'Cause I ain't no intricated brunette

There's this certain type of beat, this squooshy oompah type beat, that's the musical equivalent of nails on a chalkboard for me. I wouldn't claim a song that used it was bad because it's just a personal thing, but it does make it difficult for me to like a song like, say, Girls Alouds' "Can't Speak French." When I heard Norwegian singer Jorun Stiansen's new single "Sticky Hands" last year, I was kind of interested in it but knew it was going to be the sort of song I could never really love--because of that beat. I mentioned it here but pretty much ignored it after that...until I ended up watching the video for it just recently (months after it was released). Jorun's gone from this look...



...for her first album--the "I'm a scrappy, slightly punky teenager" look (and even when she glammed up a bit in some of her videos, she was cute but still had this really young look to her)--to...



...well, she's more than a bit gorgeous now, no?

Anyway, that's besides the point: I somehow didn't get what the song was about until I saw the video--actually, scratch that, though it may have made me get some things, I think the video left me even more confused in the end (it's imprinted in my memory now, though--it's kind of the definition of "TOO MUCH" in its bizarre funny "what's going on?!" kind of sense). Regardless, though, the song's under my skin at the moment. It's still not the sort of song I can wholeheartedly love, but I've been playing it over and over again. Hopefully some of you won't share my aversion to that particular backbeat, too.

Sticky Hands--the lead single for Norwegian Idol 2005 winner Jorun's second album (her first album, by the way, contained the original "Takes One To Know One," later covered by Belinda and Amy Diamond--well, I think it's the original; I know it predates those two versions--I just don't know if there's some earlier version I don't know about), "Sticky Hands" is a mid-tempo pop song with that aforementioned oompah beat and little cabaret touches thrown in. Can we get back to that video, though? Seriously, what is going on? Jorun caresses an unmoving man with an animal head, then drags him out by a chain, and then blowdries her hair. And that's just the beginning--I could go on, but it's better not to spoil any of the randomness for you. It's given me a whole new appreciation for the song, though, so it's done its job. Oh, and side note: I love that instrumental section in the middle (in the video, it's the part with the spinning cabinet).

P.S. Yes, I know "intricated" isn't a word--tell that to Jorun. Or tell me what she's actually saying there, because that's sure what it sounds like to me.

I don't know of any way someone outside of Norway can buy Jorun Stiansen's single "Sticky Hands" (the album comes out later this year, apparently), but you can buy her debut album Unstable here (digital). Should you happen to live in Norway, you can buy the "Sticky Hands" single from iTunes here.

Anyway, the reason I ended up watching Jorun's video was that I was doing some catching up on other Norwegian artists. Girl group Lilyjets have a new single, "Song For You," coming out this April; R&B-oriented Idol contestant Wisnu has a new single called "Follow Me" coming out the same month; and Idol winner Aleksander With has new-ish clips of songs called "Honest Now" (my preferred song of the two; it sounds pretty lovely in his guy-with-piano way) and "Home Is Where You Are" on his MySpace.

In other random singer news, Russian singer Serebro have a new single out (in Russian) called "Opium." It (like their other songs) can be downloaded for free and in good quality from their website here. Foregoing the attitude-filled stompiness of "Song No. 1," it's got this backing in which laid-back but dark electronica washes and a stronger forward-moving guitar-type beat mix together to create something that could pass over you with little impression or come off as completely intoxicating depending on your taste and mood; I'm definitely leaning towards the latter at the moment (I completely adore it right now, to be more straightforward, though I can never guarantee how long something will stick with me), so I'd very much recommend checking it out. If the people on YouTube can be believed, there'll be an English version coming later.

Elin Lanto gave an interview saying that her album--due out this summer--was all built around the sound of "Speak 'n Spell," which is pretty fantastic news.

Next up: dance-influenced pop--or is it pop-influence dance?--from some years ago.

Take my heart as a token, it's no use to me; I don't need it, it's broken

I've been meaning to post the following song for a while now, but at the rate I'm going, I'm never going to get around to it (watch me end up posting it two days from now), so I thought I'd post the music video for it.

Periodically I fall for this certain type of R&B song--pretty, melodic, sad...Ne-Yo's "So Sick" and Mario Vazquez's "Gallery" (which Ne-Yo wrote) come to mind. Norwegian (Indonesian-born) singer (from Idol, I think) Wisnu's "Love Like That" falls into that category. I suppose it's arguably generic, and maybe it's just tradition now that I take one of these sort of songs to heart every now and again, but "Love Like That" has hooked me in. It's not mind-blowing, but it crept up on me and I soon found myself really liking it in a "I really wouldn't mind hearing that on the radio" way.



For what it's worth, I think it's written and produced by Stargate (who, among other things, have often worked with Ne-Yo, including on "So Sick"). I wish I knew more about music to describe them, but there's a certain set of notes that keeps repeating--it's what makes the song.

Wisnu's single "Love Like That" is available for purchase here (digital).