Single Suggestion: Mike Hough ~ Better

Somewhere in Mike Hough's life, there must be a journal (life lesson #1 - men have journals, only Bridget Jones has a diary). It probably has a faded cover, the pages curling at the corner from frequent use. The first few pages may have sketches of pop star haircuts and doodles of outfits for photo shoots, yet delve a bit deeper and you are most likely to find some intimate, honest thoughts about life, love and heartbreak. Quite rightly the book is locked away, private and for his eyes only. But Mike is an artist who shares the thoughts from his own internal inner sanctum with the world through intimate lyrics designed to soundtrack the ups and downs of your own life. And Better is one of those songs - a soaring post breakup anthem a la Mariah's Through The Rain or Beyonce's Irreplaceable. What makes this song an instant success is how gloriously uplifting it is despite the downbeat lyrics that detail a doomed, young love affair. It seems everyone had an opinion on whether Mike and his paramour were in love or lust, but only the two people in a relationship know their true feelings - and only they know the pain of breaking up. As always Mike sings with such conviction and passion that you are right there in that moment with him. Mike (and his co-writers) certainly know how to exquisitely balance out the melancholy with uplifting optimism -the music is a charming, mellifluous mid tempo that sparkles like the midday Sun, imbueing the song with a sense of purpose and Destiny. This goes perfectly with the lyrics about learning and growing from the experience, indeed becoming 'better'. What's exceptionally brilliant about this is how it relates to everyone - whether you are a teenager in love or a 40 something going through a bad break up, Mike reaches out with a touching, earnest honesty and the song gives you an aural hug. Radio ready already (would fit perfectly between JT's Mirror and Bruno's Treasure), it really does feel like a song to storm the charts.

Follow Mike on Twitter at @mikehoughmusic