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Sunday, January 14, 2007

Jagged Edge - Let's Get Married (Remix)  

Readers who know this band or song may be a little surprised at my posting it, but listen again and imagine it being sung by the Backstreet Boys. Not difficult at all, is it? It would fit right in with Beautiful Woman on Never Gone, although it would slightly confuse fans of Incomplete or Just Want You To Know, and I'm not sure which member would do the rap... maybe 5ive could release it instead. This is a great, catchy song, regardless of genre - it's poppy enough for me. I also seem to remember Samantha Mumba was in one of their videos and dated a Jagged Edge member, who Google tells me is called Brian Casey. Let's Get Married was released in 2000, reaching 11 in the USA but sadly missing the UK charts altogether.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

The Servant - I Can Walk In Your Mind  

This is such a weird song, as all The Servant's songs are, and I'm never entirely sure what to think of the band, but I definitely like this one because I just can't help singing along to the chorus. It's certainly the poppiest thing on their album, which was released to absolutely no interest in the UK (did much better in other countries, I vaguely remember France and Italy) in April 2004, along with a pretty good single called Liquefy. They recently released a second album, How To Destroy A Relationship, but I haven't had chance to hear it yet. Still, I do recommend this infectious track and The Servant in general if you like what you hear.

Siobhan Donaghy - Man Without Friends  

My no.1 fave Sugababe, Siobhan plans to release a second album this year, despite the disappointing lack of success achieved by her first solo CD. She released 2 singles from Revolution In Me (Overrated and Twist Of Fate), but these were just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Siobhan was capable of, and the album beheld some real treats. I like every song on the CD, but this one, along with Iodine and Nothing But Song, is my favourite. It's such a cleverly made song, with great lyrics, making something very natural and refreshing-sounding while still obviously using modern technology. Siobhan is a very original and innovative artist, and it's a total 'up yours' to every condescending male music critic that this comes not only from a pretty young woman but one who began her career in a pop band. I hope her talent will be more widely recognised when she releases more music, but even if not I know those sensible enough to pay her attention will be very excited to have her back.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Robyn - Blow My Mind  

I can't believe I've never posted this song, but I've checked the archives and I really haven't. If you love Robyn's recent self-titled album and the Rakamonie EP, but haven't dug any deeper, then you are in for a big treat. This song is so gorgeous, so light and dreamy, drifting through you but still arresting your mind so you can't think of anything else. Before anyone outside Sweden ever talked about Robyn, I used to listen to this over and over again every time it was sunny enough to sit in the garden of my old house, which was an amazing garden, so full of flowers and colours it looked like it might really explode. But Blow My Mind doesn't remind me so much of that garden or my mid-teen self, as it does the sun - to me it sounds like the sun. I definitely recommend Don't Stop The Music, the album that proceded Robyn, as a great r'n'b-pop album which includes some of Robyn's best ever work.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Sophie Ellis- Bextor - Catch You  

It was all a bit upsetting last night when Sophie's first ever performance of her comeback single began with a broken microphone making the first verse an instrumental, but this didn't stop the song from revealing its extreme brilliance. Sophie is one of the acest people in British pop music, so her return is much needed and a great cause for excitement. I think she's going to have difficulty achieving success, but this song, which could well be her best single ever, suggests she has put aceness before trend-following and has made the music her fans want to hear, rather than trying to fit in with current sounds, which I think would be impossible anyway because she has such a distinct sound. With her husband in one of the biggest and best pop acts of the moment (The Feeling) and her mum about to crucify her career on Just The Two Of Us, let's hope Sophie isn't too busy watching them on TV to appear on it herself.

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