Lopez Blogs

I could absolutely and positively get used to these 4 day weekends. The sun is in the sky like a gigantic fried egg. Clouds are floating by, birds are tweeting (not literally on twitter, obv, as they don't have opposable digits), voles are vole-ing and poodles are poodling. Everyone is in a quite good mood and yay! It happens all again next weekend thanks to May Day Monday (aka national holiday in celebration of my momentous birth. 11lbs 4 oz. My mom still moans over the Christmas turkey that i ripped her like a tissue) and of course KATILLIAM ARE GETTING MARRIED!! Mazel tov!! One thing that I am disappointed about here is the lack of pop spectacle surrounding the event - last year in Sweden, loads of the country's top popstars had specifically commissioned songs out. My fave was lovely Darin singing Can't Stop Love, which would have been brilliant for Mr Shayne of the Ward to cover :/ And I'm assuming Shayne would look as trouser stretchingly magnificent in a tux as Darin did. Still, his song Closer to Close (see my chart) would have worked equally well. Here are 3 more of my faves that should be the official soundtrack (who would you pick??)...

• The Overtones ~ Only Girl In The World: I have been rather effusive about The Overtones over the past six months on this blog and am more than pleased to see their album go platinum, their recent tour be a massive success and more national adulation on the horizon. Britain is currently in the mood for pure pop melodies that is free from studio gimmickery & heavy on melody, musical ability & harmony. Obviously, the 'Tones deliver this in bucketloads. This - and their penchant for seeming like absolute (well-attired) gentlemen would have made them the ideal commission for Katilliam's reception. And what better to sing than this sparkling version of the Rihanna smash that features on the special edition of their latest album? They turn it effortlessly from sparse club stomper to smoky jazz club vibed cool-cat track. It's a little bit romantic, a little bit naughty and the fingerclicking and harmonies give it that cheeky feel that makes it just fly

• Daniel Boys ~ Too Much In Love To Care (with Rebecca Lock): Oh my. For my money, Daniel Boys would be one of my premiere picks to perform at my wedding (perhaps my 5 yr civil partnership anniversary on June6th?? :P), so he's completely qualified to sing at the royal wedding. I love the versatility that the very dashing Mr Boys has - he can absolutely kill a Broadway track as much as he can nail every note of a pop standard like To Make You Feel My Love. For kate and William there is an embarrassment of riches from Mr Boys to choose from, but I'm going for his regal cover of Too Much In Love To Care (duetting with Rebecca Lock). The version above doesn't need anything other than the sumptuous piano accompaniment to match a soaring vocal from Rebecca and a goose bump delivery from Daniel. It encapsulates the crazy wild abandon that comes with love and both singers more than do justice to this delightful Sunset Boulevard track. Second album soon then please Daniel??

• Darren Criss & The Warblers ~ Hey Soul Sister: I've suggested the modern cool of the Overtones, west end magic of Daniel Boys, so why not the sheer exuberance of The Warblers doing Hey Soul Sister? It would be a bit irreverant, a bit cheeky for the royal wedding but totally appropriate for a modern monarchy. As I've said many times, Blaine and the Warblers are the sparkling highlight of season 2 of Glee and as they promote their entirely brilliant album, Mr Criss just comes across as so endearingly humble and charming that I want to scoop him up and pop him in my pocket. I can't help but think they party would definitely be getting started Westminster way thanks to the sheer joy that they give to this track. Dazzling.

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Shayne Ward, Close to Close (NE/VID)
20 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
19 ~ The Monikier, Oh My God
18 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low
17 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
16 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
15 ~ Joe McElderry, Feel The Fire
14 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone
13 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
12 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
11 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
10 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
09 ~ Take That, Happy Now
08 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
07 ~ Maroon 5, Is Anybody Out There?
06 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
05 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
04 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
03 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
02 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
 01 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story (3 weeks)

Alright, alright, settle please :) Time to take a break from watching that hot dude in the new Britney video and check out some other tunes :) (Please)!

Boy Banned ~ Hot Spot: I do enjoy a bit of Boy Banned. Their tweets are often quite amusing. They do weird online challenges to keep their fanbase entertained. Pob will quite often have the most unhealthy food and then still maintain his slimline figure. The git. When they are not busy larking around for their adoring minions, they come up with new music to titillate and delight. And actually, in a way that works for the modern musical download world - announce, then a week later have a video and a song available for viewing and purchasing. It's a cheeky little dance number full of euro-disco beats, sultry down & dirty vocals & suggestive lyrics such as "take you where the sun don't shine"!! It's as potentially naughty as when Rachel Stevens promised to let you in her back door!! A simple but clever refrain of "if it's getting cold outside/welcome to the hot spot" is catchy and singalong enough to get the song fun & interesting from start to finish. and then there is that rather chortlesome video - the boys get invited into a limo by some deep voiced ladeez/ladyboyz, who proceed to strip them out of their geek chic attire (oh i do love a boy in a bowtie) while they generally look rather terrified/appalled by the process. (As they should, judging by how eager their hosts are, they are lucky they didn't end up strapped to chairs with a ball in their mouths!! Or maybe they did...) Anyway, interspersed with dance routines we finally get to the boyband (and hopefully regular Boy Banned) staple of some bare flesh and getting wet. Hurrah! So generally, all in all, tres bon!!


Dalton Warblers ~ Somewhere Only We Know: Not a boy band, but they absolutely should be :) Blaine (the lovely Darren Criss) & the Dalton Warblers are the definite high spot to a patchy season on Glee. As i've stated before, rather than do cookie cutter pop video versions of tunes the way the New Directions kids do, they examine every harmony and note to help them reconstruct the tune that matches their strengths while still providing familiarity. Their version of When I Get You Alone was inspired genius (check out the point at 1m25-1m30 where Blaine sings "baby girl you the sh...." - Gap guy and Kurt's reaction are hilarious). Now they are taking on my second favourite ever Keane track and frankly it could only be more perfect if they were tackling the epic Everybody Changes. It's a smooth, multi layered rendition that becomes a beautiful almost hymn like rendition. It's perhaps one of their most faithful renditions to date, but the interweaved harmonies raise this to new levels of gorgeousness. increasingly smitten!


Maroon 5 (ft PJ Horton) ~ Is Anybody Out There?: Hurrah times a bajillion! New music from Adam and the boys. It's essentially a song they penned in 24 hours for free download via Coca Cola for charity purposes. And jolly fine it is too. It's one of their tunes that builds from a basic beginning of a piano riff and Adam's lovely vocals through to adding layer upon layer of instrumentation. It all comes down to it's instantly memorable chorus, a 2-1 handclap beat that propels the song forward and gives it a rather joyful feel. The addition of PJ Horton in the middle 8 adds a nice bit of singing to the tune before one final singalong :) Slotting in nicely to their current sound of Hands All Over, this is a pleasant and unexpected addition to their canon. Now I cannot wait to see Adam on The Voice each week from the end of this month...

Hurrah! It's holiday time! Brillo pants and marvimussolini! This is very good news for me indeed as I am very burnt out at the moment and absolutely need a break - work, parental insanity, blogging. Damn you self imposed personal expectations! Hopefully, I shall come back recooperated and refreshed, and as gorgeous as ever. Gives me time to do a bit of life prioritising and work out where blogging fits into my insane schedule at the moment :) I'm sure it will continue in some form or other! In the meantime, here is something semi-gleeful and my latest charts :) Enjoy!

GLEE ~ LOSER LIKE ME:

To be honest, i'm hot then i'm cold with Glee, i'm yes then I'm no. Darren Criss (above, celebrating his recent 24th birthday) certainly has been a redeeming factor this 'season' for two very good reasons - one, he is quite "the fox" and two, every song he attempts just absolutely sparkles with sheer magnetism from start to finish. So why he doesn't feature heavily on the inevitable first original Glee song is a bit of a mystery. Frankly, I'm a little bit disappointed with it. It's not that it's a bad tune - it's got a sterling pedigree (co-written by Sir Max of Martin no less. Jiminee!) and has enough pep to it to power the Cheerios for another few seasons yet. It's just somewhat lacking. I wanted something that would wallop me with it's genius, like when I first heard Baby One More Time or Sound Of The Underground or That Sounds Good To Me (actually I'm joking about the last one). Loser Like Me (have a search around the web, you're bound to find a link to it!) instead is reminiscent of Breaking Free from High School Musical or On The Wings Of A Dream from Spectacular. Nothing wrong with any of those tunes of course and LLM zips along with enough enthusiasm, spunk (steady!) and motivation to launch Bring It On: The Musical on a broadway stage. So as I said, I genuinely do like the track, I was just expecting a little bit more *ooomph* from it. And actually, I remain loyal to Britannia High as clearly this song can't top the still deliriously cheerful and brilliant Start of Something, as seen below. Ooo this was quite a concise blog for me wasn't it?!


TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Britney Spears, Hold It Against Me
20 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
19 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
18 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
17 ~ Tove Styrke, High and Low
16 ~ Danny, in The Club
15 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone (NE)
14 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever (NE)
13 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
12 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
11 ~ Neo, Underground
10 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
09 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
08 ~ Take That, Kidz
07 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
06 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This bed
05 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God
04 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
03 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
02 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
01 ~ Eric Saade, Popular (2 weeks/VIDEO)

Oh my days and a half! It is actually only five days til Christmas! And I am in full festive spirit. The weather outside is genuinely frightful (snow snow and more snow), i've decked my halls, i've hung my stockings with care, etc. I've trudged into work through the (centi)metres of snow and ignored all around me while singing festive faves at the top of my voice, regardless of who else was around (my walk is usually quite deserted)... I've played a fair few of them on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt t'other day, but this weekend decided that there had been such a delightful plethora of brand new Christmas recordings this year, I would kick off my Best Of lists (singles coming Dec 27th, then lists all that live long week) with the best new songs of Christmas 2010. Magnifico!

20= ~ Big Time Rush, Beautiful Christmas: Hurrah! Boy band mania rules. Not content with covering Mariah's All I Want For Christmas as part of their festive episode, the foursome managed to whip out an original tune full of perky rock-pop jolliness and good times.
20= ~ St Etienne, Come On Christmas: Frankly this would probably be much higher up the list if my postman (sort of hot, so forgiveable) hadn't taken two weeks to deliver the Christmas album it features on. Still, it arrived today so I have a full week of playing it non-stop until next year. This track is vair good and DanP76 approved...
19 ~ Todd Alsup, This Christmas (above): Todd is all sorts of quite lovely as it happens. His music has serenaded me all throughout 2010 and then to top that off, he records a cover of the 1970 Donny Hathaway classic This Christmas. With backing singers. And a video. And looking like he's having a rollicking good time around the piano doing it. In amazing glasses. Watch it. Love it. Worship the ground he walks on.
18 ~ Gavin Mikhail, Evergreen: Gavin is frankly one of the most underrated singer songwriters out there, and I've been a fan of his since I heard Brave in 2006. He has released a Christmas EP this week with some covers on, some instrumentals and this soaring piano-vocal only track that he penned himself. Gorgeous piano work, lovely to listen to over and over again. And interestingly, sounding as classic as any of the other tunes on the EP...
17 ~ Wilson Phillips, Warm Lovin' Christmastime: Oh glorious. Wilson Phillips get back together with Glen Ballard (of their debut album fame) and produce a festive album of material that is like a lovely steaming cup of hot cocoa. With marshmallows. Their harmonies are still exquisite and produces an aural alchemy that just keeps on giving...
16 ~ Glee Cast, Baby It's Cold Outside: I wasn't hugely taken with this at first but having actually seen the Christmas episode and my continuing (and growing) obsession with lovely Darren Criss has put the tune in a whole new light. Expect to find my Darren (non-Criss but obviously equally as lovely) and me miming to it at any given point over the next week...


15 ~ Puppini Sisters, All I Want For Christmas Is You: You may think there are more than enough Mariah cover versions out in the Christmas marketplace as it is and you are probably correct in that assumption. However, when a unique take on this perennial fave emerges it's a joy to behold. It's a jazzy-tinged, Andrews Sisters-esque marvel that holds up to many repeated gleeful listens :)
14 ~ Hurts, All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day: Hurts have had quite a good year haven't they? Duetted with Kylie, covered by Kylie and produced a sombre but elegant seasonal tale which they have generously given away for zero pennies. And it mentions New Years Day which so many people (other than Abba and Sugababes) forget about. Plus they look proper good in suits. (PS embedding disabled by request? Bah humbugs!)
13 ~ Coldplay, Christmas Lights (above): I felt that Viva La Vida was quite festive sounding anyway, so an actual proper bonafide Christmas tune from Chris and the guys has proved to be incredibly welcome. It sounds immense, gets better with every listen and has lovely festive themes such as sadness, sorrow, hope and redemption. Plus an amazing to the power of balls video (as evidenced above). Tremend.
12 ~ The Killers, Boots: And for the fifth year in a row, the lovely Killers manage to whip out an altogether amazing Christmas single to raise money and awareness for HIV charities. And this is their second best of all their efforts to date (Don't Shoot Me Santa Claus still remains their finest festive moment). And the video has an entirely lovely story to go along with it. Absolutely delightful and as charming as anything on Brandon's still quite good solo album...
11 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, December: Mans does big band at Christmas and the results are both surprising and delicious. Mans remains as genetically perfect as you can get and this swinging little tune does nothing to dampen my need to smooch him ferociously underneath the mistletoe. Here's to more Mans in 2011...


10 ~ The Pipettes, Santa's On His Way: I'm still vaguely amused at the text that alerted me to this song "'av you heard that new Pipettes song Satan's On his Way?" marvelous. perhaps they can consider a bit of a downbeat dub remix of the tune to give away next hallowe'en?! This is as perky and bouncy as a ride on Rudolph's back and will no doubt be as essential at Christmasses to come as mince pie and milk left by the fireplace for old Saint Nick...
09 ~ DeeDee, Winter Wonderland: I wrote about this just a few days ago, so I'm not going to go on about it too much. It's brilliant. As is DeeDee. As is the video. It shows that people with swagger can do sweet just as brilliantly as they tackle pop-venom and errant lover bashing. Check out her interview on lovely Dontstopthepop...
08 ~ Mariah Carey, Oh Santa!: Oh it was never going to reach the levels of amazosity that All I Want For Christmas has attained but actually what transpired was a totally fun, quirky little ditty that got better upon each listen, got people hand clapping away (essential for those cold winter mornings) and made me feel like I could go outside and do some skipping rope contests to the tune along with the best of them :)
07 ~ Kylie, Let It Snow: A new version of Santa Baby and a feather coat filled appearance at Rockafella Centre in NYC performing this tune? Could Kylie give her fans a better Christmas present?! The answer to that question is no she could not, though the news that Steve Anderson is working on new Aphrodite tour arrangements is the bow on the present, the icing on the christmas cake if you will :)
06 ~ Indigo Girls, Feel The Christmas Spirit: Perhaps the most surprising Christmas album of the year came from one of my long time faves. Their bluegrass take on Christmas was often fun, often poignant but always excellent and this exuberant tune was a sheer joy from start to finish. Much like the Wilson Phillips song earlier in the list, it's a song that embodies the ethos of the title from first note...


05 ~ Luke Leighfield, So Confused By Christmas: Ok, I'm cheating. it's actually a song from 2006, but it's new to me and it's my blog so nuh! A vividly clever look at the self imposed rules of enjoying Christmas that hit home a little too hard at times (I'm sure I had a strop as a child over the colour of my hat from the cracker) and makes you want to concentrate on actually just being a better person. This song has actually made me do nice things for people so hopefully Luke's sense of hope isn't kicked too much. Do check out Luke's Christmas tour blog. It's rather brilliant...
04 ~ Pink Martini, Snowglobe Christmas (above): Thank you Starbucks for having this album by your delicious polar bear cookies while I was in Florida. This track in particular made me absolutely swoon over it's lovely islands lilting tune, it's dreamy Doris Day-esque vocals and the timeless beauty of it all that will be forever encapsulated in my heart, just like the flakes of snow in the globe they sing about. divine.
03 ~ Owl City, Peppermint Winter: This song basically lists everything that I love about Christmas in a musical wrapping that is so twee and glorious that it makes the already brimming with goodness festive season seem even better. It's just so so me. E.G. "I twirl down the driveway with angelic grace/til i slip on the sidewalk and fall on my face". Happened to me this morning and still i felt no need to complain. If you feel down this season, just listen to this. It's as good a tonic as Love, Actually. Yes, it's that good!
02 ~ Glee cast, We Need A Little Christmas: I initially was quite loyal to the lovely Kimberley Locke's version of this tune, but Glee have worn me down and won me over. There is something so wonderfully happy and innocent about the tune that is utterly in line with the theatrically needed to perform it. What I love about the version is that the backing vocals are as important in the mix of the track as the main vocal, there is actual delight in the voices of the singers (there is no way they were frowning when they were recording this) and some truly edifying instrumentals - particularly that instrumental breakdown before the end that makes you want to leap for joy. Is played every morning on my walk to work and never feels to imbue me with some Christmas magic :)


01 ~ Bananarama, Baby It's Christmas: Sigh. It's just so utterly glorious. Not only have Britain's still premiere girl group managed to whip out an absolutely edible teardrops on the disco floor christmas boogie on down number, but it's also one of the more amazing pop treats of the entire year. Entirely in line with their Viva sound, yet moving towards a new era of dancefloor dominance that absolutely must continue in 2011. Love the juxtaposition of the sad lyrics against a joyous grab the one you love and shimmy soundtrack. A deserved and brilliant number one :)

Back on Wednesday with the 5th annual Myfizzypop Online Christmas Card. It's going to be amazes!

Greetings from Florida! Unless the British snow prevented me from getting here as I am writing this before I go but it won't go up on the blog until I'm actually in Florida. It's one of those Doctor Who time connundrums like Amy's gash (in her wall). Anyway, two of the most glorious songs that celebrate the festive season from the last two decades also happen to be the most covered! So I thought I would celebrate the originals and some of the sublime and ridiculous covers out there :) Enjoy and do let me know what you think - comments will be texted straight to my phone!!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU:

• Original Mariah version ~ let's face it, Mariah struck gold with this track. It's been a perennial christmas favourite, returning to the charts time and time again since 1994. It's joyful, it's upbeat, it's brimming with hope and optimism, full of jingle bells and a rollicking cantering beat propelling it all to festive glory. How can anyone hear this track and not be filled with an urge to hug everyone they are near?! Many have come close, but nothing has topped this and it's now one for the ages. And deservedly so...
• Love, Actually version ~ As long time readers will well be aware, Love, Actually is one of my favourite films of all time and definitely my most favourite film to watch several times before Christmas. This school play performance is improbably good and shows little orphan drummer boy trying to get his young lady friend Joanna to notice him through the power of beat! What follows is the young chap breaking all sorts of security rules to chase down his love through an airport all to a stirring instrumental. It's oddly affecting. Love love love. Off to watch again now!
• Mans Zelmerlow duet version ~ Well, good for Mans for turning the ebulliant original into something quite refined and dignified as a ballad version. His voices soothes like eggnog as he serenades the lovely Agnes Carlsson on this smooth, slowed down but equally lovely version. Click the link and see stills of Mans in all his winter finery. My fave ~ 22secs when his shirt sleeves are pushed up but he is still wearing a scarf. His neck is chilly but his arms are hot. Still totally snoggable under the mistletoe though!
• Lady Antebellum version ~ taken from their too short seasonal EP, this continues with the slowed down theme, but strips it back a little bit for a more countrified twang. It works quite well as it goes and makes for a most subtle rendition of a tune that works best as an over the top party poppers glitter fest. Surprisingly lovely!
• Big Time Rush version ~ I think if Simon Cowell worked it well, One Direction should be doing some songs like those on the BTR album. They've teamed up with Miranda Cosgrove on their cute tv show to perform this tune and jolly jolly they look doing it too. It's not a version that will change the world, but it's cheesy and fun and the video is too too adorable. Oh those boys!
• Mariah's extra festive version ~ There have been a couple of not very good at all remixes of this tune over the past few years (the less said about the hip hop version, the better) but Mariah has kept the essence of the original on her latest album, amped up the orchestral beginning and added a generous sprinkling of rousing drum beats. Reinvigorates the tune without losing any of the charm of the original. Well done Mrs Canon - it makes me want to write a whole musical based on her albums (hint, check back soon).

LAST CHRISTMAS:

• Wham version ~ Frankly i love a bit of heartbreaking tragedy set to a percolating and festive groove. Wham perfected this with their joyous (musically) and sad (lyrically) yuletide tune that quickly became as longlasting as their partnership was short. Try and find a Christmas store around the world that doesn't play this. Still the original and the best, though many others have tried (no, let's not discuss the Whigfield or Crazy Frog versions...)
• Alcazar version ~ look, if anyone is going to do a jingled up euro-pop version then it should absolutely be Alcazar. It's exactly the same as the Wham version but with female vocals, a higher bpm and a whole plethora of santa's crackers sound effects added in for good measure. It's jolly and jolly fantastic.
• Kimberley Locke version - presented as a stripped back acoustic hand clapping groove - her whole Christmas album is one of the best I've ever heard and this is a giddy treat. Beautiful vocals, different version but familiar enough that it is instantly warming and brimming with charm. Oh I adore Kimberley so very very much.
• Puppini Sisters version ~ As you already know, I'm loving their Christmas album and this jazzy version gives the song a whole new vibe and totally sounds like it belongs in some smoky downtown nightclub where sozzled old drunks are nursing their sorrows in a double brandy. Yes, it's that good.
• Glee version ~ the song that was released for the sake of it last year WITHOUT EVEN FEATURING IN AN EPISODE. Oh the avant gardness of it all. And they've tagged it onto this year's fairly disappointing festive album. It's a decent version - totally sounds like an X Factor single I suppose. Not the best of the bunch, but you can also check out versions by Atomic Kitten, Cascada, Busted, Coldplay, Darren Hayes, Hilary Duff, Human Nature, Jamelia, JLS, Little Boots, The Ordinary Boys, Taylor Swift, Travis and probably many more...

Did I miss any other versions of these songs? Back on Fri with a chart run down and more festive playlist madness :) Do stop by!

Hurrah! It is only 35 days until Christmas and therefore I feel totally legitimised to undertake some Christmas magic and start doing a whole host of Christmas lists to take us up until the big day! I know you are just as excited about this as I am and cannot wait to join in the festive spirit! Deck your halls! Roast your chestnuts! Get those lips puckered for the mistletoe!! I always like something as brilliantly deliriously amazing as Mean Girls doing Jingle Bell Rock (above) to kick off my Christmas Crazy so you all enjoy that while I compose my first list of essential festive feel gooders to persuade you over to my way of thinking! Oh! And read the comments for how to contribute to the online Christmas Card this year. It's going to be a doozy!

CHRISTMAS GOES POP, VOLUME ONE:

• Glee ~ Deck The Rooftop: One of the two saving graces on the Glee christmas album (the other makes a different list)is this medley of Deck The Halls and Up On The Rooftop - all set to a backing track that owes quite a lot to Beyonce's Single Ladies! It's perky, it's joyous, it's fun, it's catchy, it's like a sumptuously filled marks and spencers mince pie (not one of the cheap ones from Asda). Absolutely essential...Sue The Grinch airs when I'm in Florida too (Dec 7th). Amazes.
• Bananarama ~ Baby It's Christmas (above): I was lucky enough to give you a preview of what this sounds like a little while back and played it on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt yesterday. It's a hi-NRG, big beat, solid dance floor filler that is equal part tears on the dancefloor as it is hopeless optimism. A chorus that is more giving than Santa's sack, it beautifully complements the Viva era Bananarama and proves that they still have a knack of churning out absolutely brilliant tunes. So baby, just stop stop pulling my heartstrings...
• A*Teens ~ I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday: The turn of the new millenium saw a whole host of poptastic acts like A*Teens taking on festive faves with a whole new disco spin to them. The Swedish four piece give this Wizzard classic a dancefloor dressing down that will keep your candy canes spinning until new years... PS Christ on a trampoline, have you seen Dhani lately (scroll down! Thanks Scandipop!)
• Fast Food Rockers ~ I Love Christmas: It's all sorts of a travesty that the FFR didn't somehow manage to break out of their food themed debut. There is something deliciously melted cheesy about this song with it's snowy video and warming message. It should absolutely be my anthem.
• Girls Aloud ~ I Wanna Kiss You So: Bish bash bosh, whooo! You give me something that i never get from santa claus!! What else is there to say?! I always use this song to seduce Darren :)
• Kimberley Locke ~ We Need A Little Christmas: Mame the film is grossly underrated. This song from Mame is criminally overlooked. And Kimberley's definitive version of it from her entirely delightful Christmas album should be played loud and proud as you start to welcome those festive revellers who have come around to help you pop up your eco-sustainable Christmas tree. So good I can never listen once.
• Kylie ~ Santa Baby: There are many naughty, saucy, slutty and downright disgraceful versions of this track. Kylie manages to of course ooze the right amount of sex appeal while balancing it with a charmingly innocent and naive sounding vocal - almost like she doesn't know how foxy she is being. And seeing as this is circa the gold hot pants era, that's quite the achievement. Brava diva kylie, brava.
• Play ~ As Long As There's Christmas: Take the song from one of fave Disney spin offs ever (Beauty and the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas), give it a shuffling disco-swe-pop beat and I'm in jingle bell heaven. It's one of those ridiculously optimistic christmas singles that just makes you feel a little bit better knowing it exists. Or is that just me?
• Steps ~ Merry Christmas Everyone: Hurrah! Steps do Christmas! Well they did about 8 years ago, but it's still a giddy little treat. Essentially exactly the same as A*Teens did with I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday but with the Slade classic. The middle 8 manages to sound positively filthy somehow. What on earth were people getting upto under the mistletoe?!
• S Club Juniors ~ Sleigh Ride: I love Sleigh Ride and you can't really top the Debbie Gibson version from the early 90s, but this is just so enthusiastic and jolly that it makes want you to pop on bobble hat, scarf and those mittens that have the string that goes down your coat sleeves so you don't lose them! Roast those chestnuts!!
• S Club ~ Perfect Christmas: And finish off with one of the most beautiful yearning ballads that those slightly more mature S Clubbers did. Wasted as a b-side but I somehow manage to use the lyrics in Darren's Christmas card every single bloody year. He must be sick of it by now but the tradition will continue this year... Poor lad :P

Many more Christmas lists coming soon! And here's this week's festive top ten NEW Christmas songs... 10) Annie Lennox, Universal Child 09) Indigo Girls, I Feel The Christmas Spirit 08) Lady Antebellum, All I Want For Christmas Is You 07) Pink Martini, A Snowglobe Christmas 06) Wilson Phillips, Warm Loving Christmastime 05) The Puppini Sisters, Step Into Christmas 04) Sarah Dawn Finer, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 03) Mans Zelmerlow, December 02) Mariah Carey, Oh Santa 01) Bananarama, Baby It's Christmas (2 weeks)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
20 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
19 ~ Joe McElderry, Wake Me Up
18 ~ Darin, Drowning
17 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
16 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
15 ~ Ola, Riot
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
12 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
11 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love (NE)
10 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together (VID)
09 ~ Westlife, Safe
08 ~ EMD, What Is Love
07 ~ JLS, Love You More
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Andrea Lewis & Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
03 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (NE)
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (3 weeks)

I'm not normally a massive fan of Hallowe'en - especially after my mom calls to say I am just like "that Sue Heck from the tv programme The Middle" WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!?! Charmant. However, Hallowe'en is the final gasp of life for the cork that plugs my obsession with Christmas. November 1st is always a good barometer of when I can start being festive far too early. Still, I'm having an ace gang spooky weekend - Scared Shrekless, some Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors, Saw 3D and of course The X-Factor Hallowe'en theme week (despite my absolute and irrational rage about some of the song choices! Relight My Fire?! OH COME ON!) Then, unbeknownst to them (until they read this, evil cackle), I shall foist my annual viewing of The Nightmare Before Christmas upon them. Mwah haha ha ha! It is bloody good though isn't it? And to get you in the festive mood, here are some more Christmas previews after a flash of This Is Hallowe'en...

• Bananarama ~ Baby It's Christmas: I don't normally like writing about songs that you can't generally hear yet. It makes me feel snobby and elitish - which is exactly how Hugh Grant felt about being serviced by Martine "where the fuck is my fucking coat" McCutcheon in the greatest Christmas film of all time - Love, Actually. But this track is so good that I must sing it from the rooftops. Or at least give you a little preview of what it is like. 1) It fits very well with the Viva Bananarama sound but also wouldn't sound out of place on Girls Aloud Christmastry... 2) It's very synth driven with a pulsing disco beat, ooos-ahhs, and sleigh bells 3) The vocals are very wistful with a hint of melancholy... 4) The lyrics are equally heartbreaking - sample "Remember how we kissed that time/the mistletoe and too much wine/At Christmas time - baby it's Christmas". Sniffle... As soon as this is widely available to listen to, I'll direct you! OH! And there is an extended mix. Teardrops on the disco floor festive fantastic!
• A Very Glee Christmas: The Rocky Horror Glee special was actually quite decent. Mostly. It has got me singing Touch A Touch A Touch Me all the live long week. Now Glee is set to challenge Ally McBeal as the purveyor of greatest Christmas episodes ever by having it's own Christmas special. With accompanying album! Imagine! The marketing possibilities! The sales! Now, that's the true meaning of Christmas :)
• St Etienne ~ A Glimpse of Stocking: Now here's some Christmas news that has had me bashing out I Was Born On Christmas Day all week, much to everyone's annoyance. The mighty and hallowed St Etienne are doing a festive album. Of all new songs (ie written by them). It's going to be glorious. All the details are here, and if anyone wants to buy me the personalised version please feel free to do so because I'm broke from Kylie & Take That tickets/Robbie merchandise...
• (For previous Christmas previews see here and here)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Eric Saade, It's Gonna Rain (RE/Vid)
20 ~ Ola, Riot (NE)
19 ~ Darin, Microphone (NE)
18 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
17 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
16 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
15 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
12 ~ McFluz, Shine A Light
11 ~ Grobbie, Shame
10 ~ Westlife, Safe
09 ~ JLS, Love You More
08 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
07 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
03 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me (3 weeks)

It was the year when NBC royally screwed up their ten o'clock spot (and Bro-Sis rip off Parenthood hasn't done much to fix it). It was the year when lots of shows finished after four seasons (Ugly Betty; Heroes - both joining the ranks of four season wonders such as Felicity, Lois & Clark, Early Edition, Everwood, The 4400, et al). It was the year new favourites fizzled into nothing (damn you ABC for cancelling Flash Forward and the promising Eastwick). And of course it was the year when Glee began and Lost ended. But more on that later. For now, here are my top ten favourite shows on network (and a couple of sneaky basic cable) tv between September 2009 and May 2010...

Bubbling under - the stalwarts: Oh there are just some shows I sort of half watch almost out of habit hoping that indeed, at some point they will retain their former glories. Desperate Housewives is a shadow of it's former self, chugging along with the same old tired one season mystery again (though the revelation of the actual strangler was quite a surprise) and even the season finale failed to reignite my passion for the show (tho to be honest it was quite nice to see John Barrowman gag that annoying whiney teenage kid from Nu Joy-see)... Smallville should have just ended years ago, it's now shitting on Superman mythology left right and centre (Clark is working at the daily planet, still not superman and NO GLASSES!!) yet i stick with it because i've invested so much blooming time. Private Practice is usually worth watching for a decent season premiere and finale, but not much inbetween. Gossip Girl is insane as ever, almost a modern day Dynasty, but it's not as thrilling as it used to be to hear Melismatic/Veronica Mars' voice on television in any format. And of course the animation block on fox continued to be a bit hit and miss, though at least one of the shows each week would be funny...

10 = Supernatural: With a mythology so dense and elaborate by season five, it was almost impossible for new viewers to tune in and have any clue what was going on (see also Lost). The epic good vs evil battle ramped it's way up all season with a fine mixture of horror, humour and drama. Yet in the end it all came down to the characters and their interaction with each other (see also Lost). A fitting series finale, if you stop watching about 5 seconds before the actual ending...
10 = Community: I wasn't expecting to like this at all, but Joel McHale turned out to be a fine comic actor who worked well in a likeable ensemble cast. Some genuinely hilarious moments were interspersed into each episode and even the supporting characters became essential to the show (the creepy PC dean, the hateful spanish teacher). Love love loved the cliffhanger love-square that put Felicity-Noel_ben triangle to shame...
10 = The Office: It just continues to veer perfectly between beautifully observed comedy (Pam & Jim continue to reign as one of tv's most perfect couples - their wedding and baby birth were two of the highlights of this year's run) and riotous office nonsense, mostly highly entertaining to watch. Just imagine if Holly DOES return next year... Sigh :)
09 - Grey's Anatomy: Though I was a bit miffed with the return then non-return of ungrateful Katherine Heigl, and the whole integration of Mercy West wasn't exactly brilliant, the old regulars continued to shine and i've adapted well to a new happy Meredith Grey. The finale showed what GA can achieve when it puts it's mind to it - it was brutal and genuinely shocking, plus occasionally devastating. Bring on season 7...
08 ~ Flash Forward: Sob. Surely this could have come back to partner V for a an uninterrupted run of spring time episodes a la Lost?! But no - it seems there will be no Flash Forward for Flash Forward next year. True, the main appeal was seeing Joseph Fiennes look all dishevelled in a suit, but it was strangely intruiging at times and I'm hoping they explain that bloody kangaroo...
07 ~ 10 Things I Hate About You: Just 20 episodes and cancelled? Bah I say bah! It quickly evolved from annoying teen comedy into charming little show with some genuinely witty banter, sly view on high school life and a male character that actually said "amazeballs". Thank you Chris Zwyck. Ended on a ridiculously unfulfilling cliffhanger, deserved at least 10 more episodes a la Greek. But that's the way the tv exec cookie crumbles :(

06 ~ Modern Family: Could have been an utter disaster, but actually was very funny and lovely indeed. Each of the couples within the family tree were engaging and delightful in their own screwed up ways and it never failed to get me laughing out loud (I refuse to "lol"). More canoodling from la gays though please. Also, hope season 2 evolves into a more continuous storyline rather than separate vignettes of episodes, but otherwise heaven.
05 ~ Glee: That I forgot about this when I was composing the list in my head on the way to work says a lot. It was my number one show of the year in 2009, and the first thirteen episodes were corking. I don't know if it's overkill or the fact that everyone and his mom loves it now or the fact that it's just trying to hard too hard now, but the shine has gone off it. I mean it's still quite good overall, but when they do drama it's far too mawkish and cloying rather than subtley played. Much like Popular. Which this makes me want to watch again. Particularly the original Vogue and the amazing Dirty Ho.
04 ~ Life Unexpected: Thank god this got a second season otherwise I may have broken down in a puddle of my own goo. This is essentially vintage old school WB type family drama - think Everwood meets Gilmore Girls; not quite as good as either of those (particularly the genius of the latter) but with oodles of potential and totally charming in it's very own way. And how amusing to see the teen stars of Roswell and Dawson's Creek now be the parents of a teen star drama. That makes me feel very old indeed...
03 ~ Brothers and Sisters: The search for Lake Narrow turned out to be vaguely intruiging as the season went on, and this year benefitted from no more of William's bastard offspring popping up with a grudge to settle. Again just some lovely family drama and some recession based storylines that weren't too ott, but quite affecting in their own sweetly-sad way. The final 15 minutes of the show was blooming brilliant and showed how things can change extremely quickly on tv without feeling like a plot shoe horned in for finale night or a deus et machina... Season 5 promises to be just dandy.
02 ~ Greek: Though those blooming Cyprus Rhodes kids may never actually bloody graduate college, it's easy to ignore the slightly dodgy timeline because this show just gets more enchanting the more I watch it. Funnier than a lot of comedies on television and with some great relationship drama that is more refined and polished than the OTT nature of, say, Glee, it sparkles in it's third year and a further ten episodes are promised next year which may well round it off. I'm happy for them to stay enrolled for a long time yet though :)

01 ~ Lost: As it's much anticipated final season drew to a close, it dawned on me that not only is Lost by far the most superior tv show of the season, but one of the greatest tv shows of all time. Sure it was a head scratching, mind looping, time tripping head fuck, but in the end all that mattered were the fate of the characters. The story of the island was over. It didn't matter to me that some of the stuff wasn't answered - we don't always get answers in life anyway. What mattered were those gorgeous little awakenings of memory where characters flashed back to their happiest most romantic times together, and that heavenly (perhaps literally) final few moments. Quite simply, effortlessly charming. I shall miss it terrible.

Best of cable tv: Dexter (that cliffhanger ending! OH MY!); The Tudors (another fourth season finisher this year); Big Love (gay mormons! Who knew?! :P); True Blood (more please of this essentially soft porn drama)
What I'm looking forward to next tv season: Hellcats, Nikita (The CW); My Generation, No Ordinary Family, Mr Sunshine (ABC); Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family); The Cape, The Event (hmmm, both tentatively, both NBC)

Honourable mentions: Desperate Housewives; Gossip Girl; Reaper; Supernatural; Heroes; Smallville; Dollhouse; The Office; Community; The Tudors; Big Love; Cleveland Show; Benidorm; Big Love...


Honourable mentions 2: The Dr Who universe ~ as I type this, the Christmas specials signalling the end of David Tennant (sob) haven't aired yet, and I won't see them til I'm back from Vegas anyway. Despite only airing for a few episodes in 2009, the Doctor has had a significant impact on my tv watching. Yes, the bus in the desert special wasn't particularly amazing, though fairly solid (if only for the ominous portents). However, the Waters of Mars was amazing and I'm hoping that you'll be commenting on how perfect the final two episodes were (and explain what in the name of good God the Master is up to there - cos he looks more Servant than Master!) Add to that the excellent Torchwood mini series (rest in peace oddly sexy Ianto) and me catching up on all 3 series of the immensely enjoyable Sarah Jane Adventures and it was still a ripper year for the Doctor and his friends, past and present. Bring on 2010...


10 ~ FlashForward: It seemed that this was designed to fill the gap that will be left by Lost and by and large, it seems to have done the job pretty much. The mystery seems very confined at the moment though (with the flashforward date approaching rapidly) and the kangaroo is far less riveting (for example) than Lost's polar bear. Still Joseph Fiennes in a suit keeps me watching even when the storyline wavers somewhat :P
09 ~ Modern Family: Oh I rarely get invested in US sitcoms because I have no faith that they will make a second season and by then, I rarely have the time to get caught up on them. This one made me chuckle in the ads though so I gave it a go and i've been hooked ever since. I love to watch dysfunctional families. It makes me feel much much better about my own.
08 ~ True Blood: Sure season 2 was a barely disguised porn video but it was very engrossing, shocking, soap operatic and full of dudes taking their tops off at random moments. And really what more can one ask for (ok, so that's also just described Dante's Cove, so I guess there is some decent story telling in True Blood and Sookie Stackhouse remains the best vampire linked heroine since buffy. In your face moody Bella)!!
07 ~ Grey's Anatomy: The last half of season 5 was actually very decent and the 007 on Meredith's hand on that year's finale was just an example of how heartstopping the show could be, when it wasn't trying to be too clever for it's own good. Year six hasn't been quite as amazing, but certainly back on track after the fiasco of Denny's Ghost. Plus it's nice to see Meredith happy for a change...
06 ~ Brothers and Sisters: It's actually Scottie that is the glue in the BroSis family circle and one of the ongoing reasons for watching. Well that and now whatsisname Getty is gone. Phew. This latest season has been incredibly difficult viewing as they are tackling the cancer storyline (see also Party of Five year 4), but doing it with gritty realism, grace and oscar winning performances. Question though - did Calista Flockhart really shave her head for this?!


05 ~ Lost: Oh how year five made my brain hurt. I felt I needed a notebook like Daniel Faradays just to keep up with things. However, it was increasingly evident that the writers knew what they were doing, where they were going and taking the responsibility of wrapping up the show satisfactorily very seriously. If year six pulls this off, then this may be one of the greatest tv shows of all time and a possible number one this time next year.
04 ~ Dexter: I think Dexter could have been absolutely crap this year and I would have featured it very high on the list just for the amazing final minute of year four. I'm very swayed by how good a season finale is! Luckily year four was uniformly excellent throughout as Dexter found himself a repugnant role model for balancing job, social, family and killing. Unfortunately it all went horribly wrong and year five has the potential to be it's best yet...
03 ~ Greek: It's the sort of show that doesn't quite get all the raves it absolutely deserves and yet is easily the most quotable and delightful dramedy this side of Glee. Excellent cast, funny yet touching storylines, brilliant pop culture references - it's like Felicity with a sense of humour. Back for the second half of season 3 in the new year, long may they pledge!
02 ~ Gavin and Stacey: sob. It's all over (at least if you watched the dvds it is)... series 3 of the wonderfully warm yet hilarious sitcom bought the characters full circle and left me feeling a bit bereft that they won't be in my life any longer (Christmas specials pending). The final episode was a near masterpiece particularly the lovely Nessa-Gwen moment, a genuinely teary Gavin and Stace happy development and the dramatic conclusion to the Nessa-Smithy-DaveCoaches non love triangle. Oh what's occuring? More please - at least one offs in the future :/


01 ~ Glee: Taking over from the much lamented (by me anyway - where's the comic>!) Pushing Daisies, Glee was the most talked about show of the year. And quite rightly so. It was smart, engaging, funny, witty and sing a along all at the same time. There's not much I can say about it other than pick some of my favourite musical moments (in no particular order) from the first 13 eps of season one...

• Sweet Caroline - sure it's horribly overused by bad bar singers and karoake wannabes but Mark Salling was sweet and hot all at the same time when singing this because God wanted him to get into the hot jewish girls pants...:P
• Single Ladies - in a year of single ladies parodies, this was one of the most enjoyable. And of course the football team would put themselves through that :P Who cares? it totally made me smile...
• My Life Would Suck Without You - one of the years best songs soundtracked one of the years best cliffhangers. The tv version is much better than the soundtrack one with acapella intro and a sweetly harmonised second verse. Add the visuals of slow motion running and that kiss and you got a total winner...
• Proud Mary - it may have got stolen for sectionals, but take one of my fave songs and give it a wickedly inventive dance routine and there's nothing critical you can say about this. It rocks!
• Somebody To Love - like a big bombastic Queen number wasn't gonna get these kids rocking in the aisles!! Mercedes absolutely nails it at the end too. Get this girl a solo deal stat!
• Don't Stop Believing - ah the tune that launched a thousand shows, or at least set the standard for the next 13. Joe may have sucked the joy out of it on the x factor, but return to Glee and you'll see why this has become the surprise hit of the Christmas season. Ace ace ace.
• The video below. Just because!

TOP SHOWS BORN IN THE '00s (alphabetical order):

• At Home With The Braithwaites
• Brothers and Sisters
• Desperate Housewives
• Dexter
• Doctor Who
• Everwood
• Gavin and Stacey
• Gilmore Girls
• Greek
• Grey's Anatomy
• Lost
• Nip Tuck
• Pushing Daisies
• The Tudors
• Veronica Mars

Deck the halls! Hark those herald angels! I saw mommy kissing santa claus (the dirty minx)! Yes, Christmas is finally upon the world (sort of) and I have given you 5 days grace over last year when I did the 30 days of Christmas. That was a little bit ridick - I was like one of those crazy people who put their lights up in September and have Mariah Carey on a loop from October. Unless you did that - then you are not crazy. You are the most lovely exception to this steadfast rule. Anyway, from now until Dec 23rd, as often as possible I plan to put up a Christmas themed post. This will include some of the following categories:

• Christmas Past: A classic christmas song that is still quite marvelous and festive today.
• Christmas Present: A brand new christmas song released this year that is jollying up my holly and my ivy!
• Christmas Future: An instant pop classic, newly released, that will no doubt be the soundtrack to many a drunken hook up at office parties in the future. Delish.
• Christmas Reading: Which of my festive themed novels I am currently ploughing through.
• Christmas Watching: Ah tv does Christmas so well sometimes doesn't it? It fair warms the cockles of my heart. Does a heart have cockles - Ken aren't you doing medicine? IS this true? Anyway, I'll pick out some of my fave Christmas episodes from amazing/rubbish shows!
• Christmas Movie: Ah who doesn't love a good festive film? If you have said "me" meaning you not me, then you will probably not enjoy this blog for the next 24 days but you should probably continue to read it anyway. Thank you.

Then on Dec 23rd, this will culminate in the now annual Fizzypop Christmas Card, so be sure to get your festive photos to me as soon as poss my lovelies. Now on with the show (snow?)!!

CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

Ah Glee. It really does what it says on the tin does it not? It makes one most joyous and happy just watching it (though I really wonder how long it will follow the "Popular" tv show template - will the uncool kids become cool after sectionals?!) As is right and proper for a phenomenon of Glee's size and stature, those crazy kids have put out a very gleeful sounding version of Wham's Last Christmas. It's exactly as you would expect - note perfect, fun, perky, filled with almost literal whistles and bells and utterly enjoyable. While of course not as deliriously brilliant as the Wham original, I'd be quite happy with a festive themed episode and accompanying EP next year please. Here, by the way, are some more Last Christmas covers you may wish to "peruse"...

• Cascada and Whigfield go all keanu reeves - "i'm gonna speed it up!"
• Oh dear god, Crazy Frog just utterly wrecks it...
• Go tween with Hilary (Up the) Duff or Ashley Tisdale...
• Yo, respect to Taylor Swift, but the Wham version is one of the best of all time...
• There's a Boa version if you really must...
• Darren Hayes does it for Rosie O'Donnell!
• Plenty of early millenium pop group versions too - Westlife, Busted, Billie Piper, Atomic Kitten, Human Nature to name but a few!
• And of course it's a festive X Factor fave - JLS being the most recent to attack it!

CHRISTMAS PAST:

It's absolutely impossible for me to kick off December without belting out at least one version of Do They Know It's Christmas and although I adore the 20 year old Band Aid II version (viva Sonia! Viva Kylie and Jason! Viva Bros! Viva Bananarama!), it's often the 25 year old original that gives my vocal chords a work out (ignore the BA20 version, it's tosh). Considering it's grim subject matter, the song is utterly glorious and uplifting and remains a perennial favourite to this day. Plus every year I hear it, it inspires me to do something for charity at this time of year. And the song represents what Christmas is all about - helping others, optimism and hope. Obviously, it's about the birth of Jesus too, but that's just a few of the myriad of feelings Band Aid inspires :) Oh! And what's occuring? DO NOT forget to check out the entirely splendid appearance it made in the wonderful Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special last year. Magnif. Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime indeed.

CHRISTMAS FUTURE:

Grab yourself a mince pie, get yourself an eggnog latte and imagine - just imagine for a second that someone decided to do a cover version of Kylie's exquisite Step Back In Time. Wouldn't that be brilliant? No not really. What would be more brilliant if someone took the template of Step Back In Time, Sweden'd it up a little bit, gave it to a male singer to belt out and created an entirely new but equally addictive ode to 70s music out of it all! Well blow me (please) down with a feather, someone's only gone and done just that. Yes it's Magnus, of Magnus Carlsson fame! Frankly it's not very new at all, but I've only just got round to giving it the time it deserves and it's blooming splendid and bound to sound absolutely brilliant at a festive knees up. Just check out some of the lyrics - "hands up, there's no time to linger, reach out use your index finger, when you bump the bump under the mirror ball tonight"! Outstanding. Just try not to enjoy, I double dog dare you...

OTHERS:

• Christmas reading/movie: Ah Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol is quite a wondeful and dignified read isn't it? Totally worthy of flicking through at least once a year - it's a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks that meanness, bitterness and thrift will get you through life. Of course it's also been done into millions of films, tv christmas episodes and cartoons by now but Disney have pulled a corker out of the bag with this year's 3D version. Far too dark (both visually and in subject matter) for kids, it's a wonderful visual of what Dickens England would have looked like and the 3D digital aspect really drawers you into the world. Aces.
• Christmas tv: If I'm going dark, let's start with something not so traditional. Buffy was never a traditional tv show and although Amends was plugged in year 3 as "A Buffy Christmas", it was Hush in year 4 that always seemed more of a Christmas fairy story to me. Completely creepy from start to finish, apart from a few character moments, this is a brilliant standalone story tale that could almost be the follow up to A Nightmare Before Christmas. Worth watching every year alone for Buffy sans voice trying to see if she can stake the gentlemen, but confusing everyone with her rapid hand gestures :)
• Finally (!) be sure to check out Steve Anderson's twitter Christmas Advent Calendar!!

Back soon with more festive faves :)

It's a double hurrah moment. It's six weeks til Christmas Day (the birth of Santa Claus and other important people) and also six weeks til the big D and I fly off to Las Vegas. It's all jolly exciting I must tell you (though I wonder how many Friday catch up blogs I will be able to start with "it's now 5 week/4 weeks, etc"!!) I will have to check the weather a bit closer to the date so I can plan my "winter wardrobe" but other than that, we are alarmingly ready already for the trip (including booking a rather lovely looking airport hotel for Christmas Eve - yes you may wish to weep at the thought of spending Christmas Eve in an airport hotel and Christmas Day on a plane, but I have plans for making the Eve portion rather magical and by lunchtime Christmas Day I'm over it all anyway. All about the build up! That was rather a lot to put in parenthesis wasn't it?) Anyway waffling on once again, must catch up with some of the highlights of the week (PS, my hair is dreadful this week)...

TWEET THE WEEK:

• Anyone who calls their debut single "Rockin' At The Disco" already has my attention. Because they said they are rocking! At a disco! It's actually a mindbending concept! People do things like the boogie and the bit where Lady Gaga walks down the stairs in LoveGame at a disco. They don't rock! New pop cock on the block Bandito does! He's taking those old fashioned values, throwing them away and coming back with something new and groovy. The aforementioned debut single is a mix of cheeky beats, dancey feets and pop sweets - ie, it's a tasty little morsel and one you'll probably find something to like about (perhaps the particularly juicy spelling of disco in the verse -always a winner for me). (Here comes the science) - apparently it's out in the UK on December 7th. Just in time for Christmas Party season. Nice one :P
• I don't know why but I'm suddenly quite sad about the split of Sugababes 3.0. I think I'm suffering from delayed shock! I think it's partially down to the leaking (such an unseemly word) of the Sweet 7 sampler with original Keisha vocals still in tact - About A Girl is a decent enough modern pop romp, but I have to agree with PPG that I'll Wait For You was indeed the single I've been waiting for. It's also partially down to their quite charming and lovely 3.0 collaboration on the HMV Inspirations cd, where they have covered For Once In My Life. It's strangely sad in hindsight, yet also takes me back to the days of Ally McBeal and dreamy guest star James Marsden. Sigh :)
• (I do think it's a sign of how far the Sugababes brand has fallen that they have not been invited on X-Factor to perform About A Girl :/ )
• Everyone is quite excited about this Lady Gaga album aren't they?! Bring on 8 Bit Heart I say :)
• Sarah from Girls Aloud is doing 3 solo tracks for the St Trinians soundtrack out on Dec 14th. This is obviously very good news indeed as it is a GA solo career I can get behind :) (Nadine's Boys II Men duet certainly doesn't count)!
• Although not as "maze" as the Lily Allen-choir version of Chinese, any cutesy choir version of the still completely bloody brilliant If A Song Could Get Me You by Marit Larsen has my vote :)
• Having finished Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years, I am now swiftly ploughing through the new Alison Weir book about the downfall of Anne Boleyn before Gregory Maguire's Matchless arrives next week! Ooo get me.
  

• WEEKLY GLEE: This week's episode was absolutely corking. I thought from the description it might be an "issues episode" (aka "tonight, on a very special Blossom") and in a way it was (all about equality) but handled in a sweet and quite funny way. Full of brilliant lines ("I'm about to projectile express myself across your hush puppies" /"$1,200. That's enough for the short bus and two cases of Natty Light for the ride home") and endearing moments ("I love you more than I love being a star" / Sue visiting her sister and reading to her). I'm never a fan of Defying Gravity outside the concept of Wicked because it works so powerfully within that musical, but the lyrics were spot on for the theme of the episode. Proud Mary was magnificent though - up there with Rachel X Factor's version! Overall way better than many of the disability discrimination workshops I've attended :) Now bring on the Christmas single!
• Finally, talking about Christmas (you know I can't let it go), surely you have at least been casting your eye around for some pressies. As often happens when I do this, I find something that would be perfect for a buddy or a family member and then I decide that actually I want the product for myself. This week it was the SkullCandy Low Rider headphones - I had toyed with some noise cancelling ones, or those that pop inside your ear but let me be brutally frank about why I opted for these. It wasn't that they are a crossbetween the professional audio headset used by DJs and a high-end HiFi headset. No sir. It wasn't even that they are extremely stylish and give you exceptional audio quality. No sirree bob. Those things I'm sure are important. It was actually because it's quite cold out, they cover my ears and look less freakish than my shocking hot pink ear muffs. You happy now?! (I also found a nifty little voucher for it at the always-worth-a-peek voucher codes website, which also has some brilliant links this week to HMV discounts and a LoveFilm dvd rental free trial - all great if you are UK based and looking for some ace discounts. Ooo I sound like an advert on tv now don't I? Hey, a bargain is a bargain! Check them out!!)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Alexandra Burke, Bad Boys
20 ~ Alphabeat, The Spell
19 ~ BWO, Kings of Tomorrow (NE)
18 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies
17 ~ Nerina Pallot, Real Late Starter
16 ~ Alcazar, Thank You (NE)
15 ~ Westlife, What About Now
14 ~ Sugababes 3.0, About A Girl
13 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, A Stranger Saved My Life (NE/VID)
12 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Mowgli's Road
11 ~ Leona Lewis, Happy
10 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl
09 ~ JLS, Everybody In Love
08 ~ The Killers, A White Demon Love Song
07 ~ Mini Viva, I Wish
06 ~ Madonna, Revolver
05 ~ Mika, Blame It On The Girls
04 ~ Little Boots, Earthquake
03 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida
02 ~ William Young, Hopes and Fears (Will christmas decorations! ESSENTIAL!!)
01 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional (2 weeks)

Coming next week - a new artist/albums special and a review of The Carpenters tribute on ITV (ft Saturdays, The Feeling and Jamie Cullum!). Plus X FACTOR on Sunday :)

US network television has always baffled me to a certain extent - by and large their programming runs from September to May and they only show 22 weeks worth of shows during this time (often leaving long gaps between new episodes). If shows aren't performing well, they are unceremoniously yanked, leaving fans wondering if they will ever return (9 times out of 10 they won't). This means that many shows over the years have been left with unresolved storylines - where did that baby come from on Lois and Clark? Did Brooke survive getting mowed down by Nicole on the wonderful Popular? Did the malevolent Bob go wild once he possessed Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks?!

All of this means I'm always a bit wary of watching new tv shows until they are at least picked up for a season, but each year I'm drawn into a few shows just to see what they are like. I've become quite enamoured with 5 new shows this year so here they are and why they are wonderful :)

5 ~ Community (NBC): I had no interest in this Joel McHale fronted show (his Talk Soup show irritates me no end) until I watched the laugh out loud pilot episode. It manages to mix together snarky humour with a quite charming view of friendship as the cliched bunch of misfits manages to be both amusing and endearing. Key dialogue: “Oh, sorry, I was raised on TV, and I was conditioned to believe that every black woman over 50 is a cosmic mentor.”

4 ~ Eastwick (ABC): Despite the fact that it's Charmed for a major network, this adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick won me over for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's setting - often a quirky village can make a show - look at the insular townfolk of Everwood or the mysterious trappings of Twin Peaks. Eastwick is a slightly less whimsical version of the always marvelous Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) with a supernatural twist. Secondly, the characters of Joanna (one of the non-titular witches) and her pal Penny are ace - full of pithy pop culture references ranging from Like A Virgin to Nancy Drew. Plus who wouldn't have a crush on Will the photographer?! Key dialogue: "Oh, and by the way, you also have terrible bacne, a mild case of halitosis, and miniscule man-berries."

3 ~ Modern Family (ABC): I'm often incredibly wary of the "family sitcom". On the one hand it could really be as amazing as Blossom. On the other you may end up with a festering turd on a scale of Two and a Half Men. It's a bit hit and miss isn't it? Modern Family however has totally managed to make the family sitcom entertaining and funny again. Whether it be the cool "lets be buds" dad figure, the grandad with his new younger bride (and her hilarious son) or the jewel in the show Mitchell and his partner Cameron, there is something everyone can relate to here - all done in a complex, intruiging, smart yet ultimately heartwarming way. As Nick Alien Hits pointed out, it can turn from sweet to cringing in mere seconds and still be everso engaging. Long may they reign. Key dialogue: "There's a fish in nature that swims around with its babies in its mouth. That fish would look at Mitchell's relationship with his mother and say, 'That's messed up.'"

2~ Flash Forward (ABC): You know, I wasn't really looking for another sprawling arc-ridden sci-fi esque drama in my life (I'm still committed to Heroes, Supernatural and Lost) but the rather good "What Did You See?" campaign drew me in and the rather yum Joseph Fiennes convinced me to stay. Of course it is all utter bonkersosity at the moment and nothing will make sense for a while but it's all quite compelling and seems to have been well thought out. Love that the FBI thought a website would be a good way of compiling all the flashforwards - can you imagine the meltdown twitter and blogosphere would have gone into if this had actually happened? Key dialogue: "Six months from now I see myself and I'm like this invincible, fearless black guy... like Shaft or Bryant Gumbel."

1 ~ Glee (Fox): What is there to say about Glee that hasn't already been said (the EW cover above sums it up perfectly)? Remember how obsessed I was with Pushing Daisies? Since that died (I'm still mourning, let's no dwell, the pain is still raw) the hole in my heart has mercifully been filled by this show which has become a pop culture phenomenon - almost the (choke) Lady Gaga of tv. It's everywhere - 2 soundtracks before Christmas, a Wicked themed episode next week (hurrah! My fave musical meets my new fave show), a Christmas single (a cover of Last Christmas by Wham!!) and the dvd box set of the first 13 episodes just in time for my trip to Las Vegas. None of which tells you how amazing the show is - but you are either already in love with it or need to try it shortly (get back to me when you do). Key dialogue:

• "I, for one, think intimacy has no place in a marriage. Walked in on my parents once and it was like seeing two walruses wrestling." (Sue)
• "It was a message from God: Rachel was a hot Jew and the good lord wanted me to get into her pants." (the delicious Puck)
• "Every time I try to destroy that club, it comes back strong than some sexually ambiguous horror movie villain" (Sue)
• "Being a boy band did wonders for my love life... we started doing it once a week." (Will)
• "Oh, HELL to the no! Look, I'm not down with this background singin' nonsense. I'm Beyoncé, I ain't no Kelly Rowland." (Mercedes)

Best of the rest:

• Honourable mention: Cougar Town, Cleveland Show
• Looking forward to: V
• Returning champions: Greek, Gossip Girl, Brothers and Sisters, Dollhouse
• Much improved: Heroes, Grey's Anatomy
• Not as good as last year: Desperate Housewives, Family Guy
• Tried and trusted stalwarts: Supernatural, Smallville, Nip Tuck, Dexter, The Simpsons
• Stockpiling for a rainy day: Private Practice, Ugly Betty, Vampire Diaries
• Wished I watched but never did: Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock
• Need new seasons now!: Lost, True Blood, Big Love, The Tudors

And ace UK TV returning soon! Oh! What's occuring? Gavin & Stacey is back this Sunday! The wonderful Beautiful People is back (with an ace new soundtrack no doubt) on Nov 13th and Dr Who will return shortly and most definitely on Christmas Day.

What are you watching??