Lopez Blogs

Hello folks. I've been a bit absent without leave this week, despite planning a record 4 - yes 4, gasp, how does he do it, etc. - posts and only doing one. A - because i've been a bit immersed in the Eric Saade album (hence the slightly odd picture above) and B - it's a bit nice outside and blogging has taken a back seat to watching tv with the window open :P It is season-finale week after all ;) So to be going on with, here is the latest play list (tweetable style-ee for quickness)...

IMMENSICLES SONGS YOU WILL BE PLAYING ALL JUNE LONG:

• Kylie ~ All The Lovers: Beautifully melancholy yet uplifting delightful summer pop anthem. Would post my lovely piano-no-vocal ballad version of it, but some bugger beat me to it. Epic return.
• Scissor Sisters ~ Fire with Fire: Not quite Invisible Light, but entirely anthemic elton-meets-sexonfire type enormity ensues. Not entirely representative of Night Work but brilliant nonetheless
• Kelly Rowland ~ Commander: Totally amazeballs summer dance floor filler in a new genre of music that right now i like to call bossy-pop. Right now she commands you to dance, and I for one ain't arguing :)
• JLS ~ The Club Is Alive: Sure it loses some of the naievity and innocence of their first few singles, but still retains some charm under the vocoder. A definite grower. Boo to inclusion of shawties tho :/
• Infernal ~ Love Is All: Another grower, but a bit more instantly pleasing than JLS. Plus it has this bizarrely bonkers video that has nothing to do with anything like Steps Chain Reaction clip!
• Enrique Iglesias ~ I Like It: Ah Enrique does come out with some solid pop gems from time to time and this is another one to add to the canon. It feels a bit like it should soundtrack a football commercial and samples All Night Long and features Pitbull. So essentially the man-pop version of the Alexandra song. And still not as good as Taking Back Your Love!
• Gravitonas ~ Kites: What more can I say about this that I haven't said already? It's entirely amazing soaring electro-rock with bonkers lyrics and a constant crescendo of sound. Brill
• Le Kid, Mercy Mercy: Finally got a release, it's the swedish version of Girls Aloud's Can't Speak French. Which I can. as my twitter today proves! Song is fabbo btw. More Le Kid please.
• Eric Saade ~ It's Gonna Rain (above): Ignore ballad Break of Dawn as next single, I'll save that til Christmas. No, this Hung Up By A Guy track should have been single 3 from his new (and very excellent) Masquerade album. It's pop pomposity from start to finish with a screamingly epic chorus and spine tingling key change. Eric, new obsession, je'tadore...
• Simon Curtis ~ Beat Drop: The show mix of the tune is as entirely wonderful as the 8BitHeart album version. I toyed over what would be my next single from SC's album and this relentless dance-pop won out over the down and dirty but equally enjoyable Joystick :)

• Bjorn Johan Muri ~ Circles: The Yes Man returns with another song that reeks of classy Donkeyboy-esque pop. Catchy hook? Check! Big singalong verses? Check! Potential for Bjorn to do a quality pop album that will be quite pleasing? Definitely. Style make over still needed though...
• Chanee & N'Evergreen ~ In A Moment Like This: Still bloody love this The-Best-meets-Every-Breath-You-Take-meets-Nothings-Gonna-Stop-Us-Now cheese on toast duet. So very charming and endearing indeed. This is what Same Diff will be doing in ten years time :)
• Lady Gaga ~ Alejandro: Oh pick your jaws up from the floor. Yes i quite like this pop pilfering song - it's La Isla Bonita over Wheel of Fortune and quite snappy with it.
• Lovestoned ~ I Know Nothing: They are toning down the cod-reggae ever so slightly for this more straight forward pop kiss off. It's most pleasing indeed but won't please everyone. I'm easy though (but you knew that from the graffiti on the toilet walls)
• Alphabeat ~ DJ (above): I like songs about dancing (See I Don't Feel Like Dancing; If You Can't Dance; Commander) and this is perfectly acceptable and jolly and makes you want to pogo around before resting your head on Anders lap. Possibly!!
• Goldfrapp ~ Rocket: Beautifully melancholy yet uplifting delightful summer pop anthem (see also Kylie, obv). Amazing album where every track could be a single. Heavenly...
• Diana Vickers ~ The Boy Who Murdered Love: Brilliantly titled, ethereal second single from "the claw". As good as Once which is a bit of a bonus and possibly best crime ridden pop song since Sugababes Murder One. Frankly retitling that was the start of all their problems, but I digress. Buy this. It's immensicles!
• Natalie Imbruglia ~ Lukas: Did her album even get released properly? It was half brillo pop, half brave experimentation and this came from the former category. I'm saddened by the lack of label support. She and Nerina (next) should really work together!! That would be magnif...
• Nerina Pallot ~ Everything's Illuminated: Another person who should be absolutely massive - perhaps the Kylie tracks on Aphrodite will place her back in people's radars of pop excellence. This is yet another gem from her grossly underrated & enjoyable The Graduate album.
• Robbie Williams ~ Starstruck: Surely Roberto has not given up on the album already? If so how Westlife of him? Ignoring this as a single is criminal - it's a lovely slice of radio ready summery pop with a shimmy in every note. Gorgeous - and version linked is AMAZE.

Cliptacular Same Difference news to keep me going: Le Diff are back. And as "regular readers" will know, I adore Le Diff! Sean is one dreamy cup of hot chocolate. They have previewed a clip of their absolutely what-the-word-amazeballs-was-invented-for brilliantly titled single Shine On Forever (Photo Frame) on the perennially amazing Popjustice site. I'll write much more about it when I hear the whole thing next week but for now let's just say it has some subtly cool electro tinged verses and a big ol' chorus that is appropriately Glee levels of massive and singalong. Potentially very brilliant indeed. Sigh.

Back on Sunday. With something no doubt...

It turns out that Volume Six of le chronicles de pop au fizzay could actually be one of the most amazing in a while. I mean they are all quite amazing to be modestly frank with you, but next month's could be spectacular. Rumours that Kylie will be back in June, coupled with Maroon 5 being closer and closer to release make me very excited indeed. However, today I was all nippleated at the news of the Scissor Sisters return also in June. You can check out the news of this on almost any blog (though Chartrigger is always a good bet!) and listen to a new track "Invisible Light" on their website. It's a very bonza indeed track and somewhat reminiscent of a Frankie Goes To Hollywood track - a view the very wise Vinny Vero shares... Expect mucho coverage of this album when it gets released because I adored their last set...

The Essential Playlist for May 2010...

• Elouise ~ Pretender: Listening to an Elouise track is like flopping onto a perfectly formed mattress and/or man after a long day at work - it really is quite heavenly. I've espoused the virtues of this track many many times now, so I won't go on about it. Why not read Aaron's review of the EP instead?! Delightful.
• Christina Aguilera ~ Not Myself Tonight: Since I last wrote about this track, it's grown on me somewhat. Though not enough to debut in my top twenty tracks I post each week. At least I'm recalling the chorus now which is a positive step. I like Christina a lot though and am quite excited for her Bionic album...
• Mika ~ Kick Ass: It's a little bit We Are Golden part two and I am more than fine with that. This track is taken from the movie of the same name, though honestly *sshhh, gather closer* I find it a bit tittersome to imagine Mika kicking anyone's ass. Still I do find myself poncing along to the chorus as I get ready for work in the morning and that'll do me quite nicely.
• Bananarama, Every Shade of Blue 2010:It's one of my favourite 1990s Bananarama tracks and it's back! in 2010 format! Which basically means it's a bit more modern sounding, not as frantic as the original version but unmistakeably and deliciously Bananarama. Plus massive bonus points for choosing a not very obvious track to remake. Out to buy now everybody as part of the Love Don't Live Here single package!
• The Saturdays ~ Wordshaker: I, bluntly, am much better at picking singles from the half good half not very good latest Saturdays album. They should have followed Ego with One Shot (maybe JLS fans would have got confused and purchased that as well) and then released this little stomping pop gem. It's perky and upbeat and has a cracking little chorus and would actually remind people that they have an album out called Wordshaker. Sigh.
• Leona Lewis ~ Outta My Head: Inexplicably, SyCo have decided to go with the not as good Love Letter for the third single from Echo. This again is record company lunacy. They should be on the fourth single now (they missed a trick not releasing Stop Crying Your Heart Out at Christmas) and it should be the most energetic Leona single to date, Outta My Head. It's a right disco inferno in my bedroom when that comes on I tells ya - which is more than can be said for Leona when she performed it on Jimmy Kimmel (who?!)...
• Shakira ~ Gypsy (Freemasons edit): Oh my god, she looks like Marina :P I absolutely insist that you only listen to the Freemasons version of this tune. It takes a nice guitar twangle during the alluring verses and then builds it into a seductive and addictive chorus in a most pleasing and radio friendly manner. Much improved from the album version and therefore totally worthy of single status. Even if the label continue to ignore the superior Men In This Town.
• Sugababes 3.0 ~ Miss Everything: I'm still sticking to version 3.0 otherwise this time next year I'll be writing about Amelle, Jade and Josh Dubovie!! I've actually quite amused myself with that sentence. How tragique I am sometimes. Anyway, this has Sean Kingston on guest vocals/rap and isn't too shabby. It fits in quite well with their Sweet 7 sound and yet is a little bit quirky for them. And I can't abide Sean Kingston!
• Little Boots ~ Symmetry: I'm not one to give up on an album I like until I've milked it as dry as Darren on a Saturday night. Symmetry is a blindingly good duet from Little Boots' Hands album with Phil Oakley of Human League fame. It's a modern day version of any 80s song and sounds absolutely magnificent. Sometimes I wonder how epic and immense this would have been if performed by Kylie, but then I realise I'm quite happy with this version - particularly the talky bit in the middle...
• Marina & The Diamonds ~ Shampain: She's quite rightly re-releasing I Am Not A Robot "for the masses" to enjoy, but I (and bajillions of others) was writing about that back in February 2009 so it's time to move onto a new potential single from the excellent Family Jewels. Shampain is a bit Kate Bush meets xenomania (no, really) and sounds like nothing else in the charts really. If only we were all drinking champagne made by the angels, the world would be a tippsier place :) And oh my god, she looks like Shakira!
• Maria Mena ~ All This Time: No don't run away. It's not a cover version of the Michelle McManus song! It is in fact a) the debut UK single from very good indeed Norwegian singer Maria Mena and b) an incredibly pretty and lovely aural diary entry set to a lovely shuffling uptempo beat and delivered with an engaging and impeccable vocal. It's also known as the Pick Me Up song and a less "rocky" but equally gorgeous original version can also be found on youtube. If you like artists like Judie Tzuke and Marit Larsen, you could do a lot worse than this absolutely soaring and heavenly little ditty. Je t'adore to the power of a million :)

More tomorrow, with added Glee!

Ooo, this month's fizzypop chronicles is a weird one. On the one hand, it has lots of brilliant songs on it. On the other hand it doesn't seem to flow quite right for some reason. So I'm not entirely happy with it, though I emphasise I think the song choices are - once again - flawless. They are here, presented in no particular order, except the first one and last one tend to be favourites so the playlist begins and ends on the most euphoric of highs with more euphoria on each song in between. Glad that's cleared up then, innit?

• Sophie Ellis Bextor-Jones ~ Bittersweet: It's really all sorts of magnificent isn't it? If this song were a person, I'd want to hug it while shaking a groove thang in glitter-infused hot pants. The chorus is an insane belter of a tune, and Sophie sounds as marvelous and gorgeous as ever. I didn't think it was going to be possible to top the ever so wonderful Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer, but good gracious me, she's only gone and done it. If this peaks outside the top ten, my whole world may implode quite heavily...
• Gabriella Cilmi ~ On A Mission: Tip - I was walking my usually deserted early morning route to work whilst this was blaring out in my earphones and I think I was actually quite audibly strutting along singing "I am a woman, on a mission" whenst I came across these old women and we all gave each other quite a start. I mean I didn't literally come across them, because that would be frightful, but I think you get the gist. The song is excellent, by the way. Love the faux bad girl rap. I sound well 'ard when I do it...
• Michaela Wright ~ Never Gonna Give In: There are multiple reasons to adore this heavily addictive song. Michaela seems rather lovely on twitter. It's a Larry Flick show staple. It has some rather amazing dance remixes of the song that send it soaring to the glitter ball and then bounce like little shards of multi-coloured lights around the dance floor. And whatever genre you hear it remixed into, it still has an ace melody and chorus. Bonus - it features the rather handsome Alex Kordek in the video. Yum yum pigs bum.
• Kimberley Locke ~ Strobelight: I worship Kimberley Locke. I still think that the heavenly 8th World Wonder is one of the best pop songs to come from American Idol. Her Christmas album was just a retro dream. And her last album was a corker that was criminally ignored. So I'm all ready for her new single, which is produced by Cutfather - who apparently has worked with Kylie and, er, the Pussycat Dolls so he's half way there. All of this is a very long way of saying, I haven't heard the song yet because the release dates been pushed back but I'm so eager to hear something dancetastic from l'il kim...:P
• Ke$ha ~ Blah Blah Blah: Hmmm, it seems a bit criminal to follow these classy dames with the dubious morality that is Ke$ha. However, I did quite like Tik Tok (did you hear it blended with Kylie's Love At First Sight? Almost as genius as MaDonna Summer!) and while this follow up single isn't nearly as brillo, it does have me blah blah blahing along sometimes. Though everyone knows Marina blahs better in the Girls song she has :)
• The Bang Bang Club ~ Chemistry: Rather brilliantly, I have heard this track described as Erasure on testosterone. Not much has changed since I last wrote about it - it remains a rather charming little 80s pop synth ditty with an excellent chorus, great production, enticing vocals and yummy boys. For a more grown up opinion than that, why not check out Nick Alien Hits, where you can download the track for free as well! Jonas Bonus - it's released on my birthday. Wizard!
• Adam Tyler ~ Schizophrenic: I actually had another Adam Tyler track which is really out of this world, but I don't think I'm allowed to write about it yet, so I'd rather draw everyone's attention to a down and funky Dirty Dasmo remix of this track which has just surfaced on his myspace page. It's a trip down the rabbit hole (for the overstimulated puppy!) as the remix adds mind-bending beats and effects to the slick electro club banging original. As with all Adam songs it's firmly focused on delivering a chorus so pleasing that you end up pinching yourself to check it's real. It is. Amaze and a half.
• Kyle Brylin ~ If They Only Knew: I wrote about this track quite recently, and quite frankly it's a pleasure to write about it again for two reasons. One is that the more you listen to it, the more the insinuating beats hook into your memory and the chorus creates a heady atmosphere of synth and song that is just delicious. Two - Kyle is quite dishy so any excuse to visit his myspace page as he looks quite nice in a shirt and tie. With good popstar cheekbones and hair.
• Sergey Lazarev ~ Alarm: On the one hand I remain intensely disappointed that this song isn't quite as brilliant as it should be. By Sergey standards, it's not one of his finest and actually rather generic sounding. On the other hand (for I have two), it's such a fun tune that fits in with "today's sound" so jolly well that it's hard to be peeved for long because you are having such rollicking good fun singing along to it. So what's the harm? To be fair the video above (ghastly sound) really enhances it with a fun dance routine and energetic performance :) The album better be superb though...
• Quentin Mosimann ~ Gimme A Break: Ah franglais! Quentin follows up his exciting single Toc Toc with a song that has the chorus mostly in English, the verses in French and tests my translation skills to the limit. He's a rather giddy mix of bonkers electro-pop though and utterly contemporary and fab. It's always nice to sing along in French too, even if you don't know what you are saying. And from SUCH a great album. Go check him out now. Bonkers and wonderful, possibly unofficial clip below - but exuding such fun and energy! Go! Tout de suite...
• Magnus Carlsson ~ A Little Respect: Oh my days. If Bang Bang Club are Erasure on testosterone, Magnus' version of A Little Respect is Erasure doused in perfume and poppers and kept in a handbag for a week. It's more festive than me at age 11 when I dressed action man Julian in a barbie evening gown and stuck him on the Christmas tree. It's totally europop, and fairly faithful to the original but with even more glitter and bells added. If that is at all possible. Too much, yet not enough...

Part two coming tomorrow!

For Volume 3 - Part one click here. You know you want to...

• Dan Black ~ Gimme Into Cloudbusting: Possibly the most genius Madonna inspired cover/mash since Irish group Fifth Avenue blended a song about Infidelity over the Papa Don't Preach melody. It's a rather wonderful lo-fi reading of the song, seemingly seamlessly fused together with Kate Bush's tune alluded to in the title. It kind of just hovers at the periphery of sheer amazingness without even realising how special it is. And that is what totally makes me get into the groove about it. And all from a free mixtape! Aces!
• Blake Lewis ~ Love or Torture: Much like Jordin of the Sparks, Blake should have whizzed out three singles from his superior Heartbreak On Vinyl set at the end of last year (including the two he did, plus I Left My Baby For You). But he didn't and the title track of his album continues to win hearts through a more grass roots approach. That's ok - I still love it, but am paying more and more attention to this fiery electro-corker which sizzles from the very start. Please don't stop indeed. Blake knows how to use his 80s influences to great effect and if the world were paying attention this would be huge. True story!
• BWO ~ Rise To The Occassion (above): Ok, yes this was actually the third single from last year's Big Science, but I ignored that little fact back then and chose Love Come Crashing Down instead. I stand by that choice. This still works as a final single from an album - and one that bids farewell to BWO for a tiny while as thingy is concentrating on his new band Gravitonas. It represents all that is good about BWO - their ability to just knock out a solid pop tune that is instantly memorable and singalong, even if they aren't quite as groundbreaking as they used to be. Always enjoyable though. Hurry back.
• Agnes ~ Secret Love: Little Agnes is taking the Annie route to pop stardom - releasing a number of versions of her album all with different tracks on (apparently there is one with an Erik Hassle duet on?) Anyway, this is probably a decent type follow up to Release Me although not quite as pecs on the dancefloor tastic as that little number. It's all explosive disco beats and nowhere at all in the vicinity of being close to a Doris Day cover. She don't half wail the chorus though...
• Whitney Houston ~ Nothing But Love: Ah Whitters. Gawd bless her for continuing to try and most the time at least landing in the vicinity of the area she needed to be. This is probably a very sensible and well thought out follow up to Million Dollar Bill as it's essentially the same song with different lyrics. Now if the Freemasons do a remix it will go down proper bonza and climb from it's number 12 peak - particularly if she comes and does a bonkers performance of it on current show du jour, Dancing On Ice. Can you imagine?
• Mariah Carey ~ Up Out Of My Face: Ah Mazza. Gawd bless her for continuing to try and ... well you've heard this song before. And the Mariah one - she's not come out with her remixed Angel with anything new. At least it's familiar and inviting, if not her best work (that remains songs like Make It Happen, Always Be My Baby and All I Want For Christmas) and the video is a typical Mariah hoot. I stopped caring as intensely a long while ago yet the feelings still linger (longer than she does)...
• Miley Cyrus ~ Time of our Lives: I do have a soft spot of old Miles. I like when she sings "and the gaga song was on" in live performances of Party and does crazy cat moves. When I Look At You was a much better choice of download at Christmas than Joe's The Climb because essentially it was an updated version of her own song, but better. And with the EP that keeps giving this is a typically goofy fun tune that I can't help but have warm fuzzies for!
• Lady Antebellum ~ Need You Now: Damn you pop music notes for making me fall and fall hard for this song. It's just lovely isn't it? I have to be in the right mood for country music, but this gets me everytime. It's plainative, emotive, reckless and relatable in every note. Gorgeous melody and quite heart tugging. I can see why it's such a huge hit stateside and would be quite foolish to bet against the same thing happening here very soon...
• Amy MacDonald ~ Don't Tell Me: I have finally forgiven Amy for being very rude to a friend of mine at her concert once. Perhaps she was having an off day. LIke me today :/ Anyway, much like the tune above, this is one of those great emotive relationship songs that will probably fit in with you at some point in your life - future or past. Ergo it's instantly relatable and she does have quite a distinctive accent that makes the song memorable and lovely at the same time...
• John Barrowman ~ The Doctor And I: I can always count on John to deliver at least 2 knock out tunes on his albums. The last one had the Gary Barlow composition and of course the more than brilliant duet with gorgeous Daniel Boys on I Know Him So Well. He's back with a rewriting of the Wicked! musical song The Wizard and I. Reimagined here as almost a love song between Jack Harkness (Torchwood) and Doctor Who, it cleverly works in references from the DW universe ("do you think the doctor is dumb? Or like Oods so small minded?"). Of course the genius of the Wicked! version is that the lyrics pointed towards forthcoming events we all knew would come to pass ("I'd be so happy I could melt"/"there'll be a celebration all through Oz all because of me") that don't quite work as well here. And it gets a bit weird in the middle eight when the Doctor offers to, er, defabricate him! Oo-er. Overall though, it's quite engaging and very nearly amazing. (Ps - his duet with Jodie Prenger on the Enchanted song So Close is lovely too)...
• Robbie Williams ~ Morning Sun (below): Bit of a grower rather than a show-er; allegedly written about Michael Jackson, this third single is also the sports relief charity single (actual video here). Whatever happened to original one off songs for things like that? Anyway, it's very grand and lush and splendid, because, well, it's Robbie but really something like Starstruck or Difficult For Weirdos would have been more adventurous. Oh well. There's always single 4...

New artist special coming soon!

I've been amazingly mad busy with work on a very last minute project that sort of took all my time up. Basically Matt Morris, Elouise and Music Go Music got me through it - and their soothing sounds are all reflected within the first MFP Chronicles of 2010. Yes, I should have done one in January, but I forgot and now the songs are all quite old. So I'm moving on, because I'm hardly cutting edge as it is :P So here it is. Enjoy. Or not. It's up to you ;) But it would be churlish to have got this far and not sample some of the tunes wouldn't it?! Have a funky weekend "y'all"!!

1 ~ Elouise, Fireman of my Dreams: Did you read the Steve Anderson interview over at DSTP? Lots of it was marvelous and about the unique talent of Elouise as she sets out her stall as evoking the smoky memories of singers like Dusty Springfield. Dreamy and heavenly is the only way I can think of to describe this utterly gorgeous number. It's very me, very lovely and one listen is never enough.
2 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love: I love how this instantly sounds like one of those very organic, played live in the studio early Abba tracks (like Treat Him Well). Gorgeous vocal performance, perky chorus, memories of Abba and a song so sunshine that were it produced by Pete Waterman for Eurovision, it would be biggest triumph since 1974. See the video above if you don't believe me. Phenomenal.
3 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away: The elegant cello (I think) and piano juxtaposed with the almost hilarious faux cod-reggae Lilt commercial beat wins me over everytime, but it's still Stephen's opening line that absolutely kills me. Gives the tune an added poignancy. Is quite nice and growing on me extremely rapidly.
4 ~ Matt Morris, Money: Ah, my new obsession. A deliciously laid back, smokey room gem of a tune that provides social commentary about the state of our economy without you even realising you are learning a lesson. Ah, if only school were this enjoyable. Just one of many many amazing tracks on his jaw droppingly good debut album...
5 ~ Jason Mraz, Kickin With You: Isn't it about time that Jason Mraz had a greatest hits album out? All those people who fell in love with him around the time of I'm Yours would be able to investigate the other facets of his music. While I adore his more inspirational music, I do love the fun, chilled out Jason as provided on this free flowing funk out.
6 ~ Donkeyboy, Ambitions: This song absolutely sounds like it belongs in a John Hughs movie. Possibly Sixteen Candles which remains my very favourite of his. It's somewhat big 80s band sounding, with an out of this world chorus that is a bit devastating really. Still, don't let the lyrics bring you down because when the music is this good, there's nothing to feel bad about :)
7 ~ Lemar, The Way Love Goes: As I've already said, if Shayne Ward comes back with something as spunky and perky as this, I'll be more than happy. It's certainly made me sit up and take notice of Lemar (a bit late really as this is from his greatest hits) ~ particularly as he "duets" with JLS on one of his new tracks. That will be quite good in May if that song is back to back with a JLS single :)
8 ~ JLS, One Shot: As they abandon the UK for the USA you think "oh yay a new JLS song and it's a ballad" Which it starts as, but then turns into a bit of Blazing Squad remixed by Scooter rave track with quite a good chorus hidden in the casserole. It's many songs in one, but not in a brilliant "Biology" sort of way. Still, Britain seems to be lapping it up despite there being better songs on the album...
9 ~ The Saturdays, One Shot: I like symmetry I do, which is the main reason this Saturdays song is on the list. It's called the same thing as what the JLS song is called! Even though it's a different song. I haven't been this excited since En Vogue and Wilson Phillips did very different versions of Hold On. Plus this is far more energetic and interesting than their ballady pick of a next single (Here Standing :/ )
10 ~ Sugababes 3.0, Wear My Kiss: I wrote about this the other day so I don't really have much to say other than a) I just realised that it sounds like a (quite good) Girls Can't Catch b-side or St Trinians soundtrack type tune and b) it still reminds me of Dress You Up which makes me yearn for vintage Madonna. Though It's So Cool is quite good isn't it?
11 ~ Bananarama, The Runner: Hurrah! The ramakins have got a proper groove-tastic remix of this tune as the AA side to their quite good choice Love Don't Live Here Anymore single which is out God knows when. I'm quite digging The Runner's "oooo"s, possibly because I didn't know the original. PS, Elouise does a nifty version of it too. In your face all those who don't think she can be uptempo :)

12 ~ Leona Lewis, I Got You: Yes, Leona, it's all your own fault that Happy wasn't a hit in America. Perhaps if you'd gone there and been unattractive like Susan Boyle you would be massive all over again. But really it's because this sparkling little tune should have been your first single with Stop Crying Your Heart Out next. Sigh. When will people learn?
13 ~ Shakira, Men In This Town: Surely to God the best chance for some more She Wolf style success off her latest album? The quirky lyrics ("Matt Damon's not meant for me" - how aces of bases would it be if he were in the video?) hide the fact that this is a tautly produced simmering electro-pop ditty that soars in the chorus and is all sorts of magnificence because of it :)
14 ~ Little Boots, Hearts Collide: LB should be entirely massive by now, but (barring Remedy) isn't. Shame really because the album is totally solid with lots of great moments on it, but she just looks like she is having such a miserable time as a pop star instead of being seen as a "serious musician". Oh dearie me. This is quite seductive though.
15 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood: I fell and fell hard for Marina last year when she lured me in with her quite smashing tune I Am Not A Robot. I was less enthralled by the follow ups (Obsessions/Mowgli's Road) yet remain hooked. Nearly matching the giddy nosebleed heights of Robot, is the snappy Hollywood, particularly in the glorious orchestral remix (above) which gives it an almost nursery rhyme like quality. Oh my god you look just like Shakira, no you're Catherine Zeta. Uh, no - her name's Marina.
16 ~ A1, Don't Want To Lose You Again: Bloody nora. I've barely got used to the fact that I belatedly love Take You Home from last November's comeback, and they have another track out. This one is all to do with Eurovision heats and is just as delicious. I love how they come across as baby-coldplay, yet their tunes are quite quite massive. Ben is looking quite nice too at the moment.
17 ~ Backstreet Boys, All Of Your Life: I'm not sure if BSB are even still bothering with their album (see act 19 also) but this is one of my favourite funky pulsating tracks that would have dominated top 40 ten years ago. Sadly times have changed but I haven't :) Another song that would be quite brilliant if Shayne Ward had come back with it (see also Lemar, The Way Love Goes...)
18 ~ Mika, Rain: I'm increasingly fond of this song. It's definitely my favourite from his latest album (at the moment) and though I went through a brief period of being bored with him this month, I'm back to wondering why he's turned everyone off as quickly as he turned them on ~ it's worse than when I accidentally did a botty burp while canoodling with Darren. Still, this is very splendid indeed.
19 ~ Westlife, Shadows: Have they bloody given up on the album already? Well I haven't. Yes everyone bemoans their success, but they have been fairly constant with enjoyable key changes for over 10 years now. This won't set any records for being startlingly innovative, but it's very enjoyable and one of the stronger tracks from the i'm-not-abandoning-it-even-if-they-are latest "opus"...
20 ~ Michael Buble, Baby You've Got What It Takes: I do enjoy a bit of the Boob when he's all loosened tie, "jazzing" his goodness across his listeners (oo-er, etc). This feels like it should be performed in a darkened club, filmed for a video in the same "hues" as Take That's Everyone Changes. If any song is likely to match Haven't Met You Yet's success, it's probably going to be this one. Maybe.
21 ~ Matt Dusk, Good News: He's a bit like the Boob. One of those smoulderingly quite attractive jazz genre singers that really yearns for a bit of pop success along the way. Nothing wrong with fusing of genres I say, it can lead to quite decent music actually. Like this, which I am enjoying muchly. Lovely piano fingering going on. Oh to be those keys... :P
22 ~ Hurts, Blood Tears and Gold: It's another tune that sounds like it belongs in a rain scene of a romantic 80s comedy. I find it all terribly endearing and lovely though. I find myself returning to the immense chorus over and over again, and the vocal is mesmerising. Oddly though, it often makes me want to listen to Living In A Box's Room In Your Heart :)

So two questions ~ 1) why are my blog posts incapable of being short and snappy? and 2) what's your favourite song on the list? Answers on a postcard (ie, in the comments) please!

After it took me forever and a day to respond to the comments from the past few days, I thought I deserved a break so I diligently followed the latest amazing Christmas recipe from Donal "Industry" Skehan and although the yummy mince pies didn't look quite as professional as his, mine were little drops of heaven. Go me. Plus check out how charming Donal is at his book launch here! Anyway, onto a more mature take on Christmas if that's possible. Boobs, fart, botty. Guess not then...

1. Michael Buble ~ Grown Up Christmas List: I believe (though could be completely wrong) that Amy Grant first recorded this and it's been recorded by umpteen people ever since (or at least 3). Still, one of the delights of the year has been seeing how hot Michael still is (career wise of course :P) and this was cemented with his duet with Stacey on Saturday. This plea for unity and love at Christmas sounds just angelic coming from his pipes.
2. Amy Grant ~ The Night Before Christmas: Amy is one of those people who seems to always have a Christmas album and with good reason too - she does them rather well. This is just delicious and cute and totally encapsulates that childhood magic one feels as Christmas Eve draws to a close. Sometimes I think if people remembered that feeling more, the world would be a happier place :)
3. The Winans ~ Silver Bells: I have no real clue who the Winans are, but I just adore this soulful and laid back version of this song. It's smooth as satin and just an absolute joy to listen to over and over again...
4. Tevin Campbell ~ O Holy Night: Tevin was like the Chris Brown of his day (the "90s") but without the punchy fists or the bleating about why no one bought his album after the punchiness. And thank god, because that would have totally tainted my memory of his glorious version of this inspiring hymn. Yes Mariah does it equally well, but seeing as I'm featuring her next, I'm sticking with this soaring version for now...
5. Mariah Carey ~ Miss You Most: Fingers crossed (and if my creative juices keep flowing), I'll have a mammoth Mariah 'Merry Christmas' themed post for you on Sunday. In the meantime, this should tide you over. It's an incredibly sad song and one sung with elegance and grace. Quite lovely and instantly better than everything on Whitney's Christmas album (though Who Would Imagine a King comes close)...
6. The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl ~ Fairytale of New York: one of my ALL TIME favourite Christmas songs. It's a verbal spar off set against the backdrop of a more jolly new york city skyline and it's all jolly singable and amusing and they say things like "you cheap lousy faggot, happy christmas my arse" (which got homogenised in the Ronan Keating version to "you're cheap and you're haggard" which doesn't have the same ring to it at all. Boo you whores). Anyway, then the real beauty kicks in when it gets incredibly sad as Pogues teethy guy sings "i could have been someone" and Kirsty chides "well so could anyone/you took my dreams from me when I first found you". Teeth then just sounds so incredibly distraught at this revelation that it's hard not to tear up every single time. Utterly brilliant...
7. Jane Krakowski (Ally McBeal) ~ Run Run Rudolph: Most tv shows pop in a Christmas episode at some point. Ally Mcbeal devoted whole streaks of episodes with accompanying music to them - often 2 or 3 per season. And they were always a little bit brilliant. It was always needy Elaine who tried to outslut everyone and this was one of her finest efforts. Just listen to how she says "a little baby doll that can cry eat sleep drink and wet" Sluttastic!PS I seriously didn't know reindeer were real until i aired this view in conversation a couple of years ago :/ How foolish!
8. Straight No Chaser ~ 12 Days of Christmas: I mentioned this song last year when the choral group released their first Christmas EP. They are back with a new one this year which includes a studio version of their popular take on 12 Days... that luckily loses none of the magic of the live versions and still is a tour de force through Christmas, pop and harmonic convergence. Brilliant and definitely worth 8 of your american dollars!!
9. Jona Lewie ~ Stop The Cavalry: You know for years I had heard the distinctive background of this song playing in stores or on tv shows, and I sort of knew the song but had no idea of the lyrics or what it was called. Problem over as it featured on some festive music countdown last night and now I am obsessed with it. Can't stop playing it. Which is no good for poor Dazpants but even he is oom pah pahing along now. Ace.
10. The Beach Boys ~ Little Saint Nick: Only the crazy genius of the Beach Boys could make santa sound like he was on a beach somewhere getting some toasty rays while Mrs Claus rubbed suntan lotion on his back. But do that they did! (Huh?) And the world is thankful for it if only to get something that sounds summery mixed in with the christmas classics.
11. Jill Johnson ~ Christmas On My Own: Ah, the lovely PosterGirl introduced me to this song last year and it's a doozy. I think DJ Larry Flick would like it actually. It tells of a doomed romance and the chorus is just an absolute killer "well we first met in january/fell in love in february, march and april walking on air.../summer lasted til september, we said goodbye in November/here's another Christmas on my own" Sheer genius. I love it all year round. Which is slightly longer than her boyfriend loved her :(
12. Dannii Minogue ~ I'll Be Home For Christmas: Oh Dannii. You were so close. But at least now you don't have the ignomy of Stacey being beaten to number one by some rock crap (i'm not sure how i actually feel about that yet, other than i wish it was the pet shop boys beating Joe). Still, you'll always be able to be proud of the lovely torch song version of your festive promise to return to your loved one. And with your loved one being the model stud he is, i can't imagine it will be only in your dreams :)
13. Deborah Gibson ~ Christmas Without You: Another of my all time favourite Christmas songs, this is chiefly the lovely vocals of my favourite female artist, a piano and a heartwrenching tale of love lost. Why does it always seem so much sadder at Christmas? This will move even the hardest of hearts (or beat you into submission - I've blogged it every year since 2006!)
14. Delta Goodrem ~ Do You Hear What I Hear: Oh. I thought I liked this song but I just listened to it and I realised it's not this version I like. It's the Whitney Houston version - which at least seems to go somewhere rather than Delta meandering all over the place!
15. Sarah McLachlan ~ Winters Night: This is both a festive lullaby and just a wonderful creation of voices being the main instrument in the song. Lovely acapella harmonies, a restrained delivery throughout and a gorgeous message just shining through. Evocative lyrics practically paints the listener a Christmas card scene that is just that little bit special.
16. Sheena Easton ~ Christmas All Over The World: This is just one of those enormous songs that sounds like it should soundtrack the end of some massive Disney epic released at cinemas everywhere just in time to tug at the heart strings. Because that's exactly what this song does. Every time I think I'm out, Sheena pulls me back in. It's what she does naturally :P
17. Tommy Page ~ Christmas Feels Like Heaven: Usually I pair Tommy's different but same titled Christmas Without You next to the Deborah song. This year, I've picked one of his other festive offerings. It's a similar earnestly delivered straight forward pop song, but I just adore his vocals and the delivery is so sincere it's hard not to get sucked into the sparkle of the message he delivers...Plus as 5 weeks on top for the Pet Shop Boys latest It Doesn't Often Snow remix will testify, I love it when current Christmas tunes merge into old classics...
18. Jason Mraz ~ Winter Wonderland: Mr A-Z has really come on leaps and bounds in popularity with his latest album hasn't he? Some of his quirkiest and most loveable gems are the songs he has recorded inbetween projects such as this off kilter snowflake. An acoustic driven guitar number with Jason's warm vocals making it a winner all the way through. Love love love the be-bopping and addition of the piano in the middle 8. Smashing.
19. Maroon 5 ~ Happy Xmas (War is Over): How could I not include a seasonal offering from one of my favourite groups to emerge from the new millenium? It would be a crime against Adam! Starting off as a minimal piano version, it builds nicely though mainly because Adam's gorgeous voice powers it to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. (I do love the register drop as he approaches the first chorus)...
20. The Killers ~ Great Big Sled: People will often tell you that out of the four Killers Christmas songs inflicted on the world to date, the first one (this one) is by far the best. These people are in fact 100% correct, and though I love the others each in their own individual way, this is by far the greatest sum of their parts.
21. Annie Lennox & Al Green ~ Put A Little Love In Your Heart: I was watching the quite good movie Scrooged on Sunday, and of course this came on at the end and I had completely forgotten it existed. So of course once again, I am obsessed with it and can't stop playing it. It's just so feel good isn't it? Imagine if Will Young had done a duet with Leona Lewis on Sunday's X Factor to this song? It would've beaten Joe to the Christmas number one easily...

And if you want something really adult that always makes me chuckle, click here (NSFW or the under 18s!) Otherwise back tomorrow with the final fizzypop christmas chronicles, back Thurs with "it's christmas in a week and a day" and then Fri with a round up of all things Erasure and Christmas..

Ah the X Factor is over (you can see the voting statistics here), the race for the Christmas number two is on (clearly The Climb will dominate the top slot, but viva the Pet Shop Boys!!) and it seems suddenly Christmas got a heck of a lot closer than it was on Friday. So over the next couple of days, there are a few special Christmas playlists I'm making up for my annual bash on Saturday night that I thought I would share with you :) Hope you enjoy!! Now I have to pop out and get myself a brand new outfit for the big event... oh asos.com how I love you... (PS this list is dedicated to my friends Simon ampersand Mark, Elouise, Bobs and Cat who can't make it on Sat :/ You too Steve, Robbie, John, Jason, Nick, PPG, Aaron, Adem, Mike, the Dans, pymo, Larry F!)

1. Steps - Merry X-mas Everybody: Ah Steps - frankly the pop world was less confusing and more wonderful at the turn of the millenium and I didn't half enjoy it. This is a corking party starter of the Slade classic in that classic Steps style.
2. A*Teens - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday: From Slade to Wizzard, this is another brilliant pop tune that represents what the genre sounded like 8-10 years ago. Frankly, I couldn't afford Christmas every day but it's still a nice sentiment all the same.
3. S Club 8 - Sleigh Ride: This is just before they matured into that rather good actually second album that took them precisely nowhere and it's full of enthusiasm, cheekiness and a healthy dollop of cheese. Still not quite as amazing as track 18 though.
4. Jump 5 - Wonderful Christmastime: I think I avoided the whole concept of Jump 5 as weren't they a bit religious? Whatever, their version of what Paul McCartney should have sung last night before he butchered Live and Let Die is as perky and poppy as the 3 tracks preceeding it on the list...
5. Aly & AJ - The Greatest Time of Year: Could they please stop pissing about renaming themselves and get back to making ace pop tunes with a hint of guitar edginess like Potential Break Up Song and this tasty mince pie? That would be my Christmas wish this year!
6. Bianca Ryan - Why Couldn't It Be Christmas?: Bit of a risky one this - I mean I quite like shrieky harridens like Diana DeGarmo, but this is pushing it a bit. Her winning America's Got Talent is as dull as Joe winning the X Factor. I love the song though - just wish someone else was singing it!
7. Girls Aloud - Christmas in a Nutshell: I already wrote about their Christmas album once this year, but any excuse to talk about the bish bash bosh bits in this original Christmas tune can not be passed up. They actually say bish bash bosh and it totally works. Should be in the top 40 every year like All I Want For Christmas Is You....
8. Kimberley Locke - We Need A Little Christmas: Kimberley remains one of my fave American Idol contestants ever, and her Christmas EP is so joyous and timeless it quickly became one of all time faves. This is just lovely, uplifting and she sounds heavenly! Come back to pop Kimber!
9. Mariah Carey - Santa Claus is Coming to Town: There is a very good reason I haven't featured the immense All I Want... on this list. It's having it's own sort of feature soon. But this is almost as ace. I love the lullaby start before the raucous Christmas party starts and Mariah just belts it out. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end...
10. Play - As Long As There's Christmas: From one of my very favourite festive movies (Beauty and The Beast: An Enchanted Christmas), this is another glittery pop-disco makeover of a (sort of) classic Christmas tune. The video is one of the cheapest things I've ever seen, yet I think it just adds to the charm of the song :P
11. Cheeky Girls - Cheeky Christmas: God, remember when the Cheeky Girls sort of ruled the charts and had a more successful career than Michelle McManus, Leon Jackson and Steve Brookstein combined? This was the pinnacle/nadir of their output - basically just another reworking of We Are The Cheeky Girls, but it reminds me of snogging Darren in Route 2 so it comes out every year...
12. Bo-Selecta - Proper Crimbo: This is only funny if you have ever watched Bo Selecta and even then it's hit and miss. For some goshforsaken reason I really like it though. It just reminds me of all the crap novelty songs that get wheeled out each Christmas! All together now "so excited now you might wee..."
13. Pop Idol 2 - A Little Bit of Love: I know I already wrote about their version of Happy Christmas (War is Over) but this was their other group effort and equally as lovely. In fact I still think this would make a much better charity single for the show than Hero or You Are Not Alone. It's just as gooey and generic as those, but has a bit of Christmas sparkle in it...
14. Popstars - I Believe in Christmas: I'm sure someone will enlighten me, but I have no idea where this song comes from. I suspect it's the German version of the show. I do like how they've taken a doo-wop 60s style beat and weaved a few bells, beats and bows over the top to create a rather ace pop song all about believing. It's like an unofficial anthem for Miracle on 34th Street. Fizzypop Believes!!!
15. Fast Food Rockers - I Love Christmas: Part of me still secretly believes that D'Luv moonlighted in this group on his days off from blogging. Shame they weren't more massive but where do you go from naming your group after a novelty hit? This is a natural companion for the preceeding song - great singalong chorus and feelgood factor baked right into the melody. I do titter when they talk about Santa's sack though :P
16. Britney Spears - My Only Wish: Basically it is the melody from Darlene Love's All Alone on Christmas with some slightly different words and Britney singing it with her paper thin vocals. Somehow it totally works though. And she doesn't have to pay Darlene royalties. Score.
17. Spice Girls - Christmas Wrapping: If ever there were a girl group that could successfully cover this, it's the Spice Girls (and now perhaps the Dolly Rockers)... It suited their in your face girl power style perfectly and it's such a fun tune that it matched the ethos of the band perfectly. Plus for 3 Christmasses, they had the festive number one sewn up (2 Become 1, Too Much and Goodbye)...
18. Debbie Gibson - Sleigh Ride: 17 years old this year and still one of the best Christmas songs around :P Of course I am a little bit biased, but it works perfectly from the timeless production values that make it suit any era of pop to Debbie's vocal and the clip clops, tambourine shaking, bells, chimes and the whole kitchen sink thrown in for good measure.
19. McFly - Santa Claus is Coming To Town: It was all getting a bit generic disco pop beat and sleigh bells sound, so I thought I better throw in a bit of raucous guitar to mix things up a bit. McFly are often popping out decent Christmas covers, so here's a thrashy trashy version of this to cheer you up. Plus "slamming" guitar solo (does devil horn hands and the tongue thing)...
20. Mans Zelmerlow/Agnes Carlsson - All I Want For Christmas Is You: A nice ballad version of the Mariah classic? Works for me, particularly when it's the near perfect sounding and looking Mans on main duties. It suddenly changes from ebulliant declaration of love to romantic smooch in the corner ditty. And I will on Saturday night, i tells ya that for nothing. Plus I really like this picture of Mans...
21. S Club - Perfect Christmas: And to finish off with it's those lovely S Clubbers with this rather delightful aural Christmas card that sums up those cosy festive mornings curled up with your loved one perfectly. I still quote aspects of this song in Darren's card every single year. Heavenly.

Coming tomorrow - The Fizzypop Grown Up Christmas List Chronicles!
Coming soon - Mariah's Christmas album! Love, Actually! And this!!!!!

I always get the feeling that my December mix cd for friends and family is never long enough because there are so many great tunes from albums released around this time of year. And I'm sure my normally fairly static charts (PPG once charmingly described it as "little love affairs with songs") will reflect that shortly too :) It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!! On the down side I just had an Egg Nog Latte (venti, what a fool I am!) and it did not taste good. I'm going to have some vanilla added next time to see if that helps :) Here's the non Christmassy best songs to be released from albums this December!

1 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me: It's no wonder that this song has already had a strong top 20 debut and isn't even out as a single yet. It's simple, elegant pop that is pure melody, confident vocal and just enough vulnerability. Loving the matching of Robbie and strings and while this may not quite get Robbie the number one he deserves in the Christmas market, it absolutely confirms that he is still a creative force to be reckoned with.
2 ~ William Young, If It Hadn't Been For Love: Clearly I wrote about this on Monday and my love for the tune has increased exponentially since then. It's quite a lovely ballad that William does so well and as Ben pointed out in the comments mixes the agony and ecstasy of love together in a brilliantly, slightly melancholic fashion. It's a crime that his music isn't doing better, but brass often wins out over continuing class. His album "The Hits" should debut top ten on Sunday though :)
3 ~ Leona Lewis, Stop Crying Your Heart Out: Much like William, Leona eschews the need to follow trends of pop music and just churns out timeless pop that will stand the test of time. As Larry Flick said on his twitter "If she can tough out the next few years, she'll be a rare premiere artists who isn't a slave to charts and trends. She'll just sing". And what a treat that will be - her vocal here is quite stunning.
4 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, A Stranger Saved My Life: Had I been in charge (and I should have been) of promoting MZW, I would have concentrated heavily on the first two singles of my choice (Hope and Glory; Home) then bombarded the world with a couple of lovely pop jams (Rewind; Forever) at the start of autumn. This gorgeous ballad (would be a massive country hit in america with the right artist) is what Westlife should have come back with and is just the right side of syrupy to be a lovely addition to the Mans catalogue.
5 ~ Alcazar, Thank You: Sure, it is more of a pastiche than anything the Simpsons have ever produced in loving tribute, but this Abba-influenced song is just so wonderfully singalong that it's hard not to completely enjoy it. If Alcazar were hugely popular in this country this would be massive :)
6 ~ Alexandra Burke, Broken Heels: I'm not really a fan of the Red One intros that he forces on his artists, but I am a fan of this perky pop number that is almost as equally delicious as Bad Boys. The record label could have easily gone for the more traditional ballad "The Silence" but i like that Alexandra is sticking to the dance routines. Let's just thank Santa it wasn't the Ne-Yo duet...
7 ~ JLS, Close To You: Let me preface this by saying I'm not a huge fan of the late Oct/early Nov single release then rush release for Christmas sales of the following single (a la GA Biology/See The Day) but I could see that strategy working for JLS who are at the peak of a crazy wave of popularity; this lovely languid if slightly twee (but then aren't all their singles?) ballad will have their fans in a spin :) There are a few too many "gurls" for my liking, but it works within JLS world. Apparently this won't be a Christmas single but the ace One Shot will be released early next year! ACE!
8 ~ V Factory, Get Up: Why oh why aren't v factory massive yet? (Melismatic, that's directed at you!) This duet with Naturi Naughton is a fine example of a solid pop tune being largely ignored by the world at large. Well it's a tough world out there, but if you get time do check out this tune and perhaps there will be a debut album yet. Fingers crossed because the band fascinates me!
9 ~ Blake Lewis, I Left My Baby For You: I'm whizzing through potential single choices from Blake. Sad Songs in August, Heartbreak in October... Frankly there is no time to waste in recommending this synthy delight. It's one of the highlights of his fine album filled with great lyrics, soaring falsetto and an 80s beat to die for. Seriously Blake, come to England and we'll take you to our collective bosom because it doesn't get much better than this!
10 ~ Alphabeat, DJ: Their "The Spell" album is still amazing 50 listens in... DJ works well as a second single because a) it's better than The Spell (single) which was already quite good wasn't it? and b) it's got a nice balance between the Stine and Anders vocals which play off each other friskily as the 90s influenced pop track powers forward :)

11 ~ The Saturdays, Ego: Thank God the disaster that was the generic rock-pop yawn of Forever Is Over is over forever. It was far from their finest moment and just another example of how they seem to be struggling to find their niche in the land of pop. Ego is a much more pleasing nugget from them with dancey beats and a huge singalong chorus. Guaranteed to get the Christmas parties started with a swing, even if it does mean that any followers of theirs on twitter will be spammed with desperate pleas to get them to number one!
12 ~ Jordin Sparks, Walking On Snow: Kudos for Jordin for a well fought campaign with her second album. Anthemic Battlefield was a grand opening statement while frenetic sampler SOS was a nice bit of diversity. Walking On Snow may or may not be the next single, but if it is it's quite a lovely midtempo jam that showcases another side to the quite good at singles, less so at brilliant albums Idol winner. And yes, I realise the contradiction of praising Jordin's diversity while having just criticised The Saturdays' for the same thing. Fact - Jordin does it better.
13 ~ Dragonette, Big Sunglasses: Placing this right after Jordin's snow themed track provides a nice contrast to the wintery vibes. There is no denying that Dragonette can churn out top notch quality pop tracks rich in melody, catchy choruses and addictive beats. Saying that this is one of their better tracks means this is amazing stuff, because even their standard fare is so much better than most...
14 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Viva La Vida-Domino Dancing: Again, I wrote about this the other day. I was anticipating this so much that I fully expected it to be my second Viva cover chart topper this year. It won't be, but I'm pretty confident that the boys will debut on top this week. Not that this isn't excellent because it is. Every second of the cover version is thoroughly intoxicating from the first beat to the insertion of lines from Domino Dancing to the closing notes. Amazing.
15 ~ BWO, Kings of Tomorrow (Disco Version): I often close my eyes and imagine an England where BWO are as massive as Steps were at the turn of the century. It would be quite a brilliant country let me tell you. Sigh. Any"hoo", I love ballady BWO normally but this time I'm in the mood for the gently reswizzled uptempo version of another great tune from their quite smart Big Science album :)
16 ~ Agnes, Love Love Love: This has been around for a while and for some reason it hasn't registered properly on my radar when I first heard it. This is a great tragedy because I've spent months missing out on it's utter magnifosity. It's a little bit motown, a little bit pop and a little bit dancey but totally heavenly. It's a bonza bit of music and should have been her second single in the UK instead of the barely scraping top 40 I Need You Now. When will people listen to me :P
17 ~ Owl City, Fireflies: I'm way behind on this aren't I? Bit disappointed that this isn't out in the UK until February as much like stateside I suspect it would be a surprise big seller over the festive month. It's twee and delightful and synth driven and Postal Service and quite enchanting. The album? Not so much, but certainly not without it's moments...
18 ~ The Yeah You's, Ready To Love Again: Boo to the British public for not making them the next The Feeling. Or based on their current single sales perhaps making them too much like The Feeling :( Either way it's a bit crap. Because the music isn't. This is like bits of Shine mixed with bits of I Thought It Was Over mixed with bits of The Yeah You's. Should be massive. Won't be :(
19 ~ Julian Velard, Joni: I have a big post coming up soon on Mr Velard's debut album which is out very soon. He's been putting out music for a while and has a brilliant knack of creating genius piano driven pop with smart wry lyrics and an engaging vocal style. Joni continues the joyous piano-pop of Steve McQueen and Love Again For The First Time. Join in now or regret it...
20 ~ Natalie Imbruglia, Scars: By far the best track on the very good first half of Natalie's criminally delayed latest album. A Coldplay composition, it is a dreamy piece of smartly constructed music made all the more magical by polished production and Natalie's lovely vocals. If only England would catch on again quick...
21 ~ Nerina Pallot, When Did I Become Such A Bitch?: Why on earth does Nerina pretty much have to start career building from scratch with every album. Each time she puts together a cohesive collection of funny and heartbreaking tunes, and each time it takes a while for the public to catch on. This is canny sing a long stuff with the best title in pop since If A Song Could Get Me You...

Back soon. Perhaps tomorrow with The Feeling doing Solitaire. If not see you Friday!

Usually the November playlist is jampacked with exciting autumnal hits for your listening pleasure. I'm not saying this isn't a great one, but I'm not as excited about it as I have been the past few years. Still the inclusion of the first song on the list pleases me greatly, and there are many wonderful pop ditties within to keep you going til the double disc Christmas special! And if that isn't enough to cheer you up, the red cups are here! RED CUPS!!!

1 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional: Really, how much more can I write about this song that I haven't said here, here or here! So instead I'll repeat what Larry Flick said about it on Sunday when he played it for the first time on his Feel The Spin radio show - "it's one of those songs that once you have heard it, you can't stop singing all day long. It sounds like a massive number one anthem, and I can't wait to hear more from this promising young artist!" Amen! Check out reviews by Ken and Aaron also!
2 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida: Ah lovely little Darin. He's come a long way since his Idol days yet he's happy to return to his roots to promote the show with this Coldplay cover that just sparkles with Euro-pop sizzle. It perhaps doesn't work outside of that setting but Darin is getting ready to launch his forward thinking Flashback album in the UK pretty soon. Oh, and I can only imagine what a PSB cover of this might sound like!!
3 ~ Madonna, Revolver: Not her finest ever moment, but a spunky bit of fun to pad out the not bad Celebration collection. Frankly it could be sung by anyone, but I do like the way she makes the refrain sound like she's singing about a vulva. Whatever one of those is :)
4 ~ Shakira, Did It Again: Not a Kylie cover nor the best choice for second single from the She-Wolf album. However, this does showcase Shakira doing what she does well - slinking along with a singalong hook. And in terms of a long term album campaign, it just means there is much better to come in terms of foxy single (*cough* men in this town *cough*)
5 ~ Little Boots, Earthquake: The Little Boots phenomenon is finally taking off properly isn't it? Everyone loved Remedy and I can only imagine that this sweet little pop ditty will only seal the deal for her increasing fanbase. Unfortunately, it's being released at a very tough time of year so may suffer chartwise but that doesn't mean you have to love it any less :)
6 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Mowgli's Road: Another campaign gathering heat is that of the nearly popstar career of the internet savvy Marina. After the quirkiness of Obsessions and the sheer beauty of one of the year's best songs (I Am Not A Robot) comes this Kate Bush inspired moment of joy. Will it break her to a wider audience? I'm not entirely sure, but it's a listening treat for your ears all the same...
7 ~ Mini Viva, I Wish (above): I know I only got around to featuring Tokyo on last month's list, but I Wish is so lovely that I couldn't bare to wait my requisite 2 months before featuring an artist again. Yes, it's the Girls Aloud mid-tempo ballad that would have been released had the 5 piece not been on a break, but that doesn't make it any gorgeous or sweeping in it's production or delivery.
8 ~ Sugababes 3.0, About A Girl: You know, I was sad-ish when Keisha left/was flung out but it wasn't until the Keisha Sweet 7 sampler leaked that I properly missed her. Yes, Heidi probably staged a coup to cling onto the group at any cost and yes it's not their finest work ever, but it is the last proper chance to hear Keisha sing her little socks off and it's catchy enough so I'm totally on board!
9 ~ Bananarama, Love Don't Live Here: Why Love Comes wasn't a bigger hit is a bit of a crime and a mystery really. Get Ruth Rendell on the case! This epic little number from the Viva album is awash with strings, grandiose production values and a chorus as big as all outdoors. It's almost the Bananarama version of Untouchable. Only not quite. Still mega though.
10 ~ Backstreet Boys, Bigger: Ah, I'm vaguely disappointed with the latest BSB album. It's not quite the grown up boy pop I wanted from them. Having said that, I do think their last single Straight Through The Heart was immense, and this Max Martin ditty is both brilliantly singable and wonderfully delivered. It's a crime they only got to sing it on the Xtra Factor instead of the main stage (see link)...

11 ~ Mika, Blame It On The Girls: While I don't hold with all this "different singles released in different areas of the world simultaneously" malarky, I have remained a lot more fond of Mika than most people who bought his debut album (or so sales of his second album would suggest). This song is like candy floss - it's sugary goodness and you know what you are getting before you even bite into it. It's bold, it's brash and it's a little ray of aural sunshine in a cold damp autumn...
12 ~ Neo, Bachelor: Neo first came to my attention as Linus via Bobby's Don't Stop The Pop site. And now as I pick a fourth single from his delightful debut, he is still out Mika-ing Mika with this effortlessly contagious gem of a song. Like Rongedal, there are plenty of joyous melodies to be found floating around Europe if you know where to look :)
13 ~ Take That, Hold Up A Light For Me (above): Either the That or the record company get antsy when after a 3rd single, the Takers are not racking up top 3 hits and basically stop promoting the album with any more singles. Still it's a bumper Christmas for thatties as there are 2 gorgeous photo biographies, a live CD/DVD combo of the stellar tour and of course the perfect opportunity to rediscover this classic Mark sung track from The Circus. Immerse yourself!
14 ~ Westlife, What About Now: You know the world is all akimber when the stench of failure surrounds a number 2 charting single. What else is there to say about the song other than it's what Westlife do and you will either love it or hate it. Sure, I would have preferred something more along the lines of When You're Looking Like That but the world isn't perfect. Nicky is though and that is the important thing. It does scream of "rush job to fit in with an X Factor appearance" though - rubbishy single sleeve, no video and album not out for weeks yet. Tut Louis and Simon, tut.
15 ~ Whitney Houston, I Look To You: But done right an X Factor performance can boost a career no end. Look at Whitters. Million Dollar Bill hovvered outside the top ten, then she goes on, breaks her dress, disses Dermot, stares at the floor and bam! She is top 5. I like a nice Whitney ballad around Christmas so if a second single were to be rush released for the festive market, this uplifting little number would do nicely. And played back to back with the next tune you would think it was 1992 all over again!
16 ~ Mariah Carey, I Want To Know What Love Is: Yes, yes, it's a bit dated now and linked to one of her less overwhelming albums (more underwhelming?), but that doesn't stop her Foreigner cover being a powerhouse performance from start to finish. She's probably on autopilot all the way through, but it still reminds you how great she can be when she tries!
17 ~ Industry, In Your Arms: At this rate, the debut album by Industry will be a greatest hits collection :P It's perhaps their most organic and raw sounding song to date, that really showcases their vocals and they get to emote for ireland in the video (particularly Donal). Passes the time nicely until a big UK launch next year with a massive pop number that no doubt several acts will be entirely jealous of...
18 ~ Kelly Clarkson, Cry: Oh dear. Single number three (Already Gone) was lovely but ever so reminiscent of Halo by Bouncey. That's what happens when you sell your soul to Ryan Tedder. This is actually the song that kelly wanted to release instead of Already Gone but didn't get her way with. I bet there was some footstamping at Clive Davies' house that day!!
19 ~ Taylor Swift, Fifteen: Oh dear. She wins an award for video of the year and kanye comes onto the stage and basically shits all over her face. Though not literally because that would be a) gross and b) worse than seeing Janet Jackson's nipple. Luckily she came out of it as the darling of the downtrodden and her stock is worth more than ever. Lucky really because while this song is entirely pleasant, it's not really earth shattering. That is no doubt being saved for a revenge track about Kanye. ooooo!
20 ~ Dashboard Confessional, Belle of the Boulevard: Much like the Indigo Girls, I don't really spend enough time talking about how much I like Dashboard Confessional, yet often listen to their music and avidly follow their releases. This is much more acoustic indie-pop DBC than their Jennifer's Body release (which was very reminiscent of Sex and Candy by Macy's Playground) but not quite as brilliant as one of my fave songs of the decade - Hands Down. Still can't complain if the album is as good as this!
21 ~ The Killers, A White Demon Love Song: Oh where to start when picking a Killers song for this month's compilation. Do I go with this, the wonderful low-key tune from the (ugh)(overrated) Twilight saga? Or should I have gone with their quite decent cover of Hotel California (best cover since Wilson Phillips did it!) or should I wait til December for their annual Christmas single? Uh, obviously I went with this, but don't be surprised if their festive treat ends up on the double "disc" next month!!

Back Friday with a wrap up, then Sunday with the usual x-factor "gumpf" - see you then!

The good thing about the fizzypop chronicles is that I've kept a note of what has been on every mix tape/cd I have done my friends every month since 2000 - it gives me a really good overview of what music I liked at the time and the changing trends and fads in this crazy business called show. The bad thing about them is that I often forget tunes so they end up being flung on a bit later than when they were new and exciting; also as I only do it once a month the songs are often "old news" by the time they make the cd. Oh well - for me, it's an interesting musical diary. For you it's something you just have to put up with :P (I've updated and rearranged the order of the September playlist here) There are two other ace mix tapes on blogs this week:

• Adem has gone old school and actually used a cassette!
• Aaron skilfully blends a mix of old and new for an aural treat!!

ESSENTIAL SONGS FOR OCTOBER 2009:

1 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies: The return of Mr Williams hasn't delighted everyone, but I couldn't be more thrilled to have him back. The song works perfectly - elements of some of his biggest hits hinted at it something new and wonderful. Trevor Horn throws everything into the production mix, but it works - the strings in the chorus and the choir at the end are just heavenly. Bring on the album already!
2 ~ William Young, Hopes and Fears: Tragically this project isn't a note for note cover of the excellent Keane album (that XO reports is being rereleased!) and for that I am slightly disappointed. That passes though when I realise that a) William is a bit tied up on the single cover and b) it's a stomping sounding uptempo number that showcases his amazing vocal and proves he is just as brillo at the fast stuff as he is at the slow (something I've always known as my fave two Will songs include Your Game and Switch It On)...
3 ~ Leona Lewis, Happy: Comfortably nestled just behind Robbie on my chart at the moment, this song is much more powerful than a cursory listen leads you to believe. Sure, it's not going to win any awards for inventiveness, but it's a soaring ballad of hope and redemption and her voice sounds stunning. Still can't quite believe it's not out here until November though. PS - wouldn't it be great if Leona Lewis and Blake Lewis got married so she could be Leona Lewis-Lewis? No. Ok then...
4 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl (vid above): I do love Mr Lewis. I still think Gots To Get could have been massive in Europe. I loved Sad Song but this tune - the title track of his new album - is just one of his strongest songs to be released tonight. Full of poignancy yet set to an addictive 80s shuffling dance beat it's a winner from start to finish. Some clever lyrics too - "fall in love to analogue and never let go". Mel and Postergirl have all already expressed eloquently how amazing this song is. Could be huge if launched properly in the Uk...
5 ~ Britney, 3: Oh goodness me - well I guess you can't say some songs on this list aren't totally up to date! It's not an earthshattering single for her new greatest hits album (only two albums after her last one - how Hilary Duff) but like Alexandra's Bad Boys it sort of does the job really - an enjoyable-ish pop romp that will most likely grow on people the more they hear it. For me, the jury's still out - check out D'luv's view...
6 ~ Miley Cyrus, Party In The USA: Shame on me for forgetting this song so often. It's up there with 7 Things and See You Again for me - ie, totally brilliant, catchy and an ace ace pop song. It's heavy on the cheese factor but it wins me over every single time when she sings "and the Britney song was on..." This is what great pop should be - ever so singable, smidgeon of novelty and a chorus to die for :)
7 ~ Vanessa Amorosi, This Is Who I Am: Ah VanAm is back and she's busy channelling Kelly Clarkson and Pink. That's neither here nor there though as this has some brilliant spat out lyrics during the verses and an epic sing-it-to-the-back-of-the-stadium chorus that's as loud and noisy as it needs to be. Check out what the Pop Panel said about the song a few weeks back...
8 ~ Dolly Rockers, Boys Will Be Boys: Blimey, what else can I say about this song that I haven't said here or on the DR Interview Post (capital letters because it's very important). It's Republica, it's Tatu, it's Veronicas, it's Fuzzbox, it's indie girl group, it's Transvision Vamp, it's Girls Aloud, it's Bananarama, yet it's still very Dolly Rockers. Got the point? Good :P
9 ~ Mini Viva, Left My Heart in Tokyo: I'm late adding this to the "chronicles" as well aren't I? Oh well, to make up for it click the link to be taken to a Live Lounge version of the song that is rather marvelous in the extreme. It gives the already ridiculously catchy tune an organic live feel and breaks down the funk (or something). Single 2 sounds brilliant...
10 ~ Girls Can't Catch, Keep Your Head Up: Very late on this one too - not because I forgot, but because I wasn't sure that they had a long term future and couldn't work out how good the song was. Still, a couple of months on when it randomly pops up on my mp3 player I'm not displeased to hear it so that can only be a good sign. I suppose it's all resting on Echo then isn't it?

11 ~ Anders Fernette, So Incredible: Following the dance remake triumph of Hungry Eyes isn't going to be easy - and this isn't a bad song to undertake that task. Yes, bits of it sound like the best Backstreet Boys song you've heard in a while but it has a fuzzy frenetic beat and a sweet vocal delivery that just soars into a big as all outdoors chorus. After a few listens you can't help but smile each time you hear it...
12 ~ Kevin Borg, The Last Words: Click on the link to hear a 2009 remix of this song because it transforms a mundane album track into a soaring summer dance classic which is exactly the type of song Kevin should be belting out. It's very trancetastic indeed and I imagine it will be all over the stereo at Bar Tubos like the dirty little rash you know it could be. More dance on the next album then Kev...
13 ~ Danny Saucedo, Kiss You All Over: I skipped Emely as a single focussing on the aces Set Your Body Free (a song so good that Avenue did it first and now new group BVG are, er, having a brave bash at it!) back in July. This month it's time that the astonishingly huggable album track Kiss You All Over gets a bit of an airing. It's a proper dance-pop song and one that makes you think that Danny could be a proper pop star in England if a bit of thought were put into marketing him here. Sigh...
14 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Rewind (vid above): Let's ignore the song for this (if you like the above two songs chances are you will like this - it's what Mans does best and I believe was a single in Poland?!) and focus on the video. It's incredibly amazing just in the first twenty seconds - a quite good-naff looking rollercoaster, a girl in a headband giving it some "i'm a serious fan" arm pumping action and one of those rides that drops you and makes your stomach feel all funny. Mans, amid all this insanity and bonkersosity, looks bloody gorgeous.
15 ~ Sally Shapiro, Miracle: Ah, our Sal has become a bit of a blog darling hasn't she? It's easy to see why - she is churning out tunes beautifully crafted pop tunes like this and wooing us with her sultry voice and hypnotic grooves. Hopefully she will become immensely successful worldwide, rather than be the next Annie (who I still adore of course)...
16 ~ Lily Allen, Chinese: This wasn't one of my favourites from her latest album when it first came out, but it's really grown on me over the last past 8 months. Mostly because of the gorgeous choral tribute out there. It's what Lily does best really - parlay everyday situations into great pop songs. It would be a shame if she did quit music :/
17 ~ Erik Hassle, All That I Wanted: Hasn't everyone been waiting forever for Hurtful to happen? It's got to be coming soon because nearly six months on that track still sounds epic and like an international number one. Still I popped it on the April mix so for this month I'm enjoying this guitar led number that has Erik's distinctive vocals, his knack for emotionally raw lyrics and really sores when the strings in the middle 8 add some additional heartbreak. Incredible...
18 - Paolo Nutini, Pencil Full of Lead: I picked up on this as an excellent choice for a single when I reviewed the album a while back. I've grown vaguely tired of his rather affected accent, but this song is just so different from anything else in the charts right now that I can't help but be charmed by it's organic good time feeling. I'm sure it's pretty much a rewrite of a Jungle Book song that Paolo loves so much though :P
19 ~ The Gossip, Love Long Distance: Always effortlessly cool in everything they do, this is a lush disco epic that would sound at home up against some of the early scissor sister demos (had they had more money to spend on production). "I want someone who's around for me" sings Beth and who can't relate to lyrics like that? Gorgeous from start to finish - plus who doesn't love some roller disco in a video...
20 ~ Franz Ferdinand, What She Came For: At least commercially, the Franz never fulfilled their early promise did they - yet I refuse to give up on them because with each album comes a bonnie selection of skinnytieindiedisco tunes to die for and the latest single is no exception. There is some funkalicious guitar work on here that Prince would be proud of and a huge chorus with shouty chanting and everything. Brilliant.Shame they didn't stick to their plan to name each album Franz Ferdinand though :(
21 ~ Mr Hudson, White Lies: Mr Hudson's time really is now isn't it? Supernova was rather amazing and brilliant and massive in the same way that I assume Erik's Hurtful will be. This is a properly huge piano driven song with an off kilter shuffling beat behind it. Massive vocal that sounds impassioned during the chorus and makes me die a little from happiness each time I hear it. Glorious...
(Next month - David Jordan, Westlife, Alesha Dixon, and more!)

Back soon with live lounge, tv catchup, book report, weekly round up and the x factor judges houses!!