I Could Be The One- Avicii & Nicky Romero

I first heard this song myself on EDM related stations back in January. Then I saw it again in February when I watched the music video which is hilarious(you will see it below). It has gotten more and more popular since the beginning of the year. Like Krewella’s “Alive”, I could see “I Could Be The One” entering the mainstream Top 40 radio here in North America.

It is a song that just has that catchy sound that most mainstream EDM songs tend to have. It is a song that I have had on repeat all night cause I knew I wanted to finally write about it. It peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs, as well as the UK Singles and UK Dance charts.

I interrupt the songs lyrics being about a couple who has broken up and the singer has realized that she is still in love with her ex. She is telling the one she loves that she is the one that can make them happy and feel good again. I could also see it being about two people who are friends, but the singer has developed feelings for the other and told the other person about her feelings. The reason why either of these works is the part in the lyrics that say, “It used to be so easy, can’t you see?”. People who were together obviously have an easier time being around people. Also, a friendship is easier before someone develops feelings for the other. I kinda lean towards the friends scenario, because saying, “I could be the one…” and giving reasons why, seems like they’ve never been together.

Honestly, the lyrics don’t matter too much because this is an EDM song. It is about a good beat and vibe, which this song has as well. It’s catchy and I like to run to it, so it has what it takes to be a great EDM song that you have on your mind constantly. The song is considered progressive house in case you’re wondering. It seems most progressive house songs are great songs to listen to while running or exercising in general.

The music video as I said at the beginning is hilarious. The ending is a surprise, but that’s kinda what sends home the main message of the song. The message is don’t sit back and let life pass you by because you think you aren’t good enough or don’t deserve it, because life passes by quickly, and once you decide to live, it very well could be too late.  I think this is a lesson a lot of people including myself need to learn and live.

I would love if you guys would take a listen and watch the music video down below. It is a great song, and I feel so strongly about it, I need to share it and my thoughts about it to the world. Let me know how you like this Avicii and Nicky Romero collaboration in the comments section.

 

Language- Porter Robinson

Porter Robinson is quickly becoming one of my favourite DJ’s and I look forward to the stuff that he releases. This song was released back in the spring, but like Zedd’s “Spectrum”, I hadn’t really given “Language” a deep listen, I just danced to it without a care in the world.

The song is a great song to dance to and it builds and builds. Eventually the song gets to the top and comes back down with a sound that sounds like what magic must sound like. Some light vocal work is added towards the end of the song, but it does nothing to overshadow Porter Robinson’s talent with sound. I think the biggest problem with this song is it is too short and I think it should’ve been longer. That also could just be because I love the way it sounds and just want it to continue a minute or two longer.

Take a listen and tell me you don’t have this song on repeat. Also, let me know what you think about “Language” and Porter Robinson down below in the comment section.

RATING: 4/5

-JakeLX

 

Spectrum- Zedd feat. Matthew Koma

Zedd has been making a name for himself since he decided to dive into the world of electronic dance music(EDM). His popularity has only grown as his remixes of Skrillex, Lady Gaga, and The Black Eyed Peas have become massively popular. Now he is ready to give us his own music and he surely hasn’t disappointed. Released June 1, 2012, as his first single for his first album, Clarity, “Spectrum” has climbed and set at the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

I feel like while this song as been out, I just now this fall have fallen in love with it. The music is produced in such a way that it gives you goose bumps. It really honestly, just sound cool. The song is musically beautiful and spectacular. The beat keeps the song going without even a small place to stop. You are gonna want to dance, trust me. The vocals are done by Matthew Koma. I will be honest and tell you that I thought it was a woman singing it the first few times I heard it despite it saying it featured someone named Matthew. Either this guys voice is really high-pitched or a computer has helped make it be higher pitched. Either way ti doesn’t matte, because the sound and tone work with the song so well.

The song seems to be about a couple who people think shouldn’t be together, but they are going to stay together regardless. I think that is a story that can stand the test of time…Romeo and Juliet, anyone?

RATING: 5/5

-JakeLX

 

 

Sweet Nothing- Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch

Calvin Harris is quickly becoming one of my favourite DJ’s in the realm of EDM, though I think his true home might just be in pop. He is able to put together his music that he has produced with the right sound of voice. You might have first heard him on Rihanna’s track “We Found Love”. The tracks that are his with featured artist that you may know are “Bounce” feat. Kelis and the summer hit “Feel So Close” where Harris himself sings the vocals.

“Sweet Nothing” has that sound that I love and the pairing of Harris’ music and Florence Welch’s vocals, of Florence and The Machine, are pure awesomeness. Welch’s voice sings like a heavenly angel on a track that seem to be about a bad relationship that neither one seems to be trying to get out of. Can “Sweet Nothing” obtain the popularity of “Feel So Close” and the Ne-Yo sung “Let’s Go”? Time will tell, but the track as so far only obtained a #82 on the Billboard Hot 100, but hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Let me know below in the comment section what you think of this track, Calvin Harris, or Florence Welch.

RATING: 3.5/5

-JakeLX

 

She Wolf(Falling To Pieces)- David Guetta feat. Sia

Who was tired of David Guetta and Sia’s “Titanium”? How many times had “Titanium” been played over the course of this past summer? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. What I can tell you is I still liked “Titanium” by summers end. It even made my Top 20 Songs of Summer 2012. I was just ready to move on, and I was able to with this duo’s next single, “She Wolf”.

“She Wolf” doesn’t step too far away from what Guetta and Sia have already mastered. His hard beats and awesome breakdowns, and her heavenly vocals mixed to create another amazing song. This song I think I like more than “Titanium”. I can’t tell you why exactly, except maybe mentally, I’m exhausted from “Titanium”. I would say I probably like the theme and I think Guetta’s musical performance is much better in “She Wolf” than it is in “Titanium”.

I think the music video is really cool as well. It isn’t some over the top, huge production of a music video, but it is cool. The story of the girl being a werewolf and the snow is what drives it. Do watch and listen to this awesome song. Let me know what you think about the song and the music video below in the comment section.

RATING: 4/5

-JakeLX

 

Top Songs of Summer 2012 (#5-#1)

See the rest of the songs HERE:

#1. “Pontoon”- Little Big Town

Now I am not a country fan, however I feel like a the top summer song if available should be a song that includes having a good time doing something fun during the summer. This song got my number 1 because “Call Me Maybe” isn’t really a summer specific song despite it having to be the most played song of the summer. “Pontoon” also has really great lyrics and really turns into a song that is SUMMER and makes you feel like you are floating on the lake with your friends. It also helps that Little Big Town doesn’t seem to be TOO country.

-Released April 30, 2012

-First single from their new album Tornado(due out September 11, 2012)

-Peaked at #1 on the US Country Chart and #22 on the US Hot 100 chart

#2. “Call Me Maybe”- Carly Rae Jepsen

If you pick a summer song based on how viral the song is, how amny times it has been played on radio, and if you are hearing it everywhere, this song would be number one. Unfortuantly for Carl Rae, there was a summery song that that beat odds and went pretty high on the regular charts despite its genre not typically charting well unless you count Taylor Swift.

-Released September 20, 2011(Canada), February 20, 2012(Europe), February 22, 2012(US)

-First single off of Carly’s new album Kiss(due out September 18, 2012)

-Peaked at # 1 on US Pop Songs & Hot 100, #2 on US Adult Pop Songs, #4 on US Adult Contemporary, & #8 on US Hot Dance Club Songs charts.

-Certified Platinum 5x in the US

#3. “Lights”- Ellie Goulding

-Released March 13, 2011

-First US single and the sixth UK single from her debut album Lights(released February 26, 2010)

-Spent a year and three months on the US Hot 100 Chart before finally peaking at #2 this summer.

-It also charted# 1 on US Pop Songs, #4 on US Adult Pop Songs, #18 on US Adult Contemporary, & #32 on US Hot Dance Club Songs charts.

-Ellie Goulding’s second album comes out October 8, 2012

#4. “Feel So Close”- Calvin Harris

-Released August 19, 2011

-The second single from his new album 18 Months(due out October 29, 2012)

- Second song to chart(first one was “We Found Love” by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris).

-Peaked at # 8 on US Pop Songs, #12 on US Hot 100, #28 on US Adult Pop, & #33 on US Hot Dance Club Songs charts.

#5. “Wide Awake”- Katy Perry

-Released May 22, 2012

-Second single off of the rereleased Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection(released March 26, 2012).

-Tenth #1 single on US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and her ninth #1 sing on the Mainstream Top 40(Pop Songs) chart tying her and Rihanna with the most #1’s on that chart.

-Also charted #2 US Hot 100(her eleventh consecutive top ten hit), #1 US Pop Songs, #1 US Adult Pop Songs, #10 US Adult Contemporary.

 

Music Review: Bonfire-Knife Party

Knife Party is a great EDM duo that specializes in dubstep and house music. Knife Party is made up with Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, two of the members from the electro rock band pendulum. The groups newest single which currently sits at number 45 on the UK music charts.

“Bonfire” is a great dubstep song that keeps pushing and pushing without letting up. It even incorporates reggae and mixes the two genres effortlessly. Just give the song a listen and if you like it you may wanna try to listen to the whole EP that it is from which is entitled, Rage Valley EP. Take a listen to “Bonfire” below and remember if you like it, check out Spotify and listen to the whole EP.

 

Album Review: Play Hard EP By Krewella

Artist: Krewella

Album: Play Hard EP

Length: 23:57

Release Date: June 26, 2012

Rating: 5.0/5

Do you remember that commercial for I think Gatorade where the guy and girl are going back and forth saying, “Anything you can do, I can do better”? In the electronic dance music world, the girls might just be winning in the dubstep region of the dance music world. While you may be thinking, “Uh, what about Skrillex?”, hold on and read this review of this groups first EP.

First of all, who in the hell is Krewella? I had never heard of them myself, but luckily Tuesday, their EP was listed as new on Spotify and I gave it a listen. I instantly fell in love and tried to find out more about them. That process proved harder because they are so new and just now becoming known that they don’t have a Wikipedia page yet(they will) and their Facebook and Twitter pages don’t tell a lot about them. I was able to gather some info and I think most of it is right, but if it isn’t, please don’t yell at me…

Krewella is made up by two sisters, Jahan and Yasime Yousaf and the producer Rain Man. Both sisters are the DJ’s that you hear on the songs and they also provide the beautiful voices that entice you and put a spell on you as you listen. The group is based out of Chicago, Illinois.

The Play Hard EP gets started with the title track, “Play Hard”. This song is very well produced, the vocals are amazing and the lyrics are great. This song sets the stage for the EP where vocals and dubstep seamlessly and all very naturally combine to form electronic music heaven. I could go into detail about every track, but why would I ruin a surprise. Besides, “Play Hard” is enough t want you to crave more of these sister’s bass trembling vibrations. Typically I do a pick for songs that I like the best and that I think are must downloads. Not for this group or EP. I think all 6 tracks on the Play Hard EP are worth a download, a download you most certainly won’t regret.

Why do I think they are better than Skrillex? Why wouldn’t they be? They can sing, and mix their own music. They also aren’t so in your face about the dubstep like Skrillex is in most of his songs. Another great thing is the fact that all 6 tracks sound different from one another. That can’t really be said for Skrillex. I can like both acts, but I can also like one more than the other and I like Krewella a lot more. Now with that said they have worked with Skrillex in the past on a remix of his song “Breathe” where they provide vocals. Their vocals just in general are another reason to love them. Sometimes in dance music, I feel like some of the singers are second-rate and couldn’t get a contract for pop music. Krewella I don’t feel that way. They just have beautiful voices.

The Play Hard EP definitely gets the “JakeLX Seal of Approval” and I highly suggest you go and download it. You can’t go wrong with such a great EP with 6 tracks, that is currently on iTunes for just $4.99. Download it there and take a listen and let me know what you think in the comments.