Lopez Blogs

Ay up! it's Wednesday! It's a bit cloudy out! You will probably need a plethora of video breakdowns to get you over your midweek hump (i had my midweek hump before work this morning. It was most satisfying). And even if you don't need them, they are (hopefully) an amusing distraction from the new "Bonnie Tyler remixed"-esque Lady Gaga album :) Grab a cuppa, a nice digestive and dig in my pretties. It's going to be tremendulent...

LE KID ~ AMERICA:

• It all starts off very pink. Like an extremely pink Reservoir Dogs with the Kidders strolling down a hallway looking very cocksure of themselves. The girls have nice yellow heels on.
• Anton looks very lovely indeed, but that is generally to be expected. I like his hi-top trainers.
• At around 20 seconds, there is a very close up of a microphone. It manages to look very sexual indeed and I am rarely aroused by inanimate objects. Though I did sort of fancy Ken when I was little!
• It turns out the young Kidders are playing to some old folks in what looks suspiciously like an old people's home. They are being generally ignored. This is qu'elle tragique. Though quite civilised and restrained of the oldies. If they were playing in my front room, I'd be leaping around like a loon on loon tablets at a loon convention.
• (I would also probably throw my pants at Anton, but I cannot confirm or deny these rumours)!
• They give it their all, but sadly the oldies seem to be more interested in their game of Wist. It is a bit addictive though isn't it? Like an old tyme equivalent of Tetris...
• Oh it's time to move on. Le Kid get changed in a laundry room and the beardy dude is fiddling with Anton's bow tie. As Doctor Who affirmates on a regular basis "bow ties are cool". This is stone cold fact people...
• They do a typical pre-show all hands on top of each "and break!" type movement. This has no doubt got them all excited for their next corporate gig! Amazes!
• It's playing to a bunch of salesmen who are at the less pretty end of the spectrum. Or perhaps Le Kid are just so darned attractive that anyone looks less pretty next to them. Or perhaps the people at the sales conference have inner beauty. Discuss :P
• They can't even spell Le Kid (LA KID?!) right the silly sales people and one fella is having a rollicking time clapping horribly out of time. The goon :)
• From about 2m20s onwards for ten seconds or so, the two Le Kid fellas are really rocking out in the background. Both clearly have "the allure". I may have rewound and watched that bit a few times...
• Fed up of the sales conference, a tiny european car has taken them to their latest gig, where they seem to have adopted a nautical theme. This is quite wise as everyone knows boat shoes are very de rigour (particularly when paired with chinos and a stripey top). Le Kid for the fashion win
• They appear now to be at some dire party where people have to chug brown booze to make the night seem better. Surely even just the mention of Le Kid would make this party happen?!
• OH NO! Someone has done that drunk unkle at a wedding thing of tying their tie round their head like a warrior. They do not look very warrior like, though they are rocking the "booze sweats" look magnificently!!
• Thanks to beer goggles and a swoony Le Kid track, some people are finally finding love. Presumably in America. Mercifully it all ends before the couple on the dancefloor start dry humping ;)
• Just so you know, the song is still musical brilliance. Bring on the album!!

MAROON 5 ft LADY ANTEBELLUM ~ OUT OF GOODBYES:

• After that lovely diversion that was the free track in 24 hours, which is still quite rollicking, Maroon 5 are now back with that lovely track from Hands All Over that features those country superstars, Lady Antebellum.
• There is a fire. And some water. And a grizzled old cowboy who is being sponged down by some nubile young thing.
• She appears to be patching up his gunshot wound while having a good old sing song to each other. It reminds me of a western. Probably that Paint Your Wagons spoof from the Simpsons some years back :)
• After a minute, this is essentially still happening. It's as carefully considered as Brokeback Mountain. The English Literature dude in me (not literally) would say that the languid, portrait nature of the visual is representative of the musical style of the song. That sounds proper fancy!
• (Really I'm just picturing a video that is a bit Brokeback with Adam and the sandyblonde LA fella!!)
• She is taking out a bit of buck shot. This is like deleted scenes from Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman. That was quite a good saturday night show wasn't it?
• This is a dramatically different video to Misery isn't it? I'm two minutes in now and nothing else has happened either. I was hoping Adam would show up Bonanza style. That would be skill!
• OOO HANG ON! FRONTIER LAND PORN! There is a flash of lady garter (not lady gaga) at around 2m35s. The floozy ties it around the fellas boot. What on earth does this mean!? Is it like college dudes hanging their frat tie on the door??
• Oh! It just got interesting. After carefully cleaning his wounds, the frontier chick takes grizzled old souse cowboy's gun, tells him he is "out of goodbyes" (ah continuity) and pops a hole in his chest. The end.
• That was a bit intense wasn't it? Like a Brandon Flowers video for Crossfire but without the fella in peril aspect...

MICKEY CUPID ~ WE ONLY CARE ABOUT THE WEEKEND:

• I wrote about this standout track from the excellent and exquisite new Mickey Cupid EP, "Baptized In The Sun", not so long back. Now there is a video that is equally as magnificent as the song.
• (Sidebar ~ although it couldn't be more perfect as it is, I sort of want the Sugababes to come back with a single that is very much in the same vein as this. They should absolutely work with Mickey Cupid)
• In sheer contrast to the maroon 5 video, so much happens in the first twenty seconds that it is hard to keep up! There is some high speed motorway action, some rehearsing and some slick/sick dance moves.
• Then they are on the underground, going down an escalator, doing some more moves and then looking quite pensive in the back of a car.
• Pause at exactly 47seconds and you will see a fella with the cares of the world upon his young shoulders. The only way to remedy this is to actually and only care about the weekend. (See what I did there??!)
• A lot more performing then happens in a sweaty club (you can't really tell it's sweaty, i'm making an assumption, but if I was swirling around with gay abandon to this song, I would probably work up a sweat). The tall dude with the hat is doing his mixing on a laptop. In your history books you will one day read about when people just mixed with a thing called vinyl. Oh how times change :)
• At around a minute and a half, a girl sort of is doing her own thing, swaying along with a glass of wine. This is very representative of me - except my enormous glass of wine never really gets that empty. I do like a constant top up!!
• Now it is in a recording studio, back on the underground and lugging a heavy rucksack around. I'm sort of exhausted and wanting Friday night to arrive just watching this...
• Then there is a brief but tantalising glimpse at the outdoor shoot that I believe popped up on their website recently.
• All too soon the whirlwind weekend is over and it's a manhug goodbye at the airport. And like all good pop music, you just can't wait for it to start again. Immensicles.

I love a bit of Eric Saade. Have done long time. He sparkled in boy band What's Up! (Such A Fool was a lovely bit of boyband nostalgia). His debut album was a pop triumph (Manboy, Upgrade and It's Gonna Rain in particular sounded like world wide smashes to me). And of course now he's back representing Sweden at Eurovision with the stonkingly good pop gem that is Popular. And hurrah! He's only gone and done a proper video for it (no head chopping off this time around) in which he looks more grown up than ever. Here is an alarmingly detailed breakdown of what is going on in it. Now bring on the remixes and eurovision victory please :)

• Eric is lying on his back in some alley. He has possibly been beaten up as it looks like there is a cut on his cheek. That doesn't make him very popular at all, does it??!
• His name then pops up on screen just so you know who he is. Or in case he has amnesia and has forgotten himself. This happens quite a lot in soap opera land and perhaps pop stars have cottoned on to how "popular" this can be in boosting ratings/youtube viewings!!
• It then flits from Eric lying in an alley all beaten, to Eric standing behind lots of cabling and looking quite attractive actually. He has mastered that "getting out of bed" hair look that you need a lot of confidence to pull off :)
• Ooo - intriguing. Lots of boys have run into the building with what one can only describe as plenty of swagger. I think Eric is one of them. He is now in three places at once!! This is a fascinating plot development. WHAT ON EARTH DO THEY WANT??
• Eric is now back solo behind the cables. He pops on quite a snazzy pair of sunglasses and to be honest, looks well foxy. He then busts some moves during the chorus. As does beaten up Eric. As does boy ganger Eric. So much going on!!
• Ah, the boy gangers are teaching Eric some "fly" dance moves. They seem to be quite happy with what they have achieved and move on. That was quick. It takes me ages to perfect a dance routine...
• Second verse, same as the first... oh wait no, that's some playground chant. Anyway, what is it with boy popstars and gloves? Simon Curtis wears one too and I just don't understand?! Is it some latent tribute to Michael Jackson. I must seek answers!!
• The boy gangers have now all gone to some "banging" club. They are boy gang banging as it were ;) Anyhoo, they seem very happy to be there. This is probably because being Eric Saade's entourage they didn't have to pay to get in. Hurrah!
• Christ on a bike! Some other dudes are dancing on the floor, probably having practiced to PS3 Broadway dance! It cannot be confirmed that this is rival boy popstar Danny Saucedo in disguise :P
• The boy gangers aren't having this, they start some sort of dance off just as the second chorus starts. There are lots of very precise and pointed elbow lines and fancy footwork. It's quite mesmerising if I'm honest with you. It's like some sort of modern day West Side Story just without a Juliet...
• Ah, the story is coming together. Interspersed with more 'eric behind cables', the scene down at the club has turned a bit nasty. The rival boy gangers are distracting Eric's 'posse' with some So You Think You Can Dance style action, while some nasty fellas take Eric outside for what I can only assume is a ballet version of the bitch slap, because it's portrayed quite beautifully despite the unpleasantness!
• So that's how Eric got beaten up in the alley. On a tv show, you would have seen this and then had the cliche'd 12 hours earlier type story. Smallville loves doing this!!
• Thanks to some blonde chickadee helping him up, Eric will not be stopped. He runs back into the club (to the sounds of those dramatic glass breaks - surely a tribute to Madonna's Til Death Do Us Part??) and 'throws down' to those bruisers on the dance floor. Dance, Eric, dance! Dance like you've never danced before!!
• And dance he does. it nearly descends into a brawl at one point, but Eric just steals a man's cap (don't do this at home kids) and dances on like the music of Abba is his boxing glove. Or something.
• Hurrah again! Eric's boy gang wins! The crowd go wild. The blonde chickadee gets very excited. The evil boy gangers hang their heads in shame (probably). And just to finish you off (take that as you will), there is a nice shot of hunky sunglasses Eric at the end.
• MAGNIFICENT

So eric for the win then :)

When i transferred from boys school to a mixed sex school (gasp, the hormones, etc), my wise nan sat me down and told me that you should be beware of girls, because girls will always be girls and will be trouble. With a capital T. Blimey. I'm sure this is what sent me gay(er). Anyway, the Ultra Girls have taken that mantra and made it something to be proud of with their poppalicious debut single. And as I haven't done a video breakdown for a while, what better opportunity than now to examine what they have got going on visually...

• It starts off with a shot of the world. This must mean the Ultra Girls are going global! Hurrah! World domination ensues. Though the blinding bit of sun poking from behind the globe nearly scorched my retinas off!! Ouch.
• Boooo, the girls aren't ultra quite yet as they all have really mundane jobs. Lauren though in particular has sexed hers right up with that chewing gum work (very wrigley!) I tried to emulate it today walking to the train, but frankly it didn't have the same appeal. Darn :P
• Laura serves up the most unappetising food i have seen since I had sunday dinner last at my moms :P She does it with a bit of panache though to match that dinner lady sneer she's got going on. It has made me sort of want mashed potatoes for tea though...
• Lauren has a ridiculous amount of bling to take off at the airport. Jessie J would be most displeased ;) I always get the wand run over me at airport security. God knows why. This all leads to some group dancing for the chorus, which looks a proper good time. My favourite genuine "LOL" moment is when some poor fella gets a mop in his face during a dance off. I once accidentally gave darren a vicious scar with the hoover cord while dancing to Shoop by Salt n Pepa while vaccuuming, so I can totally relate...
• Laura is still in full sneer mode at the carbs she is dishing out at the start of verse two. Lucy is having a much better time cleaning possibly because she gets to wear some don't f*** with me high heels and a head scarf that looks like an accessory that Becky would wear on Corrie. Plus cleaning can be quite fun if you've got the right tunes on your iPod. I suggest we all put Girls Will Be Girls on while dusting the crevices tomorrow to see how we get on. Ooo challenge!
• Blimey, she (Lucy) really chucked that mop away and did a foxy reveal at around 1m25s didn't she? Do not do this in confined quarters. You will have someone's eye out!! (PS how is it I've only just realised they are all working at the airport??)
• They are all having outfit swizzlings now. Amy's is my favourite because it reminds me of an episode of WonderWoman where someone strapped Diana Prince to a spinning chair and she eventually span into WonderWoman. Amazing. They don't make tv like that anymore!!
• SECOND CHORUS!! Now that's a dance routine :) Arms out, into T, head spinning, pointing, hand on hips - it's a gay dream come true :P God help me if I hear this with a few Cinzanos inside me!!
• 2m10s onwards - I really like the middle 8. It really does show off their voices and there is some cheeky bunny eared flirting with a burly security guard. Who among us hasn't done that at some point in our life?! Then they are all running amok through the airport just like when the little boy in love, actually unfeasibly runs after the love of his life (age 9) on Christmas Eve right before she buggers off back to America. The minx. But I digress... there is a rather fabbo pose of the girls too at 2m38 and they don't even get knocked off their feet when an aircraft takes off over their heads. This leads me to believe there will be some super powers revealed in video #2!
• It all finishes off with more dance routines, some young girls having a good old bop along and the plane flying around the world. Plus a final shot that says "we're here, get used to us, cos we ain't going anywhere". Thank Christ...

Gravitonas have been one of the most thrilling new acts to emerge this year. They haven't hidden behind flashy gimmicks or musical trends - they've just continued to put out quality singles and EPs that are lyrically insightful (often devastatingly so) matched with visually arresting videos. They are now back with their second EP (Coliseum) and third single (You Break Me Up). After playing them almost non-stop for a day now, I'm here to give you my initial thoughts on this release. (for more thoughts on Gravitonas, read about Kites here, Religious video and their debut EP here)...

• You Break Me Up ~ I honestly thought that nothing could top the awe inspiring Religious. This epic piece of musical creation will definitely be one of my top pop tunes of 2010 and continues to resonate with me today. You Break Me Up is a different, more sombre creature but no less enticing and is still dripping with musical genius. If I were a boyband, I would be begging my management to get me a song like this. The song is an elegant ballad that wisely begins with a focus on Andreas' haunting vocal, which I could easily listen to all day. Lyrically, it's a brutally honest depiction of a fractured relationship, the type where it's as joyous as it is painful. The subdued lyrics are matched by a glorious backing track - a militant drum beat, soaring strings and a delicate but prominent guitar riff. Every element of the tune has been lovingly crafted together to create a sonic listening experience that complements everything within the tune. The middle 8 is somehow gutwrenchingly emotional - there aren't many times a guitar solo can do that to me, but coming out of the sometimes gloomy, sometimes optimistic lyrics it just adds to the overall feeling imbued within the tune. An astonishingly effective piece of work.
• Dry Your Eyes ~ no, not a cover of The Streets "classic" - this is a string laden dance number. Dance with an organic, tribal feeling to it - and thematically, it actually flows well as a pep talk to the protaganist of the You Break Me Up number. It's actually quite inspirational - a kind way of saying, oh get over it, you are better than this; now move on and achieve greatness. Once again a fine vocal from Andreas and he and Alexander can sit down and give me this sort of pep talk any old time. The strings are lush in this. It takes me back to my school days and wanting to finger a violin all over again (my parents made me take clarinet instead!)
• Not Gonna Be Dancing ~ what a magnificent intro this has. Very dramatic. Instantly, my mind went to BWO's We Should Be Dancing, Scissor Sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing and Same Difference's If You Can't Dance. This is a swirling rave infused number that still manages to weave the rock elements of Gravitonas' mission statement into the mix. There are strings, beats, guitar and pounding drums with a euphoric middle 8. I'm praying that there will be some remixes of this at some point in the future. Also want to see this performed live (well every track) as can only imagine what an amazing performance it has to go with it. Definitely strong enough to be a single, and continuing the somewhat downbeat theme of the EP. Actually, this track is almost like a gothic fairytale single; everything about it is a nightmare (in a good way) - the singer doesn't want to dance without his lady/fella yet is trapped in this darkened instrumental that almost forces one to get up and shimmy. Very clever indeed. Almost a juxtaposition of lyric to music and again, one that works incredibly well.
• Youth Is Wasted On The Young ~ love the title. Alone, this makes it epic. Built around a synth beat, it deals with one of life's great travesties - youth is celebrated, yet often youth don't have the resources to deal with it. Then as we get older, we are trapped in lives we didn't always plan and don't have the energy/know how of how to change life. Clever little bonmots in the lyrics make this extra special "you can tell your Dr Jekyl, he's been hiding Mr Hyde"... A fine end to a downbeat EP that still manages to make you feel grand, only for the fact that you are listening to some of the finest pop creations this year.

You Break Me Up ~ video overview:

• It's possible that this is a continuation of Religious. Alexander is a priest again and at the end of that clip, Andreas was reborn through his baptism in a rather cold looking sea. This clip starts off with a funeral - Andreas as it turns out :( No one that beautiful should die so young!
• The funeral procession - and the sad nature of it - is offset by it being surrounded by tweeting birds and some lovely outdoor nature. Clever use of imagery - life mixed with death. Andreas looks a bit wobbly in the coffin, but has a singalong anyway, much like Darin after he'd been murdered in Lovekiller...
• The coffin carriers (surely there is a better name for them than this?!) manage to get the coffin over a dodgy looking brick wall and then start dressing appropriately for the ceremony. It's all robes and incense.
• Nighttime falls and a grave is dug for Andreas. Shots of the full moon and dirt being thrown on the coffin, mixed with the masked nature of those at the ceremony give it a distinctly eerie feel. The camera pans down to about, ooo, i should think six feet under...
• From about 2m to about 2m25, you get Andreas singing from his coffin, with roots already penetrating his early grave. I know I shouldn't really be focusing on this, but he has a really amazing pair of boots on. If anyone wants to send me a pair of boots like this, you should absolutely feel free and receive karmic reward...
• The middle 8 flits between nighttime tribalistic banging of the drums and daytime guitar solo, with the guitarist wearing a very flowing cape a la Madonna in Frozen.
• In porn, the scene at 2m55 is often called the money shot. This isn't porn however, just glorious imagery - as Andreas decomposes, roots become flowers bringing new life and a Christlike Andreas is reborn, bathed in light. Massive symbolism here, and I'm convinced this is linked to the end of Religious...
• Various natural elements rise around Andreas, like a halo of life while Alexander looks on. It's unclear whether this is their combined doing or just the rebirth of Andreas but it's rather marvelous.
• At the end the chanting of Alexander seems to have bought Andreas back to life. YAY! Is there nothing this man can't do? He's like Willow in the season six premiere of Buffy! Another glorious video. I'm so smitten with Gravitonas :)

Tomorrow ~ EMD! Same Difference! Ed Drewett! Then X-Factor this weekend!

Shayne of the Ward is back people. And frankly it's been far too long. I feel like he should be either readying his fourth album or a greatest hits by now as it's been 3 long years since he left us Breathless (and thanked our mothers for giving us birth). Let's not be churlish though - my fave X-Factor winner so far (and owner of my fave X-Factor performance ever) has returned with a gussied up version of some Nickelback tune that I've never heard of. And very nice it is too. It's available to buy on November 7th, so I will be bitterly bitterly disappointed if he isn't on The X Factor results show on the same day... let the Take That chart competition commence. Oh. And here's the video (click here to watch on youtube)!

• Oh that shayne knows how to start a video. He is topless and buff in his rather nice apartment, staring yearningly across the city. I often do the same, but with muffin toppage going on over my trackie bottoms...
• There is a girl outside who takes a quick pic of him, all pectastic at the window. In the video, this is considered romantic and grand gesturey. In real life, he would slap a restraining order on her stalkerness. The little madam.
• (Disappointingly) Shayne has put a shirt on. it's quite a nice shirt though and it's nicely fitted. so many people go for the far too flowing baggy option without even thinking of how it looks. This is probably the sort of style know how that got Shayne his job at Next.
• He takes a picture of the moon. It's quite a nice picture which means he probably has at least 8megapixel camera on his mobile phone. I'm surprised he didn't put this picture on his twitter feed :P
• The stalker girl continues to take some quite decent pictures of pectastic Shayne. 1 of 230 apparently. Blimey. If she puts them on her facebook feed, I am so going to "friend" her...
• Let's just take a moment and pause at 38s. That's quite relaxing and nice isn't it?
• Shayne gets ready to go out. He walks past his maid (how bourgois). She is of course a sexy maid, getting flirty with a feather duster. Not at all like my cleaner, Mrs. Kadrinski, who is delightful but god bless her hasn't been sexy for years...
• At around the 50s to a 1m mark, Shayne heads onto the busy streets (of London?) and manages to hail a cab STRAIGHT AWAY. This is as unrealistic as Carrie Bradshaw getting a cab with no problem in NYC. Still, the lucky cab driver gets Shayne singing his heart out in the back, so he can turn his radio down and enjoy the show. Marv!
• What a head turner! After lots of interspersed shots of Shayne singing, he walks down a street where a couple are smooching. The girl turns and has a good gaze at Shayne and does the bottom lip bite. you know the one - where you are thinking, oh I would so tap that, etc. I like to think the boy has a good look too because honestly, you can never tell can you?
• 1m40s - walking past a nice street cafe. More ladeez look. One waitress overfills a glass with water. The water gushing everywhere is clearly a metaphor for her waters gushing everywhere at the sight of Shayne. I'm still loving his shirt for some reason.
• The lyrics are actually quite romantic and the song percolates along. The director of the video quite wisely reminds the viewer at various points that Shayne hangs around his apartment with some nice scented candles looking all toned and abtastic. I don't need the reminder, but it's a nice affirmation!
• At around 2m15s, he pops into a laundrette. He seems to strike up a bit of friendly banter with some dude and then convinces the fella to lend him his clothes. Shayne Ward can charm the clothes off random dudes! I am loving this!
• He strips off in the laundrette. I mean why not? I am thinking of selling my new washing machine and hanging out in said laundrette.
• Stalker Girl is back! Shayne either mugs her or "oi no pics" her and has a butchers through her 230 pictures. Some of them are quite good. He should probably hire her as his professional photographer. I mean, didn't one of Abba have a thing with their stalker once?!
• She runs away! I would want my phone back personally! Perhaps she is doing a benny hill type "ooo chase me" routine?!
• (Turns out the cab driver was a woman and happy to be paid for her service by Shayne's voice. I am going to blog in the back of a cab next time and see if this will get me off the fare...)
• Shayne's home! Phew. Oh no! Stalker Girl has followed him in! He turns and... sort of smiles? Yes it's all fun and games until the next video where he's tied up NathanEmmerdale style in a barn somewhere!!

Oh Shayne, how I adore your return :)

About blinking time is what you are probably thinking. It has been a good 3-4 months since Darin released his Lovekiller single, the albums dropped and finally we have the video to go along with it! Blimey! Still, when the song is this good it doesn't so much matter that it's a bit behind schedule. Here's what is going on second by second in the Lovekiller video :)

• It's all dusky and misty outdoors, which is always a little bit mysterious - kind of like a pre-credits sequence from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I do love that there are a few bikes around. Europeans are so much better at cycling than Brits (most Brits)...
• Oh no! There are police cars all shining their lights onto a lifeless body. DRAMA! Plus, how do the batteries never run down on these police cars? It's incredible. I only have to leave my lights on for a minute after the engine is off and I get that whirry whirry sound. And i'm a hybrid!
• More and more cops/fuzz/whirley whirlies arrive at the scene (some in particularly cheap CSI jackets) and we finally see the Christ like pose of poor Darin lying there. How's he going to sing?
• (Ps, I am loving that this is all playing out like a film. I feel like I don't even have to go and see Saw 3D on Friday and I am reasonably assured that Darin is a much hotter leading bloke)
• Oh! That's how he sings (1m04s) - he looks quite creepy lying there singing without anything but his lips moving. And his head looks like it shouldn't bend that way. Having said all that, he certainly has more life in him than some of this year's X-Factor contestants, ho ho, etc.
• He gets up off the floor (ooo he's wearing braces/suspenders - I love a fella in braces/suspenders!) and not one of the so-called police crew seem to notice. How pointless is that training? OR! (God i'm quick) something supernatural is occuring because it's gone very white and ominous.
• Even Darin looks a little bit confused, but that doesn't stop him singing his little heart out (unless it's already been ripped out?) and oh! Nice bum shot at 1m57s. It's important to point these things out.
• Now there is some black smoke (how Lost) and Darin is looking in on another Darin who is sitting in a fairly sparse hotel type room. I am loving his boots btw (2m13s)...
• Following on from the boots shot, some woman comes up behind him in some weird attempt to recreate the Maroon 5 Hands All Over album cover. She gives his hair a good tug and goes for a lingering exposed throat shot (2m27s). How KatherineVampireDiaries of her...
• Ew. The dirty minx gives his throat a good licking (not a metaphor) and then we see a shiny knife (tempered steel no doubt) behind her back. It's not looking good and jacket off Darin behind the slats gives an impassioned (half hearted) "noooooo". He is right to look a bit upset. It's all gone a bit Dexter. Someone call the blood spatter expert!
• 2m35s RIP poor stabby Darin...
• There are a lot of gruesome shots of a bloody Darin (2m51s) as he runs through the red mists and then we are back in the park where he is unstabbed! How freaky (Friday)
• Darin runs into a church where stabby lady seems to be on trial for her crimes. She doesn't look too bothered, but does rock the Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan big-rimmed-hat-in-court look. I am also appreciating the link between court and religious judgement and Darin does a stunning crucifixion pose in front of a stained glass window (3m30s)...
• The case continues and all the people in the court-church get black eyes and chant along to the song. Perhaps there is some marketing genius in Darin releasing this late, but so close to Halloween.
• Oh! It's 4m plus now and everyone is on their feet and stabby lady has been found guilty of being a lovekiller (and probably an actual killer unless this is all some sort of metaphorical heartbreak fantasy dream). She's not so smug now is she?
• Darin is zipped up in his body bag, back to the opening shot and jobs a good un. The end. Marvelous.

A quick (and I mean quick) chat with the man (from Aug!)...


You're just about to release your fifth album in Sweden - most popstars release a greatest hits album at this point instead. Was there any temptation for you to do that? Or were you fixated on getting some new tunes out there?
There will probably be a greatest hits here in Sweden soon, but right now I wanted to release my new songs.

One track on the album is Can't Stop Love - which you performed at the Swedish Royal Wedding earlier this year. Such a great performance (love the bow tie!) - what was it like being part of such a huge event?
Thank you so much! I felt really honored to sing and write a song for the royal wedding, it’s a true story and i think that’s what makes it so strong.

Talking of big events, you've also competed in Melodifestivalen with another track on the album - You're Out of My Life. That contest is absolutely huge in Sweden right? What was that like? Is it fiercely competitive?
It’s the biggest show here in Sweden. I was really nervous of course, it was like a big challenge for me, i didn’t win, but it went really good. The only thing I tried to focuse on was to do my best.

Lovekiller seems such a huge anthemic song that could be massive across the world. Do you have any plans for going more global with your music?
Yes, that’s one of my goals, to release my music in more countries.

How succinct! What are your plans with this album - will you have more singles from it? Any tours?
Yes, I think I will release more singles from it, but i haven’t decided which ones yet, and I will probably go on tour again soon.

Your last album flashback was in 2008. It seemed somewhat ahead of it's time really - 6 months on from its release and everyone was mimicking that solid club-pop sound, none more so than Lady Gaga. Was the sound of the album something you consciously went for or something that evolved as you were making it? It felt like that album could have been massive internationally...
Thanks, yes I wanted that type of sound for the Flashback album, something that felt new and futuristic in a club/pop-r&B/electro way, it was what I was aiming for.

You got your big break on Swedish Idol and more than any other alumni I know you've been incredibly loyal to your Idol roots - you did Viva La Vida last year and have contributed an album track to the preview advertisements for this years show. I guess you are quite fond/proud of your Idol heritage? Any thoughts?
Yes, that’s what started my career in Sweden so that’s something I’m proud of, so I collaborate with the show a lot.

Sweden seems to be the one place where solid male pop is as prevelant as the massive female stars - you have Mans, Danny, Ola and now Eric Saade. You could create your own EMD supergroup - Eric, Mans, Darin! is there a pop community where you all know each other or is it just when you run into each other at events? Also, do you think there is a reason that male popstars have more success in Sweden than say currently in the UK?
It’s just when I run into them on events etc. I actually don’t know.

Right - thanks for answering that! I'm a huge fan so this opportunity to chat has been great. Any parting shots?!
Thanks for the nice chat and hope to see you soon in the UK!

I love it when the questions are longer than the answers!! Back soon with boyband and more christmas! EEP!

I'm ill :( Again. I think I have a recurring bug. How hideous. And I'm meant to be seeing my beloved Candle Thieves tonight but think I will have to pass. Lucky for you, i typed these video breakdowns at the weekend inbetween mammoth X-Factor viewing. Enjoy :)

Take That ~ The Flood:

• Ooo, it starts in a tunnel. Tunnels are often metaphors for sex, so perhaps this is a continuation of the cock tease that was Grobbie's Shame video?!
• There is a rowing boat. It is called Progress. This is part of the lyrics of The Flood and also the title of the first Robbie-involved Take That album in 15 years. Five sets of oars and five pairs of feet appear to reinforce the fact that Robbie is back! Back in take that! As a five piece! just in case you didn't know. Which you probably did, but visual stimulation is a very effective memory tool...
• There are facial shots of all of them. Mark doesn't look as chagrinned as he possibly should, but maybe he is acting. They leave Robbie til last like it is the dramatic cliffhanger to a soap opera - like season one of Dynasty when Alexis Morrell Carrington (the Colby Dexter Rowan came later) marched in to give evidence at Blake's murder trial. God I'm showing my age.
• I like the fact that at 45 seconds they all walk in perfect union to pop the boat/canoe/pedalo into the river. It is more visual emphasis that Take That are back and more in sync than ever. Never Forget, etc.
• Robbie starts singing while they all limber up, eye up the competition (a rather foxy dude in a posh college sort of way) and give each other reassuring pats on the shoulder. I am loving Robbie's perfect, not a hair out of place side parting. It's tres derigour.
• Beardy guy fires the starting pistol and they're off! It's stroke, stroke, stroke (ooo calm down there pervs) and lots of strained sex faces. Team Take That don't seem to be doing very well (ie, they are coming second out of two)and there is lots of paddle bashing.
• (for more specifics on the sex faces, pause at 1m39, 1m43 and 1m48 to see Mark, Gary and Howard respectively. It's enough to give you a mini cosmic horn)...
• There's more Robbie singing in the second verse, interspersed with some arty shots of splashing water and some kids on the banks who look like they've escaped from the set of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Narnia rules!
• I love the architecture of the bridge at 2m10s (arty) and if you pause at 2m26 you get a fairly accurate insight of what it is like to be Robbie Williams' dentist! Amazing!
• Then we go into Mark Owen's eye for a view of what it is like to be rowing for your life if you are General Zod in that prism thingy in Superman II. Luckily this doesn't last long as it is a bit offputting and they are soon all back in the changing room looking spiffy in shorts and white socks. It's an Eton College porn-lite fantasy waiting to happen!!
• Take That came second! This is what Grobbie felt like when Cee-Lo beat them to number one! it's a visual representation of what has come to pass! ooo it's almost biblical isn't it?!
• (Pause at 3m11s and Gary has got a definite expletive forming on his lips, the naughty boy...)
• Team Cee-Lo are rightly very happy with themselves (though in chart battle terms, this will not be happening to Take That when they go head to head with JLS. They will annihilate them!) They will probably go for tea at a quaint countryside cafe where they will victory feast on (each other) ginger beer, strawberries and lashings and lashings of cream...
• But lo! What madness is this?! Team Take That are still going! because it is not about the race, but the team work that helps them progress. or something. I really should have been an English Literature professor.
• The camera pans out at 3m39s and there is an ariel view of the river! how much did Eastenders pay for this advertising opportunity?!?!
• They are going to have brilliant arms after all this rowing. Perfect for holding you down (in a consensual non-rapey way of course!!)
• Rather predictably, they have ended up in the ocean in the middle of a storm. They have made progress in terms of miles covered and in terms of working as a team to get there. This should be used as a motivational tool at sales conferences etc.
• The song and video are both very good aren't they?

McFly ft. Taio Cruz ~ Shine A Light:

• It starts off all very underground resistance in an industrial looking setting, all bars, chains and makeshift computer terminals. Danny manages to hook up to some (probably not password protected) wi-fi and has a butchers at his own McFly supersite. I love a bit of cross promotion in a video...
• Oh my bad. Actually it's foxy band chick in her room who is disturbed from her reading to look at the new supersite, which features Tom having a good old singsong, possibly in the indoor rain...
• She asks the band what she needs to do... they basically carry on singing, while Dougie rubs his nose, probably deep in thought. What a conundrum!
• Don't worry though! Taio Cruz has popped along to help out and he has bought some quite bright backing lights and sexy dancer ladies to assist him! They climb all over the bars and do some robotic sexy dancing.
• Taio wisely keeps his sunglasses on. This is because the literal interpretation of Shine A Light is quite bright and just looking at the screen has hurt my retinas ever such a little bit.
• While this is going on, The Buff Judd is finding his rhythm at a rhythm factory. Good for him. This involves looking at a dancing dog costume fella on the internet. What some people do to pass the time, eh?!
• The boys a mini concert inside their industrial revolution basement. It's like a futuristic Johnny Cash gig!(1m30s)
• Skin head guy is helping out foxy band chick with her internet problems. What a nice fella. He is actually quite good looking and temporarily distracts from the all consuming allure of The Judd.
• There is a bit of multi map going on by a blonde lad. Perhaps he is trying to track down the location of this underground prison gig going on. With Taio Cruz! It's where all the kids are hanging out, pending this imminent nuclear apocalypse (I assume)...
• At the 2m mark, Taio is well getting down with his bad self, while the band energetically strum along (steady) beside him. I haven't seen such an enthusiastic response to a guest star since Blue duetted with Stevie Wonder and Antony Costa was all agog...
• Just before 2 and a half minutes, Tom and Dougie are playing in front of some nice tv screens. Black and white though. perhaps the colour is on the blink.
• It's Taio's solo. He takes his glasses off and there is no shining light. But (never start a sentence with conjuncture) the robotic dancer ladies are still bopping away and more and more people are arriving at the underground prison gig.
• There is lots of pogo-ing going on in the final choruses and everyone seems to be having a rollicking good time. This is probably because it's quite a joyous final chorus and the song itself grows and grows to this point and it's all very splendid.

Tomorrow (possibly) ~ A1 and Big Time Rush reviews; Weds (possibly) ~ Swe-pop update!

Hurrah! JLS are back. They seem to reinvent themselves with every single. Beat Again was slick pop-cool that solidified their status as boyband du jour following on from their runner up status on the X-Factor. Everybody In Love was cheesy boyband brilliance with enough feel good factor to power a smile a minute. One Shot took them into ravey dance territory. Club Is Alive mixed barely recognisable musical theatre with auto-tuning and modern pop trends. As they clearly missed a trick by not releasing the delightful Close To You last Christmas, this stands as their first ballad single. And quite lovely and traditional it is too. It's for children in need and demonstrates some luscious layered harmonies, as well as the dreamiest, most romantic middle 8 I've heard for a while. I'm a smitten little kitten. So here's the video breakdown :)

• Ooo, it's in black and white. This means they are being arty and serious. I feel sombre already.
• There is a nice shot of a lamp on the wall. I think we had a lamp like this in the house I grew up in. I cracked my head on it when my dad was playing aeroplane with me when i was a lad. The pain of this memory is eased by the sight of Marvin looking fine and chiselled in a nicely fitted peacoat (is that what they are called?)
• Marvin has a nice singalong in some deserted cafe. This is very unrealistic. If JLS were in a cafe (no matter how bad the decor) it would be beseiged with screaming tweens and moms. And me. While he is having a singalong, there are some close ups of the other boys. Including what I assume is JB's eye. I could be wrong. If I am correct though, he would have made a good Big Brother eye circa year one.
• Now JB is having a nice singalong in a rather fetching coat. They have made good fashion choices in this video. Oddly, at 42s, there is an upside down reflection of Marvin giving his legs a good rubbing. Perhaps he was a bit chilly (though if he keeps his peacoat on inside, he won't feel the benefit when he goes outdoors)...
• Aston is going backwards down an upwards moving escalator. I have never done this in my entire life and I am 36 (I know, I only look 25). Yet Aston is living the dream and is about 12. Or something. I'm too scared I will fall. I haven't lived :(
• During the chorus, everyone joins in. They try to make the cafe look a bit more full by sitting apart from each other. This works, but isn't very sociable is it?
• They are emoting like crazy. Clenched fists, big "why me" type hand shrugs, head bobbling. This is not a criticism. Nay, this is essential behaviour when you are creating a classic boyband video that will stand the test of time. Blimey, next they will be on a beach doing Christ-like poses a la Take That and Pray.
• 1m30s!! Marvin has got a lot of bottle. ho ho, etc. Oh god, this stuff just writes itself doesn't it?!
• There are some weird lighting effects going on - perhaps Marvin is looking at people through his bottles? It does make Aston look a little bit angelic though. Bless him (and so on)...
• 1m59s - the boys are now all sitting in a row at the greasy spoon cafe (where they haven't even been asked for their order yet. No wonder it's deserted!) Perhaps this is because they now love each other a little bit more?! :P
• From about 2m11s to 2m20s, there's a frenzied build up to that glorious middle 8. and very lovely it is too. Lush, layered harmonies and gorgeous vocals. It's taking the song to another level just in time for this...
• (BTW, pause at 2m20s and there's a decent shot of Aston doing a clenched fist emotional moment in a bathroom that's far too posh for that cafe. Good mirror reflection too. I always get the camera in the way!)
• THE MIDDLE 8! It's marvelous. they do some digit work to signify day one and two. How pleasing. It reminds me of I Can Hear The Bells from Hairspray but less theatrical. I'm loving the dreamy middle 8 and it's shot beautifully. I particularly like the cheeky but seductive "come hither fair maiden/dude" look (depending on your preference) that JB gives the camera at 2m42s...
• Yay! They are at the beach. And the arms outstretched poses abound. The best is at 3m01s when Ortise does an upside down pose which turns the archetypal boyband stereotype on it's head to show JLS are ahead of the curve. Or i'm probably just reading too much into it.
• The clip ends with the boys staring at the crashing waves; the intensity of the sea mirroring the intensity of their feelings. And gazing. Oh I love a bit of symbolism in pop, I do.
• (See chartrigger for their new album cover btw)...

OTHER VIDEO ESSENTIALS:

• Princes & Rogues: If, like me, you are mourning the loss of Princes & Rogues from the X-Factor live shows, then you will need something to get you through the pain. I have just that something. I love Princes & Rogues. They wear bow ties and manage not to look silly (and as the latest Dr. Who said "bow ties are cool"!); they have an effervescent charm about them; the dark haired one in bowtie/jumper combo at the back of the video above is VERY cute indeed (Cosmic horn alert)(I really must learn their names); they could have been - and still could be - a quirky, cool addition to the boyband genre. They have done an entirely pleasing acapella cover version of Nadine's In-in-say-satiable that not only nimbly showcases their vocal ability, but manages to sound like it was written for a boyband to sing! Je t'adore. I feel a new obsession coming on (dear god i hope there's more to come from them)...
• Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow: As the world and his civil partner know by now, Robbie and Gary sang the brilliant Shame on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday. This is not a show I watch as I can only commit to the X-Factor and The Apprentice in the reality tv genre this autumn. However, the live performance is well worth a gander. It's like an indoor dinner party attire version of their video - all coy looks and shuffling feet dancing. can't wait for The Flood to hit radio this Friday :)

Coming soon! McFly! Singer songwriters! Something else!

I may have had a change of heart re: Joe and Ambitions. I still would have liked to see Joe kick off with an original tune, but the video has won me over. I still totally adore the Donkeyboy song, but this is a perky, jolly version that almost makes it Ambitions:The Glee remix. PLUS! Dance routine! Immensicles. Adding to a boypop video breakdown update are The Wanted who quickly established themselves where millions have failed before as the boyband du jour. Their second single, Heart Vacancy is out soon. Let's see what pop's most eligible young men (collectively) have come up with!

Joe McElderry - Ambitions

• So many youtube videos start with an advertisement now. Still Charlie St Cloud looks quite good and Zac Efron still has quite good movie star hair.
• (PS, I nicked the shot above from D'Luv. You can read his Joe thoughts here...)
• Oh, it's on. Joe gets out of a yellow cab clutching something in his hot little hand. His quiff works for him as he wonders through the downtown streets of Anytown USA
• Only don't be fooled pop pickers! Your eyes have been deceived! deceived I tells ya! The town is moving! It's actually a soundstage with lots of people working on Joe's video shoot. how postmodern! How breaking the fourth wall!
• To be fair, young Joseph looks like he is having a whale of a time, and I do quite enjoy the strutting through the streets moments at around 25seconds...
• There's bunting! Simon Cowell loves bunting! It was all over the Same Difference We R One video. Joe grabs a lady friend and then this happens...
• DANCE ROUTINE! It's fist fist fist fist, shoulder shimmy, arm wave. you can't really go wrong with that can you? It's very Steps/Same Difference/SClubHoweverMany and that's a-ok with me.
• The dancing is clearly a watercooler moment as americans might say. This is evidenced at 58seconds when Joe walks past some strumpet leaning against a watercooler! Amazing. I love a bit of in your face not at all subtle literal interpretation. And I'm not even being sarcastic.
• Oh Gay J, I am loving the vid. I'm being won over! There is an orchestra setting up and some silly billy drops his papers all over the streets. I was a bit disappointed Joe didn't go and help him. he always seemed like such a gentleman.
• Oh phew. he has gone to help :) Gentleman status fully restored. And what does silly billy do? Throw them in the air and launches into the dance routine! Amazing. I always said Joe was very musical theatre and this kind of cements that for me. It's an ebullient fun loving moment, and adds a certain joie de vivre to what ultimately is quite a melancholy (lyrically) tune...
• People are dancing all over the place. it reminds me a bit of Hi-Fidelity from Kids From Fame. There are some good looking fellas behind Joe giving it a shimmy and a shake, and the dedicated chappy doesn't even get distracted for even a second. My cosmic horn makes me pause the video to get a better look though :P
• Pause at around 2m14s and you'll get a pretty good idea of what the inevitable X Factor live performance will look like.
• Let's marvel a little more at the dance routine - the bit at around 2m30s with arms in the air, then arms to the floor is taken directly from Mamma Mia's Dancing Queen routine on the docks.
• I'm actually quite disappointed that the end of the video is nigh, but little J is growing up because that is some serious sultry seduction he's giving to the camera with his eyes!!
• I can confirm that I think I have been pretty much won over by the video. I'm so easy :P

The Wanted ~ Heart Vacancy

• Loving the footwear boys. Boots are so this season (and a bit last season as well, but some fashions transcend more than one season so it is ok). Also loving the neutral colours going on. Boyband walking down a deserted street is a classic nod to those that have paved the way before you!
• There are some nice close ups of the boys too. Some chiselled cheekbones and cheeky grins happening. Pause at exactly 9 seconds and marvel at the facial contours of Max. You could slice cheese on that structure!
• It's all very serious, though there is a little bit of laddish tomfoolery going on at about 25s and they all find something quite amusing about 10 seconds later. Perhaps someone has let one rip?
• The glorious chorus starts and the boys all sing together. Meanwhile, night time has fallen and all the locals are gathering in some beautiful church courtyard to watch an old movie. I hope it's Barefoot In The Park. That's a Jane Fonda classic!
• During the second verse, I shift allegiences between which member is currently "the fittest" almost as often as the camera flits between them. Back at the movies, a young lady is backlit by the projector giving her an angelic glow...
• The boys are now at the movies (that young lady finds gently amusing), and having a right good singsong at the back. This proves that this is just a casual movie event. If it was the Vue they would have been kicked out by now :P
• Just prior to the 2m30s mark, the guy in the movie with classic 40s slicked back hair gives the camera a smouldering look. Young Lady finds this most enticing and clutches her hankerchief to her bosom. I would mock her for this, but I am convinced that Patrick Dempsey gave me such a look once in a Grey's Anatomy...
• It's now the middle 8 of the song, and Curly Haired Wanted is belting it out. Most pleasingly too. Meanwhile, the locals are getting a bit annoyed at the distraction. Honestly, some people have no appreciation for pop music. Even the stars of the film are getting jittery, while Young Lady gets well excited!
• Oh my goodness. 40s Movie Star has legged it out of the screen and gone for the hand of Young Lady. One of the locals quite rightly finds this a bit disturbing, gets the vapours and has to have a bit of a lie down. I would have just had a mint baileys myself to take the edge off...
• Young Lady has gone to live in the movies. Don't we all wish we could do that. I would live in Mean Girls. Or Love, Actually. Probably flit between the two. Anyway, the locals are over the shock and loving this happy ending. There's quite an amusing shot of the rest of the movie stars trying, but failing, to get through the screen. Sigh. They don't get the message - Young Lady filled 40s Movie Star's heart vacancy.
• And that's it. Tres bon. PS, kudos on being embeddable. Unlike Joe. Grrr.

Coming sat - weekly pop update! Coming sun - X FACTOR BOOT CAMP!!!!

Gravitonas certainly won me over with Kites, but i've become a full time disciple thanks to their gorgeous new single "Religious" (read my EP review here)... And just like the brillo video to Kites, they have excelled themselves once again with a visual treat that you get the full rundown to below (plus a little chat with the charming fellas after)...

• Pause as soon as the video comes on the screen... it's a rather lovely shot of Andreas Ohrn looking all serene and like some sort of southern gentleman. Gosh, he's a handsome chappy isn't he?
• He seems to be the patient to Alexander's therapist role - a role that the latter visually suits very well with his enquiring eyes and sucking on a pipe. That wallpaper is just ghastly though!
• Alexander seems to be contemplating every word as Andreas emotes the lyrics. It seems that he is singing to his therapist when he says "i used to be hollow/then you came along"...
• As the beat kicks in, the scene alternates between a windy outdoors, and the horribly wallpapered indoors, which is enough to make anyone need psychiatric help. Alexander's pipe gets greatly engorged, which surely must be some sort of sexual metaphor?!
• Oh! love that the window has a heavenly glow subtly shining through it. Tres bon.
• Outdoors and walking to the sea, there is pink clad shaman figure holding an awful lot of pink balloons. It looks pretty nippy out there...
• At 1m40s onwards, there is some brilliant gothic imagery with Andreas standing clad in a rather amazing coat, standing atop some rocks with the sea crashing behind him. It's video art, and reminiscent of Madonna's Frozen, but without the creepy crows...
• Alexander has taken on a priest type role in this scene - interestingly, his chair is much further away from the couch than when he was in his therapist role. Some sort of commentary on how far religion is removed from understanding the problems of the (un)common man? Or am I getting too deep?!
• Priest Alexander is flanked by two non-pink shaman. One has an ace hat/headgear made out of washing up gloves - and not your cheap as chips yellow ones either. I have found my halloween costume!
• The exhilarating second chorus sees the colourful shaman troop through the woods (followed by our beloved Gravitonas duo) like some sort of spiritual Priscilla Queen of the Desert quest. Pause at 2m41s and more video art appears - the shaman posse standing in front of the misty woods is somehow both creepy and glorious all at the same time. Much like most modern religions...
• Alexander and Andreas approach them, like some sort of celestial Watson and Holmes. Pause at 2m57s for the most terrified eyes I've seen in a while. It's beautifully shot and instantly conveys the uncertainty and terror of our next steps that we all sometimes feel in life...
• As Andreas sings the last "religious" of the middle 8, he looks positively possessed and the video continues to focus on his dominating presence while an animalistic freedom of movement takes place around him. Astonishing.
• As Alexander releases an electronic "aah" at 3m40s, it's a glorious moment and you can almost smell the incense and ferocity of the woodland scene. Love. It.
• The video ends with Gravitonas walking almost hand in hand into the sea for the cleansing kiss of baptism. Such an amazing video...

A quick chat with Gravitonas...


- Not to fawn too early on, but Religious actually makes me weak at the knees each time I listen to it. It's pop communion! And a bit like Army of Lovers "Crucified" has been resurrected for a whole new audience. Where/how did the song originate?

Andreas: We wanted to make a sequel to the first single "Kites". Like a Kites 2.0. One day when I came to the studio Alexander and co-producer/writer Henrik Wikström showed me a couple of new ideas and one of them was the embryo of "Religious". Even though it wasn't much in the draft yet, except the chords and a melody line, it really knocked me of my feet. Me and Alexander started writing the lyrics right away and we began recording vocals in the next couple of days. Gravitonas' guitarist Ben Smith filled in with guitars, we brought in a choir, strings, beats and the production kept growing and growing, Finally, Religious, the brother of Kites, was born!

Alexander: Not that we are afraid of writing more traditional tunes too, but the refreshing thing with "Kites" and "Religious" is that we have skipped the old verse-bridge-chorus-structure and gone for a structure of just a strong melodic line with huge instrumental bits thrown in. It's a lot more dance or even hip-hop than traditional rock or pop. And it means the production is more important than ever since we are all producers ourselves in Gravitonas. "Kites" has now spent four months in the Top 10 of the Swedish dance chart. That's exactly where we wanted to be at at this stage. New music always begins on the dance floor!

- "The Brother of Kites" could be an amazing Gravitonas tribute band name :) Now, the piano at the beginning of the tune is just heavenly (ok, I'm done with the religious references now) and paired with the vocal is quite a powerful opening. It's orgasmic as a crescendoing piece of pop majesty, but it also makes me want to hear some stripped back acoustic songs from you. Is that a possibility?

Andreas: We like machines so you won't here anything completely acoustic from Gravitonas at this point. Maybe on a stage but not on a record. Some of our songs are stripped down, at least parts of the songs, but somehow most of them always end up with loud and sweaty climaxes.

Alexander: I agree. I just want the whole "Unplugged paradigm" to die. I'm much more interested in exploring soulful music with electronics than with acoustics. Sure, we have recorded acoustic versions of a couple of songs too and will perform them too eventually, if only to prove that we CAN do it, since this seems to concern the many unsecure music journos out there. But it's not where our heart is at. Gravitonas is a lot closer to Bjork than people may have realized. We agree with her notion of a "nordica" music style: A very Scandinavian ambition to combine soul and machines. Gravitonas, Robyn, Royksopp, The Sound Of Arrows, and Miike Snow, that's all "nordica" to me. And it all started with Bjork's magnificent records in the 1990s; this is Scandinavian contemporary pop that has broken the predictable but overdone links to Abba och the Cheiron production house. And it likes to be huge!

- I love the thought of loud and sweaty climaxes that like to be huge! That sounds very pleasing indeed! And not just a new single, but a whole flipping EP! Amazes. Is this a unique release or will some of the songs end up on the album?

Andreas: We love the EP format. Instead of releasing one album a year you can release three EP's plus an album every year. I don't want to reveal so much about the album but there will be a second EP and a third video before the album release.

Alexander: Everybody uses Spotify in Sweden now. Everybody!!! The old formats single and album are dead. The future of music is playlists, and you either have playlists with a favorite artist or with a favorite genre. So the EP is perfect for this new environment. Sure, there will be a Gravitonas debut album before the end of the year, but it should be viewed more as a collection of EP tracks with some additional bonus, rather than a big bounce the way albums used to be regarded. But expect lots of releases from Gravitonas, often centered around the EP format which suits us, and apparently music bloggers and fans, perfectly. Hey, Robyn is doing the same thing!

- How's the video/remixes shaping up (note - though it's been released since I had this chat!)?

Andreas: The video premieres within the next couple of days and the Religious single is released the 25th of August. I just saw the final version of the video and it totally blew me away. The director Josef Andersson and the video crew have done a brilliant job. We had a blast shooting the video, chasing shadowy sexy creatures in the woods in the middle of the night and getting baptized in the sea. I love this job. The Religious remixes are 12 little pieces of art. It's an honor to work with such talented people as Dada Life, Soundfactory, Adam Rickfors etc. And I love the fact that we’re releasing a single that has the length of an album with its 12 tracks. Again.

- What most people have picked up on is the fact that fans and critics alike get to hear and purchase your work at the same time, even before radio play. Maroon 5 have recently copied this with their latest couple of singles. Do you see this as a trend that will grow or was it just something you were passionate about? I mean, the internet is riddled with "hear this 60 second clip of a song" or see our video preview snippet - did you want to purposely avoid that?

Andreas: I really hope this is a trend that will grow and I think more bands and artists will follow. There's no point in being old school and give the songs in advance to reviewers, radio stations etc and then let the fans wait for a couple weeks. Fuck it. Everyone gets the song at the same time. Doesn't matter if you want to download it on iTunes or stream it on Spotify or whatever.

Alexander: The internet democratizes everything. And we love that. We are not only totally devoted about our music but we truly enjoy interacting with fans. We are social monsters as much as we are musicians. We hope this will be appreciated too. Our record labels were very uncomfortable about these demands of ours, this fans-first policy, but the fans really appreciate our uncompromising attitude. And now is the time for artists and fans to take over and relegate record labels to the role they should have: To serve us, not to manipulate us!

- You've both been involved in other projects outside of Gravitonas - is this the absolute focus for the time being? Alexander - if you write a song that you think "hmmm, that's really a BWO song" would you look to have the group back together or rework it so it suits Gravitonas?

Andreas: Gravitonas is the absolute focus. We’re all songwriters and producers in this project so if we wright a song that for some reason doesn’t fit Gravitonas we'll find another artist for it.

Alexander: Totally! Me, Andreas and Henrik will definitely write for and produce other artists, Universal regard us as much as a major future production team as a band, but BWO will not reunite while Gravitonas is going on. Each project has its time. To me, BWO was the perfect radio-friendly 00s pop band. But Gravitonas is for a new scene, a new decade, with new conditions, new means of production, distribution, and performance. I'm very comfortable doing Gravitonas at the moment, thank you!


- That's good to hear :) Andreas you recently did quite a pleasing fashion shoot that gave me the "cosmic horn" :P A) is fashion something you quite like/are interested in and B) are you ready to take over from the genetically engineered Mans Zelmerlow as Sweden's sexiest fella?! (though Alexander, if you bring the ball gag around, I'm sure we could have fun too!!!)

Andreas: A: I’m getting more and more interested in fashion and it was a pleasure modelling at the Julia Koistinen Fashion Show. B: After walking the runway in tights and army boots I already see myself as the sexiest man alive : )

Alexander: I love narcissism! That's why I love working with Andreas. ;-) As for myself, my ambition is to be the Vivienne Westwood of pop. All I can say is: You ain't seen nothing yet. Gerontophilia (google it) needs a new ambassador, I'm happy to accept the role. I will die on a dance floor, you bet!

- I googled it. I am sure you will be a brilliant ambassador, Alexander! Naturally the group attracted international interest from fans of Alexander's previous work, and I loved your interview on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt... do you have plans to market your music internationally or just hope it takes off? Will you be tracking Larry down now you have a new single out?!

Andreas: We have BIG plans but I don't know how much I can say about that right now so I pass the question to Alexander. We'd love to do another interview with Mr. Flick. Last time we even talked about visiting the Morning Jolt studio. That would be lot's of fun.

Alexander: "Religious" is set up as the first single in North America. Expect a push to start in early October. As for plans for other parts of the world, we go with the flow and let the fans decide where to promote first. But since the album is not due until the end of the year, there is no rush as yet to set the exact plans. But do expect a lot more fashion shows, haha!

- Why do you think BWO were never as massive as they should have been in England? And why do you think Gravitonas should be?

Alexander: Well, you not only need great records. You need luck with timing too. Especially if you are non-Anglo-Saxon artist. BWO was signed to EMI globally but unfortunately this happened just when EMI was breaking up and going down the drain. Every time we were ready to go internationally, the people we were set to work with either had just left the company or were forced to leave. Still, BWO was a huge success in the territories where we went outside of EMI, such as Eastern Europe and East Asia, and the last album "Big Science" was an altogether independent release (all main EMI Sweden acts like BWO, Mando Diao, and The Ark had left the company by then). But from the business side of things, the 00s were a nightmare in the music industry. The streaming revolution is the big u-turn. The 10s look much more hopeful for new music and creativity!

- When you are not being Gravitonas what do you do in your down time, or is it really just all about the music?!

Andreas: As I mentioned before the members of Gravitonas are songwriters and music producers so for me it’s pretty much about music and performance in some form all the time. Just the way I like it.

Alexander: Same for me. I have put aside just about everything else I used to do. Making music has never been more exciting than now and with Gravitonas. The future is so bright that I really really need those Chanel shades right now, haha.

- How's the Oracle getting on in twitter land? And how are you embracing all these new types of online media?

Andreas: Right now the Oracle is searching for pearls in the shallow waters off Sri Lanka. She's pretty pissed off that we didn't bring her to yesterday's "Guldknappen" fashion gala so I think she'll keep the twitter posts short for a day or two. There are many good tools online for fans and artists to communicate with each other. After the release of our first single "Kites" we already had about 1,000 fans from 40 different countries on our Facebook page and tons of traffic on our website gravitonas.net. It makes it easy for us to communicate with our fans. Soon we'll also throw in some online remix competitions, just for fans.

Alexander: I believe The Oracle is very determined to remain the only female in the Gravitonas family, haha. She's that kind of bitch.

- I'm thinking of visiting Sweden next year but I've never been before. Should I start learning the language and where are the best places to visit that aren't necessarily on the usual tourist track?

Andreas: No need to learn the language, everyone speaks English here! You should swim naked across a Swedish lake in the midnight sun. And when you're in the middle just turn around and watch the sky for a while.

Alexander: There are two things to know that most visitors are unaware of. The first is that all the best parties in Sweden are after-parties ("efterfest" in Swedish). You go to a club and stay there until closing time at say 4 or 5 in the morning. But the real fun starts when you leave the club and go to somebody's house for the after-party. Then there are after-after-parties, then there are after-after-after-parties. Why else do you think Scandinavians live in huge mansions and often have several of them? The second thing you should know is that people always own a ranch or at least a cottage in the country woods. And a lot of partying is going on there, far away from peeping neighbors and the police. You get the picture! Oh, and if you're gay, forget about gay clubs. All clubs in Sweden are mixed and there are no gay ghettos in Stockholm. Being gay stopped being an issue here decades ago. Nobody cares so we all intermingle and have no idea of who we are going to end up in bed with. Or with what gender for that matter.

- I love that - intermingling sounds my sort of scene! Finally do swing by if you are in England. I make a lovely cup of tea :)

Andreas: Thanks Paul! Hopefully we'll come to England soon. You bring the tea. We bring the vodka.

Alexander: Tea sounds great, but maybe we can spice the tea with some gin?

Good grief, i think i love them even more now :) Next up - it's time. to face. the music. (Week 3!)

It's been a pleasant day all told. I'm slightly pleased that my beloved Josie has reunited with John James. We got a nice new funding contract at work, plus another bit of super news so lots of hard work has paid off. I got to listen to a very exciting bit of new music that I can't write about til next week (ooo, embargo, get me, etc.) AND! on top of all of that, I've spent the day saturated in the new Robbie Williams single. Which I am about to tell you about now...

Shame ~ the single:

It's the much lauded Robbie greatest hits single, following on from his criminally underrated last album Reality Killed The Video Star (I could have easily picked another 3 singles from it, but oh well). It's gotten a lot of extra attention (though a new Robbie single still quite rightly attracts attention) for two reasons:

• It's from his new greatest hits album which celebrates an astonishingly successful 20 years as a pop star...
• He's returning to Take That (full circle and delightful symmetry alert) and someone called Gary Barlow duets on this track...

A small part of me was hoping for some sort of camptastic duet a la the boy version of Your Disco Needs You or some sort of testosteroned Enough Is Enough. This has not come to pass. What you do get is an entirely delicious semi-country tinged ballad that pairs a pretty melody with some insightful lyrics that could quite easily be describing the bumpy Gary-Robbie relationship of the late 90s ("what a shame we never listened/i told you through the television"). There's some lovely harmonising during the wistful chorus that is tinged with sadness and regret. It's not the brash stomper I was hoping for, but there's such honesty and relatability within the tune that everyone who has ever regretted lack of contact between friends/lovers/family because of words of hurt and anger will find hauntingly real. So i'm full of bittersweet memories, but ever so ever so in love with this wonderfully crafted tune...

Shame ~ the video:

• The song starts as a visual representation of the wistfulness of the lyrics - Robbie is staring into a tumble dryer (something I find brings about my most thoughtful and melancholic moments) then wanders through anytown, USA...
• Gary is across the road, sporting some manly stubble and leaning outside a dog grooming parlour. Surely there is a hidden message in there somewhere?!
• Robbie has some nice boots on. I can't believe that I have fancied Robbie since about 1991. He's still fairly handsome, but it is the Barl that is just blossoming as the years tick by...
• Both have been for a bit of shopping and have their groceries in the very American brown paper bags. England has never cottoned onto this have we? We're more "a bag for life" (which lasts about 6 months, but at least you get a free one at the end of it...
• More shoe shots at 40s. It's like a cowboy Sex and The City...
• Rather endearingly, Robbie gazes at The Barl while singing (in his head) "out of some sentimental gain, I wanted you to feel my pain". The Barl just looks down. It's very touching.
• There are some longing looks as they get into their cars. It's very Brokeback Mountain (as the world and his wife has pointed out) but I suppose it could easily be two estranged brothers. Whatever. I'm still eager for Robbie to, uh, "take that" if you know what i mean :P
• Ooo, a proper American bar. They are so different to pubs aren't they? Robbie and Gary are dancing with some girls, but sharing some very meaningful looks. I'm starting to get aroused.
• The visuals are amazing. Gary HAS a beard and is dancing WITH his beard. Literally aceballs on a piece of toast.
• They are now at the old watering hole, throwing stones, having a reet good laugh and if you pause at 2m26s Robbie is either having a very melancholic pause, or eyefucking The Barl. Either works. One provides me with a much better night's dreaming though ;)
• The middle 8 has glimpses of hand holding, some loving shoulder touching and this rather lovely almost imperceptable nod from The Barl which a) makes the bridges that were burnt now rebuilt and b) acts as permission for their relationship (both in the real world and in the video) be ok for what it is. I may shed a tear...
• Oh this is a homoerotic dream - is there anyway to slow-mo youtube? Robbie and Gary are stripping to have a nice dip in the lake. It could still all be entirely bromancey or fraternal, but my pervy mind works over time, and I sense that they would be absolutely ok with that :)
• During a karaoke montage, they run topless to the quite high cliff top, but then decide that it is not the best idea and walk off (into the sunset?) arm in arm. Like the song, this is very lovely indeed.

SMITTEN!

Cor blimey, luv a duck. It seems the McFly return to record labelly goodness is more of an event that anyone anticipated. How magnifico. Because, let's face it, McFly are the Girls Aloud of boybands - churning out totally catchy, yet inventive and forward thinking pop tunes that have kept them a sustainable pop option in the 00s while enabling them to re-launch as a bonafide act for the new decade. Brilliant. Party Girl has been floating around for a while now prior to it's September 5th release and there has been a "new McFly teaser video" (full overview here); now, however, it's time for the Party Girl video. And what a Buffy The True Blood Vampire Dairies Slayer affair it is too...

• Red blood is dripping from a cymbal. It's actually making quite a mess all over the guitar on the floor below. Something wicked this way comes...
• It's Dougie. He's using his new found muscular status to hold a church door shut. I suspect he's being chased. Not in a Larry Grayson "chase me, chase me" way, more of a "oh poo i might die if I don't run pretty darn smartish" sort of way. Which is quite alarming really isn't it?
• A scantily clad lady dance-drops down a stripper pole in a sort of really slutty James Bond music video way. She then walks over to the boys who are in some sort of club (the sort of club where Party Girls hang out one should imagine). The Judd is paying no attention whatsoever.
• Pause at around 21/22s however and Tom is looking very confident (with a phallic champers bottle near his head) while Dougie has got this "whoa, get a load of them funbags" sort of look on his face. Boys eh?!
• There is then lots of pole dancing while the band play on a quite nice sound stage. The stripper lady walks off with The Judd, which is just typical. They always go for the ones who show them the least interest!
• The stripper pole is in some sort of painted vampire doorway. Like being in some freaky funhouse. With lady bits.
• The boys then arrive at a stately home. Oh this is all over the place. Is this after the club? I'm confused. Still, if you pause at 49s, there is a shot of someone's bottom. Amazing.
• Oh, I think the club/party is taking place in the stately home. The Judd is having a right good snog with some waitress in a pink dress. or maybe that is her going out kit. It's always so embarrassing when you dress like the staff. That happened to me when waistcoats were all the rage.
• Judd takes his top off (this should essentially happen to The Judd ALL THE TIME!) and bites the girl's next. She is now undead English (the PC term for vampires).
• Yup, she's a vampire. Her teeth have gone all fangy and she does a big "rar" at the camera. There is a very quick flash of Tom doing a "she's got fangs" moment. Either that or he is doing an amazing bunny rabbit impression :)
• At around 1m25s, things get amazing. Essentially The Judd pushes an equally attractive fella into some deserted store room and is all up in his business. This could get interesting!
• But nooooo! It cuts away, and The Judd is now getting a bit naked and vampirey with some ladeez. It's always the drummers. Every time.
• Some biting goes on, Dougie pumps some weights, The Judd and his scultped torso howl at the moon and Tom dusts a vamp. That's right, dusts a vamp. I am so down with the vamp lingo.
• Finally, the band, sans Harry, realise that something is very wrong with these slutty party girls and run away tout de suite. They are chased by some fangers as they run into the parking lot. Some people (not in the band, ergo extraenous characters) are already dead. A moment's silence please!
• Blimey - more band playing and we're back at the bit where Dougie runs into the church and holds the door shut and...
• ... that's it! how cruel! What the fuss is going on? It's all part of a larger story telling canvas, so the video just leaves you craving a bigger picture. Nowhere To Run is coming. And i need it now...
• (Incase that inflamed your senses, here is a nice CD-UK-esque performance of the song!)

The X Factor is back tomorrow. Or today if you are reading this in the future on Saturday 21st August. Which you possibly are. Time travel hurts my brain. Anyway, i looked back and am disappointed to learn that I did cover the X Factor from the first show last year. Well tough titties, cos I don't have the energy to that this year. I may summise it and then kick in during bootcamp weeks. Yes, as Josh Dubovie so skilfully once sang, that sounds good to me. No doubt by Saturday evening, I will be completely sucked in and want to do a full proper posting. Oh I'm so layered and contradictory! Anyway, in the meantime (and in between time) (obscure pop reference alert!) here are some alumni from the show and their current video output...

Alexandra Burke ~ Start Without You:

There's something about this single. Part of me thinks it's rather good indeed. Part of me think that Example was right in thinking he could write something substantially more brilliant for Alexandra. Part of me thinks that is just some sort of bizarre mash up of a Boney M song and Under The Sea. So I am awash in conflicting emotions! But it is a rather enjoyable summer song that, like Girls Aloud's Long Hot Summer, is being released about six weeks later than it should have been. Here is what is going down in the video...

• A glitter ball is not enough for Alexandra Burke. No. She has to have an actual glitter curtain. My retinas hurt just looking at it!
• A much more pleasing sight comes at 17 seconds when a bevvy of trunk clad hotties all turn to look at "the beast" (as she calls herself). Except the guy in the middle. He is so clearly having a quick shufty at the guy next to him's willy region. And frankly, who can blame him?
• Essentially the first verse of the song is like a more oiled up version of Olivia Newton John's Physical. Alexandra is eyeing up the totty while they do various muscle pumping (oo-er) activities in the worlds most boring gym.
• She is clearly distracting the guy who is working his guns. I mean, how offputting having Alexandra come up and finger your chest mid-workout. Whatever next? Shayne Ward popping in to feel up your glutes?! (um, yes please)...
• Chorus + Dance Routine + men in vests = win. A - because it's a vastly superior dance routine to say, The Saturdays Missing You fiasco. B - I am quite liking the braces and vest look, though my belly is far too paunchy at the moment to pull it off.
• At around the minute mark, Alexandra takes part in the least energetic aerobics class ever. She will never get a workout video deal with that routine :P
• During the second verse, Alexandra takes a leaf out of Bruno's book and uses "the staff" as furniture. Still she can't weigh much so I doubt it's that taxing for him...
• Lets have a proper look at the blokes. Pause at 2m02s. The dark haired fella three in from the left has got amazing pecs. The bloke two across to the right from him is also probably worth a jolly good bounce. I think this is chest fingered guns man from earlier. As his friends call him...
• Oh lordy, the rapper is off. Alexandra is swirling around seductively in her body stocking while he raps about something or the other.
• More posturing from the gym bunnies while Alexandra tells them not to make her start without them. Which actually (I believe) is what some men quite like. It saves on the foreplay. Apparently.
• And that's essentially it. Lather, rinse, repeat for the rest of the song.

Olly Murs ~ Please Don't Let Me Go:

Blimey. The X factor alumni have been having lessons at camp faux reggae this week. Alexandra has been listening to her ace of base tapes, while lovely Olly has been checking out his dad's UB40 bootlegs. It is entirely pleasant though and Olly was utterly charming on Alan Carr the other week. Magnifico...(less magnifico is the fact that you can't embed the video. So here is the link and above is a nice pic of Olly instead. Bah!)

• Ooo, it's the 00s version of we're all going on a summer holiday. I half expected the cast of On The Buses to emerge in the first few seconds!
• Olly turns up on a scooter though which works for so many reasons. Firstly, I can't imagine him on public transport. Secondly, he looks quite boffable. And by quite I mean very. And thirdly, a scooter just suits him doesn't it? He seems quite bohemian...
• He's clearly a bit underdressed for the occasion - would a tie or cravat have killed him? I do like the fact that he steals H-lookalike-from-Steps drink and the sozzled booze hound doesn't even seem to notice. Class.
• The little klepto just can't help himself. At 50s he helps himself to a younger Simon Cowell lookalike's straw hat and does the classic cocky forward tilt with it. Oh my.
• There's some sort of free flowing dance routine during the chorus and it's a little bit disheartening that Olly doesn't do any of his shake the shit from your shoe patented dance routines. He does touch his eye when he says eye though, which is a tiny shuffle towards a step in the right direction I suppose...
• He then leads his chosen ladee friend down some steps and is bold enough to walk backwards. There could be some hilarious "fall on my arse" type outtakes from this video or he could just be very good at walking backwards. Even more amazing is the fact that the waiting staff dance down the steps with him - a bit like they do in the film Mame when everyone sings, uh, Mame...!!
• It's getting a bit warm after all that step walking so Olly takes off his jacket. Um, woof! He pops it down and gets well into the singing. In fact if you pause at 1m42s and don't know he's about to say "feel" with passion and conviction, you would think he was about to say a swear...
• It is remiss of me to have not mentioned the lecherous old perv walking around with some young gold digger and the old biddy guzzling at the sauce while feeding her dog pigs in the blankets. Or something. High society is so sordid.
• Frankly this video is full of celebrity look a likes. H, Simon Cowell and at 1m58s a sodden Dan Gillespie Sells wannabe (The Feeling) emerges from a dip in the pool...
• Ladee friend is leading Olly astray while lots of free love goes on in the background. It's essentially a PG version of the True Blood season 2 finale. My god, lets hope Olly doesn't end up tied to a tree by some weird witch lady!
• There are some nice shots in the middle 8 which match how pretty the music is. Tres bon.
• I have no idea whether he managed to cop off with the ladee friend by the end of the night, but he does look a bit sad at the end of the video so I'm thinking probably not. Ah well, always next time...

Honourable mention: The Unconventionals ~ Strawberry Sunshine:

The Unconventionals were tragically the first to go a couple of years ago on the X Factor. Often I think if the first acts had been given more of a chance, the total outcome could be completely different but oh well... They are back and following on from their cover of Push The Button is a brand new song Strawberry Sunshine. It's a lovely laid back tune with layered harmonies, some lovely sixties-ish horns and a melody that washes over you like a fresh wave lapping onto your toes at the beach. Essentially the video is like Dee-lite and The B52s circa 1990 were popped into a blender, forwarded in time via Austin Powers and tipped out in 2010. The girls are all sorts of hippy chic while the guys range from looking like they are auditioning for Oliver to being background extras for the Olly Murs video above. I don't say this as criticism because it all works visually very well with the song. They all shimmy and shake beautifully (particualarly Andy - RAR + YUM!). And there are some glorious dramatic strings throughout but especially as they all pose together at the end doing their best moody-sexy poses :) definitely worth several moments of your time :)

Coming sunday - Probably something on Mcfly...