FLASHBACK VIDEO:Roger Sanchez- Another Chance

OK, it's not new music. But this is my favourite music video ever. It's so simple but the idea is amazing! A woman walking around New York City with a massive heart that no one wants- the metaphor is somehow simultaneously subtle and obvious and beautiful because of that. LOVE it!! Turn the volume up and listen to the dialogue as well, enjoy!

Side note I will be posting more dance music videos, the concepts are more than unique!

MIXTAPE REVIEW: Bluey Robinson- The Late Shift

It’s been a bit quiet on the new music front for Bluey Robinson lately, but the South London singer is back with his new mixtape The Late Shift and it was worth the wait. This is a neat collection of songs that showcase Robinson’s rich-textured voice on well produced Pop-R&B tracks.  

The whole mixtape has a very listenable quality. The first track Good Times is a mid-tempo track with a summery vibe, about just kicking back and enjoying life. The rap by fellow Londoner, Bento adds a nice texture to the laid back groove of this song. There’s nothing too forced over complicated on The Late Shift. Even the relationship dilemma song, Be Cool manages to emulate the title with its easy melody and catchy hook.

That said there are many different genres of music woven into The Late Shift. The Low features a dub-step beat. It’s a song that combines elements of old and new in a number of ways. The old comes in the subject matter (forbidden love) a traditional song theme. Also Robinson’s smooth but emotive vocal is reminiscent of seasoned R&B crooners Trey Songz and J Holiday. This is in stark contrast to the new, quintessentially British, dub- step influenced production.  Some UK R&B singers borrow so heavily from their US counterparts that the results often appear like clumsy parody. But Robinson seems to have the balance just about right. The Late Shift is old school R&B for a new generation and with a modern twist of British, urban cool. The Low exemplifies this. 

There is a classical music interlude which adds an unexpected texture to The Late Shift. It is cleverly featured after the fresh energy and modern vibe of The Low. You get this complete surprise of soaring strings and subtle piano that leads perfectly into the next song the True Blue. This is a great touch and the way in which Robinson has carefully intertwined different genres shows he is not taking his listeners for granted. 

So, every R&B album worth its salt needs a ballad and Fly is the ballad of The Late Shift. It’s a poignant song about loss and grief. The track features a beautiful piano led melody and stirring vocal harmonies. Fly harks back to 90’s R&B ballads with its emotive melody and lyrics reminiscent of Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight and Babyface. The track consciously indulges in that tradition and signals the start of The Late Shift’s wind down.

There is a modern stigma of male R&B singers as purveyors of some of the finest cheesy music around and some singers have struggled to break free from that image often appearing aggressively slick and over stylised. But Bluey Robinson seems to possess effortless cool and natural edge. It’s unusual and refreshing to hear a collection of songs like this in today’s post-David Guetta-era of R&B. 

The Late Shift is a welcome return to everything that was good about the Pop-R&B sound of the late1990’s and early 2000’s: solid vocals, solid melodies and solid production. The late Shift is a well structured, polished body of work with a clear beginning, middle and end. It doesn't try too hard to do too much: the elements of soul, hip-hop and dub-step subtly blend together to create an honest, credible dose of Pop flavoured R&B. 

FLASHBACK: Nelly Furtado- Loose

Released in 2006, this album signified a change in sound for Nelly Furtado. She abandoned her usual brand of folky, jaunty, pop  and embraced a more R&B sound . The album, largely produced by Timberland, fell in line with the Pop/R&B sound that was dominating the charts at the time. The debut single Maneater was a hit and did a great job introducing Furtado's new sound and image: this a was slick edgy and sexy Nelly Furtado and it was exciting. The album was well received both in the US and internationally. It produced many hit singles including Promiscuous and Say It Right. It is still the most successful of her albums, to date and whatever the musical future holds for Nelly Furtado, Loose will always be a high point of her career.

Girl On Fire- Alicia Keys

NEW VIDEO

Here it is- the new video for Girl On Fire, the debut single from A. Keys' fifth studio album. It sees Keys in a looking glam carrying out a number of chores as a mother, carer, and business woman- all the while wearing heels and sporting her slick new hair cut.

It's an ok video, but we've seen Keys do this kind of thing before. I expected a more explosive video for a song entitled Girl On Fire. What did you think?

EVENT REVIEW: Bloggers Delight

Picture a Sunday afternoon chatting about the latest popular news and entertainment stories- having some food, a drink and some laughs... Well that’s pretty much Bloggers Delight in a nutshell. A panel of well known bloggers with expertise in varying areas of popular culture from music to fashion and beauty discuss topical and moral issues and then throw it open to the crowd.

 The Rhum Jungle at Cottons Caribbean restaurant in Islington is the venue for this event, which means there is delicious food and drinks available from the bar. It’s a great setting- ideal for creating the relaxed, homely vibe of the event.  Also, the organisers are really welcoming and friendly, they create such a great atmosphere that before long you feel comfortable enough to put your hand up and add your take to the debate!  People sometimes shy away from these kinds of events because they’re worried about feeling like they’ve gate crashed a private party. But that’s definitely not the case with Bloggers Delight, once the discussion is underway you feel like you're in a room of friends just chatting away. 

Presented by the main organiser, Miss Lala (Lorriane Russell), this month’s Bloggers Delight panel featured some great personalities such as DJ Melody Kane, Marvin Sparks, Andrea IIaka, Marvyn Harrison, Yogi Bear and Wendi B offering perspectives on hot topics like: what is the level of responsibility the BBC should take in the Jimmy Saville sex abuse claims?  Can you be in love with two people?  And what were the pro/cons of Starboy Nathan appearing on X Factor? 

The discussion was lively and full of banter while revealing some sound observations too. The event takes place in two parts and last Sunday, each part was punctuated a by thought-provoking spoken word performance by emerging poet LionHeart. This is a great event. The whole experience was refreshing- It’s like an ‘urban’ version of Question Time only with food, drink, friendlier faces and way more laughs! It's a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  

The next event is Sunday 18th November 2012 

Twitter @BLOGGERSDLIGHT

www.bloggers-delight.com

New Music: Cee-Lo Green: Run Rudolph Run

It's not Christmas yet but who cares?! This is a huge slice of CeeLo Green-shaped cheese and it's fun!

Frank Ocean Pens Another Letter to Fans

In his latest letter posted on Tumblr Ocean mentions a variety of things from his intention to write a novel to his idea of one day building an arcade, to his brief encounter with a love that never quite happened. Some artists are less forthcoming  about what they've got in the pipeline and much less about their emotions. But Ocean is not shy about admitting his hopes, dreams and random thoughts. He's not overly self indulgent either the letter doesn't feel like a press release. Plus, there's no real news here, it's a simple letter. He's just letting people know what's been going on in his life lately. And for the short length of the piece, Ocean manages to create a vivid picture of his reality- from working in the studio with Jay Z and Pharrell Williams to mundane observations like 'Oreos don't work with Almond milk'.He is giving fans a glimpse into a life that he is still getting used to. It's written in a Stream of consciousness style with such careful fluidity that it puts the reader in the present  moment, with Frank Ocean.




No, this is not a press release, but this level of honesty and authenticity outside of the music, is refreshing and though it was probably not Ocean's aim, it does work as a great a marketing strategy because with this letter Ocean is encouraging us to come further inside his world and emotionally invest with him as he makes his way through music and through life...

New Music: Rihanna- Diamonds

When a singer becomes a superstar there comes a point where it's hard to judge whether the music they produce is quality or not. When you're a superstar, radio stations will play your song, (whatever it sounds like). Your legions of fans will buy your song, (whatever it sounds like). It's like supporting a football team fans are with you- win or lose; good song, or bad song. Superstar singers have earned that status but does that give them license to release mediocre music knowing it'll be consumed no matter what? Rihanna has released 6 soon to be 7 albums in as many years. The quality of those albums, has been patchy but all have sold around the world in their millions. Her newest offering 'Diamonds' is a kooky ballad written by Sia.  The song is OK but because it's marketed as "Rihanna's newest song" it'll probably chart very well and is actually number 1 on iTunes as I type!! Maybe superstar status does afford the superstar the right to just be OK- I'm sure if this single was offered up by a brand new artist it wouldn't be up to scratch. What do you think? No need for me to post the song- just go switch on the radio!

Starboy Nathan Talks about The X Factor

I was going to do a post about possible reasons Nathan chose to do  The X Factor. But who can explain it better than the man himself? No one, that's who and so here you go. 

Nathan, knows how the music industry works. He has been there and done that and he is clearly, a lot wiser than many Twitter users were giving him credit for, last night. For me, this film shows that there was actually strategy and admirable method to the madness. But what do you think?