Boy Band Update: Auryn, Youngblood & The United...

I love a good boy band I do. While One Direction and The Wanted continue their quest for global domination, and fresh from my upset over Boy Banned splitting up (bah humbuggers), I'm all about the burgeoning careers of three groups currently building a following in and across Europe (and hopefully beyond). Although in other news I do quite like the ballad-by-numbers Proud song by JLS... anyway, as so often happens I am digressing so let's catch up with my current boy band obsessions...

Auryn ~ Rolling In The Deep:

I'm ever so smitten with Auryn, I am. I've written about their very good singles & videos (Breathe Into The Light; Last Night On Earth) & detailed why their debut album is so marvelous (plus picked future singles as My Favourite Guy; I Don't Think So). With Adele back at the top of the UK album charts, I thought it was high time I featured their spirited version of Rolling In The Deep. The boys performed this a couple of times over the festive season in Spain, but I've only just tracked the youtube versions of these performances. The one above in particular is all sorts of phenomenal for all sorts of reason, many of which double up as the reasons why I like Auryn so much. For starters, they all have this preppy chic look going on which is so accessible and undeniably sexy. Their Spanish accents give all their English language songs a certain uniqueness and charm, while just making the Spanish language songs even more sensual and passionate. The energy & enthusiasm they put into performances are so contagious that it's easy to get swept along & lost in the music. And of course, their harmonies and vocals are great - Alvaro delivers a stirring opening few bars before the rest of the boys get their solo time on the track; it could be all very competitive but they work well together and it shines all the more when they sing in unison. Failure to be massive in the UK is not an option :)

Youngblood ~ Youngblood:

The 5 Swedish boys known as Youngblood had a "soft" launch just before Christmas with their perky One Direction-esque single, Blame It On You. It was a peppy little treat and one that paved the way for their far more bombastic, bonkers and brilliant self titled melodifestivalen single. Moving on from the jangly guitar zest of the debut single, the boys find themselves amidst a huge dance production with hints of disco and schlager running throughout. The verses are propelled forward by a feisty beat and fuzzy synth riffs but it's the chorus that takes the song to the next level. It starts off with a key change from the verse and a kooky refrain of "youngblood, youngblood, i wanna be, i wanna be" and a crowd pleasing array of "whoas" thrown in for good measure. There's a trippy, atmospheric middle 8 cool down before the action spurts forward one more time for a big explosive run through of the final chorus. It literally embeds itself into your brain and you find yourself singing it for hours on end. It's nice to have such a progression from the first single and this leaves me itching with pop anticipation for an upcoming album. Youngblood love!

The United ~ Marry You:

I love a multicultural boy band I do. Hailing from Sweden, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, the five chaps make up The United and are currently winning an arsenal of fans with their charming youtube videos that they put out weekly. Their latest is a cover of the impetuous wedding proposal song by the ubiquitous Bruno Mars. It may be an obvious choice, but it's a glorious introduction to the chappies as the acoustic setting of the tune really gives them the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do vocally - individually as well as together. Their harmonies are all too delicious and give the song a real layered, sumptuous feel - weaving together seamlessly & working as instruments in their own right. There's also a real joy that comes across in the performance - and that's something that makes it all the more enjoyable both visually and aurally. It's a giddy little treat of a three minute or so cover and one that bodes well for their own original music whenever that may come. Can I request a boy band cover of Madonna's Give Me All Ur Luvin' next please?!