Music
Missing Being N-Dubz
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
I feel a bit sad. It’s now come to an end but for the last six weeks of my life, I’ve spent my Monday nights with Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer from N-Dubz… albeit via headcams in their fly on the wall TV show which has had me laughing, smiling, and sympathising with Tulisa throughout.
Although there was a certain level of hamming it up for the cameras as is with all reality shows, there was a feeling that 99.8% of the goings on were ‘real’. We met the N-Dubz entourage and family, went on holiday, into the studio, horseriding and boxing, Glastonbury, house hunting and even to the toilet, in a million-pound house, with them. Ew.
As I stated in a previous article, this group is like Marmite for the masses, but I defy anyone with a heart not to be a little more endeared to the terrible trio after seeing their antics in this show. Undeniably hardworking, smart in a lot of ways but immature in others (feta cheese face slap anyone?), family-devoted, dedicated and talented with a devout following of younger ‘N-Dublettes’, I reckon the older less-inclined-to-be-a-fan crowd may be surprised at how they might enjoy the show more than they would expect (as proven with one of my friends who was a little anti previous to me coercing him into watching it).
I’m calling for a series two. Following them around whilst they try and win over the Americans is bound to be amusing. Here are a couple of gripes from me that I think should be taken into account should this follow up series materialise though:
- Who on earth thought it would be a good idea/suitable/funny for Lynda Bellingham to be the voiceover?! I never want to hear her say ‘you go girlfriend’ ever again, she’s the Oxo lady not Lynny from the block for goodness sake.
- What’s up with the Jonathan Shalit (slightly older, bespectacled manager) constant on camera presence and narrative? It’s called Being N-Dubz, not Advertising Jonathan.
For now, NaNa and Duku yourself until next time…
The Prodigy @ The National Bowl, Milton Keynes – 24/7/2010
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
There were ants everywhere – representing the current signature logo of The Prodigy of course, as I went to witness one of the recommended ‘50 Bands To See Before You Die’ at their biggest ever gig on Saturday night.
Alongside 64,999 others, I packed into the open-air Milton Keynes National Bowl for the Warrior’s Dance Festival and you could smell the anticipation in the air, as someone in a fan forum so elegantly put it prior to the event ‘can’t wait, 65,000 nutters avin it’. Indeed.
Not just your average concert, punters were treated to a whole day of music with several support acts across the main stage and secondary Boneyard area. DJ Zane Lowe hyped up the willing crowd before the headlining act took to the stage, saying it was the best festival he’d ever played to.
Smashing the set open with World’s On Fire the crowd went mad, hands in the air, jumping up and down, as the Essex electronic dance gods hit the stage. Ambulances were hung around the set in keeping with the Take Me to the Hospital (the name of their record label) theme and the amazing light show kicked into action illuminating the Bowl.
The moshing started front stage as they moved into my favourite Prodigy classic, Breathe followed by the anthem that is Omen. Without being flung into the nearby mosh pit, I shouted along with my fellow ravers as the ambulances began to glow in the dark and Maxim Reality and Keith Flint egged on the audience with their familiar expletive-strewn narrative.
The bassline of Poison and Thunder dubstep remix reverberated right to my core and after affectionately getting pelted with plastic bottles from the other revellers including many a topless male, we took to the bank to soak up the atmosphere from further across the bowl, where we got to appreciate the spectacular laser display that accompanied Warrior’s Dance.
Taking us through their hits spawning two decades and five successful albums, fans ranging from freakishly young to surprisingly old, relentlessly kept the energy levels up for the hour and a half set, singing (shouting) along, dancing (raving) throughout and obediently reciting everything they were told by the two front men whilst production mastermind Liam Howlett looked on over his keyboard at the brilliant mayhem unfolding in front of him.
After Take Me to the Hospital, during the encore we were treated to some proper old school Prodigy including Everybody in the Place, No Good (Start the Dance) and Charly which went down a storm.
Rebellious Their Law led into the humongous finale that was Out of Space. We had been a ‘wicked crowd’ apparently, for which Maxim gave ‘Pure respek from the heart’ and said it was the best… night of his life. What a sweetie.
It’s not difficult to see why The Prodigy have been crowned the most influential act of their genre in a recent poll. A gig of this magnitude continues to prove why they are still held in such high regard in dance music twenty years after they first came to our attention. There’s clearly still life in the old dogs yet as Liam revealed in a recent interview with Zane Lowe that they were heading back into the studio soon to record some new material. Roll on album number six. And long live The Prodigy.
Not her old self – Christina A video exclusive
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
Moan, moan, moan. A lot of non-US folk in cyberspace are going on about not being able to view the new Christina Aguilera video but thankfully our dear friends at MSN have come up with the exclusive goods.
If Not Myself Tonight was one end of the ‘looks’ spectrum, the video for You Lost Me is at the opposite end. Far from the energetic, vampy sexed-up character in her last vid, a pared down Christina mooches around a derelict room in baggy house clothes, all forlorn. A woman scorned who’s done the angry lashing out bit and is now in reflective mode. The vibe is intimate and eerie with the powerful emotional Xtina delivery that gives her ballads that oomph and is bound to provide an anthem for many a heartbroken soul.
Apart from the strange effects about quarter of the way in where Christina’s face goes a funny colour and the bizarre part-orangeness of her hair, it’s a good vid, in a non-spectacular, simple-but-powerful, suitable-for-the-song kind of way. Check it out and see what you think…
Take That’s new party pooper
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
So I’ve had a week to digest the news…
In my head, all I ever wanted since that momentous time in 1996 when I had a little cry at a friend’s birthday party over the split of my favourite boyband ever, was for them to get back together, all five of them, as if nothing happened. We would all live happily ever after, I would continue to sport my TT duffle bag, croptop, dogtags, earrings etc and deface my bedroom from wall to wall with posters and cuttings with all the enthusiasm from when I first harassed my Mum into buying all this highly essential merchandise for me.
Unfortunately, the four-piece Take That incarnation didn’t do it for me as it was never the same after Robbie left, like missing that all important little toe that keeps you standing upright.. or something. But now that my supposed dream has come true, I can’t help but feel the chemistry isn’t quite right after all that turbulent water that passed under the bridge previously. I guess though, we all grow up, forgive and forget, and become more adept at noticing where those potential pound signs are. Yes, I sound cynical but the current evidence troubles me as the publicity machine ensues.
Am I the only one who thinks the guys looked a bit awkward in their initial reunited-in-the-studio video clip? Is Rob still the biggest ego in the room as he sings the 
loudest at the piano and only comfortably looks at Mark, never really going too near Jason and Howard, not really looking at ease? Is it all a bit forced? Their website shot looks like Jason and Robbie are squaring up for a barney. Maybe I’m just being bitchy but see what you think…
The Robster’s massive solo record deal is coming to an end with the last album on this deal In and Out of Consciousness – Greatest Hits 1990-2010 being released in October conveniently featuring two brand new Gary Barlow-penned tunes. Reportedly, there’s also going to be a spoof video starring the two old friends for forthcoming Robbie single Shame that could make for a good laugh, or a painful cringe-fest. Apparently labels are fighting over a his new solo contract but Robbie is set to hang with the band for a year at least.
Sneakily, the five guys have been writing material for the group’s new album since last year and drafted in electro-pop producer Stuart Price (who’s just worked on Kylie’s new album amongst others) in an attempt to keep in with current music trends and give the record a dancier edge. Twenty years after Take That first performed and fifteen years after their last album as a quintet, could it be magic again? (sorry I had to get one in there). They’ve been seen larking about filming the video for new single The Flood in rowing boats on a lake, so maybe that will come around before the Shame video, or instead of…
Now don’t get me wrong, I was a dedicated Thatter back in the day and a fan of solo Robbie, circa I’ve Been Expecting You was undeniably epic. I just don’t really want to welcome new-age Take That into my life now. If they were going to go all out purely with the old stuff on a reunion tour, I’d be well up for it but I’m worried that that old-school cheesey pop charm that they were all about originally could be lost by trying too hard to be different with new material.
The old geezers are looking pretty fit and not sounding too bad vocally to be fair, so I’ll just have to sit back and watch how the highest profile boy/manband reunion of the millennium so far, unfolds… To get over my party pooper-ness and until the new stuff surfaces I’m going to stick on my Take That and Party video tape and reminisce about the good old days.
Lovebox Festival @ Victoria Park – 16/07/2010
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
The blisters on the soles of my feet were worth it. My first ever trip to Lovebox on its first ever Friday was brilliant. A delightful mixed bag of musical goodness in the sunshine.
It had been described as the poppiest day of the weekend but there was a lot of specialist Dance and Grime, Latin and Indie rock beats resonating through Victoria Park in London’s East End too, an eclectic combination which definitely made the day all the more enjoyable.
Warming up the Gaymers Stage was one of two mega-exciting discoveries I made of the day, promising new talent: guitarist, rapper, singer, songwriter Maverick Sabre. He caught my ear with his gorgeous soulful, warm Finlay-Quaye-ish voice and smart hip hop lyricism with an acoustic set that switched from mellow to funky to show off his repertoire.
Moving over to the main stage, I was bombarded by the mad natterings of The Midnight Beast. Within minutes these guys had me giggling away at their silly but cleverly assembled lyrics and dance routines, pom poms and all.
On the ‘cooler’ end of the spectrum of acts to grace the main stage included a couple of Dizzee-Rascal-endorsed, Dirtee Stank-signed acts. Teenage MC Smurfie Syco bringing his swagger and chart-friendly rap tunes to the stage in a Tinchy Stryder kind of way, followed by grittier MC duo, Newham Generals comprising of grime veterans Footsie and D Double E whose Street Fighter Riddim features a very familiar sample.
I’m secretly quite glad that the queue outside the NYC Downlow area for MJ Cole made me detour and find mega-exciting discovery of the day number two, Tinashé. Playing his first festival, reminding me a little of Bloc Party with his tone of voice and heavily guitar infused tracks, this Indie Pop gent was impressive and I’m sure we’ll be seeing him making a chart assault soon…
Keeping the specialist dance vibe bubbling throughout the day were many a DJ in the open-air Rizla Arena with sounds of House and Garage, including appearances from Sticky and Todd ‘the God’ Edwards which pleased me muchly. The undercover and freakishly dark Relentless and NYC Downlow tents boasted sets from Mistajam, Crookers and several other high-profile turntable masters. I happened across Sinden dropping a bit of Swedish House Mafia in the Relentless area and it went crazy!
The wee Gaymers Bandstand saw more Grimey acts including MCs Griminal and Ghetto who had their fans hyped and raving along to their beats and rhymes, and the pretty but punchy Mz Bratt who showcased her tough lyrical dexterity of which I particularly enjoyed on Who Do You Think You Are? A very attractive and dapper looking Aggro Santos wrapped up proceedings here.
Drawing a massive crowd to the Gaymers Stage were Indie rockers Bombay Bicycle Club and at the other end of the park, kitted out in gold and white on the main stage, belting out the anthem that is Don’t Upset the Rhythm was The Noisettes.
Taking the energy up to ‘cor blimey’ level were Dubstep kings Chase and Status who had the crowd tirelessly flinging themselves around for a whole hour at the drop of tunes consisting of the filthiest basslines.
Darkness descended and we were treated to one of East London’s most successful exports, Friday’s headlining act, Dizzee Rascal. He dedicated Chillin’ with the Man Dem to his mates and then went into Heavy with its distinct Chase and Status bassy banger sound. At this point my size fives couldn’t physically handle any more so I strolled home with my tequila-endorsed straw hat and plonked into bed after one of the best days out I’ve had this Summer. For me, the ninth annual Lovebox Festival is in the diary as a must-attend event for next year.
Battle of the X’s
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
*Cue dramatic music*
That show will be on our TV screens again in about a month’s time and it seems, possibly to purposely coincide with this, many a former contestant is ramping up their promotional activity. At T4 on the beach we were treated to a quadruple X factor whammy of Alexandra Burke, Diana Vickers, Jedward and JLS. And now there’s some Olly Murs action on the horizon. So, new series aside, who do you think is going to win the unofficial battle of these former X Factor contestants in 2010?
JEDWARD
These twins are a machine. Possibly one of the most loved/hated X factor acts ever, they accidently created a buzz of publicity around Edward’s recent fall at T4 on the Beach which has provided even more spotlight on the pesky pair. Having reportedly signed a *gasp* 3 album deal with their new record label, we’ll next be seeing the boys cover Blink 182’s All the Small Things of which the spoof video, created by their fine selves, was debuted yesterday. For some reason I felt unnerved at the sight of them without the big hair… Devout fans need not worry about their commitment to the promotional cause as Edward has stated that ‘he will make it to the Irish Tour in August even if he has to bring crutches on stage’. The single will be out 19 July, album Planet Jedward on the 26 July, their Irish tour goes ahead in August 2010 and a rumoured UK tour after that, yikes…
OLLY MURS
Everyone’s favourite Essex boy is finally making a solo outing since his second placing on series 6 last year. After sparking a friendship with none other than Robbie Williams, playing in Soccer Aid 2010 alongside him and finding a fan in Amy Winehouse, one of X factor’s seemingly friendliest fellas is releasing his debut single Please Don’t Let Me Go. It has rather strangely been described as ‘like a mixture of Lily Allen, Paolo Nutini and UB40’ but I’ll let you make your mind up on that one… It’s due for release August 28 and his album, featuring an array of well-known pop writers on the credits, will drop in September.
DIANA VICKERS
She holds the odd but good accolades of becoming ‘the first X Factor Finalist to gain a Number 1 album after coming less than third’ for her debut LP Songs From the Tainted Cherry Tree and the ‘first female X Factor contestant to obtain a number 1 single without reaching the final’. Not bad at all. Long gone is the barefoot, pale-lipped ‘little hippy’ we were introduced to in series 5 and now we have a more polished, glamorous yet unassuming Popette. Cathy-Dennis penned Once took Diana to number one in April this year and the follow-up single, catchy The Boy Who Murdered Love which has a funky half-animated video to go with, will hit download stores on 18 July. You can also see Ms Vickers supporting X factor buddies JLS on their series of live dates this month.
ALEXANDRA BURKE
The former show reject in 2005 who bounced back to triumph on series 5 in 2008 has had a phenomenal couple of years with her debut album Overcome going platinum and still going strong since its release in October last year. After three successful top ten releases off the back of this, Alexandra’s next single is brand new Summery song Start Without You. The video for the single was filmed in LA and she should be ‘bringing out the Beast’ (her self-dubbed alter ego) and the song, in late August. Alexandra recently won the Best Newcomer award at Glamour Women of the Year Awards and has earned a trio of Urban Music Award nominations including best album, which sees her pitched against friends and former rival contestants, JLS. It has been rumoured that she will be launching Ovecome in the US at the end of the year too.
OTHERS
From ‘Alexandra’s year’ – The girl who caused mass public uproar, petitions against the show and a mention in Parliament as a result of her somewhat premature elimination during week 5, was soulful Northern lass, Laura White who is set to release an album at the end of this year. The lady who went head-to-head with her on this controversial week of departure, Spanish senorita Ruth Lorenzo, is rumoured to be bringing out an album in September.
They’ve not long returned from the US but it seems possible cross-Atlantic domination might be on the cards for JLS as Jay-Z wants to launch them Stateside after admitting that they remind him of Boyz II Men (the biggest selling R&B group of all time) and Jodeci. Now that is one hefty compliment regardless of who it’s come from. As mentioned earlier they are performing at a handful of live events this month, the second album is due in November 2010 and a nationwide UK arena tour is in the diary for December.
Let’s Get Together
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
Now that I’m old enough to go to concerts on my own, it’s only polite that many of my favourite nineties and noughties bands are literally jumping on the reunion bandwagon so I may oblige. Here are some upcoming get-togethers I’m getting into a tizz over…
Damage
I can just about contain myself as the the 90s British RnB boy band will be returning *squeal* this month playing some live gigs across the country.
Andrez Harriott, Coree Richards, Rahsaan Bromfield, Jade Jones and Noel Simpson are probably best known for the tune Ghetto Romance but from their first hit single Love II Love I was in love with these lot, cassette album and all. Interestingly, one of their former producers, Steve Mac, is currently sprinkling some magic on JLS’ forthcoming album…
Ace of Base
Spawning the mahoosive anthems: All That She Wants, The Sign and Don’t Turn Around were this sassy Swedish quartet. After their initial run of success they toured as a three-piece during the noughties without blonde girl Linn, but last year brunette girl, Jenny, left too.
Fear not though, the band are back, albeit with the original ladies having been replaced with two younger models, Clara and Julia. Jonas and Ulf, original male members and the writing and production powerhouses behind the band’s biggest hits, are still hard at work and their recent leaked track Mr Replay makes it feel like they never left us. In the last 24 hours they confirmed on Twitter that the lead single from their new album is All For You which will be doing the rounds in Europe very soon.
Blue
Now although each Blue boy seems to be wrapped up in various solo projects at present, some clever bunny has worked out that ladies like me who are starved of the boyband loveliness we were awash with 10-15 years ago would enthusiastically accept the awesome phwoarsome back into 
our lives. A reunion has been circulating the rumour mill for a while but it seems after stints in theatre, solo music projects, acting, TV presenting, DJ-ing, modelling and fatherhood, a comeback is imminent.
Throwing a few spanners in the reunion works… Simon is tied in to Sister Act in the West End, Anthony is starring in Popstar! The Musical, Duncan is on the panel for new Emma-Bunton-hosted-Glee-esque-fest TV show, Don’t Stop Believing and Lee has recently released his solo single I Am Who I Am but the corresponding album has reportedly just been shelved by the record label. Hmmm…
There is definitely new Blue material on the horizon though, with the boys having been in the studio Stateside with ‘Jay-Z’s people’, working with Ne-yo, and Ray Ruffin, the bloke who mastered their golden oldies Too Close and If You Come Back. Lee is certainly feeling confident about the reunion anyway, tweeting a few days ago: ‘Blue are getting back together and we have started recording! Blue are gonna smash it!!!! I can’t wait!!!! Xxx’ Guys, hurry up, please ‘cause I cant wait either.
Ne-yo album preview – 8/7/2010
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
Ne-yo has ‘done a Plan B’ in such that his new album Libra Scale, rather than being a regular compilation of songs, is a series of tunes related to the short screenplay he was inspired to write after catching the acting bug last year.
Telling us the story in his sexy Southern drawl, the part comic book-ish, part sci-fi tale of Libra Scale sees the US RnB crooner take on the character of average-Joe-turned-Superhero, Jerome, and his two mates who also acquire special powers. Without going too much into it, we were taken through an unfolding chronicle of adventures and mishaps revolving around money, power, fame and love, and also meeting along the way a normal-chick-come-superheroine who becomes the object of Jerome’s affection.
Apart from Euro-friendly dance-y lead single Beautiful Monster, which is a certified club banger, Ne-yo also deviates from his usual smooth, gentlemanly style on Champagne Life which tells of the superheroes ‘living it up’ in a more playboy, less nice boy manner. Cause I Said So is an up-tempo bossy female anthem which adds yet more variety to the mix courtesy of a twist in the tale that affects the female protagonist..
Other parts of the story see the eloquent, smooth Ne-yo we have all become accustomed to, singing about love in the way that he does so well in One in A Million, She Is, and the sad, contemplative What Have I Done where Jerome realises ‘love is a privilege, not a game’.
Ne-yo revealed that the music videos for the singles to be released from this album will take on a Michael Jackson-like mini movie feature-length, inspired largely by the entertainment values held by the great man himself.
In relation to UK acts, Ne-yo informed us that he’d been working with Shingai from the Noisettes and expressed his die-hard love for Amy Winehouse’s music and desire to collaborate with her, so watch this space…
On the controversial issue of RnB singers and Auto-Tune, Ne-yo stressed how much he works on crafting his singing and dancing so he can be a great live performer and that those who use the tool and get more recognition for their ‘skills’ serve as a ‘slap in the face’ for the dedicated, traditional performer.
Just in case anyone is worrying about Ne-yo’s personality status, you can relax as the bad boy side of Jerome is purely fictional. He exclaimed, the year of the Gentleman isn’t over, it’s the ‘Millennia of the Gentleman’. And long may he reign I say.
Ne-yo’s album Libra Scale will be released in the UK in late September 2010.
Paloma Faith @ iTunes festival – 7/7/2010
Review by Tina Hart
If there could be such a thing, Paloma Faith is like the beautiful, talented love child of Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga but apparently well-behaved yet cheeky, and theatrically fashionable but without distracting you from the good stuff. Voice. Tunes. As Usher would say, ‘OMG’.
The round roof of the Roundhouse nearly blew off as she made her entrance and delivered energetic debut single Stone Cold Sober to rapturous applause. With Paloma’s characteristic strange but sexy style, last night she rocked a wiley afro, was bejewelled from her face to white leotard and suspenders and ridiculously high shoes, and had a monochrome set with huge white balloons which she attached to herself during the show.
Pretty much everyone was dancing to all the soulful uptempo tunes, including a funkified remix of album title track Do You Want the Truth Or Something Beautiful?, Luv Ya and the infectious Upside Down.
Pretty much everyone was singing to powerful cover versions of Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime and At Last by one of Paloma’s main musical influences, blues legend Etta James.
At the other end of the emotional spectrum, I had to try hard not to cry as the heart-rending lyrics unfolded on My Legs are Weak, and I could see Paloma welling up too.
She’s clearly at ease on the stage which makes it all the more enjoyable as she chatted to the audience like old friends ‘If I could have this in my house, I would’.
Wrapping up the evening was the haunting tale that is New York, an epic song about the city that ‘took his heart away’ and ‘poisoned his sweet mind’, sang with the conviction of the broken-hearted girl Paloma used to be and accompanied by the audience singing along to the chorus.
Paloma is a multi-talented Diva-ette, having written or co-written all the songs on her album, an unfaltering, eye-catching and engaging performer, and undoubtedly a wonderful, strong singer. This little lady is a true popstar and I hope that in this latter part of 2010 she gets the massive recognition she deserves like her counterparts before her. If the re-release of New York doesn’t make top ten, I will eat my notepad.
New York featuring Ghostface Killah is out 1st August and you can catch Paloma on her nationwide tour in October and November 2010.
Cool Collabo’s
Guest Blogger: Tina Hart
Not solely content with doing their own thing, many a popstar chooses to team up with a famous mate. Fair do’s. At the moment there are some very exciting hook ups going on, in fact in some cases I’m so excited I might just combust. So before that happens, here are my top picks of real, and potential, cool collaborations…
Looking hot-to-trot at T4 on the beach alongside Chipmunk last Sunday, Esmée Denters is releasing her new single Love Dealer featuring mentor and boss Justin Timberlake this month. Esmée said in a recent interview that she’d love to duet with UK pop starlet Pixie Lott – can someone please make this happen?
N*E*R*D teamed up with Nelly Furtado on Hot n Fun to introduce us to the sound of their new album Nothing which was due out in June, then July and now will be coming out early September. Dammit. If you can’t wait that long then you can enjoy the video from the lead single which has had the Jonas Åkerlund (of Gaga and Beyoncé’s Telephone) treatment. It certainly shows, with a fun, literal translation of the track title onto the screen: desert, convertible car, party, scantily clad beauties and all.
There are many rumours surrounding what the final culmination will be of this one but the best I’ve heard is that Diddy is waiting ‘for the right time’ to go all out for Skepta’s remix of the Diddy Dirty Money single Hello Good Morning. Brought together by a combination of pure fanpower and the force that is Twitter, this intriguing package is apparently going to include its own video and everyone laying lyrics over a grime beat. There are a few remixes already doing the rounds and I’m loving the UK remix featuring Tinie Tempah and Tinchy Stryder (who’s upcoming single In My System features Jodie Connor of Roll Deep fame).
I know that talented trio, Tinie Tempah, Labrinth and Ellie Goulding have been in the studio together (woohoo) and further prospective collabo’s include: Lil Kim wanting to work with Rihanna, Katy Perry and her desire for Marina (of Marina and the Diamonds), and again, Tinie Tempah but this time calling for Muse, Paulo Nutini and Dizzee Rascal. What a marvellous bunch of musical mash ups!
