5 Covers You Need In Your Life

We all love a good cover. At least I love a good cover. I noticed that lately I've been actually obsessing over five covers in particular. So in no particular order, check out my list of the top 5 covers you absolutely need in your life:

1. Nathan Sykes - "Marvin Gaye"

If you know The Wanted or you read my review of their Word of Mouth Tour way back when, this name will sound familiar to you. Nathan Sykes has since moved on after The Wanted's split and has gone and made himself a nice little solo career. His debut single "Kiss Me Quick" is gaining attention faster than I can type this and he recently announced that his next single will be called "Over And Over Again" and filming for the official music video has already begun. Check out Nathan's mashup of Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor's "Marvin Gaye" and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It on":

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Purchase Nathan's 2016 calendar here!

2. Demi Lovato - "Take Me To Church"

Can we just talk about Demi Lovato for a second though? This girl has some serious pipes. She ceases to amaze me. Demi covered Hozier's "Take Me To Church" in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge earlier this month and it was more than amazing. This powerful and soulful rendition has been replaying in my head for the past week. Recently Demi's been under fire a bit for a Tweet she posted regarding Barbie's newest Zendaya doll. All seems to be blown over for now just in time for Demi's newest album Confident! The album will be released October 16th so grab your copy! Check out Demi's incredible cover: 

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3. Conor Maynard - "Only One"

So I've never been a huge Kanye fan (don't hate me) but there's something about a Conor Maynard cover that can change my mind. If you've never heard of Conor please listen carefully because I'm about to give you some life advice: Check.This.Guy.Out. I'm serious. I love Conor and his 2012 Contrast album basically travels everywhere with me. I still don't understand why this guy isn't more popular. He is one of the greatest vocalists (in my non-influential opinion) and his latest single "Royalty" will most likely convince you that this guy is the real deal. This cover is a bit older from the beginning of this year but it's still one of my favorites. That falsetto though? I know. You can check out Conor's most recent Diplo & Sleepy Tom cover here and there are plenty more on his Youtube channel as well. Just take a minute and fall in love...

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4. An Honest Year & The Weekend Riot - "She's Kinda Hot" 

So I'm sure everyone's pretty familiar with this 5 Seconds of Summer track as it's been playing non-stop literally everywhere. But one of my personal favorites, An Honest Year, and one of my newly found favorites, The Weekend Riot, released this cover last month and I can't get enough of it! I've been lucky enough to see An Honest Year live a couple times and they never disappoint. I was super excited for this cover. I had never even heard of The Weekend Riot but they have a TON of other covers on their Youtube channel you should definitely check out. Also, An Honest Year just released the music video for their new single "Chin Up, Kid" so give that a look. But first...

Twitter: An Honest Year, Matt, Stephen, Jon, Jordan, Greg

The Weekend Riot, Johnny, Bruce

Facebook: An Honest Year, The Weekend Riot

Youtube: An Honest Year

5. Sam Smith & Disclosure - "Hotline Bling" 

Now, Sam Smith and Disclosure are known for having some amazing collabs. It's just a proven fact. Sam is pretty much the definition of singing perfection and if you don't have some sort of experience while listening to him I don't even know who you are. If you happened to read my In The Lonely Hour Tour review you'll know that I am crazy about this guy and apparently Sam is crazy about Drake! And of course he does the man justice. Sam Smith and Disclosure have a new single "Omen" which showcases just how great these guys are together. I wouldn't mind an entire Sam Smith/Disclosure album in the future so if anyone can make that happen it would be greatly appreciated. Check out the cover below:

Twitter: Sam Smith, Disclosure

Facebook: Sam Smith, Disclosure

Vevo: Sam Smith, Disclosure

Hopefully I've restored your love for a good cover video and maybe even gave you some new artists to look into. My job is done then. 

5 COVERS YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE ~ AS TOLD BY MADS

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New Demi Lovato Single 'Confident' Leaked

Could yet another new Demi song be making its way to our radios before the summer ends? Allegedly this is true. Demi's next supposed single 'Confident' was leaked online last Friday. This new tune is said to be the next single off her much anticipated fifth studio album. Based on the title it seems a bit more Demi-esque as opposed to her most recent single 'Cool For The Summer.' Now don't get me wrong that song's great but a song titled 'Confident' is much more typical of Demi's style.

Demi's always been about loving yourself over all other things and staying true to what you want and what you think is right. Tear-jerking, I know. If this is in fact a single we can expect soon, I predict it will be a stark contrast to her racy and provocative 'Cool For The Summer.' As Demi Lovato becomes more and more of a strong, positive presence in the music world, we've seen Demi show all of her colors and I personally am loving every minute of it.

'Confident' is rumored to grace your radios next month so be on the lookout!

Watch Demi display her own confidence in

her latest single 'Cool For The Summer!'

                         

Stay updated on all things Demi!
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DEMI LOVATO SINGLE LEAKED ~ AS TOLD BY MADS
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Summer Music Must-Haves

It seems like artists have been releasing new music left and right recently. There are a handful of songs that I've been really into this first month of summer so I thought I'd share them with you guys. I listen to all kinds of music so hopefully this little list will feature something all of you can get into. Here are my 5 current summer anthems…

1. Don't Stop - 5 Seconds of Summer

This band is blowing up worldwide and I was a bit worried that they might stray away from their original vibe as their fame increased but that was far from the truth. They are better than ever and this single has literally been stuck in my head for weeks. The music video's funny and charming and probably will make you like these guys even more. I especially like the song because it features vocal leads from Michael Clifford who doesn't normally sing too many solos *for some insane reason!*. They recently performed the single at Capital FM's Summertime Ball. Their debut album is set to be released July 22nd in the states so stay on the lookout for that. Preorder the album here.

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Twitter: 5SOS, Calum, Michael,

 Ashton, Luke

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Website

Youtube

2. Well Now - Camm Hunter

This song is crazy good! Saying I'm a bit obsessed with it is probably an understatement. This Toronto native just oozes charisma and I can't get enough of his music. This song especially has a contagious beat that you can't seem to get out of your head. I'm looking forward to so much more from Camm because I honestly can see him going so far in this industry. He seems to be in the right mindset about what his sound is and raw talent like this is hard to found nowadays. Be sure to check out Camm's links below to download this single as well as his mixtape.

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3. Sunshine - Zac Mann

I've seen some mixed reviews on this song so I thought I'd just throw my opinion in for good measure. I was really looking forward to this single and the first time I listened to it I was a bit ambivalent. However, the more I listened to it, the more I really got into it. It's pretty catchy overall but what I really like is the chill sort of summer vibe that goes along with the song. Zac's singing style reminds me a bit of Trey Songz mixed with that laid-back Cali vibe we all love *especially during summer*. Maybe sharing the same hometown makes me biased but I really believe this guy has talent. He's gained quite a loyal following and I feel like this single is definitely just a taste of what's to come from this artist. 

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4. Somebody To You - The Vamps feat. Demi Lovato

I absolutely love this song! The Vamps are one of my favorite up-and-coming artists in the US. I used to have a Youtube playlist of all of their covers and I felt like I was waiting forever for original songs to be released. When "Can We Dance" came out I literally fell in love with this band all over again. All of their singles have been different from one another but equally amazing. Also, this song features Demi Lovato which naturally means I have it on repeat ALL. THE. TIME. It's just a fun song from one of the most raw and talented bands I know which makes it perfect for summer.

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Twitter: The Vamps, Tristan, Brad,

 Connor, James, Demi

Facebook: The Vamps, Demi

Youtube: The Vamps, Demi

5. Don't - Ed Sheeran

Pretty sure I speak for many when I say…it's about time. Is it just me or have we been waiting for Ed Sheeran's second album for about 93 years? Hmm. Might be exaggerating a bit. But it's finally here and there are a lot of reasons to be excited about it. This song is one of my favorites off the album *if it's possible to even like one song over another*. It's one of those songs that makes me so focused on anything I'm doing. I just get that weird head bob motion going on and I can basically take on the world. What else do you really need, honestly? You can purchase the album here. 

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SUMMER MUSIC MUST-HAVES~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Let me know what songs YOU are loving this summer! 

CONCERT REVIEW: Demi Lovato--Neon Lights Tour feat. Cher Lloyd, and Fifth Harmony

Arena tours…arena tours…arena tours! I forgot how much I've missed going to an arena tour. It's insane! I've gotten so used to the hectic and crowded vibe of general admission that I've rediscovered my love for arena tours. Having a seat, no pressure, no stress. Fantastic. If you want to hear about an absolutely incredible show that is probably the girliest concert I've been to in my life then keep on reading…

FIFTH HARMONY:

Fifth Harmony on the Neon Lights Tour: (from left) Lauren
Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani
Hamilton, and Dinah Jane Hansen

Alright so I'm going to be COMPLETELY honest when I say I've never been a big fan of Fifth Harmony. It's not that I had anything against them it's mainly just the fact that I wasn't sure initially how a new girl group was going to go over in the US. I assumed that they would be fine considering they had enough of a fanbase to exit in third place on the X Factor US back in 2012. Although, over the past couple years I've gotten to see their insanely dedicated fanbase grow every single day. I guess I hadn't ever really given them much of a chance after X Factor *I'd only ever heard about 90 seconds of "Miss Movin' On"* and I was quite skeptical of some competition for my girls Little Mix. Fifth Harmony was the first act to perform on the Neon Lights Tour and I was……pleasantly surprised. I mean, they've got it going on. They are very different from what I had seen on X Factor and I was really pleased by their stage presence and natural talent. It was great to see a group of gorgeous ladies sing Destiny's Child and preach about hanging out with the girls. What a breath of fresh air! Got to admit, I'm a 5H believer now. Well done, Cowell.

Fifth Harmony's music video for "Miss Movin' On":

Twitter: 5H, Dinah, Normani, Ally, Camila, Lauren

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CHER LLOYD:

Cher! She's talented. She's BEAUTIFUL. She's basically everything you could ever want and if you can't be her then you want to be her best friend. I saw Cher last summer so I knew she would be able to give a flawless and fun performance. She is the sweetest person I think I have ever seen in my life. You basically can't look at her without wanting to hug her. She performed her latest single, "Sirens," as well as some of her previous hits, "I Wish," "Oath," and of course, "Want U Back." She delivered a fantastic set as to be expected with the usual Cher sass and spark. She is the kind of artist that seems to go through phases. She was sort of an edgy/hip style singer back on X Factor. Then she went through the whole rocker/shave half your head stage. And basically through a bunch of different phases she's landed on quite a nice, reflective sort of heartfelt stage. Her newest single, "Sirens," is a bit slower than her other singles but really gives fans a chance to see what this girl is all about: unique and flawless vocals.

Cher Lloyd "I Wish" music video!

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DEMI LOVATO:

The woman of the hour. Little Miss Demi Lovato is…INCREDIBLE. Let me say that again…IN-CRE-DI-BLE. The thing with me is that I really have to get to know an artist before I become a fan of them. One of my biggest pet peeves is someone who is fake or puts on a mask when interacting with fans that doesn't really reflect who they really are. I personally need to know that this person is 100% real and doesn't need all the fancy stage production and autotune that lots of singers use today. This is one of the reasons why I am absolutely in love with Demi. She gets on stage and is nothing but real. She wears her heart on her sleeve when performing and, I'm not gonna lie, I almost teared up a bit listening to her talk about her past and how she overcame so many obstacles.

Demi got a lot of flack from the public and the media when she went into rehab and when all of the stories were released talking about her mental and health disorders. It is absolutely true that it's not about how far you fall but how you are able to pick yourself back up again. And Demi did that and more. She has focused lots of her attention on helping and inspiring people who struggle with any sort of self-esteem issues, substance abuse, mental illnesses, etc, etc, the list goes on. The lyrics she writes not only reflect how she feels inside but they are extremely relatable for all of the young people struggling with different issues. I not only respect her as a singer *because she is absolutely amazing* but also as a person. I can't believe everything she has done for other people and how she has pulled herself out of an almost hellish situation and come back stronger than ever. Each performance she gives has so much visible emotion behind it that it makes you feel as though you can achieve something in this hum drum world and not worry about the little things and belt those songs out at the top of your lungs. If you ever have the chance to see Demi live I encourage you to not miss out on it. She is one of my all-time favorite vocalists and I can't wait to see her again hopefully some time in the future.

*Also, if you find yourself struggling with any of the issues I have mentioned or you're just looking for a bit of inspiration here and there, I HIGHLY urge you to check out her bestselling book: Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year. I love this book so much. There are quotes and stories for each day of the year to inspire you and maybe give you that little pick-me-up you've been needing. Get it on Amazon here.*

Demi's latest video for "Neon Lights":

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This was an incredible show and definitely one I won't forget. The Neon Lights Tour is hitting Columbus, Grand Rapids, Toronto, Cleveland, and Nashville before wrapping up on March 30th in Indianapolis. Make sure you go check out the show because I can promise you it will be an amazing time. Did I mention that cute little 17 year-old magician, Collins Key, does a bit of magic before each act? Amazing! Follow him on Twitter and check out this video of him performing for Demi!



NEON LIGHTS TOUR~AS TOLD BY MADS
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