Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - White Walls - Official Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

     Play Song    
"White Walls"
(feat. Schoolboy Q & Hollis)

I wanna be free, I wanna just live
Inside my Cadillac, that is my shit
Now throw it up (now throw that up)
That’s what it is (that’s what it is)
In my C A D I L L A C bitch (bitch)

Can’t see me through my tints (nah ah)
I’m riding real slow (slow motion)
In my paint wet dripping shining like my 24’s (umbrella)
I don't got 24’s (nah ah)
But I’m on those Vogues
That’s those big white walls,
R-r-round them hundred spokes
Old school like old English in that brown paper bag
I’m rolling in that same whip that my granddad had
Hello, haters, damn y’all mad
30k on the Caddy, now how backpack rap is that?

I got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaned back, taking my time
I’m rollin' out, roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright

Man I’m lounging in some shit Bernie Mac would’ve been proud of
Looking down from heaven like damn that’s stylish
Smilin’, don’t pay attention to the mileage
Can I hit the freeway? Illegally going a hundred and twenty
Easy weaving in and out of the traffic
They cannot catch me, I’m smashing
I’m ducking bucking them out here
I’m looking fucking fantastic, I am up in a classic
Now I know what it’s like under the city lights
Riding into the night, driving over the bridge
The same one we walked across as kids
Knew I’d have a whip but never one like this
Old school, old school, Candy paint, two seater
Yea, I’m from Seattle, there’s hella Honda Civics
I couldn’t tell you about paint either
But I really wanted a Caddy so I put in the hours
And roll on over to the dealer
And I found the car, junior, there's a bargain with this geezer
Got the keys in and as I was leaving I started screaming

I got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaned back, taking my time
I’m rollin' out, roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright

Backwoods and dope
White hoes in the backseat snorting coke
She doing line after line like she’s writing rhymes
I had it hella my love, tryna blow her mind
Cadillac pimpin’, my uncle was on
14 I stole his keys
Me and my niggas was gone
Stealin' portions of his liquor, water in his Patron
Drivin' smiling like I won a fucking lottery homes (fuckin' lottery homes)
Tires with the spokes on it and the Vogues, too
Mustard and mayonnaise, keeping the buns
All of my dogs hanging out the window
Young as whoosh, fucking like we ball
Tryna fuck em all, kill the fucking whip
See what’s poppin’ at the mall, meet a bad bitch
Slap her booty with my palms
You can smoke the pussy, I was tearing down the walls
I’m motherfuckin’ awe...some

Swear these eyes tryna hypnotize
Grip the leather steering wheel while I grip the thighs
See the lust stuck up in her eyes
Maybe she like the ride or did she like the smoke?
Or does she want it low?
This shit a Coupe de Ville so you’ll never know
So we cruise for a minute, my nigga fuck the limit
Got a window tinted for showing gangsta in it
Slice when the gas is finished, Q

Off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaned back, taking my time
I’m rollin' out, roof off, letting in sky
I shine, the city never looked so bright

Got that off-black Cadillac, midnight drive
Got that gas pedal, leaned back, taking my time
I’m rollin' out, roof off, letting in sky

Review

Given that Macklemore made a name (and a fortune) for himself by choosing quirky Thrift Shop clothes over designer brands, you’d expect the Seattle representative to make a similarly classic, economical selection when shopping for a whip. Well, one out of two ain’t bad. The latest single off his and Ryan Lewis‘s hit collaborative album finds the rapper rolling down the city streets in an old-school Caddy with White Walls. Though the mileage ain’t nothing to write home about, as he admits over his partner’s brass-led boardwork, the vehicle’s retro stylings simply can’t be beat. Black Hippy member ScHoolboy Q delivers a debauched guest verse on the back, and Emerald City singer Hollis contributes a catchy hook. In keeping with his instrumental’s slight Ennio Morricone vibe, Lewis draws from Spaghetti Western iconography in the official visuals. For White Walls and much more, cop Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s The Heist LP, available now wherever fine music is sold.

YG Featuring Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan (explicit) Video, Lyrics and review

Lyrics

I said that I’ma ride for my motherfucking niggas,
Most likely I’ma die with my finger on the trigger
I've been grinding outside, all day with my niggas
And I ain’t going in, unless I'm with my nigga
My nigga, my nigga
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas!)
My nigga, my nigga (My nigga, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga

First thing first, I love all of my niggas
This rap shit crack, then I involve my niggas
You looking for some lean, let me call my nigga
He sell it for the high, I need all my niggas
Some nigga smoke, smoke, some nigga drink, drink
Got niggas on the block with the glock they don't think
That’s a nigga back up, they in the bucket lapped up
I got that act right if you niggas wanna act up
He talking like a snitch, no that ain’t my nigga
He tripping off a bitch, no, that ain’t my nigga
Take a nigga case, shit, that’s my nigga
Know him since I was 8, yeah, that’s my nigga
Fucked my first bitch passed her to my nigga
Hit my first lick pass with my nigga
Fuck them other niggas ‘cause I’m down for my niggas
I ride for my niggas, fuck them other niggas

I said that I’ma ride for my motherfucking niggas,
Most likely I’ma die with my finger on the trigger
I've been grinding outside, all day with my niggas
And I ain’t going in, unless I'm with my nigga
My nigga, my nigga (dope boys, my niggas)
My nigga, my nigga (YG, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga (Rich Homie, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga (It's the motherfucking world)

You know I'm down with the niggas down for me
I got two words for you, love and loyalty
It’s me and my nigga tripping on a half of bean
We used to hit up wall and buy everything we see
Me and my down ass nigga getting twisted
Nigga get to tripping knock the gravy, out your biscuit
Jay know I fuck with you the long way, my nigga
So when I see you out I’m like hey, my nigga
Tried to act right, buy the case my niggas
Drink the act right and get straight with my niggas
Me and my nigga riding dirty, tryna chase them figures
Who got the yola? who got the yola? Don’t matter, go figure

I said that I’ma ride for my motherfucking niggas,
Most likely I’ma die with my finger on the trigger
I've been grinding outside, all day with my niggas
And I ain’t going in, unless I'm with my nigga
My nigga, my nigga
My nigga, my nigga (YG, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga (Rich Homie, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga (My nigga, my nigga)

My nigga sell cake, my nigga got weight
My nigga fronted me, he the reason I'm straight
My nigga got a house, my nigga got a lake
My nigga we eating, my nigga get a plate
And I'm still hittin' licks, my nigga, my nigga
Knock a nigga shit, my nigga, my nigga
I fuck a nigga bitch with my nigga, my nigga
If a nigga talking shit then he ain’t my nigga
My nigga, my nigga
YG my nigga and I ain’t going in they
Tryna leave my nigga, shawty see me and wanna leave with a nigga
But it wasn't enough room ‘cause I came with my niggas
My niggas, my niggas, I need to settle in ‘cause I’m too fly, nigga
And I’m all about my business like a suit and tie, nigga
I'll ride for my niggas believe that

I said that I’ma ride for my motherfucking niggas,
Most likely I’ma die with my finger on the trigger
I been grinding outside, all day with my niggas
And I ain’t going in, unless I'm with my nigga
My nigga, my nigga
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas)
My nigga, my nigga (My nigga, my nigga)
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas)
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas)
My nigga, my nigga
My nigga, my nigga
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas)
My nigga, my nigga (My motherfucking niggas) 

Review

"My Nigga" (edited version titled as "My Hitta") is a song by American hip hop recording artist YG, released on September 17, 2013 as the lead single from his debut studio album My Krazy Life (2014). The song, produced by frequent collaborator DJ Mustard, features guest appearances from CTE World founder Young Jeezy, and Rich Homie Quan. The song has since peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1,000,000 copies.

Adore You - Miley Cyrus Video, Lyrics and Review

Lyrics

"Adore You"

Oh, hey, oh

Baby, baby, are you listening?
Wondering where you've been all my life
I just started living
Oh, baby, are you listening?

When you say you love me
Know I love you more
And when you say you need me
Know I need you more
Boy, I adore you, I adore you

Baby, can you hear me?
When I'm crying out for you
I'm scared oh, so scared
But when you're near me
I feel like I'm standing with an army
Of men armed with weapons, hey, oh

When you say you love me
Know I love you more
And when you say you need me
Know I need you more
Boy, I adore you, I adore you

I love lying next to you
I could do this for eternity
You and me—we're meant to be
In holy matrimony
God knew exactly what he was doing
When he led me to you

When you say you love me
Know I love you more (I love you more)
And when you say you need me
Know I need you more
Boy, I adore you, I adore you

When you say you love me
Know I love you more
And when you say you need me
Know I need you more
Boy, I adore you, I adore you

Review



Miley Cyrus' racy new clip for "Adore You" leaked online yesterday, one day early of its scheduled release. The pop star shrugged it off. "We all know Smilers would break another record if it wasn't for the fuck face who leaked my video," the pop star tweeted of the Bangerz single. "Alllllll good! Keep smiling :)"

The suggestive clip finds Cyrus singing her devotional ballad while writhing beneath the covers, clad in just skin-colored undergarments as she simulates masturbation. The scene eventually switches to a bath and her outfit to skimpy black lace.

The video caps off a massive year for Cyrus, whose new record Bangerz – and all the nude, twerk-filled, cat-assisted and ganja-indulging antics accompanying it – solidified her spot as a new, unstoppable pop force. "I said I was going to take a year off before I made this record," Cyrus told Rolling Stone earlier this year. "But it's hard to take a break. It's almost depressing when you're not working. You're so used to people calling your name, and that energy, and when you don't have it anymore. . ."

Cyrus will help ring in 2014 when she appears and performs in Times Square on December 31st for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. (Other performers include Blondie and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.) She will also keep up that momentum when she hits the road behind Bangerz next year; the 38-date arena tour kicks off February 14th in Vancouver and will feature opening acts Icona Pop and Sky Ferreira.

Let It Go - Idina Menzel Video, Lyrics and Review

Lyrics

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I’m the Queen.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well, now they know

Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door

I don’t care
What they’re going to say
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can’t get to me at all

It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I’m free

Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You’ll never see me cry

Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I’m never going back,
The past is in the past

Let it go, let it go
When I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone

Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway

Review

The soundtrack for Disney's Oscar frontrunner "Frozen" continues to climb the Billboard 200 chart, currently at number eight. On iTunes, "Frozen" is the number one most-downloaded soundtrack album in the US, France, UK, Germany, Finland and Australia, among many other countries. Meanwhile, the film is still holding strong at the box office, with domestic grosses at $250 million. Stream the soundtrack on Spotify here.

EARLIER: Disney has released a clip from the centerpiece of "Frozen": Idina Menzel's Queen Elsa -- aka the Snow Queen -- singing "Let It Go," as she learns to accept her chilly nature. Watch below, along with the full-length audio of the song and a humorous clip in which Kristen Bell's Anna makes her way into a department store tavern of sorts, looking for winter boots -- and also news of the Snow Queen. As it turns out, the shop's having a "big summer blowout."

Disney's return to the princess musical is the Oscar frontrunner and so is this song, belted by theater veteran Menzel, who as you may recall, played the Wicked Witch in "Wicked." There's also an element of that angry, sad, powerful, lonely sorceress out of control in this role of a princess isolated by her magical abilities to freeze the world around her. She sings this song after she flees to the mountains and, free to unleash her powers, builds a magnificent ice palace.

Show Me by Kid Ink Featuring Chris Brown Video, Lyrics and Review

Lyrics

[Intro: Chris Brown]
Babyyyy
Yeah
Mustard on the beat ho

[Bridge 1: Chris Brown]
Baby let me put your panties to the side (uh)
I'mma make you feel alright (right, right)
‘Cause I'mma give you what you need, yeah
Mami you remind me of something (uh)
But I don’t know what it is (I don't know)
Cause you remind me of something (uh)
Girl you gotta show me (alright)
You remind me of something (uh)
But I don’t know what it is right now (I don't know)
You remind me of something (uh)
Girl you gotta show me

[Verse 1: Kid Ink]
Uh, on the real no lie
I don’t know what it is but you just my type (yeah)
Everything just right (right), B said put it to the left
Don’t listen to the hype though (whoo)
Got a cup in your hand (hand)
Baby sitting but you ain’t got no kids
We ain’t leaving ’til there ain’t no more left (yeah)
Can’t see no time on the Rolex (no)
I could tell you a freak, go show it
Looking for the after party, where to go at? (whoo)
Go on the floor like a doormat (uh)
Baby you know where to throw that
I said...

[Hook: Chris Brown]
Mami you remind me of something (baby you remind me) (uh)
But I don’t know what it is (I don't know)
Cause you remind me of something (uh)
Girl you gotta show me, yeah (alright)
You remind me of something (uh)
But I don't know what it is right now (I don't know)
Cause you remind me of something (uh)
Girl you gotta show me
[Bridge 2: Chris Brown & Kid Ink]
Baby if you know what it is
On a real, can’t lie, man you just my type
Hands in the air looking for a bitch right now
On a real, can’t lie, man you just my type

[Verse 2: Kid Ink]
Uh, so tell me what your name is
I don’t really care who you came with (no)
Unless you got a couple friends look like you
My bad if my ex try to fight you
Roll up soon as I roll in
Security better get with the program
Too deep, ain't know where to stand
So high, ain’t nowhere to land
You remind me of something missing
Misses, you got my full attention
Listen, let go of the tension
If I get a minute, I’ll put your bad ass in detention

[Bridge 1]

[Bridge 2]

[Break: Chris Brown]
Oh baby show me, show me something
Tomorrow I might be hungover, but that don't mean nothing
You see all night long, I've been wrong
Baby show me something
She gon' let me do it

Review

Kid Ink is a new emerging rapper in the music industry and his new song Show Me with Chris Brown is one infectious track. Typically speaking, it is all what Rnb/Hip-Hop lovers want, a track that has a chorus that is bound to be stuck in your head and doof doof beats that could go miles away when heard playing loudly from your car subwoofers. What makes Show Me so bad ass is the way Kid Ink just chimes his way through the track without interrupting the soulful vocals of Chris Brown. This what makes the dynamic duo complement each other, making the track such a people pleaser for anyone that just wants to get the party started.

KidInkShowMeI’m sure DJ Mustard had a lot of fun producing Show Me and what I’ve found interesting about music in general is the fact that being simple and creative can take you to places, no matter what genre it is. It’s clear from the beginning that Chris Brown and Kid Ink work well with one another and with the simplicity of Chris Brown’s hooks and Kid Ink’s rapping, they both create this vibrant RnB vibe throughout the song which makes it enjoyable and easy to listen to. Instantly, it grasps your attention and once it does exactly that, you’re hooked. The track hypnotises you and puts you into this little trance where you naturally bop your head wishing that you could be in a room full of strangers, soaking up the heat of everyone else’s bodies and inhale whatever’s left of your innocence. For one night only, you can completely free yourself from all boundaries and feel like you have the authority of doing whatever you want.

Show Me  has a way of turning heads with its fiery and sophisticated beat. However, this track was typically made for the radio and let’s just say you’d probably skip to the next station if you hear this track more than three times a day. You’re better off reserving it for a special night where people are just keen to party and Show Me just hits the spot

Wake Me Up! Avicii Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

Didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know (didn't know, didn't know) 

Review

Genre boundaries in popular music are made to be breached. With this single, Swedish dance music master Avicii, the man behind the worldwide smash "Levels," swings a wrecking ball against electronic dance music borders. His new single "Wake Me Up" would work equally well in a contemporary dance club and as the soundtrack for country line dancing. R&B singer Aloe Blacc adds yet another genre busting dimension to the song.
 
Pros

    Fearless smashing of genre boundaries
    Aloe Blacc's soulful vocals
    Powerfully catchy sound

Cons

    No major negatives

Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up Video, Lyrics and Review

Lyrics

[Hook]
Girl you can tell everybody
Yeah you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody
I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man

[Post-Hook]
Yes I am yes I am yes I am
I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man

[Verse 1]
I believe every lie that I ever told
Paid for every heart that I ever stole
I played my cards and I didn't fold
Well it ain't that hard when you got soul
(This is my world)
Somewhere I heard that life is a test
I been through the worst but still I give my best
God made my mold different from the rest
Then he broke that mold so I know I’m blessed
(This is my world)

[Pre-Hook]
Stand up now and face the sun
Won’t hide my tail or turn and run
It’s time to do what must be done
Be a king when kingdom comes

[Hook x2] + [Post-Hook]

[Verse 2]
I got all the answers to your questions
I’ll be the teacher you could be the lesson
I’ll be the preacher you be the confession
I’ll be the quick relief to all your stressing
(This is my world)
It’s a thin line between love and hate
Is you really real or is you really fake
I’m a solider standing on my feet
No surrender and I won’t retreat
(This is my world)

[Pre-Hook] + [Hook x2] + [Post-Hook]

[Bridge]
I’m the man
Go ahead and tell everybody what I’m saying y’all
I’m the man
Go ahead and tell everybody what I’m saying y’all

[Hook x4] + [Post-Hook]

Review

Aloe Blacc is best known for his hit song “I Need A Dollar,” his last album, Good Things, was released in 2010. Good Things featured some strong songs and revealed Aloe Blacc as a funky, soulful singer that has an ability to write impactful lyrics, a gem to this generation of music. Aloe Blacc’s latest release was motivated by the success of DJ Avicci’s single “Wake Me Up!” which featured uncredited vocals from Aloe Blacc. Wake Me Up-EP is not the full-length album fans were hoping for, but the EP’s five songs pack quite a punch. The lyrics and themes on the EP are creative and meaningful; the production is stellar and at times almost steals the show from Blacc’s lyrics. Wake Me Up-EP was released in October but has not been charting well till recently. The strongest tracks on the EP are “The Man” and “Wake Me Up,” these songs set a tone that the rest of the tracks fail to match. The EP’s commercial success is going to be driven by its leading tracks, and while the proceeding tracks don’t surpass the initial two they should not be ignored.

The EP opens with “The Man,” a confident track that builds with a snare beat leading into a chorus featuring a dynamic blend of horns and string instruments. “The Man” also features a gospel choir breakdown, which adds impact to this powerful opening track.

The follow-up track to “The Man,” an acoustic version of “Wake Me Up,” is equally impactful yet ditches the dense instrumentation of the first track allowing for Blacc’s vocals and lyrics to shine. “ Wake Me Up” features the albums strongest lyrics and themes. The song is about a young person facing the uncertainty of the future, fighting the opposition from older generations who “tell me I’m too young to understand.” The vulnerability of “Wake Me Up” is an interesting juxtaposition to the confidence and swagger displayed in “The Man.” The acoustic setup complements the nature of the song allowing for the lyrics to sink in.

The next two tracks pick up the pace of the EP. “Love Is The Answer” is a song about the power of love in our lives; Blacc claims that love is “the only thing we truly need” a theme that has been used in countless songs, most notably The Beatles “All You Need Is Love.” The track is catchy and soulful, but not as engaging as the first two tracks. “Can You Do This” is the EP’s most upbeat song featuring a simple, yet catchy rhythm, that sounds like it’s lifted out of a different generation of music.

The EP comes to a close with “Ticking Bomb,” a very slow song with an ominous beat that chills the listener. Considering the strength and immediate impact of the other songs “Ticking Bomb” initially seems forgettable, however after a few listens you realize the ominous drum beat, and haunting vocals, will leave a definite impression on you.

Aloe Blacc shows his musical maturity, variety, and direction on Wake Me Up-EP. Blacc created an engaging listen that rivals most full-length albums. However Wake Me Up-EP is merely a preview of Blacc’s upcoming album Lift Your Spirit. Wake Me Up-EP has done a terrific job of raising interest for the upcoming album, however one can only hope that the albums best material was not already revealed on Wake Me Up-EP and that Blacc saved some tricks for Lift Your Spirit.

Demons by Imagine Dragons Video, Lyrics and Review

Lyrics

When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale

I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

At the curtain’s call
It's the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl

So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you've made

Don't wanna let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don't wanna hide the truth

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go

Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide 

Review

Dragons taking down demons? That might sound like the setup for some sort of strange fantasy role-playing game. But in this case, the metaphorical spirits in question are haunting a man's heart in much more realistic ways.

"Demons" is the third big hit from alt-rock act Imagine Dragons, and the second consecutive song from the band's 2012 debut Night Visions to crack the Top 10 on Billboard's mainstream singles charts (a feat precious few rock acts these days are accomplishing). Perhaps that's because these guys from Las Vegas have a knack for pairing soaring, singable melodies with emotional, relatable themes.

The song focuses on a man's longing to provide shelter for his beloved from the harsh world. "When the days are cold," it begins, "And the cards all fold/ … When your dreams all fall/ … I wanna shelter you." But there's a problem: Something similarly dark lurks even in the shelter he hopes to provide, a reality he'd rather avoid but can't escape. "I wanna hide the truth," he admits, "But with the beast inside/There's nowhere we can hide."

We never learn for sure exactly what this beast is. But it's safe to say that his "demons" feed on his weaknesses and failings, of which he is painfully aware ("No matter what we breed/We still are made of greed"). Then, in the chorus: "When you feel my heat/Look into my eyes/It's where my demons hide."

Frontman Dan Reynolds offers counsel with regard to that sobering reality. First, he advises the woman he loves to be careful, to keep her distance ("Don't get to close/It's dark inside/ … Don't wanna let you down/But I am hell-bound"). Maybe that's why he ponders pulling out of the relationship altogether in an effort to spare his beloved from that spiritual blackness: "It's woven in my soul/I need to let you go/Your eyes they shine so bright/I wanna save that light."

But instead of letting his demons drive him away, the man turns once more toward this woman and suggests tentatively, "I can't escape this now/Unless you show me how." So instead of fleeing into further isolation and darkness, there's an important—and redemptive—recognition that the only way to confront our deepest failings and flaws is do so hand-in-hand with the ones we love the most, trusting that somehow their influence and positive presence in our lives might point us away from an infernal fate and toward one that saves us.

The song doesn't detail what that salvation actually is or looks like. All we can infer is that it's not something we're capable of finding inside of ourselves. (Because in there be dragons!)

The song's video reinforces the idea that we all face hidden hurts, struggles that perhaps no one else even knows exist. Self-image. Loss. Tragedy. Hardship. It concludes with the tag, "In memory of Tyler Robinson (1995-2013)/Who inspired us with his courage as he battled cancer." And then the band's encouragement to donate to Tyler's foundation, which helps other children battling cancer, puts a poignant punctuation mark on this ultimately light-filled song about the darkness of demons.

Burn by Ellie Goulding Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

We, we don't have to worry 'bout nothing
'Cause we got the fire, and we're burning one hell of a something
They, they gonna see us from outer space, outer space
Light it up, like we're the stars of the human race, human race

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire

And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn

We don't wanna leave, no. We just wanna be right now (right), r-r-right now
And what we see is everybody's on the floor acting crazy, getting loco 'til the lights out
Music's on, I'm waking up, we fight the fire, then we burn it up
And it's over now, we got the love, there's no sleeping now, no sleeping now, no sleeping

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire

And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world

We gonna let it burn burn burn burn (burn burn)
Burn burn burn burn (burn burn)

We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out
We can light it up, up, up
So they can't put it out, out, out

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire

And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn
We gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard
Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world
We'll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire
Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire

And we gonna let it burn

Review

While Ellie Goulding's second album Halcyon enchanted us with its haunting tales of heartbreak, it seems its upcoming repackage will strike more of an equilibrium. If trailer cut 'Burn' is anything to go by, the singer is set to inject some uptempo moments into the largely melancholic collection, as she presents what is most likely to go down as one of her more radio-friendly singles to date.

"They're gonna see us from outer space/ Light it up, like we're the stars of the human race," she declares, before diving into a synth-stuttering chorus that quickly invades the mind and remains tough to shake away. Originally intended for Leona Lewis, Goulding's voice also glides above the dream-pop glow to ear-pleasing effect - and we for one have been left gripped for what's left to come.

Drunk In Love Beyonce Featuring Jay Z Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

[Intro: Beyoncé]
I've been drinking, I've been drinking
I get filthy when that liquor get into me
I've been thinking, I've been thinking
Why can't I keep my fingers off it, baby?
I want you, na na
Why can't I keep my fingers off it, baby?
I want you, na na

[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
Cigars on ice, cigars on ice
Feeling like an animal with these cameras all in my grill
Flashing lights, flashing lights
You got me faded, faded, faded
Baby, I want you, na na
Can't keep your eyes off my fatty
Daddy, I want you, na na
Drunk in love, I want you

[Hook: Beyoncé]
We woke up in the kitchen saying,
"How the hell did this shit happen?"
Oh baby, drunk in love we be all night
Last thing I remember is our beautiful bodies grinding up in the club
Drunk in love

[Bridge: Beyoncé]
We be all night, love, love
We be all night, love, love

[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
We be all night,
And everything alright
No complaints from my body, so fluorescent under these lights
Boy, I'm drinking,
Park it in my lot 7-11
I'm rubbing on it, rub-rubbing, if you scared, call that reverend
Boy, I'm drinking, get my brain right
Armand de brignac, gangster wife
Louie sheets, he sweat it out like wash rags he wear it out
[Studio version:] Boy, I'm drinking, I'm singing on the mic to my boy toys
[Video/Live version:] Boy, I'm drinking, I'm singing on the mic til my voice hoarse
Then I fill the tub up halfway then ride it with my surfboard, surfboard, surfboard
Graining on that wood, graining, graining on that wood
I'm swerving on that, swerving, swerving on that big body
Been serving all this, swerve, surfing all in this good, good

[Hook]

[Bridge]

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
(I'm nice right now)
Hold up
That D'USSÉ is the shit if I do say so myself
If I do say so myself, if I do say so myself
Hold up,
Stumbled all in the house time to back up all of that mouth
That you had all in the car, talking 'bout you the baddest bitch thus far
Talking 'bout you be repping that third, I wanna see all the shit that I heard
Know I sling Clint Eastwood, hope you can handle this curve
Foreplay in the foyer, fucked up my Warhol
Slip the panties right to the side
Ain't got the time to take draws off, on site
Catch a charge I might, beat the box up like Mike
In '97 I bite, I'm Ike, Turner, turn up
Baby no I don't play, now eat the cake, Anna Mae
Said, "Eat the cake, Anna Mae!"
I'm nice, for y'all to reach these heights you gonna need G3
4, 5, 6 flights, sleep tight
We sex again in the morning, your breastases is my breakfast
We going in, we be all night

[Bridge]

[Verse 4: Beyoncé]
Never tired, never tired
I been sipping, that's the only thing that's keeping me on fire, me on fire
Didn't mean to spill that liquor all on my attire
I've been drinking watermelon
I want your body right here, daddy I want you, right now
Can't keep your eyes off my fatty
Daddy I want you

[Bridge]

Review

When Beyoncé and Jay Z opened the Grammy Awards ceremony earlier this week with a performance of their song “Drunk in Love,” it sparked an immediate conversation — about CBS bleeping the song’s language and Bey’s chair-dancing skills — but in recent days, a far more in-depth debate has resurfaced about the song’s lyrics.

Does the raunchy ode to drunken sex make light of — or even go so far as to endorse — domestic abuse?

(WATCH: Grammys 2014: Watch Jay Z and Beyonce Perform ‘Drunk In Love’)

The controversial lyrics are in Jay Z’s verse on the song: After comparing himself to Ike Turner, he sings the line “Eat the cake, Anna Mae.” In the Grammy performance, she chanted the line alongside him. The line comes from this (not safe for work!) scene in the 1993 Tina Turner biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It:

Even before the Grammys brought the song extra publicity, a rep from a British radio station told E! that their radio edit of the song would cut the line in question because they didn’t want to “condone” domestic violence — but the headline-grabbing performance has brought the song back into the spotlight, particularly because Bey sang along with the Anna Mae line. The Guardian‘s post-Grammys take called the lyric “disturbing” and “distasteful”; at Bustle, they describe her complicity in the offending phrase as “gross misconduct.” At Colorlines, the lyric and the Grammys performance were interpreted as evidence that the star — who has been vocal about her feelings on gender equality — is less of a feminist than she might appear. (Nobody has put forth an argument that “Drunk in Love” is talking about domestic abuse at the Carter home; rather, the idea that an actual case of abuse could be used in a suggestive joke implies that Beyoncé either doesn’t think domestic violence is that big of a deal or, at best, she doesn’t give much thought to the consequences of her words.)

But as criticism of the line has ramped up in the wake of the Grammys, others have come forward to defend the lyric. At The Root, though the line is described as “troubling,” the rest of the song is seen as an explanation for the words: they’re two consenting adults talking about rough sex, so what they do is up to them. Sasha Frere-Jones at The New Yorker similarly cited the context in which the lyric is placed in an earlier review of the album: they seem happy, so there must be an explanation. And in Alyssa Rosenberg’s take on the Grammys at ThinkProgress, the line in question doesn’t come up, but the Carter marriage — complete with drinking, humor and lots of sex — is seen as setting a positive example for other couples.

Still, even with opinions flying on both sides, there’s one voice who has yet to weigh in: Beyoncé herself.

Read more: Is Beyoncé's "Drunk in Love" Insensitive About Domestic Violence? | TIME.com http://entertainment.time.com/2014/01/30/drunk-in-love-controversy/#ixzz2sU2gXXfC

Story Of My Life by One Direction Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

"Story Of My Life"

Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain
I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days
She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones
Seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone

And I'll be gone, gone tonight
The ground beneath my feet is open wide
The way that I been holding on too tight
With nothing in between

The story of my life
I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm
And time... is frozen (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life
I give her hope
I spend her love
Until she's broke
Inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

Written on these walls are the colors that I can't change
Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage
I know that in the morning now I see us in the light upon a hill
Although I am broken, my heart is untamed, still

And I'll be gone, gone tonight
The fire beneath my feet is burning bright
The way that I been holding on so tight
With nothing in between

The story of my life
I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm
And time... is frozen (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life
I give her hope
I spend her love
Until she's broke
Inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

And I been waiting for this time to come around
But baby running after you is like chasing the clouds

The story of my life
I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm
And time is frozen
The story of my life
I give her hope (give her hope)
I spend her love
Until she's broke (until she's broke inside)
Inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)
The story of my life 

Review

 The follow-up to the rock-tastic "Best Song Ever" begins with little more a few careful acoustic plucks and overarching vocals that gently convey a broken heart. Soon, "Story Of My Life" picks up with a steady drum pattern and space-filling backing vocals that recall the folky chants of none other than Mumford & Sons.

"Story Of My Life" premiered on Friday (Oct. 25), one month before "Midnight Memories" hits retailers on Nov. 25. Earlier this month, the 1D guys released the mature "Midnight Memories" album artwork as well as the 14-song track list; "Best Song Ever," which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, will lead the follow-up to last year's "Take Me Home."

Two days before the album release, One Direction will host "1D Day," a seven-hour live stream broadcast connecting the superstar boy band with fans across the globe. Expect some entertaining stories aside from "Story Of My Life" during the seven-hour event.

Pharrell Williams Happy - Official Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

"Happy"

[Verse 1:]
It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way

[Hook:]
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

[Verse 2:]
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back, yeah,
well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah,
no offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why

[Hook]

Hey, come on

[Bridge:]
(happy)
bring me down
can't nothing bring me down
your love is too high
bring me down
can't nothing bring me down
i said (let me tell you now)
bring me down
can't nothing bring me down
your love is too high
bring me down
can't nothing bring me down
i said

[Hook 2x]

Hey, come on

(happy)
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… your love is too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)

[Hook 2x]

come on

Review

Pharrell has just been on a roll over the last few years while we've been waiting for him to release a second solo studio album. In 2010, he composed the film score to the much adored Golden Globe nominated animated film 'Despicable Me' and since then things only seem to be getting better for him. He has appeared on three number singles from other artists since he released his last one in 2006, but now he's well and truly back as a solo star in his own right as he releases a brand new single entitled 'Happy' which he wrote for the much-anticipated 'Despicable Me 2'.

There's not a lot you can criticise with 'Happy'; with Pharrell's classic soul voice it has a strong Motown feel - it's simple and archetypal with no embellishments. Unbelievably catchy, it's definitely the kind of song that makes you want to dance and sing along - an important element for any children's film tune. More importantly, it's infectiously cheerful with its summery vibes that ease that seasonal misery winter often brings and it's just so wonderfully innocent - not something often found in your average modern pop song.

It gets a little repetitive after a while, but maybe that's the beauty of it; it's uncomplicated with a very clear sentiment, and see if you don't clap along ("if you feel like a room without a roof...")!

Pompeii Bastille Bad Blood Official Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

I was left to my own devices
Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settles around us

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
If you close your eyes

Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Review

Bastille purveys in what might be best described as “apocalyptic pop”. Though Bad Blood, the band’s major label debut, operates within the safe realms of verse-chorus structure, everything is amped up to 11, creating a sense of urgency that makes what could have been a collection of ordinary electronic indie pop sound like a battle cry for the end times. Booming male choirs, string effects, echoey pianos, allusions to Greek mythology and the Bible—Bastille brings out all the artillery on Bad Blood, and the result is nothing less than earth-shattering. Whether frontman Dan Smith is singing about past grudges (the title track) or the streets of his childhood (“These Streets”), the feeling that’s always left behind is unshakeable significance. It’s the kind of feeling that Muse’s Occupy-baiting The Resistance tried to nail four years ago. Fortunately for Bastille, the ballyhooed Mayan calendar debacle likely provided some inspiration for Bad Blood‘s imminence that the Orwellian delusions of The Resistance lacked. Smith has likely read a Chuck Palahniuk novel or two in his young life, as he has taken Rant Casey’s line “We won’t never be as young as we is tonight” to be his band’s MO.

But the real defining trait of Bad Blood is the you-I dialectic. Bastille made an impressive entrance into the music world last year with the two-part mixtape Other People’s Heartache, an 18-song collection of covers and reworked versions of songs that would later appear on this album. Through these covers, Smith familiarized himself with the notion of “The Other”, the nameless listener with whom the singer addresses himself to. By its nature, the cover version creates a distance between the artist covering the song and the original musician; the result of these reimaginations tends to oscillate between brilliance and a complete bastardization of the source material. What Other People’s Heartache demonstrated was that Bastille was comfortable in the shoes of the other as much as his own. His cover of Corona’s “The Rhythm of the Night” stood up well alongside his haunting original “Oblivion”. On Bad Blood, he takes the topic of self-other distance and blows it up in all of his lyrics. In “Flaws”, when Smith pleads, “There’s a hole in my soul / Can you fill it?”, he gets right at the emotional core of this album. The horror-inflected sleeve art, which depicts Smith running off into the formless black of night, is a great pictorial representation of this. Each of the songs on the LP paints the picture of a massive distance between the listener and Smith that can only be traversed by major acts of will.

If “Pompeii’s” current climbing of the UK charts is evidence enough, the broad-based appeal of Bad Blood means that for most, that distance will easily be spanned. Both parts of Other People’s Heartache are already good evidence of Smith’s uncanny pop sensibility, and this record is a culmination of a still-young career. Cuts like “Pompeii” and “Bad Blood”, the two lead singles, are indicative of his ability to rein in a massive hook, as the former, in particular, is already one of 2013’s best singles. This energy isn’t exclusive to the radio fare. The cheerleader-chant chorus of “Things We Lost in the Fire” has all the makings for a minor sing-along classic. He’s even shot ahead his British compatriots Coldplay in the field of piano balladry as album highlight “Daniel in the Den” is one of those stadium-fillers that’s easily the defining Bastille track. The Biblical parallel isn’t fleshed out in any deep way, but when backed with show-stopping piano melodies and a palpable existential mood, Smith’s words ring out like the only true thing in the world: “And you thought the lions were bad / Well they tried to kill my brothers / And for every king that died / Oh they would crown another.”

If there’s one major flaw on this album, it’s the same thing that threatens to undercut “Daniel and the Den’s” potency, namely lyrical blandness. Also, like Coldplay, Smith has the tendency to lean on important sounding but otherwise meaningless declarations. “This is your heart / Can you feel it? / Can you feel it? / Pumps through your veins / Can you feel it?” he implores on “Laura Palmer”, confusing banal biology for emotional depth. The otherwise interesting metaphor behind “Weight of Living Pt. II” is wasted on a flat, repetitive chorus. Even more lamentable, however, is Smith’s habit of John C. McGinley-style syllable elongation: “I don’t want them” is dragged out to the length of two measures on “These Streets”. Smith’s voice is a malleable benefit to Bastille’s sonic, with his impressive ability to range from neo-R&B crooning to anthemic rock chanting, and a definite asset to capitalize on in the future even if it is a little rough around the edges right now. Smith himself seems to recognize his imperfections: “flaw” is a recurring word throughout, especially in “Flaws” and “These Streets”.

If apocalypse scares have taught the world anything, it’s that things tend to smolder rather than conflagrate. But for all 43 enrapturing minutes of Bad Blood, you’ll be convinced that everything and everyone you’ve ever loved are suddenly leaving you, and now the only thing left to do is reach out and declare from the mountaintops all the things you’ve kept secret in your life. That heightened sense of immediacy is hard to keep up, but Bastille does it remarkably well, resulting in a debut that’s as infectious as it is dramatically powerful. The world may have yet to meet its end, but if lingering doomsday worries lead to albums like Bad Blood, maybe things won’t be so bad after all.

Lorde - Royals Official Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address
In the torn up town, no post code envy

[Pre-Chorus]
But every song's like gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
Jet planes, islands, tiger's on a gold leash
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

[Chorus]
And we'll never be royals (royals)
It don't run in our blood
That kind of lux just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler), you can call me Queen Bee
And baby I'll rule (I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule...)
Let me live that fantasy

[Verse 2]
My friends and I we've cracked the code
We count our dollars on the train to the party
And everyone who knows us knows
That we're fine with this, we didn't come from money

[Pre-Chorus + Chorus]

[Bridge]
(Oooh ooooh ohhh)
We're bigger than we ever dreamed, and I'm in love with being queen
(Oooooh ooooh ohhhhh)
Life is great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair

[Chorus]

Review

If Adele was still a teenager and she was hanging out with Grimes, she might sound a bit like Lorde on "Royals." However, a unique element about Lorde is that her song sounds like it's seeking to gather together a movement of fellow teens that are being raised outside the realm of wealth. This is a brilliant song of solidarity for a new generation.
Pros

    A different way of seeing the world for teens
    Spare production surrounding the clarity of Lorde's vocals
    Powerful lyrics

Cons

    One of the best releases of the year

Description

    Written by Ella Yelich O'Connor and Joel Little
    Produced by Joel Little
    Released March 2013 by Universal

Guide Review - Lorde - "Royals"

And along comes the anti-Rihanna. 16 year old Ella Yelich-O'Connor, aka Lorde, has one of the strongest pop debuts in recent history. Her debut single "Royals" casts a sidelong glance at wealth, living in the right neighborhood, and conspicuous consumption to champion young people who, "Crave a different kind of buzz." The production is stripped down to such a minimalist level that it highlights Lorde's deadpan vocals as she clearly enunciates every word of the powerful lyrics. Despite the lack of ornamentation, ultimately there is something powerfully romantic about Lorde's fantasies of being, "Queen Bee."

"Royals" comes from the direction of alternative radio. However, the song's structure and melody are pure pop. It makes sense for Lorde to be embraced first by the alternative community because she places "Royals" in direct opposition to a vision of the pop mainstream as obsessed with diamonds, jet planes, and gold teeth. She sings, "We aren't caught up in your love affair." In the tradition of rock musicians of the past becoming champions of outsider groups, Lorde has placed herself as a voice for teens who do not value a current image of pop glamour.

Lorde's "Royals" not only depicts a different understanding of what it means to be successful as a teen in life, but also, as a female solo artist, she runs counter to the most successful alternative pop artists of the most recent generation. She is the first solo female to top the US alternative songs chart in 17 years. As simple as this song may seem on the surface, it is in actuality one of the most powerfully subversive pop hits in recent memory...and that sounds very, very good.

Lorde - Team - Official Video, Lyrics & Review

   

Lyrics

Wait 'til you’re announced
We’ve not yet lost all our graces
The hounds will stay in chains
Look upon your greatness
That you’ll send
The call I'll send

Call all the ladies out
They’re in their finery
A hundreds jewels on throats
A hundred jewels between teeth
Now bring my boys in
Their skin in craters like the moon
The moon we love like a brother, while he glows through the room

Dancin' around the lies we tell
Dancin' around big eyes as well
Even the comatose they don’t dance and tell

[Chorus]
We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team

I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air, so there
So all the cups got broke shards beneath our feet but it wasn’t my fault
And everyone’s competing for a love they won't receive
'Cause what this palace wants is release

[Chorus]
We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team

I’m kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air
So there
I’m kinda older than I was when I revelled without a care
So there

[Chorus]
We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free
Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams
And you know, we're on each other's team

We're on each other's team
And you know, we're on each other's team
We're on each other's team
And you know, and you know, and you know

Review

Ten months after floating out her debut EP online for free in her native New Zealand, Ella Yelich-O'Connor, the teenage singer-songwriter known as Lorde, has conjured an immense amount of stateside interest in her first full-length. Fortunately, "Pure Heroine" (note the silent E in both the title and its author's stage name) delivers on the promise of Lorde's Top 10 hit "Royals," and then some.

Built around producer Joel Little's deep bass rumbles, lilting loops and programmed beats, the album evokes the shadowy sonics of Massive Attack and the XX. In the center of the heaviness, however, is a 16-year-old with a dynamic voice and an even better pop sensibility: "Ribs" finds Lorde waxing poetic about the scariness of getting older, while new single "Team" fashions a commanding hook out of the singer's disillusionment with modern pop music.

"We're dancing in this world alone," she concludes on the finale "A World Alone." Even if that's true, "Pure Heroine" has provided an immaculate soundtrack to that solitude. This 16-year-old's first album is so smart that it begins with the line "Don't you think that it's boring how people talk?" and ends with the statement, "Let them talk." In between is an exploration into the soul of a quiet girl in the Internet age, trying to feel something and not envy everything.

September has been a profoundly great month for new female vocalists in popular music, but Lorde is easily the most vocally striking and lyrically thought-provoking. "Pure Heroine" is honest and addictive. Welcome to the age of Lorde.

 

Passenger - Let Her Go Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

You only need the light when it's burning low,
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow,
Only know you love her when you let her go.

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home.
Only know you love her when you let her go,
And you let her go.

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast
You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause Love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
Cause you loved her too much and you dived too deep

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go ooooh ooooh oh no

And you let her go
ooooh ooooh oh no

Well you let her go

ooooh ooooh oh no

Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

Review

'Dreams come slow'; a defining statement made by Brighton and Hove born folk singer Michael Rosenberg, more commonly known as Passenger, featuring on his latest single, 'Let Her Go'.

10 years after forming folk-rock band 'Passenger' and four years after continuing as solo singer/songwriter by the same name, the UK have finally embraced and acknowledged the talent and vocal versatility of Passenger. After playing many open-mic nights in England, Passenger found deserved acknowledgment busking in Australia, making it no surprise that 'Let Her Go' topped the charts there, however few could have predicted it's international success topping the charts in 16 countries. So far! Passenger has finally received the notable success he was working for 10 years prior.

The instantly distinguishable yet controversial (many have criticized his delivery style in the past) vocals of the 29 year old is complimented by an orchestra of acoustics consisting of guitars, violins, bass and a piano which harmonies with the acoustic guitar, particularly in the simple yet memorable introductory high pitched riff, which is followed by the equally as gracious vocals. Despite the folk influences, don't expect the same lyrical inspiration or moving honesty of Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger; unfortunately, like the majority of pop songs, the lyrics are repetitive and generic with a simple message relating to love: 'Only know you love her when you let her go', but this is what makes the song so catchy and successful. Despite the slow and simple start, the tempo and amplitude changes, producing a more substantial sound with a simple percussive drum beat suitable for dancing.

Thanks to the likes of modern acoustic artists such as Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran (who Passenger recently toured with), the demographics of the charts has been broadened making Passenger a contending artist for a future number one.

Talk Dirty Jason Derulo Featuring 2 Chainz - Video, Lyrics & Review

 

 Lyrics

 

"Talk Dirty"
(feat. 2 Chainz)

Jason
Jason Derulo
Get jazzy on me

[Jason Derulo:]
I'm that flight that you get on, international
First class seat on my lap girl, riding comfortable
Cause I know what the girl them need, New York to Haiti
I got lipstick stamps on my passport, you make it hard to leave

[Jason Derulo:]
Been around the world, don't speak the language
But your booty don't need explaining
All I really need to understand is
When you talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Get jazzy on me

[Jason Derulo:]
You know the words to my songs
No habla inglés
Our conversations ain't long
But you know what is
I know what the girl them want, London to Taiwan
I got lipstick stamps on my passport
I think I need a new one

[Jason Derulo:]
Been around the world, don't speak the language
But your booty don't need explaining
All I really need to understand is
When you talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me

[Jason Derulo:]
Uno, met a friend in Rio
Dos, she was all on me-o
Tres, we could ménage à three-o
Cuatro, ooh

[2 Chainz:]
Dos Cadenas, closed the genius
Sold out arenas, you can suck my penis
Gilbert Arenas, guns on deck
Chest to chest, tongue on neck
International oral sex
Every picture I take, I pose a threat
Boat or jet, what do you expect?
Her pussy so good I bought her a pet
Anyway, every day I'm trying to get to it
Got her saved in my phone under "Big Booty"
Anyway, every day I'm trying to get to it
Got her saved in my phone under "Big Booty"

[Jason Derulo:]
Been around the world, don't speak the language
But your booty don't need explaining
All I really need to understand is
When you talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Get jazzy on me

What? I don't understand!
 

Review  

 

During his international travels, Jason DeRulo often finds himself unable to converse with locals in their native tongue. When it comes to spitting game to beautiful women, however, the R&B/pop singer always manages to make himself understood. On new single Talk Dirty, the Warner Bros. crooner celebrates the power of lust to transcend national, cultural and linguistic borders. Producer Ricky Reed looks to Israeli-American pop group Balkan Beat Box for inspiration on the production tip, flipping a woodwind-driven sample from 2007 album inclusion Hermetico. 2 Chainz caps the record off with a raunchy closing verse.

Say Something A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera - Video, Lyrics & Review

 

Lyrics

 

[Chorus]
Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere, I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you

[Verse 1]
And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all
And I will stumble and fall
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl

[Chorus 2]
Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere, I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you

[Verse 2]
And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye

[Chorus 3]
Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
And anywhere, I would have followed you
Oh... say something, I'm giving up on you

[Outro]
Say something, I'm giving up on you
Say something...

 

Review

 

 You know it seems like you’ve never heard of an act and then, in a flash, it seems like they’ve everywhere? So it is with A Great Big World.

The New York duo composed of Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino first caught people’s  attention with their viral hit “This Is the New Year,” which was covered on “Glee” earlier this year.

Then on Nov. 4, they performed their fragile, sad piano ballad, “Say Something,” with Christina Aguilera on “The Voice.” A studio version of the tune, also featuring Aguilera, was released that night on iTunes and sold enough copies for the song to soar to No. 2 on the ITunes Songs chart, according to Billboard.

And now the video of the song, released last night,  takes its anguish to a new level. If you’re not reduced to tears by the elderly couple, your last name is clearly Grinch and your heart needs to grow three sizes immediately. While Aguilera over-emotes a little in the video, she shows admirable restraint vocally, beautifully pairing with Axel’s vocals. The tune, which is No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100,  could have the sustaining success of Pink’s “Just Give Me A Reason,” featuring fun.’s Nate Ruess.

Following a self-released, Kickstarter-funded EP, A Great Big World has since signed with Black Magnetic/Epic Records, and will release its full-length debut album, "It There Anybody Out There,"  early next year.

As for Aguilera, she seems to be having more success as a featured artist right now than as  the main attraction. She and Pitbull took “Feel This Moment” to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year and it topped Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Songs.

Timber Pitbull Featuring Ke$ha Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

 "Timber"
(feat. Ke$ha)

[Ke$ha]
It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget

Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)

[Pitbull]
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
These big-iddy boys are dig-gidy dogs
I have 'em like Miley Cyrus, clothes off
Twerking in their bras and thongs, timber
Face down, booty up, timber
That's the way we like to–what?–timber
I'm slicker than an oil spill
She say she won't, but I bet she will, timber

Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down

[Ke$ha]
It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget

It's going down (it's going down), I'm yelling timber
You better move (you better move), you better dance (you better dance)
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget (you won't forget)

Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)

[Pitbull]
Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane
Nah, it's just me, ain't a damn thing changed
Live in hotels, swing on planes
Blessed to say, money ain't a thing
Club jumping like LeBron now, Volí
Order me another round, homie
We about to clown. Why? 'Cause it's about to go down

Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down

[Ke$ha]
It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget

It's going down (it's going down), I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance (you better dance)
Let's make a night (let's make a night) you won't remember
I'll be the one (I'll be the one) you won't forget (you won't forget)

Wooooah wooooah (hey), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)

Wooooah (timber), wooooah, wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (you won't forget), wooooah (timber) 

Review

No current top pop artist does mindless dancefloor fun better than Pitbull.  Yes, "Timber" would be impossible without the influence of Avicii's boundary pushing "Wake Me Up," and it's not as artful, but this song is an outstanding party track.  Ke$ha joins the party singing the chorus, and she brings along Dr. Luke and Cirkut to help produce.  The relative newcomer for mainstream pop is British producer Sermstyle.  He's only 25, but he's already worked with top level rappers Wiz Khalifa and Kendrick Lamar.

The most obvious unique element to "Timber" is that wailing harmonica.  Avicii has taught us that country and folk sounds are not incompatible with today's electronic dance music.  Pitbull adds a, "Swing your partner round and round" refrain to turn the whole record into some sort of dance pop hoedown.  Lyrically, there is not a lot new here.  Ke$ha carries the call to the dance floor, while Pitbull continues to enjoy talking about himself.  He does mention twerking and Miley Cyrus and then delivers one of his best self-celebratory lines yet.  "Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane. No, it's just me, ain't a damn thing changed."

Pitbull is gearing up to deliver an eighth studio album sometime in 2014.  With the massive worldwide success of "Feel This Moment" fresh in the minds of pop fans, "Timber" finds himself merrily continuing on his international party pop path.  Ke$ha is the one who has a lot to gain from this track.  Her commercial success has trailed off badly with her last two singles failing to sell a million copies.  Ke$ha sounds great here, and the song is as much hers as it is Pitbull's.  Get ready to be yelling, "Timber!" in the club.

katy perry dark horse Video, Lyrics & Review

Lyrics

"Dark Horse"
(feat. Juicy J)

Oh, no.

[Juicy J:]
Yeah
Ya'll know what it is
Katy Perry
Juicy J, aha.
Let's rage

[Katy Perry:]
I knew you were
You were gonna come to me
And here you are
But you better choose carefully
‘Cause I, I’m capable of anything
Of anything and everything

Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only
Don’t make me your enemy, your enemy, your enemy

So you wanna play with magic
Boy, you should know what you're falling for
Baby do you dare to do this?
Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm
Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back

Mark my words
This love will make you levitate
Like a bird
Like a bird without a cage
But down to earth
If you choose to walk away, don’t walk away

It’s in the palm of your hand now baby
It’s a yes or no, no maybe
So just be sure before you give it all to me
All to me, give it all to me

So you wanna play with magic
Boy, you should know what you're falling for
Baby do you dare to do this?
Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm
Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back

[Juicy J - Rap Verse]
Uh
She’s a beast
I call her Karma (come back)
She eats your heart out
Like Jeffrey Dahmer (woo)
Be careful
Try not to lead her on
Shawty’s heart was on steroids
Cause her love was so strong
You may fall in love
When you meet her
If you get the chance you better keep her
She's sweet as pie but if you break her heart
She'll turn cold as a freezer
That fairy tale ending with a knight in shining armor
She can be my Sleeping Beauty
I’m gon’ put her in a coma
Woo!
Damn I think I love her
Shawty so bad
I’m sprung and I don’t care
She ride me like a roller coaster
Turn the bedroom into a fair
Her love is like a drug
I was tryna hit it and quit it
But lil' mama so dope
I messed around and got addicted

So you wanna play with magic
Boy, you should know what you're falling for (you should know)
Baby do you dare to do this?
Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse (like a dark horse)
Are you ready for, ready for (ready for)
A perfect storm, perfect storm (a perfect storm)
Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine (mine)
There’s no going back

Reviews

There is a reason why Katy Perry continues to sidestep the usual trappings of pop diva stardom. She doesn’t come off as gratingly contrived as Lady Gaga. You never get the sense that she’s part of some brazen look-at-me, culture vulture science project like Miley Cyrus. Perry doesn’t carry the same mean-girl baggage as Taylor Swift nor is she a prisoner of her own bad girl making as is Rihanna. No, Katy Perry is content with cranking out grandiose, we-can-change-the-world, female empowering anthems. For you Wikipedia heads, the bubbly California girl can be summed up as the millennial Helen Reddy who can stop traffic just by sporting an Elmo T-shit.

But on the surface, Perry’s latest offering, “Dark Horse,” seems like the antithesis of the singer-songwriter’s usual hopeful material. A break from fist-pumping sing-alongs like “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Girls,” “Firework,” “Last Friday Night,” and her current official single “Roar,” the Dr. Luke produced track is dark and sleazy without the morning after guilt. Perry cleverly takes on the role of an addictive drug as she warns her lover that he will undoubtedly become hooked: “So you wanna play with magic/Boy, you should know whatcha falling for/Baby do you dare to do this/‘Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse…”

As if the love-equals-crack nod didn’t get through enough, Perry enlist the services of Mr. Trippy himself, Juicy J, who is amid an improbable hip-hop comeback as you read this review. The former Three 6 Mafia frontman, Wiz Khalifah affiliate and resident vice-king actually plays the good cop (imagine that!), warning Perry’s hook-up to take it easy on the girl-next-door: “Be careful/Try not to lead her on/Shawty’s heart is on steroids/Cause her love is so strong.” Yes, Perry is toying around with her safe-to-take-home-to-mom image by jumping on the Trap Pop bandwagon. But when you have a groove this infectiously sexy and a good girl willing to go all the way, what’s to complain about?