Today is slowly proving to be EPIC.
The video for Shakira‘s “She Wolf” has surfaced.
The way I can describe this video is not as easily done in words as it is a series of babbles, giggles, and awe-inspired gasps.
HER BODY IS A FUCKING PRETZEL.
*SPOILER ALERT*
We come to learn there is literally a she-wolf in the closet after all. BRILLIANT.
BEST. DAY. EVER.
Let’s face it, this post is primarily an excuse to post that single cover again.
Gentleman, guard your crown jewels: The debut of “She Wolf” is upon us. Shakira is now roaring full force into “comeback” mode, prepping the dual language release of the new single, “She Wolf/Loba,” a bloodthirsty stroll on the hunt for fresh meat.
The release precedes her upcoming English album, She Wolf due out on October 5. If you haven’t yet seen it, you must read PopJustice’s review of the She Wolf preview experience. Total awkward brilliance–plus the songs sound great!
I love, love, love Shakira. Personally, I think “Loba” is ever-so-slightly superior to “She Wolf.” Much as “Ojos Asi” is to “Eyes Like Yours” and “Las de la intuición” is to “Pure Intuition,” Shaki’s Spanish renditions always tend to trump their English counterparts in my ears. But to be fair, there’s nothing like a woman who can rhyme “me” with “lycanthropy.” And can anything really trump this choice lyric? “Starting to feel just a little abused / Like a coffee machine in an office.”
Now that is the stuff of true talent.
Click below to hear more from Shakira.
STOP WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING–Najoua Belyzel has a new single out.
What’d you say? You don’t know who Najoua Belyzel is?
I feel for you.
Najoua Belyzel is a gorgeous French-pop chanteuse–still somewhat new on the music scene–known for her minimally offensive, religious-themed dance-pop, faithful gay following, and unique vocal ticks. As a friend of mine once remarked about her vocal delivery, “It’s like Shakira‘s phrasing, but not as forced and awkward.” Spot on!
“La Bienvenue” (which basically translates to “Welcome”) is the lead-off single from Belyzel’s second album (if you don’t count the promo tease release of “Viens, Viens” from a few months back.)
The song is much breezier than anything found on her debut, implementing warm, summer melodies and relaxed vocals in place of the more moody synth stylings of songs like “Je Ferme Les Yeux.” But, as per usual in the world of Belyzel, you’ll need not dig much deeper than the lyrics to realize that all is not well:
She’s walking in silence, looking at the floor, she doesn’t dare
Forgetting this missing mother who didn’t love her
She wasn’t welcome, no she wasn’t welcome
She wasn’t welcome, just one more girl
Hey, at least it’s not about a child being molested by a doctor this time.
According to Julien, a French fan (who also graciously provided the translation above!), “La Bienvenue” will be available for digital and physical purchase in March.
And look…There’s even a video!
In the video, Belyzel finds herself wedged within a box. Upon squeezing herself out, she finds herself wearing an upside-down goose, paired with a fierce ass pair of booties.
From there on in, expect some familiar dabblings in fallen angel imagery and the greatest storyline for Britney‘s “Mannequin” ever told. I’m not sure what lesson we learn by the mini-film’s end, though I imagine it has something to do with women’s rights. Or Jesus.
But hey, don’t stop now–There’s album news as well! Au Féminin, the much anticipated follow-up to her debut, is set for release! According to Julien, the album should be available in May.
Below is the tracklisting:
1 La Bienvenue
2 L’Âme Exilée
3 Ma Sainte-Nitouche
4 Hey Hey Hey
5 Quand Revient L’Eté
6 Au Féminin
7 Viola (duet with Marc Lavoine)
8 Quand Revient L’Eté (string quartet)
9 Combien De Fois
10 La Trêve (Acte I)
11 Tout Va Bien
12 Ma Vie N’Est Pas La Tienne
13 Jérémie
14 Née De L’Amour (Acte II)
15 Fille D’Orient Ou D’Occident
DL: Najoua Belyzel – La Bienvenue (Sharebee)
Click above to hear more from Najoua!
And for more information, check out Najoua’s blog (which is entirely in French.) Pretty pictures!
Najoua, je t’aime, ma chérie!
Introducing something you’ve probably seen before but in many different pieces: Madita, a singer from Germany.
To begin, I saw her latest single’s video, “Because.” As “Strawberry” noted on the PopJustice! forums, she is a blend of Feist on the verses and Rachel Stevens on the chorus of the song. It’s the music Feist wouldn’t dare spill from her lips; the complexity that Rachel Stevens could never properly pull off. Not that it’s the most complex song structure, but the core piano chords are literally the same as “My Moon, My Man,” minus one bright note at the end. You’ll notice this as soon as you play the track. But the track turns jazzy and significantly lighter. In fact, it’s eventually riddled with bright pianos and heaving sighs, blocking out the seemingly daunting atmosphere from the harsh piano sounds below. Please note: The song is still a bit far away from her actual sound after analyzing her Myspace, so take note before viewing. Anywho, I don’t know if she’ll be sued down the line for copyright infringement, but if she’s not taken away in shackles, then hopefully she’ll continue to wrap herself around brightly colored linen.
I visited Madita’s website after seeing the new single to find out her “deal,” and it seems she was born in Vienna in 1978, making her 30 as of this year. She’s already had a debut album, and that too, the upcoming album due January 25th, is her second. (Get it? Ha!) She reminds me of Shakira during the era in which she first broke out in the United States. I say this because of the absolutely absurd usage of language she possesses, including her allusion to energy being sucked out of her to a baby and breasts.
And then I decided to explore her music. That’s when I got genuinely excited. Her featured music on Myspace is as interesting as she appears, the songs diverse and intriguing. I was getting a sense of Bitter:Sweet (essential jazz-lounge-electronica that you’ve heard everywhere before). With a sound that is smothered in lounge-like vocal tricks with a hint of sexuality and a significant amount of an older allure, it seems like Madita possesses exciting potential to unite smooth classic jazz with fresh vitality. I’m highly looking forward to exploring her work in detail later tonight!
Give it a go, let me know how it works for you.
Watch “Because.” Please don’t take it as a representation of her work…it’s rather poppy compared to what she actually does.
Then, listen to this remix of it by Edgar Tones, which sounds a bit closer to her sound.
Finally, go to her Myspace and hear some more from the upcoming album.
Check out Shakira’s performance on Jay Leno last night, singing “Despedida,” one of her songs from the soundtrack of Love in the Time of Cholera. She’s still got it. Though she’s fairly subdued in this performance, you can tell that her hips are still far from truthful.
Buy the soundtrack to Love in the Time of Cholera
And you, what do you think?
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