Rewinding: Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love'

Whitney Houston. Give me some classic 90’s Whitney any day and I could tell you hours of my musical childhood. The most prime diva artist I was raised on was certainly Whitney. I wasn’t a big Mariah fan. That came quite late with Celine Dion.  But why I chose this 1998 record instead of the forever anthems from The Bodyguard artist is because Whitney showed she was a clever transitional artist without losing any musical integrity. Here she was going for the more urban R&B understated vocals (it was still damn good) route instead of the sappy pop ballads with glass breaking loud long notes ready to be covered on every reality singing show, which she made a legendary career out of. Plus, hip-hop was just about to explode, but instead she still focused on the vocals and wasn’t desperate in needing to have a rapper to be featured on it. Kudos also goes to Wyclef Jean for having such genius in creating this rather simple beat, but it’s just a classic which works in any era. Jennifer Hudson should crucially learn from this record because I personally think this is the type of music she should create. Also, when you dissect this song into pieces, it shows a hybrid of sounds that gives evidence why it stands the test of time. There are the obvious Pop-R&B sounds, but if you listen more closely, there are hints of Reggae in it with touches of old-school throw back soul. This is why records like this are classics because you can’t specify it into a certain genre. It’s like what Michael Jackson has been able to do the best and Whitney is closely behind. Even though of course Whitney will never return to this form again because of the obvious, but she still leaves a catalogue of music that is timeless.

Just Arrived: Kanye West's 'All Of The Lights'

Kanye West. All Of The Lights was one of my favorite records of 2010. The beat is beyond sick. The featuring artists are beyond sick.  And when Hype Williams was attached to direct the video I was like “Kanye is fucking back ruling Top 40 radio and MTV”. But when the video was released I was disappointed. What the fuck was it? Some campy disco 80’s Star Wars text affects meets Riri looking extremely hot, but white as Betty White.  The small section of the song on the epic Runaway video was even more impressive. I wanted explosion, lighting extravaganza or some artistic take which Mr. West has been so legendary these past years. I always hail Kanye as the rapper who has broke the typical “let’s go to the club, throw some money, show off the six-pack and fuck the girls in the hucci mama bikini’s” hip-hop stereotype. He has been able to merge hip-hop culture with fine commercial arts like no other artist in history. But this I felt was a letdown. I understand that the song is so so good that a so so good video might not be necessary, but I think with this song , West could exploit the moment and really really made it into a classic. Yet, I still strongly believe this song and album will be a force to reckon with on the 2012 Grammy’s, but watch out for the ladies- Adele and Lady Gaga. Those two might prompt West to jump up on stage again, but this time the two ladies are real true artist (Swift was also…to a certain extend for me) and West could actually end his career for real this time after so many embraced and apology accepted comebacks.

Just Arrived: Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me'

Britney Spears.  She’s back with Hold It Against Me and I like the concept much more than the Circus album. Don’t get me wrong about being fucking high on my Gaga obsession for the past three years, but I’m a huge fan of Britney. I own all her albums, video concerts and etc.  The video’s futuristic space ship TV land visuals and Britney’s goddessy-like floating up and down was stunning. Director Jonas Akerlund (a Swede-I’m proud 101 moment) elevated Britney’s artistry, but still kept her current bubblegum pop. He didn’t try to make her Madonna in Ray of Light or Gaga in Telephone which he both directed. Yes, I could see some references from Telephone with the static effects and Plenty of Fish product placement, and even Willow’s Whip My Hair paint shooting effect was there, but overall it was still an original concept for Brit Brit. Also, her Mariah-esque Heartbreaker video karate bitch fight against herself was genius. It toughens up her “Hey Y’all I’m from Kentwood Louisiana” exterior. 

However, what makes Britney supreme is her dancing, and it fucking epic failed in this vid and the song itself is much more hard-hitting and genius then the video. Her choreographer Brian Friedman hyped too much on it and don’t blame it on the editing. With even less dancing scene than expected, each scene then should have hit everyone right in the head and explain why she’s the Queen of Pop. And sorry…Gaga does take the crown 100% now. Gaga is a much worse dancer than Britney comparing to her Me Against The Music years, but with her Born This Way Grammy performance+ live singing it was way stronger then Britney in this video. And please, don’t give the shit treatment that she has two children and blah blah blah. There’s a woman name Madonna at 50 and she can still rock a damn 3 hours concert in full force. 

So if Britney really wants to be up there and not only care on her fan base loyalty (which is massive), I suggest she trains more for months and months.  But if she doesn’t care then JIVE records may have to invest more money in paying these expensive directors to direct amazing visual videos for her and for people to forget her dancing, which will never happened. Never. So for now… her album Femme Fatale should be as groundbreaking as Blackout (which I doubt it will be with Dr.Luke producing most of it with Ke$ha beats, which is popular for Top 40 but not innovative enough to reach the classic song stage) because if not then Britney continues to be only the Princess of Pop.

Under the Radar Obsessions: Japayork's 'Teenagers'

Japayork. I’ve known this tune for months now and have been obsessed with it since the first time I clicked play. It’s just a solid feel-good pop tune that brings you into the land of positivity. The song production for an artist not from a major label is inspiring. I’m sure if this song was submitted to Simon Cowell’s  Syco Music offices it would be released by one of his artist in no time. Not only in the UK, but I truly feel it could be a worldwide smash. As for the video, it’s using the lame ‘let’s get fucking hammered on Friday night at an frat house party-esque vibe’. Gaga did this with Just Dance and Ke$ha with Tik Tok. Still, what makes this video stands out is its fashion-blog style cinematography and art direction. Go to nearly every major fashion blog today and you’ll see this pale washed-out vintage color picture effects. By why hasn’t this song become a hit? Apart from not being pushed by a major label….it’s simple. It has everything a good pop song should have, but there’s a million more of this type of song. But I still got major hopes for this tune.

Rewinding: Miike Snow's 'Animal'

Miike Snow - "Animal" from Downtown Music on Vimeo.

Miike Snow. I can’t get enough of this song Animal. Thanks to Rollingstone magazine for raving them as one of the best band in 2009, I just got addicted to this song and their self-titled album. It really puts you in this electronica-mellow world. Yes, they are Swedish and yes I’m playing the bias game again. But my Swedes surely have the credibility to back it up.  The band is made-up of producing team Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, also known as Bloodshy & Avant, and lead singer Andrew Wyatt. And excuse me, if you know your pop music 101 Bible….Bloodshy & Avant are the one responsible for Britney’s Toxic, Piece of Me and Radar. They are the one who elevated pop music to be more hard-hitting and have an industrial sound to it. But what’s fucking amazing with this song is that it shows how they are really eclectic in their music choices and how they can continuously create new signature sounds. With Animal, it has this sort of underground earthy electronic Brooklyn sound to it while still giving the Stockholm vibe to it. Even though this song is still too fresh to be inducted into my rewinding section, but because of its timeless quality to it…it’s meant to be here.

Just Arrived: Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Video

Justin Bieber. Don’t give me the eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww treatment. The kid’s really talented. Trust me. Come on! He’s nominated for a Best New Artist nod at the Grammys. Take away all the lame Bieber fever mania with girls (and the sad mothers) ready to turn their voices into the bass octave, and his too perfect hair ready to charge a gazillion dollars for a shampoo’s endorsement, but musically, Justin could actually turn out to have an iconic career. He knows how to play the drums and guitar. He sings R&B anthem with such soul (when Usher agrees, the haters better shut the fuck up) and he cleverly he knows he has to play the pop music manufactured machine at this moment to build his longevity career. Justin, Britney and Christina all did it with the use of the Mickey Mouse Club. Now back to the song from his Never Say Never movie. To already have a film about his life showing in wide release is fucking insane. I mean, this is Beatles mania all over again in 2011. Still, the song isn’t really good. It’s not on the Baby level where you have to admit it that you’ll be humming to it when it comes on. The video itself is also very disappointing. I feel it’s going to be the mini version of the film. I mean, please, why not shoot some scenes in his hometown or his childhood places to give some sentimental feelings for us to see how far he has come. We don’t want to see the same montage of screaming fans over and over again. Anyways, after this project is over, Justin is in a very difficult position. He needs to finally start to transition into a Top 40 radio artist and not Disney Top 40 radio artist. He’s working with Kanye next which I’m so psyched about. It’s ambitious. It’s a real challenge.