Cher Lloyd’s new US single ‘Oath’ – we love it! Download or Ditch?
The one X Factor finalist we thought would never make it big, Cher Lloyd proved us wrong with her surprisingly good debut album last year and has only gone and made it big in America following in the footsteps of One Direction, Ellie Goulding and The Wanted – with a repackaged version of that LP finding itself inside the Top 10 this week.
Cher’s new single from that album – ‘Oath’ – is a brilliantly catchy ditty, instantly at home with the foot-tapping highlights on the album and arguably features some of her best vocals, particularly as she’s not hollering about running beats or being aggressive. Cher is promising unending love and solid devotion to her BFF, something that suits her as the bubbly, infectious beats and production combine with her improving vocals to make something unexpectedly sweet.
Even newcomer Becky G’s contribution to the song is well-handled, slotting in well alongside the tune which reeks of ‘late summer anthem’ and will probably end up with a ’90210′-inspired video down the line (not that we’re complaining!).
Listen to ‘Oath’ below:
Our advice? When it finally hits UK shores, download all the way.
Ellie Goulding Signing: Pop Diary
What: Ellie Goulding will be playing live and meeting fans to sign copies of her new album ‘Halcyon’
Where: HMV Manchester, Market St
When: Monday, 8th October 2012 at 5pm
More Details: Fans can pick up free wristbands from HMV Manchester, which will allow access to the event. 300 wristbands will be available from the store from 8am on Monday, 8th October 2012. For further information visit the HMV official website.
Five things about Ellie Goulding’s Halcyon
- Everyone’s favourite guitar-wielding electro chanteuse Ellie Goulding is on the verge of releasing sophomore album Halcyon (which means “calm, tranquil or peaceful”, for those looking to improve their vocabulary), all the while in the midst of a very uncalm period of world tours and global chart-topping success.
- The new single, ‘Anything Could Happen’, takes Ellie’s brand of electropop and gives it a uplifting, trippy and slightly gritty twist. Whilst not as instant as ‘Starry Eyed’, it’s a grower that sounds quite inspirational (not ‘The Edge of Glory’ levels of inspirational, but let’s face it, what is?).
- Ellie, who has long been dating dubstep wunderkind Skrillex, describes Halcyon as a breakup record. As she promises “tribal and anthemic” tunes on an album that’s said to be “more pop”, we’re eager to hear the poptastic treats she has in store.
- Miss Goulding also says the album is a progression from dark to light as she moves from said breakup into something new. Aww. (We reckon Radio 1′s Greg James may be former beau who inspired the album!)
- The video for ‘Anything Could Happen’ is suitably weird and epic in equal measures. Our Ellie is involved in a car crash, wears some nice flowing robes, does sad, has a nosebleed and becomes a mythical creature. Can’t help but feel she’s been taking notes from Gaga’s ‘You and I’ video (in a good way – mermaids are gonna big next year, we promise).
Let’s take a look at the vid!
Ellie and Pro Green gigs for your pop diary!
Ellie Goulding and Professor Green are set to play some special shows in anticipation of the Q Awards.
Ms Goulding will be expertly warbling new songs and old at Jazz Café on 5 October, with Pro Green doing his rap “thing” at the HMV Forum on 18 October.
Tickets are on sale NOW!
Have you taken a look at our Pop Diary yet? Get yourself booked up for the autumn with all things pop!
Download or Ditch: Ellie Goulding ft. Tinie Tempah – ‘Hanging On’
Ellie Goulding has edged ahead of fellow ‘quirky-voiced’ yelper Diana Vickers in the ‘Will They Ever Actually Release A Second Album’ contest by making a new song available to download. FOR FREE! ‘Hanging On’ is a cover by Active Child (us neither, but Wikipedia says they’ve had “substantial reviews”, whatever that means) and features an obligatory guest rap from Tinie Tempah, with whom she previously collaborated on ‘Wonderman’.
The opening has a random mish-mash of backwards words and assorted “OH!” noises in the same vein as ‘Starry Eyed’, and whilst the production starts off sounding a bit Florence + The Machine it soon descends into a dark, electronic stereo-hogger brilliantly at odds with Ellie’s high-gliding soprano vocals. We can’t see it making great waves as a proper single, but as a free download and a teaser of what we can expect from the upcoming album, it’s a real treat. What do you reckon – Download or Ditch?
