Dear Poptastic Readers,
What a year it has been for Betty Boo! Finally, her third album Boomerang was released on Friday. Although we had heard a lot of the songs beforehand, we wanted to spend some quality time over the weekend and this week before giving you our review. If you aren't familiar with Betty Boo, please check out our feature: The Return of Betty Boo!
Betty's third album comes a mere 30 years after her second album in 1992: GRRR! It's Betty Boo! Her first album was in 1990: Boomania. Welcome back, Betty! We are so happy. We'll give you a track-by-track review. If the name of the song is highlighted, that means we you can click on it to read what we originally said about it. Let's go ....
1. "Get Me To The Weekend" was Betty's big comeback single released in January of this year, and what a comeback it was. A glorious, fun anthem about dreaming about the weekend. It is an excellent way to start the album. We've had this song on heavy rotation since January and we never tire of it. If you know 80s music, then you know the music samples "Love Action (I Believe In Love)" by The Human League. Watch the super cute video below. It features the Booettes (the Booettes are dancers in many of Betty's videos over the years).
2. "Shining Star" was Betty's second single that was released in May, and it is another song that we just haven't tired of. It's a shimmering disco pop tune that is all-parts amazing. We absolutely love this one, too. Check out the bright music video, which also features the Booettes ...
4. "Right By Your Side" featuring David Gray was the third single that was released in July. It even got playlist by BBC Radio 2 in the UK. It's a nice song. Later on in the album, there is a version of "Shining Star" with Sophie Ellis-Bextor. We kinda wish Sophie had been singing the chorus here. You can see the official lyric video here ...
5. "Boomerang" is the bombastic title track that we are just in love with. This was released in June of this year, and we have been bouncing to it ever since. Such a fun party song. Check out the official lyric video here ....
6. "Nobody Can Bring Me Down" starts off with some distorted vocals on the chorus. The music takes a bit of a darker turn. It has some heavy percussion and spooky synths. Have a listen here ...
7. "Stop Your Nonsense (Bubblegum Pop)" picks the pace back up with this energetic light track. It has some glorious house keyboards. It is really is a fun song.
8. "Never Too Late" is NOT a remake of the Kylie song with the same name. Instead, it is downtempo song about changing your life. Betty is giving out life advice here: Do what you like! Have a listen ...
9. "All I Wanna Do Is Dance" is a fantastic feel-good dance pop song with soaring strings, horny horns, and floating flutes. This is so good that we could imagine this being a future single. Hear it here ...
10. "808" is a steady song with a strong chorus. We had no idea what 808 meant so we looked it up, and apparently there are lots of meanings for it. What do you think Betty is rapping/singing about?
11. "Superstar" brings the fun back quickly. This was also a track that was released back in August. It is a super groovy track and we just love it.
12. "Hell Yeah" is great party pop song. This one is really strong and it could definitely be a future single, too. This just makes you feel so happy.
BONUS TRACKS:
13: "Shining Star" featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor. This is the same as the original except Sophie is on the chorus with her long English vowels pronouncing dancing a bit differently. We wondered why this wasn't the single version, and we heard that it was out about the same time as Sophie's song "Hypnotized." We aren't sure as "Shining Star" was released in May, and "Hypnotized" was released in early July. But we love both versions. We'd love to hear Sophie on the chorus of "Right By Your Side." 14. "S.O.S." is a delightful downtempo track. It has a middle eastern feel to it. It has a great chorus that will have you singing along in no time.
15. "Bright Lights" is another fun party song. Very energetic. Betty knows how to churn out these fun songs.
16. "Get Me To The Weekend" (Original Extended Mix) — FABULOUS
17. "Right By Your Side" (Extended Mix) — Nice
18. "Miracle" (Extended Mix) — Great
19. "Doin' The Do '22" sounds like it is given the drum and bass treatment.
20. "Where Are You Baby? '22" sounds like a trip-hop space version.
There you have it. Betty really made up for lost time with 30 years between albums. Betty mentioned that there may be 2 more singles before her next album comes out next year! WOO! We vote for "Hell Yeah" and "All I Wanna Do Is Dance." We are so happy that she is back. We give the album 5 glorious stars!
★★★★★
Cheers then,
—Davearama
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