One reason why it has become harder to
penetrate the music scene these days is the stiff competition, especially
with YouTube giving any talent the window to the world. But wait, there’s still
truth to the saying that “many are called, but few are chosen.”
No doubt the likes of Gotye and Lana Del Rey
belong to the few, with their chart-topping songs and staggering number of
YouTube views providing credence to the claim. Both carrying likable stage
names and having released significant indie recordings prior to mainstream
success, they’re simply commendable to be labeled as “Breakthrough Artists of
2012.”
The
Belgian-Australian Gotye, with his song “Somebody That I Used To Know” selling
nearly five million downloads, is the first Australian act to top the Billboard
100 Chart this 21st century and the first Belgian to accomplish the
feat since 1963. The track, which he recorded with the artist Kimbra, already
accumulated 200 million views and counting, with several covers appearing
everywhere.
Recently, Gotye’s international hit, also
reaching the top of the Billboard Digital Songs Chart and Billboard On-Demand
Streaming Chart, was featured on Fox's hit show “Glee,” interpreted by Darren
Criss and Matthew Bomer. It was likewise covered on "American Idol,"
featuring the voices of Elise Testone and Phillip Phillips.
Last February, he made his American television
debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with him performing the piece "Eyes Wide
Open", his first single off his latest album “Making Mirrors” and a
nominee at the 2011 APRA Music Awards for Song of the Year category.
The album title inspired by an old artwork
created by his father, he expressed, "The mirror reflects on the artwork
and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the
album."
As
for American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, her time has arrived as well. Her
now released debut album “Born To Die” ushers the beautiful irony that she is
here to survive the competition, armed with talent, original compositions, and
charisma.
The album, with nearly a million units shipped
in just its first week in the market, already topped the iTunes chart in 18
countries, even becoming the fastest-selling digital album ever in France. For
two weeks it also spent at the top of the Official UK Album Chart, thus
resulting to two worldwide hits including the title track.
“Video Games,” the album's first
single, spent almost ten weeks in the UK Top 20. Its YouTube views got past 28
million, while her Facebook page has gathered five million supporters and
counting as of press time.
In an interview she stated, "I
wanted to be part of a high-class scene of musicians. I was hoping that I would
meet people and fall in love and start a community around me, the way they used
to do in the '60s."
Recently she took home the Q award for
the title "Next Big Thing", along with the Breakthrough
Artist citation at the BRIT Awards 2012, beating the sensational Nicki
Minaj.
Both the breakout albums of Gotye (“Making Mirrors”) and Lana Del Rey (“Born To Die”) are locally distributed
under MCA Music in CDs at
leading record bars nationwide or online via mymusicstore.com.ph.
To download Gotye current single “Somebody That I Used To Know”
on your mobile phones, just text KA136 and send to
2332 for GLOBE/TM, text STIUTK and send to 2728 for SMART/ Talk N’ Text
and text 5493375 and send to 2300 for SUN Cellular.
To download Lana Del Ray current single “Born
To Die” on your mobile phones, just text KA142 and send to 2332 for GLOBE/TM, text BORN2DIE and send to 2728 for SMART/ Talk N’ Text and text 5493353
and send to 2300 for SUN Cellular.
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