I’m sure most of you know the Calvin Harris story by now but for those of you who don’t, he’s the quirky electronic musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer from Scotland who began his career at 15 years of age in his very own bedroom on a Commodore Amiga! (A home computer of the 90’s!) Since then he has conquered the charts with his very own unique style.
BY KERRI-ANNE CAMPBELL
His gold selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007. It contains the chart topping singles “Acceptable in the 80s” and “The Girls”. These two tracks brought Calvin Harris out from the shadows and into the charts. Since his bedroom producing days he has become a massive success. His sophomore album ‘Ready for the Weekend’ is quite different to his debut. It’s more clubby dance, less cheesy indie-electro. It was released on 17th August of this year and reached number 1 in the UK album charts on the 23rd of August knocking the late Michael Jackson off the top spot where he had been for two months. It contains the number 1 single “I’m Not Alone”, the UK Top 5 Single “Ready for the Weekend” and “Dance Wiv Me” his number 1 collaboration with Dizzee Rascal.
Most students party during the week and although this album focuses on the weekend it gets you ready to go out and party any night of the week. Harris has expressed his interest in “playing football stadiums with big hands in the air anthems” and there is definitely a euphoric, trance feel to this album. He uses quite a lot of special effects throughout the album, particularly in ‘Blue’which has a funky gameboy quality to it. It is definitely one of my favourites. ‘I’m Not Alone’, which in my opinion is his best track to date, is mesmerizing! It blends electro, disco and euphoria together in a way that makes you want to go crazy. ‘Ready For the Weekend’ is another catchy feel good track that actually will make you anticipate the weekend. ‘Flashback’ will be released on November 2nd and my guess is that it will reach number 1 in no time. It will definitely be a track heard pumping out from house parties in the Holylands, Stranmillis and Elms very soon.
Although the album is uplifting it is somehow emotive at the same time. There seems to be dark undertones and emotional lyrics throughout the album in tracks like ‘Worst Day’ and ‘You Used to Hold Me.’ The track titles even speak for themselves. It seems as if Harris is singing about a relationship that went seriously wrong. It’s not something you’d expect if you’ve listened to his first album ‘I Created Disco’.
I find this album to be far superior to his debut however, as much as it pains me to say this, there are a few tracks that are actually quite bland, and dare I say mediocre? ‘Burns Night’, for example, is definitely not a track you will want to turn up full blast as you get ready for a night out on the town. It just seems pretty pointless to me. There are no lyrics, which is fair enough, but it reminds me of my usual hangover the day after a night of partying. Perhaps this is Harris’ intention? Maybe he wants to give his fans the whole weekend experience? Then again it could just be filler material. To me this track is just noise!
Taking all 14 tracks in to consideration I would definitely advise you to go buy yourself a copy or download it onto your ipod, especially if you’re a Calvin Harris fan. Harris is playing live at St George’s market on Sunday 8th November. Tickets are available at ticketmaster and all the usual outlets so why don’t you and a few friends check him out for yourselves? I’m confident he will put on an awesome show. I know I’ll be there so watch this space!
(PS. You don’t have to be a chav to like Calvin Harris!)
He’ll never be remembered for his music…but for jedward pineapple gate…what a ledge!