Thursday, February 05, 2009

MOVING ON

ATTENTION POP MUSIC LOVERS!

Effective Immediately I'm closing this blog...


BECAUSE...

WE HAVE A NEW HOME!!!!!!

www.youdontknowpop.com


I'm happy to announce that we are moving effective today!

So tell your friends, update your bookmarks, change your links and scream it from the rooftop!

I've always wanted my own website address without the whole blogger part to it and now I finally have it.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Thanks to everyone who made this blog what it is!

In a short time we've received more than 150'000 Page Views! WOWSA!

I look forward to sharing even more of the music I love with all of you at the new site

www.youdontknowpop.com

.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Not Cool.

Just a note:

As Bloggers I know that we all get information from each other about the songs that we love and we all share that information between us... it's what makes blogging fun and it's how I've made some good friends in the blogging world.

In fact many of the songs I post come from various sources from all over. But I don't go to other blogs, take a song and then post it on my own blog. In fact there's often songs I want to blog about that other great bloggers get to first and then I avoid blogging about the same song because they got to it first!

If you like something I've posted... post a link on your blog like I've done here in the past.

I love to see a good blog so if you have your own blog and want me to feature your link here please e-mail me and I'll add it.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Lets Push It Harder Tonight




Attention pop music lovers. Here is your new favorite song of the week!

I don't know how I missed this last year but this song has been kicking around for ages now.

Addictiv is a Canadian singer who has released a handful of singles in Canada without any major success until recently. With each spin 'Tonight' continued to garner more and more airplay across the country as people began to hear the song for the first time.

With little to no promotion the song eventually made it into the top 50 and became quite the sleeper hit through the fall.

I don't get a chance to post music from fellow Canadians too often so I'm pretty happy to share this one.

It's a great song to dance to and could easily be mistaken for a track from the Pussycat Dolls.

Addictiv - Tonite

.

When Good Songs Go Bad: She Doesn't Got It





What is it about french songs not translating well to english?

The best example of this has always been Alizee who had some fantastic french singles that not only didn't sound as good when they were sung in english, they flat out didn't make much sense!

Anyone remember this classic line?

"Bubbles and water
Legs up for hours
My goldfish is under me
To bathe for hours
Makes my mouth water
I’m “formely” ecstatic
It’s not a problem
I lazy ‘round
Bubbly and stubborn"

What the heck?! Those are actually the English lyrics to Alizee's single - I'm Fed Up.

Well someone thought the only way to break Kate Ryan into the Uk would be to translate her mega hit "Ella Elle La" into English.

That person needs to be fired.

Not only has the song lost it's punch but the flow of the lyrics is lost when she sings it in English.

Am I being too harsh? What do you guys think? Hate it? Love it?

Kate Ryan - Ella Elle La (English Version)

.

Back To The Beat!



2008 is over and it's time to start focusing on 2009!

January was filled with great pop music and I have so much to share with you guys!

The first new song of 2009 is one I'm really excited about.

'The Days' are the first new boyband of 2009 and after a lot of touring and getting their name out there are finally releasing their debut single - "No Ties" on February 16th in the Uk.

The band hails from the Uk and consist of brothers Luke and Dan with their two friends Harry and Tim. The band was discovered by the same label that discovered Coldplay and Keane and I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a big hit for these boys.

Their debut single reminds me of "The Midway State" but a lot more fun and upbeat. It's guitar and piano driven pop music with really catchy vocals. My favorite part is the "Dadada Da Da Dada!" It's a perfect weekend pop song!

You can purchase their single both digital and physical on Feb 16th but you definitely need to check out the video below and hear the track for yourself.




.
If you like that check out a bonus track as well.
.
.
You can purchase the debut single 'No Ties' - HERE
.
.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

2008 - Melodifestivalen Favorites

I really can't believe it's been one year since we all waited anxiously to hear the 2008 entires from BWO, Charlotte Perrelli, Sanna Nielsen and Linda Bengtzing.

2008 was a record breaking year in Sweden for Melodifestivalen as it continued to dominate the ESC National Selection contests in Europe. No country comes even close to the interest, popularity and success of Melodifestivalen.

Personally I felt like 2008's competition was one of the best I've seen. Not only were the songs fantastic but the competition was fierce! Almost every semi-final was a real nail-biter with no obvious winner for the most part. There was scandal... whether you were voting for or against "Androla" there was scandal when Carola and Andreas failed to make it through to the finals after losing to 'Nordman' in the Second Chance Round. And the best part was that although Charlotte was pegged as a favorite to win even before the songs were played it was a close call as Sanna came THIS CLOSE to beating her.

After one year are the songs still as good? Which songs had staying power?

Here are my favorite Melodifestivalen songs of 2008!

I tried to organize them but I can't choose the best of them... I like them all! The first 5 are definitely the top 5 ... but really they're all interchangable within the top and bottom list.


Alexander Schold - Den Forsta Svalan

I don't think this song would work as well in English as is does in Swedish. I was lucky enough to catch Alexander singing a live acoustic version of this track right in downtown Stockholm and it was even better then the studio version.

Amy Diamond - Thank You

Probably the funnest song of the year. I never expected her to win with this one but I'm glad she made it through to the finals. Amy continues to release some of the best pop music in sweden. Every track on each of her 3 albums is really good which is rare for a pop artist.

Charlotte Perrelli - Hero

The song that won it all. A fantastic performance, the voice, the lasers and the world famous head spin dance move. Too bad the music video was a complete waste. Something tells me that after she bombed at Eurovision, the Swedes are going to go in a completely different direction this year.

Linda Bengtzing - Hur Svart Kan De Va?

Linda! She's so determined and shes my absolute favorite swedish celebrity. She also got her highest Melodifestivalen placing with this track which the juries loved but the swedish public didn't reward with votes unfortunately. Oh Linda... please come back in 2010!!

Johnson & Haggkvist - One Love (Soundfactory Remix Posted For Download)


The best moment ever was when Carola thought she was going to win the spot in the finale and they called 'Nordman' instead. You can re-live the moment again on YouTube!

Patrik Isaksson & Bandet - Under Mitt Tunna Skinn

I told you before that I love Patrik Isakssons voice and this is my favorite song of his overall. He ALMOST had a spot in the finals too!


BWO - Lay Your Love On Me

Ok so this song should be really high on the list as well. Not only is it one of their best songs in a long time (IMO) but their performance was amazing. I loved Marina sprawled across the couch whispering into the mic for her one line.

Daniel Mitsogiannis - Pame

Although the song is one of my favorites of the year... this performance was one of the absolute worse! What was he wearing?! Who choreographed that routine?! It was a disaster :(

Nordman - I Lagornas Sken

I never really liked this one until after all was said and done and I got home and stopped blaming them for taking Carolas rightful spot in the finale. I really enjoy this track now and how different it is from the rest of them.

Ola - Love In Stereo

Sure the bagpipes make absolutely no sense at all to the song... but who cares?!

Sibel - That's Where I'll Go

Another song that took awhile to grow on me... I think it was actually watching her belt it out live that made me really appreciate the track.