Lopez Blogs

Top 21 songs of the week - (& the highlights):

• The Saturdays ~ Notorious: England's cheap replacement for Girls Aloud is back. That may be a bit mean but even the best Saturdays song is about as good as a middling Girls Aloud album track. Anyway, this is actually one of their better efforts with a not quite as cheap as normal video to boot! Up there with Up, Ego and Higher. Actually, I do l-l-love this track...:P
• Simon Curtis ~ Superhero: Did you catch my review of this track? I essentially quite like Simon Curtis music. Will this be his 6th fizzypop number one (seventh if you include the Andrea Lewis duet)? Time will tell...
• Lady Gaga ~ Judas: While everyone raves over the best comeback single Belinda Carlisle never got to release (yet) (Edge of Glory), I've found that Judas has got under my skin more and more. PS, continuing her theme of "borrowing liberally" from other female artists (see pop trash addicts), album track Americano has lifted Bette Midler's version of Mambo Italiano note for note in the intro minute...
• Take That ~ Love Love: I've gone from like liking this track to love loving it. As you probably know, a mini album (their Fame Monster if you will) is due for release in June called Progressed. I'm imagining a Gary Barlow release in my lap right now...:P
• Nerina Pallot ~ Put Your Hands Up: The single is officially out on Monday. I've had a sneak peek of the album and it is phenomenal. An absolute triumph. The remix of the single below is pretty nifty too and sounds perfect next to the Pete Hammond mix of Kylie's Put Your Hands Up (which i want her to do a video for spoofing all her 80s SAW vids! Imagine!)...

21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
17 ~ Take That, Happy Now
16 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
15 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
14 ~ The Saturdays, Notorious (NE)
13 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
12 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
11 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
10 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
09 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody There
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Superhero (NE)
07 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
06 ~ Le Kid, America
05 ~ Take That, Love Love
04 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
03 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga, Everybody Dance (4 weeks)

Busy busy weekend ahead of family responsibilities so lets not tarry and on with the post!

SIMON CURTIS ~ SUPERHERO:

It's actually an incredible accomplishment that for an unsigned artist, the new single by Simon Curtis has actually become somewhat of a viral event. His self proclaimed Robot Army have been eagerly anticipating new music from him and Superhero is likely to please as a taster of what is to come with RA in June. What you get is an intense, thumping, almost relentless call to arms for people to stand up for themselves and take charge of their lives in order to achieve their dreams and goals. It's set over a militant dance beat and infused with synth sounds & resounding percussion that bring to mind other empowered pop tunes such as Destiny's Child Survivor and Christina Aguilera's Fighter. That's not to say this doesn't feature the inately Simon moments that have made me such a fan over the past 5 years - there are his "frankly I don't give a fuck" lyrics in the verses, his ability to take a theme and create a musical composition out of it (e.g. "Rip it off/show the symbol on your chest" - it perhaps should be featured in tonight's Smallville series finale?!), his confident vocal and ultimately a chorus that feels like a blistering attack on your senses as it doesn't so much as ingratiate it's way into your brain but smashes down defences with a sledgehammer of pop majesty. Within all this, there are moments that really stand out - Simon's soaring falsetto at around 2 minutes and a middle 8 that is firmly rooted in Sweden where I can definitely hear Chieron and Max Martin influences in there. In fact, in a way it sounds like the type of song N*Sync would be lucky enough to have to launch a reunion tour. Essentially it is familiar enough that those who adore Alter Boy and 8 Bit Heart will feel secure, while I feel the Jadion production moves it on that vital step to compete in the modern day pop chart arena. Grab your costumes, pick your power of choice and let battle commence. (Stream Simon's single before it's on iTunes next week at Just Jared here...)

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
17 ~ Take That, Happy Now
16 ~ Joe McElderry, Feel The Fire
15 ~ Shayne Ward, Close To Close
14 ~ Take That, Love Love (NE)
13 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said
12 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex & Violence
11 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
10 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
09 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody There
08 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
07 ~ Eric Saade, Popular (VID)
06 ~ Le Kid, America
05 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire
04 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
03 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Keng, Everybody Dance (3 weeks)

It is quite common for a song to be announced that you are dizzy with anticipation for - usually it's one of your favourite artists who has brand new music coming out and the waiting & excitement for the time when can actually sooth your ears with listening to the promised tunes sends you into a frenzy; indeed the wait is deliriously agonising yet exquisitely painful in it's longing... Imagine though a project so immense that it contains many of your pop obsessions, brimming with new songs that team with a theme. It is a whirling dervish of musical genius that has one goal - to make you dance to some of the best in upcoming artistical sensation.

It is actually the biggest musical event for me since melodifestivalen - and one even more exciting. Ballroom Remixed has been announced this very day and features several of my very favourite acts that have featured on this blog many times over the past months and years. At the bottom of this blog, you'll find a list of and links to some of the artists involved along with my favourite musical accomplishments of theirs (so far - this album could change everything). What makes this even more special is the people behind the scenes of this epic project. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't twirled around a room to the lyrical insight of musical impressario Charlie Mason (who, among many fine others, wrote Eric Saade's Upgrade and current Disney Channel smash Determinate). I've been wowed at the creative art work of Liam Curry (who now turns his hand to several co-writes on this album). I've grabbed the one I love and shimmied like a superstar to the remix work of Ricardo Autobahn (particularly his remix of Kyle Brylin's Committed). I've swooned over the vocal and lyrical stylings of Richard Hymas (particularly in his acclaimed Ben Waters Band) and his singalong choruses. And who hasn't been wowed by the stunning choreography that Melanie LaPatin brings to the US version of my current UK obsession, So You Think You Can Dance. For me, this is indeed a dream team and a dream come true...

Above you can see and ecoutez to a preview video of the album (tracklisting of all great artists here). It starts off with the delightful and intoxicating original version of Elouise's Lovers Rumba (which I reviewed in it's remix format just last week here). There's an added drama in the tune that wasn't as apparent in the remix and this works incredibly well. Then it's onto Swedish pop darling Neo, who wraps his soaring falsetto vocal around a swirling disco number called New Star. It's straight onto Glamaholic by Kaya (with Nelson Clemente), a blistering dance twister that wouldn't be out of place in a lip-synch for your life on RuPaul's Drag Race. The all too short preview is concluded with a number from one mr. Simon Curtis himself, entitled The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings. It's nice to hear Simon do a straight up pop number that has both an 80s synth vibe and a lovely feel of Stock/Aitken/Waterman genius to it. It's also nice that at the very least both Elouise and Simon have been given songs that totally fit them. Elouise's theatrical oomph is well matched by Lover's Rumba, while Simon's Puppet seems to link in perfectly with the Nick kid who went independent :) I'm chomping at the bit to hear more and you just know that I'll do a full album overview as soon as it's released :) Be sure to follow NinthWave Records on twitter for more info.

My fave acts involved (and my fave moments of theirs to date)...

• Elouise (blog posts here - fave moment? One Night Only)...
• Neo (blog posts here - fave moment? Human Frontier)... 
• Simon Curtis (blog posts here - fave moment? Diablo)...
• Kyle Brylin (blog posts here - fave moment? S&M)...
• Lee Latchford Evens (Steps posts here - fave moment? Deeper Shade of Blue)...
• Gravitonas (blog posts here - fave moment? Religious)...
• Craig Powell (blog posts here - fave moment? Can't Let You Go)...

Simon Curtis ~ RΔ Sampler:

That Simon Curtis ever appeared in anything as cheery and upbeat as Spectacular remains somewhat of a miracle. You'll be no doubt hard pushed to find songs like On The Wings Of A Dream or Things We Do For Love on his forthcoming album "RΔ". Instead you might want to give Simon a hug, some milk and a cookie and tell him it will all be alright as he goes back to some of the dark territory mined on his criminally unreleased Alter Boy album. The new songs got a big boost this week by being featured in Billboard and an exclusive sampler is still available to listen to on that site (click here). All four tracks present some signature Simon trademarks that have become synonymous with his music, while gearing things up to keep his sound current and relevant. I'm assuming once again he's kept the Jadion-Curtis dream team going for these tracks. Don't Dance is seemingly a declaration of independence as he decries the onslaught of songs insisting we get on the dancefloor; Enemy is a hugely industrial sounding song with the intro (on the sampler anyway) chanting monotone "don't let me be your enemy"... I really like the drawn out en-urr-me and the structure of the sentence is really interesting as it places the blame squarely on the other purpose. It tells us this person has created this situation - almost like a sequel to the blistering Rochella Danishei duet Michelle. My fave of the tracks comes next - Pit of Vipers. It's a regimented beat (that worked brilliantly on Left Right Left) that propels the song, yet behind this is a kinky little synth riff and a down & dirty vocal melody from the man himself. Knowing what a fan of Harry Potter young master Curtis is, i can't help but wonder if the "slithering" in the song may also work as "Slytherin"? Certainly, lyrically it works whether you are thinking mean girls or Hogwarts. Dying for this track to be released... Finally, we get the oft previewed live Laser Guns Up. I have to say i was (GASP) not thrilled with the live version of this track when I first heard it. However, shaky youtubes aren't always the best barometer of quality and I can't help but feel Simon has created a defining tune here that has a catchphrase to it and could take off the same way as I Gotta Feeling or Bad Romance. Exciting times ahead and I'm eager for Simon to make some real money from his music and take things to the next level...

There will be one million and twenty three blogs (i'm approximating) today that will quite rightly write about the new Lady Gaga single, Born This Way. She's probably one of the biggest pop stars in the universe at the moment and thus, any new single from her is a bit of an event. Lots of people far more clever than me will be extolling it's virtues or telling us why it's Express Yourself 2011. I do quite like it - it's a grower rather than a show-er; a plinky plonky 70s inspired disco tune rather than perhaps the more instant and miraculous Bad Romance. It's a song for the outsiders and I suspect that it will make a lot more sense after she's performed it at the Grammys on Sunday, most likely dressed in an outfit made out of the vomit of blind tibetan monks, sewed together by fingerless, vow of silence nuns. Or something.

So do, by all means, enjoy Born This Way. However - here's an alternative track that might get your juices flowing just as much. MAYBE MORE!! Back in 2006/07, young Simon Curtis (prior to his robot army days, perhaps we were all just alter boys with him back then) put a song together as part of the "create a theme for Popjustice competition). He took the deliriously feelgood, swirling xenomania instrumental and crafted his lyrics around the incessant groove bestowed upon him. This tune ultimately became Put Your Makeup On and remains my joint all time favourite Simon song (along with the brillopants Diablo). It may not be as obvious in it's intent, but for all purposes it pre-dates la Gaga song by a good four years. It was about being accepted for who you are, about pop music being a brilliant genre regardless of how it's perceived, about being born this way (see sample lyric: "little girls know what to do, by the time that they are two, playing dress up in the make up of a mother/what's a mother gonna do, when she walks into the room, and she finds herself not a daughter but the brother"). It's littered with timely (at the time of creation) pop references - a trick Simon has continued with some of his more recent songs - and a brilliant outro that basically (i'm paraphrasing) tells the world to fuck off if you don't like pop music because nothing else is quite as giddy and magnificent on the dancefloor. And this is essentially true - Halfway Round The World (Almighty Mix) by A*teens still gets me in a whirling dervish on a Saturday night.

My advice to Simon - get this track on iTunes right now, get your robot army to purchase it in the droidloads and get a genuine bonafide smash :) Hurrah, etc.

Rochella Danishei ~ End Of The Rainbow:


Out of the ashes of the still mourned girl group Candy Coated Chaos rises a phoenix from the flames. A new female ambassador, flying the pop flag for unapolgetically raw and honest music that comes with a dark disco beat and a truly biting lyrical edge. Rochella's End of the Rainbow sets out it's statement with a spoken intro track, reminiscent of when Janet Jackson ruled the world with her Rhythm Nation 1814, promising a world where bluebirds don't fly, just a disco ball spins high in the sky. Buckle those seatbelts kiddies, because we certainly ain't in Kansas anymore...

Guided ably by musical maestro Jadion (Candy Coated Chaos, Simon Curtis), End of the Rainbow kicks off with a couple of startling addictive pop tunes that instantly reel you into the world of Rochella. Drunk Txt is like a decade later, female remake of Backstreet Boys' The Call. Intro-ing with appropriate sound effects, a heavily synth driven verse structure sets a more sombre musical scene where Ro is out with her girls but is missing her man. What's particularly clever here is how the verses place Ro into a world where she clearly doesn't exactly want to be and the chorus transforms into a bouncy chant a long epic where she's happily/guiltily drunk texting and sexting her fella. The music matches this perfectly and it's a deliriously relatable song with one of the poppiest choruses you'll here in 2011. This is followed by Never Been Kissed. A swirling, romantic, sparkling tune that is truly evocative of that giddy feeling you get when you find that instant connection with someone. Remember all those dizzying tunes when Britney, Christina, Mandy, Jessica et al emerged from the woodwork about 10-12 years ago? It's reminiscent of those classic pop tunes, yet with a totally modern throbbing beat pulsating throughout. This is going to sound absolutely epic on the radio...

The brightness of these opening numbers is soon shadowed by a more sombre look at the world. The lyrical bite kicks in and while the tunes are still uniformly excellent, there's a darker work of art in progress. Blackout is the appropriately titled track that starts this off. The Russian spoken intro is strangely enticing and the relentless beat feels like some sordid climaxing one night stand presented in musical dirty treat. I'm OK on the surface seems like one of those declaration of independence albums but scratch a little deeper and there's a little bit of vulnerability. Some wonderfully and possibly filthy bonmots such as "I feel you watching me/i know you wanna eat/come into mama's kitchen/i'll fix you up a treat" and a pleasing reference to Single Ladies make this a pop cultural treat and have you rooting for Rochella when she reaffirms that she's gonna be ok. Unlove Pill slows things down a little and is a haunting, stark, painful synth-ballad with some brutally raw lyrics. The music here is a repetitive synth riff with minimal effects other than a beautifully delivered vocal - and here is a good time to point out that Ms Danishei has a rather lovely voice. She knows when to let loose, when to be more restrained and when to pour emotion on a track without it seeming treacly and OTT. Similarly, she works her voice round the music and vice versa in an era when people can get too lost in autotune and vocoder madness. It's a treat to listen to, particularly when she turns her hand to different genres...

It's no surprise that Michelle is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Not only is an aggressively, posturing rock-esque track but it features one of my fave male singers ever in Mr Simon Curtis. The track works equally well on Rochella's album as it would on Simons - someone who knows a thing or two about vengeful pop. It's like a superbly remixed Garbage track - fuzzy synth guitar effects, unforgiving beat that matches the truly vengeful lyrics. The vocal playoff and tradeoff works exquisitely and you're drawn into a world that's like a musical Inception - it turns you on your head, takes unexpected turns and is a truly intoxicating experience. Play back to back with Simon's other Rochella collaboration Brainwash (from 8 Bit Heart) and it's a musical nirvana of the darkest variety. Gotta feel almost sorry for Michelle though. Not only does her name rhyme with hell (I guess "Claaaaaarrre you stripped my feelings bare" didn't have the same ring to it :P) but she has some serious wrath coming her way. Stunning.

The rest of the album continues with a bowl of pop treats for you to get stuck into Ur Fucking Crazy may have a title that will make your grandma blush (not mine, she had a right potty mouth) but has a bouncy beat and some truly amusing lyrics about an ill fated relationship - and as Mel points out, some of the cleverest lyrics you'll hear this year ("I would say I'll see you later/If you hadn't tattooed your name on my derriere"). It's laden with attitude and a delightful call out to some of those mistaken relationships we've all come across in our lives. Baby Doll seems to be the anthemic call of the album - Simon has his robots, Gaga has her monsters, Rochella has her dolls. It's got a rather brilliant instrumental behind it all with some quirky sound effects and a positively singalong chorus that will have people chanting this coming of age saga for years to come. The title track samples Judy Garland and tramples over the dreams of a pot of gold at the rainbow. What you do get instead is a dark, vibrating beat and a scintillating chorus that shows sometimes dreams don't come true, hard work doesn't always pay off but we'll always have some great music to dance to - and this is the message thealbum concludes with; Prey To The Beat (great title) suitably rounds everything up full circle and gives her listeners a ray of light penetrating through the rainbow world she's created.

An incredible debut album and one that really deserves a huge amount of viral success in 2011. I've seen the end of the rainbow and it is Rochella.
Potential singles: Drunk Txt; Never Been Kissed; Michelle; I'm Ok; Baby Doll

Andrea Lewis ~ 54321:


Released in late 2010, I shamefully didn't get around to reviewing this although I was clearly smitten with the Simon Curtis duet Talk To Me as it topped my charts for several weeks and was one of my top songs of the year. The album, however, deserves some time spent with it as it is a delightful piece of work that skilfully blends genres, influences and tempos into a cohesive, enjoyable piece of work. Andrea kicks off the album with a tempered, orchestral invitation to her listeners to join her on the journey, to fly with her, to become heroes. It's a heady mix of allure and aspiration that kicks off the album in style. And then something even more amazing happens that deserves it's own countdown to it...

Voodoo may be one of the best pop tracks you haven't yet heard. A blistering, scintillating r'n'b driven track, heavy with a swirling handclap beat and a soaring chorus that is just off kilter enough to keep you on edge but slick enough to have you dancing along - breathless, giddy with anticipation for whatever is going to come next. It's brimming with energy, delivered with a truly enthusiastic vocal and makes you thankful that pop like this still exists. It's pop, it's orchestra, it's magic, it's pure vocal. Something that Alesha Dixon wishes she'd come back with and could rule the pop charts here for several weeks. Oh, and that incredible note from 2m30s? Spine chilling (and do check out a rather brilliant dance remix by Jadion on Andrea's site. Amazing)... There's time to catch your breath on the elegant She. It's disguised musically as a dreamy romantic ballad, but as with the most inventive pop nowadays there's a twist in the lyrics as Andrea balances being in an unevenly numbered relationship with the protaganist of the title. There's a wonderful semi-rap in the middle 8 that leads into a pleading, almost angry delivery of the final choruses where Andrea states her case to a militant beat. It reminds me of the tracks by Pebbles and Karyn White in the early 90s, that quiet storm remix of a track that is completely open and exudes charm because of this.

Robot starts off with a vocodered spoken intro before a powerful vocal kicks in over a sparse synth and strictly timed beat. Mix into that some well timed sound effects and the feel of a motown influence and the cold, unfeeling Dexter that she seems to be dating would have to have a heart of ice not to be thawed by this warm, engaging tune. There seems to be a theme of sadness, regret and letdown on Andrea's album and her pain is sadly our gain. Take Rain Drops - it's the juxtaposition of a mid-tempo tune where the beat bounces along and Andrea taking something as cliched as raindrops as metaphor for heartbreak and making it sound fresh. There's a rapped middle 8 where we get the male perspective - it's a neat trick that will work to truly devastating effect later in the album. The next track is necessary to show that Andrea is moving through her negative experiences - Conquerers is an anthem in waiting; verses on par musically with Paparazzi and All Night Long (Alexandra) and a skybound chorus that really showcases the power and versatility of Andreas impressive vocals. It's a midway point of hope, optimism and determination.

I've written extensively about Talk To Me in the past. I'll try and recap with new words. Simply put, I think it's one of the most beautiful, soulful, heartwrenching break up ballads I've ever heard. It's a living breathing work of art, built around a shuffling motown beat, finger clicks and a simple but lovely piano chord construction. The lyrics detail Andrea pondering the breakdown of a relationship and how it could've been better with communication. Lovely backing vocals in the chorus add to it's timeless appeal. The kicker here is a guest vocal in the middle 8 by Simon Curtis. It's the male response and paints the other side of the story to completely devastating effect. The vocals weave together as an emotional deconstruction takes place. The song ends with some sort of acceptance but the crushing knowledge that this is one relationship that will be mourned on one side at least for some time to come. It's an entire weepie of a movie in one song and a simply outstanding tune.

Linda comes across as an almost industrial tune - the instrumental and production are almost reminiscent of Depeche Mode circa Personal Jesus/Enjoy The Silence. It all works surprisingly well with Andrea's vocal. It's a slightly hazy affair, the swirling repeated vocals creating the effect that love/rage can bring where your mind goes a little bit crazy... It's all rounded off nicely with Fool of Me which starts with delicate piano play that becomes more and more ominous as additional sound effects, instruments and layered vocals are added. Musically it brings it full circle from the scintillating Voodoo and Andrea taking a stand against the errant lovers who have wronged her. There is also an outro with some Soul II Soul and Janet Jackson mixed in there and finishes off a fine, emotive, soulful album. A lovely piece of work that will hopefully bring Andrea's music to a much wider audience... Potential singles: Voodoo; Talk To Me; She; Robots; Conquerers

Revisiting Simon Curtis & His 8 Bit Heart:


One year ago, Simon unleashed his debut album (review here) onto twitter after reaching a certain number of followers (I think it was 8000?) and created something of a viral monster. Fans were soon clamouring for his brand of smartly constructed pop and the blog world imploded with kudos and an unprecedented devotion to an unsigned act. One year on, the album remains an essential example of how a concept album can produce many wonderful standalone moments, yet still work as a cohesive piece of work. So littered is it with sci-fi and pop culture references both in the lyrics and the production (note the lengths of the songs all end in a zero or five) that repeat visits remain necessary to discover all the hidden wonders that abound. New things intruige - for example, the number 7. On both Rochella and Andrea's albums, these are the songs that Simon duets on, yet on 8 Bit Heart it's an interlude, a phone conversation. Hidden meaning by design or merely coincidence (also is that Simon masked on Rochella's album cover?!)?

Diablo remains my favourite song on here, a sprawling tune that I still believe could be the male Bad Romance and would love to see a high concept, high budget video for. 8 Bit Heart remains a sweet diversion from Simon's sometimes vengeful, sometimes bleak world view - a tune that sounds like Lamont and Dozier were in the studio with him. It's completely endearing and can be interpreted in so many ways. I often thought it could be the anthem for the NoH8 campaign. New favourites emerge all the time - Brainwash is captivating all over again, while Joystick is a saucy romp that I can't wait to get to.

Anticipation remains high for a new album. Laser Guns Up has been premiered at live shows, surely more will follow at his LA gig on the 9th Jan. Here's hoping that Simon can translate the online hype into something that earns him the money he needs to translate his vision and bring it to the fanbase he's spent so long cultivating...

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

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

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

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

I love Friday afternoon off. If Friday afternoon off were a hot dude, I would probably be going in for a clumsy first date smooch right about now. It's been a busy week but not an entirely bad one. The highlight was a riotous forty minutes or so, playing some new music on my now regular Larry Flick Morning Jolt slot. So much fun. A lot of time was also spent obsessively analysing queue patterns in Disney World and planning out the Florida trip. I may have overplanned and forgot to schedule "fun" in there... :P Anyway, prior to a mammoth Take That blog tomorrow and of course the monolith that is the X Factor sunday blog, here are some of the things to tide you over through the weekend...

FizzyPop Weekend Supplement:

• Nikita ~ Tonight: I am loving Nikita. Both the new show on The CW which makes me want to pretend I'm a rogue spy bringing down a clandestine government agency and this scintillating Blondie-esque disco track. It's a rather gorgeous, sparkling track that makes you want to grab the one you love and shimmy. Indeed, there is some magnificent layered vocals in the addictive chorus - part of it sounds like an updated I Feel Love while running behind that is the Blondie type Sunday Girl adlibs, all weaved together wonderfully by a pulsating electronica beat. Remember when Annie & Isabel Guzman were going to be the next big dance floor divas? They may have been outdone by Nikita. Instantly massive, this will get dance floors heated through the cold winter months. BTW, I know from personal experience that it sounds absolutely heavenly after 3 glasses of quite expensive wine...
• Annie Lennox ~ Universal Child: Annie Lennox was born on December 25th, ergo I feel she has earned her right to put out her Christmas Cornicopia. This track is the self penned lead single from that forthcoming collection and is an earnest, forthright sweeping song full of inspiring lyrics and a crescendo of instruments that never overshadow that distinctive vocal style. As a charity single it is probably everything that Madonna was trying to achieve with the somewhat weak and watery Hey You. Gets better with each listen and fine for a spin anytime of year. Love it.
• More Christmas albums ~ since I wrote about the upcoming Christmas song releases from various artists here, several more have hit the marketplace including - gasp - one of my fave girl groups Wilson Phillips!! Hurrah! They have done a Christmas album before, but that was back when it was just Carnie and Wendy! I need some Chynna in the mix. Also whipping out festive releases are Lady Antebellum (the boys look f-i-n-e on the cover), Sheryl Crow (a 2010 edition of a previously released album. Ka-ching) and uh, Katherine McPhee. It may only be October, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

• Simon Curtis ~ Since 8 Bit Heart garnered him a ferociously loyal following, it seems like Simon has been working hard to move onto the next stage of his career. He's been busy recording the heavenly Andrea Lewis duet (read about it here; my number one song this week!) and hopefully his new album with apparently some Ace of Base-esque beats on there will be available before Christmas. He's also been involved in the Love is Louder campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the struggles bullied teens go through, and provide them with some support and comfort. Vital stuff. Surely a NoH8 photo shoot must be coming?!
• The Feeling ~ In The Year 2525: Talking of charity, while I impatiently await a 3rd Feeling album (due next year or probably whenever Sophie Ellis Bextor deigns to release hers), they have recorded a rather spiffy version of the Zager & Evans number one hit. It's for the 1969 Key To Change album, which raises money for young homeless people. The track retains the slightly spaced out, hippy-esque vibe of the original, but marries it with the trademark layered vocals of the group and it's certainly nice to have this entirely pleasant stop gap until the new album comes out (or until I can start playing Feels Like Christmas again). Dan sounds positively luscious. As normal...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
20 ~ Jesse McCartney, Shake
19 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Once Upon A Time
18 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
17 ~ Elouise, The Winner Takes It All
16 ~ Nadine Coyle, Insatiable
15 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
14 ~ Charlotte Church, Back To Scratch
13 ~ James Blunt, Stay The Night
12 ~ Westlife, Safe
11 ~ Brandon Flowers, Only The Young
10 ~ JLS, Love You More
09 ~ Gravitonas, Religious
08 ~ Pink, Raise Your Glass
07 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
06 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame
05 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions
04 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
03 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
02 ~ Take That, The Flood (VID)
01 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me (NE/1 Week)

Coming soon: Sat (Take That full video breakdown!); Sun (X Factor Live Shows 2); Mon (A1 & Big Time Rush album reviews)...

Do you ever have one of those moments? You know the one - when you hear a song and the world around you seemingly stops while your entire being becomes immersed in what you hearing, such is it's beauty and charm? Talk To Me by Andrea Lewis (and guest vocal from Simon Curtis) is one of those songs. I wrote a little bit about Andrea's sizzling Voodoo single a few weeks ago and had eagerly been waiting for her debut album "54321" to be released. It was made available for free and legal download yesterday (poetically 10.10.10) on her own website.

I haven't had time to go through the whole album as of yet, but naturally I was drawn to the song that featured the vocal stylings of one Mr. Simon Curtis. After being extremely familar with Simon's dark electro-pop stylings and adoring the scintillating energy of Andrea's Voodoo, I was expecting a ferocious club thumper of epic proportions. That is not what I got. Talk To me is an instantly stunning mid-tempo ballad that sifts through the scattered and uncertain debris of a failed relationship. It's built around lilting piano and guitar, with a deep backing vocal and finger clicks adding to the layers of the track - gives it a vibe akin to those glorious 60s motown ballads. The real joy amongst the sadness of the lyrics is how pure and undiluted Andrea's voice is. In an age where vocoder rules for even those who have proven their vocal abilities on national tv talent contests, it shines like a glistening star. Better still, there's a fragile emotion in her delivery that adds a huge vulnerability to the track and pulls together the incredible pathos going on here. Communication seems to be the root of all the fractured couple's problems as she details many situations that could have been better with a little conversation. What's sweet is the bittersweet optimism - that actually any of the problems can be solved ("do you see the light of the setting sun and will you talk to me")... It's a musical alchemy that flows nicely - and this in of itself would be quite incredible. However, there's more...

The middle 8 introduces Simon's vocal appearance. I would say with some confidence that it is one of my favourite vocals of his. That for me would elevate the track anyway. it's the cleverness of what his vocal performance does - it fleshes out the story with a different point of view on the communication issues and leads to a wonderful, if somewhat heartbreaking vocal tradeoff for the rest of the song (Simon "there's nothing left to say because it's over"; Andrea "do you feel the breeze through the open window...and will you talk to me"). But - as i've stated - amongst the sadness, these beautiful vocal performances and heavenly instrumentals fly and something incredibly special and poignant has been created here. I can't overstate how in love I am with this song - I'll be spending time with the album as soon as I stop playing this on repeat. Gorgeous.

Ah Monsieur Simon of the Curtis. In case you didn't know, I'm quite the fan. Perhaps even a stan as the popjustice forum mob might say, whatever that is. Anyway, I've devoured Alter Boy, I've had an 8 Bit Heart bypass and I've seen Simon going from having a few loyal followers to nearly 14,000 people adoring his every tweet on twitter. Not bad. He's had 5 top 5 hits from his 8 Bit Heart album (ok Pop Messiah hit the top of my charts a couple of years ago now, but I still link it to 8 Bit Heart; others include Delusional, Diablo, Super Psycho Love and Beat Drop) and yet I still haven't seem him live. This is pants. With a capital P. At this point I'm seriously thinking of just sponsoring him to come over and play at my favourite bar, Eden in the glamour of Birmingham :P Grife! *Plan formulate :P*

This past Thursday, he played a live show at The Mint in LA (There is also a The Mint in Birmingham. Oh this plan is so going to happen!)This was an acoustic set which is always a risky little game in planet pop. It really proves whether you have the pipes live (Simon does, no surprise with his Glee type, musical theatre background)... It also proves whether your songs can hold up in their rawest form - stripped back bare where only the melody and lyrics can shine. Mercifully, they do - particularly the song that is vying for my song of 2010 (it was also my number 3 song of 2009) along with All The Lovers - Diablo. You will no doubt have noticed a nice video at the top of the post where you can witness Simon sing away. Impressive breath control keeps the song together (much like You Can't Stop The Beat in Hairspray, unless you know every little nuance it leaves you looking a proper breathless numpty when you try to singalong!) and it retains all of it's charm. Hurrah! But wait! There's more...

A new song from Simon's upcoming album (which I really think he should charge for - even if it's a nominal amount like $5. He's built up quite the fanbase that would be more than willing to cough up, and I'm sure the boy has to eat!) was premiered in a stripped back acoustic form. It's most likely to sound very different on the album, but this is a more than pleasant preview. The verses have rapidfire lyrics, but you can tell the chorus is going to as massive a dance tune as Diablo, Bad Romance or Commander - it's a simple, but effective hook and I can't wait to see what magic Jadion has worked on it. Controversial middle 8 that is nicely slowed down ("there's a gun for me/there's a gun for me/better shoot to kill/you know what to do") with a rather angry spoken quasi-rap that reminds me of Love Game by Lady Gaga (it hardly seems like it should be a Simon album without a nice angry "fuck" somewhere in there!) What's most interesting (apart from the fact that once I again I emphasise how absolutely massive this is going to sound in studio form) is that you can see Simon almost busting to let loose a fierce dance energy to this song, but keeping it nicely restrained. Better shoot to kill indeed, because should a major label pick this up (PICK IT UP YOU FOOLS) then this will just about murder anything else vying for a number one slot...

And it would be remiss of me to close this post without pointing out Simon's acoustic version of Bad Romance. Simon had twittered about wanting to do a cover... I had suggested Unloveable by Darren Hayes to be slotted either before or after 8 Bit Heart (title track). That was met with a "I'll have to save that for a really special show" (I'm assuming your British debut at either Eden or The Mint in Birmingham, eh Simon?! :P) so I guess this will do nicely instead. The song works perfectly as a stripped back ballad, Simon's vocals really shine in the chorus and he clearly adores the song. His french was quite good too (which reminds me, whatever happened to that French duet he did with Thomas Dekker?!) but what the fuss? Where were the monster claws?! Disappointing :P Overall, I really like Simon in a more intimate acoustic environment. It showcases his vocal power well and shows what a clever little pop bloke he is. More please. And soon :)

Top 21 Songs Of The Week:

21 ~ Chanee & N'Evergreen, In A Moment Like This
20 ~ Simon Curtis, Beat Drop
19 ~ Eric Saade, Masquerade (NE)
18 ~ Le Kid, Mercy Mercy
17 ~ Bang Bang Club, Chemistry
16 ~ Dirty Disco, White Room
15 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Love Me Cos You Want To
14 ~ Ola, All Over The World
13 ~ McFly, Party Girl
12 ~ Eric Saade, It's Gonna Rain
11 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way
10 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers
09 ~ Bright Light x2, Love Part II
08 ~ Magic Numbers, Pulse
07 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever
06 ~ Kylie, Get Outta My Way
05 ~ Darin, Can't Stop Love
04 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossfire
03 ~ Amy Meredith, Lying
02 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
01 ~ Maroon 5, Misery (5 weeks)

What a day it has been. I've been on a train most of the day travelling to 'that London' for work and the like... It has possibly been hotter than hell, and sometime you could physically see the cartoon smell wiggles eminating from people's arm pits. Yack. Then I tried to help some woman who fell rushing to catch the tube - I grabbed her hand to help her up, only the door shut leaving her on the platform shaking her fist and me in the train holding her shopping back! I was mortified. The whole carriage was looking at me like I was some sort of common criminal!! It was all made better though by All The Lovers coming on at exactly the same time a loved up boy-boy couple started canoodling. It was rude to watch, but it was like my own little serendipitous moment. Delightful. Anyway, you didn't come here to read about any of that, you came here for a full breakdown of the new Adam Tyler video...

ADAM TYLER - FRICTION

The song ~ let's face it. Friction is actually a properly good, catchy, entertaining pop song. It's got a wonderfully catchy chorus, it's a little bit aggressive which gives it an edge that saves it from sacharrine, it has a brilliantly broken down middle 8 that is both seductive and a little bit scary, and it sounds very modern indeed while still feeling totally comfortable and recognisable. It nicely balances elements of pop, synth, electro and danceability in a forward thinking way that places it at a high level within the current future boy-pop star competition (see below). It's well deserving of its 3 weeks atop the fizzypop charts - mainly because it's pop juxtaposed with a downright dirty electro edge that kept me humming along for weeks. And now, there is a video! Let's investigate that...

The video ~ Adam has actually raised the bar (as I noted above) in the current boy-pop market. He's done wonders to produce a quality video that merges a number of scenes, scenarios and dance routines successfully. Here are some of the highlights...

• As the video begins, there is a dictionary definition of what friction means. So not only is the video fun, it's instantly educational as well. Teachers could quite rightly show it in English class and not feel like they are just passing time til break like Mrs Krabappel...
• Then there are some nice shots of Adam posing - sometimes with his pecs out and sometimes with paint on his face (in a deep way, I assume to represent the tension and war like attributes of the friction in his relationship?!) There is quite a creepy shot at around 16 seconds, which looks static but then his eyes move. Well I was scared...
• From around 25s most notably Adam is sitting in half a disco ball. This is because he loves pop. And because the light looks quite nice shining off it. He is also on a balcony in quite an expensive looking apartment. He is enjoying a nice glass of red wine (or fruit juice if he is under 21) with his lady friend...
• But oh no! At 42s, he has obviously done something to her drink (told her it was a $10 bottle when really it was $5 from walmart?) and she rather rudely spits it all over him. Still, good for him to know at this stage that she is actually a spitter and not a swallower :P
• At 45 seconds, if it isn't enough that she has spaffed her juice all over him, she throws the wine all over him. Kudos (not on the wine throwing, waste of damn good wine - that $5 stuff is highly underrated) - it looks quite good splashing off his face! Well shot cameraman, well shot...
• Then they are having a bit of a friendly, then less friendly tussle inside the apartment. Again, this is to show the friction between them, but really I suspect it's the Santa Ana winds driving them crazy :)
• Adam remains a complete gentleman and doesn't respond to Lady Friend's aggressive pushing. Not even when she slaps him at the one minute mark. Which looked quite real. I bet the poor lamb had finger marks on his face. I'd take her to Judge Judy :)
• At about 1m to 1m15s, Adam is standing static in the kitchen looking well pissed off while Lady Friend continues to rant. I have used this tactic myself - just don't respond to the hystrionics. It gets them even more riled while you remain aloof. Well done Adam. Round one to you.
• Ooo then it all changes. Adam is in the desert. And he has forgotten half his clothes. Now this part is to symbolise the animalistic nature of the arguing that then leads to the passion. So the video is still very educational as it will teach kids symbolism and they will be able to read Wuthering Heights and know that the wildness of the moors reflect the wildness of Heathcliffe's temperament! Amazes.
• As the lyrics talk about a little break in the dance, Adam and Lady Friend actually dance. It is vaguely reminiscent of the Buffy musical episode when people were forced to dance. Luckily, there are much better dance routines to come. Phew :P
• The second chorus continues the friction as the relationship dance theme, interspersed with some nice shots of Adam looking all angsty and passionate about the situation. Though I don't recommend lying on the railway tracks as he does at 1m54s. This is not to be tried at home kids :)
• GOOD LORD! It's sexy Adam in the middle 8 (2m15s on). He's all panther like, wound tightly and ready to erupt. There is also some close crotches proximity going on. And! Adam goes a bit saucy/kinky as he chains his Lady Friend up and takes her for a walk! It's all a bit True Blood naughty and I like it!
• BUT THEN! Amazingness happens! A full on bonkersosity dance routine kicks in at 2m36 with arms everywhere and a dance troupe. It's possibly the best full on dance routine since Same Difference's excellent We R One (or their new one actually for Shine On Forever). Dance routines are sorely lacking in pop at the moment. Hurrah to Adam for returning them to magnificence!
• There's quite a romantic but chaste little smooch at the end, and then a nice 'aw, we made up' hug. Though Adam has a naughty glint in his eye so I suspect part of him, as the song says, was addicted to the friction and quite liked it all actually. The saucy devil.

So there you have it. A thoroughly entertaining video, with good popstar hair, nice use of finger paints and a full on dance routine. With added naughtiness! Amazeballs. Now go and bloody buy it on iTunes per favor. I thank you!

See also:

• Kyle Brylin ~ also currently vying for boy pop amazingness. His Discrepency EP is all sorts of addictive, he seems quite the charmer and has some nice new pics with brillo pop star hair as above demonstrates. As Poster Girl will testify, this is very important in the world of boy-pop...
• Simon Curtis ~ how could I bypass an opportunity to remind people about Simon?! His album 8 Bit Heart has been incredibly well received, he's getting more interest by the day and developing his live show. Personally I'd whack Alter Boy online for $10 a pop to raise some cash, but for now let's relook at one of the prettiest most addictive ballads of the year, the achingly gorgeous title track to his album :)

Blimey, the day just flew away from me today and I've actually got a lot accomplished work, piano and novel wise! Hurrah. I would pat me on the back but my shoulder's playing up and I can't bend that way (that's what he said)... that said, the blogging world is fair alight with news of some video that is a bit jackson meets madonna meets marilyn manson meets a porno movie and doesn't say alejandro (loosely translated as la isla bonita over ace of base's wheel of fortune) nearly enough between the 5 and 8 minute mark. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about - your best bet for a decent excited review of it is ademwithane... I have gone with updating you all on some spunky boys who have, uh, got my musical juices going....!!

Boys boys boys:

• Kyle Brylin ~ The Star: I wrote about his track If They Only Knew back in April. It was proper good then and it's proper good now in remix form on his aces new EP, Discrepency. This new EP is filled with delicious treats such as the sparsely clubby title track (with brilliantly furiously spat out verse lyrics); gloriously gothic electro-ballad Make Things Right and intense I Always Play For Keeps. The lyrics are clever, the music ranging from electro to industrial and the singing always enticing. However, the highlight for me is the deliriously joyful ode to love, The Star. Filled with optimism and hope, it's the most pure pop moment on the EP and absolutely soars because of it. It's like JLS' One Touch and Girls Aloud's Untouchable got together for a date and ended it with a lovely romantic cuddle. Yes it's that good. Check out Kyle on twitter and his Last FM page here (where you may be able to download The Star for free!!). AMAZEBALLS!
• Sam Taylor ~ Every Time We Fall: It's rather pleasing indeed that It's A Mistake seems to be popping up all over the web, particularly at Chartrigger and the latest Pop Trash Addicts panel :) Hurrah! Read my review from a while back here. Sam previewed this latest song on youtube a while back, then it disappeared. But good things come to those who wait, and a full version of the tune has popped up on Sam's soundcloud page. It's a dreamy yet melancholy big percussive mid tempo ballad that tells a story of love gone wrong, mistakes and regret. All classic themes, all sounding even more devastating coming from Sam's lovely vocal style. Follow Sam on twitter here and read his new blog here. Now next time, can the world have a big ol' camp disco number please - that would be most amazing...
• Juvelen ~ All-Time High: Juvelen, the upcoming swedish-popdude-singer from a couple of years ago has quietly crept back onto the scene with a jolly good new ditty, called All-Time High. This is very good news indeed, as Juvelen had a rather excellent album out back in 2008 (review here) called "1", which was tres bon as it goes and a few other bloggers soon found him most pleasing too. This is typical of his debut album - an 80s synth driven sounding electro ditty, infused with some rather cool sound effects and a pleasant vocal that - knitted together - make a smashing pop tune for people to enjoy. I hope this means a second album is forthcoming... You could probably hear the song here if you were that way inclined...

Other ace news...

• Darin ~ all hail. Lovely little Swedish pop dude Darin is returning. Following on from his all too epic melodifestivalen ballad, You're Out Of My Life, he is releasing a brand new single soon called Love Killer. It's another ballad and from the LQ clips popping up on youtube, promises to be all sorts of magnifico. Jacket aside, I like his spiffy new look :)
• Eric Saade ~ oh Eric. I still have eric-tion fever, and while I am very much in love with It's Gonna Rain, i've accepted Break of Dawn as the next single. So much so that I am quite excited about the video premiering on Thursday. And part of me thinks that the song would make a lovely Shayne Ward comeback single...
• Robbie Williams ~ I'm partially annoyed by the fact that Robbie has seemingly given up on his rather good latest album before he even had chance to release the very good indeed Starstruck as a single. Bah Robbie, bah! But D'Luv reports that my favourite Take Thatter from the very moment I bought the 7" posterbag pack of Do What U Like has teamed up with my second fave thatter on a new duet called Shame. I was strangely unexcited by this at first, but within a day my nipples have gotten erect and now I can't wait!!
• Simon Curtis ~ has been particularly busy opening for La Roux (aka The Eurythmics Tribute Act) and doing pride performances of his 8BitHeart album tracks. I change with which song is my favourite, but I am rather liking the ferocious Beat Drop at the moment. Particularly the militant dance opening of the Show Mix (though boooo to it ruining the theme of all 8BH songs ending in binary code digits!!)
• Ola ~ apparently Overdrive is out (or out today) and yet I have not heard this potentially glistening pop gem. What gives?! :P (This is worse than the utter seemingly non-promotion of tres bon new Bjorn Johan Muri single, Circles!) If anyone can point me in the right direction, please do so. I thank you!
• Bjorn Johan Muri ~ talking of Bjorn, I've finally tracked down a fairly decent performance of his new single. About blooming time I say. With a dance routine and everything! Immensicles! Magnifico! See below!!
• Jonas Oakland ~ ooo isn't Jonas Oakland looking very fine nowadays? I'm quite the smitten little kitten :P I do like a handsome dude in a shirt and tie, plus he sings so he ticks all the boxes. His new single Beat of my Heart is all sorts of dancetastic amazingness and you can hear some remixes now on the always excellent and delightful Scandipop. AND! If you check back sometime Fri/Sat, there will be a free download of said song on that site. Bonza!
• Finally ~ Maroon 5 (Adam LeFine) and Brandon Flowers SO need to release their singles to radio sooner rather than later. That will be all.

Back thurs. With Disco Lemonade!! and the latest Larry Flick show!!

I love a good spurt of musical goodness, I do. And what with Scissor Sisters and Kylie due to return early Summer, it seems that my very beloved Maroon 5 will join my very beloved The Feeling for an autumnal release! I love a good autumnal release, I do. Just ask Darren :P So this has put a proper pep in my step despite another insanely busy work week/week of ongoing hospital visits ahead. Do read on because it would be rude to leave now...

Maroon 5 ~ Hands All Over: God, I love Maroon 5 :) Like seriously adore. It helps that I've had a long man-crush on Adam LeFine since I saw him in the This Love video with a sexy yellow bandanna round his wrist (well let's be practical, it's always handy to have a cum rag near by isn't it fellas?)... So it's doubly delightful that the band are returning this "fall" with a brand new album, which means lots of brand new delicious promo shots. As with both their previous albums, it's reported to be a wide range of styles including rock (Hands All Over), funk (Misery), pop (Stutter) and soul (Don't Know Much About That). Plus there is a collaboration with Lady Antebellum on a track entitled Out of Goodbyes... the thought of Charles Kelley and Adam crooning together is utterly delightful (and arousing. down boy)... Produced by Mutt Lange of ex Mr Shania Twain fame too! The single is going to radio at the end of June, and I'm hoping that their US tour will extend to the UK at some point over Christmas. I'm positively tingling with anticipation. And here is your essential M5 discography (that should've been) to date...

1. Harder To Breathe
2. This Love
3. She Will Be Loved/Woman (from Spiderman2)
4. Must Get Out
5. The Sweetest Goodbye
6. Makes Me Wonder
7. Wake Up Call
8. Won't Go Home Without You
9. Never See Your Face Again (w/Rihanna)
10. Better That We Break

Updates on other faves...

• Kylie ~ All The Lovers: Oh doesn't she just look exquisite? Kylie is busy filming her video for her comeback single and has wisely surrounded herself with buff dudes. This is how I get ready for work every single morning. Alas, the video shoot has meant several dreadful quality clips of the song have ended up online. I shall patiently await the full radio premiere this Friday! EEK! For more on the vid, see PopTrashAddicts and Chartrigger...
• Scissor Sisters ~ Tour!: The Scissor Sisters are doing a small UK tour prior to the release of their new album. And hurrah they are coming to Brum on June 25th! Aces. Ruthiepoos and I are so there :) For another view on the single, visit Nick at alienhits...
• Simon Curtis - 8 Bit Heart: From the moment I heard it, I knew that the title track to his free album was one of my fave Simon songs ever (up there with Diablo, Put Your Make Up On, Another Heartache and Broken (Show Mix))... So hurrah for inventive photographer Tyler Shields doing a "video portrait" of Simon singing that song acapella. It's essentially Simon in a black and white video, wearing black and white. But it is a bit more than that - there's some great use of light and shadow at various points, it highlights the pure melody of the song and Simon's live vocals, and it reminds me of something perhaps a tv show would use at the end of a particularly dramatic episode. The ending of the song is all sorts of incredible and the juxtaposition of such an upbeat, positive song in such a dark gloomy potentially riddled with unsavoury people setting works nicely. Plus, you can download it free here. Hurrah.

This week has been all sorts of horrid and ghastly. Mainly because my mom collapsed on Thurs, is still in hospital and they still don't know what is wrong with her. Plus, when I visited her again on the Friday, the bed was in a horrific state, they ignored all her questions and gave her a limp tuna sandwich for dinner. I was not a happy bunny... It's improved a bit, but you have to keep on at them all the blinking time. Oy vey. Anyway that has pretty much been my life since Thurs, other than work and a much needed night out with the Ace Gang. Prior to all that drama though were some pretty decent things in the week:

The Feeling ~ Live At The Water Rat: The Feeling are all sorts of amazingness and I continue to adore them. I'm eagerly anticipating their third album after the brilliance of 12 Stops/Join With Us, and that anticipation is reaching fever pitch after their immensicles tiny gig on Wednesday where much new material got a preview. There were some rather gorgeous ballads like the heavenly Undeniable (where he got upstaged by a 2 headed teddy bear) which builds slowly into that 70s rock anthem they are so good at, and that sound so wonderful. Mrs Jones (ie Sophie Ellis Bextor) showed up for a tremendously engaging tune called Leave Me Out Of It (above) where her and Dan sounded great together (reminding me of those vocal trade offs Beautiful South used to do) over some lovely layered instrumentation. Another Soldier was a slightly more uptempo tune with a sparse chorus and a militant chant of "another soldier, another soldier/another hit to the heart when he told ya" - however, it was the brilliant singalong feel of future hits like Say No and Seven Years that really stood out. The new album feels like a natural progression from their previous work, yet ensuring they take the brillo bits everyone loves without resting on their laurels. Bring on the new reign of The Feeling...

Simon Curtis ~ Live At The Roxy: I have to say that it's always quite hard to give an opinion on a concert that you weren't at, despite that being made a lot easier by wobbly youtube clips. It's obviously much better if you are there, in the midst of the atmosphere, enjoying the crowd reaction and losing yourself in the music, rather than trying to recreate it scrunched over your laptop. Having said that, while I would have killed (not literally) to be at Simon's big debut show, I suspect this is just a taster of what is to come. The show was Simon and his dancers showcasing tunes from his fine 8BitHeart album - much as you'd find top notch and upcoming popstars doing on a Saturday night at G-A-Y or Nightingale in Birmingham... You can find the full set list here as well as videos to the entire show so you can recreate it in your hallway if you so desire (and you probably do!) My fave (after Super Psycho Love and Beat Drop - I particularly loved the theatrical, almost puppet like choreography of the former, especially the arm moves in the first verse) of course is my top single of the year (so far) Diablo. I've been dying to see a performance of the song and I'm pleased that the dance moves were effective enough yet not overly complicated so people like me can pick them up fairly quickly :) As a teaser of what can be achieved, I'm satisfied but I suspect that given a full band and backing troupe for a solo tour this will just be the tip of the iceberg of what can be achieved. PS, does anyone know if Simon sang live? Apart from some adlibs, I couldn't quite tell...

Christophe Willem ~ Coffee Tour: Another tour I was desperate to go and see is ace French pop star Christophe Willem. A - because his album is an accomplished and exciting piece of modern pop and B - because it was put together by the always impressive Steve Anderson. Oh and because Christophe looks like he is having a rather amazing time in this video preview. The show opened in Lille this weekend and clips have started to surface on youtube, including a rather glorious version of the Kylie track Sensitized. Love love loving the bondage trousers, the riding crop and the pendulating undulating grinding hips! It's sex come alive on stage (particularly when he merges Bombe Atomique into Madonna's Erotica) and makes me so eager for Christophe to be huge in the UK so the show can come here :) He shows that there are smart, gay male popstars out there (Will Young is also phenomenal live) who understand what audiences want and are raising the standards for everyone. Bring it on :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
20 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
19 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
18 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
17 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
16 ~ Gravitonas, Kites
15 ~ Donkeyboy, Sometimes
14 ~ JLS, The Club Is Alive (NE)
13 ~ Kimberley Locke, Strobelight
12 ~ Mika, KickAss
11 ~ Josh Dubovie, That Sounds Good To Me (NE/Vid link ~ where's the budget?!)
10 ~ Mariah Carey, 100%
09 ~ Scissor Sisters, Fire With Fire (NE)
08 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love (Live vid link)
07 ~ Lovestoned, Thursdays (NE/Vid)
06 ~ DeeDee, Endure
05 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet
04 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
03 ~ Maria Mena, All This Time
02 ~ Adam Tyler, Friction
01 ~ Eric Saade, Manboy (2 weeks)

Next week: new music updates from tomorrow's stars (inc Bright Light, Michaela Wright, I Am Noxious and Todd Alsup), lots of top notch Swedish albums and the next segment on Larry Flick (thurs!)PS see my participation in Pop Trash Addicts singles panel here (wk1) and here (wk2)

Are you one of the 80,000+ people who has downloaded Simon's brillo free album from his website? I mean, that's an awful lot of people who have sampled the excellent 8 Bit Heart and this quite obviously pleases me greatly (read my review here; I'm currently on a mission - like a woman on a mission - to get Attitude magazine hooked :P) You may want to check out rather excellent reviews from Popreviews now, melismatic and Alien Hits (fabtasticmusic, i'm drumming my fingers impatiently at you!!). For now though, before you dive back into the album, here are some highlights from the delightful Larry Flick interview Simon did on the always brilliant Morning Jolt yesterday (31st March)...

• They played Delusional. It does sound rather marvelous on the radio to be fair. Radio One should B-list the bejeezus out of it
• "terrific pal and world class blogger"... oh stop (don't stop, etc)!
• Simon hasn't actually heard Delusional on the radio before so waiting on the phone for the interview was his first time! Which is ace, but also a little bit heartbreaking that he wasn't blasting it out in his car...
• Simon is 24. Larry thinks he looks about 12. In his early shots he does look incredibly young. His more recent shots place him late teens (see pics above for "exhibit A and B") :P
• Simon talks about Max Martin, A*Teens, N*Sync, Britney Spears and being verbally knocked back by Matthew Knowles, who advised him to drop the musical theatre vocals if he wanted to be a popstar. Where was Matthew when Joe McElderberryJuice won the X Factor?!?!
• No offence to Delusional, but Diablo sounds OUTSTANDING on the radio. There is a reason that the song is my number one song so far of 2010...
• 8 Bit Heart is not only a homage to his history with sci fi movies, but also those artists who have inspired him throughout the years including Mozart, Britney and Lady Gaga...
• Dustin in Canada says "why" in a very deep voice and makes it sound really sultry when he phones in to ask Simon a question. I'm so taken with the way he purrs "why" that I can't even remember what the question is!
• Simon gives a little "ooo" when Larry announces he is playing the title track, which is one of the most beautiful songs you will hear all the live long year. Perfect in every respect of the word...
• Simon went to West Virginia where Jeff "Jadion" Wells (his producer) lives and recorded the entire album in 13 days. Not surprisingly it was a bit of a mindnumbing experience. I can barely write 13 pages in 13 days of the long awaited novel...
• Larry talks about the process of releasing a "free" album and not making it sound like a free album! Simon is aiming for the album to have such an effect on his career that he will be able to sign to a label thanks to a galvanised fan base. The Robo-Army lives!!
• Simon earns some additional "pocket money" through being an actor as well and having some income from that, which helps him get to where he needs to be. It's been tough, and I'm hoping that he will be able to translate his fanbase in to getting him some money. No one likes to be poor :(
• I really wanted Simon to say fuck on air after Fell In Love W/an Android but tragically he doesn't.Darn
• Simon talks a little about his leukemia battle. I'm rather repulsed by some of the comments on the popjustice forum about this, but people are always cynical and repugnant sometimes :/
• The final 3 songs on the album shift to darker symbolism and The Dark is the culmination of that, with the artist questioning how to break into an unbreakable circle. The Jay-Z sample comes from his song Encore btw...
• The interview was utterly charming. Simon sounds absolutely delightful. What a lovely young fella

Back soon. I've been slack lately. Must do better...