Ellie Goulding and Fernando Garibay unleash beautiful video for beautiful remix of "Lights"

Above is Ellie Goulding, a British songstress I can't seem to ever get enough of. Her album Lights is a pop masterpiece. Her single "Lights" is also amazing. But even more amazing than the original song is the Fernando Garibay remix. 

Garibay is responsible for many of Lady GaGa's hits as well as some great offerings from the Sugababes.

The Fernando Garibay remix of "Lights" is some of the man's best work. While the original "Lights" was drastic electronica, this remix is more like a trance production with seriously fat bass. It's gettin' bigga! The synthesizers are like candy in my ears. It's almost like a Tiesto production, if you think about it.

Accompanying this is the music video for the remix, which is merely a re-worked version of the original video. Nevertheless, it's beautiful eye-candy to accompany the ear-candy. Ellie + Fernando = pure suga!

What do you think of Ellie Goulding's remix? Comments greatly appreciated!

Wednesday Rewind: "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani

Welcome to the first installment of Wednesday Rewind. I'm going to be publishing one of these puppies every Wednesday. I'll talk about amazing pop songs from the past that are timeless enough for you to keep on your iPod next time you do a music sweep.

This post is going to deal with Gwen  Stefani's amazing and underated single "Hollaback Girl" from her album Love. Angel. Music. Baby released in 2005. Easily one of the best songs on the album, "Hollaback Girl" went to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100.

"Uh-huh, this my sh*t, all my girls stomp your feet like this," Stefani sings in the song's intro. The cheerleader-inspired chants of the song are catchier than anything on the radio today, to be honest. The hand-clapping, campy nature of this song makes it perfect for singing along with friends. This is why this song will be the soundtrack of countless memories for people growing up in the 2000s.

"This sh*t is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" she screams in the song's chanty bridge. This song truly taught me how to spell bananas. Seriously, there is no better way.

What do you think of this week's Wednesday Rewind! What song should I choose for next week's Wednesday Rewind song? Comments greatly appreciated!

SMASH Music Review: "Pilot" - 2/6

Last night was the premier of the new NBC TV show SMASH. The musical drama is beyond amazing, I highly recommend it, but alas this is not a TV blog, but it is a music blog. So here is the review of the songs from last night's episode, "Pilot."

"Over The Rainbow" (Cover) - Katharine McPhee

McPhee's character Karen Cartwright sings this song during one of her auditions. Regardless to say, this piano ballad was beautiful, but nothing out of the ordinary. 6/10

"Never Give All The Heart" (Original) - Megan Hilty

Hilty's character Ivy Lynn sings this with the songwriters of the musical-in-works Marilyn. The song is a beautiful ballad inspired by Miss Monroe herself (seriously she's everywhere!) and introduces Hilty's voice to the small screen. Her rich, full voice is a treat to the ears and will no doubt be great competition for McPhee on this show. 8/10

"The National Pastime" (Original) - Megan Hilty

This song is one giant bucket of innuendos if there ever was one. The song is sung by Hilty's character as Monroe as she prances around with a bunch of baseball players that are little too overzealous in their attempts to get with her.The suggestive dance is hilarious, the suggestive lyrics are cute, and this song, even though it's very Broadway-driven, still works well on the small screen and on your iPod. 9/10

"Beautiful" (Cover) - Katharine McPhee

This song is also sung by McPhee's character at an audition, but this audition is much better. Not only does McPhee do this song, but she redoes it. The melody is different, the piano instrumentation is new, and the vocals are off the hook. They may not be as powerful as Aguilera's, but they really are better. 10/10

"Let Me Be Your Star" (Original) - Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee

The girls sing this song together (but in the show they sing it separately) in an amazing, Broadway tune that is so perfect it could be the show's theme song. The powerful vocals both girls contribute remind me of Hairspray's "Good Morning Baltimore" but taken into a 21st century NYC scene. Such talent in one song has not been seen since "Lady Marmalade"! 10/10

What did you think of SMASH? Will you be keeping up with the show? Will you be downloading the songs on iTunes? Comments greatly appreciated! 

Lady GaGa reveals first Born This Way Ball tour details, remains more creative than the rest of the world put together

Above the is the first official poster for Lady GaGa's The Born This Way Ball Tour. Miss GaGa just revealed this picture through twitter with the caption "♥ ♥ ♥ THE BORN THIS WAY BALL: OFFICIAL WORLD TOUR POSTER 2012-2013 ♥ ♥ ♥" after admitting she had had too much wine.

My first thoughts on the poster were along the lines of "oh great, that creepy picture again" (the headshot on top). But then I noticed the creative coloring and effects that had been added and proceed to scroll down the enormous picture. Black clouds, spooky, but cool. Then came the castle-like towers that resembled the stage that she had revealed yesterday.

This was shaping up rather nicely. Then came Gagz and her entourage dressed in killer outfits, especially the Lady herself. Her dress is a piano. Yeah, an actual paino as a dress. Beyond cool.

The generic-looking font that GaGa used in this campaign is present here too, but it looks completely different when there's a pink, upside-down triangle in the background.

Above is an artist interpretation of what the stage for the tour would like. I am really luvin' the castle theme here! I'm also digging the "monster pit" which is that little section in the middle catwalks of the stage where only true "monsters" get to sit. The criteria is that you have to be dressed very..."born this way"...no idea what that means, but I think we'll find out on the first night of the tour.

Tour dates will be released tomorrow, stay tuned for info!

What do you think of Lady GaGa's plans for her ambitious new tour? Will you be going to the Born This Way Ball? Comments greatly appreciated!

Keeping Up With The Charlies: "Tickin' Like A Bomb" in filming

As you all know The Charlies are quite a favorite around this blog. Here's some stuff that they're up to, for those of you who love them as much as I.

Their new single "Tickin' Like A Bomb" is getting the video treatment this week! Listen to the song below.

We don't have much in sneak-peek material yet (ahem, girls you can e-mail me a sneak-peek anytime at popisabloodsport@gmail.com or hit me up on twitter!) except for this:

I can't get over the fact that the index finger is actually a bomb. Like her finger is literally tickin' like a bomb...'cuz it is a bomb!

The girls have not revealed what the video will be about, but I'm totally gonna take a wild shot on: lots of explosives, some fire, a man, a broken super 8 camera, and a half-eaten banana. But that's just me. Also: girls this video is not filmed yet, is it too late to through the half-eaten banana in there? Yes? No?

What do you think about The Charlies? Is their song "Tickin' Like a Bomb" going to be playing on your iPod? Comments greatly appreciated! Also: what random objects do you predict will appear in The Charlies' new video?

Download The Charlies' free mixtape Start A Fire here!

Madonna reveals standard edition cover for "M.D.N.A." and unleashes LMFAO remix, flaws remain nowhere to be found

Above is the newly-revealed cover for Madonna's new album M.D.N.A. While last week we got to see the cover for the deluxe edition of the album this week we get this glorious piece of artwork. A masterpiece, if you will.

While last week's cover was beyond amazing, everything I could have ever wished for, really, this cover is just everything+more! The red dress and gloves are looking bawm, that tube-like reflection that was seen in last week's cover is seen in this one as well, except from farther away, but most of all Madonna is looking amazing! This should come as no shock, but I still become surprised at how great she looks.

That pose right there beats all three "Give Me All Your Luvin'" poses put together.

This is why she is the queen, plain and simple.

Also, check out the LMFAO remix of her new single.

 

This remix takes the peppy production of the Martin Solveig-produced track and turns it into a club jam. It really is amazing how much these boys can do with remixes. Minaj remains in the track, M.I.A., however is out en lieu of the boys of LMFAO. Well, how courteous.

The cheer leader chant is even better on this version of the track than on the original. It is a big statement to make, but the music truly speaks for itself. This remix has an amazing energy completely different from the original song, but still great. I truly am torn between which version I like the most because both are just so good. Just give this song a listen even if you don't like LMFAO and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

That breakdown! Ugh!

What do you think about Madonna's new album cover? What do you think of the LMFAO remix, does it measure up to the original? Comments greatly appreciated, I want to hear your opinions!

Marilyn Monroe serves as a muse for Jessie and the Toy Boys in latest leak

Yes, another post about Jessie and the Toy Boys. Yes, another post mentioning Marilyn Monroe. But this is for a good reason, I don't dare be redundant for trivial reasons!

"Marilyn" leaked a few days ago, but I never got around to listening to it. I lost precious time, because now I can't stop listening to this track! The delicious dark bubblegum-pop track starts with a genius whispered verse about the tragedy of life and all that good stuff...but then...

"Marilyn, why'd you die young? Was it pressure? Was it cutting through?" Jessie asks the iconic star. Much like the Nicki Minaj song "Marilyn Monroe" this track ponders the connection between today's celebrities to her, possibly the biggest star of the past. 

The blonde chanteuse asks Marilyn for advice, "What's the secre that you can reveal?" before asking the chilling question: "Were you feeling the way I feel?" There's nothing released by this group better than this. Nothing.

The bridge is truly the most haunting part of the song. I don't want to spoil the experience, because trust me it's goosebump-giving, but there are these things involved: cake and a loaded gun. Yeah, I know.

I came up with a formula to show just how great this song is: "Marilyn" >>> life.

I really hope this song makes the final cut for This Is How Rumors Start, or better yet becomes a single. Chills!

What do you think of Jessie and the Toy Boys' latest leak? What do you think of them in general? Comments greatly appreciated!