Lopez Blogs

I don't know whether you've noticed, but recently I have become obsessed with the most amazing, camptastic bro-sis combo since The Carpenters were around. I don't like to go on about it too much, so I've only written the most miniscule amount about them. But i can keep quiet no longer! The Same Difference album has arrived and I'm all of a tizzy! To calm myself down, I've watched the interview clip above and have to say once again, how adorable the duo are. Yes, Sean could use a bit of a hair make over, and Sarah looks like she is about to pop a bun in the oven, but they speak with such enthusiasm and excitement about their musical fruits, that it is rather contagious. And while the album Pop is certainly an extension of the gloriously upbeat We R One single (or at least the tracks on the sampler I got sent), it's a little more Steps2008 than High School Musical 3...

I don't really know what else I can say about the debut single that I haven't said already. It's the perfect bridge between their signature rendition of Breaking Free that was so beloved on the X Factor (though my least favourite performance of theirs!) and the sound of the album. We R One, as the interview above states, documents their journey through to the final of the X Factor and just oozes with positivity and happiness. Let Me Be The One is a pretty faithful rendition of the Six tune and suits them perfectly - it's a shuffling disco beat, with piano flourishes that are a little beefed up and the chorus is as powerful as it ever was. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - i'm so happy that this on the album. It was one of their more mature moments on the show and translates well to a studio version among the pop hits that are here. And let's not forget that more than anyone else on the X Factor, Sean and Sarah sang live while dancing, leaping, flying, etc. and this song really shows off their vocals and gives them a chance to remind people that, hey, they can actually sing. Gorgeous harmonies after the key change make my skin tingle ever such a little. I Need A House is their third cover version in a row. Probably not for your average tween, but for purveyors of fine pop like myself, PPG and D'Luv it may all be a bit familiar. Again it's slightly beefed up from the original version by Marie Serneholt, and there's less vocoder on Sarah's voice which makes it a slightly purer rendition. There's no denying that whether you know they are cover versions or not, they have picked some amazing tunes. I'm going to skip Breaking Free, not because it's bad but because it does what it says on the tin - provides people with their most popular X Factor song. And it breaks up the first and second half of the album - the latter half showcasing more original songs...

If You Can't Dance is a perky uptempo tune that really deserves it's time in the sun (ie, it should be the second single). I'm scared it will be overlooked in favour of some of the cover versions as singles, but this could have a brilliantly fun video with an equally energetic dance routine. Given the current economic climate and world woes, this is the type of scisster-esque pop the nation needs right now (loving the piano chords that chime along in the background to the chorus). All The Roads Lead To Heaven is classic Steps - it's part Here and Now, part All Out of Love, and even a little bit Skeletons by Gareth Gates (which lets face it would've been an amazing Steps song). It has all the elements that make a Steps song great - thumping singalong chorus, slow bit, then key change into final singalong chorus. Why tamper with a winning formula? Ditto Better Love Me which seems to owe a huge melodic debt to It's The Way You Make Me Feel, and is perhaps their first real orignal ballad-esque song. And then of course there is the famed remake of Turn It Into Love. It's what the song should sound like in 2008, very pop, very dance (think September/Infernal) and very disco. Kylie would be very proud indeed. I doubt this is all I will have to say on S'Diff album, but i'm v tired, so it's all I can manage for now (PS Still Amazed is actually the Six song better known as The Way It Used To Be. It's very midtempo ballad and epic and finishes off the album perfectly)...
Potential singles: We R One, If You Can't Dance, The Road Leads To Heaven, Start To Beat Again, Turn It Into Love

THE CHART BATTLE OF THE YEAR:

Monday 24th November. I will be (checks schedule) at Disney MGM studios, probably on Aerosmith Rock n Rollercoaster. Or eating a "corn-dog" whatever one of those is. The rest of Britain will be out making one of the most important decisions of the year. Who will be number one this week? Will it be Bertney Asparagus Spears with the physical release of the ridiculously insidiuous Womaniser? Will Take That prove victorious once again with their grower of a smash Greatest Day? Will the new track on the flip of Do Ya entice McFly fans into the stores to part with more cash, or like me will they feel this is McFly's weakest single in ages (though i do like it)? Or will it rightfully be Same Difference and there tremendous We R One track? Only time and mp3 downloads will tell, but taking on all those heavyweights is more adorable x a million that Eoghan on X Factor, George Sampson whose energetic dancing won Britain's Got Talent earlier in the year. Get Up On The Dancefloor isn't nearly as annoying as I feared it would be. In fact it pays tribute to many of the funky throwdown classics from years gone by.. The track recreates classics including the rock ‘n’ roll sound of ‘Jailhouse Rock’, electro beats of Snap’s ‘The Power’ and the hip hop anthem ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain. It even makes me forgive Play That Funky Music, a song i've had a grudge against since Vanilla Ice... so it'll be interesting to see what the outcome is and i'll be checking out the midweeks and official charts on Sunday.....