The follow up to the #1 All Time Low
Spyke
When a new boyband hits the scenes it's only a matter of time to see how well they'll succeed; when I first heard The Wanted's debut single All Time Low I couldn't tell which way it would go: would they sneak top 30 like Point Break, top 10 like Phixx or make similar impact to Busted and make top 3. You can imagine my surprise when they went straight to the top.
This is the follow up ballad and as far as they go it's pretty good. It's no All Or Nothing as given to us by O-Town but it does trump JLS' Everybody in Love. The lads are set to tour with the Saturdays and release their upcoming album on the 25th October. With an intense release schedule coming up, this song will have one chance to reach the summit between Joe's Ambitions and Cheryl's Promise This.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin -
Actual 2
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs - Like A G6
Something different...
Spyke
The Far East Movement formed back in 2003 to rap, write and produce tracks. Up to now the four guys have failed to hit the commercial stage but this track looks set to change all that! With a chorus which actually samples lines from Booty Bounce by Dev and makes reference to the new Gulfstream G650.
With a track which is just so infectious this track has the potential to be massive on the club scene. When I first heard the track I had the same reaction I had to Boom Boom Pow and I just didn't get it but a few listens later I had it stuck on repeat. This track managed to top the Hot 100 in the US and I can see it having similar success here.
Chart Predictions
Spyke 1 (originally 6 but this is really shaping up to be massive)
McLovin 2
Actual 5
Spyke
The Far East Movement formed back in 2003 to rap, write and produce tracks. Up to now the four guys have failed to hit the commercial stage but this track looks set to change all that! With a chorus which actually samples lines from Booty Bounce by Dev and makes reference to the new Gulfstream G650.
With a track which is just so infectious this track has the potential to be massive on the club scene. When I first heard the track I had the same reaction I had to Boom Boom Pow and I just didn't get it but a few listens later I had it stuck on repeat. This track managed to top the Hot 100 in the US and I can see it having similar success here.
Chart Predictions
Spyke 1 (originally 6 but this is really shaping up to be massive)
McLovin 2
Actual 5
Friday, 24 September 2010
Cheryl Cole V Nadine Coyle
With Girls Aloud being on a temporary hiatus: Nadine & Cheryl take for the top
It was in the earlier half of last year when we heard the news that Girls Aloud were taking a break after their successful 'Out Of Control' campaign. With that the girls took to their separate ways. Nicola launched a make up range, Sarah featured in the second instalment of 'St. Trinians', Kimberly went in to low budget presenting with Suck My Pop, Nadine opened her Irish Mist in the US and Cheryl stole the nations heart. After a multi platinum album, three successful hits, a divorce and Malaria; Cheryl is back on the X Factor and ready to launch into her sophomore project with the lead Promise This. After disappearing to the US Nadine is back and is making her own attempt at solo chart success. It's like Geri V Emma all over again, with a touch more predictability, but here we go...
Nadine Coyle - Insatiable
The quality of reality star contestants has really increased over the past decade, back in 2002 it was a different story as then 4 of the 5 members of the winning band in Pop-stars The Rivals were distinctly average. In the early days of Girls Aloud it was very apparent that Nadine was the one supporting the group vocally so it would seem fair to expect her to be the one with the follow up solo career.
After contributing to a horrendous cover of Back For Good with Boys II Men here we have Nadine with her first piece of original material. It's strong, sassy and shows off the strength in her voice; but not that too big a detour from the latter Girls Aloud material. The video for the song just features her singing behind a microphone stand; which is about as exciting as it sounds. I'm just not sure how much good will there is towards her in the UK, the general perception seems to be that she was very much an outside of the band by the latter days preferring to spend her days state side with Jesse McCafferty and Jason Bell; it might be time to get pally again with Cheryl to get that lucrative X Factor slot.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 5
McLovin 11
Actual 26
Cheryl Cole - Promise This
Getting that seat on the judging panel of the X Factor changed it all for our nation's sweet heart. Being watched by 13 million people every weekend gave Cheryl the perfect platform to show her vulnerability, charm and fashion styles. The Cheryl mania reflected in Girls Aloud raised profile before they took their break, then she came out on top with Fight For This Love, which a year on still has its longevity. Initially I couldn't understand why she'd turn down Taio's Break Your Heart but upon reflection it didn't match her image. Each of the singles FFTL, 3 Words and Parachute all portray messages of love and hope; then with Ashley cheating and their very public divorce Cheryl won over any dwindling fans. Even catching malaria kept that ray of light on our golden girl, its like she can do no wrong, I just hope that Cheryl will stay loyal to her country and let Nicole have that seat on the US X Factor judging panel.
Promise This is a nice up tempo piece of pop, the song itself would have been enough to top the chart but just in case it wasn't catchy enough there's a French overlay to get those chavs on board, the song has something for everyone including a very well done video. Combine this with the hype surrounding Cheryl and a guaranteed X Factor performance this song can't go anywhere except to #1 (unfortunately for Rihanna who releases the same day). I don't think it will be able to repeat the success of Fight For This Love but it could well go platinum and provide a good start to the 'Messy Little Raindrops' campaign.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 1
Out of the two tracks I prefer the Cheryl one, but I can imagine Insatiable being played on Radio 2 for years to come. As there's two weeks between the releases it's not exactly a clash for the top (though we know who'd win) but the question will be whether Nadine will be able to dethrone her band mate when the time comes.
It was in the earlier half of last year when we heard the news that Girls Aloud were taking a break after their successful 'Out Of Control' campaign. With that the girls took to their separate ways. Nicola launched a make up range, Sarah featured in the second instalment of 'St. Trinians', Kimberly went in to low budget presenting with Suck My Pop, Nadine opened her Irish Mist in the US and Cheryl stole the nations heart. After a multi platinum album, three successful hits, a divorce and Malaria; Cheryl is back on the X Factor and ready to launch into her sophomore project with the lead Promise This. After disappearing to the US Nadine is back and is making her own attempt at solo chart success. It's like Geri V Emma all over again, with a touch more predictability, but here we go...
Nadine Coyle - Insatiable
The quality of reality star contestants has really increased over the past decade, back in 2002 it was a different story as then 4 of the 5 members of the winning band in Pop-stars The Rivals were distinctly average. In the early days of Girls Aloud it was very apparent that Nadine was the one supporting the group vocally so it would seem fair to expect her to be the one with the follow up solo career.
After contributing to a horrendous cover of Back For Good with Boys II Men here we have Nadine with her first piece of original material. It's strong, sassy and shows off the strength in her voice; but not that too big a detour from the latter Girls Aloud material. The video for the song just features her singing behind a microphone stand; which is about as exciting as it sounds. I'm just not sure how much good will there is towards her in the UK, the general perception seems to be that she was very much an outside of the band by the latter days preferring to spend her days state side with Jesse McCafferty and Jason Bell; it might be time to get pally again with Cheryl to get that lucrative X Factor slot.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 5
McLovin 11
Actual 26
Cheryl Cole - Promise This
Getting that seat on the judging panel of the X Factor changed it all for our nation's sweet heart. Being watched by 13 million people every weekend gave Cheryl the perfect platform to show her vulnerability, charm and fashion styles. The Cheryl mania reflected in Girls Aloud raised profile before they took their break, then she came out on top with Fight For This Love, which a year on still has its longevity. Initially I couldn't understand why she'd turn down Taio's Break Your Heart but upon reflection it didn't match her image. Each of the singles FFTL, 3 Words and Parachute all portray messages of love and hope; then with Ashley cheating and their very public divorce Cheryl won over any dwindling fans. Even catching malaria kept that ray of light on our golden girl, its like she can do no wrong, I just hope that Cheryl will stay loyal to her country and let Nicole have that seat on the US X Factor judging panel.
Promise This is a nice up tempo piece of pop, the song itself would have been enough to top the chart but just in case it wasn't catchy enough there's a French overlay to get those chavs on board, the song has something for everyone including a very well done video. Combine this with the hype surrounding Cheryl and a guaranteed X Factor performance this song can't go anywhere except to #1 (unfortunately for Rihanna who releases the same day). I don't think it will be able to repeat the success of Fight For This Love but it could well go platinum and provide a good start to the 'Messy Little Raindrops' campaign.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 1
Actual 1
Out of the two tracks I prefer the Cheryl one, but I can imagine Insatiable being played on Radio 2 for years to come. As there's two weeks between the releases it's not exactly a clash for the top (though we know who'd win) but the question will be whether Nadine will be able to dethrone her band mate when the time comes.
Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
What a chart topping duo - just a shame about the song...
Spyke
Fifteen years ago pop music experienced one of the biggest break ups of 90s as Robbie Williams left Take That. The four piece continued for another year before calling it a day only to re-unite ten years later with the 'Beautiful World'. In the absence of the band Robbie took over the lime light with a million seller, 6 of the UK's biggest albums ever and a little thing at Knebworth. Since then we've witnessed one of the greatest comebacks ever with Patience, Shine, Greatest Day and the incredible Rule The World. Then whilst touring Europe this summer I heard the news that the band were finally re-uniting as a five piece. Watch out for a post on their first single The Flood when it drops later this year.
In the meantime we have this offering as the two powerhouses of Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow join forces to give us . . . a nice ballad. As the lead from Robbie's upcoming greatest hits it's quite clear this is the track to complete the cycle and show the transition back to re-joining the band. There's some enjoyable harmonising between the two pre-chorus but when my Nanna quoted the song 'Words come easy when they're true' this morning; it just made me think how much of an easy listening radio 2 track the song is. Lets just hope there's better to come from this project.
Then there's the music video: a depiction of Williams and Barlow coming together again which goes a little bit too Broke-back Mountain for my liking.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin -
Actual 2
Spyke
Fifteen years ago pop music experienced one of the biggest break ups of 90s as Robbie Williams left Take That. The four piece continued for another year before calling it a day only to re-unite ten years later with the 'Beautiful World'. In the absence of the band Robbie took over the lime light with a million seller, 6 of the UK's biggest albums ever and a little thing at Knebworth. Since then we've witnessed one of the greatest comebacks ever with Patience, Shine, Greatest Day and the incredible Rule The World. Then whilst touring Europe this summer I heard the news that the band were finally re-uniting as a five piece. Watch out for a post on their first single The Flood when it drops later this year.
In the meantime we have this offering as the two powerhouses of Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow join forces to give us . . . a nice ballad. As the lead from Robbie's upcoming greatest hits it's quite clear this is the track to complete the cycle and show the transition back to re-joining the band. There's some enjoyable harmonising between the two pre-chorus but when my Nanna quoted the song 'Words come easy when they're true' this morning; it just made me think how much of an easy listening radio 2 track the song is. Lets just hope there's better to come from this project.
Then there's the music video: a depiction of Williams and Barlow coming together again which goes a little bit too Broke-back Mountain for my liking.
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin -
Actual 2
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World)
The lead single from 'Loud'
Spyke
Well here it is the eagerly awaitied new single from Rihanna's up and coming album 'Loud'. After the sensational pop album which was 'Good Girl Gone Bad' which was brimming with pop hits (8 of which were singles) Rihanna went for a more mature and darker tone with her last effort 'Rated R'. Despite being an incredible record the album didn't quite gather the mainstream success it deserved so after only 3 (great) singles in the UK we're on to the next project. This album is being described as 'Strong, Sassy and Powerful' and promises to deliver tune after tune as GGGB did.
Only Girl (In The World) is another Stargate production and you can tell they've attempted to recreate a Don't Stop The Music type of track - a great pop hit and club tune. On some levels the track has managed that: it maintains the same high energy and momentum throughout, distinct chorus and epic riffs. After alot of internet hype yesterday as the track premiered globally the track is being hailed as a comeback of sorts (LA Times), returning Rihanna to being a top notch singles artist.
As good as it is this is nothing new, the track could easily be mistaken for a David Guetta product, in particular Kelly Rowland's Commander. Instead of setting the trends Rihanna could now find herself catching the tail end of it: Timbaland had his moment in 2007, Red One whored himself out at the end of last year and now Guetta is dangerously close to sounding monotonous after a string of #1s with Akon, Kelly Rowland, Fergie and Flo Rida.
Rihanna has already had 2 of the biggest hits of the year with Rude Boy and LTWYL which have both sold over half a million and in the top 10 sellers of the year so far, the latter is only a few weeks off being the biggest of the year. However neither of them managed to land her that coveted top spot, will this track have the momentum to get her there or will she stall to give her her 8th #2? I reckon the latter being held off by Cheryl's Promise This
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 2
McLovin 2
Actual 1
Spyke
Well here it is the eagerly awaitied new single from Rihanna's up and coming album 'Loud'. After the sensational pop album which was 'Good Girl Gone Bad' which was brimming with pop hits (8 of which were singles) Rihanna went for a more mature and darker tone with her last effort 'Rated R'. Despite being an incredible record the album didn't quite gather the mainstream success it deserved so after only 3 (great) singles in the UK we're on to the next project. This album is being described as 'Strong, Sassy and Powerful' and promises to deliver tune after tune as GGGB did.
Only Girl (In The World) is another Stargate production and you can tell they've attempted to recreate a Don't Stop The Music type of track - a great pop hit and club tune. On some levels the track has managed that: it maintains the same high energy and momentum throughout, distinct chorus and epic riffs. After alot of internet hype yesterday as the track premiered globally the track is being hailed as a comeback of sorts (LA Times), returning Rihanna to being a top notch singles artist.
As good as it is this is nothing new, the track could easily be mistaken for a David Guetta product, in particular Kelly Rowland's Commander. Instead of setting the trends Rihanna could now find herself catching the tail end of it: Timbaland had his moment in 2007, Red One whored himself out at the end of last year and now Guetta is dangerously close to sounding monotonous after a string of #1s with Akon, Kelly Rowland, Fergie and Flo Rida.
Rihanna has already had 2 of the biggest hits of the year with Rude Boy and LTWYL which have both sold over half a million and in the top 10 sellers of the year so far, the latter is only a few weeks off being the biggest of the year. However neither of them managed to land her that coveted top spot, will this track have the momentum to get her there or will she stall to give her her 8th #2? I reckon the latter being held off by Cheryl's Promise This
Chart Predictions:
Spyke 2
McLovin 2
Actual 1
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Joe McElderry - Ambitions
X Factor winner's debut single (proper) is a stunner
McLovin:
Where did this come from? Nice guy Joe from X Factor 2009, he of toothy grin and geordie accent? His official debut (ignoring the winner's anthem, The Climb) is an absolute beaut. What hits you first is his falsetto singing. It sounds more like a Scissor Sisters song than a Luther Vandross cover (Dance With My Father), which I for one, am entirely in favour of. With a pulsating synthy bassline, the power of the chorus hit you quite unexpectedly. This is a real tingle-down-the-spine song, somehow melancholy and uplifting all at the same time.
Originally a song for Norwegian group Donkeyboy last year, I actually prefer what has been done here, the chorus given added force. Perhaps the lyrics get lost in the mix a bit, but after the inevitable (and deserved) repeated airplay this will get, I'm sure they will soon lodge into everybody's head.
Joe was always going to get a number one single with whatever debut he released: that it's such a great song is a very pleasant surprise.
Chart Predictions:
McLovin: 1
Spyke: 1
Actual:6
McLovin:
Where did this come from? Nice guy Joe from X Factor 2009, he of toothy grin and geordie accent? His official debut (ignoring the winner's anthem, The Climb) is an absolute beaut. What hits you first is his falsetto singing. It sounds more like a Scissor Sisters song than a Luther Vandross cover (Dance With My Father), which I for one, am entirely in favour of. With a pulsating synthy bassline, the power of the chorus hit you quite unexpectedly. This is a real tingle-down-the-spine song, somehow melancholy and uplifting all at the same time.
Originally a song for Norwegian group Donkeyboy last year, I actually prefer what has been done here, the chorus given added force. Perhaps the lyrics get lost in the mix a bit, but after the inevitable (and deserved) repeated airplay this will get, I'm sure they will soon lodge into everybody's head.
Joe was always going to get a number one single with whatever debut he released: that it's such a great song is a very pleasant surprise.
Chart Predictions:
McLovin: 1
Spyke: 1
Actual:6
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Rihanna - Goodbye
Another leak I've stumbled upon...
Spyke
With Rihanna's new album just around the corner, and new single Only Girl (In The World) about to released to radio any day now I've found this new ballad from my favourite artist. Bar her debut, each of her last album has had an epic and emotional ballad; Unfaithful from 'A Girl Like Me', Cry a bonus track on 'GGGB', Take A Bow from the re-release and then we had the great Te Amo and Russian Roulette from the darker 'Rated R'. All of which have racked up impressive playcounts of over 400 each with me!
This track follows the same formula so I wouldn't be suprised if Ne-Yo also wrote this. It begins with a basic piano riff in the background with Rihanna's ice cold tone over the top. It steps up an extra level with the roaring drums building throughout the song before crashing back down to the lone vocal and piano.
I'm not sure if this will feature on her new album which is set for release on the 2nd November, but it would be a nice inclusion as I've had it on repeat all morning.
Spyke
With Rihanna's new album just around the corner, and new single Only Girl (In The World) about to released to radio any day now I've found this new ballad from my favourite artist. Bar her debut, each of her last album has had an epic and emotional ballad; Unfaithful from 'A Girl Like Me', Cry a bonus track on 'GGGB', Take A Bow from the re-release and then we had the great Te Amo and Russian Roulette from the darker 'Rated R'. All of which have racked up impressive playcounts of over 400 each with me!
This track follows the same formula so I wouldn't be suprised if Ne-Yo also wrote this. It begins with a basic piano riff in the background with Rihanna's ice cold tone over the top. It steps up an extra level with the roaring drums building throughout the song before crashing back down to the lone vocal and piano.
I'm not sure if this will feature on her new album which is set for release on the 2nd November, but it would be a nice inclusion as I've had it on repeat all morning.
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