Pop Musik #1
Fabulous blogger Jack Murphy explores this week’s goings on in the UK Top 40.
It’s been a busy week in music this week, choc-full of new releases, leaks and new videos…
The first new video to come to my attention this past week was Florence + the Machine’s video for their upcoming single ‘Spectrum’ (my personal favourite track from the album Ceremonials). It’s cinematic, glamorous, and stylish, and no wonder – it was co-directed by super-photographer David LaChappelle. In true Florence form you can expect outlandish outfits, ritualistic dancing and art deco sets with just a dash of almost unforgivable product placement (what’s with that lately?!). ‘Spectrum’ is set for release on July 8th and will feature a remix by Calvin Harris, which is already up on Youtube and definitely worth a listen.
Speaking of Harris, he recently produced ‘Only The Horses’ the lead single from Scissor Sisters’ fourth album Magic Hour which was released this week. It sees the Sisters back in their dance-pop, camp-techno home ground collaborating with not only Calvin Harris, but also Pharrell Williams, Diplo and Azealia Banks. Along with the release of the video for their upcoming second single from Magic Hour, ‘Baby Come Home’, was also an announcement of a tour – a busy year for the Sisters. Look out for them in London this October.
Magic Hour reached number 4 in the album chart behind Rumer’s Boys Don’t Cry, Paloma Faith’s Fall To Grace, and Gary Barlow’s Jubilee album Sing which nabbed the number one spot. Looking at the album chart this week, something occurred to me. Has anyone else noticed that Adele’s 21 is still in the top ten?! It was released over a year ago, has broken records and topped charts worldwide, selling over 20 million copies –it’s fair to say everyone knows this album, so who is it exactly that’s still buying it? Surely every man and his gran has a copy by now?
Anyway, I digress – back to singles. Coldplay’s latest offering, a collaboration with Rihanna on ‘Princess of China’ has finally been given a video! With an Asian fusion theme, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon-inspired stunts and martial arts, the video sees Chris Martin lusting over a regal Rihanna and getting awkwardly close to her face. Not sure what Gwyneth had to say about that. It’s a visually beautiful video and obviously with the combined following of both Coldplay and Rihanna, the single will be a huge hit.
Another video release this week (how Youtube HQ didn’t implode this week, I don’t know) is the ‘Primadonna’ follow up from Marina and the Diamonds, ‘Power & Control’. It was announced as the next single from her number one album Electra Heart and is due for release on July 9th. The song – written by Marina and Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello – is about the agonies of romance (what else?) and features Marina’s trademark power-warbling over a Halloween-movie-theme electro-esque synth bass.
And I suppose I can’t go a whole pop music column this week without mentioning BBC One’s talent show ‘The Voice’, which came to an uninspiring end on Saturday night – was anybody even still watching it by then? Leanne Mitchell (coached by Tom Jones) was crowned the winner beating Twitter favourite Vince Kidd, bookies’ favourite Bo Bruce and apparent ladies’ favourite Tyler James (who managed to go a whole show without mentioning that he knew Amy Winehouse… I was impressed). Leanne was definitely the dark horse of the competition; she seemingly came from nowhere and blossomed in the last two weeks. The show ultimately did what it set out to do – it was always about the ‘voice’, and the biggest and best voice eventually won. Leanne beat her much more marketable rivals and her single was released at midnight on Saturday. I guess it’s good to see talent triumph over style, but sadly she’s easily forgettable.
And one last bit of exciting news – Mumford & Sons say their much-anticipated second album will be coming out on the 24th of September. Can’t wait for that one.
-Jack Murphy
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