Pop Musik #5

This week, Jack Murphy talks preggo pop stars, misbehaving miseducators, and assesses the second single from the greatest new girl group of this year.

So this week’s HUGE NEWS is that our very own national treasure, Adele, announced that she is pregnant!  The record-breaking, multi award-winning singer, 24, personally took to her website to announce that:

“…Im [sic] delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we’re over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time. Yours always, Adele xx”

Her boyfriend, Simon Konecki (CEO of charity Drop4Drop), is said to be equally as elated and is already planning to build a nursery in the couple’s £7 million Sussex home. In an interview in American Vogue, Adele spoke candidly about her plans after the phenomenal success of her album 21. She said that she planned not to work for at least another four years to concentrate on her personal life, commenting “If I’m constantly working, my relationships fail”. With this happy news and seemingly idealistic life she has mapped out for the foreseeable future, will this mean Adele is due to return to us with a happy album?! We wish her the best, of course – but she has become world famous as the voice of the broken-hearted. Will it be all rainbows and smiles from now on? For her, I hope so; but for her music, I really hope not!

In other news, Little Mix, who last year became the first group to win The X Factor in its history, released a lyric video for their upcoming debut single ‘Wings’. The four-piece have been gigging nationwide since their victory in December, but not much news has been said concerning new material (aside from them confirming a collaboration with their former mentor and judge Tulisa, which will appear on their debut album), so this video had the nation all atwitter about the girl group’s musical direction. It’s safe to say that ‘Wings’ is a welcome flag flyer for pure pop music; with a jazzy, up-tempo sound, ‘Wings’ certainly has an unexpectedly un-X Factor sound and is a deep breath of fresh air. The girls’ management have made the conscious decision to stay away from the sound of generic, superficial drum/dub basslines and dance hall leanings that is currently dominating the charts. Lyrically, ‘Wings’ is ultimately about self empowerment, overcoming adversity and with a subtle anti-bullying message, it is packed full of all the things that made Little Mix the rightful winners of last year’s X Factor. They are a different, eclectic mix of personalities and perfectly representative of young women everywhere. ‘Wings’ is sure to be a big hit when its released on August 19^th and Little Mix are set to fill the hole that Girls Aloud have left in our hearts (although GA are set for a reunion this year, as are the original Sugababes line up – so an all-out rivalry will definitely be on the cards!).

Speaking of comebacks, one lady in particular made a welcome return to the stage this week. With Professor Green currently supporting Stone Roses, Lily Allen gave gig-goers a pleasant surprise by joining him on stage for their famed duet ‘Just Be Good To Green’. After announcing her retirement from music two years ago, she confirmed via Twitter last month that she is indeed back in the studio, but dispelled any rumours of new music being released any time soon, stating – “No big deal really, im just throwing s**t at the wall and seeing if anything sticks.” Please let something stick, the music industry needs you back Lily!

Another notable female was the subject of media attention this week, but for very different reasons. It was revealed this week that Fugees star Lauryn Hill potentially faces three years in jail for tax evasion. At the court hearing she brazenly claimed that she ‘intentionally and willingly’ failed to file the tax returns. She plans to pay back everything she owes and claimed that she was being picked on because of her celebrity status… bless.

In the albums charts this week, Maroon 5’s Overexposed was pipped to the number one album spot by the long-awaited release of Living Things by Linkin Park. Will.i.am scored his first ever number one single without his Black Eyed Peas band mates with his collaboration featuring Eva Simons on ‘This Is Love’. Dope.

-Jack Murphy