Nicola Roberts - Memory of You (Solo Version)

Are there any sweeter words to a pop lover than these: a Nicola Roberts solo version of Memory Of You?

Yes, that's right, Nicola is offering her own take on what many consider as the greatest Girls Aloud b-side ever. Back when it was released in early 2009, accompanying ace single The Loving Kind, the fan community were blown over by this arty synth-pop concoction - in the original instance sung by both Nicola and Kimberley - it was Xenomania at their very best.

Now the track serves as the kind of missing link between Girls Aloud and solo Nicola, with Kimberley's vocals removed and new ones from Nicola inserted. As you can imagine, it still sounds every bit as epic and mind-bogglingly amazing as ever.

Nicola's version of the song is being offered as an iTunes only exclusive for those that pre-order the Yo-yo single. Also present on the tracklisting are the bouncy 80s-styled JRMX remix and the commercial club sounds of the High Level mix.

iTunes have also put up clips of the Engine Room sessions - basically the tracks on the physical CD version of Yo-yo - these pretty much represent the brilliant acoustic set Nicola performed at the Carphone Warehouse gig the other week.

The new version of I is incredible - complete with swearing and an awesome guitar hook. Then there's the demo of Sticks + Stones, which with its electric piano chords and drum machine, all sounds very Lily Allen-esque. We like!

[Official Video] Nicola Roberts - Yo-Yo

Last week we went to Nicola's exclusive Carphone Warehouse gig and were blown away once again by her professionalism and sheer awesomeness as she treated an intimate audience to a lovely acoustic set, including her new single Yo-Yo.

One week later, Nicola's treating us again with the Yo-Yo video. In it, the Girls Aloud star tries on an assortment of stylish outfits, parties with a load of girls in a kitchen and throws plates at a guy. Just an average day in the life! What's more, three great videos in a row makes that a hat-trick!

For us, Yo-Yo just backs up all the reasons why we already absolutely love Nicola and once again proves why she's been one of this year's most exciting solo stars.

Speaking of the track, Nicola says: 'The song is about being in that position with a guy when you really don’t know whether you’re coming or going. Being in that position can make you really vulnerable. It’s the dark, desperate and doubtful side of love.'

Yo-Yo is released on the 8th of January accompanied by a live version of the track and a demo of Sticks + Stones.

Nicola Roberts - YoYo - The single cover!

Last week we enthused (like we normally do over Nicola) about her brilliant performance of YoYo on the Alan Titchmarsh show, now we have the single's cover art!

Like all the material from the Cinderella's Eyes album campaign, the styling is just spot on - the perfect accompaniment to Nicola's personality and plays neatly into the fairytale vibe of her album (this time it's the Princess and the Pea stories!).

What's more, we've got some more details about the single release of YoYo in January. The CD release will feature a live version of YoYo as well as a demo of the emotional Sticks + Stones, which we're sure will be just as emotionally bared as the original.

YoYo is released on the 2nd January.

Nicola Roberts - Yo-Yo (Live on the Alan Titchmarsh show)

Ahhh, the good old Alan Titchmarsh show - that last bastion of the pop TV performance. In all seriousness though, without it, we'd never be treated to performances of singles as good as this: Nicola Roberts' latest track Yo-Yo is if anything, the most representative of her album as a whole.

Whereas Beat of my Drum and Lucky Day were fun, feisty, fluffy - Yo-Yo falls far more in the camp of 80s-tinged synth-pop melancholia that characterises the absolute pop gem that is Cinderella's Eyes.

One of the lasting impressions the album gave me was just how much you believed and cared for every word Nicola sings, and never is that more true than here.

A song of ups and downs, of trials and tribulations - if the rest of pop music was always as brave and emotionally bared as this, the world would be a much more exciting place.

Yo-Yo is set for a January release date.