It's amazing how long it's been!
Spyke
On the 15th May 2010 Katy Perry entered the Hot 100 at #2 with her lead single from her blockbuster album 'Teenage Dream'. It was only a few weeks later that California Gurls would become the first of 6 singles from the album to reach #1 on the chart. Subsequently we had Teenage Dream, Firework, E.T. and Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) all topping the chart. The One That Got Away did as the song suggested and missed the top peaking at #3 before Ms Perry was re-releasing the album with Part Of Me. In the process those songs spent helped Katy amass a recording breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the chart's top 10. After having this epic Teenage Dream we all ended up Wide Awake with the final single which has only just left the Hot 100 this week - going on to the re-currents chart.
Can I just emphasise that in total it means that Katy Perry has been sitting pretty on the Hot 100 for 931 days! That means that if you started listening on repeat to the title track from the album as soon as she entered the Hot 100 for this stint then you would have amassed a play count of over 352,800 times! Ridiculous!
Friday, 30 November 2012
Amelia Lily- Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got)
What a fantastic little pop song
Spyke
I know that given Amelia Lily was my favourite to win the X Factor last year probably means I'm a little bit biased, but I love this! After eventually coming third in the competition to Little Mix and Marcus (who?), Amelia got signed to Xenomania's label and unleashed the wonderful Kelly Clarkson-esque pop belter You Bring Me Joy, which saw her enter the UK charts at #2. Here she is with her second single hoping to go one better. This track establishes Amelia Lily as the UK's very own Miss Clarkson; there are elements in the video where she looks a bit like Miley Cyrus - but surely all this bodes well for the potential Pop Princess.
As far as I know the single isn't out until the start of 2013 but I reckon in the long run that the song will benefit from the delayed release - hopefully avoiding it getting lost in all the Christmas happenings. All I can say is that I'm very much looking forward to hearing her album in the new year...
Spyke
I know that given Amelia Lily was my favourite to win the X Factor last year probably means I'm a little bit biased, but I love this! After eventually coming third in the competition to Little Mix and Marcus (who?), Amelia got signed to Xenomania's label and unleashed the wonderful Kelly Clarkson-esque pop belter You Bring Me Joy, which saw her enter the UK charts at #2. Here she is with her second single hoping to go one better. This track establishes Amelia Lily as the UK's very own Miss Clarkson; there are elements in the video where she looks a bit like Miley Cyrus - but surely all this bodes well for the potential Pop Princess.
As far as I know the single isn't out until the start of 2013 but I reckon in the long run that the song will benefit from the delayed release - hopefully avoiding it getting lost in all the Christmas happenings. All I can say is that I'm very much looking forward to hearing her album in the new year...
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
One Direction - Take Me Home: Yearbook Edition
A track by track review if you please...
Oli
Two years ago, One '1D' Direction were doing Bonnie Tyler covers on The X Factor, Liam had the best hair in the group and JLS were the biggest boyband in the UK. Clearly, a great deal can change in a couple of years. Now a global phenomenon almost at Bieberish-levels, it's time to 'take stock' and have a listen to their new album. (Marks out of ten are just my guts reactions, so they don't mean a lot unless you want them to).
1. Live While We're Young
We know all about this one. Similar in style to What Makes You Beautiful (cowbells alert!), it doesn't quite have the same charm or sparkle as their debut single. However, I am partial to a bit of the 1D boisterousness, which is certainly in evidence here. 7/10
2. Kiss You
This has a great, bubblegum feel to it, not unlike Cher Lloyd massively addictive (and underrated) debut album. Zayn's voice is in particularly fine form here. Rowdiness is still in evidence, with the na-na-na-na bits reminding me of the Kaiser Chiefs (?!) from back in the day. 8.5/10
3. Little Things
Jesus wept. What a come down after Kiss You! Ed Sheeran's bed-wetting lyrics are a bit much for me to stomach (the 'cup of tea' bit makes me want to punch Louis in the face and he's my favourite member). However, you can't deny how lovely the melody is for the chorus, which ultimately rescues this song from being an unforgivably sappy mess. 6.5/10 (2/10 for the 'authentic' lyrical quality).
4. C'mon, C'mon
This is a bit more like it. It sort of feels like an uptempo song Westlife would have released if they'd been allowed to leave their stools. A bit dated, a bit cheesy, but also a bit of tune. 7.5/10
5. Last First Kiss
*ACOUSTIC GUITAR ALERT* *MIDTEMPO ALERT* *HANG ABOUT THIS CHORUS IS PRETTY GREAT* *I SUPPOSE THE VERSES ARE OK* *THE OOOH-OOOH BITS ARE AMAZING* 8.5/10
6. Heart Attack
We're back to Kiss You territory here, which is no bad thing. I'm not quite sure why it sounds like a baby goat is crying in the background (is that you Niall?). Still, you can't knock a chorus which manages to slip in a Michael Jackson impression without you even realising it. 'Aowah!' 9/10
7. Rock Me
Hmmmm...not convinced with this one. On the one hand, it's quite pleasant to listen to. On the other hand, the chorus goes 'I want you to rock me, rock me, rock me, yeah, I want you to hit the pedal, heavy metal, show me you caaaaarrre'. Which - let's be honest - is a bit shit. 6.5/10
8. Change My Mind
INSERT BORING ALBUM FILLER HERE. (bonus 1/2 mark for including 't'wards' in a pop song). 5.5/10
9. I Would
While it sounds like something Harry might say about your mother, I Would is a bit more charming than the title implies. Written by McFly, there are lots of great ideas splayed all over the place here (whistles, the '27 tatttoos' bit). But the pre-chorus is a bit sub-The Wanted and unfortunately it doesn't quite hold together. 6/10
10. Over Again
Ed Sheeran's dusted off some boring songs he didn't want for his first album and passed them to One Direction, hasn't he? 6/10
11. Back For You
Put What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing, and Live While We're Young into a blender, and you get Back For You. I was enjoying it at first, but by the final chorus the 'YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU!!!' bit was becoming a bit wearisome, as you might expect. 6.5/10
12. They Don't Know About Us
Piano? Check. Lyrics referencing their first album? Yep. Some generically crap synth strings? For sure. Naturally, I really liked it. 7.5/10
13. Summer Love
This is an unforgivably country-tinged kiss-off pile of wank. Snow in September indeed. 3/10
BONUS TRACK LAND
14. She's Not Afraid
I'm not sure why She's Not Afraid didn't make the main tracklisting. It could have easily replaced a couple of the borathon ballads, and is one of my favourite songs on the album. 9/10
15. Loved You First
Despite the first note sounding like a hoover being switched off (not the most auspicious of starts), Love You First has a fine, effortless powerpop strut about it. Maybe the bonus tracks are where the real 1D magic is hiding? 8.5/10
16. Nobody Compares
There isn't anything particularly memorable going on here. That being said, it goes down very nicely and I wouldn't mind hearing it again if I hadn't heard 15 One Direction songs beforehand. 7/10
17. Still The One
After a mid-album sludge, these final upbeat songs turn Take Me Home from a slight disappointment into a triumphant finale. Still The One is the type of track I enjoy seeing from One Direction - fast, unashamedly melodic tunes that aren't trying particularly hard to be (in Tulisa's words) 'Camden cool'. 7/10
FINAL RECKONING
SEVEN LOUIS' OUT OF TEN.
You just can't argue with that sort of logic.
Oli
Two years ago, One '1D' Direction were doing Bonnie Tyler covers on The X Factor, Liam had the best hair in the group and JLS were the biggest boyband in the UK. Clearly, a great deal can change in a couple of years. Now a global phenomenon almost at Bieberish-levels, it's time to 'take stock' and have a listen to their new album. (Marks out of ten are just my guts reactions, so they don't mean a lot unless you want them to).
1. Live While We're Young
We know all about this one. Similar in style to What Makes You Beautiful (cowbells alert!), it doesn't quite have the same charm or sparkle as their debut single. However, I am partial to a bit of the 1D boisterousness, which is certainly in evidence here. 7/10
2. Kiss You
This has a great, bubblegum feel to it, not unlike Cher Lloyd massively addictive (and underrated) debut album. Zayn's voice is in particularly fine form here. Rowdiness is still in evidence, with the na-na-na-na bits reminding me of the Kaiser Chiefs (?!) from back in the day. 8.5/10
3. Little Things
Jesus wept. What a come down after Kiss You! Ed Sheeran's bed-wetting lyrics are a bit much for me to stomach (the 'cup of tea' bit makes me want to punch Louis in the face and he's my favourite member). However, you can't deny how lovely the melody is for the chorus, which ultimately rescues this song from being an unforgivably sappy mess. 6.5/10 (2/10 for the 'authentic' lyrical quality).
4. C'mon, C'mon
This is a bit more like it. It sort of feels like an uptempo song Westlife would have released if they'd been allowed to leave their stools. A bit dated, a bit cheesy, but also a bit of tune. 7.5/10
5. Last First Kiss
*ACOUSTIC GUITAR ALERT* *MIDTEMPO ALERT* *HANG ABOUT THIS CHORUS IS PRETTY GREAT* *I SUPPOSE THE VERSES ARE OK* *THE OOOH-OOOH BITS ARE AMAZING* 8.5/10
6. Heart Attack
We're back to Kiss You territory here, which is no bad thing. I'm not quite sure why it sounds like a baby goat is crying in the background (is that you Niall?). Still, you can't knock a chorus which manages to slip in a Michael Jackson impression without you even realising it. 'Aowah!' 9/10
7. Rock Me
Hmmmm...not convinced with this one. On the one hand, it's quite pleasant to listen to. On the other hand, the chorus goes 'I want you to rock me, rock me, rock me, yeah, I want you to hit the pedal, heavy metal, show me you caaaaarrre'. Which - let's be honest - is a bit shit. 6.5/10
8. Change My Mind
INSERT BORING ALBUM FILLER HERE. (bonus 1/2 mark for including 't'wards' in a pop song). 5.5/10
9. I Would
While it sounds like something Harry might say about your mother, I Would is a bit more charming than the title implies. Written by McFly, there are lots of great ideas splayed all over the place here (whistles, the '27 tatttoos' bit). But the pre-chorus is a bit sub-The Wanted and unfortunately it doesn't quite hold together. 6/10
10. Over Again
Ed Sheeran's dusted off some boring songs he didn't want for his first album and passed them to One Direction, hasn't he? 6/10
11. Back For You
Put What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing, and Live While We're Young into a blender, and you get Back For You. I was enjoying it at first, but by the final chorus the 'YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU!!!' bit was becoming a bit wearisome, as you might expect. 6.5/10
12. They Don't Know About Us
Piano? Check. Lyrics referencing their first album? Yep. Some generically crap synth strings? For sure. Naturally, I really liked it. 7.5/10
13. Summer Love
This is an unforgivably country-tinged kiss-off pile of wank. Snow in September indeed. 3/10
BONUS TRACK LAND
14. She's Not Afraid
I'm not sure why She's Not Afraid didn't make the main tracklisting. It could have easily replaced a couple of the borathon ballads, and is one of my favourite songs on the album. 9/10
15. Loved You First
Despite the first note sounding like a hoover being switched off (not the most auspicious of starts), Love You First has a fine, effortless powerpop strut about it. Maybe the bonus tracks are where the real 1D magic is hiding? 8.5/10
16. Nobody Compares
There isn't anything particularly memorable going on here. That being said, it goes down very nicely and I wouldn't mind hearing it again if I hadn't heard 15 One Direction songs beforehand. 7/10
17. Still The One
After a mid-album sludge, these final upbeat songs turn Take Me Home from a slight disappointment into a triumphant finale. Still The One is the type of track I enjoy seeing from One Direction - fast, unashamedly melodic tunes that aren't trying particularly hard to be (in Tulisa's words) 'Camden cool'. 7/10
FINAL RECKONING
SEVEN LOUIS' OUT OF TEN. You just can't argue with that sort of logic.
Monday, 22 October 2012
Taylor Swift Feat. Ed Sheeran - Everything Has Changed
It may have escaped your attention but Taylor Swift is releasing her new album this week. After managing to rack up more top 40 UK hits in the past month than she's managed over the course of the rest of her career, she seems to have cracked this promo single malarkey.
In the US however she really is quite the tour de force. She managed to get a whopping 10 top 40 hits from her sophomore album 'Fearless'. On the opening week of follow up album 'Speak Now' she managed to place every track off the album onto the Hot 100 that week. In the US alone she has sold over 50 million downloads - a tally which I'm sure is just going to rocket once more this week. Here's what's happening on US itunes right now:
1 Taylor Swift Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran)
3 Taylor Swift I Almost Do
4 Taylor Swift 22
5 Taylor Swift All Too Well
8 Taylor Swift Treacherous
11 Taylor Swift Stay Stay Stay
13 Taylor Swift Starlight
14 Taylor Swift The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody)
15 Taylor Swift Holy Ground
16 Taylor Swift The Lucky One
17 Taylor Swift Red
19 Taylor Swift Sad Beautiful Tragic
20 Taylor Swift We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
21 Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble
22 Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble.
31 Taylor Swift Begin Again
32 Taylor Swift State of Grace
38 Taylor Swift State of Grace
39 Taylor Swift We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
65 Taylor Swift Red
So I think it's safe to say the invasion has begun. Interestingly enough it is her duet with the UK's own Ed Sheeran that is leading the pack with this nice little number:
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
P!nk - Try
The second from P!nk's new album
Spyke
Ever since P!nk delivered the incredible Who Knew (with the help of Max Martin and Dr Luke) I have been very much into her pop music. Some of her earlier hits like God Is A DJ, Get The Party Started and Trouble just never really clicked with me. So over the past few years P!nk has really delivered some top notch pop albums in my opinion (namely 'I'm Not Dead' and 'Funhouse') so you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of a new album. The thing is it's all starting to get a bit too formulaic for my liking - we had So What then Raise Your Glass and now Blow Me all of which seem like weaker imitations of their predecessor. Now don't get me wrong Blow Me (One Last Kiss) is still an 8/10 pop song but I'm just passing comment. Hence when listening to 'The Truth About Love' I felt that the album was very consistent and delivered some good pop tunes from P!nk but it just lacked those glimmering tracks of greatness. Though one of the bonus tracks Is This Thing On? is a particular favourite of mine at the moment and has been played quite a lot today. Who knows why that didn't make to official cut.
I found it interesting in one review I read of the album said that the simple fact was that the singer formerly known as Alecia Beth Moore was just too happy. She'd recently got back with her ex-husband and everything seems as happy as larry for her. But happiness doesn't necessarily bode well for good song writing. If you're looking for the incredible heartbreak tracks like P!nk's I Don't Believe You, Adele's Someone Like You or Kelly Clarkson's Because Of You then you need to get your heart broken.
Anyway this is the second single from the album and is one of the stand out tracks for me. It's the only track on the album that P!nk didn't have a part in writing herself - instead it was written by Ben West and Michael Busbee. I think the theme of the video seems to be dancing out a domestic violence scene but it does make for a bit of an uncomfortable watch in scenes. I'm sure this will take off nicely in time fro Christmas and give the album a nice boost in sales. Well done P!nk.
Spyke
Ever since P!nk delivered the incredible Who Knew (with the help of Max Martin and Dr Luke) I have been very much into her pop music. Some of her earlier hits like God Is A DJ, Get The Party Started and Trouble just never really clicked with me. So over the past few years P!nk has really delivered some top notch pop albums in my opinion (namely 'I'm Not Dead' and 'Funhouse') so you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of a new album. The thing is it's all starting to get a bit too formulaic for my liking - we had So What then Raise Your Glass and now Blow Me all of which seem like weaker imitations of their predecessor. Now don't get me wrong Blow Me (One Last Kiss) is still an 8/10 pop song but I'm just passing comment. Hence when listening to 'The Truth About Love' I felt that the album was very consistent and delivered some good pop tunes from P!nk but it just lacked those glimmering tracks of greatness. Though one of the bonus tracks Is This Thing On? is a particular favourite of mine at the moment and has been played quite a lot today. Who knows why that didn't make to official cut.
I found it interesting in one review I read of the album said that the simple fact was that the singer formerly known as Alecia Beth Moore was just too happy. She'd recently got back with her ex-husband and everything seems as happy as larry for her. But happiness doesn't necessarily bode well for good song writing. If you're looking for the incredible heartbreak tracks like P!nk's I Don't Believe You, Adele's Someone Like You or Kelly Clarkson's Because Of You then you need to get your heart broken.
Anyway this is the second single from the album and is one of the stand out tracks for me. It's the only track on the album that P!nk didn't have a part in writing herself - instead it was written by Ben West and Michael Busbee. I think the theme of the video seems to be dancing out a domestic violence scene but it does make for a bit of an uncomfortable watch in scenes. I'm sure this will take off nicely in time fro Christmas and give the album a nice boost in sales. Well done P!nk.
Friday, 21 September 2012
Paloma Faith - Never Tear Us Apart
So this is the new John Lewis advert.
Spyke
With the X Factor Live Shows just around the corner then it must mean one thing - John Lewis have got their Christmas advert ready. After the huge success of Ellie Goulding's cover of Your Song after it became featured on their advert I wonder if this year that fortune could fall upon Miss Paloma Faith. I've become quite fond of Paloma over the past few months and her new album 'Falling To Grace' with incredible lead single Picking Up The Pieces. The song just works so perfectly and I imagine on a cold winter's night when your sat by the fire (watching the X Factor) this advert will make you feel all warm inside.
The track was originally a #24 hit in the UK all the way back in 1988. It was released by Australian Rock group INXS but you may have heard other versions of it along the way - as it really is one of those songs that everyone's heard of but very few actually know what it's called or who sings it. One way or another Simon Cowell has a knack for getting these classic songs back into our charts.
You can download the song from Monday.
Here's the original:
Spyke
With the X Factor Live Shows just around the corner then it must mean one thing - John Lewis have got their Christmas advert ready. After the huge success of Ellie Goulding's cover of Your Song after it became featured on their advert I wonder if this year that fortune could fall upon Miss Paloma Faith. I've become quite fond of Paloma over the past few months and her new album 'Falling To Grace' with incredible lead single Picking Up The Pieces. The song just works so perfectly and I imagine on a cold winter's night when your sat by the fire (watching the X Factor) this advert will make you feel all warm inside.
The track was originally a #24 hit in the UK all the way back in 1988. It was released by Australian Rock group INXS but you may have heard other versions of it along the way - as it really is one of those songs that everyone's heard of but very few actually know what it's called or who sings it. One way or another Simon Cowell has a knack for getting these classic songs back into our charts.
You can download the song from Monday.
Here's the original:
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