The Ryan Tedder Effect

Who is he? For those not aware, he is the frontman of One Republic. Still no ideal? They sang the huge hit single "Apologise" with Timberland. Still no idea? The man behind "Bleeding Love". That should ring your bell then. If still not yet, you might like to read on.

Ryan Tedder, a current most sought-after writer around, as hot as Timberland in his Hip-Hop productions field. He broke to fame with collaboration on Apologise as a feature on Timberland's single, it also went on to become the most successful single from the Shock Value album of Timberland and the best one of 2008. It leads him and his band, One Republic, a hit album. Dream Out Loud.

His success continues as a writer, when he co-wrote Bleeding Love with Jesse McCartney(sung by Leona Lewis). All three names becomes a global hit, by sending Leona and Ryan to the superstar status. Ryan continues to writes magic. Almost all his works turn to hits. He brought ballad back to mainstream, and ballad in a way he makes it sounds. A David Foster of today? We just sit back and see. Ryan also had worked with a large group of artists from Whitney Houston to Rihanna. A sure win formula? A R.Tedder ballad.

As in 2008, he writes and produces hit singles from "Apologise", "Love Like This(Natasha Bedingfield)", "Bleeding Love", and since then 2 distinctive scene had arose. One is he wrote all the One Republic singles, and second, he start mimicking the formula of Bleeding Love.

Start of 2009, Beyonce's "HALO" is sent out as single by her management team as soon as possible and it did enjoy success, to avoid clashing with Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone". Its wise for Beyonce, but not for those late comers. All sounded the similar trend, a R.Tedder trademark. As Jordin Spark's "Battlefield" also another hit single global. All sounds terrific but similarities are hard to differentiate if it wasn't sung by differ artist. I don't mind at all as i Love all of it.

Beautiful ballads + powerful diva = hit single

Thats all I love...... and I hope he brings in new changes before it got stale and too repeating. So when before you think its over, now upcoming hit songs from various artist, who caught on the bus of R.Tedder's RnB ballad song, written by different composer and trying to sound.... HIT Single.

First choice, Toni Braxton's long a-waited single, "Yesterday" It's her first solo after 4 years hiatus and it comes with a remix(duet) featuring Trey Songz. It's beautiful and its catchy, witty, heartbreaking, but not a hit single it seems. For those Toni's fans, it is something you been waiting for. Her comeback? I am hoping something better. Don't mistaken it a R.Tedder's works.

Second, R.Tedder's produce and written, "HAPPY". It's from Leona Lewis lead single from her sophomore effort, ECHO. Debuted in UK already in X-Factor, video is out, and it's a hit I can say. It's something I expect from both Leona and Ryan, a next level of BLEEDING LOVE. Ryan also written another "Lost And Found" for her ECHO album. Some tracks he wrote didn't make the cut are like " Perfect Stranger", "Stranger", "Brave" which didn't make it to the album, but indeed sounds similar but nice too.

Third, Jordin Sparks's Battlefield. It's her 5th top 10 single, what would you say it wasn't a hit single?

Non official releases like Michelle Williams' Last Dance. Produce by The Jam, but predicted as a B-sides. It's wittyful playnig the words rythming to achieve the Bleeding Love-ese ballad formula.

Hurray, ballad is back.

Elva 蕭亞軒:Diamond Candy 鑽石糖

(Forgive me for those keep coming back and didn’t see any new posts up lately. For those hoping for some little download, sorry this is not the site. I am posting here purely for my own pleasure.)

Writing a blog needs some efforts. I am a moody person, and finally I settle with this wonderful album review. This year 2009, there are a few albums that satisfied my emptiness for a good album from mando-pop. A few surprise ones too. Let me start with this one.

Diamond Candy is Elva’s 2009 offering and it’s totally spell her out to the world. In Chinese market, trendy albums do not come all the times. Got the rhythms but doesn’t have the budget to match up with the image packaging and or vice-versa. Elva’s DIAMOND CANDY is a revolution of a good music since her comeback 3 years ago with her “1087”. It was a success. Since then, Jolin and Landy are the nearest rivals to top that. Jolin’s full of European taste while Landy can’t shake off her “Tai-Mei” (local strip girl image) style. Elva is a total New York America girlie thingy, since her 5th Avenue album till 1087. She is the most fashionable Chinese artist since Coco Lee.

Back to the album, full of up-tempo tunes and in-cooperate a lot of helps from foreign music no matter its cover versions or getting help from Wayne Hector (Westlife, Britney, Madonna). Title-theme song, “Diamond Candy” and “Bling Bling The Most Favourable” the 2 lead singles off the album is totally hot. The videos are totally hot (BLINGs) and do matched up to the song’s content, from video to cheography. “WORTH IT” a latest trend in nowadays English music, autotune. Heavily infused opening track.

The major drawbacks are too little original elements. Just the 2 lead singles, you can see references to Fergie’s Fergilicious video, Lady Gaga’s earphone and major music influence from those international divas. However, it’s a start of Chinese music to move to a trendy direction. We always need a pioneer and people only can follows, incorporate then innovate. Yay!!! To Elva!!

As to all Chinese albums, a must have are the ballads. With Elva self-penned lyrics “Honesty” bares herself emotional naked. This is a good karaoke number. Same goes to the Korean number, a mid-tempo of COUNTDOWN. She made it beautiful hers, and the video is a very tribute to MJ? I see more of “Rain” there. “Thriller Legend” also lyrics penned by her as a tribute to the late MJ. It is appropriate and trendy thing to include for now. What else could be trendier? (Watch out for Landy, as new album already round the corner)

I mentioned revolution previously above, and this is album is a state of art and a milestone for Elva’s comeback. She was huge during early millennium with her trendy image and songs and wonderful ballads and establish a songstress of low-note voice. These all goes darken when she was away from the spotlights (due to her life dramas) for 1087 days. Her comeback 1087 album is superb and it’s a daring one for not having any of her signature heart-breaking ballads. The follow-up “3-Faced Eva” is a close topic failure, as after the buzz the album is gone forgotten. As to her fans it’s an okay album. I could see a change of her formula in her creative control and now DIAMONG CANDY totally sees the perfect result album with the same concept, up-tempo, ballads, and a prefect-mix of all type of music tempo and lyrically carries the same meaning as the previous album, Brave, Independent, and Beautiful.

Tracklisting

01. 豔遇(Worth It) 02. 閃閃惹人愛 (Bling Bling Most Favour)

03. 倒數 (Countdown) 04. 我陪你哭 (I'll Accompany You Cry) 05. 同步呼吸 (Breath Sythronic) 06. 不愛．請閃開 (Disappear If you Don't Love) 07. 鑽石糖(Diamond Candy)

08. 坦白 (Honesty) 09. 我們多久沒牽手 (How Long We Didn't Hold Hands)

10. 顫慄傳奇(Thriller Legend)