The Overtones ~ Perfect

It's been nearly two years since I first wrote about The Overtones (see here) and I'm jolly excited about their forthcoming album, Higher. As you can see below, their new single, Loving The Sound (read thoughts here) has already become my fave track at the moment thanks to countless replays of the radio premiere - so I was delighted when they chose to perform another song from their sophomore set on the Rob Brydon show t'other week. And that track was Perfect - a cover of the Fairground Attraction song which hit number one on my birthday in 1988 (ah, sweet sixteen. Party. I kissed a boy. I liked it). Here's what you got with the song & performance...

• Of course I'd say the 'Tones gussied themselves up, but I'm pretty sure that's how spiffy they look even when they pop to the local Nisa for some emergency milk...
• However, while I'm getting all satorial (surely the boys need a good ol' fashioned fashion photo shoot - Da Man or Details magazine would cater for their needs nicely), I am currently loving Mike's glasses, Timmy's quiff is reaching new amazing heights, Mark in dark hits it stylewise out the park (rhymey!), Darren's splash of colour pocket hankerchief is an autumn must purchase & Lachie could totally rock up at work without a tie and still look the business...
• (Whereas when I go sans tie, they look at me like i've come in angel wings and a thong)
• It's quite lovely to see the band perform with the guys - quite often on tv, it's just a backing track so this gives it an intimate & live in your living room type feel.
• The song itself sets the perky, soaring melody to a down & funky bassline, with a smattering of percussion giving it a bit of zhuzzh. The chorus adds a euphoric horns section, while the boys enhance Timmy's fine lead vocal with some genuinely joyous sounding backing vocals. Particularly love how clean and crisp they sound at the end of each verse and the "ow oh purrrrrrrrfect" in the chorus is pop nirvana :)
• HURRAH! There is, of course, a dance routine. At first it's a bit of finger clicking, foot shuffling and shoulder popping but then... (prepare and calm yourself ladeez and gays) there is some definite HIP THRUSTING-SHIMMYING AGAINST THE MICROPHONE during the second "puuuuurfect" in the chorus (around 40-45s). And the boys look like they are loving it :D
• (I've never wanted to be an inanimate microphone stand more!!)
• EYEBROW WATCH!! There are some noticeable eyebrow moments at 1m05 (Timmy), 1m08 (Mark) and la piece de resistance at 1m30 (a classic Lachie shot).
• The middle 8 is a vibrant carnivale party! The boys are freestyling away while Lachie all but gets his beat box on & there is an amazing jazzy "dooby-ana" (it makes sense when you listen to it, trust me!) vocal play off that gets you all giddy. ACES.
• So all in all, their ability to take such a well known track and turn it into something completely different continues to be one of the band's biggest strengths. Now to book those Blackpool Dec 15th tickets for some Xmassy Overtone fun :) (and view their stunning You Keep Me Hanging On performed in Blackpool last night here!)

Top 21 singles of the week:

21 ~ Eric Saade, Fingerprints (NE)
20 ~ Maroon 5, Daylight (NE)
19 ~ Little Mix, Wings
18 ~ Chantal Claret, Honey Honey
17 ~ P!nk, Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
16 ~ Delta Goodrem, Dancing With A Broken Heart
15 ~ Alanis Morrisette, Lens
14 ~ No Doubt, Settle Down
13 ~ The Killers, Runaways
12 ~ Jason Mraz, Living In The Moment
11 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, How To Be A Heartbreaker
10 ~ Christopher, Colours
09 ~ Carly Rae Jepsen, Good Time
08 ~ fun, One Foot
07 ~ Maroon 5, One More Night
06 ~ Stooshe, Black Heart
05 ~ Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
04 ~ Alphabeat, Love Sea
03 ~ Little Jackie, 21st Birthday Party
02 ~ Spice Girls, Spice Up Yuur Wannabe Life (2012)
01 ~ The Overtones, Loving The Sound (1 week)