Yet Another Year In Pop: 25

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

We have a new number one - David Guetta and Kelly Rowland bump up from 7th to take the top spot.

[Poll #1419386]

Lower reaches watch: OMG ELEVEN there's a new Blazin Squad single at #51!

Poll reminder: You've got until tomorrow lunchtime to vote in Heat #5 of 2000. Will DMX or Madge make it through? Only YOU can decide their fate!

Comments

[koganbot]

Lots of tries, few cigars.

Take That "Said It All": "You're staring into space at every inch of silence." Verses are work to get through, and standard soaring chorus is not enough of a reward. BORDERLINE NONTICK.

Freemasons f. Sophie Ellis-Bextor "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)": Her proper, detached enunciation is funny* but distracts from a good nervous dance beat. Eventually, though, the track overwhelms the affectation. BORDERLINE TICK.

*Maybe those of you with more experience than I in paying attention to Ellis-Bextor can tell me whether the funniness is intentional.

Paloma Faith "Stone Cold Sober": A sharp-tongued empty-headed singer songwriter dons neo-soul mannerisms and wends her way through an upbeat dance while still allowing herself bouts of moodiness. Has potential, or chops, anyway, but the melody is short of catchiness, and the ambition doesn't transcend the bullshit. BORDERLINE NONTICK.

Jack Penate "Be The One": Disconcertingly, Penate once again commits himself to pop that his voice can't handle. Could be a grower, if the backup singers ultimately triumph over the foreground. BORDERLINE NONTICK.

The Yeah You's "15 Minutes": OK tunes can't break through the clatter. NO TICK.

The Gossip "Heavy Cross": Although this track isn't the shaking behemoth it should be, it shakes all right. I've never seen the Gossip live. Suspect that that's where they unleash their pell mell energy. TICK.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Ellis-Bextor always sounds like that; she's very, very posh.

[koganbot]

Yes, but is this intended to be funny, or is that accidental? (Also, one can be posh without being detached. Or can one?)

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I'm never sure how self-conscious it is; it certainly adds a certain air to her music but I think she's fairly serious or at least can't help it. She's a fairly good natured sort of popstar but even so, I don't think it's meant to be funny.

I think 'posh' as opposed to 'upper class' or whatever suggests a certain detachment. Then again so does the concept of 'popstar.'