Pop Musik #8

You may recall that last week I reported that both Jennifer Lopez and Steve Tyler have left the American Idol judging panel and that Mariah Carey and Jon Bon Jovi were the firm favourites to fill the empty spaces. It has since transpired that Ms Carey will definitely be taking J-Lo’s place on the panel, for a reported $17million for just one season ($2m more than Britney’s X Factor USA paycheck). No news on who will replace Aerosmith’s front man Steve Tyler as of yet, but Jovi is still currently the most believable rumour flying around the twittersphere!

The most exciting news in pop this week is undoubtedly the vengeful return of the original Sugababes line up Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy who haven’t recorded together since the year 2000. Dubbed ‘The Origibabes’ by the press, it was revealed this week that the reformed three-piece are officially called Mutya Keisha Siobhan. But let’s face it, it doesn’t really matter what they’re called, they will always be the original Sugababes and they will always be amazing. The girls have seemingly put past squabbles behind them and are currently recording their debut album alongside fellow British hot properties Emeli Sandé and Katy B. No news on release dates yet but Donaghy has tweeted, “The soonest it’ll be is in 2 weeks. The latest is 10 weeks.” Let’s just hope it’s all worth the wait.

Tulisa has released the audio for her second solo single ‘Live It Up’, which she herself has claimed to be an “urban smash”. The follow-up to her number one debut ‘Young’ features Tyga and is apparently not aimed at the mainstream chart, with Tulisa outwardly claiming on Capital FM “I don’t expect it to even possibly get top ten it’s that urban”. I’ve given ‘Live It Up’ a listen and can safely say, it really isn’t that urban. In fact, it’s undeniably mainstream. Tulisa’s gritty voice, wailing about champagne, DJs, “sparkles” and telling us to “put our glasses up” are all things we’ve heard a hundred times before thanks to acts such as David Guetta, Timbaland, Black Eyed Peas, and practically every mainstream rap artist ever. Her claim that ‘Live It Up’ is her way of “…going back to me and trying to define myself as an artist” merely confirms her status as a pop star and not an urban act. Sorry to break it to you Tu, but a rap before the last chorus does not qualify as an “urban smash”.

While Florence held on to the top spot on the singles chart this week, Elton John and Pnau reached number one on the albums chart with their collaborative album Good Morning to the Night. The remix compilation is Sir Elton John’s first number one album in almost twenty-two years since his The Very Best Of… compilation in October of 1990.

One last thing, may we all join in prayer to the Pop Music Gods that all Spice Girls agree to reunite for the Olympics’ closing ceremony in London this August. Amen.

-Jack Murphy (@Jackdmurphy)