A Year In Pop: 43

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

A Top 3 full of new entries for the first time in...ages! And some other stuff.

[Poll #1079787]

No Pop Open results, by the way, until we've got an acceptable level of votes for the 90s group.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard ANY of these before, having somehow avoided prior discussion on Leona and McFly.

LEONA LEWIS: There's something very 1989 about the production here, it sounds like a Fine Young Cannibals track or something. Leona does a decent job tho - tick.

TAKE THAT: Can I just say how much I hate videos which start with someone walking onto the video set? TIME-POOR CONSUMERS DUDES. Anyway, this is a ballad. Ballads work when they have mentalism or beauty and this is quite pleasant but lacks either. No tick.

MCFLY: Outstandingly rubbish lyrics - come on McFly you can do better than this. See above ballad comments. No tick.

OASIS: LOL@ digital only single release only getting to #10. Rock n roll man. "I got a habit that a cat won't lick"???? In the pub it was pointed out to me that this rly doesnt sound like Liam or Noel singing and is probably IN ALL BUT NAME a Heavy Stereo record. No tick - control yr surprise.

BACKSTREET BOYS: In what sense did they actually 'go away' in order to comeback? It rly is boyband ballad week isnt it. Disappointing lack of heft from the erstwhile masters of the form though. No tick.

N-DUBZ: This is some kind of teenage UK black eyed peas thing...? The fearsomeness of the first kid going on about how he wants to snatch purses is somewhat lessened by the incredibly stupid had in the video. Nasal chorus rly annoying. I want to tick it but no.

SAMIM: OMG AN ACCORDION!! Hurrah! Accordion dub in effect. Summer balearic hit I'm guessing. This is marvellous. BIG TICK. Like a missing Grid hit. Hold on is this minimal??

CHRIS BROWN ft T-PAIN: Modulated voices good, hook OK, borderline tick I think.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

It is minimal! And VERY AWESOME. I posted a link to the video on morehardcrew a few weeks ago. The best bits are where the accordion & the bong-bing noise drop out and it all goes spidery-out-of-phase snare for a few seconds, then BAM straight back to the "Vweeee-werrr, ver-ver-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-VEE-V-V-V-V-V Vweeee-werrr" and so on. Marvellous.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

I am utterly mystified about it. Especially as everyone seems to be raving about it, and I can't understand why.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

When I first heard it I was kind of surprised myself - I liked it but the accordion riff didn't seem to be enough of an earworm a la M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade's 'Body Language'. But it's really grown on me - still slightly amazed and thrilled that a rekkid on GET PHYSICAL is in the top 40!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

The dude is on Get Physical, trendy label owned by M.A.N.D.Y & featuring Booka Shade - much cred there.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'm really impressed that it's become a hit without any sort of sellotaped-on vocal.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Some Leona comments here (http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/460773.html), if anyone missed it.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

The B-side, Forgiveness, which charted separately outside the top 40 (which is a first, apparently) is much better in my opinion, although I have to admit Bleeding Love is really growing on me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qIP91_zNmg&watch_response

Production sounds really dated on both though, which I presume was deliberate.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Contrary to the consensus on Leona I think her voice is a bit rub. In this case, at least, she lets the song down.