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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Party Tracks Reviewed

Music is one of the most important elements to any party. It sets the mood, and to some extent, dictates how the crowd should behave. If you are looking for new songs to play on your next party, here is a rundown of some of the latest party tracks to climb the international charts.

Hello by Martin Solveig and Dragonette. Although neither of the artists featured in this upbeat track are well-known in this country, the song still managed to receive its fair share of radio play because of the merits of the song. For a song that was obviously created to target the club-going market, “Hello” is actually quite radio friendly. The vocals are simple and straight-forward and the vocalist does not have a very distinctive voice. In fact, the voice on this record lacks “power”, but that is something you’d expect from a party-track. However, I would not go as far as to say that the voice lacks character because it actually does have some; the voice sounds impish and childish…and this carries the song well. The fast, repetitive beat gives off a very playful and carefree vibe; perfect for a chillaxed night-out. Would I dance to this inside the club? Probably not. It’s too “light” for me. However, I will play this in the car before I step into the club to get me into a fun, friendly mood.

A Year Without Rain by Selena Gomez and The Scene. Selena Gomez is a Disney star who is currently making headlines for being the rumoured girl friend of Justin Bieber. The Scene is her backing band; but this is not a collaboration. The name of the whole band (including the lead vocalist) is Selena Gomez and The Scene. What does the track sound like? Like most Disney records, it is pretty radio-friendly, and child-friendly, but it is not juvenile. The topic, of course, is love and longing. As Gomez sings about the woes of living without her loved one, the beat takes over, and the song takes you directly to the club. The beat is actually pretty legitimate. It is a pretty good track, and sure makes for a fun night of dancing. Plus, it reveals some level of maturity for Gomez. Take that Bieber!

Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce. Alright, so here is the deal. The track’s vocals is nothing more than a few “oohs” and a male voice flatly saying Miss Streisand’s voice. Does it work? Heck yeah. Everybody knows Barbra as a snooty, perfectionist, uber-diva and the fact that the song features a voice saying her name which is preceded by “oohs” that actually sound like a mockery makes the song fun. And that is probably the best way to describe the track. It is sarcastic, it is fun, and it does not take itself too seriously. The beat though, is where it shines the most. It is one of those beats that is instantly recognizable after a couple of listens, and will inspire you to bob your head and sway your hips. It is an instant dance hit that is bound to hit the clubs and stay there for a very long time.

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO feat Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock. The title of this track actually makes a lot of sense. It kind of sounds like a party song, it kinda sounds like a rock song, and it kinda sounds like it has the makings of a club anthem. It starts off with a steady beat peppered with vocals, then builds up to a crescendo until all the vocals layer over each other and the beats get louder, faster, and stronger, and then it stops (for emphasis I guess). And then the song resumes with a riff that sounds very Dutch-House (that is “budots” for Davaoenos) and then starts all over again until it reaches its climax of thick vocals, overwhelming beats and sounds, and then it slows down to what seems like a “fade”, but the it ends abruptly. The song is not very typical. Although it sounds familiar, the way they built the song is very peculiar. Is this bad? Not really. It makes the song sound young, festive, fun, and very danceable.

For your dose of new party tracks, listen to Confessions of a Partyphile (the radio show) on 105.9 Mix FM every Wednesday evenings, from six to nine. Follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun or add facebook.com/confessionsofapartyphile on Facebook. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph