Strike Curious Poses

80: 80's 60: The System

2011-06-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

Back to 1987 and a number 4 Billboard Hot 100 hit for The System and the pure class of R'n'B pop and Don't Disturb The Groove. It also was a number one R'nB singles chart hit in the US. David Frank and Mic Murphy were The System. David Frank would go onto further success as a producer and songwriter including co writing and production on Christina Aguilera's Genie In A Bottle.

Fire and Rain

2011-06-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

Going back 30 years now. From her 1971 album Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves here's Cher and her version of James Taylor's Fire and Rain.

80:80's 59: Aretha Franklin

2011-06-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

In 1985 Aretha Franklin's Freeway Of Love was a number 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow up single Who's Zoomin' Who was also a top ten American hit. It got to number 7 in the US and number 11 in the UK. Looking back on the list of her singles released in the 80's that period of her career really was amazing. Both of those singles came before her collaboration success's with Eurythmics and her number one hit with George Michael.

Here's the 12" remix of Who's Zoomin' Who.

From the TV show Solid Gold here's Dionne Warwick version of the song.

80:80's 58: Steve Perry

2011-06-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

A year or two ago I would have had one of Journey's singles on my 80:80's song list but Glee put a stop to that. Steve Perry, their original lead singer, had a successful solo career. Here's his biggest solo hit Oh Sherrie which got to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart back in 1984. The album it was taken from was Street Talk had 5 singles releases, 4 of which went top 40 in the USA.

Here's the video for Oh Sherrie which was a huge MTV moment back in the day .

You Might Think

2011-06-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Songs from film soundtracks make little impression on the charts nowadays. Take That's Love Love which featured on X Men: First Class being an example. Weezer have covered The Cars 1984 American hit You Might Think for Cars 2 which is currently getting bad reviews in the USA. It's a pure carbon copy of the original and doesn't seem to be a single. The Cars have a new album, Move Like This, out at the moment so why not just put their original song on the soundtrack? Because the kids have never heard of The Cars of course.

Here's The Cars and their number 8 Billboard Hot 100 hit song from 1984. It got to number 88 in the UK.

Foster The People

2011-06-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a song that's been on various charts around the world for a few months now and will chart in the UK this week. It's Foster The People and Pumped Up Kicks. At least one of the guys in the picture above is easy on the eye too!

I Wanna Go

2011-06-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Britney's looking well once again in her new video for I Wanna Go the latest single from her Femme Fatale album . The swinging microphone is one of the best video images of 2011 since Kanye climbed up on that police car in his All Of The Lights video. It's a song that will sound great on her tour, mimed or not!

Soundgirl

2011-06-26T05:36:00.000-07:00

New girl band Soundgirl samples Carl Simon's Why on their second single.

The Ian Carey remix is pretty good too.

Kaboom

2011-06-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

I went to see the v mental movie Kaboom this evening. It should win an award for best use of colour in a film. The cast are all gorgeous and Juno Temple, pictured above is the best thing in it. The lead character loves the band Explosions in the Sky and I smiled to myself thinking I know I am older when I heard of the band (my brother likes them) but I do not know one song from them.

Here's some music from the movie. This is Airiel and In Your Room

Oh Land!

2011-06-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Oh Land seems to be releasing Sun Of A Gun as a single properly. I featured it on this blog a few months ago so here it is again because I think it is v super indeed.

yellow

2011-06-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here's one more as heard on Popjustice posts. It's Yellow the newest song, ie this week's, from CocknBullKid. Her name is a word I think I'm using as much as favourite on this blog. She's not having hit singles but she's not giving up. Trooper!

Florrie

2011-06-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Back to pop! Here's Florrie and the v nice I Took A Little Something. Popjustice likes her too.

Update: I've now listened to this song three times and, yes that's right dear readers, I love it!

Vicci Martinez

2011-06-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Vicci Martinez is one of the contestants on the TV show The Voice. Here's her version of Jolene which is a new entry on the Billboard hot 100 at number 76 this week.

VaShawn

2011-06-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

There were several songs that stood out for me last week but the one I kept listening to the most was VaShawn Mitchell's Nobody Greater. I think it is just a beautiful song. It reminds me of the crossover gospel R'nB' songs from the 1990's such as Mary Mary and Sounds Of Blackness.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 20-6-2011

1(-): Nobody Greater - VaShawn Mitchell

2(-): Valentine - Jessie Ware & Sampha

3(-): Never Will Be Mine - Rye Rye Featuring Robyn

4(-): Pieces Of Me - Ledisi

5(1): He Said - CocknBullKid & Clare Maguire

6(2): Hope There's Someone - Clare Maguire

7(4): Bounce - Calvin Harris Featuring Kelis

8(3): Another Language - Lamb

9(5): Burning Up - Britney Spears

10(16): Take Me As I Am - Rumer

11(-): Rock Me - Melanie C

12(14): Best Thing I Never Had - Beyonce

13(7): Carny - Pleasurekraft

14(11): Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue

15(8): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example

16(26): Homeboy - Eric Church

17(18): Super Bass - Nicki Minaj

18(17): Put Your Hands Up (If You feel Love) - Kylie Minogue

19(7): Touch Me - CocknBullKid & Gonzales

20(29): Let Me Go - Maverick Sabre

21(9): Pearls- Sade

22(28): Can't Stay Young (Forever) - Bressie

23(15): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry

24(-): Together You and I - Dolly Parton

25(20): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

26(10): Bills, Bills, Bills - CocknBullKid & Eliza Doolittle

27(13): Beat of My drum - Nicola Roberts

28(21): Loud (Static Revenger Remix) - Stan Walker

29(12): I Don't Know - Lisa Hannigan

30(-): Pharaohs - SBTRKT Featuring Roses Gabor

Here's VaSahawn Mitchell and Nobody Greater

Cause I Know About My Love

2011-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

On the fab website Hard Candy CocknBullKid recently choose 5 new London based music artists who she thinks are ones to watch out for. the link to her selection is here

One of the artists that she choose was Jessie Ware. The video for her v lovely song Valentine; a collaboration with Sampha, is below.

And the award for Most Costume Changes In a Parody Video Goes To...

2011-06-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

She must love this. Here's "Weird Al" Yankovic and his v entertaining Perform This Way

Rock Me

2011-06-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Two from Melanie C. The first is her new song Rock Me.

and the second is the perfect pop that is Northern Star.

Homeboy

2011-06-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Eric Church's Homeboy is my favourite country song of 2011. It is currently at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. There's a new video for the song.

Here it is.

SBTRKT

2011-06-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here's something new. SBTRKT featuring Roses Gabor and Pharaohs.

Dolly

2011-06-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here's Dolly Parton singing her new single Together you And I on Ellen's show. Dolly began her latest world tour this month too.

Pop!

2011-06-17T05:04:00.000-07:00

Super Bass has become one of Nicki Minaj's biggest hit singles. It is not her best but what is amazing is that the video (to date) has been viewed over 36,000,000 times on YouTube. Superstar! I'm sure the swimming pool scene helped that figure. She's more fun than Katy and Gaga combined.

Nicki Minaj along with mostly new songs from CocknBullKid & Co, Clare Maguire, Britney, Lisa Hannigan, Maverick Sabre and Bressie were ones I've liked recently and all of their videos can be seen are on previous posts on this blog.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 13-6-2011

1(-): He Said - CocknBullKid & Clare Maguire
2(-): Hope There's Someone - Clare Maguire
3(1): Another Language - Lamb
4(4): Bounce - Calvin Harris featuring Kelis
5(-): Burning Up - Britney Spears
6(-): Touch Me - CocknBullKid & Gonzales
7(2): Carny - Pleasurekraft
8(5): Changed The Way you Kiss Me - Example
9(7): Pearls - Sade
10(-): Bills, Bills, Bills - CocknBullKid & Eliza Doolittle

11(10): Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue
12(-): I Don't Know - Lisa Hannigan
13(3): Beat Of My Drum - Nicola Roberts
14(17): Best Thing I Never Had - Beyonce
15(15): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry
16(28): Take Me As I Am - Rumer
17(14): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue
18(-): Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
19(9): Is It A Crime - Sade
20(20): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

21(8): Loud (Static Revenger Remix) - Stan Walker
22(6): Love Love Love - Avalanche City
23(11): Soldier Of Love - Sade
24(12): Finish Line (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) - Yasmin
25(19): Move Your Body - Beyonce
26(18): Homeboy - Eric Church
27(13): What A Feeling - Alex Gaudino featuring Kelly Rowland
28(-):Can't Stay Young (Forever) - Bressie
29(-): Let Me Go - Maverick Sabre
30(23): Motivation - Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne

Here's Nicki Minaj and Super Bass

Covered Off

2011-06-17T02:51:00.000-07:00

CocknBullKid has a very good Youtube page. One of the features on that page is called Covered Off which is a series of cover versions that she does with other new music artists. There are three excellent cover versions on it to date.

The first is her cover of Destiny's child Bills, Bills, Bills where she collaborates with Eliza Doolittle

the second is a cover of Rui Da Silva's Touch Me where she collaborates with pianist Gonzales

and the third is He Said, a cover of plan B's She Said. I was v delighted to see her singing with Clare Maguire on this one.

Never Will Be Mine

2011-06-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

Be Mine was one of the best songs on Robyn's self titled album back in 2006. She has collaborated with rapper Rye Rye and the song is sampled for the chorus on Never Will Be Mine.

Ledisi

2011-06-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here's Ledisi and the first song I've heard from her. This is Pieces Of Me.

Mile In These Shoes

2011-06-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

One of my least favourite songs at the moment is I'm Into you by Jennifer Lopez featuring Lil Wayne. Back in 2007 her album Brave didn't sell as well as her previous albums had done and it looked like her career was on the slide. I liked the title track Brave a lot but there was one other song that stood out.

Here it is. Mile in These Shoes.

All The Stars Are Coming Out Tonight

2011-06-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

My sister Emma and her friend Mary are going to see Take That in Dublin's Croke Park this coming weekend. Here's my two favourite songs from them for you two.

A Million Love Songs

and one of the last decade's best singles Rule The World

Heaven

2011-06-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here's Kylie performing Aphrodite at London's Heaven nightclub.

She's On Fie - ahhhh!

2011-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Most Madonna cover versions are usually pretty awful mainly because few artists can better the original. Britney Spears has covered Burning Up and it's a faithful pop version.

.

Hush Hush

2011-06-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

Alexis Jordan's third single is Hush Hush. In her new video she's dating a no good Snoop Dogg Playa and borrowed Rebecca Black's car. Both bad moves!

Maverick Sabre

2011-06-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

Let Me Go by Maverick Sabre was released as a download on June 5th in the UK. It hasn't charted yet but I think it deserves too. His voice is interesting and I love the production on this song and a Portishead sample is always a good thing.

I Don't Know

2011-06-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

Off down to a pub in Dingle now and here's Lisa Hannigan and I Don't Know, taken from her album Sea Saw

Hope There's Someone

2011-06-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend Alan for telling me about this one. Here is Clare Maguire and her version of Anthony and the Johnsons Hope There's Someone.

Another Language

2011-06-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of the duo Lamb before last week but of all the songs I heard the week before last their new song Another Language was the one that made the most impression on me. Carny by Pleasurecraft was also just as good. Both Example's Changed The Way you Kiss Me and Calvin Harris featuring Kelis' Bounce have been two of the biggest songs on the UK chart over the past 10 days as well, Nicola Roberts (so far!) sadly was not.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 6-6-2011

1(-): Another Language - Lamb

2(-): Carny - Pleasurekraft

3(-): Beat Of My Drum - Nicola Roberts

4(8): Bounce - Calvin Harris Featuring Kelis

5(7): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example

6(-): Love Love Love - Avalanche City

7(1): Pearls - Sade

8(5): Loud (Static Revenger Remix) - Stan Walker

9(2): Is It A Crime - Sade

10(4): Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue

11(3): Soldier Of Love - Sade

12(9): Finish Line (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) - Yasmin

13(6): What A Feeling - Alex Gaudino Featuring Kelly Rowland

14(11): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue

15(15): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry

16(16): Don't Hold Your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger

17(-): Best Thing I Never Had - Beyonce

18(17): Homeboy - Eric Church

19(14): Move Your Body - Beyonce

20(23): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

21(13): Turning Tables - Adele

22(10): Notorious - The Saturdays

23(12): Motivation - Kelly Rowland Featuring Lil Wayne

24(20): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake

25(21): Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game - Adele Vs Chris Isaak

26(18): Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn

27(25): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

28(-): Take Me As I Am - Rumer

29(24): Turning Tables - Gwyneth Paltrow

30(26): In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli

here's Lamb and Another Language

Best Thing I Never Had

2011-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Beyonce's latest single Best Thing I Never Had climbs just nine places to number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. It seems that even the biggest stars are not guaranteed continuous chart sussess nowadays. It is doing better in Australia where it is number 29 on the national singles chart at present.

Many of the new publicity photos of her, which can be seen on last.fm are pretty awful. I think she's getting some bad advice from those around her which happens to megastars at some point of their careers. Best Thing I Never Had is a nice ballad but it's a safe song, the type we have heard so often before. I hope the rest of the album is good.

There's no official video yet.

Rumer

2011-06-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'm going to see Rumer in concert here in Dublin next week. According to Digital Spy Take Me as I Am will be her newest single.

Bressie

2011-06-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Can't Stay Young (Forever) is the debut solo single (They're all at it these days!) by Bressie, the lead singer of the Irish band The Blizzards. It is one of just two songs by Irish music artists in the entire top 50 Irish singles chart last week, the other is Jedward's Lipstick. I'm not allowed to comment further on that state of affairs.

Bressie, as you can see from the video below was not beaten with the ugly stick. The video was made for €5.96. The Blizzards are one of several Irish indie pop groups who do great here; they had seven top thirty Irish hits but none at all in the UK so it will be interesting to see how Bressie's solo career goes. Thanks to Alan G's friend Sharon for recommending this song.

Carny

2011-06-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a song that may be on one of Enda Guinan's music mixes and if it isn't I recommend it!

Here's Pleasurekraft and two mixes of Carny.

Avalanche City

2011-06-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Love Love Love by Avalanche City was a number one in New Zealand. I discovered it yesterday and think it's v sweet indeed.

Diamond

2011-06-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

On the 25th May I went to see Sade in concert here in Dublin. Both Sade and her band were excellent, her voice was perfect, she looked amazing and the musicians were flawless. It was one of the most elegant and professional performances I have ever seen. I am going to write about it separate post later this week. All of the songs that I liked that week could have been Sade songs but for now I'll just pick three; Pearls, Is It A Crime and Soldier Of Love. I know my favourite Welsh blogger David adores her too so all three of the songs below are for you Mr. McDonagh.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 30-5-2011

1(-): Pearls - Sade
2(-): Is It A Crime - Sade
3(-): Soldier Of Love - Sade
4(1): Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue
5(-): Loud (Static Revenger Remix): Stan Walker
6(-): What A Feeling - Alex Gaudino featuring Kelly Rowland
7(7): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example
8(4): Bounce - Calvin Harris Featuring Kelis
9(2): Finish Line (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) - Yasmin
10(3): Notorious - The Saturdays

11(11): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue
12(13): Motivation - Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne
13(5): Turning Tables - Adele
14(8): Move Your Body - Beyonce
15(15): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry
16(27): Don't Lose Your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
17(17): Homeboy - Eric Church
18(18): Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn
19(10): California King Bed - Rihanna
20(19): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake

21(12): Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game - Adele Vs Chris Isaak
22(6): Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum
23(21): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
24(9): Turning Tables - Gwyneth Paltrow
25(22): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
26(16): In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli
27(29): Right There - Nicole Scherzinger Featuring 50 Cent
28(28): All Of The Lights - Kayne West
29(14): Rockefeller Street - Getter Jaani
30(20): Popular - Eric Saade

Here are those three Sade songs. The first is Pearls.

Is It A Crime

and Soldier Of Love

Loud

2011-06-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

One notable feature of the Australian and New Zealand pop charts is that artists from each country are highlighted within the chart. The rest of the chart is a mix of the biggest hits in America and Europe. Pop is still the genre that each chart is most dominated by. One major pop artist is New Zealander Stan Walker who has had several hits to date in both charts but is an artist who should be a big star in Europe and beyond as well.

His newest single is Loud. It has reached number 36 in Australia and number 13 to date in New Zealand.

Here's the video.

and a great remix by Static Revenger.

Graduated. Take a Bow.

2011-06-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Nicola Robert's debut solo single Beat Of My Drum charted at number 27 in the UK yesterday. It has to climb more! I love the chorus and the production but to be honest I wish her vocals were better on it as she is a good singer. The video should have released much sooner before the song went on sale. It is a v fun song though. She also went shopping with Kelly Rowland as she has gone for the 'knickers as clothes' look.

She's still my favourite person in Girls Aloud.

Anything Guetta Can Do, Gaudino Can Do...

2011-06-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

What A Feeling by Alex Gaudino featuring Kelly Rowland dropped out of the UK singles chart top ten yesterday. I'm sure they were hoping it would be another huge hit like her colloboration with David Guetta on When Love Takes Over but it's still a fine pop dance song. I'm looking forward to seeing her on X Factor and Gary Barlow as well. I have no interest in Tulisa and anyone who reads this blog knows what I think of Louis. I always found it interesting that Dannii Minogue didn't use X Factor to promote her own music and I hope Kelly becomes an even bigger music star because of it.

The video for What A Feeling is below. As you can see most of Kelly's clothes have fallen off. Yet again!

On The Stereo

2011-06-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

Many months after it's release I've finally bought Kylie's Aphrodite album. Put your Hands Up (If you Feel Love) will be her new single but the title track, Aphrodite could easily be a single as well. It was co written by Nerina Pallot and is exactly the kind of pop I like the most. I so wish that I had seen her in concert here in Dublin earlier this year, my friend Orla said it was one of the best she had ever seen.
Very few new songs have impressed me much a few weeks ago so I will have to look on other pop sites and pick some new songs. I do like The Saturdays new single Notorious. I think they unfairly get the most criticism in British pop. Well, after Sugababes of course.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 23-5-2011

1(-): Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue
2(6): Finish Line (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) - Yasmin
3(-): Notorious - The Saturdays
4(10): Bounce - Calvin Harris featuring Kelis
5(1): Turning Tables - Adele
6(12): Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum
7(9): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example
8(8): Move Your Body - Beyonce
9(2): Turning Tables - Gwyneth Paltrow
10(13): California King Bed - Rihanna

11(11): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue
12(7): Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game - Adele Vs Chris Isaak
13(22): Motivation - Kelly Rowland Featuring Lil Wayne
14(3): Rockefeller Street - Getter Jaani
15(14): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry
16(4): In Love For A While - Anna Rossinellli
17(16): Homeboy - Eric Church
18(18): Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn
19(17): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake
20(5): Popular - Eric Saade

21(21): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
22(26): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
23(20): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example
24(19): Asthma Attack - CockNBullKid
25(15): The Edge Of glory - Lady Gaga
26(23): You and I - George Michael
27(RE): Don't Lose Your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
28(25): All Of The Lights - Kayne West
29(30): Right There - Nicole Scherzinger featuring 50 Cent
30(24): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire

Here's Miss Minogue and the glorious pop that is Aphrodite

and here's The Saturdays and Notorious

This Week's Tunes

2011-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have all of my exams and essays finished at last in my night time degree course for this term so I hope to post more regularly on this blog over the summer. Adele, Gwyneth, three acts from the Eurovision, Yasmin, Calvin Harris feat Kelis, Lady Antebellum and Gaga were the new songs I liked over the past seven days. All have been featured on recent posts.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 16-5-2011

1(-): Turning Tables - Adele
2(-): Turning Tables - Gwyneth Paltrow
3(-): Rockefeller Street - Getter Jaani
4(-): In Love For A While - Anna Rossinelli
5(-): Popular - Eric Saade
6(-): Finish Line (Freemasons Pegasus Club Mix) - Yasmin
7(1): Rolling In a Deep Wicked Game - Adele Vs Chris Isaak
8(2): Move Your Body - Beyonce
9(3): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example
10(-): Bounce - Calvin Harris featuring Kelis

11(4): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue
12(-): Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum
13(18): California King Bed - Rihanna
14(5): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry
15(-): The Edge Of Glory - Lady Gaga
16( 11): Homeboy - Eric Church
17(14): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj
18(9): Call your Girlfriend - Robyn
19(7): Asthma Attack - CockNBullKid
20(13): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example
21(10): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
22(8): Motivation - Kelly Rowland Featuring Lil Wayne
23(6): you and I - George Michael
24(15): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire
25(16): All Of The Lights - Kayne West
26(20): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
27(19): The Shield and the Sword - Clare Maguire
28(17): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson
29(12): Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
30(30): Right There - Nicole Scherzinger featuring 50 Cent

Here's Adele singing Turning Tables on David Letterman's show.

-

There is at Least One Fabulous Person in this Photo

2011-05-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

Charmed, I'm sure.

Beat Of Her Drum

2011-05-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Regular readers here will know that Nicola Roberts has always been the most favourite member of Girls Aloud. Nicola's debut single is called Beat Of My Drum is out on June 5th and the short sample that has been released is a v good sign that it will be a great pop song. I hope her solo music career will be the most successful of all the girls.

Here's Nicola in studio and that short music clip.

Turning Tables

2011-05-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

I have never watched a full episode of Glee. I find a lot of the characters annoying, I hate most of the song and dance routines, I dislike the way that Glee covers have dominated the lower half of the UK charts and that most pop songs seem to get the Glee makeover. I look forward to seeing songs that are completely not suitable for them to cover. I hate the way that almost ever Gaga single will be covered on the show from now on. Recently there was a gag about mixing up the term lesbian and Lebanese but that was blatantly ripped off from a classic Golden Girls TV moment decades ago.

I know that Glee has a v positive message in general but I am often uncomfortable with it's 'ok to be different' themes. I think if I was a gay teenager I would have some issues with the show than feeling completely positive about how gay issues are depicted. I hope in popular culture that we move beyond labeling people as different even if it is meant for the best. I am completely judging Glee from watching bits of episodes and if I followed it's narrative from the first show I may have a different opinion but I think I often am more interested in people who don't think that ever aspect of shows like Glee is perfect.

There have been moments that I have enjoyed and one was Gwyneth Paltrow singing Turning Tables. I didn't realize that it was Adele's song so I just heard Gwyneth singing this beautiful song and it was later that I listened to the original Adele version. I think of both versions when i hear that song, the cover was gorgeous but ultimately it is Adele's song and always will be. I also loved Gwyneth's songs on the Country Strong soundtrack but I think she is one of those celebrities that the general public could regard as doing too much; she's a movie and television actress, a singer of pop and country, has her own website and now also has a cookbook. I think that even in this celebrity culture we still regard an actress as just that unless she's a mega-star like Barbra Streisand. In a way, no matter how famous someone is they are labelled too.

Here's both versions of Turning Tables.

First is Adele.

and Gwyneth Paltrow's version

Eurovision

2011-05-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Eurovision has come and gone for another year. I thought the songs were better than usual this year. Ireland went Eurovision mad with Jedward and I have to admit that Lipstick was a catchy poppy tune and the twins gave it their all in their usual demented fashion. Blue were one of the best British boy bands back in their day but I Can was dreadful and Lee's vocals were just not good. The days of their quality pop songs like All Rise seemed a long time ago. But the joy about Eurovision is that it divides everyone's opinions and it's all about taste, good or bad, and often heralding what others dislike.

My three favourite acts this year were from Estonia, Switzerland and Sweden.

Here they are again.

From Estonia here's Getter Jaani and Rockefeller Street which did dreadful but is a perfect little pop song. It's like Glee goes to the circus, in a good way.
Her update on Facebook after the show last Saturday simply asked; 'What Happened?'.
Block voting, love, that's what happened!

Representing Switzerland here's Anna Rossinelli and In Love For A While. It did terrible too but Eurovision can as cruel as X Factor!

and lastly here's Popular by Eric Saade representing Sweden which did v well. Well this is a pop blog so it had to be Sweden. It's also owes a lot to Boney M's Rasputin.

Yasmin

2011-05-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Yasmin was expected to have a big debut in the UK charts with her debut solo single On My Own earlier this year but it just got to number 39. Her second single Finish Line has already done much better and charted at number 13 on last Sundays UK singles chart. The Freemasons Pegasus Club remix is poptastic and here it is.

and an extended mix too.

Just A Kiss

2011-05-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum charted at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart last week. I loved Need You Now and it's almost an almost impossible one for them to better but it's great to see a country ballad in the US top 10 again.

Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game

2011-05-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

A mash up of two songs stood out for me over the past two weeks. Rolling in a Deep Wicked Game is a mix by Pheugoo of Adele's Rolling In The Deep and Chris Isaak's Wicked Game. Chris Isaak's vocals from Wicked Game only comes in at the very end which allows that beautiful instrumental to let Adele's vocals stand out as much as the do on the original. The video which is featured below is by Panos T who works with my favourite mash up artist Robin Skouteris. I think Rolling In The Deep is one of the best American number one singles in a long time. It's amazing to think it just got to number two in the UK. I love her new album which I only bought last week.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 9-5-2011

1(-): Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game - Adele Vs Chris Isaak
2(1): Move Your Body - Beyonce
3(6): Changed The Way You Kiss Me - Example
4(2): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue
5(-): Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Almighty Club Mix) - Katy Perry
6(3): You and I - George Michael
7(16): Asthma Attack - CockNBullKid
8(5): Motivation - Kelly Rowland Featuring Lil Wayne
9(4): Call your Girlfriend - Robyn
10(9): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

11(11): Homeboy - Eric Church
12(14): Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
13(8): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example
14(12): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake
15(7): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire
16(15): All Of The Lights - Kayne West
17(10): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson
18(26): California King Bed - Rihanna
19(18): The Shield and The Sword - Clare Maguire
20(21): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
21(13): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor
22(23): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow
23(24): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto
24(22): Don't Hold Your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
25(20): Runaway Love - Alice Gold
26(19): Illuminated - Hurts
27(27): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester
28(17): Pon De Floor - Major Lazer
29(29): Family Man - Craig Campbell
30(-): Right There - Nicole Scherzinger featuring 50 Cent

Here's Adele and Chris Isaak and Rolling In A Deep Wicked Game

Love Love

2011-05-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

Here's one for my sister Emma. It's Take That and their new single Love Love which also features on the soundtrack for the new X Men: First Class film. Love Love charted at number 15 in the UK yesterday

Damn!

2011-05-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) has been given an almighty remix. I think most American remixes should have a cheerleader chant.

Bounce

2011-05-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Bounce is the newest single from Calvin Harris. Kelis is the featured vocalist. The video is below.

Changed the Way

2011-05-16T03:23:00.000-07:00

Beyonce 's Move your Body was my most listened to song the first week of this month. Another song that stood out was Example's Changed The Way you Kiss Me which is released in the UK on June 6th and should give him a second top ten hit following Unorthodox, his collaboration with Wretch 32.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 2-5-2011

1(-): Move your Body - Beyonce
2(1): Put your Hands Up (If you Feel Love)- Kylie Minogue
3(2): You and I - George Michael
4(6): Call your Girlfriend - Robyn
5(3): Motivation - Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne
6(-): Changed The Way you Kiss Me - Example
7(4): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire
8(8): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example
9(10): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
10(5): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson

11(11): Homeboy - Eric Church
12(12): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake
13(9): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor
14(15): Girls Like Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
15(13 ):All Of The Lights - Kayne West
16(17): Asthma Attack - CockNBullKid
17(7): Pon De Floor - Major Lazer
18(16): The Shield And The Sword - Clare Maguire
19(24): Illuminated - Hurts
20(20): Runaway Love - Alice Gold
21(22): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
22(18): Don't Hold your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
23(19): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow
24(23): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto
25(14): Run The World (Girls): Beyonce
26(-): California King Bed - Rihanna
27(27): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester
28(21): Guilt - Nero
29(25): Family Man - Craig Campbell
30(30): Sunday - Hurts

Here's Example and Changed The way you Kissed Me

Superstars

2011-05-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a great clip of Neil Diamond, Cher and Glen Campbell all singing together.

And Anyway...

2011-05-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here's Andy Bell and JC's remix of Nobody's Diary by Yazoo. It's all v postmodern!

Put your Hands Up

2011-05-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

The last week in April was Royal Wedding week so George Michael's You and I was one of my most listened to songs. However Kylie's glorious Put Your Hands Up (If you Need Love) was my most favourite song of that week. It was also a week when Beyonce disappointed all over the world with Run The World (Girls) but it got me listening to Major Lazer's Pon De Floor instead. Since Kelly Rowland's Motivation was released a few weeks ago it has climbed slowly but surely up the Billboard Hot 100.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 25-4-2011

1(-): Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Kylie Minogue

2(-): You and I -George Michael

3(-): Motivation - Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne

4(1): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire

5(8): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson

6(14): Call your Girlfriend - Robyn

7(-): Pon De Floor - Major Lazer

8(9): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example

9(10): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor

10(4): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

11(5): Homeboy - Eric Church

12(7): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake

13(3): All of The Lights - Kayne West

14(-): Run The World (Girls): Beyonce

15(18): Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj

16(2): The Shield and the Sword - Clare Maguire

17(-): Asthma Attack - CockNBullKid

18(6): Don't Hold Your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger

19(12): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow

20(13): Runaway Love - Alice Gold

21(21): Guilt - Nero

22(16): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

23(19): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

24(20): Illuminated - Hurts

25(15): Family Man - Craig Campbell

26(11): Happiest Pretenders - Clare Maguire

27(22): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester

28(24): You'll Be Mine - The Pierces

29(17): Shout Shout - Alexis Jordan

30(25): Sunday - Hurts

Here's Kylie and Put your Hands Up (If You Need Love)

The Way of an Indestructible Life

2011-04-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

This is the best mash up I heard since Robin Skouteris. It's from MashUpBambi and it perfectly mixes Hurts, Robyn and Kylie

Time Goes By

2011-04-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

One of the poppiest dance singles of the past few years was Release Me by Agnes. Here it is mixed together with Madonna's Hung Up. There are lots of other mash up on MashUpBambi's YouTube page too.

You Should Be Dancing

2011-04-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Here's Beyonce's video for Move your Body which is part of the Lets Move! Flash Workout initiative in America that aims to curb childhood obesity. I wish she had re-released this instead of her current single. It is just a joyous song! The message is a great one. Just dance. I Love the Keith Haring necklace she wears too!

Put your Hands Up

2011-04-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Who knows if Kylie will release Put your Hands Up as a single. There are various versions on the net, my favorite is the one that she sings with the PS22 children's choir.

The album version is great pop too.

and back to SAW era Kylie here's the Pete Hammond mix

Player

2011-04-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a US Billboard number one hit from the late 1970's. This is Player and Baby Come Back.

Motivation

2011-04-22T01:52:00.000-07:00

The song Gone by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland was one of the year's biggest music single flops on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it didn't chart there at all. Gone is due to be released on the 8th May.
Kelly's newest single is called Motivation and has an addictive simple baseline. It features Lil Wayne who also guests on the new Jennifer Lopez single I'm Into you. This week Motivation charted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 so it looks like that should be a success for Kelly.

Blake Shelton

2011-04-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

Blake Shelton has had to date seven number one Country music chart hits in the US. His most recent song Honey Bee has done better in the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it got to number 13, the song has so far got to number 21 in the country charts. I prefer singers like Eric Church but this is pretty fine too.

Here's Blake Shelton and a live performance of Honey Bee at this year's American Country Music Awards

CockNBullKid

2011-04-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

CockNBullKid is another one of those UK music artists who need just one song to make a breakthrough in the charts. If her song Hold On To your Misery was re-released in June or July it would be a perfect song for summer radio. Her newest single is Asthma Attack, the name alone almost made me not listen to it but if Olivia Newton John can hit a huge hit with a song titled Heart Attack than sometimes the name doesn't matter. Asthma Attack is actually an bittersweet ode to London so CockNBullKid does her take on what Lily Allen did v well a few years ago. I saw on fellow blogger Enda's Facebook page that he's a fan of her too so for me that confirms his good taste in modern pop.

Run The World (Girls)

2011-04-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

Beyonce is creating lots of debate with her new song Run The World (Girls). Everyone is a critic nowadays so it's bound to be torn apart. She could never come back with something that sounds like Lady Gaga, Rhianna or most of the female singers in the chart. She could of course be Adele but I think she's keeping that phase for the Vegas years in twenty years time. Beyonce's music has been going in a certain direction for the past few years now so it's no big surprise she samples something like Major Lazer. I had never heard of them until this week so at least it's puts a cult music artist producer more into the mainstream. It's the kind of song I might like in a club but not stuck in a lift with. I think what fans don't like about Run The World (Girls) is that it samples so much of the original source and with a mega-star like Beyonce so much more originality is expected. The lyric 'Who Runs This Mother' is inspired though.

Here's Major Lazer and Pon De Floor

and here's Mrs Z

Another Cover!

2011-04-21T04:14:00.000-07:00

George Michael's cover version of Stevie Wonder's you and I is v nice indeed. It's dedicated to William and Kate. It has been seven years since he last recored a studio album. After the vocorder awfulness that was True Faith it's good to hear his voice is still good in studio so get back to writing and producing really good original music George!

Robyn

2011-04-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

There weren't many songs that stood out for me last week but this week I'm liking the new songs by Beyonce and George Michael so they will show up on next Monday's song list. I'm not liking Gaga's Judas at all. It's just a mess of a song. The most recent single by Robyn is Call your Girlfriend which isn't as strong as Dancing on my Own which is now one of her all time best songs. I also love the photo above, she has such a great look.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 18-4-2011

1(1): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire
2(2): Shield and Sword - Clare Maguire
3(5): All Of The Lights - Kanye west
4(3): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
5(4): Homeboy - Eric Church
6(9): Don't Hold your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
7(6): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake
8(8): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson
9(-): Unorthodox - Wretch 32 featuring Example
10(11): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor

11(13): Happiest Pretenders - Clare Maguire
12(12): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow
13(7): Runaway Love - Alice Gold
14(-): Call your Girlfriend - Robyn
15(10): Family Man - Craig Campbell
16(14): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
17(15): Shout Shout - Alexis Jordan
18(23): Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
19(17): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto
20(24): Illuminated - Hurts

21(-): Guilt - Nero
22(22): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester
23(18): Till the World Ends - Britney Spears
24(21): you'll Be Mine - The Pierces
25(19): Sunday - Hurts
26(20): where you At - Jennifer Hudson
27(25): Good Girl (Freemasons Remix) - Alexis Jordan
28(16): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire
29(25): Someone Like you - Adele
30(27): Goodbye Girl - Rumer

here's Robyn and Call your Girlfriend

Happiest Pretender

2011-04-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

Clare Maguire played her first solo concert here in Dublin's Sugar club recently. It's a tiny venue with rows of seats and tables like you would see in a comedy club or cocktail bar. My former work colleagues Rike and Fran had played in the same venue last year so it was nice to be back there. Clare Maguire's debut album Light After Dark is one of the strongest new albums that I've heard in a good while, well that and Hurts debut album. When Clare Maguire last performed in Dublin she supported Hurts in an equally small venue. They are both in my opinion new music artists who deserve to do much better in the charts than they are doing so far. I think the reason that their singles aren't going top ten is because they fall somewhere in the middle, perhaps viewed as too young for some music fans and too old a sound for the younger music fans. The audience on the night were 20's and much older than me. There is a real mix of songs on Light After Dark and her vocal sounds different on more than one song especially when heard in concert. The album is full of potential singles. The Shield and The Sword is her newest single which she sang second on the night.

Her first song in the concert was the single Ain't Nobody and an artist who performs her singles right away definitely has confidence in the album as a whole. Even though she gave every song her all the song that stood out for me on the night the most was This Is Not The End which she dedicated to her grandparents who were Irish. When an artist dedicates a song in a very heartfelt manner and tells the audience what a country means to them, in this case Ireland, it can go well or dreadful but in this case there was almost complete silence when she sang the song which was v impressive in an Irish bar atmosphere. It was actually one of the best performances of an individual song I've heard in my many years of concert going. She went a bit mental during the last few songs, flying around the audience, running into the narrow rows, dragging people up to dance until there were dozens of people on the stage. The Facebook generation were out in full force. She signed autographs and posed for pictures on phones for a good hour afterwards. I so want her to be a big star but the point where she will have to have some distance between herself and the audience will have to come at some point. For now she's loving every bit of stardom that she has been bestowed with.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 11-4-2011

1(-): This Is Not The End - Clare Maguire
2(6): The Shield and The Sword - Clare Maguire
3(1): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan
4(2): Homeboy - Eric Church
5(5): All Of The Lights - Kayne West
6(3): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake
7(8): Runaway Love - Alice Gold
8(9): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson
9(17): Don't Hold your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger
10(12): Family Man - Craig Campbell

11(13): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor
12(4): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow
13(-): Happiest Pretender - Clare Maguire
14(7): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
15(24): Shout Shout - Alexis Jordan
16(28): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire
17(15): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto
18(11): Till The World Ends - Britney Spears
19(20): Sunday - Hurts
20(16): Where you At - Jennifer Hudson

21(18): you'll Be Mine - The Pierces
22(14): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester
23(-): Girls Fall Like Dominoes - Nicki Minaj
24(-): Illuminated - Hurts
25(19): Good girl (Freemasons Remix) - Alexis Jordan
26(22): Someone Like you- Adele
27(21): Goodbye Girl - Rumer
28(27): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend
29(10): Verona - Hurts
30(23): Hollywood Tonight - Michael Jackson

Here's two songs from Clare Maguire

The first is This Is Not The End

and her new single Shield and Sword

Hush Hush

2011-04-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Hush Hush is the new single from Alexis Jordan's self titles debut album and should make it 3 hits in a row for her following the UK chart top ten success of Happiness and Good Girl. Her album is pure pop. Some songs such as Laying Around and The Air I Breathe have the worst lyrics I've heard since Beyonce's Video Phone but other possible single releases include High Road, Say That and also Shout Shout which heavily samples Tears For Fears Shout.

Other songs that stood out for me recently were Clare Maguire's new single The Shield and The Sword, Jennifer Hudson's I Remember Me, Nicole Scherzinger's Don't Hold your Breath and Sophie Ellis Bextor's Starlight.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 4-4-2011

1(-): Hush Hush - Alexis Jordan

2(1): Homeboy - Eric Church

3(4): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake

4(2): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow

5(13): All Of the Lights - Kanye West

6(-): The Shield and The Sword - Clare Maguire

7(5): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

8(10): Runaway Love - Alice Gold

9(-): I Remember Me - Jennifer Hudson

10(13): Verona - Hurts

11(6): Till The World Ends - Britney Spears

12(19): Family Man - Craig Campbell

13(-): Starlight - Sophie Ellis Bextor

14(3): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester

15(8): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

16(7): Where you At - Jennifer Hudson

17(-): Don't Hold your Breathe - Nicole Scherzinger

18(14): you'll Be Mine - The Pierces

19(9): Good Girl (Freemasons Remix) - Alexis Jordan

20(25): Sunday - Hurts

21(17): Goodbye Girl - Rumer

22(20): Someone Like you - Adele

23(12): Hollywood Tonight - Michael Jackson

24(-): Shout Shout - Alexis Jordan

25(23): Dreaming (Sub Urban Dream Mix) - Blondie

26(11): E.T. - Katy Perry featuring Kanye West

27(27): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend

28(21): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire

29(22): Hot Mess - Chromeo featuring Elly Jackson

30(16): On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull

Here's Alexis Jordan and her newest single Hush Hush

Hush Hush.

and Nicole Scherzinger's Don't Hold your Breathe

Unorthodox

2011-04-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Kickstarts by Example was one of 2010's poppiest singles when it got to number 3 in the UK charts but the two follow singles didn't fare as well. Last One Standing got to number 27 in the UK and Two Lives did even worse at 84 in the charts. But it's not all over yet as Example features on Wretch 32's new grime dance single Unorthodox which will chart high in next Sunday's UK singles top 10 chart. The song features The Stone Rose Fool's Gold which you cant really go wrong with sampling.

Here's the video.

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Starlight

2011-04-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Sophie Ellis Bextor's newest single is Starlight. It's old fashioned dance pop. She's still one of the UK's best pop stars.

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I Remember Me

2011-04-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

I Remember Me is the latest single from Jennifer Hudson. I think I prefer the album's first single Where you At more but I think it just takes a few listens to appreciate it. Please come and play concert in Dublin Jennifer! A few years an European tour by an artist would include Ireland but not as much nowadays

Guilt

2011-04-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Me & U by Nero was one of my most listened to dance tracks earlier this year. Nero's newest single is called Guilt and was released this week. It has one of those videos that I hate but here is it anyway.

Homeboy

2011-04-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

I went to see two music themed films recently . One was Killing Bono which has to be one of the worse films I've seen this year and the other was Country Strong which was not what I was expecting as it's subject matter was heavy and the film had been marketed as an country and western love musical story. Even though Gwyneth Paltrow was good in it I spent the entire film trying to believe that she was a hugely successful country and western singer. Tim McGraw looked v handsome indeed in it too. I did love the soundtrack a lot, the most well known song from it is Country Strong which is a good song but there was another song called Coming Home which was pure gorgeous and of course Give In To Me by the other stars in the film Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester, a song which I've loved since last January. The song I liked most during that week however was the newest song from Eric Church which is called Homeboy.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 28-3-2011

1(-): Homeboy - Eric Church

2(-): Coming Home - Gwyneth Paltrow

3(18): Give In To Me - Garrett Hedlund & Leighton Meester

4(9): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake

5(2): Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri

6(10): Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

7(1): Where you At - Jennifer Hudson

8(5): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

9(8): Good Girl (Freemasons Remix) - Alexis Jordan

10(11): Runaway Love - Alice Gold

11(13): E.T. - Katy Perry featuring Kayne West

12(3): Hollywood Tonight - Michael Jackson

13(-): All of the Lights - Kayne West

14(6): you'll Be Mine - The Pierces

15(17): Verona - Hurts

16(19): On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull

17(7): Goodbye Girl - Rumer

18(28): Smoke A Little Smoke - Eric Church

19(-): Family Man - Craig Campbell

20(15): Someone Like you - Adele

21(21): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire

22(22): Hot Mess - Chromeo featuring Elly Jackson

23(12): Dreaming (Sub Urban Dream Mix) - Blondie

24(4): 67A - Lost Colours

25(20): Sunday - Hurts

26(16): Gone - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland

27(25): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend

28(14): Goodbye Girl - David Gates

29(27): Big Jet Plane - Angus & Julia Stone

30(29): Wish I Didn't Miss you - Angie Stone

Here's Eric Church and Homeboy

and from the Country Strong soundtrack here's Gwyneth Paltrow and Coming Home

One Hell Or Another

2011-04-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Robin Skouteris mixes Katy, Avril, Blondie, A-Ha and more in his latest mix.

80:80's 57: Yes

2011-04-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Owner of a lonely heart by Yes got to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart back in 1984. It was a minor hit in the UK and Ireland. There must have been big fans of the song on KCR the local radio station that I grew up with as it's another of those songs that I associate the radio station with. I know that the radio presenter on after my show was a fan of that song. It's an 80's hit that people have mixed opinions on but one that I will still be listening to in years to come.

Here's an extended remix of it.

J-Lo Caught off Guard in Wal Mart Last Week!

2011-04-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

No of course it isn't! It's Brendan O'Carroll who has had huge success here in Ireland with his TV show Mrs Brown's Boys. It's also on BBC in the UK. It''s a show that is completely stereotypical in a lot of respects. The depiction of the gay son and his boyfriend often make me want to switch off but O'Carroll ridicules everyone as is the overall style of the show.

The clip below features Mrs Brown mistakingly believing that it is her daughter Cathy who is gay and not her son. She confines in her best friend Winnie and it's v funny. Bingo will never be the same again.

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Keep On...

2011-04-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

The video to Till The World Ends has just been released and Britney's looking more fab than she's done in years.

Run For Home

2011-04-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Back even further with this one. From 1978 this is Lindisfarne and the gorgeous Run for Home.

80:80's 56: Susan Fassbender

2011-04-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Right back to the beginning of the 80's with this one. From 1981 this is Susan Fassbender and Twilight Cafe, which got to number 21 in the UK singles chart.

Craig Campbell

2011-04-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

Some country songs seems to tick all the family values boxes; the good husband/father, working man, religion, the economic state of the nation and so on. Whatever your opinion on all of those matters there is often a well crafted song in there too. Such is the case with Craig Campbell and Family Man. The official video for the song is too much for me but I like the song a lot so here it is by itself.

Where you At

2011-03-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

From the week before last here's my 30 favourite songs of that week. Jennifer Hudson's Where you At became my most favourite song. It's pure class. Her performance below is taken from the Ellen show back in February. It's only March but I think 2011 has already been a great year for music.

The new songs (to me!) below include Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri, Hollywood Tonight by Michael Jackson, E.T. by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West, you'll Be Mine by The Pierces and Runaway Love by Alice Gold. The videos of the mentioned songs are all featured on previous posts on this site.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 21-3-2011

1(3): Where you At - Jennifer Hudson

2(-): Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri

3(-): Hollywood Tonight - Michael Jackson

4(1): 67A - Lost Colours

5(2): I Wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

6(-): you'll Be Mine - The Pierces

7(23): Goodbye Girl - Rumer

8(6): Good Girl (Freemasons remix) - Alexis Jordan

9(28): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake

10(11): Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

11(-): Runaway Love - Alice Gold

12(4): Dreaming (Sub Urban Dream Mix) - Blondie

13(-): E.T. - Katy Perry featuring Kanye West

14(-): Goodbye Girl - David Gates

15(9): Someone Like you - Adele

16(21): Gone - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland

17(-): Verona - Hurts

18(18): Give In To Me - Leighton Meester & Garrett Hedlund

19(12): On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull

20(8): Sunday - Hurts

21(15): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire

22(13): Hot Mess - Chromeo featuring Elly Jackson

23(5): Silver Lining - Hurts

24(14): Walking - Mary Mary

25(26): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend

26(10): Bad Romance (Grum remix) - Lady Gaga

27(17): Big Jet Plane - Angus & Julia Stone

28(24): Smoke a Little Smoke - Eric Church

29(20): Wish I Didn't Miss you - Angie Stone

30(16): Hold On To your Misery - CockNBullKid

It Be Rude Not To

2011-03-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

As I went into posting overdrive today I'm going to finish with the major video release of the week. It's Katy and Kanye and E.T. It's number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart this week as well which gives her four massive worldwide hit singles from the one album. She sure gives Gaga a run for her dollars with this video.

Jar Of Hearts

2011-03-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here's another song that has been around for months but one that I found recently. It's Christina Perri and Jar Of Hearts.

Hollywood Tonight

2011-03-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

A week ago I saw the Michael Jackson's album Michael in the HMV sale for just €5. It showed how sad the whole release of the album has been. If some of the songs had been released in his lifetime I think they would have done well. There has been three singles released from it to date and I'm sure Monster will be as well. The second single was Hollywood Tonight and it has a catchy chorus and is all v old school Michael. The video is old fashioned pop too and works mainly because of the dancer in it. She's Sofia Boutella and has also been a dancer in several pop videos including Madonna's videos Sorry, Hung Up and Celebration.

Alice Gold

2011-03-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

I don't know much about Alice Gold but her new song is different. Here is Runaway Love.

Goodbye Girl

2011-03-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Girl is the latest single from Rumer. Songs like Adele's Someone Like you have proven that there is still a market for good singers with sweet and simple lyrics. I would love if this song was a singles chart hit. The lovely David at David's Daily Dramas went to see Rumer in concert recently and he has a great review here.

Here's the video for Goodbye Girl which was just released today.

Here's also is David Gates wonderful original version.

The Pierces

2011-03-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a song that will take you back to another decade. It's The Pierces and you'll Be Mine. The Pierces are two sisters Allison and Catherine based in New york. They have released a couple of albums to date and this is one of their newest songs.

Moment 4 Life

2011-03-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

Drake has had his greatest hits to date with other artists most successfully with Rihanna on What's My Name a song that I didn't like. Last year I loved his solo single Find your Love and really hated Best I Ever Had. I knew he had featured as a vocalist on other stars's albums and singles but did you know he has done so on over 50 tracks! The list on Wikipedia seems endless.

Here he is with Nicki Minaj and Moment 4 Life. Darling!

Lost Colours

2011-03-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

Backtracking as usual on my favourite songs. A song that I have liked for several months now is 67A by Lost Colours. They are a three piece band based in Kildare here in Ireland. My friend and former work colleague Fran O'Connor both sings and plays piano in the band. The song is featured on their debut EP Coffee, Songs, Cigerettes. There is a v good review of it here.

Other new songs that I have liked recently include Where you at by Jennifer Hudson, Gone by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland and Goodbye Girl by Rumer.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 14-3-2011

1(-): 67A - Lost Colours
2(2): I Wrote the Book - Beth Ditto
3(-): Where you At - Jennifer Hudson
4(1): Dreaming (Sub Urban Dream Mix) - Blondie
5(6): Silver Lining - Hurts
6(7): Good Girl (Freemasons remix) - Alexis Jordan
7(3): Sun of a Gun - Oh Land
8(8): Sunday - Hurts
9(5): Someone Like you - Adele
10(4): Bad Romance (Grum Remix) - Lady Gaga

11(18): Till The World Ends - Britne Spears
12(20): On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull
13(12): Hot Mess - Chromeo featuring Elly Jackson
14(10): Walking- Mary Mary
15(11): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire
16(14): Hold On To your Misery - CockNBullKid
17(17): Big Jet Plane - Angus & Julia Stone
18(29): Give In To Me - Leighton Meester & Garrett Hedlund
19(9): Go Outside - Cults
20(15): Wish I Didn't Miss you - Angie Stone

21(-): Gone - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
22(13): Ace of Hz - Ladytron
23(-): Goodbye Girl - Rumer
24(24): Smoke a Little Smoke - Eric Church
25(22): Something In the Water - Brooke Fraser
26(16): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend
27(23): Limit To your Love - James Blake
28(-): Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj featuring Drake
29(26): Somebody to Love Me -Mark Ronson feat Boy George
30(27): Rolling In The Deep - Adele

Here's Lost Colours performing 67A on an Irish TV show earlier this year.

Happy Birthday Mr Shatner

2011-03-22T03:26:00.000-07:00

William Shatner is 80 years old today. Here's a clip that the Prince Charles Cinema in London posted on their Facebook page in tribute. I think George Lucas even smiles in it but oh lord! unfortunate camera shot of Carrie Fisher, bless her!

Miranda's Dance Studio

2011-03-22T02:45:00.001-07:00

Here's a sketch from the recent Comic Relief show. There are some really funny moments in it including Heather Small being taught how to sing like Heather Small and Patricia Hodge's character saying to JLS 'you must be KFC!'

80: 80's 55: Patti Austin

2011-03-21T16:54:00.001-07:00

Back to my favourite songs of the 80's. Here is truly one of those r'n'b classics. It's Patti Austin and The Heat of Heat. It was featured on Patti's 1985 album Gettin' Away With Murder and was produced by the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This one is for John

.

Old school from Nelly & Kelly

2011-03-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

Nelly and Kelly Rowland had one of the biggest hits of their respective careers when they collaborated on the song Dilemma. That song is nine years old already! They have reunited for their newest single Gone which isn't a million miles different from Dilemma. That isn't a bad thing. .

Jennifer

2011-03-18T14:50:00.001-07:00

The new single from Jennifer Hudson is called Where you At. It's the lead single from her second album I Remember Me. It's charted this week at number 96 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart and hopefully will go a lot higher.

Even Just For A Day

2011-03-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Two from Beyonce. The first is when George Michael joined her on stage in the O2 in London during her world tour to sing her song If I Was A Boy. The audio isn't the best but how amazing for the London audience to see these superstars sing together.

The second is when Beyonce, Pink, Britney (and Enrique too) made a soft drinks commercial in ancient Rome. It was pre-Spartacus thankfully.

Dreaming Is Free

2011-03-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

My favourite song of the week before last was a remix of an old song. It's Dreaming by Blondie. The remix is the Sub-Urban Dream Mix. Blondie have had so many amazing songs but Dreaming was previously never one that I listened to a lot maybe because it was a hit when I was a child and not a pop obsessed teenager when the song got to number 2 in the UK charts in 1979. Dreaming is almost 32 years old and I think the remix really does it justice. The other songs that I have liked in the past two weeks include the Grum remix of Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, Silver Lining by Hurts, Walking by Mary Mary and as ever I still haven't made up my mind on a new Britney song which is Till The World Ends.

Strike Curious Poses Chart 7-3-2011

1(-): Dreaming (Sub Urban Dream Mix) - Blondie

2(2): I wrote The Book - Beth Ditto

3(3): Sun Of A Gun - Oh Land

4(-): Bad Romance (Grum Remix) - Lady Gaga

5(1): Someone Like you - Adele

6(-): Silver Lining - Hurts

7(4): Good Girl (Freemasons Remix) - Alexis Jordan

8(5): Sunday - Hurts

9(18): Go Outside - Cults

10(-): Walking - Mary Mary

11(6): The Last Dance - Clare Maguire

12(8): Hot Mess - Chromeo featuring Elly Jackson

13(13): Ace of Hz - Ladytron

14(14): Hold On To your Misery - CockNBullKid

15(11): Wish I Didn't Miss you - Angie Stone

16(15): Going Nowhere - Magnetic Man featuring John Legend

17(7): Big Jet Plane - Angus and Julia Stone

18(-): Till The World ends - Britney Spears

19(10): Odessa - Caribou

20(24): On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull

21(12): Ain't Nobody - Clare Maguire

22(19): Something in The Water - Brooke Fraser

23(17): Limit To your Love - James Blake

24(21): Smoke A little Smoke - Eric Church

25(25): The Art Of Love - Guy Sebastian Featuring Jordin Sparks

26(20): Somebody To Love Me - Mark Ronson featuring Boy George

27(23): Rolling In The Deep - Adele

28(9): Born This Way - Lady Gaga

29(22): Give In to Me - Leighton Meester & Garrett Hedlund

30(16): Me &you - Nero

Here's Blondie and the Sub-Urban Dream Remix of Dreaming.

Silver Lining

2011-03-17T08:36:00.001-07:00

I bought Hurts album Happiness recently and it's v good indeed. I love all the singles. Several other songs could also be singles. There is also a hidden track a minute or so after the last song The Water which is well worth a listen too. The first track on the album is Silver Lining and it's 1986 all over again. Here it is.