6 Incredible Covers

Hello and welcome to another post on this blog. Today I will be sharing with you six covers which I think are incredible and need to be listened to. These covers may be ones that have already been featured on this blog, been performed by a hugely populated artist or maybe some of them are covers you have never even recognised before. Lets proceed!

Pentatonix - No (originally by Meghan Trainor)
First up we have a band that I have loved for an unbelievably long time but for some bizarre reason have never appeared on this blog (that will change very soon though). The reason why I love Pentatonix is because they are an a capella group, meaning that all of their covers or originals have no instruments excluding vocals. There are loads of songs that I could've picked from but the reason why I chose "No" was because I cannot stand the original in the slightest! However, when Pentatonix released this version, I fell in love as it is so different compared to the Meghan Trainor version.

Sarah Close - Talking Body (originally by Tove Lo)
Next we have one of my favourite artists with a song that was featured in her "Artist Showcase" quite some time ago, Sarah Close! Sarah's covers have captivated me for a long-old time now but this one in particular stands out. The reason for that is the fact that I did not even know the track before hearing the Youtuber's cover; she then made me fall in love with the song. I must say, Sarah Close's vocals in this cover are exceptionally brilliant, especially in the chorus when hitting those notes that are ridiculously high. This is a cover that you need to listen to (if you haven't done so before).

MNEK - A Thousand Miles (originally by Vanessa Carlton)

Next up is yet another song that has been featured on this blog before by the wonderful MNEK. I cannot even deal with how amazing and different this cover is! MNEK switches up the whole track by pretty much turning it into a club track; he does this by adding a seriously catchy beat and sampling the song "Love Shack" throughout. Even if you have heard the original before and you listen to this version, you will probably think it is a completely different track. MNEK is literally a musical genius and this song shows what he is capable of!

Avery Wilson - Jealous (originally by Labrinth)

This next song is certainly the most emotional cover on this post as it almost makes my eyes water every time I listen to it. Avery Wilson possibly has one of the best voices around nowadays and this song compliments his voice perfectly. If I could have another voice, I would certainly have his as his falsetto is undeniably brilliant! He manages to put his emotion across so well in this song with his variation of high and low notes; he even films it in his room with a webcam, showing that it means a lot and he had to record it as soon as possible. I just love it!

Ella Eyre - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off (originally by Jermaine Stewart)

The penultimate track on this post is certainly my favourite! Ella Eyre does a beautiful job in turning this upbeat, pop song into a slow and moody song. The song also shows off the incredible vocals that she is capable of (something which I feel you don't get to hear often in her upbeat numbers). I am also a massive fan of the original track which must surely influence how much I love this cover. Anyways, check it out; i bet you'll be blown away!

Little Mix - Dance With Somebody (originally by Whitney Houston)

Last but not least we have my favourite for girls which is a strong contender with Ella Eyre for my all-time favourite cover. In the cover, the girls mashup the Whitney Houston song with Jason Derulo's "Want To Want Me" and although you think it wouldn't, it honestly sounds incredible. Another thing which makes me love this song is the gospel choir that feature alongside Little Mix as I think it just makes the track fall into so many genres, making so many people love it! This is a cover that you seriously need to have a look at.

Song Of The Week :

This blog's sixth "Song Of The Week" is a track by two artists that I am massively fond of who have collaborated to make what I think is one of the catchiest songs around nowadays; those two artists are Mura Masa & Charli XCX and this song is titled "1 Night"! Like I previously mentioned, this song is extremely catchy and will always get you singing along. These catchy lyrics are then accompanied by an incredible instrumental to form a brilliant track. Mura Masa is potentially my favourite DJ around and this song is some of his finest material!

So I hope you enjoyed what was a fun blogpost to write. Next week I will be uploading the next instalment of my 'much-loved' "Artist Showcase" series which will be showcasing Pentatonix and all of their incredible work.

My Top Ten Songs From Movies/ TV Shows

Hello and welcome to another blogpost. Today I will be sharing with you my top ten songs from movies or tv shows. This is going to be a very long blogpost but I really hope you enjoy!

10. Purple Rain from Purple Rain
"Purple Rain" from the film of the same name is a truly iconic song! This song features some incredible vocals that are extremely hard to replicate due to the immensity of Prince's uniqueness. I must admit, the film is not one of my favourites but this song will forever have a place in my heart. Anyways, if you have been living under a rock and have somehow never heard this before, you seriously need to listen to it as soon as you can!




9. The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book is one of my all-time favourite films as I love Disney movies and you cannot deny that this song is an absolute classic! Every time I listen to this song I just have to sing along and I would be surprised if you do not do the same. The song is so catchy and infectious which is probably why I love it so much. This has all of the contents of an amazing song so even if you have listened to it before, please do it again as this song needs to be appreciated.



8. How Far I'll Go from Moana
The next song is the most recent one on this countdown but I cannot express how much I love it and how much I have been singing it! Both versions (Aul'i Cravalho & Alessia Cara) are phenomenal and they reflect the story of the movie so well. The track is incredibly catchy with vocals that any singer would love to perform. If you are one of the many people that have not given Moana the time of day and watched it, I cannot tell you how good it is; it is a 'must-see'!




7. And I'm Telling You from Dreamgirls
The first of two Dreamgirls songs on this post, "And I'm Telling You" is a musical masterpiece with truly unbelievable vocals within it. Jennifer Hudson is such an underrated singer/actress and this song really shows what the American Idol contestant is capable of. If you have never seen Dreamgirls, which is one of my favourite films (not just because it has Beyonce in it though), you honestly need to watch it as soon as you can; you will not regret it!




6. Don't Let Go (Love) from Set It Off
Although the movie "Set It Off" is certainly not the best, I must say that this song is one of my favourite songs by a girlband of all time! En Vogue were such an amazing girlband back in the 1990's and this song shows just how successful they were, charting in the top 5 all around the world. Also, if you have already listened to this song and love it, I would recommend listening to Little Mix's cover from back when they were on X Factor in 2011. Anyways, this song is simply incredible!




5. I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book
Worming its way into the top 5, we have the second Jungle Book song in this countdown, showing just how much I love the film. Whenever this song comes on, you just cannot help but sing or dance along as it is so catchy. Even whilst writing this blogpost, the lyrics are just spinning around in my mind with me singing along to them in my head. If you have somehow never heard this song before, firstly, what have you been doing with your life and secondly, you better go and give it a listen.




4. Independent Women, Part 1 from Charlie's Angels
In fourth place and the first of two Beyonce songs on this countdown, we have the incredible "Independent Women, Part 1" from Destiny's Child who are probably my favourite girlband of all time! The song is incredibly catchy from the very first line to the very last line and every time I listen to the track, I just have to sing along! I am also a fan of the Charlie's Angels film which probably leads me to like this song even more; if you haven't listened to this song or watched the film before, I suggest you do so.




3. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Theme Song

In the bronze position we have the only TV show song in this chart, but it is from my favourite TV show of all time! The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air is amazing and so it the theme song to accompany it. With catchy and unforgettable lyrics, something which is quite hard to do in rap music, you cannot argue with the fact that this is a great theme song. Will Smith really managed to bring fun into the rap world back when he was a rapper and this song is a fine example of it, making anyone who listens to it happy. You honestly need to watch The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air whenever you can as it is amazing!

2. Listen from Dreamgirls
Just missing out on the top spot, we have the second Beyonce song and the second Dreamgirls song. Out of all of her songs, I must say that "Listen" is one of my all-time favourites, which is quite something considering how much I love the artist. Beyonce's vocals in the track are literally unbelievable and the tone in her voice is a tone any artist would want. The song also highlights such a key moment in the movie which is another factor contributing to why the song is so great. You really have to 'listen' (please excuse the pun) to this as soon as possible!

1. Stand By Me from Stand By Me
Last but not least, we have what must be one of my favourite songs of all time! "Stand By Me" is one of those songs that you just cannot stop singing whenever it gets into your head as it's lyrics are so undeniably catchy. Ben E King has an incredibly soulful voice that I would do anything to have and this song compliments his voice perfectly. Also, the instrumental is just iconic as it is one of the catchiest ones I have ever heard, so catchy that it has later been sampled in many songs (including Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls"). The film is an old one but certainly a good one so whenever you can, make sure you watch the film and listen to this utterly amazing song!

Song Of The Week:
This week's "Song Of The Week" is one that I have been absolutely loving for a while now and it features an artist that you all know I love and an artist that I was originally not a fan of (but this song has changed my opinions of him). I can reveal that the song is the fabulous "Cigarettes And Cush" by Stormzy and Kehlani. The reason why I am such a fan of this song is because it is so 'chilled out' and slow but also so catchy; the song also shows that Stormzy, someone who is predominantly known for his grime rapping, can actually sing. I am pleasantly surprised by the rapper's new album and i would seriously recommend you listen to it, after listening to this amazing song first of course!
So I hope you enjoyed this extra long post. Next week I will be uploading a post showcasing five incredible covers that you need to hear!

Us The Duo's Just Love Tour ~ 10/3/17

Welcome to another post on my blog and today's post is going to be an immense one. Last week, I was lucky enough to see Us The Duo's Just Love Tour when it stopped off in London and it was honestly incredible so I obviously had to do a review on it just like all of the other concerts I go to.

First of all, I thought I would take some time to appreciate the venue which was very aesthetically pleasing. The gig was an intimate one which meant that the venue was tiny but it honestly had one of the nicest interiors of any of the venues I have been to. All of the walls has delicate details bulging out of them and what I loved most about the venue was the fact that there were several beautiful chandeliers scattered across the ceiling, something which I never thought I would see in a venue. I would seriously recommend attending a concert in Bush Hall to anyone as it felt like I was in some sort of posh ballroom, except I was attending an incredible concert!


After admiring the decor of the venue, it was not long before Us The Duo came on as there was no support act at this concert; as soon as they came on, I was in complete awe of them! They started off by singing their 2014 mashup which was the first ever video they uploaded to youtube. This was great as I got to hear their version of great songs like John Legend's "All Of Me" and Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne's "Rather Be" live! They immediately got all of the crowd singing and dancing along which is quite an achievement considering it was their first ever headline gig in London, something that any artist would be proud of! They are also my literal relationship goals, singing and writing together on the road whilst ever so in love with each other - I'm surprised not everyone wants to be like them.

One thing that I loved about the duo's concert is that they did the perfect ratio of covers to original songs, with me not being bored of either of the two topics. Firstly, lets talk about heir originals! Us The Duo sung quite a few of their originals which I am a big fan of; this includes "Fighting For You", "Follow Me", "Stop (Just Love)" and my personal favourite "I'm Me"! I have been a massive fan of the song "I'm Me" and its positive message ever since their "Public Record" EP came out so to hear it live was electrifying. It honestly sounded ten times better live and I am a big fan of the song normally. Although I am not able to attach a video of mine, I would thoroughly recommend you follow my snapchat (billy.carr) as I will be posting snippets from every concert I go to on there.

On the other hand, Us The Duo also sung a lot of covers which I really loved, possibly even more than the originals. There were several that I fell in love with, if not all of them but I thought I would highlight a couple. The first of which is their cover of Meghan Trainor and John Legend's "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" which I was originally not a fan of, however, when the couple did the song completely acapella, I fell in love! The track felt like a completely different song and it really showcased both of their incredible voices with her doing half of the lyrics and him doing the other. I really would watch the cover on their channel here if I were you as you will certainly not forget it!

If I had to choose one, my favourite cover would one-hundred percent have to be "Build Me Up Buttercup" originally by The Foundations. The reason why I loved this so much compared to all of the other songs was because I am a massive lover of all Soul music (something which you most likely all know) so their spin on a Soul track is sure to make me singalong, just like it did to the rest of the sold-out crowd! Like I said, everybody was singing along and their acoustic version of the song was incredible, something I wish I could see again.

To conclude, the gig was incredible and I wish I could go right back there! It was so nice to go to such an intimate concert as I literally haven't been so one so intimate in years! I wish everyone would go to an intimate concert every now and again as it is such a different experience than the massive venues such as the O2 Arena and Wembley. I have been a fan of Us The Duo for ages and my love for them has only grown since seeing them!

Song Of The Week : 
This week's "Song Of The Week" is by an artist who I have honestly fallen in love with over this past month; his name is Sonny and the song is called "Princess"! "Princess" is Sonny's debut single and it is truly incredible with all of its soulful tones and his undeniable great voice. Since the release of "Princess", Sonny has gone on the release another single with his debut EP coming out in the next few weeks. This is gonna be a very bold statement but if I was an artist, which I do want to be in the future, I know I would release music like Sonny's so I think you should really check him out!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this blogpost, next week I will be a pretty long post showing you my favourite songs from movies or tv shows, get excited!

Album Review : Divide by Ed Sheeran

Welcome to another post on this blog, this time reviewing Ed Sheeran's latest release "Divide". Today I will be reviewing the non-deluxe version of the album (in order to not make the post 'drag on') in the hope that you will enjoy it; lets proceed!

Track 1 = Eraser

If you ask me, "Eraser" is an amazing introduction to the album as you can easily tell what state of mind Ed Sheeran was in just by following the lyrics. I absolutely love when Ed Sheeran raps on his tracks so I always knew I would love this song from the first line. The chorus is also really catchy and so meaningful and emotional. This track is nothing like Ed's other material which lets you know that the whole record is going to be very diverse, a factor that I think all albums need! If I were you, I would listen to this song as soon as possible.

Track 2 = Castle On The Hill

"Castle On The Hill" was one of the first songs to be released from this album and I fell in love with it as soon as i heard it because even though this album is rather diverse, this song sounds like classic Ed Sheeran to me. For the past few months I have not been able to get this song out of my head and I honestly feel like it is severely underrated just because it was released at the same time as "Shape Of You". If you have somehow not managed to listen to this song yet, or you just want to listen to it over and over again, make sure you listen to it below...

Track 3 = Dive

Track 3 of the album is a song that really shows it's soul elements which anyone who reads this blog will know I love. You can also tell that he has put so much passion and emotion into the song. This is probably one of my favourite songs from the album as it is just so powerful. The song is also a very catchy one that will be stuck in you head. If I had to name a song that it was similar to it would be "Ruin" by Shawn Mendes which I am a massive fan of, showing how much I love the track.

Track 4 = Shape Of You

This song is easily the most successful song from the album, being at number one in the uk for eight weeks but I must admit, I was not a fan of the song at first as it was extremely overplayed. However, since the song has died down a little and Ed has released new versions of the song (including the Stormzy remix which I love), the song has grown on me. Even though I may not be the biggest fan of the song, I cannot deny that it is overly catchy and will get you singing it for weeks! Give it a listen to see what you think.

Track 5 = Perfect

Being the first 'ballad' on the album, "Perfect" makes a nice change to the rest of the songs. Just like several of the other songs on the album, you can really sense the meaning and emotion in this track and whoever the girl is that the song is about, she must be a lucky one! If you are in the mood for a ballad that will make you happy (unless you have just had a breakup), I would definitely recommend this one to you.

Track 6 = Galway Girl

If I had to pick one, I would pick this as my favourite song of album! The song is about Ed Sheeran's relationship with a girl from Galway in Ireland and it stands out so much because he has made typical Irish music fit into today's hit music, something which I have never seen done before. I have also been singing this song pretty much non-stop since it came out so it is definitely a catchy one. I would seriously say you listen to this song as it is a truly phenomenal one that I absolutely love to bits!

Track 7 = Happier

Certainly the slowest and saddest song on the album, "Happier" is bound to make you a little emotional. You know an Ed Sheeran song is emotional when his voice is really smooth and high-pitched in parts. I must say, this song isn't the catchiest but sometimes you don't need that because this song is just great and completely different to anything else on the album. I suggest you listen to it below...

Track 8 = New Man

Personally, I think the verses "New Man" sounds just like Ed's song "Don't" from his previous album which I love! The chorus then switches it up a bit and sounds like nothing I have ever heard before. The vocals in this song are so incredible and catchy not forgetting the amazing instrumental featuring instruments such as flutes, drums and Ed Sheeran's infamous guitar. I would seriously recommend this song to you!

Track 9 = Hearts Don't Break Around Here

What makes this song so different compared to others on the album is the fact that Ed's voice sounds so delicate all of the way throughout. Also, similar to other songs like "Perfect", you can tell Ed Sheeran was extremely emotional whilst writing the track and whoever he wrote it about is a very lucky person. The song is very touching and I would suggest you listen to it whenever you can.

Track 10 = What Do I Know?
If I had to choose a certain song, "What Do I Know?" would definitely be the catchiest song on the album. Since the album was released last week, I have not been able to get this song out of my head! I must admit, Ed's vocals in this track are not the best but sometimes that is not what matters as this is a great song that I am sure you will love! Please have a listen to this song down below as I know you will not be able to stop singing it...

Track 11 = How Would You Feel (Paean)

This next song is one that I would describe as a 'typical wedding day song', meaning that I can imagine several people dancing to the song as their first dance. The track is very slow and repetitive but it is extremely emotional. I must say that this song is not my favourite but I can imagine why others would love it. See whether you agree with me down below...

Track 12 = Supermarket Flowers

Last but not least, we have "Supermarket Flowers" which is bound to pull at your heart strings. When I first heard the song, I actually got really emotional as I felt so connected to the song about a parent who passes away, something which I have experienced in the past. Anyways, this a song that I know anyone will fall in love with so make sure you listen to it, I cannot stop listening to it (and I am not even the biggest fan of ballads)!

Overall, I think this album is amazing and I think that it will win endless amounts of awards in the next year. Ed Sheeran is now one of the most 'listened to' artists in the world and this album certainly justifies that. I may even say that it is my favourite of all of Ed Sheeran's albums to date. Every song on the album is so different yet so emotional and catchy which I can imagine is extremely difficult to do when the deluxe version of your album has 15 songs. Anyways, here are the rankings of my favourite albums that I have reviewed on this blog...

1. Kehlani - SweetSexySavage

2. Bruno Mars - 24k Magic

3. Ed Sheeran - Divide

4. John Legend - Love & Darkness

5. Childish Gambino - Awaken My Love

Song Of The Week :

Before I end this blogpost, I must do my "Song Of The Week" which is by someone who I have loved for an extremely long time and has just released her first single; that person is Sarah Close. Last Friday, Sarah Close released her debut single "Call Me Out" and I am honestly not being bias when I say it is amazing! The song was nothing like I was expecting but I think that makes me love it even more. Alongside "Divide", "Call Me Out" has been a song that I have been constantly listening to and I hope the rest of Sarah's upcoming "Caught Up EP" (which I will be reviewing on this blog) is a good as her first single from it.                                                      

So I hope you enjoyed this rather long blog post! Even though they may take a long time, album reviews are my favourite kind of posts to write as I love giving my honest opinion about music so expect many more in the future.

Review : Disneyland Paris 2017

Hello and welcome to a rather exciting post! Today I am going to be sharing my time in Disneyland with you guys which was honestly one of the best times of my life. Everything was so magical and you forgot about all of your worries; happiness surrounded you. Get ready for an incredible review as I know I am going to be filled with glee whilst writing it...

Day 1 : An Introduction To The Best Place On Earth

We arrived at Disneyland at approximately 5pm and I immediately fell in love just by looking at the hotel. Our hotel was named the Sequoia Lodge and it was themed by the film "Bambi". The hotel was a 'woodland retreat' just minutes away from the park with amenities such as a swimming pool and a sauna; you cannot really get much better! 

Once we had settled in we decided to head to the park in order to the highly recommended fireworks show called "Disney Dreams" and it was honestly one of the best things I have ever seen! As soon as you step into the park everything seems so surreal but as soon as the fireworks started, it felt like I was in a fantasy. The show consisted of several infamous Disney films such as "Peter Pan", "The Lion King" and "Tangled" being projected onto the tower accompanied by pleasing music whilst fireworks went off in the background. It is hard to explain but if you ever see it, it will definitely be one of the best moments of you entire life!

Day 2 : Meeting Characters In The Disneyland Park

In Disneyland Paris, there are two parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios) and on the first day we decided to visit the 'main' park. We got to enter the park early due to staying in an official Disney hotel and we immediately went on "Peter Pan's Flight" which actually turned out to be one of my favourite rides as it felt like I was flying in the air. I also got to meet several Disney characters including Minnie Mouse and Chip and Dale which was fun as I embraced my inner child (there is a photo to your right).

After a relaxing swim in our hotel's pool, we decided to head back into the park to watch the Disney parade, something else that as highly recommended by people online. As soon as it started I fell in love as all of these amazing characters came out dancing and singing on these wonderful floats that were decorated impeccably. I must say my favourite part was the either The Jungle Book or the Toy Story floats as it they are some of my favourite films. You should really see this if you ever go the park!

Day 3 : Experiencing My Favourite Park

As we passed the halfway point of our holiday, we ventured into the Walt Disney Studios park which was honestly something else! The park was scattered with Disney-themed adrenaline rides alongside magnificent live shows, becoming something I will never forget. My favourite of all of the rides had to be the "Rock'n'Rollercoaster" which started at the same speed as Thorpe Park's infamous "Stealth" but also featured many loops and corkscrews whilst playing a medley of the band Aerosmith. It was truly unbelievable but maybe a bit too extreme for some (including my mum).
Another thing about the park that I fell in love with was it's "Toy Story Playland" which was basically a whole land with the theme of Toy Story, making you feel like a toy as everything else was magnified. It also featured rides for all ages such as "The Toy Soldiers Parachutes" and "RC Racer". Other memorable rides for me include the Ratatouille ride which made you feel shrunken down to the size of a rat and one of Disneyland's main attractions, the "Tower Of Terror" which is a ride unlike any other but difficult to explain (I say you have a look online).

Day 4 : Revisiting The Favourites
On our final full day at the park, we decided to simply go back onto the rides that we enjoyed the most as we could not get enough of them! We immediately went on the Ratatouille ride as it has the biggest queues (but it is amazing) before going onto rides such as the "Tower Of Terror", "Peter Pan's Flight", "Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast" and my favourite, the "Rock'n'Rollercoaster. There was one thing that made this day stand out though and that was the fact that is actually snowed in the park! Sure, it may not have layed on the ground but it felt like I was in a winter paradise, something that I never thought I would experience.

Day 5 : Saying Goodbye :(
After one of the best holidays I have ever been on, on day five it was finally time to say goodbye! Like the day before, we spent the day going on a select few of our favourite rides starting off on the "Tower Of Terror" before going on many more. We also got to meet one last character on this day and that character was none other than Buzz Lightyear (pictured to your right) from one of my favourite films "Toy Story". I know it may seem silly, but I dis actually love meeting characters as it brought out my inner child! Sadly, at 2pm we had to leave the park and embark on our journey home, something which I never wanted to do!

Shops & Restaurants
Lastly I thought I would mention the shops and restaurants, a key part of the vacation! As you might have imagined, there was a Disney store everywhere you looked but they were all magnificent! The only problem with them was how overpriced they are, costing nearly four euros just to have a bottle of water! Moving on swiftly, very restaurant we went to in Disneyland was incredible starting off with one of my favourites in the UK, "Planet Hollywood" which we went to twice. I must say, my favourite restaurant of all had to be the "Rainforest Cafe" though! The restaurant's decor was actually incredible, making you feel like you was in a mini rainforest of your own! Another reason why I loved the restaurant so much though was because of its pudding, titled "The Volcano". The pudding was a massive stack of brownies and ice cream with whipped cream on top and it tasted so amazing that I wish I was eating it right now (the dessert is pictured to your right).

This holiday was one of the best that I have ever been on and I would definitely recommend it to all ages! Just writing this blogpost right now is making me miss it massively. Everything about the resort is so magical and it is hard to explain without actually being there. From the food to the attractions, the park i something that I will never ever forget!

Song Of The Week :
The "Song Of The Week" this week has to be the newly-released track called "Slide" by Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean and Migos. The song manages to blend the three artists' different styles and in my opinion, it sounds fantastic. You all know I am a big Frank Ocean fan but I am honestly not being bias when I say it is one of the best tracks of 2017. The song makes you want to dance along endlessly and it's catchy lyrics are bound to get stuck in your head for days; you need to give this song a listen!

So I hope you enjoyed this incredibly long post, I certainly enjoyed writing it and reminiscing. I will see you next week with a great album review.