Lopez Blogs

Like it or not, Christmas is coming. In 48 days countdown fans so you better get a move on! Once Hallowe'en has passed, the red cups arrive at starbucks and the amazing Dannii-infused (ooo and foxy Jamie Redknapp) M&S ads (above) start playing on the television. Oh and Mariah does a new video for her Oh Santa single! It's all sorts of early festive madness. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but it does put me in the most jolly and happy of moods regardless of whatever else is going on around me. So please bear with me and I'll try not to be too Christmassy until at least Thanksgiving... Cheers ears!

SMART NEW POP:

• Ed Drewett ~ Champagne Lemonade: Ed has already made his stamp on the UK charts this year - he sang vocals on Professor Green's INXS interpretation "I Need You Tonight" and of course penned pop confectionary "All Time Low" which took lad band du jour The Wanted all the way to the top of the charts. His debut single proper is a sparkling gem of a tune that grabs you straight away with its percolating beat, soaring falsettos and great use of synth driven disco weaving its way around Ed's lad about town vocal style. Thematically the lyrics are about some gold digging minx who picks the fellas with the bigger wallets whereas Ed is all about just being with each other (with some poundland lemonade)... What stands out about this song is that it is really smartly put together, well produced and utterly catchy. It is modern and relevant without being too entrenched in current trends that it will seem dated within a year. Ed absolutely exudes charm on the track (and in the video - he's looking VERY spiffy) and sets himself up for what should be an amazing 2011. And trust me, I've heard his album sampler and it's all top quality stuff. ESSENTIAL!
• EMD ~ What Is Love: I wrote about EMD a couple of weeks ago, when they were performing their Narnia film song live on Swedish tv (a track that Joe McElderry is recording for the UK soundtrack, just so you know). Well the boys have been busy and put together another new single which is their own very unique take on Haddaway's What Is Love ravetastic 90s smash. It's stripped back here to the most elegant and haunting beautiful ballad - almost unrecognisable from it's previous incarnation. The boys sound absolutely crystal clear and flawless in their vocals and if someone were to perform this version at this level on this year's X Factor, it would guarantee them a spot in the final. AMAZING!
• Emma Dean ~ Sincerely Fearful: I have Mike at PopTrashAddicts to thank for introducing me to the wonderful Emma Dean. She puts together this insanely off kilter, quirky cabaret pop that is sort of Kate Bush mixed with Alanis Morrisette singing over the Wicked soundtrack - it's entirely undescribable, shouldn't work but oh my god is such a joy to listen to. Her first single off her incredible second album Dr Dream & The Imaginary Pop Cabaret is a whirling dervish of a piano driven track with theatrical, dramatic beats, crashing cymbal and a vocal that seduces the tunes as much as it attacks it. You get the impression Emma completely throws herself into the tune, living and breathing each word, note and beat. And the result is a vivid tune that comes to life each time you listen. More about Emma soon. IMMENSICLES!

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
20 ~ Darin, Drowning
19 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
18 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
17 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
16 ~ Ola, Riot
15 ~ Grobbie, Shame
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
12 ~ Le Kid, We Could Go Home Together
11 ~ McFluz, Shine A Light
10 ~ Robbie Williams, My Heart & I
09 ~ JLS, Love You More
08 ~ Westlife, Safe
07 ~ EMD, What Is Love? (NE/VID)
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (NE/1 WEEK)