Lopez Blogs

I have to say that I am really enjoying doing these video breakdowns a la Adam Tyler's brillo Friction on Monday... and it seems that is all I will be doing this week, what with the Maroon 5 video airing tomorrow and something amazing being released (finally) on Friday :) So once again the review of The Like/The Pipettes gets pushed until it's probably so irrelevant that i'll be reviewing their respective third albums. Oh well, lets have a looky at what is going on at ye olde youtube today...

Hugh Sheridan ~ Speak Love:


Sigh. Shouldn't Hugh be a lot bigger in Australia by now? Are people (other than Aaron) not really seeing what I am seeing? He's a jolly good looking lad, decent voice, catchy tunes with a pleasing throwback to the classic motown sound... Perhaps releasing the title track from his album (a lovely romantic dreamy ballad, slightly reswizzled for the masses) in conjunction with a third series of his hit show Packed To The Rafters will give him an additional boost. I hope so. It's one tv-popstar I wouldn't like to see fall by the wayside (even if his video is bloody disabled from embedding, grrr)...

• It's Hugh! He's all hazy at first, but soon comes into focus and I must say he is looking rather lovely. Oh look, at about 10seconds, he actually notices that we are here waiting for him to sing. He does. Lovely obliging fellow...
• He's got incredibly white teeth, and then as evidenced at the twenty second mark, quite nice eyes too. Very blue. Whenever I talk about eyes, i'm reminded of Cordelia in Buffy saying "my eyes are blue, Helen Keller". Classic
• Now lots of people have eyes! Who knew?! I suppose eyes are the windows to the soul... one woman (the third to be shown at about 33 seconds) could do with some help in how to make her eye liner blend more subtley...
• The whole video starts to become very Love, Actually The Musical. There are people holding hands and writing messages of love on glass. Which is very romantic, but like scattering rose petals across a bedroom, a bit of a nightmare to clean up! I am romantic but practical :) Oh and Love actually does remain one of my very favourite movies!
• From about one minute onwards, there are more messages and Hugh singing in a very impassioned way. I really do like his duffle jacket/coat. It's quite amazing isn't it?
• It's a really simple but effective video for a simple yet endearing song. More and more people walk past Hugh until he has quite the congregation behind him. The song remains the focal point but the visuals are pleasingly thought out. At around 2m45s everyone starts to write on the glass as the song kicks into it's final stages.
• Give you hope. Keep smiling. May you find peace and happiness. World vision. Hope you are ok. It's all platitudes and a little bit cheesy, but the lyrics of the song make the visuals work and that's what a good video should do...
• The video finishes with Hugh writing "speak love" on the glass, walking off and continuing to look sickeningly attractive. Git :)

Ola Svensson ~ Overdrive:

As previously discussed, Ola has had a rather brilliant and underrated (at least globally) run of singles in his native Sweden. He's back with a new track that in my opinion is rather overshadowed by the excellent All Over The World on his Overdrive EP. But hey, at least there is a nice video to go with it and it's definitely rating quite high on the charm-o-metre...

• Good god. Scabby BB11 fever is taking over the world. Ola clearly lives in a squat. He is in a mattress on the floor and the place is a right tip. Still, according to ace film Worried About The Boy, that's how Boy George got his start so perhaps it is a popstar right of passage?
• He's obviously not a morning person as he looks well moody and tired. Still, this is balanced out with some gratuitous shots of his naked flesh and you can almost hear people booing (not me, I hasten to add) when he puts his sparklingly clean vest on!
• Dear God! although it's not entirely obvious, at 22s he has obviously gone for a piss! Now we all know these things take place first thing in the morning, but does the video have to make it so implicit? I like to think that toxins are just osmosed out of pop stars pores as rose petals. I do not need reality shattering. bad, ola, bad.
• A PISS! He actually went for a piss! I am still not over this!
• His kitchen, though in dire need of a dousing in Ajax, is quite ok. Well I like the colour of the kitchen cabinets anyway, and the empty pizza box made me very peckish indeed...
• At 45-50s we learn that Ola has a very itchy left arm and an amazingly magical disappearing coffee cup. How frustrating would that be - your lughole is just ready for some deep bean tastes and then the bloody thing isn't in your hand anymore. This clearly explains why Ola is in a bit of a paddy!
• I am shocked that Ola lives in a towerblock. That isn't me being snobby - usually popstars live in swanky apartments or mansions (at least in the world of pop video). bravo Ola for appealing to the masses (though a lick of paint inside wouldn't hurt - the place looks like the lifts stink of widdle)!
• Gosh, what is going on? Ola is running for his little life through a nice field. Look at him go! He is possibly being chased by a werewolf or a rabbit or something equally as terrifying. And! In a very tenuous link alert - he is wearing a hooded outerwear jacket just like Hugh! Incredible!
• Heavens! From 1m20 til 1m40 he is still running as fast as his legs will carry him - he sort of falls over a car parked under a bridge in the car. The man in the car comes out and gets a bit fisty (ie, shakes his fist not the other type of fisty - although to be fair, parked in a field, under a bridge. Total suspish!). In a subtle as the weeing in the bathroom moment, Ola most probably gives him the finger. Charming :P
• Finally, Ola has a sit down on a bench. He is probably all tuckered out. And who wouldn't be?! Serendipitously, there is a fella next to him playing guitar and he is playing Overdrive! How incredible is that?!
• At around the 2m mark, Ola goes into what I assume is a quaint local antique shop, picks something up and then leaves without paying! This video is full of Ola being ever so naughty! No wonder a few seconds later he is run run running as fast as he can!
• Oh really, this is making me exhausted. The guy is fit as (in exercise terms, in other fit terms, well yes, i'm becoming marginally attracted to him)... At 2m45s he is bent over (oo nice) gasping for air. I was practically heaving just watching him run!!
• There is even more running. I think this is for two reasons - one; to distract from Ola's hair. It's ok, he pulls it off, but it's not the best style he could have and two; it is a deep metaphorical analogy that he is in "overdrive" and therefore must proceed at a million miles per hour. The visual representation of his inner turmoil is an increasingly valid form of art expression in today's society. or some such twaddle!!
• No, that is completely wrong. Actually he is building up speed so that at 3m50s he can break through the wall with his "overdrive". Essentially he is the hulk, but blonde and skinny. The song is still quite good though...

And there you have it. Tomorrow - a full breakdown of THIS!!

There are plenty of marvelous things happening in the land down under right at this very second. Or at least eminating internationally from there. I mean aside from the sheery dribbly hunkiness of Hugh Sheridan, there is additionally quite a lot of excellent pop (and classical) music to be appreciated. Here are some of the current best...

Gabriella Cilmi ~ Hearts Don't Lie: I have been entirely enchanted by the wonderful pop music spell that is Gabriella's fantastic album Ten. It is in fact the best australian pop album with ten in the title since Jason Donovan's Ten Good Reasons. The still excellent On A Mission has become my walk to work anthem despite the fact that I am clearly not a woman. Or on a mission. That's how universal the pop of Gabriella is!! Anyway, there's no rest for the fabulous as Gabriella is already planning her second single - the effervescent Hearts Don't Lie. It's out on May 31st, which is not only a lovely sunny (hopefully) bank holiday weekend in the UK, it's also Birmingham Gay Pride and additionally the weekend of Eurovision so pop magnificence abounds. HDL is a wild beast of a song, almost feral in a new moto blanco remix (below) - you imagine Gabriella reigning in the tune before it bursts free in a massive glittering chorus. Absolutely brilliant. Totally besotted...



Kylie ~ Love Love Love/Announcement: As the world and his dog knows by now, lovely Kylie is making a very important announcement at noon today. So just as Larry Flick starts his Morning Jolt rather conveniently! Hurrah! In the meantime, a rather lovely Biff Stannard track has surfaced that probably won't be on the new album but is just so delicious and heavenly that it's a nice treat to tide the masses over. I'll edit in the announcement later - in the meantime, pop over to PopTrashAddicts for a rather good write up of the leaked track...EDIT: The new single is the Kish Mauve (2 Hearts) penned All The Lovers from the BRILLIANTLY new titled album Aphrodite. This is all very exciting indeed (and quite close to the release of new Scissor Sisters so June is turning out to be an excellent month for pop!). View the album artwork here. Kylie looks stunning.

Aston ~ Telephone (Lady Gaga cover): After writing about the lovely Aston classical music group on Sunday, I've become a bit obsessed with them. It's such a refreshing change to listen to them and they are a very delightful soundtrack to the summery evenings and even make me feel a little bit elegant. Not content with absolutely nailing Confide In Me, they have taken on Telephone, albeit without the overly elaborate video which is a plus. They clearly absolutely love what they do, and part of the joy of their cover is watching them create something together in the video that they feel is special and enjoyable to them. Apparently Empire State of Mind II is their next song. Hurrah.

Oh what a (night) weekend it's been! I've packed Darren off on holiday for a week; I have the next week off from work; I'm still addicted to Russell T Davies' The Writer's Tale and now have my own version of "the great correspondence"; I watched all of series 1 of the Inbetweeners today in one sitting and laughed my arse off; I'm now watching the new season of The Tudors and fear that it does not bode well for silly nymphette Katherine Howard; and I met up for blogest ("tweetmeet") 2010 with lovely XO, Jessica, Jams, Dan, Phil, two Rods and Richard which was quite the enchanting evening! Anyway, here is the remainder of the fizzypop chronicles and the weekly chart (poor Robbie. I just barely listened to Morning Sun this week!)

• Bright Light Bright Light ~ A New Word To Say: A popjustice song of the day on Monday (and deservedly so), BrightLightX2 is one of the Rods I met on Saturday night. Not only is he an intensely charming and well spoken chappie, he has worked my beloved Nerina Pallot but he produces eminently smart and well written pop music that delight the soul and tingles the senses. A New Word To Say (available as a free legal download on his website here) is a warm, lush, electro tinged track that is built around the constructs of some of his folk music and soars with the addition of some synths, a luxurious beat and a dreamy skybound chorus. Featured artist (from Neon Neon) Boom Bip works seamlessly with Rod and together they have conjured up one of the most engaging lovely songs of the spring. More to come soon on the debut album, Make Me Believe In Hope.
• Sound of Arrows ~ Into The Clouds: Much like my resurrected interest in Le Kid, I'm refreshing my love affair with the lovely synth-pop duo Sound of Arrows in anticipation of a new album fairly shortly. This track was out last year and while isn't quite as delicious and amazing as the always wondrous M.A.G.I.C, it is still a top notch tune - and the Fear of Tigers remix whips it into a disco frenzy that Giorgio Morodo would be jealous of. And although it's no crime to remind yourself of these tracks, I am hoping the new album won't be too far away now...
• Dirty Disco ~ Sista: I've written about Dirty Disco a couple of times, so it should be no surprise that their punchy, feisty single ends up on the monthly playlist. It's an energetic romp that is strong on dance beats, infectious melody and a heavy dollop of leaning towards theatrics - all things that make up an incredibly brilliant, smashing pop single. And one that deserves mighty success because it's a song that loves itself. That might sound a bit odd, but it's a tune that knows it is deliriously fun and plays on that, rather than tries to tame the fact. Play multiple times daily to cures the blues...
• Ryan Ferrada ~ Chemical Connection: Keeping the memory alive, I continue to mine Ryan's lovely album (Room 501) for singles and find the pickings rich in choice. Chemical Connection is a dark electro-dance tune that matches fuzzy synths and effects with Ryan's vocal style. It's definitely one of the most "pop" moments on the dance oriented album and a lovely - if now saddened - glimpse into the star Ryan could have become...
• Adam Lambert ~ Whadaya Want From Me: The sign of a good song is that it works quite well in a number of formats. So there is the dramatic, gothic-meets-glam original album mix that is quite nice (though not as brilliant as some of the BWO singles in the same ilk). There is the acoustic version which reins it in a little bit and is very pleasant (though not as brilliant as Darin, Danny or Mans turning their uptempo epics into acoustic ballads) and there is a fine dance mix floating around that works quite well. And it all works well and it's quite good, but I can't help but feel that it could be just that bit better...
• Hugh Sheridan ~ All About Me: Ah Hugh. I sometimes wonder whether I like his songs because he is actually incredibly pretty to look at at and yet looks quite gruff & rough in a denim shirt and tie. Heavy long sigh. But actually, I do quite like this song - it's an uptempo jangly number that is reminiscent of early Robbie Williams and is all about what a selfish tosser he has been in the past. Also it has some nice piano and sumptuous strings and a nice singalong chorus. Plus he also looks quite brilliant in a tux looking all tired after a night out. Oh I'm so shallow...
• Stan Walker ~ Think of Me: Australian Idol Stan looks like Bug from Life UneXpected. And then he has to suffer the indignity of having an album released that is mainly covers (although The Climb puts Joe's to shame). There are a couple of new songs that sparkle - Black Box is a corker (on the Jan Fizzypop Chronicles) and this one is nearly as good and well worth a few minutes of your time. It's a summery slice of soul that is smooth as silk and tasty as a galaxy caramel.
• Music Go Music ~ Just Me: Oh how I continually adore the music of, er, Music Go Music. Light of Love was the most abba-esque song since Benny Andersson Band. They have this exquisite knack of bridging the gap between the lovely 70s melodies so favoured by Abba and their ilk, and a more critical analytical blogging world of the new millenium. It's an ace chirpy, hook laden, marvelous four minutes and something that should be making lives sparkle across the world :)
• Todd Alsup ~ Let's Have A Party: I'm in full adoration mode of Todd Alsup. Mainly because he creates these genuinely inviting pop ditties that are full of uplifting melodies, great piano riffs and big singalong choruses. Let's Have A Party is a brilliant example of that type of tune and feels like it should be played loud on a Friday night as you grab a six pack of beer (= wine coolers/zima) and head on over to your friend. And how lovely that the song can help you create some lasting memories with your pals as it did me this week :)
• The Candle Thieves ~ We;re All Gonna Die: Oh, it's getting silly now. I can't really keep saying nice things about Candle Thieves, yet they keep providing me with such joyful music that I'm compelled. Their album review is coming later in the week and is going to be more of a love fest. Prepare for that with this heavenly track that is all chirpy melody and quirky instruments, with an excellent and memorable chorus. The title makes it seem bleak, but trust me - three plus minutes with this song and you'll feel better than you have in ages. Oh and check out this free remix - it turns it into a bloody brilliant synthtastic epic...
• The Sparkling Arrest ~ Skyman: I first fell (and fell hard) for Sparkling Arrest when I heard their ever so good song Skyman. It's an instant epic that mixes crashing piano chords with some brilliant guitar work, all the while driving the song forward with a vocal melody that weaves in and out of the instrumental drama going on. The performance below that they performed in their own home shows that it works in an intimate environment as well as it's most deserved place - a massive outdoor stage with people singing it back.

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die (NE/VID)
20 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo
19 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood
18 ~ Diana Vickers, Once
17 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away
16 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm
15 ~ Alex gardner, I'm Not Mad
14 ~ Mika, Rain
13 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
12 ~ Magnus Carlsson, A Little Respect
11 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love
10 ~ Donkeyboy, Ambitions
09 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
08 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
07 ~ Elouise, Fireman of My Dreams
06 ~ The Pipettes, Stop The Music
05 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
04 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love
02 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
01 ~ Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bittersweet (NE/1 Week)

Coming this week: Elouise interview; Simon Curtis mammoth feature; album reviews for Candle Thieves, Sparkling Arrest, The Pipettes and more!

You know what? November and December is so jam packed full of new music by some of my favourite artists, plus lots of stuff gets pushed aside for Christmas music, that I don't always have enough time to listen to some of the exciting new artists my friends recommend! So I always make a note of the ones that sound intruiging so I can catch up on them in January! And as it is now January, here is a list of some of the artists that i've been aware of for some time and find intruiging/good looking. I am enjoying checking out (plus links to people who write much more eloquently about them!) Oh, the video above? Nothing to do with pop in 2010, I just really like it for some reason. It's performed very...enthusiastically :)

OH! And if you were tuned in to the Larry Flick show on Thursday morning's Morning Jolt, you would have heard me! I sound very loud! But it was lots of fun :P Here are some links to the artists I talked about (that most of you already know, but just in case you didn't...) - i'm next on Feb 1st. Lordy, better sort out some more euro-pop music!

• Mans Zelmerlow - album review of MZW
• Neo - album review of NEO
• Evan - album review of Under Your Spell
• Sergey Lazarev - interview

NEW ACTS FOR '10 ~ RETWEET EDITION!

• From dontstopthepop... I'm intruiged by Miss Polly Rae who is putting on a burlesque show in London in February. It sounds absolutely magnificent. Burlesque meets pop via the amazing Steve Anderson & Terry Ronald sounds utterly butterly to me. I am SO there :) Bobby also drew my attention to the fine features of Jonas Myrin who not only looks yummers but sounds pretty decent too. Hurrah. (Still anxious for music from LeKid, Isabel Guzman and of course Elouise too)...
• From fabtasticmusic... Ah that adorable Aaron. He (and auspop) steered me directly towards the rather delightful Hugh Sheridan who has gone that traditional Australian route of tv star to pop star with admirable results. I've "spun" his debut album a couple of times and it has me hankering to go back for more already. Plus! Another stunner! Bonus!
• From Project76blog... DanUK and I don't often share the same taste in music, but occasionally the planets align and we go gaga over the same act. Dan injected some taste into my pop sensibilities when he steered me in the direction of Music Go Music who are a rather dreamy pop band who make very excellent music with a hint of Abba influence. Quite wonderful. Plus they are in the UK in february. Very excellent news.
• From thismustbepop... Jessica always does a rather comprehensive list of the more off-piste artists to keep an eye on. One of my favourites from this year has to be Donkeyboy who have the same pop sensibilities as Alphabeat, an album full of rather amazing tunes and a seal of approval from Popjustice. I sense I will be rather obsessed with them and rather soon.
• From worrapolava... Out of the ashes of Daggers rises good looking twosome Hurts. These two have been floating around the internet ether for a while now and are producing some solid good pop tunes, heavy on great vocals, addictive melodies and entirely alluring sax solos. Plus some great remixes are in the bag - this is one of those acts that several bloggers picked up on ages ago and just now all the "official big in 10" lists are all over. (See also XO and AlienHits)...
• From xolondon... talking of xo, he's always got some elegant pop choices up his sleeve; ones that focus on depth of lyric, meaningful choruses and sweeping majesty in the instrumental. He's written lots about, and totally converted me to, Ellie Goulding - she's got pop sensibilities mixed with a certain aura of cool around her music, which like a still pool on a hot day is just heaven to dip into and gently immerse yourself. Big things coming from her, especially as the winner of that BBC Sound of 2010 thingy!
• From billcs... I discovered Bill through a mutual love of acts like Simon Curtis, Dan Black, Mans Zelmerlow and Sammy Taylor. All those acts make Bill's 2010 list as does the guitarist from Avril Lavigne's early days - Evan Taubenfeld, who has been busy creating his own special brand of pop hook for you all to latch onto. He has a new album coming out pretty soon, but has preceded that with a few singles, including the catchy Cheater Of The Year (not a title I imagine many people would want to win!) I do love a bit of malicious revenge pop (check out Simon's Diablo if you haven't already) and this hits all the right buttons. Aces.

Come back Sunday for some tracks that I'm surprisingly loving (as the final part of my 2010 new music thingamabob), then Mon-Fri next week is the vegas diaries. Good lord!

Ah, the above snap shot from the cold, chilly yet exhilarating ice rink outdoors is really what Christmas is all about. Meeting up with friends, sharing experiences, hot chocolate from Starbucks with whipped cream on top, cold noses, Christmas carols being blasted through sound system, then a walk back to a roaring fire (or a picture of one ripped out a magazine sellotaped to the radiator) to enjoy a glass of mulled wine and the town drunk stumbles past, with his coffee flask aromating a distinctly Irish Coffee aroma slurring "merry bloody christmas". Ah yes, if Hairspray were a Christmas musical, that's exactly how the opening number would play out. Marvelous. Now on with the post, because I'm in a bit of a mood - Darren only went to order 2 things from Amazon that I have bought him from Christmas. The surprise is now gone. Hence no magic... :/ I need a hug :P

CHRISTMAS FUTURE:

It's really been quite an amazing year for the lovely Industry pop group. Two Irish number ones (I'm not sure where their third single In Your Arms got to) including the poptacular My Baby's Waiting and an amazing Erik Holter remix of Burn. They are back with their fourth Irish single, My Mistake which is their most lushly produced power ballad to date. It feels instantly recognisable with it's lilting piano melody, sumptuous and inviting backbeat, gorgeous vocals and some lovely singalong harmonies in the chorus. While I've loved their previous releases, it's definitely their strongest statement yet for me and highlights that through their careful planning of building an audience through selected releases, this time next Christmas we'll be smooching along to tunes like this at every office bash across the country. Quite simply a delightful treat from the band to tide me through Christmas. Gorgeous.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

As my darling Australian friends would say, Hugh Sheridan is a bit of a spunk. He's from the show Packed To The Rafters and a bit of a crooner too. Aaron Fabtastic has written lots about him and I'm hoping to get his album by new year. For now, I'm quite happy to be wooed by his lovely festive offering for an Australian Christmas compilation album called The Christmas Waltz. It starts off with some lovely strings then quickly merges into an off kilter beat that reminds me a little bit of a Blake Lewis ADD type song - Hugh's vocal is very different to that though. He has one of those classic pop voices that are instantly warming and the juxtaposition of that with the funky backing track work really well. Of course there are jingle bells thrown in there for good luck too, which is quite smashing. It's quite a delightful, optimistic, hopeful aural Christmas Card which I can't stop playing - it's really won me over to Hugh's lovely vocals and I'm really excited for that album now. So yes, I would definitely put the words Hugh Sheridan and spunk in the same sentence (! sigh !) but his voice is just as enticing as his looks :)

CHRISTMAS PAST:

I can hardly believe it that it has been a whopping 20 years since Jason Donovan was the biggest boy in pop (ahem) and charming audiences across Britain with his sort of festive entry When You Come Back To Me. One of my all time favourite Jason tunes, I absolutely begged my parents for a red trench coat, but it did not materialise that year. Not to worry, their gift of a Jason calendar kept my spaff fresh... Anyway, I love to whip this song out each year and enjoy the chiming bells in the S/A/W disco-pop production, the joyous singalong chorus, the shuffly-dance beat middle 8, Jason's fisting signal at 2m 36 in the vid, and the all together feel good factor the song brings out. So although the ozzie spunk tissue has been passed from Jason to Hugh, the former's contribution to Christmas pop remains unparalled by his contemporaries. Viva 1989!!

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Madonna, Revolver
20 ~ The Killers, A White Demon Love Song
19 ~ Little Boots, Earthquake
18 ~ Mika, Blame It On The Girls
17 ~ Whitney Houston, I Look To You
16 ~ Blake Lewis, I Left My Baby For You (NE/VID)
15 ~ William Young, Hopes & Fears
14 ~ The Saturdays, Ego
13 ~ Darin, Viva La Vida
12 ~ Backstreet Boys, Bigger
11 ~ Agnes, Love Love Love
10 ~ Mini Viva, I Wish
09 ~ Simon Curtis, Delusional
08 ~ JLS, Close To You
07 ~ Leona Lewis, Stop Crying Your Heart Out
06 ~ BWO, Kings of Tomorrow
05 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, A Stranger Saved My Life
04 ~ Alcazar, Thank You
03 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me
02 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo
01 ~ Pet Shop Boys, It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas 2009 (4 weeks)

Back both Sat and Sun for x factor filled weekend :)