Roo.
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Post by Roo. on Aug 28, 2013 15:27:13 GMT 1
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vastar iner
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I am the poster on your wall
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Post by vastar iner on Aug 28, 2013 17:20:59 GMT 1
"Just Can't Get Enough" was one of the most obnoxious records ever. Not for the song or the production or anything like that, but it was meant to be a charity record, promoting Comic Relief, and there was absolutely nothing comic about it. It was an ordinary straight cover.
So The Saturdays exploited starving children to promote themselves.
Repulsive.
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Post by Earl Purple on Aug 30, 2013 8:42:13 GMT 1
Wallis Bird also covered Just Can't Get Enough. We are now in 2009 which is the year Wallis Bird got to #1 in my chart, and I recall her cover of this song was just a little bit earlier than this one.
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Sept 11, 2013 18:06:43 GMT 1
4TH APRIL- DON'T UPSET THE RHYTHM (GO BABY GO)- The Noisettes (2 wks)Rather curious one this. I was almost bored with it before it was released thanks to its use in adverts for "Mazda" throughout much of 2009 which made millions familiar with it before it hit the charts. What's rather curious about it is that, for me, the verses have always been considerably better than the verse, the bridge is just DIVINE! She's also got a rather distinctive and unusual voice and it altogether a rather nice pop package, if only it wasn't for that chorus! Whilst it's earworm friendly its also rather annoying and there's something just a bot lazy about it- I can't describe it any other way I'm afraid, perhaps that advert just scarred me pre release?!
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Post by greendemon on Sept 11, 2013 18:20:21 GMT 1
i dunno, i never liked it as much as their earlier stuff (the first album had some great songs...)
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Sept 11, 2013 18:28:11 GMT 1
25TH APRIL- IN FOR THE KILL- La Roux (4 wks)First of all I'll fully concede that Elly Jackson has a vocal like marmite, and the video is redefining the word "Cheap" certainly in a 2009 sense, but for all those handicaps "In For The Kill" is still FANTASTIC. Playing on the zeitgeist for reviving the 80s, the stripped down production and that tinny synth line evoke Soft Cell and Visage (oldies are dutifully offended at the comparison I dare say) but it's all about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery here. If anything, the success of this in 2009 shows as testament to not only the fantastic sound created by the synthpop movement in the early 80s but also to its timelessness. I also recall there be nothing quite like this, or that vocal, in the charts of 2009 so even if you don't like the song we can at least be giving them credit for doing something slightly leftfield. "Bulletproof" would of course expand on their musical influences later in 2009 and make La Roux one of the breakthrough acts of the year, and listening back now it's still a cracker, though rather for what it apes rather than what it is itself....
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Post by greendemon on Sept 11, 2013 18:41:23 GMT 1
better! now that was a great song.
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vya
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Post by vya on Sept 11, 2013 20:46:27 GMT 1
I suppose I almost count as an oldie now (38). As a kid I loved Soft Cell, early OMD, and other electronic music of that genre, and I can't see anything wrong or inappropriate or invalid about comparing La Roux with her 1981 precursors - there are obvious similarities in sound, and, she's a quality act. I'd not really considered her voice as being "marmite" before -- but actually, you're right, it clearly is. While she has hardly been prolific, I don't think I've heard a single of hers I didn't like.
As for the Noisettes, that track is OK, but "Never Forget You" was for me their standout track - really excellent.
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Roo.
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Post by Roo. on Sept 11, 2013 20:55:06 GMT 1
How Never Forget You wasn't a number one single baffles me to this day, especially since Don't Upset The Rhythm isn't nearly as good. In For The Kill grew on me over time, I hated it when it was out.
Did La Roux ever do a second album? I really don't remember.
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Post by greendemon on Sept 12, 2013 19:25:12 GMT 1
i think there's one in the pipeline...
they're definitely still around - their new guitarist (as of march) is an ex-colleague of my boyfriend's!
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borneoman
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love is tough, when enough is not enough
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Post by borneoman on Sept 13, 2013 10:12:16 GMT 1
La Roux need to make a comeback... soon!!
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Post by Earl Purple on Sept 13, 2013 11:09:10 GMT 1
"Never Forget You" was my #1 UK top 40 hit of the entire year of 2009. And yet it didn't actually reach #1 in my weekly chart. (It was my highest placed #2 of the year). They did get to NM #1 in 2012 with "That Girl".
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Sept 28, 2013 20:30:10 GMT 1
11TH JULY- MAN IN THE MIRROR- Michael Jackson (1 Wk)Quite why this song was the main beneficiary of Jackson's death in June 2009 will forever remain a mystery, it was hardly one of signature hits (in the UK at least) having made a paltry No 21 when it was released in 1988 making it the worst performing hit from the "Bad" album possibly due to the lack of a "promo" as such. Neither is it thematically unusual (start caring about the Earth/ change your ways) though it's certainly less sickly than other tracks in the same vein, "Heal The World" for instance, yet here it is. So this is the pop world's farewell to Jacko, a man who undoubtedly influenced a generation and altered the limits of what was visually possible in the pop promo, he is along with Madonna one of the pioneers of the genre when MTV was in its infancy, his influence can still be seen in the likes Justin Timberlake, JLS, Jason Derulo and many a boyband thereafter. What we recall him for, the dancing, the eccentric behaviour, the creativity, the pop promo's were all essentially from 5 years 82-87 when he was surely the most famous man on the planet, what he did after were in reality more or less better or worse re-treads of this era so perhaps its fitting that something from that era be used t mark his passing. I never been particularly found of "Man In The Mirror", it isn't bad but it sounds too preachy and full of empty hyperbole to really the hit spot, it's worth noting that this is actually one of the few singles not to be at least co-written by him so I don't hold him responsible for it lyrically, but I suppose as a last stand to the singer a grand gesture seems at least a little appropriate, to that extent does the record matter?
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Sept 28, 2013 20:39:02 GMT 1
1ST AUGUST- SUPERNOVA- Mr Hudson Featuring Kanye West (1 wk)Actually a good record! Kanye doesn't feel welded onto the song in order to generate some sales with some pointless rap, the chorus is clearly head and shoulders above the verses, but the bridge doesn't disappoint and the verses don't stink, and there's even a cameo in the video from Estelle who had a bit of spare time by 2009. The only thing that feel slightly "clunky" is that drum machine in the verse which I've never been keen on. The chorus however saves it all, soaring majestically out of the blue, full of tension, even if it is slightly auto tuned but all in all I'd forgotten just how marvellous this is.
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Post by thehitparade on Sept 28, 2013 20:48:44 GMT 1
For such a big hit at the time, 'Supernova' seems massively forgotten even a few years later. Did Mr Hudson fall out with Kanye or something? He seems to be trying to make his own way again.
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borneoman
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love is tough, when enough is not enough
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Post by borneoman on Sept 30, 2013 21:20:00 GMT 1
when Jacko died, which was the highest re-entry in the US??? was it also Man in the Mirror??? (Just wondering)
I think it's not a bad song, not his greatest but it didnt deserve the original #21 peak, which I think was releted to the lack of videoclip
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Oct 5, 2013 17:52:49 GMT 1
12TH SEPTEMBER- GET SEXY- The Sugababes (1 wk)One of the great things about the Sugababes was the seeming ease with which they seemed cool, an urban Girls Aloud with slightly more clothes, the all saints to GA Spice Girls, and of course that their singles were classy, so it is with sadness that I come to review "Get Sexy". Borrowing from Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" this is a song without soul, a shameless attempt to cash in on recent dance trends and production and to strip anything of their personalities out of the song, their previous ability to make trends look naturally part of their repertoire halts here and this whole thing seems a tad boring and altogether contrived and forced. The girls of course try to sell it but their hearts don't seem to be in it and indeed Keisha's departure was only weeks away, but this is a sad end to Sugababes Mk II. It is all about the style over the substance and the verse is sadly weak, a record sold doubtless on the name of the act rather than merit, and even the name can't sell much these days......
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Oct 5, 2013 18:24:44 GMT 1
10TH OCTOBER- EMPIRE STATE OF MIND- Jay Z Featuring Alicia Keys (1 wk)OK, rap isn't a genre that I feel I can review with confidence, having said that I'm obliged to and to be honest I don't half mind this tune if only for the fact that Alicia Keys lifts the track into something approaching greatness. Naturally I prefer her solo version but I think I was first won over to Jay Z's charm on "Ghetto Anthem" back in 1998 but in between I can't say I paid too much attention other than his work with Beyoncé. His anthem to New York featured a sample from The Moments "Love on a Two Way street" and all in all it seemed to hang around FOREVER probably more to do with Keys' solo version which came out in early 2010 but all in all not bad at all.
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Oct 15, 2013 20:19:25 GMT 1
17TH OCTOBER- FOREVER IS OVER- The Saturdays (1 wk)I didn't realise this was co-penned by ex-Busted member James Bourne! Anyway iTunes tells me that I'm quite a fan of The Saturdays though I find them VERY hit and miss, but when they get it right ("Ego""Higher", "Up") they do with conviction and verve, this isn't quite in that category. Don't get me wrong, its entirely passable pop which dips its toe into a rockier feel than they had hitherto gone with some mixed success, I think the route of the problem is that it doesn't quite know what it wants to be and thusly it becomes harder to "sell". Perhaps this is indicative of the problem with the Saturdays in general. Whilst flitting about with genre's is very 2010's it invariably means that some "Experiments" will be more successful than others, on the other hand it makes for a more interesting discography but their constant dabbling did, on occasion, come across as desperation to have that No 1 hit at any price- perhaps they're happier now it finally happened. Anyway in conclusion FIO isn't their worst but it is FAR from their best!
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Gezza
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Post by Gezza on Oct 21, 2013 20:02:33 GMT 1
24TH OCTOBER- BODIES- Robbie Williams (1 wk)So by 2009 brand Robbie Williams had taken rather a battering after a decade when he could do little wrong. The whole "Rudebox" era had been a commercial failure by his admittedly very high standard and for the first time ever it looked like he'd lost the magic touch, thusly "Bodies" had a lot to prove, a lot to re-invigorate, a lot to REMIND. On all grounds it has to be considered a failure sadly, the fact its barely heard these days nor I would argued remembered perhaps backs up this opinion, it's quirky enough and is obviously a Robbie song which perhaps manages to sell it to the faithful who had lost heart after the experimental "Rudebox" single but it fails to convince outside of this group, it feels slightly like a mish mash of previous tracks, a bit of "Feel" in the chorus, spots of "Supreme" in the verse all without the clever penmanship of Guy Chambers to give direction. The point I suppose being that his career post 2004 has been a series of re-treads each less successful artistically than the last with his one really bold attempt to do something different ending up a sales turkey. He's gone from an act who could easily pluck 3 or 4 top 10 hits from an album to one who struggles to get a second hit from an era, the fact that "Bodies" is a mess lyrically and hangs all its hopes on the chorus that disappoints when it arrives doesn't manage to salvage it.
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