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Thursday, March 4, 2010
Visst är det kul att allt kan hända i Örebro, i Melodifestivalens Andra chans. Första repetitionen har kört igång och kanske kan detta ge en ledtråd till lördagens vinnare.
Duell nummer 1: Pain of Salvation vs Pernilla:
Sångare Daniel Gildenlöw är extremt tonsäker och har en fantastisk röst. Koreografin lika stilla som förra gången. Jag hade önskat att bandet hade rört sig i en uppåtrörelse på slutet men här slösas inte på energi i onödan. Daniels vänsterarm får representera det koreografiska. Ordet ”sparsmakat” får en ny innebörd.
Duell nummer 2: Pauline vs Crucified Barbara.
Pauline: ”Sucker For Love”
Cool låt och cool brud som inser att hon har tuggummit kvar i munnen när låten kör igång. Jag gillar gunget i låten och Pauline verkar betydligt säkrare på scenen än i Sandviken.
Wow vilken röst Mia har! Tonsäker och perfekt till denna låt. Det kommer bli en tuff fight mellan tjejerna och Pauline. Jag får fortfarande associationer till Finlands Hanna Pakarinen. Om det är bra eller dåligt låter jag vara osagt.
Duell nummer 3: Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän vs NEO
Kalle är snorig och har vit gitarr dagen till ära. Trots detta tycker jag att Kalle sjunger bättre än i Sandviken. Dethär grabb (gubb)gänget känns onekligen som några udda fåglar bland alla de andra glammiga artister. Låten är onekligen vacker, lyrisk och romantisk. Ett tag trodde jag den var uträknad men....... inte så säker alls.
PS! Ryktet säger att programledarna spelar pingis i källaren här på Conventum. Christine spörar visst Måns så det ryker om det.
Duell nummer 4: Alcazar vs Jessica Andersson
Discotime! Pernilla Wahlgren försvarar schlagerns position och Alcazar försvarar den neonfärgade disco-popen. Jag gillar den lugna inledningen. Faktum är att detta är bättre än fjolårets Alcazar. De bör ta sig vidare till nästa omgång och då finns stor risk/chans att de möter NEO och det kan sluta hur som helst. Det blir ingen självklar motorväg till Globen för Alcazar. Har ni tänkt på första textraden: "Got your number on my underwear".
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Omgångens första stråkinstrument - en cello på scenen. Jessica är den enda som har låtens scenkläder. Fläkten är i farten och då är det bra med långkjol för att få bättre effekt. Vackert och bra sånginsats men det blir tufft att fightas mot Alcazar!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
New pop: The press release e-mails edition! (Ft Bang Bang Club, Bananarama, Kameron Martinez, Performance, Holestar)
0 comments Posted by ai at 1:06 PMI'm very busy and important at work you know. Ok, well I'm not as busy this week and probably not all that important, but it's nice to big "oneself" up every now and again isn't it? Plus I'm proper pleased with myself today because I've finally mastered those crashing piano chords in Marit Larsen's If A Song Could Get Me You. I sound dead sexy and my fingers look all inviting! Anyway, besides the point. I'm pretty bad at responding to or acting upon the press release e-mails that somehow end up in my inbox. Sometimes they sit there for weeks before I open them which means I'm not particularly topical am I?! But when I do feel inclined to open some, I occassionally find something worth listening to. Here is a selection of the best I've received over the past few weeks...
THE PRESS RELEASE PLAY LIST:
Kameron Martinez ~ Kameron is a sassy little bugger isn't he? Not only does he have this weird eyewear fetish thing going on that makes me go a bit wobbly in the pantal area, but he has a fuzzy dirty electro pop ditty doing the rounds called Mr Manhater. There's a lot going on in the song - skeezy synths, hyper beats and a vocal that becomes more seductive as the song presses on. It's designed to enflame the senses and it would fit quite easily onto a sweaty dancefloor, men bumping carelessly into each other as they strut their funky stuff and get down with their bad selves. Surprisingly, the chorus is quite low-key melody wise, but it works well within the concept of the song and amidst the intoxicating rhythm is an addictive little ditty. Free download on his myspace page...
Performance ~ I have to say that one of the most eye catching email senders in PR is Andre from Work It Media. He has a rather distinctive way with words that I really like. He introduced me not only to the adorable Candle Thieves but also to Kiss In Cities which form 2/3rds of this band Performance. The band are fronted by Joe Stretch who has also written for the upcoming Hurts album and I feel I don't need to even write anything more to love them. Yet their rather wonderful single The Living is a pulsating and vibrant piece of pop that matches their rather bleak lyrics to a tune that soars. It's carefully crafted and apparently details the fractured relationships the band members sometime have. It's raw and honest, yet deliriously delicious while it's at it. Quintessentially British and proud of it too. Je t'adore.
Holestar ~ The name says it all doesn't it? Sometimes, pop needs someone to come along that is a bit larger than life and challenges your perceptions of what a popstar can be. Holestar is that woman and what a woman! She dresses up as a man, who dresses up as a woman! Emerging like a butterfly from the alternative London club scene with her debut single NyLon Woman, I just love how this gives the world an insight into the creative cabaret that exists on the London (and beyond) scene but is often overshadowed by more conventional fare. It's a sound of the underground pumping electro house ditty that resonates with feel good vibes and a throw your hands in the air atmosphere. What's particularly ace is that it never makes you feel like you are not cool enough to be part of the crew - it's more a grab the one you're with and party song. Bonza...
The Bang Bang Club ~ Good garden gnomes! Remember Protocol? I think I saw them live back in the very early days when I was thezapping. Well a bit of them are back, spruced up and now known as The Bang Bang Club which is actually quite a very good name for a band because it instantly makes their fans feel like they are part of something - and something a little bit naughty too. They have basically come out with a single called Chemistry which is rather splendid - it's drenched in synths, exciting beats and a blinding chorus that channels the best of the 80s synth-pop influences into something modern and brilliant. At time, it's reminiscent of the fun and passion the Scissor Sisters bring to their music Absolutely addictive, they are bloody gorgeous, they release the song on my birthday and good grief, like I need a new obsession in my life, but I have one. Bang bang. I'm there.
Don't forget to check me out on lovely Larry Flick tomorrow at 8am EST/1pm GMT!!
Kolla in schemat och försök gissa utgången i veckans tävling ”Vem Slår Ut Vem?”
Lördagens utgång är både oviss och extremt svårgissad. Det enda som känns säkert är att Alcazar vinner över Jessica Andersson. I de övriga duellerna kan allt hända. För att bringa klarhet i frågan åker jag till Örebro i helgen för att övervaka det hela.
Här kommer mitt förslag – som gäller just idag. Troligen kommer jag att ändra mig efter att ha hört repetitionerna i Örebro. Att få fram två slutfinalister känns som att tippa på lotto. Just nu lutar det åt Pauline och Alcazar. Med reservation för väldigt många ändringar innan veckan är slut.
Tips! Crucified Barbara – Ni borde pröva er lycka i Finland. ”Heaven or Hell” har all chans att fungera där. En tuffare version av Hanna Pakarinen.
Källa/foto: SVT
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sometimes you just need to come home to some accomplished piano driven pop music with a seductive male vocal to lure you in. Today wasn't bad, but on the drive home from one of our offices the lorry in front of me was all over the place so I went across two lanes to pass him. Lucky I did, as he blew a tyre and took out about 3 cars, skidding across the motorway. I only just missed being in the pile up - in my rear view mirror, I could see the lorry getting closer and closer to me and it's only because I had the opportunity to speed up that I avoided it all! Sheesh! I checked the news when I got in and there were only minor injuries and shock. Lucky for all those involved because it looked a lot worse! So I was very ready for these fellas you are about to read about below...
TODD ALSUP:
I was listening to (what else) Larry Flick tother week when this jaunty pogo-pop driven tune popped up on the stereo and made me really pay attention. It was called Let's Have A Party and is the new single from the quite delightful Todd Alsup. True, the opening chords remind me a little bit of Wake Up by Sliimy, but then it evolves into something so much more than that. The effective instrumental romp provides this brilliant mood lifting vibe, while the chorus is one of those inviting singalongs that makes you feel part of the action whether you are listening to it for the first time or singing along for the 100th time at his live shows. It really is a great tune and a wonderful introduction to the talented Todd. For example, The Way It Goes shows a more subdued side with a mid tempo swaying ballad that still manages to put forward a positive attitude towards looking a life's problems. His voice has a rich resonant quality to it that is quite welcoming and soothing at the same time. And perfect for the beginning of the week is the perky It's Always Monday - absolutely gorgeous piano riff running through it with some great chords adding a depth to the rollicking melody. Never does Todd's vocal get lost in this lush blend of instrumentation and the choruses are always massive, always memorable. I absolutely adore pop like this and I can't wait to hear more :) Plus, what a cutie :P Follow him on twitter @toddalsup...
Clayton Senne:
This was a recommendation by Bill Smith on twitter (read his ace blog here) and I'm happy to have come across two such great male pop vocalists in one week :) Clayton has a great tag on his myspace which says "Saving the world, 88 keys at a time" which really just appealed to the inner piano player in me. His track Wonderland has some amazing intricate piano work on there, making it reminiscent of the work of Billy Joel and Elton John; and to an extent the piano riffs I adored in some of Debbie Gibson's earlier and more recent work. There's a heavy percussion in the song too which gives it an energy and vitality which I can only imagine is rather intoxicating live. And when he slows it down on tracks like The Sun Will Rise, it's equally as smooth and engaging. I am just so taken in by pop that relies on the timeless stuff like melody, strong natural vocals and just the sheer pleasure of being organic music. Clayton and Todd both have that, and it's this which appeals to me and lasts with me over a longer period of time, rather than the fads and trends which pass us by. Quite lovely. Follow him on twitter @musicbyclayton.
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