Poptastic Confessions

Poptastic Confessions

Friday, December 30, 2011

#4 of 2011

#4 in my favourite songs of 2011 is "Never Let Me Go" by The Human League. Yes, they are the oldest people on my countdown. But good for them! They've still got it! They have been one of my favourite groups since the 80s. 



This was the second single from their first album in 9 years called Credo. The first single was the wonky earworm "Night People", which was a drastic change for them. That song also came in at #4 in last year's countdown. "Never Let Me Go" brings them back to their classic sound with a slight modern twist. 

Most refreshing is to hear Susan and Joanne on lead vocals. Yes, Susan has sung lead on some other songs, as well as the 1995 single "One Man In My Heart", which came in at #6 on my 1995 list. But this is by far the best song they've ever done that features the girls on lead vocals. By the way, I met Susan and Joanne in 2003. The photo taught me never to lean back in photos! Ha!
Susan, Davearama, and Joanne

The video is a bit simple and strange, but it works. Unfortunately, Joanne's bangs are too severe and they hide her beauty. But otherwise, they look great. They sound wonderful. I really hope we don't have to wait another 9 years for the next Human League album.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjtzJZ0f6Ac

 The Human League had two other singles out this year from their album Credo. The song "Egomaniac" was released in Germany. It had no video, but there was a TV performance. See it by clicking on the name. Next up, was the story song "Sky." I really liked it and it would have made my Top 20 if there had been any promotion. There was no video, only remixes.

The Human League's album Credo is available on iTunes, as is most of their back catalogue.
See the rest of the countdown here ...


5. "Me And My Microphone" by September


6. "Love 2 Live" by Annikafiore


7. "Freedom" by Sugababes


8. "Don't Try To Steal My Limelight" by Miss Inga featuring 
La Camilla and Dominika Peczynski (Happy Hoes)


9. "All Fired Up" by The Saturdays


10. "Boo Shuffle" by The Pipettes


11. "We Are The Drums" by Le Kid


12. "Big" by Sneaky Sound System




13. "Beat Of My Drum" by Nicola Roberts


14. "Bullets" by Rebecca & Fiona



15. "Notorious" by The Saturdays




16. "Think About It" by Melanie C




18. "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn


19. "Party In My Head" by September



20. "Jane Doe" by Rebecca & Fiona


 Bonus: #21 "Starlight" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor



See our Top Songs of 2010 
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#5 of 2011

#5 in my favourite songs of 2011 is "Me And My Microphone" by September. There is quite an interesting story behind this song. Last year at this time, September released her first single from her current album Love CPR. The single was called "Resuscitate Me" and it landed at #16 on my 2010 list. 



While promoting the single, September took part in a Swedish reality television show called Så mycket bättre (So much better). The show brought together 8 Swedish singers to stay in a hotel for 8 days. Each night during dinner was an episode where 7 singers would sing the songs of the featured 8th singer, trying to put their own style on the song. For instance, on episode that featured the songs of September, the songs were sung by the 7 other singers, all while September and the others watched.

One of the singers was a Swedish rapper named Petter. In 1999, he had a minor hit in Sweden with a slow rap song called "Mikrofonkåt." September sang this song for the episode that featured Petter songs. She sang it in Swedish and put her Eurodance sound on it. The response was overwhelming. September's version of "Mikrofonkåt" was released as digital single in Sweden and it shot to the #1 spot and stayed there for 11 consecutive weeks. Needless to say, it overshadowed her first single "Resuscitate Me."

The song was also recorded in English and released on her album in February of this year. I loved the song even when it was sung in Swedish and I didn't understand the lyrics. But the English version is amazing and I have been constantly playing it all year long. Finally, September released a long-awaited video of it this fall. Who doesn't love elevator dancing? And those fabulous green shoes! Great song, great video!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie5UiQoQYz4

 September's other single this year was "Party In My Head", which came in at #12. Last year, "Resuscitate Me" came in at #16. All three songs are available on the album Love CPR.

September's album "Love CPR" is available on iTunes.
See the rest of the countdown here ...


6. "Love 2 Live" by Annikafiore


7. "Freedom" by Sugababes


8. "Don't Try To Steal My Limelight" by Miss Inga featuring 
La Camilla and Dominika Peczynski (Happy Hoes)


9. "All Fired Up" by The Saturdays


10. "Boo Shuffle" by The Pipettes


11. "We Are The Drums" by Le Kid


12. "Big" by Sneaky Sound System




13. "Beat Of My Drum" by Nicola Roberts


14. "Bullets" by Rebecca & Fiona



15. "Notorious" by The Saturdays




16. "Think About It" by Melanie C




18. "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn


19. "Party In My Head" by September



20. "Jane Doe" by Rebecca & Fiona


 Bonus: #21 "Starlight" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor



See our Top Songs of 2010 
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Thursday, December 29, 2011

#6 of 2011

#6 in my favourite songs of 2011 is "Live 2 Love" by Annikafiore. This year in June, Annikafiore released her first solo EP called Preaching To The Choir. This song was supposed to be the first single, as the video was shot in the spring. However, once the EP was released, fans couldn't get enough of the somber "Don't Wanna C U 2nite." That ended up becoming the first single, and "Live 2 Love" was put on hold. I interviewed Annikafiore in August for Scandipop and I even featured the interview on my blog.


This fall, Annikafiore decided to edit the video for "Love 2 Live" herself. She spent weeks on it, and even during the process lost all of her work when her computer crashed. Still, she dusted off and tried again. The result was fantastic eye-catching video. I LOVE it! I could watch it over and over. It is probably my favourite video of the year.



The song is fun. The lyrics are clever. It was written by Annikafiore and Antti Vuorenniemi. Well done! Well done! Apparently there are some remixes in the works right now. Hopefully they'll be out soon. As for the cover above, I made it from a screenshot that Annikafiore posted on her Facebook artist page.

Annikafiore's music is available on iTunes and CDBaby.com

See the rest of the countdown here ...


7. "Freedom" by Sugababes


8. "Don't Try To Steal My Limelight" by Miss Inga featuring 
La Camilla and Dominika Peczynski (Happy Hoes)


9. "All Fired Up" by The Saturdays


10. "Boo Shuffle" by The Pipettes


11. "We Are The Drums" by Le Kid


12. "Big" by Sneaky Sound System




13. "Beat Of My Drum" by Nicola Roberts


14. "Bullets" by Rebecca & Fiona



15. "Notorious" by The Saturdays




16. "Think About It" by Melanie C




18. "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn


19. "Party In My Head" by September



20. "Jane Doe" by Rebecca & Fiona


 Bonus: #21 "Starlight" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor



See our Top Songs of 2010 
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