Demi Lovato, Kat DeLuna, Little Boots + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week
It's time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week"!
This week's roundup features a heartbreaking moment from an "X Factor" Queen, an almighty trance anthem from the No. 1 DJ in the world, and another certified banga from Belgium's favorite Dominican dance-pop diva. Check it out!
1.) Little Boots, "All For You"
After months of teasers, remixes, and singles, Little Boots has at long last unveiled her nighttime nu-disco opus, Nocturnes. The result is an unsurprisingly stellar collection of throbbing, moody tunes for the dance floor and pensive nocturnal jams, including "All For You," one of the shimmering highlights of the record. The emotional mid-tempo track, co-crafted with Hercules and Love Affair's Andy Butler, slowly chugs along a bouncing synth pulse with the earnest devotion of Lana Del Rey, and a chorus that plays like Kylie Minogue covering Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."
Listen to more Must-Hear Pop Songs after the jump.
2.) Demi Lovato, "Shouldn't Come Back"
Demetria Devonne Lovato (aka Demi Lovato) majorly surprised her Lovatics yesterday by unveiling the entirety of her upcoming studio album, Demi, on her official website. "Shouldn't Come Back," one of the major standouts of the largely pop-rock collection, is an aching ballad that sees Demi sadly crooning away on top of a simple guitar strum and sorrowful strings. "Sorry I'm not sorry for the times I don't reply/ You know the reason why," she bitterly croons. We all know that Demi's got the pipes to blow like Kelly Clarkson, but it's the restraint and stripped-down quality of "Shouldn't Come Back" that truly allows the former Disney princess to shine bright.
3.) Kat DeLuna, "Stars"
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Kat DeLuna bangas. Ever since 2007's "Whine Up," the Dominican-American dance-pop diva has been steadily serving fiery dance floor anthems across the world. "Stars" is the latest offering from her upcoming record Viva Out Loud -- the follow-up to her Belgium-only record, Inside Out. In typical DeLuna fashion, the track's yet another scorcher full of energetic four-to-the-floor beat blasts, infectious post-chorus chanting, and that signature DeLuna fiya, sure to please any bona fide Lunatic. It's "Party O'Clock" all over again!
4.) Armin van Buuren vs. NERVO featuring Laura V, "Turn This Love Around"
Armin van Buuren has been having a pretty great 2013: After being named the No.1 DJ in the world by DJ Magazine this year and performing for the new king and queen of The Netherlands (no small feat!), the Dutch DJ has just released his first collection of new material in three years: Intense. The album's full of hypnotic, progressive trance gems, including "Turn This Love Around," a massive inspirational ode to love on top of speaker-throbbing beats, smoke machines, and strobe lights, of course.
5.) Kelly Clarkson, "People Like Us (Project 46 Remix)"
Kelly Clarkson never sounds better than when she's rocking out in front of a live band (or when she's singing a cappella, because Kelly Clarkson is so flaw-free that she really doesn't require any additional instrumentation). But every now and then, a slammin' remix comes along that sends Kelly belting out on the dance floor, and the results are equally amazing. Thus, we've got the Project 46 remix of "People Like Us," Kellegend's empowering us-against-the-haters pre-summer anthem is for the misfits and outcasts of the world. Crooning with all her might above searing house beats, Kelly's going to get those fists raised -- and those feet moving too.
Bradley Stern is a writer from New York. In his spare time, he enjoys organizing his Britney Spears CD collection in reverse chronological order and writing impassioned letters to Congress urging that Madonnalogy be taught in all public schools. But most of all, he spends his time tweeting and musing daily about pop music on his blog, MuuMuse.
Photo credit: Getty Images
