers (That song dropped today actually but it will be on the New Music Friday playlist on Spotify, it is worth a listen)
"Life's About to Get Good" by Shania Twain
New albums from Lorde and Calvin Harris to drop tomorrow.
Sunday, 11 June 2017
ARIA Top 10 June 17th
Last week may have been one of the slowest weeks ever on the ARIA chart, sure we got a new entry to the top ten and all but nothing really changed or moved severely, well, this week it is all change and all movement.\
However while all that change is going on, it's very much the same kind of thing at the top with "Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber retaining the number one spot for a fourth week.
"I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne really isn't making any ground on "Despacito Remix" so remains steady at number 2.
The big move inside the top ten has come from Niall Horan who climbed from number 8 to number 3 with the excellent "Slow Hands". Can see this challenging "I'm The One" for number 2 in the next week.
Shawn Mendes remains at number four with his best song to date "There's Nothing Holding Me Back"
Liam Payne and Quavo climb to number 5 from number 9 last week with "Strip That Down". Personally think the lyric that One Direction fans have wondered about for a little too long is somewhat apart of that climb up the chart.
Miley Cyrus drops 3 places to number 6 with "Malibu" which is not surprising given there doesn't appear to be an album coming for awhile yet
Ed Sheeran is spending a 12th week at number 1 with "Divide" but his former number 1 single falls again this week with "Shape of You" dropping 2 places to number 7. His other single inside the top 10 "Galway Girl" also dropped two places to number 8.
The surprising story is that "HUMBLE" by Kendrick Lamar remains in the top 10 despite dropping 2 places to 7. Its surprising how long that song has remained in the top 10.
Rounding out the top 10 is "Symphony" by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson which remains at number 10 this week.
Highest new entry this week was "Know No Better" by Major Lazer featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello and Quavo at 38.
Peking Duk and Alunageorge entered the chart with "Fake Magic" at number 40
Finally Lorde's "Perfect Places" entered the chart at number 46
So that wraps up the ARIA Chart for this week, New Music Friday review to come featuring the collaboration between David Guetta and Justin Bieber, the new single for Jessica Mauboy and also the collaboration between DJ Khaled and Drake (yes unfortunately that happened).
However while all that change is going on, it's very much the same kind of thing at the top with "Despacito Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber retaining the number one spot for a fourth week.
"I'm The One" by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne really isn't making any ground on "Despacito Remix" so remains steady at number 2.
The big move inside the top ten has come from Niall Horan who climbed from number 8 to number 3 with the excellent "Slow Hands". Can see this challenging "I'm The One" for number 2 in the next week.
Shawn Mendes remains at number four with his best song to date "There's Nothing Holding Me Back"
Liam Payne and Quavo climb to number 5 from number 9 last week with "Strip That Down". Personally think the lyric that One Direction fans have wondered about for a little too long is somewhat apart of that climb up the chart.
Miley Cyrus drops 3 places to number 6 with "Malibu" which is not surprising given there doesn't appear to be an album coming for awhile yet
Ed Sheeran is spending a 12th week at number 1 with "Divide" but his former number 1 single falls again this week with "Shape of You" dropping 2 places to number 7. His other single inside the top 10 "Galway Girl" also dropped two places to number 8.
The surprising story is that "HUMBLE" by Kendrick Lamar remains in the top 10 despite dropping 2 places to 7. Its surprising how long that song has remained in the top 10.
Rounding out the top 10 is "Symphony" by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson which remains at number 10 this week.
Highest new entry this week was "Know No Better" by Major Lazer featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello and Quavo at 38.
Peking Duk and Alunageorge entered the chart with "Fake Magic" at number 40
Finally Lorde's "Perfect Places" entered the chart at number 46
So that wraps up the ARIA Chart for this week, New Music Friday review to come featuring the collaboration between David Guetta and Justin Bieber, the new single for Jessica Mauboy and also the collaboration between DJ Khaled and Drake (yes unfortunately that happened).
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