Great Song!! Horrible Video!!

Kelly Clarkson's third single from her fourth studio album All I Ever Wanted just got released and is surrounded in the huge controversy that Ryan Tedder, the producer of this song, passed the same melody for Beyonce's international hit 'Halo'.
While the above mentioned thing itself can pretty much turn me off, but what makes it all even worse is that such an amazing song gets such a pathetic video! The last time I was this dissappointed upon seeing a video was during Katy Perry's 'Thinking Of You', even that was pretty much of a crap pile!
First of all, Kelly doesn't need to be donned in a hundred million dollar outfit for a video. She never had the diva factor and she's one of those that does extremely well without it. The only point she looks good in the video is during the head shot and close ups. At all other places she looks way older than her actual age. My cousin and I both are of the opinion that her dress is actually to draw the audience's attention away from the similarity between the melodies of two song with 'Halo'. Ha, fat chance!!! If anything this video has done is to raise the voice even more about them being same!
Secondly, the self-playing voilins, harps and pianos are an excellent touch contributing to the celestial feel I had mentioned earlier. But, I would've prefered if the video was shot somewhere in a wild forest depicting the vast loneliness that one experiences after a loved one's departure. Or something along the lines of Clarkson travelling in a New York commute surrounded with the hub bub of daily life. As she makes her way through it symbolising that life needs to go on no matter what!
Anyhow the video has been shot and released, can't do a thing about it now! But I'm hoping that despite all these things against it, this song travels to the top of the charts. It's my personal favorite from the whole album and I'd hate to see it fall down to miserable depths. And if it does, a huge pox on the creative director whoever it may be!!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Brookie!! How Do I Tell Thee?! ;)

Brooke White, also more commonly known as Brookie was one of my four favorite from the seventh season of American Idol. Besides from having one of the most feminine voices that were so enchantingly beautiful, there was something about her that just couldn't stop you from liking her!

She gave some of the best performances of the seventh season very early on, special note is to be given to the 'Let It Be' by the Beatles. Although towards the end of competetion the pressure had clearly taken it's toll on her as she forgot her lyrics during her performance. But even then the 24 year old nanny from California bought it to a very humorous approach, view here.

Isn't she the most cute?! So yeah, people have repeatedly told me I have this insane crush on her! Nothing big there! ;)

Now she's ready to hit the mainstream music with her album High Hopes & Heartbreak, produced by Randy Jackson himself. Here is a very radio friendly, easy-listening and purely pop track from the album. And yes, the review will be coming up here soon as soon as I find a copy of the album and lend an ear to it. Till then enjoy this lil morsel, guys!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Well First Of All, I Can Do That!!!

Episode 99 of So You Think You Can Dance(Also reffered to as SYTYCD in short) featured a group performance choregraphed by their alumni from Season 2, Travis Wall. The dance is a futuristic rave number that features a fusion of all the styles known to them.

And I absolutely loved it!! The point to where Kayla made her ballerina type entrance to Ade's diagonal flip flop across the dance floor to Jeanine's robotic movements to Brandon's wave form!! And to put a sugar over it, they used one of my all time favorite song 'Let It Rock' by Kevin Rudolph featuring Lil' Wayne as the music!!

And if all that wasn't enough to make me want to see the dance again and again it was Ellen Degeneres hilarious judging comments(Check it out here)!! Is there anything this woman can't do?! I love Ellen...and I always have!

Anyhow coming back to it, SYTYCD is my other favorite reality program. With the Season 5 coming next week, I'll be posting soon all my favorite dances right over here. Keep an eye out for them!!

Enjoy!!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

No One - Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is no doubt one of the most amazing artists ever to surface. Besides placing a bif fat check mark on an amazing soulful voice, she's an amazing songwriter and an ever better LIVE! performer! Her brilliant piano playing coupled with her powerful strong vocals that are so apprpriately required for any performance make her a treat to watch!! Enjoy folks!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

The one word I can use to describe this is smooth. Bedingfield put forward one of her many brilliant works beautifully. I love how the song goes up and down yet never looses it's feel. She's spot on with her vocals; and definitely deserves the spot for the best performance this week.

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Cell Block Tango

One of my really good friend recommended this clip to me from the Academy Award winning movie 'Chicago'. He had pressed me several times to view it previously, but for one reason or the other I overlooked it. Today, however, during one of our chat meet he passed forward the URL address for it. Finally my lazy bum knowing I'm only a click away from seeing the clip at last went ahead with it. And in just one viewing the damn routine got me to download the entire movie Chicago and I've already gone through it.

Though a few other of the numbers dawned on me but none took the place of the Cell Block Tango(He Had It Coming). It's just one of those really good things that you can't get tired of seeing. As of today my three most watched Youtube vids are Cell Block Tango, the Bollywood Number by the Top 5 Girls on So You Think You Can Dance and Kelly Clarkson's rendition of 'If' originally by Janet Jackson.

Catherine Zeta Jones who played as Velma Kelly alongside Renee Zellweger(Roxie Hart) and Richard Gere(Billy Flynn). She's one of the 'Merry Murderess', particularly the one who identifies herself with a smoking cigarette. It's actually the little things that have made this little piece so bloody fantastic. The twist of the leg when the first murderess was telling her unfortunate temper tale, the way the second murderess draws the red handkerchief from the man, how the third murderess wraps her leg and draws the man towards her and then many more.

Speaking of the third murderess she has the second most dominating stage presence out of all. I guess that's because of her long slender constantly straight with shoulders broaded and her commanding swagger. Catherine takes the first place no doubt. But my favorite of the lot, is the little blonde Hungarian number who pleads not guilty. Her take on her partner is far more tender and delicate compared to the others who are like jumping cats.

I knew this was definitely one for the blog the moment I fell in love with and just knew that I had to share it with you all. Take a peek and enjoy!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Already Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson made an appearance recently on the Late Night Show with David Letterman and sang a stripped down version of 'Already Gone' from her fourth studio album All I Ever Wanted. And the thing which made me put it down on my blog was the fact that it's just so darn amazing! So beautiful! Clarkson's vocals are extremely on spot with this one and I prefer this version more than the album one, it has a slight celestial feel to it that though very much needed, wasn't bought to my attention till now. Enjoy!

Little Voice; Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles definitely takes my accolade for the most original artists who emerged in 2007. Her major label release Little Voice is most definitely the best pop rock album from a female entertainer. It has spawned four singles, two of which have sky rocketed to major scale radio play, which I will reveal later.

Bareilles is an artist! An artist who defines herself by her music and not how she looks. Her appearance is nothing glamorous. It's plain simple and sophisticated. se She does not have a big power vocal house voice and she doesn't need that to survive. She has got all of her power play in the authenticity of her songs and how she performs. Speaking of songs, she has written all of the songs from her album. You've got slow power ballads, catchy pop numbers, up tempo jazzy tracks. And it works all over the place! The word for the album cover is cute. And more over, it clearly defines the unstripped, down-to-earth album content. Two thumbs up, girl!

The album opens up with the extremely commercial pop song. 'Love Song' is also the first single from the album. Bareilles wrote this song after being inspired from the comment of a certain critic who said that she needs to write more 'marketable' songs. Go figure! The song is definitely an attention getter with it's catchy piano background and repeatative bass play. The lyrics clearly describe her sassy twinge of smirk on the critic's remark.

The second track is the much softer 'Vegas'. The song is about a girl's frustration of her love life and her dreams to ditch it all for Vegas. The track has this fresh sassy approach and even though being about her frustration, she sure doesn't seem to be giving that image. It's a very radio friendly track!

'Bottle It Up' is the third track off the record and the second single. The word I'll use for this track is odd. That's right! It's oddly catchy, Bareilles vocals emit a playful vibe as she goes about. The thing I said earlier about having a really simple nothing fabulous image is clearly high lighted in the song. It gets eight out of ten for me!

The fourth track 'One Sweet Love' has a slight touch of jazz and folk to it. Though Bareilles has still kept it in the parameters of pop music. The song tells about the yearning to find the one person you can love unconditionally and endlessly. It's a beauitful song! That's the word for this song; beautiful! My favorite part is towards the bridge and the last verse, when the song mellows down to a minimum.

The fifth track 'Come Around Soon' is one of my favorite track from the album. The track has a really classy opening line, which grabbed my attention the moment I heard it. Her vocals are on the spot with this one. She resonates a classiness far expected from her but the best part is the fact that there is this tinge of innocence that is just amazing and I'm definite that no one else can perform this song well enough. It's a signature Bareilles!

'Morningside' is the sixth track from the record. This song clearly high lights the command Bareilles has over the piano. Her vocals are not over powered by the music and the lyrics are playful. The word for them is playful. Bareilles has indeed put down this song like a beauty. It's the first up tempo song from the record and it's really good. Nothingto complain about till now!

'Between the lines' is a heart tearing ballad. It's the seventh track from the twelve track album and is definitely one of the stronger numbers of the pack. Bareilles has given a beautiful performance that has a slight haunting tone to it. And absolutely it's the things like these that makes her one of the artist in my books. Beautiful! Heart tearing! Haunting!

The eigthth track is 'Love On The Rocks'. It displays the naughty but nice side of Bareilles. There is a quirkiness in the lyrics that define Bareilles for us further as an independent and budding artist of the 20th Century. She's definitely one of the people to watch out for. This is one track I'm definitely recommending you to listen to!

'City' gives one the same feeling they get from 'Between the lines'. This track is heavier on guitar rather than a piano but make no mistake, the song is really good! Bareilles pour out her heart and soul into her music, she's definitely one for the books.

'Many The Miles' is a definite crowd pleaser. It's an up tempo song in which Bareilles tell a person who wastes days away worrying is a fool. And I most definitely agree with that! It has a cheerful feel to it that comes through out to the listener and makes the person get up on his feet and start tapping. The background vocals are just so well placed that they blend in so well with the ride of the song. It's a shame this song was not released as a single because it most definitely deserves to be one.

The eleventh track 'Fairytale' is another quirky number from Bareilles. She is such a brilliant song-writer! Although I had accepted it many songs ago but in this particular song, she utilized the very popular fairy tale characters like Cinderella and Snow White. This is the main reason why this track is such a playful number! Not the best but definitely a good one.

'Gravity' is the charm of the album. It's the last song on the album and the third single off the record. For an ending note, Bareilles sure went out on a brilliant finish. The song is the best of her amazing capabilities. The lyrics are beautiful! The music is spell binding! The vocals are perfect to the last note! Right down to the part where she begins singing the bridge, Bareilles holds complete command over every word and this seeps through the song making it the most powerful track from the pack. The video of the song is also better than the video of the previous two singles.

If you happen to have bought the Platinum Bonuspass Edition, the album has anoter track on it's menu. 'Any Way The Wind Blows' happen to be that track, to those who don't have it your not missing out on anything special. It's a very ordinary track and the songs on her album are far better than it.

Bareilles is definitely a star and her next album out in 2010 is definitely on my list!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)

Lovegame & Poker Face - Lady Gaga

Taking the stage with a crew of male dancers, Lady Gaga charged up the entire crowd during the Much Wanted Music Awards that took place in June '09. She performed the very successful 'Lovegame' and 'Poker Face' for the crowd combined with a hip hop and pop jazz choreography.The thing about her is that she comes in the whole package that defines her. To a person who hasn't heard of Gaga(Are there even any left?) but is aware of the various genres, they can pretty much pin point to what they'll be hearing in a few seconds. Her dominatrix attire is a definite show stopper!

I love the fact that she just doesn't stand at one place and shimmy a little. She literally goes all over the place, in a good way obviously and makes everyone scream their lungs out. She's seriously built to perform live and large scales! Way to go, girl!

Yeah but the only stupid thing is that I couldn't edit out the Jonas Brothers part in the start, apologies for putting you through it guys!

Battlefield - Jordin Sparks ft. Jonas Brothers

Jordin Sparks will be joining the Jonas Brothers during their World Tour 2009 as a supporting act on all of their shows through out North America. She'll be performing songs mostly from her debut album. Two other songs to be performed is a cover version of Michael Jackson's P.Y.T(Pretty Young Thing) and the other will be her own lead single Battlefield from her sophomore album titled the same.

This is one of her performance I found on Youtube and is definitely one of the best live performances from her. Though her hair looks like a mess and she looks like she could snap any of those boys in half but her vocals and stage presence is undeniable. This is far from her appearences on American Idol. Nice going! The starting is somewhat better, I like the marching style drumming and voilin parts. Kudos to whoever did the arrangements. But I could have definitely done without the camera time on Joe Jonas!

Copyright © Saad Khan 2009 (Karachi, Pakistan; saadkhalidkhan@gmail.com)