Lopez Blogs

By his own admission, Gavin Mikhail isn't your average blue eyed popstar. He isn't in it for the fame (although I assume the money will come in handy. Who is going to say "no more money! I couldn't take another dime!"). As a happily married dad, he's certainly not in it for the chicks. He is definitely not in it for the sports cars (he drives a gold minivan). He is, however, in it to make the best darn songs he possibly can that will touch people and be relateable all over the planet. And judging by his sophomore album Like Normal People Do, he is darn well succeeding…

It's easy to pass Gavin off as a Daniel Powter clone, but that would be utterly unfair. For one, Gavin has been going longer (his debut album came out in 2003). He may write piano based pop songs and ballads, but the similarity ends there. There is no woolly hat in sight. Gavin is far better looking. Much like Simon Curtis, he knows how to wear a loosened tie and make it look cool rather than like he has had a rough day at the office. And unlike Daniel Powter (who I do actually kinda like, but find a little bit "corporate"), Gavin pours his heart and soul into the 10 tracks that make up this very likeable collection.

Whereas Mr Curtis is the real person bringing sexyback to the charts, Mr Mikhail does very much what my beloved Deborah Gibson does… that is, he writes music from the heart that utterly transcends the current boundaries of pop and has this gorgeous, timeless feel to it. I really feel Brave – an ode to how that special person in your life can make you into a better person – is one of the most beautiful love songs of the year. If I had heard it in June, it definitely would have featured in Darren and my civil partnership. Lilting piano, multi layered harmonies and a chorus Simon Cowell would kill for make this track a stunning opening to the album and one that will have the listener coming back for more, time and time again…

Thankfully, it's not the only winner on the album – it's ultimately an uplifting and motivational listening experience. It's about the love that makes you a better person, the chances you take to follow your dream and the things you do to get through the difficult moments in life (Back For Me is a great song to soothe those break up blues and has the most lovely melody; God In This Moment seems to be answering those uncertainties whether it be a personal dilemma or national catastrophe). The album finishes with One Of These Days – a song with hope and belief baked into the very core of it and essentially bookends the album. It may sound like this album is emotional or cloying – it's really not. It is the feelgood experience of the year…

Link: Official Gavin Mikhail website