MAJOR MAESTRO: Taylor Swift

Showing posts with label Taylor Swift. Show all posts

Ultimate Quarantine Playlist

It has indeed been sometime since I took some time off to create a playlist. This time, I had a lot of time on my hands, considering I had 10 long never ending days to think about it. As you might have guessed, this is because I am serving my government mandated 10 days of quarantine prison. Other than pondering where I went wrong, or how I managed to get myself positive for the dreaded Covid-19 virus, I also had time to listen to music. This stupid manmade virus (oh yeah! I have bought into the conspiracy theories) has placed the whole entertainment industry at risk. While the Americas and Europe are slowly coming out of their stringent social distancing guidelines, third world countries such as Sri Lanka can only dream about concerts or live shows for that matter.

In this backdrop, we all need a proper quarantine playlist. This playlist is for those of you who are facing an island wide lockdown or is in quarantine or self-isolation. Whatever, boredom you are facing I suggest you listen to this playlist. It has been formulated with intricate milestones of this pandemic and also the must-listen songs that you may have missed out due to these trying times.

I. Return of Disco

Did you know that disco made a triumphant come back? While it has always been a favorite genre of mine, popular back in the 70s, I never imagined that this was a genre that could ever fare well again on the charts, given the penchant the millennials have for genres such as Hip Hop, EDM and Dancepop. However, was I proved wrong. We have Dua Lipa to thank for. Her album, Future Nostalgia set the stage for the return of this long forgotten genre. While her entire album is infused with disco, the most successful singles are Don’t Stop Now, Levitating and Break My Heart.

Dua Lipa’s success was followed by The Weeknd, with his platinum hit Blinding Lights. Blinding Lights ended up as the Year-End number in 2020 on both sides of the Atlantic with 8 non-consecutive weeks at the top in the UK and topped the US for 4 weeks and is still in the charts, now holding the record longest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 with 88 weeks as of this post. He followed this up with In Your Eyes and Save Your Tears both addictive duets, the latter of which also topped the US.

Kylie Minogue’s 15^th album was aptly titled Disco, which paid tribute the bygone era of the 70s and also made Minogue the first female artist to have number one album in the UK in 5 consecutive decades. The 6^th studio album released by 90s pop icons, Steps also included several disco tracks. Sophie Ellis-Bexter’s latest studio album, Songs from the Kitchen Disco, has a brilliant cover of Alcazar’s Crying at the Discotheque and also a 2020 edition of her 2000-hit, Groovejet.

Newcomer Doja Cat had her big breakthrough in early 2020 with a timely disco track, Say So. She has followed this up recently with Kiss Me More, featuring R&B singer SZA. Lady Gaga was a dancepop sensation in the late noughties and the early 2010s. However, certain singles off her latest album, Chromatica explores elements of disco, particularly Rain On Me and 911. Other notable disco tracks include K-Pop boy band BTS’s foray into English with their worldwide hit, Dynamite, Elton John collaborations with Years & Years where they cover Pet Shop Boys’ hit, It’s a Sin, and Dua Lipa where the duo mashup John’s past hits Sacrifice and Rocket Man; Victoria Monét’s Experience and Kygo’s reworking of Donna Summer’s 1979-hit, Hot Stuff.

II. Artists Redefined

Sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Because she’s dead again. Covid-19 really put everyone in isolation, whether you like it or not. When Taylor Swift went into isolation, she reinvented herself. This time Swift has entered a folk-rock era. With back-to-back multiplatinum albums, Folklore and Evermore, within a span of a mere six months, Swift proved that you only needed inspiration and lone time to produce hits. Both lead singles off the albums, Cardigan and Willow reached No.1 in the US.

While Swift became more mellow and distant from the mainstream, her pal Ed Sheeran, embraced the dark side of peer pressure. His latest hit Bad Habits, is proof that even the most idiosyncratic artist will cave for commercial success. Bad Habits is the lead single from his upcoming album “=” and is a dancepop track, most unusual for the folk pop singer. We will have to wait and see whether the entire album is a sell-out.

Former One Direction member, Harry Styles has chosen more of a mainstream pop sound for his 2^nd studio album, Fine Line. His first album paid homage to the glam rock era and this redefined flavor in his new album ensured success on the charts for singles, Watermelon Sugar, Golden and Adore You.

Some artists have to redefine themselves due to circumstances beyond their control. Girl band Little Mix had to face a big obstacle in December 2020, when Jesy Nelson left the group due to mental health struggles. This was just as the group was making a chart come back after their departure from Simon Cowell’s record label, Syco Music. Their single, Sweet Melody was climbing the charts and actually reached No.1 in the UK, soon after Nelson’s departure. However, the group was determined to continue as trio. The title track off their 6^th studio album, Confetti, reached the top 10 in the UK and they had their first collaboration with EDM artists David Guetta and Galantis, Heartbreak Anthem which proved to be a critical and commercial hit.

III. New Comers

Several new comers have left their mark on the charts and they have also proven that they are capable of producing noteworthy music. While TikTok and other social media platforms have clearly ruined the chances of good productions reaching the echelons of charts, some fortunately beat the odds and achieve this. Some of these artists are The Kid LAROI, Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McCrae and 24kGoldn. A few Australian artists also emerged during the pandemic era particularly Tones and I, Masked Wolf and Glass Animals.

Some high profile artists collaborated to form new ventures during this era. First we see DJs Martin Solveig and Jax Jones collaborate as Europa. Their hit single All Day and Night with Madison Beer preceded the pandemic, but the dance track Tequila with RAYE was released after. Silk Sonic was formed in 2021 by R&B artists Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. Their debut single Leave the Door Open was a commercial hit reaching No.1 in the US.

Eurovision faced a major setback as the 2020 edition to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Netherlands won back in 2019 with Duncan Laurence’s Arcade. The song experienced new traction in 2020 after the release of the duet version with American artist FLETCHER. At the 2021 Eurovision, Italy won the contest with Måneskin’s rock track, Zitti e Buoni. With the victory at Eurovision, Måneskin propelled to fame with their singles Beggin’ and I Wanna Be Your Slave charting in several territories.

IV. Pity Party Floor-fillers

Due to constant lockdowns, curfews and social distancing guidelines, dancing with friends and family seems like a fantasy for most of us. While we wallow in our pity parties, certain artists have produced a number of hits that are worthy floor-fillers at any party. EDM legend Tiësto has resurfaced with numerous hits for his portfolio, proving that age is definitely never a barrier for those who can improvise and adapt to the times.

Jason Derulo has also made a much anticipated come back on the charts with several hits such as the global smash, Savage Love, sampled from Jawsh 685’s Siren Beat. Ava Max has been busy during the pandemic as she managed to release her debut studio album, Heaven & Hell in 2020. The Black Eyed Peas managed to impact the charts with their Spanglish 8^th studio album, Translation. This is the first time the Peas have made chart gain after the permanent departure of Fergie from the group to pursue her solo career.

Other notable tracks – Pussycat Dolls’ comeback single, React; Nathan Evans’ sea shanty turned viral TikTok sensation, Wellerman; Shakira’s sampling of Inner Circle’s Sweat in Me Gusta; Topic’s reworking of ATB’s 9PM as Your Love and Surf Mesa’s ILY, which samples Frank Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

V. Top Picks from the Covid-19 Era

The final 30 songs are those that you clearly should be aware of during these trying times. From the fan favorites like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Sam Smith and Katy Perry to the lesser known artists such as Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Pop Smoke and Ella Henderson, I have included genres for everyone. The final 10 songs I have listed are for anyone who is dealing with the pandemic directly, and to overcome such emotional trauma and to be resilient and courageous. These songs also express about kindness, about how to be calm and that it is okay not to be okay.

So I hope you enjoy this carefully curated quarantine playlist:

The Weeknd – Blinding lights
The Weeknd ft. Doja Cat – In your eyes
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande – Save your tears
Doja Cat – Say so
Doja Cat ft. SZA – Kiss me more
Dua Lipa – Don’t start now
Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby – Levitating
Dua Lipa – Break my heart
Kylie Minogue – Magic
Kylie Minogue – Say something
Years & Years with Elton John – It’s a sin
Elton John & Dua Lipa – Cold heart
Steps – Something in my eyes
Sophie Ellis-Bexter – Crying at the discotheque
Sophie Ellis-Bexter – Groovejet (If this ain’t love) 2020
Kygo & Donna Summer – Hot stuff
Victoria Monét, Khalid & SG Lewis – Experience
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande – Rain on me
Lady Gaga – 911
BTS – Dynamite

Attention!!!

The decade ended with some inspiring yet extremely love-gushing records that are bound to be deemed as classics in the years to come. In the ever expanding genres of the industry, all artists with the certain exceptions of rap and rock have had their attempt at the production of a love song. This compilation takes a closer look at those tunes of love of yesteryear which made us cherish our loved ones and reminisce the endearing memories we have shared with them.

1. Taylor Swift – Lover

It took Swift almost a decade to perfect another love song after Today was a Fairytale. However, this pop ballad is clearly the best love song of 2019 with perfect vocals and mushy lyrics. It is the title track off her latest album and is clearly the best production out of the record. It is one of those tunes that is gushing with love and is accompanied by a duet with Shawn Mendes as well as a First Dance Remix catered particularly for weddings. Her work was paid off as it received a Song of the Year nomination at the 2020 Grammys.

2. Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours

In one of Bieber’s latest ventures other than marriage, we see the superstar collaborate with country duo Dan + Shay for one of the sappiest tracks of the year. The ballad proved to be extremely commercially and critically successful and is accompanied by a music video featuring the wives of the three vocalists.

3. Backstreet Boys – No place

The third release off the critically acclaimed ninth studio album of BSB is a refreshing and light pop track with a focus on loved ones and family. The boy band makes the production even more wholesome with a music video featuring their respective families.

4. Zayn & Zhavia Ward – A whole new world

We are all familiar with this track where the original from Aladdin by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle won the coveted Best Original Song at the 1993 Academy Awards as well as the Song of the Year at the 1994 Grammys. This Middle Eastern reworked production was well received by critics where Zayn and Zhavia’s vocals complemented each other perfectly to coincide with the ambience of the remake.

5. AJ Mitchell ft. Ava Max – Slow dance

Two newcomers to the industry have attempted and succeeded in their endeavor to produce an awesome track with just the correct dose of romance. While Mitchell has not yet broke through into the mainstream, this collaboration is a clear stepping stone towards that direction.

6. Tom Walker – Just you and I

It is the rerelease of the full production of the track that was only available as an acoustic release in 2017. This slow love song was critically acclaimed and was one of the most successful singles in Europe of 2019. The record marks Walker’s second biggest hit in the mainstream.

7. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita

This sultry Latin pop duet marks the second time the duo has collaborated following I Know What You Did Last Summer in 2015. The record is the biggest hit in this compilation topping the charts in over 35 countries. The steamy track also sparked off a new found romance between Mendes and Cabello.

8. Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – I don’t care

This up tempo dancehall-influenced duet served as the lead single off Sheeran’s surprise studio album, No.6 Collaborations Project. This sprightly tune was one of the biggest hits last year and is accompanied by a less than appealing video where the two artists “have fun” in front of the green screen at the viewer’s expense.

9. Westlife – Hello my love

Of course Westlife’s much anticipated comeback must be a love song. The pop-EDM track was the lead single off the band’s eleventh album, Spectrum, which sees the beloved boy band do what they do best, sing about love.

10. Jonas Brothers – Sucker

Clearly there is a pattern for the comebacks of boy bands. Shedding their solo careers, the brothers ended their hiatus with their up tempo pop rock production. This edgy earworm dance anthem heralded the successful return of the Jonas Brothers which has led to a multiplatinum album and autobiography. The music video features the three alongside their significant others.

Till the next ballad...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - December, 2018

Attention!!!

Hip-Hop rules 2019 Grammy Awards Nominees

Kendrick Lamar and Drake lead the Grammy Awards nominees with the two receiving 8 and 7 nods respectively. Lamar’s All the Stars with SZA is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while the original soundtrack of the film, Black Panther wherein he is featured is nominated for Album of the Year. Drake’s God’s Plan is also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rap Song while his Scorpion in nominated for Album of the Year. Cardi B and Childish Gambino have also garnered 5 nominations each.

Musicals lead the 2019 Golden Globe Nominations

The Golden Globe nominations were announced last week with the musicals leading the way. A Star is Born has 5 nods including Best Picture, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Lady Gaga and Best Original Song for Shallow. Mary Poppins Returns has been nominated 4 times followed by Queen-biopic Bohemian Rhapsody with 2 nods. Shallow goes up against stiff competition like Black Panther’s All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar & SZA and Boy Erased’s Revelation by Troye Sivan.

Billboard releases its 2018 Year-End Lists

Billboard has released its most anticipated year-end lists for the US with Drake named as the Top Artist, Top Male Artist and claiming the biggest single of the year with God’s Plan. The biggest album of 2018 was Taylor Swift’s Reputation with her being named as Top Female Artist as well. Cardi B is the Top New Artist while Imagine Dragons topped the Artists – Duo/Group category and BTS was dubbed the Top Social Artist.

Final Judgment in ‘Blurred Lines’ Suit

US District Judge John Kronstadt delivered the final judgment in the Blurred Lines copyright lawsuit wherein Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and Williams’ publishing company, More Water From Nazareth Publishing Inc. was ordered to pay the Marvin Gaye estate over USD 4.9 million. The lawsuit which began in 2013 was filed by Gaye’s estate over copyright infringement of his 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. Gaye's family was also rewarded 50% of the song's future royalties.

Spotify Settles a USD 1.6 Billion Claim Over Songwriter’s Rights

Music streaming giant Spotify has settled a USD 1.6 billion claim over songwriter and publishing rights for an undisclosed amount. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by Wixen Music Publishing over the alleged use of more than 10,000 songs without a license or compensation. Wixen looks after compositions of many high profile artists including Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Rivers Cuomo and the late Tom Petty.

Ariana Grande breaks record with Thank U, Next video

Ariana Grande premiered the music video for her biggest hit to date, Thank U, Next, breaking the record for most-watched video in YouTube within 24 hours, achieving over 50.3 million views surpassing the views for BTS’ Idol. The video is inspired by iconic 2000s flicks Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Bring It On and 13 Going On 30.

Artists face backlash over imminent performances in Saudi Arabia

The Black Eyed Peas, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, OneRepublic and David Guetta are to headline the Saudi Ad Diriyah E-Prix, an auto racing series and multi-day music festival. The Human Rights Foundation has called for the cancellation of their performances due to the human rights violations by Saudi Arabia and its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mary Poppins Returns with new tracks

The sequel to Walt Disney’s beloved musical-fantasy film is coming to cinemas this December after a lapse of 54 years. The soundtrack featuring 27 songs out of which 9 are brand new was released last week. Songs are performed by Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke.

Brexit Poses Threat to UK’s Music Industry

The recently formed Music4EU initiative in an open letter warned of how Brexit represented a significant threat to UK’s music industry. The letter was signed by over 550 industry representatives including musicians such as Annie Lennox, Paloma Faith, Chrissie Hynde and Nick Mason. Post-Brexit, the UK artists will find it more expensive to reach consumers and fans, and international markets will be harder to access. Moreover they will be unable to benefit from EU’s proposed copyright reforms.

Cher Announces Memoir and Biopic

Cher announced on Twitter that she will be releasing a memoir in 2020 which would be followed by a biopic. Prior to this, Cher released a collection of essays titled The First Time covering major events of her life in 1998.

Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert

A tribute concert for the late superstar has been announced to be held on 13 January 2019 by the Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS titled Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul. Performing songs from Franklin’s repertoire are Grammy winners Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and BeBe Winans as well as current Grammy nominees Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, and SZA.

Shakira Charged With Tax Evasion

Colombian singer Shakira has been charged with tax evasion in Spain. The singer is alleged to have avoided Euros 14.5 million in tax by claiming she lived in the Bahamas, whereas she actually resided in Catalonia, Spain. It will be left to a judge now to decide if there is enough evidence for her to face trial.

Chris Brown Charged Over Exotic Pet Monkey

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has charged Chris Brown with two counts of owning a restricted species without a permit for his exotic pet capuchin monkey, Fiji. The maximum sentence for the offence is 6 months in jail. They had obtained a search warrant for his home, but he voluntarily agreed to hand over the monkey before his property was raided.

Chart News

In the US, Ariana Grande continued her reign into the month of December with Thank, U Next which was dethroned by Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode, but Grande returned with force and held on to the crown for the remainder of the month. During the month Meek Mill ft. Drake’s Going Bad and Andy Williams’ Christmas classic It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year entered the top 10.

In the UK, Grande continued her reign with Thank U, Next as well, although she missed out on the coveted Christmas No.1 which went to LadBaby’s comic version of Starship’s We Built this City. During the month Ava Max’s Sweet But Psycho, Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus’ Nothing Breaks like a Heart, Ariana Grande’s Imagine and the X Factor UK winner Dalton Harris coronation single, a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s The Power of Love featuring James Arthur, all entered the top 10 during the month.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. Cardi B – Money

2. Stephen Puth – Sexual vibe

3. Marc E. Bassy ft. G-Eazy – Love her too

4. Ariana Grande – Breathin’

5. Alan Walker ft. Sofia Carson, K-391 & CORSAK – Different world

6. Rita Ora – Falling to pieces

7. Bebe Rexha – Knees

8. Skylar Grey – Everything I need

9. Post Malone & Swae Lee – Sunflower

10. Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars & Kodak Black – Wake up in the sky

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Greatest Hits of 2018

Attention!!!

Whether it was God's plan or Drake's plan, we will never know. But the year belonged to Champagne Papi. Alongside Post Malone and Cardi B, Drake revamped the landscape of Rap, R&B and Hip-Hop. The genre grew in leaps and bounds under the guidance of the trio, particularly Cardi B, as she spearheaded the campaign of Rap and Hip-Hop into Pop, Latin Pop and even EDM. Fusion was indeed the order of the day, with mega collaborations being tested left, right and center.

Pop music which took a backseat in the first half of the year, returned with gusto with Ariana Grande leading the pack. EDM was also prominent throughout the year with memorable tracks produced by Marshmello, Zedd and Calvin Harris. However, it was quite conspicuous during the year that the newer artists have restrained themselves from adhering to a pure genre which is the reason for their vast popularity. Movie soundtracks also played a greater role in the charts this year with A Star is Born, Black Panther and The Greatest Showman experiencing monumental success.

Drake's global chart topper, God's Plan takes the crown in this year's list with Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa's mammoth hit One Kiss taking second place. In terms of genre, Hip-Hop and Pop is dominant in this compilation. Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Post Malone, Dua Lipa and Drake leads with 3 entries each followed by Marshmello, Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris, Camila Cabello, Halsey, Kendrick Lamar and Anne-Marie with 2 entries each. The list this year was compiled based on worldwide charts mainly considering the US and UK charts but also giving weight to the success achieved in the European markets as well as Canada and Oceania. So here are the top 50 songs of 2018:

Drake – God’s plan
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One kiss
Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
Cardi B, J Balvin & Bad Bunny – I like it
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – Girls like you
Drake – In my feelings
Ariana Grande – No tears left to cry
Post Malone – Better now
Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – Solo
Drake – Nice for what
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey – The middle
Marshmello & Anne-Marie – FRIENDS
Ariana Grande – thank u, next
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – Meant to be
Rudimental ft. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen – These days
Ed Sheeran – Perfect
Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid – Eastside
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – Rockstar
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All the stars
Camila Cabello – Never be the same
Taylor Swift – Delicate
Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – River
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse
5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood
Juice Wrld – Lucid dreams
Childish Gambino – This is America
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo & Chance the Rapper – No brainer
Calvin Harris & Sam Smith – Promises
XXXTentacion – Sad!
Lil Dicky ft. Chris Brown – Freaky Friday
George Ezra – Shotgun
Selena Gomez – Back to you
Travis Scott – Sicko mode
Halsey – Without me
Dua Lipa – IDGAF
The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for me
6ix9ine ft. Nicki Minaj & Murda Beatz – Fefe
Marshmello & Bastille – Happier
Ariana Grande – God is a woman
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – Say something
Anne-Marie – 2002
Dua Lipa – New rules
Tyga ft. Offset – Taste
Keala Settle – This is me
Khalid & Normani – Love lies
Panic! At the Disco – High hopes
Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack – Rise
Ella Mai – Boo’d up

Till the next ensemble...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - October, 2018

Attention!!!

This October, Taylor Swift broke the record for most AMAs won by a woman at the 2018 American Music Awards. After a brilliant performance of her unreleased I Did Something Bad from her album Reputation she took home Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year, Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock and Favorite Album – Pop/Rock for Reputation. Camila Cabello matched Swift’s count taking New Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock for Havana featuring Young Thug. Other great performances of the night included Cardi B, J Balvin & Bad Bunny with I Like It, Camila Cabello with Consequences and Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans with a tribute to Aretha Franklin. Some of the other significant wins were:

· Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock: Post Malone

· Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock: Migos

· Favorite Artist – Latin: Daddy Yankee

· Favorite Artist – EDM: Marshmello

· Favorite Social Artist: BTS

· Favorite Soundtrack: Black Panther

CNCO and Ozuna were the big winners at the 2018 Latin American Music Awards. CNCO took home Favorite Duo or Group, Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Album for CNCO while Ozuna was awarded the Album of the Year and Favorite Urban Album for Odisea and Favorite Urban Artist. Other major wins were:

· Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny

· New Artist of the Year: Sebastian Yatra

· Song of the Year: Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato - Échame La Culpa

· Favorite Male Artist: Daddy Yankee

· Favorite Female Artist: Becky G

· Favorite Video: Anitta: Medicina

· Icon Award: Daddy Yankee

· Extraordinary Evolution Award: Maluma

Martin Garrix took the No.1 spot at the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs for 2018. In the annual poll Garrix is followed by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Armin Van Buuren and David Guetta who complete the top 5. Avicii gets a posthumous ranking of No.15 as his fans made sure the beloved DJ was not forgotten.

In more EDM news, Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso have confirmed that Swedish House Mafia have reunited and will tour and release new music in 2019. The trio split during the peak of their success in 2012 after their smash hit Don’t You Worry Child, and have been releasing music as solo artists.

The year continues to witness the success of soundtrack albums, the latest is A Star is Born from the film of the same name starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The album has already topped numerous charts with critics praising the musical styles, lyrics and Gaga’s vocals. Country music icon Willie Nelson’s son Lukas Nelson and artists such as Mark Ronson and Julia Michaels also contributed to the album. The album’s lead single Shallow performed by Gaga and Cooper is also climbing the charts worldwide.

Michael Bublé fans were in for a shock as the artist in an apparent “final interview” told the Daily Mail that he will be retiring from music. Since his tenth studio album Love is due in November, it appeared that the record would be his last. The news was not a surprise, as the industry knew that Bublé’s son, Noah was in recovery from liver cancer which caused him severe emotional trauma. However, since then his representatives have dismissed the claims and clarified that Bublé is “absolutely not retiring”.

Following the release of their newest single Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj, Little Mix have announced that they have written a new song about the #MeToo anti-sexual harassment campaign. Moreover, they have announced that their fifth studio album titled LM5 will be out this November.

The Prince Estate has requested US President Donald Trump from playing the late rock star’s Purple Rain in his campaign rallies. Prince’s half-brother Omarr Baker has requested Trump and the White House to cease the use of the artist’s music immediately as no prior approval had been obtained.

Music lost two more legends from the industry in October. First Marty Balin, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Jefferson Airplane died at the age of 76 through unknown causes. Next, classic country singer Freddie Hart passed away at the age of 91 as result of pneumonia.

In chart news in the US, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B’s Girls Like You which ended the reign of Drake continued at its helm for the entirety of the month. During the month Lil Wayne’s Mona Lisa, Bad Bunny ft. Drake’s Mia, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s Shallow and Lil Baby & Gunna’s Drip Too Hard all entered the top 10.

In the UK, Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s Promises sustained its reign for the first two weeks of the month before being overthrown by Dave ft. Fredo’s Funky Friday. However, this was short lived as Promises regained its crown in the final week of the month. During the month Freya Ridings’ Lost Without You, Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj’s Woman Like Me, Rita Ora’s Let You Love Me and Jess Glynne’s All I Am all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. Eminem – Venom

2. DJ Snake ft. Cardi B, Ozuna & Selena Gomez – Taki taki

3. Sigala ft. Ella Eyre, Meghan Trainor & French Montana – Just got paid

4. Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella – Polaroid

5. Jason Derulo & David Guetta ft. Willy William & Nicki Minaj – Goodbye

6. Dean Lewis – Be alright

7. Avril Lavigne – Head above water

8. Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Most Underrated Songs of 2017

Attention!!!

Now that we have skimmed through the overrated hits of yesteryear, it is time to take a glance at those songs that were overlooked. Before moving on to the year-end compilations of 2018, we must finally recognize those undervalued records that were passed over for one reason or the other. Similar to the overrated hits, we have reduced the number of entries to make room for the explanations. However, here too we have the honorable entries.

It is quite interesting to note that most of the underrated songs on this list are by well-known mainstream artists unlike the compilation last year. Some of the reasons that these tracks did not receive the due recognition was that 2017 was a gargantuan year for pop with heavy weights such as Ed Sheeran maintaining chart dominance and a sudden wave of Spanglish remixes and rap overtaking the industry in the latter part of the year. Lana Del Rey ft. The Weeknd’s Lust for Life takes the crown, with DNCE ft. Nicki Minaj’s Kissing Strangers in second place. As far as genres are concerned, the entire list is pop with subgenres of electropop, dreampop, synthpop and dancepop in the mix. So here are the 15 most underrated songs of 2017:

1. Lana Del Rey ft. The Weeknd – Lust for life

As far as dreampop goes Del Rey always manages to deliver. Lust for Life sees her collaborating with The Weeknd and hit making producer Max Martin on the title track of the global chart topping album. The sultry production includes a creative music video and is a departure from the melancholic undertones of her other hits achieving the perfect duet. The failure of this song to achieve its chart potential may be Del Rey’s mistake in overlooking this track and releasing Love as the lead single.

2. DNCE ft. Nicki Minaj – Kissing strangers

It is absolutely bewildering how Cake by the Ocean was such a monumental hit and this being equally great failed to even chart. This fast paced dance pop track features Nicki Minaj who delivers a banger of a rap verse. While the charts did not acknowledge its worth, radio stations and dance floors worldwide recognized its value.

3. Lorde ft. Post Malone, Khalid & SZA – Homemade dynamite

It was extremely surprising to see that this did not receive the chart success it deserved considering the current chart darlings featured on the record. While the single version does not give out much oomph, the remix featuring the other trio really adds color to a somewhat somber anthem. This perfect collaboration fuses R&B with Synthpop and sees the individual artists complementing each other’s genres and presence on the track.

4. Taylor Swift – Call it what you want

Hailing from the much anticipated album Reputation, this soft pop ballad really outshines all the rest including the lead single Look What You Made Me Do, the edgy starter ….Ready For It? and the radio hit Delicate. However, Swift only released this as a promotional single. It’s a shame since we never even got the chance to witness whether it will have any potential on the charts.

5. Bruno Mars vs. David Guetta – Versace on the floor

Mars’ 24K Magic is not everyone’s kettle of fish as even his sweeping Grammy wins were heavily criticized by those who believed there were other nominees that deserved the wins over him. One thing for sure, out of the singles released from the album this definitely stands out. While the single is good, Guetta’s remix adds more flavour to the song, producing a dance anthem out of the otherwise very slow and laidback record.

6. Nick Jonas – Find you

This pop track featuring an acoustic guitar and an understated electronic beat is better than all of his previous singles combined. Released as the second single off his upcoming fourth studio album, the track was also performed at the American Music Awards last year. While live performances of such caliber usually boost sales and as a result chart movements, it is surprising how badly this single performed.

7. Ariana Grande ft. Future – Everyday

This electropop and trap record was the fourth single off her third studio album Dangerous Woman. Three hits preceded this track all different from the other. However, this was the edgiest out of all of them with an EDM banger of a chorus and a verse by Future. The reason due to its mediocre performance could be Grande’s continued presence in the charts and radio for over a year leading to fans getting a bit tired of Grande particularly with Side to Side which ruled airplay for quite a while. So this should have been ideally released as the second single after the title lead single.

8. Echosmith – Goodbye

Echosmith first entered the mainstream with their insecurity anthem Cool Kids. However, they have failed to garner any attention since then. Goodbye is a promotional single off their third EP Inside a Dream. It features a catchy guitar riff accompanied by memorable lyrics and a peppy beat. When the song was released accompanied by a music video preceding the album, the record was considered and ideally suited to be the lead single. However, Echosmith too committed the fatal mistake of passing this and selecting Over My Head as the lead single.

9. Niall Horan – Too much to ask

As far as music goes, Horan has far exceeded the expectations of all One Directioners. He turned out to be the most creative in his music surpassing Liam Payne with his mainstream fetish, Harry Styles with his glam rock feel, Zayn Mallik with his tripping sound and Louis Tomlinson with only his fan appeal. His single Too Much to Ask follows in the footsteps of his hit Slow Hands. While it received moderate chart success this slow pop ballad should have fared better.

10. Stargate ft. Pink & Sia – Waterfall

Stargate is a Norwegian production duo behind the biggest hits in the industry ranging from those of Beyonce, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Wiz Khalifa, Selena Gomez, Coldplay, Tinie Tempah and many more. So when they released a track of their own featuring the powerful vocals of Sia and Pink, it was predicted to be a chart success. But this proved to be wrong as the record failed to gain any ground even in their home state, only achieving moderate success in Australia.

Honorable mentions

11. David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne – Light my body up

12. Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson – Unpredictable

13. Gabrielle Aplin – Love so slow

14. Halsey ft. Lauren Jauregui – Strangers

15. Pixie Lott ft. Stylo G – Won’t forget you

Till the next chord...

At Ease!!!

Most Overrated Hits of 2017

Attention!!!

Two new compilations were added to the year-end lists last year, which I hope to continue. Giving more value and recognition than it deserves is the very definition which we will explore in this list, particularly in the music industry in the yesteryear. Unlike last year, I will give the justification for the songs being classified as overrated. This list takes a closer look where the music industry went wayward in 2017. For a year that was dominated by Pop the genre experienced its highest highs and the lowest lows. Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You takes the crown followed by Demi Lovato’s Sorry Not Sorry and Miley Cyrus’ Malibu. This list like the year itself is dominated by Pop with a few Rap entries. So here are the 10 most overrated hits of 2017 (there are 5 dishonorable mentions included as well):

1. Ed Sheeran – Shape of you

Some of you may wonder why I gave this unpalatable position to the reigning pauper prince of pop; but let me tell you why last year’s global numero uno tops this list. Shape of you may have a catchy tune, but dubious similarities between TLC’s 90s global smash No Scrubs led to Sheeran naming the producers/writers of No Scrubs as songwriters of the song. Moreover, no one can deny that the beat is also very similar to Sia’s Cheap Thrills, the dancehall hit which preceded Shape of You. Given Sheeran’s notorious past with alleged plagiarism with Matt Cardle’s Amazing for his hit Photograph, I’m not loving the shape of this song.

2. Demi Lovato – Sorry not sorry

An annoying peppy girl power anthem released during the summer with a chorus full of repetitive lyrics is bound to be a hit, especially when it is sung by a popular artist whose social media following is through the roof. This braggadocious track is Lovato’s most successful hit to date trumping the likes of Skyscraper and Cool for the Summer, which are some of her better work. Demi I’m sorry, not sorry for dissing this song.

3. Miley Cyrus – Malibu

Cyrus is a classic case of an early life crisis. After the tiresome perky Hannah Montana days Cyrus proved that she cannot be tamed nor stopped, as the twerking young star went gaga. Crossing over to the dark side, her music changed drastically alongside her persona and wardrobe. So, when she returned to the mainstream with Malibu four years after Wrecking Ball, we were all shocked that it was not shocking. The transition to the hillbilly roots of her father may be as a result of her relationship with Liam Hemsworth, who may have inspired the song. So we will have to leave her in Malibu with her mediocre music, as we won’t fall for another overrated hit from her.

4. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Quavo and Lil Wayne – I’m the one

When a DJ/producer cannot sing they recruit vocal powerhouses such as Sia, Nicki Minaj or Usher. But what happens when they opt for some of the most popular artists of the time. I’m the One is a result of a mammoth collaboration of the most popular Pop act (Bieber), the most critically acclaimed rapper (Chance), the most popular rapper (Quavo) and of course most hits on Billboard Hot 100 Wayne); even then what we received was a production of varying rap verses tied together loosely by Bieber’s chorus. Oh DJ Khaled! We don’t want another one.

5. Taylor Swift – Look what you made me do

What do you do, when you break up? Curl up into a ball and cry in bed. But Swift channels her emotion from a breakup into producing a global hit. With the hype surrounding her latest album Reputation, Swift targeted all the celebrities she had ‘bad blood’ with at the time. In addition, she made it seem like her sound had evolved from the previous peppy Pop to that of an edgier and darker version. However, this attempt failed abysmally as the electroclash adopted was a genre fiasco while the usual pettiness of her lyrics remained. I’m sorry but we need the old Taylor back.

6. Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – Chained to the rhythm

Katy Perry is not new to overrated hits. Her California Gurls, Firework and Teenage Dreams are mediocre Pop songs that have all topped the charts, following the anticipation of their release rather than their quality. This again is evident from the initial success of Chained to the Rhythm which featured the grandson of Bob Marley which was an unpleasant surprise. Due to the mediocrity of the lead single off her album Witness, the later singles suffered as Bon Apetit and Swish Swish failed to obtain any proper success although they were much better than Chained to the Rhythm.

7. Eminem ft. Beyoncé – Walk on water

Eminem’s last proper hit was The Monster back in 2013 with Rihanna. Thereafter, whatever success he experienced was average at best. So Marshall Mathers explored avenues for his comeback. Reverting to his old sound he recruited the major names in the industry at the time for his Revival album out of which Walk on Water was the lead single featuring Beyonce. Did it achieve hit status because of his much hyped up return or was it due to the biggest diva being featured? We will never know. Expectations were high on this one, but he failed to deliver.

8. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito

Don’t get me wrong, the original Latin sultry rendition of Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee is something to be praised, but this is about the Bieber Spanglish remix which launched the song into the mainstream. While the song deserves its due as a brilliant production, the hype of it is overrated as the phenomenon that unleashed Latin music into the mainstream is unbelievable. Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente De Zona and Descemer Bueno’s Bailando is a much better production and a better Latin dance song overall. However, Iglesias missed the top of the charts whereas Fonsi ruled the global charts for a while.

9. Zedd & Alessia Cara – Stay

This is yet another hit which was a result of an unsavory partnership. While I love Zedd’s and Cara’s music individually, this is a collaboration that should never have happened. While Cara’s vocals must be commended, the song itself is mediocre where the tempo and the beat are all off. Zedd’s follow up singles Get Low and Happy Now were much better than Stay while Cara has still been unable to produce a hit as great as her Here.

10. Kyle ft. Lil Yachty – iSpy

There is a Rap song every year that somehow becomes hyped up due to a catchy beat or lyrics and reaches the higher echelons of the global charts. Last year it was Desiigner’s Panda which went viral due to sampling Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo. This year Kyle managed to achieve this with an annoying beat, coupled with an even more irritating and nonsensical set of lyrics. Recruiting Lil Yachty who had a hit with Broccoli in 2016 also helped him gain chart mileage.

Dishonorable mentions:
11. Big Sean – Bounce back
12. Halsey – Now or never
13. Khalid – Location
14. Migos – T-shirt
15. Aminé – Caroline

Till the next chord...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - July, 2018

Attention!!!

The nominations for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards were announced with Cardi B leading the pack with a whopping 10 nods including Video, Song and Artist of the Year and The Carters (Beyonce & Jay-Z) with 8 nods. The Video of the Year nominations are:

Ariana Grande - No tears left to cry
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B - Finesse (Remix)
The Carters - APESHIT
Drake - God's plan
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug - Havana
Childish Gambino - This is America

The shortlist for this year's coveted Mercury Prize has been revealed which will be awarded in September. Among the known names are:

Lily Allen - No Shame
Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Jorja Smith - Lost & Found
Florence + The Machine - High as Hope

Forbes has released its list of 100 Highest Paid Celebrities and some of our favorite musicians are on it. Highest on list at No.6 is the Irish band U2 with a massive USD 118 Million followed by Coldplay at No.7 and Ed Sheeran No.9. In the top 20 we have Bruno Mars at No. 11 and Katy Perry at No.19. The others featured in the Top 50 are:

21 - Taylor Swift

25 - Jay-Z

27 - Guns N' Roses

32 - Sean Combs

35 - Beyonce

37 - Kendrick Lamar

39 - The Weeknd

41 - The Eagles

44 - Depeche Mode

45 - Pink/Luke Bryan

49 - Lady Gaga

50 - Calvin Harris

It appears that the X Factor UK panel for 2018 has been completely reformed with the exception of Simon Cowell. Robbie Williams, his wife Ayda Field and former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson replace Louise Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger for the newest season of this global reality show which seeks to find the next best superstar.

Rumours have it that Dua Lipa will in fact be recording the theme song for the next James Bond movie. In a massive slip up Years & Years member Mikey Goldsworthy said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, that Dua Lipa had been selected to sing the theme. Her appeal may be after she won British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Artist at the 2018 BRIT Awards coupled with her back to back hits with New Rules, IDGAF and One Kiss.

Former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams has checked into a mental health center for depression. It is a known fact that she has been struggling with mental health issues, particularly during the peak of Destiny's Child's fame and success where she admitted she even felt suicidal at times.

In chart news, in the US, Cardi B, J Balvin and Bad Bunny's I Like It opened the month at the top overthrowing XXXTentacion's Sad! which had peaked at the end of June following the latter's death. However, this was short-lived as Drake returned to the top with Nice for What which he replaced with In My Feelings which remained at its peak for the remainder of the month. Meanwhile, with Drake's newest album Scorpion out in July saw all of the singles from the album enter the Billboard Hot 100 including several into the top 10 such as Nonstop, Emotionless and I'm Upset.

Meanwhile, in the UK, George Ezra's Shortgun was the first No.1 of the month as it replaced Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato's Solo. It continued for two weeks at the top after which Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds' Three Lions roared to the top propelled by the United Kingdom reaching the semi finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was again overthrown next week by Drake's In My Feelings. During the month Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack's Rise, Ariana Grande's God is a Woman, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B's Girls Like You and XXXTentacion's Sad! entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

5 Seconds of Summer - Youngblood
Drake ft. Michael Jackson - Don't matter to me
Tiësto & Dzeko ft Preme & Post Malone - Jackie Chan
Cheat Codes & Little Mix - Only you
Kygo & Imagine Dragons - Born to be yours
Rudimental & Major Lazer ft. Anne-Marie & Mr.Eazi - Let me live
Jax Jones ft. Mabel & Rich the Kid - Ring ring

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Best Music Videos of 2017

Attention!!!

In this day and age music videos have now become part and parcel of the music industry. The official visual is preceded by an official lyric video which also garners certain attention, for instance, the global smash hit, Closer by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey had a lyric video which had billions of views and still receives more attention than the official video featuring the artists.

In 2017, the directors and the choreographers clearly went all out in terms of their concept and creativity surpassing the somewhat mediocre productions of yesteryear. Kendrick Lamar’s Humble. takes the top spot in this compilation which is critically acclaimed winning the Best Music Video at the Grammy Awards as well as the Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. At second place we have the visually pleasing Venus Fly by Grimes ft. Janelle Monae followed by the heavily choreographed New Rules by Dua Lipa. Kendrick Lamar has the highest number of entries with three followed by Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Pink, Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey and Fergie.

The compilation features a smorgasbord of genres ranging from Rap and Hip-Hop to EDM and Rock. Entries of significance consist of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito which is the world’s most watched music video and Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do which holds the record for the highest views during its first 24 hours of release. The list also features the video for Kesha’s return to the industry after her ongoing battle with producer Dr.Luke commenced and Logic’s single based on the suicide hotline in the US. An evident omission from the list is Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You which had an extremely vapid video, having no relation to the song whatsoever. So here are the 50 best music videos of the 2017: