Dolls Doom-minations

This ain't an album review. I just write this for a dissappointing performance due to the team of Pussycat Dolls. The gals are fabulous, the music is great, but what happens here's that the marketing sucks.

As to follow-up the huge success of PCD (Pussycat Dolls debut album), Doll Domination is consider performing slightly below the average or rather disappointing to me. None single manage to crack the top 3 spots on Billboard, however, consider fares better in countries outside U.S.

The gals had all the talents they can get, with big budget supports and yet the album had not make a splash yet. To my despair, the records also break up Nicole's solo album to give ways (songs) to this second album of the dolls. Putting about 20 tracks, sounds a good bargain, but its all too distracted. Mosts tracks on the album doesn't focus on relevent topic to the girls, which create it difficult to connect to the public.

The choice of releasing "When I Grow Up" as lead single, was already a good step. Despite of spending a lot on promoting the second single "Whatcha Think About That”, it gone to waste. They made a good move for putting "I Hate This Part" ahead, worldwidely. As "I Hate This Part" was muchly being compared with J.J. Lin,Asia artist's "Won't Trendy Won't Cost" as suspiciously of being copied, had raise both songs much awareness and causing both version a success in its own territories.


The main attraction comes from the dolls' music videos, visually attracted, therefore a series of music videos are essentials steps to promote them. Each singles released are not at the right timing. However, it seems a better approach in UK, while each singles won't separate for too long. Maybe the dolls could try throwing 2 singles at each months as the non-singles tracks like "Hush, Hush", "Out Of This Club" gaining more attention than those used in the singles.


When the world is concentrating on which singles of PCD to look for, seems a lost of focus is done. While heavy promo is given to "I Hate This Part" & "Whatcha Think About That", other non-related singles like "Top Of The World", "Jai Ho", "Bad Girl" comes interupting and the audience is spread out. 2 to 3 singles might be okay but seems about 4 to 5 singles are fighting for attentions really clouded the focus. To make things worst, with "Bottle Pop" being sent out to Oceanic region as the next potential single that soon further distract it.

Personal favourite would loves a promotional single of "Perhaps Perhaps" as an answer to "Sway".

Did ask a fans of Pussycat Dolls, and I got a doubt as he think Pussycat doll got a new complilation out with new tracks. I presume he saw it in the pirate CDs. So to get back from the DOOM to DOM-ination, the ride on Jai Ho, the tour and the release of the Doll Domination 2.0 are hope to save the album before ending it with disappointments.

The re-release would includes new singles of "Jai Ho", "Top of The World", "Hush, Hush(I Will Survive)", and a brand new track "Painted Windows". Would be better if it comes with a bonus dvds, however its unknown yet.........

YELLING

Category: Music
Genre: Canto-Pop
Artist: Kay Tse 谢安琪

有一个朋友跟我讲，如果谢安琪还是没有新的惊喜，还唱人物性的歌类像“锺无艳”。她可能是另一个彭羚。但是我个人认为谢安琪会有跟好的成绩，不管她又没有改变。她在08年的称霸是一个天时，地里，人和的成功。有环球作后盾，香港乐坛的吹势，加“囍帖街“的成功，她要红多两年是可以的。

为了延续她热潮，先派“ 祝英台“再来个首“年度之歌”来跟大众说，谢安琪有新唱片了！！！！趁她要开演唱会收入演唱会主题曲“ 吶喊“。首首都是上胜之作。可惜惊喜不大，可喜的新鲜感还在。大碟唱出多个不同的话题，社会，性别歧視，傳媒和公眾各方面的招缠。 所以草根天后，谢安琪，要突破的是歌路。
在YELLING，谢安琪尝试很多不同的风格而丰富了她的歌路。可看到她的新的一頁。

08年的年度之歌，喜帖街，的华语版本，”歡送會“可能是多余但是，歌词是写的满好的。

Tracklist
01. 吶喊 Yelling
02. 字裡行奸
03. 直角等於三角形
04. 祝英台
05. 年度之歌
06. 紅衣天使
07. 方玲霞
08. 我最喜愛的歌
09. 歡送會 (國) OT: 囍帖街
10. 開卷快樂

J-Pop Invasion

This week we sees two of biggest diva in Japan pop music, BoA and Utada releasing their long awaited International English Language albums in U.S. Can this be the first shots of Asian Artist of breaking into the U.S. mainstream pop music?

Lets run through a few facts about over our diva, Bo-A, which she actually already a big star in her native country, Korea, before breaking into Japan. Her multi-lingual skills had earned her to be the most influential Asian artist in the past 3 years. By year 2008, she already belted up 8 korean language albums, 6 Japanese albums[by which 8 of it are no 1 albums],and over 35 singles released in both countries. And now, with the breaking in of her management/record company breaking into USA market, evetually BoA become the priority. Gathered the top professional from across the pop music in U.S., its a determined to make her a success. BoA English self-titled debut will be directing to a very mainstream music, compare to the likes of Britney, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna.... I sure understand probably its because her album are produced by the big names who are behind these divas like Bloodshy & Avant, Brian Kennedy and Sean Garrett. It's electrify, dancey, pop album, the lack of ballads might be the downside of the whole album, which old fan base would be missing it a lot.

After the failure of debut single, EAT YOU UP, in U.S., the follow-up single, I DID IT FOR LOVE ft Sean Garrett can promise a better receptions there. Another promotional singles had been sent out to push up the publicity is LOOK WHO'S TALKING, a leftover from Britney's Circus album and co-written by her. No wonder it sounded so much like Britney.

In another hand, our favourite UTADA, having another attempt to break the mainstream with THIS IS THE ONE, a more RnB vibes, more pop, and a slower approach then BoA's. Also with the help from the super-producers from L.A. Reid, Stargate, and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. In her interviews, she reveals that the approach on her previous English album, EXUDOS, was a product of a US eyes of an Japanese girl stuff. Therefore, this time she wants to be more toward mainstream with stuffs that are more personal to herself.


The lead single, COME BACK TO ME, a ballad which I felt its more closer and goes back to her roots, FIRST LOVE(1999) which made her a superstar in the whole Asia. With tracks like COME BACK TO ME and APPLE AND CINAMMON, shows off her soft vocal that can make a big emotionals impact. This album definitely contains most of her greatest strength in her past recording career. I would feel like listening a best of- compilations of her Japanese recording with all slow tempos.


Can these girls create a new wave in the international market? I hope to. This could be the another foreign invasion since J.Lo, Ricky Martin & Enrique last brings on the Latin wave a decade ago.

Review:Heartbeat心跳

心跳80分
王力宏的最新力作是08年尾发行，但是到三月09才得到我的爱号。因为是改版刚刚才发。仲是喜欢买一些特别的版本，特别喜爱加送得DVD。早在几个月先已下载他的“心跳”，对它的满意度只是一般而以。 巴乐情歌当然是最好听了。像“心跳“和“EVERYTHING“ 最力宏的代表作。EVERYTHING 根是令人联想起FOREVER LOVE， 是相同的歌类。很多人说才子力宏已没有惊喜但这个“心跳”可以说为他挣回一些面子。个人喜欢有“我完全沒有任何理由理你“，和“愛得 得體“是摇滚和电子的融合，这跟才像流行音乐。加上歌词鬼马和写出他自己的想法。金曲奖得题名到也是当然。

Category: Music
Genre: Pop/Rock/Electronic
Artist: LeeHom 王力宏

Leehom's album is always an attention stealer, whether its critics or praisals, he still lives up to his name. Consider a failure for his last album, this heartbeatis back to reclaim his reputation. Sorry it took a long while to get to my head. A release of the special DVD bonus edition really does helps a lot. Loves the MVs. Ballads are great. His signature type too. However, I rated it to be slightly above average as he is still abusing-ly using chinese tunes elements into his music, which he meant to co-operate into it as with rock this time. [Consider a departure from R&B.] Lyrically, it does touches ones heart.

The rotten parts would be "What happens to Rock!!!!" Worst track on the album.

I rated: 80/100

Tracklist
01. 愛得得體
02. 心跳
03. 春雨裡洗過的太陽
04. EVERYTHING
05. 我完全沒有任何理由理你
06. 另一個天堂
07. 玩偶
08. 腳本
09. 可敬的對手
10. 搖滾怎麼了!!

JAZZisfy (My Sunday Music)

Was that a word? Well, it make a lovely name. It's could be a new catergory for me then. Lately, I hardly can differentiate the differences of Soul, Blues, Jazz but the blend of these sounds is great. It had stuck on me with recent years of acts like Adele, Duffy..... You are wrong if they are just Amy's impersonator.

Here's my list to make you clearer of what I am talking.....

1)Adele - 19
2)Duffy - Rockferry
3)Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae

These records are the few some that I could experience it to the Sunday Morning Breeze kinda of feeling. Easy breezy lazy. Just bring me back to my Uni-days. Of coz each records had a signature single, to get my attention on.

Adele 19

Another instalment of soul sensations after Amy Winehouse and Duffy, ADELE. A catchy single of "Chasing Pavements" from the debut album 19 is back haunting me again. Probably the Grammy effect. I knew I'll love her, but yet I was holding back due to her less impressive outlook. While talent wins it all.

To name a few of the awards garnered by her includes;Urban Music Awards' Best Jazz Act, Grammy's Best New Act & Female Performer and BRIT's Critic's Choice. Of these are being won after fierce competitions with Duffy.

Released same time back as with Duffy's ROCKFERRY, it just caught my attention, and this gotta thanks the GRAMMY's Awards. Chasing Pavements had all the element I like in a song, commercial, fresh, catchy and most of all heart-breaking ballad. She wrote this upon her painful experience of deciding to break up with her ex. The chorus is just a hook....should i gave up or should i.... Thats is just pretty when she sang it in her husky voice.

The others singles are having less impact than "Chasing Pavement", yet its wonderous to listening pleasure. "Hometown Glory", "Cold Shoulder", "Tired", "Make You Feel My Love" are these singles release subsequently throughout 2008. Its selections also shows the versalitily of her musical sense, despite all being JAZZify. Quickly this record become my classic easy listening list of Jazz records I love.

As additional, the Expanded Edition includes a 2nd disc of "Live Acoustic Set Recorded at the Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles". To my surprise, it includes a b-sides "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On" and "Many Shades of Black". Usually such artist only managed to score my heart with one album, even though I am also looking forward to her next releases.