Lopez Blogs

I had an amazing dream last night that Madonna was singing Popular by Eric Saade mixed together with Popular by Darren Hayes in a style that would seamlessly blend into her rather magnificent Confessions On A Dancefloor album. It. Was. Immense. To celebrate that I chose to listen to Madonna on the way to work, but only had Like A Prayer on my mp3 player. This album is also immense so it wasn't too much of a disappointment (and reminded me of my top 10 albums of 1989 blog here). None of this has much to do with the two songs I've chosen to highlight to you today but I thought I'd share anyway...

The Mars Patrol ~ Shake It Up: I've become ever so taken with The Mars Patrol so I have. I've become even more of a smitten little kitten since the release of their brand new single Shake It Up - I mean it's magnificent and it's free if you enter your email address on their website. As the video above attests, what you get for your zero pence is a blistering pop tune that brings to mind a modern day punky-pop version of Garbage (particularly Paranoid). It's a wall of sound that encompasses some fuzzy, mind bending guitar riffs, a drum beat that just won't quit and a fierce as anything vocal performance from the always divine Davina. There's a middle 8 that is brilliantly puncuated by a rather sexual "uh uh uh uh" before a more mild respite occurs with the refrain "all you want is love" - already you can hear it being chanted at festivals this summer. Add to all of this a video that features some absolutely bonkers posturing and dancing and you've got an out of control hit that just demands to be played loud and proud. Be sure to check out the more melody heavy acoustic version if you need a bit of a breather... (And amazingly, they are playing live in Birmingham on my birthday, May 3rd. Yay!)


Zoë Badwi ~ Freefallin: I am horribly late on this tune. It's already been pretty massive all over the world and now Zoe has the UK in her sights. And quite rightly too - it's released on May 29th (Gay Pride in Birmingham, very appropriate) and is basically a dancealong declaration of independence. I love songs that are a bit empowering and allow you to put all of your PS3 Dance Broadway moves into action and this delivers all of that by the bucketload. A gentle trance rhythm kicks the proceedings off as Zoe vows to step out of the shadows - a lyrical sister to Defying Gravity if you will. It crescendos at pace until the heartbeat before the exhilarating chorus kicks in and it's tank tops off, hands in the air pop mayhem of the highest order. It's incredibly catchy and feelgood, and Zoe demonstrates an impressive vocal range that goes between the lower register in the verses into the sopranos of the chorus that mirror the lyrical freefalling. Aces video too with some lovely acrobatics, slow motion magic and strangely kinky looking guys. brillo - this will play and play over the summer :)