POP from the Block

[VIDEO] Rihanna: Man Down

2011-06-01T22:29:00.000+08:00

Rihanna premieres the Anthony Mandler-directed video for her fourth US single, Man Down. Lesson of the video? Don't mess with RiRi and her bright red tresses because she'll blow your head off. Literally.

[LISTEN] Kylie Minogue: Silence (B-Side)

2011-05-31T23:55:00.000+08:00

Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) will be the fourth single off pop goddess Kylie Minogue's 11th studio album Aphrodite, which will include a Kylietastic B-side entitled Silence, the Pete Hammond remix, and a live recording from Kylie's current Aphrodite tour.

[WATCH] Nicola Roberts Meets Lady Gaga

2011-05-30T00:15:00.000+08:00

Nicola Roberts of BRIT Award-winning band Girls Aloud asks Lady Gaga questions sent in from Little Monsters and chats to her about Rocky Balboa, pantyhose, and Prince Harry.

Some site news and a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!

2011-05-27T10:33:00.000+08:00

Can you believe that it's been a year since I first started this blog?! Well, yes, I guess you can. Hm. It's been a long year for me, and at one point I've almost decided to abandon everything, but whenever I hear a spectacular song, the urge to share it is instantly present. WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY, and clearly I'm alive and able to type out blog posts and OH MY GOD I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF ANY LONGER I GOT POP FROM THE BLOCK ITS OWN DOMAIN!

Three reasons why I purchased a domain:

A. The whole "popfromtheblock.blogspot.com" is just too long to type.
B. I see the domain as an "anchor" which I have invested money in, which makes it harder for me to just up and leave.
C. GET A LOAD OF THIS PROFESSIONAL-SOUNDING (BUT NOT REALLY) DOTCOMMAGE, BITCHES.

So, to celebrate both the anniversary and my recent investment, I'm holding a M-A-S-S-I-V-E GIVEAWAY for all of my ~~"loyal"~~ readers! (THIS IS ACTUALLY LEGIT, YOU GUYS.)

Let's get started!

First, I'm giving away THREE Sky Ferreira "As If!" EPs (see color legend further down). Long-time POP from the Block readers know how much I love this girl and her music, so to give her CDs away is such an honor.

Next I have FIVE Tinie Tempah merchandise packages up for grabs! The package includes a pair of sunglasses, stickers, and a poster (see photo below).

ONE lucky winner will get The New Dance Mix USA: In the Club which features artists like The Temper Trap, LMFAO, Diplo, and many others!

This next one is a whopper. TEN (yes, that's right) of you stand a chance to win 2AM Club's album "What Did You Think Was Going to Happen?" which includes the AMAZING Worry About You. (Seriously. One year after its release and it's still one of my most played tracks.)

ATTENTION: GLEEKS! Although the season may have ended, it's no reason to stop going bonkers over this massive TV phenomenon and Glee's amazing music. So, I'm giving away FIVE Glee: The Music Volume 6 albums! (Also available for purchase here.)

To make it even Gleekier, I'm throwing in ONE Darren Criss signed copy of Billboard Magazine!

Oh, but I'm not done yet! FIVE of you are going to get a SIGNED COPY of Nicole Scherzinger's Killer Love album!

And finally, I'm giving away this Nerina Pallot EP collection to ONE lucky fan!
The collection includes:

June Bug EP
Acoustic Sessions EP
Skeleton Key EP
Buckminster Fuller EP

How'd you like them apples?!

COLOR LEGEND:
Giveaways in RED - it is a US EXCLUSIVE CONTEST. Your entry will not be valid if you live outside the US.

BLUE - UK EXCLUSIVE CONTEST. Again, if you're outside of the UK, your entry will not be valid.

GREEN - The contest is open internationally!

RULE(S):
You may only submit one entry per contest. Two or more submissions in the same giveaway category will NOT increase your chances of winning (See "OPTIONAL" below for this) but instead will forfeit your entry in that category.

HOW TO ENTER:
FIRST, you have to 'Like' POP from the Block on Facebook! (Might as well get something out of it, right?) I have multiple ways of checking this, just so you know. Oh, look below! How convenient!

Then, SEND your entries to giveaways@popfromtheblock.com with the SUBJECT "GIVEAWAY: [giveaway of your choice]" and include the following details in the message:

FULL NAME:
COMPLETE ADDRESS:
CONTACT DETAILS: (Twitter, Facebook, etc. Let us know!)

OPTIONAL: If you send me a screencap of you RT-ing my tweet about this giveaway, I will enter your name twice in your chosen contest. (Am I milking it all out? Why, yes. Watch me.)

The POP from the Block anniversary giveaway will be open for TEN DAYS ONLY (May 27th to June 5th) because I will be juggling a bunch of other personal agendas which I shouldn't even be talking about so ENTER NOW NOW NOW OR FOREVER REGRET IT.

Deadline of entries: June 5th, 11:59 PM (GMT+8)

Winners will be chosen at random and contacted on June 6th-7th.

For inquiries, contact us through email or Twitter.

Best of luck!

1+1 doesn't equal to 4, but Beyoncé sure as hell likes numbers.

2011-05-26T17:39:00.000+08:00

Beyoncé once again took to American Idol to premiere another song from her upcoming '4' album entitled 1+1. Bey performed the stirring, perfect for love-making ballad on the Idol stage for the finale episode. After parading on stage with her army in performances of Run The World (Girls), Beyoncé instead focuses on her singing chops in 1+1. While it may not exactly be a song for the summer, 1+1 is definitely a killer ballad.

In other Beyoncé news, the tracklisting for 4 has been revealed (see cover here):

1+1
I Care
I Miss You
Best Thing I Never Had
Party feat. Andre 3000
Rather Die Young
Start Over
Love On Top
Countdown
End Of Time
I Was Here
Run The World (Girls)

Don't get me wrong, but starting off with a ballad doesn't seem like a very good idea.

4 is now available to pre-order on iTunes.

[LISTEN] The Wanted : Glad You Came

2011-05-25T13:57:00.003+08:00

Now there's been some giggles and jokes over Twitter about British 'manband' The Wanted's upcoming single Glad You Came. While the title suggests a double entendre of sorts, it's good to know that the boys haven't put out a song about sexual innuendos... they're just glad you came. Take that however you want.

The single, out July 10th, is a pretty good tune for the summer. Although it doesn't possess the "instant liketivity" (yes I just made that up) of All Time Low and it gets a little repetitive, the chorus is spot on, reminding us why The Wanted isn't just one of those groups you brush off after one or two songs.

Introducing... Chloe Swaby!

2011-05-23T13:55:00.002+08:00

Now, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of country music, but add in some pop and a catchy hook or two-- and even the Swedes will turn their heads (or ears rather) around. Hertfordshire-based artist Chloe Swaby proves that overlapping synths and electronic sampling are no substitues for organic instruments in her country pop debut EP Gypsy Lane.

The lead single, Racing Car, is a track tailor-made for the radio. I honestly didn't expect the chorus to be so catchy! It's one of those songs that easily win you over after the first play. Having lived in Ghana working as a volunteer, Chloe Swaby possesses the ability to translate her experiences into lyrical stories that hold actual authenticity. And it's that same factor that makes her music so appealing and relatable.

Listen to the Gypsy Lane EP below:

Racing Car is now available on iTunes.

Chloe Swaby on Twitter | MySpace | Facebook

[VIDEO] Save The World - Swedish House Mafia

2011-05-20T20:59:00.002+08:00

A while back, I featured the incredibly good Swedish House Mafia track, Save The World, and it has been stuck on loop since then. The Swedish trio have recently premiered the video for their poptastic earworm, so check it out below.

My thoughts in chronological order while watching:

'Clubby' vibe. Please no please no please no.
Oh good, it's not.
Is this going to be one of those clichéd clips where some sort of Superman saves the day? Ugh.
OH NO! NINJAS!
I mean robbers.
Hah, I knew this was going to be some hackneyed video.
OH MY GOD A DOG.
MORE DOGS.
A CORGI!
This is ridiculous.
Repeat the above statement 8 more times.

That's about it.

WHO RUN THIS MOTHA?

2011-05-20T01:48:00.000+08:00

Beyoncé does! Below is the sexy album cover for Bey's forthcoming album entitled '4'.

The album cover is as fierce as the video for Beyoncé's lead single, Run The World (Girls), directed by Francis Lawrence (of Constantine and I Am Legend fame). The music video shows Beyoncé working off her bootylicious self in animalistic moves and taking her pet hyenas for a little stroll in the park.

Oh, and also: BEWARE OF CLICHED SALUTE GESTURES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

4 will be released on June 28th in the US.

[VIDEO] The Saturdays: Notorious

2011-05-19T16:06:00.001+08:00

Vanessa, Una, Mollie, Frankie, and Rochelle of The Saturdays ditch the glasses and the corporate attire to be 'gangsters on the dancefloor'. I smell a hit!

Notorious will be released on May 22nd.

Preorder the single on iTunes.

[VIDEO] Out of Goodbyes - Maroon 5 ft. Lady Antebellum

2011-05-18T21:09:00.001+08:00

Maroon 5 has recently premiered the video for their brilliant duet with country trio Lady Antebellum, Out of Goodbyes, which is from their third studio album, Hands All Over. The video features model/actress Diora Baird tending Dwight Yoakam's wounds in an old-style Western setting. This is the second video off Hands All Over where Maroon 5 is not present.

The Saturdays roll out video previews of Notorious!

2011-05-18T20:00:00.000+08:00

I'm probably not the only one who's thrilled about The Saturdays churning out new songs, right? (I sound like a stan from the looks of my recent posts.) The Chuckie Radio Remix that was released a few days back gibes us a pretty good idea of what Notorious is going to sound like: a big, ballsy club stomper. The girls have really stepped up their promo strategy and thus we have individual teaser clips for Mollie, Una, Vanessa, Frankie, and Rochelle.

Katy Perry spends an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100 top ten!

2011-05-17T22:50:00.002+08:00

Despite being knocked off the top spot by Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Katy Perry has no reason to circle the drain because she's just become the first artist in Billboard history to stay within the top 10 for A WHOLE YEAR!

It's quite a handful to explain so here's the press release describing how Katy has made the top 10 her second home.

Perry began her streak when "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, debuted at No. 2 on the May 29, 2010, Hot 100. The song would go on to spend six weeks at No. 1 beginning June 19, 2010.

As "Girls" logged its 12th frame in the top 10 on the Aug. 14, 2010, Hot 100, the follow-up and second single from Perry's second Capitol Records album "Teenage Dream" bounded 20-7. The song would become the set's second No. 1 on the Sept. 18 chart and reign for two weeks.

On the Nov. 20, 2010, Hot 100, "Firework" burst 29-10, just keeping Perry in the top 10, as "Dream" dropped out of the tier (12-8). "Firework" started a four-week command on the Jan. 8, 2011, survey.

When "E.T." bounded 28-8 on the March 12, 2011, Hot 100, the song joined "Firework" for the latter song's last two weeks in the top 10.

Prior to Perry, Ace of Base had held the Hot 100's uninterrupted top 10 longevity mark, linking 48 straight weeks in the top 10 with "All That She Wants," "The Sign" and "Don't Turn Around" (Oct. 16, 1993-Sept. 10, 1994). Santana ranks third with 42 consecutive frames in the upper region (1999-2000), followed by Mariah Carey (41 weeks in a row, 1995-96).

It's no question that Mrs. Russell Brand has gone far from her Ur So Gay days, but her lastest LP Teenage Dream has spurred four #1's and California Gurls broke digital sales records.

So, in celebration of Katy Perry's success, here's her debut I Kissed A Girl (keep an eye for Ke$ha!) and her latest collaboration with Kanye West, E.T.!

Song of the Day: Till I'm Gone by Tinie Tempah ft. Wiz Khalifa

2011-05-15T15:01:00.000+08:00

British rap sensation Tinie Tempah made waves in the US when he crossed the pond with his collaboration with Eric Turner, Written in the Stars. Since then, Tinie Tempah has debuted on US Television on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and will be going on the Late Show with David Letterman (May 17th) and Conan (May 26th). His UK chart topping album Disc-Overy will be released on May 17th with three brand new tracks, one of which is Till I'm Gone featuring Wiz Khalifa, his next US single.

The Stargate-produced track is a collection of catchy synths, sick rap verses, and a chorus that pulls everything together to make a massive tune that both hip hop and pop fans will enjoy.

[REMIX] The Saturdays: Notorious (Chuckie Radio Remix)

2011-05-14T19:54:00.000+08:00

A brand new remix of the upcoming The Saturdays track, Notorious, has surfaced. The single will be released on May 22nd, to be included in their 3rd studio album which will be out later this year.

[VIDEO] Bounce - Calvin Harris ft. Kelis

2011-05-14T11:34:00.000+08:00

The Acapella singer who lent her vocals to the massively addictive Calvin Harris track, Bounce, barely makes an appearance in the video.

Swedish House Mafia: Save the World

2011-05-11T22:43:00.000+08:00

After the success of Miami 2 Ibiza and One, Swedish House Mafia has churned out yet another infectious club stomper titled Save the World, featuring the vocals of John Martin. Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso definitely know their way around clubtastic tunes and Save the World is a complete earworm.

[PREVIEW] The Saturdays: Notorious

2011-05-11T19:05:00.000+08:00

HUZZAH! The Saturdays are back! Almost, anyway. After closing their Headlines EP on a high with Higher (excuse that sloppily-strung phrase), the ladies of The Sats are hard at work on their yet-to-be-titled third studio album. Pictured above is the artwork for their upcoming single, Notorious. From what the preview clips have been suggesting, Notorious is going to be a massive tune that's right up your alley if you're a fan of UK mainstream music.

Here are patches of the Notorious lyrics courtesy of The Saturdays.

Two preview clips merged into one convenient YT video. And while we're at it, here's a link to a live performance of a new track they did on their Headlines tour called Turn Myself In, which will be included in The Saturdays' upcoming LP.

Notorious will be released on May 22nd.

Song of the Day: My Favourite Obsession by Secret Sirens

2011-05-11T18:14:00.000+08:00

Leeds-based duo Secret Sirens consisting of Narelle Frances and Andrew Siron already have some indie chart success and are keen on moving up with their forthcoming single, My Favourite Obsession, a song that resulted after a real life encounter with a Facebook stalker (Yikes!). It's pop, rock, and everything in between. The chorus is the ballsiest part of the track, and oh-- it's written from a stalker's perspective. Here's a minute-long preview of My Favourite Obsession.

POP Ketchup: what's playing?

2011-05-04T22:01:00.003+08:00

As you all know, POP from the Block has been M.I.A. for the past few months, and eager to get back on track. So I've put together a juicy little playlist of poptastic tunes you ought to take note of.

Put Your Hands Up - Nerina Pallot
The lead single off British singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot's forthcoming album Year of the Wolf is a modest yet insanely catchy pop tune. Originally intended for Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite LP, Put Your Hands Up is a track that can easily be altered to electropop and would make a brilliant floor stomper, but the beauty of the song lies within its meekness.

Bounce - Calvin Harris feat. Kelis
Leave it to Calvin Harris to produce extremely good beats. Bounce is as odd as it is brilliant.

Silly Girl - Neon Hitch
Remember that gypsy girl I introduced back in January? Well, Neon Hitch has gone far from her dreamy pop sound in Get Over U. Her second single, Silly Girl, is best summed up in one word: DURRRRTY. On the other hand, 'infectious' and 'dope' would fit well too.

Goodbye, Goodnight - Her Majesty and the Wolves
Ex- Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and Spencer Nezey of Jupiter Rising are at it again! Goodbye, Goodnight is a horribly catchy electropop number that's oigng to be a surefire hit in clubs.

Do It in the AM - Frankmusik feat. Far East Movement
Frankmusik + Far East Movement = club stomper. Need I say more?

Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé
Beyoncé's latest "female empowering" song has fans and critics divided. On one hand, it's a mess of a song with a Pon De Floor sample. On the other, it's a contagious anthem that refuses to mingle with the synthtastic tunes of today. Run the World (Girls) is a song only a handful of popstars can pull off. Kudos, Bey.

In the Air - True Tiger ft. Professor Green and Maverick Sabre
A track that's unarguably meant for the dancefloor.

The Lonely - Christina Perri
By now I'm wondering just how much pain Christina Perri has been through to write such anguishing songs. Much like her previous singles, The Lonely cuts straight to the heart with its sweeping piano strokes and mournful melody.

Lost Without You - Vanbot
If you're a fan of Swedish pop sensation Robyn, then Vanbot is right up your alley. Lost Without You is a sad disco-ish track that would fit in quite nicely in Robyn's Body Talk albums.

Starlight - Sophie-Ellis Bextor

(We Do It) Primo - Colette Carr
New Cherry Tree artist Colette Carr teams up with Frankmusik for her single (We Do It) Primo. It's kind of a dreamy (and sober) Ke$ha with a spoonful of sugar. Throw in a Keane sample of Somewhere Only We Know for good measure.

Break You Hard - Natalia Kills
Natalia Kills is one of the most promising pop acts of today and her debut LP Perfectionist is a solid effort. Break You Hard is immensely good and a nice reminder that all is not lost on today's generation of pop warblers.

Till the World Ends (Femme Fatale Remix) - Britney Spears feat. Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha
LOOK AT THOSE NAMES.

Nova - The Sound of Arrows
The Sound of Arrows is yet another amazing act to come from Sweden. Their dreamy pop music is quite a delight to the ears and the video for their single Nova is equally pleasing to the eyes.

Easy Please Me - Katy B
Katy B presents a fresh edge to the current breed of rave-y, nonsensical pop songs with Easy Please Me. It's always a nice surprise to hear songs in this genre that steer clear of autotuning.

Begging Me - Florrie

[Single Review] Christina Perri: Arms

2011-05-03T15:01:00.000+08:00

Singer-songwriter Christina Perri wrenched our hearts and shot herself to fame last year with Jar of Hearts, and she manages to tug on our heartstrings once again with the second single off her upcoming album lovestrong. entitled Arms. Much like her previous song, Arms is a stunning ballad that starts off docile and builds up to sweeping melodies, only this time around, Perri is crooning about insecurities and uncertainties that she feels when venturing into a relationship. While Arms doesn't possess the same pain that Jar of Hearts laid out, it's a clever narration of a very relatable story, and this kind of familiarity that Christina Perri's music holds makes it all the more beautiful.

Arms is now available on iTunes to be followed by the release of her debut album lovestrong. on May 10th.

Song of the Day: Begging Me by Florrie

2011-05-02T23:20:00.000+08:00

It's been more than a year since I first posted about Xenomania house drummer turned pop warbler Florrie, and boy, she's gone far. Her music has been a delight from Call 911 in 2010 to her latest song entitled Begging Me. This girl knows her pop formula in and out, always delivering classy, smooth-flowing tunes. Begging Me is one of her best, and that speaks volumes because almost everything Florrie puts out is well above average.

Look who's lost her music video virginity as well (minus that stint for Nina L'Elixir)!

Begging Me is now available on iTunes. It is the lead track for Florrie's upcoming EP out on May 26th.

ALSO, if you haven't gotten your hands on Florrie's no less than brilliant Introduction EP, you can get it for free here!

[Album Review] Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make A Scene

2011-05-02T21:25:00.000+08:00

Three years, four singles, and many rumoured release dates later, English pop warbler Sophie Ellis-Bextor has finally disclosed her much awaited fourth studio album Make A Scene. Even by just its title, a little buzz fills the air with the promise of a glorious pop record.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is no stranger to the word 'quality', and it certainly shows on the LP. Although the timing of Madamoiselle EB's releases are sloppy at best, the appetizers that have come in the form of Bittersweet and Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) inter alia kept us from giving up on Make A Scene.

With amazing producers such as the Freemasons, Richard X, Calvin Harris, and Greg Kurstin present in the LP and given the span of three years in recording, Make A Scene set high expectations upon itself. The main question remains: was it worth the wait?

The LP kicks off with a "bang bang" in Revolution, and the highly energized track is quite a head turner, even giving a nod to one of Sophie's previous hits, Murder on the Dancefloor. Lead single Bittersweet is a pop treat reminiscent of Girls Aloud's Untouchable-- both being elegant songs bursting at the seams with brilliance. The superb intro coupled with the push-pull chorus in Off and On possess such magnetism that you won't be able to stop yourself from shimmying ever-so-slightly while listening.

Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) is an excellent collaboration with the Freemasons, and the bridge instrumental is incredibly climactic and infectious. Not Giving Up On Love, although too 'trance-y' for my tastes, holds its own ground in the LP. Can't Fight This Feeling with French dj Junior Caldera is lackluster, average, and fails to keep up with previous tracks. Starlight is another album standout. It feels slightly ethereal, lush but light at the same time, creating an alluring mystique to it.

Under Your Touch lacks the appeal of Off and On and the momentum of Revolution, falling in the 'decent but not entirely great' category. The title track, Make A Scene, is a total disappointment. It's messy and the parts of the song don't fit together properly. The verses actually remind me of Kelis' Flesh Tone, but the odd instrumentals and the awkward flow drags the song down.

One of the more interesting tracks in Make A Scene is Magic, produced by Richard X, who is also responsible for Starlight. True to its title, Magic possesses an enchanting quality that hoists up the song from great to outstanding. The 80's synth bursts in Dial My Number keep the energy going, but overall it's just a teensy notch above average at best. The same goes for Homewrecker, the blunt and direct lyrics further driving the song into the ground.

No matter how downtempo the ballad Synchronised may be, it doesn't stall the flow of the LP. It's one of those rare tracks that can generate both joy and melancholy simultaneously. Cut Straight to the Heart is a less pleasing ballad, and while flashes of brilliance sporadically turn up, it remains underwhelming.

Make A Scene is a compact collection that presents the Sophie Ellis-Bextor we're all familiar with. It may not cross new territories, but that doesn't mean that the LP is devoid of bold tracks (Magic, Bittersweet, Revolution). Even with a song about mistresses and whatnot, the LP stays tasteful. Another feat that I'd like to commend is the album consistency and how one dance track after another doesn't wear it out.

POP from the Block is back!

2011-05-02T21:03:00.000+08:00

After scarcely posting back in January and going MIA shortly after, I have decided to try this out again. With some tweaks to the blog layout, I'm determined to be back for good this time around. I have missed out on so many delectable pop dishes, and if I picked up where I left off it's going to take me ages, plus no one probably gives a damn anymore about Rebecca Black's Friday. So I won't be backtracking to how underwhelming I think Born This Way is or how ridiculous the video accompanying it is. Or how Pitbull has an uncanny ability to ruin songs.

Whoops.

POP from the Block is definitely maybe staying whether you like it or not.

P.S.: I haven't planned anything at all for this 'comeback' and I'm horrid at 'winging it' so we'll see how this goes...

SoundWatch 2011: Neon Hitch

2011-01-23T22:01:00.003+08:00

She's the girl all the music bloggers have been buzzing about, and with good reason. Neon Hitch is interesting, to say the least. To start off, Neon Hitch is, in fact, her real name. She's also a trapeze artist, stiltwalker, and fireswinger. Can you say WHOA?

Besides Neon Hitch's rather rich background, she's also involved in Ke$ha's Blah Blah Blah and 3OH!3's Follow Me Down, and has worked with the likes of Jason Derulo, mega-producer Cathy Dennis, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, and ex-American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, who ended up in signing her to Warner Brothers.

Get Over U, her upcoming debut that recently premiered on ArjanWrites, is produced by Benny Blanco (Teenage Dream, Dynamite, to name a few) and co-written by Australian pop warbler Sia. With those names, you're probably wondering, "does the song live up to expectations?" Absolutely. That and more. Get Over U is like a genius blend of an incredible pop song: a sprinkle of Kylie, a dash of Robyn, a pinch of synthtastic beats, a teaspoon of Lights, and heck, throw in a good litre of mellow disco for good measure. Basically, what I'm trying to articulate, is that Get Over U is fantastic and straight away makes my shortlist for best song of 2011. And it's only January.

Listen to Get Over U below:

Neon Hitch on MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | official website