Let's reinvent the wheel

Thrilled about the '60's revival brought on by Amy Winehouse? Not particularly picky about the songs so long as they're in that style? You're in luck.

Whether you're a contestant in a national final for Eurovision...



(Maria Haukaas Storeng, "Hold On Be Strong," 1st in Norway's NF)



(Sandrine, "I Feel The Same Way," qualified to yet-to-take-place final in Belgium)

...or from Sweden...



(Amanda Jenssen, "Do You Love Me," Idol contestant and at #1 for seemingly ages)

Open this link in new window to hear a clip (I can't find anywhere for you to stream the whole thing)

(Pauline, "Loving You," recently released single)

Official site (ditto on the nowhere streaming the whole song thing)

(Veronica Maggio, "Måndagsbarn," recently released single)

...or a hotly tipped British Australian singer...



(Duffy, "Mercy")

...or a slightly less hotly tipped British singer...



(Gabriella Cilmi, "Sweet About Me")

...or a Canadian R&B singer searching for that elusive top 10 hit...



(Jully Black, "Seven Day Fool," which is actually a cover of a '60's song)

...or a Swiss singer who won a German talent contest...



(Stefanie, "My Man Is A Mean Man," with thanks to Turnaround!)

...that seems to be the sound to go for at the moment. Now, I don't really want to criticize these singers--many of them may have always pursued this style and may just have found that record companies are more interested in them now. Others may even have been successful in a similar style beforehand. Often these songs are good or great, and the singers may have other songs that are good even if I'm not particularly interested in their current single (I've been very interested to hear Gabriella Cilmi's "Don't Wanna Go To Bed" since PopJustice posted a clip of it). Not all of these songs are Amy-like, more just '60's sounding. But...well, I'm not the biggest Amy Winehouse fan, but I can't help feeling like some of this is kind of missing the point a bit as to why her songs took off in the first place. Still, forget the Grammys--I guess the true sign of having made it is having Eurovision contestants trying to sound like you.

Do a whole lot more

I've got huuugge gaps in my music knowledge about music from the past ten years, let alone the past fifty years, so it's probably not surprising at all to hear that I'd never heard Etta James's "Seven Day Fool," released in 1961. I do know, though, that today I'm enjoying Canadian singer Jully Black's cover of it. It came out back around this late summer/early fall and did pretty well. "Seven Day Fool" served as the lead single for her second album, Revival, released this October; I've not heard anything from it beyond this yet, though (well, except a preview of the of the YUG Remix [Radio Edit], which I now really want!).



Seven Day Fool--I've read some people bashing others for mentioning Amy Winehouse in their review of this song since Etta James's version came out years before Amy was even born. That's ridiculous--the song's sat around for forty-six years and we're supposed to think it's coincidence that it's just getting covered (and in keeping with this style) now? I doubt it. Regardless, though, I'm enjoying it today, though I'm not sure that that'll last too long. For now, though, it's catchy, very '60's sounding (well, of course), and fun in a sassy (I'd say despite of the lyrics, but actually, some of the lyrics are as well, unless I'm reading too much into them) kind of way.

And, in lieu of that mix I mentioned, since that's only available on Canadian iTunes and even then only when you buy the whole album, here's another dance edit (radio length, don't worry) of the song instead.

To buy Jully Black's album Revival, go here (physical).

Next up: maybe a Danish singer doing a kind of '80's-sounding song.