A Year In Pop: 44

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Bit early for Cliff, isn't it?

[Poll #1083802]

Comments

[miss-newham.livejournal.com]

Nonsense, it's always time for Cliff!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Craig David and Avril Lavigne are OK I guess but nothing wildly exciting - Avril in particular, why isn't she releasing any of the bratty punky songs off her album? You'd think that the success of 'Girlfriend' would have inspired her to go down that route rather than slow/midtempo love songs. To be honest I really haven't gone back to any of The Best Damn Thing though after loving it for about a week.

What IS exciting is ALICIA KEYS - god I love this song right now! I dunno what's happened to her voice, it's a lot raspier and she misses a few more notes than in the past (I mean, compare it to the sheer clarity of 'Fallin') but it's still wonderfully effective. I'm trying to remember if there were rumours of Alicia being a lesbian a few years ago or whether my brain just MADE IT UP for no reason? If she is it'd add a nice frisson to this song! Anyway those sudden OH-OH-OH-OH-OHs at the end are one of the pop moments of the year, powerful and liberated stuff.

Not even going to bother with the others, mumbled curses to their fans. I'll single Robyn, who I see has returned to her usual insufferably pert self, out for particular ire because that she'll probably win this ahead of Alicia. ROLLEYES.

[datura800.livejournal.com]

There as an interview with Alicia on BBC News last week where they asked her if she had a 'boyfriend or girlfriend' and she says she has a boyfriend.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Westlife - well I've heard MUCH worse from the 'loife, but the way Shane smirks at the camera whenever he sings ANY line still grates on me, like he could be singing in Mandarin for all he cares.

Elvis - I've always liked this one. Tick.

Koopa - these are those unsigned chaps who are now signed, aren't they? Clearly not signed enough to put more than 30 secs of their new song on Youtube. Uninspiring indie rock.

Robyn - It's Robyn in a box! Lovely electro pop with angry eyebrows.

Craig David - Yay! Great sample, well executed. More comments here (http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/451313.html). Tick!

Alicia - I saw this on telly a few weeks ago and was unimpressed enough that I can't be arsed to go and look this up again.

Eliot Minor - Oh joy, another band that sounds like The Offspring. Without the sense of humour. However the ska-piano bit in the middle is reasonable but can't save the dirge-y chorus.

Avril - the video to this is bonkers (http://youtube.com/watch?v=8alyqnPyyvI) & well worth a watch. A confusing song this, the chorus and verse seem totally incompatible, really awkward transitions between them. OMG I've just realised she is sounding more and more like Alanis Morrisette! Nowhere near as awesome as 'Girlfriend' but worth a tick, definitely.

Cliff - Awww bless (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cR7mDaV7V1I), Cliff has been stood up for a date so has made use of the studio to make a montage of the 'new recordings' from his album incl an AWESOME version of 'If You're Not The One' by Daniel Bedingfield! The single is rub but I'm going to give him a tick for encouragement as these covers are brilliant.

Cribs - Indie band in failing to make interesting music from standard guitar set-up shocker. Grating vocals, dull melody, EXTREMELY off-putting video. No tick.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

this may be the first elvis i've tickied, but it IS viva las vegas...

[whalefish.livejournal.com]

I think I saw Koopa play at a rainy rock festival in Dagenham this year. They had an audience of a few 12 year olds in black Koopa hoodies (plus myself), and had the plug pulled on them after ten minutes because a band member said a rude word into the mic. They were cack.

Lower echelons

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Download fans may be interested to know that Jacko's 'Thriller' is lurking at number 57, Ray Parker Jnr's 'Ghostbusters' has entered at number 70, and Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' has been sighted at number 92...

[koganbot]

Robyn "Handle Me" - "Pert and insufferable" is actually a real good description of Robyn. AND I LOVE HER FOR IT. She has a winning way of acting like, oh, aren't I so cute, I just clawed out your eye. This is a terrific song. GIGANTO TICK

Avril Lavigne "Hot" - Her voice is so knowing, and she sounds snide, somehow, in the way that she'd, you know, making all these come-ons. I'm sure it's not deliberate. Good twist in the melody, easy TICK.

Alicia Keys "No One" - If I heard it more it might grow on me. My problem with it is that it's all one single emotion, which weakens its impact over three minutes. I have this problem with Nelly Furtado and Rihanna, too, they seem to only do one emotion per song, but they have more melodies in their songs, while Alicia's seem to be tour de force performances, but that's why I'm wanting more variation from her voice. Borderline nontick.

Craig David "Hot Stuff Let's Dance" - Like the overlay on the Bowie but wanted more power on top. Could grow on me. Borderline nontick.

Westlife "Home" - This isn't so bad, the thing is either a ballad hits me or it doesn't, and this is in the doesn't category, even though they do it well. Definite but not hate-filled nontick.

Elliot Minor "The White One Is Evil" - Totally catchy emo-pop tune here, and his white dorkboy voice holds up for a couple of minutes but by the end I'm not feeling it. No tick for the devil.

Cliff Richard "When I Need You" - Classic song originally recorded by I've totally forgotten whom. Cliff's voice is too old. Nontick.

Koopa "The Crash" - Oh if he could sing this'd be all right, like that mid-'90s novelty hit by Primus or someone. Tickless.

Cribs "Don't You Wanna Be Relevant" - Indie powerpop sound, but the voice is rougher than I'd expected but not in a good way. No Tick