It’s been a couple of years now since Kesha released her rather open, honest and clearly very healing 2017 album, Rainbow.
Now, 2019 sees the pop songstress release a downright catchy-as-hell new single, ‘Raising Hell’ (featuring Big Freedia), which also comes alongside the announcement of her next record, High Road.
This latest song sees Kesha return to a more fun-filled pop sound but with a fresh feel and something seriously uplifting about it! The brass-led breakdowns are funky and will get a crowd moving, whilst gospel-like moments really raise the spirit of the track. It’s definitely the kind of track you can keep on repeat.
It also arrives with a music video directed by Luke Gilford, where Kesha assumes the role of a big-haired, ’80s-style televangelist, preaching her own unique message and making the congregation speak in tongues…that is before things take a very dark turn! Well worth a watch (below)!
Her new album, High Road, comes out 10th January 2020, and is set to feature the likes of Sturgill Simpson, Brian Wilson, Dan Reynolds (of Imagine Dragons) and Nate Ruess (of fun.) – personally, I can’t wait!!!
What are your thoughts of this pop songstress’ new track? Are you as much of a fan as us? Do you have a #FeelGoodFriday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.
On Monday 19th February 2018, Erasure arrived in Brighton, on their World Be Gone Tour, performing at Brighton Dome. The duo were supported by Welshman, Rod Thomas‘ moniker, Bright Light Bright Light – it was an incredible show!
Bright Light Bright Light
Rod Thomas and his band mates took to the stage and put on a fantastic show, performing his own unique brand of electro-pop – it’s a combination of contemporary pop music, with an 80s tint to it; clearly inspired by bands such as Scissor Sisters and Erasure themselves. The use of modern technology produced a really full sound to the performance and filled the concert hall. The songs were well written, but there were a couple of songs that I felt blended into one. Undoubtedly Bright Light Bright Light has a big following and has worked with some incredible people but I was looking for a couple of stand-out tracks that I wanted to come home and listen to, which unfortunately I didn’t really find.
Highlight: The incredible harmonies Rod performed with himself (using his pads) as well as the brilliantly vibrant suit he wore.
Erasure
Erasure were incredible! Having been in the public eye since the 80s, this duo are clearly professionals at what they do, but it seems to come so naturally to them; Vince Clarke, although almost a silent partner when it comes to fronting the duo, clearly puts a lot of effort into his performance and production of the backing tracks, whilst Andy Bell is the camp, extroverted individual, fronting the outfit. Somehow though, it just works – whilst they might appear to be polar opposites of stage personality, I loved it…and so did the audience!
The pair were accompanied by two sensational backing singers who produced some incredible vocal harmonies alongside Andy and altogether, they performed a string of hit after hit.
The stage lighting was excellent and felt a bit like a club and the different combinations of light movements and colours helped add some visual diversity to the set. Andy‘s gradual removal of his clothes, down to his catsuit was very funny and lead to screams and cheers throughout the building.
Naturally, performances of songs like ‘Chains of Love’, ‘Phantom Bride’, ‘Sometimes’ and of course, ‘A Little Respect’, brought the house down, but they made sure to not only pack out their setlist but fill it with a wide range of career-spanning tracks to ensure there was something for everyone.
I can’t recommend seeing Erasure highly enough – whether you know just a track or two, or their whole back catalogue, they do not disappoint. You are guaranteed to have a fun-filled evening of dancing, singing and laughing.
Highlights:
Andy Bell‘s sassy, between-song banter, was on point! He knew his audience and was hilarious from start to finish.
The sheer tightness of their performance just highlighted how professional this duo are.
The vocal harmonies between Andy Bell and his backing singers was marvellous.
The string of hits they performed has the audience singing and dancing throughout the show.
Andy Bell‘s gradual removal of his clothing, down to his catsuit, was hilarious – it certainly made a statement.
Lastly, the set design was pretty cool too – the lighting was amazing and I particularly loved that Vince Clarke was able to do his thing from an elevated platform throughout the set.
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Setlist
Oh L’Amour
Ship Of Fools
Breathe
Mad As We Are
Just A Little Love
In My Arms
Chains Of Love
Sacred
Sweet Summer Loving
I Love Saturday
Victim Of Love
Phantom Bride
World Be Gone
Who Needs Love Like That
Take Me Out Of Myself
Blue Savannah
Atomic (Blondie Cover)
Drama!
Stop!
Love You To The Sky
Always
Here I Go Impossible Again
Sometimes*
Encore A Little Respect*
* These songs can be viewed in the YouTube playlist, below.
Finally, I want to say an absolutely HUGE thanks to Thom Williams for setting up this review and to both Erasure and Bright Light Bright Light for their incredible performances. Oh…and Alan Carr for taking the time to have a couple of selfies with me!
It’s been a decade since Darren Hayes released the first single from his third album (This Delicate Thing We’ve Made), ‘On The Verge Of Something Wonderful’.
It is a truly captivating song with some fantastic trademark highs in Hayes’ voice – it’s a powerful and emotive track that really stood apart from the rest of mainstream music at that time, by reigniting the 80s sound. The track (and in fact the rest of the album) was recorded with the help of a 1983 Fairlight CMI synthesizer.
It reached Number 20 in the UK charts and not only did the song have a very 80s feel to it but so did the video. The music video contains a cameo appearance by Janice Dickinson and features Darren singing in front of a series of animated backdrops – it is reminiscent of the Max Headroom TV series, certain scenes from the film Electric Dreams and the graphics of some Atari brochures from the early 80s.
Do you have some great memories of this track? Have you got a #ThrowbackThursday track to recommend us? Please leave your thoughts or song suggestions in a comment or via social media.
After the tragic loss of Pete Burns earlier this week, it seems only fitting that this week’s #ThrowbackThursday is Dead Or Alive‘s ‘You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)’.
The song was released back in 1984 and was later featured on their 1985 album Youthquake. The track reached Number 1 in the UK charts after 17 weeks of climbing and it has been re-released a handful of times since then; most recently in 2006 when it reached Number 5 again. It was also the first Number 1 hit to be produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (Mike Stock, Matt Aitken & Pete Waterman) production trio.
The song is iconic of the 80s era and it’s easy to see why – it was part of the birth of synthpop – some of the music we have today wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for 80s synthpop tracks like this!
Whatever you may have thought of Pete Burns and his band, it can’t be denied that this is an iconic song! What is your favourite Dead Or Alive song? Please let us know your #ThrowbackThursday song choice in a comment below or via our social media…remember to use the hashtag and our social media handle.
Released back in 1981, ‘Stand and Deliver’ reached Number 1 in the UK charts, with its glam punk, new wave sound.
The video was iconic and pictured Adam Ant and the band dressed in highwayman gear – the style of the band, certainly helped promote the band’s popularity and made them stand out from the rest.
Adam & The Ants – ‘Stand And Deliver’
Following the success of their previous single, Adam and the Ants released the title-track from their third album, and scored their second UK Number 1 in a row.
Still in the same glam punk style and genre, Adam Ant made a reappearance as the highwayman in the video, however dressed early-on, as a male Cinderella. Not quite as catchy as ‘Stand and Deliver’ but still packs a punch.
Adam & The Ants – ‘Prince Charming’
It was in 1982 that Adam Ant broke away from his band and released his first, incredible, solo single, ‘Goody Two Shoes’.
The single also rocketed to Number 1 in the UK charts and scored him, his third Number 1 in the space of a year.
The video breaks away from some of the highwayman imager, however still maintains the fantastic glam punk style and this song is catchy as hell! I defy anyone not to adore this incredible song!
Adam Ant – ‘Goody Two Shoes’
What do you think of Adam Ant? Were you a fan back in the day? Have I just introduced you to his work; what are your thoughts? I can’t get enough of these tracks right now, so please share this link on your social media accounts.
Muzik Speaks 