Resuming our "Danskpop" but with a little nod to the recent Robyn celebration, DontStopthePop bows down to the legend that is Jon.
Of course many will know of this song, Popstar, because it was written by fellow Scandinavian artist Robyn who is about to release her album in the UK and Germany.
Alternatively, some will know Popstar when it was covered by Dutch singer Sita. However we prefer Jons version because it suits his vocals AND with his "issues" of stardom in Denmark for the lyrics could be read to describe his sudden rise to fame in 05-06. Jon has faced a torrent of stories in Danish tabloids doing their best to destroy him and also violent abuse from heterosexual men who feel it necessary to assert their dominance and sexuality by beating Jon up when he was leaving a bar in Copenhagen.
But...We love ya Jon! Popstar is taken from Jon's second album Today Is A Good Day(To Fall In Love) which I cherish. Released only last year, Jon is still releasing singles from it; the soothing Every Girl I've Ever Wanted being the second huge hit following from Popstar. If you feel a little bemused by the output of Darin-another male popstar sniffing around Robyn's closet-then I highly recommend ya getting Jons second album.
FACT: If you manage to grab the album from which was Popstar lifted, you'll also get the duet he did with Swedish diva(or divaer in Danish) Jessica Folker! Quality!
FACT: Some might already have a Jon record without even knowing it! If you have the Infernal album From Paris To Berlin, theres a track on it called Ultimate Control which is billed as "featuring John Rock" who is, yup you guessed it, our Jon!
Words: Robyn, popstars, idol, Sita, music industry, scandal, tabloids, John Rock, Infernal, Darin, Jessica Folker, spunk, stripping down...
JON Popstar!
ROBYN SPECIAL III That Woman Is Me!! NEVER EVER RELEASED BEFORE!!!!!!!!!
THIS TRACK HAS NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BEEN RELEASED BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVEN ROBYN DOESNT HAVE IT!!
That Woman Is Me was recorded between the first and second album and became a huge fan favourite when a small snippet leaked a few years ago. Until then, That Woman Has Me has been sought after like the Holy Grail! In fact, THIS WAS THE HOLY GRAIL! When fans asked Robyn about it she said she'd misplaced it and it was lost! Even she wanted to know where it gone! Until now!
ROBYN SPECIAL PART TWO!
Sorry Ella, but I interupt this Danish love-in to bring you to guys the much procrastinated issue of Robyn and the second part of DSTP's promised and very belated special on the star that is Robyn Miriam Carlsson!
Why? Because Robyn is about to release something in the UK very very shortly so I thought it might be nice to prepare the UK and beyond of her brilliance. All of what you are about to hear are unreleased, not on any album or just very rare.
Dream On (UK Album Edit): As you will hear this is very different to the version you've heard on Swedish Radio.
Dream On (UK Single Mix): Dream On was already epic, but now it gets a stunning electro shine on it. Think Infernal and think Cat5...Lyrically sparce but even more so glorious.
Roll With Me: Okay so this rather summery chill-up track was one of Don'tStopthePop's first ever tracks posted. Now the sun is actually coming out I thought it might be nice to revisit it. This was actually a single for Robyn in Sweden and I treasure the maxi Cd!
Roll With Me (Cypher Radio Edit): So you had the normal version. This is a mix of that & is ultra rare!
Do Me Baby: DSTP has already featured this a few months ago but I thought it would nice to revisit it! See below for a better studio version of this song...
Who's That Girl (U.S Single Mix): I'm not totally fond of what they've done to the electro spectacle that was Who's That Girl. It has nothing of the anger or hatred of the version available on the album. But you might really dig this previously unreleased single version slated for a US something or other...
Good Thang (Club Vocal): This track has never been included on any Robyn album as it was the flipside to the single release of Play when Robyn decided to expand the product as a double a-side. Recorded too late to be included on My Truth and sounding too much like Main Thing which did end up on the LP, Robyn set Good Thang aside for greater things. It was a huge dance hit in Ibiza and in the clubs of Stockholm. This is the vocal club mix of Good Thang which I actually prefer over the normal mix cuz it dumps the sax!
Good Thang: See above for the details. This is the original version.
Blow My Mind (New 80's Mix): I don't really like posting live tracks but this version is so good it demands to be heard. Owners of Robyn's 3rd album from which this is taken will know that Blow My Mind is a sexy soft pulsating love affair drifting into slumber and that feeling of morning after sex with someone you've fallen deep for. However, this version is nothing like that and recalls the classic 1980's PWL/SAW hit machine that produced Kylie and so on. Brilliant track!
Crash And Burn Girl cover by Mandy D: Like Keep This Fire Burning and nearly everything Robyn touches, other acts want to covet and cover her stuff! Not bad for a demo
Do Me Baby by Michele: Now this actually features Robyn on vocals. Its by Michele & was written by Robyn! Much has been made of Robyn's songwriting skills for acts like Darin and Sita but Michele takes the crown for being the first to gain from Robyns brilliant talents.
WE'RE HALF-WAY THROUGH THE DANSKPOP CELEBRATION!
Music:
Swan Lee-Tomorrow Never Dies
Infernal-Fairytale (2nd version)
Infernal-Sorti de L'enfer (Infernals first ever single!)
From Infernal, Camille, Malou, S.O.A.P, Brother+Sister, Moi Caprice, Swan Lee to Marie Sisse, Anna Frank, Sanne, Anna Gadegaard, Aneela and her Toy-Box you could say those in the Danish music industry can claim to have brought us the best pop music out of Scandinavia in recent years! Just this week Infernal have spent a whooping ten weeks in U.K top ten singles chart-with 6 being their lowest position to date-something that doesnt happen a lot these days especially with pop/dance records.
Nor once have we touched the monolithic Aqua or a proper Eurovision act! So far so good, eh! Feedback has been excellent! Emails are of shock that Denmark produces such good pop. In fact, a friend who works for Copenhagen Records-naming themselves so in a mocking in-joke to Stockholm Records-said that Danskpop has managed, unlike their Scandipop neighbours, to go abroad but then again he's biased.
However there is some truth in his words. It is not an act from Norway or Sweden that can claim to have the second biggest U.K record of 2006. As we speak Infernal and their From Paris To Berlin are sneaking up on Gnarls to snatch their huge crown of song of the year as the Danish duo stay yet another week in the charts. They follow other recent Danish acts to go international like Safri Duo and Junior Senior leaving their Swedish, Norwegian and Finish fellows bewildered and fighting for position in their domestic charts. Hell, even the boys over at CatchySoundsofSweden are getting in on the act!
That isnt to say that Danish pop is better but rather Danish artists appear to know how to crack international arena whereas Sweden, for example, is left writing brilliant entries to Eurovision but never getting anywhere with that. Personally I think Robyn and Amy Diamond just might change the downward spiral of the Swedish pop on the international market this year. In fact, with Robyn's album set for release in August we know so!
So, to celebrate the conquest of Infernal we've decided to raid our archives and bring you their first ever single released from their debut album (pictured below) and Female version of Fairytale(You Took A Ride) which is only available on the poptastic international release of From Paris To Berlin. For your added delight we've also got the cute Swan Lee James Bond Theme to Tomorrow Never Dies!
Sorti De L'enfer-includes bagpipes and comes from a time when Infernal were a trio and wore skirts.
Fairytale-A softer all girl approach to the rather poptastic album track released only this year! Is it wrong that we prefer this version....
Tomorrow Never Dies-We are ever so upset this band have already parted ways but I'm sure we'll hear from the trio of Swan Lee again somehow! Much better than the one the studio went for(I think it was Sheryl Crow)
CAMILLE JONES The Creeps
Camille Jones. Well whatever can we say! From a Danish diva, Sanne, to a rising star of the Danish and international pop scene. Yes, Camille is yet another Danish pop act who is gaining huge momentum in the US Billboard charts with the song above!
She's proof that Danish artistry is pushing the boundaries of pop music as we know it. With quite brutal lyrics, The Creeps evolves into a slow epic polemic of electro-pop much like Kylie's Slow did in 2003 yet if you felt a bit shortchanged by the Kylie classic but still loved its ability to get stuck in your head you might find peace in the form of The Creeps...
In fact, keep with Kylie's Slow because I think that The Creeps is its gutwrenching twisted sister-in crime. Scrap that, imagine if Slow had been recorded by Grace Jones and you've got The Creeps! So who is Camille Jones? Camille Jones’ first album “Daddy Would Say” came out in 2000 on Warner Music and included the monster hit “Nothing Comes From Nothing”. The album gave Camille Jones a nomination as “Female Singer of the Year” at the Danish Music Awards 2001. Camille has also contributed to the soundtrack to the Swedish film “Det blir aldrig som man tänkt sig”.
To get Surrender go here
Words: Grace Jones, Slow, addictive, electropop, NERD, Prince, Britney-when-she-goes-weird, Robyn, Kylie, Billboard Charts
SANNE You've Never Been Loved Before
Get Sanne's ultra catchy pop gem, titled Higher Ground, written for the Swedish entry of Eurovision here
If the last post was a bit too rocky for you here is something Danish that is made for Eurovision: the star that is Sanne! She is the Danish version of Carola but with a bit more balls I suppose..in that she uses a few more guitars like shes under the illusion that shes some kind of rock chick but the severe pop melodies give way her best laid plans! And this should soooooooooo be celebrated! While the start of the songs appear rocky, the moment the chorus kicks in the songs appear to fly right up into the pop heaven. She fused rock and pop long before Anastacia ever thought of doing so...
Her albums are rock, disco and include dodgy covers or unused tracks of failed pop stars like Sarah Whatmore, Ruby Amanfu and yes the...iconic Rachel Stevens! Included on the albume entitled "THE ALBUM" was not just old Sarah tracks, but Sugah and Fools. Her work with Ruby Amanfu spreads through a whole bunch of Sanne's albums so check them out if you can. Shes also worked with Soren Rasted of Aqua, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Steinberg, Sheryl Crow, Neimo and Bryan Adams! A LEGEND!
She is a HUGE gay icon in her native Denmark writing songs about homosexuality, gay rights and transexuals! Her album covers include the insignia of the gay pride triangle, tracks called Girlfriend, Rainbow and she also looks like Bette Midlers younger sister!
A few years ago she tried to represent Sweden with the storming Higher Ground and we've included that today!
Words: Carola, Tina Turner, Sarah Whatmore, recycled pop tracks...
SWAN LEE In Your Life
Here is their take on Blue Monday. How does it feel?
Sometimes a band are too good to stay with us for a long time. Swan Lee-from Copenhagen-sadly parted ways in 2005 but their music will always remain some of the best music ever produced in the naughties.
This song starts off like a rock gem that Blondie would love to record but then suddenly evolves into a rousing, melancholic, angry and yet uplifting pop "place to be!". This-In Your Life-comes from their self-titled album and as you will hear Coldplay have certainly been listening to this Danish band where the divine Pernille Rosendahl warms the satin sun rays with her breazy prose. If only Coldplay could be this so poptastic...To me In Your Life sounds like Coldplays Clocks/Speed Of Sound fused with Blondie's electrosplash Good Boys. But. That. Might. Just. Be. Me.
Little known fact: The band were originally drafted in to record the theme song to Tomorrow Never Dies and their version of the song is absolutely stunning. It begins with a beautiful harp & then, if Goldfrapp suddenly got soul, Swan Lee's Tomorrow Never Dies takes hold of you and magically transport you to a realm of diamonds, spinning beds and lava lamps without ever being pastiche. Seek it out you if can!
Words: The Cardigans, Coldplay, Laleh, The Ravonettes, Blondie, New Order, Scissor Sisters, Fisherspooner...
MOI CAPRICE To The Lighthouse
I first discovered Moi Caprice on a Cd given out free by the Danish government to promote Danish acts abroad and from then on they have, just recently in 2006, exploaded onto the Danish music scene winning too many awards for me to write down in a tiny blog like this. Its hard to place the sound of this band but it certainly aint what your probably expecting...rather than Oasis think Donna Summer, rather than James Blunt think Joey Negro, rather than KT Turnstall think Gwen Stefani...in fact their are similar sound effects in To The Lighthouse and What Your Waiting For. In other words, they represent eveything wonderful about Danish pop music and everything awful about the British music industry...
Words: Garbage, Scissor Sisters, Donna Summer, The Ark, dance, disco, summer, Gwen Stefani, etheral, pumping...
MALOU Naked/Wordplay
Get Wordplay here
There are not enough superlatives to describe how much we love this band!
What do you do if cross Goldfrapp, Grace Jones, Tom Jones and Kylie?: You get Malou! I can't actually bring myself to hype up this band ENOUGH. They are so good, unlike anything out there at the moment and makes you feel all giddy inside. The moment you try to place this band as a Goldfrapp-ilk band from Denmark they go and throw in trumpets, trombones and you'll realise whats missing in the work produced by Malou's British counterparts. To us, Malou are a far better band and we're shocked by the lack of success this band has had. If you buy any pop album this year make it their absolutely popfrenzy of a record, Puzzle. Puzzle was the album Madonna wanted Confessions of a Dancefloor oh so much to be.
Naked sounds like Christina Aguilera's new one had lots and lots of sex with Goldfrapps Strict Machine! Stunning
Wordplay: To illustrate the varied sound on Puzzle we've included DontStopthePop's favourite Malou track for it takes us to sun rays so warm you'll want to get naked-see what we did there-even when its pouring outside.
Words: electro, jazz, pop, sparkle, everything, duets, mirrorballs, summer jams, philosophical lyrics..
ANNA DAVID Impossible
Everything pop should be
So we lost our senses-and our taste-with Toy-Box but the only way is up! Ya! Well Anna David's Impossible is actually something we'd expect from Sweden. Its thaaaaaaaaat good. Its a bit like Anna Sahlene, Carola, Shirley Clamp and Nanne! Very good you might think! And you'd be right. Its perfect for Eurovision!
Sadly, Anna's new album is very hip hop as she seems to ignored bubblegum pop. However, its very good hip hop. Her newish single-revealing her new sound-is called Fuck Dig and somewhat like Robyns Be Mine whose impact on scandipop has a huge influence especially on Anna.
However we prefer her poptasic early stuff with a special place in our hearts set aside for her delirious You & Me & The Sunshine and Impossible.
Words: Carola, Nanne, Shirley Clamp, Anna Sahlene
TOY-BOX TRASHTASTIC FANTASTIC!
So you've heard Aneela's solo work...
The Sailor Song: Any songs about lots of seamen coming together is good by me! Toy-Box were far ahead of the rest of the world with this kitchy retro-macho disco anthem that recalls YMCA and In The Navy. Indeed, if you wanna "get-gay" put this song before Pet Shop Boys New York City Boy and Kylie's Your Disco Needs You and you'll feel very very very pink. Moreover, you'll also realise that that the return of that The Village People sound was first harnessed by Toy-Box & later lapped up by Kylie/Tennant/Lowe.
Prince Of Arabia: One of the best songs to come out of Denmark! Another example of Toy-Box pre-empting future sounds of mainstream pop...This song was a year before its time. Released on the Toy Ride album, it hinted at the 2002 amalgamation of Western pop music and middle-eastern pop/Bollywood only realised in the UK charts with Holly Valances' Kiss Kiss. Toy-Box were a year ahead of the game.
Superstar: Think Girls Aloud Models crossed with Aqua! Once you get over the baby-like melodies you'll fall for the bitchy lyrics.
Super-Duper-Man!: Okay...this has the cutest lyrics. "Can I Touch your tingaling..???...You make Superman go SUPER-SWING!". HOOOOWWW RUDE!
Finally: If you miss Steps you'll adore Finally! If you also like Aqua you'll adore Finally! If you like your Spice Girls ala Spice Up Your Life you'll adore Finally!
Dum-Diggy-Dum!: From their second album Toy Ride released in 2001
Eenie-Meenie-Miney-Mo: Retraces early house music. The first verse starts off somewhere over the rainbow...
The Wizard Of Oz: Are you a friend of Dorothy....??? Make a wish and you will be...swiftly taken to a Magaluf circa 1997. Puts the fantastic in trashtastic!
Earth, Wind, Water & Fire: Okay this sounds more like a trashier version of Steps Deeper Shade Of Blue if you can dare to dream of such a thing! I like this one a lot...and I feel i should be ashamed of such a preference, really ashamed!
This is Danish pop madness at its best! Most know of Toy-Box because they had smash hits called Tarzan & Jane and Super Star but I prefer their other stuff which until now...has rarely been appreciated! They've often been completely overshadowed by their label mates: Aqua which is totally understandable seeing as Lene & Co raised the GDP of Denmark while the foursome ruled the world charts.
With killer lyrics and wonderful melodies, people I give you Toy-Box! Far better than Aqua+Daze(other more well-known Danish acts...)
ELLA's EDIT: While Aqua are THE Danish pop band of all timem, Toy-Box did Aqua did better than Aqua themselves. For this reason alone we love em!
Words: Aqua, Europop, Aneela, Daze, Eurovision...
ANEELA Daughters
Another brand new act for your aural pleasure today! You might not have heard of this little act before but we love Daughters! If you like Arash you could find something stunning in Aneela's work!
Aneela was born in Denmark; in a boring town called Frederiksvaerk. I say boring because I dated a man from there who was, as the English say, dull as dishwater.
Thankfully..Aneela is not!
After being one half of Toy-Box, a group who DontStopthePop is doing a huge special in two days, Aneela broke out and has recorded what could be the best titled album ever in pop history: Twinkle Twinkle Little Popstar!
Aneela is releasing her Single Jaande in Sweden in August 2006. The single is on the Soundtrack to the Swedish movie “Heartbreak hotel”... and she's just completed a small tour with Aneela with Abrar Ul Haq and the legend that is Umar Shareef.
Check out her website -- where I discovered Daughters -- which has remixes of her singles, live performances and snippets of her new album: here.
Alternative download of Daughters: Here
Ps: If there aint no comments I'll be a vexed girl cuz I like Aneela. She's kinda proof that pop is crazy, international, melting, fun, Danish, glitzy, Indian, Pakistani, disco and everything that Lordi is NOT which is why everyone who voted for Finland should be sent to the dunce corner to think of over their actions. So no comments and I'll give up.*
*Joking..but I would like to know whether you guys are digging the overall music I've been doin' lately.
Words: Lady Sov, Robyn, Aqua. Toy-Box, DNA, Leela K...
BROTHER+SISTER I Wish
Another possible 2006 summer hit from Denmark!
Take the girl from Robyns Be Mine...this for me is the boys side of the story. Even the subtle strings backed up by a sweet thumping baseline appear to reveals its intimacy with Robyns recent Swedish hit.
I Wish is everything I miss about rnb these days. Somewhat electric, trip-hop, etheral, silly, fluffpop, rnb and backbeat. I Wish originally came out last year but flopped yet it has garnared the interest of American record companies who are planning to give the song to some other "more urban" outfit. . Whatever that means....it aint good... for Brother-Sister make sure rnb slides close to Dansk pop as much as possible & I imagine that once "urbanized", the song will lose its subtle summery "nod-ya-head"/A-Teens feel to it. I'm told that the burst of industry energy over the song has led to Brother+Sister re-releasing their debut single for summer time which explains the radio play it had when I was recently in Denmark.You can check out the video for I Wish here.
Get the below 2005 album here.
Brother+Sister consist of Gigi and Sonny who are, as you might have guessed siblings....They are musicians, singer / songwriters, actors, - and World champion winners in Ballroom and Latin-american dancing, Gigi is 23 years and Sonny is 19 years old.
The album itself is produced by Cutfather/Joe and recieved a nice ride in the album charts on the week of release. The boys' vocals are the real gem of this album and in fact he, Sonny, sounds a bit like Martin of BwO!
Words: Will Smith, summer, No Angels, Max Martin, Martin of BwO, JLO/JA-Rule, Sonny, Sarah Conner...
SISSE MARIE Boom ( In My Room )
This could be the summer hit of 2006! A prediction I know but I can't get Boom outta my head. Sisse is pretty much a Danish legend and has represented her country at Eurovision & I love her to bits. My friends in Denmark tell me this is all over the radio there. She looks like Sarah Harding of Girls Aloud crossed with Liz from Atomic Kitten and theres a bit of Cameron Diaz about of her...in other words shes not that ugly: not that ugly AT ALL.
Boom is indie, dance, rnb, folk, slightly electric and somewhat like a chant song. Also, its SOOOO ADDICTIVE! Pop has never been so collective! Yet, to me it sounds like another song I can't quite name as of yet but I'm sure theres another Danish track hidden deep in my Ipod that sounds like Boom.
As you can see she both knows how to pout as well as smile like she's promoting some toothpaste company:
I think its pretty clear that this girl is a pretty girl. But its the music I'm interested in and I personally have already put my hard earned krona for her new album due August 22 through EMI and Sissi's own record company!
Get the maxi single of Boom at CdOn and it comes with some wonderful mixes too!
Words: Britney Spears, Spice Girls, Vengaboys, Solid Harmonie...
S.O.A.P : This is how pop should be done
Even though we play the game, you get no pupunani!!!
S.O.A.P are my all time favourite pop bands and Denmarks finest pop products. If you take anything from this Danish love-in at DSTP make sure its S.O.AP! Moreover if peeps dont fall for tracks like Soap Is In The Air, DontStopthePop might as well as call it a day!
They consist of two sisters; Heidi and Line Sørensen with the former born in Malaysia! The girls started off their careers with a huge burst with their This is Is How We Party single which did very well on the US Billboard charts. However from then on, like most European pop acts, they were unable to crack the market ever again. Yet in Denmark, Europe and Australia they went on to produce another album titled Miracle. They've gone onto work on solo projects but its not the end for the sisters who say nothing is really in their way of another album in the future.
So lets get straight to the music!
Soap Is In The Air-Barcode Mix: This starts of really bad but the mix actually outperforms the original version! Excellent track!
Soap Is In The Air: Written and produced by Remee for RamBams! Includes the stunning lyrics "go banani...Even though we play the game, you get no pupunani"
Mr.DJ:"Party like a Prince of Denmark". If that is some Hamlet in-joke, you better heed the girls order seeing as everyone is dead by the end of epic play.
Ladiddi Ladida: As you will hear the S.O.A.P version of this track is more Solid Harmonie than the i5 take on this retro urban/dance track. Written by by Remee Zhivago in Denmark!
Mr.DJ-DJ Encore Mix: Wonderful remix!
Stand By You: Okay this is one of the best pop tracks to come out of 90's. Its engorged with everything a good pop song should be. Think Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Robyn's Be Mine. If you have the Cd-Maxi of this you'll get the "Copenhagen" version of....something I don't so get in touch! Moreover this sounds sooooooooooo much like poppier take on Kym Sims wonderful Too Blind To See it which must be a good thing! Covered by S Club
This Is How We Party-Rap Version with Remee: This is the one that started it all off. A*Teens went onto mimic this sound with their brilliant follow up to their ABBA tribute LP. This version includes a rap...that really isnt a rap just a few words really. Blink and you'll miss it!
Wishing: We leave you with a stunning ballad that really isnt a ballad. Imagine the Girls Named Spice christmas tune, 2 Become 1 somehow got crossed over with Blondie in their darkest moments. I know, I know..strange mix up but its hard to place this track. If this had been performed by Coldplay it would be no.1 and the readers of The Guardian would be throwing themselves at it. Think Morrissey, War Of Nerves(by All Saints) and Madonna's La Isla Bonita.
Words: Europop, classical pop, typical melodies, strong lyrics, Billie, Billie Myers, Kylie, Popsy
ANNE GADEGAARD Arabiens Drøm
Anne Gadegaard is the Danish equilavent to Swedens Amy Diamond. In fact, in Danish record stores you'll find the two singers right next to each other. At her young age shes already represented Denmark in the Junior Eurovision and has released three albums. While Amy Diamonds music dips into spunky 80's ska and motown, Anne takes most of her influences from Greek backgrounds.
As you will hear she certainly loves Despina Vandi, Antique and Anna Vissi...However Anne secures something of a unity between the Western Europop Denmark is known for and the summer rays of Thessaloniki, Babylon and the Mediterranean basin.
What sets Anne aside from a great bunch of young singers is that Anne, despite her tiny age, writes her material. This is an amazing fact when you consider that adults refuse to put pen to paper and record their own and instead get hitwriters to take the risk. There are, from my mind, only two other female acts who wrote their songs at such young age, recorded and produced them and those are Shakira and Alanis Morrisette which makes Anne a name to watch out for in the future.
VIP BONUS! While I've posted Arabiens Drøm as her key song I think her Ini Mini Miny Moe is a far better track. Here it is for you pleasure! Enjoy
Oh and please check out her new album Chiki Chiki at her official website where you can also listen and buy most of her material.
Words: Greece, Turkey, Alexander the Great, Antique, Tarken
