Lopez Blogs

EDIT (21st Sept 2009):

Hurrah on a stick dipped in chocolate! There is a new song on the greatest hits collection :) It's called Hopes and Fears and is out digitally on the 8th November! And the video (which according to the email sent around is going to be "cinematic and groundbreaking") is directed by the same dude who did Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer! Can't wait to hear it. I know this edit was all a bit press releasy which is unlike me, but new Will! And in bondage!! Bring it on William :)

Ah lovely William of Young. Pop Idol Extraordinnaire. Actor Interruptus. Purveyor of fine pop tunes. He is also in the constant battle raged between himself, Simon Curtis, Adam Levine and Jason Mraz to become my fave male singer ever (though any of those top five are quite frankly magnificent). And, as happens at this purchasey time of year, he also has a collection of his finest songs to date available in one convenient format for his fans and casual followers to buy. How thoughtful of his record label to get that out in time for the Christmas rush :) Anyway, seeing as I wrote (extensively) about William about a year ago, I'll have a bash at putting together what I think should be on his greatest hits, rather than the (quite comprehensive actually) official version...

1. Evergreen
2. Anything Is Possible
   (Note: Would it kill William to have both his winning Pop Idol tunes on here? I know he has definitely moved away from this sound now, but from humble acorns, etc...)
3. Light My Fire
   (Note: This cover was the perfect showcase for Will's vocal and pop style. The hideous and absent Long and Winding Road was not. As Steps once said, Better Best Forgotten)
4. You and I
5. Don't Let Me Down
   (Note: Lovely double a side to You and I and never appeared on an album before now. Is ever so heavenly and laid back in every sense of the word)
6. Leave Right Now
7. Your Game
   (Note: My favourite William song of all time - perfection from start to finish. The gospel version is a particularly delightful reinterpretation of the song)
8. Friday's Child (Andy Cato radio edit)
   (Note: William veers dangerously close to overly long Blues Traveller type jam on this song; stick with the edit and you'll be fine!)
9. Love Is A Matter of Distance
10. Love The One You're With
    (Note: Singles from the Friday's Child album were abandoned far too early - Distance was a simple, beautiful ballad, while With would have been a stomping Christmas single with a mighty vocal performance from William)
11. Switch It On
    (Note: 2nd fave William song ~ fun, pop, catchy, top gunny, what else could a boy want?)
12. All Time Love
13. Who Am I?
14. Ain't Such A Bad Place To Be
    (Note: Again the singles from William's 3rd album were abandoned too early - this is a jazz tinged romp that definitely deserved single status!)
15. Changes
16. Grace
17. Let It Go
18. Tell Me The Worst
    (Note: the above 4 singles showcase how William has transformed into one of the most reliable people for churning out quality, elegant pop music that resonates and touches the soul...)
19. I Won't Give Up (Freemasons Radio Mix)
    (Note: ... but I'm not ready to give up on the album just yet - so wonderful it is - so would it kill William to have a discotastic remix of this wonderful singalong track?)
20. The Letter

By the way, if you haven't caught it already, William did a rather lovely Radio 2 concert in Blackpool where he performed some of his biggest numbers as well as doing a rather fantastic cover version of The Letter. It's still available online here so grab yourself 20 minutes or so, and enjoy yourself Big Willie Style...