City Academy Amplified are our Pop and Indie mixed choir based in Soho, set up to encourage those who love contemporary music to come together and sing in a fun and friendly environment.
Along with live renditions of the freshest tunes and warm moments of joy on stage, Amplified bring you a definitive song playlist of their alternative head bopping repertoire, sharing the love with 15 of the best tunes in music right now:
Song 1:
Royals by Lorde
An art pop / electro pop hit, this song, written by Lorde and Joel Little (who also produced it), disapproves of the luxurious lifestyle of contemporary artists in its lyrics:
Song 2:
Electric Feel by MGMT
By the American rock band MGMT, this music video also features an animatronic robot band from the 90s. They, along with a bunch of other humans and animals, party in the middle of a jungle and paint themselves in a neon ooze cut out of the moon. Enjoy the trip:
Song 3:
You've Got The Love by Florence + The Machine
"As a kid, going to clubs and raves, this song made me feel love...even in rehearsals, playing it was just the most euphoric feeling. Then playing it live and seeing everyone's arms in the air, and the faces – it was the best feeling ever!" Florence Welch explains the inspiration behind this cover of Candi Station:
Song 4:
Skinny Love by Bon Iver
Thought to be about frontman Justin Vernon's relationship with former girlfriend Christy Smith, he explains his use of the term skinny; "you're in a relationship because you need help, but that's not necessarily why you should be in a relationship. And that's skinny." Not convinced? Have a listen:
Song 5:
Foundations by Kate Nash
While the song has induced strong comparisons with Lily Allen's work, the video is stand alone because of its colourful still shots and stop motion animation, which perfectly accompany Nash's turn of phrase:
Song 6:
Pompeii by Bastille
Throwback to the most streamed song in the UK until June 2014. Lyrically about a Roman town of the same name which saw its demise with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii's video has quite a metaphoric take on the story:
Song 7:
You’ve Got Time by Regina Spektor
This is the theme tune for the Netflix Original Series, Orange Is the New Black. The creator of the show listened to Regina Spektor incessantly while working on it, so felt it was only natural to ask her to do tune for the opening title:
Song 8:
Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The song is about Liars leading man, Angus Andrew, and his relationship with Karen, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' singer. She cries real tears in the video. "My boyfriend at the time was supposed to come to the shoot – he was three hours late and I was just about to leave for tour. I didn't think he was even going to come and this was the song that was written for him. He eventually showed up and I got myself in a real emotional state." Feel her pain, and singalong:
Song 9:
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
Foster The People's debut single, Pumped Up Kicks is a real paradox, contrasting upbeat musical composition with lyrics recounting the homicidal thoughts of a troubled youth:
Song 10:
Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey
A desperately haunting song, Young & Beautiful is a story revolving around one of humanity's all time questions - can love last? Lana Del Rey penned the song for the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, working with director Baz Luhrmann to put her dreamy vocals to max effect:
Song 11:
I Am Not A Robot by Marina And The Diamonds
"It's me saying, stop being so ridiculous, you can't let having a fear of failing hold you back and you're just one person. It's connected with a lot of people. I knew that would happen when I was writing it. I had a funny feeling," said Marina Diamandis of her age and gender defying song, I Am Not A Robot:
Song 12:
Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men
Icelandic indie folk / indie pop rock band, Of Monsters and Men, do wonderfully well with this stunning video, which narrowly lost out on 2012's MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction in a Video. See if you think it deserved to win here:
Song 13:
Jolene by Dolly Parton (Pentatonix version)
Grammy award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix do something a bit special here and deliver a great rendition of Dolly Parton's hit, Jolene:
Song 14:
Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye (Pentatonix version)
A mid-tempo, indie pop ballad, Gotye's song samples Luiz Bonfá's song, Seville, catching on the heart strings of all - including Pentatonix, who decided to do their own cover, which went viral:
Song 15:
Evolution of Michael Jackson by Pentatonix
An a capella mash up of Michael Jackson lyrics, this song was on Pentatonix's Christmas album. Complete with harmonies and beat boxing, it offers a quirky twist on some legendary classics. Worth listening to whatever the season:
To sing songs like this and be part of a mixed choir that has an edgy repertoire, check out Amplified here >>>
