Bad Boys-Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke won last year's X Factor (the UK American Idol) and here is her debut single, Bad Boys. She did not take the Leona route and release a Bleeding Love-esque ballad. Instead, Ms. Burke put on a slinky sliver outfit and released a relentlessly uptempo gem. The song (especially tempo-wise) is similar to Britney's Womanizer (as Popjustice noted), and it gallops along at a frenetic pace. It rarely stops for air and builds splendidly to the chorus. I didn't love it after the first listen, but now I really enjoy it. It's super fun and the chorus is super catchy and satisfying. I love the "ooo way, ooo wah'' part in the chorus. Flo Rida rides the fast beat like he's in the Kentucky Derby, but honestly his presence isn't really necessary. Alexandra holds her own. Now I'm super psyched for her album.



The Saturdays-Forever is Over
So the video for The Saturdays new single leaked before the full song did. Odd. Anyway I enjoy the Satz new song. It's pop rock instead of the electro R&B pop of their first album. The video is pretty dull except for some cool, documentary-style and black and white camera shots and when blondie Mollie rubs off the heart tattoo with her finger. That's fantastic. Frankie and Rochelle's hairdos look really good as well. Rochelle sounds splendid in the second verse (she sings with conviction). The guitar-tinged middle eight is great, but too short. I think this song could do well for them if they released it in the US. It is very likable.



Miley-Party in the USA
Oh Miley, sometimes you have a really good knack for pop songs. I've fallen in love with this irresistible, funky, and sweet jam known as Party in the USA. The chorus is fun, joyful, and catchy. The verses feature amusing, original, and endearing lyrics about Miley's journey from Nashville to scary LA. "Nodding my head like yeah, moving my hips like yeah". Amen, sister. Gotta love it.


I'm Not Your Toy-La Roux
One of my favorite new acts of the year, La Roux, released the video for their next single, I'm Not Your Toy the other day. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs with it's gentle steel drums and superb lyrics. The video is kooky, filled with a strange array of people (dancers that all look like the lead singer of British band Noisettes) all in a glass pool house staring awkwardly at each other until everyone starts to dance a little. Watch for lead singer Elly Jackson's hair emerging from the water. Crazy beautiful.



Now I'm That Bitch-Livvi Franc
Another pop gal has emerged from Barbados (home of my love, Rihanna). Her name is Livvi Franc and her debut single is called Now I'm That Bitch. The electro-pop beat is minimalist, but effective because it let's Livvi deliver the sharp lyrics with sass and oomph. The first 40 seconds build spectacularly with the ominous beat slowly invading the song as Livvi gets more and more sassy. The video is pretty cool (crazy fabric dance) and I like Pitbull's rap. It's a modern pop song, but it doesn't sound like everything else out there (i.e. some variation on the Lady GaGa/RedOne sound). Choice lyrics: "Hi, my name is (genius pop music song pause BRAVO)....you won't remember, wait till December". Great debut.

Genius Ads

The people who work for the CW network's advertising are genius. Look at these sexy, cheeky ads for the new juicy soaps that will be gracing our screens this coming week. The Melrose Place campaign is particularly genius just for the delicious tag lines. I particularly love "Tuesday's the new humpday". I've also been reading that Katie Cassidy (the blond girl in the ads) is quite memorable in the premiere. If things go well the CW may become my destination network this TV season with the devilish Gossip Girl, the apparently now good 90210, the new Melrose Place, The Vampire Diaries, and the modeling word soap The Beautiful Life (which had a super scandalous ad campaign featuring nude cast members) with hot mess and a half Mischa Barton. Let the drama begin!

Forever is Over

Okay, here's a clip of The Saturdays new single that premieres on Radio 1 in England tomorrow night. As I said before it's called Forever is Over and based on this clip, the song is very strong. It's different than anything they've done before. It's more rock, but not that rock. I mean, come on, it's The Saturdays. Closer to pop-rock. There are guitars there though. It's a mid tempo, and the chorus soars and stomps. I'm really happy about this new side to The Satz. Can't wait to hear the whole thing tomorrow.

Song of the Day

Here is a splendid song from Irish singer and fashion icon Roisin Murphy called You Know Me Better. It comes from her second solo album called Overpowered released in the UK in 2007. The video for this song is absolutely fantastic filled with stunning costumes and lovely shots. The song bounds along gloriously in a funky splendor, a wonderful piece of sophisticated, classy pop. "Dow dow dow dow dow dowdowdowdow" is the best way I can describe what the beat sounds like (just sing that to yourself in a low voice and you'll get what I'm saying). The piano twinkles, things that sound like hand claps abound, and everything is rather irresistible. Apparently Roisin is working on new music and she should have a song called Demon Lover out soon. She's also pregnant with her first child. Congrats Roisin.

Tidbits

-The Saturdays' new single, the melodramatically titled Forever is Over, will be played for the first time on BBC Radio 1 this Sunday night. I'm really excited for this song which is supposed to be more rock-tinged than their other songs. Their first album was a good debut with some memorable gems (If This is Love and Up) and their cover of Just Can't Get Enough was spirited and fun, but this album will be the real test. I have high expectations. Bigger and better I hope.

-A snippet of Alphabeat's new song The Spell was posted on Popjustice a few days ago, and it sounds promising and super poppy. I can't wait to hear the whole thing. Stine, the female singer, has got a new dramatic hairdo that kind of looks like a wig. It's fantastic though. Hopefully the gang play some new tunes at their V Festival appearance in England this weekend. Maybe we'll get some YouTube clips.

Update: The new album called The Spell too will be released on October 19th in the UK I assume and the single of the same title will be out October 12. Very exciting.

-Norwegian pop wunderkind Annie finally has a release date for her delayed second album, Don't Stop. It will be released in the US on November 17! The first single from the album after many leaks and false single starts (see I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me from last year) is Songs Remind Me of You which has awesome cover art: Annie wearing a lipstick necklace. It's a wonderful image.

-Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole may debut her first solo single on British TV show, The X Factor (kind of like American Idol). Cheryl is a judge on the talent competition. She better be good. Good luck, Cheryl. Hope the album is full of pop wonder.

-Head over to the Dolly Rockers Myspace page to hear a snippet of what sounds to be another delicious and sassy new song from the gals, Boys Will Be Boys. It reminds me a bit of The Veronicas.

www.myspace.com/thedollyrockers

Trailer Time

Just in time for the holidays, director Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, The Holiday) gives us the horribly-titled, It's Complicated, a comedy drama about a divorced woman (Meryl Streep)and her relationship with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) and her architect (Steve Martin). It looks cute and girly if not exactly hilarious. It's nice to see Meryl, my favorite actress, in one of these more normal roles. She's just playing a regular woman not a zany nun or a scary magazine editor. From the preview it looks like Streep will be organic and warm in this role. It's Complicated could be the title for practically any movie, but besides that the movie looks like cuddly holiday entertainment.


This is the trailer for New York, I Love You, an anthology movie featuring short films by different directors about New York. It's a companion piece to Paris, Je T'aime. The trailer was pretty much tailor-made for me to love. It uses Phoenix's rapturous, infinite-feeling song 1901 perfectly, and New York is one of my favorite places in the world. The cast is huge featuring Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Rachel Bilson, Julie Christie, Shia Laboeuf, Orlando Bloom, and Bradley Cooper to name a few. I can't wait.


The September Issue is a documentary about Vogue editor Anna Wintour and how the magazine puts together one of their trendsetting, very heavy September issues. I'm so excited to see this. It looks fascinating and fluffy.


Here's the trailer for Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's latest movie, Broken Embraces, starring the stunning Penelope Cruz. It will be released here in the fall. The plot revolves around a blind writer. Cruz looks gorgeous in the trailer, and I love seeing her in anything especially since she's been getting better roles in English features in the past couple years. Also, I recently got into Almodovar Can't wait!

Tidbits

-According to the wonderful Popjustice.com, Danish wonder band, Alphabeat will have a new album and single out in Sept. The single is called The Spell, and from what Popjustice says about the song, it sounds like a winner.

-Leighton Meester has recorded a song with RedOne!! Yay! According to her twitter, it's called What is Love. Please be a banger.

-Kesha's debut single TiK ToK will go to radio in September. Fingers crossed it does well. It's raucously delightful.

-Apparently Dizzee Rascal's latest beast of a summer jam, Holiday, was originally intended for The Saturdays to record according to the song's writer, pop maven Calvin Harris. Holiday would have been a completely different song with The Saturdays doing it. Dizzee has made it his own. Very interesting.

-Last night, on the finale of TV's best competition show, So You Think You Can Dance, bubbly gal Jeanine took the title of America's favorite dancer. I'm glad she won, but I was pulling for Kayla. Kayla came alive with every number she did. Jeanine is very worthy though. Guest judge Debbie Allen (she is hilarious) picked the group number the top 16 did to Calle Ocho by Pitbull as one of her favorite routines of the season. It's understandable why: the song is hot, the beat is hot, and the routine is smoking especially the part with the girls dancing on the tables, kicking the water around. Spicy!

Louder Than Sirens, Louder Than Bells, Sweeter Than Heaven, and Hotter Than Hell

Peaches-Serpentine
Electronica diva Peaches has a new video for her song Serpentine. I think she's just hilarious, and the lyrics to this song are wonderfully blunt and ridiculous. Her somewhat deadpan delivery really makes the song. It rides a minimalist beat and features some of Peaches' trademark outfits and dance moves. "Never straight line, serpentine"


Dragonette-Gone Too Far
Here's the new video for another song off Dragonette's upcoming album. First single Fixin' to Thrill was a sexy, raunchy, raw, and loud romp featuring cowbell and a delectable vocal performance from lead singer Martina Sorbara. It's one of their best songs, if not the best. Gone Too Far is fun and country-fied, but it lacks the raw "purr" of Fixin' to Thrill. The video is odd featuring scenes from an old John Travolta movie. Since it's Dragonette, the song is still very good though. I'm very excited for this album.


Girls Can't Catch-Stop
This is the b-side to Girls Can't Catch's debut single Keep Your Head Up which is doing just okay on the UK charts. It's called Stop, and it's another promising song from the girls. Stop is short, electro pop, and likeable. The "ooos" are very effective. Very good for a b-side.


Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song
Florence + the Machine are one of my favorite new acts to emerge this year. Florence's songs are weird, dark, and dramatic filled with loud drums and harp. What really makes her music great though is her glorious voice which weaves in and out, up and down, and all around a song. Her vocal transitions are smooth and satisfying. Even though her songs are somewhat kooky they are made accessible because they are filled with very catchy, memorable choruses or verses or chants. Her next single, Drumming Song, will be out next month in the UK. Here's the new video. I thought it would be set in some creepy, abandoned Gothic or medieval church based on what Florence said in an interview, but alas, we get this beautiful, gleaming church instead. Florence looks gorgeous in the video with her flaming red hair contrasting sharply against her black leotard. There's girl group/pop star choreography and tinges of ballet. I love when she's running around in her gold "shorts" (?), blue cape, and headband. What a gal!