Weekend Supplement: MKTO ~ Classic

I confess I might be a tiny bit late to the MKTO party - but when the party is as swinging as this, I'm sure shimmying in while it's in full flow won't cause offence. MKTO is sensational new pop duo that has taken Australia by storm and is now ready for the rest of the world. The duo is formed of Malcolm Kelly (Walt from Lost!) and Tony Oller (Danny from As The Bell Rings!) (Finn and Walt respectively on the cancelled-far-too-soon series Gigantic!) who together, regardless of whether they were Misfit Kids & Total Outcasts, make pretty darn fine pop music. They've already hit the top five in Australia with their debut single, Thank You - this expertly weaved a blend of contemporary pop with hip hop elements for a rousing call to arms for anyone feels a bit pissed off that the previous generation has left the world in such a mess. There's something relateable about the underdog spirit of it all - and for sure Thank You shows that the lads can sing rather well actually across a number of genres - whether it be rapping, rapid lyrical hip hop or that sparkling euphoric chorus that is about as poptastic as it gets. This has set them up well for the current single, Classic. Equally genius as Thank You in very different ways - Classic not only refers to a timeless girl who is so stylish and elegant that she transcends trends, but also describes the musical influences that make up this song. For sure there are elements of Motown and I Want You Back in there, a buoyant percolating tune that sounds as at home on radio in 2013 as it would have done in 1973. Cheeky references to icons abound ("I want to do you like Michael/I wanna kiss you like Prince") before erupting into a chorus so insistently memorable that one listen and it's indelibly burned into every synapse your brain powers. It's a rollicking good time - Tony giving a great, spirited vocal with Malcolm inputting as much personality & joie-de-vivre into the song that makes it so stand out and vibrant. The video is equally as much a giddy treat - and cleverly could have almost been set in any time period from the past forty years. If you are a sucker for fellas in a suit (and the ladies & dude loving dudes amongst us of course will be) will appreciate the outfits but the visuals are also just a lot of good fun that, like the song, will put an enormous grin on your face. One other note - I like that the song clocks in at under 3 minutes. I am assuming this was part of the clever masterplan (timeless outfits, an any period video, dual meaning title) that makes everything about this single release whip smart - to mirror days gone by when pop songs didn't need to drone on forever and a day. They got to the point, thrilled you and left you panting for more. And that's what classic does - now hurry up with the album guys :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Ed Drewett, Undefeated
20 ~ Eric Saade, Winning Ground
19 ~ Mika, Live Your Life
18 ~ Darin, Give Me Tonight
17 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Love Is A Bourgeois Construct
16 ~ Olly Murs, Right Place Right Time
15 ~ Betty Who, You're In Love
14 ~ The Summer Set, Boomerang
13 ~ Lady Gaga, Applause
12 ~ Stooshe, My Man Music
11 ~ Scarlett's Roses, King of Hearts
10 ~ Sugababes, Flatline
09 ~ Auryn, Make My Day
08 ~ Asher Monroe, Hush Hush
07 ~ MKTO, Classic
06 ~ Chris Wallace, Don't Mind If I Do
05 ~ One Direction, Best Song Ever
04 ~ Fifth Harmony, Miss Moving On
03 ~ Agnetha Faltskog, Dance The Pain Away
02 ~ Cher ft Lady Gaga, The Greatest Thing
01 ~ Sara Bareilles, Brave (2 weeks)