Taub Judah Entertainment Palace

Are you feeling alright? Everything OK in your world at the moment? Nothing troubling you too much, I hope? I mean sure, we’re all getting a bit blue now the summer is properly over and the days are getting shorter. The clocks go back this weekend and it’s easy to let your thoughts turn to bleak topics, now the sun isn’t providing such an eternal supply of that seratonin we all need to keep emotions on an even keel.

But otherwise, you’re basically doing alright, yes?

I only ask because there are so many hits around which aim to offer some kind of reassurance or helpful advice in times of stress; Bruno Mars, Tinie Tempah, Labrinth, wearers of hearts on sleeves to a man. And you’re the people who are buying their songs.

And now here’s Nelly, a man whose most notable hits to date have largely been concerned with going out and clubbing and looking at girls and being hot. And what’s he suddenly decided to sing about? Sloppy love stuff. Sad sloppy love stuff about losing someone and feeling the void and wondering what the point of everything is.

Hell, even CLUBBING has lost its appeal now. In a NELLY SONG. WHAT IS GOING ON, WORLD?

(Here’s the video. If you liked it then you should’ve put a MASSIVE RING on it.)

I can only assume you’re in a similar state to poor Nel yourself. You’re possibly reading this in three-day-old clothes, at some ungodly hour, wondering what happened to your life. You’re eating cornflakes at strange times, if you’re eating at all. You’re suddenly bursting into tears at the oddest moments – when you stub your toe, when the theme music to EastEnders starts, when the milk curdles in your teacup.

All of the things which used to bring you joy – the smile of a child, the company of friends, the films of Will Ferrell, now feel as irritating as a sandpaper loo roll, and there’s nothing that feels real except the endless banging on the same bruise. Why? WHY? WHHYYY??

Nothing except this song. Played 20 times in a row, and then another 20 times, just for good measure. And all you’ve got to look forward to is the glorious day when you’re finally ready to put on the sweary version of that Cee-Lo song, for a solid 29 hour period. That’s when you know you’re on the mend.

Chin up, chicken. You’ll get there in the end.

Download: Out now

www.nelly.net
BBC Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)

We Got This Covered says: “‘Just A Dream’ has a slower and less hyper pace than most of Nelly’s songs, but it still has that pop appeal.”

The Singles Jukebox says: “This sounds like he’s already tired, turning in treacly exit music because it’s all he has left in him.”

View full post on BBC – Chart blog

True fact: This song made Fearne Cotton cry. Out of her EYES, dammit!

It all happened on the Sky 1 sort-of-like-the-X-Factor-but-the-judges-are-all-off-Later-With-Jools musical talent show Must Be The Music. You all know the setup by now. Three judges, a big audition arena show, a presenter backstage talking to the acts before they go on. Two girls walk up to Fearne, who is basically the ‘Dermot’ in this situation. One is called Katie Pepper and the other is called Emma, she plays the piano, hence the name. They are from Manchester and they are excited and nervous.

Emma reveals she has had some troubles in her life, and that making music with Katie has helped her pull herself together. They then take to the stage. Then The Magic happens:

Instead of performing an off-key version of an Alicia Keys song, or even a bland re-write of an even blander recent pop ballad, Emma strikes up some dour chords, and then Katie opens her mouth and sings up a great big bruise. A massive black-eye of a song. An ‘Everybody Hurts’ where literally everybody hurts.

(Can’t show you the video. Ad cooties.)

I don’t mean it’s painful to listen to, not in the sense that they’re doing anything musically wrong, at any rate. It’s just…blimey that’s an unsettling noise to hear coming out of a televised human face, isn’t it? Katie’s voice is closer to that of Antony (of …and the Johnsons fame) than, say, Leona Lewis, and although the song they’re playing is a little clunky and unvarnished (by the standards of yer slick Top 40 acts), it’s clearly a thing of substance, especially when sung like that.

Outside of the viciously-pigeonholed TV context, it would probably make less of an impact, a slightly wonky song, earnestly sung, by a lady with a boyishly deep, but operatically huge voice. But stick it in the middle of a silly old TV talent show and WHOAH!

The looks of shock and delight on everyone’s faces are perhaps similar to those you would see if you organised an imaginary dinner party, where you and your friends have dressed up smart, and gathered around an immaculately-laid table, only to spend the entire evening pretending to enjoy a sumptuous feast (more ghost beef, vicar?), with all the not-really-there trimmings…and then a latecomer arrives with real home-made trifle.

It might not be the finest trifle money can buy: some of the jelly hasn’t set properly and the custard is a little runny, and there are peanuts and raisins sprinkled all over the top, as a radical garnish. But you can’t deny that it is actual food.

Download: Out now

www.facebook.com/pepperandpianoofficial

(Fraser McAlpine)

View full post on BBC – Chart blog