Here are some songs that I’ve seen the video to already but won’t be released until the new year:
Stonebridge – Take Me Away
Put ‘Em High was a typical 2004 dance hit but certainly one of the better of a generally terrible selection. I was very interested to find that the singer on the track was Therese, a Swedish star who released a great single called Time last year that was very Dannii Minogue-ish and generally ace. This is Stonebridge’s follow-up single and it’s perhaps not as instantly catchy but more of a proper pop song rather than just a club song. I really like it so hopefully it will be as successful as Put ‘Em High.
79% Poptastic!
Hanson – Penny & Me
Earlier this year I kept hearing that Hanson were making a comeback but I didn’t think that it would either be very good or get released in the UK. I had clearly forgotten both the aceness of I Will Come To You, Where’s The Love, Mmmbop, This Time Around etc. and the hugeness particularly of Mmmbop. Hanson are one of those bands you can’t forget. They’re in the UK this week for a few concerts and the release of their acoustic EP. With luck this and the recent Mmmbop-featuring TV ads will get them back in people’s minds enough to create some interest for the new single. The video is nothing extraordinary – just the band riding around some deserty place with a girl presumably playing Penny, but it’s very interesting to see how the brothers have grown up into buff hotties of some sort at least.
85% Poptastic!
Ciara ft. Petey Pablo – Goodies
This is apparently part of the new trend in r’n’b music called ‘crunk’ of which all I know is that Usher’s Yeah is supposed to be the biggest crunk hit so far. Luckily this isn’t as annoying as that but just as useless. Research tells me that crunk songs are from the ‘dirty South’ and traditionally consists of lots of drum machines and repetitive chants. The sirens of Yeah are replaced by a continuous computerised whoosh in Goodies. The video couldn’t be more typical US r’n’b, with Ciara on the phone on the step of her house and a bunch of rappers (presumably including Petey Pablo) driving around in an open-top car. I don’t know why this has been so big in the US but I really hope it doesn’t do the same here, cos it feels like it’s already been around for months after only one listen. If it’s gonna be huge then I’d like to hurry up and get it over with.
22% Poptastic!