Lopez Blogs

Ooo, this month's fizzypop chronicles is a weird one. On the one hand, it has lots of brilliant songs on it. On the other hand it doesn't seem to flow quite right for some reason. So I'm not entirely happy with it, though I emphasise I think the song choices are - once again - flawless. They are here, presented in no particular order, except the first one and last one tend to be favourites so the playlist begins and ends on the most euphoric of highs with more euphoria on each song in between. Glad that's cleared up then, innit?

• Sophie Ellis Bextor-Jones ~ Bittersweet: It's really all sorts of magnificent isn't it? If this song were a person, I'd want to hug it while shaking a groove thang in glitter-infused hot pants. The chorus is an insane belter of a tune, and Sophie sounds as marvelous and gorgeous as ever. I didn't think it was going to be possible to top the ever so wonderful Heartbreak Makes Me A Dancer, but good gracious me, she's only gone and done it. If this peaks outside the top ten, my whole world may implode quite heavily...
• Gabriella Cilmi ~ On A Mission: Tip - I was walking my usually deserted early morning route to work whilst this was blaring out in my earphones and I think I was actually quite audibly strutting along singing "I am a woman, on a mission" whenst I came across these old women and we all gave each other quite a start. I mean I didn't literally come across them, because that would be frightful, but I think you get the gist. The song is excellent, by the way. Love the faux bad girl rap. I sound well 'ard when I do it...
• Michaela Wright ~ Never Gonna Give In: There are multiple reasons to adore this heavily addictive song. Michaela seems rather lovely on twitter. It's a Larry Flick show staple. It has some rather amazing dance remixes of the song that send it soaring to the glitter ball and then bounce like little shards of multi-coloured lights around the dance floor. And whatever genre you hear it remixed into, it still has an ace melody and chorus. Bonus - it features the rather handsome Alex Kordek in the video. Yum yum pigs bum.
• Kimberley Locke ~ Strobelight: I worship Kimberley Locke. I still think that the heavenly 8th World Wonder is one of the best pop songs to come from American Idol. Her Christmas album was just a retro dream. And her last album was a corker that was criminally ignored. So I'm all ready for her new single, which is produced by Cutfather - who apparently has worked with Kylie and, er, the Pussycat Dolls so he's half way there. All of this is a very long way of saying, I haven't heard the song yet because the release dates been pushed back but I'm so eager to hear something dancetastic from l'il kim...:P
• Ke$ha ~ Blah Blah Blah: Hmmm, it seems a bit criminal to follow these classy dames with the dubious morality that is Ke$ha. However, I did quite like Tik Tok (did you hear it blended with Kylie's Love At First Sight? Almost as genius as MaDonna Summer!) and while this follow up single isn't nearly as brillo, it does have me blah blah blahing along sometimes. Though everyone knows Marina blahs better in the Girls song she has :)
• The Bang Bang Club ~ Chemistry: Rather brilliantly, I have heard this track described as Erasure on testosterone. Not much has changed since I last wrote about it - it remains a rather charming little 80s pop synth ditty with an excellent chorus, great production, enticing vocals and yummy boys. For a more grown up opinion than that, why not check out Nick Alien Hits, where you can download the track for free as well! Jonas Bonus - it's released on my birthday. Wizard!
• Adam Tyler ~ Schizophrenic: I actually had another Adam Tyler track which is really out of this world, but I don't think I'm allowed to write about it yet, so I'd rather draw everyone's attention to a down and funky Dirty Dasmo remix of this track which has just surfaced on his myspace page. It's a trip down the rabbit hole (for the overstimulated puppy!) as the remix adds mind-bending beats and effects to the slick electro club banging original. As with all Adam songs it's firmly focused on delivering a chorus so pleasing that you end up pinching yourself to check it's real. It is. Amaze and a half.
• Kyle Brylin ~ If They Only Knew: I wrote about this track quite recently, and quite frankly it's a pleasure to write about it again for two reasons. One is that the more you listen to it, the more the insinuating beats hook into your memory and the chorus creates a heady atmosphere of synth and song that is just delicious. Two - Kyle is quite dishy so any excuse to visit his myspace page as he looks quite nice in a shirt and tie. With good popstar cheekbones and hair.
• Sergey Lazarev ~ Alarm: On the one hand I remain intensely disappointed that this song isn't quite as brilliant as it should be. By Sergey standards, it's not one of his finest and actually rather generic sounding. On the other hand (for I have two), it's such a fun tune that fits in with "today's sound" so jolly well that it's hard to be peeved for long because you are having such rollicking good fun singing along to it. So what's the harm? To be fair the video above (ghastly sound) really enhances it with a fun dance routine and energetic performance :) The album better be superb though...
• Quentin Mosimann ~ Gimme A Break: Ah franglais! Quentin follows up his exciting single Toc Toc with a song that has the chorus mostly in English, the verses in French and tests my translation skills to the limit. He's a rather giddy mix of bonkers electro-pop though and utterly contemporary and fab. It's always nice to sing along in French too, even if you don't know what you are saying. And from SUCH a great album. Go check him out now. Bonkers and wonderful, possibly unofficial clip below - but exuding such fun and energy! Go! Tout de suite...
• Magnus Carlsson ~ A Little Respect: Oh my days. If Bang Bang Club are Erasure on testosterone, Magnus' version of A Little Respect is Erasure doused in perfume and poppers and kept in a handbag for a week. It's more festive than me at age 11 when I dressed action man Julian in a barbie evening gown and stuck him on the Christmas tree. It's totally europop, and fairly faithful to the original but with even more glitter and bells added. If that is at all possible. Too much, yet not enough...

Part two coming tomorrow!

Why must life be so colossal failurey at times? Still never mind all that for today is a bonza ripper day (Darren turns uh, thirty-something this very day) and although I'm a bit late on my girl-pop post, it's going to be a doozy. Or at least will pass a few of your earth minutes before something better comes along... Right, better be quick as Darren will be pestering me soon for some of that good birthday loving I so freely give... :P

Michaela Wright ~ Never Gonna Give In:

This is a "thanks Larry Flick" artist ~ I caught her on his radio show this week and instantly fell in love with this solid, pretty pop tune (that is also doing some whizz-bang business in remix format too). While the remixes certainly create a frenzied dance floor atmosphere of grab a partner and hip-pop til you boogie type insanity, the original version (above, accompanied by a simple but effective video) relies on strong melody, a confident vocal and a memorable, sing-a-long chorus. In a world where gimmicks seem to be the norm for launching new pop careers, it's refreshing to see an artist concentrate on the basic need to put together a radio friendly tune that is instantly ingratiating. Quite charming - and a) the dude's pretty hunky who is on the stairs with her and b) I love the tutu dress in the video (apparently from a shop called Cutting Edge in Kent, uk tutu-dress fans :P). Can't wait to hear more from her :)

Taylor Swift ~ Today Was A Fairytale:

Let me count the ways that this song should appeal to me in an amazing and brilliant way: Firstly, it's from a new movie called Valentine's Day (preview above)that is essentially the new Love, Actually (best. movie. ever) but set at Valentine's Day (how on earth they came up with that title is beyond my powers of genius marketing comprehension). Secondly, I really like Love Story, Fifteen and You Belong To Me. Thirdly, I quite like Taylor Swift sometimes. So I should really be all over this like a rash. I'm a bit iffy on it at the moment. Part of me finds it quite enticing and lovely in a disney sort of way. The other part of me thinks it's a bit of a rehash of Love Story meets You Belong To Me, and that Taylor could have done something a bit more show-stopping. Having said all that, when I see it in the context of the movie, I probably won't be able to stop raving about it...

Amy MacDonald ~ Don't Tell Me That It's Over:

I liked Run. I liked Mr Rock n Roll. Yet, I don't think I ever fully connected to Amy as an artist. This track may begin to change that though as I find it quite assertive, addictive and actually quite musically aggressive in parts. It's a impassioned and dramatic plea to an errant lover who is thinking of calling it quits just because the going gets a little bit tough in the relationship. It's a feisty, rocking little tune, Amy is looking great and perhaps I'm just about ready to embrace her second album. It's like the harder-edged Belinda Carlisle/Go-Gos sound never went away :)

Music Go Music ~ Warm In The Shadows:

It's all down to Dan Project 76 that I adore Music Go Music. He introduced them to me last year and although it took me a while to finally appreciate their sound, once I did I was addicted. Like honey to the bee. At times they sound like an indie version of Abba, mixed with the organic musical sensibilities of Sparkling Arrest or Magic Numbers. There is also elements of Blondie, the Carpenters and Donna Summer thrown in the mix as well. Their lush, engaging disco epic Warm In The Shadows may be nearly 10 minutes long, but it would be an absolute crime to try and edit it in any way. The gorgeous chorus just envelops you and immerses you in possibly the most abba experience of the year outside the band reforming. Utterly intoxicating musical breakdowns add to the appeal of the track and I frankly, just can't get enough. More on them soon...

Top 21 Songs of the Week...

Not much change this week, though a whole host of songs are chomping at the bit to get in the chart (including tracks by Donkeyboy, Hurts, Adam Lambert, Hugh Sheridan, Lemar, Michaela, A1 et al). I just can't seem to let go of the lingering "hits" from Christmas though... lovely new Elouise video below makes me ever so happy indeed. It's what the word "dreamy" was invented for :)

21 ~ Mika, Rain (NE)
20 ~ Leona Lewis, Stop Crying Your Heart Out (Live Lounge vid)
19 ~ Robbie Williams, You Know Me
18 ~ RyanDan, Can't Help Falling In Love
17 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood
16 ~ Jason Mraz, Kickin' With You
15 ~ JLS, One Shot
14 ~ Natalie Imbruglia, Scars
13 ~ Agnes, Love Love Love
12 ~ The Saturdays, Ego
11 ~ Nerina Pallot, When Did I Become Such A Bitch
10 ~ Blake Lewis, I Left My Baby For You
09 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away (NE)
08 ~ Dangerous Muse, I Want It All
07 ~ Alphabeat, Hole In My Heart (Ace Sound of Arrows remix)
06 ~ Alexandra Burke, Broken Heels
05 ~ Owl City, Fireflies
04 ~ Ryan Ferrada, Room 501
03 ~ Elouise, Fireman Of My Dreams (Vid)
02 ~ Barenaked Ladies, You Run Away
01 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo (4 weeks)