Alarm Pop: Owl City returns with ‘Good Time’… featuring Carly Rae Jepsen!
Remember Owl City? Less a kingdom inhabited by nocturnal birds, more a slightly dorky hitmaker called Adam Young? He did that song ‘Fireflies’ that was Number 1 two years ago? Well he’s back with a new tune – and he’s got Carly Rae Jepsen on board. Both of them sound right at home on ‘Good Time’, and we’re absolutely smitten with it. Like a hug and a fizzy lollipop all at once, it’s a sugar-coated, slightly euphoric pop anthem with a bright and breezy chorus that demands repeated listens. We love it – what do you think? Download or ditch?
Alarm Pop: Britain’s Got Talent star Ryan O’Shaughnessy releases ‘No Name’
Anyone in the mood for some Ed Sheeran-style acoustipop? Enter Britain’s Got Talent favourite Ryan O’Shaughnessy, whose song ‘No Name’ melted the hearts of a nation. The track now has a proper studio version, a music video, and a release date of Sunday July 29. He will release a mini-album of original songs one week later on August 6, and is taking to the stage at London’s O2 Academy, Islington, on June 28 (that’s next Thursday, day fans) for a special one-off gig. Tickets are a bargain at £6 and are available here.
Misha B ‘Home Run’ – Alarm Pop!
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X Factor 2011 contestant Misha B has unleashed a stunning video for her debut single ‘Home Run’, and we’re making it our Alarm Pop song of the day.
The song begins with Misha showing off her impressive vocals over a smooth piano that reminds us of Beverley Knight (ask your older sister). However, this sedate intro quickly mutates into something altogether more attitude-packed and moody (much like Misha herself!) and sees the Manchester girl singing and rapping over beats produced by the multi-talented MNEK.
As for the video, we particularly like the ‘Misha B’-branded eyelashes, a blingtastic ‘Homerun’ gold ring that impractically spans three fingers and the scary glow-in-the-dark neon make-up. Check it out here!
Cheryl featuring Wretch 32 – ‘Screw You’ – Alarm Pop!
Cheryl Cole has debuted what could be the second single from her new album A Million Lights. ‘Screw You’ was originally rumoured to be the first cut from the LP, but the hitmaker said at Capital FM’s Summertime Ball at the weekend that either this Wretch 32 collab or album opener ‘Under The Sun’ will be released next. ‘Screw You’ opens like a twinkly piano ballad before building into an almost fairground-like hip-pop anger marathon. Like most amazing Cheryl songs, it takes a few listens to make sense, but sounds like it could be another hit.
Ed Drewett: Alarm Pop song of the day! Free download!
‘Glad You Came’ songwriter (and all-round pop babe) Ed Drewett has trailed his upcoming debut album with an exciting free download for fans.
Ed, who also wrote ‘All Time Low’ and ‘Lightning’ for The Wanted, has been working hard in the studio and released his first single ‘Champagne Lemonade’ last year. The keen-eyed amongst you may also recognise his face (and voice!) from Professor Green’s ‘Need You Tonight’.
Ed’s new song, ‘Good Morning’, is summery, catchy and atmospheric and just a couple of clicks away from landing in your iTunes library for precisely zero pence. We’re looking forward to hearing more from Ed this year!
Lilygreen & Maguire cover ‘Call My Name’
After performing for over 400,000 people on the Olly Murs arena tour, welsh duo Lilygreen & Maguire – otherwise known as Jon and Jon – have uploaded a cover of Our Chezza’s iTunes-topping soon-to-be number one ‘Call My Name’. Remove the gay Power Ranger outfit, the dance routine and *that* swan dive and add acoustic guitars, passionate facial expressions and some pretty harmonies and you’ve got this… enjoy.
Lilygreen & Maguire release their Ain’t Love Crazy EP 23rd July. Watch the ‘Ain’t Love Crazy’ video.
TOWIE’s Jessica Wright previews debut single… and it’s actually quite good
The scars inside our ears from listening to The Only Way Is Essex cast attempt ‘Last Christmas’ will remain with us until the day we die, but the surprising news is that Jessica Wright – y’know, the one whose brother is Mark and nan is Nanny Pat – has gone it alone and the result is quite pleasant. It doesn’t re-invent the wheel, but ‘Dance All Night’ has some pretty harmonies, production that gathers momentum quite nicely and lyrics that… OK, the lyrics are awful, but the rest sounds like it might be an unexpected gem. Take a listen below and tell us if we’re right, or just blinded by our “any enemy of Lauren Goodger’s is a friend of ours” mentality.
Misha B – ‘Home Run’ – Alarm Pop
Little Mix may be kicking the hype machine up a notch as they announce the release of their debut single ‘Wings’ for July 22, but they aren’t the only X Factor 2011 graduates ready for lift-off. Misha B, who released a free mixtape last month, has now unveiled her first single proper – it’s called ‘Home Run’, it’s out on July 15 and it’s as adventurous as you’d expect from the mish-mashing semi-finalist. Says she: “‘Home Run’ is about that special someone who gets you so excited, so hyped that you lose control! When I perform it, I feel that same energy on stage – it makes you wanna dance!” Take a listen below and see what you think. It takes a couple of listens to make sense of it but it’s a pretty decent Radio 1Xtra-friendly tune.
Parade cover Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj ‘Knockout’, are perfect
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After renditions of hits from One Direction, Pixie Lott and Justin Bieber, Emily, Sian, Jessica, Lauren and Bianca are back with their take on Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj’s ‘Knockout’. This attitude-full cover goes straight into our favourites, and as usual the harmonies are as smooth and well blended as the whiskey we’ve had too much of tonight. *Hic* Now get back to working on album 2 girls.
Madonna – ‘I F****d Up’ – Alarm Pop
Today’s Song Of The Day has been on repeat at MP! HQ all weekend (yep, we’re even here on the weekends…) and is the first song released from Madonna’s upcoming MDNA album that’s almost as poptastic as some of her older classics.
‘I F****d Up’ is a stirring midtempo ballad with a driving beat, William Orbit-approved swirly strings and synths and simple, reflecting lyrics that seem to touch on M’s recent failed marriage. The melody is a complete copy cat of her own song ‘Substitute For Love’ , but manage to stick it out to the 2 minute mark and you’ll be rewarded when suddenly the tempo increases, the beat gets harder and the song completely transforms into a true Ray Of Light moment.
It’s still not a life-changing track, but it’s the best example we’ve seen so far that Madonna’s still got it in her. Listen to ‘I F****d Up’ below.
