Snap, Crackle & (Fizzy) Pop: Weekly Catch Up 28th March 2010 - Sunday Afternoon Songs ft Judie Tzuke, Beverley Craven, Alexis Strum, Mariah & Miley!

EDIT: Sigh. This post was meant to go up on Sunday afternoon, which is why it is all about music that seems perfect for those wistful lazy afternoons when you just sit and reflect, but not in a particularly maudlin way. Then I fell asleep and finally got some rest after 3 nights of little sleep due to my ear infection. Frankly I feel much better for it, and let's face it these few songs are just as good on a Monday morning (plus it must be Sunday afternoon somewhere. Oh I just checked. It's not. Bugger)...

1. Judie Tzuke ~ If: Sometimes a song comes along that is so breathtakingly beautiful in it's delivery and so exquisitely constructed in it's production, that it just makes you stop, become completely absorbed into the tune and marvel at it's magnificence. It's a heavenly ballad that relies on a stunning vocal and gorgeous melody to power the song forward and proof that sometimes, less is indeed more. I think I may actually weep...
2. Beverley Craven ~ Rainbows: Remember Bev? She did the ever so lovely Promise Me many moons ago and has continued to sporadically churn out delicate, emotive piano pop ever since. This track is from her 2009 album, Close To You and is a delicious, uplifting little number that is bright, energetic and perky yet carries some meaningful lyrics under it's pop exterior. Ever so engaging and worthy of multiple listens.
3. Mariah Carey ~ 100%: So is the Angels Advocate remix thingy not happening? Oh dear, etc. Still, this is one of the strongest Mariah tunes in quite a while and designed to totally appeal to me. Apparently it's something to do with the Vancouver Olympics so I'm clearly way behind on loving this, but it's schmaltzy sentimental inspiring lyrics and shuffling beat, combined with the ace chorus make it gold in my book :)
4. Miley Cyrus ~ I Hope You Find It: Talking of schmaltzy and sentimental, Simon Cowell might as well stop looking for the next X Factor winner's song because here it is. A big bulging ballad from little Miley that is from her latest Disney movie and you can tell - it's a throwback to the showstopping numbers that used to soundtrack films and that you either love or hate. I, unsurprisingly, love it because I'm a big old softy at heart. PS ~ wouldn't it be even more magnificent if this year's X Factor winner did something like this (girl) or this (boy)...
5. Alexis Strum ~ Bad Haircut: Sigh. Whatever happened to the lovely talented Alexis? I know she's done some songs for Diana Vicker's album, but no more solo stuff? That's a real shame, because Bad Haircut is one of those pop songs that stands the test of time and sounds just as brilliant and singalong now as it did 4 years ago. The rest of her album Cocoon is equally as brillopants and totally worthy of your time :)

TOP 21 SONGS OF THE WEEK:

21 ~ Boyzone, Gave It All Away
20 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo
19 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Hollywood
18 ~ Mika, Rain
17 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
16 ~ Diana Vickers, Once
15 ~ Alex Gardner, I'm Not Mad
14 ~ Donkeyboy, Ambitions
13 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love
12 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm
11 ~ Magnus Carlsson, A Little Respect
10 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
09 ~ Elouise, Fireman of my Dreams
08 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
07 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
06 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
05 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
04 ~ The Pipettes, Stop The Music (VID)
03 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love
02 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
01 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet (2 weeks)