Adele, One Direction and Mumford & Sons are today’s finest examples of the hitmaking prowess of British pop artists. They are actually not the only ones. There are some others who are also certainly worth listening to. Their styles are as diverse as the modern music spectrum but I am sure you will agree that they all have that so uniquely charming quality common to British pop music.
This is a fact that we have known for many years. That is, ever since The Beatles came out singing yeah, yeah, yeah and on to the Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John and many others. Their melodies lilt more. Their phrases sing more. Add to this that cute British accent and you get chart bait materials. So, it is never a surprise to come across exciting albums and then find out that the artist is British. Here are some I had been listening to these past few days.
Right Place, Right Time by Olly Murs. A singer, songwriter and TV host, Murs is a fine example of how the Brits like their music today. Proof is his two previous albums, Olly Murs and In Case You Didn’t Know, which are both platinum sellers in the UK with several No. 1 singles. Right Place, Right Time might just follow suit. Aside from following the same successful formula, it is also set to be Murs’ first US release. So bigger sales figures are only to be expected from the X Factor runner-up.
Murs’ music is an interesting mix. It is part-emo, part-Motown and part-dance equals feel-good pop. Anyway, who cares about types when you have perky tunes that work like magic? The album does what a good pop album should and that is to, literally, brighten the air. He has already released two singles, Troublemaker featuring American hip-hop star Flo Rida and Army Of Two. Also included are Loud & Clear, Dear Darlin’, Right Place Right Time, Hand On Heart, Hey You Beautiful, Head To Toe, Personal, What A Buzz, Cry Your Heart Out and One Of These Days.
Glassheart by Leona Lewis. This is the third album from the girl, whose song Bleeding Love was the chart sensation of 2008. Duplicating that feat is no easy task so it would be most unfair to expect Lewis to do so. Although the new CD may have no hit of that magnitude, it is nice to know that Lewis shows growth as an artist and that her incredible voice, which wowed in The X Factor in 2006, sounds even better now.
Glassheart is most notable for the variety of music it contains. Lewis here is more hip-hop, Trouble, electronica, Come Alive and Glassheart and dance, Shake You Up. I like it that she is experimenting although the different sound might not sit well with her Bleeding Love fans. Still that amazing voice with its four-octave range is there to enjoy and in her case, that is really what matters. Besides, there are also beautiful ballads like Fireflies Lovebird and I To You where her vocals really soar.
Young Love by Jedward. Jedward is made up of two boys, John and Edward Grimes, who were born in Ireland and happen to be identical twins. They were also discovered in the talent show X Factor where they lost to Murs. They are handsome, blonde young men who can give boy bands a big run for their money. The girls simply love them. They are also very talented. Their first success was a mash-up of Under Pressure and Ice Ice Baby that they created. They also have a hilarious take on Oops! I Did It Again combined with Titanic. I will not tell you how it is done because it is more fun to find out for yourselves.
Young Love is bouncy pop music that is young and innocent. Think of how you believe boy-band pop should sound and that is what you get from Jedward. This is all formula but the songs are pretty, the singing is good and the boys are cute. Brit pop really knows how to put them together. Jedward songs are Waterline, Young Love, What’s Your Number, A Girl Like You, Luminous, Give It Up, Happens In The Dark, All I Want Is You, What It Feels Like, How Did You Know, Can’t Forget You and P.O.V.