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Showing posts with label britney spears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label britney spears. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
God, 2011 is working my last nerve already. I started the new year imbued with hope and optimism (to an extent - I do like to believe that Abba are right and that one day there will be a world where every neighbour is a friend. Not my neighbours though. They are ghastly) and it's just been one big raincloud of doom :( Booo 2011, boooo. It doesn't help that mom has been admitted to hospital again with some unknown infection. Grife. Luckily to help with the down days are 5 lovely songs - one for each working day of the week. How fortuitous.
- Daniel Volpe ~ I Am Japan, You Are Godzilla: This may very well be the most amazing song title since Marit Larsen's exquisitely titled If A Song Could Get Me You. Just for the song title alone, this song enters all sorts of levels of epic legendary brilliance. Add to this the fact that I silently adore Daniel and it's bound to be a bit of a win of a song isn't it? It's a wonderfully pulsating dance tune, full of percolating dance beats, sexy synths and that genius refrain of I Am Japan, You Are Godzilla (you're on the floor/dancing me to the ground). It's not the most conventional compliment you can pay the object of your affections but it's certain to get their attention. Much like this glittering, sparkling track. Play often. Play loud.
- Britney Spears ~ Hold It Against Me: Yes, the twitterverse and interweb spontaneously combusted today when little Bertney previewed her brand new single. It's certainly a juicy slice of down and dirty club-esque pop to brighten up the cold January nights and it's certainly worthy of chart domination. It's a bit interchangeable though isn't it? (See also Avril Lavigne single below)... it could easily be almost any singer. September, Infernal, Gathania and many others with a decent slice of Madonna meets Gaga beats in there. I like it. I just wasn't really aware it was Britney first time I heard it. Still, i'm interested enough to see how good her next album is and I'm aching for a fantastic dance routine video to go with it. Not as good as Toxic, better than 3.
- Avril Lavigne ~ What The Hell: The handclaps are back! THE HANDCLAPS ARE BACK! This is essentially all you need to know about the new Avril Lavigne single. Add to this the fact that it is a bit of a Max Martin instantly catchy classic with a driving beat and a peppy Hellcats chorus and I'm instantly smitten. It's certainly as enjoyable as Girlfriend, but with a more sassy lyrical bite to the proceedings. Much like Britney, other than Avril's contribution to the lyrics, close your eyes and this could have been a Pink, Kelly Clarkson or Marion Raven song. Delicious as raspberry swirl cheesecake though...
- Roxette ~ She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio): Hallelujah and rejoice. The premiere power pop duo of Sweden have returned. With a power pop ditty that sounds like they have never been away. Literally. While that may seem like a bit of a criticism, the song absolutely oozes charm by embracing the fact that it wants to be a generic sounding tune. Heck, even the title sounds like an undiscovered Aerosmith b-side. It shouldn't work but it absolutely does. I'd have liked a tad more Marie, but Per ably guides this instantly familiar little rocker through choppy waters. Sometimes familiarity is just what you need :)
- Nils Landgren & Viktoria Tolstoy ~ When All Is Said & Done: There are very few instances when an Abba song sung by anyone else but Abba actually works. Usually a straightforward cover just makes you want to hear the original and something too different is too startling compared to the much revered originals. However, Nils Landgren and Viktoria Tolstoy have done a very hushed and reverent version of one of the swedish foursomes most beautiful tunes. It's really on a par with the beauty that Daniel Boys bought to his version of To Make You Feel my Love or Ellie Goulding did via Your Song. It's delicate yet luscious piano and an evocative, gentle vocal. Quite simply mesmerising and utterly beautiful.(Thanks Bobbypop for the heads up)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The good thing about the fizzypop chronicles is that I've kept a note of what has been on every mix tape/cd I have done my friends every month since 2000 - it gives me a really good overview of what music I liked at the time and the changing trends and fads in this crazy business called show. The bad thing about them is that I often forget tunes so they end up being flung on a bit later than when they were new and exciting; also as I only do it once a month the songs are often "old news" by the time they make the cd. Oh well - for me, it's an interesting musical diary. For you it's something you just have to put up with :P (I've updated and rearranged the order of the September playlist here) There are two other ace mix tapes on blogs this week:
- Adem has gone old school and actually used a cassette!
- Aaron skilfully blends a mix of old and new for an aural treat!!
1 ~ Robbie Williams, Bodies: The return of Mr Williams hasn't delighted everyone, but I couldn't be more thrilled to have him back. The song works perfectly - elements of some of his biggest hits hinted at it something new and wonderful. Trevor Horn throws everything into the production mix, but it works - the strings in the chorus and the choir at the end are just heavenly. Bring on the album already!
2 ~ William Young, Hopes and Fears: Tragically this project isn't a note for note cover of the excellent Keane album (that XO reports is being rereleased!) and for that I am slightly disappointed. That passes though when I realise that a) William is a bit tied up on the single cover and b) it's a stomping sounding uptempo number that showcases his amazing vocal and proves he is just as brillo at the fast stuff as he is at the slow (something I've always known as my fave two Will songs include Your Game and Switch It On)...
3 ~ Leona Lewis, Happy: Comfortably nestled just behind Robbie on my chart at the moment, this song is much more powerful than a cursory listen leads you to believe. Sure, it's not going to win any awards for inventiveness, but it's a soaring ballad of hope and redemption and her voice sounds stunning. Still can't quite believe it's not out here until November though. PS - wouldn't it be great if Leona Lewis and Blake Lewis got married so she could be Leona Lewis-Lewis? No. Ok then...
4 ~ Blake Lewis, Heartbreak On Vinyl (vid above): I do love Mr Lewis. I still think Gots To Get could have been massive in Europe. I loved Sad Song but this tune - the title track of his new album - is just one of his strongest songs to be released tonight. Full of poignancy yet set to an addictive 80s shuffling dance beat it's a winner from start to finish. Some clever lyrics too - "fall in love to analogue and never let go". Mel and Postergirl have all already expressed eloquently how amazing this song is. Could be huge if launched properly in the Uk...
5 ~ Britney, 3: Oh goodness me - well I guess you can't say some songs on this list aren't totally up to date! It's not an earthshattering single for her new greatest hits album (only two albums after her last one - how Hilary Duff) but like Alexandra's Bad Boys it sort of does the job really - an enjoyable-ish pop romp that will most likely grow on people the more they hear it. For me, the jury's still out - check out D'luv's view...
6 ~ Miley Cyrus, Party In The USA: Shame on me for forgetting this song so often. It's up there with 7 Things and See You Again for me - ie, totally brilliant, catchy and an ace ace pop song. It's heavy on the cheese factor but it wins me over every single time when she sings "and the Britney song was on..." This is what great pop should be - ever so singable, smidgeon of novelty and a chorus to die for :)
7 ~ Vanessa Amorosi, This Is Who I Am: Ah VanAm is back and she's busy channelling Kelly Clarkson and Pink. That's neither here nor there though as this has some brilliant spat out lyrics during the verses and an epic sing-it-to-the-back-of-the-stadium chorus that's as loud and noisy as it needs to be. Check out what the Pop Panel said about the song a few weeks back...
8 ~ Dolly Rockers, Boys Will Be Boys: Blimey, what else can I say about this song that I haven't said here or on the DR Interview Post (capital letters because it's very important). It's Republica, it's Tatu, it's Veronicas, it's Fuzzbox, it's indie girl group, it's Transvision Vamp, it's Girls Aloud, it's Bananarama, yet it's still very Dolly Rockers. Got the point? Good :P
9 ~ Mini Viva, Left My Heart in Tokyo: I'm late adding this to the "chronicles" as well aren't I? Oh well, to make up for it click the link to be taken to a Live Lounge version of the song that is rather marvelous in the extreme. It gives the already ridiculously catchy tune an organic live feel and breaks down the funk (or something). Single 2 sounds brilliant...
10 ~ Girls Can't Catch, Keep Your Head Up: Very late on this one too - not because I forgot, but because I wasn't sure that they had a long term future and couldn't work out how good the song was. Still, a couple of months on when it randomly pops up on my mp3 player I'm not displeased to hear it so that can only be a good sign. I suppose it's all resting on Echo then isn't it?
11 ~ Anders Fernette, So Incredible: Following the dance remake triumph of Hungry Eyes isn't going to be easy - and this isn't a bad song to undertake that task. Yes, bits of it sound like the best Backstreet Boys song you've heard in a while but it has a fuzzy frenetic beat and a sweet vocal delivery that just soars into a big as all outdoors chorus. After a few listens you can't help but smile each time you hear it...
12 ~ Kevin Borg, The Last Words: Click on the link to hear a 2009 remix of this song because it transforms a mundane album track into a soaring summer dance classic which is exactly the type of song Kevin should be belting out. It's very trancetastic indeed and I imagine it will be all over the stereo at Bar Tubos like the dirty little rash you know it could be. More dance on the next album then Kev...
13 ~ Danny Saucedo, Kiss You All Over: I skipped Emely as a single focussing on the aces Set Your Body Free (a song so good that Avenue did it first and now new group BVG are, er, having a brave bash at it!) back in July. This month it's time that the astonishingly huggable album track Kiss You All Over gets a bit of an airing. It's a proper dance-pop song and one that makes you think that Danny could be a proper pop star in England if a bit of thought were put into marketing him here. Sigh...
14 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Rewind (vid above): Let's ignore the song for this (if you like the above two songs chances are you will like this - it's what Mans does best and I believe was a single in Poland?!) and focus on the video. It's incredibly amazing just in the first twenty seconds - a quite good-naff looking rollercoaster, a girl in a headband giving it some "i'm a serious fan" arm pumping action and one of those rides that drops you and makes your stomach feel all funny. Mans, amid all this insanity and bonkersosity, looks bloody gorgeous.
15 ~ Sally Shapiro, Miracle: Ah, our Sal has become a bit of a blog darling hasn't she? It's easy to see why - she is churning out tunes beautifully crafted pop tunes like this and wooing us with her sultry voice and hypnotic grooves. Hopefully she will become immensely successful worldwide, rather than be the next Annie (who I still adore of course)...
16 ~ Lily Allen, Chinese: This wasn't one of my favourites from her latest album when it first came out, but it's really grown on me over the last past 8 months. Mostly because of the gorgeous choral tribute out there. It's what Lily does best really - parlay everyday situations into great pop songs. It would be a shame if she did quit music :/
17 ~ Erik Hassle, All That I Wanted: Hasn't everyone been waiting forever for Hurtful to happen? It's got to be coming soon because nearly six months on that track still sounds epic and like an international number one. Still I popped it on the April mix so for this month I'm enjoying this guitar led number that has Erik's distinctive vocals, his knack for emotionally raw lyrics and really sores when the strings in the middle 8 add some additional heartbreak. Incredible...
18 - Paolo Nutini, Pencil Full of Lead: I picked up on this as an excellent choice for a single when I reviewed the album a while back. I've grown vaguely tired of his rather affected accent, but this song is just so different from anything else in the charts right now that I can't help but be charmed by it's organic good time feeling. I'm sure it's pretty much a rewrite of a Jungle Book song that Paolo loves so much though :P
19 ~ The Gossip, Love Long Distance: Always effortlessly cool in everything they do, this is a lush disco epic that would sound at home up against some of the early scissor sister demos (had they had more money to spend on production). "I want someone who's around for me" sings Beth and who can't relate to lyrics like that? Gorgeous from start to finish - plus who doesn't love some roller disco in a video...
20 ~ Franz Ferdinand, What She Came For: At least commercially, the Franz never fulfilled their early promise did they - yet I refuse to give up on them because with each album comes a bonnie selection of skinnytieindiedisco tunes to die for and the latest single is no exception. There is some funkalicious guitar work on here that Prince would be proud of and a huge chorus with shouty chanting and everything. Brilliant.Shame they didn't stick to their plan to name each album Franz Ferdinand though :(
21 ~ Mr Hudson, White Lies: Mr Hudson's time really is now isn't it? Supernova was rather amazing and brilliant and massive in the same way that I assume Erik's Hurtful will be. This is a properly huge piano driven song with an off kilter shuffling beat behind it. Massive vocal that sounds impassioned during the chorus and makes me die a little from happiness each time I hear it. Glorious...
(Next month - David Jordan, Westlife, Alesha Dixon, and more!)
Back soon with live lounge, tv catchup, book report, weekly round up and the x factor judges houses!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Hello dudes. I am back and fresh from a 7 hour flight across 2,038 time zones in a middle seat in coach (shudder) with an adorable baby behind me who screamed for 2/3rds of the flight and kicked my chair for the rest of it. Amazing. I will catch you all up on florida over the next couple of days ("oh yay" i hear you all cry sarcastically) but here are a few thoughts over the past couple of weeks when i was cut off from the world because of evil net nanny on the hotel computer. Oh my good garden gnomes...
- Colour me obsessed with the Twilight saga. Because i need my teen phenomenons in my life. I read the first book on the flight over and peppered poor Darren with questions like "ooo why is Edward so frowny eyes with Bella in Biology" and "ooo why didn't i buy books 2 and 3 for the flight also"???
- SPOTTED!: 28th Nov at Disney Hollywood Studios - Ryan Seacrest looking tiny but dapper in a suave suit going to record something for the new American Idol attraction there; 3rd Dec at Disney EPCOT - Doogie Howser (MD) is a nice shirt/waistcoat (vest) combo and looking buff for first time ever (in my eyes) reading Christmassy things in the theatre there; 5th Dec at Disney EPCOT - David "Cookie Monster" Cook strolling unnoticed through the park in slumpy jeans and checked shirt, until i yelled "OMFG Darren it's one of the Idol Davids!". He is quite hot in person.
- GAH! I am so so so saturated with Britney coverage - she was effing everywhere, and it did indeed quite put me off her at-first-glance-quite-good Circus album. Access Hollywood, E-News, MTV, blah blah blah. And then I decided that considering how much money went into getting the best talent to write and produce her album and how many themes from tracks like Kill The Lights and Circus are recycled from Lucky and Piece of Me, it's actually quite an only ok album. Womaniser is still quite good though.
- :**( I leave the country and the charts go to pot. Same Difference score only a #13 single and #22 album (I do think their enthusiastic but not as great as it could've been X Factor performance may have hindered them); McFly only got to #18 with Do Ya and Will Young stiffed in the 30s with Grace. At least Take That got double penetration with their chart topping single and album. Woo hoo!
TOP 21 TRACKS OF THE WEEK:
21 ~ Marit Larsen, If A Song Could Get Me You
20 ~ Leon Jackson, Creative (NE)
19 ~ Kylie & Dannii, The Winner Takes It All
18 ~ The Feeling, Won't Go Away
17 ~ McFly, Do Ya
16 ~ Madonna, Miles Away
15 ~ Alphabeat, What Is Happening
14 ~ Marit Larsen, I've Heard Your Love Songs
13 ~ Darin, Breathing Your Love
12 ~ Mariah Carey, I Stay In Love
11 ~ Alesha Dixon, The Boy Does Nothing
10 ~ The Killers, Human
09 ~ Britney, Womaniser
08 ~ Lenka, All My Bells Are Ringing (NE)
07 ~ Girls Aloud, The Promise
06 ~ William Young, Grace
05 ~ Take That, Greatest Day
04 ~ Britannia High, Start of Something
03 ~ Leona Lewis, Run
02 ~ Same Difference, We R One (see vid)
01 ~ Jason Mraz, Live High (1 week)
Coming soon: The Floridian tales; back to the Christmas Countdown; thoughts on Darin, Take That and Alesha albums, as well as Kylieplay and Lily singles. Plus the X Factor finale coverage next weekend (viva JLS!!) Let me know your thoughts on the Same Diff album now it's released, and i've finally gotten around to answering all your many appreciated comments at the posts below!!
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