Listen Up - Austin Mahone

Austin Mahone is pretty much as new as they come. He is only sixteen (<b>sixteen</b>), and from what I can see he has only been on Youtube recording covers and such for about a year. Some label must have seen him (have you seen him?) and snatched him right up, seeing popstar potential.

Well, whoever has him (I can’t even seem to find what LABEL he’s on) has paired him with a lovely little pop jam that is to be his first proper single. It is called “Say Somethin”, and here it is:

The hybrid lyric/real video only came out little more than a month ago and it already has two million (plus) views. The song is upbeat and invites a great sing-a-long. Pop, rock, and it even finds an interesting way (AKA not overused) way to do the apparently-necessary dubstep breakdown. I’m willing to bet that Austin came to whatever label he is on with a legion of young girls following his every Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube move.

Austin has gone the route of so many other recently-signed acts: cover some popular songs on Youtube, find a following, get a record deal. Austin’s covers hit and miss, but I think he did a fine enough job of showing who he is and what he can do. While not the best singer (nor guitar player), the boy is <b>sixteen</b> (fifteen in some of these I’m sure), and that wasn’t really the point.

Justin Bieber was what, thirteen when Usher found him online and recognized not necessarily vocal or instrumental talent, but rather star talent?

Here are a few covers, just to give you an idea:

His song choices are usually pretty good too – Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson are everywhere. His potential to be another name to put on pop tunes and throw at young girls everywhere is clear, and I don’t blame someone for picking him up. He is inoffensive, their age(ish), and such a little cutie. I love people like him that offer something appropriate for kids. I think we need more of this in pop music and pop culture.

I am writing about Austin because I can see his name popping up in conversations in the future. I don’t know that I see another Justin Bieber here, but get this on Radio Disney and someone’s gonna do alright. Plus, as I have always said, it never hurts to have another catchy, fun, throwaway pop song in your library.

Austin is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AustinMahoneOfficial">online</a>, and “Say Somethin” is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Say-Somethin/dp/B0086KTYWG/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343204860&sr=301-1">available now</a>.