Lopez Blogs

Hurrah. I have returned from the amazing holiday/vacation that was Florida. You can read all about that here. I have had a mad busy time since I got home - drove back from airport, hosted x-factor finale party, caught up on Corrie tram crash episodes (amazing), harassed people for online Christmas card entries, caught up on blogs and (ugh) went back to work. Tomorrow is all the Christmas stuff I've missed but for now here are five fabulosities that I missed while in the US of A...

• One Direction ~ Forever Young: So the X-Factor is over for another year. I'm saddened that One Direction didn't win, but looking at the voting stats, it seems they were never really in with a chance (though always consistently popular). And coming third meant we never got to hear their winners single. Oh so I thought. It has leaked! if you have a butchers round the blogs/youtube you will probably find it. And rather marvelous it is too. It's a cover of Forever Young and very apt for them. It's appropriately harmonised, anthemic and singalong. And definitely the best of the bunch of the top 3. Here's to hoping they get a decent record deal and release this as their first single proper...One Direction Infection rages on!
• Matt Cardle ~ When We Collide: And here we have the actual winner's single - a cover of the Biffy Clyro "classic". I'm not overly familiar with the original so this has taken a little getting used to. I've heard it a couple of times over the past few days and slowly, but surely started to fall in love with it. It's definitely a grower and not your atypical winner song, so I'm hoping there won't be quite the backlash there was last year. Now watch Simon turn Matt into the new British David Cook...
• The Ultra Girls ~ Lose My Mind: I am loving the Ultra Girls. Not least because their name conjurs up images of a Saturday morning cartoon when superhero girls band together to free the world of evil music. Their deliriously catchy and delicious first single Girls will be Girls will be out soon and I'm hoping the pop world will explode at their magnificence. I still think the b-side should be a cover of The Ordinary Boys "Boys Will Be Boys" but until that dream happens they have covered The Wanted's latest single Lose My Mind. Not only does it show off their fine vocals and confidence together as a group but it's available as a free download at www.ultragirls.com! Magnifico! Merry Christmas to us :)Now if they'd like to contribute to my online Christmas card I'd be delighted :P
• Alex Goot ~ Bad Romance: I'm loving a bit of Alex Goot. It's true that you of the tube is littered with wannabe artists trying to show that they can cover songs as well as your average x-factor contestant, but Alex seems to stand out from the crowd. not only does he play all the instruments himself, but judging from the video, he throws himself into each performance with enthusiasm and passion. Plus he has a kicking pair of headphones on while he tinkles the ivory, and I do love a boy playing piano. He gives Bad Romance a more organic, rock feel that brings an already outstanding song a new vibrant twist to make it brilliant all over again. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
• Same Difference ~ Karma Karma: Oh. Em. Gee. My love for the Diff is well documented. Their "sophomore" album is out early next year and teasers from their new single have already hit the internet. And what a marvelous, festive, camp little ditty it is. Duetting with swe-pop superstars Alcazar, this is by far the most joyous and danceable tune to hit and will certainly brighten up the new year. it has shades of Boney M, a definite hint of Eurovision yet still manages to retain the charm of both individual groups. Plus a throbbing disco refrain to die for - "karma karma, cut the drama, never satisfi-ee-ied". Uh-may-zing.

Back tomorrow with christmas stuff!!