Lopez Blogs

I'm having a Swedish pop day today. It can't fail to lift my mood :) I'm horribly horribly behind with some of the latest pop gloriosity from Swedish fellas - they really are currently setting a high high standard for blokey pop and while the rest of the world may not always pay attention, they are often playing catch up. Here are some of the current essentials...

• Eric Saade ~ Popular: I've written about this, done a complete breakdown of the video and still almost three months later it remains one of my very fave tunes of the moment. Of course Eurovision 2011 has a lot to do with that, thanks to a blinding performance (above) from the young fella, stomping dance moves, a tune that won't quit and a highly respectable third place overall. Kudos young Eric. The world IS now paying attention and the manboy is prepping his second solo effort for June. Absolutely magnifico :)
• Danny ft Freja ~ If Only You: Not only did young Danny look an absolute dreamboat reading the Swedish Eurovision jury results (in an Eric t-shirt! Bless times a million!!), but he is starting to take the UK music channels by storm with his very good indeed clubby meets brillo pop track, If Only You. Vocally he's teamed up with Freja to create an ambient yet thumping club sound that resonates with a modern pop audience. It's a worthy follow up to his incessant In The Club track and frankly one that's likely to do better. A full video breakdown of that smutty accompanying visual coming later this week. Oh my! *fans self*
• Ola ~ Riot: This track was a definite stand out for me on Ola's 2010 album and it still sounds funky and fun a good six-seven months later. It's now finally being released as an official single with an accompanying video. You could argue that it's a bit like Key-dollarsign-ha, but that's part of the appeal of the track - a guy doing a bonkers pop concoction that is just scintillating and salacious from start to finish. There's a rather bonza behind the scenes video too about the recording of the accompanying visual and as soon as the official version is out, i'll be giving it the breakdown treatment. Aces. 
• Jonas Oakland ~ Where I Belong (2011 Remix): I adore little Jonas Oakland. He's like the Swedish version of Simon Curtis - not so much musically, but independently making his own way in the business we call show. He's launching the next phase of his career with a remix of brillo pop tune Where I Belong and lucky old Scandipop has an exclusive clip for you to listen to before you can officially download it on Wednesday of this very week! Amazes. It sounds absolutely mega and I for one will be spaffing my 79p on this essential track as soon as it's available. Splendid!
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ well foxy Mans doesn't actually have any new music out at the moment, but with Eric's Popular doing so well on UK iTunes (no. 38!) it just makes me want to listen to Hope and Glory and remember how insanely excellent that tune was. And I'll leave you with that :) 

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!

Ooo it really is the most wonderful time of the year. The walk to work this morning was jolly freezing, the fields were glistening with frost and I get to go home tonight and pack for two weeks of Florida! How magnifico. I have lots of posts to keep you going over the next couple of weeks and hope you will keep me entertained with plenty of comments as although I am having a self imposed internet exile (it's so cleansing!), comments will come straight to my phone. Hurrah! In the mean time (and in between time - guess that pop reference, 90s disney group fans!), here are 10 lovely new Christmas songs and one extremely brilliant non festive treat (for more excellent Christmas stuff visit John's writing on top40about.com)...

The non-festive nugget ~ Dirty Disco return with Storyteller:

Sometimes, just sometimes at Christmas you need a bit of respite from the relentless cheer and good tidings that are almost rammed down your throat. Dirty Disco's excellent and thoughtprovoking new single is just the tune to do this. Following on from deliriously bonkers yet quality pop like Sista, Vulture and White Room, the innovative and artsy group have returned with an intense, brooding, gothic electro tune. It's tinged with eerie synth sounds and a stark strumming guitar and tackles aging, our obsession with youth and fitting into a restrictive society while remaining true to yourself. If you need a comparison, try Kidz or SOS on the new Take That album - yet it's different to those and has it's own Dirty Disco charm. Adam's distinctive voice consumes the lyrics to make them both angry and regretful at times without sounding aggressive (though there is a rather glorious "fuck" early on). The instrumental parts weave together and elevate an already good tune into a great one - little touches like the sounds of strings at the end or the guitar playing off the synth give little frissons of excitement throughout. Check the video above too as Adam and the boys in some haunting costumes seek down the Storyteller they wish to become. Tremendous stuff...

10 New Christmas Tunes:

• Hurts ~ All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day: Yay! Hurts top off a year of quality music with an exquisite new festive offering that examines the bleaker side of this time of year. With a familiar sounding shuffling beat, sound effects that sound like walking over freshly crunching snow and chiming bells through a soaring chorus, the boys look at how the hope can make one feel even more lonely and hopeless as the persevere to get through the season. I like a bit of bleakness at Christmas and this is one beautifully crafted tune that once again proves they are stars in the ascendency. Check out vinny vero's review also...
• Owl City ~ Peppermint Winter: It's Fireflies the festive edition and the complete antithesis of the Hurts track. It's a love letter to all the cheesiness of this time of year and how it's even more magical if you just embrace it. Full of feel good bon mots like "i troll through the driveway with angelic grace/til i slip on the sidewalk and fall on my face" & "the snowflakes are falling and I start to float/til my mean older brother shoves snow down my coat", it's built around a sleigh ride of bells and the glorious refrain "what's december without Christmas eve". Heavenly optimistic and joyful. Love.
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Christmas (Baby Please Come Home): I shall return to Mans' festive album a few more times before the big day. His big band readings of yuletide faves are brimming with elegance and a genuine warmth and love for the genre and songs he sings. This is a classy addition to any Christmas dinner party soundtrack and gets you fingerclicking along. Brilliant orchestration of the music too. I'm loving Mans formal Christmas look too - you can just imagine him coming home, loosening his tie and smooching the face off you under the mistletoe. Now, that's magic :)
• Wilson Phillips ~ Warm Loving Christmastime: It's not the first time the Wilsons have done Christmas (indeed this song featured on the second Wilson linked Christmas album - Carnie's solo) but it is the first time they have all felt the seasonal pull together. And hurrah, it's glorious, particularly for a long standing Wilson Phillips fan like myself :) It's a swinging and fun pop song with enough added jingle and bells to make it feel as Christmas morn as possible. And those choruses are saturated in their amazing harmonies. So so lovely. Well worth the import charges!!
• Jessica Simpson ~ My Only Wish: Jessica gets a lot of stick and I'm not sure why. I'm glad she's done a Christmas album anyway. This single from it is a decent pop tune and a nice ode to her new fella. Showcases her great pop voice (come back from country music!) and reminds me of how fun some of her music has been. Bits of it are reminiscent of Darlene Love's Alone on Christmas (which Britney liberally borrowed for her christmas tune) but it's a catchy little number with a lovely intricate piano middle 8. marvy.
• Indigo Girls ~ Mistletoe: Who would have thought that a blue(grass) Christmas would be so enchanting? The Indigo Girls did - their Happy Holly Days album alternates between rollicking joy and reflective pauses. This is one of the most beautiful on the album - a stripped back lyrical poem, resonant in a superb tenor vocal and supported by subtle harmonies and a gentle guitar. Makes me stop and luxuriate in it's beauty each time I hear it. Reminds me a little of Bette Midler's The Folks Who Live On The Hill. Never thought i'd make that comparison, but it's a complimentary one :) Delightful tune that you should really check out...
• Pink Martini ~ A Snowglobe Christmas: It's like being transported to a simpler time when the movies were black and white and people wrote to each other using pen and paper. This is a timeless, hawaian tinged classic that would sound beautiful whatever time period you are in when sung like this. it's from a whole album of magical wonder and one that should really investigate. As close to Doris Day as you are going to get this snowglobe Christmas. Like a festive hug and kiss. Melts me every time.
• Mariah Carey ~ Christmastime Is In The Air Again: I'm sure I'll return to Mariah's new Christmas album again lots more before the 25th December. There are lots of fun moments on that but this is one of the slower, sipping mulled wine by the fireplace moments. It's a string laden track with a restrained and impeccable vocal from Mariah that enables the song to transcend genres and time. The pull of the tune is undeniable and I soon find myself having little memory flashbacks to the ghosts of my own Christmas past. Dickensian!
• Lady Antebellum ~ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: A lovely little reading of this classic tune from the country group du jour. The cd of Christmas faves is (I believe) only available at Target but it's worth tracking down as it's full of faithful renditions like this that just sparkle with sincerity. Plus the fellas look proper foxy on the cover :)
• Puppini Sisters ~ Step Into Christmas: SCREAM! The Puppinis are back! And they have stuck to their absolutely delightful Andrews Sisters for the new millenium mantra. This has led to an amazing album of jazz tinged, boogie woogie Christmas faves and their turn on this Elton John fave is a fizzy explosion of joi de vivre all wrapped up in their tightly knitted harmonies. So much fun yet put together so very cleverly, very carefully and very well. Check out their older christmas tunes too like Jingle Bells and Little Match Girl. Top drawer!

Top 21 songs of the week

21 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Defender (NE)
20 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
19 ~ Ola, Riot
18 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
17 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
16 ~ Joe McElderry, Someone Wake Me Up (VID)
15 ~ Darin, Drowning
14 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
13 ~ Westlife, Safe
12 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
11 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
10 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
09 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
08 ~ EMD, What Is Love?
07 ~ JLS, Love You More
06 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
05 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
04 ~ Take That, The Flood
03 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love
02 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
01 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (1 week)

I can't help but imagine that Christmas in Sweden would just be exquisitely lovely. All roaring fires and hot chocolate. A chill in the air as you walk through the night, wishing you could walk through the windows of time. Oh, that actually might be Jason Donovan. Regardless, I still suspect a winter in Sweden would be jolly chilly but jolly marvy too (especially if i was bedded down at Hotel Rival). So i've dug out some old and new Swedish readings of festive tracks for today's list...

CHRISTMAS GOES SWEDISH POP:

• Mans Zelmerlow ~ December: After two explosively fantastic pop albums, Mans has gone all undone bow tie and classy strings with his HEAVENLY new album, Christmas With Friends. And rather delightful it all is too. One of the original tracks from the album is this track - a warm, engaging, swinging big band tune. There's something magical about hearing a festive song sung in Swedish and the melody is pure joy. I'll be returning to this album more in upcoming lists, but for now just luxuriate in this winning tune and try not to get too excited by the outstanding key change & sing-repeat finale. Bliss.
• Jill Johnson ~ Christmas On My Own: One of those brilliantly worded tracks that you can almost get away with playing all year round thanks to the gorgeous vocals of Jill belting out a dear diary of how her love went wrong from January to December. It's all set over a pulsating, sparkling dance track with added bells to give that extra festive feel. An absolute corker of a tune, even when it's bitterly bitterly sad :(
• Straight Up ~XXXmas: I love Swedish electro-pop duo Straight Up. They make no secret of their love on man-o-man smoochies and pumping. They have produced some brilliantly cheeky pop tracks this year (including the amazing Twink). Lucky for me, they have put out a festively filthy track that musically is like a forward thinking Last Christmas set to a disco beat and with sex on the brain. Lyrically, it's like nothing you've heard before - i mean there are "adult" christmas songs (Frosty The Pervert; Rudolph The Deep Throat Reindeer), but those are mainly parodies where as this is just a down and dirty need for someone to empty their sack this Christmas eve. Quite magnificent. In fact, i get the impression that secret santa with the Straight Up fellas would find me a beefy young dude tied up in green and red ropes with a bauble strapped in his mouth! Now, that's the type of alternative white Christmas I want :P (Check it out on their facebook page!)
• Sarah Dawn Finer ~ Winter Song: Another new album travels across the chilly seas from Sweden to my living room and it is one that is as beautifully crafted as it is excrutiatingly heartbreaking. Sarah has lovingly picked a blend of songs that flow perfectly and create an a pretty well themed holiday record. One of the highlights is the bleak but entrancing Winter Song sung with Louise Hoffsten. Their combined vocals create a haunting few minutes of music, perfect for those more reflective moments next to the tree...
• Hilda ~ Just One Wish: Hilda is new! She's Disney! She's from the same pop stable as the delectable Eric Saade! And she's got a rather yummy Christmas song out. It's pure pop with an added rock guitar riff to make it a bit edgy - i'd have preferred a few more sleigh bells but there is no denying how catchy this tune is and the refrain is pure ear worm. And at the end of the day isn't that what we all want for Christmas?
• Magnus Carlsson ~ Wrap Myself In Paper: Magnus is the king of Swedish Christmas. He has probably had just as much festive output as he has had regular albums and each are imbued with a genuine warmth and love for the time of year. This little gem gets pulled out each year - imagine Emma Bunton doing Maybe but sung by a men in a santa costume with some shimmying gogo dancing elves in the background and that's where you will come out with this song. It's a santa's grotto of delights and one I never, ever tire of.
• Play ~ Rudolph: Back in their heyday, Play were the epitomy of feel good pop and their Christmas album was a solid jewel. They churned out an energetic, fizzy and totally fun version of Rudolph that always makes me smile. Sure it is as kitsch as all my Grandma's kitchen but cram a few eggnogs down your neck and you will be singing along to your hearts content. Amazing. Rudolph!
• West End Girls ~ It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas: Whatever happened to West End Girls? I was hoping they would evolve into a brilliant pop act a la A*Teens after they stopped doing the Abba covers... They have turned in a stomping eurodisco version of the Pet Shop Boys classic. It's not as amazing as the 2009 remix the PSB did (which will feature in an upcoming list), but it's still brava diva all round.
• The Hives ft Cyndi Lauper ~ A Christmas Duel: The first few notes may fool you into thinking this is a scrummy Christmas ditty, but the lyrical confession of no gift and sleeping with your lover's sister it turns into something completely different. It's no less magnificent and actually is probably best described as a modern day Fairytale of New York. Gleefully malevolent lyrics continue to follow with Cyndi confessing she went down on her fella's mother! AMAZING. Play loud. Be proud. Sometimes Christmas is like this and we should all just accept it!!

Other Nordic wonders:

• Maria Mena ~ Home For Christmas: As Deborah Gibson has proved in the past with her stunning Christmas Without You, there is often nothing more effective than a piano and a plainative plea at this seasonal time of year. Maria has created a soul searching poem that will touch anyone who just yearns for those carefree childhood moments where your biggest worry was how many gifts you would have to open on Christmas morn. Sheer beauty.
• Christian Ingebrigtsen ~ Paint Christmas White: Before Christian got back together with the A1 boys, he had quite the little solo career going which really showcased his rich resonant vocals (and charming good looks). The title track from his swoony festive album is a soaring, classic duet (with the aforementioned Jill Johnson) that sounds like it came from some lost Disney musical. Glorious use of strings, lovely lyrics and beautifully complementary vocals. Totally wonderful and wonderfully inspiring.

I was in bed last night (steady!) watching an episode of Gavin & Stacey... it just happened to be the series 2 Christmas episode (with that gut wrenching ending). Well, the first few minutes put me in a proper good mood - you've got Stacey in the midst of the seasonal shopping bustle at Marks & Spencers (Jamie Redknapp looking fine on their new clothing range adverts this year! Ooo and of course Shayne Ward at Next. Sorry. Distraction). Then you've got Smithster and Gavlar singing Do They Know It's Christmas at each other down their phones. Tidy is what it is is what it is, i tells ya. And while I promise to hold off on my annual deluge of Christmas posts til at least Thanksgiving, it did get me fingering my amazon wishlist looking at the upcoming festive releases from some of my favourite stars...

• Mariah Carey ~ Merry Christmas II You: I may be in the minority about being very excited for this Mariah release. Her 1994 Christmas album, Merry Christmas (and it's glorious accompanying single All I Want For Christmas) remains a yuletide staple, and entirely enjoyable 16 years later. I'm optimistic that the vibe of MCIIY will be more in keeping with a cheeky Ally McBeal festive episode rather than a tricked out, pimped up, slapped down ghetto-ho fiasco but it remains to be seen. Contains some classic tunes, new songs (including single Oh Santa) and a remake of All I Want for Christmas Is you (past remixes of this have been dire so I may skip that track altogether!)...(Nov 2nd)
• Annie Lennox ~ A Christmas Cornucopia: She's a bit "worthy" nowadays is our Annie, but that doesn't mean her voice isn't still a compelling listen when it crops up on the radio. She's dabbled with Christmas before (the rousing Put A Little Love In Your Heart and the more sombre reading of Winter Wonderland) and if she can balance that with the chilling icy cool of Love Song For A Vampire then I'm all in (contains interpretations of classics, and one new song "Universal Child"...(Nov 22nd)
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Untitled Christmas Project: Sigh. Mans. He's so dreamy, etc. Anyway, (shake it off their mister) it's rumoured that pop magnificence Mans will have a whole album of Christmas tunes out in Sweden sometime in November. I can't work anything out from his blog because a) i'm too busy gazing at his pictures and b) it's all in Swedish. Though i think there was an outcry over his facial hair. he can give me stubble rash anytime, etc. But he did do a lovely ballad version of the aforementioned mariah classic, so I do trust him with a seasonal song selection...(TBC)
• Indigo Girls ~ Holly Happy Days: Glory be! The Indigo Girls are one of those acts that I perennially love and purchase every release of (see also Dashboard Confessional, Barenaked Ladies), but don't blog about as much as I should. So i'm very pleased to the power of indeed that the lovely duo have their first Christmas album out. Squeal, etc. Not only does it have three brand new tracks (including probable single The Wonder Song), each album comes with holiday decorations. Amazeballs! If there's something as lovely as The Wood Song on there or as ebullient as Gallileo, I'll be a proper happy chappy! (Oct 12th)
• Pink Martini ~ Joy To The World: I do enjoy a bit of Pink Martini (the drink and the group) when i'm in the right mood. The group delve into a rich musical tapestry, laced with ace symphonic leanings and so are perfectly poised to deliver a grandiose festive album. It's mostly traditional tunes with a few surprises in there, but the album cover is like a classy Christmas card and so far away from the normal yuletide trash that adorns these things :) Well done! (Nov 2nd)
• The Broadway Boys ~ Hark!: Not just Hark, but Hark Exclamation Point! I live for the day when someone has the nerve to do a uk group like this (granted, there was Teatro for a while but I really want the group to be called West End Wendys). Quickly following up their theatrical Lullabies of Broadway album from the summer, the boys have musical theatred up some favourite festive faves for your musical enjoyment. It's jazz hands and santa hats at the ready then. I can't wait...(Nov 2nd)

Well do let me know if there are any festive releases you think I should be aware of that I've missed. For the record, some of the big autumn/winter albums I'm looking forward to include Rumer, Shayne Ward, Take That, JLS, The Overtones, A1, Magnus Carlsson and of course EPs from gravitonas, elouise and deedee. hurrah.

Back tomorrow with a europop round up!!

This post should have gone up yesterday, but then I got all distracted by the X Factor. Then I got distracted by all the palava about the X Factor autotune malarky. Crikey. And then I spent far too long gazing at the new Robbie Williams single sleeve for Shame (which I shall probably be writing a lot about on Thursday). Then Darren came in looking all sorts of fine, so I know where that led. Then i woke up with a gunky eye and here I am. Better late than never are my six songs for Sunday. On a Monday. Perhaps you can save them for next Sunday. Waffle over...

Six Songs For Sunday:

• CJ Baran ~ Boomerang: You may or may not remember CJ Baran as one part of power pop group Push Play. They made some nice tunes. CJ looked quite nice in a suit. They split up (I think). Fear not, because CJ is actually shining as a solo star. He has managed to put together a collection of stonking tunes that are not only reminiscent of a Dr. Luke sound, but have a definite electro-pop vibe (drenched in funk and disco) about them that just sizzles. BOOMerang is an essential getting ready to go out tune guaranteed to get you singing along and put you in a proper bonza mood. The "boom boom boom" refrain in the chorus is a slice of genius and a semi-rapped middle 8 with wiggly synth noises is incredibly addictive. And if that has whet your appetite for more, be sure to check out his response ditty to California Gurls on youtube. Amazing.
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Et Maintenant: Oh Mans. You speak French too! Is there no end to your charms?! The dishy Swedish pop star belted out a gorgeous broadway ready version of the French standard this weekend in Sweden. He was backed by a full orchestra giving a grandiose to the proceedings often missing in these popstar performances for tv shows. Even if you don't understand what he is singing about, he imbues the performance with such grace, passion and elegance that it is mesmerising. The dramatic ending is all sorts of wonderful. And yes, that is Marie Serneholt looking on in the first few seconds. Heavenly.

• A1 ~ In Love and I Hate It: A1 are back! Again! This is their third single since their reform as a trio and possibly their best yet. It's definitely their cleverest title so far and that has to count for something does it not? It has a very gentle, acoustic built verse before a sparkling chorus comes flying in and builds into a powerfully propelled not quite ballad with enormous singalong potential. The boys (collectively and individually) have proved they can throw out an amazing pop tune or two and this is a worthy addition to the collection. Some clever lyrics reflect the juxtaposition of the title song (matching love/hate; agony/ecstasy) and the general instrumental perkiness is a nice antidote to the futile situation the boys find themselves in. The voices sound great, the tune is fantastic and it's upped my anticipation levels for a fine new album from the lads.
• Ola ~ Fire: It's pretty relentless when you are a Swedish popstar. Darin's output this year is crazy. Eric is on single 4 from his 3 month old debut album. And Ola has barely finished with his latest EP and he's contributing to the Swedish version of the Camp Rock 2 soundtrack with the funk-hop vibed Fire. It's perfectly in keeping with Ola's recent output so sits nicely in his discography and he looks great singing along with Mohammed and Endre in the video. It's Disney with an everso miniscule pop-cool edge and I love it :)

• Westlife ~ Viva La Vida/You Raise Me Up: Oh Westlife. 11 years on and I still adore you. Despite the woeful lack of promotion of their fine Where We Are album, the boys have been ploughing forward with a series of immense concerts that has culminated with a Steve Anderson produced acoustic set in Dublin. Sadly I wasn't there, but that is what the power of youtube is for! Their cover of Viva La Vida put a different spin on recent versions by Darin and Pet Shop Boys, but perfectly showcased the boys vocal control and was soundtracked by a glorious & sumptuous string section. Mark's vocal is quite spinetingling and as they come out of the instrumental middle 8, the song just flies, soars and majestically floats around the arena. Oh, and their acoustic reading of You Raise Me Up had me goosebumping like crazy. This HAS to be released on dvd :)
• The Hoosiers ~ Who Said Anything (About Falling In Love): I've heard all the buzz and great reviews around the new Hoosiers sound and so of course I had to delve in and try it for myself. Thanks to XO, I have an instant favourite from the album. It's not brilliantly representative of what is on the album, but it is a dramatic pop tune built around some luxurious keyboard riffs, a gentle shuffling beat and then a delicious string section in the chorus. It's vaguely reminiscent of Tears For Fears and if The Feeling have a tune as delightful as this on their next album, I will be over the moon :)

Top 21 singles of the week:

21 ~ Eric Saade, It's Gonna Rain
20 ~ Darin, Can't Stop Love
19 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers
18 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossfire
17 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever
16 ~ Alesha Dixon, Drummer Boy
15 ~ Ace of Base, All For You
14 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Not Giving Up On Love (NE)
13 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More (NE/PIC)
12 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Love Me Cos You Want To
11 ~ McFly, Party Girl
10 ~ Eric Saade, Masquerade
09 ~ Gravitonas, Religious (NE)
08 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way
07 ~ Bright LightX2, Love Part II
06 ~ Maroon 5, Misery
05 ~ DeeDee, Balls
04 ~ Kylie, Get Outta My Way
03 ~ Kelly Rowland, Shake Them Haters Off
02 ~ Amy Meredith, Lying
01 ~ Darin, Lovekiller (3 weeks)

Coming soon: Gravitonas. Robbie Williams. Gary Barlow. Boybands. McFly.

There is something utterly magnificent about a duet. Often because they are based on two solo stars doing something wonderful together that isn't a sex tape. Although that can be wonderful too depending on who is in it :P And believe me, I have played several man-man celeb sex tape scenarios in my head on many a bored occasion :P But for now, I'll focus on the music and some rather brillopants duets currently doing "the rounds"...

Chanee & N'Evergreen ~ In A Moment Like This: This is Denmark's entry for Eurovision this year and all of a sudden this weekend, it hit me how blooming magnificent it is. It's not particularly groundbreaking or forward thinking, but what it lacks in innovation it more than makes up for in classic delivery, charm, harmonies and key change. Essentially, it's one part Every Breathe You Take and one part Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now (same difference version). By the time you get to the key change right through to the ending (that sounds a bit like the sound each episode of Lost makes at the end) it has suckered you right in, and you have to go back to the start and listen all over again. Well at least I do. Totally 80s big hair power ballad. Amazemont.

Leona Lewis & Jennifer Hudson ~ Love Is Your Colour: Oh. A Ballad. Excuse me while I pick myself up from the floor in total shock. It's for the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack and it works well in a 90s Disney ballad sort of way. Yet while Chanee and N'Evergreen totally rock the retro feel in a charming way, this just feels a bit dated. And that's a fine balance to pull off. Leona's voice sounds pretty decent against powerhouse Jennifer - I just wished they had done something as sassy and vixeness as the show used to be...

Maria Haukaas Storeng & Måns Zelmerlöw ~ Precious to Me: I've written about this song before, and to be honest with you all, I've just fallen more and more in love with this modern day Especially For You. I've really just taken the excuse to write about it again because there is a nice making of the video clip up now on youtube, and a nice live version (above) where of course, once again, Mans looks ever so handsome indeed. The only downside to this is that it is not from a new Mans album. Oh well, hopefully not too long to wait :)

Tomorrow! The Morning Jolt playlist!!

This weekend is kind of a big one as it represents a few significant milestones in my life. To commemorate these, Darren and I are going away to "the north" to stay in a nice B&B (not featured on tv's 3 In A Bed) and doing lots of exotic stuff, like seeing Jane McDonald live! Anyway, here are some of the things I am celebrating over the next few days...

• May 1st is 10 years since i got the all clear from the big Cancer...
• May 3rd is not only my birthday, but also 10 years since I met Darren, when i was all bald still and blotchy from treatment :)
• He loved me anyway because May 6th is our 10th anniversary!!

So that's all rather splendid. I'll be computer free (by choice! Gasp!) for a few days, but feel free to leave comments, say hello on twitter, email me. I like to come back to a plethora of e-ness! Right, here's some stuff to tide you over :)

Video magnificence:

• Mans Zelmerlow & Maria Haukass ~ Precious To Me: I happen to think lovely Mans is one of the finest specimen of man to walk the planet. Plus he puts out stonkingly good pop music, which always delights me. He's back duetting with Maria on a song from her album, which is basically not only a rather lovely modern take on Kylie & Jason's Especially For You in aural form, but a visual nod of the head to it too. Mans looks heavenly in his shirt/tie/cardi combo while Maria struts around in killer heels giving some vixen colour to the mix. It's ever so dreamy and romantic and the perfect song to soundtrack the weekend ahead :) More please, more...
• Alphabeat ~ DJ (I Could Be Dancing): The title in parenthesis works much better as the official song title for me. Possibly because it then puts it in line with epics like SS I Don't Feel Like Dancing and SD If You Can't Dance. Both aces. The remix makes it a bit fresher, a bit funkier and the video - well Stine and Anders both look great. Loving the loose limbed tambourine playing :)
• Alexandra Burke ~ All Night Long: Oh dear. The beginning sounds like Don't Stop Gleelieving. The chorus sounds like a bit of a reheat of Paparazzi. No one else agrees with me on this theory. I still quite like the song though. The video is a slightly more frenetic, less polite, debauched version of Steps' Stomp... (And Alexandra has way to much eye makeup on)! PS I do love a piano at a party. I always go down well when there is one :)
• Hurts ~ Better Than Love: I initially fell much more in love with Blood Tears & Gold but I'm willing to cheat on it with this song. What i love about this video is that it puts the formal nature associated with a suit outfit and puts it against a more sleazy, underworld background. The two boys both look beautiful and the song is a slow growing, mid paced ditty that on a few listens becomes an absolute belter :)

Things I am looking forward to...

• The video to Sergey Lazarev's single Alarm - the thought of the vid (still above) has halted it's decline down my charts for several reasons. He has robbed my new hair"do" from last week; he ALWAYS looks good in a tie; those boots are quite amazing; it might invigorate and give new life to the song. Aces.
• Brandon Flowers solo album - oh yum yum indeed. I shall miss the Killers til they return but this will be a lovely interlude hopefully. D'Luv has all the details - I just hope it does better than my beloved Preston Ordinary Boy :(
• New singles by the Scissor Sisters and Kylie have me anxiously awaiting the first radio play - both have the potential to be utterly massive. The internet may very well explode. Check out XO for some scisster love...
• JLS are already moving onto a second album and have a new single out in early July. It's called The Club Is Alive and apparently samples The Sound of Music. I suspect in more of a I'm Too Sexy Sugababes way than a Gwen Stefani Wind it Up sort of way. I'm just said they haven't covered KLS... "JLS are gonna rock ya/ancients of mumu"; now that would be ace...
• Once the black smoke (monster) has settled over the Lost finale, season 3 of Tru Blood starts. Cannot. Wait!

Top 21 tracks of the week:

21 ~ Diana Vickers, Once
20 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
19 ~ Gravitonas, Kites (NE)
18 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love
17 ~ Donkeyboy, Sometimes
16 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm
15 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
14 ~ Kimberley Locke, Strobelight
13 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
12 ~ Mika, Kick Ass
11 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
10 ~ Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
09 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love
07 ~ Mariah Carey, 100%
06 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet
05 ~ DeeDee, Endure
04 ~ Maria Mena, All This Time
03 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
02 ~ Adam Tyler, Friction
01 ~ Eric Saade, Manboy (1 week)

back early next week catching up with aceness from Miley, Music Go Music, foxy shazam, the ark, etc...

Good grief. I'm suddenly very into the whole Eurovision thing this year. I mean it's always been on my periphery before, but this year I'm actually quite excited about it! Clearly the Swedish are miles ahead on my list of brilliant eurovision potentials this year with some excellent tunes in their melodifestivalen (more on those below), but Norway gave us a rocking new Coldplay-Jr tune from A1 and of course the song that knocks lovely Elouise off the top slot, Bjorn Johan Muri's Yes Man. And as I reported friday, Sammy Taylor is throwing his hat into the UK arena as part of UNI5 (I'll be blogging Your Country Needs You each Friday in Sammy support!) It all the potential to be very pop-mazing, so I'm keeping tuned in. And! Perfectly genetically engineered pop-doll Mans Zelmerlow kicked off the "ansen chanser" stage of Melodifestivalen with a brilliant cover of View To A Kill. It's brilliant for several reasons - a) it could potentially be released in studio version as a single b) Mans looks blooming gorgeous in his ensemble and c) the finalists are all trying to kill each other. Imagine if UK's X Factor or American Idol invited back a former winner to do something this brilliant, with a massive scrap-hinting video going on? Brillo. Anyway, on with some ace music...

THIS WEEK'S NEW ENTRIES:

• Magnus Carlsson ~ A Little Respect: Sigh. It's ever so minorly disappointing that a new Magnus song is a cover version of the Erasure classic. But it's so gosh darn festive and chirpy, that it's hard not to be swept along in the general perky S/A/W-esque beat of it all. Part of it the production and some of the video indeed looks like this should have been a Christmas single, it's practically all whistles and bells and slots nicely alongside Darin's Viva La Vida. Oh and the video is quite bizarre and bonkers - it basically seems to be a concept built around the fact that the song begins with the line "I tried to discover..." with Magnus hunting around some desolate wasteland and then re-animating that Michael Jackson HiStory statue for a bit of a boogie. Completely nuts, but very camp and engaging...
• Ola ~ Unstoppable: You can pretty much always rely on Ola to come up with something entirely kooky, totally loveable and brilliantly catchy. Built around a simple yet magnificent piano riff, this soaring pop tune is a sequel of sorts to his earlier song Natalie yet not a complete replica of that tune. Plus I love that Ola looks like he is having an absolutely ace time while he performs this song (click link above). And the "oh-oh-oh" in the chorus with the cheesy rhyming totally appeals to me. Mint! (oh dear...)
• Alcazar ~ Headlines: You know Disco Defenders made me completely fall irrevocably head over heels in love with Alcazar (and it's the sort of album I'm hoping Same Difference will come back with later this year). Headlines is going to be tagged onto a reissue of that and it totally fits. It has a lovely string laden start (reminiscent of Viva La Vida) and then launches into a slowly crescendo-ing song (with hilarious lyrics "got your number on my underwear" Really! Oh my...) before that killer chorus kicks in with it's steps-esque dance routine. What more could I want from a pop song?! How about one of those key changes that starts with an almost acapella song pause before re-launching the song into one of those frenzied celebrations of all things disco? Check! Amazeballs as the kids on the street are saying (not my street - those little tykes have a vocab that would make a sailor blush)...
• Neo ~ Human Frontier: This has overtaken Headlines as my fave melodifestivalen song of the moment. Sure he's a little Mika for some tastes, but he's a Hi-NRG Pete Hammond type remix of Mika and this song is a right little charmer. Plus he's using a cane in his performance of the song which is clearly a very good thing in pop, because it hasn't really been seen since Liberty X perved over tv screens for Just A Little. I just absolutely adore Neo - he has a falsetto high enough to make dogs wince, but I think he's a little bobby dazzler and this song has some remixes doing the rounds that are just dandy. I think an albm re-issue is due with this song too, so that's something to look out for (Higher and Bachelor are just fabbo)...
• Darin ~ You're Out Of My Life: After the utter splendidness that was the popalicious Viva La Vida and the Gaga before G'Gah was around sounding Flashback album, lovely elfin faced Darin returns with a classic smooth pop ballad. Basically the lad has had the career Shayne Ward should have had if 19 had spent any decent time with him. This song is just so dreamy and heavenly, it gets better with each listen. There's something so classic and timeless about it, and the type of song that just soars in it's simplicity. Great vocal too.

Others: Of course gabriella charts on top with the effervescent On A Mission; Sergey debuts with the generic but fun packed Alarm; bubbling under are that magnificent Blake Lewis (Love or Torture) and Erik Saade's bizarre but bonza Manboy (which I keep singing Manwhore too for some reason)... Probably a massive Simon Curtis debut next week too.... :)

Top 21 Songs of the Week:

21 ~ Leona Lewis, I Got You
20 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm (NE)
19 ~ Diana Vickers, Once (VID)
18 ~ Hurts, Blood, Tears & Gold
17 ~ Ola, Unstoppable (NE)
16 ~ Alex Gardner, I'm Not Mad
15 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life (NE)
14 ~ Magnus Carlsson, A Little Respect (NE)
13 ~ Robbie Williams, Morning Sun
12 ~ Alcazar, Headlines (NE)
11 ~ Donkeyboy, Ambitions
10 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo
09 ~ Neo, Human Frontier (NE)
08 ~ The Pipettes, Stop The Music (XO review)
07 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood
06 ~ Mika, Rain
05 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away
04 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
03 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love
02 ~ Elouise, Fireman of my Dreams
01 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission (NE/1 week)

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 :)

Blimey. Even though it's 71 days til Christmas (and I promise not to bombard you before December this year!) there is still an air of festive preparation floating about. Fight past the ghost and ghoulie costumes in the stores and there are a plethora of christmas purchasings just tempting you to dip into your wallet. March into tesco and the traditional tin of Roses (so much better than Quality St) whose wrappings litter the floor on Santa's birthday are half price! Even i'm busy planning for the following "events"...

• A day trip to London on either the 5th or 12th December to go shopping and visit Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland! Woohoo! The ace gang all together and skating outside :)
• The annual christmas party combined with the x factor finale party - just got to work out which date the finale will air on! Anyone know?!
• Flying to vegas on Christmas day so planning out that little trip - just spent a fortune on Bette Midler tickets on New Years eve for DazdivinemisterS.

Of course, one industry planning for the christmas period way in advance of any other (ooo that sentence is very X Factor Dermot "one act who wants it more than anyone...") is the music industry in the UK. They will have been carefully selecting albums and singles from artists that have the best chance of getting a slice of the christmas spending pie (Mmmm, pie) for ages now. Everyone is pulling out the big guns to be the Christmas number 2 (of course the X Factor winner has the Christmas number one sewn up. Sigh) - so with that in mind, here are some slightly off the wall suggestions for acts not really in the running in the UK....

5 COVER VERSIONS THAT WOULD BE BRILLO AT FESTIVE PARTIES:

Song: One Night Only - it's no surprise that I'm suggesting the wonderful Elouise release a brilliant discotastic studio version of this because it's already a staple of her live shows. It's fair to say that when she performs this tune, she takes on the persona of the lyrics and you can almost see it build from within her during the ballad part before exploding in a cavalcade of glitter as the beat kicks in. Just marvelous.
Song: Cool Rider - while I'm delving into the archives of musicals, I was in a bit of a Grease 2 mood today and was listening to some of the underrated tunes from that film. When Cool Rider came on, I thought that in the right hands it would make a rather great pop song. Maybe Dolly Rockers could punk it up to beef up their Boys Will Be Boys with it? Or Red Blooded Women could turn it into a electro-pop wonder! Or perhaps Mini Viva could get Xenomania to work their magic on it in a Girls Aloud-St Trinians sort of way. Just putting it out there - it could be the best musical girl group cover since Play did Hard Knock Life (vid above of that epic classic)!
Song: Chocolate Box - One of Bros's greatest moments is a pop-rock song neatly dressed in synthy dance trimmings and to my knowledge hasn't been covered by anyone. It's the perfect tune to be updated whether it be as funky prince-esque jam ("") or a solid 80s tribute dance tune. Who better than to step up to the plate for the job than the one and only ex Digital dude Dean Lennon? He looks good in a waistcoat, has the vocal capacity to tackle it and would sound quite foxy doing the "rurrrrrr" bit. Perfect :)
Song: Shock Your Mama - if I was less lazy I could find out in the annals of the blog that I had bemoaned the fact that someone (preferrably Simon Curtis or The Killers) needed to cover Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth. I don't want to bleat on about it, so let's concentrate on the excellent Shock Your Mama instead. Full of sauce and sass, it's the precursor to Love Game but without being a complete alley cat about it. How about one of the swede boy-pop sensations like Danny or Ola putting a fun twist on this and whipping it out there.
Song: In My Dreams - ah The Party. They were the almost Disney sensation of the early 90s that never really happened. That doesn't mean that they didn't pop out some stomping classics though and this is as good as anything they did (almost up there with the lovely I Found Love or cutesy Sugar Is Sweet). After the brillo dance remix of Burn that they put out, I can't think of anyone better to cover this than the lovely guys and gals of Industry. Pop it on the double A of the forthcoming In Your Arms and you got a winner :P

5 EURO POPSTARS WHO WOULD POSSIBLY CHOOSE THESE TRACKS IF THEY WERE BIG(GER) IN THE UK:

Alcazar - Thank You: Frankly I sometimes forget that Disco Defenders came out this year and that I like it so much. I return to it quite often, but not as often as I'd like. I really think they could've mined it for single after single, but none suits the spirit of the Christmas number two better than this Abba pastiche at the end of the album. A virtual remake but not quite of Thank You For The Music, it's schmaltzy, cheesy, wonderful and entirely uplifting. Approach with caution - you may develop develop diabetes just from listening. For a proper party, pop Funkytown on the flipside :)
BWO - Kings of Tomorrow: In the past I've been loving myself sick in a BWO ballad around the season of goodwill. They sort of churn out a classier version of the type of ballad Steps would attempt (never their strong point other than Mars & Venus; oh and It's The Way You Make Me Feel) and i've sipped many a mulled wine to the strains of Destiny of Love and Will My Arms Be Strong Enough (still perfect for someone like Leona to cover). This of course is their latest from Big Science and while not as hamazing as Destiny... it's still a corker and comes in both ballad and disco-ified form so everyone's a winnabego.
Mans Zelmerlow - A Stranger Saved My Life: Oh sweet sweet Mans, you perfect specimen of a man! Sure the MZW project has suffered slightly from the wrong single releases (Hope and Glory should have been followed by Home, then Forever&Rewind as a big remix package double a side and then this), but this ballad was tailor made for singing loud and you could easily have a video filled with snow and dangerous icy roads (or put it to a montage of Grey's Anatomy and that girl that George saved before getting hit by a bus!). Key changes, inspiring lyrics that JLS would kill for, a choir - it's cheesier than a 4 week old jock strap but it works (for me anyway!) That or sell it to Westlife...
Marit Larsen - If A Song Could Get Me You: 18 months on and I'm still completely and utterly smitten up to my ears by this gorgeous piano driven tune. Europe is slowly being won over by it and it could be one of those songs that surprises everyone in England by coming from nowhere to be a massive smash. It's the crashing piano chords that get me every single time. Every. Single. Time. Get the point? Good. Let's dance (ooo JJ reference). Fin.
Alien Beat Club - My Way (vid above): Oh they were just ever so good and entertaining on Danish Idol. They tackled everything from I'm Yours to Just Dance and threw themselves into it with "gusto". So I was initially a bit surprised by their debut single being less in your face pop and more of a sleek, classy, sneaks up on you and politely taps you on the shoulder type tune that just gets better each time I hear it. It's Liberty X meets JLS and I like it. Now something upbeat next time around please :)

QUICK BITS:

• Best songs that should be covered by a boyband: A Shoulder To Cry On (Tommy Page); Room In Your Heart (Living In A Box)
• Best song already covered by a girl group: In Your House (Originally Alanis Morrisette; gussied up to perfection by Shine4)
• Best seasonal tunes not already overbaked: Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas (Pet Shop Boys); Happy New Year (Abba)
• What the X Factor should do: Final 12 should record Second Best To None (the Hotel Rival song - perfect lyrics give or take for the competition); Winner should record Story Of A Heart (Benny Andersson Band)

I'm getting ridiculously behind with things that I want to blog about. I still haven't done some of the posts I wrote were upcoming 2 weekly round ups ago! I'm going to make a concerted effort to catch up over the next week and schedule some posts to "air" while I'm on holiday in Gran Canaria (woohoo 7 days and counting!) In the meantime, while I could happily post again about the charming Same Difference, I'll give it a rest and have a pokey around what's actually been happening the rest of the week! Including the new William of Young video which takes pride of place at the top of the page because the song is so eminently hummable, brilliant and singable and also because once again, the video is amazing (best bits? Of the song - when Will sings "if you could shed a little light on" and makes it sound totally Will, yet like an Annie Lennox song. Of the vid - William lamarze (sp?) class dancing)

TWEET THE WEEK:

• Thank the high heavens above. Darin is back. He didn't really go away though, did he? He was busy plugging away with his Flashback album (that unbeknownst to him - probably - turned out to brilliantly represent the sound of 2009 before anyone else was doing it) and alongside that recording brilliant pop cover versions of Coldplay's Viva La Vida (one of the best pop songs of the past few years). It's not quite as Christmassy as the initial clip suggested, but it's a great version and it's been on heavy repeat since I first got it this morning. Check out PPG and Jessica's views...
• Mans Zelmerlow has apparently chosen Impossible as the next single from MZW. Sigh. This is ok, but i think he really needed some better choices to promote this album (as I've said in my fizzypop chronicles). I only really wanted to mention that so I would have an excuse to link to some nice pics of Mans. PS, the start of the Rewind vid I posted in that first FP link (my) reminds me of We Go Together from Grease.
• And while we're pondering hot musical guys, let's all watch this again. If any boy/over 25 does a version as good as Daniel Boys does on the X Factor, I will "lose my shit" (ew. Will never use that expression again).
• Gary Barlow is a) looking more lovely than ever lately and b) putting out some quite good stuff lately isn't he? First off is the live Circus DVD/CD (Woo!); then the new Alesha ballad is quite elegant and lovely in a gets better with each listen sort of way. But taking elegant to a whole new level is his new signing, Camilla Kerslake. Coming across like an operatic version of Elouise, her voice floats around the ether and is both haunting and commanding. Check out her utterly beautiful version of Take That's Rule The World and hear it in a whole new way. Can't wait now for a debut single proper in November. I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm smitten. Smitten like a kitten.
• And while we are on the fusion of classical and pop, remember G4? Oh how i liked their almost comedy pop-operatic-harmonised take on pop. They may be over, but plenty to take their place. Blake have a new album out on Monday (key tracks I'm looking forward to = With Or Without You; When A Child Is Born) and choirtastic Only Men Aloud compete with Band of Brothers (key tracks = Somebody To Love; Total Eclipse). If that weren't enough "vocal harmony group" Straight No Chaser have a new EP out (the I'm Yours medley is proper brillo) and follow up their ace Christmas set from last year with another one called Christmas Cheers. Be sure to click on the link and tell me which Chaser is hottest for you :) Me? 1st guy sitting down on the right :)
• Weekly Glee! Boys vs Girls? MAZE! Who'd you think was best? And is anyone else finding Puck insanely hot?

BIZARRE THEORIES OF THE WEEK:

No-one really agrees with me on the first two (lots of raised eyebrows and smiling & nodding!) but the last one gets a general big thumbs up. A) Lady Gaga's LoveGame is actually just an updated remake of Debbie Gibson's Shock Your Mama. B) Season 2 of True Blood was just a (albeit entertaining) season long version of the picnic scene from Elvira. C) Simon Curtis is made for Glee. That is all folks!

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Sugababes 3.0, Get Sexy
20 ~ Little Boots, Remedy
19 ~ Same Difference, Better Love Me
18 ~ Madonna, Revolver (NE)
17 ~ Madonna, Celebration
16 ~ Mika, Blame It On The Girls (NE/VID)
15 ~ Mika, We Are Golden
14 ~ Dolly Rockers, Boys Will Be Boys
13 ~ Mini Viva, I Left My Heart In Tokyo
12 ~ Shakira, She Wolf
11 ~ Whitney Houston, Million Dollar Bill
10 ~ BWO, Love Comes Crashing Down
09 ~ JLS, Everybody In Love
08 ~ Little Boots, Earthquakes
07 ~ Alexandra Burke, Bad Boys
06 ~ Mariah Carey, I Want To Know What Love Is
05 ~ Alphabeat, The Spell
04 ~ Nerina Pallot, Real Late Starter
03 ~ Leona Lewis, Happy
02 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies
01 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl (2 weeks)

COMING UP: (For real this time) ~ Sunday=X Factor First Live Show round up (+Robbie Williams!); Monday=Albums reviews spectacular; Weds=Christmas single suggestions; Thurs=TV round up... (all will probably have gone to hell by Sunday night :P)

NOTE: I wanted to write much more extensively about all of these albums, but time prohibits. So i thought i would at least get some rambling thoughts out there...

BWO - Big Science: It's no secret that I think that BWO are one of the most amazing pop groups of the new millenium, and despair that they are not revered on the same level as Girls Aloud are in Britain (imagine Alexander Bard as a judge on the X Factor instead of Cherevyl and watch viewing figures rocket!). I know many people enjoy BWO but do not worship them in quite the same way I do. That's absolutely hunkydory, and i get their reasons for that, but for me they are consistently enjoyable - hence (ooo fancy) You're Not Alone spending four weeks (to date) at the top of the Fizzypop charts. I've been enjoying their fourth album for a couple of days now streamed on the web, and my physical copy is hopefully winging it's way across Europe to me right now. Right here right now in fact (see what I did there?!) - for that is the song that kicks off the album, and will be the marvelous second single. It seems very understated at first - a mid tempo song with a dance beat, some glorious Marina whispery bits and a subdued chorus, but listen to it a few times and it totally transforms into something monstrously huge. Love Came Crashing Down has a great chorus, piano and strings all over the shop and a strong hook - somewhat (though not massively) of a departure for the group and refreshingly so. Great backing vocals too in the last chorus. Now, i love BWO ballads (Destiny of Love, We Could Be Heroes and Open Door are some of my favourite BWO songs) so the current single You're Not Alone and Kings of Tomorrow work well for me in both ballad form and disco remix. The latter reminds me a little of Pet Shop Boys and The Killers yet i'm not sure why. It's very elegant and well constructed and beautifully performed. Quite lovely in fact. As are the lush slower tracks In Too Deep (a lilting melodic number that certainly doesn't get the praise it deserves)and Singing In My Car (which could quite easily be an amazing Westlife comeback single - imagine the power with which they would get up from their stools!!) Burning Down The House is a delirious almost sixties pastiche song that is part The Promise and part Ace of Base song (can't place which one!) - if The Saturdays came back with a song like this, the charts would go into meltdown with popgasmic joy. Possibly. In other words, it's a great song, but almost sounds like a demo for another act. Rise To The Occasion is back to a more Prototype BWO sound and Electronordica are tipping this as a future single. I would be quite happy with that, although I could quite easily pick about 6 singles from this album (or any BWO album for that matter). Rhythm of the Night (not the Corona song!) does what great pop songs should do - think MYOB by Deborah Gibson, Light Years by Kylie, Stay The Night by Alcazar - all have these great expansive choruses, a little bit of quirkiness in there, a hint of novelty, some uplifting disco beats. This song has all of those and yet seems so simple and accessible - like no effort was put into the genius. That's a compliment by the way. Shoot From The Heart and Thunderbolt are just insanely fantastic. Both are massive epic dance numbers, huge choruses, great catchy hooks, much stronger shades of electro-pop than on other tracks and sound more progressive than any of the other tracks. Overall, a very strong album with some variation on the BWO theme. It may not be enough to win over new fans, but it should hopefully appease those who didn't appreciate Fabricator as much. Quite quite euphorically amazing. (I await more cohesive thoughts from PPG!)
Potential singles: You're Not Alone; Right Here Right Now; Rise To The Occasion; Kings of Tomorrow; Shoot From The Heart

Mans Zelmerlow - MZW: I liked Mans' first album. A lot. Then he did the really really cute duet of All I Want For Christmas and I got a bit obsessed. Then he came back with Hope and Glory (check out the utterly brilliant acoustic version above - totally transforms the song into a wistful ballad that may push BWO from the top of my charts this week) and I am utterly hooked. His new album is Very. Good. Indeed. Plus the git looks utterly amazing even in bad lighting. It's like he's been genetically engineered to show aliens what the perfect human should look like. The album has also been genetically engineered to please lovers of great euro-pop songs and ballads like myself, poppostergirl and yuri! Home would be a brilliant follow up to Hope and Glory with it's insistent Black and Gold-esque beat; Forever is one of the best things he's ever recorded (it's on constant repeat!) - the strings, the chorus, the middle eight, his seductive vocals. It's very yummers and very lush and absolutely must be the third single. It must be quite difficult carving out a niche as a male vocalist in Sweden - Danny has the dance-pop thing down, while Darin has dived into the pool of r'n'b electro. Mans strips down to his swim shorts but only flirtatiously dips his toe into the pool of either of those styles and his refusal to commit leads to a more rounded album. Rewind could easily be a Danny track, though Mans vocals make it soar. And don't worry, if for some baffling reason all the dance is getting you down you could try the very beautiful and elegant A Stranger Saved My Life it really is quite wonderful. And the lovely mid-tempo track that closes the album (Hold On) is prettiness indeed. So overall, a solid pop album from Mans that quite rightly delivers the goods in a variety of genres and all while looking bloody amazing! Fantasmick.
Potential singles: Hope and Glory; Home; Forever; Rewind; A Stranger Saved My Life

Kevin Borg - The Beginning: On Swedish Idol, the adorable young Kevin Borg was - much like Shayne Ward 2 years earlier on X Factor (remember Shayne? He was/is fine! RAR!) - a model of diversity, fun, accessibly stylish, excellent pop star hair and powerful vocals. Just check out his Abba cover (Gimme x3) above. However, much like Shayne Ward, not all of those qualities made it to his debut album. The Idol winners album is probably much more analysed than the runners up - and Kevin suffers ever so slightly for it. However (again with the Shayne comparisons!) like Shayne, his utter likeability makes up for the albums (not particularly significant) faults and it is quite the enjoyable listening experience. It's a mixture of emotive ballads, such as the Glenn Mediros tribute With Every Bit of Me, the swooning Out of Time and lush as freshly laundered sheets The Last Words. Kevin pours himself into the songs and makes them shine (like the top of the Chrysler building). Street Lights isn't a particularly inventive single but it works again because it's catchy enough, strings always make a pop song and the delivery and enthusiasm is faultless. There are hints of greatness here (Paint It Black is wonderful and The Light You Leave On has a certain darkness in it's production that's ironic considering the title) that I firmly have hope will manifest on a second album that will have more time spent on it. Just to be clear though - i really like this album! I just think it could have been even more marvelous had it been delayed a couple of months :)
Potential singles: With Every Bit of Me; Street Lights; Paint It Black; Out of Time