Things were so different, now you're gone, I thought it'd be easy, I was wrong

More songwriter notes and random artist tidbits (I really am going to do more in depth posts, less "news bullet"-y, soon):

Johan "Kermit" Bobäck is working with Darin on new music (he previously collaborated with him on "Seasons Fly").

Apparently British boy band a1 are reuniting for some concerts in Norway in early December and will be performing both old and (gasp!) new songs. I am not ashamed to admit I got more than a bit excited listening to the group rehearse modern classic "Caught In The Middle." Speaking of new songs, Ben Adams, who appeared on this blog many a time in its early days, has a new-ish song on his MySpace (listen to it in higher quality on Facebook), "The Dust Won't Settle," which is really pretty pleasant (albeit sad) pop-rock--more like third album a1 than most of what we've heard of his solo album, but it shows he's just as great with a melody and with his voice. Love it. Ben has also (as I think I've mentioned before) written for Alexandra Burke's upcoming album.

Blake Lewis apparently worked with Darkchild for his upcoming album Heartbreak on Vinyl (out October 6). Listen to some beats but no vocals in this video.

If you're a sucker for über-bubblegummy Swedish pop that sounds like it could have come straight out of the '90s--I mean the really sugary sweet, cheesy kind--you might want to listen to Three's "Lucky Number." Who are Three? Three blonde sixteen year old triplets. You can probably already imagine what the music sounds like. Of course, me being me, bubblegum pop is always welcome, especially if it's got a Swedish connection.

Georgie Dennis, sister of Cathy and songwriter in her own right, has a song called "Dirty Drum" on her MySpace that sounds like it's sung by Elin Lanto. There are better, non-Elin songs there, though.

Carl Falk uploaded some new songs to his MySpace a few months ago. I presume they're demos, though I've got no actual proof of that. My favorite is "Shameless," co-written by him, Lindy Robbins, Kristian Lundin, and Rami Yacoub; it's very pop.

Speaking of demos uploaded on MySpace months ago, Tony Nilsson put the demo of Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" on his MySpace. I'm a total demo addict, as I've convinced before, so for me, hearing the substantial differences--though in this case, it's not a matter of voice, since even the demo contains Elin's voice--is really fascinating. The final version is definitely better, but there are some lost elements which, though they probably had to be lost for the sake of the song, I love.

Don't want to turn up any demons between us

I avoided writing about Elin Lanto's "Spider's Web" when Alex first told me about her performance of it because, well, I felt like it was her falling off the popstar path she was on, a classic case of ditching one's style completely when it isn't selling in favor of one that might seem more credible.



In retrospect, I might have been slightly harsh. If "Spider's Web," created by Klas Wahl and George Nakas (Stonebridge feat. Therese's "Put 'Em High," Therese's "Time," Dannii Minogue's "Good Times," Victoria Beckham's "Let Your Head Go"), was the take-off point for the rest of the album, I'd be disappointed, but its electro-meets-acoustic ballad sound is one I could see myself loving as a deviation from the primary style that still bears enough of that style's traits to fit on Elin's album.

After that one performance of "Spider's Web" a few months ago, we heard nothing from Elin--understandable, perhaps, given that none of her singles have done as well as they deserved to do, but still saddening. There's been no update on her official site or MySpace for quite some time and the album that was supposed to come out received no mention anywhere.

There's good news, though: Pitchline, of Velvet's "Take My Body Close," "Come Into The Night," and "My Destiny" and upcoming songs with Magnus Carlsson, have just reported that they've done a song with Elin for her upcoming album (as well as posted a picture of a blonde Elin recording in their studio)! "My Destiny" may be a ballad, but that news means we should probably be optimistic about Elin keeping her dance-friendly sound.

If you missed out on Elin's great music from 2008, start with the Minogue-esque "Speak 'n Spell," which comes complete with a video with numerous popstar moments. There's something slinky and cool about "Speak 'n Spell" which sets it apart from other Swedish dance-pop music. Ideally, it's the direction I'd prefer Elin continue in, much as I love Pitchline's '80s-sounding hands-in-the-air dance-pop anthems, but we've yet to hear Pitchline do anything along these lines; plus, if there's still an attempt to push Elin internationally going on, I expect the style being pursued will be much more party-oriented. Still, I'm glad to have any news at all, and Elin working with Pitchline is potentially a great thing.

You think our time apart is the problem, and I like you when you're not around

(Please do not post this song link elsewhere.)

A BIG thank you to every one who stuck around through my year end countdown. As a gift of gratitude, I'd like to offer up a brand new song straight out of the von der Burg studios. "Get It Out" is the debut single of the former Swedish Idol contestant Gathania who caught our ears with "Blackout" late last year (which isn't yet released). I quibbled with Alex last year when he asked why September-like songs were being given to artists other than September, who hasn't released brand new material since 2007 (which isn't that long ago, it's September, so I'm always wanting new material from her), mainly because Elin Lanto's "Discotheque" isn't from the people who always do September's music and she doesn't have the same management team as Petra, but "Get It Out" is from those same writers...and boy, is it September-like (second album September, I'd say). It doesn't have Petra's lovely voice on it, but given its music, it's easy to imagine her singing it.

Still, I guess if Petra is understandably distracted with promoting the reworked version of "Can't Get Over" in the UK (she's just filmed a music video for it), we wouldn't be getting new music from her for a little while, so another artist under the von der Burg wing--especially since Danny has moved on (you can imagine his voice on this, too, come to think of it)--is something I'll welcome; I've yet to feel like their output is suffering by spreading it around to some different artists. It's certainly not suffering on "Get It Out," which is, to be honest, fantastic and, at least a few listens in, addictive. Effortlessly catchy dance-pop but with that sophisticated Von der Burg edge--there's something almost haunting about the riff of the chorus and the song even flirts with the piano house style--it makes for what's got to be one of the year's best debut singles. When I heard that "Blackout" wasn't actually her first single, I was a little bit confused, but hearing "Get It Out," I think it makes perfect sense.

(Brief lyrical aside: in a song about finally arguing and both partners finally saying what's on their minds, "just let me fill your heart up with sorrow/'cause it's better than a rotten lie" is stuck in my mind.)

To buy "Get It Out," go here (physical); you should be able to buy it digitally within a few days here.

In other news, did anyone else not realize until now that apparently the West End Girls have a new single titled "A Little Black Dress" (which I think is a Pet Shop Boys track technically not released but available "out there" and done for that musical thing? Feel free to correct me or provide more information) coming out February 11?

Next up: more Swedish pop, either from another young woman or from a male songwriter.

#17 Elin Lanto, "Speak 'n Spell"/"Discotheque"

Hey boys, here we are

***

I'm reborn at the discotheque

...and another cheat, but I really can't decide which of Elin's singles from this year I prefer. Is it the slinky electronic "Speak 'n Spell," written by Linda Sundblad and Johan Bobäck, or the camper uplifting celebration of disco, "Discotheque," written by Tony Nilsson and Henrik Jansson (and produced by Bassflow)? Both are intoxicating, albeit in different ways, and both came complete with fantastic videos full of potentially iconic imagery. From her reworked image to her brilliant music, Elin Lanto made herself a proper popstar in 2008, never setting a foot wrong. Now, if only some country somewhere would recognize that...as nervous as I am about her upcoming UK launch, she's got all the best wishes I can muster up.

Find it on: "Speak 'n Spell" (Single) and "Discotheque" (Single)