Sunday, May 29, 2005
Robyn - Who's That Girl
Continuing the theme of Swedish popstars and The Knife, here is Robyn's next single, which they produced and it's no suprise that it's absolutely fantastic. Robyn's new album is competing with Bodies Without Organs for my favourite (and the best Europop) album of the year so far, and they're going to be hard to beat because they are two of the strongest pop albums in recent years. Robyn manages to combine cool new directions of electro and hip-hop (both of which she does very well) with the pop style she is known for and the results are exciting and great fun. If you like this and want to hear more, visit Mr Fluxblog who has posted another of the songs from this album, Konichiwa Bitches. Although that one isn't a top favourite of mine it does have great lyrics and shows Robyn's versatility. Also, keep an eye on Stylus where my full review of the album will be up this week.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats
If you liked the Knife song I posted yesterday, then you have to hear this beautiful folky version of the same song. Even if you didn't like The Knife, you will definitely like this because it is quite wonderful. The synths are replaced with classical guitar, but the tempo is no slower, perhaps even faster. It works perfectly in this form and it's not just a good cover, it's a really good song in it's own right. Jose is also Swedish and is tipped to be the next big thing in singer-songwriters - his new album has received top reviews from the British press so his version of Heartbeats may well end up being far more famous than the original. 
Thursday, May 26, 2005
The Knife - Heartbeats
(right click & 'save target as')It's all gone a bit Sweden-mad around here at the moment but I'm sure that's not a problem for anyone as Sweden is the best pop-producing country there is. The Knife are one of Sweden's coolest pop groups and some of the leaders in the current Swedish electro explosion (no wonder they exploded with all the electricity they must be using!). This is my favourite song of theirs, it's quite unusual sounding, kind of electro-reggae-pop, but of course Swedish people are the only ones who can make reggae worth listening to. The Knife have also popped up recently on Robyn's fantastic new album and as you can see from the picture over there they are quite scary.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Antique - Time To Say Goodbye
(Right click & 'save target as')If you're wondering who the heck this Helena woman is triumphing over all at Eurovision, here is your answer. She is out of the Swedish (with Greek origins) duo Antique who represented Greece in Eurovision with Die For You in 2001. This another of their songs and it's my personal favourite. It's extremely catchy and they are a really great band. Other ace Antique songs to look for are List Of Lovers (another very big favourite), Die For You, Opa Opa and Moro Mou.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Kristin Frogner - Stars Above My Head
(left click for video)Kristin Frogner is a new singer from Norway who is better known there for starring as Charlotte in the TV show Hotel Caesar, which may or may not be a bit like Crossroads (I'm only speculating). This is her debut single and I think it is absolutely lovely. She has that typically Norwegian sweet, gentleness, with a bit of a gothic edge in the video as well as some ballet thrown in for good measure. Shockingly, I have just re-visited her site and realised she loves me just as much! Go to the news page and you will see what I mean! Wow, how exciting! In case Kristin/her 'people' are reading this - I'm sorry for posting your song on the Internet but I do want everyone to go out and buy it when it comes out, please.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
BT ft. Rose McGowan - Superfabulous
(Right click and 'save target as' - just a temporary solution so tell me if it's not working)Rose McGowan was in the UK recently promoting that Elvis TV series she's in and she certainly seemed superfabulous in the interviews I saw. She is of course Paige from Charmed and is also known for dating Marilyn Manson (they were engaged). BT is also a name you should know as he was the producer of one of my favourite songs, Pop by 'N Sync. He released his own album Emotional Technology in 2003 on which was featured this song as well as The Force Of Gravity featuring JC Chasez, which is also excellent. This also links to the fact that the male singer on this song was a member of a pop group JC worked with called Boyz 'n' Girlz United - you might remember their song Messed Around from a few years ago. If anyone can work out what they're saying in the background, please tell me! It is a great song - like a less sexual (but even more catchy) version of Freeform 5's Strangest Things. Anyone who liked JC Chasez's solo sound would definitel enjoy this too.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Jentina - Sneakers
(Right click & 'save target as')Since the last Jentina song I posted went down rather well I thought I'd post another unreleased track of hers. When you search for "Jentina Sneakers" on Google, the second result you get is a Dirrrty Pop post from ages ago, so that's weird. Clearly I am her Internet fairy godmother without even realising. Sneakers isn't as good as Mysterious or French Kisses but it is still really quite ace. It was supposed to be on her album which in turn was supposed to be out last September, but of course it didn't happen for her and it now looks like it never will. Here's what Jentina had to say about the album: "It’s got a song called Sneakers, which is about sneakers." Wow, you heard it here first!
Monday, May 09, 2005
Tiger Tunes - (Angry Kids Of The World) Unite
(right click & 'save target as' - let's hope this works!)This song is being given away for free on the Tiger Tunes web site but it's much better than their single so I thought I'd post it here anyway. They are a Danish band who just released their debut album Absolutely Worthless Compared To Important Books in several good places in Europe. This song is like Bis' Tell It To The Kids or something by Baxendale to the gorgeous synths that made The Bravery's Honest Mistake really quite ace. It has great lyrics (we have ways of making you DANCE!), the aforementioned great electronic sounds and loads of fun bits throughout. This band are quite a find!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Belle Perez - Hello World
Here's a very cute little pop song by Belgian pop star Belle Perez. I was surprised to find that she is still going in Belgium, although her latest gig appears to be at a club for the over-50s. This song was covered (to little success, even in her home country of Holland) by Melissa Graham who used to be in Solid HarmoniE. The lyrics are really cheesy but I like it anyway. I can't find it in any of my British Hit Singles books even though I clearly remember her being on UK TV and in several magazines. I guess she must have missed the charts altogetehr or it just wasn't released. Shameful! 
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Ch!pz - 1001 Nights
Fans of Vengaboys and Aqua, rejoice, cos cheesy dance-pop music lives on in Ch!pz! They're a mixed girl/boy band, more on the level of Scooch or ATC than Steps or A*teens, but this song (a Dutch no.1 single from November 2004) is pretty ace nonetheless. The boys resemble Kevin from V and Alistair Griffin, the girls look like the Vengagirls, Kim and Denise. One of them is amusingly named Rach-L - perhaps she influenced KT Tunstall! There is also C!lla, Kev!n (who is sadly not the one who looks like Kevin V, although that would be a bit spooky) and the less imaginatively-named Peter. 
