Posts Tagged ‘Robyn’
My Gold Mask: I Don’t Need The Reason
If you’re part of a musical duo, you’ve got to impress me fast. That may be quick judgment on my part but, hey, if you think the partnership you’ve got going on with your other band member is worth my time or anyone else’s, please make the effort to blow me away. I like a ton of duos. Unfortunately, there are also too many that lose the ability to stay in that good spot for me – where they prove that they are stronger than a solo musician and not weaker than a full band.
My Gold Mask, the team-up of Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo pulled on my heart strings back in August when I chose them for a BeatCrave Fav and they’re still tugging me along with each new track they put out. The greatest thing about this connection is that it hasn’t been painful at all. I’m happy to be slave to their raw and beautiful rock that is both grunge and romance. Sometimes love has a rough, naughty side and My Gold Mask has the talent to electrify everyone into thinking that with their songs.
“Violet Eyes” is a must-listen and probably their most-well known song but their track, “I Don’t Need The Reason” from their latest EP, A Million Miles (From Where We Last Were), digs a bit deeper with Gretta’s vocals dominating the heavy drums. Check both tracks out below and if you haven’t seen their cover of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” you can peep that here.
Robyn: Indestructible
There’s just a few more days until Robyn‘s Body Talk Pt.2 comes out and after hearing a few of the songs that have surfaced, I am just amazed at how much stronger the entire series has already become. Body Talk Pt. 1 introduced us to some of her cool-down dance tunes full of amped up attitude with songs featuring Diplo and Royksopp but that’s all it was – a mere introduction to the fierceness that is about hit us in Pt 2.
There are definitely some great club bangers such “Criminal Intent” and a bold song with the forever loved gangsta, Mr. Snoop Dogg, himself, but the track that really steals the spotlight is “Indestructible.” Whereas the acoustic version of “Hang With Me’ has a piano foundation, “Indestructible” really lays the strings on thick and it’s a gorgeous listen from beginning to end. There’s something about her fragile Swedish accent that works with naked arrangements because they end up sounding so lush in the end.
This is the second track in the series she’s labeled “Acoustic Version” in her tack listing, so I’m wondering if we’ll hear a shinier mix in Pt.3. It’d be nice to have another “Hang With Me” surprise again. Take a listen to “Indestructible” below. I’ve also included a Hobbz remix which I have to admit I didn’t dig so much at first. However, with each listen it’s begun to grow on me more and more. You can decide for yourself!
Robyn Music Video: Hang With Me
Robyn‘s Body Talk Pt. 2 is on its way! It’ll be available on September 6 in the UK and on the following day in the States. Word on the street is that Body Talk Pt. 3 will be here in time for Christmas!
If you thought I was obsessed with “Dancing On My Own” from Body Talk Pt. 1, I’m going gaga over the official first single of Body Talk Pt. 2 now. “Hang With Me” was offered as an acoustic song on the first part of the Robyn trilogy, however, it reappears on Pt. 2 with a shinier mix that now puts the song in the same league as “Dancing On My Own.” Unfortunately, all I am allowed to give you is the radio rip in a youtube video, but it’s worth hitting the replay button over and over. There are also already a ton of remixes of the song. UPDATE: The official video for “Hang With Me” was just released. I’ve replaced the radio rip with it so you can listen to the song (and watch it) in higher quality!
Take a listen to the new version of the single below along with remixes by Reset! and Avicii below. Personally, Avicii’s remix is my preference because Reset’s version is a bit too house for my liking but I know some of you Fabric-type heads will enjoy it. Also, I’ve included Copycat’s Sundrenched FM remix of “Dancing On My Own” after the jump. It has more of a rock vibe to it with guitars added in. Ah, so much Robyn goodness! I bet all of you who saw Robyn kick off her tour a couple of nights ago in Los Angeles with Kelis and Dan Black are already gobbling all this down.
Robyn: Dancing On My Own (Acoustic), Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Alicia Keys cover)
I know it sounds like I’m constantly talking about Robyn‘s “Dancing On My Own,” but I always have a good reason to bring it up! You’ve heard the song, you’ve seen the video and I’m also sure you’ve heard some remixes as there are a ton floating around. However, I am not bringing you a remix of the song today. Instead, I want to offer more of an intimate take on the song.
Robyn recently performed an acoustic version of the song on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge and it’s fantastic. It’s naked, it’s delicate but it still has gumption just like the message of the song, itself, does. If you’ve ever heard any other acoustic performance from Robyn (such as this one) you know that she doesn’t disappoint even when the beats are taken out.
Also, guests on the radio show are often asked to perform a cover and Robyn chose to do a rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart.” There’s a moment in there where she stumbles a bit and starts giggling but other than that, it’s money. Take a listen to both tracks below!
Robyn Music Video: Dancing On My Own
I can’t stay away from electro-pop for too long especially if it’s coming from someone as rad as Robyn. As previously mentioned, her self-titled album (which was re-released in the US) was one of my favorite records of 2008. Not only was the pop music stellar that time around but the videos that went along to hits such as “Konichiwa Bitches,” “Cobrastyle,” “Handle Me,” “With Every Heartbeat ft. Kleerup” and plenty more were just as entertaining.
The song “Dancing On My Own” should sound familiar to you since it’s only been on my front page for three weeks during Wild Tonic’s mini-hiatus (and it was on last month’s mixtape). It turns out the track which I totally obsessed with is the first to get a video from her latest album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (the first of a trilogy) and it’s classic Robyn. I have to admit that it’s not as fun to watch as her other videos but it definitely gets the point across when it comes to heartbreak – and she looks fabulous dancing to it with her fist pumps in the air and hair pushed out of her face this time.
Check it! A mash-up of her song, “Fembot” and Salt N Peppa’s “Push It” is also available after the jump.
Robyn: Dancing On My Own
And… we have the fourth Robyn song off of Body Talk pt. 1! I cannot wait until the damn record is released. All these teasers are just getting too good and this one is the best of them of yet! Remember her hit song, ‘Be Mine,” where she sings about lusting for a love she’ll never have? “Dancing On My Own” could be a sequel to “Be Mine” as far as I’m concerned because this is the stuff that made the world fall in love with her again on her last album.
Robyn could come off as pathetic by pitying herself in lyrics such as “I’m in the corner/Watching you kiss her/Ohhhh!” but thank God she deals with heartbreak alongside a hot disco beat! There’s nothing like a good rhythm to help you dance your troubles away and with “stilettos and broken bottles,” it doesn’t sound like Robyn is going to be sitting down anytime soon. (Hey, it’s better than eating your feelings.)
I’m still enjoying “Fembot,” “None of Dem” and “Dancehall Queen” but this one is the cream of the crop so far. Check the new track out below!
Robyn: None of Dem ft. Royksopp, Dancehall Queen
For the release of the first installation to her three part-project, Body Talk, Robyn has conveniently three new tracks available for everyone to hear. The upcoming Body Talk pt. 1 takes her new found love for electronica music to another level as she has worked with artists such as Royksopp and Diplo. Neither collaborating artist is much of a surprise though. She’s made guest appearances at Royksopp concerts and Diplo… well, Diplo pretty much works with everyone these days.
The Royksopp track, “None of Dem,” is a bit too mellow for me as I’m used to her previous tracks such as “Who’s That Girl,” but it’s still a refreshing listen. The Diplo track, “Dancehall Queen,” has been in the works for a little longer since it used to be called “No Hassle.”
The latter is more of an enjoyable listen for me, but take a listen to the new Robyn tracks below to make your own conclusions. You can also listen to “Fembot” here.
Robyn: Fembot
If you are unaware of the fact that Robyn has shed her saccharine-sweet, bubblegum pop persona and upgraded into a top notch electro-pop songwriter, then you must have been living under a rock within the past few years. When Robyn first made a name for herself in the States with sappy songs like “Do You Know (What It Takes)” and “Show Me Love” during the 90s, she was forgettable. In fact, she was so forgettable that we didn’t really hear from her again until she released her self-titled album on her own label, Konichiwa Records, after being inspired by Swedish electro duo, The Knife.
Robyn was finally released in the States during 2008 but because it was only a re-release for us, most fans already knew all of the songs. The pop star’s transformation definitely made my ears perk up and the album became one of of my most-played of the year.
Now, after having such success by doing things her own way, Robyn’s recently announced the news of three upcoming albums. The first one up is titled Body Talk pt. 1 and the first taste we get from her on “Fembot” isn’t bad. It continues her robotic themes from the last album and still maintains the quirkiness she provided on past songs such as “Handle Me” and “Konichiwa Bitches.” Check it!
El Perro del Mar: Change of Heart (Robyn’s Rakamonie Remix)
I always thought all three Swedish artists, Lykke Li, Robyn, and El Perro del Mar all sounded alike. Of course, I’m not talking about their styles but they all seem to have a delicate soprano voice that takes you by surprise.
El Perro del Mar, known for gorgeous lo-fi twee pop, put out a wonderful mini-album this year by the title of Love Is Not Pop. “Change of Heart” is the track that has become a favorite of many El Perro del Mar fans, and apparently we little people aren’t the only ones who like it.
Swedish pop star, Robyn, has remixed the track under the moniker Rakamonie, and it’s pretty decent! For those people who don’t know too much about Robyn, all you have to know is that she went from this overbearing bubble gum pop star in the 90s with hits like “Show Me Love” and “Do You Know (What It Takes),” to this individually powerful force over in the UK when she decided to go indie and electronica. Her self-titled album, Robyn, was definitely one of my faves during 2008 and based on what I know about her and the electronica scene, it doesn’t surprise me to find out she’s done a rad remix like this.
El Perro del Mar and Robyn’s voices sound like one on this remix, and of course I’m a fan because of its clean organized beats. Even del Mar fans won’t be able to deny their liking for this remix. It doesn’t run too far away from the key melodies, but reaches out just enough to sound refreshingly new. Listen to the remix and then the original below!
Erik Hassle & Ellie Goulding: Be Mine (Robyn cover)
There is a plethora of Swedes making it big in the States, and if they’re making great tunes I welcome them with open ears. Peter Born & John, El Perro del Mar, Jens Lekman, Robyn, and Lykke Li are among some of the popular ones.
Now, it seems that I’ve found another one who I am really beginning to dig. While obsessively looking for Ellie Goulding songs online, I came across this duet she’s done with a young guy named Erik Hassle. At the age of only 21 years old, Hassle has a fantastic pop sound that is beautifully infused with soul. His debut album, Hassle, was released in Sweden back in August and I am seriously thinking about getting an import.
The duet he and Goulding does is a cover of Robyn‘s “Be Mine.” Swedes covering Swedes. Go figure. I’m assuming he’s teamed up with Goulding because he is based in London.
Check the duet out below as it is a nice down tempo acoustic version of the hit pop song. Afterward, I strongly encourage you to listen to his song, “Hurtful.” It reminds me a bit of Gavin DeGraw or Eric Hutchinson. I just hope he doesn’t fizzle out with repetitive and trite songwriting like those two have.
