La Roux – Bulletproof (Listen)
Of all the current electro-pop female vocalists, Elly from La Roux has to be my least favourite. I didn’t mind Quicksand, but In For The Kill really annoyed me, and her voice was the main problem. The little I’ve seen of her personality hasn’t endeared her to me either. However, this new single is undeniably poptastic. The chorus is really catchy and it’s just the kind of quirky little pop song I love. Elly doesn’t do that high pitched waily singing from In For The Kill, so her voice is bearable, but I would definitely like the song more with a different singer. It’s definitely the best La Roux song, though. They’re usually considered to be an 80s-style band, but this sounds more like something an undeservedly unsuccessful 90s girlgroup would do. I’m very pleasantly surprised, because I simply didn’t think La Roux had it in them to make something as ace as this.
90% Poptastic!
BoA – Did It For Love (Watch)
BoA is one of South Korea’s most successful popstars, as popular in Japan as in Korea, but is it possible for her to achieve what Utada Hikaru hasn’t, and break through to the US market? Her sound is very conventional R&B, which will benefit her if her tactic is to slip through unnoticed, hoping people will like the song and only then find out she’s Japanese. However, the slick video suggests they intend to promote her properly and as herself, which is nice, but I’m not confident it will work. R&B music is so strongly tied to black culture in America that I can’t imagine a Japanese singer being accepted very easily. She could crossover to the pop market, but the song isn’t really catchy or poppy enough for that. I don’t hate it, but to me it sounds like something Janet Jackson would do, and she’s not had much success lately, has she? BoA’s last single, Eat You Up, was much better, and even written by Thomas Troelsen!
73% Poptastic!
I do like BoA’s I did it for love, but I don’t think it has the wow factor that it will grab people.
I really wanted to love it, and for a short while I came close, but it doesn’t feel exciting enough to me, kinda formulaic.
mind you the US market is not known for its embracing of innovation in terms of artists, so maybe I am wrong
I do like BoA’s I did it for love, but I don’t think it has the wow factor that it will grab people.
I really wanted to love it, and for a short while I came close, but it doesn’t feel exciting enough to me, kinda formulaic.
mind you the US market is not known for its embracing of innovation in terms of artists, so maybe I am wrong
I really like “Quicksand” but am still unsure about “In For The Kill.” There’s something… off about it. However, “Bulletproof” is the winner out of all of them I think, so I’m really pleased they’re releasing it next.
I really like “Quicksand” but am still unsure about “In For The Kill.” There’s something… off about it. However, “Bulletproof” is the winner out of all of them I think, so I’m really pleased they’re releasing it next.
I really dislike In For The Kill. It annoys me that it’s doing so well. Bulletproof is much better but after IFTK I kind of feel I need to hate them on principle. It’s rather confusing!
I really dislike In For The Kill. It annoys me that it’s doing so well. Bulletproof is much better but after IFTK I kind of feel I need to hate them on principle. It’s rather confusing!
For me it’s Quicksand > In For The Kill > Bulletproof.
…but I actually really like Elly’s voice.
For me it's Quicksand > In For The Kill > Bulletproof.
…but I actually really like Elly's voice.