This week’s Music Video Lounge is not reviewing Robbie’s new single as we already covered it here, OK? Good. But we are reviewing the likes of Sean Paul, Kings Of Convenience, MPHO, Phantom Limb, Mr Hudson and Alexandra Burke. In other words, loads…
Sean Paul - Press It Up
Currently making it big in the USA, having the worst haircut in music has never held Sean Paul back - and nor does it here. So sure is he that women will want to press it up against him, he’s composed a whole song to that effect - and duly, the women oblige. It ain’t sophisticated but it is red hot, with sexy ladies wiggling their arses on cue. If you cover your eyes when Sean’s on-screen and look away from his dodgy dance moves, it’s passable. As for tune - succumb to it now, it’ll be everywhere before you know it.
MPHO - See Me Now
Next up is MPHO (pronounced Mmmm-poh), whose video could be an ipod ad with its huge graphics, silouhettes and ‘Choose Life’ style attitude. MPHO’s ethos is funky electro pop and this is another welcome slice of it, with the main draw Mpho Skeef declaring: “I’m a superstar can’t you see me shining?” The video is not one to watch if you suffer migraines being clever and attention-grabbing for the Youtube generation. This track oozes cool with MPHO sounding in turns like Kate Bush, a 60s girl group and uberly current. We like.
Mr Hudson - White Lies
Second Time Around for Mr Hudson, who, in his previous incarnation as Mr Hudson And The Library supported the likes of Paolo Nutini and Amy Winehouse as well as shelve after shelve of encyclopedias. Now though, Ben Hudson is as one and supported by none other than Kanye West, which should go some way to explaining why he’s suddenly in the charts. Mr H’s second single doesn’t quite have the punch of debut Supernova and the video is a low-key affair, with Ben trying to be Gary Numan first in an ice cream suit, then in funeral director-black. It’s a stark electro tune with Ben pegging his raspy vocals thinly across it, but it grows on you like persistent weed, strangling you into submission. Nearly a recommendation then.
Phantom Limb - Draw The Line
Throwing up something a little different this week are Phantom Limb, a country/soul/blues band from Bristol. Singer Yolanda Quartey delivers polished vocals amid a flurry of twanging geeetars with some plinky-plonky work in the background and her voice carries the video, being filmed as it is in someone’s crubling cellar. The film’s shot in black and white which echoes the initial mood, until the crescendo where Yolando grabs the mic and lets rip with a voice so delicious you want to stick it in a bap and eat it. Ones to watch.
Kings Of Convenience - Boat Behind
Scandinavian folk-pop of the fluffiest order, the Kings Of Convenience weave delicate doilies of music that settle across your frontal lobes without you even noticing. Boat Behind is no different, with the boys on a road trip throughout the video, picking up girls while chirruping that they can never belong to them. The Kings of Convenience invented nerd chic way back when and theirs is a world where the sun always shines and the sky never alters from being baby blue. This is what Simon & Garfunkel would have sounded like had they been drugged and born in Oslo.
Alexandra Burke ft Flo Rida - Bad Boys
Finally this week we have the X Factor’s latest success story, Miss Alexandra Burke. There’s no doubt this is a stellar pop song (are you listeing Cheryl Cole?) with Flo Rida adding his chunky rhymes for added kudos. Not that Alex needs it - the girl can sing and dance as well as do an impressive impression of Sandra Dee post-makeover, clad as she is in skintight leather. It’s a testosterone-loaded video with all those bad boys about, but Alexandra still manages to shine, changing into some sparkles intermittently and sporting cleavage overload. She’s shied away from Leona ballad territory which is a smart move - watch the video by clicking here.
(Clare Lydon)
