[FRESH RELEASE] tyDi feat. Tanya Zygar // Why Do I Care

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Australian trance DJ tyDi has released his latest single, the track Why Do I Care featuring French-Canadian singer Tanya Zygar on vocals.

The 24 year-old from Brisbane, Queensland has had a busy and successful past 12 months after supporting Armin van Buuren on his A State of Trance 500 tour in Australia, as well as remixing tunes for the likes of Allure (aka Tiësto), BT and Markus Schulz.

STEREOSONIC 2011 - THE LINE UP ANNOUNCED

It's Australia's turn to go festival crazy now. After the confirmation of the line-up for Parklife and Homebake, out comes Stereosonic with theirs.

Locked in for the event are Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, The Bloody Beetroots, LMFAO, Avicii, Benny Benassi, Dirty South, Kaskade, Pnau, BT and many, many more. What a line-up!

The event will be held on the below dates:

SYDNEY : Saturday, 26 November
PERTH : Sunday, 27 November
MELBOURNE : Saturday, 3 December
ADELAIDE : Saturday, 3 December
BRISBANE : Sunday, 4 December

Full the full line-up, including ticket information visit the official Stereosonic 2011 site. Tickets will be available from 4 August [OFFICIAL SITE]

[VIDEO PREMIERE] Armin van Buuren feat. Nadia Ali // Feels So Good



Finally! Armin van Buuren premieres the video for one of the best tracks off his 2010 Mirage release - Feels So Good featuring Nadia Ali on vocals. The song is slated to be the fifth single off the album.

The only thing I'll say is - too late! This clip should have been out months ago. Boo.

Feels So Good and Mirage are available digitally today [ITUNES]

[VIDEO PREMIERE] ARMIN VAN BUUREN FEAT. LAURA V "DROWNING (AVICII REMIX)"

After only days of posting the video premiere to Arvmin van Buuren's single release of Drowning featuring Laura V on vocals, is another video released showcasing the exceptional Avicii remix of the track. HECTIC.

Additionally, it's just been brought to my attention that Drowning was written a few years ago by my favourite DJ sisters, Australia's own Nervo twins! HECTIC x2.

Take a listen to the reminx and watch the video edit below. Drowning is taken from Armin van Burren's 2010 album, Mirage, available digitally today [ITUNES]

[VIDEO PREMIERE] Armin van Buuren feat. Laura V // Drowning

Armin van Buuren has released the fourth official single off his 2010 Mirage album, Drowning featuring UK singer Laura V on vocals. The video has premiered online in the last couple of days (below).

Definitely one of the strongest tracks on the album (behind Not Giving Up On Love featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Feels So Good featuring Nadia Ali), Drowing won't disappoint AvB fans at all!

Purchase Mirage or Drowning online today [ITUNES]

[REMIXED] JENNIFER HUDSON "WHERE YOU AT"

I've been meaning to get this post out for a while now. You see, I wanted to get a Remixed post up some time ago, but every time I'd go to do it I'd get distracted and end up writing about something else. Or... get stuck playing Words With Friends on my iPhone. Or... craving a Campos coffee. Or... watching the lights flicker in the sky. Ohhhh... pretty lights.

Where was I?

Remixed. That's right. The Remixed post will be an opportunity to pay homage to the great remixers of this day - Freemasons, Cahill, Bimbo Jones, Dave Aude, Armin van Buuren, Kaskade, David Guetta, Avicii, etc. I could go on and on, but you catch my drift.

You see sometimes an artist will release a track and it's nothing short of pure brilliance. It needs no adjustment, in fact, it's just dandy the way it is. Sample: Dirty Talk, Wynter Gordon [VIDEO]

Other times an artist will release a track and it's ok... but it's kinda missing something. Enter one of the said remixers and it's an instant jam! Sample: Finish Line (Freemasons Remix), Yasmin [VIDEO]

Then of course there are times where you're like - WTF? What a crap follow up to a previous brilliant song. Someone better do something here and KAPOW, before you know it the remixer enters and it's brilliant. Sample: Good Girl (Freemasons Remix), Alexis Jordan [VIDEO]

See what I mean?

So, here we have it. Today's Remixed entry is for the only other great American Idol, Jennifer Hudson (the only other in comparison to Kelly Clarkson that is). J Hud returned to us with her second studio album only last week - matching the #2 placing for her debut record with I Remember Me.

The R Kelly penned Where You At was released as the lead single back in February. Whilst it's a good song reminding us that J Hud's power vocals are those to rival Queen Bee Whitney Houston, the track received mixed reviews and barely made an impact on the Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at #64).

For today's post, enter Dave Aude and KAPOW - gay boys are twirling all 'round San Francisco to this number. Aude's mix provides Houston Jnr's soulful vocals with that extra bop that gives the number the needed boost. Now don't get me wrong, I love the original, but the remix gives me the best of both worlds!

So, you get to enjoy both too. Below is the original and Aude's remix as well. Enjoy!

Visit Jennifer Hudson's digital library online today [ITUNES]


Where You At (Dave Aude Remix)



Where You At (album version)

Jimmy Steele's Top 50 Singles of 2010 (Part III)

PART III, THE FINALE

And so, here it is - the Top 10 Singles as assessed by me; the music-driven, ass-swinging, blog-loving Jimmy Steele. Can I tell you how hard it was to get this list to a Top 50, let alone a Top 10? 2010 was truly blessed with so many tracks that really outshone previous years in regards to music. Pure quality I tell you, pure quality.

There have been a few key standout artists this year too... but I think that's anotehr blog post entirely - let's get into the countdown!



10.  NOT GIVING UP ON LOVE  //  Arvin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Miss Ellis-Bextor teamed up with our favourite Aussie models/DJs, Nervo, to pen this brilliant track, which also includes the girls on backing vocals. Yet again, do my Nervo girls deliver!

Not Giving Up On Love was released as the lead single off Armin's 2010 album, Mirage, and will also feature on Sophie's fourth studio album, Make a Scene, which will be released in this coming April. Armin debuted the track in his A State of Trance podcast in August.

Whilst the single didn't fair that well chart wise (excluding Poland where it went to #1 - random); it certainly made a presence on the club scene globally.

Miss Ellis-Bextor, with her sassy vocals and classy style, oozes sex 'n' love in this video. Also, she kinda makes me jealous lounging on that boat in the video clip (grrr), which was shot in Ibiza, Spain (double-grrr).

Purchase Not Giving Up On Love digitally now [ITUNES]



9.  EMPIRE STATE OF MIND  //  Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

Some of you may argue that this track really should have been featured as a 'best of 2009' - well... bite me.

The ode to one of America's most well-known cities is really, one of the stand-out tracks of this decade. Alicia Keys belting out...

"New Yoooooooork...concrete jungle where dreams are made of... there's nothing you can't do..."

...sends chills down my spine and makes me wanna grab that credit card and book my one-way flight now.

Alicia and I had a good year in 2010 actually - this is her third appearance in the countdown (with tracks Un-Thinkable and Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart making earlier appearances)... I gotta say, her Elements of Freedom album clearly was one of the best albums of the year.

Purchase Empire State of Mind digitally now [ITUNES]



8.  BELIEVER  //  Freemasons feat. Wynter Gordon

Oh bless. What an amazing combo - the boys from Brighton, England; and New York's princess, Wynter Gordon. I'm not really sure what else to say here except for...

Get your ass into gear and start grooving!

Believer was released earlier in the year to the UK/Australia markets, however only in the last month has it been released in the US. A huge club smash in the UK and Europe over summer, I'm expecting it to do the same over the US in the coming weeks/months.

Also, this is Wynter's second appearance today with Dirty Talk coming in at #26... oh how we love Miss Gordon!!!



7.  SHAMPAIN  //  Marina & the Diamonds

Welsh/Greek Goddess,  Marina Lambrini Diamandis, or as you may know her, Marina & the Diamonds; is clearly one of 2010's precious gems.

Her debut album, The Family Jewels, is a piece of pure indie pop heaven... really, it's hard to fault any of the tracks on the album. So much so, this is Marina's third appearance in my Top 50 of 2010 (Hollywood at #19, Oh No! at #32)!

I was lucky enough to see Marina perform just recently in Sydney in a show performing at The Factory Theatre. Her performance - vocally and stage-presence wise - was really hard to beat. It was hard not to be captivated by her aura on stage... one word to describe the night - WOW.

The Shampain video, with it's Thriller-like choreography, wind machine blowing leaves and overall beauty of Miss Diamandis, clearly is one of the best clips of 2010.

Purchase Shampain digitally now [ITUNES]



6.  ACAPELLA  // Kelis

Acapella was Kelis' opportunity to embrace a market in which we knew she'd reign - and boy did she do that. The lead track from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, was co-penned by Kelis and produced by David Guetta; and paved way for what was received as one of the best albums of 2010.*

*according to me of course

The colourful and energetic video was a collaboration between fashion photographer John "Rankin" Waddell (Germany's Next Top Model photographer), and director Chris Cottam. It's vibrant, effective and provides the buzz that the track needs - a great, great film clip.

In addition to Acapella, the album spawned three other singles - 4th of July (Fireworks), Scream and Brave.

Purchase Acapella digitally now [ITUNES]



5.  HANG WITH ME  //  Robyn

So here we have Robyn, her second appearance in my countdown (no surprise there) with Hang With Me. In 2010 Robyn released three EPs, titled the Body Talk series. All three were released within a six month period, with Hang With Me featuring on the first and second editions.

On the first edition Hang With Me is a slow, soulful acoustic ballad. A beautiful number really... however it wasn't until it got a little bit of treatment and appeared on the second edition did it really hit the mark. The single gave Robyn her fifth top five number in her native Sweden... hmmm, what was her forth...? Stay tuned!

Purchase Hang With Me digitally now [ITUNES]



4.  TELEPHONE  //  Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce

The second track to be lifted off Gaga's infamous The Fame Monster EP, Telephone is pure pop brilliance. Originally written by Lady Gaga for none other than Miss Britney Spears (for her Circus album), once rejected, Gaga decided to own the track and pursue Beyonce for the additional part. Great move girl.

Telephone featured one of the most anticipated video clips of all time. The video, shot by the creative genius that is Jonas Åkerlund (who directed Gaga's Paparazzi), featured Lady Gaga and Beyonce in a range of designer outfits that played out in a number of different scenes.

The video, available in 'clean' and 'explicit' versions, is just over nine minutes and thirty seconds in length, and as of today, has had more than 100,000,000 views on YouTube. Un-fucking-believable!

Purchase Telephone digitally now [ITUNES]



3.  GET OUTTA MY WAY  //  Kylie Minogue

What has been claimed by critics* as Kylie's best track in years, Get Outta My Way was a clear reminder that Miss Minogue still has it. Oh yes she does. Whether it's the video with those gold shoes, the striking poses or the brilliant chair choreography - she still has it.

*those critics being me and a whole lotta gay men globally

The second single off the Aphrodite album (clearly a life saving album, thank you Stuart Price), unfortunately didn't receive the chart success it deserved, however it still is, without a doubt, one of Kylie's best songs EVAH (big call, I know).

Purchase Get Outta My Way digitally now [ITUNES]



2.  FREEFALLIN'  //  Zoe Badwi

Ex-Siren (remember those girls - come on, think about it... Sarah-Marie from Australia's Big Brother... I'm So Excited... Oh God, yes, that was Zoe Badwi) has been around the Aussie club scene for some time now. She's partnered with TV Rock and delivered In The Moment and Release Me over the last couple of years - clear club numbers that everyone loves.

Move forward to 2010, grab yourself an Amy Pearson penned track, Denzal Park on production and BANG - you have yourself a surefire hit. Freefallin' is nothing but brilliant... picture it now... gay men throwing their hands up in the air like they just dont' care. Oh bless. Cause I'm freeeeeeeeeefalllin...

LOVE IT.

Purchase Freefallin' digitally now [ITUNES]



1.  DANCING ON MY OWN  //  Robyn

Here it is!!! My #1 Single of 2010!!!

Dancing On My Own was unveiled to the world in June - the synth love ballad, with Robyn's unique vocals oozing heartache and betrayal, instantly won me over the moment I heard it. And, funnily enough, I wasn't alone worldwide.

The track went to #1 in Sweden - Robyn's first ever hit to the top in her homeland. Additionally, it achieved top ten in many countries across Europe, including the UK. It was the lead track off the three-part Body Talk series and certainly gave us a great taste of the excellence that was yet to come from the following EPs.

The video, with Robyn's awkward yet mesmerising moves, is a reminder of what it feels like when a love is not reciprocated. Painful, beautiful, indulging.

Robyn - you really are a talented artist. Much love.

Purchase Dancing On My Own digitally now [ITUNES]

Dido loses everything, Armin van Buuren remixes

I've obviously been asleep for a few months, otherwise I'm not sure how to explain how I missed this.

Dido featured on the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack with this number, Everything to Lose. Now it's not the fact that I missed this track being released, or even being produced for that matter, as it's pretty so-so. It's the fact that the one and only Armin van Buuren came along and sex'd it up a bit.

Let's face it, whilst everyone* loves Dido, her vocals seem to mesh much better against some slammin' progressive house beats. Take what Francois K did to Hunter, or what Above & Beyond did to Sand in my Shoes, or what Johnny Vicious did to Here With Me. I digress.

*everyone being ya Mum.

Everything to Lose really isn't, or wasn't, a great track 'til AvB got his hands on it. It now will find a warm little place in my current playlist, in between Tiësto's remix of The Island by Pendulum and the original mix of Take Over Control by Afrojack feat. Eva Simons. Nice.

Armin Only Mirage

 
Armin van Buuren is playing his Armin Only Mirage shows this coming November/December globally.

You may be wondering why I'm bringing this to your attention...? That would be because AvB at this stage has locked in four shows - one in Utrecht (Netherlands), two in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and one in Melbourne (Australia). There are plans to expland this to 15 shows, however details are yet to be released.

But in case you missed it, YES - ONE in MELBOURNE. And it's on NEW YEARS EVE.

The event, which will see the globally recognised DJ play for a full 9 hours straight, will be held at the Etihad Stadium. According to his official Armin Only Mirage website

"Melbourne will not only be one of the first cities in the world to experience the awe-inspiring new show, but, in testament to Armin’s love and respect for his Australian fans, it will also be the only city in the world that gets to party with him for a mammoth 9-hour set on the biggest night of the year, NYE! Crowned the planet’s best DJ for the last three years running, there’s little doubt that Holland’s Armin Van Buuren is the most popular DJ in the world today. A consummate master of Trance who has risen to superstardom via his sublime DJ skills and studio musical wizardry, Armin’s forward thinking Armada label group houses some of the world’s finest music talent and is a veritable force to be reckoned with. Adored by a legion of loyal fans worldwide, he’s a bona fide global dance music phenomenon "…

Tickets can be purchase through Ticketmaster. Do yourself a favour and snap these up quick, 'cause they won't last!

Armin van Buuren 's Mirage almost here!

The much anticipated forth studio album from Armin van Buuren, Mirage, hits stores and online in the next week - finally! It's been nearly 2 and half years since Armin graced us with his musical pleasure with Imagine, and I gotta tell you, I've been hanging out for this album.

A few weeks ago we were blessed with the lead track from the album - Not Giving Up On Love feat. the slammin' Sophie Ellis-Bextor. I couldn't think of a better combo... her vocals are a perfect match for his beats. Love, love, love.

The album also features a track with Nadia Ali (ex-iiO for all you Rapture/At the End lovers!). I'll be very excited to hear that track... can't wait to get my hands on it!

Check out the video for Not Giving Up On Love below. God I can't wait for summer!

Mirage is available on iTunes as of the 10th September - purchase here.