Featured Reviews
Learn more about your favourite artists; find out what they are up and keep tabs on what interests you.
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I Know You Want Me
Pitbull |
Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, made his name as one of the most prominent members of Miami's '00's hip-hop community. Drawing from the city's world class club scene, Pitbull's early work saw him embrace the crunk club sound and saw him become a major player of the movement alongside the likes of Lil Jon. However it was the release of his fourth album, 'Rebelution', that saw Pitbull gain bigger success than he had ever achieved before. Incorporating a heavy set of dancefloor orientated influences, Pitbull managed to score hits in both dance and urban communities by applying his rapid fire flow to '90's house classics such as The Nighcrawlers' 'Push The Feeling'. 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)' saw Pitbull sample Chicago's 'Street Player', the same hook that The Bucketheads used in house classic 'The Bomb', and generated a huge club and radio smash. Following the legacy of Miami Bass groups such as 2 Live Crew with strings of racy lyrics, Pitbull's success was continued throughout 2009 following successful hook ups with Akon, Livi Franc and Jennifer Lopez. ~Roberto González. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Shazam shazam |
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Hotel Room Service
Pitbull Feat. Nicole Scherzinger |
From Miami to the world, 'Hotel Room Service' sees Pitbull repeating the formula that granted him his first global smash with 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)'. After digging again in the vaults of nineties house music in search of a catchy hook, Pitbull found the perfect beat for the task in another of the past decade's one hit wonders - Nightcrawlers' 'Push The Feeling On'. The popular keyboard riff from 'Push The Feeling On' was previously used by David Guetta for a remix of Rihanna's hit 'Don't Stop The Music', but it was the Miami rapper who used the hook to maximum effect generating a huge club smash with 'Hotel Room Service' . The track is a typical Pitbull banger, filled with sexually charged rhymes hoping to drive the ladies from the dancefloor to the hotel room. Taken from Pitbull's fourth album 'Rebelution', 'Hotel Room Service' was one of the definitive singles that broke Pitbull on a global scale in 2009.~Roberto González~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. |
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Replay
Iyaz |
Discovered by Sean Kingston and hailing from the British Virgin Islands, I.Y.A.Z.'s 'Replay' arrives with a sun-dappled flourish and sand between its toes. Riding a crest of shimmering keyboard lines and stabbing synthesisers that weave their way betwixt a patented J.R. Rotem beat of rotund bass and crisp handclaps, 'Replay' is the antithesis to gangsta braggadocio, with I.Y.A.Z. instead "in the kitchen, cooking things she likes". Signing to Kingston's T.I.M.E. (Time Is Money Entertainment) imprint in 2009, I.Y.A.Z. looks set to follow his mentor into the big time with a mix of Caribbean-tinged, smooth delivery and the kind of hook that could land Great White sharks in the chorus of "Shorty's like a melody in my head". Proving that a deceptive, vulnerable love song can still ignite a club, the hollered gang vocals and sparse, peeled back breakdown build into a lush tropical swell of sumptuous melodies that laps around the metaphorical ankles. ~ James Sharples (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved |
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Sweet Disposition
The Temper Trap |
The Temper Trap are a rock band from Melbourne, Australia who first came into the public conscious in early 2009 after appearing on many industry insider's tips for the year - most notably the BBC's highly influential 'Sound of 2009'. After some hype generating performances at Texas's South By South West Four festival the band decamped to London to record their debut album, 'Conditions' - the debut single from which was 'Sweet Disposition'. Probably the highlight of Temper Traps' debut opus, 'Sweet Disposition' is dominated by a soaring falsetto from lead singer Dougy Mandagi and some highly proficient fretwork from the band's guitarist reminiscent of U2's Edge. Originally release as a free download in the UK on iTunes, 'Sweet Disposition' went on to enjoy huge success in Britain after its profile was bolstered by usage on an advertisement for Sky Sports' Premier League football coverage. Later, the record was also used in the trailer for the film '500 Days of Summer' which helped gain the record notice internationally. A big hit with Shazamers in 2009, 'Sweet Disposition' laid the foundations to break into the US, Japanese and Australian charts.~Jon Davies. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved shazam |
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Second Chance
Shinedown |
Shinedown - hailing from Jacksonville, Florida - have been writing and releasing hugely successful hits since 2001. 'Second Chance' was their second single release and is taken from their third studio album 'The Sound of Madness'. The quality of the musicianship and the charismatic character of singer Brent Smith's voice has launched this band into the stratosphere. The song itself has all the hallmarks of a big rock classic, the slow building, pitch-shifting verses that go crashing into an epic sing-along chorus. The song also creates a sense of humanity and intimacy by personifying Hayley's Comet and The Man in the Moon, creating these distant space-related characters and imbuing a feeling of companionship. ~Hazel Savage. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. shazam |
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Please Don't Leave Me
P!nk |
Alecia Beth Moore is more commonly known as P!nk, an American singer/songwriter who has been releasing hit records since 2000. 'Please Don't Leave Me' is a co-written number by the singer and Max Martin, whom she also co-wrote with on the chart-topping 'So What'; both taken from her 5th studio album released in 2008 titled 'Funhouse'. Lyrically this is a dark and moody song that deals with the emotional issues she faces whilst in relationships as well as issues of rejection, both common themes Pink often explores in her songs. The video adds to the mood of the track utilizing visuals from the horror genre and was directed by Dave Meyers who has previously worked with P!nk on several other videos. While many artists struggle to reproduce the quality of their debut album, P!nk shows no sign of such problems - continuing to deliver music to her impeccably high standard. ~S. Ayling. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. shazam |
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Uprising
Muse |
Muse are a hugely successful. Award winning, British 3 piece rock band consisting of Matt Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard. The song 'Uprising' is the lead track from Muse's fifth studio album - 'The Resistance'. In this track the band use rhythmic hints of glam-rock and even also throw in a suggestion towards the classic Dr. Who soundtrack, in the intro keyboard riff that is repeated all along the track. Creating a bombastic sound that touches on prog rock and good old fashioned stadium rock. The key to Muse's success is that they occupy a very unique space in modern music, a band who genuinely want to be as huge as possible but without needing to pander to mainstream tastes. The political overtones are reflective of the time of its release, and representative of a band who like to add social commentary and mutli-facets to their work. ~Roberto González~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. shazam |
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Everybody In Love
JLS |
JLS originally became famous after finishing runners up in the 5th series of UK reality TV competition 'The X Factor'. However winning isn't always what it's cracked up to be - just ask Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson. In many cases runners up have statistically gone on to achieve better record sales than their winning counterparts. 'Everybody in Love' is the second single from the bands eponymous debut album. Following on from the first successful single 'Beat Again', which sailed straight to number one in the UK charts. 'Everybody In Love' followed the trend and also charted at the top slot in the UK. It's an incredibly catchy song and has a great sing-a-long feel. The vocals are intrinsically linked to the tune and each band member gets their chance to shine, taking on a verse each. ~S.Ayling~ Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved. shazam |
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21 Guns
Green Day |
Having won several awards for "Best International Band" including the Kerrang Awards 2009 amongst countless other accolades since 2001 Green Day, comprising of Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt are the original modern punk band. '21 Guns' is taken from their hit album '21st Century Breakdown'. In the post 9/11 era the band's songs and lyrical content has become more politicized. Famous for their ballads as their upbeat rock numbers, this song has an orchestrated introduction featuring cellos and a stark acoustic guitar sound - where every strike of the strings and guitar body can be heard. The track talks about laying down arms, and shifts metaphorically between real war and emotional, internal struggle. This song is a grower and stands up to repeat listening, and according to the videp director Marc Webb it's all about "surrendering" and "embracing the chaos around you". ~ Hazel Savage. (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved shazam |
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Fight For This Love
Cheryl Cole |
Cheryl Cole, formerly Cheryl Tweedy, is one fifth of the hugely successful girl group 'Girls Aloud' and with this debut single, a solo artist in her own right. Taken from the 2009 album '3 Words', Cole shot to fame after being discovered on reality television show 'Popstars: The Rivals' . Along with her fellow band mates, Cheryl Cole became one of the most successful performers to spring from reality TV; scoring a slew of platinum selling singles and albums. In 2008 Cole continued her fame trajectory by becoming a judge on the UK version of the The X Factor. On 'Fight For This Love' she returns to her day job - albeit without the help of the other members of Girls Aloud. The single is a smooth R&B number, with lyrics allegedly influenced by her husband's own marital indiscretions. While it's unclear if Cheryl will favour a solo career without Girls Aloud, the success of this single shows she won't be short of options. ~Jon Davies. Copyright (c) Shazam Entertainment Limited 2009. All rights reserved shazam |
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