Weekend Supplement ~ Feb 13th 2011: The Feeling return with Set The World On Fire

Last night in intimate if somewhat grotty surroundings, one of my favourite acts - The Feeling - lit up Coventry with a mixture of old and new songs, all eagerly lapped up by their adoring fanbase. If you're not familiar with The Feeling, then you really should be. They appeared on the pop scene late 2005 with a glorious tune (Fill My Little World - still one of my all time favourite songs of the 2000s) and broke through with thoughtful quasi-ballad Sewn. They mixed a reverence of seventies harmonised pop rock with a modern day sensibility and came up with one of the most delightful debut albums I've heard in many years. While there were sunny, effervescent tunes like the aforementioned Fill My Little World, Never Be Lonely and the ebullient Love It When You Call, it also produced more contemplative moments like the heavenly tune Strange; indeed this song about acceptance, freaks, outsiders and anyone who has felt different lifted me skybound long before Born This Way came on the scene. A second album (Join With Us) produced more musical magic, including the title track, which I still believe is one of the most accomplished musical productions i've heard in years. Definitely up there with modern day classics like Viva La Vida and Rule The World. And then it all went a bit quiet while the boys regrouped and prepared for that all important third album...

So thank god that 2011 will see the launch of The Feeling's 3rd album. It's preceeded by the single Set The World On Fire which got a rollicking reception when performed live. It's a classic feel-good Feeling tune that details what happens when your relationship is built around fiery passion - the rows, the dramas, the splits, but ultimately the love that proves too strong to sever. It seems quite unassuming at first and indeed, the video above doesn't really do it justice though you get a good idea of what to expect. However, it's delivered with a sincerity and commitment that just draws you into the song and the chorus is stickier than a toffee bun - it will remain with you long after the song's finished. There's a genuine beauty in the tune too with some lovely harmonies and studied moments of tenderness that provide added layers to the mid-tempo tune. Definitely going to be a huge singalong favourite in months to come and bodes well for their upcoming album. Heavenly.

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ JLS, Eyes Wide Shut
20 ~ Brandon Flowers, Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
19 ~ Scissor Sisters, Whole New Way
18 ~ One Direction, Forever Young
17 ~ McFly, That's The Truth
16 ~ James Blunt, Too Far Gone
15 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up (NE)
14 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment
13 ~ Avril Lavigne, What The Hell
12 ~ Britney Spears, Hold It Against Me
11 ~ Westlife, Beautiful Tonight
10 ~ Le Kid, Oh My God (NE)
09 ~ Maroon 5, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
08 ~ Shayne Ward, Obsessions
07 ~ Rochella Danishei, Michelle
06 ~ Neo, Underground
05 ~ Same Difference, Karma Karma
04 ~ Take That, Kidz
03 ~ Deborah Gibson, Snake Charmer
02 ~ Andreas Johnson, One Man Army
01 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way (NE/1 Week)