BandAid30 review

The video for BandAid30- Do they know its Christmas? was shown on the Xfactor results show on Sunday, and it allowed us to see how the track came together with all the stars of 2014 singing on it. The song began with One Direction singing the first lyrics, a big responsibility when singing such a well know, classic song, but they executed it extremely well, and Sir Bob Geldof even agreed. We see all the stars in the video doing their bit, 1D, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Bono, Ellie Goulding, Emile Sande, Sam Smith, Coldplay, Bastille, and many more amazing names that came out to perform on the single.

The song is great, and always will be, but I'm not too sure about the youtubers in it, sure they're popular with the generation of today and it's all in the name of charity, but they're not professional singers, they should've asked some other brilliant singers to be in it rather than youtubers, who looked a little out of place surrounded by all that talent.

One Direction deluxe edition tracks review

After One Direction's deluxe edition of FOUR was released on Monday I was able to listen to the four bonus tracks that they added just for the fans. The quality of these extra songs are similar brilliance to the tracks on the normal version of the album, although one of them makes me laugh when listening to it.

Illusion:
Written by Liam about his girlfriend Sophia Smith, the song starts off with the lads singing together with no music or instruments ion the background, which gives off the vibe that this track would be sung on tour as the crowd would be able to shout these first lyrics with them as the start the song. The lyrics are pretty straight forward, as Liam is writing about his girlfriend, her is stating that his love for her is real and he would never do anything to compromise their relationship. The song also states 'Tell me you believe in love, cause it's not an illusion' which suggests that they are asking their loved ones if they believe in the aspect of love and if they feel there love is real, like they do.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'I promise falling for me won't be a mistake'

I been thinking about the nights
And the dangerous tricks
People play on the eyes of the innocent
 
Once In A Lifetime:
This track is definitely more of a ballad, the pace is slow and almost relaxing to listen to. The song itself is quite short, so it's quite obvious the group wanted this one to be a bonus track, but it still works with the rest of the album, it's a typical love song, which is quite adorable if I'm being honest. There's not really much to say about this one, except that it will definitely be a song that fans will wave their phones in the air for.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Once in a lifetime, you were mine'

Act My Age:
This song makes me giggle every time I listen to it, I can't help it. It starts with a guitar plucking and then transitions into almost Irish music (Niall is that you??), and the lyrics are almost joking around with the listener, suggesting that even when the group are old men and their kids 'think they're a joke' they won't yield to the stereotype of an old citizen, they will still have fun and mess around like they do now. It also suggests a mention of a partner in their lives, so even with their partners they will act the same as the did when they first met when they're older, and they'll still do the things they used to, like dancing and partying. Even though the song is hilarious, it's still got a good beat that you can sing along to again and again.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'I can count on you after all we got up to'

Change Your Ticket:
When I first heard this song I thought I was listening to 'Girls' by the 1975, but then Harry started the song and I was pretty surprised. I'm not sure whether Matt Healy had any writing credits on the song or if he gave them any ideas for it, but it sure sounds like it, but it works for them and the song was executed really well. The lyrics are describing when the lads are away from their partners in a different country, they then stay with them for a weekend but then they have to go back home, but the lads don't want them to leave just yet so they ask them to change their ticket home so they can stay longer. Even if it does mean having to wear a disguise when they go out in public to hide from the millions of fans they have around the world.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Don't play innocent, I know what you meant when you said you'd come over' (oo-er)

Demi Lovato's KOKO show in London

Demi's only solo show that she was doing in London this year took place at the KOKO club in Mornington Crescent on 1st June and I managed to grab two tickets to it, and it may have been a small venue but the whole place was rocking.

She started off the show with her first single from recent album DEMI, Heart Attack, which was a great way to begin the show as it got everyone jumping and singing the lyrics back to her. Other songs included classics from her older albums such as The Middle, Catch Me and Unbroken, which the hardcore fans (like myself) went wild for.

She showed the love for her UK fans by changing the lyrics of Made in the USA to Made in the UK, which everyone went crazy for.

And she didn't miss out the song that every single Frozen fans love, Let It Go, and she even brought up a younger fan who had dressed up as Elsa especially for the show, and her name was KOKO! can you believe the irony?

 After jumping into the crowd during Neon Lights, Demi left the stage just as the crowd started chanting for an encore, and she didn't disappoint. She ran back on stage to perform the heart jerker Skyscraper which got everyone waving there phones in  the air. She finished with Give Your Heart a Break which got the whole venue jumping. This girl really knows how to put on a good performance, she sings live fantastically and hits every high note perfectly, who wouldn't love her?

I would definitely go to see her live again, come back to the UK Demi!

Ella Henderson Chapter One Album Review

Fresh off the Xfactor, Ella Henderson had dropped her debut album 'Chapter One' which feature number one single Ghost, new single Glow and her next single Yours. It shot straight to number one, knocking Ed Sheeran off the top spot.

The deluxe edition of the album includes 18 tracks and they're all equally as good as the others. The message behind 1996, the year Ella was born is quite a heart felt one, reminiscing about growing up with her family, even mentioning a childhood best friend, which I'm sure a few girls that age can relate to, I know I can. The album features a mix of slow and faster numbers, but the majority are ballads which are Ella's strongest point, but she perfects the faster ones too, particularly in Billie Holiday and The First Time which are ones that you'd belt out in the shower. The most beautiful song on there is undoubtedly Beautifully Unfinished, which is a soft, slow ballad that really shows of Ella's amazing voice. It's something to take a listen to if you need to relax and unwind.

Being this is her first album, she's done a brilliant job with it, I'm sure Simon Cowell can agree with me on that one too.

FAVOURITE TRACKS- Hard Work, Rockets, The First Time and Glow

Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud video review

When this video was released the first this I said was 'I didn't know Ed Sheeran could dance so well!' Which was probably the question on a lot of peoples lips, but this guy is multi talented, what's not to live about him.

Bravo to Ed Sheeran for this beautiful video, the dance itself was amazing, even incorporating some of the lyrics into the dance steps, but the way that the routine flows well with the song. The lighting made it look even more romantic as well, the lady he was dancing with is very lucky indeed. The song reached number 1 in the UK charts which just shows how popular it is, it's already been named my mum and step dads 'our song' so it's definitely one to listen to if you ever wanted to show how much you love someone. If I ever got the chance to dance with Ed Sheeran, I wouldn't say no.

Taylor Swift Blank Spaces video review

Following her hit single from the new album '1989' Taylor Swift has dropped her new video for upcoming single 'Blank Space', and I have to admit, it's a little strange.

The song is about relationships (no surprise there really) but it focuses on how t-Swizzle is trying to show that she's how the media makes her out to be., and that sometimes her relationships end because of the guy that she was with, not her. She does portray herself as a bit of a crazy lady with the make up running down her face, the psychotic look she has on her face and almost using voodoo on the guy with an apple, but it works with the lyrics of the song. The lyric 'got a long list of ex lovers, who'll tell you I'm insane' makes her out to be the person that the media portrays her to be, but I think she's trying to make fun of that in this video because it's likely that she's only dated a few of the guys who she's been linked with (although we all know she dated Harry Styles)

The video is great really, like I said, a little insane, but that's what she was going for in the first place so it goes with the song lyrics and to create the narrative that she wanted to stars. Four for you, Taylor four for you.

McBusted Air Guitar review

Ah McBusted the super group that was born for all good things. I was lucky enough to attend their first tour but that was to hear all the old McFly and Busted hits that hit me right in the childhood, but now they've just announced a whole new studio album and tour, which means debut single! Which they've named Air Guitar, and on top of that they've chucked in a new video for us as well. Aren't we lucky.

Time to rock out guys, the sing as whole is definitely one to head bang too, maybe even whip out the air guitars. The video shows all the guys rocking out on their instruments but at various points their instruments disappear so they're literally playing their air guitars (or if you're Harry your air drums). Added with a crowd of people rocking out with them it's a track that will get anyone throwing there fists in the air and shouting out the lyrics, perhaps not when people are sleeping though. The guys even end up in a random field in the middle of no where at one point, but you would expect that random aspect from the McBusted guys. The only way to make this supergroup any better would be to add 1D into the mixture (McBustedDirection??) 

One Direction Where We Are tour review

Being quite a bit of a One Direction fan I was able to attend the biggest tour they've ever been on, not only that but it was at one of their most important venues. Wembley Stadium. Now I've never been there but when I arrived I realised how huge it was, and considering they had sold out the show, there was going to be masses of fans there waiting to see their beloved band. Excited was an understatement.

The lads opened with Midnight Memories which obviously got the whole stadium rocking, which was followed by the just as rockier Little Black Dress, and trust me, I saw many girls wearing black dresses that day. Not only did they perform the majority of the the tracks from their Midnight Memories album but they also snuck a few tracks in from previous albums. The more lively ones such as C'mon C'mon and Live While We're Young got the stadium jumping and then they slowed it down a notch with Moments and the one everyone loves Little Things, making the whole venue light up with thousands of phone, camera and glow stick lights as the fans swayed along to the lads voices. 

They performed 23 songs altogether and they obviously didn't miss out their first ever debut single, What Makes You Beautiful, the track that every single hardcore fan can probably recite backwards if they tried. With only 4 songs lefts after that they ended it with You and I, Little White Lies, Story Of My Life and of course, the sound track to their movie This Is Us, Best Song Ever. Which was an excellent way to end a brilliant set list, the crowd were pumped with adrenaline, singing the lyrics out loud and dancing around their seats, I'm sure there wasn't one person who was sitting down at that point.

These guys truly no how to put on a good show, and they do it all for their fans, so I applaud them for that.

Olly Murs Wrapped Up video review

Olly Murs is back! His new single, featuring Travie McCoy, Wrapped Up is one that even your grandparents will love. The video has dropped and it's brilliant, it even features the old faithful trilby that we all know and love.

We see Olly surrounded by a group of lucky ladies (although one looks scarily like Taylor Swift) being his usual cheeky self. Partnered with dim luminous lights he makes a simple video look fun, and of course, it wouldn't be an Olly Murs video with out his famous trilby. The video also goes with the song lyrics, pretty much saying that all those ladies have Olly wrapped round their fingers, but he doesn't seem to mind in the slightest if his cheeky grin is anything to go by. Even though Travie McCoy doesn't feature in the actual video, it doesn't change the song in the slightest, it still includes his part and Olly even tries to sing it himself.

If the rest of his new album is like this single, I will definitely be putting it on my christmas list.

Ed Sheeran X Album review

After the release of Ed's first album + there's no doubt that he's going to have to step up to make his new album as good as the first. He's done just that. As the talented singer songwriter that he is, it probably wasn't hard for him to make a brilliant album, and by brilliant we mean fantastic since it shot straight to number 1 and holds the record for fastest selling album of the year.

The release of his first single Sing surprised a lot of people since it wasn't what his usual sound was like, but he even stated that he wanted to change up his sound a little. Partnered with Pharell Williams this track was a huge hit and went to number 1 in the UK, and the video was just as good, featuring a mini Ed in puppet form. The other singles released from this album was Don't (which is said to be about Niall Horan and Ellie Goulding awks) and Thinking Out Loud, which is the beautifully romantic song that everyone loves. 

Other tracks similar to Thinking Out Loud are Photograph, Tenerife Sea and Shirtsleeves, which are all equally heart felt and make you want to hug the man. Two of my favourites consist of Runaway and Afire Love. Runaway is a lot more upbeat and makes you want to nod along to the music, I usually listen to it when I'm on my way to a certain place. In contrast Afire Love is quite a sad song which really pulls on your heart strings. Ed wrote this one about his grandad who passed away and how he felt during the time, even though he was only young.

Other tracks on the album include One, I'm A Mess, Nina, Bloodstream, The Man, Take It Back, Even. My Dad Does Sometimes and if you have the deluxe album, I See Fire which was featured in the film 'The Hobbit- The Desolation of Smaug'  

Congratulations to Mr Sheeran for making another brilliant album, who knows what he'll do next.

One Direction FOUR album review

The biggest boyband in the world are set to release their fourth studio album titled FOUR on the 17th November, consisting of two different versions, the deluxe edition and the regular edition. After the regular edition leaked online before the release date fans were able to get a sneak peak at the tracks that would be on there. I was lucky enough to listen to these tracks which I will be reviewing below, bar the extra few that will be on the deluxe version. There is no doubt that this is the group's best album yet as it shows how they have progressed as a band, particularly with their song writing.

Steal My Girl:
The first single released off the new album which gives audiences a taster of what sort of style they are going for with their new album, with Louis and Liam writing on the track. The piano in the background added with the almost clapping riffs fit well with the whole vibe of the song. We are able to see how the guys voices have matured as well as their music style. The track has a feel good essence to it, definitely one that you could belt out in the car if it comes on the radio, this is reinforced with the break down of the song, assisted by Zayn's high notes that every fan of there's go wild for. The guys have definitely matured with their sound, adding a few pop rock vibes to their tracks, but they still have the famous 'Na Na Na's' in this track that a typical boyband includes in many of their songs. The lyrics are pretty self explanatory, the lads are not going to let anyone get in the way of them and their love, even when they're away from their partners, but also it could suggest that they're not going to let any other band steal their fans from them.

FAVOURITE LINE-

Ready To Run:
This track is a lot less up beat, it has a similar kind of sound to their previous track 'Story of My Life' which was a big hit considering it reached number one on the charts. Again, it suggests the lads are writing about their loves, but the lyric 'Coz I wanna be free, and I wanna be young' also suggests that they're still holding onto their youth, maybe even missing it now they're the biggest band on the planet, but who doesn't miss their younger years nowadays. This is the kind of song that you'd listen to when you're on your way out, walking to meet friends, on the way to college or work, going for a run (excuse the pun) because even though it's not up tempo it is still a feel good song that could get people motivated for the day ahead.

FAVOURITE LINE-

Where Do Broken Hearts Go:
Harry assisted with the writing of this track, which includes awesome guitar riffs to show the lads transition into a more rockier sound. The lyrics implies that they are feeling guilty about upsetting a partner or love interest, but they are still trying to come to terms with how to fix it, which explains the title 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go'. They question whether this person is still heartbroken or if they've already moved on 'Are you sleeping baby by yourself, or are you giving it to someone else' so another song about a love interest but it's still a song that would be perfect if sung live in a stadium, with the crowd shouting the lyrics back to you, which I'm sure is what the lads were going for.

FAVOURITE LINE-

18:
Written by the extremely talented Ed Sheeran, who stated this song is what he feels the group's sound should be like. The lyrics portray reminiscing a relationship that was once a thing when they were 18, and that their is no other relationship that has compared to that one. They want a relationship like that now, maybe even with the same person. Their voices sound perfect together in the song, with Niall's added 'Oh lord' before the breakdown, which is brought on by Zayn, ending with one of his famous high riffs. Listen to this one if you're missing the one you love, or if you like someone who doesn't know it yet.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Hands pressed to your cheek, long way from the playground'

Girl Almighty:
If you're a girl, this is definitely one to dance around your room to in glory because this track is a toast to the almighty female. This fast beat song followed with the added guitar strums makes the song one to remember, if they don't sing this one of tour I'm certain there will be many disappointed female fans. There is a bit of a raunchy element to the track, 'I get down on my knees for you' (oo-er) but then again what song doesn't have a bit of a raunchy element to it.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Let's have another toast to the Girl Almighty'

Night Changes:
The next single that the group will release, a bit of a mood changer. The track basically talks about growing up and how things can change so quickly as you get older, no new day is the same as the one before. It highlights a young girl becoming older, how she has 'lost her innocence', going out to meet boys, wearing more out going clothes, nothing like her mother used to dress her in when she was a little girl. If you're ever missing the days when you were a child, I wouldn't listen to this one because it will only make you miss it even more, maybe listen to it when you're feeling nostalgic over childhood cartoons and TV shows.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Everything that you ever dreamed of, disappearing when you wake up'

Fool's Gold:
The guitar in this one gives the track almost a country kind of vibe, until the riffs begin to intensify. Another sad one I'm afraid, this time the lads have been messed around by a love interest who shows their love to every one they meet, but they state that they don't regret falling for this person because they still live them even if the person doesn't retaliate the love. Listen to this one if you need a good cry over a partner, if you need to let your emotions out this is the one to listen to in bed with a giant tub of Ben and Jerry's and a box of tissues.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Yeah I let you use me from the day that we first met'

No Control:
If your favourite 1D member is Louis you're gonna love this track as he basically owns the whole song, which I'm sure not many of their adoring fans would complain about. The lyrics suggest almost the story of the night after the night before, and the guys have obviously had a good time, met a girl and brought her home. They wake up the next morning and remember nothing but the girl that has left before they woke up. The chorus is undoubtedly going to be one to belt out at their next stadium tour and rock out to, and if you're a professional shower singer then you can always belt it out to the rest of the house.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Powerless, and I don't care it's obvious'

Fireproof:
The track that the lads released as a free download, it was immediately loved by all the fans. In a literal aspect, they aren't saying they're fireproof and can't be touched, but that the relationship they have with their loved one cannot be broken or 'burnt' in this case. The harmonies are very clear in this one and it just shows how their voices have gotten stronger, paired with the guitar riffs this is sure to be a hit with non-1D fans, I mean come on this isn't the bubble gum pop that their first album consisted of.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'I think I'm gonna win this time, riding on the wind and I won't give up'

Spaces:
This one is a heart-jerker, which could have two different meanings to the story behind it. On one hand it could be about a relationship that is breaking down, but on the other hand, if you're looking at a deeper meaning it could be about the One Direction members become distant from each other, not getting along as well as they did when they first started out, perhaps suggesting a break up sometime soon. Now this suggestion is enough to make every 1D fan around the world want to throw their laptops out the window, but I'm sure that the lads are fine and no conflict is occurring in the band.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Who's gonna be the first one to fall asleep at night'

Stockholm Syndrome:
The title of the track is enough to make someone to back away slowly, but this track written by Mr Styles is literally about the definition of the words, falling in love with your kidnapper, strange I know. But even though the meaning behind the song is strange, it's a big hit with the fans, with the intense drum beats and guitars it's enough to make anyone nod their head and sing along. The backing harmonies could be suggested as quite creepy, but it just adds to meaning of the song, it's going to be a little weird if its about falling for your kidnapper. The lyrics themselves even imply this meaning 'Who's that shadow holding me hostage, I've been here for days' pretty obvious really, but it's still one of the best songs on the album, definitely my favourite.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'Baby I'll never leave if you keep holding me this way'

Clouds:
Another stadium hit, I think there's a theme going here. The song basically says that love is never simple, you're always going to get bumps in the road, but if you love each other that much you'll get through it. The guitar riffs are on point in this song, again to show a more rockier vibe to the lads new music. The breakdown of the chorus will get the crowd up out of their seats clapping and stomping just like the famous 'We Will Rock You' but that's what rock songs are all about, the intense sound of the instruments played and screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs.

FAVOURITE LINE- 'We're never coming back down, yeah we're looking down on the clouds'

Overall I think this album is going to surprise a few people, particularly people who aren't fans of 1D, because it's all written by the lads themselves to reflect the kind of music they want to make, and it's not just all pop music it includes the rock elements that is becoming increasingly popular these days. It's a huge step up from their first album but it still sound like them, it doesn't sound completely different from the last album they made but it's definite progress.

I know they'll be coming to find me soon
But my stockholm syndrome is in your room