Tulisa ‘Sight of You’ Download or Ditch?
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Take out the ear plugs and get some tissues. Tulisa Costacoffee returns with new single ‘Sight of You’, produced by The Dream (‘Umbrella’, ‘Single Ladies’) a sad and instant singalong tune that wouldn’t be out of place on the latest Katy Perry album and sounds a bit like Gwen Stefani on vocals. The song is firmly in the style of brokenhearted Christmas releases, and will have you in a knitted scarf making hot chocolate by the 30 second mark. Take a listen and have your say. Download or Ditch?
UPDATE: Here’s the ‘Sight of You’ video:
Five things about Tulisa’s ‘Live It Up’
‘Live It Up’ is released on 9 September.
Little Mix talk ‘Wings’, Tulisa, Beyoncé and impersonating Cowell!
They were the first group to win The X Factor. They sold 400,000 copies of their debut single, ‘Cannonball’. Their album is one of the most anticipated pop records of the year. Today they are number one with ‘Wings’. Maximum Pop! talk to Little Mix.
Perrie: We always try to have fun and make each other laugh! We are all totally nutty and our lives are just so crazy now so that’s how we keep our friendship fresh, really. Besides, when we do have work to do we all try to make it as fun as possible.
What sort of things do you do to calm the nerves before going on stage?
Jesy: We do accents all the time, or we will act out films. We have never done a Simon Cowell impression though… maybe we could try it out tonight if we pull our trousers up?!
If you could be any other popstar for the day, who would you choose and why?
Leigh-Anne: If we could be any other popstar for the day we would probably all choose Beyoncé! She is all round amazing. She’s our idol!
Perrie, Jesy and Jade: Yeah, Beyoncé!
Will you be doing any collaborations for your album?
Perrie: There are no collaborations on the album YET but there might be some to come… wait and see!
Jade: We tried to make our album as versatile as possible so there will be elements of every girlband in there but there is quite a Destiny’s Child vibe to it.
How do you deal with people being bitchy or rude on Twitter?
Jesy: When it comes to people being nasty to us on Twitter you have just got to ignore it. You are always gonna get it, and it is why we have got each other, it keeps us strong!!
Are you still in touch with Tulisa?
Perrie: When we spotted her at T4 on the Beach she was getting dragged one way and we were getting told to go another so we didn’t get to chat, which was a shame – but we are still really close to her and she’s a great mentor.
Jade: We LOVE ‘Young’ so much – it’s our favourite song of the year!
You’re number one in the singles chart – everyone is loving ‘Wings’! How does that feel?
Jesy: Our new single has been our baby for so long so it’s amazing that the reaction has been so great! It was a bit odd when we performed it for the first time as nobody knew it but our die-hard fans had already memorized the lyrics!
Well everybody knows it now! Thank you very much, Little Mix.
All: Thank you!!
Little Mix’s debut album is due in November. We can’t wait!
X-clusive! Lucy Spraggan – the first interview!
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We all saw guitar-wielding Lucy Spraggan spring through the auditions on Saturday’s X Factor, wowing the judges and the Manchester crowd with her quirky “beer fear” ditty ‘Last Night’, but ONLY Maximum Pop! grabbed a chat with the very lady herself!
Thank you! All I could see was that huge audience, the lights were very bright too, I just knew I needed to get rid of the nerves and start playing. I was so nervous and shaking quite a lot, but as soon as the audience started cheering and clapping along it felt amazing.
How did it feel when you got four YES votes to go through to Boot Camp?
You’d think it’d be a massive feeling of relief, but it’s quite the opposite. As of then it’s all real, and you realise how much you really want to make it. But initially, you are just happy and thankful that it went well!
Who is your favourite judge?
I couldn’t pick just one… I was a massive N-Dubz fan as a teenager, so it’s great to see Tulisa sitting there in the panel. But, at the same time, Gary Barlow is one of the most credible and respected song writers in the world. They’re all my favourite though, we’ll just say that!
What makes you different from the average X Factor contestant?
This time round I don’t think there is an average X Factor contestant; everyone that I have seen is so different. I’m just doing what I do and hoping people like it.
You’ve been writing your own material and gigging for years. Why did you decide to enter The X Factor?
I’ve always been the type to take every opportunity as soon as it comes around. I was told you could play an instrument AND use your original material this year, so there was no doubt in my mind as whether or not to do it. Considering the sheer amount exposure this show has to offer, it would be stupid not to. I have no regrets!
As a writer, did you have any worries about whether you’ll have enough creative control within the X Factor format?
This year, The X Factor is said to have been shaken up and stood on its head; it’s going to be different from the other years. Whether or not they are going to loosen the creative reigns is something we’ll see as the show progresses but I’m just going to go with the flow.
How will you make sure that you’re a Leona Lewis success and not a Matt Cardle-style flop?
I’m going to keep gigging like I have been for years. With music, you get out what you put in, and I’ve always given it my all. I’m not going to stop now!
Who were your favourite contestants from last year?
I liked Misha B and Janet Devlin most, and there’s always room for 2 Shoes in my life.
You could conceivably be Christmas Number One in four months’ time! What is your all-time favourite Christmas Number One single?
In 2004 I was a big fan of Band Aid 20 – my favourite bit was Dizzee Rascal’s rap!
Which song would you pull out of the bag in the final week to win the competition?
If I got to the final, I would be over the moon. I haven’t had a chance to even consider what I’m doing at Boot Camp yet!
Please summarise Lucy Spraggan in three words.
I hate describing myself! Short, 21, GSOH… just kidding! Probably happy, anxious and ready.
Finally, do you have a message for Maximum Pop! readers?
Thank you for all the support out there, keep your fingers crossed for me!
Thank you, Lucy!
Lucy Spraggan is on Twitter.
The X Factor is on ITV1 from now until eternity.
We can’t stop singing along to ‘Last Night’!
SPOILER! Who’s got what category on The X Factor 2012?
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On last year’s X Factor, Tulisa took the notoriously difficult Groups category to victory for the first time; mentoring Little Mix from outsiders to national treasures. Kelly Rowland took the astoundingly good Girls category and somehow fluffed it, Gary Barlow did a good job with the Boys and Louis Walsh’s Over 25s… Well, the less said about them, the better (not that we didn’t love them).
And now, with Kelly Rowland out and Nicole Scherzinger in, the judges have been given their categories for the 2012 run… via a phone call with Mr Simon Cowell himself.
So, who has what? There are spoilers ahead…
Tulisa débuts new single ‘Live It Up’ – Alarm Pop
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We felt a little sorry for Tulisa when her first solo effort ‘Young’ was absolutely annihilated by many. OK, it wasn’t the most original song of all time, and that Britain’s Got Talent performance really was indefensible; BUT it had a great summer club feel, and there was a definite sense that the only reason it was being picked on was just because it was Tulisa who was singing it.
We are, however, feeling less enthusiastic about her new single ‘Live It Up’, and we’re struggling to figure out why. Is it the lyrics? Maybe, but words you can sit down and relate to aren’t exactly the point of songs like this. Is it the production? Doubtful; it’s got a catchy beat that gets more toe-tappable with every listen . You know what? We reckon it might be Tulisa herself. We’ve always said she has a stronger voice than she’s given credit for, but on here she just sounds aggressive. It’s like she’ll kill us if we don’t do exactly what she says. But still, maybe the song’s a good old fashioned summer grower. What do you think?
One Direction, Little Mix,Tulisa, Cover Drive, Rizzle Kicks play Key 103 Live: Pop Diary
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What: Key 103 Live
When: 19:30, 22nd July, 2012
Where: Manchester Arena
Who: One Direction, Little Mix, Alexandra Burke, Tulisa, Cover Drive, Rizzle Kicks, Pro Green, Labrinth, DJ Fresh
Tickets: Buy tickets
MP! chats to Will Best!
*ringgggg!!* ooh that’s the MP! phone – and the lovely Will Best is on the line…
Hello, Will! Are you looking forward to T4 On The Beach on Sunday?
I’m nervous but getting more excited every day. We had a big meeting about it this morning to go through ideas and the games we’re going to be playing. I think it’s gonna be bloody hilarious!
What can we expect to see?
T4 is about popstars, music and playing ridiculous games. Every week we play a game with a really tenuously punned title, to get either us or the popstar to look stupid! That’s going to be a big part of T4 On The Beach so we’ll have popstars firing things into the crowd from giant catapults and popping balloons between each other’s chests. I may be dressed up as a dog.
What kind of dog?
Oh, just a general dog costume! Pudsey and Ashleigh are going to be there. When I was little I used to do dog agility courses so I may be competing against a real dog while dressed as a dog myself.
So is this T4′s Got Talent?
Exactly! Pudsey’s Got Talent and then T4 Has Zero Talent.
Will Pretends To Have Talent?
Yeah, exactly. Matt might be dressed in S&M gear…
Wow. Moving on, which of the acts are you looking forward to seeing?
Labrinth because he’s amazing live, he runs around playing five instruments at the same time! I’m a big fan of Rita Ora. She’s a lovely girl, very nice to talk to and to look at(!) and I think she’ll do an amazing performance.
Rita is signed with Jay-Z’s label in America. Do you reckon Jay and Beyoncé might turn up?
They’ll probably be backstage. I’ve invited them and they’re certainly gonna try and pop down, sure. We get on pretty well!
Perhaps Beyoncé will serve ice creams.
Yeah, well she’s gonna bring the baby and they’ll just be hanging out. Most of those sorts of big names will be hanging out backstage but they just won’t want to be on the stage. It’s about letting the Brits shine on the stage but backstage of course Kanye will be there with Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Just our mates, basically, you know?
The line-up is pleasingly British: Rizzle Kicks, Stooshe, Conor Maynard, Tulisa, Little Mix… what does this say about UK pop in 2012?
We don’t need American acts because British pop is just so strong. Look at The Wanted going off and absolutely smashing it in America!
Cover Drive promised MP! they would bring the Barbadian sunshine to the beach.
Well they’ve been told that if they don’t then they can’t play! That’s a condition for them.
That’s in their contract?
Yeah!
Edward Jedward famously broke his leg on the T4 On The Beach stage. Which popstar is most likely to end up with an injury this year?
Jamelia did herself an injury one year and chipped her tooth backstage with Olly Murs, and Peter Andre injured himself on stage as well, so it literally could be anyone!
We hear that yesterday you were talking balls with Adam Lambert. Care to explain?
Yeah, we were talking about fanclubs. Adam’s fanclub are called the Glamberts. I have a fanclub called the Besticles, but there’s only two of them and you know, they’re always hanging around. It was that kind of “hilarious” testicle-based banter.
Well as long as the Besticles keep you warm at night, Will.
I keep them warm! It’s a hands-on job.
Haha! So what else are you up to?
I’m very busy! It’s a bit surreal. The Crush is a monthly show on 4Music that I guest-present with a different popstar each time. The Love Shaft is a dating show for E4 that is set in a lift. That’s going really well. I get loads of tweets saying things like, “Will, this is the worst thing I’ve ever seen but I bloody love it.”
High praise indeed.
It’s the sort of show that’s made by the contestants. Some incredible people have taken part! We had a girl on there who didn’t know what a sandwich was. She didn’t understand the concept of a sandwich!
Are you still doing any modelling?
When you say “still”, er, I’ve not really done modelling! I worked in the Abercrombie & Fitch shop for a brief period. I have, bizarrely, been signed to Premier Models, in their ‘Special Division’, which is for people who could in no way actually be models but because they’re on telly somebody might want to take a picture of them.
So if the weather’s nice on Sunday will you be whipping your top off on the T4 stage?
I really hope not.
What about letting the Besticles get some sunshine?
Haha! I will be wearing a mankini but it’ll be a very small one so there’ll be one Besticle each side of the main thong.
Might we even see the love shaft?
Hahaha! If you’re very, very lucky. Only people right at the front would be able to see the love shaft, unfortunately.
If you were going to show the love shaft to any popstar on the T4OTB bill, who would it be?
Most of them have already seen the love shaft. Maybe I’d show it to Dappy and say, “what do you think? How do I measure up?” I’ve spent hours on photoshop trying to recreate the Dappy photo on myself. It’s actually harder than it looks…
Maybe try the stretch effect. It’s great to see newcomers on the T4 On The Beach bill, like Josh Osho, Lawson and Lonsdale Boys Club.
We’re here to help at T4. We start careers… and then end careers with serious injuries!
Edward Jedward is still psychologically recovering.
In that case we’ll get Jedward back and injure them again. We’ve done a lot of polls on the T4 website but I couldn’t find “which popstar would you like to seriously injure?” for some reason.
Probably for the best! Any other goss?
Not really, we’ve talked about my balls and my general crotch area. I think that’s pretty much everything we had to cover, right?
Right! Thank you very much, Will. We had the Best time talking to you!
T4 On The Beach takes place this Sunday 1st July in Weston-super-Mare. Tickets are on sale now. Visit www.channel4.com/t4.
Rita Ora, Ed Drewett, Tich, Loveable Rogues, Tulisa: Fanmail directory updated
Forget number 1 singles, touring the globe and having Flo Rida ruin your songs. There’s only one way to know you’ve officially Made It. When MP! sticks your address in our fanmail directory. Congrats Rita Ora, Tich, Loveable Rogues and Tulisa. Tell your postman we said sorry. Got your stamp? Got your pen? Got your crazy obsession? Let’s go…
We’re going backstage at T4OTB! Join us…
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Next Sunday, July 1st – sandy knickers, sunscreen and pop stars. It’s T4OTB and we’re going to be causing trouble backstage and bringing you all the snaps, videos and gossip from the day. It’s just like being there apart from we get to touch The Wanted and you do not. Sorry.
Even better, we’ve just found out that The Midnight Beast, Tyler James, Lonsdale Boys Club, Josh Osho, Esmee Denters and The Enemy have been lined-up to perform The Session Stage. They join the never-ending line up of pop talent which includes *deep breath* The Wanted, Rizzle Kicks, Marina and the Diamonds, Dappy, Wretch 32, Taio Cruz, Tulisa, Rita Ora, Alexandra Burke, Cover Drive, Conor Maynard, Professor Green *second deep breath* Lawson, Labrinth, Stooshe, Skepta, DJ Fresh and Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and Pudsey. Phew.
Follow us on @maximumpop to track all the backstage gossip from the day.
