27.12.14

The Best of 2014 Awards!


No year is complete without a bunch of awards to round off the all important questions like, who had the best beard of 2014? and who won the lottery in pleasing aesthetics? Vote below to crown your winners! (the winners don't get an actual crown, they get a sense of pride and an air trophy - you're welcome)

Best Soap...
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Coronation Street
free polls

Best Presenter...
Dermot O'Leary
Ant & Dec
Emma Willis
Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby
Marvin Humes
Claudia Winkleman
Sarah-Jane Crawford
Eamonn Holmes
Poll Maker

Best Newcomer...
Kyle Christie
Tommy Mallet
Liam Lewis
Stereo Kicks
Jack Walton
Ben Haenow
Fleur East
Georgia Kousoulou
Ashley Cain
Poll Maker

Best Actor...
John Simm
James Norton
Jack O'Connell
Jeremy Sheffield
Kieron Richardson
Danny Mac
Chris Gascoyne
Marc Baylis
Jason Merrells
Mark Charnock
Michael Parr
Danny Dyer
Matt Di Angelo
Ben Hardy
Andrew Buchan
Poll Maker

Best Actress...
Anna Passey
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Olivia Colman
Sarah Lancashire
Stephanie Davis
Alison King
Emma Atkins
Charley Webb
Sheridan Smith
Maggie Smith
Siobhan Finneran
Poll Maker

Best Beard...
Calum Best
Ricky Rayment
Mario Falcone
Scott Disick
Billy Huxley
Conchita Wurst
Chris Leonard
Poll Maker

Best BoyBand...
One Direction
Union J
Stereo Kicks
The Vamps
McBusted
polls

Best 'Reality' Show Star...
Vicky Pattison
Scotty T
Charlotte Crosby
Spencer Matthews
Andy Jordan
Lucy Watson
Ricky Rayment
Ferne McCann
Lewis Bloor
Liam Lewis
Ross Worswick
Joss Mooney
Poll Maker

Best 'Couple'...
James Graham & Tom Mann
Jake Quickenden & Ben Haenow
Tom Mann & Barclay Beales
Jimmy Bullard & Foggy
Casey Johnson & Jake Sims
Ross & Joss
Poll Maker

Best Looking Chap...
Jake Quickenden
Thom Evans
Barclay Beales
Casey Johnson
Tom Mann
Michael Parr
Danny Mac
Ricky Rayment
Mario Falcone
Danny O
Spencer Matthews
Andy Jordan
Aaron Chalmers
Mark Wright
Daniel Conn
Ross Worswick
Josh Cuthbert
Chris Mears
Poll Maker

Best Looking Lady...
Michelle Keegan
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Luisa Zissman
Georgia May Foote
Jacqueline Jossa
Laura Whitmore
Frankie Bridge
Lucy Watson
Jorgie Porter
Pixie Lott
Ferne McCann
Charlotte Crosby
Poll Maker

You have until 7th January to vote for your winners! They will be announced on the 8th and the lucky folks will receive their pride and air trophy!

22.12.14

#SHEDLIGHT



Christmas is great isn’t it, you spend time with relatives you barely ever see, stuff your face by a roaring fire and give gifts nobody really needs! It’s awesome! But for 93,000 people Christmas is just another day trying to survive the harsh realities of being homeless.

This Christmas ADOT.COM have launched a ‘Lights Campaign’ to help heighten awareness and raise plenty of pennies for two charities that can be life savers to people who find themselves in this situation.



Homeless people, to most, are invisible. This shocking new campaign is aiming to make us see them, make us care and make us act.

The viral campaign is tough to watch but we definitely recommend giving it a viewing, it’s incredibly poignant.


The project is also supported by several leading personalities including, lingerie entrepreneur Caprice, Jon Snow, Barbara Windsor, Mitch Winehouse and a host of others, wrapped up in Christmas lights.

Adot.com explained: “we aim to inspire people to change their perspectives on what they see and do. We ask people to take a moment to really look closer at everything and everyone in the world around us. "


The provocative film will be running in cinemas, TV, print, poster and social media. So keep your eyes peeled.

Adot.com is a charitable non-profit organisation that campaigns on social issues, everything from anti-war, homelessness, poverty, racism, civil rights big government to name but a few.


#SHEDLIGHT

18.12.14

ALBUM REVIEW - Taylor Swift '1989'



Taylor Swift is the ultimate pop princess; forget Britney or Katy Perry this delightful fun figure of a lady is back on form in the creation of her new album. As the album hit its release date I saw twitter explode with excitement as the ‘Swifties’ got a hold of their copies and listened till their ears bled. I happened to buy this album because I fell in love with Shake it Off when I saw the music video on a chart show whilst getting ready for a heavy night out. I still conclude it is the best song to get you out of bed and dancing around your room even it is 6am and still dark outside.

It’s fair to start this review by saying how adaptable Taylor Swift is; I was recently talking to a huge fan of her old school songs, who deeply misses her country lyrics and her sickly sweet voice. But Swift has grown up and with the release of ‘I Knew You Were Trouble,’ and ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together,’ it created the path for sure pop stardom which has helped to cement her songs as classics for radio. Yes, the songs of break-ups that have helped to terrify potential boyfriends are still there but they have a grown-up feel helping to transfer Swift from barefoot, guitar playing chick to the hard hitting pop princess that we see today! It’s a big change but does it work out? Let’s find out!

We start with ‘Welcome to New York.’ Much like New York sang by Alicia Keys you know this song is just not going to go away; the song sings about being broken hearted in the city that nobody but you, yes you understands. It’s a little whimsical and after hearing Shake It Off I’m surprised the album didn’t start with something punchier for the listener to really get their teeth into. It also talks of putting your broken heart in a drawer; not my style I must admit but for Taylor apparently this works! Blank Space the next song on the album, she opens up about her long list of ex-lovers and tells them where to put it, ultimately asking them not to judge her on this alone. Lyrics like ‘you look like my next mistake,’ show how far Taylor has come from her original albums.

Out of the woods actually sounds like it could have come straight out of the Lion King. It’s a little odd if I’m honest but it’s nice to have another big change from this lady; it’s got a strong beat and it’s catchy as all Taylor’s songs are.  All You Had To Say makes me smile because it’s Taylor doing what she does best and that is whack out a song that ladies can listen to when they’re with their girlfriends, drinking white wine and eating pizza whilst cursing their latest man to the back of beyond; it’s catchy as always and you cannot help but think she knows exactly what she’s doing. Shake It Off is my favourite song on the album’ it’s loud, bright, brash and so god damn catchy! You can hear me singing this in the shower in the morning, on the bus, on the train, walking home, and dancing in the subways I cannot get enough of it. Additionally singing the wordy part in the middle 8 with your girls over a bottle of wine is the perfect way to spend the evening. It’s just perfect pop music with a little bit of edge and it shows off her voice wonderfully; top track! I wish you would honestly sounds like a number of tracks on her red album. It’s got an 80’s synth vibe and it talks about breaking up (once again) It’s a pretty standard Taylor track but I wish she could have sung about something else, it’s catchy but only just halfway through the album I was getting a little tired of the angsty break up songs.

Now comes something I was not expecting but kind of loved in a terrible way; it’s ultimately a put down of Katy Perry and it’s odd because I don’t think Taylor comes across as particularly callous to other female performers but here she has definitely taken the chance to throw a few catty comments. Lyrics including ‘You live like that, you live with ghosts’ which apparently refers to Perry’s song about the breakup of her marriage whilst lyrics such as  ‘the jealous of cherry lips,’ also refers to the pop starlet. Perry seemed to take a swipe back stating on twitter  ‘Watch out for the Regina George in sheep's clothing..’ oooo-errrr.

Wildest Dreams is unfortunately a near miss for me as although it shows off her voice and it packs a punch it feels like she is trying to replicate Lana Del Rey. The problem is that Taylor’s voice is a little too cutesy to carry it off and it falls flat as you’re hoping to hear the dulcet tones of Miss Rey. There’s not quite enough grit to pull it off but it’s close and it definitely shows that Taylor is adapting her voice to attract new listeners. How you get the girl is noticeably the catchiest song on the album I tell you not! It’s poppy, preppy and typical new Taylor I loved it, but I didn’t love singing it for the next two days of my life. Now, one thing I’ve missed from this album is a slow ballad style song and This Love is probably the closest you’re going to get, it’s a nice change but I wish there were a couple more slow burners earlier in the album. When reviewing albums I’m always looking for the arena style track that fans are going to love screaming on her tour and I think I know places is the one on this stellar album. With the lyrics ‘They are hunters, we are the foxes,’ You can almost hear the screams! We finish with Clean and it’s a wonderful way to end the album with a collaboration with Imogen Heap. The song is clean and fresh and it finishes the album off perfectly; the harmonies are also sublime.

Overall I really enjoyed this album there are a few hits and misses but I like the new sound of Miss Swift and I can’t wait to hear her next album!