I got the domain name, I might as well have a website.
One of my favourite things about hitting the end of any year is the year-in-review style music mashups.
They’re coming a little early this year, and while we’re still waiting on DJ Earworm’s anticipated United State of Pop 2012 round up, these are still good offerings.
Daniel Kim’s Pop Danthology 2012
Robin Skouteris’ PopLove 2012
Bobby Fisher’s Pop Life
Lucy Spraggan is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Yorkshire who is about to become your new musical obsession.
She’s hit The X Factor UK like a breath of fresh air, winning hearts when she sings her own songs, losing them when she sings other people’s.
Her initial audition, singing Last Night, a humorous ode to drinking too much, saw her go through to the next round.
Her next original song was Tea and Toast and came during the bootcamp round.
Now she’s through to the finals – and you know who I’m hoping will see it through!
Longtime readers (and followers of me on Twitter) know I can’t resist a good YouTube clip, or a good tune. And sometimes I find something that meets both of those drives.
First up:
cdza create what they call “musical video experiments”, and here’s one called Pianists in Paris – seven players, one piano. Enjoy!
Kindof reminds me of the Walk Off The Earth version of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know
And while you’re checking out unusual covers of modern songs, check out Aston – here they are covering Katy Perry’s ET.
If you’ve discovered some amazing covers, I’d love to take a look – link me up in the comments! x
It’s always amusing – and facepalmy – when a song with stupid lyrics makes it to the Top 40.
What’s worse is when the lyrics are in equal parts stupid and disrespectful. It’s as if the lyricists don’t have two braincells to rub together.
What if we swapped the genders – make the women the singers and the men featured in the lyrics – would we see them for what they really are? Here’s a sample of upended lyrics from some fine tunes that hit the top of the charts this year – that’s 2012, not 1962.
Whistle – by Flo Rida
I’m betting you love creep mode, and I’m betting you like boys that give love to boys, and stroke your little ego
The moral: Men like boys that give love to boys. It strokes their egos, hard.
Turn All The Lights On – by T Pain
This must be his song, dancing like ain’t nobody else in here, Sexy as he wanna be and he dancing so close to me. I said ‘please excuse you steppin’ on expensive shoes’. He is a perfect ten, this angelic body made you sin. I love the way you get it in, come over here and shake it for a lady – cause you want it
The moral: It turns out men actually really WANT to dance in front of leering women! And true ladies want men to “shake it”. Just mind my shoes, pet. They be pricey.
Sorry For Party Rocking – LMFAO
When I’m in the club, sippin bub, really drunk, and I see a guys ass, gotta have it. I’ma grab it.
The moral: If you’re drunk, just grab some random ass. No one minds.
International Love – Pitbull
I’ve been to countries and cities I can’t pronounce, and places on the globe I didn’t know existed. In Romania, he pulled me to the side and told me “Pit, you can have me, and my brother.”
The moral: Pitbull should have stayed in school, and these lyrics are actually fucking creepy… Even when the genders aren’t reversed.
The Motto – Drake
Some Spanish boys love me like I’m on Aventura… Clubbing hard, fucking men, ain’t much to do.
The moral: When bored, get busy. It makes you look cool.
Leave You Alone – Young Jeezy
[Dear boyfriend:] keep your stomach, inner thighs, and your legs right, while I’m out here focus getting this bread right.
The moral: Women won’t support a man with a beer gut. Get it sorted, guys.
I’m actually sick of this stuff. It’s awful. Why do we buy into it, and let it lace itself into our culture?!
To finish, I’ll paraphrase the worst of them all: Faded, by Tyga and Lil Wayne. These men are class and I hope their families are proud.
Stay classy, gentlemen.
Jónsi (real name Jón Þór Birgisson) is a singer-songwriter from Iceland who, I think, brings happiness and wonder back into music. He’s released a solo album, but gained fame as part of the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Jónsi sometimes plays his guitar with a cello bow, wears sunglasses through entire shows and has invented his own language, which he calls “Hopelandic”.
So he’s ecclectic. That’s your first reason to love Jónsi. Here’s another four, in musical form:
Jónsi – Animal Arithmetic
Jónsi – Sinking Friendships
Jónsi – Kolniður
Jónsi covers MGMT’s Time to Pretend
I hope you enjoy him as much as I do!
Kimbra is a 21-year-old Kiwi artist who has recently found mainstream fame after online gossip king Perez Hilton labeled her as one-to-watch.
She’s been signed to Warner Brothers, and her debut album Vows is due for release in New Zealand on August 29.
Meanwhile, here’s five clips showing just why you should be paying attention to this young Hamiltonian.
Kimbra’s second single Simply on My Lips gave her her first taste of success – you may recognise it:
Kimbra covers Crowded House’s Fall At Your Feet:
The first single off Vows – Settle Down:
Miami Horror – I Look To You, feat Kimbra:
Finally, my personal favourite: Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know, feat Kimbra:
I hope you enjoy her as much as I do! x
UPDATE: After being harassed by Chris Philpott, I’m including a bonus track – Cameo Lover.
BOOM.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Then there’s this.