Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to discuss our predictions for who will win awards at the 2015 Grammy Awards! I choose 8 random categories (you can check out the rest of the nominees here: GRAMMY.com | The Official Site of Music’s Biggest Night) for us to look at, and added a few sentences why I think that these artists/songs will win. This is a really competitive year, so if y’all have any counter suggestions please let me know in the comments section below. Ready? Let’s go!
Record of the Year:
Fancy by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
You couldn’t escape this song in 2014, and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Fancy received overall positive reviews upon its’ release, and was able to hold on to the #1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 consecutive weeks.
Album of the year:
Beyoncé by Beyoncé Knowles
Ok, when an artist can release an album without any previous announcements or promotion, and the album debuts at #1…well that’s really awesome! The album sold so many copies within the first 3 days (828,773), that it has become the fastest selling album in the history of the iTunes Store…sounds like album of the year to me.
Best new artist:
Iggy Azalea
This year Iggy became the fourth solo female rapper to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the first female & non-American rapper to be featured on XXL Magazine’s annual Top 10 Freshmen cover issue (an issue that names the top 10 up an coming rappers, that is credited for giving any rappers the exposure necessary to become instant stars) also, she joined the Beatles as the only acts to ever have their debut Hot 100 at #1 & #2 simultaneously, she also passed rapper Lil’ Kim as the female rapper with the longest-leading #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Yeah, she definitely seems to have the tile of artist of the year locked down.
Best pop duo/group performance:
Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj
This song (which features 3 really big stars) has gone triple platinum in the U.S., and had the 3rd largest sales debut for a song in 2014. Bang Bang also played non-stop on all mainstream radio stations ALL year in 2014, so it’s definitely a huge contender for this award.
Best country song:
I’m Not Gonna Miss You by Glen Campbell
This song appeared as the theme song for Glen Campbell’s 2014 documentary I’ll Be Me 9which received numerous positive reviews), and is the final studio recording ever released from the legendary singer/songwriter. With a career that spanned over 50 years, and included: countless awards in music & film, a 2012 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, hosting a variety show entitled The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and so much more than I can include in this post. Because of his extraordinary career, and the fact that this song is extremely awesome, I definitely think that he deserves this award.
Best country album:
Platinum by Miranda Lambert
With singles such as: Automatic & Something Bad, we couldn’t get Miranda out of our heads this year. This album also made Miranda the first artist in history to start her career with five consecutive #1 albums. Platinum has also received nearly unanimous positive reviews from numerous critics. In the past year Miranda has been on a serious roll, so I don’t expect this to end anytime soon.
Best country duo/group performance:
Gentle on My Mind by The Band Perry from the Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me Soundtrack EP
Now this song previously won 4 Grammy Awards when it was originally released in 1968 (which proves how awesome the song is), and has gotten A LOT of radio play since it was released late this year. It has to be hard to cover such an iconic song from an extremely legendary artist (and the fact that this song appeared on that legend’s last project adds a little bit more pressure), despite all this pressure, The Band Perry really proved that it can raise to the challenge.
Best rock song:
Ain’t it Fun by Paramore
Ok, you know that you were jammin out to this song all year! This was definitely a change of pace for this band; however it was a risk that really paid off for them. This song is also Paramore’s highest peaking song, made the album it appeared on (also entitled Paramore) this band’s first album to produce two Top 40 hits, and was certified Platinum in the U.S.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to discuss all of the memorable moments from last night’s 2014 VMAs. The show was jam packed with breathtaking performances, awards presented to amazing acts, and other memorable and tear-jerking moments. So if y’all are ready, let’s not waste any more time and dive right in!
VMA Pre-Show & Memorable Moments:
The VMA pre-show was full of so much fun, it felt like a show within itself. The show was co-hosted by ‘Pretty Little Liars’ star/Country music singer/songwriter Lucy Hale, and MTV correspondents Sway & Christina Garibaldi. The trio interviewed a lot of amazing stars during the pre-show, and even got to speak to ‘Teen Wolf’ star Dylan O’Brien, regarding his highly anticipated film ‘The Maze Runner’. Pop singer/songwriter/rapper Becky G and beauty/fashion/lifestyle YouTube guru Ingrid Nilsen (aka Missglamorazzi, you can find a blog post about her here: YouTube Wednesday: Missglamorazzi…the beauty/fashion/health guru who likes her glamour with a side of fun! | celindareyesblog) served as the Covergirl ‘InstaGLAM’ correspondents for the pre-show, and helped us keep track of some of the fun fashions of the night. A moment during the pre-show that definitely had our heads spinning with nostalgia, was when Katy Perry and rapper Riff Raff wore all denim outfits inspired by Britney Spears’ and Justin Timberlake’s famous 2001 American Music Awards outfits (even though Britney and Justin are no longer one of Pop music’s most beloved couples). Another moment that I want to mention right now (even though it happened during the actual show) was Miley Cyrus’ ‘Video of the Year’ win, where she allowed a homeless young man named Jesse accept the award on behalf of all of the homeless young people in the LA area. Jesse also told the audience where they could go and learn more about the issue of homeless and runaway youths. There was also a short tribute to the late actor Robin Williams during the actual VMA show, which displayed a picture of the actor while a beautiful song played in the background. Last but surely not least, let’s talk about the pre-show performances!
Fifth Harmony:
The girl group/former ‘X-Factor’ contestants went on to win the ‘Artist to Watch’ award later in the show, but before that, they gave a crowd pleasing rendition of their latest hit single ‘BO$$’. The girls wore different combinations of dressy skirts, pants, and tops, and were aided in their performance by dancers who wore all white outfits. Some of their dancers also carried red trumpets, which added an overall cool vibe to the performance. With the deafening sound of Fifth Harmony’s fans (aka Harmonizers), it was no surprise that the group took home their first VMA award last night.
Charli XCX:
The singer/songwriter behind the infectious song ‘Boom Clap’ (which was featured on both the film and the trailer for one of the summer’s most anticipated films ‘The Fault in Our Stars’), took the stage after Fifth Harmony, and definitely had the aid of the energetic crowd on her side. Charli wore a light colored dress with a feathered coat, and in the middle of her performance left the first stage, walked on a runway that went through the crowd, and walked onto a smaller second stage. As Charli walked, her steps coordinated with the beating of her drummers, which gave off a very cool effect that just hyped up the crowd even more. At the end of her performance, Charli presented a random fan with a ticket to the VMAs, and the crowd went even wilder.
Winners (these were awards that were presented during the actual award show or during the pre-show, for a full list of the winners please go here 2014 Video Music Awards Winners And Results | VMAs | MTV):
Best Lyric Video: ‘Don’t Stop’ by 5 Seconds of Summer
With the success of their 2014 summer smash ‘She Looks So Perfect’, and follow up hits such as ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘Amnesia’, it is obvious that this band was definitely a contender for both of the awards that they were nominated for last night. Although they didn’t win the ‘Artist to Watch’ award, the fact that the band did win ‘Best Lyric’ video, proved just how dedicated 5 Seconds of Summer’s fans are. Also, the ‘Don’t Stop’ video was definitely very interesting and intricate, (I mean the entire video was a giant comic book, how cool is that!?!).
Best Female Video: ‘Dark Horse’ by Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Ever since this song was released as Katy Perry’s 3rd single off of her latest album ‘Prism’, the song has become an instant hit for Katy. The song has peaked within the top 10 in A LOT of countries, and has gone double, triple, and even sextuple (which means 6 times) platinum. The video also currently has 545,027,017 views, and it’s only been up for 6 months, so that’s REALLY impressive.
Best Male Video: ‘Sing’ by Ed Sheeran
Ok, let’s just take a moment to discuss ‘Sing’. After Ed stole our hearts with his emotional tracks ‘A Team’ and ‘Lego House’ we taught we knew what Ed was about, but then he surprised us with this song off of his latest album ‘X’. ‘Sing’ is a really fun, upbeat pop/jazzy/hip-hop song that definitely showed a new side to the singer/songwriter. With Pharrell Williams (who has had an enviable career that has spanned since the early 90s), serving as a producer and backup vocalist on this song, it was a guaranteed smash from the start. Now as if the song alone wasn’t enough, Ed added the extra touch of him in puppet form…seriously who can dislike a puppet!?! So needless to say, Ed certainly had a great shot at taking home this particular award.
Best Pop Video: ‘Problem’ by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea
Now it was enviable that Ariana wasn’t going to walk away last night empty handed. She has arguably become the fastest rising young star in the music industry this year, and it seems that she is only on her way up. With hits such as: ‘The Way’ (which was actually released in 2013), ‘Break Free’, her newest soon to be hit single ‘Bang Bang’, and of course ‘Problem’ (which arguably is one of the biggest hits of the summer of 2014), it is easy to see that Ariana was going to be a tough act to beat. The video is also very cool, and uses a meticulously put together 70’s vibe that gives it an interesting flair. I have to say that this was definitely a standout video this year, so it definitely deserved this award.
Best Hip-Hop Video: ‘Hold On, (We’re Going Home)’ by Drake feat. Majid Jordan
With big names such as: Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, and others, Drake was definitely in for a fight for this award. However, there is no denying that Drake has become a HUGE name in Hip-Hop over the past few years, and the success of ‘Hold On’ has definitely aided him in this. The song has also gone Gold and Platinum in numerous countries (double Platinum in the U.S.). Honestly if you wanted a definition of “cool” then this would be the perfect example, because this video just screams cool. The simplicity of the video is what I really like about it, and this definitely makes this video unique.
Best Rock Video: ‘Royals’ by Lorde
It still amazes me just how much of a whirlwind career Lorde has already had. At just 17 this young star has a resume that many seasoned musicians would envy. Her debut single ‘Royals’ definitely made a powerful and lasting impact for the singer/songwriter, and has already been certified platinum (many, many times over) in numerous countries. I found that the music video for ‘Royals’ was exceptional, because the concept is very simple, which perfectly matches the vibe and lyrical content of the song. I think that the fact that the video is not overly flashy only adds to the song’s power.
Artist to Watch: Fifth Harmony ‘Miss Movin On’
Ever since music mogul Simon Cowell put this INCREDIBLE girl group together Fifth Harmony has acculturated a fiercely loyal fan base. Although they did not win their season of the ‘X Factor’, the girl group was signed to Syco Records, and has had great success with all of their projects. In fact, their song ‘Miss Movin On’ has been charted in numerous countries, and has made the group arguably one of the most successful acts to come off of the ‘X Factor’ franchise. I personally love their video for the song, because it’s fun, and full of sassy attitude, which perfectly matches the tone of the song.
Video of the Year: ‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus
Needless to say, this song was a hit for Miley, but the video is what really seemed to capture people’s attention. Before dropping her latest album ‘Bangerz’, Miley was best known for her hit Disney Channel show ‘Hannah Montana’. Miley’s lead single ‘We Can’t Stop’ quickly showed that she was headed in a new direction with her music and her sophomore hit ‘Wrecking Ball’ left no doubt that Miley had left Hannah behind for good. The greatest evidence of this change was definitely ’Wrecking Ball’ video, which had Miley showing her vulnerable side by swinging on a wrecking ball naked, crying in some frames of the videos, and destroying her setting in other frames. The video certainly left an intense and lasting impact that definitely warrants the title of ‘Video of the Year’.
Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Beyoncé
I mean what can really be said about Beyoncé’s career? With a resume that spans nearly 2 decades, Beyoncé has certainly made a lasting impact on Pop music. She first won the hearts of fans as a part of the highly successful girl group ‘Destiny’s Child’(which have left the legacy of being one of the world best selling girl groups of all time), and then went on to form a very fruitful solo career. In her entire career, Beyoncé has managed to win 479 awards, which include: 17 Grammys, 18 Billboard Music Awards, 18 MTV VMA Awards, and numerous others. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be Beyoncé right now!
Performances:
Ariana Grande:
The powerhouse vocalist that has been dominating 2014 thus far definitely showed everyone last night that she is a powerful, long lasting presence, with her unforgettable performance of her latest single ‘Break Free’ (which features EDM superstar DJ Zedd). Ariana’s performance had a futuristic/outer space setting, where she came out of a spaceship, in a frilly pink dress and boots, and dances with her dancers (who also had space themed outfits.
Nicki Minaj:
Hip-Hop rapper/singer/songwriter Nicki Minaj was up next, with a crowd pleasing performance of her latest hit ‘Anaconda’. Nicki wore a green one piece suit, and had a lot of cool acrobatic dancers performing tricks above the stage. Nicki and her dancers then kept up the VMA tradition that was set by Miley Cyrus last year, and participated in a lot of twerking. This definitely got the audience very hyped up, and the energy continued to rise.
Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Jessie J:
Next up, singer/songwriter Jessie J came on stage and began singing one of Ariana’s newest tracks ‘Bang Bang’ (which features Jessie and Nicki). Ariana and Nicki finally remerged, and began performing their parts of the song. Even though Nicki had a slight wardrobe malfunction during the performance, she still handled it like a pro. The audience certainly loved the world premiere of the song, and it is obvious that this will likely be another song that all three artists will receive a lot of acclaim for.
Taylor Swift:
The next performance was given by Taylor Swift, who performed her newest (and first purely pop hit) ‘Shake It Off’. Taylor wore a cool sparkly two piece (a matching skirt and top), that resembled a very modern flapper look. She also had backup singers that wore black colored dresses of the same style, and male dancers in tuxedos. Taylor also had a funny moment in her performance, in which she “refused” to jump of a large sign that read 1989 (the name of her next album), and climbed to the bottom of the sign in order to finish the number.
Sam Smith:
Sam Smith was the next performer, and he definitely proved just how hard he can pull at our heartstrings (which is one of the many reasons why we love him). He wore all black, and had a very simple setting, with just one pianist, and a single spotlight on both him and the pianist. This performance definitely played up the song’s deep emotional content, and instantly captivated the audience from beginning to end.
Usher:
Usher performed his newest song ‘She Came To Give It To You’ (which featured Nicki Minaj) next. The performance started with Usher dressed in white dancing for a few seconds. The stage then lit up, and Usher’s entire band materialized (also dressed in white). Usher continued his performance with a golden mic and stand, which gave the whole performance a very cool vibe. During the performance Nicki Minaj came out onto the stage (also dressed in white), came out and danced with Usher and later twerked with one of his guitar players.
5 Seconds of Summer:
The next performance of the night was ‘Best Lyric Video’ winners 5 Seconds of Summer. The band played their newest hit song ‘Amnesia’, and it was easy to see that the crowd absolutely adored them. The band wore very casual outfits (jeans and t-shirts), and definitely brought back an old 90s grunge vibe to their performance.
Iggy Azalea:
Next up was multiple VMA nominee Iggy Azalea, who performed her latest hit track ‘Black Widow’ with singer/songwriter Rita Ora. Both entertainers were dressed in dresses that contained web like patterns, and the stage contained multiple ballerinas that were dressed in black and red tutus, with black mesh like fabric around their faces and bodies. The whole performance definitely had a haunted effect that made it very intriguing to watch.
Maroon 5:
Next up was rock band Maroon 5 (which is fronted by lead singer/’The Voice’ coach Adam Levine. The band performed their newest single ‘Maps’, and proved that they still have super devoted fans that go crazy merely at the sight of the band. The stage contained a giant capitalized ‘M’ (which has become the band’s signature logo), and the band dressed very casual (Adam wore a Los Angeles Lakers jersey and black jeans). The band brought a lot of energy to their performance, and also played their hit song ‘One More Night’ after the next award was presented.
Beyoncé:
The last performance of the night (and arguably the most anticipated), was Beyoncé’s performance before she accepted her ‘Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award’. Beyoncé’s performance definitely felt more like a mini-concert, and had her fans going wild. She had multiple costumes, and had her dancers do everything from hip-hop dancing, pole dancing, twerking, and various other complex routines. There was also an excellent use of various types of lighting, which added to how meticulously thought out the performance was. Beyoncé also had several moments in which she was alone on stage singing, and in these moments proved just how impactful of an entertainer she is, and why her fans love her. It would honestly take A LOT of pages to explain every single aspect of the performance, so to sum it up, the performance was certainly a once in a lifetime VMA moment that viewers will definitely not forget. Perhaps the tenderest moment of the performance was the last number, in which Beyoncé sang as photos of her daughter Blue Ivy, and her husband Jay-Z played on the back screen. When the performance was done, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy presented Beyoncé with her award, and her fans got to see ‘Beyoncé the wife and mother’, instead of just ‘Beyoncé the entertainer’. It was a truly beautiful moment.
As you can see, one of music’s biggest nights was filled with equally big moments. From Katy Perry’s throwback tribute to one of music’s most beloved couples (we miss you Britney and Justin), to Ariana, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj’s jaw dropping opening performance, to Robin Williams emotional tribute, and Miley’s reminder that we all need to be grateful for the small things we are blessed to have, this night definitely had us on an emotional roller coaster. However, all social media sites definitely stopped when Beyoncé took the stage, and proved just why she is beloved by so many and has had such a long lasting and fruitful career. All I have to say is that I am soooo ready for the 2015 VMAs, if they are anything like the 2014 VMAs, then watch out!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we are going to discuss an up and coming YouTube star that you might already be familiar with. This amazing vocalist found fame at a very young age, and was able to captivate audiences with is talent, charisma, and natural star power. Does the name Stevie Brock ring a bell? If you were a fan of Disney Channel/Radio Disney in the early 2000s then be prepared for some major déjà vu, and learn why Stevie is on the verge of a major career upswing. So sit down, read the blog, and prepare to witness musically greatness (trust me if you don’t already, you’re going to love him after reading this post).
Stevie Brock was born on October 23rd, 1990 in Centerville, OH (I found conflicting sources on this, so it could have been Centerville or Dayton, OH). Stevie began singing at a very young age, and at the ripe old age of 11, was discovered in Dayton, Ohio, and signed to WIRE Records (which was an Orlando, FL based record company owned by veteran manager Johnny Wright, who has managed successful groups and artists such as: New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, the Jonas Brothers, Menudo, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Ciara). In 2002, Stevie was a guest vocalist on the group Triple Image’s single ‘Boy Next Door’ (Triple Image, Stevie Brock – Boy Next Door). In 2003 Stevie released his debut self-titled album, which included a cover of the hit track ‘All for Love’ (Stevie Brock – All For Love) originally by the group Color Me Badd. ‘All for Love’ became a hit single for Stevie as well, and received a lot of rotation on radio stations such as Radio Disney, and was also included on the ‘Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 6’ CD. He later released a corresponding music video for the track. Also in 2003, Stevie toured with fellow pop sensation Aaron Carter on his ‘Aaron’s Jukebox World Tour’, and later toured on Radio Disney tours such as: the ‘Jingle Jam’ Tour with Greg Raposo and Jesse McCartney, and Jump 5’s 2004 ‘Spring Thing’ Tour. Stevie’s career continued to soar in 2004, when he was asked to record the track ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’ (Stevie Brock – Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, which was originally on the 1940s Disney movie ‘Song of the South’) for the ‘DisneyMania 2’ album, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’ for the ‘Radio Disney Jingle Jams’ CD, and ‘Three Is A Magic Number’ for the soundtrack to Disney’s animated feature Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (Three is a Magic Number -Greg Raposo, Matt Ballinger and Stevie Brock – YouTube, along with former members of the boy band ‘Dream Street’, Greg Raposo and Matt Ballinger). After some time, Stevie was no longer under contract with WIRE records, and moved back home to Centerville, OH, where he graduated high school in 2009. Stevie moved to Los Angeles, CA upon completing high school, and continued to perform in numerous venues, while continuing to build a very loyal fan base. Stevie released his first new single (since his 2003 debut album) on April 26th, 2012, entitled ‘Final Offer’ (Stevie Brock – “Final Offer” (Official Video)). This music video for the track is a very artistically cool piece, which shows multiple shot transitions, and is entirely in black and white. The video really focuses on Stevie’s voice, and is a very cool change from your typical music video.
Stevie uploaded his first YouTube cover on September 3rd, 2010. The video was an acoustic cover of Taio Cruz’s hit track ‘Dynamite’ (Stevie Brock Covers – Taio Cruz “Dynamite” Acoustic). I felt like this was the perfect song for Stevie to cover, because it left a lasting impact that would draw in new fans, and allow old fans to see just how much Stevie has grown as an entertainer. This rendition allows fans to see just how hard Stevie has been working over the past few years. His vocals are extremely well controlled, and his ease and charisma just leaps off screen. Although Stevie was always an incredible entertainer, he now appears to have an ease and confidence that truly allows his talent and passion for music to shine through. The video that we’re going to discuss is Stevie Brock’s cover of the Stevie Wonder classic ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)(‘Stevie Brock Live – Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” at The Roxy – 05.09.12) which was uploaded on April 3rd, 2011. The video shows Stevie Brock performing the hit song live, and once again proves the he has blossomed into a true entertainer. First of all, this is an extremely difficult song to sing due to the track’s insane vocal runs, and difficult notes. Secondly Stevie Wonder’s original rendition of the song is so flawless that it is almost impossible for any artist to cover. With all this said, I really loved Stevie Brock’s rendition, and I think that watching this video definitely proves what a powerhouse vocalist Stevie Brock is. The final cover video that we are going to discuss in right now (even through honestly we could discuss all of his videos in great detail), is Stevie’s cover of Mario’s hit track ‘Let Me Love You’ Stevie Brock Live – Mario’s “Let Me Love You” at The Roxy 05.09.12), which was uploaded May 25th, 2012. I really love that Stevie covered this song, because it allowed us to see that he has the artistry to take on an emotionally driven track. He proved that not only can he perform a song that makes us want to get up and dance, but he can also make us feel the emotion behind the lyrics of a song.
In 2013, Stevie and 3 of his high school friends (Dan Cox, Bill Reilich, and Dan Burtenshaw) reformed a Hip-Hop parody singing group called The Cream Pies that they had originally formed on high school. On January 9th, 2014 (The Cream Pies – We Love You, Ellen (Official Music Video)), The Cream Pies uploaded a tribute video to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, which she featured on her show on January 15th, 2014. The video featured a hilarious Hip-Hop/R&B track, in which the various members of The Cream Pies took turns explaining why they loved Ellen. The video included some of Ellen’s famous games, catchphrases, and even ended with her famous ending phrase “anyway…” (C’mon you’ve seen the show; you know what I’m talking about). She invited The Cream Pies to be guests on the show, and they made their debut appearance on January 22nd, 2014 (The Cream Pies Are Here!). Ellen interviewed the group, and then they performed their Ellen tribute song love on the show (they even also received new ‘Ellen’ shirts to wear while they performed). Once the performance was over, Ellen gave the group a free trip to Las Vegas.
At the age of 23, Stevie has already had over a decade of experience in the music industry, and has proven time and time again that he has what it take to captivate an audience and turn them into lifelong fans. Over the years, Stevie has transformed from a teen heartthrob, into a mature adult vocalist, a task that is not always easy to succeed at. Due to his unique yet natural “it” factor, Stevie has been able to perfectly cultivate his growing image, while also staying true to the artist that his original fans grew to love. I can definitely see big things ahead for Stevie, and it is obvious that this talented guy will succeed with his solo career, The Cream Pies, and any other endeavor that he take on. It will certainly not be long before we are all fortunate enough to hear more music from this rising star, after all, he does it all for love.
Hello, people of the internet!!! On today’s YouTube Wednesday’, we are going to talk about an amazing new band that I am so excited to share with y’all! This U.K. band has been making a splash ever since its conception in 2009 and has shared the stage with a wide variety of successful and well-acclaimed bands. Their songs will have you dancing, crying, and constantly wanting more. It’s just like those YouTube videos you used to watch over here on this page which kept you entertained for hours on end! Ever since I first heard this band’s music (when they followed me on Twitter…once again thank you Twitter!), I have been absolutely addicted, and now I can’t imagine not constantly listening to this band’s music. Who is this amazing band you may ask? I’m glad you asked. This band is none other than the incredible talented ‘Reachback’. Reachback consists of Ruby Williams as the lead vocalist, Tom McHenry on guitar, Joe Williams on bass, and Craig Chin on drums. Together these four extremely talented musicians make up a band that I believe will have a great and lasting impression on the Pop/Rock music scene very soon. So if you haven’t heard of ‘Reachback’, read on!
Reachback was founded in 2009, and after two years of hard work released their first single off of their debut EP to ‘Absolute Radio’ (one of the 3 National independent Internet radio stations in the U.K. After the release of this single, Reachback was able to perform with famous and well-acclaimed acts such as McFly, Scouting For Girls, Mayday Parade, and Forever The Sickest Kids, just to name a few. After Reachback released its two next singles, they were given the distinction of being named ‘Unsigned Band of the Week’ by Sarah Champion of ‘Absolute Radio’, and caught the attention of Radio 1 (a large British radio station) and Kerrang! Magazine. Also, in September of 2011, the band was given the opportunity by MTV and Extreme of performing two of their songs acoustically at ‘Abby Road Studios’. In 2012, Reachback was nominated for 3 ‘Artist in Music Award’ nominations, a spot on the McFly ‘Keep Calm and Play Louder’ tour, the premiere of their music video for ‘No One Else’ on Kerrang! (a big online rock magazine) and MTV showcases at MTV and Extreme Music headquarters, a slot on the ‘Red Bull Bedroom Jam Tour’, participating in some of the biggest music festivals in the U.K., participation in a celebrity football (soccer for Americans) tournament, and a performance at the ‘BT London Live Hyde Park Festival’ during the 2012 Olympics (wow I got tired just writing that, I can’t imagine how tired they were living it!). In 2013, Reachback spent the first half of the year touring the U.K and recording their new album (which is set to be released through Spectra Records in 2014!). So now that you know enough about the band to win a trivia contest, let’s get to the music!!!
One cover that Reachback has performed that I really loved was their rendition of ‘Best Song Ever’ by One Direction Best Song Ever – One Direction (Reachback Cover). What I loved most about this version, was that it was less of a “cover’, and more of an individual take on the original song. Reachback’s version has more Pop/Soul influences, which makes this version pleasing to the ears in a different way. Honestly I find myself replaying this version over and over again without growing tired. When I saw that Reachback did a cover of ‘Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty Free Fallin – John Mayer/Tom Petty (Reachback Cover) (and was more recently made popular again by John Mayer), I was extremely intrigued. ‘Free Fallin’ is a very difficult song to cover, because the emotion and notes have to be exactly on point in order to have the impact that is expected of this song. Once I heard Reachback’s version, the only thing that surprised me was that I was surprised by how well they did with it. At this point it shouldn’t surprise me that this band is able to take such a classic song and breathe new life into it. Fans of the original version will certainly not be disappointed. Now this next cover is actually the first cover that I heard from Reachback, however I saved it for last because it’s my favorite. The finial cover that I’m going to discuss is Reachback’s rendition of ‘Cry Me A River’ &’Mirrors’ by the PHENOMINAL Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River & Mirrors (Reachback Cover) . Covering a Justin Timberlake song is certainly not an easy task to pull off, because he is such an amazing vocalist, however I am OBESSED with Reachback’s version of these two JT hits. I love that Reachback infuses its own unique style of Pop/Rock/Soul to make this rendition distinctly different than any other cove you’ll hear. I honestly feel like I could go on and on about how much I love Reachback’s covers, I am just so addicted to them.
However, although Reachback has released some INCREDIBLE covers, they have also released original music that is amazing. On September 22nd, 2011 Reachback released its’ debut single entitled ‘Butterflies’ Butterflies – Reachback, as part of their ‘Wake Up – EP‘. This Pop/Rock track tells the story of unrequited love in such a way, that will make you dance a little bit as you cry into that tub of ice cream (we all do that…right? O..K…moving on.). This track will certainly resonant with Paramore fans, due to this song’s style which is reminiscent of early-Paramore. Reachback released their third single on September 23rd, 2011, in the form of a track called ‘Without You’ Without You – Reachback . ‘Without You’ is a track about lost love, and the feelings of isolation and disbelief that follow a breakup. I really love how this song contains very meaningful and deep lyrics, but delivers the message is an “upbeat” way. The fact that this song is not a slow ballad, makes ‘Without You’ unique and memorable. Reachback released their first official music video to accompany their next single ‘No One Else’ on April 9th, 2012 REACHBACK – No One Else (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (up until this point, all of the singles had only had a photo of the band, and were not actual music videos). ‘No One Else’ is a song about a girl loving one guy so intensely, that no one else could ever take that guy’s place. These feelings become so intense, that the girl in the song still only loves that one particular guy, even after he is gone. I love how powerfully the message of the song is delivered, and the passion that is behind the lead vocalists’ (Ruby Williams) voice. I would definitely suggest that you purchase this song, and the rest of the band’s EP because it WILL have you singing along to every track before you know it.
Well I think that you can infer form this blog post that I am seriously obsessed with this Reachback…and trust me after listening to one of their covers or original songs you will be too. I can see why this band has already made such an impact in the U.K., and I know that it’s only a matter of time before they become a global sensation. I am very excited about what the future holds for Reachback, and I urge you all too go along with them for the ride!
Keep in touch with Reachback!!!:
YouTube: Reachback YouTube
Twitter: Reachback
Facebook: Reachback Facebook
Website: Reachback Band