Lopez Blogs

Hurrah. Darren is home and out of hospital. True he nearly passed out walking from the car to the apartment, and looks proper grey at the moment, but at least he is out of that grotty hospital and back home where he belongs. Our friend Emma posted a picture of us on our first date back in May 2000 (it was actually my birthday!) on her facebook. We are both so young, thin and hunky. Still my Claire-Steps workout dvd is knocking the pounds off my chunky frame. Hear the drummer get wicked! On with the post proper while little dazpatient naps before his next lot of brillo painkillers (I tried one earlier when i had a headache and was tripping my nuts off!)...

SONGS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD BE SINGLES BUT PROBABLY WON'T BE...

• The girl groups ~ I'm very upset that both Sugababes and Girls Aloud seem to have abandoned their latest albums. Obviously with the Sugababes, it's because no one can be bothered at all to buy the album or singles from it. With Girls Aloud, it's possibly because Cheryl is knackered from the X-Factor, which for Adem's sake I will begrudgingly admit isn't surprising, but does mean that they are not properly promoting their best and best selling album of their career (and surprisingly Cheryl has time to be slagging off Posh Spice and the Spice Girls left right and centre! Grife. If I can be bothered, I will elaborate on my feelings on that in the comments). Anyway. The Sugas should definitely be releasing the epic and beautiful (video above) Every Heart Broken (which had a much better original title "murder one", not to be confused with the crap tv show from the nineties) which not only has a gorgeous melody, but also some brilliant darkly humorous and sarcastic lyrics. Fabbo. And of course the GA bunch should be releasing an unedited version of Untouchable with a video that has some money spent on it. If not, I would be quite happy with the excellent and increasingly growing on me "Rolling Back The Rivers". Sigh. Oh and if The Saturdays release Work and Chasing Lights as the fourth and fifth singles from the album, they may just have a fan for life....
• The aging divas ~ Madonna's quite good actually single "Miles Away" was her worst promoted single since the non-appearance of "Amazing" (I hear that Mads didn't want that as a single, so didn't perform it live so there would be no concert footage for a hastily cobbled together video), and Mariah has had the most bizarre single choices from her album. Madonna could pull it all back together with the dark and (ever so) slightly edgy Devil Wouldn't Recognise You ballad (if she can be arsed to do a great video for it that doesn't try to out-snatch lady gaga). Mariah needs to ignore the song that is dreadfully boring from that film that looks dreadfully boring and put out the positively-screams-single-release That Chick. It has a rather catchy tune, an insiduous beat and singalong lyrics. It's bound to make the british top 31.
• Guitar loving dudes ~ Ah Jason Mraz. He's just ever so adorable isn't he? In a slightly snoggable way and obviously in a slightly blow raspberries on his tummy way. If I had my way, the will-it-ever-die I'm Yours would have been followed by Lucky, then Make It Mine, and the awe inspiring (and quite good for presidential swearing in thingys) Live High. Which is quite a lot of singles. Yet, the album is so good that it could spare one more. And lovely Aaron has made me want Dynamo of Volition as the next single. it's back to that snappy wordplay that Mr A-Z is rather good at. It's basically rapping over a frenetic rhythm but still rather good. (as is Love For A Child. Ooo - now I'm torn). And of course, in a be careful what you wish for scenario, I wanted Do Ya as the third single by McFly and look how that turned out :( Now I'd settle for a double a side that showcases their inherent talent for writing catchy melodies - so that would be the outstanding Falling In Love (which i would write about but postergirl did a very eloquent job of it here) and Last Song, which i think is the most epic rock anthem of the album. It will probably not reignite their chart fortunes, but it would make me happy and really, that's all the boys should be thinking about!
• Plectrum fingering ladeez ~ I love Lenka. She is like a less press-attention seeking antipodean Lily Allen, whom I also adore. Now I am done loving her Christmas tune (All My Bells Are Ringing), it's time to get back to the album at hand, which could easily spawn 5 singles. However, my choice for second single proper is Trouble Is A Friend, which is fairly perky in terms of executional melody, but has an underlying dark current to it about repressed fears (much in the way the disco classic The Visitors by Abba did, though musically miles apart!). And I think it's been featured on a couple of US tv shows, so it might even raise her profile. (Though it didn't do poor amazing Bryn Christopher no favours) And while nothing on Marit Larsen's album is quite as fantastic as her lead off single If A Song Could Get Me You, The Chase would make quite a pleasant single...
• Finally, The Idols ~ Oh dear. I feel that Simon Cowell can't be arsed with Leon Jackson anymore. It's all Leona, Alexblandra and Shayne and in that order. Leon's album is quite specific in it's target audience but I do quite like it and I have warmed to little Leon since he got crapped on by the X Factor making machine. Creative is a great choice of single, but i think that if - IF - there is another single from it, it should definitely be All In Good Time. Definite crooner classic and would've fitted alongside any of the classics on Robbie's Swing When you're Winning (even if it does sound a little bit like a Christmas classic that i can't quite put my finger on...) And I mentioned on an earlier blog that while Will Young's choice of Let It Go as his next single as lovely, I can't help but feel he should be plodding along with the disco infused I Won't Give Up. Nuff said.

SOME SAD NEWS:

Poor Same Difference - their second single has been "postponed" and their tour merged with Leon Jackson (yes because they will attract the same type of music lover). Now foxy Sean is busking for a living, while Sarah spends his earnings :( It's tres tragique. I'm quite loyal though, I will stick with the album long after the record label gives up on it (like I did with V for example). Hey, at least I got an album out of it, that I can easily milk for another 3-4 singles. Which is more than I got with One True Voice, even after the brillo PopReviewsNow approved Shakespeare's Way With Words. Altogether now, i would write a sonnet, put my name upon it...