#TBT #8

For Throwback Thursday every week we're going to shine our poplight on a stone cold classic.

So, this week is Eurovision week on 'Pop is Not the Enemy'! I'm jetting off to Vienna tomorrow to watch the final live for the first time ever - excited doesn't really cover it!

For this week's 'Throwback Thursday' we're featuring a massive moment for the UK in Eurovision history, come on I'm allowed to show a little bit of patriotic bias! I am of course talking about the last time the United Kingdom won the competition in 1997 with 'Love Shine a Light' by Katrina and The Waves!

Katrina and The Waves finally managed to break the Irish stronghold on Eurovision (they'd won 4 times in the past 5 years at that point) and brought the competition over the Irish sea to Birmingham in 1998.

The song was a marked departure from the Katrina and The Waves people knew, case in point being 'Walking on Sunshine', and it paid off big time! Anthemic is definitely the word, showcasing Katrina's towering vocal it was the epitome of 1990's Eurovision with the focus being on how love can unite everyone regardless of the borders and barriers that sometimes stand in our way (this concept felt much fresher in the heady days of 1997!).

"And we're all gonna shine a light together,

All shine a light to light the way.

Brothers and sisters in every little part,

Let our love shine a light in every corner of our hearts."

The staging was simple, what more do you need when you have the perfect combination of song and voice? So, take a step back in time for 'Throwback Thursday' and soak up the epicness of 'Love Shine a Light'!

We'll just have to wait and see if Electro Velvet are more of a Katrina than a Bonnie!

(this should be more) POPular #8

You know that thing when you hear a song and you can't believe it hasn't been a massive hit? Yeah, that...

So, this week is Eurovision week on 'Pop is Not the Enemy'! I'm jetting off to Vienna on Friday to watch the final live for the first time ever - excited doesn't really cover it!
For our (this should be more) POPular this week we're featuring a single from a former Eurovision winner, her winning entry was one of the most popular entries in recent memories chart-wise and was an absolute banger! I'm talking of Eurovision royalty Loreen and her fantastic single 'Paper Light (Higher)'!

Following on from her winning song 'Euphoria' Loreen released the album 'Heal' which blended the more chart-friendly dancepop of her Eurovision entry with more alternative,laid-back sounds both of which worked really well and showcased her unusual, captivating vocals. High points of the album included the follow-up single 'Crying Out Your Name' and a new remixed version of her other Melodifestivalen track 'My Heart is Refusing Me'. 

With the release of 'Paper Light (Higher)' Loreen continues to push herself sonically and play with the accessibility of pop music. This is much less immediate than her previous singles and is lyrically and vocally much more challenging.

"Come under my skin,

Rush through my veins,

I need your light.

I've been chased,

To a stormy place,

Shooting up to the sky."

A stuttering piano riff coupled with Loreen's faultless vocal, those high notes in the chorus are insane, makes for a beautiful combination. Taking influences from 90's house 'Paper Light (Higher)' may not grab you by the throat the way the pop perfection of 'Euphoria' did but it reveals it's depths and touches over time, showing new layers and shades you may have previously missed. In short, it's a total tune.

 

What a stonker of a pop tune! Also, check out 'Paper Light (Revisited)', an alternate version that is darker and moodier than the single version, it has more in common with some of the album tracks from 'Heal' and makes us very excited for the new album!

You can follow Loreen on social media:

twitter - @LOREEN_TALHAOUI

facebook - Loreen

instagram - @loreenofficial

Mashed POP-tato #8

So, this week is Eurovision week on 'Pop is Not the Enemy' and the contest is already under way! I'm jetting off to Vienna on Friday to watch the final live for the first time ever - excited doesn't really cover it!
For this week's featured mash up we're showcasing a pop marriage of an American/Slovenian EDM diva and an international female rapper who went pop big time on her second album. So, this week pin your lug-holes back for Nicki Minaj going Eurovision with some help from Hannah Mancini, the Slovene entrant in Eurovision 2013. Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd write!

Hannah, an American living in Slovenia, crashed the Eurovision party with 'Straight Into Love' and although it may not have been Slovenia's finest Eurovision moment in terms of points, it finished last in its semi final, I really like and still listen to it on a regular basis. 'Straight Into Love' arrives with a crash of dubstep wobbles and honks before settling into more sedate verses before dance beats and ear-splitting synths herald the arrival of the chorus with it's big notes.

'Starships' was released as the first single from Trinidadian/American rapper Nicki Minaj's second album 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded' and went on to become a worldwide smash and sold 6 million copies in the States alone! For me this showcases Nicki's totally barmy lyrics at their best.

"Jump in my hoop-de-hoop-de-hoop,

I own that.

And I ain't paid my rent this month,

I owe that."

So...are you ready? 

It really shouldn't work but it really does, the vocals and the instrumental track seem to match up perfectly giving both songs a totally different sound - I LOVE IT!

You can follow Hannah on social media:

twitter - @hannahmancini

facebook - Hannah Mancini

instagram - @hannahmancini1

and you can find Nicki Minaj here:

twitter - @NICKIMINAJ

facebook - Nicki Minaj

instagram - @nickiminaj

Eurovision 2015 - The Big 5, The New Kid on the Block and the Home Nation

We are the world's people, different yet we're the same...

So, as you may, or may not, be aware the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 is just around the corner with the to semi finals taking place on May 19th and 21st and the final on Saturday the 23rd. Following Austria's victory last year, Conchita triumphed with the wonderful Bassey-esque 'Rise Like a Phoenix', the contest will be beaming it's way across the world from the beautiful city of Vienna - and I will be there!

We've had a look at the songs from both semi finals so now it's time to scope out how the automatic qualifiers are doing in 2015.

Austria - The Makemakes - I Am Yours

The defending champions have put their faith in the hands of the pop/rock band The Makemakes, and along with millions of other nations this year they've gone with a ballad. Starting with delicate piano they song has lovely touches of guitar work and lead singer Dodo has a great rock edge to his voice, particularly towards the end where we get to hear the grit as he really cuts loose. However, I do think this is a little safe and although it will get a great reception in the Wiener Stadthalle on Saturday I can't see it troubling the top of the scoreboard.

 

Australia - Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again

I've already made my feelings known on this song as it's our 'Track of the Week', it's cool, catchy and credible - love it!

France - Lisa Angell - N'oubliez pas

So Gallic it's almost racist, if a French Eurovision song was created by scientists in a lab this would be the result. Lisa has a lovely voice and the song has great chanson elements and the military drums add something a little different to a song that may have trouble standing out in a competition so heavy with ballads. The sentiment behind the song, a tribute to all those lost or affected by the atrocities of war, is admirable although I'm not sure how many people will pick up on this due to it being sung in French. 

Germany - Ann Sophie - Black Smoke

This song arrives at Eurovision under a cloud of controversy following the German national final, it originally finished 2nd but the winner declined the offer to represent Germany in Vienna. Anyway, back to the song, I like it! It has elements of soul and jazz without sounding old-fashioned and although Ann Sophie has an unusual voice it really seems to suit the song (which was co-written by the UK's own Ella Eyre). I'm not convinced this will trouble the upper reaches of televotes or jury results but it deserves to do well.

Italy - Il Volo - Grande amore

This is another of the front runners, but I REALLY don't get it. This is no disrespect to the singers, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, their talent is beyond question, but I just find the whole thing very old-fashioned. Their voices blend really well and the harmonies are totally on point, there's also a real sense of drama about the whole thing...yet I still find it a bit dull. I think it will get a lot of votes but one of them will not be from me.

Spain - Edurne - Amanacer

Edurne certainly looks the part and is a great little performer, the song itself is a bit of a change of gear from her usual material. Sung in Spanish, meaning 'Dawn', it is one of the most dramatic entries this year, sweeping strings and tribal drums work really well with Edurne's powerful vocal. I like it but feel that the closing section could use something else to take it to the next level, maybe a tempo shift or a key change would have worked as it does seem to plateau slightly. I do like it though.

United Kingdom - Electro Velvet - Still in Love with You

Well, to say this has been divisive on home turf is putting it lightly. Alex and Bianca, known collectively as Electro Velvet, have had an uphill battle since they were unveiled as the UK entry in March. The song will certainly stand out against all the ballads this year and its 1920's influences (Caro Emerald may want to call her lawyer) are certainly something different for the competition. Bianca has a lovely voice but I just don't really buy their chemistry, or lack of, and this really throws off the performance. I really hope this does well and think that the position they get in the draw will really make or break where they ultimately end up on the scoreboard at the close of play on May 23rd. I will be there cheering them on I wish them both all the luck in the world!

So there you go that's all 40 song from this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which one is your favourite? Who will end up battling for first place on Saturday night? Tune in on Tuesday and Thursday night to find out! SEE YOU IN VIENNA, HOW EXCITING!

Track of the Week #8

It's only the bloody track of the week!

So, this week is Eurovision week on 'Pop is Not the Enemy' as the contest kicks off with the first semi final on Tuesday! I'm jetting off to Vienna on Friday to watch the final live for the first time ever - excited doesn't really cover it!

So, for this week's featured track we're shining the spotlight on one of this year's entries. This song is by a singer who has had massive success in his homeland with 6 platinum albums and 6 number 1 singles, he's was also the inaugural 'Idol' for his nation and was a judge on X Factor. I am, of course talking about Guy Sebastian who is the first ever Eurovision entrant for Australia!

The song in question is a pop belter by the name of 'Tonight Again' and was written specifically for the competition by Guy and his long-term collaborator David Ryan Harris. Obviously having come through a TV talent show we know that he has a great set of pipes on him and can handle performing in front of a live audience. From the soulful introduction it becomes blatantly obvious that all those involved are no mucking around, they're here to win it. Guy's smooth, rich tone is on display from the beginning and once the beat and brass kick in I think it has more than a little of 'Uptown Funk' about it. A catchy chorus follows and the deal is sealed with some earworm 'woahs' for the crowd to yell along to. 

"Oh, some people might call you crazy,

They say we only live for fun.

Ooh they might be right but only maybe,

But I can guarantee what we got is what they want."

I don't want to bang on too much about Guy's voice but his range incredible and he sounds perfectly comfortable even when blasting out his falsetto, also the closing riff is pretty amazing. For me the really impressive thing about this whole production is that it manages to sound effortlessly current, never trying to hard and could stand on it's own in the charts around the world. It's fun, effervescent and brilliantly catchy.

I understand the inclusion of the Aussies this year has been a little contentious with some fans, but I'm open to the idea and feel we should open them with open arms - plus if they're bringing tunes like this we should just leave the door open for them!

Good luck to Guy and all of the other contestants for the semi finals on Tuesday and Thursday and the final on Saturday - I'll be there cheering you on!

You can follow Guy on social media:

twitter - @GuySebastian

facebook - Guy Sebastian

instagram - @guysebastian

Mashed POP-tato #7

This week's mash up is between a Gallic dance wizard and a US pop diva, it's Madeon vs Katy Perry, 'Wide Awake for the Finale'!

'Wide Awake' was the final single released from the 'Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection' in 2012 and was considerably darker in both tone and lyrical content that some of the poppier moments of the megahit album. It was a worldwide smash that lodged itself in the top 10 of many charts and was a huge radio hit. 

'Finale', a single released by the French music producer also in 2012, is a tour de force of  stomping beats and sweeping synths that epitomises the Madeon sound. 

The reason these two work so well together is that it isn't dance overload, the production isn't too frenetic and keeps the slightly pensive nature of Perry's original song.

You can follow Katy on social media:

twitter - @katyperry

facebook - Katy Perry

instagram - @katyperry

and you can find Madeon here:

twitter - @madeon

facebook - Madeon

instagram - @madeon

(this should be more) POPular #7

You know that thing when you hear a song and you can't believe it hasn't been a massive hit? Yeah, that...

This week we're featuring a corker of a track from a British artist who had a massive breakthrough in 2009 but the wheels kind of fell off the recent comeback. I feel this was unjust and think this track in particular should be more POPular! This week's featured track is 'Uptight Downtown' by La Roux.

This track was released as the lead single from the sublime sophomore album 'Trouble in Paradise' almost a year ago and it is a barnstormer of pop brilliance. 80's Duran Duran-style beats coupled with Chic-esque guitars up the pop ante giving a real retro feel without feeling outdated and it's really nice to see Elly fronting something with a little bit of funk about it. That familiar falsetto is in effect at the start of the chorus although it's much smoother than we saw in earlier work such as 'In For the Kill'. The filtered vocals in the instrumental section are gorgeous then the chorus crashes back in lodging itself in your head. 

Written about the Brixton riots of 2011 Elly made a concerted effort to distance herself from the possible political connotations of using such an event as inspiration and concentrated on the emotional impact of mass protest.

"Streets are lined with people,

People who want to move, move, move.

How can all these people,

Have so much to prove, prove, prove?"

Although critically lauded the single stalled at number 63 in the UK and unfortunately the album couldn't replicate the success of début album 'La Roux'. It's a real shame that it didn't find a larger audience and it has some truly amazing pop moments that more than stand shoulder to shoulder with earlier material, in particular 'Silent Partner', 'Let Me Down Gently' and the brilliantly/awfully titled 'Sexotheque' (that synth line is bloody awesome!).

Sit back and soak up the pop goodness of 'Uptight Downtown'.

What a travesty that this wasn't a massive hit, I hope you're all happy with yourselves??

You can follow La Roux on social media:

twitter - @larouxofficial

facebook - La Roux

instagram - @larouxroux