Happy Friday folks! This week I’m highlighting these five songs from pop singers Post Malone, Nick Jonas, alt-rock band Waterparks, alternative artist Elle King & country artist Miranda Lambert & last but not least Swedish singer-songwriter Zara Larsson. All that and more in this February 26th edition of New Music Friday!!
“Only Wanna Be With You (Pokemon 25 Version) by Post Malone
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, pop singer Post Malone is headlining a virtual concert on Saturday, February 27th. He will be singing a Hootie & the Blowfish cover song called, “Only Wanna Be With You.” Check out the original 1995 version here, if you like to compare the two.
In this latest version, you can clearly hear it has a new touch to it. Post Malone added a slight change of lyrics. Instead of “dolphins,” he added “cowboys” since he’s an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. So the new lyric goes, “I’m such a baby ’cause the Dolphins make me cry.” The overall sound is fit for the modern mainstream audience. It’s nice and lofty and contains some samples from the actual Pokémon video games too! What a cool way to celebrate this storied franchise that produced numerous successful iterations of games, toy collectibles, movies, TV seasons and more over the past two and a half decades!!
If you’re a big fan of Post Malone, Hootie & the Blowfish and/or Pokémon, you’ll definitely enjoy this song. Share your thoughts below.
You can tune in to the concert event, Saturday night at 7 P.M. EST on the Pokémon YouTube channel, Pokémon Twitch channel, and on the official Pokémon 25 official website here.
Who’s your favorite Pokémon? Favorite Pokémon game? Let me know in the comments below.
“Spaceman” by Nick Jonas
Pop singer-songwriter/The Voice coach, Nick Jonas releases his newest single, “Spaceman,” already out now. This song will be a part of his third solo full length album of the same name following the 2016 album, Last Year Was Complicated.
I feel like this track is catered to those feeling frustrated, disconnected or emotionally drained by whatever is in your current way. It could describe those feelings of being lost with all the strange things that the pandemic has caused in your everyday life like extended unemployment or working from home. It could be the stressful news cycle we’re exposed to every day or perhaps if you’re not with a certain loved one due to quarantining over the past year. If any of these situations apply to you then you will feel seen and or touched by this song from the 28-year-old musician.
Sonically speaking, this pop track with a little bit of R&B elements in it, is quite catchy and will be a sure fire hit on the radio this year. The upbeat vibes offers some hope for listeners despite the tough times that continues to grasp the year.
He explained in a recent IG post that the new album/era will have four central themes to it.
1) Distance
2) Indulgence
3) Euphoria
4) Commitment
He hopes this new body of work helps us on our own journeys through space and time.
Jonas will be the host and musical guest on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, so tune in for that where he’ll be promoting this new song. Also be sure to watch him coach a new set of aspiring singers on the 20th season of NBC’s The Voice which premieres March 1st at 8 P.M. EST.
Check out the official Spaceman merch on his official website. Are you excited for this new era of music for Nick? Let me know in the comments below.
“Snow Globe” by Waterparks
Alternative rock group, Waterparks released their first single of 2021 called “Snow Globe” which will appear on their upcoming fourth major label album, Greatest Hits, out May 21st! Written and produced by lead singer Awsten Knight, this track starts off with an unexpected descending piano melody (one of my fave parts) then flows into a groovy up tempo AutoTuned song that’s giving me major Daft Punk vibes but with that classic Waterparks essence. Shoutout to the recently retired French electronic music duo, Daft Punk by the way.
Waterparks, much like my other favorite band, AJR, always come up with such unique songs that inspire deep thought while entertaining our souls. Knight committed a lot of time and effort in crafting this latest single and I can already tell that this next album will be quite the eye opener for the core fanbase — the Parxies! I wonder what the other songs are going to sound like!
The production values on this track are top-notch! While I’m not a big fan of artists overly using AutoTune, in this case, it’s done right! Case example, the “Into, into, into” line in the chorus section. Soooo good! I thought it matched the mood of the song quite nicely. I also thought the transition from the pre-chorus section into the chorus section was seamless. Lastly, I felt the layered outro was like the cherry on top of the sundae! *insert vibing cat here*
From my interpretation, the verses of the song delve into someone who’s stuck in a rut or lacks the autonomy to make decisions on their own because others in your social circle try to control or shape who you are. You feel like your life is like a snow globe, it gets shaken up by people you once loved, and the ensuing events that occur afterwards become a major mess to your mental and or physical state.
The performance music video was very artsy! There’s no actual plotline this time around, just a cool jam session with fake snow to make it seem like they’re inside a snow globe. The shaky camerawork and the in and out of focus shots made it seem like you were in the proverbial mosh pit inside said snow globe. Nice!
What do you guys think? Share your takes down below.
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” by Elle King & Miranda Lambert
Here’s another song you can add to your post-pandemic party playlists! Singers Elle King & Miranda Lambert collaborated for a fun anthem about getting drunk, hanging out with your friend(s), and just simply having the time of your life. In real life, the two artists are best friends forever, so watching the above music video, you can tell this friendship is genuine and whole.
The two previously sang together on the cover song of “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” back in 2019. Click here to watch that performance video which also features artists Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack!
The music video for this song is very entertaining and funny. It’s partly recorded as if you were using an old fashioned camcorder and King and Lambert are dressed up for an 80’s style wedding reception. The video will definitely put a smile on your face.
So if you need a new jam to bond to with your besties, then look no further to this track from King and Lambert. Both of their voices complement one another on this duet. Very refreshing flow especially the infectious ooh-ooh-oohs! I can’t wait to see them perform this song during an upcoming awards show later this year.
“Look What You’ve Done” by Zara Larsson
Zara Larsson dropped her first promo single to help kick off her next album era, Poster Girl releasing next Friday, March 5th. “Look What You’ve Done” is about moving on from a relationship and confidently owning yourself and your future ambitions. While your ex continues to obsess about you post-breakup, you are thriving and stronger than you ever was before you dated this person.
I love the violin intro by the way, how about you? Larsson continues to be a very underrated artist in my opinion. It’s only a matter of time for her to reach the pop superstardom levels like an Ariana Grande or a Dua Lipa, the former of which I got in terms of vibes in the bridge section of this track.
I also felt some “thank u, next” vibes from a lyrical standpoint. From an overall aural standpoint, I got Sia and Anne-Marie vibes in this feel-good, dance-worthy track that’s sure to put a smile on your face upon listening to it. Thoughts? If this song gets the remix treatment, I nominate the incredible Lindsey Stirling to join her. It would be epic!
That wraps up this week’s post! Thank you all for reading this edition of New Music Friday here at Philip’s Music Corner. If you liked what you read, kindly click on the follow button down below. Also if you like, please support my work by donating to my Paypal. I truly appreciate the support!
Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about any of these picks in the comments box down below! Cast your vote on the songs featured this week by giving them a thumbs up or a thumbs down. As always, stay safe and happy listening!
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