Lady Gaga's Strange New Video; "Yoü And I"

When Lady Gaga released her video for "Edge of Glory," everyone was a little perplexed as to how tame the clip was. Yes, she may have been wearing a skimpy outfit and heavy make-up, but there was nothing noticeably strange that made people stop and think: "WTF?" Well for her next video release off Born This Way, she did just that. The clip for "Yoü And I," (my least favourite Gaga song of all time--I'm sure many feel the same), Mother Monster becomes her lover's freakish science experiment and ups the ante on all things bizarre. I feel like I should be a little more descriptive, but really, you just need to see for yourself. Enjoy...?

Listen to These Covers: Friendly Fires + Washed Out + Ryan Adams + Robyn

My favourite British trio, Friendly Fires, recorded a cover of Lady Gaga's summer anthem “Edge of Glory” for BBC Radio 1. They don't necessarily fill out the track like Gaga does, but they do a great job in making it sound more like a Friendly Fires song. Watch them perform it below.

Chillwave top dog, Washed Out, recently recorded a cover of Chris Issak's sexy slow jam, “Wicked Game.” He updated it with a slight synthy twist and some female backup vocals. I find it almost as addictive as the original.

Washed Out: "Wicked Game" (Chris Isaak Original)


Next up: Ryan Adams' cover of Vampire Weekend's “A-Punk.” This one I found particularly interesting, not only because the original is one of my favourite songs (also my ringtone, so I hear it numerous times a day), but mostly because I never thought I would come across a cover of it by alternative crooner Ryan Adams. It's sweet and he completely makes it his own. He also covered “Mansard Roof” and “Oxford Comma.”



Robyn, everyone's beloved Swedish electropop sensation, stopped by the Radio 1 Live Lounge to perform her latest single “Call Your Girlfriend,” as well as a cover of Coldplay's most recent radioplay, “Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall.” It's a downtempo good time that sounds like a Robyn song, listen below!

Robyn: "Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall" (Coldplay Original)

Album Review: Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Lady Gaga - Born This Way
8/10

Lady Gaga is many things; she is bizarre, a shock-value pioneer, the proud wearer of the hair-bow among many other odd styles, and the owner of many strange outfits and heel-less shoes. However, under closer inspection, she is also very intelligent, an activist, a pianist, a poet, a songwriter, an entertainer and above all, a damn good singer. When she first came onto the scene with “Just Dance,” I remember admitting the song was catchy, but didn't think she would last in a musical world obsessed with Katy Perry and Britney Spears' 15th (?) comeback. With the release of “Poker Face” and “Paparazzi,” I was intrigued, but not entirely sold. Eventually I understood; Gaga was only getting started and wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon.

Like her previous efforts, The Fame and The Fame Monster, Born This Way is a collection of incredibly catchy tracks that you might not understand upon first listen, but will inevitably have you singing and dancing unashamedly in public or in secret. The record starts with the sound of a church organ in “Marry The Night.” It soon transforms into a synth-heavy club-banger about Gaga's love for the streets of New York. It introduces the sound of the album; a strong dose of electronic dance-pop with lyrics centered around religion, sex, gay pride, self-empowerment and... unicorns? Some lyrics literally make you stop and think: WTF? As is the case in gritty disco tracks “Scheiße,” “Government Hooker,” and “Heavy Metal Lover,” uttering lines such as “I don't speak German, but I can if you like” and “Put your hands on me, John F. Kennedy” and finally “I want your whiskey mouth all over my blonde south.” At least she's got your attention.

Oddities aside, Gaga created an album compiling 14 songs she wanted to sound new and fresh and unlike anything she has done in the past. I think she achieved that to an extent with a handful of the record taking an artsy approach (I speak in terms of today's pop music, where she reigns as a Top 40 queen). What she really did with this album was fuse her heavy electronic beats with 80's glitz and glamour. Somehow, it works. Take for instance "The Edge of Glory" which features a Clarence Clemons saxophone solo. Highlights include “Bloody Mary,” “Americano” (a fresh take on The Fame Monster's “Alejandro”), “Heavy Metal Lover,” “Bad Kids,” “Scheiße,” and title track “Born This Way.” To be completely honest, I love the entire album and have played it on a continuous loop for days, with the exception of “Yoü And I,” Gaga's country love song to the state of Nebraska. Not really a fan of that one.


Lady Gaga - "Heavy Metal Lover"


You can call her crazy and absurd, mock her ideals, outfits and the way she chooses to make her statements. Yet, even if you are not a fan, I don't think you can deny her talent. Born this way or not, she is shaping up to be our next big pop star. I wouldn't say Michael Jackson or Madonna level just yet, but perhaps one day...

Gaga Breaks Records, Listen to New Arctic Monkeys & Lil Wayne, Watch Coldplay Teaser + Weezer Covers Radiohead?

It seems like all the promotion for Lady Gaga's Born This Way has paid off. According to Billboard, in its first week Born This Way hit No. 1 on the charts and sold 1,108,000 copies. Not only is this the biggest debut of the year, but the best selling record in its first week since 2005 when 50 Cent's The Massacre moved 1,141,000 copies. While many mocked her promotional strategy, she's definitely the one whose laughing now. Gaga formed deals with retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon and even took to popular online games like Farmville (Gagaville anyone?). Sidenote: The album is actually kinda/sorta amazing and I'm in love with it. Expect a review soon.

Arctic Monkeys' fourth LP won't be available for purchase until next week, however the band's label, Domino Records have streamed the entire record via soundcloud for your listening pleasure. Head over here to listen to Suck It And See.

With “6 Foot, 7 Foot” and “John,” we heard the Lil' Wayne we've now been accustomed to. Yet, with his next offering off Tha Carter IV, Weezy has changed things up. “How to Love” is an R&B accoustic track with auto-tuned vocals. In it he croons about a troubled fling. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet. Head over here to give it a listen.

Coldplay have released a teaser for their upcoming album which will be out later this year. Lyrics flash on a water-colour background while light, blippy synth caters to your ears. Drummer Will Champion also revealed yesterday that the first single, “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” will be released on Friday, June 4.

And in the strange covers department, Weezer covered Radiohead's iconic OK Computer track “Paranoid Android.” It's not horrible, (I'm a sucker for Rivers Cuomo's cute quirkiness) the band as a whole does a decent job. Watch below.

Lady Gaga & “The Edge of Glory” + Tupac Movie Details

A new track off Lady Gaga's forthcoming album, Born This Way is now available on iTunes. “The Edge of Glory” has a catchy power balled chorus and follows the mold of a basic pop song, much like her "Just Dance" days. Many are already calling it our summer's pop anthem. I see how big it could get, but I'm not completely convinced. It features a saxophone solo by Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band which gives the song an older sounding pop vibe. Actually, if you get rid of the glittering synth beat, it could have been released in the 80's. Listen below.
 
Lady Gaga - "The Edge of Glory"


Speaking of Gaga, last week the video for “Judas” was released and is as bizarre as everyone assumed it would be. In it we see the unfolding of a love triangle; Gaga is in love with Jesus (leader of a biker gang and wears a golden crown of thorns over his golden corn rows). Yet she also has a thing for one of his biker disciples, Judas. The video includes tons of religious imagery; the washing of the feet, the stoning of Mary Magdalene, etc, etc. I'm surprised there hasn't been a massive religious uproar about the video, besides ridiculous comments via YouTube. Gaga herself is a Catholic and is using religion as a metaphor. But if you think that would somehow offend you, then do not watch the video below.

In other news, late rapper Tupac Shakur had written a screenplay before his passing that will soon hit the big screen. During his 11-month stay in prison for weapons possession, he wrote a script about a teenage drug lord who attempts to correct his life. Currently titled “Live 2 Tell,” it is set to go into production in early 2012. For more details, click here.

In the News: Lady Gaga's Album Cover & “Judas” + Hear Death Cab's "Some Boys"

A few days ago, Lady Gaga tweeted the album cover of her highly anticipated record Born This Way, which will finally be released next month. I thought it was a joke, as did many others, but then over the weekend, she tweeted a photo of her holding a copy as proof that it really does exist. My first thought was: WTF?! I can kind of understand where she was coming from, trying to be really bold and bizarre. Born as a motorcycle will definitely get you bizarre. It's giving me an 80's Spinal Tap vibe. Ironically, the band was really a joke.

In other Gaga news, she also unveiled her second single off Born This Way, just in time for Easter (Ha!). “Judas” is a synth heavy electronic number complete with fake accents and biblical references. I strongly disliked it upon my first listen and thought, how the hell can you go from “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” to this...? I forced myself to give it another chance and wouldn't you know it? I caved. I don't think it's her absolute best work, but it's not completely horrible. Listen below.

Lady Gaga - "Judas"

Death Cab For Cutie will soon release their seventh effort, Codes and Keys and have given us another taste of the album. “Some Boys” is a catchy track that has more electronic undertones then are usually found in Death Cab songs. I'm diggin' it.

Death Cab for Cutie - "Some Boys"

In the News: Gaga Struts Catwalk to New Song, Broken Bells EP, Morning Benders Remix Ra Ra Riot + Lil Wayne Vid

Lady Gaga made her runway debut on Wednesday night at the fashion show launch of Thierry Mugler's new women's line in Paris. While strutting the catwalk for the first time, she premiered her track “Government Hooker,” which will be included on Born This Way, out in May. Puffing a cigarette, the ambitious pop star was dressed completely in black; a see-though blouse, a latex skirt, a beret and massive blonde extensions. The song later mixes into her latest hit “Born This Way” and she reappears on stage wearing an all white ensemble, flipping her hair and twirling her scarf. Watch the clip here. In terms of the new song, it's her usual club-banging pop sound, but this one feels like it has a little of an older electro feel. Just a thought; how the hell do those girls walk in those shoes?!

Broken Bells, the duo that combines Danger Mouse and Shins frontman James Mercer, will release a four-track EP, Meyrin Fields, on March 29. You can listen to the title track over on their MySpace. Below I've posted their odd futuristic space video of “The Ghost Inside.” It's one of those songs that seriously crawls into my mind and will stay there for weeks at a time. At least it's a good one.

The indie rock foursome from Berkeley, California, The Morning Benders, have released a remix of Ra Ra Riot’s “Too Dramatic.” They slowed it down, replaced the violins with some winding synth and gave it an echo effect. I almost like it better then the original. Listen below.

 

Lil Wayne's first video since getting out of prison was released last night. The clip's literal take on “6 Foot, 7 Foot” is pretty funny and offers us short spoofs of the Hollywood box office hit Inception. Watch below.

In the News: Reznor Wins An Oscar, Listen to M.I.A's “Zig-Zag” + Lady Gaga's New Video

Nine Inch Nails frontman, Trent Reznor, took home an Oscar for Best Original Score last night at the 83^rd Annual Academy Awards. He co-wrote the mood-setting soundtrack for The Social Network with friend and now band-mate, Atticus Ross (The two have formed a group with Reznor's wife, Mariqueen Maandig, called How To Destroy Angels). You can watch Reznor's and Ross' acceptance speech here.

M.I.A released her third album Maya less then a year ago, yet some new material has already surfaced online. “Zig-Zag” is a catchy track, more reminiscent of her Arular sound as opposed to her newer electronic efforts. The chorus rings with a New Kids on the Block styled melody; obviously taken from their 1988 hit “You Got It (The Right Stuff).” It's a fun song with an 80's hip hop beat. It took a couple tries, now it's in my head. Listen below. 

In Gaga related news, the music video for “Born This Way” was released today. The Mother Monster, as she refers to herself in the clip, gives birth to good and evil while on the planet of G.O.A.T; a government owned alien territory in space. Strange. There's tons of vaginal imagery, or alien vaginal imagery rather, which kind of makes the video a little awkward from the start. Her pointed shoulder and face prosthetics make an appearance, while the pop star dances in a bra and underwear with a group of half naked people. The guy covered in skeletal tattoos from the “Scheiße” remix video also makes a cameo and Gaga tries the look herself. Yes, it's weird, probably the most out-there of her videos to date, but we'd be stupid not to expect it. She ends the clip with a nod to Madonna and Michael Jackson, embracing all the many critical comparisons. Note the purposely placed gap in between her front teeth; awesome. Watch it below.

In the News: Radiohead To Release New Album, Arcade Fire Celebrate Win + Gaga Talks With A-Coop & Seacrest

Radiohead announced via their website yesterday that they will be releasing their eighth LP this Saturday. The King of Limbs will be available through a digital download this weekend, while a physical format, which the band has deemed “the world's first newspaper album,” will be released on May 9. Unlike “In Rainbows,” there will no longer be a “pay-what-you-want” type of deal. The digital release will be priced at $9 for an MP3 version and $14 for the WAV files. The physical “newspaper album” which includes two clear 10-inch vinyl records, a CD and a detailed package with many large and colourful sheets of artwork, 625 smaller pieces of artwork and a plastic sleeve will cost you $48. In terms of a traditional release, the CD and 12” vinyl will be available starting March 29. Nothing can ever be simple with Radiohead, but then again, I guess it just adds to their epicness. The band has been tight-lipped about the contents of the album. All we know is that The King of Limbs was produced by Nigel Godrich.

Post-Grammys, The Arcade Fire were interviewed about their surprising Album of the Year win. Check out the video below to see their genuinelly happy and cute respose to the award and how incredibly down-to-earth they are.  

Grammy Sidenote: Sunday night's presentation of the 53^rd Annual Grammy Awards had the largest audience the ceremony has seen in 11 years; 26.66 million viewers.

In other news, Lady Gaga was interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper. It's a pretty interesting segment that sheds some light on why she feels the need to wear the most outrageous things and say the things she does. If you're a fan of her it's worth the watch. And even if you're not. Click here to watch Lady Gaga and the Art of Fame.

Gaga was also interviewed by the renowned American Idol host during On-Air With Ryan Seacrest earlier today. She revealed some deatils about her upcoming album, Born This Way, out May 23. She mentioned that her next single, "Judas," will be released a few weeks before the unveiling of the record. She told Seacrest that not only did she write all the songs herself, she also co-produced them with RedOne. Song titles the eccentric pop star mentioned were "Hair," "Marry the Night," and "Government Hooker." The latter song apparently has a hip hop beat and "really filthy" lyrics. You can listen to the interview here.

Grammy Hangover; Surprises, Shockers, The Good & Bad

What can I say about the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards that took place in Los Angeles last night? Well, now that I've calmed down and placed my phone across the room so I can cease whatever is left of the Twitter attack I was having, I can clearly reflect on last night's events.

First of all, biggest surprise of the night; Arcade Fire wins Album of the Year for their masterpiece, The Suburbs. This was an incredible moment for not only the band, but for music. Like Kanye tweeted, maybe there is hope in the world. I was shocked. As a big fan of the band, of course I was cheering for them, but never expected an album that was released on an independent label to beat out the likes of Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum. The seven-piece Canadian outfit was clearly shocked themselves. “What the hell?” exclaimed frontman Win Butler when he received the award. “Thank you to the Grammys, thank you everyone. We're so happy!” They then ended the night with an energized performance of “Ready to Start.” The band later tweeted this. I'm genuinely so happy for them.

Another surprise, Eminem, the one-expression-only rap superstar, was nominated for 10 awards, but only left with two. So much for the clean sweep everyone thought was going to happen.

The shockers don't end there. Jazz singer and instrumentalist, Esperanza Spalding took home the highly coveted award for Best New Artist. I think I speak for everyone when I say: “WTF?” How does someone who is relatively unknown in the world of mainstream music beat out huge contenders like Justin Bieber, Florence and the Machine, Drake, and Mumford and Sons? I'm all for recognizing new artists and sounds, but lets be fair here, everyone she was up against (including Bieber) contributed much to the industry as of recently and they hand over the award to the new kid? Voters got it wrong.

Yet another head-scratcher; the chart-topping country group Lady Antebellum won Grammys for both Record and Song of the Year, shutting out favored nominees Cee Lo Green and Eminem and Rihanna.

In the other top categories, Muse took home Best Rock Album for The Resistance, the deserving Black Keys won Best Alternative Album for Brothers, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys received the Best Rap Song award for “Empire State of Mind.”

Awards aside, it was all about the performances. The night began with a tribute to Aretha Franklin (that went on for far too long) and featured Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine (who was clearly the best vocalist of the bunch). A 67-year-old Mick Jagger also payed tribute, but to Solomon Burke instead and proved age clearly doesn't matter when he energetically danced across the stage in Nike sneakers.

Lady Gaga's debut performance of “Born This Way” was one of my favourites. Yes, she is crazy and weird and some of her artistic ideas seem out of the norm, but how boring would it be if every artist was the same? She offers us something different, a little entertainment while we listen to her beautifully crafted pop music. So haters need to leave her be; I'm looking at you Jason Segel. The pop star arrived at the ceremony enclosed in an egg, then hatched during her well choreographed performance and was born a hair-whipping, organ-playing demon-dinosaur! It was entertaining and I enjoyed it. Her outfits throughout the night were hilariously awesome; massive platforms, a superhero inspired leather ensemble which outlined fake butt cheeks and a hat that hid her face. Could we expect anything less?

Muse played their hit “Uprising” while standing on the three-piece stage they used for their last tour, as a riot took place beneath them. Bob Dylan joined Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers after they performed their folk singles and sang “Maggie's Farm.” Although Dylan is getting older and his voice isn't what it used to be, it was still a nice moment. Rihanna, Eminem and Maroon 5's Adam Levine teamed up for “Love the Way You Lie.” Then in his first television performance in over a decade, Dr. Dre joined Eminem in “I Need a Doctor.” It was great, but could have used a little more Dre.

Rihanna later returned with Drake for "What's My Name," another one of my favourite performances. The song took on a more tribal vibe and Rihanna's vocals seemed stronger. It probably wasn't completely live, which would explain it. Speaking of my faves of the night, Arcade Fire's seizure-inducing stobe light extravaganza for "Month of May," was simply awesome and consisted of guys on BMX bikes riding across the stage with cameras on their helmets so we could see what they see. Pretty cool.

Oscar winner Gwenyth Paltrow paired up with Cee Lo Green to sing “The song otherwise known as 'Forget You'” as the Grammys puts it. It was a colourful performance, complete with dancing Muppets, Cee Lo in a bird/knight costume and a piano-climbing Paltrow. Although it seemed like Cee Lo might have forgotten some of his own lyrics, he could have just been really into it. It was a fun few minutes after all. B.O.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle “Poof” Monae also came together during “Nothing On You,” “Grenade” and “Cold War.”


At the end of the day, it wasn't a complete waste of 3 and half hours. Until next year!

The 53rd Annual Grammy Award Winners:
Album of the Year: Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
Record of the Year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Song of the Year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Best New Artist: Esperanza Spalding
Best Rap Album: Eminem, Recovery
Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster
Best Alternative Music Album: The Black Keys, Brothers
Best Rock Album: Muse, The Resistance
Best Rap Song: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group: Train, “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)”
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are”
Best Dance Recording: Rihanna, “Only Girl (In the World)”
Best Electronic Dance Album: La Roux, La Roux
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group: Black Keys, “Tighten Up”
Best Hard Rock Performance: Them Crooked Vultures, “New Fang”
Best Metal Performance: Iron Maiden, “El Dorado”
Best Rock Song: Neil Young, “Angry World”
Best Rap Solo Performance: Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group: Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz, “On to the Next One”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Best R&B Song: John Legend and the Roots, “Shine”
Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Cee Lo, “F*** You”
Best R&B Album: John Legend and the Roots, Wake Up
Best Contemporary R&B Album: Usher, Raymond v Raymond
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Danger Mouse

Lady Gaga Releases New Single: “Born This Way”

After much hype and teasing, Lady Gaga has finally released the first single off her highly anticipated album Born This Way, which is out this coming May. The song of the same title, is a collection of pulsating house beats, buzzing synth rhythms and theatrical choruses. With hints of Madonna's “Express Yourself” and Michael Jackson's “Black or White,” the song consists of a political, yet inspirational message about embracing who you are as a person and diversity in general. The fashion-forward pop star has had so much hype surrounding the release of this single that today has been deemed “Born This Way Friday,” with radio stations playing the track on heavy rotation. It's funny to think that the song only took her 10 minutes to write! Personally, I like the track. It takes a few moments to comprehend what exactly is going on, but I inevitably gave into the beat and began nodding my head and slowly dancing in my seat; an affect most Gaga songs have on me upon the first listen. I'm really looking forward to her third album, May feels so long away.

“You're black, white, beige, chola descent / You're Lebanese, you're Orient / Whether life's disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased / Rejoice and love yourself today / 'Cause baby you were born this way.”

In the News: Lady Gaga Preview, New Lennon Book

The first single off Lady Gaga's third effort, Born This Way, won't be released until February 13, but the creative pop sensation has offered fans a peek by releasing an untitled remix. The song debuted at a Paris fashion show for her personal stylist, Nicola Formichetti and appears in a video of men strutting down a runway and tattooed beings, complete with skeletal make-up, wrapping themselves in black shawls. Strange, but could we expect anything less? The remix includes hard, house dance beats and chanting in German. You can pick out what the actual release might sound like midpoint on. Another Gaga anthem I'm sure. You can check the video out here. 

In other news, letters and drawings by late Beatle, John Lennon, are going to be published in a new book. Hunter Davies, a Beatles' biographer convinced Yoko Ono to sell the rights to Lennon's collection of letters to record companies, news publications and fans, as well as several personal drawings. The book does not currently have a title, but will be released in October of 2012, to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the Fab Four's debut single “Love Me Do.”

As a Beatles fan, I'm excited for this to be released, more so because I'm interested in seeing the types of things Lennon would draw. But then again, don't even The Beatles deserve some form of privacy? Till now, these personal letters and drawings have never been seen by the public. Should it not be kept this way? I know it's just another cash-grab, but I feel like this is an invasion of privacy Lennon probably wouldn't be extremely pleased with.