A couple of MP3s for Friday afternoon

AKA Here are some songs that don't warrant a separate blog post but which might pique your interest.

1) Rita Ora - Party and Bullshit>

This will be the first "proper" single from the Kosovo-born singer who's currently at number one on DJ Fresh's Hot Right Now. Half Ke$ha, half Rihanna, this is nowhere near as bad as the title suggests, so long as you don't concentrate on the lyrics. Which is admittedly difficult when someone has transcribed them all on this YouTube clip. "I get that drunk sex feeling when I'm with you". Really? REALLY? [download link]



2) Beyoncé - End Of Time (Monsieur Adi remix)

Lots of people called Beyoncé's latest album a flop, but it was the tenth best-selling record of 2011, which isn't too bad. Still, End Of Time is probably the worst track on the collection, with little or no tune to speak of. This remix, however, turns the rave siren up to 11 and sets fire to the curtains. [Streaming link]



3) Riz MC ft Aruba and Plan B - All Of You

This lurid, emotionless sex fantasy is not something you should play at your gran's birthday - but it packs a punch as powerful as anything Tricky pulled off in his Maxinquaye heyday. The video stars Jodie Whittaker from Venus, Attack The Block and... er, St Trinian's 2: The Legend Of Fritton's Gold. [Download link]



4) Sam Sparro - Happiness
The first single from Sam Sparro's sophomore album is sad proof that he's never going to top the superlative Black & Gold, but if you like retro 90s handbag house, you could do worse than this. [iTunes link - Australia only for the moment]



5) Quantic and Alice Russell - Look Around The Corner

According to the press release they are two of the UK's "leading lights of the international funk, soul and alternative dance music scene", collaborating for the first time. In reality, this means a pleasing, latin-tinged swoonballad that recalls Zero 7 at their best. This one-camera live take showcases the band's musical chops but sadly drowns out the cowbell. We always want more cowbell. [iTunes link]

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Sam Sparro looks into the future

Those of you unfortunate enough to have bought the Sam Sparro album will by now have realised that - the amazing Black & Gold aside - he is nothing more than a camp US version of Jamiroquai.

As if to ram that point home, he is now releasing 21st Century Life as a single - which is nothing more than a camp US version of Virtual Insanity... Except Sam Sparro isn't as eloquent as Jay Kay. (Take a look at that sentence again and allow some time for the true horror to sink in).

You see, in his funky diatribe about the bleak future of our planet, Jamiroquai addressed the very real issues of genetically modified crops and humanity's inherent selfishness rendering global warming an inevitablity. Samuel, however, is "confounded" by the future that is "all around him" because he has "21,000 things to do today" and his phone is "not just a phone - it's a stereo".

Well, boo fucking hoo, you pampered buffoon.

Mr Sparro (real name Falson) has done a video for this song. It does not involve him dancing around a sofa, but it's actually quite good if you can see past the trite lyrics.

Sam Sparro - 21st Century Life


Note to Sam: Those glasses make you look like a twat.

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