Lopez Blogs

Updated 24th October 2008 with reviews of new original songs. Scroll down!!

Oh dear me. I am getting perturbed. Don't get me wrong - the S'Diff album is still one of my most highly anticipated albums of "the fall" as my Sarah Palin threatened friends across the ocean say, but thanks to a bit of a reshuffle, their single and album go directly head to head with the release of the Take That and Britney singles and albums! Lumme! It's a bold move on the part of the record label and possibly one that has not been fully thought out, but we shall see. Frankly I'm just peeved that I will be in America when it is released :P Let's look at what is rumoured to be on the album - so far mainly "repurposed" tracks and cover versions, plus about 6 original tunes...

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now ~ the most likely X Factor song to end up on the album. They sounded great on the show performing it and a studio version is only likely to polish that sound. Now, if they are smart they will whip their other X Factor classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on the flip of the single, which of course is...
We Are One ~ I've already reviewed this here, and am still somewhat obsessed with each note in the 30 second clip. The track is written by Jorge Elofssen, who of course is known for writing the 3rd best Steps song ever (It's The Way You Make Me Feel) and Shayne Ward's That's My Goal. So bit of pop pedigree there then :)
Turnip Into Love ~ The most famous cover finding it's way onto the album is of course the 80s S/A/W kylie classic that Hazel Dean pinched for a while. Like Lemar said if there's any justice in this world, it will sound like the perfectly splendid dancified Almighty Showgirls version ...
I Need A House ~ it's a crime that none of the excellent Maria Serneholt's songs made it huge in this country, and maybe S'Diff will remedy that with their version of her Swedish hit. I doubt they will need to change the original music approach much as it was so perky and magnificent back then. I hope they keep the bit at 2.05 on the video...:P
Let Me Be The One/The Way It Used To Be ~ Two songs from 2002 Irish Popstars album (Six were the band) have allegedly made it onto Pop. Let Me Be The One was always a vastly underappreciated pop gem that should have made it to a much wider audience than it did. Any song that opens with "ba ba ba" harmonised joy should be covered annually. And The Way It Used To Be, well it's very pretty, but whoever wrote Britney's I'm Not A Girl should definitely sue for plaigarism. It's practially the same melody!

EDIT: UPDATED 24th OCTOBER 2008 - MORE ORIGINAL TRACKS PREVIEWED!!

Five song clips are now on the Same Difference myspace page. Excitement he wrote! Two of these are the single clip i know every nuance to and the very Marie Serneholt sounding I Need A House. But the other three?! All original! Read on...

Better Love Me ~ its absolutely a "tribute" to the melody of Steps greatest song It's The Way You Make Me Feel and retains some lovely piano work in the chorus as well as Sean and Sarah sounding quite delightful when their voices merge together. It's turn of the millenium pop with some ace OTT production values. Marvy.
All Roads Lead To Heaven ~ Hurrah! Some excellent sounding euro dance pop that sounds like it could tear up the dancefloor. I'm utterly convinced now that this album is practically the second coming of Steps with some A*Teens icing on the top for good measure.
If You Can't Dance ~ this is probably the most fun of the three original tunes I've heard. It's a little Scissor Sisters a little novelty and a lot catchy. I'm rather loving their embracing of the music they've come to represent and the fact that they are doing it rather well. Oh my how i'm going to be singing along to this album for far too long...

END OF EDIT!!

Hopefully, the next time I write about the album, it will be to discuss the sheer brilliance of the original songs that made it. More soon! (Oh and check out the interview in horrible Daily Mail)

ADDITIONAL:

Is it very wrong that I have become obsessed with a fictional group that is designed to take the piss out of the very acts i love? I can't help but feel that the cheesy pop portrayed by 2 up 2 down on Britain's Got The Pop Factor (And Possibly a New Jesus Christ Superstar Soapstar Strictly On ice) were mocking the amazingness of S'Diff, and yet, had the show been real, I would have totally voted for them over Geraldine. Sadly it was not real, and I am left with brilliant clips like the hilarious medley above along with cameos by Ricky Kaiser Chief, Rick Astley and the most brilliant moment that Cat Deeley will ever have (at 55 seconds). Genius.

Finally congrats to Isabel Guzman - a couple of little birdies told me she blew everyone else off the stage at popjustice last night, and had the crowd chanting for an encore. Read my thoughts on Isabel here. EDIT 1: Read Mike's seminal review of the evening here. Like many popjustice forumers, i too tittered at a text he sent me :)
EDIT 2: Original version of this post got deleted by blogger for some reason. Amazing when whole blogs posting whole albums weeks ahead of schedule are still running away happily! oh well!