Marina & the Diamonds – Oh No! (Watch)
I was a bit surprised that this was chosen as the next single for Marina, as it hadn’t particularly stood out to me on the album, but when combined with this glorious video it now makes perfect sense. This is the kind of song Amy Studt might have released if she’d been allowed to continue being ace. If only all pop videos could bring a song to life in the way this one does. I’ve never been entirely sure if I like Marina herself (her derision of Girls Aloud in her song Girls makes me wonder if she really wants to be a popstar at all, since she has clearly missed the point of GA) but I’ve listened to her album quite a lot and wouldn’t say there were any weak tracks, so for that alone she gets my approval.
83% Poptastic!
Maroon 5 – Misery (Listen)
They’re a subject of hate from many pop fans, and I can see that there is a slightly irritating attitude about them, but I throroughly enjoyed both of their albums so far. The new single Misery is from their third album, which they have always said will be their last, and it’s very much on the same lines as their previous work. While I’m pleased they have stuck to the sound that earned their success, it would have been nice to have an updated version as this could have easily been released five years ago. Still, I like it and will definitely buy the new album. Hopefully the video will be as fun as this fan-made attempt – I love his jumper!
81% Poptastic!
Selena Gomez & the Scene – Round and Round (Watch)
Since I can never muster the courage to watch anything Disney other than High School Musical, I don’t really get who Selena is. All I know is she date(s/d?) a JoBro, had a small hit with Naturally, and looks about 6 but is presumably older than that. She resembles Rachel Bilson’s blander-looking younger sister. Her music is pretty bland as well. Naturally suggested Selena has potential for poptasticness, but Round and Round follows the same old Disney template of sounding like a good pop song but not actually being one. It’s been like this since the days of Hilary Duff – albums full of songs that were almost but not quite good, with the odd over-hyped triumph like Come Clean and Can’t Be Tamed. Occasionally there’s a genuine triumph like See You Again, but Selena hasn’t created hers yet.
70% Poptastic!
I actually like “Round & Round” more than “Can’t be Tamed.” The latter sounds like a mediocre song trying too hard to be a great song, while “Round & Round” seems more like a decent pop song trying to be overly sophisticated; it reminds me of that song Izzie from Neighbours did, or some of Leighton Meester’s tracks (I think it’s written by the same guy who wrote her “Good Girls Go Bad,” which wasn’t terribly sophisticated, but wasn’t very good, either).
Anyway, I’m reserving judgment on both of them until the inevitable massive gay remix package.
I actually like “Round & Round” more than “Can't be Tamed.” The latter sounds like a mediocre song trying too hard to be a great song, while “Round & Round” seems more like a decent pop song trying to be overly sophisticated; it reminds me of that song Izzie from Neighbours did, or some of Leighton Meester's tracks (I think it's written by the same guy who wrote her “Good Girls Go Bad,” which wasn't terribly sophisticated, but wasn't very good, either).
Anyway, I'm reserving judgment on both of them until the inevitable massive gay remix package.
That’s interesting cos Rogue Traders (Izzy from Neighbours’ band) came to mind when I heard Round and Round too! I also prefer it slightly to Can’t Be Tamed as I agree CBT is trying too hard, but I still don’t feel that Round and Round quite achieves what it sets out to. I like the style of the song more than the song itself.
That's interesting cos Rogue Traders (Izzy from Neighbours' band) came to mind when I heard Round and Round too! I also prefer it slightly to Can't Be Tamed as I agree CBT is trying too hard, but I still don't feel that Round and Round quite achieves what it sets out to. I like the style of the song more than the song itself.
一棵樹除非在春天開了花，否則難望在秋天結果。.................................................................
一棵樹除非在春天開了花，否則難望在秋天結果。.................................................................
While generally I think Selena Gomez is sort of a not-quite-Christina to Miley’s not-quite-Britney, what initially made me pay any attention to her at all was how closely “Naturally” flirted with a much more mature deep house-y dance style than I’d expect from a teenaged Disney prefab. Of course, it’s probably just a fluke resulting from some overqualified producer Disney didn’t fully water down, since I haven’t heard anything since then that’s anything beyond Sunday School level, but that would have been totally cool if Gomez had suddenly whipped out this precociously fantastic hardcore trance side (or something) right as Miley is becoming a startlingly interesting club pop act… Come on, step it up Disney, we’re in desperate need of a good old fashioned pop princess rivalry here!
While generally I think Selena Gomez is sort of a not-quite-Christina to Miley's not-quite-Britney, what initially made me pay any attention to her at all was how closely “Naturally” flirted with a much more mature deep house-y dance style than I'd expect from a teenaged Disney prefab. Of course, it's probably just a fluke resulting from some overqualified producer Disney didn't fully water down, since I haven't heard anything since then that's anything beyond Sunday School level, but that would have been totally cool if Gomez had suddenly whipped out this precociously fantastic hardcore trance side (or something) right as Miley is becoming a startlingly interesting club pop act… Come on, step it up Disney, we're in desperate need of a good old fashioned pop princess rivalry here!