Tonight's The Night (The 57th Grammy Awards!)

Evidently, the big night of all things related to music is TODAY. The Grammy Awards, whether we like it or not, are the epitome of the music industry and a long aspiration for anyone working on music, whether they want to admit it or no. So basically, Tonight's The Night.

And as a now long tradition, Grammy's are going to be full of performances. Some odd, some very awaited (looking at you, Madonna and Katy Perry), and frankly, I can't wait to watch what the night is going to become. Something to remember or something to forget?

In all honesty, 2014 was a year to forget. Bland acts and bland music (commercially speaking) were the norm and not the exception, so the few examples of great music are rightly nominated for awards tonight. There were no big surprises on the nominations, so we only have to expect who the winners are going to be, meanwhile we sit during the three and a half hours (!) that the show normally lasts.

So,without further ado, I'll give you my predictions on who should and who will win. Care to join me?


RECORD OF THE YEAR

Who should win: Sia had a great year, and her song was surprisingly ubiquitous, so that is my bet for tonight.
Who will win: Sam Smith is the media darling right now, so it is a no brainer that he will be the king of tonight. But so is Taylor Swift, although her absence will definitely play a part in her not receiving an award tonight (but hey, wait for Grammy's 2016).
To consider: 3 out of the 5 nominees are foreigner: 2 Australian and one from the UK. Big year for foreign music on the US.


ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Who should win: Either Pharrell or Ed made great and commercial albums, not boring or repetitive, so they should win for that feat.

Who will win: Let's face it, this is Sam's night, so this one is for him also. Good album, but for half of it you just want to sleep or cry or both.

To consider: Beyoncé is the only woman nominated for this. It is a shame that her album ruled the last month of 2013, as she has no chance to win for the behemoths that Sam or Pharrell are. Also: 1000 Forms of Fear should be nominated.

SONG OF THE YEAR

Who should win: It is obvious that my love for Sia knows no boundaries or objectivity, so I will hand it to her, hands down.
Who will win: Based on popularity, it is either Taylor's or Sam's, but we know exactly how is this going to play out, right?
To consider: In a certainly dreadful year, these are actually the best songs out there and I´m glad they all are nominated.



BEST NEW ARTIST

Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Sam Smith
Haim
Brandy Clark

Who should win: Sam Smith. For me, it is the only award that he truly deserves.
Who will win: Sam Smith. It's his night, remember.
To consider: Again, foreign act dominating the nominations. For me, that is interesting, because it is obvious that the US now is more open to another acts, not the typical American stuff.



BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

"Fancy", Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX.
"A Sky Full of Stars", Coldplay
"Say Something", A Great Big World with Christina Aguilera
"Bang Bang", Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
"Dark Horse", Katy Perry featuring Juicy J


Who should win: If you know me, you know that my money will always be on Christina. And let's face it, it IS the best song of the bunch.
Who will win: It's either "Fancy" or "Dark Horse", the two biggest hits of the year. And you know what? It doesn't upset me. Both songs are proper bangers, and they deserve it.
To consider: Only one group (Coldplay) considered in this category. That means: more collaborations on the future from seemingly different artists (yass!)



BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

Who should win: As far as quality, I think Sam and Ed offered really stand out albums, but I lean more towards Ed. But in reality, I will be delighted if Katy actually wins the whole thing.
Who will win: Sam, obvs. The only album nominated for Album of The Year.
To consider: Funny thing that Coldplay is now considered pop, although let's face it, they always have been. And Miley can consider her nomination a victory and a confirmation that, after all, her talent really surpassed all the gimmicky that she have been the past year.


You can check out the full list of nominees here (only if you have the time; there are 83 categories, less than previous years, but still).

Are you watching the Grammy's tonight? Who are you rooting for? Sound off in the comments!

I'm hot & cold towards "Dark Horse" video...

So finally, after months of waiting, the "Dark Horse" video went online and boy, this was an experience...



I mean, we know Katy has a thing for goofiness (e.g. "California Gurls" video) but this is taking it to a whole new level.

First off: do I like the video? Well, duh! This is one of my favorite songs from her, so yes, I do like it. It's so deliciously camp, kitsch, ridiculous, and therefore, amazing.

But then, "Dark Horse" has been an odd thing for Katy since its premiere back in September last year. The unexpected rise on the charts, without proper promotion, propelled the song to single status once "Unconditionally" failed to meet the expectations - and high chart numbers. Then, DH became number 1 on the US charts, assuring Katy hern 9th number one overall, and we were delighted for that.

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But there was no video, uncommon for a number one song on Billboard at that status. Katy was teasing us with a great and much talked about performance at the Grammy's, and many of us thought this was indeed the theme of the video. Boy, we were so wrong.

 

 



So Katy took almost another month (!) to complete the video, and finally, we met her latest incarnation: "Katy-Patra", queen of Memphis, Egypt, which happens to share name with the city in which Juicy J was born. And also, very reminiscent to Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time", which seems fitting since they're the only ones with 5 number one singles from one album.

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Sorry to say, but this has nothing to do with the song or the lyrics. And I'm not talking about that stupidity of "There's no horses on this video!" (seriously, people are so literal and one minded at times). Also all the controversy surrounding the pendant with the name of "Allah" in Arabic (on this note: people should consider to get a job or a life, or both. Seriously). Or the Illuminati shit, who is tedious, redundant and in serious need of a boycott on the Internet.

 

 

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The thing is, this is a great song, a very different side of Katy, which shows her versatility and it was the perfect opportunity to make a statement regarding her musci and status on pop. Instead, she went safe, giving exactly what we expected from her. Well done and executed, but safe, nonetheless. This song, being a risky departure from her previous number ones (Excluding "E.T.", a song that can very well be the genesis of DH), deserved that treatment.

 

But this video is definitely a blast, likable and it sure will be a hit among kids and KatyCats (myself included). There are some GIFs to prove it:

 

 

When the bass drops.... The beat goes hard! Even in ancient Egypt.

 

 

 

 

Katy Patra and her grillz... (Seriously, this is overly camp. Also, amazeballs.)

 

 

 

This was the source of so much pain and hatred towards Katy, but to be honest, it holds nothing and it only proves some people need to develop a thicker skin (I'm not entering into religion here, thank you very much.)

 

 

 

I think I got the craves for some Hot Flamin' Cheetos.... Katy-Patra would approve.

 

 

 

Katy-Patra likes the finest thing in life (this causes another stir within the Illuminati crowd...So much fuss.)

 

 

 

Using her powers to destroy her enemies (and their careers)

 

 

 

Most of the budget sure went to make-up... She looks gorgeous.

 

 

 

Pimp my Ride Egyptian Style...

 

 

 

This little fella sure is getting away from all this madness...

 

 

 

 

Who would have known that there was a stripper soul underneath Katy? And I mean this in the most honest way possible... That split is maddening...

 

 

 

My favorite scene of the video. It should have lasted longer... This is really something.

 

 

So this is another positive note on Katy's career, but I need her to be more risquee and willing to take chances... She already won our hearts, she can do it.

 

 

And lastly, the most WTF moment of a video full of them....

 

 



 

 

The power of Katy-Patra, y'all!

 

How do you feel about this video? Let me know in the comments!





Album Review: Katy Perry, "PRISM"

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One of the most anticipated albums of this fall must have been this one. Katy Perry has been omnipresent on pop since "One of The Boys", circa 2007, and we have never looked back. This is the case of the church-girl-going-to-superstar we have witnessed several times (Whitney, Beyoncé, et al), but in this case, she decided to strip away of that persona (sometimes, on a literal way), and embrace her pop roots and become the brand that we all now love.

And then, "Teenage Dream" came, and boy we never saw that one coming. Five number one songs, more than 5 million copies sold worldwide, and a great great world tour (which I've attended, luckily), the stakes were so high that she needed to deliver. Did she do it?

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Well, first off: this is no "Teenage Dream" 2.0. While that album was goofy, unpretentious and straight-to-the-head pop, this album actually conveys a lot of styles and genres, all well crafted and bottled into tiny pieces, especially designed to stuck in the mind of the listeners and oblige them to stuck on repeat, until the lyrics acquire some meaning and you're able to sing along on your house, your car or whatever place you are listening to them.

But then, was that Katy's intention? She said about this album that she wanted to go to a "darker place", definitely inspired by the failed marriage she had with Rusell Brand. But then, love struck again in the form of Mr. John Mayer, and clearly influence part of this record.

Songs like "Legendary Lovers", with its bhangra style, or "Double Rainbow", a Sia-assisted collaboration, approaches the subject of her new found happiness, while adding some elements of new age and introspection into its lyrics. Meanwhile, "Ghost" recalls the infamous breakup with Rusell, turning this song into some cathartic experience for her, in a mid-tempo ballad that sounds both haunting and reassuring.

I have to say, "Roar" as a first single, as much derided that has been because the similarity with Sara Bareilles' "Brave", and its really, really goofy video, disappointed me at first. But then, as formulaic as it seems, it grown on me until it became my personal anthem for empowerment and self-assurance. Which I believe it was the smartest plan, because Katy seems to be aware, more than anyone, what kind of artist she is and her limitations, but most of all, her strenghts.



This album could be viewed as a double feature: for the first part, a string of sure-to-be hits, including two promotional singles that have my heart (and my replay button) stuck on repeat: the 90's Ce-Ce Peniston-like throwback "Walking on Air" (please, view the iTunes Festival presentation for maximum effect) and the trappy, strip-club-ready "Dark Horse" that is indeed the dark horse of the album, and I think it would be a potential hit, a-la "E.T." of "Teenage...", despite the atrocious rap of Juicy J. Minus that, this song is  a pop tiny masterpiece.

The second part is more ballad-oriented, with the themes of breaking up and empowerment hinted in the first part, going full in this second one. Katy is not very proficient delivering heartfelt ballads, but "Love Me" and "This Moment" feel more on her wheel, and definitely made a case for her, being this stablishing her as a more mature artist.

There are hints of the bubbly persona of "Teenage..." era, like "Birthday" with its anthemic vibe, and "International Smile", which it could very well have fit into "Teenage..." tracklist. And then, you got "This is How We Do", another 90's revival that flirts with lite hip-hop and have the goofiest and most certainly truest line of all: "Mariah Karaoke-y". Because, you know, Mariah and karaoke are certainly a match made in heaven. And props to "International Smile", an ode to all traveling people and the one that mentions Mexico, of all places. (Thanks for that, Katy). And of course, the Daft-Punk-y bridge that it certainly made me smile.

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While "PRISM" IS a great pop album, it certainly falls short to live up to Katy standards. Now she is a pop tour-de-forcé, and we certainly expected more from her. But then again, she has always been very humble and clear of what to expect of her. She is very aware of her pop persona, and she has never intended to find the Holy Grail of pop, whatever that is. And we appreciate that: that despite all of her flaws and misconceptions, Katy is very down to earth and relatable. And that's why we are very happy for her success.

My rate: 8 out of 10. What's yours?

It was meant to be a showdown... Katy vs. Gaga, so WHAT HAPPENED??

 

 

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So for all diva-pop lovers out there, last week was really a great week, for it saw the birth (at least on our ears) of the two most anticipated releases of Summer-Fall 2013: Katy Perry's "Roar" and Lady Gaga's "Applause".





So this should be great, right? Two of the most important pop acts of the recent years decided to go head to head and show their best assets, in order to appeal their respective group of avid fans and show them how they have evolved into something more substantial than your flavor-of-the month-type-of-hit and establishing themselves as a mature pop act.

But actually, for me, it was somehow disappointing.

And don't get me wrong: both songs are very, very good. For another artists, they would be excellent and prime first singles. But for all the hype surrounding both releases, I think they come as a kind of off-putting songs and not punch-you-in-the-face great singles.

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Let's start with the one that, for me, takes the cake. "Roar" is your quintaesential powerful song, make-you-feel-good and definitely poppish single that you can expect from Katy. Not exactly what Katy have had hinted at us a while ago. I mean come on. "Roar" can perfectly be a great third single for "Teenage Dream". And I say this while I adore this song, with its sing-along feeling and upbeat message, I feel a little bit fooled into it. If Katy had indeed buried the "Teenage" era, this single would have been very, very different.

 

And then you get the comparisons with Sara Bareilles' "Brave".

Honestly, the only thing alike between these songs is the intro. But frankly, I find myself enjoying Sara's better than Katy's. Why is that so? Like I said before, this song is great for an artist with not much expectations like Sara, and I don't mean this as direspectful for her. It is just that she's as indie and not mainstream as Katy, but I consider her to be as a honest and heart-warming as it gets.

My rating for Roar: 8 out of 10. Great song, not first single material.

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Oh, GaGa, GaGa. How can I say this delicately? If Katy was hyping her song, GaGa definitely was promising the next Holy Grail of music, the new Bible of pop, and so on. Instead, we get this "The Fame" B-side, which obviously is great (that album is for me one of the best debut of any artist EVER), but not what "ArtPop" implied. It's a very danceable track geared towards GaGa's fan base (obviously, Little Monsters) and deals with the same fame concept of her first album. And the video itself is pretty artsy and over the top, as usual GaGa. But let's be honest: after the meat dress, I find it hard to be shocked about what GaGa will do next.

Besides, let's be honest: The whole "ArtPop"experience, with an App and everything involved, is something that has been done before. Does someone remember "Biophilia"? And apparently, Björk is now the center of "affection" of GaGa, since the team of directors of her new video is the same for Björk's "Hidden Place", back in 2001.



(And no, I'm not implying GaGa is plagiarizing Björk. She could NOT pull that off NEVER IN LIFE).

My rating for Applause: 7 out of 10. "The Fame" revisited, not in "ArtPop" way.

So, as of today, Katy is the clear winner of this showdown. She had succeeded GaGa outselling "Applause" in nearly the double of digital copies, which is the new way to measure this thing, along with the You Tube number of views. And plese, don't get me started on the desperate attempt of GaGa of getting more downloads and You Tube hits, which of course is as lame as it sounds and a signal that she's definitely NOT confident about her own choice of a first single.

But, in all seriousness, there is no winner at all. I'm expecting more of their next singles, and the albums. So far, I'm not really impressed.

What is your favorite single of these two? Let me know in the comments!