WHATFOR Qui manquent à tes rêves.......

While the world is celebrating the brilliance of Britney, Dannii, Girls Aloud and so on, I thought I'd take a little moment to celebrate the French band Whatfor. Their first single Plus Haut was a hit but like many popbands formed from a reality TV show, the public went cold after the debut single, ignored the second single and the album vanished. However, Whatfor were perhaps the first and only camptastic mixed-gender band France has ever had. You get whiffs of Steps, Hear'say, S Club and of course the Young Divas. Why the last comparison? Well Whatfor were simply so poptastic that you could imagine the Australian girlband covering most of their material on their 2nd album (whenever that comes!). The significance of their first single Plus Haut (a number one in France) is that it might have been the only moment in France's recent chart history where a bubblegum pop band soared to the top of the charts. As you can see, its legacy is secured amongst the many youtube many Plus Haut "tributes" which you can check out if you really have the inclination and the time. This one is brilliant!

So what happened next? Well this is a bit difficult for me to extrapolate as I am no French speaker but they were dropped six months after the album flopped. This despite the fact that the second single was written by Swedish icon Carola (the song was also recorded, and bettered, by Rosa Lopez of Spain in 2006). Trust the Spanish to take a Swedish song and make it better! Like their first single, the cover too has received the "DIY-Youtube Tribute" treatment (see it here-i think this ones actually quite good)


In 2004, two of Whatfor's singers (Cyril et Erika) created a new band called Everton. Suddenly guitars were brought in and silly dance routines were unceremoniously chucked out! Nicholas Vitiello came out and released the brilliant cover of the discotastic 80's anthem Chercher Le Garcon under the name "Nicholas O".


He later then starred in many successful TV shows, films and on stage won brilliant reviews in the French take on Love! Valour! Compassion (this clip includes a nude Nicholas and some very raunchy moments from the stage show). I highly recommend the purchase of Nicholas O's single for it includes an amazing b-side called Tout N'est Pas Perdu which you can hear here. He is currently a successful comedian.....


After Everton did there thing, Erika dusted herself down, rejected offers to join a German girlgroup and released her album, parts of which you can here and here. Cyril went all boring and is now touring France with his soul, guitar and philosophy. Check out the elevator music here.


No, I am being too harsh. Cyril has simply gone all acoustic and in his new band (named Selli") he's having medium success! Shows at the Zenith no less. Thats the same place Kylie did her Showgirl tour so its pretty big. If you check out this clip you'll certainly hear he's got a good voice that deserves to be heard. His cover of My Girl is very sweet. And to the last member: Monia? Sadly I have no idea!

Key site: Amazon France, FNAC
Coming Up: The Pop Awards

SOCCX HOLD ON Exclusive album review Track by Track Review

Soccx Hold On: released 26th of November

Soccx are about to launch themselves in France with the single Scream Out Loud released next month as the parent album Hold On follows shortly afterwards. To say DontStopThePop has been looking forward to this girlband release is an understatement and after many listens, I can acutely proclaim that Hold On is triumph! So here is my thoughts, track by track, on their album. In short, its tad wonderful! Or as they say over in France c'est merveilleux et j'espère que l'album aie beaucoup de succès!

Addict

This includes sirens, throbbing baselines and is a bit of a dancefloor confessional. The vocals are distorted to the max. This song is good. This could be a possible single and has the potential to be a huge hit in the US. Includes a ridiculous electro melody backed-up by a hip-hop drumline which reinforces the notions that Soccx are a bunch of pop addicts. Nice! DontStopthePop Rating: 4.9

Scream Out Loud Radio Version

I hear no difference between the club version (see below) and this mix. However it is somewhat different to the single version you've got on the CD singles. If that makes any sense! DontStopthePop Rating: 5

Kisses In The Wind

Ok this is one of the best songs of the album. Its a slow track but its brilliant. Its a sweet ballad that makes you wanna hold your paramour. This takes you back to your first love and has a ring of Swedish Eurovision about it. Confusing you? Sorry! Just imagine Kylie's Fragile mixed in with Ola's Who I Am and S Club 7's Two In A Million and you've got the vibe of Kisses In The Wind. This song is so catchy the hooks overflow into the next song forcing you to click repeat on your mp3/cd player the moment song finishes. You'll be repeating the chorus over and over. It has some brilliant instrumentalisation (a wonderful use of the xylophone for example) and streamlined vocals from the girls make it a clear future single. DontStopthePop Rating: 5

It Takes Two

The girls continue the slow groove and this song reminds me when the Spice Girls got Naked and '2 Became 1' on their debut album Spice. Its not one of the strongest songs on the album yet its cute and breezy. DontStopthePop Rating: 3

Without Eye Contact

Ooooh, now thats a bit better! The girls scream out loud that they will "shake their tails" and this is so Spinning Around it makes you get out those gold hotpants you've not used since 2000. There is certainly a 70's Sister Sledge vibe to Without Eye Contact but the lyrics are all about having yummy lovin' "front to back". Only they wanna "do it without eye contact" and this will be completed by "bringing out the Cristal". It seems Soccx get nasty when they've got a bit of bubbly down their necks. This sounds a bit like a cross between Stop by the aforementioned Spice Girls and Janet's Throb. As such its a winning song and is the best on the album. Feather boa? Flairs? Purple sequined boob-tube? Expensive drinkies? You've got Without Eye Contact summed up. DontStopthePop Rating: 5

Last Warning

The introduction is all spooky. This gives Danity Kane a real run for their money. The electrobeats on Last Warning are so hardcore you feel like it should be wrapped up in a brown paper bag. This could be the twin sister of their songs Addict and Scream Out Loud except without stomping vocals from the band. Instead, Last Warning is something that would fit quite nicely on any Timbaland produced album. DontStopthePop Rating: 4.9

Another Girl

Oooh, this is so cute. It reminds me a bit of the vocal effects used in that Akon track that pissed all over the charts a few years ago. Only Soccx keep Another Girl controlled and theres no novelty aspect to Another Girl. Its a slowie but its actually very catchy. The likes of Agnes Carlsson and Ricki-Lee would love this entire album but they'd surely make a big deal over Another Girl. DontStopthePop Rating: 4.2

Bye Bye Baby

This is a b-side from From Dusk Till Dawn so you should know it. This version is slightly, and i stress slightly, touched up with some more beats and electro beats. DontStopthePop Rating: 4.2

Get A Taste

Starts off "hey boy-why you looking all scared...I wont bite!". You think its a string/ballad sort of track but it couldn't be further removed from a slowie. This song has been on the Soccx website for ages as the introduction to the girls and their names. The introduction might make you ignore it at first. However, its one of the most interesting songs on the album. Its amazing, brilliant and sinister. You feel as if you've entered a particular opium den where the soundtrack is produced by the first Empress of India, the Neptunes (before they sold out) and a touch of nu-Bollywood. It finishes with the rather rude lyric that refuses to finish its conclusion. A sort of climax that surreally literally leaves Soccx speechless. This song could be huge in the US if the girls released it there. DontStopthePop Rating: 5

From Dusk Till Dawn

Finally a disco song! From Dusk Till Dawn could easily break the girls in the UK if released here. You guys should know this as it was the second single in Germany. DontStopthePop Rating: 5

Its So Hard To Do The Right Thing

You remember those slowish songs on those Christian Milian, Stacie Orrico and Christina Aguilera albums? Well this is so like those that you barely notice the song. I hate to say it but this song screams album filler so much so that you actually find yourself wondering whether you've filled in your tax returns thats before the girls even get to the chorus. This could be on the 3rd album of the American girlband Dream but seems out of place here. Very good vocals though. DontStopthePop Rating: 1

Hold On

Repeatly starts of with Gina G's famous refrain "just a little bit" which surely is a good sign. Another disco/dance song on the same stratosphere of From Dusk Till Dawn but throw in strange tribal beats, claps and uplifting lyrics. This track might not be a single track but its the strongest song on the album. Only cos its so strange and different you'll find nothing out there like their title track (which explains why its the title track). This song is genre-busting in that it refuses to categorized and neatly boxed-in. You think its rnb but then it turns into a brilliant club song and then I feel a bit of flamenco thrown in to really mess it up. This song needs to be heard to believed. You know the amazing title track by Sugababes Change? Well, this is somewhat like this. Only poppier and lot more wackier. This song is dramatic, a bit like doing the tango, passionate, trashy, classy and simply kooky. I love it! DontStopthePop Rating: 5

Bonus Track: Scream Out Loud Club Version

Perhaps this should be best described as the album version. And the difference to the radio mix that you have on your CDs? Not much. A bridge about "tasting honey" is slightly longer. Also no rap and nor strange "vespa" sound-effects. Still, one of the most best pop songs by a girlband in recent months. Scream Out Loud manages to dip its in fingers in electro, rnb and hip hop. This song knows its acutely catchy and absolutely owns the dancefloor. DontStopthePop Rating: 5.0

Conclusion

Hold On has taken some time to release but its well worth the wait. Its far more original and interesting than fellow other European girlbands (shakes me fists at L5, Monrose and No Angels!). If you wanted an album that followed in the footsteps of Hot Summer by Monrose then Hold On is just for you. To be sure, its low on pure pop songs like its first two lead singles but with only one filler Hold On is a fucking brilliant album! For a girlband faced with rumours of line-up "issues" and other set-backs, Soccx deserve to do really well with this CD. You can hear sweat and the vocals are pretty much flawless. Kisses in the Wind stands out as one of 2007's sweetest pop songs and despite being a ballad it will actually have you dancing. Hold On, the title track, is odd, confused and brilliantly disruptive. Soccx have clearly defied all the odds, stood their ground, followed their dreams and released an album that shows up their nearest rivals. Pass them the bubbly!

Singles: Scream Out Loud, From Dusk Till Dawn.
Songs that Should be Future Singles: Kisses In The Wind, Without Eye Contact, Addict & Get A Taste.
Stand Out Song: Hold On

Released: 26.11.2007

Preview it Here: Soccx (French Myspace)
Soccx Official Website (France)
Fnac
Amazon France
Soccx Offical Website (Germany)
Management
Booking