Shazamers' Blog

As if a Cash Prize  or chance to meet Kelly Clarkson  wasn’t enough – with UNLIMITED TAGGING don’t miss out on our other competitions!

Enter our Golden Tag Promos for ColdPlay, Lil Wayne and Lady Antebellum EVERY DAY from now till October 15^th –  get tagging to win a VIP trip to see them live!

As a quick reminder, to enter* just activate Shazam Friends and then …

• To see Lil Wayne – Shazam ‘How to Love’ on VEVO  
• To see Lady A – Shazam ‘We Owned the Night’ 
• To see Coldplay – Shazam ANY Coldplay track

* Lil Wayne & Lady A promo open to Shazamers in US & Canada (excluding Quebec) with an iPhone, iPod touch or Android device. 

* Coldplay promo open to Shazamers in US, UK & Canada (excluding Quebec) with an iPhone, iPod touch or Android device.

LeeMc News

It’s hard to know what to make of Lana del Ray. In a reality, she’s 24-year old New Yorker called Lizzie Grant, a fan of hip-hop and a user of Facebook. But on ‘Video Games’ she sounds like an alternate reality Nancy Sinatra, broadcasting through time from decades in the past.

There’s a risk that this kind of thing can end up feeling too mannered, like someone playing dress up rather than expressing something genuine. In the wake of Winehouse, too many artists seem to think slapping a 60’s horn section onto a song suddenly makes it into a soul masterpiece. That’s not the case here.

With its dustily retro arrangements – all sonorous piano and plucked harps – and Lana’s remarkable voice hovering at the edge of heartbreak, it feels remarkably real. If this is an act, then it’s a convincing one.

Lana is currently working on an as yet untitled album, which promises more of the same. “The concept of almost every song on the record is a dark love story seen through hopeful eyes,” she told Flush The Fashion. “Lyrically its also about the way my life’s been for the past few years – from making my first record with famed producer David while living in a trailer park in New Jersey. It’s also about my troubled love affairs. Sonically, the record is a perfect mix of Old Hollywood Glamour and Pop production. Most songs are laced with lush Sinatra string sections.”

It seems inevitable that Lana del Ray is going to be massive very soon. Whether or not she can keep making songs as strange and affecting as ‘Video Games’ remains to be seen, but it’s going to be fun finding out.

Huw Thomas Tag Of The Day Lana del Ray

Amazing News! Unlimited tagging is NOW here for all Shazamers with our iPhone, iPod touch and Android FREE Apps.

Now, with no limits, you can Shazam even more songs you don’t know – or ones that you do – to easily buy them, see the lyrics, watch the music videos, share on Facebook and Twitter, and instantly buy concert tickets.

This also means you’ve more opportunities to discover and engage with your favorite music, TV shows and brands!

Happy Shazaming!

LeeMc News

Amazing news! Unlimited tagging is NOW here for EVERYONE with our iPhone, iPod touch and Android FREE Apps.  No limits means you can Shazam as often as you like to buy music, get lyrics, watch videos and more.

Golden Tag Promo: Cash Prize

And here’s the kicker! Shazam ANY song between now and November 15^th and win a CASH PRIZE!* For our Shazamers in the US and Canada - thats $25,000  and as an added bonus you’ll receive the prize from Kelly Clarkson herself – in person  - at a VIP flyaway to see her live on tour. For our Shazamers in the UK it’s a cool £15,000.  Every tag’s a chance to WIN so get Shazaming!

To enter:

1. Activate Shazam Friends (if you haven’t already)
2. Shazam ANY track between now and November 15^th

How do you like them apples! Haven’t got Shazam yet – then download it for FREE on App Store, Android Market and Amazon App Store. 

*Cash Prize promo open to Shazamers in US, UK and Canada (excluding Quebec) with an iPhone, iPod touch or Android device. $25,000 US & Canada, £15,000 UK.

LeeMc News

David Guetta takes the top slot in the Shazam New Release Chart USA.

Stephen Titmus Shazam New Release Chart USA David Guetta, Usher

Gym Class Heroes take the number one spot in the UK this week with ‘Stereo Hearts’.

Stephen Titmus Shazam New Release Chart UK Gym Class Heroes

As unlikely comebacks go, Mazzy Star’s ‘Gears of War’ inspired burst into the limelight is pretty striking. That interest in the band’s beautifully sparse melodies would be prompted by a video game about steroid-enhanced soldiers messily eviscerating aliens with chainsaws is a development that genuinely beggars belief. But never mind the reasons, it’s great to have Mazzy Star back. Taken from the band’s 1993 album ‘So Tonight That I Might See’, ‘Into Dust’ is a pretty good introduction to the sound of Mazzy Star. Built around Hope Sandoval’s hushed vocals and the minimal, cyclical guitar of David Roback, it conjures up a genuinely otherworldly atmosphere, though one that is more ‘enchanted forest’ than ‘extraterrestrial bloodbath’.

Mazzy Star’s brand of gently shimmering, psychedelic Americana saw them become cult favourites during the 1990’s, their three albums even spawning the odd Hot 100 hit. However, following a tour to promote third record ‘Among My Swan’, the band quietly dropped from view.

“It seemed record companies wanted bands to be creative because they didn’t know how to manufacture underground music,” Sandoval later explained in a rare interview. “We could do our own thing and go at our own pace. But that changed when major labels started wanting bands that would sell seven million records. They had a formula. And suddenly all these people wanted to come to the studio to keep track of what we were doing and make sure we were following that formula. So we got out.”

Sandoval has since gone on to release music with her new band the Warm Inventions while Roback has written music for films. But there is good news for anyone who has had their interest in the band piqued by their recent exposure. Mazzy Star never officially split up and according to Sandoval ‘still exist’. Though no one has seen or heard it yet, a new record is rumoured to be on the way. It’s probably best not to hold your breath, but it’s nice to know we still have hope.

Huw Thomas Tag Of The Day Mazzy Star

Kelly Clarkson initially came on the scene as the first ever winner of American Idol back in 2002, but let’s not hold that against her. Since her victory she’s done more than enough to earn her place in the pop pantheon and now sits on the verge of releasing her fifth album, ‘Stronger’ due out in October.

‘Mr Know It All’ is the first glimpse of this new record and finds Kelly putting the boot into the guy described in the title. Basically, this dude sucks. The song highlights his myriad flaws in a manner that should be welcomed by anyone who has ever been wronged by a man (or woman). “I’m trying to hone in on my inner Tina Turner,” she told Rolling Stone. “I wish I could hone in on her freaking legs – that would be even better.”

Despite her reputation as a ‘big’ singer in the Carey or Dion mould, ‘Mr Know It All’ steers clear of the vocal histrionics that often blight these types of songs and the track is all the more effective for it. Just because you can sing a million notes in 35 seconds doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

Kelly has worked with a range of collaborators for the forthcoming album, including Howard Benson, Eric Hutchinson, Toby Gad and super-producer Darkchild, the man behind the Gaga/Beyoncé mega-hit ‘Telephone’. “This album was influenced by Prince, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Radiohead and there’s a little bit of a country vibe/influence on a couple of songs,” Kelly says.  That’s quite a roll call. Let’s hope ‘Stronger’ lives up to its name.

Huw Thomas Tag Of The Day Kelly Clarkson

Arcade Fire have won the Canadian Polaris Prize 2011 for their third album, ‘The Suburbs’. Back in June, the longlist for the prize was announced. Polaris is a not-for-profit organisation that honours, celebrates and rewards creativity and diversity in Canadian recorded music (rather like the British Mercury prize).

The ten records that made it into the shortlist were as follows:

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Austra – Feel It Break
Braids – Native Speaker
Destroyer – Kaputt
Galaxie – Tigre Et Diesel
Hey Rosetta! – Seeds
Ron Sexsmith – Long Player Late Bloomer
Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Timber Timbre – Creep On Creepin’ On
The Weeknd – House Of Balloons

Read more…

Helia News Arcade Fire

Dave Grohl has always had a well developed sense of humour. One of the first singles released by Foo Fighters was called ‘For All The Cows’. Throughout the recording of many of their videos (‘Learn To Fly’ in particular) Grohl has spent a considerable amount of time in drag, or fat suits, or sometimes both (indeed, Foo Fighters have had their fair share of awesome moments). So when a Foo Fighters concert in Kansas was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church, the Foos decided to fight back, and launch their own counter-protest against the picket.

Westboro Baptist Church have been dubbed as America’s most hated family. With their strong anti-gay beliefs, the radical right wing group frequently picket the concerts of rock artists. They obviously didn’t bank on the Foo Fighters driving out to picket the picket, and overpowering the protest by singing a very very loud ‘gay love song’.

Dressed in the same outfits as they wear in the video, the band played loud and proud. Grohl also addressed the crowd: “I don’t care if you’re black or white or purple or green, whether you’re Pennsylvanian or Transylvanian, Lady Gaga or Lady Antebellum, it takes all kinds!”

Helia News Foo Fighters