Kylie Minogue, BANKS, Frankmusik + More: 5 Must-Hear Pop Songs Of The Week
It's Tuesday! Time for another round of "5 Must-Hear Pop Songs of the Week!"
This week's roundup features an electro-pop prince's duet with a U.K. pop princess with a pocketful of sunshine, some Scandi-pop strangeness blowing in from the icy tundra, and a hands-in-the-air anthem by a New York electro outfit.
1.) Frankmusik featuring Natasha Bedingfield, "Crash And Burn"
You've got to hand it to Frankmusik: The man puts his absolute everything into his work. After dealing with major-label drama, delays, and everything in between over the past few years, the talented electro-pop prince is now going it solo, returning entirely on his own terms with his latest studio album, By Nicole.
The collection sees the singer stretching his vocal abilities and production skills to soaring new heights, including a song called "Crash & Burn" with a familiar face -- err, voice: Natasha Bedingfield!
"I'll crash and burn, burn, burn/Just to keep our love alive," he powerfully pledges. "You're vulnerable, you're uncontrollable," Natasha coos right back. Together, the two toss and tumble their way across crashing, epic-sounding synths and dizzying electronica. They've got to fight for this love!
2.) Heartsrevolution, "Kishi Kaisei"
YOLO? Uh, try "Kishi Kaisei!" NYC-based electro outfit Heartsrevolution have come up with a rousing, youthful empowerment anthem based around a Japanese saying that basically means: "Wake from death and return to life." (Ain't nothing like a comeback!)
The punchy, punky electro-pop anthem is full of feisty declarations ("now put your hands in the air!") and glittery, stomping beats. It's enough to inspire both a full-on dance party in your bedroom and a mini-revolution.
+ Listen to Heartsrevolution's "Kishi Kaisei."
3.) Kylie Minogue, "I Was Gonna Cancel (Moto Blanco Remix)"
Queen Kylie Minogue's ready to hop out of the bed and seize the day! The funky, Pharrell Williams-assisted "I Was Gonna Cancel," one of the many sparkling cuts from Kiss Me Once, has officially been selected as the next single off of the album, which is exciting. But, even more exciting? The promise of new remixes!
If Moto Blanco's pulsating remix of the self-encouraging anthem is anything to go by, then this one's easily going to dominate at the clubs. Replacing Pharrell's nu-disco stomp in place of some scorching House beats, Kylie's giving us more, more, more on the dance floor -- and making us feel good about ourselves while doing so. Honestly, we're just SO glad Kylie did not decide to cancel.
4. BANKS, "Goddess"
Brooding beauty BANKS is back, and she's ready to deliver us from the basics. After dropping the mind-numbingly good "Brain" on our heads, the downtempo diva's returned with "Goddess," the hypnotic, smoky title track from her forthcoming LP due out later this fall.
The song, which is dedicated to the ladies, places the crown on a Queen who deserves praise in the face of adversity: "You put her down, you liked her hopeless/ To walk around feeling unnoticed," she snarls on the damning tune. Fear not: When BANKS has your back, you know you're in good hands.
+ Watch BANKS' "Goddess" lyric video.
5.) iamamiwhoami, "Vista"
Swedish songstress Jonna Lee and her ever-mystifying iamamiwhoami continues to lead their faithful following down a thrilling chase, dropping clues and releasing mysterious tracks and videos for years. After a brief hiatus, the mystery musical project returned with a track called "Fountain" earlier in the year, followed by "Hunting For Pearls."
"Vista" is the latest track to premiere from the troupe, a combination of ethereal, crooning, and spacey glacial electronic strangeness. As for what it all means? We're still not entirely sure. But, just like the accompanying stunning visual shot in Iceland, it's certainly gorgeous.
+ Watch iamamiwhoami's "Vista" video.
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 musing daily about pop music on his blog, MuuMuse.
Photo credit: Harvest Records, Warner Music Group, VDI USA INC, To whom it may concern., OWSLA
