Lauren Alaina - Like We Never Loved At All

My current tip for the American Idol live shows


Spyke

With all the hype being around the US version of The X Factor I still couldn't resist watching this season's American Idol. With J-Lo's charm and Steven Tyler's spontaneousness I love the chemistry between the judges in the audition room. In this week's episode (4) the final audition in Nashville came from Lauren Alaina, who was singing for her cousin. With her rendition of Like We Never Loved At All she completely won the panel over and got her ticket to Hollywood. At the young age of 15 this girl is bursting with talent and I can't wait to see how she'll progress.

You can't beat shows like this for introducing you to great pop/country hits you've missed along the way (see Adele's Make You Feel My Love). Faith Hill is most popularly known for her contribution to the Pearl Harbour Soundtrack in the form of There You'll Be, however this track is a nice little gem. It peaked at #5 on the US Country Chart and #45 on the Hot 100 but I imagine Celine Dion could have mustered a global hit out of this at the peak of her career.

Matt Cardle - When We Collide

Our review of the year ends not with a bang, but a pretty high pitched whimper...

McLovin

I really liked Matt Cardle during the auditions for the X Factor, but once he lost THAT hat, it all went a bit downhill for me. His growly Come Together was equally painful and hilarious ('what do you mean, I don't look so good in a vest??'), and his sultry Rihanna-seducing was wrong on so many different levels. I was always going to be upset if anyone but Cher Lloyd won the show, but did it really have to be yet another dull male singer?

For all that, his renamed-cover of Biffy Clyro's Many of Horror is solid enough, and probably my favourite X Factor winner song choice since Shayne Ward's That's My Goal (I'm not really sure what the general consensus is on the latter, but I think it's great!). PopJustice nail it with Matt Cardle though, repeatedly describing him as 'serious 'n' authentic'. I get the underlying sense he feels above the whole X Factor thing, and that his win is a victory for 'real' music, whatever that is. It'll be interesting to see if he has any sort of post-X Factor career, as he's the most vocal 'I'm gonna write my own songs' winner since Steve Brookstein (which did not end well). His lead single proper will be absolutely crucial.

I'll leave you with an alternative winner's song courtesy of One Direction. Apparently their debut single will be out 13th March which seems ridiculously early - it would be a shame to rush-release something just to cash in quickly.

The X Factor Finalists - Heroes

Every year I hope this doesn't happen...but it does



Spyke

It seems like this year's X Factor was much more geared towards causing as much controversy as possible to get those top viewing figures. So acts like Katie and Wagner were making their way through towards the final when unfortunately, Aiden Grimshaw and Gamu didn't quite make it as far. This just fuels the contention that the show was filling our charts with manufactured pop.

Not that I'm complaining about the show's contribution; as I'd quite happily see Rihanna rack up the #1s after her performances on the show. Pop has always been manufacturing chart acts, obviously not on quite such a grand and public scale, so what's the fuss? My issue is when Simon Cowell decides to send his second poorly constructed charity cover of the year to #1. I can't criticise the cause but it just all seems so lazy, at least last year Mariah came over to promote her cover.

It managed to hold on to the top spot for two weeks towards the end of the year, and the only silver lining I can see is that it stopped Ellie Goulding topping the charts with another 'untouchable' classic. Anyway I've managed to avoid listening to this treat all the way through until now but here goes....

... Well it's better than I thought it would be to be honest, though the epic key change and dramatic silence at the start of the video were just too much! Don't think it will get a second play from me but I do think it's a good indication of who's got the potential to make and sell records -

Aiden, Matt and Cher - all sound great on the track

Rebecca, Paije and Mary - sound good but are looking at a very niche market

One Direction - pleasant, but let's face it, their voices aren't their biggest selling point.

I felt indifferent to TreyC and Belle Amie's contributions but at least I didn't hate them like Katie's part. As for the other 6 finalists the fact they had 'minimal' parts speaks volumes.

Bring on the one for 2011...

Cee Lo Green - Fuck You/Forget You

Fun fact: Bruno Mars co-wrote this smash!

McLovin

Like leap years and the Olympic Games, Cee Lo Green hits come once every four years. In 2006, he was one half of Gnarls Barkley alongside Dangermouse, with Crazy spending nine weeks at the summit. In 2010 he went it alone, with this retro-cool single and splendid video.

It makes sense that for radio friendliness, the song's title could be gently reworked to gain solid airplay (and achieve a group X Factor performance). But I think something quite interesting happens with the word change. 'Fuck you' is like saying goodbye with your middle finger up - in other words, you're still hurting like hell. While 'forget you' seems more upbeat, and you're ready to move on.

I loved this instantly but, much like Crazy, its ubiquitous nature means that its appeal has gradually worn off for me. However, I still think the middle eight is extraordinary. 'Now baby, baby, baby, why you wanna wanna hurt me so bad?' Cee Lo sings, halfway between a screech and a cry. 'And I'm like UH! Why? UH Why?? UH WHYY Laadddy!?!....I LOVE YOU, I STILL LOVE YOUUU OHHHH!'. In his falsetto wailing, he manages to encapsulate all the grief, anguish and utter vulnerability that a devastating heartbreak can cause. That he performs it in such a comic manner downplays this and keeps the bouncy tone going into the final chorus. But every time I listen to it, it's the part I'm most looking forward to hearing.

See you in 2014 Mr. Green!

Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are

Did not see this happening...



Spyke

This has been a post I have been meaning to write since July, and a mere 6 months later - I'm finally doing it. In my opinion this track has received some unprecedented phenomenal success. Back whilst it was hovering around #24 on US itunes my source of all US chart geekyness POP! tipped this for the top. Hence my surprise when it topped the chart here several months later. Matt Cardle's X Factor performance of the track a month later saw it reach weekly sales of over 100k and became the only track of the year to reach the summit twice. With 6 weeks of incredible sales there's no wonder this was our 3rd biggest selling single of the year. Plus with its current tally just above 800k this will no doubt clear the million mark in the next couple of years.

With a thumping bass drum resounding like a beating heart, Bruno proceeds to flatter the girl with plenty of words of woe. However there's always a danger of tracks like that this, that you can begin to associate them with your partner/crush. Then you tread a fine line as to whether the track ultimately reminds you of tarnished or treasured memories. Fortunately that hasn't happened for me (yet) and the track has established itself as a pop classic.

Alexandra Burke - Start Without You

Almost Career Suicide



Spyke

Originally leaking at the start of June, when I played it to my friend Jacqui we were convinced it was some kind of joke. Many speculated about the sample which sounded just SO familiar, which actually came from Iko Iko. Judging by what they were trying to do with the first attempt of the music video (above) I don't think you'd have been judged for thinking they were just trying to see how quickly they could completely destroy her career. With Alexandra this featured another unnecessary artist in the form of Laza Morgan who adds absolutely nothing to the record bar some inaudible rapping.

Leaving it even longer, between leak and release, than even JLS tend to - three months later this was released and spent two whole weeks atop our charts (robbing Teenage Dream of the position), ending what was beginning to look like a endless list of one week #1s. This is definitely THE most annoying song of 2010, whilst working before my return to Uni this was played at least hourly in the restaurant. It is catchy but literally it's the last thing you want stuck in your head when you're trying to get to sleep.

It's a shame this didn't get a Brit Award nomination for 'Single Of The Year' over All Night Long as it really would epitimize what a dire selection of songs we've got to choose from (bar Dynamite and Pass Out, the latter of which will probably win).

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

Duffy v Adele 2011 - No Contest



Spyke

With the Brit Award nominations being released earlier this week, I can't help but share my disapproval of their new Critics Choice award which is going to Jessie J. Obviously we can't rely on the X Factor to clutter our charts with British artists but it seems like there's too much pressure put on them and us as to 'this is whose music you will buy over the next few months'.

Had Adele not won the award, released the horrific Chasing Pavements and come across as a less appealing Duffy then I'm sure I would have warmed to her sooner. Hometown Glory is beautiful and with Cold Shoulder's powerhouse vocals there's no wonder the US also took a shine to her following her performance on SNL, which was accompanied by a Grammy Award.

Make You Feel My Love has had a fantastic chart run with the X Factor and Dancing On Ice sending the track bounding back to the top 10 on several occasions. So all the pieces are falling into place for the launch of her sophomore follow up campaign '21'. Rolling In The Deep is already being hailed as a pop classic and what's more radio 1 can't seem to promote this track enough so it looks set to be a sure fire shot for #1 when it gets released tomorrow (unless those Britney release date rumours are true).

Chart Predictions:
Spyke 1
McLovin 2
Actual 2

The second track to be premiered from the album is titled Someone Like You and is an absolutely beautiful song which has actually stopped me from listening to Hold It Against Me on repeat. The sincere ballad depicts Adele's heart-wrenching reflection upon a ex-partner who's moved on. This track getting rotation surely bodes well for one of the most anticipated albums in the first quarter of the year.

The Wanted - All Time Low

Boyband of the year?

McLovin

I've already spoken about my unnatural love for The Wanted, a love which my sister describes as 'sincere', others less generously calling it 'a bit strange' and 'slightly perverse'. No matter - I shall continue my unabashed fondness for the group which all began with this single. Craig first showed me the video, with my initial thoughts being 'is that the warehouse they shot Blue's All Rise and JLS's Beat Again in?' and 'I like the flares'. I didn't think all that much of it. More than six months later, who'd have known it would become such an important song to me?

The strings open the song in a classy fashion, hinting at Coldplay's Viva La Vida as inspiration, but becoming something far superior. What makes it so great is its balance between repetition and development. Lyrics are constantly repeated (Praying won't DO IT, Hating won't DO IT, Drinking WON'T DO IT!), creating that sensation of being stuck in a particular mindset you can't get out of (the all time low, if you will). But it carefully builds momentum: the beat doesn't come in until the second verse, and by the time we get the full on ravey synthy middle bit through to the finale, it's as though only a small explosion will transform this negative state of mind.

I went absolutely bonkers when I got to see them perform this, jumping around and singing every word as the crowd around me (mostly teenage girls) pointed and laughed at me. But it was their loss - All Time Low is a fantastic song, and I feel very lucky I got the chance to see it live. And yes, there were plenty of flares!

Yolanda Be Cool vs D Cup - We Speak No Americano

The sound of so many people's summer



Spyke

I was quite surprised to see this top the chart. It doesn't do much for me, but this proved very popular this summer. Whilst working over the holidays this track would always get a great reception when it came on the radio in the kitchen, causing both chefs and the front of house staff to have a nice little dance around.

The fact that it is just over 2 minutes long is one of its redeeming features, as it's not long to endure through. This track joins the likes of Sidney Samson's Riverside and Professor Green's I Need You Tonight as big hits of the year I just don't get, at least the latter two didn't make it to #1.

B.o.b. Feat Hayley Williams - Airplanes

So here's the follow up to B.o.b.'s trans-atlantic #1 smash 'Nothin On You'. It features Paramore's lead singer Hayley Williams.




Spyke
Definitely one of my favourite tracks of the year so far, and one of my most played, could it be one of the biggest sales wise too? Much like T.I.'s more popular singles from his last album Paper Trail, the thing which makes this track stand out is the good rapping and the incredible chorus; despite being quite subtle the chorus is sung by Hayley Williams in an emotional tone. This is the 1st time we've seen the lead singer from Paramore venture away from her band but it will be interesting to see whether they'll perform this absolute smash whilst touring. Also taking inspiration from the success of 'Empire State Of Mind' we have a pt.II which I feel builds on the original and features Eminem; who is showing that he is finally back on form making a great 'Recovery', but watch out for a later post on this...

Chart Predictions
Spyke: 3
McLovin: 2
Actual: 1

JLS – The Club Is Alive

The new JLS single, beginning their second album launch.

McLovin

Craig and I heard a minute of this in May- the tail end of the first verse, the bridge and the whole chorus – and were extremely excited to hear the rest of it. When the full track was released a few days later, our only disappointment was the lack of variation. The verses sound pretty much identical, aside from each member getting their own lines. Apart from this, The Club Is Alive is a fantastic comeback single. Let’s get the obvious things out of the way – Autotune and American slang. Complaints about these features seem to have been the biggest problem people have with the song. In the band’s defence, they aren’t the first group to use Autotune this year and won’t be the last. Perhaps it is used slightly too enthusiastically, but I don’t find it that much of a problem. The objection to women being described as ‘shawties’ is more understandable but replicating American RnB is hardly a new direction for JLS. The most British they have been in the past is performing a Beatles medley on The X Factor, which was a bit of a disaster.

What hasn’t been remarked on as much is how audacious it is to lift the chorus from The Hills Are Alive. The most recent example of using The Sound of Music in a pop song is Gwen Stefani’s number 3 hit Wind It Up from 2006, which used the yodeling The Lonely Goatherd. The JLS track isn’t as daring as that song, but maybe this is an advantage. Whereas it was difficult to get passed the yodeling on Stefani’s song, after a few listens it’s easy to forget where The Club Is Alive’s chorus has been taken from. What we are left with is a suitable epic and exciting production, a great start to their new campaign and a guaranteed third number one.

Spyke
What can I say about this track that hasn't already been said; it was possibly a risky choice of sample of paper but actually works quite well within the track, you can just see how much this band have come on since their days on the X Factor and even their first album. I think leaving the track 2 months between leaking and getting a release could have backfired here slightly as it's taken quite the tumble down the chart in it's second week; a month would have been enough as it seems such a long time ago I had this song on repeat. I imagine the follow up single should drop soon and then followed by the album later in time for Christmas - but unless they do something wrong I can't see either missing the #1 spots.

Chart Predictions:
McLovin: 1
Spyke: 1
Actual: 1

Katy Perry Feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls

Globally the biggest single of 2010!



Spyke

What a fantastic year it has been for Katy Perry; both chart wise and with her marriage to Russell Brand (which I don't see the appeal of at all). California Gurls, with its incorrect spelling and all, managed to sell fantastically over the summer to become the 8th biggest seller of 2010. In my opinion it's completely overrated and my least favourite release of hers of the year. The other four releases all hit the top 3 and sold enough to make Katy the third biggest selling act of the year - Glee came second and Rihanna ran away with the title with sales topping 3 million.

My Katy Perry Singles Ranking of 2010:

1 Firework (3)
Absolutely brilliant! This held the title of most played track on my new laptop for a long time and is a epic feel good track which sees Katy shooting fireworks from her cleavage in the video.

2 Teenage Dream (2)
Was robbed of being a #1 by Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke, the track is a very fitting follow up to CG and really grows on you. The video helped Katy make her way upto #3 on my hottest girls chart (behind Rihanna & Megan Fox) and she'd be my teenage dream if I was still in my teens.

3 Starstrukk [with 3OH!3] (3)
I dread to think what all this wrong spelling is doing for kids! I loved the track prior to Katy being added to the single mix, it's just so much better for seeing her play around in a fountain in the video.

4 If We Ever Meet Again [with Timbaland] (3)
Timbaland's Shock Value II was underwhelming but this single helped salvage the campaign.

5 California Gurls (1)
I think when three girls came out of the club opposite my house last year singing this and got stuck after 'California Girls...' it emphasised how it's a nice track but very forgettable. It lacks the strong hooks that I Kissed A Girl and Hot N Cold provided so successfully in 2009.

Shout For England Feat. Dizzee Rascal & James Cordon - Shout

Not quite three lions, is it?

McLovin

The World Cup in South Africa 2010 was one of my highlights of the year. With the tournament kicking off two days after I'd finished my degree, most of the matches took place in a blissful three week post-exam pre-results bubble of happiness. I could legitimately indulge in watching three football matches a day guilt free. In fact, I loved the tournament so much I bought this little fellow (Zakumi's the name!) so I had a memento to remind me of it when it was all over.

Shout For England, however, is the dark cloud over my otherwise supremely rose tinted memories. Its monotonous, aggressive style ('come and have a go if you think you're 'ard enough!') is bad for starters. But what makes it worse is it seems to perfectly reflect England's appalling performances. Tedious, lazy and agonising, if any England team deserved a rubbish anthem, this one did. James Cordon, most famous for his comedy performances, makes no attempt to add humour to the proceedings (maybe a small blessing), while Dizzee makes it two awful number ones in a row. With Simon Cowell the mastermind behind this track's existence, it's a tussle over whether Helping Haiti for Shout For England will become 2010's least remembered or liked number ones.

When people look back on this World Cup, Shout will hopefully not be the song that reminds them of it. That crown is shared by K'naan's wonderful Waving Flag and Shakira's Waka Waka (This Time For Africa). I know they're the ones I'll listen to when I'm in a reminiscing mood. That, or I'll just order a vuvuzela from Ebay.

David Guetta & Chris Willis Feat. Fergie & LMFAO - Gettin Over You

 Guetta's 3rd #1 from the same album



Spyke

Prior to the release of Guetta's 'One Love' album this track sent to itunes in its original form with just Chris Willis, but didn't hit the top 40. A friend of mine tipped it as future hit, I was a bit sceptical and introduced him to the far superior Sexy Bitch. Little did I realise that a year later, with a quiet sales week and the addition of Fergie and LMFAO, he'd be right and this would also top the charts.

It was a case of being released at just the right time, with sales less than 50k the week almost saw the return of B.o.b and Bruno Mars at the top as they were only a measly 1,274 copies behind making it one of the tightest contests for the top of the year.

The track featured heavily on my summer jogging playlist alongside The Club Can't Handle Me, Beautiful Monster and Green Light. It feels very reminiscent of that that period of uni, but I can't say I've had the urge to listen to it since. I think track marks the beginning of the demise of Guetta's reign on the charts, Timbaland and Red One had their moments and now I think Guetta might have had his. His full power party production style works well on tracks like Who's That Chick and Sexy Bitch but he's on the cusp of it becoming too generic.

Dizzee Rascal - Dirtee Disco

DISCO! DISCO! DISCO! DISCO!

McLovin

This was Dizzee's fourth chart topper in three years as he extended his reach to all parts of the mainstream. After Dance Wiv Me (poppy) Bonkers (dancey) and Holiday (trancey), disco seemed the last dancefloor space he had left to fill. The lyrics are upbeat and demonstrate Dizzee's ease with his transition from critically acclaimed mercury prize-winning grime artist to commercial blockbuster festival-filling pop star.

But there's something a bit laboured about the whole production. The strings seem like a pastiche of what disco should sound like and while the video is amusing, it emphasises the wedding disco cringyness of it all. This is a perfect example of a song reaching the top because of the artist releasing it, rather than whether the song is actually any good. Still, at least it meant Daniel Pierce, who never got to number one as a member of One True Voice, finally had his shot at the big time singing the chorus (bit mean of Dizzee not to credit him as a featured artist though!).

Rihanna - S&M

Set to be single #3 from Loud



Spyke

With Only Girl (In The World) blowing up all over the globe, and What's My Name hot on its heels I can't wait to hear the rest of 'Loud'. Rumoured to be the third single from the project (ignoring the buzz Who's That Chick), this track has the potential to be the Rude Boy of 2011. Following the success of Alicia's ESOM Part 2 I wouldn't be surprised if the UK got LTWYL Part 2 early next year but there's no doubt as to whether this will get a release. Rihanna has already stated that the plan is to release this with an 'unexpected' music video next year.

Stargate and Sandy Vee team up with Rihanna to produce this fantastic track. Norwegian Stargate are responsible for gems such as Rude Boy, Beautiful Monster and Take A Bow. Frenchman Sandy Vee by contrast is relatively unknown, however from just listening to his input on this track you won't be suprised to hear that he produced Only Girl (In The World) and Akon's Sexy B*tch. Combining the club beats from both is a recipe for success.

S&M is all about the sexual pleasures of inflicting and receiving pain, and this song isn't too subtle in talking about it. With lyrics such as 'Sticks and Stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me' and 'sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it' I can see a few parents disapproving of their young children going around naively singing it. This track is energetic, catchy and even filthier than Rude Boy - of course it will be a massive hit!

Chart Predictions:
Spyke 2
McLovin 4
Actual 3