There seems to be a mad rush of biggish releases this week, presumably as artists push to chart before the X Factor cinch the #1. Are any of these releases any good? We’re about to tell you.
Do you remember Lloyd Daniels from a few series of X Factor ago? No, neither do we really. Other than the rumours he was dating Danyl Johnson (also from a few series of X Factor ago) he has been largely off the radar. We had no idea he was still interested in music, especially as at the time of his exit he seemed to be content with “just being a model or something”. Anyway, he has a single out this week called ‘Suburbian Girl’ which is very Olly Murs-esque. We’re not convinced by it, but judging by his fans on Twitter there’s a market for him nonetheless.
T-Pain set his vocoder to 11 for this Lily Allen sampled track, ‘5 O’ Clock’ which isn’t wholly dreadful, due largely to the quality of the sample. Wiz Khalifa also crops up for a verse but we’ve been allergic to him since the release of ‘Black & Yellow’ so we couldn’t tell you if he’s any good or not. In other rap quarters, Nicki Minaj dropped her buzz single ‘Roman In Moscow’ to start anticipation for her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Nicki has said that her fans wanted a return to mixtape Nicki, and that’s what she’s tried to deliver. ‘Roman In Moscow’ definitely goes a lot harder than some of the hip-pop stuff on the first album and she has an incredibly varied flow. While Nicki has failed to make as much of a splash here as she has abroad, hopefully that will all change in 2012.
It seems unlikely that Estelle will ever hit the same level of “fame” she achieved with ‘American Boy’ but we’re charmed by ‘Back To Love’, an oddly warm dance-soul number about lessons learned from break ups. We had no idea Estelle was releasing new music until we looked at the schedule today, and we think it’s a shame this track hasn’t been given more visibility as it’s a great tune. Much like ‘Letter To My Ex’ by Tanya Lacey which is also nowhere to be seen in the iTunes Top 200. ‘Letter To My Ex’ has a fantastic classic British R&B sound which is possibly better suited to summer time driving with the top down than shivering cold December days, but we love it regardless.
In the heavyweight corner, it’s impact date for Katy Perry who releases ‘The One That Got Away’ this week. Katy’s chart position here in the UK is merely gravy for the main course - a 6th Billboard #1 and a historic record broken is her aim. It’s currently top 10 Stateside, so expect a remix and collaboration to be forthcoming to give it that final push. By the way, you can see our review of the video here.
That’s our advice to anyone thinking of giving up almost 14 minutes of their life to watch Lady Gaga’s new video for ‘Marry The Night’. Don’t waste your time. Just like the song itself nothing happens until the climax when it ALL GOES OFF.
We’re a little disappointed that the epic dance scene was ruined a bit by editing in other clips, but all in all, we like the franticness.
From 9pm Concrete will turned in to a pop grotto of Christmas cheer for the Love Machine Xmas Party, and you can find out all the details here. If you’re not signed up to our mailer (why not?) you’ll have missed our exclusive Xmas Megamix. This is a shame for you, but because we’re not total Grinches, we’ve compiled this list of tunes that you can expect to hear if you come down to jingle all the way with us tonight.
1. Mariah Carey - ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
OBVIOUSLY.
2. Britney Spears - ‘My Only Wish (This Year)’
It’s the Princess of Pop’s 30th birthday today. We may or may not play this frothy little number 30 times in celebration.
3. S Club 7 - Perfect Christmas
Perfectly seasonal.
4. Jackson 5 - ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’
Is there a better version of this song than the Jackson 5 one? Survey says NO.
5. Wham! - Last Christmas
For the lovers.
6. Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
Festive filth. Let’s falalalala lalalala.
7. Bo Selecta - Proper Crimbo
We needed a novelty tune. It was this or ‘Cheeky Holiday’.
8. Brenda Lee - ‘Rockin Around The Christmas Tree’
Why do we always dance to this like the cardboard cut outs in Home Alone?
9. The Pogues - ‘Fairytale Of New York’ feat. Kirsty MacColl
Who doesn’t shout “you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap, lousy faggot!” louder than all the other lyrics?
10. Elton John - ‘Step Into Christmas’
The admission’s free (well, £4).
11. Wizzard - ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’
Amen.
12. Slade - ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’
The old songs are the best. Everyone knows that - not just grannies.
13. The Waitresses - ‘Christmas Wrapping’
We’ll probably play the Spice Girls version too.
14. Girls Aloud - ‘Christmas Round At Ours’
Just superb.
15. Kylie Minogue - ‘Santa Baby’
Without the horribly cheesy video.
Of course there’ll be the usual banging pop hits thrown in amongst the tinselly goodness and more fun than you can even imagine right now. Meet you under the mistletoe you lovely bunch!
Do you remember the b-side to Girls Aloud’s ‘The Loving Kind’? A slice of creamy electro paradise sung primarily by Kimberley and Nicola, it was released only on the collectable vinyl which understandably riled fans a little bit because who has the means to play vinyls nowadays? It eventually made its way onto a CD as part of the limited-edition-but-not-really Girls Aloud complete singles boxset, and is considered somewhat of a treasure.
To entice people who have already purchased a copy of Nicola Roberts’ album Cinderella’s Eyes into also parting with £1.99 to support the third single ‘Yo-Yo’, Queen Ginge has recorded a solo version of this track and made it a pre-order only exclusive on iTunes. You can listen to a short clip here.
We realise that it is considered somewhat blasphemous to rate any Solo Aloud material above or beyond Together Aloud material, because everyone’s still a little bit unsure exactly where we all stand re: “The Break” and “The Reunion” and the fanbase is just a tad over-protective about their legacy right now… but we have to be honest. And the truth is that Nicola’s solo version of this track is AMAZING and, dare we say (yes we do), better than the original.
Ms. Roberts - we salute you.
Oh wait… that’s Cheryl’s thing. Sorry.
Mariah Carey - ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
