Together! Together! We're coming undone Together! Together! Baby, we are one
Oh, this song deserves to be higher. For today, though, #81 will have to do for the should-be-more-successful British brother-sister duo who rose to fame via X Factor. They may have kept us waiting a year for music from them, but they spent that time wisely, convincing Swedish songwriter Jörgen Elofsson to make them his once every other year vehicle for pop music that's something other than a version of the usual Idol ballad (and getting Quiz & Larossi to produce, apparently). "We R One" is frequently compared to the music of High School Musical and I wouldn't argue with that, though it's at least as much Melodifestival entry as anything else--"We R One" could easily be a song from, say, Swedish duo Fame. "We R One" is a bit odd in that it's part ballad and part up-tempo pop song, and I'm not just referring to the pure ballad opening there--the rest of the song really is a mix of the two in feel. It's a good thing, though, adding up to an uplifting pop song that gave us the best dance routine of the second half of the year: the fist in the air with foot to the side done twice followed by a move kind of like jumping rope, also done twice. Amazing.
Not only is today (technically tomorrow or Monday, but they're out digitally now due to time differences) a fairly brilliant day for British singles releases, it just so happens that the brilliance of three of those releases is enhanced by the dance routines in their music videos.
Same Difference's debut single "We R One," a bit like High School Musical crossed with Melodifestivalen, has been out for quite some time now, long enough to know that as a song it stands easily on its own two feet. The video, with its reaching-for-the-sky-and-jumping-inclusive dance routine, makes it just that little bit more exciting, though.
Even though I estimate there's a 55/45 chance Paul will come out of his vacation to post this video, I still feel obligated to post it for him: their performance from tonight's X Factor of said single. Confetti! That dance routine!
It's a relief, though, to know now for sure that George Sampson's sample-riffic "Get Up On The Dance Floor" survives without the (great) video accompanying it. It does benefit from being danced along with, though. I think possibly my favorite thing about the song is the way it teases you with the Yazoo sample before doing something else and then eventually coming back to it, using it in a really great way. Conveniently, the sample's return ties in with the best part of the video--starting with George breaking through a wall--if you're watching it. It's nice to know you don't have to be to enjoy the song, though.
Speaking of short but great songs with great videos, Frankmusik's "3 Little Words" (the Stuart Price-produced version) is out now, too. Sadly, EP track "Better Off As Two" (listen to a clip of it on PopJustice--it's the second one) doesn't seem to be available digitally, which is really tempting me to buy the physical EP (hence why I haven't purchased any of the tracks besides the main single yet). I've already praised "3 Little Words" and its video (as is true of both of the songs before this one, actually), but let me just say this again: brilliant exciting electronic pop with a video that only makes you love the song more.
Moving away from dance routines (sadly), Take That's new single "Greatest Day" is out as well. It comes accompanied by the great (that word's the motif of the day, apparently) b-side "Sleepwalking" (as well as album track "Here," which is apparently on some single version) and a performance on X Factor as well (with credit to Chart Rigger).
Still love the song, still love the cheesy video which perfectly captures the song's aura for me.
There's "Do Ya," that McFly single out, too, accompanied by "Stay With Me," a cover. I know I just posted this video, but for completion's sake, here it is again.
I'll still having trouble rallying up as much enthusiasm for this album as I want to be feeling (though there are some songs I love), but hopefully one day it'll just click.
With credit to PubliSpain, Naked, the debut album of Dutch singer Nikki, whose Kelly Clarkson-ish song "Bring Me Down" is really shaping up to be one of my favorite singles of the year, can be listened to in its entirety here. Good news: another version of "Brief & Beautiful" (though it plays as track 8, not track 9 as labeled)! Just what the world needed.
Surely Markoolio can't be imitating Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" in his new song ("The Markoolio Anthem")? I mean, the turnaround time given when "Poker Face" started taking off in Sweden...they just couldn't have done it quickly enough...could they? But what other (modern, unless we think he's going Boney M.) reason would there be for that very distinctive "ma ma ma ma" after the chorus (not the one near the chorus's beginning)? It's a heck of a coincidence otherwise.
I am beyond thrilled that finally, finally I was able to buy John Barrowman's "What About Us." My love of that song (an ultimate sing-along-in-your-car, clenched-fists sort of melodic power ballad) still remains at unhealthy levels--I'm blaming you, Gary Barlow.
Speaking of Popjustice-featured songs, I also love Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson's debut single, "Get Up On The Dance Floor." Yes, he won for being a dancer, not any sort of musician, but that hasn't stopped me from playing this song (via its video), basically a mash-up of a bunch of famous dance tracks, multiple times. I will absolutely not back down on my love of this.
Also on the front of tracks that will probably be marketed towards British kids but that I adore, we've also got Same Difference's "We R One." Paul already analyzed the video, so instead I'll just leave it at this: fantastic song and fantastic dance routine for the chorus, especially during the whole "together, together, we're coming undone" second half of the chorus. Just as he did when writing for Marie Serneholt's solo album, Jörgen Elofsson's done a great job of making a song that harks back to '90's pure pop but that's still enjoyable for today. I wish he'd make songs like this--as opposed to the ballads he seems to mainly produce now--more often.
(Elements of this post have been sitting as a draft for quite some time, so not all of these links are to incredibly recent posts; that just means that they've stood the test of time, though.)
A few songs I was introduced by blogworld that I think are worth your time:
Poptasticposted "Watch This Space," a song from (the Paul-promoted British High-School-Musical-as-TV-series) Britannia High (watch the scene from the show below). It's a great pure pop song with a dance beat underneath the chorus.
PopJustice featured a clip of a song from Alesha's new album, "Let's Get Excited." It's more up-tempo than most of the sampler. Have I said on here that "Colours Of The Rainbow," the track her website is giving away, is enjoyable, too? It is.
#1 Hits From Another Planetwrote about Norwegian project Karatkorn's "The Distance In A Romance," which is lush dance/electro-pop--absolutely gorgeous. Kind of Kylie-esque, but that beautiful spacey side of Kylie, not the full-on disco rush, though it's not a slow song.
MuuMuseintroduced me to the latest music from Blake Lewis--he features on a Darude cover of "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. Take it for what it is, an opportunity to hear Blake's vocals on something--don't go in expecting something like his debut album.
Fizzy Popraved about the debut single from British duo Same Difference (and put it in proper pop history context), and with good reason--"We R One" is pure "pure pop" heaven, key change and all. A must-listen, definitely.
Don't Stop The Popintroduced me to Swedish singer Neo, whose song "Flower Power Supergirl"--poppy, uptempo, camp, catchy (not enough men making music like this)--is one I'm eagerly looking forward to being able to buy--album out this week! The same post also included a mention of Rosanna and her excellent song "Gameboy," with a promise to write more about it in the future.
On the non-introducing songs but still excellent front...
Ademwrote a fantastic review of Girls Aloud's "Out Of Control." I'll probably never get around to properly writing up my thoughts on even one of the songs off of it, but "The Loving Kind" and "Miss You Bow Wow" are my favorites at the moment.
Fabtastic Musicmade me wish Charlotte Perrelli would get to do a tour like a big US or UK act would.
Olga Loves Yuritook us on a tour of Norway with Annie.
XO's Middle Eightgives us more information about Take That's upcoming album, one which I'm very excited for (and I still love the video, cheese and all).
Pop Music Notes is such a welcome part of the pop blog scene--you'll read about artists there that aren't really being covered elsewhere (as well as some who are). John's also being making me really jealous by writing about all the concerts he's been to recently.
Gosh, you start on this and you just keep thinking of a million things you want to link to...best to continue later, though, or else no one will bother with any of this.
Oh, this song deserves to be higher. For today, though, #81 will have to do for the should-be-more-successful British brother-sister duo who rose to fame via X Factor. They may have kept us waiting a year for music from them, but they spent that time wisely, convincing Swedish songwriter Jörgen Elofsson to make them his once every other year vehicle for pop music that's something other than a version of the usual Idol ballad (and getting Quiz & Larossi to produce, apparently). "We R One" is frequently compared to the music of High School Musical and I wouldn't argue with that, though it's at least as much Melodifestival entry as anything else--"We R One" could easily be a song from, say, Swedish duo Fame. "We R One" is a bit odd in that it's part ballad and part up-tempo pop song, and I'm not just referring to the pure ballad opening there--the rest of the song really is a mix of the two in feel. It's a good thing, though, adding up to an uplifting pop song that gave us the best dance routine of the second half of the year: the fist in the air with foot to the side done twice followed by a move kind of like jumping rope, also done twice. Amazing.
