Christmas 2011: Boy Banned ~ Stars Are Saying Yes

It is only 6 weeks til Christmas and I am throwing caution to the wind (whatever that means) and embracing the festive season with gusto from now. This very second. And this very blog post. Bah humbug to all those who say Christmas comes earlier each year - I say grab hold of the season of good will and make it last as long as possible :) I'm kicking it all off with what I have seriously found to be one of the most charmingly sincere and effortlessly engaging singles of the entire year...

Boy Banned ~ Stars Are Saying Yes (The Review):

Songs that pay tribute to the girl and boy groups of yesteryear are always difficult to pull off. There are only a few successful examples that spring to mind. En Vogue did some lovely harmonising, evoking classic Supremes and Chiffons on My Lovin'. One of Girls Aloud's finest moments was their sixties pastiche mixed with modern sensibility on The Promise. Boys II Men did some delightful old school classic Motown with It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday. But recently? Not so much. The always charming Boy Banned seek to rectify this with their absolutely wonderful new ballad, Stars Are Saying Yes - which is not only their finest single to date, but one of the dreamiest songs of the year.

Much like One Direction, BB have eschewed the trend of reference clubs and beats over an identi-kit Ibiza rave backing track for a more timeless feel that highlights the carefully nuanced creation of the tune, but also focuses on their fine vocals and spot on harmonies that are allowed to shine forth. Lyrically it's a tale as old as time, but one that never gets tired of being told - boy meets girl, boy stops being a player, girl quits her gad-about-town ways, their eyes meet across a crowded room and love blooms. It sounds cliched, heck it is cliched, but it's performed with such sincerity and staged in such an endearing way that even the hardest, most cynical of hearts will be drawn into the song. Musically, it's a layered track of harmonies that blend together seamlessly, a shuffling doo-wop vibe (think of The Warblers from Glee - always the highlight of last year's patchy season) and the most heavenly piano couplet that flows like a babbling brook in springtime over sparkling stones. Together, it's the most magical form of musical alchemy that casts an enchanting spell that's not soon forgotten. Add the gently shuffling sleigh bells and it has that festive-but-not-festive vibe that the greatest Jason Donovan single ever (When You Come Back To Me) had. It's a gem. Kudos to all involved because this is magic.

Boy Banned ~ Stars Are Saying yes (The Video Review):

• This is normally where I would do a lovingly sarcastic screenshot by screenshot breakdown of the video, but I am so enamoured with the song that I'm not sure I have it in me to riff on it. Oh go on then, you've persuaded me...
• The boys are on a nice rooftop terrace somewhere. Potentially in London. I suppose I should get this out the way quite early on - I like a fella all suited and booted, so they all look quite dapper and handsome. Particularly Adam :D
• Ethan starts crooning along. The others (except Pob, the tee-total!) are having a quick sip of the booze. They have gone for the manly options like red wine, a mimosa and a flirtini...
• Ethan is now flanked by what Frankie Cocozza would describe as "two fit birds". This is probably quite an accurate description as they preen like peacocks, billing and cooing at his every move. You can't blame them to be honest...
• David's hair is out of control. It is at a Harry One Direction level of unpredictability. If he keeps growing it, it will soon become the fifth member of the group...
• Now Pob and Adam are being wooed by the ladeez. Adam gets his tie straightened even though it wasn't askew to begin with. When (at 1m06) Curly Haired Tie Straightener kisses him on the cheek, he does a "oh you" look of surprise that I used to give my granny when you would plant a gummy smacker on me before I could resist :)
• Meanwhile, Pob and Ethan continue their seduction of the ladeez. Pob usually gets a good ol' tonguing out of these videos so I'm surprised he hasn't made a move yet! And in this metrosexual world, would it have killed any of them to have a bit of a flirtatious beverage with some hot guys?!
• Poor David isn't getting any action so he has a bit of a sing song looking over the streets of London. The boys clearly feel a bit sorry for him, so they join him, even though it suddenly turns to daytime. Still, it's a nice shot of all four of them (& David's Hair).
• David's Hair is still crooning over the skylines as we approach the 2m mark, while Pob's Cheekbones are dazzling his lady companions. ooo, that makes them sound a bit like hookers. That wasn't my intention at all!!
• Adam has a good ol' chortle with some red headed lass. She probably told him what Kelly Rowland was wearing on the X Factor on Saturday night. Hilarious!
• The booze keeps flowing. Lots of "cheers" happen. David's Hair keeps wooing the London skyline. Ethan points out a star. That is presumably saying yes...
• Curly Haired Tie Straightener tries to look pleased for Red Haired Girl when Adam sings in her face, but you can see that she is secretly gutted and is thinking, i should've straightened his trouser zip instead...
• She was right, she should have! Adam The Playa (hate the game, not the playa, etc) goes in for another chaste peck on the cheek but this time from the Red Haired Girl. What a cad.
• And then! God knows what he got up to inbetween shots because at 3m his tie is all over the shop :D
• Hurrah! At the end there are some extra boys in the video! metrosexuality for the win!
Charming video. Charming song.