Songs you may have missed: The Drake dance-off edition

So, I started a new job last week - accounting for (yet another) gap in the blog posts. Here's my penance - everything I heard in the last seven days and thought "I really should write something about that," before being dragged into another meeting.

Enjoy!

1) Drake - Hotline Bling
As the entire internet has noticed, Drake has let his drunken aunt choreograph his latest video. Still, nice turtleneck.





2) Frances - I Care (ft Pomo)
I'm calling it now: Frances is going to be on all of the "Sound Of 2016" lists, or I'll eat one of James Bay's hats.




3) Hot Chip - Dancing In The Dark
Hot Chip have been covering Bruce Springsteen's rock'n'roll classic in their festival sets all summer. Now there's an (impeccable) studio verison, complete with a preposterous 1980s public access television video. Why? Who knows? Who cares?




4) Jones - Indulge
The cleanest filthy song you'll hear all year, Jones's Indulge is all about surrendering yourself to a night of passion. "I know that it's wrong, but I want to indulge in you," the London-born singer purrs over a crepescular synth wave.

Indulge has been around since April but, spurred on by her wave-making Jools Holland appearance a couple of weeks ago, the song now has a video. Simple but effective.




5) Ben Haenow - Second Hand Heart (ft Kelly Clarkson)
The first "proper" single from last year's X Factor winner comes with a rare Kelly Clarkson "feature". It's low on subtlety (the pounding, Ryan Tedder-esque beat and the singers' powerhouse performances don't leave much space for nuance) but it's the first time in a while that a male X Factor star has recorded anything worth listening to.

Interestingly, it started out in life as a country song. I'd prefer to hear that version but, for now, this is perfectly acceptable radio filler.




6) Will Young - Brave Man
A remarkable video, in which a transgender man sheds his clothes and walks into the street, suffering abuse, violence and bullying until, finally, a woman offers her coat and - most importantly - acceptance.

"This video isn't about selling records or my personal benefit," said Will. "This video is about taking a moment in time to explore a section of society who stand up for themselves. To tell a story and offer a window through music into someone's life.​"




7) Five Seconds of Summer - Hey Everybody
I only mention this because no-one seems to have noticed the verse is entirely ripped off from Duran Duran's Hungry Like The Wolf. Surely it's not just me?





8) Jack Garratt - Breathe
I'm calling it now: Jack Garratt is going to be on all of the "Sound Of 2016" lists, or I'll eat another one of James Bay's hats.



9) Eska - Shades of Blue
Every year, the Mercury Prize list has one head-scratcher: An artist I've overlooked but instantly fall in love with.

This year it's Eska. Born in Zimbabwe, raised in London, she has been a session singer and vocal arranger for years, appearing on albums by the likes of Zero 7 and Grace Jones. Her debut is the sound of all those years of frustrated musicianship being unleashed. It melds soul, jazz, folk, reggae and Western African rhythms without sounding opulent or overblown. And it's all held together by the most stunning, precise, soulful vocals you'll hear this side of Erykah Badu.

Here's her most recent single.




10) Alice Olivia - Lovers
A YouTube sensation (16 million views!) and a BBC Introducing finalist, Cambridge-born Alice Olivia recently signed a deal with boutique pop label Soko Records.

Her first single is called Lovers - "about watching someone you love remain in a destructive, poisonous relationship and helplessly watching from a distance."

Dark and gnarly, this is a great introduction to an interesting singer-songwriter.



11) Anne-Marie - Boy
Quirky, streetwise pop from another up-and-comer (it's that time of year, isn't it?). Anne-Marie is going to be on all of the "Sound of 2016" lists or I'll eat a casserole of The Edge's beanies.




12) TĀLĀ - Wolfpack (with Banks)
TĀLĀ was inspired to make music by her British mother's love of Tom Jones, and her Iranian father's obsession with uber-diva Googoosh (think Madonna crossed Celine Dion, if you dare). Thankfully, her charcoal-coloured electric pop sounds nothing like either.

Her latest single sees her team up with another R&B temptress - the magnificent BANKS - for an anthem to sisterhood that would have Beyonce running for the hills.

And that's your lot!

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Will Young and the sound of 1964

Will Young is back, with a new record label (Island) and more reverb than a thunderclap in a canyon.

His new single, Love Revolution, is the sort of 1960s Northern Soul pastiche that was all the rage in 2007. Enough time has elapsed that it feels fresh again - particularly as avoids trumpets in favour of a clattering old tambourine - and his voice is perfectly tailored to the restrained retro vibe.

Interestingly, the track is based around Andrea Martin's R&B track Share The Love - better known for being sampled on Tomcraft's Loneliness. The darkly-delivered lyrics ("loneliness filled my world") work in contrast to the uplifting backing, giving the whole enterprise a sense of creeping unease.

The vibe is captured perfectly in the brightly-hued video which, as ever with Will Young, is a masterpiece of kitsch.

Will Young - Love Revolution

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Rebecca Ferguson: Glitter and Gold

Something has gone very right with the Rebecca Ferguson campaign, hasn't it?

The songs are genuine, she does great smokey eyes in the promo shots, and her album's mum-friendly without being too bland. Who'd have thought that the face of Walker's Sunbite Crisps would have a career making successful, grown-up pop?

In the world of UK talent show graduates, that puts her in an exclusive club of two, alongside Will "do you remember the time he stood up to Simon Cowell" Young*.

Her new video, Glitter And Gold, came out today and it's inspired by the video game Paper Mario.

Rebecca Ferguson - Glitter and Gold


* Yes, we do remember, because the clip is played on the television EVERY TIME HE'S ON. It's not even that good. He comes across like a posh school prefect having a tantrum because someone's running in the corridor. They should show this video of him reading his autobiography instead.

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Will Young provokes thoughtful reflection

Will Young's new song is called Jealousy and, if you've been paying attention, you'll know I think it is very good.

But you shouldn't just take my word for it. People have been responding to Jealousy "in their thousands" thanks to the internet and their minds.

Here, for example, is what Jayonthedot had to say on Will's YouTube channel.

"Just want to say thankyou will young. I was going to get back with my boyfreind who cheated on me 3 times. I used to be so jealous and depressed the amount of times i would stay awake thinking why am i not good enough, This song brang back all of those feelings and made me realise do i really want to go through all that again? Thankfully i will not be im speaking to a really nice guy and were going on a date tommorow. If it wasnt for you id be in that mess again. Beautiful song. Thanks x"

"Brang back" is a beautifully evocative phrase, I think we can all agree.

Over on the Buzzjack forum, DanJohn3 makes a succinct, but erudite comment.

"What I love about this (as I hoped/expected from Will). It's dance music, but it's dance music with an emotional connotation. He's not trying to cater to a younger more urban~ audience."

Finally, Robot Pigeon reviews the video.

"Did anyone else think he was going to turn into a swan at the end, and stab the man with a piece of broken mirror, and then find out it was all in his mind, and actually he was the other man, and still a swan, and then climb onto a high piece of scenery and fall backwards and die and still be a swan, maybe, no not actually she was mad. What? Oh, that was Black Swan."

Me? I'm just excited to discover that Marina "and the Diamonds" has a writing credit on this track. Now we know what one of her songs would sound like without the constant hiccupping - IE Amazing.



Will Young - Jealousy

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Will Young is jealous of your pen*

:: Will Young has a new song.

:: Will Young's new song is called Jealousy.

:: The key lyric is "And it feee-eels like jealousy".

:: It is important to note that the feeling in question is not, therefore, actual jealousy.

:: Things that feel like jealousy include envy, longing and fish burps.

:: Jealousy is produced by Richard X, "famed" for writing that one good Rachel Stevens song in 2004.

:: The chorus verges on the anthemic. It also verges on Joe McElderry's version of Ambitions.

:: Stalker lyrics alert: "Watching you walk / I followed you there / Standing too close / It's hurting."

:: Maybe you shouldn't stand so close then, you dolt.

:: Jealousy will be released on 21st August, the 10th anniversary of Will's first Pop Idol audition.

:: But it premiered this morning on Ridings FM - bringing the best music mix to Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract, Featherstone, Knottingley and Normanton!

:: Listen below.

Will Young - Jealousy


* I wrote this headline before discovering this video. Will Young need never be jealous of anyone's pen, because his pen is the best.

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Temporary diversions

Upon entering Jo Whiley's Live Lounge this week, Will Young covered The Pussycat Dolls' Don'tcha, with fantastic results. His version puts a whole new spin on the lyrics. A dirty bisexual spin. Which is something our washing machine doesn't offer. (Listen here)

How much taxpayers money is George Galloway receiving while incarcerated in the Big Brother House? (Click here)

What happens when news presenters rock out? Sacramento's CBS13 found out just before Christmas... and the results weren't pretty. (Watch the video)

Seth and Summer kiss on the beach - but this time it's in real life!
OMG!!!!111!!, etc.(Just Jared.com)

What's your favourite Daily Mail or Daily Express Headline? Ours is "32 Men Die of Child Porn Shame". (Vote here)

"As a woman runs a mile, her breasts bounce 135 meters". (BBC News Website)

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"Homoeroticism is fantastic"

As you can see, Will Young has sprained his wrist playing volleyball. It must have been the strain of keeping his balls in motion.

Anyway, extracurricular 'activities' apart, Will has been speaking to the Guardian (actually, he spoke to them last week but we managed to miss it somehow). The following bit of the article excites us greatly:

Will Young is in a pop quandary. He has been asked to record a Christmas song for Radio 2, which, being an obliging sort, he's happy to do. The problem is that he's no longer the tame Pop Idol winner who could be counted on to do his bit for the collective jollity. "I hate Christmas songs," he says passionately. "I don't want to do something naff."

His publicist, one of the small retinue who are accompanying him on a day of TV and radio promotion, says, half-seriously, "What about Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, by the Smiths?" He raises his eyebrows. "How does it go?" The publicist happens to have it on her iPod, which she hands over. It doesn't take more than 30 seconds of Morrissey in solipsistic yowl for Young to be converted. He passes back the iPod, all stubbly smiles. And so, unless his management objects, Young's contribution to Radio 2's Yuletide output will be Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now."

What fantastic news. Will Young is our new favourite popstar.

So why not download his new single*, Switch it on, then watch the promo clip and think to yourself "surely this is the gayest video of all time".

(*But you will, of course, buy it in the shops next week as well.)

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Oh, for shame

Splosh! Did Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas wet herself on stage?

More pics of pisspants stains here




Phwoar! Charlize Theron joins the Pussycat Dolls burlesque revue.

More pics at Justjared.com

More on the Pussycat Dolls at this Carmen Electra website




Ewwww! Craig David slips the tongue in on Friday, chills on Sunday.

Elsewhere:

Smooth Criminal: Michael Jackson sells his story to OK! Magazine for $2m. (nb - Michael Jackson has been cleared of any criminal activity - smooth, crunchy, or any other variety - by a court of law.)

Leave Right Now: Will Young has lost his pants.

Come Towards Us: Nellie McKay will release the follow-up to her debut album, Get Away From Me, in October. You should pre-order it now.

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Haircuts, Wardrobe malfunctions, Divorces and a Moustache

That handsome young specimen on the left is Will Young, with a freshly shaven head. The hat is gone, long live the number two crop!

Will's standing with the winner of a national photography competition, sponsored by Mencap (he's an ambassador for the charity). More photos and info over at Mencap,org.uk

Mariah Carey has done a Janet on German TV. Thankfully, no photos are in existence.

Update: 14/7/05. The internet does what it does best - distributes pictures of fleshy ladybits. We will not be held responsible if your eyes burn when you click on this link

Snoop Dogg is bucking all celebrity trends by vowing to cancel his divorce and give marriage a second go.

No, it's not a telephone exchange, it's synth-god Giorgio Moroder working on the equipment that produced Donna Summer's 16 minute dirt-fest "Love To Love You Baby".

Much Music has a bizarre tribute / shrine to his music running this week. Worth a look, if only to see more pictures like this one.

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