Well you think you have your post all planned out for the day and then a rather exciting mp3 arrives in your inbox that makes you rearrange everything. But isn't that what is great about blogs - they are so spontaneous, even more so than newspapers and you can gauge people's reactions to things within minutes of an mp3 leaking or some news snippet report. By the way has anyone else been watching telenovela Desire that airs on MyN in the states and just started on Trouble over here. It is corny, ridiculous, cheesy, is on a quality level with the late lamented (by me) Sunset Beach and thus i am totally addicted already. Expect something more on that soon!! Anyway on with the post for today, kicking off with that surprise mp3...
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THE ONE THAT CAN DO NO WRONG:
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Major Le Sigh. It's true - and it's certainly no secret that my favourite female singer of all time by quite a long shot is the artist formerly known as Debbie - Deborah Gibson. Heck, this blog was even originally named after a line in her Electric Youth single. At the turn of the millenium, fans were treated to the amazing pop album MYOB (2001) and then an album of lesser known broadway standards Coloured Lights (2003). Things went a bit quiet then, with non music based projects moving to the foreground (Playboy; Skating with Celebrities) - although we got the classic Naked single and a so so duet with Jordan Knight. Luckily, it seems a new album is on the horizon and lead off track Famous has been sent to fans. A funky jaunt taking a dig at those famous for being famous, the song is rich with guitar licks, driving beats and an of course impeccable vocal from my fave lady. And just because Deborah must know I love my ballads from her, she has posted a gorgeous track called Sounds Like Love from her new movie Coffee Date. More on that later in the week. For now, sit back, relax and let fame wash over you...
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LINK: Deborah Gibson official site
LINK: Deborah Gibson myspace page
MP3: Deborah Gibson - Famous
MP3: Deborah Gibson - Sounds Like Love

THE ONE THAT NEARLY GOT AWAY:
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In preparation for tomorrow's post on what books i am totally feeling right now, i thought i would link this little preview in to music. I just finished Gary Barlow from Take That's autobiography "my Take" and I have to say it was a pretty amiable read. It's always interesting to me to see people's take on their most famous years and Gary is refreshingly honest about his own ego and flaws that lead to his fall from grace hitting him heavy and hard. For those of you that don't know, when Take That split it was Gary who was meant to be the huge solo star. And indeed he took his first two singles to number one. Then Angels happened for Robbie Williams and as much as I love the guy, he treated Gary abominally in the press, stating that it was he that had been the talent in Take That, not Gary. In effect, Robbie sabotaged Gary's career by using his own popularity to verbally abuse and pour scorn. If that was a "real" workplace, there certainly would have been a case for bullying and harrassment. But the damage was done and Gary's career lasted two short albums. Which is a shame, because while those albums were in no way perfect, they certainly had glimpses of Gary's songwriting ability. Forever Love and Open Road from the first album were natural progressions from Take That and are great little pop gems. Superstar and Lies from the second album continue to showcase what Take That would have sounded like if they had continued. Gary then turned his attention to writing and wrote songs for Delta Goodrem, Blue, Atomic Kitten, Lara Fabian and many others. The closest we got to a 3rd Gary Barlow album was his collaboration with Donny Osmond on What I Meant To Say. Gary wrote and produced the majority of the tracks and it's hard not to imagine him singing them. Breeze is a super little ditty and there are numerous others on the set - not groundbreaking, but timeless classic pop. They say what is past is also prologue and Gary's influence is all over the new Take That songs, yet there is a certain something that suggests the group is more collaborative than ever. Let's just hope they are back for good...
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LINK: Informative Gary Barlow fansite
LINK: Purchase Gary's autobiography
MP3: Gary Barlow - Forever Love
MP3: Gary Barlow - Open Road
MP3: Gary Barlow - Superhero
MP3: Gary Barlow - Lie To Me
MP3: Donny Osmond - Breeze On By
MP3: Donny Osmond - What I Meant To Say
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THE ONES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED BETTER:
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It started off so well. Lead off single Thinking It Over was fairly fresh and original for a pop band at the time, with a garage influenced beats over a smooth R'n'B jaunt. Sure Doin It was a slight blip, but everything was back on track when Liberty X's Just A Little hit the top spot for four weeks in May 2002. Hit after hit followed including gorgeous ballad Holding On For You and Richard X classic Being Nobody... but as soon as Everybody Cries from sophomore set failed to make the top ten, fear and doubt set in at Liberty X camp and their career has been mismanaged since. Only 3 singles into the second album, it was abandoned when tracks like Whatcha Doing Tonight and The Poet could easily have been singles. After an extended break, the group came back with the gospelly Song 4 Lovers and an album laden with potential singles. But once again, the opportunity was lost. Instead a dodgy disco cover was released as the Children in Need single and tracks like Then There Was You, Dirty Cash and X (although touted as a potential single) all went unnoticed. So below is what i present to you as my ultimate Liberty X greatest hits - they should have left the dodgy cover versions for a christmas release greatest hits. People are so much more forgiving then - how else do you explain the Girls Aloud/Tiffany monstrosity...???
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Thinking It Over
Doing It
Just A Little
Got To Have Your Love
Holding On For You
Being Nobody
Jumpin
Everybody Cries
Watcha Doing Tonight (mp3)
The Poet
Song 4 Lovers
Then There Was You
Dirty Cash (mp3)
X
Divine Intervention
A Night To Remember
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THE ONE THAT GOT STRIPPED:
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I kinda forgot about John Mayer. There he was, making me sing a long all summer to a song about running through the halls of your high school (which i used to do, usually followed by a bunch of guys yelling "get him - its homopaul!" Aah memories...) and then i didn't remember to check out what he was doing next and got into Teddy Geiger instead. Oops. My bad. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of John, but his music can be a pleasant diversion even though he gets less hot with each album he releases. But after listening to his stripped performance (see link), it sounds like his new music brings together all his influences - Waiting for the World has some gorgeous guitar in it and socially conscious lyrics while Jimi Hendrix cover Bold As Love shows he still has magnetism and power as a performer. I may have to check out his new disc after all... .
LINK: John Mayer's Stripped Performance
MP3: John Mayer - Waiting For The World (Stripped)
MP3: John Mayer - Bold As Love (stripped)

QUICK BITZ/BLOGWATCH:

~ 7 to watch in 2007 mini update: New pics of Pacific Avenue over at their official photographers blog. Check them out - we love this band. A lot. Thanks for the heads up azzy :) Plus Justin Lanning has a new video diary up on his site - i've tried out what he suggests in the video and it's quite delish. Check out ep 2 of Justin's World...

~ Last Thursday's Greys Anatomy was a classic - half the hospital staff (male) on a camping trip was inspired. The chief's uncomfortableness with Joe and Walter's relationship was too hilarious as he tried to be cool with the gays :) "I have a gay cousin. Brokeback mountain. I'm hip!" Genius!! But the baby storyline ~ get me a tissue :(

~ OOOooo - finally - some Dangerous Muse news over at Arjanwrites. It seems they will be continuing with sporadically releasing EPs every now and then for the forseeable future. Just hurry with an album boys...

~ haven't effused over Nick's blog for a while, but it's still as brilliant as ever. check out the frankly quite weird b-side to the frankly quite good Lovelight from Robbie Williams...

Coming soon: A walk down the Avenue(s); Definitely something v soon on Jean and THEM; most probably something on Jack's Mannequin and some other "alternative bands"; A fresh wave of fresh faced myspace singers; more info on TheZapping Record Company project; a fashion feature; gay singers (blame Observer Music Monthly); the 24 days of Christmas; Zapping guest writers during my holiday; that lengthy Lois and Clark piece; Books; and no doubt lots more inbetween the moon and new york city...

There are lots of songs about Monday are there not? Manic Monday, Monday Monday, Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays et al... but i cannot think of a single song with Tuesday in the title. Unless i'm being utterly thick. Which is not unlike me. Perhaps you could enlighten me if you are not too busy?? Anyway, i'm currently trying to learn some new Christmas songs on the piano and it's a bit frustrating that they don't sound quite as brilliant as I want them to. Still, practice makes perfect and all that. I am still off work for another 3 (!) weeks so will have plenty of time to let my fingers work their magic (that will please DazPleasure). That may also be why my blogs are so freaking long at the moment. Ooo Crystal Gayle is singing Jingle Bells to me - how lovely...
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THE CONTINUING CONCERT ADVENTURES OF RUTHIEPOOS & PAUL (& DAZPRACATAN AND LOU!!)
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It really amused me that someone on The Feeling forum said they enjoyed reading my blog for the continuing adventures of Ruthiepoos! She is getting as famous as DazPanteloons! Hehe... Anyway last night we trekked from the apartment through the dodgy part of Birmingham to go and see the Scissor Sisters in concert at the National Indoor Arena... which of course was packed with girls in cowboy hats and feather boas, and gays in sparkly tee shirts. I looked positively demur... I have to say overall, while i absolutely love the Scissters live, there was a certain something missing from the performance that i can't put my finger on. It was a great evening, but not as magnificent as the other times i have seen them. Here are some highlights and lowlights of the night though...
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~ The programmes were pricey but nice. An LP sized box contained some gorgeous photos and the band's feelings on making Ta-Dah and touring it around the world...
~ The support band The Gossip were rubbish. It was like watching a giant lava lamp osmose around the stage while someone skinned a cat. I was not impressed. At all...
~ Then there was an hour wait for the Scissters which was ok because we got to hear about Ruthiepoos new job and take poor quality mobile phone photos. Because we are hardcore party animals. I think Ruth dribbled on my cashmere sweater at some point too but i am not sure...??
~ When the Scissters entered the stage, they did so through those elevator doors on the front of their cd. Which is quite clever, no?
~ the first six songs were all magnificent in the extreme - i particularly liked when Del came up front at the instrumental outro of I Can't Decide (a definite audience fave) and did a funky little jig with Jake...
~ Ana Mantronic is the queen of on stage banter (take notes Sandi Thom!) - she dedicated Laura to the first lady ("may she rest in pieces someday") and Lights to two sisters in Ireland who chopped up their mom's boyfriend, and whom the press christened the Scissor Sisters ("you know you've made it when serial killers are named after you")...
~ Some of the songs were just plain not good live or in a weird order. I would've skipped Transistor altogether, put ballad Mary after the glorious Land Of A Thousand Words (the best bond theme never written and performed below thousands of twinkling lights - a definite highlight) leaving the show to be finished with two party stompers...
~ The encore was also super good and bought it all back together. Great lights show and the big screens had some great camera work during Filthy - constant live images changing instantly led to a frenetic but exhilarating viewing experience...
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SETLIST:
~ She's My Man
~ I Can't Decide
~ Tits On The Radio
~ Laura
~ Lights
~ Kiss You Off
~ Paul McCartney
~ Take Your Mama Out
~ Everybody Wants The Same Thing
~ Land Of A Thousand Words
~ Transistor
~ Comfortably Numb
~ Music Is The Victim (surely should have been a single?!)
~ Mary
ENCORE: I Don't Feel Like Dancing
ENCORE: Filthy/Gorgeous
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Check the spin off blog for a nostalgic visit to the last Scissters concert we all went to together...
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THE POP ROYALTY:
Yes, I'm still utterly excited about the return of my favourite boyband ever to the charts. Take That release their first new single in ten years digitally today with Patience finally being available on iTunes. It's a clever title insofar as it refers to the theme of the song, but also the long wait fans have endured for the hinted at return in their splitting up speech back in 1996... Two new songs on the single showcase the matured sound of the reformed group, while retaining their ability to put together timeless pop classics. Trouble With Me has gorgeous piano intro and multi layered harmony on the catchy chorus, that boasts pulsing guitars and a real cohesiveness between the group. Beautiful Morning is not too dissimilar - a great uplifting track that shows the band at the peak of their game. If the album is this good, I may explode.
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Similarly, Kylie is another act that has endured the harsh world of pop for many years. After a unappreciated (by some) diversion in the mid nineties, she emerged as the worlds leading popstrel in the new millenium and her comeback tour after beating cancer has the world eating out of the palm of her hand again. New song written with the Scissor Sisters "White Diamond" has been eagerly youtubed by fans all over the blogosphere, is definitely the spiritual successor to I Believe In You and has me practically salivating for new material. A showgirl indeed....
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MP3: Take That - Beautiful Morning
MP3: Take That - Trouble With Me
MP3: Kylie - White Diamond (live)
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THE S CLUB JUNIOR:
Aaah how i wanted to dislike Bianca Ryan. I'm not a big fan of tweens with large vocal capacity and hadn't even heard of the tv talent show that she won. But Simon Cowell adores her, and she certainly has an impressive voice that belies her young years. So against my better judgement, I have ended up liking her! Gah! Her debut album reminds me a little bit of Play's full length debut - not in terms of musical style, but in terms of liberally borrowing tunes that have been successful everywhere but America. And of course, Simon Cowell will use songs he knows and loves time and time again. Hence, Bianca's version of current Westlife chart-topper The Rose; a slightly strange version of Jamelia's Superstar (surely it would have been more fun for her to do Beware Of The Dog) and even a slowed down version of Hear'say's Pure and Simple. All not bad, some much better than others. Her version of I'm Telling You I'm Not Going is bloody amazing though...
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LINK: Purchase Bianca Ryan's debut album
MP3: Bianca Ryan - Superstar
MP3: Bianca Ryan - Pure and Simple
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QUICK BITZ/BLOG WATCH:
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~ 7 to watch in 2007 mini update! Justin Lanning (above with a very popstar plastic bag in background ;) ) has been interviewed for Error FM and is quite rightly their featured artist of the week. Click here to check out their website...

~ 7 to watch in 2007 mini update2! Gavin Mikhail is releasing his very fine album Like Normal People Do in Japan in early 2007, with two previously unreleased bonus tracks. Bonus indeed...

~ 7 to watch in 2007 mini update3! Pacific Avenue have some mighty fine black and white head shots up at their myspace site. Very boyband, very big in 2007 :)

~ Billiam have a cool live performance up on their myspace page or you can view it on my myspace profile. It's nice to see classic boyband coming back and these guys could give Eton Road a few tips about slick choreography...

~ You can stream Emma Bunton's new album over at her official site. I was cold towards her debut, loved her last album and seem to quite like this one so far - excluding the pointless but money raising so yay Downtown...

~ NOOOOOO! The Upper Room have split?! This is surely tragic news :( I am gutted :( I will do a post mortem soon and a bit of news on a new band rising out the ashes...

Coming soon: Definitely something on Gary Barlow; Definitely something v soon on Jean and THEM; most probably something on Jack's Mannequin and some other "alternative bands"; A fresh wave of fresh faced myspace singers; more info on TheZapping Record Company project; a fashion feature; gay singers (blame Observer Music Monthly); the 24 days of Christmas; Zapping guest writers during my holiday; that lengthy Lois and Clark piece; Books; and no doubt lots more inbetween the moon and new york city...