INTRODUCING: Betty Who
She may have a name that sounds like it belongs near the end of a Knock Knock joke, but Australian-born Betty Who may well be the most exciting new pop star of 2013. So far all we’ve heard is a four-track EP – which she released for free on her website earlier this year – but it’s packed with enough irresistible pop hooks to place her firmly at the top of our ‘ones to watch’ list.
Combining ice-cool delivery with bouncy 80s synths and huge singalong choruses, songs like summer anthem ‘Somebody Loves You’ and ‘You’re In Love’ (she’s a big fan of love), sound like Katy Perry partying with Robyn in Madonna’s recording studio in the 1980s. Incredible, in other words.
She gives good video, too. Y’know how some pop stars today try to be a bit too cool for school these days – with their guitars, their aversion to dancing and their ‘serious musician’ facial expressions? Well, Betty’s Somebody Loves You video is basically the exact opposite of that.
Look how happy she is! Plus look how many classic signs of a great pop video she’s managed to crowbar in – Aerobics! Old-school telephones! Headbands! Arm-Wavey dance routines! Frankly, a party at Betty Who’s place looks like the best shindig ever, and here at MaximumPop! we’re itching for an invitation!
The Movement EP is available now from Betty’s Website.
New Carly Rae Jepsen!
Justin Bieber’s protege Carly Rae Jepsen is ready to release her debut album Kiss, and we’ve got all the goss for you!
After ‘Call Me Maybe’ sold an astonishing 1 million copies in the UK alone and spent 8 weeks at number one in America, the follow up, ‘Good Time’ (with Owl City), has had over 6m views on VEVO!
Carly Rae has been collaborating with a team of her “dream producers” including Max Martin (Britney Spears, P!nk), Dallas Austin (Sugababes), Toby Gad (Beyoncé) and Redfoo from LMFAO. She says of Kiss, “these are lyric and song ideas that I have been collecting over the years. The record is pop. It’s inspired by Robyn, The Cars, Madonna, and believe it or not, James Taylor. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!”
Ms Jepsen will be supporting Bieber on tour in the US and Canada, and hopes to make her way over to the UK soon. We can’t wait to hear this album!
Tina from S Club’s big comeback plans!
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Sound the ‘Guess Who’s Back, Back Again’ klaxon as Tina Barrett, formerly of once-amazing pop group S Club 7 (ask your mum) reveals that new single ‘Fire’ (which is pretty good) is coming straight from her new album. More astonishingly is the news that she’s attracted the attention of producers such as Beenie Man and global maestro William Orbit, best known for his work with Queen of Pop Madge (including her latest album). Sounds like she’s taking this comeback business seriously – here’s hoping she’s more of a Rachel Stevens than a Jo O’Meara then, eh?
Listen to new single ‘Fire’ below:
Chris Brown, Madonna, Jessie J: who’s gonna top the charts this Sunday?
It looks like no amount of controversy can stop Chris Brown from selling bucketloads of records, as his new single ‘Turn Up The Music’ is on course to dethrone Katy Perry at Number 1 in the singles charts. The track has pushed ‘Part Of Me’ down to Number 3 in the midweeks, with Sean Paul holding firm at Number 2.
There’s also good news for birthday girl Jessie J, whose album track ‘Mama Knows Best’ is poking its big-mouthed head in at Number 40 thanks to The Voice contestant J Marie Cooper’s glass-shattering rendition on Saturday’s episode.
Over on the album chart, Madonna’s new record MDNA is on course to debut at Number 1, pushing Paul Weller’s absolutely thrilling album Sonik Kicks (SARCASM-O-METER EXPLODES) right the way down to Number 7. The special edition of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, The Complete Confection, is enough to propel the album right the way up from Number 29 to Number 5.
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.
Madonna previews new MDNA tracks: ‘Superstar’ and ‘Falling Free’
There’s not much longer left until the entire new album from Madonna is revealed in full, and the Queen is continuing to tease her devoted fanbase with frustratingly short previews of some of the set’s best tracks.
This time we’ve been treated to poppy, 80′s flavoured ditty ‘Superstar’ that compares a lover to famous figures of the past and includes an amazing lyric about letting her potential suitor have the password to her phone. Did we mention it even has backing vocals from daughter Lourdes?
But that’s not all. If you’re worried that so far MDNA is sounding like a dance-heavy commercial pelvic thrust at the charts, fear not, because the second preview is for William Orbit-produced ballad ‘Falling Free’. We don’t get much from the clip, but it’s already startlingly different to everything we’ve heard so far and obviously homages her classic Ray Of Light album.
Along with singles ‘Give Me All Your Luvin”, ‘Girl Gone Wild’ and the snippets of ‘I’m Addicted’ and ‘Love Spent’, MDNA is shaping up to be a collection of pretty decent pop songs – but if we’re being honest, we’re still waiting to hear one mind-blowing moment. What do you think?
Listen to the previews of ‘Superstar’ and ‘Falling Free’ below:
Don’t Miss: Madonna ‘I’m Addicted’ and ‘Love Spent’ previews
We’ve already made our thoughts on Madonna’s new ‘Girl Gone Wild’ single clear, but luckily the Queen of Pop has released two tantalising teasers of new songs from her upcoming twelfth album MDNA – and they’ve made us very excited to hear the whole thing!
‘I’m Addicted’ is produced by the same team behind ‘Girl Gone Wild’ and is a much better example of how a legendary artist like Madonna can continue to make fresh sounding, chart-ready music (the “M. D. N. A.” chant is our favourite bit). ‘Love Spent’ was created by long time collaborator William Orbit and is a dreamy tune reminiscent of classic songs from her Ray Of Light and Music albums. Listen to both clips below and let us know what you think:
Madonna unveils ‘Girl Gone Wild’ lyric video
We’re still recovering from the fact that we seem to have entered a parallell universe where Madonna singles don’t leap to the top of the charts – but hot off of the trail of lukewarm reaction to ‘Give Me All Your Luvin”, Madonna is continuing to try and drive hype for her upcoming MDNA album with ‘Girl Gone Wild’.
Produced by Benny Benassi (you may remember him as the brains behind such classics as Chris Brown’s ‘Beautiful People’), ‘Girl Gone Wild’ finds Madonna still refusing to act her age over a radio friendly beat that sounds a little bit like a distant cousin to previous singles ‘Get Together’ and ‘Celebration’. And whilst we have nothing wrong with the Queen of Pop trying to break tradition by staying current and fresh, we just wish she’d recorded a much stronger song.
But what do YOU think? Watch the lyric video for Madonna’s ‘Girl Gone Wild’ below:
Madonna previews next single ‘Girls Gone Wild’
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If you’re Madonna, you wouldn’t dream of letting the fact that your brand new single hasn’t made much of an impact in the UK bother you for more than a second – which means that even with ‘Give Me All Your Luvin” only reaching 37 in the charts so far, she’s already prepping the release of the second single from upcoming album MDNA.
‘Girls Gone Wild’ has been confirmed as the next release, with the music video being filmed next week by MDNA artwork photographers Mert and Marcus – and you can listen to a preview below. We shouldn’t judge on just 37 seconds, but we’re not feeling hopeful that this will be the song that turns the campaign around. Take a listen for yourself:
No news yet on the actual release date for ‘Girls Gone Wild’, but stay tuned to Maximum Pop! for more info soon.
Are you excited to hear the full version of 'Girls Gone Wild'?
Nicki Minaj ‘Starships’ and album release dates
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It’s all kicking off in the neon pink world of Minaj – after performing to (more or less) the entire country at the USA’s Super Bowl alongside Madonna and M.I.A., Nicki has announced that her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, will be released on April 3rd.
But that’s not all: love it or loathe it, ‘Stupid Hoe’ isn’t actually the lead single – it was just a teaser. Brand new track ‘Starships’ will be premiered next Monday by Ryan Seacrest and if everything goes to plan you can also download it from iTunes later that day.
And finally *gasps for air* Nicki will perform ANOTHER new song called ‘Roman Holiday’ at this year’s Grammy Awards on Sunday, where she’s nominated for best new artist, best rap performance and best rap album. Sounds like a busy February for the crazy-faced rapper – no wonder she demands so much grub when she’s out and about.
Stay tuned to Maximum Pop! for more on Nicki’s Grammy performance and single release soon.
