Lopez Blogs

Top 21 songs of the week - (& the highlights):

• The Saturdays ~ Notorious: England's cheap replacement for Girls Aloud is back. That may be a bit mean but even the best Saturdays song is about as good as a middling Girls Aloud album track. Anyway, this is actually one of their better efforts with a not quite as cheap as normal video to boot! Up there with Up, Ego and Higher. Actually, I do l-l-love this track...:P
• Simon Curtis ~ Superhero: Did you catch my review of this track? I essentially quite like Simon Curtis music. Will this be his 6th fizzypop number one (seventh if you include the Andrea Lewis duet)? Time will tell...
• Lady Gaga ~ Judas: While everyone raves over the best comeback single Belinda Carlisle never got to release (yet) (Edge of Glory), I've found that Judas has got under my skin more and more. PS, continuing her theme of "borrowing liberally" from other female artists (see pop trash addicts), album track Americano has lifted Bette Midler's version of Mambo Italiano note for note in the intro minute...
• Take That ~ Love Love: I've gone from like liking this track to love loving it. As you probably know, a mini album (their Fame Monster if you will) is due for release in June called Progressed. I'm imagining a Gary Barlow release in my lap right now...:P
• Nerina Pallot ~ Put Your Hands Up: The single is officially out on Monday. I've had a sneak peek of the album and it is phenomenal. An absolute triumph. The remix of the single below is pretty nifty too and sounds perfect next to the Pete Hammond mix of Kylie's Put Your Hands Up (which i want her to do a video for spoofing all her 80s SAW vids! Imagine!)...

21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
17 ~ Take That, Happy Now
16 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
15 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
14 ~ The Saturdays, Notorious (NE)
13 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
12 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
11 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
10 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
09 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody There
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Superhero (NE)
07 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
06 ~ Le Kid, America
05 ~ Take That, Love Love
04 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
03 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga, Everybody Dance (4 weeks)

It has more oft than not been bemoaned of late that there are a paucity of decent shows on television to perform your pop wares. I'm not sure this is entirely true anymore - there are numerous day & night time talk shows, X Factor and Dancing on Ice, and if you are particularly lucky you might end up in an episode of Hollyoaks while Ste snogs the moustache off Brendan in the background. Lucky bastard. However, these shows tend to be for those acts that are already (more or less) established (though The Overtones & Julian Velard managed to break through last week). The "Comic Relief" telethon managed to continue that trend by reeling in some big names to perform their latest music - often in a slightly unusual way. Here are some of my favourites...

JLS ft Miranda crew ~ Eyes Wide Shut. I absolutely what I like to call love Miranda. Her sitcom is a reasonable facsimilie of what my life is like on a day to day basis. So of course I was delighted that she was doing a little Comic Relief sketch (which was amazing - click here to view) AND dancing/rapping with the JLS boys. The dance routine is the culmination of the sketch show prior to it, which included such classic dance lessons as "Lady Gaga Feel The Beat/Lady Gaga Dress of Meat" and a cameo from oft quoted in the show Heather Small. If you haven't learned to love Miranda yet, how in the hell are you gonna love yourself? Can I get a "what have you done today to make you feel proud"?! Now enjoy the clip above, and bare with while I pause on lovely Gary in a tank top...


Peter Kaye ft Subo ~ I Know Him So Well. The anthem (though not "Anthem") from Chess is one of my fave songs. Steps did it well. Whitney and Cissy souled it up. John & Daniel excelled at it. But nothing tops the original Babs/Elaine version and Peter and Susan Boyle have done a rather good parody of it for the show. I'm not sure anyone who hasn't grown up knowing and loving the original video as much as I have will appreciate some of the finer points, but it's a jolly good chortle nonetheless...(it's the original above as the PK/Subo version is being sold on iTunes and all proceeds go to charity. Go forth and purchase)...


Take/Fake That ~ Happy Now. Oh! Kidz is barely over (after all that money spent on the video) and suddenly we're on to single 3 (good choice though) from Progress. The video concept above is basically some of Britain's finest comics (including lovely Catherine Tate) auditioning to be a Take That tribute band by recreating some of their iconic looks. These include the Do What U Like video, Back For Good and The Flood. They also performed the song sans Fake That earlier in the show, which you can watch by clicking here. Waiting for single 4 please. It's BeeGees does 2011-tastic.


McFly ~ All About You (sort of). It is common knowledge that the best Comic Relief single ever released is Bananarama ft Lanananeenanoonoo, Help. Instant classic. Second to that is the bonkers Who Do You Think You Are by Spice Girls. However, a very close third is the lovely tender ballad by my McFly ragamuffins. They didn't perform this on the show the last night in it's original version, but rewrote the lyrics to thank the staff at OxFam who had raised millions for comic relief. It's just Danny and Tom, but it's quite sweet anyway and makes me sad that their very tremendulent song That's The Truth didn't have a more sterling performance on the UK charts.


Other highlights:

• The Wanted performed their very good indeed single Gold Forever, not to be confused with One Direction's Forever Young. Read Nick's latest pop update for a spot on and concise review :)
• Adele performed Someone Like You. That woman is everywhere and unstoppable and I for one am not complaining. I have recently mastered this on the piano and I sound brilliant ;)
• Not music, but Dr Who returned for a madcap mini adventure with La Pond and a strangely foxy Rory. I have no idea what was happening but I'm hoping DanP76 will enlighten me. Can't wait for the return on April 23rd

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time (RE)
20 ~ Andrea Lewis, She (NE)
19 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
18 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
17 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
16 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
15 ~ The Moniker, Oh My God
14 ~ Take That, Kidz
13 ~ Take That, Happy Now (NE)
12 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low
11 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut (RE)
10 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
09 ~ Danny, In The Club
08 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God
07 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
06 ~ Love Generation, Dance Alone
05 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
04 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
03 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
02 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
01 ~ Eric Saade, Popular (4 weeks)

Good lord. Once again I'm going to abandon any semblence of doing melodifestivalen coverage again today and instead talk once again about my beloved The Feeling. Well in a minute anyway. As you well know by now, you can get all your melodifestivalen coverage over at AlienHits, PopPosterGirl, SwedishStereo and Scandipop. What I will say is that this week was a bit of a shocker (results wise) and I really enjoyed Love Generation, Melody Club & Linda B, quite liked Anders Fernette and found everyone else pleasant. Anyway, more swedish pop makes my chart this week and I suspect a big influx of MF songs will debut next week. Now does anyone else think the Glee "loser like me" song is quite good but not as spiffing as Brit High's "start of something"?!

THE FEELING ~ SEARCHED EVERY CORNER:

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the forthcoming The Feeling single, Set My World On Fire, which you can now hear as part of the BBC's cricket coverage and debuts on my chart at #12 this week. At their tiny audience gigs, they've been selling a 1 track cd of a Freemasons produced song called Searched Every Corner. Allegedly this won't be on their forthcoming album, which is a bit of a shame as it deserves a much wider audience. It's basically is The Feeling Does Disco. They have done this before to an extent with the electro tinged second album comeback single "I Thought It Was Over". This is completely different to that - it's a warm shimmering affair, sort of what you would imagine The Feeling to sound like if they covered Kylie Minogue's The One. It keeps all the trademark The Feeling stuff you know and love such as the divine layered harmonies and delightfully 60s-esque sound they do so well and covers it in pulsating disco beats, swirling synth couplets & delicious female backing vocals. The chorus is a singalong treat with a perfect delivery from Dan and some great "back back back" ad-libs from the boys. This all bodes well for their duet with Sophie Ellis Bextor (Leave Me Out of It) and hopefully a nice summer tour from them too. I remain completely smitten.

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
20 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low (NE)
19 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
18 ~ Danny, In The Club
17 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
16 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
15 ~ Britney, Hold It Against Me
14 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
13 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
12 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire (NE)
11 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
10 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
09 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
08 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
07 ~ Neo, Underground
06 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
04 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
03 ~ Take That, Kidz (PIC)
02 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
01 ~ Eric Saade, Popular (NE/1 Week)

Ah another week, another heat finishes in the race to represent Sweden in the Eurovision song contest. And that is what quite rightly dominates Swedish Saturday night television there. Here? We get Take Me Out where fellas of varying hotness are judged by a panel of 30 single, horny, desperate women and still no-one has picked Welsh Lucy for a date despite her practically lying legs in the air with a neon sign pointing at her vagina. And on the other side, there is Lets Dance for Comic Relief where celebrities (and Katie Price - insert neon sign pointing at vagina comment here) do "comedy" versions of famous dance routines. it's usually dreadful. Though Russell Kane did entertain with his spot on Crazy In Love by Beyonce. Marv. And now for the best of this week's melodifestivalen...

THE RETURN OF ERIC SAADE:


Things called Popular tend to do quite well really don't they? Turn of the millenium tv show "Popular" was very good indeed (bit over dramatic at times) and essentially still better than anything Glee comes up with. "Popular" the song from the ace musical Wicked is rather pleasing and a wry little ditty if ever I heard one. So of course a come back single launching his second album promotion and his entry for melodifestivalen is bound to do well for the dashing young Mr Saade. It will be impossible to find a video of this performance from last night's show for a while as it sailed through to the finale on the 12th March and SVT are most protective about the tunes until that has aired. What you need to know about the tune though is that it is essentially Manboy fathering the baby of It's Gonna Rain with another energetic dance routine thrown in to boot. It's not entirely different to the latter song, yet there's an enthusiasm and catchiness about it that completely reels you in and has you boogying along way before the song has finished. It's completely euro-disco and possibly the runaway winner of the show, but that remains to be seen. What I would like to see is what would happen if Simon Curtis attempted a tune like this (and had a dance routine to match)... Eric needs to visit England and do a nice tour of the gay clubs before releasing a deliriously giddy trifecta of singles (Popular, Manboy and It's Gonna Rain). For much more on melodifestivalen, do visit wise folk like Damian, Nick, Postergirl and Scandipop :)

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Danny Saucedo, In The Club (NE)
20 ~ Brandon Flowers, Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts
19 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
18 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
17 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
16 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
15 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
14 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
13 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love (NE)
12 ~ Britney, Hold It Against Me
11 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
10 ~ Westlife, Beautiful  Tonight
09 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
08 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
07 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
06 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God
05 ~ Neo, Underground
04 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
03 ~ Take That, Kidz (VID)
02 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
01 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way (2 weeks)

Oh the pre-Christmas whirl of life has begun. My 82 song festive playlist has started to entertain me on the journey to work. My pre-Christmas shopping holiday is less than 2 weeks away. And dozens upon dozens of artists are releasing new albums of the non-festive variety in an attempt to corner the Christmas market. I was going to do full reviews of these two albums today, but there are so many decent reviews out there of both that I shall just do an overview of why they are great and what singles should be released from each project. Alonzie!

Take That ~ Progress:

Why you should love it ~ Take That are back. Fully back. With Robbie and everything. If anyone had any doubts about the wisdom of this, then one listen to their amazing new album Progress should eradicate these. The involvement of Stuart Price, the working through of any "issues" and a true collaborative effort has produced an exciting and urgent new sound for the band that shows they aren't content to rest on their laurels. It's a bit jarring at first but ultimately the emotive vocal playoffs between messers Barlow and Williams & Owen and Williams deliver an intruiging overview of personal, group and global issues the band think are worth tackling. Here's what should be singles...

• The Flood ~ You only need to view the X-Factor performance (above) to see how glorious this single is. Even when it's delivered with an element of nerves, tentativeness and fragility, it blows the roof off most other boyband efforts ever. That it stalled at number two in the charts behind Rihanna is an absolute crime...
• Happy Now ~ A definite winner of a second single and one that possibly should have launched this album. The chorus is drenched in sumptuous harmonies that are perhaps the closest you'll get here to what has come to pass prior to this album, while the verses shimmer with memories of Robbie's Rudebox. It's all very scissor sisters meets Mika but definitely all Take That. Flipping brilliant.
• SOS ~ the second song on the album may verge into Killers meets Muse territory, but for me it evokes memories of the incredible Abba track The Visitors. Remember the sheer panicked urgency of the music and the evident terror in Agnetha's vocal? (Edit: It's Frida. I am filled with shame at this egregious error.) That atmosphere is bought bang up to date with this track and the rollicking chorus blasts it's way into your head ensuring you will be singing it for days to come. I can only imagine the brilliance a video might add to this track.
• Kidz ~ Not the Robbie track so no onery Sean Connery here. This is still rumoured to be the second single and what you get is a huge glam rock anthem with little Mark blisteringly tearing up the verses, while Robbie all but physically attacks the chorus (all heavy beats and intense sirens) with lyrics like "There will be trouble when the kids come out". It's a continuingly invigorated Take That and they are just that little bit dangerous now. who would have thought it?!
• 8 Letters ~ An exceptionally brilliant way to end the Progress singles campaign would be to remind everyone of the more traditional Take That. This Gary led track is one of his finest - it's a lovely, piano driven number, lighters in the air and coo along at your own leisure. Plus could nicely lead into album number four which may or may not include Robbie...

Agree? Disagree? Let me know!!

Shayne Ward ~ Obsession:

Why you should love it - even before hearing it, I felt honour bound to love Shayne's big comeback album. He has been grossly neglected by his record label and should probably be on album number four now and leading off with something as brilliant as Darin's Microphone. Alas, this was not to be but the fact that Shayne has returned at all is something to be thankful for. As his commitment to his rather amazing stomach and getting his kit off for Gay Times. Considering all the songs he allegedly recorded, there are a couple of "these will do" moments on the album, but there is enough in there for some corking singles as follows...

• Gotta Be Somebody ~ Who would have thought that a shimmering beat driven pop makeover of a Nickelback song would yield such enticing results? The minimalistic performance on the X-Factor (above) shows that the song stands on it's own merits and is totally deserving of a much higher chart position. Play it lots because it's beauty isn't always immediately apparent, but once you see it, you'll be hooked.
• Obsession ~ The title track is also one of the highlights of the album and continues Simon Cowell's obsession with all things Tedder sounding. However, it really works here with Shayne's vocal being nicely matched by a heavy percussive beat. It gives Shayne an opportunity to not only show off his impressive pipes (see here if you really required any more proof) but also his songwriting abilities - this was co-penned with X Factor vocal coach Savan Kotecha. Definitely should be single #2...
• Waiting In The Wings ~ ooo it's ballad time and very lovely it is too. It's another Shayne co-write and another track that gives his vocal ability the place it deserves, front and centre. There is a heavenly piano melody floating along and if he gets it out for Valentines day, it could be a real smoochy for all the lovers out there.
• Must Be The Reason ~ I'm sure Simon Cowell has a template now for his X Factor acts he is not sure what to do with. Just like Joe McElderry (who Shayne would totally snog according to GT) and Same Difference, Shayne's album is peppered with repurposed tracks and samples to give it just the right amount of familiarity. This remake of King of my Castle has a Ke$sha level of autotune, but is a nice, funky tune and may give Shayne a chance to finally atone for that If That's Ok With You dance routine. I've been playing this track all day and am just loving it. Single please (possibly double A side with catchy Human) with a plethora of remixes and a dance heavy video. thank you.

Agree? Disagree - let me know :)

I'm ill :( Again. I think I have a recurring bug. How hideous. And I'm meant to be seeing my beloved Candle Thieves tonight but think I will have to pass. Lucky for you, i typed these video breakdowns at the weekend inbetween mammoth X-Factor viewing. Enjoy :)

Take That ~ The Flood:

• Ooo, it starts in a tunnel. Tunnels are often metaphors for sex, so perhaps this is a continuation of the cock tease that was Grobbie's Shame video?!
• There is a rowing boat. It is called Progress. This is part of the lyrics of The Flood and also the title of the first Robbie-involved Take That album in 15 years. Five sets of oars and five pairs of feet appear to reinforce the fact that Robbie is back! Back in take that! As a five piece! just in case you didn't know. Which you probably did, but visual stimulation is a very effective memory tool...
• There are facial shots of all of them. Mark doesn't look as chagrinned as he possibly should, but maybe he is acting. They leave Robbie til last like it is the dramatic cliffhanger to a soap opera - like season one of Dynasty when Alexis Morrell Carrington (the Colby Dexter Rowan came later) marched in to give evidence at Blake's murder trial. God I'm showing my age.
• I like the fact that at 45 seconds they all walk in perfect union to pop the boat/canoe/pedalo into the river. It is more visual emphasis that Take That are back and more in sync than ever. Never Forget, etc.
• Robbie starts singing while they all limber up, eye up the competition (a rather foxy dude in a posh college sort of way) and give each other reassuring pats on the shoulder. I am loving Robbie's perfect, not a hair out of place side parting. It's tres derigour.
• Beardy guy fires the starting pistol and they're off! It's stroke, stroke, stroke (ooo calm down there pervs) and lots of strained sex faces. Team Take That don't seem to be doing very well (ie, they are coming second out of two)and there is lots of paddle bashing.
• (for more specifics on the sex faces, pause at 1m39, 1m43 and 1m48 to see Mark, Gary and Howard respectively. It's enough to give you a mini cosmic horn)...
• There's more Robbie singing in the second verse, interspersed with some arty shots of splashing water and some kids on the banks who look like they've escaped from the set of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Narnia rules!
• I love the architecture of the bridge at 2m10s (arty) and if you pause at 2m26 you get a fairly accurate insight of what it is like to be Robbie Williams' dentist! Amazing!
• Then we go into Mark Owen's eye for a view of what it is like to be rowing for your life if you are General Zod in that prism thingy in Superman II. Luckily this doesn't last long as it is a bit offputting and they are soon all back in the changing room looking spiffy in shorts and white socks. It's an Eton College porn-lite fantasy waiting to happen!!
• Take That came second! This is what Grobbie felt like when Cee-Lo beat them to number one! it's a visual representation of what has come to pass! ooo it's almost biblical isn't it?!
• (Pause at 3m11s and Gary has got a definite expletive forming on his lips, the naughty boy...)
• Team Cee-Lo are rightly very happy with themselves (though in chart battle terms, this will not be happening to Take That when they go head to head with JLS. They will annihilate them!) They will probably go for tea at a quaint countryside cafe where they will victory feast on (each other) ginger beer, strawberries and lashings and lashings of cream...
• But lo! What madness is this?! Team Take That are still going! because it is not about the race, but the team work that helps them progress. or something. I really should have been an English Literature professor.
• The camera pans out at 3m39s and there is an ariel view of the river! how much did Eastenders pay for this advertising opportunity?!?!
• They are going to have brilliant arms after all this rowing. Perfect for holding you down (in a consensual non-rapey way of course!!)
• Rather predictably, they have ended up in the ocean in the middle of a storm. They have made progress in terms of miles covered and in terms of working as a team to get there. This should be used as a motivational tool at sales conferences etc.
• The song and video are both very good aren't they?

McFly ft. Taio Cruz ~ Shine A Light:

• It starts off all very underground resistance in an industrial looking setting, all bars, chains and makeshift computer terminals. Danny manages to hook up to some (probably not password protected) wi-fi and has a butchers at his own McFly supersite. I love a bit of cross promotion in a video...
• Oh my bad. Actually it's foxy band chick in her room who is disturbed from her reading to look at the new supersite, which features Tom having a good old singsong, possibly in the indoor rain...
• She asks the band what she needs to do... they basically carry on singing, while Dougie rubs his nose, probably deep in thought. What a conundrum!
• Don't worry though! Taio Cruz has popped along to help out and he has bought some quite bright backing lights and sexy dancer ladies to assist him! They climb all over the bars and do some robotic sexy dancing.
• Taio wisely keeps his sunglasses on. This is because the literal interpretation of Shine A Light is quite bright and just looking at the screen has hurt my retinas ever such a little bit.
• While this is going on, The Buff Judd is finding his rhythm at a rhythm factory. Good for him. This involves looking at a dancing dog costume fella on the internet. What some people do to pass the time, eh?!
• The boys a mini concert inside their industrial revolution basement. It's like a futuristic Johnny Cash gig!(1m30s)
• Skin head guy is helping out foxy band chick with her internet problems. What a nice fella. He is actually quite good looking and temporarily distracts from the all consuming allure of The Judd.
• There is a bit of multi map going on by a blonde lad. Perhaps he is trying to track down the location of this underground prison gig going on. With Taio Cruz! It's where all the kids are hanging out, pending this imminent nuclear apocalypse (I assume)...
• At the 2m mark, Taio is well getting down with his bad self, while the band energetically strum along (steady) beside him. I haven't seen such an enthusiastic response to a guest star since Blue duetted with Stevie Wonder and Antony Costa was all agog...
• Just before 2 and a half minutes, Tom and Dougie are playing in front of some nice tv screens. Black and white though. perhaps the colour is on the blink.
• It's Taio's solo. He takes his glasses off and there is no shining light. But (never start a sentence with conjuncture) the robotic dancer ladies are still bopping away and more and more people are arriving at the underground prison gig.
• There is lots of pogo-ing going on in the final choruses and everyone seems to be having a rollicking good time. This is probably because it's quite a joyous final chorus and the song itself grows and grows to this point and it's all very splendid.

Tomorrow (possibly) ~ A1 and Big Time Rush reviews; Weds (possibly) ~ Swe-pop update!

I love Friday afternoon off. If Friday afternoon off were a hot dude, I would probably be going in for a clumsy first date smooch right about now. It's been a busy week but not an entirely bad one. The highlight was a riotous forty minutes or so, playing some new music on my now regular Larry Flick Morning Jolt slot. So much fun. A lot of time was also spent obsessively analysing queue patterns in Disney World and planning out the Florida trip. I may have overplanned and forgot to schedule "fun" in there... :P Anyway, prior to a mammoth Take That blog tomorrow and of course the monolith that is the X Factor sunday blog, here are some of the things to tide you over through the weekend...

FizzyPop Weekend Supplement:

• Nikita ~ Tonight: I am loving Nikita. Both the new show on The CW which makes me want to pretend I'm a rogue spy bringing down a clandestine government agency and this scintillating Blondie-esque disco track. It's a rather gorgeous, sparkling track that makes you want to grab the one you love and shimmy. Indeed, there is some magnificent layered vocals in the addictive chorus - part of it sounds like an updated I Feel Love while running behind that is the Blondie type Sunday Girl adlibs, all weaved together wonderfully by a pulsating electronica beat. Remember when Annie & Isabel Guzman were going to be the next big dance floor divas? They may have been outdone by Nikita. Instantly massive, this will get dance floors heated through the cold winter months. BTW, I know from personal experience that it sounds absolutely heavenly after 3 glasses of quite expensive wine...
• Annie Lennox ~ Universal Child: Annie Lennox was born on December 25th, ergo I feel she has earned her right to put out her Christmas Cornicopia. This track is the self penned lead single from that forthcoming collection and is an earnest, forthright sweeping song full of inspiring lyrics and a crescendo of instruments that never overshadow that distinctive vocal style. As a charity single it is probably everything that Madonna was trying to achieve with the somewhat weak and watery Hey You. Gets better with each listen and fine for a spin anytime of year. Love it.
• More Christmas albums ~ since I wrote about the upcoming Christmas song releases from various artists here, several more have hit the marketplace including - gasp - one of my fave girl groups Wilson Phillips!! Hurrah! They have done a Christmas album before, but that was back when it was just Carnie and Wendy! I need some Chynna in the mix. Also whipping out festive releases are Lady Antebellum (the boys look f-i-n-e on the cover), Sheryl Crow (a 2010 edition of a previously released album. Ka-ching) and uh, Katherine McPhee. It may only be October, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

• Simon Curtis ~ Since 8 Bit Heart garnered him a ferociously loyal following, it seems like Simon has been working hard to move onto the next stage of his career. He's been busy recording the heavenly Andrea Lewis duet (read about it here; my number one song this week!) and hopefully his new album with apparently some Ace of Base-esque beats on there will be available before Christmas. He's also been involved in the Love is Louder campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the struggles bullied teens go through, and provide them with some support and comfort. Vital stuff. Surely a NoH8 photo shoot must be coming?!
• The Feeling ~ In The Year 2525: Talking of charity, while I impatiently await a 3rd Feeling album (due next year or probably whenever Sophie Ellis Bextor deigns to release hers), they have recorded a rather spiffy version of the Zager & Evans number one hit. It's for the 1969 Key To Change album, which raises money for young homeless people. The track retains the slightly spaced out, hippy-esque vibe of the original, but marries it with the trademark layered vocals of the group and it's certainly nice to have this entirely pleasant stop gap until the new album comes out (or until I can start playing Feels Like Christmas again). Dan sounds positively luscious. As normal...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
20 ~ Jesse McCartney, Shake
19 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Once Upon A Time
18 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
17 ~ Elouise, The Winner Takes It All
16 ~ Nadine Coyle, Insatiable
15 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
14 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
13 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
12 ~ Westlife, Safe
11 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
10 ~ JLS, Love You More
09 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
08 ~ Pink, Raise Your Glass
07 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
06 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame
05 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
02 ~ Take That, The Flood (VID)
01 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me (NE/1 Week)

Coming soon: Sat (Take That full video breakdown!); Sun (X Factor Live Shows 2); Mon (A1 & Big Time Rush album reviews)...

It's essentially been a mega week for pop (new P!nk!) - but especially for boybands. There's the return of Big Time Rush. A sizzlingly seductive new McFly song. An inspiring and soaring number from Westlife. JLS have charmed with their children in need snogathon Love You More. And Robbie battled for number one with his still very charming Gary duet Shame (and the equally aces Heart & I on his greatest hits is a belter). However, the best was saved for the end of the week - and lead a huge influx of boy band songs into my hot 21 songs of the week...

TAKE THAT ~ THE FLOOD:

Crikey. Stuart Price's involvement with the new Take That album has elevated their already considerable talents to an all new level. It's true that the track is "flooded" with Robbie's vocal (yes, we get it, he's back), but it's a tremendous tune that I keep returning to over and over again. Lyrically, it's a bit like Shame in the way that it addresses what has personally happened within the group over the past 15 years or so and the chorus is so unified and soaring that it gives it an almost celebratory feel. Crashing drums, strings and solid harmonies propel the track to greatness and I think I am only going to be more excited when the video drops on Friday 15th...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Eric Saade, Masquerade
20 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
19 ~ McFly, Shine A Light (NE)
18 ~ Jesse McCartney, Shake
17 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Once Upon A Time
16 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass (NE)
15 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
14 ~ Nadine Coyle, Insatiable
13 ~ Elouise, The Winner Takes It All
12 ~ Westlife, Safe (NE)
11 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young (Vid)
10 ~ JLS, Love You More (NE)
09 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
08 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
07 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
06 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
05 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I (NE)
02 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame
01 ~ Take That, The Flood (NE/1 Week)

Tomorrow! THE X FACTOR LIVE SHOWS #1

I love a bit of Robbie Williams I do. I've raved about him many times on this blog (and its former incarnation thezapping). It's a bit of a career wrap up for Robbie at the moment, what with a fairly definitive greatest hits album called In & Out of Consciousness and his photo heavy book You Know Me (currently only available at Tesco in the UK in a deal that must have netted Robbie some dosh through an exclusivity deal - hasn't Nadine got the same sort of deal with her forthcoming album?). The book is a lavish, lush look through the past 18-19 years that Robbie has been in the public spotlight from the early days of Take That, through the early solo years, megastardom and his current standing as something of a pop legend in the UK. Each photo takes long time fans back to a bygone era, evoking memories of their own lives that have been intertwined with the music of Robbie Williams. It's quite the accomplishment, and one that Robbie should definitely be proud of. His career (at least this stage of it) has seemingly come full circle as he is now back with Take That (see above) for a new single (The Flood) and album (Progress) - and what with the book, greatest hits and TT album, it's a bumper crop this Christmas for Robbie fanatics such as myself...

Heart & I

Shame (written by both Robbie and Gary, and featuring both on vocal duties) must have been the obvious first choice for the lead off (& possibly only) single from In & Out of Consciousness. It not only has the draw of publically reuniting the bumpy, complex relationship of Gary and Robbie, but it's also an entirely radio ready John Denver inspired lovely lilting tune of regret tempered with a new found maturity and perspective on the future. Then of course there is the video. And let me preface my next statement by saying I absolutely adore Shame. It's been number one for four weeks on my chart and is bound to make a big splash in the UK when officially released on Monday. Taking all this into account, Heart & I is definitely the better first single. Still a Gary co-write, it sees Robbie take the vocal lead on his own - something he's done admirably since 1996 (Freedom not withstanding) and is much more reflective of his musical style he's perfected since that time. It initially comes across as pulsingly similar to Scissor Sisters Fire with Fire anthemic single and occupies the same soaring airspace as it progresses. I initially classed it as an uptempo tune on twitter earlier this morning, but actually has more in common with Robbie's mid-tempo successes such as Bodies, Come Undone and Love Supreme. It's definitely got a rocker's energy to it with some prominent guitar and a enduring beat that propels the song forward. Lyrically, parts of the song are a mea culpa to Robbie's own career ("i thought i'd be fixed by now") while there is still his trademark heart on sleeve nature as he passionately delivers the refrain "we don't lie, my heart and I". Ultimately it's a sumptuous, layered tune that acts as a fine closing act to the current stage of Robbie's career. It's been one hell of a ride. Let's see what's next...

It's been a pleasant day all told. I'm slightly pleased that my beloved Josie has reunited with John James. We got a nice new funding contract at work, plus another bit of super news so lots of hard work has paid off. I got to listen to a very exciting bit of new music that I can't write about til next week (ooo, embargo, get me, etc.) AND! on top of all of that, I've spent the day saturated in the new Robbie Williams single. Which I am about to tell you about now...

Shame ~ the single:

It's the much lauded Robbie greatest hits single, following on from his criminally underrated last album Reality Killed The Video Star (I could have easily picked another 3 singles from it, but oh well). It's gotten a lot of extra attention (though a new Robbie single still quite rightly attracts attention) for two reasons:

• It's from his new greatest hits album which celebrates an astonishingly successful 20 years as a pop star...
• He's returning to Take That (full circle and delightful symmetry alert) and someone called Gary Barlow duets on this track...

A small part of me was hoping for some sort of camptastic duet a la the boy version of Your Disco Needs You or some sort of testosteroned Enough Is Enough. This has not come to pass. What you do get is an entirely delicious semi-country tinged ballad that pairs a pretty melody with some insightful lyrics that could quite easily be describing the bumpy Gary-Robbie relationship of the late 90s ("what a shame we never listened/i told you through the television"). There's some lovely harmonising during the wistful chorus that is tinged with sadness and regret. It's not the brash stomper I was hoping for, but there's such honesty and relatability within the tune that everyone who has ever regretted lack of contact between friends/lovers/family because of words of hurt and anger will find hauntingly real. So i'm full of bittersweet memories, but ever so ever so in love with this wonderfully crafted tune...

Shame ~ the video:

• The song starts as a visual representation of the wistfulness of the lyrics - Robbie is staring into a tumble dryer (something I find brings about my most thoughtful and melancholic moments) then wanders through anytown, USA...
• Gary is across the road, sporting some manly stubble and leaning outside a dog grooming parlour. Surely there is a hidden message in there somewhere?!
• Robbie has some nice boots on. I can't believe that I have fancied Robbie since about 1991. He's still fairly handsome, but it is the Barl that is just blossoming as the years tick by...
• Both have been for a bit of shopping and have their groceries in the very American brown paper bags. England has never cottoned onto this have we? We're more "a bag for life" (which lasts about 6 months, but at least you get a free one at the end of it...
• More shoe shots at 40s. It's like a cowboy Sex and The City...
• Rather endearingly, Robbie gazes at The Barl while singing (in his head) "out of some sentimental gain, I wanted you to feel my pain". The Barl just looks down. It's very touching.
• There are some longing looks as they get into their cars. It's very Brokeback Mountain (as the world and his wife has pointed out) but I suppose it could easily be two estranged brothers. Whatever. I'm still eager for Robbie to, uh, "take that" if you know what i mean :P
• Ooo, a proper American bar. They are so different to pubs aren't they? Robbie and Gary are dancing with some girls, but sharing some very meaningful looks. I'm starting to get aroused.
• The visuals are amazing. Gary HAS a beard and is dancing WITH his beard. Literally aceballs on a piece of toast.
• They are now at the old watering hole, throwing stones, having a reet good laugh and if you pause at 2m26s Robbie is either having a very melancholic pause, or eyefucking The Barl. Either works. One provides me with a much better night's dreaming though ;)
• The middle 8 has glimpses of hand holding, some loving shoulder touching and this rather lovely almost imperceptable nod from The Barl which a) makes the bridges that were burnt now rebuilt and b) acts as permission for their relationship (both in the real world and in the video) be ok for what it is. I may shed a tear...
• Oh this is a homoerotic dream - is there anyway to slow-mo youtube? Robbie and Gary are stripping to have a nice dip in the lake. It could still all be entirely bromancey or fraternal, but my pervy mind works over time, and I sense that they would be absolutely ok with that :)
• During a karaoke montage, they run topless to the quite high cliff top, but then decide that it is not the best idea and walk off (into the sunset?) arm in arm. Like the song, this is very lovely indeed.

SMITTEN!

Golly, what an eventful week it's been. All these popstars regrouping/rejoining/relaunching really takes it out of you!! So I had a nice relaxing Saturday (shopping - so many sales on; reading - Withering Tights is brillopants; Buffy Season 7 - I always get emotional when Xander tells Dawn that she isn't special, she's extraordinary; Harry Potter 7 trailers - very exciting, plus nice poster (above); and Toy Story 2 - in prep for Toy Story 3 at the Imax on Weds) which then lead into a drunken, Pimms fuelled Saturday night (I'm sure I strained something re-enacting the dance moves to Britannia High and I really shouldn't pretend to be the Tree of Temptation from BigBro 11)... So I'm opting for a lazy Sunday so getting the blog up and at you early today. Enjoy, etc...

Essential happenings...

• Take That ~ unless you were on another planet this week (I hear Raxacoricofallapatorius is just lovely this time of year), you cannot have failed to hear that Robbie Williams has re-joined the re-formed Take That for at least one album and a tour. Ka-Ching! Not only will this now be the must-see tour of 2011 (along with Kylie of course), but has fulfilled a boyhood dream of mine to see the defining boyband of my youth back together properly. Both Take That and Robbie's last albums were fine pieces of work respectively that produced some brilliant pop moments so a full on famous five collaboration should be all sorts of stunning. Of course the first hints of what is to be will be the Robbie/Gary songs on Robbie's now more appropriately timed than ever career spanning hits collection. Part of me has the "oh god, i have such high expectations how could they possibly be met" worry, but most of me is just as giddy as giddy can be with anticipation...
• Ace of Base ~ The Sign is still one of the greatest pop songs of the 90s. Always Have Always Will still makes me deliriously happy whenever I hear it. Alejandro is basically a remake of Wheel of Fortune. And while their last reunion attempt, Da Capo, didn't set the world alight, it really should have. But they are back - again! With a rather nifty little snippet of a new single, All For You, on their webpage and a demo floating around of the entirely catchy Mr Replay. The real delicious drama comes from a near Dynasty proportions Krystle-Alexis style smackdown between remaining bloke members and ex/current/future (depending on what you believe) singer Jenny. See Scandipop for the details, but this could run and run...

• McFly, Party Girl ~ I was not expecting this. My adored McFly have returned and it's fair to say that they have come back with something that doesn't exactly fit in with their previous canon of sound. This was a little jarring to me at first (reflected by a low debut on my charts) but over the past few days I've come to be besotted with their new, "futuristic r'n'b" sound. What is most brilliant about it, is you strip back the production values and at the core of it you have a traditional McFly song - catchy, instrument led, smartly constructed pop. The whistles and bells of the electro-tinged production take the boys out their comfort zone and in doing so shows that the boys are actually adept at adapting to a new challenge. The whoas and ooos, combined with the joyous refrain "i love this little party girl" make this a bold, confident and exciting step forward for one of Britain's most talented boy bands.
• Sherlock ~ Lord luv a duck. Barely is nu-Who scribe Stephan Moffat done with sprucing up Doctor Who in a bow tie, now he's turned his attentions to another British legend - good old Watson and Holmes. A new tv series starts on Sunday and hopefully will be way more brilliant than the most recent film. The promo pic (below) looks great and the trailer looks like it could live up to the hype. 3 90 minute episodes are airing and hopefully this will lead to more (particularly as Mark Gatiss has written one. Brillo!) Very exciting stuff...

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Circles
20 ~ Chanee & N'Evergreen, In A Moment Like This
19 ~ Scissor Sisters, Fire with Fire
18 ~ McFly, Party Girl (NE)
17 ~ Ola, All Over The World
16 ~ Simon Curtis, Beat Drop
15 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way
14 ~ Kylie, Get Outta My Way
13 ~ Le Kid, Mercy Mercy
12 ~ Bright Light X 2, Love Part II
11 ~ Dirty Disco, White Room
10 ~ Bang Bang Club, Chemistry
09 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers
08 ~ Eric Saade, It's Gonna Rain (Pic above - thanks Scandipop!)
07 ~ Amy Meredith, Lying (NE)
06 ~ Magic Numbers, Pulse
05 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever
04 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossroads
03 ~ Darin, Can't Stop Love
02 ~ Darin, Lovekiller (NE)
01 ~ Maroon 5, Misery (3 weeks)

Picking my favourite albums is quite difficult. There are those albums that I like that are critically acclaimed and I recognise the genius of them, yet they are not my favourite favourite albums. Then there are those albums that are largely ignored but I end up loving anyway. And then there are albums that are generally massive and everybody loves them. So rather than have a specific order for the top 25, I've just listed them alphabetically and then done the top 10 in order of preference if (as Shayne Ward once said) that's ok with you... :P

• Alphabeat ~ The Spell: They mixed 90s rave and house energies with the pop sensibilities of the noughties and came up with a winning combination that didn't even come close to outstaying it's welcome or being samey over the 10+ tracks. Minimum of 4 massive singles should be forthcoming...
• Bananarama ~ Viva: Ian Masterson did a bang up job with this album and then it was grossly ignored by the public. The swines. The girls had some future classics on here that were designed to be danced to - Love Don't Live Here, had it been by Kylie, would have been top ten for weeks...
• Michael Buble ~ Crazy Love: He was always quite popular, but this year he has hit the stratosphere and quite rightly so. Excellent stage presence, great voice, thoroughly nice chap but with the personality to back it up and duetted with Stacey. Plus had a bonafide pop hit with crazy catchy Haven't Met You Yet. It's only the beginning - this album will run throughout 2010...
• Alexandra Burke ~ Overcome: Well I had no interest in her at the start of the year and then gosh darn it she comes back with a banging pop tune and one of the more interesting X Factor winner albums in a long time. By keeping the tempo up and varied, Alexandra is assured a longer pop career than the boy who stole her crown...
• Dragonette ~ Fixin To Thrill: It was one of the pop delights of 2009, and they took the bold route of giving away half the songs on it before it was even out. You'd have been a fool not to buy the whole thing - in a year bereft of new Girls Aloud, this filled the smart-pop void perfectly and should have been entirely more massive...
  

• Florence + The Machine ~ Lungs: It's both a demanding and seductive debut album that is a joy to listen to; full of nuances that add dimension and layers to each song, it's powered forward by a voice that is both mesmerising and intoxicating. Critics were gushing all over it and luckily fans snapped it up in their droves to. Phew...
• Gossip ~ Music For Men: Not just an amazing album of catchy disco pop, a smart album that sent a message to a still disappointingly homophobic world. Luckily that message is overburdened with seriousness - it's about getting on your feet and dancing, because let's face it a wise woman once said 'music brings the people together'. No one is doing more for that cause than the Gossip on this ace cd...
• Erik Hassle ~ Hassle: Didn't it seem like every few weeks a new Erik Hassle video appeared for either Hurtful or Don't Bring Flowers, and that he was about to be very big indeed? The world is still waiting for that moment, but that didn't make this any less of an astonishing debut for such a young chap. Brilliant lyricist able to match his passionate outpourings to clever music. 2010 must be his big break...
• Whitney Houston ~ I Look To You: The voice was a little different. A lot had happened over the decade. Yet when Whitney returned it was like she never went away, and while it was not quite the triumphant comeback it should have been, it certainly wasn't subpar. Million Dollar Bill (particularly the freemasons mix) powered her to heights she hadn't seen for a while, but there is plenty more to come from this album yet...
• Natalie Imbruglia ~ Come To Life: Has this actually been released yet? Frustratingly delayed, it soon became a torrent favourite. tragic really because the first half of the album plays like side A of an LP. Cohesive, some brilliant tracks and all single worthy, particularly the amazing scars. Side B (or the last 5 songs) are more experimental and don't work quite as well, but for the first 5 alone this features strongly...
  
  

• JLS ~ JLS: You know, I was a little disappointed with this album at first, but the more I have listened to it, the more it grew on me. And a large part of that is to do with just how charming and enthusiastic the lads are. They make me want to love their songs and they make songs that are easy to love. Enough said ;)
• Blake Lewis ~ Heartbreak on Vinyl: Blake came back with an album that pillaged the 80s but in a loving tribute way, not in a La-Roux aren't I unique and ace (no) sort of way. The title track was by far the best, but the rest of the stuff was pretty fine too. His new 80s hair was not though. Minus one point for that!
• Nerina Pallot ~ The Graduate: It pains me that Nerina seemingly has to build her popularity up from scratch with each album release. She has a winning writing style, amazing melodies and lyrics and an enticing voice. Plus she's lovely and witty to boot? She's given you gro-lite and mineral supplements, whaddyawant from her, blood?! BUY IT ALREADY!! :)
• Westlife ~ Where We Are: I didn't really have high expectations for this album, but if you liked Westlife already it was ideal for you and if you don't, then why continue blathering on about it? They are probably not gonna change now, are they?!
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ MZW: Horribly chosen singles didn't really help the album but overall it was a great pop effort with some outstanding tracks on there that deserve a worldwide audience. Hope and Glory remains a magnificent anthem to this day...

Honourable mentions: Darin-Flashback; Marit Larsen-If A Song Could Get Me You; Neo-Neo; Annie-Don't Stop; Danny-Set Your Body Free; Julian Velard-The Planeteer; Leona Lewis-Echo...

10 ~ Mika, The Boy Who Knew Too Much: It was the year that Mika should have come back in a blaze of glory, but returned amidst general apathy and disinterest. Not from me though ~ I was quite happy to see him back with his bombastic Belinda Carlisle meets Chumbawamba We Are Golden and am still revelling in the other pop gems on the album. Rain is absolutely lovely. I could easily milk 5 singles from this :)
09 ~ Paloma Faith, Do You Want The Truth?: I was surprised by how much this album stuck with me throughout the year. I found myself wanting to return to it over and over again. XO has had some of the most passionate coverage of her, and is right in his assessment of the complexity and beauty in her work. Hopefully her medium range popularity will increase into fervent critical devotion next year - based on this excellent collection of tunes, she deserves it...
08 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Yes: If I combine this with their Christmas EP, then it gave me two number one singles this year (Love etc., and It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas) and hours of delicious pleasure. Filled with amazing innovative yet totally PSB tracks like All Over The World, Beautiful People and the lush Did You See Me Coming, it was an album that solidified they have lost none of their pop edge. Plus dear god please someone leak a demo of The Loving kind...
07 ~ Alcazar, Disco Defenders: Oh my gosh but this album was overflowing with pop sensibility and dancefloor heavenliness. Overflowing with singles, attempts at nearly every pop genre going and shameless pastiches to Abba it was definitely hard not to love this album. In a perfect world this would have spawned five top ten hits in England and made the world see that lovely a fella as Joe is, he's got a long way to go before he can do pop like this. Thank You. In every sense of the word/song...
06 ~ BWO, Big Science: It was the "difficult" post greatest hits album and kicked off with the gothic You're Not Alone. That was a bit of a misnomer really in terms of the entire album because they still had their big Chariots of Fire moments (right here right now) and epic Open Door ballads (Kings of Tomorrow) to thrill the fans. Basically even when they are operating at less than 100%, BWO are still miles better than alot of other pop groups. And quite simply one of the best pop-births of the 2000s (post on that coming soon!)...

• 05 ~ Take That, The Garden: Released in late 2008 on the back of the inspiring, anthemic Greatest Day, this was the album that kept giving throughout 2009 - largely aided by the visually stunning and highly entertaining tour they put on to accompany it. Sure, Up All Night was Shine part 2, but there were plenty of other gems on the album (including the title track, the Jason Orange led How Did It Come To This and showstopping Hold Up A Light For Me) that merely proved that Gary and the boys are some of the finest tunesmiths to come out of Britain at the moment. Lovely stuff.
• 04 ~ Little Boots, Hands: It was the album that Kylie could have recorded and been a lot more massive than the ridiculously hyped Little Boots ever was. The music was actually great - so many ice cool, radio friendly electro-pop tracks that were seemingly made for extensive radio play. An utterly enjoyable album - it was the persona of Little Boots that seemed to be at odds with being a pop princess. She lacked any of the sparkle Sophie Ellis Bextor or Kylie add to their performances and seemed more intent on being a serious, rarely smiling musician. Still, Remedy, Earthquake and Hearts Collide are top notch tunes!
• 03 ~ Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You: Brilliant album title and odd quitting music statements aside, I totally enjoyed this album despite (like Mans Zelmerlow) an odd choice of singles. The Fear and It's Not Fair were ace tracks, F*** You improved on the demo from last year, Chinese was a sweet ode to recession induced nights in (with a gorgeous choral tribute floating around) and Lily continued her knack for providing witty, insightful lyrics set to lovely singalong melodies. It's ace because it's true - I mean, no one likes the wet patch in the middle of the bed...
• 02 ~ Same Difference, Pop: Another remnant from 2008, Pop was the album that encapsulated all that was amazing about the charts at the turn of the millenium and bought it back with an updated beat. Sean and Sarah were two of the nicest people you could wish to have gracing the charts and put out an album of singalong tunes that would have done so much better had it been marketed completely differently. There were at least 5 singles here that could have been flying up the UK charts, and I'm just relieved they get a second nibble of the cherry in 2010. Bring it on I say...

01 ~ Robbie Williams, Reality Killed The Video Star: It wasn't so much a comeback, more of a reaffirmation that Robbie was one of the nation's most reliable pop acts who was maturing nicely with age, rather than chasing fashions and trends he had no business dabbling in. It's an album that gives more with each listen, has some great melody driven songs and has Robbie still sounding absolutely ace. You Know Me is one of his more lovely mid-tempo ballads, Morning Sun is almost a Take That tribute sounding song and Difficult for Weirdos is the anthem of many and proudly so. So get hysterical and historical over this album because I suspect it will feature on next year's list too...

WESTLIFE - WHERE WE ARE:

Let's face it - you either like Westlife by now or you don't. Despite all the talk of their new album being somewhat of a departure, it's not really going to win them millions of new converts. However, I unashamedly like them - they were on Chatty Man on Thurs night and were quite charming. Mark was looking rather good looking and Nicky was of course stunning. Still, it seems appropriate that they get reviewed in the same post as Take That - not only does the album cover resemble Beautiful World, (a nice synergy after new kids on the block JLS robbed the debut Westlife album cover image!) but along with Gary and the boys, they are one of Britain's premiere grown up boy bands.

If you want a brief assessment of what a new Westlife album sounds like, when it's widely advertised as being a bit more modern and uptodate, well you'd do worse than to compare it to a male version of Leona Lewis. Lead off single What About Now is a bit of a misnomer first single really. It's not particularly representative of the rest of the album. The album is a fairly solid collection of ballads, mid tempo songs and a few anthems thrown in for good measure. They might have been better releasing something a bit more melodic like Sound of a Broken Heart as the first single. It's got a pretty piano riff running through it, some glorious harmonies, a melodic nod to Swear It All Over Again at the start of the chorus and a natural charm that just radiates. Also it would be foolish to beat against anthemic up-off-your-stool songs like How To Break A Heart and I'll See You Again being absolutely corkingly massive singles. The latter is a slow burning torch song that builds into a suitably stadium sized sing a long that is a little bit heartbreaking. The former is a gently shuffling finger clicker with a rather pleasing chorus and soaring vocals - perhaps the most Ryan Tedder moment on the album. Could be massive stateside.

Some of the songs tend to blur together, but there are enough stand outs to make the album a winner over all. Talk Me Down is a big Mark moment (and one of my favourites on the album) and has an impassioned vocal set against a gentle lulling piano. The production seamlessly adds a guitar and some subtle strings as the chorus becomes a restrained emotional moment of beauty. One of Mark's finest moments and a beautiful, lovely song. The Difference comes across (with some banging percussion) like a massive Coldplay meets Take That (with a hint of the more mature Backstreet Boys) moment and No More Heroes is imbued with Irish charm and possibly the best charity single never released - this could be massive. Overall, it's a perfectly enjoyable album and should serve the boys well. Now, if the record company doesn't abandon the singles after 2 releases it could have at least 5 massive hits...
Potential singles: What About Now; Sound of A Broken Heart; How To Break A Heart; I'll See You Again; The Difference/No More Heroes

TAKE THAT - THE GREATEST DAY:

There is absolutely no denying that Take That have come back, filled the world with smart, grown up boy band pop, set the standard for all other comebacks and generally re-established Gary Barlow as a tour de force to be reckoned with and a bit of a DILF. After two glorious post comeback albums, they are filling the void of a 2009 studio release with a rather lovely live dvd of their stupendous tour from earlier this year. It also comes with a nice live cd of some of their finest songs performed at Abbey Road which strips the songs to their most basic levels and reveals how intimate and intricate some of the arrangements are. Acoustically, Shine and Up All Night remain two of Mark Owen's finest moments and I still get a little bit heartbroken that Believe In The Boogie is so overlooked as a solo Mark single yet would fit so perfectly within the Take That pantheon. Balladic anthems like The Garden, Said It All and Greatest Day show that the backlash against Gary Barlow in the 90s was truly undeserved and that he not only knows his way around a soaring pop tune, but has quite a lovely voice too. Jason does orange lovers proud on the should-have-been-a-single How Did It Come To This, which shows he can fill the cheeky chappy Robbie void perfectly well and sound brilliant doing it. Ultimately, it's a new way of presenting a mini greatest hits of their last two albums with a visually stunning dvd performance to go along with it. Be sure to nip out and buy the set because it really is a glorious celebration of the past few years of Britain's premier elder pop statesmen. Long. May. They. Reign.
PS - XO rightly points out there is a lot of take that swag about at the mo. It's costing me a fortune...

PS - Take That night on X Factor tonight! Full review in the morning, but if Stacey doesn't do Rule The World I think I will probably weep.

Good morning all. I am a little worse for wear after a fun night out with the gang. I finally managed to work out twitpic, so you can see one quite nice and one quite awful picture of the shenanighans there. I have a brilliant one of Darren jumping in the air, but i'm too tired to upload it now. (He's looking hotter than ever btw - he has lost 20kg (since Feb 08) compared to my 11kg (since Jan 09) - and (not that he ever wasn't!!) is quite the bounce :P ) OH! New clothes! Bought an ace new purple stripey top (which luckily i didn't wear last night) and saw the same item on a hugely fat man, a lesbian with better choppy hair than me and a lighter pink version on a Jez from Britannia High lookalike. As someone from Gossip Girl would probably say "that's what happens when you buy off the rack". Epic fashion fail :( Oh well, on with the weeks observations...

NEW VIDEOS:

Above is the greatest song I have heard in a while - thank heavens popjustice posted it earlier this week for I have been obsessed since then. They quite rightly pointed out that it's rather brilliant and rubbish all at the same time, which is totally Abba. Abba are my favourite group of all time, hands down and the beauty of their songs is that they have exquisite lyrics, sometimes bonkers English, brilliant melodies, a smattering of novelty value and are always instantly likeable. PJ is again quite correct to say that it's a bit PWL - but then PWL were always a little (lot) inspired by Abba so I guess saying this sounds like them brings it full circle (head explodes)! Most of the nine million people I emailed/telephoned/texted the vid clip too were less enamoured than me with the tune, but it's clearly the greatest commercial since Charlotte Church revirginised. If you have watched the video as many times as me, you actually pick up on many moments of brilliance and a story starts to appear (must stop pausing on hot barman guy though - doesn't matter that i want to spaffle my batter on him, it interrupts the song!). Here are the highlights...

• 16sec - first appearance of "main characters" yellow cardi lass and Nikki lookalike from Heroes
• 22sec - first appearance of hot barman and less hot barman who you would probably end up doing when hot barman rejected you
• 1m12sec - it's hot barman getting down in the background. Bopping along is not really his strong point...
• 1m24sec - when the lyrics talk about fall until defeat, there is a woman sitting on the floor with a tray. In my Hotel Rival soap opera, someone has clearly run off with her wheelchair :(
• 1m35sec - ooo the main story starts. Hot barman starts flirting outrageously yet subtly with Nikki from Heroes. She does not seem to mind. Someone else will though, "mark my words"...
• 2m06sec - ooo less hot barman makes a nice looking red drink magically fill up in time to the beat. Brilliant...
• 2m10sec - two chefs briefly stand by each other and then walk away. They clearly had a bit of a fling and it ended sadly rather than badly :( Sniffle.
• 2m24sec - Hot barman bops along in the background, while Nikki from Heroes ponders their affair. But OH! They have been rumbled...
• 2m26sec - the brilliant Yellow Cardi Lass has rumbled them. She is clearly the lover of Nikki from Heroes but has been forced to remain a secret love. At 2m36 she does this effing amazing eyebrow raise to the line "time at last for my confessions"...

Oh dear lord. Clearly I have far too much time on my hands. I think I would actually get quite weepy if I imagined Abba singing this as one of my buddies suggested. And while I have been playing this umpteen times a day there have been many other cracking videos out this week!

• D'Luv has the new video for the next UK single (The Garden is Australian and European) from Take That - Said It All. They are all sad clowns and it is all very elegant and lovely. The Garden would have been a better UK single, but Said It All definitely has the better clip. Now when does Jase get to shine with the aces How Did It Come To This?
• Sophie Ellis Bextor is back! Proper back! With the Freemasons. Heartbreak made me top ten last year but is rooted back in with the official mixes. The video is a bit epilepsy inducing and the dance routine is a bit half hearted, but it's all designed to make you squeal with glee everytime it's on and quite rightly it does. God bless the DJ at Eden for playing the full Freemasons 12"mix...
• BWO have the sublime clip out for their second "Big Science" single Right Here Right Now out now and it is typical BWO - a little bit arty for the sake of being arty and a little bit watchable. Frankly I have always preferred BWO without the visuals which is a bit bizarre really.
• Finally those lovely The Days boys have the video up over at Aarons for Never Give Up. The song and the video are quite lovely, as are the boys for getting their kit off in the latest issue of Attitude for charity :) Love the concept of the video (playing the same song over and over again in some weird world record attempt), love the over enthusiastic coach, love that the lead singer retains perfect pop star hair throughout the five days and love that the overlooked cute beardy guitarist is the last one standing :)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

• Lovely Dean Lennon has an ace electro-pop song on his myspace called On The Floor. It has these great hand clapping moments in the background, which are essential for a decent pop song and Dean does a very credible rock star "ow" moment just before the verse starts. It's very 80s inspired but also sounds very "now" - it's quite subdued but not in a bad way. Dean's vocals are quite alluring and the background synths are entirely hypnotic. Love.
• AS every single blog (not literally) in the world reported, Dragonette are back (popjustice did it best). The most amusing ones are the ones who made it sound like Dragonette had written to them personally rather than that they were recipients of a mass email marketing campaign :P No matter, Fixin To Thrill is exactly what you would expect from Dragonette, who hailed as the next big thing a couple of years ago, but never really took off (see Dangerous Muse, who also have an ace new single clip out!) - this is like a more frentetic Gwen Stefani mixed with Infernal with a fuzzy synth chorus that embeds for the night and stays for the week. In other words, quite good.
• Mika's new EP is out soon and I am reserving judgement on the two songs that leaked until the whole thing drops. Apparently there is a song on there called Toy Boy which is very disney ballad with deliciously dark lyrics. Sounds right up my street. Don't forget the barmy pop though meeks :)
• Hurrah! Regina Spektor is also back. She has a lovely new song out called Laughing With and it's an utterly elegant and morose piano vocal affair bemoaning the state of how God is presented to the world. So not really the sunny pop I usually go for, but i've been entirely smitten with Regina ever since The Call in Prince Caspian and this is really quite lovely, and a little bit Nerina Pallot (who needs to hurry back). So it all bodes well for her new album...
• The Shameless finale was quite devastating this week, but the brilliant humour of The Inbetweeners finale more than made up for it. My fave line? "Phil? Phil! I'm sorry sir, i thought it was a fart" - which frankly is more hilarious in context than written down. Oh, tears were shed at the Grey's Anatomy wedding too...
• Hurrah part 2! Red Blooded Women and Star Pilots playing Birmingham Pride (and S Club!! And Pixie Lott!! And Nikki French!! And at eden bar - HAZEL DEAN!!!) :) Only 2 weeks away!
• Final Hurrah! Same Difference concert tonight in their home town, and there is an aftershow party. Clearly I am very excited by all of this (wonder what next week's post will blather on about then?!) And by this. Keep on popping Same Diff :)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 - Taylor Swift, Love Story
20 - Pet Shop Boys, Did You See Me Coming? (NE)
19 - Neo, Flower Power Super Girl
18 - Girls Aloud, Untouchable
17 - The Killers, World That We Live In
16 - Paolo Nutini, Candy (Vid - Paolo got even more scrumptious!)
15 - Kelly Clarkson, I Do Not Hook Up
14 - Simon Curtis, Things We Do For Love
13 - BWO, Right Here Right Now (NE)
12 - Alcazar, Stay The Night
11 - Infernal, Redefinition
10 - Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven
09 - Alesha Dixon, Let's Get Excited
08 - Annie, Anthonio
07 - Lily Allen, Not Fair
06 - Mans Zelmerlow, Hope and Glory
05 - Take That, The Garden
04 - Freemasons ft Sophie Ellis Bextor - Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer
03 - Little Boots, New In Town
02 - "Abba", Second Best To None (NE)
01 - Marina and The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot (2 weeks)

God i've been a moody so and so the last few days (in public on the blog and in private with my poor friends at home). "Oh for f***s sake paul, cheer up droopy bollocks" was the sage advice of one person. I haven't quite snapped out of it yet (what the hell is wrong with me?!), but i'm trying to let it not affect others around me :) Plus lovely Darren took me shopping today for lots of spunky funky new clothes as an early birthday present (it's on Sunday, gift fans - musicians should feel free to send unreleased music my way. Yes PYMO that's you!!) and I'm off to Liverpool tomorrow with a bunch of pals for a weekend long celebration, so it's time to turn that frown upside down! So here is May's cd compilation i'm sending to my pals. It's already more cheerful than my maudlin April effort! Sorry everyone. Will do better soon...

TOP SONGS THAT SHOULD BE SINGLES - MAY 2009

01 - Take That, The Garden (Why? It's such an epic song that works well as a single to promote their live concerts. Because this will sound amazing live in a stadium. Can't wait to hear it. Not the crappy edit though!)
02 - Little Boots, New In Town (Why? I'm fully aboard the Little Boots express. The video is ever so slightly disappointing, but I am loving the song and this week it's glorious sing a long chorus has taken over my life. But not quite as much as this song...)
03 - Marina and The Diamonds, I Am Not A Robot (Why? It's ACHINGLY beautiful. Her voice is distinct and amazing. She seems effortlessly funny and cool at the same time. She definitely is the performer and I am happy to be a tiny little diamond for her. LOVE)
04 - Pixie Lott, Mama Do (Why? Well i'm actually a tiny bit bored of this right now, but I sense I will fall back in love with it again soon. She seems to have been around for ages but is only now releasing her first single. If you are tired of this, check out her cover of TT's Never Forget. Quite good)
05 - Simon Curtis, Lonely Love Song (Why? Because it's the last Simon/Victoria song i can exploit from Spectacular. And because Simon is on Hannah Montana this very Sunday. I like to think it was his personal birthday present to me. But i've always been a bit deluded! The song is brilliant, catchy Britannia High'esque type pop. Bring Spectack to the UK already!)
06 - Same Difference, All Roads Lead To Heaven (Why? They may have been unceremoniously dropped, but i have their big Portsmouth concert coming up and this is still, 6 months on, a delightful bit of polished pop that makes my morning exercise routine kick in with a sleek beat)
07 - BeFour, Ding A Dong (Why? Heavens, it's a cheesy as it comes, but hey you know what? Singing ding ding a dong does indeed pick you up if you are feeling a bit down. It's dangerous though - once the high wears off, you have to play it again or experience the plummeting lows :P Approach with caution!)
08 - Alesha Dixon, I Get Excited (Why? I don't care if you aren't convinced by popstar Alesha. I am. She rocks. This song is ace - the pure pop beats. The Madonna reference. The video with brillo dance routine. Everything works)
09 - Kelly Clarkson, I Do Not Hook Up (Why? Even though i do think Kelly hooks up and it was written by evil harlot, it's quite a catchy tune even if i do experience hot'n'cold type levels of guilt when i take in it's infuriatingly singalong chorus.)
10 - Neo, Flower Power Super Girl (Why? February's entry from Neo was only a intro to his voice and style. This gives you the real Neo - someone who can churn out top notch pop with a quirky tang to it which just makes it all the more compulsive)
11 - Annie, Anthonio (Why? Um, because it's sheer brilliance that's why. It's what Annie should have returned with instead of I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me. Silly Annie. And have you heard the b-side? Immense)
12 - Infernal, Redefinition (Why? It's Infernal. I really shouldn't have to say anymore. This song could totally relaunch them in Britain. It's incredible. Danceable, yet works well enough as tasty nugget of pure pop. Totally mismanaged here. Unforgiveable!)
13 - Candy Coated Chaos, Taking Over The World Tonight (Why? It's finally on Amazon and there is never a bad time to celebrate the ace britney-pop stylings of my fave US girl group. This one could totally launch them in the UK too. I bet they would look adorably cute in a video for it)
14 - Vanessa Amorosi, My House (Why? Because after a couple of beautiful mid-tempo tunes VanAm is back getting her funk on. As she should. Absolutely Everyone was ages ago. And the faster songs since then haven't been ace, so a welcome return to form.)
15 - Little Jackie, I Liked You Better (Why? Loyalty really. I think Little Jackie could easily have 3-4 top ten hits over here had her album been properly marketed and had some decent live shows to support it. I'll just pretend it did)
16 - Darin, What If (Why? What If i didn't put this single on the list? I would feel proper chagrinned at my oversight. It's nice to see Darin slow it down every now and then, and although Roadtrip is far superior, i'll take ballady Darin where I can get him)
17 - Taylor Swift, Teardrops On My Guitar (Why? Well the key change in Love Story still makes me happy so i'll give her second UK single a whirl. It's no Love Story but it's way better than some of the dirge Faith Hill came out with after the success of This Kiss. Oh and it has Tyler Hilton in it. Pleasing)
18 - Metro Station, 17 Forever (Why? Tragically I am 35 on Sunday which is like really old when you are 17 so I am listening to lots of songs like this. And it's not entirely rubbish to be fair. It's not Seventeen by Let Loose though is it?)
19 - Jonas Bros, Shelf (Why? Though there is a new JB single just around the corner, this has always been a fave of mine from the album so i'm getting it on here while I can. I'd quite like Simon Curtis to sing this if he were ever on Idol. Ooo coming soon, what would be popstars would sing if they were on The X Factor...)
20 - Click Five, I Quit I Quit I Quit (Why? It's not quite debut album Click Five brilliance but it's good enough and utterly singalong. Plus i'm into a bit of guitar pop after seeing McFly t'other week. And the movie Taking Five is on ABCFamily this very Sunday. I feel it's another personal gift to me. Just like the debut of the Jonaseseses new tv show. And a new Desperate Housewives and BroSis! Aces. All for me :P)
21 - Green Day, Know Your Enemy (Why? I do know my enemy. He's one of those smug, always pleased with themselves when they have no reason to be insufferable bores who thinks the world needs to know about every minor dull accomplishment. Oh and this song is classic Green Day :P)

Back sun with TV catch up spesh. Enjoy the weekend everyone. Other chronicles here...