14 Bucks Student November 2012
News Music
Robbie’s chart domination
Robbie Williams has bagged a chart double, with his new album ‘Take The Crown’, getting straight to the top spot while his latest single ‘Candy’ maintains its lead in the chart being No.1 for the second week running. ‘Take The Crown’ is Robbie’s tenth studio album and marks his return to music since re-joining Take That three years ago. Being produced by Jacknife Lee, the Irish producer who has worked with the likes of Bloc Party, U2 and R.E.M, the mature pop rock album is a welcome return to Robbie’s quirky and playful sound. With latest single ‘Candy’, being the singer’s first No.1 in nine years - also the fastest selling male artist single of the year so far - Robbie knows how to do a comeback right!
- a round up of the fortnights biggest music news from around the world. By: Stefan MIller
Money Gaga
Oxford Uni style!
Lady Gaga showed her caring, charitable side as she donates $1 million to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims. The super storm which ravaged the Caribbean and the East coast of United States two weeks ago, killed 193 and left tens of thousands of people displaced in the New York City area. Hailing from the Big Apple, the famous singer was particularly moved by the widespread damage caused, spurring the huge gesture towards the recovery of her hometown.
Psy of Gangnam Style fame is the latest guest speaker for the Oxford Students’ Union. Oxford University is no stranger to visits from celebrities, with the University previously hosting talks from a random and peculiar range of stars and famous people such as Michael Jackson, The Dalai Lama, Katie Price, Kerry Katona, Russell Brand and Pamela Anderson. The viral music star talked about his hilariously funny video - currently most liked video ever on YouTube - and how he has dealt with his sudden worldwide stardom. He even led the Oxford Union students in a mass dance!
MTV EMA’s Onto other Psy-related news, the MTV European Music Awards took place on Sunday 11 November which saw the Korean chart sensation winning the Best Video award for Gangnam Style. However, the biggest winners at the Frankfurt event were Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber who both scooped up three awards. Taylor Swift won Best Female, Best Live and Best Look, while Justin went away with Best Male, Best Pop and Best World Stage. Other winners of the star-studded night were Carly Rae Jepsen for Best Song with ‘Call Me Maybe’, Nicki Minaj for Best Hip-Hop, David Guetta for Best Electronic and Linkin Park for Best Rock, while Lana Del Rey got Best Alternative. UK pop-band One Direction were another bigger winner walking away with three awards - Biggest Fans, Best New Act and Best UK and Ireland Act while Whitney Houston was given special tribute being awarded with a posthumous Global Icon award, accepted on her behalf by Alicia Keys.
Naughty Boy featuring Emeli Sande - Wonder ‘Wonder’ is Naughty Boy’s debut single, marking his first foray as an official solo artist. The Watford musician, real name Shahid Khan, is usually known as a producer and songwriter working with the likes of Wiley, Tinie Tempah, Leona Lewis, Professor Green and Chipmunk and has produced three top 10 hits, Chipmunk’s ‘Diamond Rings’, Wiley’s ‘Never Be Your Woman’ and this very song, all of which funnily enough feature Emeli Sande! Naughty Boy was also heavily involved in the production of Emeli’s successful debut album ‘Our Version Of Events’. ‘Wonder’ however is just another product of the great partnership between the two talented artists. As the lead single of Naughty Boy’s upcoming debut album ‘Hotel Cabana’,
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‘Wonder’ is an upbeat song drawing influence from indie pop, R&B and soul, and is about being strong and happy with yourself. Featuring Emeli Sande, the song starts off with a cheerful piano intro before the Scottish soulstress sings “I can beat the night, I’m not afraid of thunder” over a heavy chant-like drum rhythm and hand claps. The song gains momentum as the chorus comes in when Emeli singing “Woah oh… we are full of wonder” over a powerful drum beat that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Florence and the Machine song. Emeli Sande sings more positive and encouraging lyrics through the whole song, with cheerful messages such as “If you’re heart turns blue…this song is for you and you are
full of wonder.” The song’s high part however is during the ridiculously catchy middle section of the song when Emeli tells us listeners “this light is contagious, go tell your neighbours…” in an almost Chinese whisper like manner, over a chirpy piano riff interspersed with Emeli’s soulful backing vocals. Overall, the joyful, optimistic song is like an audible can of happiness, being the perfect song to listen to when you’re feeling down. Wonder is already out and will appear on Emeli Sande’s re-released version of her ‘Our Version of Events’ album and will be on Naughty Boy’s ‘Hotel By: Cabana’ album next year. Stefan MIller
Take advantage of the FREE nightbus taking you from the SU right to your frontdoor!* Just ask the driver nicely!
*Bus starts from midnight until close. Wed & Fri only. 1.5 mile radius from the main campus only.