This Week’s Single Releases

Amy Winehouse - Our Day Will Come

Though she may have passed away over the summer well ahead of the Christmas period – no tasteless jokes about Christmas and sherry, please – the ghost of releases yet to come is here with this cut from an album of unreleased tracks, guaranteed to keep her family’s coffers full. But is this release from a mish-mash of demos and never before heard tracks good? Well this cover of the 1963 Ruby & The Romantics track is very much typical Amy Winehouse in the musical blues style and she’s certainly on top form. If you’re a fan of her tunes you’ll find much to enjoy here, and it’s a very good version of the song and musically much stronger than the original, though tinged with a little sadness that her day will not be coming. (8/10)



Beyonce - Love On Top

With a song title as ripe for innuendo as her dodgily titled album ‘B-Day’, Beyonce is back with this soulful song that echoes the Motown of the 1980s. While she has certainly nailed the style and her voice is great her Mariah Carey-style warbling is off-putting and the key changes make it sound like the end of the record is going to end with her exploding or at least only becoming audible to dogs. Undeniably catchy in parts it suffers at the start from disjointed words compared to the music and quickly becomes boring with the repetitive chorus. Plus when she goes ‘Stop’ the voice in the back of my head repeatedly demands I shout ‘Hammer Time’. It’s certainly not a bad track but not a particularly strong first cut from her, cough, imaginatively titled fourth album ‘4’. (6.5/10)



Katy Perry - The One That Got Away

Continuing a strong sequence of singles, this cut from her ‘Teenage Dream’ album drops the pop of TGIF to bring a sad ballad about the one that got away. No, not a fish. With very emotive lyrics and a simple, but haunting musical track, it’s powerfully sung by Katy Perry and can easily bring a tear to your eye. It’s a subject matter that’s been covered in many songs but it’s not been often done as well it has here. Plus, if you can, check out the video it complements the track very well and also features some impressive aging and youthing (is that a word?) of Perry. (8.5/10)



Matt Cardle – Starlight

The opening track from the X-Factor winner’s debut album, ‘Starlight’ continues the run of good singles after his Gary Barlow-written ‘Run For Your Life’. Refreshingly for a product of the manufacturing television show it’s co-written by Cardle. Though I would love to roll out some disparaging comments at the track because of where he has come from, it’s actually a very good track that, like the snap-titled Muse track, is very bombastic with some quick-witted guitar, touching lyrics and a top vocal delivery from Cardle. It would be easy to pull it apart because of the X-Factor but to give him his credit it’s a really good track with the power of U2 and the lyrical prowess, but none of the sombreness, of Snow Patrol or Coldplay. (8/10)



OneRepublic- Christmas Without You

OneRepublic jump on the Christmas bandwagon with this seasonal release. If you’re expecting a happy, bouncy Xmas tune then you’re best going back to the annual favourites. Even Coldplay made their song slightly happier than this. Rolling out the odd cliché at the start, it’s a tale of lost love at this time of year but, unlike Katy Perry’s similarly themed song, it doesn’t have quite the same feel. They may throw some sleigh bells onto the track and as a ballad it’s quite serviceable, but there’s little festive magic to be found.

If you’re feeling a bit down this December then I’d avoid this. Not a bad track from the band but it gets a little too maudlin and meandering for my liking. (5.5/10)

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It's all the latest music news: from Dogs to Amy, Eminem to the Doctor

And it's time for a round-up of today's music stories as the day comes to a close.



And it's a sad day for losses in music. "Jerry Leiber of songwriting team Leiber and Stoller dies at 78", famous for, among other songs, writing Elvis' 'Hound Dog'. "Motown songwriter Nick Ashford dies at 70" was another headline from today, who co-wrote 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. A loss for the music industry. Especially if you're dogs or a mountain.



In X-Factor news "The X Factor's return is marred by nudity and foul-mouthed abuse" is the headline from the Daily Mail, but it's a little bit of overkill for someone who bared their bottom a little bit and someone who used the word 'dog'. Imagine if the winning people had been immigrants; the Daily Mail would have had a field day.



In the day that it was revealed that Amy Winehouse didn't have any illegal drugs in her system when she died it was revealed that "Amy Winehouse foundation: Mitch Winehouse forced to return donations" though it doesn't seem to be that clear as it seems that only a URL has been registered not the actual name of the foundation. Not sure what's truly going on there but at least he's returning the money.



And finally: "V Festival review: Eminem saves the weekend". It sounds as if they got the line-up of the acts in the wrong order but, despite the negativity of the article, it actually sounded quite fun and good. As Eminem would say, I love they way they lie... or at least maybe don't quite get the bigger picture.



(Oh actually maybe we should end on this piece - http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/08/22/dr-who-star-matt-smith-vomits-after-heavy-weekend-at-v-festival-115875-23362743/. Lovely.

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A Sign of the Times and Big Hair on Big Brother

"Amnesty for Amy Winehouse tributes street sign thief" reveals this article, which says that thieves have stolen the signed signs around where Amy Winehouse used to live which were to be given to the family.

Obviously they've done it for keepsakes but chances are they weren't stolen by their fans. But it's hardly going to be something they can sell on eBay as the police will be onto them like a joke writer on a celebrity death. It certainly won't be back to feedback.

And with "Celebrity Big Brother" on its way this summer, "Jedward want to clean up Big Bro" if they appear on it. I suppose in many ways Channel 5 will get two people for the same amount, but would we want the pair on the show? After their performance on '8 Out of 10 Cats' they'll certainly have the mickey taken out of them so maybe that'll bring some much needed comedy to the show? I just hope the house has enough hair lacquer in stock.

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Winehouse, Nirvana, Williams and Morrissey: It's a smattering of news stories

It's a day where there are lots of interesting news stories happening in the world of music.

Obviously the sad death of Amy Winehouse is still dominating the news. After the BBC's interesting coverage in the wake of her passing in which they moved from speaking to the owner of her drama school, to the owner of the local cafe which she visited, to the BBC's sports correspondent who once met her on holiday, we get a whole host of new stories.

"Amy Winehouse died from the 'shock' of alcohol withdrawal, says family" is possibly too early when the toxicology reports have not yet been released, but it shows it may have been the reverse of what was suggested that may have killed her... not drinking rather than drinking that did it.

In a story that echoes those after the death of Michael Jackson "Amy Winehouse: dozen new songs may be set for release" which could either be a fitting tribute or a cobbled together set of demos as a cash-in; we will have to see.

Then there's "Mitch Winehouse gives Amy’s clothes to fans outside her house" which is a nice gesture but ones wondered how many things went to true fans and how many to the eBay crowd... 'Back to Black Market' so to speak.

And finally "Amy Winehouse Paid Tribute By Mark Ronson During Live Show
Plus, Cee Lo Green says he had been hoping to duet with Winehouse this year" (on a webpage that's 'optimised' by USA readers apparantely... you mean advertising then?).

In other news "Nirvana's Nevermind Artwork Restored On Facebook" shows a return to common sense though Facebook has distanced itself saying it wasn't them that did it. Smells Like... backpeddaling.

"Paul McCartney is headlining the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony" reads this article from the Mirror. I was going to come up with some pun songtitles but sadly the paper beat me to it. At least they didn't crack any jokes about him already having experience of a paraolympian who came top of their last contest.

The headline of "Robbie Williams admits he wants to work with Noel Gallagher" begs the question of why, though it's better than saying he'd want to write with Liam. Both have albums coming out - I'm personally looking forward to new material from Robbie - so they don't really need it.

And, finally, my least favourite musician personally has hit the headlines again. I heard a terrible Smiths songs on the radio earlier and remembered how much I hate their music. But that's personal.

"Morrissey under attack from his own fans after saying Norway murders were 'nothing' compared to McDonald's and KFC" is another classic quote from the master of misery who seems to be slowly losing touch with reality. Whatever your thoughts on meat eaters vs vegetarians are, it's as tasteless as the aforementioned take-aways. And if he really must make topical jokes, at least make them funny. Oh, and remember that, even though there are dodgy jokes going around about, for instance, Amy Winehouse, most people have the courtesy not to announce them to thousands of people on stage.

Heaven Knows He's Missing the Plot now?

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RIP Amy Winehouse (1983 - 2011)

The sad news of yesterday was the death of Amy Winehouse, of unknown causes but likely to be connected to her long-standing struggle with drinks and drugs.

Her death has shown how even talented individuals can become victims to things that affect everyone from the everyday man in the street to the rich and famous, and her death is a tragedy in that she wasn't able to tackle her condition.

There are lots of issues that have come up from her death. Firstly how much of a talented individual she was, which is difficult to disagree with, though her turbulent personal life meant she didn't have the output or success she really should have, and much has been made of her poor live appearances.

Then there have been the connections to other news stories in the press. The deaths in Norway have been shocking and, yes, involved the deaths of people that had no control over the situation whereas Amy brought the problems on herself. However, that's a simplistic way of looking at it and though, yes, she did bring it upon herself if the death is related to drug abuse, it's a serious condition and not something that people could just give up like *that*.

There is tragedy happening all over the world now and, yes, her death has at times overshadowed other events but that's the nature of breaking news. All over the world people are dying in terrorist attacks, acts of nature and in famines etc, but is that a reason to dismiss any other deaths and tragedies? It's not really for me to say, but different people tag onto different stories. If we all worried about every tragedy that befell every individual or community then we would never be done.

It needs to be rememebered that this is only one of many, many deaths that happen each day but that fact shouldn't be used as a stick to bash people over Facebook and Twitter who comment on her sad passing.

But that's enough waffle on the rights and wrongs. Here's three of her hits to remember her by. The one thing I would hope for with her death is that young people will learn from her problems and realise drugs are not something to mess with.

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