Please Don't Let Me Go - Olly Murs

It’s been a long time coming but in just one week, Olly Murs releases his brand new debut single “Please Don’t Let Me Go“. Shot on location in Reading I’ve included the official video below and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a foot tapping number sure to set the charts alight!

The timing couldn’t have been better what with the X Factor launching last night, no doubt we’ll see Olly strut his funky stuff on one of the live shows given he’s been signed with Simon Cowell’s label Syco and Epic Records. With two great companies behind him and clever musical choices I’m sure the lad will do well.

His first offering is, as I’ve mentioned, “Please Don’t Let Me Go” and has a summer/Carribbean feel to it. Fairly similar to his style on the X Factor last year, his performance both musical and visual have been refined and I like what I see – very keen to see what he does with an album.


Very catchy and instantly memorable, the song will stick in your head – good or bad! The single is released on Amazon on the 27th August 2010 and features another summer/reggae style “This One’s For The Girls“.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Cheryl Cole

It was good to see Cheryl Cole back on our screens last night following her serious fight against Malaria last month. I’ve always been indifferent to Cheryl’s multiple appearances on tv and in the papers but I have to admit, over the last year or so, I’ve warmed up to the Geordie girl and would probably miss her style on X Factor if she had been forced to quit.

Louis Walsh on the other hand – I wouldn’t miss at all! I’d love to see him replaced, he’s nothing more than a Leprechaun – or is that disparaging to Leprechaun’s?!!

In today’s paper “The People” it runs an exclusive report on Cheryl’s new found happiness following her split from husband Ashley, the 27-year-old insists that she has never been happier.

Cheryl’s first Official book is launched next month titled “Through My Eyes“.

She told The People: “I’ve got so much to look forward to in the next few months. I’ve never felt happier.”

Cheryl has now fully recovered from the disease that left her hospitalised. Friends said that the singer now feels ready to move on from the pain of her marriage break-up.

A source said: “Cheryl’s saying I feel like I’ve turned my life around.

“She says she’s looking at doors opening for her in her life over the next few months. She is excited about starting this whole new chapter in her life.

“It’s great to see her looking and feeling good again after all that she’s been through.

“She is talking excitedly about starting work on The X Factor again and the release of a pop single.”

They added: “But she seems particularly relieved about the way her divorce is progressing. There is no time frame here. It’s not a case of a date for the divorce to come through. That will happen when the lawyer’s letter arrives.”

I love it when papers print this stuff – not one single quote directly from Cheryl in the piece, “sources close to Cheryl” – I guess it all sells newspapers!

Derek Hough has been romantically linked to the pop star and given that Dancing with the Stars begins filming shortly he will now leave for the States to begin television commitments across the pond. It’ll be interesting to see if he tones down his relationships with his female celebrity dancers this time around.

Last night’s X Factor was rather disjointed, I never felt it got going and I am still unsure of the guest judge role following Geri Halliwell’s performance. That said, the highlight of the show for me was the performance from 18 year old Gamu Nhengu from Zimbabwe – the highlight of the Glasgow auditions.

Singing a rendition of Katrina and The Waves Simon’s reaction before the performance was indifferent “I’m intrigued to see what you’ve done with this song”. For someone of 18, she delivered a powerful and assured performance that blew the house down. It was clear the panel hadn’t expected such a performance and Cowell said afterwards

“I’m going to be honest with you; you sang actually one of my worst songs ever but you did something different with it. I really, really, really like you”

“You’ve kinda got this really cool, old school Jazz voice like the 20’s or the 30’s, but it was really talented.”

At which point the tears of joy began and the possibility that another star has been discovered on ITV dawned.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

“She’s beautiful, flawlessly divine”

Guy has released five studio albums, the last in 2009 called “Like it like that” which happens to be the first single to be released from the album. The track hit number one in Australia going 3 times platinum in the process. His second single which featured American Idol star Jordin Sparks only reached number seven. Despite his appearance on Hey Hey It’s Saturday his third single unfortunately reached 51 in the Australian charts failing to go Platinum.

When he showed up for the Adelaide auditions in 2003 he sang Stevie Wonder’s Ribbon in the Sky. The formalities over and despite joking about his hair, the judges were mesmerised from the moment he started singing the song. Little did we know then that he would turn into the great singer he is today. He has always had talent, that much is obvious, but to make it in the business it helps to have an adoring public willing to buy your music. Without that you have nothing. Fortunately for Guy he had a following keen to soak up almost everything he offered.

There are two stand out tracks on the album for me, “Magic” and “Perfection” (lyrics below) and it’s the latter that really struck a chord with me. Despite its cheesy lyrics the song is heartfelt and until its conclusion it took me on a wonderful ride of hope. Written for and about his wife, Guy really has capsulated his deepest feelings in a way many people fail.

We’d all like the ability to put down in words what someone means to us but most of us have to settle for putting together a cd mix and saying “here you go love” – I really mean “track 3″ and come to think of it “track 7″ says everything about you! So with that in mind when he sings Perfection it’s just that. Hope you enjoy it too! Here are the lyrics and video of Guy singing live in Penrith, NSW.

Perfection Lyrics

Peter can you gather the angels all around
i’ll need everyone to get this down
this will not be easy
cos what i’m asking for
is something we have never tried before
lets make a girl
but not just any girl
she needs to be perfect, perfect
and so beautiful
flawlessly divine
she needs to define perfection
and don’t forget the sugar
make it so she’s sweet from her head to her feet
perfection

go and get picasso he can paint her eyes
michelangelo can paint her smile
and when they’re finally finished
i want nothing less
than for all of us to stand here breathless
lets make a girl
but not just any girl
she needs to be perfect, perfect
and so beautiful
flawlessly divine
she needs to define perfection
and don’t forget the sugar
make it so she’s sweet from her head to her feet
perfection

all the angels said can we keep her
she’s so beautiful
but God said someone down there needs her
and he can’t live without her, without her
she’s beautiful
flawlessly divine
and yes she defines perfection
please don’t change a thing
it’s obvious to me that what i see is perfection
when she’s 21 she’ll change somebody’s life
when she’s 28 she’ll be his wife

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

As the years have passed I’ve become a staunch fan of the new country style and quite often listen to Tracy Lawrence, Billy Currington, Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert …. I could go on and on!!! I digress, the reason for this post is Joe Nichols. Nichols is an amazing singer who has struggled in recent times with substance abuse checking in to rehab in 2007.

Don’t ask me why but I can’t get enough of  “As Country As She Gets”, it’s just an amazing track. Never released as a single it’s one of the stand out tracks from his 2005 “III” album. Despite the number 1 “Tequila Makes her clothes fall off” and the wonderfully moving single “I’ll Wait for You”,  “As Country As She Gets” still remains a big favourite. “III”  is a Gold album and reached number 2 in the charts.

As Country As She Gets – Lyrics

She hates goin’ anywhere in my old truck
She says it’s always muddy and it rides so rough
And there ain’t no graceful way to climb up in a dress
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

I might get her on the lake to fish with me
If the water’s smooth and the sky is blue with a nice cool breeze
But anything we catch i’ll have to clean myself
Cause i’m about as country as she gets

She’ll slip off a pair of heels
Walk barefoot across the field
Climb up on the fence just to be near me
Sometimes i think that horse still scares her half to death
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She likes being within spending distance of a mall
Havin’ enough bars to make a cell phone call
Put her in a crowd and she’s right in her element
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She’ll slip out on the porch sometimes
When that sun’s low in the sky
Pull up a rocking chair just to be with me
Until that first big junebug buzzes by her head
You see i’m about as country as she gets
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She hates goin’ anywhere in my old truck.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

It’s a great film and a wonderful soundtrack – I believe the film introduced Kurt Russell to the acting world as a precocious kid who kicks Elvis in the shin for money!

Hope you enjoy the video!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Quite often, early memories are clouded when you get a little older, things always seemed better in the good old days – children’s tv always seemed better and the films and programmes you watched as a teenager were better than the offerings today. That rule doesn’t always apply and it freaks me out when I catch an old programme I used to love growing up and now think “how the hell did I like that as a kid”?

I digress! What could be nicer (Mum the kettle’s boiling) is an example of the former, I loved it then – perhaps because mum and dad loved it so much, and I love it now. So many fond memories come flooding back of road trips and quiet moments in the house listening to Gilbert’s melodic songs.

You don’t hear much about him any more, time to do some investigating and find out what he’s up to, if he still performs etc! I’ll update this blog with info on him if I find any – in the mean time if anyone who reads this knows anything or this song evokes fond memories of growing up then drop me a line!

The Lyrics !

Mum, the kettle’s boiling
Daddy what’s the time
Sis, look what you’re doing
Can’t you see the baby’s crying
Tell your Uncle Tony
Helen wants to know
Did he get the letter
That she sent a week ago
All in all what could be nicer
Than two people young at heart
[ Gilbert O'Sullivan Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
Looking forward to the future
That together they will start
When you think of all those people
Who are left out in the cold
All because they never dreamed
That they’d be written off as old
Mum, the kettle’s boiling
Dad, ‘ere what’s the time
Sis, look what you’re doing
Can’t you see the baby’s crying
Can’t you see the baby’s crying

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Thanks to the guys at Digital Spy, I’ve found out that the youtube video is no longer available. here’s another version!!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Sitting here watching a delayed showing of American Idol and I thought I’d make notes as the evening went for the final three. Jordin opened the show with a great performance one that oozes class. I preferred this version to the original “Wishing on a star”. Simon Cowell liked the performance but didn’t like the arrangement.

There’s no doubt the three best singers are left in the semi-final and it’s going to be hard to chose the final two from these talented singers!!! Blake’s up and singing a police classic “Roxanne”. Blake has a magnificent delivery and yet again makes the song his own with a faultless performances, very reggae!!! He ends the song with a slide towards the judges – no beat boxing ! Again Cowell keeping it real comparing with Sting’s rendition.

Now then this will be very interesting, Melinda is going to sing Whitney Houston’s “I believe in you and me”, one of my all time favourite Whitney songs!! Not the greatest offerings from Melinda but it was polished and she made it her own. It sounded a key lower than Whitney’s version and not as “sweet” but it was still a cracking attempt. After the first round I’d probably have Jordin and Melinda as the finalists.

Jordin kicks off round two with a Donna Summer number, “she works hard for the money”. A very confident song but I didn’t think it was as good as the first song of the evening. Very feisty though. The crowd loved it! Oh wow, Blake gets to sing Maroon 5′s “This Love” – this will be interesting. Welcome back to Blakesville ! This is more his music – cracking blend of beat boxing and singing – I really enjoyed this, he’s back in the game. Judges agreed with me for a change!!

Predictable choice from the producers for Melinda “Tina Turner” !!!! Never been a fan of Tina but this was a great vocal performance. She has really grown in stature during the series and a cert for the final after this rendition. Brilliant. Best I’ve seen her move on stage. So after round two Melinda still out front but Blake has come back on par with Jordin.

Jordin once again kicks off the final round with “I who have nothing” – good performance but it wasn’t outstanding but for two notes towards the end. Jordin has been amazing throughout and only time will tell if she makes it to the final. Blake’s up with yet another kick ass effort, this guy’s album will be awesome winner or not !!! I think after this performance he did enough to make the final two with Melinda. Very confident performance. Randy is talking through his big “bleep” !!! He really has no idea what he’s talking about.

Melinda closes the final round with “I am a Woman” – very sassy performance, the crowd loved it and America will love it !!! All round it was Melinda’s night and I stand by my earlier prediction that Melinda and Blake will be in the final although I’d be gutted to leave anyone out !!!

So this is it, we are down to the results and following emotional home visits it comes down to the viewer votes ! You have to love Blake’s father !! The first one to go through is ……..Jordin. I didn’t see that coming. Surely this means Melinda will claim the other spot making it an all female final………….. Oh My God…… Blake makes it into the final, the place is in shock. I guess we all know that Melinda will make it in the real world – Melinda we salute you!!! Fox’s interview with Melinda Here

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

He co-wrote “Lost” with another promising Canadian singer Jann Arden, and pianist Alan Chang. If you’d like to check out the music then why not visit the wonderful youtube for a fan’s version of the video, set to stills. I’ve no idea if Buble will release this song as a single but I hope he does just so I can see how he sees the video !!! Youtube Video Here

I can’t believe it’s over
I watched the whole thing fall
And I never saw the writing that was on the wall
If I don’t land
Days were slipping past
That the good things never last
That you were crying

Summer turned to winter
And the snow it turned to rain
And the rain turned into tears upon your face (I love these three lines, very simple, very clever !)
I hardly recognized the girl you are today
And god I hope it’s not too late
It’s not too late
‘Cause you are not alone
I’m always there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When your worlds crashing down
And you can’t bear to fall
I said, babe, you’re not lost

Life can show no mercy
It can tear your soul apart
It can make you feel like you’ve gone crazy
But you’re not
Things have seem to changed
There’s one thing that’s still the same
In my heart you have remained
And we can fly fly fly away

‘Cause you are not alone
And I am there with you
And we’ll get lost together
Till the light comes pouring through
‘Cause when you feel like you’re done
And the darkness has won
Babe, you’re not lost
When the worlds crashing down
And you can not bear to crawl
I said, baby, you’re not lost

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The song led me to Ella’s renditions of classic Cole Porter songs spread over two albums, volume 1 and 2. I’ve heard and can easily recognise a lot of Porter’s songs but I was shocked to hear so many new ones in the collection. I certainly didn’t realise Cole had written the classics “In the still of the night”, “Too darn hot” and “Beguine the Beguine”. He truly was a master of his craft.

Listening to the album I re-discovered the song “Miss Otis Regrets” and again like “Do I Love You”, I had no idea it was written by Cole Porter. The song is a melancholy song written about the love of a woman, her fall from grace which led to her committing murder and her eventual death by execution. Not a song you’d ever think as romantic but sung by one of the greatest singers of all time, Ella transforms the song and delivers a tragic tale in her own imitable style.

Although very little background information is available for the song, the song was used in the stage production “Hi Diddle Diddle” in 1935. It has been suggested that Cole wrote the short song for friends but this is unconfirmed. Many artists have covered the song notably including Bette Midler, Fred Astaire, Kirsty MacColl and Rosemary Clooney to name but a few.

According to the linear notes from the Cole Porter collection, he was inspired while dining in a restaurant overhearing a waiter give a fellow diner his apologies “Miss Otis Regrets, She’s unable to lunch today”. How accurate this is we may never know – I do hope someone out there has better information!

And to the song … Porter may have started out with the waiter’s words ringing in his ears but it soon took on a whole new angle. Each verse describes different excuses why she (Miss Otis) can’t meet her luncheon date begining with her dalliance with her lover in lover’s lane and ending with her death, hanged in front of an angry mob. The very name Miss Otis reminds me of a black woman from the south and her velvet robe suggests she is of a certain social standing, well to me it does. Taking the gun from her robe she kills her lover and all hell breaks loose! The angry mob take her from her jail cell (no mention of a trial here!) and she is hanged.

Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.
She is sorry to be delayed,
but last evening down in Lover’s Lane she strayed, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.

When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone, madam,
She ran to the man who had led her so far astray,
And from under her velvet gown,
She drew a gun and shot her lover down, madam,
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.

When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail, madam,
They strung her up on the old willow ‘cross the way,
And the moment before she died,
She lifted up her lovely head and cried, madam…
Miss Otis regrets, she’s unable to lunch today.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites