Lopez Blogs

I had a bit of a brolly misadventure yesterday. There i was trotting (mincing along at speed if truth be told) to the train station to make sure I got the 5.27 (the 5.29 stops at every bloody station and takes nearly twice as long) holding my umbrella like a rifle (for some reason). I went barrelling round the corner only to stab some poor bloke in the gut area with my pointy weapon (oo-er)! (Enough with the parenthesis)! I wasn't going to miss the train, so I just yelled my apologies and scurried out of there while he was winded - he looked pretty solid and could have kicked the poop out of me so I was glad when the train doors shut and I could safely breathe again. Like Toni Braxton. That's not a very festive advent calendar type story is it? Oh well - I did hear some old dear on the train say "oh I find it ghastly when people say xmas instead of Christmas. It really removes Christ from Christmas" Her companion (with the most massive purple rinse hair-sprayed hair ever) replied "absolutely dreadful. It really is the purple pin!" AMAZING. I shall use words like that in sentences all week now. For it really is the purple pin.

CHRISTMAS FUTURE:

7 years ago Girls Aloud changed the perception of reality music show winners songs (and the face of pop in general) with the amazing Sound Of The Underground. Obviously they are currently on a break while Cherevyl (lump of) Cole markets her admittedly successful solo career, so the vultures are circling and hoping to be the next huge girl group by this time next year. I certainly don't mind elements of The Saturdays and Girls Can't Catch music, but the two I'm liking most at the moment are below:

• The Dolly Rockers - North vs South: Available for a free download on their Bebo page, who knows when proper releases will surface from the cheeky chops girl group next! Despite songs like Je Suis, Gold Digger and Boys will be Boys absolutely dripping in charm, they haven't really connected with the public yet. North vs South may not change that but it's certainly an enjoyable track - almost their version of Perfect Match, albeit totally British. "Meet me in the midlands" they sing as a suggestion to their errant lover and this plus the middle eight makes them more Fuzzbox-y than ever. And i love it. There's also an element of Kate Nash in there - and if that's your bag then check out the amazing Champagne Shirley. Not only does it start "she thinks she's fit with her new fake tits", it is the most Kate Nash song since Foundations. Perhaps they will always hover on the periphery of success, slightly too cool for mainstream. I adore them though.
• Mini Viva ~ I'm Hooked: Already they have won the hearts of a nation with their spunky Left My Heart In Tokyo (wonder how many journalists have asked whether they really did or not!) and are about to have a second strike at the charts with the winning I Wish. Their album sampler is doing the rounds and while it won't quash any comparisons to Girls Aloud, there is certainly a large dose of their own personality mixed into the songs. The best is the swoony midtempo I'm Hooked which tinkles along with a great singalong chorus and a dreamy middle eight (infused with great synths). I'd be more than happy if something like this was the third single - already potentially one of my fave pop songs of 2010 :P Hurrah!

CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

Well this really is the purple pin. Sugababes 4.0 have only gone and recorded temptress anthem Santa Baby ("for radio") and gosh darn it, it's quite good. Appropriately seductive with spot on harmonies, it's yet another version that will get reeled out year after year as the nights grow darker and the evenings grow colder. Is it special enough to stand out against other such stellar versions done by Eartha Kitt, Kylie, Madonna and uh, Ally McBeal? Well it doesn't top Eartha or Kylie but it is rather pleasant and will tide the latest incarnation over nicely until Wear My Kiss in February.

CHRISTMAS PAST:

Rounding off this all girl group post with something else estrogen based is quite easy. Every year I reel out the bonus CD from Girls Aloud almost exemplary Chemistry CD, often referred to as Christmastry. While the album got a bit lost in the festive shuffle (as did rush released single See The Day - shoved out unceremoniously like afterbirth a mere four weeks after the VASTLY superior Biology), it's impact on pop culture remains to this day and the festive addition is still a lovely treat to dive into every year. And every year I get a tiny little bit drunk at our Christmas party and lead a singalong of "Bish bash bosh wooooooo" from the I Wanna Kiss You So... Smashing versions of christmas classics mixed with all new saucy numbers making this a winning mini album that could have done quite well on it's own. Please go find it (as I implore you to every year) if you haven't already!!

Back Friday with a round up of the week, late Saturday with first X Factor write up and late Sunday with the second. Blimey! It's all go around here lately isn't it?