http://www.youtube.com/p/D063F1EA8907EDC3
Anna Speller – Waiting
Since my post about K-Otic the other day, I discovered that one of the girls from the band released a solo single last year. She was in a Dutch film called Honeyz, about 2 girls who got trapped in a department store and had a night of hilarious teenage hi-jinks, and she released Waiting as the soundtrack single. I know that the film wasn’t well received, so I guess this song didn’t do well enough to warrant a full solo career from Anna, which is a shame cos she has potential to be fab, just like all of her ex-bandmates. Also a shame is that Anna was nominated for an award for ‘worst actress’ for this film! I think she’d better stick to singing from now on.
Ida Maria – Oh My God
Yet another Scandinavian act breaking through in the UK, and well-deserved too, as they have a great sound and were brilliant when I saw them live at The Great Escape. I’m posting this one instead of the new single because I prefer it, and because it shows that they are far from a one hit wonder. It’s exciting to see this kind of indie music getting attention from mainstream British press, instead of just the few music obsessives who would already be familiar with Sweden’s position as the creator of the world’s best indie music, and the only kind it’s truly acceptable to like! Hopefully Ida’s success will convince a few more people to investigate Swedish indie-pop girls like Maia Hirasawa and Marit Bergman.
Elf watching with Hafdis Huld
I absolutely love Icelandic people, even more than Swedes or French, because they are the most adorable, kooky characters with such a distinct personality which is so supremely lovable. I always wanted to love Bjork’s music because I love her as a person, but I never really managed to. However, with Hafdis I am a fan of her as a person and as an artist, because her music sounds just how Icelandic people are – very sweet yet very cool. Just listen to that accent: have you ever heard anything so fantastically ace? If you love Hafdis, keep an eye out for a new Mercedes advert in which she sings Stop by Sam Brown.
Fe-M@il – Flee Fly Flo
Here’s a bit of a flashback. Anyone remember Fe-M@il? Back in the day when text speak was still a novelty, this girl group released their first and last single, the frankly insane Flee Fly Flo – think a mixture of playground chants and Vanilla. It is kind of catchy in its craziness, but if anyone can work out what it’s all about, please do let me know. I wonder what has happened to all of these girls since the band flopped, and if any of them are still in the music industry now. I wouldn’t have recognised any of them if they’d turned up on Pop Idol or similar. As sweet and fun as the group was, I doubt they get this video out to show potential employers these days.
S Club 8 – Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry
With Frankie and Rochelle making their attempted return to the charts this week, I thought I would highlight my personal favourite song on the group’s second album. It was released last (in fact it was the last thing they ever released except for the terrible I Dream stuff), so didn’t do very well, but I think it’s rather underrated and actually one of their best. I loved how despite their young age, SC8 were still given pop songs which were just as good as groups 5 or 10 years older were releasing. It’s nice that their management acknowledge that kids do have ears, and didn’t try to fob them off with some imitation pop like the Disney stars often have – this can of course be good when done well, but that is rare, and those teen acts could definitely learn from SC8.
5. Rihanna – Disturbia
4. The Ting Tings – Shut Up And Let Me Go
3. Jordin Sparks Ft Chris Brown – No Air
2. The Saturdays – If This Is Love
And at no. 1 this week is…
Alphabeat – 10,000 Nights of Thunder
This is this song’s third week at no.1, which means it now must be retired to the old pop folks’ home. It’s been fun! Here’s the original video for the Danish release of 10,000 Nights, which I think is just as ace as the UK one, even if it is less polished. Their wonderfulness shines through no matter what the video budget is.