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Mariah Carey videos performing Honey. (C) 1997 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Greetings from Florida! Unless the British snow prevented me from getting here as I am writing this before I go but it won't go up on the blog until I'm actually in Florida. It's one of those Doctor Who time connundrums like Amy's gash (in her wall). Anyway, two of the most glorious songs that celebrate the festive season from the last two decades also happen to be the most covered! So I thought I would celebrate the originals and some of the sublime and ridiculous covers out there :) Enjoy and do let me know what you think - comments will be texted straight to my phone!!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU:

• Original Mariah version ~ let's face it, Mariah struck gold with this track. It's been a perennial christmas favourite, returning to the charts time and time again since 1994. It's joyful, it's upbeat, it's brimming with hope and optimism, full of jingle bells and a rollicking cantering beat propelling it all to festive glory. How can anyone hear this track and not be filled with an urge to hug everyone they are near?! Many have come close, but nothing has topped this and it's now one for the ages. And deservedly so...
• Love, Actually version ~ As long time readers will well be aware, Love, Actually is one of my favourite films of all time and definitely my most favourite film to watch several times before Christmas. This school play performance is improbably good and shows little orphan drummer boy trying to get his young lady friend Joanna to notice him through the power of beat! What follows is the young chap breaking all sorts of security rules to chase down his love through an airport all to a stirring instrumental. It's oddly affecting. Love love love. Off to watch again now!
• Mans Zelmerlow duet version ~ Well, good for Mans for turning the ebulliant original into something quite refined and dignified as a ballad version. His voices soothes like eggnog as he serenades the lovely Agnes Carlsson on this smooth, slowed down but equally lovely version. Click the link and see stills of Mans in all his winter finery. My fave ~ 22secs when his shirt sleeves are pushed up but he is still wearing a scarf. His neck is chilly but his arms are hot. Still totally snoggable under the mistletoe though!
• Lady Antebellum version ~ taken from their too short seasonal EP, this continues with the slowed down theme, but strips it back a little bit for a more countrified twang. It works quite well as it goes and makes for a most subtle rendition of a tune that works best as an over the top party poppers glitter fest. Surprisingly lovely!
• Big Time Rush version ~ I think if Simon Cowell worked it well, One Direction should be doing some songs like those on the BTR album. They've teamed up with Miranda Cosgrove on their cute tv show to perform this tune and jolly jolly they look doing it too. It's not a version that will change the world, but it's cheesy and fun and the video is too too adorable. Oh those boys!
• Mariah's extra festive version ~ There have been a couple of not very good at all remixes of this tune over the past few years (the less said about the hip hop version, the better) but Mariah has kept the essence of the original on her latest album, amped up the orchestral beginning and added a generous sprinkling of rousing drum beats. Reinvigorates the tune without losing any of the charm of the original. Well done Mrs Canon - it makes me want to write a whole musical based on her albums (hint, check back soon).

LAST CHRISTMAS:

• Wham version ~ Frankly i love a bit of heartbreaking tragedy set to a percolating and festive groove. Wham perfected this with their joyous (musically) and sad (lyrically) yuletide tune that quickly became as longlasting as their partnership was short. Try and find a Christmas store around the world that doesn't play this. Still the original and the best, though many others have tried (no, let's not discuss the Whigfield or Crazy Frog versions...)
• Alcazar version ~ look, if anyone is going to do a jingled up euro-pop version then it should absolutely be Alcazar. It's exactly the same as the Wham version but with female vocals, a higher bpm and a whole plethora of santa's crackers sound effects added in for good measure. It's jolly and jolly fantastic.
• Kimberley Locke version - presented as a stripped back acoustic hand clapping groove - her whole Christmas album is one of the best I've ever heard and this is a giddy treat. Beautiful vocals, different version but familiar enough that it is instantly warming and brimming with charm. Oh I adore Kimberley so very very much.
• Puppini Sisters version ~ As you already know, I'm loving their Christmas album and this jazzy version gives the song a whole new vibe and totally sounds like it belongs in some smoky downtown nightclub where sozzled old drunks are nursing their sorrows in a double brandy. Yes, it's that good.
• Glee version ~ the song that was released for the sake of it last year WITHOUT EVEN FEATURING IN AN EPISODE. Oh the avant gardness of it all. And they've tagged it onto this year's fairly disappointing festive album. It's a decent version - totally sounds like an X Factor single I suppose. Not the best of the bunch, but you can also check out versions by Atomic Kitten, Cascada, Busted, Coldplay, Darren Hayes, Hilary Duff, Human Nature, Jamelia, JLS, Little Boots, The Ordinary Boys, Taylor Swift, Travis and probably many more...

Did I miss any other versions of these songs? Back on Fri with a chart run down and more festive playlist madness :) Do stop by!

Ooo it really is the most wonderful time of the year. The walk to work this morning was jolly freezing, the fields were glistening with frost and I get to go home tonight and pack for two weeks of Florida! How magnifico. I have lots of posts to keep you going over the next couple of weeks and hope you will keep me entertained with plenty of comments as although I am having a self imposed internet exile (it's so cleansing!), comments will come straight to my phone. Hurrah! In the mean time (and in between time - guess that pop reference, 90s disney group fans!), here are 10 lovely new Christmas songs and one extremely brilliant non festive treat (for more excellent Christmas stuff visit John's writing on top40about.com)...

The non-festive nugget ~ Dirty Disco return with Storyteller:

Sometimes, just sometimes at Christmas you need a bit of respite from the relentless cheer and good tidings that are almost rammed down your throat. Dirty Disco's excellent and thoughtprovoking new single is just the tune to do this. Following on from deliriously bonkers yet quality pop like Sista, Vulture and White Room, the innovative and artsy group have returned with an intense, brooding, gothic electro tune. It's tinged with eerie synth sounds and a stark strumming guitar and tackles aging, our obsession with youth and fitting into a restrictive society while remaining true to yourself. If you need a comparison, try Kidz or SOS on the new Take That album - yet it's different to those and has it's own Dirty Disco charm. Adam's distinctive voice consumes the lyrics to make them both angry and regretful at times without sounding aggressive (though there is a rather glorious "fuck" early on). The instrumental parts weave together and elevate an already good tune into a great one - little touches like the sounds of strings at the end or the guitar playing off the synth give little frissons of excitement throughout. Check the video above too as Adam and the boys in some haunting costumes seek down the Storyteller they wish to become. Tremendous stuff...

10 New Christmas Tunes:

• Hurts ~ All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day: Yay! Hurts top off a year of quality music with an exquisite new festive offering that examines the bleaker side of this time of year. With a familiar sounding shuffling beat, sound effects that sound like walking over freshly crunching snow and chiming bells through a soaring chorus, the boys look at how the hope can make one feel even more lonely and hopeless as the persevere to get through the season. I like a bit of bleakness at Christmas and this is one beautifully crafted tune that once again proves they are stars in the ascendency. Check out vinny vero's review also...
• Owl City ~ Peppermint Winter: It's Fireflies the festive edition and the complete antithesis of the Hurts track. It's a love letter to all the cheesiness of this time of year and how it's even more magical if you just embrace it. Full of feel good bon mots like "i troll through the driveway with angelic grace/til i slip on the sidewalk and fall on my face" & "the snowflakes are falling and I start to float/til my mean older brother shoves snow down my coat", it's built around a sleigh ride of bells and the glorious refrain "what's december without Christmas eve". Heavenly optimistic and joyful. Love.
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Christmas (Baby Please Come Home): I shall return to Mans' festive album a few more times before the big day. His big band readings of yuletide faves are brimming with elegance and a genuine warmth and love for the genre and songs he sings. This is a classy addition to any Christmas dinner party soundtrack and gets you fingerclicking along. Brilliant orchestration of the music too. I'm loving Mans formal Christmas look too - you can just imagine him coming home, loosening his tie and smooching the face off you under the mistletoe. Now, that's magic :)
• Wilson Phillips ~ Warm Loving Christmastime: It's not the first time the Wilsons have done Christmas (indeed this song featured on the second Wilson linked Christmas album - Carnie's solo) but it is the first time they have all felt the seasonal pull together. And hurrah, it's glorious, particularly for a long standing Wilson Phillips fan like myself :) It's a swinging and fun pop song with enough added jingle and bells to make it feel as Christmas morn as possible. And those choruses are saturated in their amazing harmonies. So so lovely. Well worth the import charges!!
• Jessica Simpson ~ My Only Wish: Jessica gets a lot of stick and I'm not sure why. I'm glad she's done a Christmas album anyway. This single from it is a decent pop tune and a nice ode to her new fella. Showcases her great pop voice (come back from country music!) and reminds me of how fun some of her music has been. Bits of it are reminiscent of Darlene Love's Alone on Christmas (which Britney liberally borrowed for her christmas tune) but it's a catchy little number with a lovely intricate piano middle 8. marvy.
• Indigo Girls ~ Mistletoe: Who would have thought that a blue(grass) Christmas would be so enchanting? The Indigo Girls did - their Happy Holly Days album alternates between rollicking joy and reflective pauses. This is one of the most beautiful on the album - a stripped back lyrical poem, resonant in a superb tenor vocal and supported by subtle harmonies and a gentle guitar. Makes me stop and luxuriate in it's beauty each time I hear it. Reminds me a little of Bette Midler's The Folks Who Live On The Hill. Never thought i'd make that comparison, but it's a complimentary one :) Delightful tune that you should really check out...
• Pink Martini ~ A Snowglobe Christmas: It's like being transported to a simpler time when the movies were black and white and people wrote to each other using pen and paper. This is a timeless, hawaian tinged classic that would sound beautiful whatever time period you are in when sung like this. it's from a whole album of magical wonder and one that should really investigate. As close to Doris Day as you are going to get this snowglobe Christmas. Like a festive hug and kiss. Melts me every time.
• Mariah Carey ~ Christmastime Is In The Air Again: I'm sure I'll return to Mariah's new Christmas album again lots more before the 25th December. There are lots of fun moments on that but this is one of the slower, sipping mulled wine by the fireplace moments. It's a string laden track with a restrained and impeccable vocal from Mariah that enables the song to transcend genres and time. The pull of the tune is undeniable and I soon find myself having little memory flashbacks to the ghosts of my own Christmas past. Dickensian!
• Lady Antebellum ~ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: A lovely little reading of this classic tune from the country group du jour. The cd of Christmas faves is (I believe) only available at Target but it's worth tracking down as it's full of faithful renditions like this that just sparkle with sincerity. Plus the fellas look proper foxy on the cover :)
• Puppini Sisters ~ Step Into Christmas: SCREAM! The Puppinis are back! And they have stuck to their absolutely delightful Andrews Sisters for the new millenium mantra. This has led to an amazing album of jazz tinged, boogie woogie Christmas faves and their turn on this Elton John fave is a fizzy explosion of joi de vivre all wrapped up in their tightly knitted harmonies. So much fun yet put together so very cleverly, very carefully and very well. Check out their older christmas tunes too like Jingle Bells and Little Match Girl. Top drawer!

Top 21 songs of the week

21 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Defender (NE)
20 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
19 ~ Ola, Riot
18 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
17 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
16 ~ Joe McElderry, Someone Wake Me Up (VID)
15 ~ Darin, Drowning
14 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
13 ~ Westlife, Safe
12 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
11 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
10 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
09 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
08 ~ EMD, What Is Love?
07 ~ JLS, Love You More
06 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together
05 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
04 ~ Take That, The Flood
03 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love
02 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up
01 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (1 week)

Oh the weather outside is frightful. Though i quite like the rainy, autumnal months because I am a bit of an anomoly and because I think autumnal sounds like Mr Tumnus from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, and I do believe it's always good to be reminded of that lovely old flawed faun. I've been quite delighted this week by how pop can just lift the senses and make you feel magnificent for the three minutes or so you are encapsulated and entranced by the joyful rhythms it presents. So with that in mind, here is the radiating pop that got me through the week...

JOYOUS!

• Album: Magnus Carlsson (Pop Galaxy) ~ I wrote just last week about how utterly glorious and unabashed the latest single from Magnus is. Well blow me down with a feather, he's only delivered an album of pure, gleeful, soaring, pure pop music that is literally a love letter to pop itself. Not only is the title bloody brilliant in it's simplicity, the album kicks off with the euphoric My Galaxy which is a riotous rip through all that defines the best of uptempo euro-pop. All the recent singles are here (including A Little Respect, Feel You, a remix of This Is Disco and b-side Take Me To Your Heart) amidst a mix of S/A/W inspired gems. It's a giddy nonstop whirling dervish of fun, but other highlights include Keep On Dancin' (another track to add to the pantheon of I Don't Feel Like Dancing, If You Can't Dance et al), uplifting Stronger Than Ever and uptempo ballad and a little bit inspirational One Love To Give. It's all so magnificent and fun, you'll be smiling from start to finish :)
• Single: CC & Lee (Better Best Forgotten) ~ I fell hard for the charms of CC & Lee when I heard their astonishingly cheerful Abba pastiche Honey, a song so entrenched in Abba that they even referenced some of their songs throughout the song while sounding like a slightly updated version, harmonies and all! Their new single isn't a Steps cover but totally could be. It's like Steps-The Abba Remix (click the link to listen) and a sparkling, effervescent affair. Plinking piano dominates through a relentlessly cheerful disco beat and some wonderful harmonies wrapping around an unforgettable singalong chorus and fist pumping keychange. Aces (of bases).

• New & Noteworthy: Andrea Lewis (Voodoo) ~ It's always exciting when you hear a new slice of pop that just makes your skin tingle with anticipation isn't it? Superficially, Spectacular star Andrea Lewis may look like Shaznay from All Saints and sound ever so slightly like Alesha Dixon, but scratch a bit deeper and Voodoo delivers a sizzling slice of immediate electro-pop urgency that positively soars with potential. It's built around enticing handclaps and a fiercely aggressive riff; however, it's the seamless weaving of Andrea's vocal with playful music that lifts the track out of the ordinary and into something very good indeed. And hear that voice fly - coming out of the middle 8 is a note delivered with such confidence and poise (2m29s for a good 6 seconds) it puts to shame some of her peers. Poetically, her album "54321" is released on 10.10.10. I cannot wait.
• Christmas: Mariah Carey (Oh Santa) ~ I promised myself I wouldn't cry. Or write about Christmas songs before November. It's the same criminal offence as wearing white after Labour Day, no matter what fashionistas might tell you about changing trends (Serial Mom is never wrong). Yes, Mariah is back and while Oh Santa was never going to be as good as All I Want For Christmas... it's pretty darn tasty. Like mince pies and custard. Like the song above, it's built seemingly around a jump rope type beat with some added sleigh bells, ooo ooo/aah aah and an ode to how good Mariah has been this year, thus deserving of Santa popping some goodies in her sack. It builds and layers as it progresses (with some nice Mariah vocal acrobatics in the middle 8) and hypnotises you with it's relentless cheeriness and seasonal good tidings. Yes, Mariah, it's early days but I mightily approve. As does D'Luv :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Bright Light x2, Love Part II
20 ~ Kelly Rowland, Shake Them Haters Off
19 ~ DeeDee, Balls
18 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Not Giving Up On Love
17 ~ Kylie, Get Outta My Way
16 ~ Eric Saade, Masquerade
15 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
14 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way
13 ~ Jesse McCartney, Shake
12 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Once Upon A Time (Live performance vid above)
11 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
10 ~ Nadine Coyle, Insatiable
09 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
08 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
07 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
06 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody (NE)
05 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
04 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
03 ~ Elouise, The Winner Takes It All
02 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
01 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame (4 weeks)

X Factor Judges Houses on Sunday night! Brillo!

I was in bed last night (steady!) watching an episode of Gavin & Stacey... it just happened to be the series 2 Christmas episode (with that gut wrenching ending). Well, the first few minutes put me in a proper good mood - you've got Stacey in the midst of the seasonal shopping bustle at Marks & Spencers (Jamie Redknapp looking fine on their new clothing range adverts this year! Ooo and of course Shayne Ward at Next. Sorry. Distraction). Then you've got Smithster and Gavlar singing Do They Know It's Christmas at each other down their phones. Tidy is what it is is what it is, i tells ya. And while I promise to hold off on my annual deluge of Christmas posts til at least Thanksgiving, it did get me fingering my amazon wishlist looking at the upcoming festive releases from some of my favourite stars...

• Mariah Carey ~ Merry Christmas II You: I may be in the minority about being very excited for this Mariah release. Her 1994 Christmas album, Merry Christmas (and it's glorious accompanying single All I Want For Christmas) remains a yuletide staple, and entirely enjoyable 16 years later. I'm optimistic that the vibe of MCIIY will be more in keeping with a cheeky Ally McBeal festive episode rather than a tricked out, pimped up, slapped down ghetto-ho fiasco but it remains to be seen. Contains some classic tunes, new songs (including single Oh Santa) and a remake of All I Want for Christmas Is you (past remixes of this have been dire so I may skip that track altogether!)...(Nov 2nd)
• Annie Lennox ~ A Christmas Cornucopia: She's a bit "worthy" nowadays is our Annie, but that doesn't mean her voice isn't still a compelling listen when it crops up on the radio. She's dabbled with Christmas before (the rousing Put A Little Love In Your Heart and the more sombre reading of Winter Wonderland) and if she can balance that with the chilling icy cool of Love Song For A Vampire then I'm all in (contains interpretations of classics, and one new song "Universal Child"...(Nov 22nd)
• Mans Zelmerlow ~ Untitled Christmas Project: Sigh. Mans. He's so dreamy, etc. Anyway, (shake it off their mister) it's rumoured that pop magnificence Mans will have a whole album of Christmas tunes out in Sweden sometime in November. I can't work anything out from his blog because a) i'm too busy gazing at his pictures and b) it's all in Swedish. Though i think there was an outcry over his facial hair. he can give me stubble rash anytime, etc. But he did do a lovely ballad version of the aforementioned mariah classic, so I do trust him with a seasonal song selection...(TBC)
• Indigo Girls ~ Holly Happy Days: Glory be! The Indigo Girls are one of those acts that I perennially love and purchase every release of (see also Dashboard Confessional, Barenaked Ladies), but don't blog about as much as I should. So i'm very pleased to the power of indeed that the lovely duo have their first Christmas album out. Squeal, etc. Not only does it have three brand new tracks (including probable single The Wonder Song), each album comes with holiday decorations. Amazeballs! If there's something as lovely as The Wood Song on there or as ebullient as Gallileo, I'll be a proper happy chappy! (Oct 12th)
• Pink Martini ~ Joy To The World: I do enjoy a bit of Pink Martini (the drink and the group) when i'm in the right mood. The group delve into a rich musical tapestry, laced with ace symphonic leanings and so are perfectly poised to deliver a grandiose festive album. It's mostly traditional tunes with a few surprises in there, but the album cover is like a classy Christmas card and so far away from the normal yuletide trash that adorns these things :) Well done! (Nov 2nd)
• The Broadway Boys ~ Hark!: Not just Hark, but Hark Exclamation Point! I live for the day when someone has the nerve to do a uk group like this (granted, there was Teatro for a while but I really want the group to be called West End Wendys). Quickly following up their theatrical Lullabies of Broadway album from the summer, the boys have musical theatred up some favourite festive faves for your musical enjoyment. It's jazz hands and santa hats at the ready then. I can't wait...(Nov 2nd)

Well do let me know if there are any festive releases you think I should be aware of that I've missed. For the record, some of the big autumn/winter albums I'm looking forward to include Rumer, Shayne Ward, Take That, JLS, The Overtones, A1, Magnus Carlsson and of course EPs from gravitonas, elouise and deedee. hurrah.

Back tomorrow with a europop round up!!

EDIT: Sigh. This post was meant to go up on Sunday afternoon, which is why it is all about music that seems perfect for those wistful lazy afternoons when you just sit and reflect, but not in a particularly maudlin way. Then I fell asleep and finally got some rest after 3 nights of little sleep due to my ear infection. Frankly I feel much better for it, and let's face it these few songs are just as good on a Monday morning (plus it must be Sunday afternoon somewhere. Oh I just checked. It's not. Bugger)...

1. Judie Tzuke ~ If: Sometimes a song comes along that is so breathtakingly beautiful in it's delivery and so exquisitely constructed in it's production, that it just makes you stop, become completely absorbed into the tune and marvel at it's magnificence. It's a heavenly ballad that relies on a stunning vocal and gorgeous melody to power the song forward and proof that sometimes, less is indeed more. I think I may actually weep...
2. Beverley Craven ~ Rainbows: Remember Bev? She did the ever so lovely Promise Me many moons ago and has continued to sporadically churn out delicate, emotive piano pop ever since. This track is from her 2009 album, Close To You and is a delicious, uplifting little number that is bright, energetic and perky yet carries some meaningful lyrics under it's pop exterior. Ever so engaging and worthy of multiple listens.
3. Mariah Carey ~ 100%: So is the Angels Advocate remix thingy not happening? Oh dear, etc. Still, this is one of the strongest Mariah tunes in quite a while and designed to totally appeal to me. Apparently it's something to do with the Vancouver Olympics so I'm clearly way behind on loving this, but it's schmaltzy sentimental inspiring lyrics and shuffling beat, combined with the ace chorus make it gold in my book :)
4. Miley Cyrus ~ I Hope You Find It: Talking of schmaltzy and sentimental, Simon Cowell might as well stop looking for the next X Factor winner's song because here it is. A big bulging ballad from little Miley that is from her latest Disney movie and you can tell - it's a throwback to the showstopping numbers that used to soundtrack films and that you either love or hate. I, unsurprisingly, love it because I'm a big old softy at heart. PS ~ wouldn't it be even more magnificent if this year's X Factor winner did something like this (girl) or this (boy)...
5. Alexis Strum ~ Bad Haircut: Sigh. Whatever happened to the lovely talented Alexis? I know she's done some songs for Diana Vicker's album, but no more solo stuff? That's a real shame, because Bad Haircut is one of those pop songs that stands the test of time and sounds just as brilliant and singalong now as it did 4 years ago. The rest of her album Cocoon is equally as brillopants and totally worthy of your time :)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away
20 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo
19 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood
18 ~ Mika, Rain
17 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
16 ~ Diana Vickers, Once
15 ~ Alex Gardner, I'm Not Mad
14 ~ Donkeyboy, Ambitions
13 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love
12 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm
11 ~ Magnus Carlsson, A Little Respect
10 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
09 ~ Elouise, Fireman of my Dreams
08 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
07 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
06 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
05 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
04 ~ The Pipettes, Stop The Music (VID)
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love
02 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
01 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet (2 weeks)

For Volume 3 - Part one click here. You know you want to...

• Dan Black ~ Gimme Into Cloudbusting: Possibly the most genius Madonna inspired cover/mash since Irish group Fifth Avenue blended a song about Infidelity over the Papa Don't Preach melody. It's a rather wonderful lo-fi reading of the song, seemingly seamlessly fused together with Kate Bush's tune alluded to in the title. It kind of just hovers at the periphery of sheer amazingness without even realising how special it is. And that is what totally makes me get into the groove about it. And all from a free mixtape! Aces!
• Blake Lewis ~ Love or Torture: Much like Jordin of the Sparks, Blake should have whizzed out three singles from his superior Heartbreak On Vinyl set at the end of last year (including the two he did, plus I Left My Baby For You). But he didn't and the title track of his album continues to win hearts through a more grass roots approach. That's ok - I still love it, but am paying more and more attention to this fiery electro-corker which sizzles from the very start. Please don't stop indeed. Blake knows how to use his 80s influences to great effect and if the world were paying attention this would be huge. True story!
• BWO ~ Rise To The Occassion (above): Ok, yes this was actually the third single from last year's Big Science, but I ignored that little fact back then and chose Love Come Crashing Down instead. I stand by that choice. This still works as a final single from an album - and one that bids farewell to BWO for a tiny while as thingy is concentrating on his new band Gravitonas. It represents all that is good about BWO - their ability to just knock out a solid pop tune that is instantly memorable and singalong, even if they aren't quite as groundbreaking as they used to be. Always enjoyable though. Hurry back.
• Agnes ~ Secret Love: Little Agnes is taking the Annie route to pop stardom - releasing a number of versions of her album all with different tracks on (apparently there is one with an Erik Hassle duet on?) Anyway, this is probably a decent type follow up to Release Me although not quite as pecs on the dancefloor tastic as that little number. It's all explosive disco beats and nowhere at all in the vicinity of being close to a Doris Day cover. She don't half wail the chorus though...
• Whitney Houston ~ Nothing But Love: Ah Whitters. Gawd bless her for continuing to try and most the time at least landing in the vicinity of the area she needed to be. This is probably a very sensible and well thought out follow up to Million Dollar Bill as it's essentially the same song with different lyrics. Now if the Freemasons do a remix it will go down proper bonza and climb from it's number 12 peak - particularly if she comes and does a bonkers performance of it on current show du jour, Dancing On Ice. Can you imagine?
• Mariah Carey ~ Up Out Of My Face: Ah Mazza. Gawd bless her for continuing to try and ... well you've heard this song before. And the Mariah one - she's not come out with her remixed Angel with anything new. At least it's familiar and inviting, if not her best work (that remains songs like Make It Happen, Always Be My Baby and All I Want For Christmas) and the video is a typical Mariah hoot. I stopped caring as intensely a long while ago yet the feelings still linger (longer than she does)...
• Miley Cyrus ~ Time of our Lives: I do have a soft spot of old Miles. I like when she sings "and the gaga song was on" in live performances of Party and does crazy cat moves. When I Look At You was a much better choice of download at Christmas than Joe's The Climb because essentially it was an updated version of her own song, but better. And with the EP that keeps giving this is a typically goofy fun tune that I can't help but have warm fuzzies for!
• Lady Antebellum ~ Need You Now: Damn you pop music notes for making me fall and fall hard for this song. It's just lovely isn't it? I have to be in the right mood for country music, but this gets me everytime. It's plainative, emotive, reckless and relatable in every note. Gorgeous melody and quite heart tugging. I can see why it's such a huge hit stateside and would be quite foolish to bet against the same thing happening here very soon...
• Amy MacDonald ~ Don't Tell Me: I have finally forgiven Amy for being very rude to a friend of mine at her concert once. Perhaps she was having an off day. LIke me today :/ Anyway, much like the tune above, this is one of those great emotive relationship songs that will probably fit in with you at some point in your life - future or past. Ergo it's instantly relatable and she does have quite a distinctive accent that makes the song memorable and lovely at the same time...
• John Barrowman ~ The Doctor And I: I can always count on John to deliver at least 2 knock out tunes on his albums. The last one had the Gary Barlow composition and of course the more than brilliant duet with gorgeous Daniel Boys on I Know Him So Well. He's back with a rewriting of the Wicked! musical song The Wizard and I. Reimagined here as almost a love song between Jack Harkness (Torchwood) and Doctor Who, it cleverly works in references from the DW universe ("do you think the doctor is dumb? Or like Oods so small minded?"). Of course the genius of the Wicked! version is that the lyrics pointed towards forthcoming events we all knew would come to pass ("I'd be so happy I could melt"/"there'll be a celebration all through Oz all because of me") that don't quite work as well here. And it gets a bit weird in the middle eight when the Doctor offers to, er, defabricate him! Oo-er. Overall though, it's quite engaging and very nearly amazing. (Ps - his duet with Jodie Prenger on the Enchanted song So Close is lovely too)...
• Robbie Williams ~ Morning Sun (below): Bit of a grower rather than a show-er; allegedly written about Michael Jackson, this third single is also the sports relief charity single (actual video here). Whatever happened to original one off songs for things like that? Anyway, it's very grand and lush and splendid, because, well, it's Robbie but really something like Starstruck or Difficult For Weirdos would have been more adventurous. Oh well. There's always single 4...

New artist special coming soon!

Ah the last advent calendar blog of the year just before I go all annual christmas card post on your asses. And this year is a doozy, I tell ya. Despite lots of people cancelling because of weather and illness, the party on saturday night was quite delightful and lots of fun was had. That was me (above!) after one too many mulled wines (from marks and spencers, not home made sadly). Cleaning up on Sunday took forever, and now it is Monday and I am back at work (for 3 days) and pondering the following non-festive facts:

• Why did I wear new shoes on the walk to work today? My feet are absolutely killing me and I could barely walk the last 10 minutes...
• Why do my new shoes have such rubbish grips? I was flailing around on the ice so much I looked like a bizarro world Torville and Dean!
• Simon Curtis' Diablo is a brilliant march to work song, sets a ferocious pace (prior to the crippling pain of new shoes of course)
• Joe will probably get up to number one this week won't he, but Shayne Ward's Melt The Snow popped up on my mp3 player today and reminded me what a brilliant seasonal lush-fest that tune is.
• It's rather cold out today so I'm going to warm myself up with the latest seasonal recipe from Donal Skehan. What a whizz in the kitchen that guy is :)

The greatest movie of the decade:

It's actually quite hard to choose a movie of the decade. I'm sure the Harry Potters would be in there. Ditto Lord of the Rings. Why not Hairspray? Milk! Most the Pixar films; Shaun of the Dead; Brokeback Mountain; Slumdog Millionaire; Stardust would be pretty high on my list - see I've always gone for movies that I really connect with emotionally, over the critically acclaimed stuff. And that is why year after year every Christmas I end up watching Love Actually several times. Sure it uses every emotional manipulation trick in the book to hook you in, but it works and the various intertwined love stories set against the backdrop of hope and optimism that is the build up to Christmas. Some of the stories are amusing, some sad, some still timely (a campaign to get a more unlikely candidate to the festive number one rings as true this week as it did in the film) and some grittily and heartbreakingly real. Gorgeous backing music, as well as a delicious soundtrack (it was this film that got me into my beloved Maroon 5, thanks to use of the one of my enduring fave tracks of theirs, The Sweetest Goodbye) it's jam packed with enjoyable moments, stellar performances and festive goodness. I never ever tire of it and always find it quite lovely, actually. here are some of my favourite moments/quotes:

• "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around." (Hugh Grant's boffable Prime Minister)
• "I love that word "relationship." Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship; a relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, erm... Britain. We may be a small country, but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that."(Hugh Grant's Prime Minister in one of his more kick ass moments after Billy Bob Thornton tried to nibble Martine mcCruth's ear)
• "And he's got a big knoooooob!" (the unfeasibly named Colin Frissel, now star of the BT internet ads!)
• Any scene with Emma Thompson in - not only does she sparkle at the busy wife and mother role (particularly excelling when she nips off to the bedroom when she gets a Joni Mitchell cd for Christmas and realises her husband is a philandering fool, even in her upset she smooths down the corners of the bed), is brilliantly down to earth eating cereal with her widowed friend and has an acutely world view of Barbie, pondering whether to gift wrap the transvestite or the prostitute...
• The fact that Keira Knightley thinks it ok to smooch her husband's best friend just because he played silent night on a crappy tape recorder and held up signs saying "with any luck by next year i'll be going out with one of these girls" (holds up supermodel pics) "
  But for now, let me say - Without hope or agenda - Just because it's Christmas - And at Christmas you tell the truth - To me, you are perfect - And my wasted heart will love you - Until you look like this" (shows pictured of a mummy that is as withered as the reviews of Keira's latest play) Ok that is quite romantic, and provides me with my first sniffle of the movie
• Billy Mack telling a radio DJ that Britney Spears was a rubbish shag, calling his single a festering turd of a record, showing Parky his cock and having a horrible spikey haired bra-burner trying to oust his faithful manager. The bitch
• The bloke from the office falling in love with the bird from Gavin and Stacey while working as body doubles in nuddy movies. Gorgeous!
• The ongoing debate about Natalie's thighs and arse. Plumpy indeed!
• The inability of the aforementioned Natalie to be able to say anything without littering it with 'swears' - "where the fuck is my fucking coat!"
• Jamie and Aurelia - love transcends their language barriers. Plus I love his little stomp through the village with the townsfolk increasing in their following numbers with each step. It's like the Simpson's mob come to life! And his proposal? Quite lovely! "Yes. is being my answer. Easy question"
• The school play - the ridiculous amount of animals at the nativity ("there was more than one lobster at the birth of Jesus?"/"8 is a lot of legs David"), the cuteness of it all and the big reveal of Natalie smooching the face off PM David
• The brother with mental health problems who gives his sister a hug after she gives him a far too big scarf. Which is sweet. Earlier he tried to hit her, probably for her incessant calling him "my darling" and not shagging sexy Carlos who later got buried alive in Lost
• The completely unrealistic chase through the airport as little Sammy runs after his true love Joanna. juxtaposed with the aforementioned trek through the french village where Jamie proposes, Sammy completely eludes security and runs after the love of his life, Joanna. It's the rousing music that makes it one of my fave guilty pleasures of the movie. Poor Sammy though - not only has he just lost his mom, but he's fallen in love with a right snot of a "aren't I amazing, look at me" stage school brat!!
• Finally - brillo use of music. God Only Knows has never sounded more hopeful and uplifting as it does at the end of the film, All You Need Is Love brilliantly enhances a story book wedding and of course All I Want For christmas is You is practically the anthem of the intertwining love stories, and sung quite well by the aforementioned Joanna...

of course by the time the movie is over, I'm a) ready to watch it all over again and b) ready to listen to Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas for the umpteenth time. It really is just the festive album that both keeps on giving and is worth going back to. It's got a little something for everyone too - studied and careful vocals on songs like Silent Night and O Holy Night; she's in girl group heaven with her gospel backing choir on tracks like Santa Claus is Coming To Town and the Phil Spector amaze-athon Christmas (Baby Please Come Home); and all tender and heartbreaking on Miss You Most. it's her simply joyous and wonderful All I Want for Christmas that really is the icing (aceing?) on the cake here - it's rollicking, joyful, upbeat, giddy, optimistic, filled with sleigh bells, totally catchy and never ever sounds old. Quite simply the best original Christmas tune to appear within the last 15 years. Too much of this thing is not enough :) But do buy the album if you haven't already (chances are - you have!) It's a must have reminder of how amazing mariah can be and a pleasant surprise for anyone not really into Christmas music...

Back Weds 23rd with the 4th Annual Online Christmas Card :)

Mariah Carey Four Season Hotel Photos

The photos of Singer Mariah Carey arrives at the Four Season Hotel dated November 11, 2009.

Mariah Carey Screening of "Precious" Pictures

The pictures of Singer Mariah Carey at the 2009 New York Film Festival's screening of "Precious" held at the Alice Tully Hall, New York City dated October 3, 2009.

Mariah Carey Mardan Palace Cocktail Reception Pics

The pics of Mariah Carey Mardan arrivals cocktail reception launch party for the Mardan Palace at the Mardan Palace Hotel dated 23 May 23 2009 in Antalya, Turkey pics.

Mariah Carey Cleavage Photos

The photos of Mariah Carey cleavage with travel bag at an airport photo.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon First Anniversary Pictures

The pictures of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrate first anniversary in Vegas pictures.