'Cause if you're not really here Then the stars don't even matter
If I was the betting type, I really would have put money on this being much higher up on this list near the beginning of the year. For the first month of 2008, Sam was the up-and-coming act I was most excited about. "Black & Gold" isn't a song I think of as having lost any of its dark electro sparkle over the months--even finding out that it's about God has only increased my interest in it--so I don't think I can pin down why it isn't higher; instead, I'll just say again how much numbers are meaningless at this point and that #35 really is a reflection of absolutely loving a song, a song that seemed like it could be marking the birth of a brilliant new popstar when it first came out. I'm hoping he'll get a chance at a second album to live up to that potential.
Blake Lewis's second single is "How Many Words," according to a MySpace blog from him, and it should be "on the airwaves" probably some time in the next month. In other Blake news, he gave a very out there but very typical Blender interview that I think is in the new Blender with Britney on the cover. Also, he has been looking very presentable lately--good for him. I still think Audio Day Dream was the best album of 2007, and the fact that it was overlooked by so many people is something that really needs to be remedied. Please, if it's my one pop wish of the year, please let "How Many Words" be a success--the song and the album deserve it. If you've somehow missed "How Many Words," one of the synth-pop half-ballads off of the album, take a listen to it below, accompanied strangely by a lot of fire.
Another day, another contender for my favorite single of 2008 (well, two!)--after what seems like forever, my much-loved "Playing Me" by Jonathan Fagerlund is coming out February 20 (clip on MySpace). It's getting a physical release and a music video, which is more than "Angeline" had, so hopefully it does well. I was on some other MySpace semi-recently--a songwriter, I think--and they mentioned the song lined up for Jonathan's third single. Of course, I've now forgotten its title, but it was one we haven't heard a clip of yet. Anyway, buy the perfect boy pop "Playing Me" when it comes out! Hopefully it's made as easy for international customers to buy as "Angeline" was.
There are so many songs other blogs have featured that I've been meaning to say I loved for a long time, Sam Sparro's soul-and-electro "Black & Gold" and the Snoop Dogg feat. Robyn remix of "Sexual Eruption" probably being the two most important. Both are fantastic. Also, I'm very much looking forward to the new West End Girls material.
In blog news, a very very sad goodbye to The Zapping. I already covered most of my feelings on this in a comment over there, but suffice to say that the blogworld feels much emptier now.
Your problems don't exist when music feels like this.
Songs are posted only for promotional purposes (I love them and want others to know about them, too)--if you like them, please "go out and buy the record"! If you are an artist, represent one, or are a songwriter/producer and would like your songs removed, I'll gladly do so (just let me know).
If I was the betting type, I really would have put money on this being much higher up on this list near the beginning of the year. For the first month of 2008, Sam was the up-and-coming act I was most excited about. "Black & Gold" isn't a song I think of as having lost any of its dark electro sparkle over the months--even finding out that it's about God has only increased my interest in it--so I don't think I can pin down why it isn't higher; instead, I'll just say again how much numbers are meaningless at this point and that #35 really is a reflection of absolutely loving a song, a song that seemed like it could be marking the birth of a brilliant new popstar when it first came out. I'm hoping he'll get a chance at a second album to live up to that potential.
