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)

Once upon a time (in the west), I was ever so ever so taken with new indie band on the block, Hard-Fi. Their tune Tied Up Too Tight was a blistering modern rock tune (that reminds me, whatever happened to Jag who sang Lover in Handcuffs) and their live shows had an energy and slightly dangerous vibe about them that was strangely alluring. The critics and public fell in love with them though deserted them a little bit during album number two. They've had some time off, regrouped and are now back with the lead off single from their upcoming third album. Some of you may think that it's not the sort of tune or act I would normally feature on here, but there is something really earthy, organic and compulsive about Good For Nothing. It's a different direction from what we've heard from the gang before, with a definite tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones and some ska influences in there too. It sounds like it will be best played in sweaty live venues with beer spilled over you and people pogo-ing around to the chanting chorus. It takes a few listens but once you've let the atmosphere soak in you realise it's a worthy return and I'm excited to hear the album...

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
17 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
16 ~ Take That, Happy Now
15 ~ Shayne Ward, Close to Close
14 ~ Joe McElderry, Fire with Fire
13 ~ Le Kid, America (NE)
12 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex and Violence
11 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
10 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
09 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
08 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
07 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
06 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
05 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire (VID)
04 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
03 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody Out There?
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga, Everybody Dance (NE/1 WEEK)

I usually do a whole blog catching up on new songs/acts from the week on a Sunday. I'm not doing that today because I'm all tuckered out from an ace gang party night last night where mucho fun and laughs were had set to the dvds of Kylie's Showgirl and Steps' End Of The Road :) Plus I am still in full royal wedding appreciation mode and thought I would share my fave moments from the big day...

• Here comes the bride ~ so lovely when Kate just glided down that aisle, stands next to William and he tells her how beautiful she looks. It's like every Disney movie come to life :)
• The balcony (1) ~ oh how delightful was it when Kate comes out onto the balcony and you can see her mouth "oh wow" as she sees thousands of faces below all there to see her...
• The balcony (2) ~ the first kiss was cute wasn't it? But while the world looked up at the planes flying in honour of the big day over head, a much better kiss was coming and adorned the front page of almost every UK paper the next morning. Smoochtastic!
• The car ~ How fun to see the couple drive round London in Prince Charles' Aston Martin car. Was great for the crowds, showed their sense of humour and a nice nod to Princess Diana, who loved that car...
• The first dance ~ no, of course I didn't get to see it, but my new obsession (UK So You Think You Can Dance) had an elegant and effortlessly delightful waltz on (above) which I'm imagining was just the same as the royal number :)

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
20 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way (RE)
19 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone
18 ~ Shayne Ward, Close To Close
17 ~ Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Starlight (NE)
16 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up (NE)
15 ~ Joe McElderry, Feel The Fire
14 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
13 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
12 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
11 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
10 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
09 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
08 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
07 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
06 ~ Take That, Happy Now
05 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
04 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
03 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anyone There
02 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
01 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story (4 weeks)

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

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

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

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

Top 21 songs of the week:


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

Three things that I am anxious to happen:

• I need to wooed by Lady Gaga's Judas. Perhaps I will fall in love with it as quickly as I tired of Bored This Way. At the moment it just sounds like a slightly thrashy, somewhat messy Bad Romance. Please enlighten me.
• I really don't think I can wait a week for nu-Who. I'm whizzing through the last series as a catch up. Only the 2 part finale & xmas spesh to go. "I wear stetsons now. Stetsons are cool". Amaze.
• Other than being desperate to see Book of Mormon Broadway and How To Succeed In Business, I really want a stage version of Connie and Carla. If no one is going to do it I shall just have to mortgage everything I own to make it happen. I'll cast Elouise for sure, and Daniel Boys can have the David Duchovny role...

Right, enough waffling, on with the new entries this week...

NEW ENTRIES:

Apart from Judas (briefly discussed above), I had a week where I was listening a lot to somewhat overlooked album tracks. Here's the four that were played enough to enter the charts and that really should be singles...

• Westlife ~ I Will Reach You: What on earth happened with the Gravity singles campaign?? I think it's "safe" (ho ho) to say that the first single perhaps wasn't the best choice to kick it all off. Beautiful Tonight would have made a great, upbeat launch single, and this delightful track would have continued in much the same vein. It's churlish of people to expect Westlife to change their formula too much at this point in their career, but massive singalong choruses, up tempo verses and a general feel good atmosphere are more than likely to get people tapping their feet. A definite missed opportunity...
• Joe McElderry ~ Feel The Fire: Poor geordie Joe. Rumour has it his record deal is not long for this world and as I've come to love the little tyke, that's a real shame. Someone who has the audacity to turn the melancholy Ambitions into a glittering dance track/routine AND make it work is ok by me. Feel The Fire really should have been the next single. It's got a delicious alphabeat vibe to it, a convivial summer groove going on and Joe giving a perky vocal that shows why he deserved to win. Give it a whirl and become ever so smitten...

• Brandon Flowers ~ Was It Something I Said?: Set the Tardis for 1982 because this 80s throwback is an absolute gem of a track. Not only does it seemingly nick the riff from Living Next Door To Alice, but it has saucy synths, cheeky handclaps and wicked clever lyrics that all build up to a smashing chorus that once embedded, you can't get out of your head for days. Brandon has a real gift as a musical storyteller and this could have been a really fun single. Watch the live clip above to get an idea of the energy of the song. Aces!
• Scissor Sisters ~ Sex & Violence: Ah the Scissters. They really should be on single number four by now (Fire With Fire, Any Which Way, Whole New Way) with this track that comes across like a dark and dirty American Pyscho: The Broadway Musical (which leaves me slightly breathless in anticipation for their Tales Of The City contributions). At times it sounds like it could be a deviously macabre duet with Kylie, but even on their own it's a top drawer slice of electro-pop thats own subdued nature causes it to soar far above it's album track ambitions.

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas (NE)
20 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
19 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex and Violence (NE)
18 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said (NE)
17 ~ Joe McElderry, Feel The Fire (NE)
16 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You (NE)
15 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
14 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone
13 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low
12 ~ The Moniker, Oh My God
11 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
10 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
09 ~ Take That, Happy Now
08 ~ Maroon 5, Is Anybody Out There?
07 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
06 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
05 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
04 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
03 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
02 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
01 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story (2 weeks)

Next week: Vanbot review, Becoming Nancy review...

The weekend so often goes far too fast, doesn't it? I think that's why I whizz around like a loon on loon tablets at loon camp so early on a Saturday morning to ensure i maximise the time available. By 10.09am I had been to shopping, cleaned the apartment, had a starbucks and gone to Hollisters for some essential clothing items. By 10.09pm I was pondering whether I could pull off a tie, bowtie or cravat with this outfit and not done much inbetween. It was bliss. So I had plenty of time to check out some quality fella pop on my very lazy Sunday morning today. Here are two of my fave finds...

Ed Drewett ~ All Time Low: It's hard not to be entirely smitten with young Ed Drewett. He's more than a fine looking chappy. He's always quite well presented (see Champagne Lemonade video for example). He has excellent popstar hair. And his own music is very good indeed (see here and here). He's not averse to sharing his talents with other people though - he's popped his voice on a sizeable Prof Green hit and of course penned the above number one smash for boyband du jour, The Wanted. While the world impatiently awaits his next musical move, he's recorded his own version of All Time Low and quite smashing it is too. It's played out over Justin Timberlake's What Goes Around as a mash up and it gives the song that extra bit of edge and pathos from the still excellent Wanted version. The male-female vocal harmony tradeoff works really well as does the live, organic feel of it all, in particular the piano riff through the chorus. The middle 8 adds some urgency to the tune, making it an almost devastating accusation of what the protagonist in the song has perpetuated. Or I'm just reading far too much into it :) For more Ed, you should check your bad self and investigate another of his own songs - Vital Signs... It's the perfect showcase for Ed's clever lyrical ability and seeming ease to create a radio ready tune. This so needs to be released as a single and tout de suite. May the onslaught of Ed on the music world continue now please :)


Daniel Volpe ~ The Red BMX: After the blistering assault that was the electro clash genius of I Am Japan You Are Godzilla, Daniel is back to present us all with another sneaky peek into his forthcoming album, The Fairytale of Zorro Blak. While there is certainly nothing wrong with having a whole album of full on synth & bass driven tunes such as the aforementioned Godzilla track, it's also nice to have some variety in the mix. This tune will certainly provide that. It's a breathe of fresh air and a real summer anthem in the making. It's got a very laid back trance-dance feel to it with a propulsive beat, swirling drums and an insistent synth line on repeat (as well as some gorgeous string-like effects in the chorus). What holds the song together and lifts it soaring is the melody of the chorus. It's fair to say that it's absolutely exuberant and it's subject matter is one of those that evokes cheerful memories of childhood when everything seems so much easier. Great lyrics, great chorus, great vocals, totally charming song. What more could one want. Very excited now for the album :) Daniel increasingly is becoming a major player to keep an eye on in the world of blokey pop :)

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
20 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
19 ~ LeKid, Oh My God
18 ~ James Blunt, If Time Is All I Have
17 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time
16 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
15 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
14 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
13 ~ Tove Styrke, High and Low
12 ~ The Moniker, Oh My God
11 ~ Take That, Happy Now
10 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone
09 ~ Maroon 5, Is Anybody Out There (NE)
08 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
07 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
06 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
05 ~ Elouise, Born This Way (NE)
04 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
03 ~ The Feeling, Set My World on Fire
02 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
01 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story (NE/1 Week)

Ugh. I've done nothing but sleep and lounge around for the best part of 3 days thanks to an increasingly bad cough, sore throat, blocked nose, headache, temperature, aching limbs, etc. Utterly ghastly. I've had no energy whatsoever and still feel as weak as a kitten. So i've missed out on lots of great things this weekend (don't ask, it's too disappointing to discuss!) but apart from the very lovely Dr Dazpanteloons looking after me, I've had a couple of things to cheer me up - firstly being an advance(ish) copy of Terry Ronald's debut novel "Becoming Nancy". I've tittered through chapter one so far and am already delighted at being reminded of Debbie Harry lyrics i'd forgotten as well as the main character having neighbours called Bette and Joan! Amazing. Full review when i've finished. The other thing that got me through was several watchings of below...

I adored Grey's Anatomy when it first started. Pick Me. Choose Me. Love Me. What's not to like? It started to lose me a little bit with Denny's ghost, but the stunning & shocking season 6 finale pulled me back and most of this year has been a delight. I was a bit apprehensive when i heard about the musical episode but it actually turned out really well. They managed to make it work within the Grey's Anatomy universe and while it wasn't better than Buffy - Once More With Feeling, it was way better than the disappointing Bitter Suite that Xena botched together some years back. Sure, I could have done without ANOTHER playing from the show of Chasing Cars, but the rest was all quite lovely. There were two definite highlights - firstly, the magnificent and funky Running On Sunshine (with the whole cast celebrating their often unconventional love lives). It gave a much needed ray of optimism to the episode and was delightfully entertaining to watch. The other highlight and perhaps one of the best acting/singing performances anywhere on television this season (yes even surpassing my beloved Darren Criss on Glee) was the surely emmy worthy Sara Rameriz taking on Phil Hanseroth's The Story. Sara (as Callie) put enough passion, nuance, emotion and pure vocal beauty into the song that she instantly made it her won and i've had it on repeat during my many lemon and honey drinks. Entirely heartbreaking, utterly captivating, totally award winning. SMITTEN.

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ James Blunt, If Time Is All I Have (NE)
20 ~ Take That, Kidz
19 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
18 ~ Danny, In The Club
17 ~ Julian Velard, Love Again For The First Time
16 ~ le Kid, Oh My God
15 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
14 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
13 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
12 ~ The Moniker, Oh My God
11 ~ Take That, Happy Now
10 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
09 ~ Tove Styrke, High & Low
08 ~ Sanna Nielsen, I'm In Love
07 ~ The Wanted, Gold Forever
06 ~ Love Generation, I Dance Alone
05 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
04 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
03 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
02 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
01 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire (1 week)

Coming tomorrow (health permitting!): Elouise, Maroon 5, Dalton Warblers...

I had three days off work this week and clearly didn't use the time to blog. Instead I trekked around the country doing various theme parks and got stung by a bee on my face. It has swelled up something chronic (despite copious benedryl, cream and antiseptic cover up) and now I look like a lopsided unicorn. Let's speak no more of this travesty and move on with 3 acts that you should definitely be getting to know this week, shall we?

POP POTENTIAL:

• Oh My ~ There are many reasons you should like Oh My. First and foremost is because they are called Oh My. This is an expression I have been using a lot this year to help me reduce the amount of "swears" I utilise in an average day. Secondly, they follow me on twitter and seem like quite amusing lasses. Thirdly they have bacon butties on a Saturday. Embrace the grease I say (though a George Forman is probably the healthiest way to cook your weekly fry up!). Musically, they are all sorts of magnificent, which is probably why Popjustice has been spaffing their chuff up over them this week. Run This Town (listen here) is a spunky little pop gem that recklessly balances sweet melodic verses with a drenched-in-attitude chanted chorus, set over a percussive beat. It's deliciously more-ish - in fact, you know when people do that invisible lasso dance move and their partner gets pulled closer and closer (with a hip shimmy if they've got anything about them)? Well, this is the musical equivalent of that - it ensnares you, charms you and leaves you giddy for more. It also leaves you with the impression that there is so much more to come from them that will absolutely wow. The involvement of the always entertaining Example is just another massive tick in the "yes, yes, oh god, slightly orgasmic, yes" column. More please and very soon. AMAZING.
• Viktorious ~ I'm shamefully late writing about this Swedish pop gent, but he's charmed me (via poppostergirl & alienhits) with his ever so delightful song When We Were Ten. In a world of Rebecca Blacks, Viktor Norén continues to give me hope with his youthful Mick Jagger looks and pop energy that is far too contaigous for it's own good. Surely there should be a world health warning on this?! As the nights get lighter and the weather gets warmer, this is exactly the type of song you should be playing with your top down (car top, not your top, although each to their own) and wind blowing through your hair. He basically takes everything that makes a good indie tune and throws it into a pop blender to come up with something that is genuinely exhilarating to listen to. Big singalong chorus, huge on melody and quite quite wonderful from start to finish. Excellent stuff!!
• VanBot ~ Due to the heads up from wonderful people like Greg and Damian, I've become a bit obsessed with the swedish sensation to be called VanBot this weekend. I could give you comparisons but at soon as you listen to the music, they become redundant ~ track Make Me Break Me is a sweeping, synth fuelled dance dominator with whirling, dramatic drum riffs that are elegantly framed by a impassioned vocal from the lady herself.  It's a dizzy sing a long trip of a chorus that reels you in and leaves you singing along long after the song has finished. Excitingly, there's a new album coming in April which is practically now, so not too long to wait for more aural satisfaction :) 

TOP 21 TRACKS OF THE WEEK:


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

Last night in intimate if somewhat grotty surroundings, one of my favourite acts - The Feeling - lit up Coventry with a mixture of old and new songs, all eagerly lapped up by their adoring fanbase. If you're not familiar with The Feeling, then you really should be. They appeared on the pop scene late 2005 with a glorious tune (Fill My Little World - still one of my all time favourite songs of the 2000s) and broke through with thoughtful quasi-ballad Sewn. They mixed a reverence of seventies harmonised pop rock with a modern day sensibility and came up with one of the most delightful debut albums I've heard in many years. While there were sunny, effervescent tunes like the aforementioned Fill My Little World, Never Be Lonely and the ebullient Love It When You Call, it also produced more contemplative moments like the heavenly tune Strange; indeed this song about acceptance, freaks, outsiders and anyone who has felt different lifted me skybound long before Born This Way came on the scene. A second album (Join With Us) produced more musical magic, including the title track, which I still believe is one of the most accomplished musical productions i've heard in years. Definitely up there with modern day classics like Viva La Vida and Rule The World. And then it all went a bit quiet while the boys regrouped and prepared for that all important third album...

So thank god that 2011 will see the launch of The Feeling's 3rd album. It's preceeded by the single Set The World On Fire which got a rollicking reception when performed live. It's a classic feel-good Feeling tune that details what happens when your relationship is built around fiery passion - the rows, the dramas, the splits, but ultimately the love that proves too strong to sever. It seems quite unassuming at first and indeed, the video above doesn't really do it justice though you get a good idea of what to expect. However, it's delivered with a sincerity and commitment that just draws you into the song and the chorus is stickier than a toffee bun - it will remain with you long after the song's finished. There's a genuine beauty in the tune too with some lovely harmonies and studied moments of tenderness that provide added layers to the mid-tempo tune. Definitely going to be a huge singalong favourite in months to come and bodes well for their upcoming album. Heavenly.

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
20 ~ Brandon Flowers, Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
19 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
18 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
17 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
16 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
15 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up (NE)
14 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
13 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
12 ~ Britney Spears, Hold It Against Me
11 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
10 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God (NE)
09 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
08 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsessions
07 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
06 ~ Neo, Underground
05 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
04 ~ Take That, Kidz
03 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
02 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
01 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way (NE/1 Week)

Ah it's that time of year again - melodifestivalen. The creme de la creme of the chess world (oops wrong music themed event) gather together to present their finest wares in the hope of having the honour of representing Sweden in the Eurovision song contest. And that's where Britain gets it oh so wrong. In Sweden it's an honour, a national event, something that the nation's top popstars actively seek and hope to be involved in. If that was the same in England we'd have The Wanted, JLS, Girls Aloud, Take That, Alexandra and most likely The Saturdays (they'll do anything) jostling to be involved. Still we have Blue this year (!) and Jedward's song for Ireland is insanely ridiculously brilliant. Jaysus, etc. Anyway, there are many fine blogs who will cover this event far more ably than me (see scandipop, swedish stereo and alienhits) so I'm just going to pick my fave two songs from each week (and even though she's not featured here, DILBA WAS ROBBED!)...

• Le Kid ~ Oh My God: Stunning. What is not to love about Le Kid? They take elements of Alphabeat, Girls Aloud and Steps-Same Difference, throw it into their own musical blender and come up with something charming every single time. And what's not to love about a performance that starts off with whore-red lips mouthing Oh. My. God. And it does feel like the song title should have full stops between each word to emphasise how delicious and deliriously bonkers it is. Brilliant "oh my god" dance routine, infernally catchy refrain and the whole thing just makes you feel giddy with excitement - as most Le Kid songs do to me to be honest. The girls looked stunning last night, nipply looking cup cakes blasting glitter everywhere was a camp dream and Anton in a bow tie... well, my heart melted a little bit. Bound to be absolutely huge very soon. Je t'adore!
• Danny ~ In The Club: I'm a bit biased at having picked Danny this week. He's one of my perennials - someone who I rely on to provide me with hugely enjoyable music regardless whether it's poppers o'clock tracks like Set Your Body Free (as a solo artist) or fab interpretations of rap songs like Gangsta's Paradise (as part of boyband supergroup EMD). His performance last night was a delight. I could have done without the studded leather jacket stolen from Sergey Lazarev's Alarm video shoot, but everything else was proper bonza. I mean even if the first few seconds of the tune he has dance-mimed texting his ace gang and putting on a record (though i bet it was an mp3)! Amazing. And what a tune it is... It's a simple but effective pop-dance stomper that starts out as a gentle piano intro before building up the beat with a rave-esque chorus that will have your hands in the air as you down your 5th Smirnoff Ice at 4 minutes past midnight on a boozy Saturday night. Plus I love slightly crap but addictive rap breakdowns in the middle - and at least Danny has done his own rather than employ some hugely expensive rapper (take note The Saturdays and JLS). In fact, think Club Is Alive by JLS if they had actually got it right. All sorts of international smash immense.

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ McFly, That's The Truth (NE)
20 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone
19 ~ Matt Cardle, When We Collide
18 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
17 ~ Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude
16 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
15 ~ Brandon Flowers, Broken Hearts & Jilted Lovers
14 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
13 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
12 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
11 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
10 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
09 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
08 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
07 ~ Britney, Hold It Against Me
06 ~ Neo, Underground
05 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
04 ~ Take That, Kidz
03 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
02 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
01 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army (2 weeks)

21 ~ Darin, Drowning
20 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone
19 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
18 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
17 ~ Matt Cardle, When We Collide
16 ~ Brandon Flowers, Broken Hearts & Jilted Lovers
15 ~ Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude
14 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
13 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed (VID)
12 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
11 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
10 ~ Neo, Underground
09 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
08 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
07 ~ Britney, Hold It Against Me
06 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
05 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
04 ~ Take That, Kidz
03 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
02 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
01 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army (NE/1 Week)

Coming tomorrow to the blog ~ 10 things you need to know about the new Kyle Brylin video...

Hurrah! It is Darren's birthday. I am forbidden on pain of death and nipple twisters to reveal his actual age to you. Needless to say, next year is a big birthday for him! Anyway, we went out with the ace gang last night and after a grim start to 2011 had a rather lovely time as it happens (as you can see above :P There is a much sweeter picture here!). Then we had a lovely starbucks based breakfast today and he opened his presents and it was all very delightful :) Hurrah for lovely dazpanteloons!

The week in review:

• Latest Obsessions ~ am still charting the rise and rise of new boyband du jour, Princes and Rogues. They've popped a little teaser video online (above) to the sound of Dirty Bit (would love to hear an acapella version of that!!) which, along with the news that they are busy writing singles, has got me all sorts of twitterpated. Two things - Ashley may very well be chiselled geek chic perfection and they really need to release this as a christmas double aa side with one of their own songs!!Until then, here's a quick catch up from Derek himself as to what P&R have been up to...
  "Well, I can't say too much, because if I did I'd have to kill everyone who reads it and that could be an awful lot of people, and will just get messy so none of that now. We are quite busy at the moment, flying back to Holland at the end of the month for more meetings and recording. We are all really enjoying it as we are having a lot of studio time recording and also writing. As for the video teaser, my lips are sealed, it says what it is, but as of yet that news is not for public eyes. Hopefully we will have some tunes for you all to dance/get wildly drunk/make love and maybe even worship by the summer. Variety of pop at its best is what we are after. Now if only Jessie J would let us open for any upcoming gigs..... However until she does why not come see us on 30th of January as we open this http://www.myspace.com/events/View/9085328.
  Thats all for now, quick shoutout to my friend Patrice Sheridan who is 21 next weekend!! "
• Watching ~ Life Unexpected series finale. The final two episodes aired this week and were a lovely wrap up to this absolutely delightful series. I got a bit teary with the flashforward of 2 years but graduations always do that to me, ever since Buffy got the cheap looking umbrella at the end of year 3 :) (Still plowing through Pushing Daisies season 2 and loving Tower Prep far beyond my initial "ooo Drew Van Acker is fine" impression!)
• Reading ~ Finished the third Percy Jackson. Tres bon it was too. Not quite in Harry Potter league, but certainly an entertaining enough series. Also read the season 8 "finale" of the Buffy comics. Was shockingly downbeat. Feel quite depressed for Buffy and her remaining pals. And she is 30. Only seems like two minutes ago she was nookying up with Angel on her 17th birthday. Filthy strumpet...
• Listening ~ lots of great new songs out at the moment that i'll be writing about early next week, including music from The Mars Patrol, Dave Patten, Rebound, Andreas Johnson and Jessie & The Toyboys. The Adele album, btw, is utterly phenomenal. Je t'adore...

Top 21 Songs of the Week:
21 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
20 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
19 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
18 ~ Darin, Drowning
17 ~ Neo, Underground (NE)
16 ~ Brandon Flowers, Broken Hearts and Jilted Lovers
15 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
14 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
13 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone
12 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
11 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession (VID)
10 ~ Matt Cardle, When We Collide
09 ~ Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude
08 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
07 ~ Britney, Hold it Against Me
06 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
05 ~ Take That, Kidz
04 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
03 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
02 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
01 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma (3 weeks)

The week in review:

• Watched ~ Season 2 of Pushing Daisies. God I miss that show. I must really start to let it go...
• Read ~ finished the first Timeriders book by Alex Scarrow. Tres bon. New series I shall have to follow. Started the third Percy Jackson book. Yes, I'm an "independent reader" section guy this week...
• Starbucks ~ copious amounts. I did shame myself a little bit by asking for a pink fairycake when i meant strawberry covered cup cake. Potato Potarto (who says potarto?!) Still can't beat a White Caffe Mocha...
• Latest obsessions ~ all tv related shamefully. Dancing on Ice is back. Tower Prep on Cartoon Network has been a most pleasing viewing (hello Drew Van Acker!). Pretty Little Liars is back (hello Ian Harding!)
• Listening ~ aside from new Britney and the chart below (lots of new entries), I've been immersed in soothing calming ballads this week. Done well, a good ballad can be a heartwrenching or soul settling tune. I've already written about some of my faves (Carpenters, I Need To Be In Love (above); Rumer, Some Lovers; Viktoria Tolstoy, When All Is Said & Done) - here are two more that are just radiant and lovely...

Didrik Solli-Tangen ~ Compass: I've become ever so slightly smitten with the seemingly very charming Mr Solli-Tangen ever since he performed the heck out of power ballad extraordinaire, My Heart Is Yours, at Eurovision. Whereas that tune was all bombast and grandiose, this reveals a more stripped back, vulnerable side of Didrik and absolutely works a treat. Built around an ever so elegant piano melody that literally floats around Didrik's most gorgeous vocals, the addition of some subtle strings gives it a timeless feel. It really is a beautiful song to behold. It's all wonderfully sincere with production that is just right - the song is tempered to just the right degree and although Didrik could really blast this he holds back just the right amount. Do check out his delightful debut album Guilty Pleasures and follow his webpage - he's a blogging fiend :) Just lovely.

Deborah Gibson ~ Tsunami: Doing an album of Japanese pop covers probably wasn't the most logical move for Ms Gibson but it's one that has worked out rather well. Her lead off single, I Love You, was a sumptuous string led affair and this track - like the Didrik song above - is stripped back to let the beauty of the melody, sentiment and vocal shine forth. What works well about the song is that although it is a cover version, it stands alongside many of Deborah's previous self penned ballads such as One Hand One Heart and With All My Heart. The acoustic guitar adds a bit of layer and depth to the proceedings but it's the simplistic nature of the song and it's lovey dovey lyrics that are the real draw here. Plus, I really like the way the instrumentation ebbs and flows, crescendoing and falling as if to match the lyrics of the song that detail the wave of emotions love brings. Again, just lovely. Good to have her back. Now release "Rise" please :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight (NE)
20 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone (NE)
19 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love
18 ~ Brandon Flowers, Broken Hearts & Jilted Lovers
17 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
16 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
15 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut (VID)
14 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsession
13 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
12 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
11 ~ Darin, Drowning
10 ~ Britney, Hold It Against Me (NE)
09 ~ Take That, Kidz (NE)
08 ~ Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude
07 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone
06 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
05 ~ Matt Cardle, When We Collide
04 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
03 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
02 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
01 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma (2 weeks)

Crikey - another year has flown by. Remember when you were little and your birthday would take forever to arrive and Christmas would never come at all? Now they seem to be arriving as regularly as my daily ablutions (charming). Still, inevitably there is good and bad things to bid farewell to and a new year to look forward to. I quite like New Year's Resolutions - sure they are a bit corny and people don't always stick to them, but they give you hope, something to aim for and by the time you remember you haven't stuck to them you won't care anyway :) Thanks for stopping by myfizzypop this past year. You've all been tremendous. Happy 2011 ~ here's my fave new years related toons...

1. Abba ~ Happy New Year: I got a bit mad if I don't hear this timely and timeless tune within a few hours of the clock striking twelve. Much like any abba song, there is something heartbreakingly sad about it mixed with the hope and optimism that a fresh start can bring. Always brings a tear to my eye, especially the gorgeous video above (when you consider they were close to splitting up as group). Unsurpassable to this day.
2. Bette Midler ~ What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?: I love a bit of Bette. Darren and I saw her last new year's eve (which I believe is the show that will be playing on HBO tonight! Someone tivo it for me!) and it was one of our most delightful new year's ever. She makes this tune sound both wistful, pleading and dignified all at the same time. No mean feat. Who doesn't love being serenaded?
3. Forgotten Carols ~ I Cry The Day They Take The Tree Down: Look, ok. It may be from a mormon musical, but it's still one of my favourite Christmas musicals of all time. It's ridiculously feelgood, except for this melancholy tune about wanting the Christmas season to last all year round. I presume there is a message in there somewhere about how it should be in your heart all the live long year, etc., but i do get a bit sad and blue when the tree comes down on New Year's day...
4. Sugababes ~ New Year: It's the babes before they became Stuart Baggs The Brand (or something). Before the catfights. Before the scandal, back when it was sort of pure and innocent (depending on who you ask). When it was all about the music, man. This was a quite lovely single from when they were criminally on the verge of being dropped by their record label. The fools. This is mint!
5. Dina Carroll ~ Perfect Year: Lovely, should still be massive by rights Dina was still actually in the charts with one of my fave songs ever (Don't Be A Stranger) when this tune came out. A delightfully pure ballad from some Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, she sang the heck out of it and it has been a NY staple ever since. Charming...
6. Mariah Carey ~ Auld Lang Syne: Hurrah! mariah's second Christmas album wasn't half bad at all and one of the surprise treats was a slow to disco version of the one minute past midnight celebratory song that always gets wheeled out. It's a disco inferno that will only work once a year so i'll be in a right mood if it doesn't get played tonight. Best bit - "does anybody really know the words?" Yes. I do.
7. Kylie ~ Celebration: For some godforsaken reason, this only made number 20 in the charts. Obviously, the British public meant for it to make number 2, but got it wrong. It's not strictly a new year song but does anyone really care because a) it's Kylie and b) it sounds blooming glorious when there are streamers going everywhere, booze being spilt all over your expensive ensemble and strangers snogging you with halitosis. Only Kylie can make all of that seem like a party :)
8. A*Teens ~ Happy New Year: Let's end the list the way it was started, only not in quite a glorious rendition as Abba do. It's a sterling effort despite the rather nasal "end of the paaaaar-dee" and quite nice to have some male vocals in there. I think I want A*Teens to reform nearly but not quite as much as I want Abba to sing at Katilliams wedding...

Top 21 songs of the week (last chart of 2010!)

21 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
20 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
19 ~ Andrea Lewis & Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
18 ~ Joe McElderry, Someone Wake Me Up
17 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Defender
16 ~ Take That, The Flood
15 ~ EMD, What Is Love?
14 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
13 ~ Eric Saade, I'm Still Loving It (NE/VID)
12 ~ LeKid, We Should Go Home Together
11 ~ Erik Hassle, Standing Where You Left Me 2010
10 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Nobody Knows
09 ~ Rochella Danishei ft Simon Curtis, Michelle (NE)
08 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
07 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love
06 ~ Matt Cardle, When We Collide
05 ~ Darin, Drowning
04 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
03 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone
02 ~ Same Difference/Alcazar, Karma Karma!
01 ~ One Direction, Forever Young (2 weeks)

I've had such a busy week that i'm not sure i'm caught up on everything enough to do a decent blog today! So I had a quick butchers at last years blogs to see what I was getting up to while I impatiently waited until it was feasible enough to start doing all the new Christmas music reviews (I'm giving at least one more week). And keeping with, but not quite, the festive spirit I was having a gander at what songs should be Christmas singles for todays popstars (none of them were. Bah. No one ever listens to me. So I present some songs that absolutely should be the big Christmas single promotional push for artists. But won't be...

THE CHRISTMAS CHART THAT WON'T BE...

• Jason Donovan ~ When You Come Back To Me (Yuletide Sleigh Mix): Should absolutely be rereleased to not only celebrate his new covers album I Love The 80s but also his brillo double cd rerelease of Between The Lines. It's as festive and jolly as you remember, but this lesser heard version has a entirely seasonal talky bit at the beginning which is as cheesy but delicious as some festive stilton. ESSENTIAL!
• Joe McElderry ~ Someone Wake Me Up/There's A Place For Us : Mercifully, this is the second single from Joe's album and is released the week before whatever cover version Simon foists upon this year's X Factor winner. It's the perfect chirpy follow up to Ambitions, but to give it some extra welly, it totally needs to be a double A side with the rather lovely traditional ballad from the new Narnia film (performed by EMD here).
• Bjorn Johan Muri ft Kelly Mueller ~ Nobody Knows: In a perfect world, Bjorn would have had some sizeable hits in the UK now with Yes Man and Once Upon A Time. But whoever said this world was perfect? This sparse, electro-tinged and slightly haunting but very pretty and melodic ballad duet would light up the ending of any Christmas party while drunken, ill-matched couples smooch away in their corner and cop a good feel. Lovely.
• Maroon 5 ~ Never Gonna Leave This Bed: What has gone wrong with the Hands All Over campaign? It's sort of fizzled out in the UK and the lovely Adam and his gang need something that's a bit familiar, a bit warm and a bit catchy to get it back on track. This radio friendly, singalong track would be perfect. How about some cozy hotel room ski lodge style video with a nice roaring fire to make it a bit more "tis the season"...Ta.
• Scissor Sisters ~ Sex and Violence: See above about latest Maroon 5 album campaign? Ditto the Scissters. Bah humbug I say, bah humbugger. Every Christmas needs a song that is so wonderfully not festive and such an antithesis to all the sleighbells and good tidings - this dark, disco tinged creation is just that and so exquisitely dangerous. Play loud.
• Le Kid ~ We Should Go Home Together: It's perhaps the perkiest pop song you've heard in the longest time - sort of a mix between Alphabeat's 10,000 Nights of Thunder and Britannia High's perennially amazing Start of Something (exuberant live version of course). Just the sort of skip along with happiness that you need when you've been splashed from head to toe by a bus driving through a slushy puddle. and need cheering up (yes this was my walk home from work)...
• Elouise ~ Massive Christmas song: That's not the title of the song of course but I need a nice festive single and while Bananarama and Mariah are doing that quite wonderfully (see chart below), I think Elouise could clean up with a rather heavenly Christmas album - all class and none of that shouty wailing that Mercedes is doing all over the Glee Christmas album. Give her an elegant version of As Long As There's Christmas and pair it with a heartbreaking ballad such as Deborah Gibson's Christmas Without You. There won't be a dry eye in the house...
• X Factor Finalists ~ All I Need Is You: Tragically this will never happen. Britain gets a dodgy cover of David Bowie's Heroes. I still maintain that Hotel Rival's Second Best To None should be the perfect X Factor finalists single that would linger in the charts for weeks. Swedish Idol has done the next best thing by putting out this gorgeously optimistic and uplifting tune. Just imagine how brillo this would be with Wagner doing a line, Nicolo Ford Fiesta being all bitter and Cher(yl)Clone being all rap-esque like Lady Sovereign in the middle somehow. It would be top ten for weeks.
• X Factor Winner ~ My Heart Is Yours/Story Of A Heart: How about being a bit daring and having a great double A side winners single like the glory (hole) days of William of Young?! One side could be the eurovision entry for Norway this year originally sung by the devillishly goodlooking Didrik Solli-Tang and the other side could be the yearning beauty of Benny Andersson Band's Story Of A Heart. Both epic. Both not v well known in the UK. And if they are too sweeping, the winner (aka Matt) can always do an acoustic version with some nice soprano here and there...

Top 21 Singles of The Week:

21 ~ Joe McElderry, Someone Wake Me Up (NE)
20 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
19 ~ Grobbie, Shame
18 ~ Darin, Drowning
17 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
16 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today (NE)
15 ~ Ola, Riot
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag (VID)
12 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
11 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
10 ~ JLS, Love You More
09 ~ Westlife, Safe
08 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
07 ~ EMD, What Is Love?
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
03 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (2 weeks)

Christmas singles chart (full version coming next week) ~ 3 - Annie Lennox, Universal Child; 2 - Mariah Carey, Oh Santa; 1 - Bananarama, Baby It's Christmas (1 week)

Like it or not, Christmas is coming. In 48 days countdown fans so you better get a move on! Once Hallowe'en has passed, the red cups arrive at starbucks and the amazing Dannii-infused (ooo and foxy Jamie Redknapp) M&S ads (above) start playing on the television. Oh and Mariah does a new video for her Oh Santa single! It's all sorts of early festive madness. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but it does put me in the most jolly and happy of moods regardless of whatever else is going on around me. So please bear with me and I'll try not to be too Christmassy until at least Thanksgiving... Cheers ears!

SMART NEW POP:

• Ed Drewett ~ Champagne Lemonade: Ed has already made his stamp on the UK charts this year - he sang vocals on Professor Green's INXS interpretation "I Need You Tonight" and of course penned pop confectionary "All Time Low" which took lad band du jour The Wanted all the way to the top of the charts. His debut single proper is a sparkling gem of a tune that grabs you straight away with its percolating beat, soaring falsettos and great use of synth driven disco weaving its way around Ed's lad about town vocal style. Thematically the lyrics are about some gold digging minx who picks the fellas with the bigger wallets whereas Ed is all about just being with each other (with some poundland lemonade)... What stands out about this song is that it is really smartly put together, well produced and utterly catchy. It is modern and relevant without being too entrenched in current trends that it will seem dated within a year. Ed absolutely exudes charm on the track (and in the video - he's looking VERY spiffy) and sets himself up for what should be an amazing 2011. And trust me, I've heard his album sampler and it's all top quality stuff. ESSENTIAL!
• EMD ~ What Is Love: I wrote about EMD a couple of weeks ago, when they were performing their Narnia film song live on Swedish tv (a track that Joe McElderry is recording for the UK soundtrack, just so you know). Well the boys have been busy and put together another new single which is their own very unique take on Haddaway's What Is Love ravetastic 90s smash. It's stripped back here to the most elegant and haunting beautiful ballad - almost unrecognisable from it's previous incarnation. The boys sound absolutely crystal clear and flawless in their vocals and if someone were to perform this version at this level on this year's X Factor, it would guarantee them a spot in the final. AMAZING!
• Emma Dean ~ Sincerely Fearful: I have Mike at PopTrashAddicts to thank for introducing me to the wonderful Emma Dean. She puts together this insanely off kilter, quirky cabaret pop that is sort of Kate Bush mixed with Alanis Morrisette singing over the Wicked soundtrack - it's entirely undescribable, shouldn't work but oh my god is such a joy to listen to. Her first single off her incredible second album Dr Dream & The Imaginary Pop Cabaret is a whirling dervish of a piano driven track with theatrical, dramatic beats, crashing cymbal and a vocal that seduces the tunes as much as it attacks it. You get the impression Emma completely throws herself into the tune, living and breathing each word, note and beat. And the result is a vivid tune that comes to life each time you listen. More about Emma soon. IMMENSICLES!

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
20 ~ Darin, Drowning
19 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
18 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
17 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
16 ~ Ola, Riot
15 ~ Grobbie, Shame
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
12 ~ Le Kid, We Could Go Home Together
11 ~ McFluz, Shine A Light
10 ~ Robbie Williams, My Heart & I
09 ~ JLS, Love You More
08 ~ Westlife, Safe
07 ~ EMD, What Is Love? (NE/VID)
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (NE/1 WEEK)

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

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

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

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

I was up at 5am this morning. Not in a just rolled in from the clubs sort of way, more in a pounding headache, bright light bright light sort of way. This was not fun. However, I have taken some Naproxen (amazing), played some Miss Kookie and am now on my way to get a revitalising Starbucks so I can feel even more perspicacious. Ooo and new Professor Layton has arrived so that will keep me occupied until X-Factor (read Mark's choices for guilty pleasure songs here)... In the mean time here are some amazing swedish pop tunes you really should be checking out!!

Swedish pop amazingness, etc.

• Eric Saade ~ It's Gonna Rain: I knew this would happen! Back when Eric's poptacular debut album arrived, the stand out track was the HungUpByABloke-esque It's Gonna Rain and I had to treat it as a single straight away and it rocketed to no. #2 on my playlist (even though Eric in his wisdom had gone with the ballad Break of Dawn). I felt that ballad song would be better suited til Christmas so have held off playing it. Yet now that Eric has a nice live concert montage video (click here) and is performing the track all over the place (and looking dead spiffy in a suit - above), I'm in love with the gloriously uplifting dance number all over again. Definitely a contender for one of my top 5 pop songs of the year. So get ready to be obsessed all over again. Thank you.
• Ola ~ All Over The World (acoustic): If Ola were massive in the UK (and he really should be, but what can you do), he would be performing this song as a deliciously tender piano-ballad on the results show of The X-Factor and have it rocket to the top end of the charts. It's an absolutely heavenly toned down reinterpretation of the solid disco-pop number that was the highlight of his Overdrive EP and more recent Ola album. Amazing how Ola can make this joyous uptempo romp sound so delicate, fragile and heartbreaking. Someone give that guy a hug...

• EMD ~ There's A Place For Us: YAY! Despite all the financial wranglings, I do get to see one of my favourite History Boys (Ben Barnes) back in Narnia. Even better, Swedish super-boyband E(rik)M(attias)D(anny) have recorded an entirely anthemic theme tune for the forthcoming Voyage Of The Dawn Treader flick. It's a very stately, traditional type ballad - much like you'd find on a Westlife album - and has some glorious use of strings and horn laden throughout to make it sound very uplifting and regal. Can't wait to hear the studio version. PS, don't the boys look handsome above? Love their little sway as the track fades out near the end then comes back in as a sweeping instrumental. Oh and little Danny is back in Melodifestivalen this year. YAY!
• Darin ~ Microphone: This should absolutely have been the type of song Shayne Ward came back with to blow the cobwebs of his sadly faltering pop career (where the ecky thump is his latest pop video?) It's such a strong statement of independence and one of the few uptempos on Darin's amazing Lovekiller album. He performs it with such passion too, as evidenced in the video below (despite some sound problems). Oh - and a dance routine? What more could I ask for?! (End note - do check out Scandipop and Swedish Stereo for always comprehensive and brilliant swedish-pop updates that put mine to shame. I thank you!)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It (NE)
20 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together (NE)
19 ~ Nadine Coyle, Insatiable
18 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
17 ~ Elouise, The Winner Takes It All
16 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
15 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
14 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
13 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
12 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
11 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
10 ~ Westlife, Safe
09 ~ JLS, Love You More
08 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
07 ~ Pink, Raise Your Glass
06 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You (NE)
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Robbie Williams, My Heart & I
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me (2 weeks)

Coming soon: X-Factor! New boyband albums (in order of brilliance - A1, Big Time Rush, The Wanted)! Joe McElderry! More video breakdowns!