I’d always wondered what went on in those 24-hour stores in the early hours.

Video: Day ‘N’ Nite by Kid Cudi vs Crookers

(via)

I first discovered Lady GaGa a few months ago when I got the latest New Kids on The Block album. I wondered who the female vocalist on the track Big Girl Now was (sounded a bit like Christina Aguilera), but I discovered that it was actually Lady GaGa.

Although her stage name sounds like a ragga or hiphop mc, Lady GaGa’s music is actually more of an ecletic mix of electronica, pop and rock. Her sexy performance style pays homage to burlesque, and she lists Madonna, Queen and David Bowie among her influences. Her current look reminds me of a young Donnatella Versace, with that harsh platinum blonde hairstyle, but she carries it well.

I think that this 22 year old is going to be really big next year as she’s got a great voice, a cute face, a hot body (which she shows off constantly in underwear, bikinis or latex catsuits), and catchy songs. She also seems quite eccentric, which is always a bonus in the performing arts.

Here’s a short film released by the artist which features several songs from her debut album, The Fame. It’s rather risque, so don’t press play if you don’t want to see a brief flash of naked breasts or a very brief noose-related dance sequence.

I also really liked this video for her recent single, Poker Face.

I discovered this soulful Irish band through a free Itunes download, and have subsequently enjoyed several tracks from their debut album.

The following song, Breakeven, is so beautiful and I can’t stop listening to it at the moment.

I hadn’t seen this video in years, so I looked it up.

Nothing worse than a hot murderess, eh Keith? He was quite an inept cop though, first he lets her escape from his car, then he shags her, then lets her escape again while he enjoys a post-coital nap. Hello, handcuffs>bedposts? And why did the other cops shoot her? She didn’t appear to have a weapon. I guess that’s why we should never analyse music videos, even those which are supposed to have a story to tell.

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, a decade before ‘Nsync, The Backstreet Boys, or their derivatives graced us with their pop/RnB crooning, we had the New Kids on The Block.

My favourite member was Jordan Knight. I’m not ashamed to say that I was a member of their official fan club for a while. So when a friend of mine recently sent an email around that pre-ordering their new album, The Block, would give me access to priority booking for their UK tour, I was all over it. Just after midnight this morning the album was ready for download, and I transferred it to my ipod for my journey to work.

(Pic courtesy of nkotbofficial)

Of course there were certain tracks which really appealed to me straight away, such as Grown Man; Big Girl Now; and Lights, Camera, Action; and Twisted, but there weren’t any duds. I loved that their vocal sound was similar to the old days (the harmonies, and Jordan’s unmistakable falsetto), but the production brought up to date. Dance tracks, mid-tempos, funky grinds, ballads - it’s all there.

Now I can’t wait til I can book my concert ticket. Time to dig out my vinyl Step by Step single to sneak it onto my dad’s turntable.

Here’s my favourite track of all, no doubt I’ll be playing this on the ipod constantly for the next few weeks.

NKOTB (featuring Pussycat Dolls & Teddy Riley): Grown Man

My only slight disappointment is that the iTunes download doesn’t include the accompanying album artwork, song info, etc., so I’ll probably end up buying the CD anyway.

NKOTB History on Wikipedia

Video: U and UR Hand by Pink

Video: (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here by Shania Twain

My theme is quite obvious, aside from the flat stomachs displayed by both singers. Both songs are basically about telling sleazy guys to back off. Quite appropriate for a Friday night, wouldn’t you say?

UPDATE: I was just watching the Pink video a minute ago. She’s so cute, especially with the long hair. Anyway, I noticed that in one section she was reading a book called A Suggestive Inquiry into Hermetic Mystery, and I thought it sounded interesting so I looked it up. I wasn’t sure if it was a real book, but it turned out to be a tome about alchemy, mysticism, philosophy and an exceeding difficult read. I wonder how far Pink got with it…

Video: My Moon My Man by Feist

As someone who grew up with MTV in the late eighties/early nineties, I wanted to become a music video director. Seeing imaginative, fun videos like this one reminds me of that dream.

But I ain’t got wings

Learning to Fly by Tom Petty

Love this song, and the video. For some reason in my confused memory I thought that Johnny Depp had appeared in it, but apparently not.

You can fill in the blanks

10am

Video: I Can’t Dance by Genesis

Noon

Video: Wouldn’t it be Loverly from My Fair Lady

3pm

Video: Twisted (Everyday hurts) by Skunk Anansie

Hair scraped back?
Vacant stare?
Tight dress?
Braless bosoms?
Musical instrument in hand (and no idea of how to play it)?

Yes to all of the above? Then we have a hot music video homage to this classic 80’s tune. I prefer the original, but the others are great too.

1986: Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer (Just read on wiki that this was supposed to be a duet with Chaka Khan, but her record company wouldn’t release her to work on Palmer’s label. She was still credited with the vocal arrangements. This song is awesome anyway, but imagine it with Chaka’s vocals! )

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1999: Man, I feel like a Woman - Shania Twain

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2003 Christmas is all Around - Bill Nighy (hilarious - shame I didn’t find this a couple of weeks ago, but Christmas season lasts until 6 January, so it’s still okay.)

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2007: Green Light - Beyoncé

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There was another video that I wanted to locate (On the Greener Side by Michelle Shocked) but it had been removed from youtube for legal reasons and was unavailable on any other sites. According to an article in the NY Times:

In the black-and-white video, colorized with touches of green, the singer is backed by six Ralph Lauren-type male models, expressionless in their gray suits and dark shades, plucking little green guitars. With perfect pitch and a good deal of bite, she sends the boys back where they belong: to the beach. Ms. Shocked sings a country love song in a skimpy green dress, green socks, Army boots and no makeup. Meanwhile, the men-objects are busy looking cool: dropping their guitars to slick their hair back, straightening their ties, pulling on their cuffs, later to appear in kinky green bikinis and silly goggles, coyly stroking their pecs - the entire repertoire of the narcissistic male. Ms. Shocked’s video is hilarious and dead-on; once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to watch another with a straight face.

Further reading: Parody and Pop Culture