#SPOTTED: MAX MARTIN IN TORONTO FOR “& JULIET”

You’ll probably not even recognize him, but you know and love him. Trust. Legendary Hitmaker Max Martin is in Toronto for Mirvish’s Production of & Juliet! After a successful run in London’s West End, Toronto is so lucky to get to see the Musical, which asks what would’ve happened if she didn’t end it all for Romeo?

Martin is responsible for the most iconic Pop Hits of our time. And not just one. Several!

…Baby One More Time
As Long As You Love Me
I Want it That Way
Bang Bang
Break Free
Blinding Lights
California Girls
DJ Got Us Fallin in Love
Dynamite
Hot N Cold
I Kissed a Girl
It’s Gonna Be Me
Lucky
Love Me Harder
Oops!… I Did it Again
Part of Me
Quit Playing Games (with my Heart)
Roar
Save Your Tears
Shake it Off
Show Me Love
Since U Been Gone
Style
Teenage Dream
That’s The Way It Is
U + Ur Hand
Who Knew
(You Drive Me) Crazy

You try picking a favourite from this partial list of hits he’s responsible for penning! I love all these songs and I’m sure you do too!

This was an incredible honour. I don’t think he’s used to being recognized as he is so humble, but as a lover of Pop, he is an Idol! Even more important than the stars he’s worked with!

About & Juliet

Set against a Soundtrack of megahits by Martin, & Juliet is from Emmy-winning Writer of Schitt’s Creek David West Read, with Choreography by Jennifer Weber, and Director Luke Sheppard.

& Juliet runs at Princess of Wales Theatre from June 22 – August 14, 2022.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#REVIEW: CARLY RAE JEPSEN – “KISS”

Don’t be fooled by the short-shorts and girly bangs, Carly Rae Jepsen is a Naughty Girl. Jepsen‘s debut major label Disc Kiss, however has never made being bad sound so good with its Seduce-your-Boyfriend Lyrics.  I mean, we’ve already heard what she has to offered in her Collaboration with Owl City in Good Time and we liked it and need I mention Billboard Magazine‘s 2012 Song of the Summer, Call Me Maybe?  Surely all involved with Project Jepsen are aware of the dangers of One-Hit Wonderdom and have safeguarded themselves here with twelve slick offerings, most even more polished than the Hit that placed the British Columbia Cutie on our radars.

I am v. fond of the Disc’s Title Track This Kiss, oddly reminiscent in chord structure to the Pop Excellence that is Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream without sounding like it melodically.  I much prefer also the amped-up version of Curiosity heard here making the Canadian Radio Edit sound like a Demo,  featuring additional Production by Dallas Austin.  More than a Memory has that sweet melancholy which Robyn has so well mastered on her own Hits like Dancing on my Own and what would a contemporary Pop Disc be without a contribution from the Master himself, Max Martin? Tonight I’m Getting Over You‘s hard-hitting Chorus will get you up off your feet in no time.  Not keen on the Justin Bieber Duet Beautiful – never finding its best stride in terms of vocal chemistry – but one cannot fault her for using every resource possible to assert her standing as a Pop Superstar. Now is the time.

Welcome to the Big Time, Carly Rae Jepsen – you’ve earned it.  Universal Music Canada releases Kiss – in stores now.