Mark Ronson and the Business Intl. ft. Q-Tip & MNDR - 'Bang Bang Bang'
Look at that blog title! Ridiculously long, isn't it? Just an endless list of artist names and a word which does not need to be repeated three times to get its point across. It's just messy. What kind of buffoon makes himself a brand name, adds a band name to the brand name, and then lists the guest vocalists involved in his band's song? What is he trying to do, fill up the internet?
Oh wait, the kind of buffoon who has just made a remarkable record and wants to make sure everyone gets full and equal credit, because he knows it's good, and he's a humble man and anyway he's not jamming everyone into a cartoon concept like Gorillaz (no matter how good a cartoon concept Gorillaz may be).
That kind of a buffoon? Yeah.
(Here's the video. Ronsformers: pop stars in disguise.)
And it is a remarkable record. Funky as hell, but still moving. Immediate, and still a bit of a grower. Thoughtful lyrically, but kinda silly with it - and partially French, for extra je ne sais quoi. Relatively anonymous on first listen, especially to anyone expecting trumpets, but boasting the lizardy throat of Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, one of the most distinctive rap voices since Flavor Flav found a novel way to make sure he stopped being late for meetings.
(This is an amazing old school hip hop joke, by the way. The only reason you're not ROFLing right now is because you're not properly old school. Box-fresh, perhaps, but that is all.)
It's a perfect summation of Mark Ronson as a person, now I come to think about it. Someone who is equally comfortable with reserved, expressive European harmonic tradition (and indie music) as American funk. He even said as much, claiming to want to make this record a mix of Van Halen (the synths from 'Jump', not the widdly-widdly guitar) and the Meters.
And he gets extra points for the bit where he slips a little delay under Q-Tip just for the bit where he is rapping about living the "bon (bon) vie", so that it sounds a little like he's beatboxing. That's how you get your name at the top of the bill, producers!
Download: Out now
www.markronson.co.uk
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Popped Music says: "I love the little hints of French in this, and the keyboard synths."
Scout Daily says: "It's hard to pinpoint Ronson's exact role among the apparently huge cast."
Female First says: "It's the kind of explosion you'll be more than happy to stand next to when it goes off."
© 2012~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~16~RS~)
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Brilliant song, brilliant review, Fraser.
This get's 5 stars from moi.
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5 Stars from me as well, if this doesn't get to no.1 or at least the top 5 there's something seriously wrong with the world.
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It won't go anywhere near there Harry, no-one appreciates music like this anymore.
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I don't think it will get to #1 but it will definitely crack the Top 10. Mark Ronson is something of a national treasure, having won the public over with his Oh My God and Valerie covers. This track is getting a lot of airplay and hype so I think it will do well.
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Tuuuune. Pure class, top quality.
It's already #10 on iTunes, so thankfully a top 10 hit should be on the cards :) Let's hope it doesn't do a Robyn and drop like a stone after the 1st week.
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Now it's up to #7, if it continues to climb like this he could have a no.1 on his hands.
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Correction: he's now at no.6! It looks like it's gonna be party time at Ronson HQ this time next week.
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YAY! Where do you think MIA Will place next week? I'm thinking about 15-25ish?
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#6!?!?!? WOW!
I'm actually stunned, I just hope the song can stay in the Top 10 throughout the week; I'll keep you posted. :)
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Mark Ronson - "Bang Bang Bang "
So the World Cup is over for another 4 years , Spain are the World Champions and Muller of Germany wins the Golden Boot for 5 goals and the most assists .
Moving onto music producers , here's the return of "golden boot" producer Mark Ronson who sold over half a million copies of his "Version " album , and crucially provided vital "assists" to Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen , amongst others .
The return single is one hell of a catchy song , where the key hooks are provided by wonderfully executed vocal melody hooks , and the repeated keyboard refrain . What I like about this song , is that you don't know where it's gonna go , but it builds to a satisfying climax , after an inspiring journey . All key performers sound like they had great fun laying down this track .
This song is climbing at radio and T.V Airplay , sounds cool and sophisticated , and is on course to give Mark "Golden Boot " Ronson another top 10 hit .
The album "Record Collection " is released 27th September .
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Its at #3 on the itunes chart! JLS are at 4! Methinks JLS have a free-fall on their hands in 2 weeks time ;)
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JLS are down to #7! They may have the #1 this week, but they'll be out of the Top 10 by this Sunday for sure.
As for Mark Ronson & Co., they'r back down to #5, holding off VERY strong competition from the rapidly rising 'Just Be Good To Green', now at #6.
However, Katie Price's single is fairing rather badly - currently at #65.
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UPDATE: Bang Bang Bang is now up to #4 strangely though We No Speak Americano is at #3, I'm I missing something or is it actually good?
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Don't underestimate the power of the PHYSICAL SINGLE! It worked for florence, who propelled from 103 to 51, not baaad ;D
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Well 1 thing is for certain ! JLS will NOT be number 1 this Sunday ! That honour will go to either AIRPLANES ,BANG BANG BANG or LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE . Mark Ronson will definitely be in the top 3 !
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JLS actually look to be on their way out of the Top 10 this week. YAY.
I'm for a bit of 'Bang Bang Bang' on top please. ;)
Ope. That's going to annoy the Mods.
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NUMBER 3 NUMBER 3 NUMBER 3! :D
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NUMBER 1 NUMBER 1 NUMBER 1!
please?
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I haven't been on this in months, wow. Anyway, this has got to be the best song in the charts right now and probably one of the best tracks this year. It's just refreshing to hear something a bit experimental yet truly a pop record. Proper good pop. I would like to hear more from this MNDR person.
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What's not to like here? It's fun and interesting, makes you realise how pop can still give you something to listen to, on more than one level. I'm going to go and listen again (and again). If there is any justice this will make no 1 (then again, if there was any justice JLS would not have made no 1 last week)
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I think the appear a parting of French and Japanese dialogue in the MV, into the market in possible?!
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The effect of the recent Wossy appearance led me to think that a high new entry for this gorgeous track was possible . However due to a slight decrease in its tv media profile , I now see it entering tomorrows chart between numbers 4 and 8 .
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I can't believe Digital Spy gave this brilliant song just 3 stars, after giving The Club Is Alive 4. What is wrong with them?
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Digital Spy are just plain wrong now. They just go with whats the general consensus from other sites but seem too afraid to give any other song than GaGa or Vickers' five stars.
This song was expected to début on chat at three, but now it's looking likely to chart at #6, for some reason there's been a surge in sales of 'California Gurls'.
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Yes, I've gone off Digital Spy completely now. I really think the music section of that site has gotten awful poor. Didn't they give JLS 5 stars?
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They gave it four, but still, that's three too many, right?
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I Find it entertaining that you guys are now on Mark Ronson's thread moaning about JLS .
Is nowhere safe from you guys ? :)
These 4 ,good looking guys seem to be on your minds constantly !
Anymore of this , and I am going to have to employ a good cop and bad cop , to make you admit to your obvious "man-crushes" on the Beat Again boys !
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Words fail me! What an amazing song! I just love it!! So catchy, and a surefire summer hit!!
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You are SO right Paul !!!!
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LOL @ Spirit with his homoerotic comments.
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NUMBER 6! Not baddd ;)
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Should have made the top 5, it's an injusticei njustice I say!
How on earth is Yolanda Be Cool at number 2? The buying public needs their heads checked...
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So, I was listening to Tom Deacon tonight after the chart show and err, did I miss the memo about JLS changing their name to McFly?
:(
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I KNOW! Have you HEARD 'Party Girl'?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSzNZ7b6f8
It's McFly's new single and I'm shocked! Do you still think they play their instruments anymore?
Granted it's nowhere near as bead as 'The Club Is Clearly Not Alive', and it's most definitely a grower, but I've seen alot of loyal McFly fans turn their noses up to this.
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Yeah, Tom Deacon played it tonight, I was horrified. I've previously mentioned I was a big McFly fan and have to admit I'm still not quite over my love for Dougie 4 years on and still have 2 of their posters on my bedroom wall. When Tom was saying how they'd taken a new direction and they'd really worked hard, I was imagining something more mature and perhaps (dare I say it) credible. But no, it sounded like something they'd covered off JLS's new album.
I was wondering that exact same, they're actually rather good live and were the first band I ever saw apart from crappy local ones at Rockstock. I had a vision of them doing JLS style dancing in my head as it played on the radio and I hope to god it's more instrument heavy live. It didn't sound to have anything real on it from what I could hear, just synths.
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@ 27. Actually I think that's YOU, spirit - you're the one always defending them and sticking up for everything they do whatever crap they release!
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On the topic of good music, WHO is going to be nominated for the Mercury prize? My list is:
1)Foals - Total Life forever
2)Wild Beasts -
3)The XX - XX
4)Laura Marling - I Speak because I can
5)Four tet - Theres love in you (it would be nice to see this nominated)
6)Delphic - Acolyte
7)Corrine bailey Rae - The Sea
8)The Big Pink - Brief History of Love (I hate the big pink, but the album got good reviews)
9)Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (I doubt this, cause they withdrew their last entry)
10)Massive Attack - Heligoland
11)Giggs - Let Em Ave It (Just because they usually have an artist representing the rap scene and Giggs is the most original)
12)Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels.
I find that the ones that have been rated highly by 'NME magazine' usually get a nomination, but theres always the few exceptions!
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I'd be happy if the nominations looked something like this:
1) Total Life Forever - Foals
2) I Speak Because I Can - Laura Marling
3) Further - The Chemical Brothers
4) Two Dancers - Wild Beasts
5) Kings and Queens - Jamie T (or did that count for last year)
6) The Chaos - The Futureheads
7) One Life Stand - Hot Chip
8) Wake Up The Nation - Paul Weller
9) Acolyte - Delphic
10)Plastic Beach - Gorillaz (it won't get nominated but I'd love to see it)
Obviously I haven't got a token Jazz/token Rap album in there so the nominations will probably look a lot different to that, for me it's between Foals, The Chemical Brothers and Wild Beasts for who should win it.
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Whatever happened to last years winner ?
She didn't exactly do an Elbow and go on to critical and commercial success , did she ?
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simple answer: she failed because she wasn't that good
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Ellie Goulding will probably get a nomination, following on from previous Brit Critics choice award winners Adele and Florence & The Machine
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@38. theres 12 nominees by the way. Oh I forgot about Weller's album! Yeah that'll probably get a decent shoe-in.
@39 & 40. It was her debut, Elbow had already had 3 albums out and had reasonable char placing with them so they already had a decent fan base. Speech Debelle's album is actually extremely good and the lyrics are deep.Her album got a 5* from Times and an 8/10 from NME, so she's obviously appreciated.
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@Olivia- yeah I heard that mcfly song with fearne cotton one morning, it's not great but synths are not bad when done well - eg little boots! :D
The first few moments of mcfly's new song do song quite good though! I was never a mcfly fan though too much like a girlier busted!
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I can't fault the musicality, the production is brilliant i doubt doubt the credibility of the track - and the blonde one's (help me out here) vocals sound awful meshed with the genre.
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Tom Fletcher .
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**MERCURY PRIZE UPDATE**
The Nominees are as follows:
Biffly Clyro - Only Revolutions
I Am Kloot - Sky At Night
Dizzie Rascal - Tounge 'N' Cheek
Paul Weller - Wake Up the Nation O
Corrine bailey Rae - The Sea O
The XX - XX O
Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Kit Downes Trio - Golden
Foals - Total Life Forever O
Laura Marling - I speak because I can O
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers O
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
The List this year seems to be made up of pretty well known people. The only artists I konw nothing of are I Am Kloot & Kit Downes Trio. I have Put an 'O' next to my choices :)
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The XX AND Dizzee are currently the bookies favourites , but historically the winner can be very difficult to predict .
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That's true. I Hope its Foals/The XX to be honest :D
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Overal I'm pretty happy with the nominations this year, much better than last year.
My money's on Wild Beasts; the Mercury Prize is usually about getting people to buy what the record companies want them too and there's nothing they want more than a successful guitar band at the moment.
P.S: I know that sounds cynical but it's kind of true.
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@49. That doesn't really apply to last year. There are already enough successful urban acts and we don't need another even though Speech is female and her lyrics are a refreshing island in a sea of Number One's and Dirtee Disco's. I think The UK lacks a proper black female superstar - Corrine can fill these shoes easily. We could also use a good guitar band - Wild Beasts/Foals do this well. Biffy clyro are the Kasabian of this year - well established and can do fine without the nomination.
I do think its time an Irish group won though, but i've listen to Villagers and I don't like what I hear, its not my thing!
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Trust Mark Ronson to come up with something absolutely wonderful like this... Where´s the autotune? Where´s the cynisism? Where´s the over-whelming sense of being ripped off? Cheeky git!
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