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@tombolaplayspop
Song of the day - Symphony (feat. Zara Larson) by Clean Bandit
No idea why this song is in my head today. I don’t think I’ve ever sat and listened to the whole track from start to finish. All I keep singing is “flalalalaaaa Symphonyyyyyyyyyy!!!”
The Climb.
Jade should be a household name by now. After all, she was one fourth of the biggest UK girl group of the past decade. She is also producing certified bangerz that seem massively different and personal. So why isn’t she as big as the likes of Dua Lipa etc?
I sense that like the biggest Brat on the planet (Charli XCX) it will not be an overnight success. For you see, both artists seem to be making what they want to make. The tracks aren’t certified gold winners, but boy oh boy do they hit the mark. Take Jade’s recent release ‘Fantasy’. Its disco fused glamour jam is on par with the likes of Kylie’s recent stuff. The vibe is super vintage too.
So how long will it be until she’s headlining The O2? Maybe another 10 years.
Thoughts?
R.I.P. Y2K POP?
As the last few seconds of the twentieth century drew to a close, 16 year old Tombola was pondering many things; was the millennium bug going to wipe away all existence? Would he get a smooch at midnight? And how many times could he and his buddies play Will Smith’s party anthem ‘Will 2K’ before getting yelled at by their elders? (The answer for all three were no, no and about a dozen times).
You see, Tombola, unlike all of his other chums, was a “pop tart”. And from ‘98 to the early noughties, he fully embraced the last “golden era” of Cheesy Pop.
The Spice Girls kicked this off two years prior by dominating the world with their feministically-lush bravado and in their retirement, a slew of young, good looking, doe eyed starlets emerged.
Groups such as B*Witched, Steps, Five, S Club 7, Cleopatra and Atomic Kitten paved the way for the Smash Hits generation. Solo artists like Billie Piper, Britney Spears and Ricky Martin and P!nk’s careers blew up as they appeared on the bedroom walls of their fans as well as being listened to constantly on our minidisc players. Pop royalty like Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams changed their sound to fit in with the current market and succeeded by doing so. One hit wonders emerged and claimed their five minutes of fame; Buffalo G, Girls@Play, Venga Boys, Lou Bega, Eiffel 65... this list is endless! Because everything was so snappy and in a way, kind of throw away. As long as you looked good and could remember to mime and dance simultaneously, you’d get a top 10 tune.
The formula was; release two upbeat tracks then a tear jerker that would guarantee you a number one. Popping to your local Virgin Megastore was exciting because each single released would would come in two’s. One, including the video and a B-side, the other with a poster. Television request shows like The Box dominated the airwaves and live shows such as MTV Select and Pop World would feature anyone from this current wave of commercially accessible music.
Pop festivals were literally popping up everywhere like Party in the Park and T4 on the Beach, allowing a safe place for fans to attend because, let’s face it, who’s going to kick off at an event featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor on the bill?
It was an outstanding time to be alive for a teenager on the verge of adulthood. We were too young to have to make any important decisions and not old enough to venture out in to the real world just yet. My life literally consisted on a part time job in a department store and a weekly visit to the cinema with my pals, with plenty of happy music in between that would be the soundtrack my jolly life.
It’s quite poignant that it all came to a halt when I became an “adult”. In 2004, at the age of 21, this wave of music had washed away and replaced with indie pop, emo and glossy hip-pop from the states. Justin Timberlake had ice around his neck, Usher said ‘Yeah’ a lot and you couldn’t escape DARK CHILD, who seemed to growl his own name over every single track being produced!
Zip forward 20 years and pop music seems to be more thought out and has lost its silliness. God forbid if Justin Bieber did a Robbie by painting his face like Gene Simmons from KISS whilst strutting about in his pants. The industry seems far too serious and calculated these days and it’s more about building up a huge social media following as opposed to celebrating a number one single. Back in the day (alright grandad), there were feuds over the number one spot and a sense of excitement tuning in to Top of the Pops every Friday night to find out if your fav singer made it. The X-Factor kept this genre alive for some time but even that appears to have lost its way over the recent years.
Anastacia crooned then line “So many sleepless nights, I wonder. Is it time to say goodbye?” on her 2001 smasher ‘One Day in Our Life’, and I too wonder is it time to let go?
Not in a million years!
Introducing: Andrea Godin
Are you hungry for some new jams from a super talented, rising singer/songwriter/DJ of the electro variety? Well look no further, as this creative Canadian crafts glossy yet ominous dance floor fillers.
Andrea Godin already has collaborations galore as well as a world tour under her belt and with so much more on the horizon, she’s worth exploring now. Her neo-noir soaked tracks pump through your veins. Take new track, Runnin, for example. It has a jaw dropping 80s influenced synth feel to it that will whisk you away to the darkest corner of space and in to a neon shrouded discotheque.
She is also in charge of her own record label, Scarlet Cartels. Meaning we shall be graced with similar sounding music moving forward.
how i’m feeling now by Charli XCX
Social distancing eh? Some have stepped back to reflect, a few have lost their minds through boredom and a lot have taken to TikTok for their five minutes of fame. Charlotte Aitchison, aka Charli XCX, thought she’d bang out an entire album in just FIVE WEEKS!
This idea came about during a public zoom announcement to her fans which she explained would “use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, videos, artwork... everything.” It’s incredibly bold and one hell of a way to pass the time, but how does the artists fourth studio fare up? Rather bland and lifeless.
Yes, it’s an incredible feat and I salute the dedication and talent this singer/songwriter has. But where are the catchy tunes and heart? Charli’s voice sounds more robotic than ever which leads the tracks to blend in to one elongated Will.i.am sounding reject. It’s not until track six, my attention was grabbed. Enemy is an attention grabber from it’s vulnerable start to abrupt crescendo. A spoken track included showcasing the real struggles we are going through during this pandemic. It hits hard.
I struggle to feel gripped by this album upon the first few listens, who knows. maybe more layers will be revealed as time goes by. A part of me aches for her return to that upbeat bubblegum pop sound from her second album which had epic tracks like Boom Clap and Doing It. And the predecessor to this one, album number three, the star studded Charli, which had some incredible moments; the spectacularly enigmatic duet of Gone featuring Christine & The Queens for example. When she kicks off anthems with the lyrics “I’m so bored”, I feel the same way.
Again, I applaud her will and creativity during these uncertain times, but it just feels very flat, like most of our hopes right now.
**
good to know by JoJo
It’s been four years since her groundbreaking return to the pop world and establishing herself as a free person, taking no shits from anyone. Joanna Levesque has been trapped in a contract since her 2004 debut album dropped and it wasn’t an easy ride for the then 13 year old: whirlwind highs, frustrating lows, lengthy contract battles and an unhealthy amount of time in limbo followed, but her fans remained loyal and stuck by her.
2016’s Mad Love. was mature, relevant and sultry. It spawned killer up-beat tracks such as Fuck Apologies and FAB, which I’m turn introduced her to a new foray of fans. Critically it was a success and featured in Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Albums of 2016. A world tour followed which I was incredibly fortunate to attend her slot at Heaven, London. Her stage presence was hypnotic, alluring and bursting with confidence. This was a star not to be reckoned with.
This leads us to 2020. The whole world is in turmoil because of an unknown pandemic affecting everybody’s lives, including our pop stars. Albums have been pushed back (Women in Music iii, Haim), others rush released (Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa) and some are taking a more “do-it-yourself” approach and requesting assistance from their fans during isolation (how I’m feeling now, Charli XCX). During this time, JoJo has released her fourth solo album and this time under her own record label, Clover Music. Again, allowing the star to run the show on her own terms. It’s business as usual for the R&B influenced singer/songwriter and is a way to show how she has reflected on her journey up to now. It’s raw, imperfect and not “sugarcoated” as she puts it, a perfect album showing a slight vulnerability under her skin which has thickened over the years.
The first single, Man, could easily be an outtake from the albums predecessor. It’s seeped in self-confidence and superbly dainty whilst being quite jaunty, the same goes for So Bad. The remaining tracks though appear rather melancholic with her signature slow-jam sound. Lonely Hearts is another stand out and sounds beautifully Toni Braxton-esque, whisking you back to the lazy summers of the mid-90s.
It’s a rather short but fetching follow up to an album that raised the bar. Rounding up at 30 minutes, it’s easy to sit back and invest without getting bogged down with filler. The singer takes an “if it ain’t broke” direction this time around making it a safe play but still a very good one at that.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 1: If I Could Change Your Mind
Long before the dance routine that swept the nation from their new I Know Alone banger, they strut their stuff in the hazy throw back-esque video for this masterpiece. Danielle’s desperate plea for one last chance are both courageous and inspiring. It’s a showcase of all three Haim sisters talents and showmanship.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 2: Something to Tell You
The title track for their sophomore album has it in spades. Danielle’s gorgeous voice and triggered guitar, Este’s brooding backing vocals and driving bass and Alana’s dreamy keys. Pure pop.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 3: Little of Your Love (Bloodpop®️ Remix)
Taking a relatively country & western sounding track and transforming it in to an ultra-hip pop jam was an amazing idea and no doubt ushered in a wave of new listeners from the producer who has also worked with the likes of Justin Bieber.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 4: Nothing’s Wrong
Haim have been likened to Fleetwood Mac many times. Their dreamy pop-rock is incredibly familiar to the 80s commercial era of the legends and this track is their most similar. Sounding like a Christine McVie fronted single from Tango in the Night, it’s incredibly breezy and has the ultimate feel good factor.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 5: Want You Back
Beautifully ambient from start to finish with a superbly shot video in one simple take of the Haim sisters boogieing through the streets of LA.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 6: Forever
The tune that started it all! Their debut single is a glorious jam that paved the way for their illustrious career; perfect harmonies, plucky guitars and feel good vibes.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 7: Don’t Save Me
Danielle’s strength shows in her vocals on a track such as this. The realisation that she can walk away from heartbreak and come out on top is inspiring.
Tombola’a Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 8: Falling
From their debut album, Days Are Gone, which spawned SIX killer singles. Falling is aggressive and almost primal! The attitude in this track is ferocious and uplifting.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 9: Summer Girl
The first track from their eagerly awaited third album WIMII is this Suzanne Vega-esque sounding coffee shop jam. Even in the bleakest winter, it will fill your soul with warmth and sunshine.
Tombola’s Top 10 Haim Tracks
No. 10: Now I’m in It
Released as their 2nd single from the upcoming album, Women in Music Pt. III. It’s a dreamy pop ballad with a driving beat at its heart and Danielle’s breathy vocals sounding prettier than ever.
Classic Track - Walking on Broken Glass by Annie Lennox
An incredibly classical sounding classic track to say the least. This was the third single taken from Lennox’s debut solo smash of an album, Diva.
Released in 1992, it reeks of aristocratical gusto with an incredibly upbeat tune accompanying such heart wrenching lyrics showcasing a broken Lennox pining over a failed relationship.
The video is pure class too and features Hugh Laurie as her current squeeze and Hollywood legend John Malkovich as said heart breaker who she is clearly not over.
Upon its release, it faired better abroad, reaching number one in Canada and number eight here in the UK. The album itself peaked at number one and has gone on to sell over 1.2 million copies since its release and features other awesome singles such as Why and Little Bird.