Monday, July 31, 2006

Found it perfect, although some did not agree

This is Darin Zanyar, or Darin, runner-up on the first season of Swedish Idol and an amazing popstar. Look at one of his videos! And another! There's real energy! Breaking things! Posing! Exaggerated gestures! And, most importantly (and unlike, say, Rihanna, who was content to make the fabulous "SOS" and then spend the video pressing up against glass, standing in front of plants, and sending text messages), Darin includes DANCING! Dance breaks, dance offs, choreographed group dance routines...we need more music videos like these.

Stand By Me--A ballad, but a catchy one; it's sort of mid-tempo-ish. It's from Darin's first album, which I don't own all of, but should probably buy, because it seems great.

Step Up--Jim Verraros, who we discussed earlier, does dance-pop. He does it well. But Darin--this song is what dance music is about. Jim's songs are great, but I think the focus on "sexiness" means that his music is, oddly enough, always restrained in some way; he's so busy trying to sound sexy that he can't go all the way with his music. Darin's music is in your face, whereas Jim's is maybe more whispered in your ear. For sheer power, fun, and danceability, I don't know if any Idol contestant can beat this song.

Want Ya--Having used up all my weird metaphors for the last song, I'll just say this: more Darin danciness. Try to resist. Different from "Step Up" a bit (I think I prefer "Step Up" more, though the lyrics in this song may be slightly better--as if lyrics were a focus here), but still powerful.

Who's That Girl - The Attic Remix (Radio Edit)--Originally a ballad, this song has been remixed to make it dancey. Since it wasn't originally designed as a dance song, it doesn't have the power of either of the previous two songs, and it's not my favorite remix in the world, but I like what it does to the song.

If you want to buy Darin's music--and how could you not?--you can get it in physical copies (first album The Anthem or second album Darin) or digital tracks (first album, second album, or B-sides).

Next up: I suspect there are a lot of good ex-Idol Swedish popstars out there (I especially think Ola's album might be good), but I don't have any songs from them, so a new country will be up next--Germany, where we'll look at an Idol whose first album I also don't have.

5 comments:

Paul said...

i love darin - he has such elfin like features. i think his music is pretty good too and as i've discussed before exactly what gareth or shayne should be doing right now instead of their westlife ballad b-sides (shayne especially)...i think b what u wanna b would be a great christmas single for shayney (or darin if he wants to work these shores...)

xolondon said...

Do you have Darin's song he did with Robyn called "Walk The Distance"? I have her version (probably from Ella) but not his. \

I have been lurking and enjoying your blog!

Paul said...

oh i love walk the distance but strangely i don't have the robyn version!! only elfin features darin... do you have both ppg?

Poster Girl said...

Elfin! How did I never see that before?

I only have the Darin version, too...I can post it today, if you haven't already gotten it by then. I love it--it almost replaced "Stand By Me," but I thought I should throw in a first album song instead.

Poster Girl said...

You're welcome! Sadly, it is a trial :( Of course, I didn't find that out until later (which is what happens when I try to give tech advice), so I've switched over to this
http://www.download.com/Free-Mp3-Wma-Converter/3000-2140_4-10505512.html?tag=lst-0-4
which seems like it isn't a trial, but who knows. I really need to read that fine print better :)