Lopez Blogs

Today has been quite a bonza day really by all accounts. I had a nice dream that M&S Double Choc Biscuits were considered one of the fruit and veg five a day. Then I woke up and lovely little Darren was sleeping like a baby. I mean not like a baby with his big ol' bum right up in the air, more just very peacefully and looking lovely. So I stared/gazed at him for a moment before remembering he thinks that is creepy. I was also told today (a few times) that I look like Russell Tovey from Being Human. I had a galaxy caramel at work which was million times of deliciousness. My Dr Who - The Writers Tale: Final Chapter book appeared after being lost in the post. And all sorts of good feelings came from being on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt today. I had such a good time and it was so completely delightful to hear some of these songs on the radio (and hear Larry so enthused about them!). Here's what was played, followed by what else was making me happy today!!

• Marit Larsen ~ If A Song Could Get Me You (read more of my thoughts here)
• Donkeyboy ~ Ambitions (read more of my thoughts here)
• Ola Svensson ~ Sky's The Limit (read more of my thoughts here)
• Industry ~ My Baby's Waiting (read more of my thoughts here)
• Benny Andersson Band ~ Story of a Heart (read more of my obsession here!)

My happy times...

Music: I wrote about Dandy Andy a little while ago, and have since become quite the smitten pair of mittens with this soaring pop epic disguised as a dance number little shaker. I tweeted (quite truthfully) to PopLifeUk that I felt marvelous dancing around in my pants (undies) to it early one morning, and it's a feeling so euphoric and glorious that it gets you through the entire day of work ahead. It's almost like a prescription drug - take two spins each morning and walk on air all day. It's not just the intoxicating beat, or the accomplished vocal - it's that combined with the great lyrics and wonderfully catchy chorus. Luckily there are a whole raft of addictive remixes all ready for the tasting. Could 3 and a bit minutes of pop be any more aces? Now hurry up with the new Same Difference stuff please :) (Also amazing is the Northern Allstars remix of Don't Stop Glee-lieving. Just what you'd expect really with some added glitter and disco beat!)

MagHag: I've just renewed my subscription to Entertainment Weekly for the 14th consecutive year. This makes me very warm and fuzzy inside indeed. Nearly as much as my now eternal love for Attitude magazine. And their very wonderful tweets. And lovely editor. And ace articles. I would SO get naked for them, although probably not :) Still, excellent monthly read!

TVTimes: Remember the days when the CW had original shows on, not just ones based on books (aces Gossip Girl, boring Vampire Diairies) or worse old tv shows (90210, Melrose Place)? Harking back to the glory days of Gilmore Girls and Everwood is new drama, Life Unexpected. I'm only three episodes in but they have all been very entertaining indeed and it feels like the good old days of the WB when Lorelei and Rory were on the air and Buffy was shagging Spike for some reason. The lass from Swingtown who plays the daughter is just warm and engaging and it's nice to see the "teen" actors from Dawson's Creek and Roswell graduate to more adult roles. Heavenly. (Also aces is the return of Lost. "Nothing is irreverseable"; "I'm sorry you had to see me like that" Amaze).

Back tomorrow. With something. No idea what yet. Bye!

Ah Austria was lovely and relaxing (only the Archos broke on day 2 so I was not only bereft of internet - strangely intoxicating - but also no music!! Good grief!) - I've decided not to bore you with all the details, but to re-open the holiday diaries blog I used to do as part of thezapping. Check it out here! (all holiday snaps here!) Hope you've all had a positively super week - here's what caught my eye when I returned yesterday...

BEST OF THE WEEK:

• Hamazing. I go away for a week, and fully expect to come back looking lovely and relaxed (I don't). Not to worry though because the increasingly enchanting Elouise has gone and had a full makeover that befits her image as a rising star to watch. Looking quite elegant, she still manages to be absolutely humble looking, rather than that haughty look some people get when they get a full makeover. And thank god she avoided the "pout" look - no one likes to look at someone looking like they are trying to seduce a fish. Even higher on the Elouise Marvelous scale is a free outdoor concert in Central Park in East London on Sat September 5th. Darren and I are definitely going with lots of friends (see what I did there? Friends? Central Park?! Brilliant) so come along for a fizzydontstopthepop day out :P
• The Daniel Radcliffe covered Youth issue of Attitude was a delight from start to finish. The 100 tips on coming out? Lovely. Daniel Radcliffe? Ever so charming. Young couple Jonathan and Joe? Adorable. David Hayes doing Dublin Pride? Brillo. Glad I saved it to read on holiday - it was like a little hug. Surely though, they must have interviewed every London DJ and club night by now in the club section? Only the drecks left? Sorry if you are next months...:/
• You can sort of tell what acts are doing the promo rounds just by reading the blogs... Barely reworded press releases pop up and are very easy to spot. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what your blog is about. Take the discotastic Shena (who I discovered through poptrashaddicts anyway) - her album and new single got sent to me this week and are both very good indeed and popped up on a number of blogs. One that of course managed to inject their own style and enthusiasm into their write up was Mike. He basically said what I wanted to say, only much better so read it here!
• I was missing some of my fave acts this week and wondered if anyone knows if they will ever release music again? The Pipettes seem to have had more line up changes than the Sugababes, yet a release schedule slower than Kate Bush. Louis Walsh seems intent on ruining Shayne Ward's career (officially the poor lad has had 5 singles (including that double A) and 2 albums? Ridick) with more delays. Where on earth have The Magic Numbers gone? Summer is the perfect time for them to release more music! I know it's not long since McFly released their fourth studio set but they need to come back with something amazing and soon. And Simon Curtis - I could just weep with despair that Alter Boy or something new isn't in the shops 3 and a bit years on :/ Thank god Westlife are back (seriously - I am confident in my musical tastes that I can say that without a hint of irony!)
• Finally, I have sort of re-fallen in love with Susannah Hoffs of the Bangles fame. Her 1991 album "When You're A Boy" was entirely brilliant. I just loved My Side of The Bed and should've been as big as Eternal Flame, Unconditional Love. Paved the way for lovely lady singers of today like Lenka and Marit Larsen. Check it out if you don't already own it :P Oh and more on Susannah later this week (or possibly next depending on how busy work is!)

TOP 21 SONGS OF WEEK:

Considering the beloved Archos broke, it's a miracle there's any change in the charts at all. But the Erik Hassle/MPHO duet version of ...Flowers has reignited my love of that track and sent it back up the charts, as has a symphony version of Mr Hudson (which has already been top ten and now climbs back up). Not much new stuff, but I do love both new entries quite a bit :) Only 2 weeks at number one for Maddy though. Happy Birthday luv.

21 ~ "Abba", Second Best To None
20 ~ Elouise, One Night Only
19 ~ Industry, Burn (NE)
18 ~ The Yeah You's, Get Up Without You (NE)
17 ~ Lily Allen, 22
16 ~ Mr Hudson, Supernova
15 ~ Ola, Sky's The Limit
14 ~ Whitney Houston, Million Dollar Bill
13 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Obsessions
12 ~ Erik Hassle, Don't Bring Flowers
11 ~ Blake Lewis, Sad Songs
10 ~ JLS, Beat Again
09 ~ Bananarama, Love Comes
08 ~ BSB, Soldier Down
07 ~ Sugababes, Get Sexy
06 ~ Same Difference, Better Love Me
05 ~ Benny Andersson Band, Story Of A Heart
04 ~ Preston, Dressed To Kill (amazing acoustic vid)
03 ~ Little Boots, Remedy
02 ~ Madonna, Celebration
01 ~ Mika, We Are Golden (1 week)

Coming soon: The top 20 new acts of the millenium so far; 5 new albums you must own (that aren't my usual inner 15 year old loving pop brilliance :P) and some flashback posts on Robbie, Whitney and William of Young. Aces.