I still can't believe that you're mine

Woo! Finally, Shayne Ward's new single has hit the Internet! Plus, apparently there's a dance remix of it out there!

Oh, who am I kidding. Of course this is going to be today's song--it's new Shayne stuff; how could it not be? This album has to be one of my most anticipated of the year.

This song is only going to be posted for something like a day, though (and I'm not mentioning its name here). Once it's taken down, you can still listen to it here.

[song]--anyone who was bothered by the lyrics of this album's lead singles isn't going to feel any better about this song ("if we had babies they would have your eyes/I would fall deeper watching you give life"). And, to be honest, given my attitude towards (prejudice against, to be less euphemistic) ballads and given Shayne's last album, if this had been the lead single, the first indication we got of his new material, I probably would have thrown a fit. Given that he's made it sound like there's only one ballad on the album, though (this being it), I was able to go into it with a far more open mind--which is a good thing, because, despite that slightly kicky drumbeat (slower than you get in, say, a Ne-Yo song), this is much more of a true ballad than "No Promises." It's got all the production values of "No U Hang Up," which I love--there's a certain cleanliness to it, but with enough little elements (that drum machine, strings, processing, electronic touches) that it doesn't feel lifeless; the production alone would win me over. Musically, the chorus is super-sweet and lovely--very swoony--and the middle 8 is quite pretty as well. Will this be knocking Backstreet's "I Want It That Way" away off its perch anytime soon? Probably not*, but it is a very good ballad (albeit the sort that I already see some people brushing off).

I don't know of anywhere where you can preorder this single yet, but you can preorder the album, due out November 26, here (physical).

Next up: maybe the song I was going to post today...which, come to think of it, means it'll be posted on a more appropriate day.

*I reserve the right to change my opinion on this.

Just knowing there's a chance for us could save me from disaster

Ola's done a music video for his latest single, "S.O.S.". I was just going to come on here and provide a link to the Aftonbladet-hosted video without being able to watch it myself (Aftonbladet's videos never play properly for me), but luckily someone's uploaded it on YouTube.



The video's not as...dynamic as I expected, and you definitely get the feeling it was made on a tight budget--the concept basically seems to be "Ola standing in front of a sunset and walking underneath a roof"--but it's still one of my favorite songs of the year, so I'm obligated to report news about it (plus, this gives me another opportunity to quote from the song--there's still a bunch of lines I need to get through, so news better keep coming!). The ending is cute, though, given the song's theme, I expected him to wake up afterwards (something sort of Sleeping Beauty-esque to go with the "rescue me" message). Hopefully that's the person he's been singing about, though!

If we're getting videos for singles that have already begun to chart, could we get one for Danny and Therese's "If Only You," please? And surely Danny's music has sold well enough to afford at least a slightly stylish video. And please please let "Love In Stereo" be on par with "Natalie" and "S.O.S."...

Είσαι Ό,τι Θέλω

I really hope WTBX doesn't mind me posting this song, but ever since he recommended it (thank you!), I've loved it and know other people as well.

Unfortunately, I really can't provide much background on Greek singer Elli Kokkinou, so if you're looking to know about her, check out Don't Stop The Pop's post from last year. All I can add is that Oiko Times reported that Greek broadcaster ERT approached her to represent Greece at Eurovision and she's considering it. Instead, I'll just move on to something I do know: that the following song is great.

Ise oti thelo--even if you don't think of yourself as a fan of Greek music, give this a listen, because it's truly great dance-pop. The Tamta song of a week ago goes for a sort of distant vibe, a cool vibe; this song doesn't have that. Swooshy, strong kind of throbby bassline, catchy, with bleeps in all the right places, and with an ending that feels simultaneously like a fade out and like it's (slightly creepily) building up to something big, so that when it ends you're left wanting to play it again. WTBX compared it to Anna Vissi's "Welcome To The Party," and that should give you an idea of the feel of the song (I think they've even got the same songwriter, Dimitris Kontopoulos). This is so exactly the sort of thing I love.

You can buy Elli Kokkinou's latest album, Ilikrina, here (physical) or here (digital). Now, I'm off to go investigate what else she and Dimitris Kontopoulos have done...

(Picture credit to Elli Kokkinou Fans.)

Next up: maybe back to Norway, finally, though possibly not either of the songs I mentioned earlier. Or another recommendation, this one Danish.

Billy, cette chanson est pour toi

Oh Julian Cely...

I wrote about him in early July, and apparently he released a new single in late July that completely passed me by until now. Now, normally a new single from him would be a good thing because I really liked "Pour elle," and I guess it is, but I do have a bit of an issue with it. The song, "Billy," apparently (and I say apparently because I don't speak French) implies that he's gay (which would shock no one), that he's speaking to a friend who's gay (possibly who loves him), or says nothing of the sort, depending on how you look at it. My problem with this? Well, I'm having trouble seeing it as much more than marketing--"well, our big 'for the girls' single 'Pour elle' underperformed...so let's switch to a new market!" or even just counting on the ambiguity to increase publicity.

Oh well, at least we get another pretty cover to look at, even if it's not from a new photoshoot.

In other Julian news, apparently a second album should be out in early 2008 (possibly with a different version of "Billy"--though it's currently available for purchase from legal download sites, that might not be its final version) and could possibly include a more electro style. Despite that "possibly electro" news, his MySpace is featuring three new songs (in addition to "Billy") that don't sound very electro at all. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, because "Pour Le Présent" is very good--I think I may love it. Sort of light pop-rock, but more just pop. Simple pop, but good pop. I hope I'll get a chance to buy it from somewhere. I think it and the other two have been featured on a TV show he's in, but I'm not sure.

Anyhow, I'm not even sure that "Billy" is that good of a song, and if "Pour elle" and "Tant que tu n'es pas là" couldn't take him beyond "that guy that featured on 'Cargo de nuit'" status, I don't see this doing that either, but because I really want to know if this song reminds someone else of something--every time I hear it, it reminds me of something (at least in parts--could be sampling/interpolation...or nothing), but I can't place it--here it is.

Billy--the other new songs on his MySpace may not show much electro influence, but in comparison to his earlier work, I could see how you could apply that description to this song. It's maybe more minimal and poppy than that description makes it sound, though, and it doesn't have the strong bass that I expect most electro to have (come to think of it, there could be a great remix of this song). It's mid-tempo with a sort of loping feel to it. I can see myself listening to it pretty frequently for a couple of days and then moving on (watch me end up loving it). I think I'd just like it to be more hard-hitting or something, and there are some elements I like that could be played up more to create more drama. Still, I change my mind on things all the time.

As far as I know, the single "Billy" is only available for digital purchase, and then only from sites open only to French customers (though I think it's available on the Asian release of his debut album), but you can buy (the French edition of) his self-titled debut album--which doesn't have it--here (physical). "Pour Le Présent" is very good (and better than "Billy" for me; it's got a stronger melody)--I hope it ends up getting released on the soundtrack or on his new album or something.

Next up: maybe back to Norway.

If I had a dollar for every time we had a fight...

Apropos of nothing, but could Alex Vargas please release "Diamonds In The Dirt" or license it out to someone else already? Preferably the former, though I still think it'd be a great Idol winner's song in the vein of Aleksander Denstad With's "A Little Too Perfect." I need a high quality version of it already--it's been a year and a half! I got all excited when another of his songs ("All The Way," which he released a great acoustic version of) cropped up on Swedish Idol winner Markus Fagervall's debut album, thinking that would mean we'd get to hear more of his songs out there in the released world, but I've not heard anything else yet. C'mon Alex, Chris Braide (one of its writers)--do something with it!

(His MySpace is here, but there are no songs playing on it--why, I have no idea, and at any rate, "Diamonds In The Dirt" hasn't been up for quite some time.)

Radical, liberal, beautiful, I come undone

Things that make me happy: someone has uploaded Swedish pop-rock singer and Popstars contestant Jamie Meyer's "Psycho" video onto YouTube. I love the song (it's even got chanted "hey hey hey"s!), though I'd give "Good Girl" the edge.



I think his debut album, It's All About Me (fact: every single song on it is co-written by Jörgen Elofsson; if you're looking for something a little less...peppy than the first two singles, the album's got that too), is great, and have been wanting his videos for "Psycho" and especially "Good Girl" to end up on YouTube since I first saw them--I'd rip them from the album and upload them myself if a.) I had any clue what I was doing, and b.) my computer had more memory. Still, for now, this'll do.

Hmm...come to think of it, I haven't actually done a fully-fledged post about him since January, have I? Mentioned his name a lot, but that's it. Maybe I'll have to feature him again in the near future.

(Most online stores no longer stock the album, but if you keep your eye on eBay and the Swedish version of it, you should be able to get it--there are two copies on eBay at the moment, one going for only £.99, and it's easily worth paying that for it. Alternatively, you can order it directly from his site. The media section of his official site has some songs from it to listen to, though mixed in with them are later songs he's done [some of which are great; "Free As A Bird," "To My Grandfather," and "Hey Maker," which has fantastic backing music]--"Psycho," "Never Again," "One Way Street," and "Iyeeyo" are all from It's All About Me.)

We're not what we used to be

My original thoughts on the Backstreet Boys album were going to be a lot more harsh, but I've decided to hold off on the final verdict yet--the album needs a few more listens. What I do know for sure, though, is what the best song on the album is, and it's what I'm posting today.

Something That I Already Know--as I said, by far the album's best song. Sort of like "Inconsolable" if it was good (though the way I'm listening to the album, "Something That I Already Know" flows into "Inconsolable," and whether it's because of that or because my standards have been lowered or because it's a grower, "Inconsolable" seems better than I originally thought)--I'd say it's the closest you'll get, style-wise, to their classic hits, though it's more a mix of those and the Never Gone sound than a pure throwback. "Something That I Already Know" is a very good ballad...but (and I could be wrong here) I don't see it holding up against their best stuff. Then again, not much music by anyone is better than Backstreet's best stuff. Or maybe I just need to stop comparing their old work to their new work and get over the fact that they've incorporated more pop-rock elements into their style now. Whatever--this is still a very good song.

To preorder the Backstreet Boys' album Unbreakable, go here (physical) or here (digital). It comes out October 30. If you're looking for something more uptempo, my first recommendation would be the "synthesizer-soaked" "Everything But Mine." On the ballad tip, "Unmistakable" is worthy of note, especially for that fantastic opening--slightly spacey minimal effect, piano and synth enter, then the vocals--"haunting" is a perfect description for it, and the use of the synthesizer (which, if louder and played up more, wouldn't sound out of place on something like, say, Omarion's "Ice Box") in what could otherwise be a typical ballad-with-pop-rock-influences (though that simple series of piano notes automatically sets this song out from the pack) is interesting.

Next up: either that Norwegian Idol group song or that Alejandro Fuentes song.

If you don't like that, start walking

Obsess obsess obsess...

Don't Stop The Pop has done it again--I'm currently obsessing over Finnish singer Ninja. Well, at this moment, I'm listening to the album through for the first time, but there can be absolutely NO DOUBT that "I Don't Play Guitar" is one of the BEST songs of the year. If Margaret Berger's "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow" got you excited, there is a very good chance you'll enjoy "I Don't Play Guitar," as well as other songs Ninja has done (though note that I'm not saying they sound the same, just that fans of the one will probably like the other).

I'm speechless (in a good way) at the moment. If you haven't already, you absolutely must check out Don't Stop The Pop's two features on Ninja. And then order her album (physical here and digital here, regardless of where you live). At the very least buy "I Don't Play Guitar." And "Hush, Hush." And "Champagne." And...well, I could go on!

What are you waiting for?

I'm in lovvvve...

(so much so that I just bought the digital album and then the physical version...is there any wonder why I never have any money?)

(I think I'm going to cut off the last fifteen seconds of "I Don't Play Guitar," though--they take away from the lovely electro-popness of the rest of the song.)

I know I've lost my right to judge the things you do

In other Norwegian news that I should have mentioned in the post below this, I'm very taken with Alejandro Fuentes's "Hell If I" at the moment. Yes, I realize it's been out for something like a month now so I really should have realized how much I like it earlier, but...better late than never? It's...hmm...I'm not sure how to describe it. It's that "organic" sort of pop that I tend to describe as "singer-songwriter-sounding" even if it's not actually written by the singer (though here Alejandro did co-write it). I'll try to work on a better description for when I inevitably end up posting it (though it'll probably end up being not much more that what I've just written). Until then, you can listen to it on his MySpace.