There's something really trite about pop acts putting out titles that are the same as some massively popular current cultural trend. Take for example Cover Drive's horrible single Twilight, a track that rocketed to the top of the British charts due to the fact young girls were reminded of their favourite vampiric brand.
Now comes a young London artist that goes by the name of Delilah (not her real name) whose new single Shades of Grey seems one numerical prefix short of targeting a lucrative market that consists of bored young mums who like to read about the absurd kinky happenings between a horny academic and a priapic businessman.
That kind of thinking may be cynical, though perhaps not too far from the truth, as methinks the marketing guys at Warner Music are hoping the popularity of a certain book may translate in decent music sales for the aforementioned single. Saying that, Shades of Grey is actually a very good pop song. What its music video lacks in ambition is made up for in a well produced and nicely sung track that is radio-friendly to the hilt, but in no way irksome.
Delilah describes her music as being "strong, dark, melodic, soulful pop." That's actually a pretty accurate description because, in the hands of any number of other young female vocalists, such a song could have turned out to be extremely pedestrian, which this one in no way is.
As a song, Bobby Womack's collaboration with Lana Del Rey, Dayglo Reflection, has been out for months now, however, my reluctance to report on it has much to do with the rudimentary video made to accompany the track, always hoping that XL Records may allocate a minor percentage of the many billions it's made from selling Adele albums to making a better video for this one.
It seems that's not going to happen. Alas, we have to make do with what is given, albeit it's not that bad, just that such a top song deserves much better.
Bobby Womack hasn't released an album of original songs for over 18 years now, so many had anticipated the release of The Bravest Man in the Universe, hoping it'd be the perfect antidote to the era of crap music we exist in. It turns out people are addicted to crap music nowadays as Womack's album charted at a woeful #181 in the US and a pitiful #49 in dearest old Blighty.
And to think Mr Womack was diagnosed with colon cancer and endured pneumonia during the recording of this album, meaning The Bravest Man in the Universe should not be reduced to just an album title. Whatever you may think of Lana Del Rey, her contribution on Dayglo Reflection is simply wonderful, as is Damon Alban's production work, all three artists sending it to another level of melodic brilliance.
Natassia Gail Zolot, or to use her performing name, Kreayshawn (get it?), is another one of those modern confections that drew notice through her homemade viral rap videos and went on to score a major record deal with Columbia. As a result Kreayshawn's music video for her latest song Go Hard (La La La) has received a serious upgrade and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the most imaginative clips to be released this year.
Having been accused of exploiting black culture from rappers like Rick Ross and the Game, Kreayshawn is best thought of as a pop novelty, something that will, for the moment, extrapolate enough cash from her core Caucasian teen female market until the next product arrives to take her place. The problem is that the whole white girl rap act actually detracts from Zolot's real passion in life which is directing music videos. She attended Berkley Digital Film Institute on a full scholarship and was so good she landed the job of directing a video for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, which the band then chose to bin and reshoot with another director.
For now, Kreayshawn is going to keep her day job as a rapper. Go Hard (La La La) does have its garish coloured charms, even enlisting the appearances of Zolot's former band members, V-Nasty and Lil Debbie, from her White Girl Mob days, evincing that what Kreayshawn may lack in credibility is made up for in loyalty.
There's something really trite about pop acts putting out titles that are the same as some massively popular current cultural trend. Take for example Cover Drive's horrible single Twilight, a track that rocketed to the top of the British charts due to the fact young girls were reminded of their favourite vampiric brand.
