[News] Lady Gaga releases Do What U Want has entire world slayed

First if you haven't listened to the song do so now:

Wow right? So simple but executed so well, giving some of the best vocals of her life, and the production is AMAZING. The whole thing is like a f**k you to the haters, critics etc not sex which you would initially think. 

I haven't seen anyone not praise the song to high heaven, only some Katy Perry stans that realise this trumps everything on Prism quite easily and it's only a promo single :( poor Katy. 

Artpop is shaping up to be the best album of the year

[Album Review] SHINee - "Everybody" - The Fifth Mini Album

When I heard SHINee were releasing another album this year I was initially worried. Having released two full albums in Korea and one in Japan I was worried that SM might scrape the bottom on the barrel with this one or there would at least by some Korean remakes of Japanese albums tracks. How wrong was I. SHINee have created one of their most cohesive albums yet full of unexpected twists and turns click through to read my full review...

Ella Henderson, the best thing to come from the X Factor in ages, reveals a song from her debut album.

Ella Henderson is the reason X Factor should continue on. When it finds people this talented and gives them a platform to go far it's worth the rest of the crap it creates.

I'm obsessed with this girl's voice and the song is pretty good too. Syco better not ever let this girl go if they have any sense, she could be big, I want her to be big.

[Single Review] SHINee are at the top of their game & rival TVXQ with "Everybody"

SHINee are back with their THIRD I repeat THIRD comeback of the year. That's kinda crazy. Although k-pop artists usually have much quicker promotion cycles than you would find in the west they still normally limit themselves to once maybe twice a year (unless you are B.A.P). SM really seem to be pushing SHINee hard at the moment and I really hope this isn't signalling the end for them or that some of them might be going into the army. Although I'd love to see some solo work from them.

When I first heard this song and snippets via teasers I initially though, oh no another boring dupstep-y track, the chorus is not particularly interesting or catchy and is quite frankly kinda lazy from a composition sort of view. The verses are better and Minho isn't rapping this time which makes for a nice change, although he's got better since debut days, he isn't that great and I think I actually prefer his singing voice much like Amber in f(x). It's ok but when compared to other SHINee singles like Lucifer & Sherlock it doesn't compare. 

Where the song really shines however is when they perform it. This choreography is incredible, they throw each other around, turn into a transformer and they execute it perfectly. If you ask me, this solidifies SHINee as the best dancers in k-pop for sure. Infinite need to up their game to take their crown. The song wasn't really crafted to be listened to as much as performed to. If they ever perform it completely live (which I'm hoping they will next week) and the vocals are on point SHINee are seriously up to TVXQ level standard and that's incredible. SHINee are probably my favourite band in k-pop these days and I couldn't stand them back in 2009. They constantly show growth with every comeback and release albums that are consistent throughout. 

Score:

Performance : 9.5/10

Song: 6/10

(Did the score slightly differently this time because a combined score would really show how I felt - what do you think? I might start doing this for all releases)

[Single Review] T-ara - Number 9

T-ara are back! They are now back to the original six members and although I really like Areum I'm quite happy with this and I hope they keep this lineup from now on. Knowning CCM this wont be the case though. Anyway onto the song..

Number 9 feels like a hark back to their "Absolute First Album" days (one of the best k-pop albums ever btw if you've never listened to it). I adore this song. It's like Sexy Love only about 10 times better. Sexy Love was meant to be their big comeback after the Hwayoung scandal but it really didn't live up to the quality of their previous singles, for me anyway, it was a good single but not incredible. THIS is the big comeback I wanted. 

Produced by Shinsadong Tiger (responsible for most of BEAST'S and 4minute's big hits) "Number 9" starts of with just a guitar and a gentle oooooh before dropping right in the deep end of a club song. Which is basically the best way to start any song isn't it? The song is incredibly catchy throughout. My favourite part is Jiyeon's with that robotic "number 9" in the background. Awesome. 

There is also of course some awkward english "I'm addict.. I'm addict..." it's almost forgivable and what T-ara song is complete without it tbh? 

T-ara just don't know how to release a bad single. Hopefully this can help them recover to being one of the biggest groups in Korea again because this is for sure my favourite k-pop single this half of the year. 

I also love the video, it's a pretty standard k-pop affair but it fits the song perfectly and choreo is pretty good for T-ara's usually pretty low standards. Oh and Qri eats a rose... obviously.

Score: 9/10

[Guilty Pleasure] G.R.L. - Vacation

I hate myself for liking this so much. 

But the fact is I've had it on repeat for the past day now after someone reminded me of it's existence. They're meant to be the next version of the Pussycat Dolls except they are completely different. More pop and all of them actually sing. 

It's just fun and SUPER catchy oh my days. I also stan for Lauren Bennett so it's good to see her make it through the death of the excellent Paradiso Girls. The dancing is pretty good too, it doesn't match many of k-pop girl group dance routines in it's complexity but it is executed well. They can actually dance unlike the majority of western girl groups. That's why I liked the Pussycat Dolls, sure all but two of them couldn't sing (..and never did) (Poor Melody) but they could kill a dance routine and were super sexy. 

But who the one that acts like a 12 year old in the video even though she's like a full grown woman?! Who told you to do that?!

Anyway check out "Vacation" below. I hope we hear more from them and that they don't die out like the poor Paradiso Girls :( .