[Music Video] Rihanna delivers Just What You Were Expecting With "Pour It Up" Visuals

Released over half a year after the song itself peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Charts, Rihanna finally débuts the visuals for the scuzzy stripper anthem, Pour it up.

I've played this song to death since Unapologetic's 2012 release, and as so, have often imagined how the visuals would be. With lyrics like "Strippers goin' up and down that pole, and I still got my money", "All I see is signs, all I see is dollar signs", it was hardly going to birth a thoughtful and nuanced promo. Needless to say, the video is just as depressingly dirty and seedy as it could have been.

The visuals were obviously done to shock and gain column inches, but I think the real reason for the star finally getting herself together and filming the video- which fans have been calling for since January- was more to do with this moment than anything else [see gifs]. What better way to educate- or shade- Miley Cyrus than by showing her how she would make a ratchet video with some serious twerking featured..

[Music Video] Britney Spears "Work B!tch"

Work B!tch is still doing as much for me as a cold cup of tea, but hey, the video is out, so let's see if that can do anything to improve my feelings towards it- I'm shallow like that sometimes.

The Ben Mor directed visuals are actually heartening to behold. There's less of the fast edits that were done last era to disguise Britney Spears' sloppy choreography, and there is definitely a sparkle back behind the ol' peepers- though that could have been added post production! Overall, it's a good promo for a crumby song and it should convince many- not me- that she's back on form and ready for her two-year stint in Las Vegas.

Finally, I will say this once more and then shut up about it because I feel like a broken record: Will.i.am please stay away from the production on the album. You can help select songs, design the cover with your Crayola felt tips and glitter glue, choreograph the routines, or even turn Mama Knowles and single-handedly design and sew Britney's entire tour wardrobe; just please stay away from the music itself. I'm begging you!!!

[Watch] Katy Perry Performs @ 2013 Itunes Festival

Katy Perry closed the iTunes Festival yesterday, performing a selection of her hit singles for the packed audience at the Roundhouse in Camden. The Diva, who seemed to have adopted a rockier edge, also performed a few cuts from forthcoming album Prism- including latest single Roar.

Vocally, Katy was pretty much on point. Her voice was close to those laid down in studio for much of the set, but I had a personal problem enjoying the wobbly, weak tone in the midrange (which was most notable in first song, Walking On Air). The voice was definitely more impressive when Katy warmed up and left the midrange, with the belts and head notes sounding surprisingly good. Fireworks, however, still sounds a note or two too high for her live range.

I'm no expert on Katy Perry's live voice (is there such a thing?), so I'm not sure if this would be classified as a good showing for the Diva. Perhaps some of Katycats can inform me either way in the comments. I thought it was serviceable enough. After all, Katy isn't known for being a vocalist. I'm just surprised that at this point in her career, the stage presence isn't quite there.

Random thought: What was with the dark and dirty Dark Horse!?  Absolutely Loving that! (Just took a listen to the studio version, for some reason wasn't feeling that...weird).

Enjoy!

[Music Video] Katy B "5 Am"

I'm going to see Katy B somewhere in London tomorrow , so the timely  release of the visuals for new single 5 Am couldn't have come at a better time for me- especially since I've been meaning to get into the song for weeks now.

It's another frosty dance track from the Popular Music graduate, and it finds the singer-songwriter longing for a lover that can invoke the same feeling popping a Valium would. Why bother, I ask! Just take the pills. It'll be easier in the long term! I do question the lyric " I need somebody to knock me out", though... seems like it's asking for trouble!

Anywho, I'm off to learn the words and make up a dance routine. It's bound to feature of the setlist  tomorrow.

Enjoy!

[Vocal Profile] Charlotte Church

Vocal Type: Full-Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves 5 notes and a semitone (Eb3-C6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Being a product of the classical world, Charlotte Church has received vocal training that has allowed for her to manage and understand the inner workings of her instrument. With this knowledge comes a voice that is confident, assured and skilful in its delivery. She would also have been taught about breath control, and this is shown in practice by Church’s ability to hold notes and navigate long phrases, often through registers, without losing breath or the correct support. It also affords the singer excellent mastery of dynamics; being able to begin a phrase loud and projected, but end it gentle and soft [Hear:Breach Of The Peace].

The lower range isn’t particularly extensive-  beginning in the third octave- but the control here means that Church is able to produce tones that are substantial and without the fogginess many Divas exhibit in the lower extremes of their range [The Rise]. Her voice leads seamlessly in tone and timbre into the midrange, and both share a distinct and identifiable character.

Church is primarily a midrange belter, being most comfortable at the upper end of the fourth octave and lower end of the fifth. This being so, the singer produces a tone that is weighty, full and resonant. As her head voice overlaps the chest voice- being heard as low as a  B4- the singer is often heard jumping between the two parts to create interest in the vocal line. However, she is capable in either register.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Church’s range is the head voice. Having honed it during her early years in the Classical world, the Diva exhibits a skill in this part of her voice that allows for impressive tonal variety. The voice here can be light and airy [Hear:Lasts, Or Eschaton ], thick and operatic [Sparrow], or balanced so brilliantly with its chest voice counterpart that it skirts the line between the two, never sounding quite like either.

Being so capable in her head voice and her mix, Church has no problem transitioning through the range; making it sound as if there are no breaks to be found in the voice at all. To further polish her notes, the singer is able to add a balanced and controlled vibrato that can either sound operatic or contemporary depending on the how she chooses to apply it

Vocal Negatives: It would be impressive if Church worked further on her fifth octave belting, while simultaneously developing her lower range.

[Watch] Miley Cyrus Gives A Raw Rendition Of "Wrecking Ball" @ 2013 iHeartRadio Festival

Miley Cyrus isn't doing anything to prove those who only recently became aware of her existence via the controversial things that she does, that she isn't anything but another plastic-pop star.

At the iHeartRadio Festival, the Diva had a perfect opportunity- with the live rendition of Wrecking Ball- to at least show detractors that there was a capable voice behind the gimmicks. Instead this happened [watch the video]. Wavering melody, pushed vocals- with a terrible attempt at improv at the song's closing- and a generally unpolished delivery ensued. We've heard that Cryus can sing, but performances like these aren't doing anything to enlighten those unaware of it.

Though I think the biggest problem highlighted by this, and the We Can't Stop performance, is the grating tone of her voice. It's something which isn't so apparent on the mastered versions, but becomes almost unbearable in this live set.

So was this a case of the emotion of her recent breakup getting to her, or is that just an excuse for a poor and lazy performer not putting in the effort?

[Watch] Jessie J Covers Mariah Carey's "Emotions" @ Rock In Rio 2013

Jessie J loves a cover! So much so, that in her set for Rock In Rio 2013, the Diva shoehorned in a whole medley dedicated to other artist's material. Lucky enough to get a look in were: Fatback Band's I Found Lovin', Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody, Mariah Carey's Emotions and Luther Vandross' Never Too Much. Of course I was most excited about one of these songs more than the others...take a wild guess which!

If I had been in the crowd, my brain would have literally exploded the second I heard the MTV-Unplugged introduction to Mariah's classic 90's hit. But being a vocal virtuoso, was Jessie able to hit the astronomic whistle notes that the song is so famous for? Well watch and find out for yoursel! (The medley start at 16:20 )

Thanks to Luiz for the heads up on this. Oh, and feel free to watch the whole set.. ;)