ARTIST: Louis York SONG: I Enjoy You SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? It's been a little shy of two years since I last mentioned Louis York, the collective name for songwriting legends Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony - who between them have been behind hits for Whitney Houston, Olly Murs, … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Louis York – ‘I Enjoy You’
ARTIST: Niall Horan SONG: Too Much to Ask SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? I come to write the blog about my favourite new song of the week this week with a small sense of trepidation. Largely on account of who's behind it, and thus, on account of what I say … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Niall Horan – ‘Too Much to Ask’
ARTIST: JP Cooper SONG: She's On My Mind SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? The trend of vocalists launching successful solo careers after providing guest vocals to a huge dance record is ever continuing. See the huge success of Jess Glynne (Clean Bandit), Ella Eyre (Rudimental), and now too, also see … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: JP Cooper – ‘She’s On My Mind’
ARTIST: Mollie King SONG: Hair Down SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Those who read my blog about the solo album of Mollie's fellow Saturdays colleague Una Healy a few months ago will remember me saying that she too had attempted solo stuff following their hiatus in 2015 - albeit with disappointing results. … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Mollie King – ‘Hair Down’
It's not unfair to say that, where my love of 90s music - and in particular its pop groups - are concerned, that for all their ability to sell concert tickets and records by the truckload c. 1997 - 2001, I was never on board with Steps as much as I was with say, S … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: Steps – ‘Tears on the Dancefloor’
Hello one, hello all. Today is Saturday, 26th August 2017. Which means that a whole 28 years ago, yours truly was born to the world. So it's my birthday. Happy birthday to me etc (cue the birthday emojis). 😄😄😄 🎂🎂🎂 🎁🎁🎁 🎈🎈🎈 🎉🎉🎉 Now, those of you who are regular readers to the blog may … Continue reading #26in26 Plus 2: The Not in Anyway Difficult Second Birthday Playlist
ARTIST: Andy Brown SONG: Lay With Me SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? A history lesson for this week, readers. Sit up and pay attention at the back there. 2006: Avenue, a quite amazing boyband audition for the third series (or the 'Leona' series to everybody else) of The X Factor. They're hotly … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Andy Brown – ‘Lay With Me’
"Remember darling, if in doubt with social conversation, switch the subject to gardening. 'My Californian poppy is really coming on this year despite the chalky soil - such fun!'" - Penny (Patricia Hodge), 'Miranda', 2009, BBC Eight years on from her sitcom debut, and Miranda Hart - along with her green fingered real life mum, … Continue reading #CrazyStupidTV: All Gardens Great and Small (More4, 21st August)
I'm pretty sure it was Simon Amstell and Miquita Oliver, hosts of the true leading light of smart, funny 00s pop telly, Channel 4's Popworld, who openly breached the subject in one episode c. 2004/5 that they had McFly on the show that week, despite the fact they were on the week before. And were … Continue reading #CrazyStupidGig: Olly Murs – Summer Tour (Singleton Park, Swansea, 12th August 2017)
"I don't even know what the sitcom is, son!" Those were my dad's words when I surprised him with tickets for David Baddiel's latest one man show in London for his birthday a couple of months ago. I had to explain that it wasn't a sitcom we were going to see - hence the title … Continue reading #CrazyStupidComedy: David Baddiel – “My Family: Not the Sitcom” (Playhouse Theatre, London)
The Niche Reference 