For some reason I like order and structure with my pop music. Remember in the late 80s/early 90s when Kylie, Jason, Sonia and their ilk would release a single or 2, then the album and then a couple more singles? Greatest hits would have a chronological set of the singles on (thank you Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie – Madonna, please take note!) and it all came together in a lovely orderly fashion? Trying to apply that order to post-millenial model of pop is nigh on impossible – there are “impact” dates, singles that don’t do very well and therefore aren’t really the first single, charity cover versions and not related to anything free downloads. Post millennial pop is messy, chaotic, incoherent, glorious and magnificent. Please don’t think I’m complaining – because I’m not. In my own mind, however, I do like to try and compartmenatlise the music into as clean a structure as possible. And a recent example of this is the amazing Stooshe and their debut album, London With The Lights On…
After a teaser single (the grossly underrated Betty Woz Gone) and 2 massive smash hits (Love Me and Black Heart), Stooshe should have been right in there with their debut album. Their gorgeous blend of motown-esque girl group harmonies combined with the sass of the Spice Girls & a contemporary music sheen soon made them the girl group to watch. The poor performance of their cover of TLC’s Waterfalls meant though that just 5 months after Black Heart, the album was temporarily shelved and new music was being added. This eventually came another 6 months later in the form of the eminently catchy, highly entertaining London With The Lights On. It’s an album saturated with potential hit singles, all boasting quality hooks that play like it’s a greatest hits rather than a debut album. Here’s how it could have all played out in album/EP style (think Lady Gaga’s Fame/Fame Monster)…
Stooshe – The Album (released July 2012):
Tracklisting = Betty Woz Gone / Love Me / Black Heart / See Me Like This / Jimmy / My Man Music / Kiss Chase / Turning Me On/ Your Own Kind of Beautiful / Ain’t No Other Me / Whatta Man
Singles =
- Betty Woz Gone (Aug 2011) ~ The teaser single was the perfect intro the Stooshe – deliriously good harmonies, smart social commentary, witty insightful lyrics and a deliciously funky beat underscoring it all. Criminal that it’s not actually on the album…
- Love Me (Mar 2012) ~ There’s a reason this scandalicious take on the booty call was so huge – it mixes the best of groups like Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls and Sugababes with Stooshe’s own wicked-funny personalities & a chorus so huge it will invade your every synapse.
- Black Heart (June 2012) ~ their flawless ode to falling for a bad boy still sounds fresh and invigorating nearly a year after it was initially released. Sumptuous & heartbreaking all at the same time. Up there with En Vogue’s My Lovin’ as one of the most perfect tributes to 60s motown magic.
- See Me Like This (Oct 2012) ~ Hidden away on the b-side of Waterfalls, this was an exquisite gem in it’s own right. The ideal follow up to Black Heart, it further showcased that this sometimes (hilariously) potty mouthed divas had a soft side that everyone could relate to…
- Ain’t No Other Me (Dec 2012) ~ A sort of Christmas song (there’s a reference!) that’s not a Christmas song. A down and dirty funky beat is aided by chiming bells and a silky smooth vocal plea for reconciliation at the loneliest time of year. A gentle remix and a Christmas song on the b-side would have been the icing on this very yummy (Christmas) cake…
Tracklisting = Slip / Hoochi Mama / Inbred City / Shame / Round 2 / Kiss Chase (remix) / Put The Kettle On / Fly Again
Singles =
- Slip (March 2013) ~ Upping the tempo once more this dreamy ditty has a percolating beat, a hand clap rhythm and a chorus that you can’t help but shimmy along to. Would have set up a new EP of music brilliantly (and as it was, nicely pushed the Stooshe album proper into the top 5. YAY)
- Kiss Chase (June 2013) ~ OK. I admit it. I am obsessed with Kiss Chase. Co-penned by the always tres bon indeed Ed Drewett along with the girls themselves, this mile-a-minute exhilarating infusion of pop takes that well known playground chant and turns it into one of this year’s most vibrant pop ditties. It’s actually all a bit stalker-ish and obsessive for the poor fella/lass being chased, but you’ll find yourself rooting for the ladies to catch up to their paramour thanks to a chorus so enormous that it gets it’s own countdown to prepare you HAS TO BE A SINGLE…
- Fly Again/Own Kind of Beautiful (2013 remake) (Sept 2013) ~ Neatly tying these two albums together would be a double A side release of the exquisite ballad of the EP (one of the new songs recorded for the delayed London With The Lights On album) with the soaring inspirational ditty that was also to be on the originally planned November release of the album. Both are very lovely and the latter is the type of song that would sound just brilliant on one of the X Factor results show; showing all those budding pop stars just how it’s done…
21 ~ Anton Ewald, Can't Hold Back (NE)
20 ~ David Lindgren, Move That Thing (NE)
19 ~ Agnetha Faltskog, When You Really Loved Someone
18 ~ fun, Why Am I The One?
17 ~ Bruno Mars, Treasures
16 ~ Betty Who, Somebody Loves You
15 ~ Army of Lovers ft Gravitonas, Signed On My Tattoo
14 ~ Pink, Truelove
13 ~ Darin, Check You Out
12 ~ Scarlett's Roses, Truth Be Told
11 ~ The Wanted, Walks Like Rihanna
10 ~ Danny Saucedo, Todo El Mundo
09 ~ Eric Saade, Coming Home
08 ~ Chris Wallace, Invincible
07 ~ Auryn, Breathe Your Fire
06 ~ Mariah Carey, #Beautiful
05 ~ MKTO, Thank You
04 ~ Agnetha Faltskog, The One Who Loves You Now
03 ~ Olly Murs, Dear Darlin’
02 ~ Ed Drewett, Undefeated (NE)
01 ~ The Summer Set, Maybe Tonight (2 weeks)
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