Beyonce - End Of Time

It might seem like aeons since the track first unveiled itself as the jewel in the crown of Beyonce's 4 album that it is, but finally - yes, finally - End Of Time is being released as the single. The cover art is above, all looking very nice.

Back in January we enthused about the rather amazing Wideboys mix of the track, and quite frankly we're just glad Queen B is back on the dancefloor again. Sounds like she felt the same too, what with her comissioning of a high profile remix competition in conjunction with the single's release - Apparently 3000 people have already entered and the winner bags a $4000 dollar prize. Tasty!

End Of Time is released on the 22nd of April.

Beyonce - End Of Time (Wideboys Mix)

Now here's a future dance smash in the making if ever there was one! Beyonce's already incredible End Of Time is finally getting a single release (about time too!) and the always-amazing Wideboys are on hand to give the track a re-work.

The end result is a fiery, tropical sounding clubland slayer, all skyscraper synths and a bit of Pon De Floor style stuff going on. In short, it sounds all kinds of epic, and we love it!

Beyonce - End of Time - Wideboys Official Remix SNIP by Wideboys

Introducing... From Above - Not The Same Girl

They're a UK group with the backing of a bonafide US music-mogul. New girl band From Above, who even have their own MTV show, are the latest effort from Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's Dad!) and are looking to stride straight into a scene which with the Little Mix X Factor win, is primed for a host of exciting new girl groups. With Knowles previous experience managing Destiny's Child, you imagine he'd know a thing or two about making From Above a success.

Their debut single Not The Same Girl taps right into the R&B/Dance market which has become such a domineering force in pop music this year - it's feisty, forceful, empowered, and particularly, very Pussycat Dolls.

For those that have missed said group's girl-power anthems since Nicole went solo, Not The Same Girl is a refreshing blast from the past, but one that is intuitively keyed into the sound of 'now'. Of all the girl bands looking to make it big right now, Not The Same Girl sounds the most like a ready-made chart hit.

Lookswise, the girls are closer to the likes of the Sugababes - like the 'babes, From Above feel like a more grown-up, mature group; one that isn't looking to speak down to its audience, or dress up their music with rose-tinted glasses.

The band's album Breaking From Above is chock-full of glossy girl power anthems courtesy of producers previously behind the likes of Jason Derulo and Chris Brown - expect their material to be supersized, US style.

Even just looking at the track titles: Pink Stilettos, Work, Live Your Life; female empowerment is the key theme, these are girls doing it for themselves, and like Beyonce herself said, looking to run the world.

Not The Same Girl is released on the 22nd January. The album Breaking From Above is available to download on iTunes now.

Beyonce - Love On Top

There's a lot of retro sounds on Beyonce's latest album, 4. Where her previous effort I Am... went for a terrifyingly empowered futuristic brand of stylish Terminator-pop, tracks like Love On Top sound like an indulgent trip through nostalgia.

Dripping in electric piano chords, a swingy beat and brass stabs, Love On Top sounds like classic MJ, the kind of song that would have been Number One for weeks back in the 80s.

Unfortunately for Beyonce, it's 2011 right now and the quaint nostalgia of Love On Top fades away into what sounds increasingly like a tired fourth single from an album that has far better songs on it.

Love On Top is released on the 12th December.

Beyonce - Countdown

We all know how monumentally successful Beyonce's Single Ladies turned out to be, and with Countdown - the third single from B's new album - she tries to recreate a little of that magic.

Countdown taps into all the same beat-heavy foundations that Single Ladies does but switches out the heavy synths for a more brass-powered feel. Big horn stabs punctuate the track, as do a number of actual 'countdowns'.

Personally, I'd rather have seen the brilliant End Of Time released as the next single, or the epic 1+1 finally getting a proper single release. But pop music is littered with baffling single choices like these, although perhaps nothing quite as baffling as one of the lyrics in Countdown: 'grind the pony girl'

Countdown is released on the 30th October.

Three headliners at Glasto, one true winner...

What can be said about Beyonce's Glastonbury set that hasn't already been said? Sometimes the simplest of descriptions is all that's needed. Simply: WOW.

You need only have looked across Twitter to see the social networking site dissolve in an ecstacy of awe at Beyonce. Pop fans, rock fans, all were united in their appreciation of the veritable Godess that walked out on stage to play to 175,000 people that night. Fan or non-fan, the sheer spectacle of Beyonce's set won everyone over - a unifying feat like no other.

U2's set two nights before was excellent - choc-a-bloc with hits from their best album, Achtung Baby. The sound quality was top-notch and Bono gave an empassioned delivery that served as a firm reminder that the Irish rockers are still very much 'with-it'. It was exactly the kind of performance you expect and hope for from one of the most experienced bands out there.

Likewise, Coldplay were on fine form; like U2, delivering a reassured confident set. All the big hits, a smattering of customary new material - it went down a treat with the crowd, including a certain Jay-Z and Beyonce who we saw cutely dancing away in the pit between the stage and the audience. Even mega-stars need some time to kick back and rock out.

But Beyonce had to be the true winner. As the woman herself pointed out in her intro VT, she was the first solo female to headline the festival's main stage - an achievement that cannot be understated. And just like her partner Jay-Z had done before her, she proved that Glastonbury is not just the domain of 'rock'. Something as immense and all-inclusive as Glastonbury should be a place for performers of all kind, and Beyonce came to hammer that fact home like her life depended on it.

An all-female backing band, impossibly skilled dancers and a jaw-dropping powerhouse vocal from Beyonce herself, emotions were running high as she pulled her set to a close with the tear-jerking Halo. Stepping down from the stage to touch the hand's of the front row, here you saw the very definition of a modern star.

In a set which made every track an event, a 'moment' that you simply couldn't tear your eyes away from, it was this final, towering performance which summed up what a landmark this night stood as. Or put simply, just WOW.

(In a neat little feature for this year, iTunes has put some of the Glasto performances up for download - including the amazing Irreplaceable. Seeing every single one of that crowd shouting 'TO THE LEFT' at the top of their voices was rather special.)

New releases round-up - 27th June 2011

Beyonce - 4

After watching Beyonce's breathtaking Glastonbury set last night, I don't think anyone can deny the sheer formidable force of nature she represents as a pop artist. With her new album 4 containing such winners as Run The World (Girls) and my personal favourite 1+1, while it may not have received the best of critical receptions, it still stands as a firm considered chapter in Beyonce's musical career.

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Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

And now something from those other Glastonbury headliners, Coldplay. The single has attracted a fair bit of flac for it's apparent sampling of a classic dance track, but for me, it's little quirks like this that have kept Coldplay interesting through all these years. Well over a decade now since they went stratospheric with Yellow, it's reassuring to know they remain something we can forever still count on.

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Biffy Clyro - Revolutions: Live At Wembley

When it comes to consistency and solidarity, Biffy Clyro are another prime candidate - this year seeing their status boosted by a whole heap of 'Britain's Best Live Band' accolades sent their way. And now you can experience their fabled live experience for yourself with this package, a handy collection of the band's greatest hits sung from that most hallowed of venues. Fan or not, the success of the band's last two albums is undeniable.

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Snoop Dogg - Boom

A little guilty pleasure here, simply for the fact it reminds me so much of The Saturdays If This Is Love. In case you haven't guessed, yes, Snoop Dogg's new single also samples Yazoo's Situation. A surprisingly fizzy and sprightly move for the rapper, it nevertheless makes for a strong follow-up to dance-athon track Sweat.

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Parade - Just A Boy

In this digital age of On Air/On Sale, b-sides are becoming something of an endangered species - so anyone who puts out real, quality tracks to back their latest chart smash are to be celebrated. Step in Parade, who's latest single Perfume comes accompanied by new track Just A Boy.

Going by the clip on YouTube, it sounds fantastic - big, epic echoey beats reminiscent of Beyonce (the verses are very Halo) and a lovely R&B flavour that sits well beside Perfume itself.

There's a delightful little chorus hook too of "I'm trying to let go, let go / I can't seem to get my heart to say no, say no", which we guarantee will be stuck in your head.

Parade are heading around the country this coming week to help promote Perfume with a series of CD signings - so we suggest you go along, buy the single, see the lovely girls themselves, getting yourself two brilliant tracks into the bargain! You can't say much fairer than that!

Beyonce - 1+1

It seems like only yesterday that we were subjected to the full on force of (Run The World) Girls, and truth be told, it only seemed to have fully 'arrived' with that jaw-droppingly amazing performance from the Billboard Awards.

But never one to rest on her laurels, Beyonce is already up and releasing a new single, entitled 1+1. (Yes, that's definitely '1+1', not One Plus One or any other maths/grammar variation on the matter...)

This is definitely more in If I Were A Boy territitory - all slow, chilled and ringing with guitar. And yes, Beyonce's vocal absolutely dominates as always

Then it all goes into an epic Pink Floyd-esque guitar solo. First thoughts: OH MY GOD... Is this actually happening? Beyonce sounding like Pink Floyd. It's bizarre, random, but so amazing. And I can tell that this will be a real grower too, just like Run The World was.

But then, all the best Beyonce singles always are.

Who run the world? Beyonce, that's who

A show-stopping TV performance is hard to pull off. Just ask any popstar worth their salt. It takes time, dedication, commitment, ingenuity, money... the list goes on and on.

These days, it's so often a case of us having seen it all before, that it takes a lot to wow us. CGI movies in the cinema, incredible technology at our fingertips, and the likes of Lady Gaga pushing forward the boundaries of what is considered the norm for pop music. So when it comes to making the most of that all-important TV performance slot you've been given, you sure as hell had best work it to its best.

Take Beyonce's latest single, Run The World (Girls) - both critical and commercial success for it has been pretty mixed here in the UK. Personally, while being as divided as the next person when I first heard it, it came to grow immensely on me. But there's a magic to making a song click with people, and a performance like the one Beyonce delivered at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards is one such moment.

For starters, when your big moment in the spotlight comes attached with a two minute prelude stuffed full with some of the biggest names in the world, you know you're on to something special. Hell, this makes the X Factor intros look like small potatoes. Here, everyone's lining up to sing Beyonce's praises... Lady Gaga, Bono, Actual Michelle Obama! It is testament to Beyonce's all-encompassing appeal and mega-success that these celebs are so forthcoming with their kind words. 'High persuasion can build a nation,' sings Beyonce in the track's chorus, but Beyonce's own personal nation is already there, towering above everyone else. She doesn't need to persuade anyone, they're already converted - all this in regards to Beyonce, the persona of course; the jury's still out on the song...

So what does she go and do? Pull out a breathtaking routine featuring what seems like hundreds of dancers and a hi-tech graphic wall that turns her into some kind of video-game character. The genius on display here is palpable. Beyonce kicks butt, quite literally; sending her dancers sprawling onto the floor after decimating them with a red pole. Beyond amazing.

This is Beyonce's nation - her world, her dreams; made real for all of us. I don't know about you, but I want in.

New releases round-up - 4th May 2011

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

Silky smooth soul vocals and an infectious piano hook. With endorsements from US TV series, not only is this track a fitting anthem to the recession age, but it's a great pop tune too. Real class.

Download

Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)

The diva is back. Sampling Major Lazer's Pon De Floor, after a series of early versions of the track released, On Air/On Sale was triumphant once again, propelling Beyonce's come-back single straight into the charts. Fierce, feisty and one hell of a future club smash, Beyonce's firing on all cylinders here.

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Elbow - Open Arms

A return to the big, uplifting mood of One Day Like This for the arty rockers. After a stunning performance of the track on Comic Relief, the band release the song with new b-side Buffalo Ghosts... do buffalo's have ghosts? Do they haunt the still-alive buffalo's?

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Britney Spears - Till The World Ends (The Femme Fatale Remix)

All the Britney you want, with added Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj. Now there's a dream party line-up. This extended re-tweak packs a real punch. What with Nicki now formally confirmed as the support act for Britney's tour, it's easy to imagine we could see a live version of this mix in the near future too. Exciting times.

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Nicola Roberts wants us to 'Dance To The Beat of My Drum' apparently...

Aside from Metronomy's Joe Mount feeding us tit-bits of info about Nicola's solo project, details regarding her music have been fairly thin on the ground. This tweet by fashion stylist Joel Dash possibly tells us a little more however...

"Previewed Nicola Roberts first solo single 'Dance To The Beat of My Drum' (produced by Diplo & Switch).. New sound = MAEHJOREEE!"

All very exciting. And we love the usage of 'MAJAH', as previously employed on Twitter by Rihanna... (and others)

Diplo and Switch are also behind the new Beyonce track, which was made available on iTunes earlier today.

Cheryl eyes up some hot collabs & Girls Aloud are a FIVE forever

Yup, it's time for the latest round of Girls Aloud news.

Reports today suggest that Cheryl wants to work with Rihanna, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj on her next album. Let's face it, who wouldn't want to work with a trio of amazingness like those lovely ladies! These high profile collabs are apparently to help launch Cheryl in the US.

An insider revealed: "Cheryl's management want her to become the next big popstar in America and are working on securing some A-list names for the album. A Rihanna duet is a certainty and Will.I.Am is trying to convince Minaj to work on the LP too. Katy Perry has also been in talks with Cheryl about a duet, as she is a big fan."

We like to imagine will.i.am as one of those super-cool guys who's always on his phone lining up various business deals and meetings, and in this dream scenario, hooking Chezza up with the best in US female pop. There's even reports that Cheryl wants to work with Britney and Beyonce too.

Turning our attention back to Girls Aloud as a whole... this afternoon, the awesome-threesome of welovepop, supersonicpr and polydorrecords all tweeted this message:

"Time to set the record straight after another ridiculous story. Girls Aloud will always be, Sarah, Nadine, Kimberley, Cheryl and Nicola."

Which throws cold water all over Heat's super-silly story about them wanting to continue as a four-piece.

Beyonce - Girls (Who Run The World)

In the immediate aftermath of Lady Gaga premiering Judas, everything else seems a little overshadowed - but the wheels of pop music must keep moving ever onward, and so today we have the demo version of Beyonce's new single Girls (Who Run The World). Sampling Major Lazer's Pon De Floor, details about the song and photos from its accompanying video have slowly leaked out over the past weaks, gradually raising excitement levels to breaking point.

I have to say though, on first listen to the demo, I'm not convinced. The song just doesn't gel with me. "That love we can devour" bit is very nice though. Beyonce is at her best when she strikes that perfect balance between fierce and incredibly sexy and this bit is bang on the money. The song then launches into the frantic, chanty chorus - but you can't help but feel it falls short in comparison to the likes of Single Ladies.

Also, with the Major Lazer sample, the best bit of the song isn't even used! Anyone who has been out clubbing in the past year or so will have heard the Major Lazer track played to death, and they will instantly be able to recognise the iconic hook, but it's not here! I hear it is absent only in this demo version however and the proper single release will see the hook restored. Phew!

The thing is, Beyonce has always been a pro in crafting tracks that sneak up on you sideways. For Girls (Who Run The World) is not a straight pop track - but regardless, it remains great for radio, great for clubs. Beyonce covers all bases, and as proved by her Glastonbury headline slot, commands immense credibility. Her I Am Sasha Fierce phase catapulted her into fully fledged dance diva superstar and Girls represents the next step in that progression.

This demo version is tantalisingly incomplete - in this format it disappoints, but the touches of greatness are definitely in here somewhere, shining seams of gold buried just below the surface. Fingers crossed that the final version is every inch the pop stormer we might expect from a Beyonce lead single.


Girls (Who Run the World) - Beyoncé by HDMI44

INTERVIEW - Sunday Girl

The music video for your song Stop Hey is very stylish and you were also named Vogue.com’s ‘one to watch’ - is the visual aspect of your music important to you?

I love looking stylish and dressing up so the video was great fun to film.  I like coming up with cool visual themes to go along with my music, so for this video I went with the idea of ‘superstition’ and had lots of umbrellas open indoors.

Are the 80s a big influence on you?  You covered Laura Branigan’s big 1984 hit Self Control.

I wouldn’t say so in particular, it’s just a song I always really enjoy playing live – I do a cover of Ke$ha’s Tik Tok too and they both get a great response from the crowd!

There are a lot of strong, female singers around at the moment; did you feel you consciously had to make your own stamp on the scene?

You’ve got to be unique – Everyone’s the same otherwise and it’s boring. I’m just myself.

You played a load of festivals over the summer; how does that compare to the smaller, more intimate venues you’ve played on Ellie Goulding’s tour?

I prefer smaller venues like this as it’s dark and more atmospheric.  It really ties in well with my music and I think the audience get a sense of that too.  You get a really great vibe going.

You have an internet blog that you post updates on – Do you think it’s important to keep in contact with your fans in this way?

Definitely!  It’s great to get feedback from fans and I really enjoy doing the blog.  I haven’t had as much of a chance recently because of being so busy with the tour, but I’ve got loads of stuff to add to it now, which will be fun!

Do you feel having a career in music has changed you in any way as a person?

I feel more confident as an artist; a lot braver.  I’ve got a motto that is ‘If you don’t try, you don’t get’, and it’s true.  You’ve just got to keep trying and you get more and more confident in yourself, especially when you’re doing something you enjoy.  In your dreams, you can do anything you want, so why shouldn’t this be true in real life too.

In this age of downloads and people cherry-picking individual songs, is it still important to put a consistent album together as a complete body of work?

I still love listening to albums as a whole – I think it really gets the artist’s message across in a way individual songs can’t do as much.

Is there one song in the history of music that you wish you had written yourself?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one!  I think something by Beyonce, Kelis or Kanye West – I love them!  Whenever I listen to their tracks I just think wow!

Stop Hey is released January 11^th 2011.