Here is the video clip for the upcoming McFly single, "The Heart Never Lies," released in the UK on the 22nd of October 2007. As previously mentioned this song is very, very good and is by far their best song to date.
The video? Well, let's have a look...
It's all a bit doom and gloom really but, all in all, very good. I'm not sure if I should crack any jokes about anyone getting wet during the video, but I'm sure you can pretty much guess watching Danny & Dougie get soaked in the rain was almost too much to handle for a Monday. In fact, it's fairly common knowledge that I wouldn't actually say no to any of them really.
Got the Parklife review coming up this week. The story-making event of the festival came from M.I.A. who, quite controversially, set fire to her Australian Visa Agreement on stage during a very political chat with the audience. More on that - with photos of the burning - in a couple of days.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Three Quarter Post :07
I'm sure you have all been wondering what my favourite songs of the year have been now that we are nearly 3/4's through 2007.
Well wonder no more.
Here's the list, the top 21 in fact.
PLEASE NOTE: Semi-detailed blurby bits below are only for songs I have not discussed on here before.
01.McFLY - THE HEART NEVER LIES The reason I haven't spoken about this song yet is simply because I wanted to see how it sat with me after listening to it for a couple of weeks straight. From the first listen I just had a feeling about this track; I wanted to talk on here about how I thought it was probably the Fly's finest single, but also wanted to be sure I'd feel the same way after weeks of repeated listens. Anyway, a few weeks have passed and I can honestly say that The Heart Never Lies is, without a doubt, not only their best single, but easily their best song to date. Right ahead of Not Alone, Transylvania and Too Close For Comfort." Brilliant stuff, I couldn't have asked for anything more, and that's why this song is thus far the best 2007 has given.
02.ANGIE HART - ASLEEP She off-of the Frente! and Splendid has just released a completely stunning, raw and spectacular debut solo album called Grounded Bird. Asleep, the records opening track, is its finest moment, and that's saying something. This bares a very minimal resemblance to Imogen Heap's Hide & Seek, and a slightly larger one to Bjork's Hyperballad. Both very, very beautiful songs which I hold in as much high regard as this one. Truly magical stuff, I haven't heard a song this luscious in a very long time. If you're an Aussie with an iTunes account, you'll be pleased to know this song is this weeks free audio file. Download it from here.
04.M.I.A. - JIMMY (ALTERNATE VIDEO VERSION) Have you heard this slightly different, brand new re-tweak of "Jimmy?" Fucking sensational. Takes the bollywood disco charm of the original album version to new, dizzying heights. Cannot wait to see her live this Saturday at Parklife.
11.THE ROYAL WE - ALL THE RAGE This song has been around for ages, but it's only being released next week in the UK and shortly after here in Oz. Very cute indie-pop from (I think?) Scotland, which takes a full minute to get right into itself, but once that's happened, it spends its final two minutes absolutely working a killer chorus, throwing together a toe-tapping bassline and even gives us DOUBLE HAND CLAPS. Gorgeous, love it.
12.FIELDS - SONG FOR THE FIELDS This one is thanks to xo. Not sure where this will sit by the end of the year (I suspect it will either stick around the top 20, or end up in the lower 30's, pending on what the remains of 2007 has in store for us,) but for the last couple of weeks I've been playing this LOTS. In fact, I'm fairly sure my neighbours now know of the song and are more than likely sick to death of it. That video clip (which is GREAT,) sadly incorporates the radio edit, and not the epic 5:47 version found on their ace album Everything Last Winter.
13.REBA FT. KELLY CLARKSON - BECAUSE OF YOU Well, Kelly Clarkson has put her name to something listenable this year, I'll give her that. Have you seen the clip for this shiz? It's major. Clarkson sports a black eye and Reba sports the worlds greatest wig. The songs great too, and a hundred times better than Kelly's original solo which I never really liked. That Reba!
15.YELLE - A CAUSE DES GARCONS Totally bonkers electropop this is. I have no idea what the fuck this French lady is on about, but boy is her album FUN. She could be planning the destruction of the universe through song, all in French, and I'd sit there completely oblivious to it all picturing the sunshine season and party drugs. There is a bonza instrumental moment from about the 2:34 mark which set my ears and feet alight. Another one I'll be catching on Saturday at Parklife.
18.ARCTIC MONKEYS - BABY I'M YOURS Technically, this song is from last year, but I first heard it THIS year which - in my head - makes this completely eligible. A cover of the Barbara Lewis track from 1965, this was a B-Side to the Arctic's "Leave Before The Lights Come On" single, and is just very, very special. It gives me goosebumps, and is probably one of my absolute favourite cover versions of recent years.
20.MUSCLES - ICE CREAM Chris Copulos, aka Muscles, has had a whirlwind 2007. He's toured with Midnight Juggernauts, Robyn, and Soulwax, plus found his productions the toast of Australia's club scene. This single is a clever slice of electronic delights and a little bit Rosdale in vocal arrangement... More importantly, it's really very cute. Quite awesome that this guy comes from country Victoria, too. Please note that I couldn't find the actual video clip for this on YouTube so the link on offer is just some shoddy fan-made job.
It's a little bit indie in places, innit? But that list up there is a very strong indication of how my ears have been shaped musically this far into 2007.
On another note, looks like I'm heading back to radio as of next Friday night. This time, I'll be on air from 8PM till 10PM, which you'll agree is a much more flattering timeslot than the old Midnight till 2AM gig I had before. As I said, kicks off next Friday night and every Friday night on 94.7 The Pulse here in Geelong, and I may decide to upload shows here and there in the future. It's called "Inside Splinters" by the way, which is the same name of the column I just took over in Forte Magazine. End plug.
And in even more unrelated, personal news, today I got a bloody filling put in my tooth. When I got home, the numbing of one side of my whole face pissed me off so much I couldn't even watch Doctor WHO. I contemplated taking a sleeping tablet (at 4pm in the afternoon) just to rid myself of that awkward and uncomfortable feeling of having one side of your face paralyzed. If I ever have a stroke, I'm going to make it known that the attack is to be followed by a bullet to the head. Anyway, I also found out I need a root canal done on one of my teeth immediately (AT LEAST IT WONT HURT ANYMORE,) have the remaining three wisdom teeth taken out AND have a very small section of one of the front teeth capped. Fucking hell, this bitch better be sporting some rockin' grillz with all the money I'm about to spend on this dentistry crap.
Monday, June 18, 2007 Big Mc (and a little Girls Aloud story)
WARNING. There are times when I talk about McFly that I make complete sense and sound like I am quite aware of what I'm relaying. Other times, I make absolutely no sense and sound like a 5 year old girl. The following post may contain traces of nuts.
I'm having a heavy McFly week. I've been watching and listening to them at a full pace for the last 7 days. This will probably be followed with a Girls Aloud week, which always progresses onto a Madonna week, then a Dannii Minogue week. That then turns into a Kylie Minogue weekend, which closes with 3 days of Bjork/Tori Amos obsession. There is a method, it seems to happen twice, maybe three times a year, and that is how it operates. I like it when it pops up because I don't have to worry about what CD's to take in the car. But back to McFly. Their music has the ability to make me laugh, cry, dance, sing, get up and do my thing. I discovered them in the early stages of 2005, shortly after having some life-changing lung surgery, so they - alongside the Popjustice forums (which I had also just discovered) and Girls Aloud - played a giant part in my recovery process. There are four acts I "collect" and "scrapbook" things of. Madonna, Girls Aloud, Dannii Minogue and McFly. If you were to ask me who my favourite acts of the last 20 years were, Madge, GA & McFly would be the top 3. Dannii's top 10, don't worry. One day I may divulge the others. Erm, anyway...
A couple of weeks ago I finally received my copy of the re-released edition of McFly's "Motion In The Ocean" album, which contains a brand spankin' new DVD of the entire Motion In The Ocean Tour 2006 show, Live from Wembley. There was a confusing uproar from a lot of the fans over the re-release. People were claiming it to be "cynical marketing," and feeling they were being "ripped off." The confusing part about all this was that, only a short few months earlier, these very fans were complaining about the news this tour was NOT going to be released on DVD at all. There were complaints it had not come in a proper DVD casing (!!), and "I've already got the Motion In The Ocean album!" The fact that they were getting the show in full didn't seem to register, or the fact that they were going to be paying CD price for the package rather than a DVD price (which, by the looks of it, is more expensive than buying CD's in the UK!) So after all that, it's nice to finally have the disc in my hands.
The show begins with "Please Please," which you may recall is "loosely" (such an appropriate word to associate with her, too) based on turbo-slut, lover of knives and friend of the Minnillo (ugh), Lindsay Lohan. Easily one of their better video clips, however the song hasn't aged well. But then again, most novelty songs wear very thin on me after a couple of months, and "Please Please" really IS a novelty song. There is, however, an incredibly healthy amount of boxer shorts-shots through this opener. There's also a shot of a nice-looking-indeed teenage emo-esque boy singing the lyrics in the audience. Which is an exciting change to all the screaming girls they show in the crowd.
There are highlights galore, including a cover of "Ghostbusters." Their cover of the Beastie Boys classic "Fight For Your Right" just doesn't cut it when compared to the ace late 90's dance remake by NYCC, but really, what does? These guys are a talented bunch of musicians and songwriters (I'm leaning towards "Wonderland" being my favourite McAlbum of all time now by the way), regardless of what a lot of pop fans might think. Tom Fletcher is a musical genius, and that Danny Jones has the greatest pipes in all of man-land. Danny's solo of "Not Alone" on the DVD is earth-shatteringly good. You know that wave of euphoria you get when you hear something really special in a song or a performance? It's the feeling I got when I saw Madonna crucified on a cross for the first time. That very same feeling ran through me whilst watching this. If you ever wanted proof as to why Danny Jones is one of the greatest male vocalist's of the 21st century than this IS IT. Watch out for the harmonica action, which almost evokes an internal combustion every time I hear it.
There's also some ex-Busted action, as Matt Willis makes a very welcome guest appearance during "Don't Stop Me Now." Though - quite alarmingly - there are a total of ZERO boxer shorts-shots. Tsk Tsk Matt, Tsk Tsk.
Danny's hair is exceptional through out the show. Whilst most people seem to focus on charming young Dougie's hair, ever since Danny ditched the hair straighteners, I've been a solid Danny Jones boy. Early 2006, it was always Dougie or Danny. My moods would change, and so would my preferred McFly totty (like Lindsay, I've been through them all), but I have been a Danny Jones boy for a strong 8 months now. We're soooogoing steady... There's alsothat smile which will probably result in my very first heart attack were I to see it in the flesh. Combine that with those curly locks... Christ alive...
But back to the show. Overall, this is a vast improvement on the Wonderland Tour, even if there was no "Silence Is A Scary Sound" this time round. I would have given an arm, leg, and vital organ to have been at either (or both) of those shows. I've no fucking idea why they've not attempted to crack the Australian market yet. What is going on there boys? How else am I supposed to stalk you around Melbourne until I get a photograph with you unless you actually come to this country? Though, if I ever did get to meet them, it would probably just end up exactly the same way it did when I met Girls Aloud last year* in Melbourne. But seriously, they've got a fan base down here so why not give it a go? If Girls Aloud were able to do it then they can too. Come on Camp McFly, chop chop.
DOWNLOAD: Danny Jones & George Karalexis - Forget All You Know Last year Danny recorded some stuff with a guy by the name of George. A few of the songs appeared on his MySpazz page recently, and this is probably the better of the selection. It's a ballad; it's not brilliant, but it is nice to have in the collection if you're a fan like I. Quality is pretty medium-to-low, sorry. Special thanks to the ace boys and girls over at McFly Media for the rip.
*Have I ever told you that story? My best friend Ben & I drove at some ridiculous time in the morning down to the Channel 10 studio's in Melbourne, hoping we'd somehow convince reception to let us into the studios to watch the girls perform (I had a Girls Aloud t-shirt on! Why wouldn't they let us in?!) We were walking up to the studios through the car park of the hotel next door. Just as we were walking closer to the hotel, who should exit the revolving door but (in this order) Nicola, Kimberley, Nadine, Cheryl and Sarah. I froze, Nicola pointed at me (massive "Girls Aloud" logo on a t-shirt and about 37 of their CD's and Vinyl in my hands was obviously not very hard to miss) and they began walking towards me. ME! They spoke (Nicola was incredibly chatty. I seriously think she's not spoken that much in any interview before. It was amazing, seriously) to me whilst I shook, trying to speak and failing miserably at asking them any of the questions I had planned to on my drive up. They were incredibly sweet, Nadine gobbled something about my McFly baseball cap, we got photo's with them (which I look HIDEOUS in) and stuff was signed, then they were off. Within 5 minutes Girls Aloud - the people - had come in and out of my life. It was the most surreal experience ever. I spent the following 24 hours ecstatically happy. It was a really good day folks, a really good day.
Some photography to accompany this large post all of you have probably not bothered reading...
Would you believe I plan on spending my ENTIRE WEEKEND* BLOGGING?! From Friday there will be a review of the McFlyMotion In The Ocean Tour DVD, UK Big Brother chat, another Vesna Snatchcast, my long-overdue scribblings on the Australian Next Top Model final, and - time permitting - something else.
In the meantime, let's admire this photograph of Dermot O'Leary resting on a pillow.
Is it just me, or does the following video clip from J-Pop Boy Band 5566 look incredibly familiar?
Er... Anyone called Camp McFly about this?
ARE WE ALL ENJOYING UK BIG BROTHER?! ISN'T IT MUCH BETTER THUS FAR THAN OUR SHITTY AUSTRALIAN ONE?! ISN'T DAVINA JUST FABULOUS?! CAROLE WENT TO THE SCISSOR SISTERS CONCERT DRESSED AS A MOBILE PHONE!! ISN'T SHE ALSO FABULOUS?!
Below are the 2 covers for the upcoming McFly single, "Transylvania", which is by far the greatest single of their ENTIRE career.
And then there's the video clip, which is by far the greatest video of their ENTIRE career.
Absolute genius. This song is completely left-of-centre for McFly and so not the obvious "safe" choice for a single, which makes it all the more enjoyable. Nothing has upset me more in recent months than the publics lack of interest in their most recent album, "Motion In The Ocean" which - without a doubt - is their finest accomplishment. Their first album, whilst still lush to listen to - has not exactly aged very well. "Wonderland" will forever remain as one of the greatest musical flows of all time - if not a little depressing. But the new album truly is a happy medium of the two. It's four young boys slowly growing into young men, who've found their voices, their sound and - hopefully - their clothes.
