Earlier a today I wrote an article for Sydney Star Observer about the impending release of Wynter Gordon's debut album and wrote that it "promises to be one of the party albums of the year". Well, I need to buy some tarot cards and set up a stall in Newtown because my predication was spot on. A six track sampler of "With The Music I Die" arrived in my inbox this evening and I'm absolutely stunned. I knew the album was going to be good but my future beard has delivered half a dozen of the hottest dance-pop songs I've heard in a very long time. Even if the rest of the album is awful - which it won't be - Australia's adopted club queen has already snatched every wig in town. Poor J Lo must be so pressed that Wynter kept all the good shit for herself! Here is the full "With The Music I Die" tracklist and my initial comments about the tracks I've heard:
Til Death
The album's punchy second single has been lodged in the iTunes top 20 since release and looks set to climb into the top 10 when Wynter returns to Australia for a promo tour in June. It's a great pop song and scarily, still grows on me with each listen !
Dirty Talk
This shit is undeniable. The highest selling single in Australia for the first quarter of 2011 is now catching on around the world. Absolutely defining. Now somebody please put the original naughty school girl video back on YouTube. That hot mess is what made me fall in love with my flawless boo in the first place!
Don’t Stop Me
I love this. An effortlessly cool club anthem with an icy edge that I'd usually associate with Robyn or Roisin Murphy - if someone threw a pill down their throat and pushed them on the dancefloor. My favourite part is when Wynter coos "I can melt your heart, you'll be all mine". That and the sassy countdown at the end. Perhaps not single material but great nonetheless.
Buy My Love
Gold diggers have a new theme song! "Buy My Love" is so cute and catchy - definitely a good choice for single number three. It's more electro than we're used to from the diva but there's still something quite camp and 80s about the track. I love the lyrics ("Let's take a quick vacation, a little shopping spree - a fancy destination, we'll spend it all on me!") and adorable chorus. I can definitely hear this on the radio.
Still Getting Younger
Was I more high than usual or did Wynter tweet that this was the next single? If the sticker on the album cover is any indication, it looks like Neon is going with the fabulous "Buy My Love" but I think I prefer this glorious explosion of dreamy synths. Even if it is slightly less commercial. "Still Getting Younger" isn't an ode to Madonna's plastic surgery but a soft and pretty dance-pop love song. It actually reminds me a little of Kylie's "Tightrope" (my favourite "Fever" era track) with a bit of 80s Moroder thrown in for good measure. The lyrics are gorgeous too - "I'm not lonely, I just need you. You're this empty space I got." Simply beautiful.
Drunk On Your Love
Unheard.
All My Life
Unheard.
Rumba [feat. Kevin McCall]
Unheard.
Back To You
Now this is very different for Wynter. It's a moody mid-tempo electronic groove with amazing lyrics like "you don't know that when I lie in bed I touch myself to you" and "I took you for granted, I spit in your face". It's an atmospheric and multi-layered little gem that no doubt will worm its way further into my consciousness with each listen. Fabulous.
In The Morning [feat. Robbie Rivera]
Unheard.
I'm so curious about the other tracks now. If they are of a similar standard, Wynter will have one of the best albums of 2011 on her hands. "With The Music I Die" is released in Australia on June 17. I'm pre-ordering my copy today. Here's her current hit "Til Death". Someone really needs to mash it with "Til The World Ends" to create a truly morbid floorfiller!
There must be something in the water because all my favourite divas are dropping new videos this weekend! The first clip that you really need to see - right this very second - is Wynter Gordon's stunning "Til Death". As far as I'm concerned, Australia's adopted club queen can do wrong. Her music is flawless, she saved J Lo's album from being a total trainwreck and has the best hair in music. Happily, two of these three defining characteristics are showcased in her latest clip. "Til Death" was amazing from the first listen but that chorus packs more punch each time I hear it. I've even come around to the Denzal Park edit! The video possibilities for such an evocative song were endless but I'm glad they kept it cute by going with a 'house party' theme. Think "Just Dance" - only with hotter guys and an attractive protagonist. It's a simple concept but they executed it really well. Wynter's personality shines through and I could spend a week writing love poems to that glorious fro! "Til Death" is already a massive club hit in Australia and has been lodged in the top 20 for weeks but this should push the track even further up the charts. Wynter's got this!
Apologies for recent the lack of updates. I got my gangsta lean on over the weekend - hitting up a Snoop Dogg & Nelly showcase on Friday, before rocking Supafest on Saturday. It was all very messy and I just couldn't face the computer. Which is annoying because I've been wanting to post Wynter Gordon's new gem since Thursday. You might remember that I wrote about "Til Death" a couple of weeks ago. Some bitches questioned the veracity of my claim that Denzal Park gave the track a makeover, well check out the clip below and take a seat! The Aussie duo have given the track a polish and it's already apparent that Wynter has another smash on her hands given the song's non-stop radio coverage. It's a killer jam and, dare I say it, an improvement on the amazing "Dirty Talk". However, I have two minor problems with it:
1. It is quite similar to Britney's "Til The World Ends" - both lyrically and thematically - albeit it with a gifted vocalist and fresher production. Wynter's track has been doing the rounds for months, so I think Ke$ha might have been surfing YouTube stoned one day and forgot she heard it before penning Brit's flop.
2. The WAWA radio edit is vastly better than the version being pimped out below. I love Denzal Park - a lot - but their version sounds like an edited club mix, while the Polish producers have turned the song into an irresistibly upbeat pure pop explosion. But until that leaks, I guess you don't know what you're missing.
Whatever. The song is defining and it wouldn't surprise me if it follows Wynter's triple platinum Australian debut all the way to the top of the charts. Enjoy and download (legally) when the song is released on Friday. Expect a remix package featuring the aforementioned WAWA, Dan Castro, Oxford Hustlers, Andy Murphy and Polen to follow shortly.
Yesterday Neon Records announced "Til Death" as the official follow up to Wynter Gordon's massive number one smash "Dirty Talk". The song has been doing the rounds for months but it has been given a complete overhaul by Denzal Park - the producers behind Zoë Badwi's fabulous top 10 hit "Freefallin'". I'm told it now has an "Only Girl In The World" vibe and is scheduled to hit radio on April 11. Some of you might be scratching your head, wondering what happened to "Pride (Putting It Out There)" but that was just a promo single for Mardi Gras. To muddy the waters even further, another record label is trying to cash in on the success of "Dirty Talk" by re-releasing the diva's 2010 club smash "Believer". Only now Vicious is pushing the track to radio as Wynter Gordon featuring The Freemasons instead of the other way around. Cheeky! It's a bit complicated but I kind of like the Wynter overload. Just remember that her official second single is "Til Death" but better yet - buy them all! My second favourite interviewee returns to Australia in April for the Creamfields dance music festival. Buy your ticket now!
I made a complete spectacle of myself at Mardi Gras this year, so I'm going to keep this post short and sweet - before erasing what I can remember of the night from my memory forever. The rumours that Rihanna would jump in a cab and head over to Moore Park after her show at Acer Arena turned out to be a load a shit. At least, I think so because everything after 6am is a bit of a blur. Instead we were treated to the fabulous double bill of Alexis Jordan and Wynter Gordon. Seriously, who needs Riri when you can have two divas that can actually sing? First up was Alexis. I've been a huge fan of this girl from the moment I heard "Happiness" way back in May 2010. She has a huge voice and some killer tracks up her sleeve. Alexis just needs to work on her image. I know she's only young but that girl next door persona is already getting boring. Having said all that, the 18 year old did a great job at Mardi Gras. She sounded fantastic and looked cute in her blue sequined butterfly cape. Dancing is obviously not her thing but she has what it takes to develop into an amazing performer over the next few years.
The other party performer was the divine Wynter Gordon, who I ran into while queuing for the toilet. Classy. I was surprised she remembered me from our interview and wished her luck for the show. Not that she needed it. Wynter almost blew the roof of the RHI off with her spectacular performance of "Dirty Talk". Her double platinum number one hit - when is it going to be officially certified by ARIA? - was the song of the Australian summer and always destined to become a gay classic. Let's face it, we all love a song about getting our legs up on the bar in the back of someone's car. The sexy singer looked stunning in her red jumpsuit and showed genuine star quality as she prowled around the stage like a true diva. Check it out below. I was a bit surprised she didn't sing the official Mardi Gras anthem "Pride (Putting It Out There)" but I guess there was a one song limit. Wynter's follow up to "Dirty Talk" comes out in a couple of weeks and I hope it's another massive hit. She has the looks, voice and charisma to mix it with the big girls. Oh and I should also give props to Seamus Haji for the night's best DJ set. He even played Mimi's "Touch My Body". Bless.
Do you remember when Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras used to have a different theme song every year? Most of them were pretty crap but occasionally they got it right - Dannii's "Everlasting Night" and Robyn Loau's camp Chaka Kahn cover "Never Miss The Water" both spring to mind. Well, it's that time of year again and Mardi Gras has decided to revive the tradition by roping in the services of party performer Wynter Gordon. And the stunning diva has outdone herself. "Pride (Putting It Out There)" has been floating around the net in demo form for quite some time but it has been polished to perfection for the Gras. I love the massive chorus and so 90s it hurts main room house influence. There are also inspiring lyrics about being yourself and a typically powerful vocal. The roof of the RHI will explode when Wynter belts out this uplifting anthem. I can't wait! It should be pointed out, however, that this is NOT the follow up to "Dirty Talk". That song will debut in the next couple of weeks. "Pride (Putting It Out There)" is just a gift to the gays while Neon Records sorts out single number two. Give Wynter's Mardi Gras anthem a listen below and keep an eye out for it on iTunes. It should be available to download in the next few days.
Due to popular demand Pop Panel is back for another season of hot tunes, future hits and bottom of the barrel trash! It's always fun but this week is extra special to me because of our amazing celebrity judge. But more about her later. I'm the first to admit that tonight's selection is a bit different. When I was picking songs for the Panel, I tried to go with less obvious choices. So prepare yourself for new material from superstars like Starshell, Jessica Sutta and Die Antwoord! The winner was still a major shock but I'm not complaining. I love the song and really hope it takes off. Ok, let's get started. Tonight's Panel consists of:
J-Step (Aus) has been on the Panel before. He's a big wig in the local music industry and a true connoisseur of fine pop music. It's always great to have him on board.
and
Tony Tornado (Spain) is most famous for his live renditions of "Los Amores" on the streets of Chueca but he also writes a blog and is a scene DJ. Most importantly, he puts a roof over my head when I visit Madrid. I miss you!
And now for our celebrity guest! I don't think Luciana needs an introduction. She is my favourite dance diva and one of the most underrated talents in pop music. Happily that's starting to change thanks to her mega hit "I Like That" - currently #12 on the US Club chart - and growing list of songwriting credits. She's also experiencing a huge amount of success with her alter ego Isha Coco, who recently topped the club chart with "Figure It Out". In between all of that she somehow found the time to rate some songs for Pop Panel. I'm so excited and honoured! I've been a fan of this woman since the mid-90s. When I was still... in my mother's uterus. *cough*. Now I just need to rope in the services of Kaci and Soraya and I can retire a happy man! Before we get on with it, I took the opportunity to ask Luci a couple of quick questions. Here's what she had to say:
Are the rumours about Isha Coco being a high class Russian hooker true? Yes, all true. She's a pro darlink!!! How's the EP coming along? Do you have a second single sorted? Yes. The fairy dust is just being sprinkled on the track and ve vait for dat and den explosion into charts (said in Russian accent). How is Sarah Harding's opus coming along? It's hard because Sarah Harding is in London and we are in LA. We'll write with her again soon. She's fabulous. We love Sarah. You had to cancel recent gigs in QLD and Newcastle at the last minute. What happened? I was totally gutted about this. I felt I let everyone down but it was really out of my hands as it was a visa situation. Next time I come I'll make it up to you! Promise! Am I your favourite Australian? By far... don't tell anyone!
As usual the results are ranked from lowest to highest:
The Canadian duo's latest video was banned from YouTube for depicting some harmless outdoor masturbation.
D'Luv: No. 0/5 J-Step: Who knew elevator music could get so hot? Rufus Wainwright should so abandon the eye as his gig backdrop next tour (yes, Mike, so you can stop whinging about it) and use this! Maybe then it will have some use! 0.5/5 Luciana: Kinda liked this vibe. As a pop song not great but as music to chill out to... nice. 2/5 Mike: I would definitely masturbate to this in a back alley. 3/5 Robpop: Sounds like that french song. I like it. Needs more lube. 3/5 Tony: The all Gainsbourg/Birkin stuff is so passé... I think it could be a great song to have straight sex. Not for me though. 1/5 The Prophet: That whispering is very offputting and not very becoming at all. 1/5 Total: 10.5/35
D'Luv: There's already a Ke$ha, baby. She shoulda just covered Willa Ford. 0/5 J-Step: The song's shit, but any ol' flap walker who makes Nicole Scherzinger look like a redundant piece of rotting offal is a winner in my eyes! Ahh, bless! 2/5 Luciana: Not really feeling this track as much. It's a bit try hard... sorry! Outfits were great though and she's very pretty. 2/5 Mike: Congrats, Jessica. You achieved your goal and then some. 0/5 Robpop: This is terrible. 0/5 The Prophet: YASSSSSSSSSSS! Kimberly was always my favorite Doll, but now she has some stiff competition. This is INCREDIBLE! 5/5 Tony: So cheesy. As my husband says: "Don't they all sound the same to you?" Next, bitch. 2/5Total: 11/35
South Africa's leading hip hop trio sing about cock.
D'Luv: Jesus. 0/5 J-Step: I see Robyn's gone all undercover and found a way to become "relevant" again. Go, bitch, go!!! 2/5 Luciana: Ok, so I get the humour... but not quite sure what to actually say. Maybe it's best I say nothing. 0/5 Mike: Kind of like the Black Eyed Peas on really bad acid. I hate that I love it. 4/5 Robpop: All mouth and no trousers. He says he's a big boy but doesn't have the balls to show us. Lame. Great conceptual video though. I'll give it a point for copying the hell out of HR Giger. 1/5 The Prophet: My wig has just been snatched. 5/5 Tony: I don't get it, sorry. Is it English and Afrikaans? Too much even for me. And where are the cocks they're talking about? 0/5 Total: 12/35
D'Luv: I wanted to like this whole project so much more than I do. "All For You" is actually one of the better songs on this forgettable album. Adding new broads to the mix pretty much ensured this would be a non-event. Oh, well. It doesn't suck, but it's not great. 2/5 J-Step: Yeah, yeah. There's no Lynn or Jenny but nevertheless this is still almost heavenly. This may very well be the song that is blaring on the ride up to that place! 5/5 Luciana: I'm on the fence about this one. I think they'll love it in Europe but not my bag. A bit blah for me but I'm sure it'll do very well. 3/5 Mike: It's certainly no "Lucky Love" but it could be a lot worse. As Jessica Sutta just proved. 2/5 Robpop: Ace of Lame. I do love Ace Of Base and the album is very adorable but this sounds like every boring bit of every good song they've ever done. Moreover, Lucky Twice did this sort of stuff on Catchy Tunes years ago and a lot better too. 2/5 The Prophet: What the hell happened to the old Ace of Base? Who are these women in bikinis? 1/5 Tony: Classic AoB. The song is catchy, and it will surely be a success between new generations because they will remind them of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro". The new vocalists have the same voice as the previous ones but with a sexier (and younger) body. 3/5 Total: 18/35
Starshell – SuperLuva (Above)
Mary J Blige's protégée releases debut single.
D'Luv: Like how the video pays homage to Weird Science. Song pretty much sucks John Hughes' dead balls, though. 1/5 J-Step: I think Lolene, Kelis and La Toya Jackson have just proven that human fusion is indeed possible. Hey, the three of them can't seem to make the slightest ripple on the music scene at the moment, I'm thinking a Nobel Prize for scientific advancement may just be the delicious consolation to keep them from locating the nearest dagger and going all Shakespeare on our asses! 1.5/5 Luciana: She looks cute. Like a 2011 Whitney Houston. I like it. 3/5 Mike: Did someone really just take La Toya's name in vain? Rude. As for Starshell, I'm glad she sold out and jumped on the dance-pop bandwagon. This song is cute and I love the video. Who cares if she has no integrity or originality? 4/5 Robpop: There is a Eurovision feel to this. In many ways, I was hoping the Ace Of Base comeback song to be more like this. It seriously sounds like that opus to pop music from Germany, "Life Is Life". Amazing. I love it. 5/5 The Prophet: I want to hate on this because Starshell was formerly known as LeNeah - a wannabe Mary J. Blige singing hip-hop/soul. Then when nobody cared, she gave herself the ridiculous title of 'Starshell', turned into a dance diva and used an old Lady BlaBla B-side for her first single. Anyway, as I said, I want to hate her, but I just can't! "Superluva" is amazing and just shows that Fernando Garibay is one of the most underrated pop producers in the business. 4/5 Tony: "With my tattoos I love you" ???? Seriously???? This portuguese slut should go back to her favela where she belongs. This is definitely not my idea of a SuperLuva... Total: 18.5/35
D'Luv: Why doesn't anyone in this video have eyebrows? This hookstress looks like that giant fluke worm guy in that really awesome episode of 'The X-Files' from the first season. 2/5 J-Step: Boobies, bums and faux peacocks, does it get much better? Yeah, probably but I was still thoroughly entertained! 3/5 Luciana: I love this! I want her/him to be my mother. She's got a touch of the Jackie Stallones. 4/5 and an extra point for the outfit so 5/5. Mike: I love that Alaska looks like an extra from Dawn Of The Dead but still has the confidence to rock a fleshtone bodysuit. This is how I see Kylie spending her golden years - recycling 80s pop songs while wearing enough sequins and feathers to blind a drag queen. Perfection! 5/5 Robpop: Fangoria as a showgirl!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!! What a change. God, I love this group. 5/5 The Prophet: Everything about this is very fierce but her masculine vocal honestly makes me a tad nauseous. It reminds me of a German person's voice, and you all know how uncomfortable Germans make me. 3/5 Tony: When something works, no need to do a rework. Classic pop tune from the 80s from Alaska's former band (Dinarama). It was a huge success in Spain. Now they sound just like a village fair. On a rainy day. It will be top 3 for sure. Nostalgia factor always works when you have to pay the bills... and the video is so cheap and ridiculous that they went to Argentina to shoot it. This compilation is for third world fans. 0/5 Total: 23/35
Wynter teams up with the Freemasons on this club smash.
D'Luv: Poor Wynter. They spent all the cash on the song's production and none on her video or her wardrobe of glow-in-the-dark thongs. Song is okay. Sounds like a Sophie Ellis Bextor B-side, but she sasses it up a bit. 2.5/5 J-Step: Beyonce wants her bangs back because Tammin wants to make a comeback,Gaga wants her stage shoulders back because Elton John's been pissing her off about the overdue loan and I personally just want to kick her in the shins because she spells Wynter with a 'y'. This has a shelf life of 4 weeks tops. 2.5/5 Luciana: Anything the Freemasons do is always a floorfiller and this is no exception. I would definitely dance to this. 4/5 Mike: While I prefer the filthy pop explosion that is "Dirty Talk", Wynter can do no wrong in my book and jazzes up a rather generic Freemasons backing track no end with her fabulous voice and glamorous wig collection. 4/5 Robpop: Major minus points for those stupid shoulder pads. This could be sung by anyone. Not totally enamored by this. Give me jazz hands. Give me distinctiveness. Give me uniqueness. Give me a flavour of individuality. 1/5 The Prophet: Stunning, flawless, incredible, divine. Wynter is the new Goddess of the dance floor! 5/5 Tony: I think Wynter Gordon will be the next club diva (with the permission of Sophie Ellis Bextor and Rebeka Brown). She has the voice and the attitude. Anyway, if Freemasons are able to make something quite decent out of Shakira's "Loca" it's because they are the best. Fact. 5/5 Total: 24/35
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
Emma Dean – Sincerely Fearful (Below)
Emma is Australia's queen of "alternative cabaret"!
D'Luv: Shit — my 59-year-old aunt is a pop star in Australia? This is some super hot trash. 5/5 J-Step: I'm sincerely fearful of when this bitch looks in the mirror for the first time. Who knows what's going to happen... stay tuned! I smell a killer follow-up! 2.5/5 Luciana: Loved her lyrics and attitude and humour. Loved the energy. 4/5 Mike: An Australian indie pop queen releases what is essentially a demented show tune that sounds like it was stolen from score of Wicked. I think hell just froze over. 5/5 Robpop: I WANT THIS ALBUM NOW!!!!! This is what I am looking for. Great lyrics. Dripping like a hot kebab with character, laughter and brilliance. This is amazing. Mike, send me all her details immediately. I want this broad's album... like, yesterday! 5/5 The Prophet: AHAHAHA! ALTERNATIVE CABARET! AMAZING! AAAAAHHAAAAAA! 4.5/5 Tony: At least something fresh and different!!! Not a bad song but it will be hard for me listening to the whole album. For Scissor Sisters and RHPS fans. 4/5 Total: 30/35
Earlier a today I wrote an article for Sydney Star Observer about the impending release of Wynter Gordon's debut album and wrote that it "promises to be one of the party albums of the year". Well, I need to buy some tarot cards and set up a stall in Newtown because my predication was spot on. A six track sampler of "With The Music I Die" arrived in my inbox this evening and I'm absolutely stunned. I knew the album was going to be good but my future beard has delivered half a dozen of the hottest dance-pop songs I've heard in a very long time. Even if the rest of the album is awful - which it won't be - Australia's adopted club queen has already snatched every wig in town. Poor J Lo must be so pressed that Wynter kept all the good shit for herself! Here is the full "With The Music I Die" tracklist and my initial comments about the tracks I've heard:
