EUROVISION THOUGHTS

This is who Spain should of sent to Oslo. Maybe they woulda won with this....

I watched Eurovision in the heartland of Madrid's gay area Chueca. Looking out from our balcony during the crappy performances (Israel for instance) ala Evita I noticed the streets below were empty. This is highly unusual for a saturday night in this part of town. The city was glued to the TV.

Analysis

UK

Let's deal with Josh and coming last. Ultimately this was bound to happen. I can understand why people are blaming the song and the BBC. Especially since it appears that Katie Melua's the Flood could of been the song we sent to Oslo. A song that just happens to be in my top ten songs of 2010. However, I don't think full blame should be placed on Stock/Waterman/Crosby. Yes, the song must have been a Scooch b-side circa 1998 but I think Josh himself looked like a deer in the headlights. Josh seemed too stiff and incredibly unsure about it all. Give the song to Claire Richards and I am sure the song would of done better.

The Failure of Dance-pop at Eurovision

Saying that, do europop songs actually do well these days? Was the UK entry doomed the second those trance-lite synths started? I think so. Iceland's quite utterly amazing entry was considered by many a strong contender to win. Why didn't it? It should of done much better than it did. The traditional big europop song seems to be a nonstarter these days. The last big europop song to win Eurovision was back in 2005 by Helena Paparizou. Electro is out out out. Putting aside that Finnish entry, the poppy tracks that have won seems to be a genre described as "ethno-pop". This requires strings, a fiddle and a few drums. Anything too old school Eurovision like this years entries from The Netherlands or Spain go down like a lead balloon.

Sweden

Well that was a shocker. Sadly not. The song was "quite nice" but it didn't stand out enough. It deserved to be in the final though. Especially over that boy and his guitar. Doing his best to ape James Blunt with an instrument that wasn't even plugged in. The Belgian entry screamed total twat time. You can't blame Anna or the song. It just wasn't to be. The star's were not aligned in her favour. Maybe Sweden should re-employ Lars Diedricson (the writer behind its last winning song by Charlotte Nilsson). Sweden certainly has the songwriters there to produce an amazing successful song (proven by the Swedish names behind many of the songs performed on Saturday). Sweden also has many great pop performers who can knock out a great performance. Maybe Eric Saade or Gathania for 2011?

Spain

How did they get it so wrong? Spain is the land of hot dramatic diva's who can belt out huge arias. It rivals Sweden on that front. Sending a Mika-lite character was never going to go down well. The entry might have caused blood to boil in the 1970's but just as the UK entry was completely out of date as was Spains. When the highlight of the performance was a stage jumper then you know your in trouble. Spain really shoulda sent someone like Marta Sanchez (above) or allow Jose Galisteo win in this years national heats (below). Or Venus (at the top of the post).

Belgium

Its taken some time. We heard whispers of this happening when the UK sent James Fox with Hold Onto Our Love. Being a tad before his time the song limped in at 16th. If the UK had sent James Fox now perhaps he'd done a lot better. Indeed, I've noticed a running theme in recent years that a man bearing his soul with an unbearable stripped down melody (See last year's Russian win) and a god awful voice appears to do well (see this years Russian entry). Male singers bearing their souls in an acoustic manner that sound barely in tune do well. And Tom Dice for Belgium proved that point. His song and performance were quite the moment in the entire show where thoughts of a nice cup of tea dripped into mind.

Ballads

If you submitted a ballad on Saturday night you were bound to do well. If you weren't Ireland or Norwegian (who probably sent out a memo demanding they're poor performance this year). The UK learnt this last year with Jade. And this year it was Portugal who surprised many with their beautifully performed Ha Dias Assim which reaped the rewards of picking a ballad and thus getting through to the final over the Dutch and Swedish favourite's. Ballads also ensured relative success for Georgia, Israel, Belgium and Russia. I think if it was any other year Norwegians' mighty power ballad would of done a lot better than it did.

Germany

An accent that seemed a cross between a lass from North Devon (perhaps Bideford) crossed with Kate Nash. The accent jumped between cockney and something like you hear in the hilarious French and Saunders clip below.

Hey, its rude of me to jibe about such matters. She's not English & my German is probably terrible. Good on her for giving it go! Actually her accent made it all the more charming for me. That aside, it was always going to win. Written by a Dane and an American, the song has reigned the charts of Germany for over five weeks. The song has already entered the European top ten which could suggest big things for Lena's winning entry. I can see it doing very well in the charts around the world. At the heart of the winning entry was fun. And putting aside Lordi, all the recent winning entries of Eurovision have contained an irresistible melody that conveys nothing but pure fun that was slightly kooky but incredibly catchy and commercial too. In many ways then, Satellite was a natural second chapter to Alexander's 2009 epic recording breaking win. So well done Germany. A truly deserved win.

BLOG LOVE-ITS ABOUT TIME

My gosh! How long as it been since I've done one of these? This is basically a reprise of the glorious pop blogs out there at the moment. They make me wet my lips, they write excellent reviews and they come from around the globe. What is more they introduce brand new music that you'd never 'ave 'eard before arriving on their websites. They're proper gems in my bookmarks page browser. Whatismore, ya never get re-prints of press releases on these blogs. They write from the heart.

AlienHits

I can't stop reading this website. Going through the archives one finds trinkets from pop I've totally missed out on. AlienHits is the hottest blogs out there. Nick's blog currently features Robert Svensson which makes me adore AlienHits even more than I already do. AlienHits was the first place I heard of the band Hurts. Look how they're soaring into the cosmic popdust that is chart territory. Well done boys. Thank you AlienHits. http://alienhits.blogspot.com/

My Fizzy Pop

In her newbie, Kylie currently sings "Feel, can't you see there's so much here to feel". This is how think of MyFizzyPop. Paul of My Fizzy Pop writes pop like the pop music courses through his veins. His writing is lush with experience, laughter and a life that excels in always being that extra level of fabulousness. He is also a rather nice chap too. It shines through on his web page. There is no attitude here. You feel like Paul really should be published and in the top 5 best seller list at Waterstones. http://myfizzypop.blogspot.com/

Scandipop

I can't stress how important this blog has become. Karl, who runs the site, ensures the ship that is Scandipop cruises the Baltic sea of pop with such finesse that the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic and Finnish should unite in some Nordic grand council to reward him with some medal for his contributions to their music industries. Its ridiculous! The interviews he does are lengthy and long. They ask the pivotal questions that fans of pop want to know. Why didn't the record company release the right single? Why didn't they try to conquer the UK? Those kind of questions for the pop geek. A great site. http://www.scandipop.co.uk/

Popjustice

Quite literally amazing. It has its big blowout forums and yummy interviews. Also the "songs of the day" are vital vanilla shots of sunshine that I've consumed daily to keep myself from going crazy when reading the budget cuts made by those scumbag Tories in the morning. I too share the theory that Ferne Cotton is a walking bell-end. The spirit of Smash Hits is kept alive by this place. Popjustice, thank you. Thank you. http://www.popjustice.com

CharleySaysPop

Such is the greatness of Popjustice is that its spawned many similar site, blog, forum and so etc. I discovered CharleySaysPop through the Popjustice forums (another reason why Popjustice equals brilliance again). CharleySaysPop is a great site. Based around the Benelux region its good to remember this area gave us 2Unlimited, Vengaboys and Kate Ryan. For this reason alone, it is a key area that finally has its own dedicated database in the form of CharleySaysPop. Charley survey's BeNeLuxPop with brilliant scrutiny. Though word of caution not all acts are exclusively from this region and nor do they celebrate older music. Charley always introduces new music whatever the origins of their passport. Making this site compulsive and addictive. You can be on it for hours if you're not too careful.
http://charleysayspop.wordpress.com/

ChartRigger

Oooh, this boy adorable. I don't think you'd find another blog post about the Kylie video that wonders about cockroaches. Its an understandable anxiety. One landed on me while I was in dusty restaurant in Seville. Scary. Anyway! ChartRigger is one of the oldest blog sites I know. I can blame him in many ways for starting Dontstopthepop. If they ever brought back Top of the Pops they should have Robbie (of ChartRigger) as host. None of that Toby Antis malarkey please.
http://chartrigger.blogspot.com/

PopPosterGirl

The return. Her initial postings on her return have been about Kylie, Robyn, Eric Hassle and wonderful acts I've never heard of before. Thus making the latest PopPosterGirl blog update just as wonderful it should be. The universe is thus aligned gloriously. The stars shine bright once again. http://poppostergirl.blogspot.com/

Feel The Spin/The Morning Jolt

Larry Flick is a radio dj in the States. His show makes you seriously wonder why we put up with the shit that twats like Ferne Cotton broadcast on our domestic stations. His Morning Jolt/Feel The Spin playlists posted to his blog expose just how brilliant his shows are and how we've seriously been shortchanged when it comes to radio shows here in the UK. Get this man to UK radio waves already. BBC Radio 2 NOW! Ok, if you can't access his radio show you can always take a peek at these blogs and track down the songs he plays. Well worth it. http://feelthespin.blogspot.com/

PopTrashAddicts

Mike's PoptrashAddicts is becoming so damn classy I think it should be rechristened to PopAddicts. There's just not much trash anymore. The pop that features on the site is rather fantastic. Not trashy at all. Apparently though, rumour has it the boy is eying up flights back to Spain. Now, Spain loves its trashypop acts so trash might see a forceful return on the pop blog the moment he lands on the Iberian peninsula. However for now, Mike's PopAddicts site is source of wonderful reviews and great features on new pop. His daily pop panels are critical viewing (especially for new pop!). http://poptrashaddicts.blogspot.com/

INTRODUCING THE VERY AMAZING ROBERT SVENSSON

I rarely blog on weekends. But I couldnt hold back on this Robert. He made me do this! Damn him! He hails from Sweden (major win). He works with my beloved Jennie Abrahamson (major win II). He's giving away brilliant music for free (major win III) and the brilliant slice of music is absolutely up there on that extra level of fabulousness (major win VI).

Get it free here!

At the moment there are Hurts, Kylie and this boy in my most played "part" on my ipod. Robert Svensson sounds a bit like Hurts mashed-up with Kylie. If such a thing was possible. His "Beat" EP is now available for FREE download at his website. It is quite amazing. Mainly coz free music never tasted so good. Once your done the epic track Beat, check out Unpredictable which is about being in a dirty bathroom in Gothenburg. It sounds like the best ever house anthems that never quite got a release thru Deconstruction Records back in the day. Now, its out and its emerged as my sound of the summer. If you like Calvin Harris, Kylie, Fabio Lendrum, Robyn, and the Scissor Sisters you might just love Robert Svensson. I can't stop playing the songs 1991, Broadway and the tracks on his Beat EP. His album Young Punks Are Never-Never is also well-worth the krona! Very amazing. Thank you Robert.

Le Kid-quite literally.

While we await the arrival Le Kid for real, they've put out this rather fantastic literal version of their song Mercy Mercy. Le Kid have been on the verge of greatness for sometime. Bloody ages! But, I am totally prepared to wait if they spend their time gearing up for the big push if they allow us these rather glorious trinkets of pop juice. Ultimately all acts should something like this!

This is quite frankly a first in pop. A pop act has deconstructed their very own song before its essentially become a hit. But already to lovers of pop, Le Kid are iconic already. Partly because of the tiny little delay in their prime launch but mainly because the music is ever so good. The album has gone under a slight change and a botox here and there is probably the reason for the critical delay. Indeed, one can argue that launching a pop act these days is somewhat like going into labour. The first single was like the waters breaking. Nothing too big, large or dramatic. Then the follow-ups are like contractions. Then there's major push (with the assistance of an epidural) in the form of a critical showcase somewhere in London or New York for example. This follows a major single, perhaps another EP and eventually we have the album. And a Le Kid is born.

It takes its time to come into the world. But all pop acts follow the same kind of "birth" these days. Yes, I just compared a bands first single to waters breaking. I am sure there is a rule against that somewhere. O well.

I FOLLOW SOPHIA SOMAJO

Sophia is a Swedish popstar. Oh no! Not another! She's bon though. Puts the bon in bonkers actually. Her album Laptop Diaries was all done on her computer. All by herself. No externalism. Just her. She did it all herself. This. I. Respect. Her philosophy is deconstruction. Her lyrics refrain from conservativism. Her intentions? To create music that bends and breaks the norm. As such the first album became the album to own in 2007. For sure, she didnt appear on Pitchfork but she didnt seem to chase that tail. She just kept to her own thing. She kept on mining the goldmine that is her natural brutal yet organic examination of the world as she sees it. She often gets compared to Robyn. Neat but unfair. I would actually suggest shes more Grace Jones that Robyn. And for ardent follows of nu-synthpop, lovers of the Canadian Lights will find refuge in the music provided by Sophia. But as she says on her last album "girls like me don't grow on trees". Indeed, Sophia is often harder than her fellow explorers of synthpop (I'm thinking here of Lights, Little Boots, Kei$ha, Robyn). Indeed, she takes the sinister route. She is the soundtrack to the dark side of pop. I love this.

Her new album is again a twist of what she established on her previous release. This time she's mish-mashed a sound that one might describe as Chi-Tekpop. Its weird. You will not hear anything like it out there. Its absolutely refreshing to see the likes of Sophia breaking out from that mold and examine occidental pop with oriental twangs. I like. The fact she does everything herself is an added bonus.

THE AMAZING PLAY COMPETITION

Today we have something absolutely amazing for fans of Play and their unique brand of powerbubblepop. I say absolutely amazing....well, its a different kind of prize thats up for grabs today. How "amazing" it is, well thats up to you to decide. Its a one off thats for sure. Dontstopthepop reviewed their album earlier this year and it received glowing reviews. My only 'bite' were the title track & a song called Trash. I wasn't being oversensitive. I listen to them now, months on, gritting my teeth. Putting those two tracks aside, "Under My Skin" has its aims to replicate albums by the likes of Black Eye Peas and Kei$ha. Does it succeed? Pretty much so.

With the likes of Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson and Anders Bagge at the helm the intentions were to update the sound of Play, take them out of that niche of yesterday-year girlpop and into 2010. The addition of Sanne makes this essentially happen. Her vocals shine-out and are the headline feature about this release. No question or doubt. Its all about Sanne's amazing voice. A second bite would be that bar the ballad When Love Is Bleaching Bad the girls themselves don't have any songwriting credits. Now, maybe thats down to the fast turn-around time on "Under My Skin" (it was put together as part of a TV show in Sweden that's a tad similar to American Idol). But, the ballad is one of the strongest songs on the album perhaps hinting at the strenghts that lie in the girls songwriting abilities. Next time perhaps let them take the reigns. The strongest song on the album is actually by a bunch of girls. From another "girlband". That being the Nervo girls (& their submission Second Hand Love). This has to be the catchiest the songs on the album. Those Nervo girls are on fire it would seem. Not only does their song havw the audacity to upstage songs written by songwriting legends Andreas Carlsson, Desmond Child, Anders Bagge, Johan Krunlund and Hanne Sorvaag but it also happens to be the one song that has the capacity to a huge hit for Play. Nervo are quite literally everywhere at the moment! They are also on the album of year: Kylie's Aphrodite. Second Hand Love is a really good hint as to the awesomeness that awaits our ears on the new Kylie album (in particular the Nervo track "Put Your Hands Up"). It would be mad for the record company not to release Second Hand Love. It.Is.Amazing! Perfect for a poppy party night out with the mates. Go Nervo! The young turks!

So there you go! The competition! What does it include? Up for grabs....today is.................the Play album. SIGNED! BUT ALSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....
something you will ONLY get if you win this competition. PLAY POST-IT NOTES! SIGNED BY THE BAND THEMSELVES! YES! WOO! You.Will.Not.Get.These.In.Stores! Ever. You will win a SIGNED Play album and very unique SIGNED Play post-it notes which is a slice of pop "merchandise" that is totally for the fans. Its a one-off and you'll get em no where else! Only here on DSTP.

So how to win? Awnswer the following questions!

As a solo artist name the song Faye did with Adam Appel?
Name Rosanna's night in Stockholm?
Name Sanne's album she did with Ghost?
Which German singer covered Janet's Heartache on The Dancefloor?
Name Anais sisters debut album?

Awnswer them here: dontstopthepopcompetition@yahoo.co.uk

SHES BACK!

OMG AMAZING OMG AMAZING OMG AMAZING OMG AMAZING OMG AMAZING OMG

For some reason, this song really takes me back to Bobby of 14. There I'd be, totally confused about the world outside yet somehow ready to take it all on. I dont know why but there's something incredibly warm about the song. Brilliant.

SOPHIA SOMAJO IS BACK!

I AM SHOULDER-PAD GIRL IN A WORLD FULL OF POODLES AMAZING

(All will be revealed on Friday)
Myspace

KATIE MULUA'S NEW ALBUM "THE HOUSE"

I love it when artists take risks & leave the comfort zone they've worked so hard to establish. It can backfire big time but they've exposed sides to their identity which they've never done in the past. This journey can be perilous but the results are always well-worth it. Especially in pop. For sure, this might alienate that loyal fanbase but reknewel is vital for any artist. So, when I discovered Katie Melua was working with William Orbit I was stunned and intrigued! Apropos of nothing this emerged as one of the albums I was most exciting in hearing. While I do like Katie Melua, I can't confess to adore her previous work. However this album is a complete turnaround. For sure, there are ballads in there but gone is the twee Katie Melua of the past replaced with something more haunting & epic. If you liked the works of Siobhan, Massive Attack, Craig Armstrong, Kate Bush, William Orbit, Kylie Minogue (Impossible Princess), Beth Orton and Butch Vig you'll adore this album.

I'd Love To Kill You (Katie Melua/Guy Chambers)

A track about bondage perhaps? I dunno. One first thinks this is just Katie Melua of old but don't write this ballad off immediately. Its incredibly haunting. It has an essence of Jonny Cash meets Bluegrass Dolly Parton at her darkest moments. Hauntingly amazing. 4/5

The Flood (Katie Melua/Guy Chambers/Lauren Christy)

Absolutely amazing. They dont make songs like this that often. It demands bowing down to you. It is epic and majestic. The hairs on the back of ones neck spring to attention when this comes on. And we must mention the fact that it emerges into a big pop record half-way through making it absolutely absolutely amazing. An additional point to mention, is the strength and power of Katie's voice on The Flood. You dont notice it at first. But play the album and the voice floods the house. It is immense. She reveals that you dont have to trill or run when showing off your lungs. You can simply hold a simple clear note and sing a song. Pure, clean and simple. 5/5

A Happy Place (Katie Melua/Guy Chambers)

I can't compare any song in existence to A Happy Place. Its simply unusual. Delicately electronic this song is yet another beautiful slice of pop. 4/5

Key lyrics: Army of the city workers, secretaries, lawyers, brokers. Heading for a London station. Heading for a quick salvation.

A Moment of Madness (Katie Melua/Guy Chambers)

Ooooooh, this song takes you right to the Burlesque clubs of Berlin. Ute Lemper would scream to have this track on her album. The strings are delicious too. This is exactly the type of song Paloma Faith's amazing album needed to round of that glorious epic debut of hers. 4/5

Red Balloons (Katie Melua/Polly Scattergood)

A return to old Katie. This will please her old fans and in doing so interupts the brilliant creative creative energy on the rest of the album. Sounds a bit like an advert for some mobile company. 1/5

Key lyrics: The Sky is full of Red Balloons.

Tiny Alien (Katie Melua/Guy Chambers)

God, I have no idea what this is about. Maybe, she's put herself in the shoes of Ripley in Alien? I dunno. Its plain kooky. I love it as its cute as hell. Many a popstar has recently celebrated the narrative of robots. This is it a bit like that. 4/5

Key Lyrics: Who are you my tiny alien? We are just skin and bones?

No Fear of Heights (Katie Melua)

This is a ballad but its very strong. It would seem Katie is heavely influenced by those gorgeous sweeping melodies you'd hear on those classic bluegrass albums of the past. 3/5

Key Lyrics: I have no fear of heights/No fear of the deep blue see/Although it could drown Me

The One I Love Is Gone (Bill Monroe)

Yes, its that Bill Monroe. Katie is pure chilling her. You can imagine her singing this at the end of the night at some dangerous bar in the middle of nowhere. I watched Judi Dench on the Southbank show the other night. She performed and Stephen Sondheim said despite the set being bare, Judi sung the song (Send in the clowns) so well you had no reason for set, costumes and other actors. Nor script. Such was the power of Judi's ability to own the song and convey its narrative. So my point? Katie does exactly the same here. She doesn't drift through this epic bluegrass track, but it covers like the tears run through her veins. We feel her heart and hurt. An amazing cover. 5/5

Key lyrics: So I'll sigh, I'll cry. I'll even wanna die. For the One I Love Is Gone.

Plague of Love (Katie Melua/Rick Nowels)

The lyrics are initially a bit dodgy but Katie really needs to go down the route of music where beat is taken up a notch. Her voice seriously comes to life when the music picks up the pace. Again, you wont hear another pop song out there like this. Its brave, different and unique. This is when Katie (and this album) really comes into its own. 5/5

Key lyric: struck down by the plague of love/sweet poison running through my blood/and I can't bear not knowing if you even care.

God On The Drums, Devil On The Bass (Katie Melua/Mike Batt)

Folk disco. It works though. It shouldnt. You wont get another track like this on a pop record anytime soon. Its weird. Just when you think its missed its target, the horns kick-in and it all makes sense. 3/5

Key lyrics: This constant beat that you cannot hear cause it hasn't changed for a thousand years.

Twisted (Katie Melua/Rick Nowels)

Woah, Katie emerges as a hybrid between Annie Lennox and Kate Bush. Indeed, didnt Annie Lennox have a song of the same title on her 3rd album Bare? Yes, I think she did. Ah, if you lived by the "didnt some other person do it first?" rule you'd never leave your house. The middle of the song is its weakest but if you keep with it, it pays off. I really respect how possibly tempting it was to "Lady GaGa" this album but they've refrained from doing so earning my instant love. This is one of the highlights of the album. My only bite with the song is that Katie states shes twisted but you dont get the sense of that at all. Where is her neurosis? Where is her psychosis? You kinda want this track to be emerge into a snarling descent into madness like Kylie's Limbo did on her glorious Impossible Princess album. Twisted is a great track but just holds short on giving you the punch you'd expect. 5/5

Key Lyrics: I'm twisted, just twisted

The House (Katie Melua)

One might instantly write this off as a boring ballad but its fucking haunting. I love it. Are the lyrics about exibitionism? About stalking? About ethics? About murder? Listen and deconstruct. 5/5)

Key lyrics: Who is in that house? I opened the door to see. Who is up the stairs. I'm walking up foolishly.

The House: overall thoughts

Katie has quite clearly left her comfort zone and I truly respect that. Not one song comes close to The Flood. But the future is very bright for Katie if she continues to experiment in this way. The Flood is amazing and it would always be rather hard to come close to it. The rest of album spirals in-between being incredibly amazing and running back to how things were done in the past.

Saying that though, only roughly 3 songs stand out as "less good than the others". Indeed if i was to compare this to any other album out there it would be Kylie Minogue's great Impossible Princess from 1997 with the difference being Minogue always kept up the pressure with anthemic songs like Too Far and Limbo. The House just lacks a Too Far/Limbo is all. What will Katie do next? I'd argue she should explore the more experimental routes displayed on The House. She has clearly proven herself. She's laid down the gauntlet for the likes of other similar artists to get out of that comfort zone and mess things up a tad. Personally I find that this album has an immense texture of soul and has, somewhat, usurped the impending Robyn album. Only because I think what Melua, William Orbit, Guy Chambers and Rick Nowels have done is create a sense that your walking into a movie. Its an incredibly thematic affair that refuses to be placed in any sense of genre and category. Such albums few and rare these days. And, must be celebrated. 5/5

Released 24th 2010

DSTP's FANTASY KYLIE MUSICAL

Well it kinda had to happen didnt it? Its as natural as the whirlpools that swirl under waterfalls. Kylie's music always has that musical texture coursing through its veins. When I first heard the news about this new show, I was in uni library, and when I should of been examining Hegels dialectics, I somehow drifted off and started to create a story for the impending musical. I started to put together a musical. This is ridiculous! But here goes...

The story basically follows two very close friends: Charlie & Jessica. The show is ultimately about friendship. From their school days right up to the present. It is not the story of Kylie's life or career. Thats offlimits. Though he is pretty shy Charlie really should of been to Italia Conti. Instead he was sent to the local comp where his only source of strength is his friend Jessica. Jessica wants to run the country. She's already started off well. She's got a job at Greggs. Pretty amazing considering this is circa 1990 where the UK is in a recession & jobs are hard to come by.

The show starts off with an older Jessica singing Disco Down. The set is old and bare. Jessica is looking at a collection of photos of her youth. Jessica is joined by a friend Sally who asks who and where this person is. Why is he so important to Jessica. She takes Sally's hand & the stage changes, colours flood the theater and Step Back In Time begins. She is soon joined by an entire chorus line of singers who perform with her for Step Back In Time (Steve Anderson's KylieX2008 would do just fine). The point of this song is essentially to draw the audience into her story and her world some years before. Who was in? Who was out? Its 1990 and we see a younger Jessica in her school uniform that slightly doesn't fit.

The set is now her work. The bakery. A younger Jess is changing her uniform and putting her hair-up in a bun. She works hard for the money. Her boss comes in and like a total bitch she is, tells Jessica off for being late. Jessica tries to explain it was because lessons overran. Megan, her co-worker and mate, tell her to give up the ghost on studies. Jessica wants her own business. Both her boss and Megan laugh at that. The boss introduces a new worker in the form of the ultra delicious Damien. Both Megan & Jessica consequently swoon. Damien tells Jess he believes in her Jessica and her dreams. He sings a part of I Believe In You (the dance version). He does not sing all of it however. As he doesn't know her name (as we hear him say in I Believe In You) she thus properly introduces herself. She then sings Wow. Along with the customers of the bakery and Megan who is putting the finishing touches to the hot dogs.

With Wow finished, Charlie walks in who also works in the bakery. Uniform ripped again. Jessica runs over to him, they greet each other like the best friends they are & she asks him whats wrong. But he doesn't offer any information. He's just pleased to see her. The conversation they have is interrupted by Charlies father and older brother. They insult Charlie over his lack of "being a man". Jessica tells Charlies parents to "eff off" but is once again told off by the boss infront of everyone. But it doesn't get to her. Charlie asks how she can be so strong. She laughs it off. But seeing that he is visibly still hurt after being bullied by his dad she informs him of her personal mantra. Which is Ruffle My Feathers. Charlie, though not entirely convinced, joins in.

Jessica tells Charlie to go home after the shift. Get his gladrags on as theres a new club they need to check out. A dance will cheer him up. She's got fake-i'ds & Damien and Megan say they'll come. They go out and sing a mental mash-up of On A Night Like This/Dancefloor. As they start dancing, Charlie is shocked to find the place is a gay disco. How does Jessica know about him? He hasnt told anyone. He doesn't react so well. Shocked. "Surrounded by feelings I hardly recognize". He likes it but doesnt understand why. Confused. He is rather frightened by it all. He wants it, to be a part of it, but its all so intimidating. Does he belong?

A drag queen soars above them and is winched down from the ceiling above the four and sings mainly to Charlie the sample of Do You Dare and thus initiates the major part of the Everything Taboo Medley from the last recent tours arranged by Steve Anderson. Jess tells Charlie to chill out and relax. Suddenly "its no secret" text appears to be projected around Charlie. Charlie shouts "I'm not that way". He becomes more angry as the music picks up its pace. The drag Queen lands and sings a snippet of "what kind of fool do you take me for?" addressed particularly to Charlie.

Jessica reappears sporting an amazing corset, hot club wear and with the chorus of clubbers (mostly boys) singing What do I have To Do. Directed towards the audience and Charlie, she tells him it doesn't matter who he loves and desires for "loves' always been my excuse". The entire club sing and chant the chorus of What Do I Have To Do. The drag queen introduces herself as Mary Reasonable. She tells the club her story and her coming out through Spinning Around ("threw away my old clothes/got myself a better wardrobe"). The entire club are singing and trying their best to make Charlie feel comfortable through Spinning Around. This however is not working out so well for Charlie. He seems to be suffocating by it all. Its too much to take in.. Strobe lights, cute boys and he runs out, sliding away unnoticed as the club erupts into climax of tickertape.

While Jess looks for a missing Charlie, Megan makes her move and gets a drink for Damien. She attempts to seduce him. She sings Red Blooded Woman. Damien gives-in and the two pash-off. Jessica sees this and runs home in tears. The next day we're back in the bakery. Jessica is late once again for work. Shes worried about Charlie but Megan fills her in about the fact that she's fallen in love with Damien. Right there and then, he walks in for work but seems to be avoiding the two. The boss orders Damien to do the cottage pie deliveries at the back. Megan goes on about his eyes, hands and bum. Jessica has a moment to herself. A soliloquy. Where she sings Put Yourself In My Place. Megan has no idea Jessica seems to be singing the song to her. Advising her to be careful about Damien.

Outside the bakery, Charlie joins Jessica who has walked out for some air. Jessica wipes away her tears but he naaturally he notices and hands some tissue. Both are upset with life and what it has handed them. Both apologize for the previous night. Charlie says he just wants to leave and runaway. Jessica tells him all will be okay. And if he is gay, its ok. She will always be there for him. She will never judge him. She sings Confide In Me. He cheers up. Decides to tell his parents. But tells Jessica that she has to be honest, like he will be with his dad. She has to give up on Damien or instead tell him how she feels. They sing Better the Devil You Know. They part. Charlie goes off to his parents and she goes off to tell Damien; both firmly in fear of the reaction they're about the receive.

Damien agrees to meet up with Jessica at a bar. They sing In Your Eyes. It seems they are hitting it off. In the middle 8 we see cut to a small set on the stage which transforms into Charlie's home, namely the kitchen. He comes out. The stage blacks out. We go back to the bar once again. Strobe lights. Megan appears. She's looking amazing. She's also the centre of attention and surrounded by guys. She has a way with her hands. All that experience with sausage rolls you see. Jessica can't get through to Charlie on the bars phone (this is before mobile phones). She tries to call him but when she gets through the bar is too loud so she leaves Damien to give him a call somewhere outside. Megan starts singing Slow. They're flocking to her now. Damien waits at the table with his drink. Her eyes are focused on Damien. When she sings "read my body language" she grabs Damien who succumbs easily. He gets down dirty with Megan. Jessica looking worried and flustered walks in on all this. Heartbroken, she leaves the club singing the piano version of I should be so Lucky (the one we heard in live in New York).

As she walks home all alone, she spots Charlie running from home. He's got a black eye. His dad pushes him to the ground. He starts kicking his youngest son in the chest. Jessica doesnt hesitate to move. She rips off her stilettos and hurls them around Charlies fathers head. He's knocked out cold. She tells him she'd never let Charlie down and its time they left. He doesnt see how thats possible. He has very little money as he only just started his job at the bakery. She however has money. She's been doing double shifts at the bakery since she started two years ago previously. Its why, despite her late punctuality, the boss will never fire her. She cashes all her money she'd saved for her business. She tells him to get the coach and leave. And never look back. At first Charlie refuses to take the money. But Jessica wont have it any other way. He pleads her to come with her but the money wont stretch for two. Only one will make it. Ultimately he asks her how he'll be strong without her and she sings Turn It Into Love. She waves goodbye and the coach drives away taking her only friend from her. Leaving Jessica standing alone at the bus station singing the last refrain of the epic song Turn It Into Love.

The Curtains fall and its time for icecream!

End of part one!

There are not enough pop songs in the world like this these days. Sadly.

3 girls from Liverpool. Major poppers O'Clock moment in the grand schematic of pop music. The backing music is the theme to the 1958 film The Big Country. Additionally, features a KFL sample from Justified and Ancient. Amazing.

HEY GRAVITONAS, WE'RE THE HOTTEST NEW SWEDISH DUO...

Seriously, DSTP is just kidding ;-) Love both bands. However, for those Gravitonas fans emailing DSTP about how more important/better Gravitonas are compared to Straightup....please....dont take pop so seriously!