COSMO4 "Around The World" Track by Track World Exclusive Review

Cosmo4-Around The World album cover

Forget the long-awaited Annie Lennox album for today I hold in my hands something even more beautiful, poptastic and long overdue. Forget even the overpriced Spice Girls reunion tickets! Its the arrival of Cosmo4’s album Around The World that is making me go all wunderba! This album has taken ages to come out and as of typing its actually yet to be released...but the wait is finally over! After four singles spanning over three years, yes three years, the Swedish girlgroup consisting of Yasmine, Ulrika, Jenny, and Rudina are on the crux of releasing the parent album from which the singles were recorded for! I can't stress this enough though-the album isn't released yet; nor can I find any online stores holding the release but I will suggest you watch closely to CDon and their Russian record company Style-Records who are planning to release the CD very soon.

1.What’s Your Name

Ok everyone knows this one for the girls tried their best to represent Sweden with the ditty this year and were robbed by the ridiculous The Ark. What’s Your Name recalls the feisty girlpower of Wannabe, combines that with the Sugababes Round Round and throws a touch of Robyns Handle Me in the mix to produce a brilliant start to Around The World.

Critical lyric: “Cruising the land looking for somebody/Not a whimp with a tan/Not a boy thinking he's a man/True to the scale/I need a real Alpha-male”

2.Peek-A-Boo

Cosmo4’s second single. This is a bit like Please Stay and hasn’t dated one bit despite coming out early last year. Personally I’ve always felt anything with “boo” in its title will always be a DontStopthePop classic and thus the girls are already onto a pop gem before the song has even begun. Boo!!!

Critical Lyric: “It’s a game for two! It’s a game I wanna play, I wanna play with you!”

3. A Girls Gotta Do (What A girls Gotta Do)

Ooooh, very electroDannii meets Holly Valance in a dirty Ghetto-like Soho nightclub. This song throbs and thrusts!

Critical Lyric: “London to New York/Nightclubs to Sidewalks”

4. I Think We’re Alone Now

Yes! Oh Yes! It’s a poptrash disco cover of that 1980’s hit single by Tiffany. Yes I know Tiffany’s was itself a cover but Cosmo4 go for the 1980’s version and throw an amazing beat over the vocals and the thoughts of big hair, leg-warmers and dodgy videos are put to bed. Cosmo4 completely alter the song into a ethereal electro disco anthem much in the same way the current mixes of Robyn’s Handle Me have absolutely altered the rnb jam into something completely else. Remember when Girls Aloud did Jump? At first it was a bit odd but slowly and surely their take took on a life of its own. Well this version of I think Were Alone Now is a bit like that! You’ll frown at first but eventually completely forget the covers by Tiffany, Girls Aloud, the Click Five and The Rubinoos.

Critical lyric: “And we tumble to the ground….And then you say….”

5. Shop Shop

Wow! This is more like Peek-A-Boo and their two other singles. This is dedicated to the past-time of shopping. Layered with a doo-wop latino baseline it becomes an instant pop classic all about burning money. Remember when Supersister did Shopping? Well this is in the similar vein but a lot better!

Critical Lyric: “From London off to Hollywood, to Paris down to Rome again, oh baby don’t you know I will never tire, I just can’t get enough of it, I’m really really loving it, I can’t deny-ieieieieieie my desirrrrrrrrrre”

6. Adios Amigos

You know this song cos it was their 3rd single so I wont go on about it. All I’ll say is it’s a brilliant reinterpretation of Cher’s Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).

Critical Lyrics: “I said adios amigos I gotta go, amigos bye bye”

7. Vida Loca

You might think this is another latino pop song. Well it kinda is but its so much better than anything J:LO has ever done. Well it just happens to be one of the catchiest pop songs of 2007 by a girlband. Coming in at 2:56 minutes it would be a perfect comeback pop song for Cosmo4. This is like What’s Your Name part two but probably a lot better. Vida Loca takes you directly to the beaches of Spain, Ibiza and Portugal and as such methinks the girlgroup should consider releasing something in that area rather soon. Around the World would be perfect for the iberian radios. Soundwise it sounds like Kylie’s Please Stay hooked up with Love At First Sight.

Critical lyric: “Vida Loca, ayeheoeoeoeoaoeo, aeoeoeohoyaoyaoya!”

8. Mexico

This was the first single back in 2005 and its simply odd. Wonderfully odd. It’s a bit Western, a bit like something from the LuckyTwice album and then out of the blue it has elements of a country album Jessica Simpson would do if she actually got round to realising how to record a catchy pop song. Despite being three years old (its been re-recorded for the album), it still holds its own purely because its such an unusual yet quirky pop song. You’ll hear nothing like Mexico.

Critical lyric: “In 1990 we took a little trip, went all the way from China to the mighty Missisip.”

9. Poor Romeo

Oh my Gosh! The Girls go hyper discoschlager! Nanne and Shirley move out of the way for the girls of Cosmo4 are walking through. This is the campest song on the album and demands to be released. The best way I can describe it would be if I compared it to Alla Flickor and the Jennifer Lopez early hit Waiting For Tonight. Girls Aloud would kill Xenomania for a song like Poor Romeo! This has to be the strongest songs on Around The World and reeks of smash hit single.

Critical lyrics: “Romeo! Oh my poor Romeo!”

10. What’s Not To Like

Ok, the girls slow things down. Is this their only ballad? Sort Of! Cosmo 4 turn all PussyCat Dolls with their attempt to go all rnb but sadly it doesn’t quite work. I am a pop boy so I might be a bit biased but after nine songs of pure pumping pop this song slightly jars. What’s Not To Like isnt a bad song but it doesn’t sit well especially after the brilliant disco song Poor Romeo. It starts off well as in it could actually eclipse the sublime ballad by All Saints Never Ever. The main problem of the song is it drags on a bit too long. It’s a fine song but it lacks the sparkle of the other tracks on Around The World.

Critical Lyrics: “Your looking at me, your liking my curves, I am telling you straight, you get on my nerves!”

Bonus Tracks:

11.Whats Your Name (Holter Remix)

Perhaps sensing that the Rnb stylings of Whats Not To Like didn't quite add up Cosmo4 included a discotastic remix of their already anthemic Eurovision attempt. And its good. Very good.

12. Peek-a-Boo (Soundfactory Club Mix)

Soundfactory are usually into hardcore throbbing beats but on this mix they refuse to go do a house mix and instead do something very different and I can even smell a The Knife influence.

Conclusion

Around the World is a very strong pop album. Historically one might say its the sort of album that could come straight after Spiceworld. Loaded with anthems that will go down in girlband history, Cosmo4 have recorded a cd that all pop lovers should own. Its taken them ages to get to this stage but the girls can relax now, its done and hold their heads up high. Sweden has done very well this year when it comes to girlbands (Caracola, PayTV, Miss Match, LuckyTwice) and one hopes that Cosmo4 manage to get this cd out for fans who’ll adore this cd. At the moment its getting released in Russia but I think Sweden, Spain and Germany would lap Around The World in their droves.

I’ve been told by the powers in charge that the CD might get some kind of Itunes release so keep your ears to the ground. Songs that demand to be released as singles are Vida Loca, A Girls Gotta Do and the mighty Poor Romeo. In short, this album has to be released!

Critical Links:
Cosmo4 Official Site
CDon
StyleRecords
Cosmo4 Official Myspace
GoMusic (A good Russian music store that will stock Around The World when its released)

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Coming up: something very cool from PayTV, Soccx, Caracola, LuckyTwice………….

JONAH The World Exclusive Interview (as his single enters the Swedish top ten!)

TheWorldofJonah

Forget ya Dannys, Justins, Willys, Olas, Darrens, and Mans-lets get down to business here. We're talking pop business. Real, deep and hard. Thats how DontStopthePop likes its pop singers. Mean, gritty and a Gucci bag full of love, laughter and giggles. The high pitched popBoys in this popworld come and go but rarely do they seem to please the towers of DontStopthePop. In short DSTP has grown tired of boy pop princes. They appear to be nothing more than pretenders to the throne as one Henry Tudor might say. I desire something bold, honest, kingly and commanding. Yes-I want a singer with balls. Pop balls if you wish!

So step forward Jonah. The man is a legend to be true but what follows below is bewildering. DSTP has already featured him and it was so successful an interview seemed only natural. So two days ago an interview was done and today to DSTP's absolute joy Jonah's song Summer High has moved from no.14 in Sweden and has landed deep in the top ten of the Swedish charts.

As they say in Sweden "Veckans Smash Hit!"

Quite amazing! Oh yes, heads are certainly turning and very quickly too! This is a man who has sung and lived the words of I am What I am, danced with British rentboys, taught the lyrics of Eurovision failures to Saudi royalty and could literally teach a thing or two to our British pop male acts.......so on with the questions!

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First of all, let me say that you’ve had a great response after appearing on DontStopthePop a few days ago! Why’d ya think that is?

Because you British guys has such an excellent taste of course (laughs). To be honest I was really surprised when I discovered your site, the article and all the positive comments. Its very flattering!

One of our readers and one of your fans, Peter Lassing of Karlstad to be exact, responded by saying that you’d started in doing music years ago. He added “He was 12 or 13 something and already shining like a star. It was something very special about his appearance on stage.” What was the show and what do you remember from that time in your life?

Wow, what a compliment……..Oh god, what show was that?! Hmmm i can’t really remember what show it was but what I do remember is that in that exactly period I was really getting determined that I wanted to become a singer. I did shows and started to sing and dance more seriously and also had my first roles.

Well, I for one never knew you’d started doing music so young! What was your favourite production?

That i was in or that I looked at?!

Both!

My favourite musical I always wanted to watch was Fame. I had such a hard time to decide whether I wanted to be Nic who was this fabulous singer, soft and humble or Tyrone who was this cool guy and a greeeeeaaaat dancer. Its still my problem .... to be the humble, soft homestayer or that cool groovy partyguy! Hahahahahahaaha!!!!!

My favorite musical to be in was a stage-version of Bröderna Lejonhjärta by the Swedish favourite writer Astrid Lindgren. It’s such a heartbreaking story and is about two brothers. Bobby go and read it if you haven’t!

Will do! Now a lot of the replies ran with one major theme-that your a pop artist with a sense of dignity. How would you reply to that?

It’s really important to me to always stay true to myself and my heart... I hope it may shine through. For example I been asked to participate in the Swedish version of American Idol for two seasons and both times I’ve turned it down. That’s not my way of making music. I love the show but I wouldn’t like to be in it. For me music starts in the heart. Not in others expectations. That goes not only for music by the way! That’s also how i want to live my life. To get that no 1 hit or to get a worldwide breakthrough isn’t the most important thing you know...

So, straight to your music! Who are you working with on this album?

I’ve chosen a lot of different writers and producers for the album. All extremely creative and with a lot of experience. We also had a lot of songs send to us from other countries and some of them may be on the album. Your disco-icon and one of my old favorites Rick Astley wrote one of the songs I listened to earlier today hehe... Maybe I’ll add it. He was sooo cool at the height of his career. A keyperson in the whole affair is my 1st hand producer Anders Lundstöm. He is almost as much of the Jonah-music-style as myself. I love working with him!

Will the sound of the album mirror your first two singles or Summer High?

It’s more Summer High. Absolutely! But I’ll promise you; there will also be dance remixes (winks).


Theres a lot of love for Summer High! Will the album explore all the seasons of the year?

Of course... I love to give energy and make people dance and be happy.... but right now it’s alot of ballads in the making... those heartbroken ones... a typical autumn-phenomena... Songs for spring will also be easy... but winter??? Uhhh i hate the winter!

Ok, I’ve been lucky enough to hear some of your new sounds and its great. Although demos they all have that distinct quality based around your voice and sublime 1960’s pop molded into a 2008 disco hype. The decision to go with the Summer High direction will please many including myself. What are the songs your most proud about at the moment?

Hmm--- There is a song called "Walk with me" that i wrote myself that is very close to my heart at the minute. “Will you still love me in the afternoon” is also one of my favorites. It really puts my life together in a song hehehehehe...

Whats it about?

It’s about the feelings you have when you wake up to late for breakfast a sunday at noon.
But above all... I love "Look at me now". That’s a special song for me. Also a ballad as the other two. I hope it will be chosen as the next single. And "Play (If you)" is also fab... sexy dirty and very me. (Oh and Jonah winks again!).

Can you describe what you wanna do with your first album? And want you want to it sound like?

I want it to be a picture of me. Different sides of my person... You should be able to find songs suitable for every occasion: Like bringing me as your friend into different parts of your life. Suitable to dance to at the party, cuddle up with in the sofa those heartbroken nights with ben & jerry ice-cream and just the tv as comes on or to become the soundtrack of your wildest moments in bed...

Ahem. Perhaps a title then? What about “Jonah’s Arc”? Have you got to that stage yet? Of giving it a name?

Hehehe great title... but unfortunately I’ve already named it... "Welcome to my world”

If your sound as an musician had to be plucked out in just 5 key words I’d go with “groovy”, “pop”, “uplifting”, “Quirky” and of course “stylistic”. Would you agree with those & would you add any to those?

I think you say it really good there. Honesty is another word I’d like to use. As well as personal.

What three things since the release of your first single "I am What I am", are you most proud of?

Thats a though one. I’m proud of walking my own way. Instead of doing what everybody expected and to put all my life into becoming a popstar back then in 2001. When i was just 20 something i wanted to wait until the time was right. Now is that time. I’m older...But what the fuck who cares? Uhh 3 things.. that means 2 more... hmm need to think about that one...

Ok, I know your disco friends with fellow DontStopthePop favourites, Miss Match! Would you three ever consider teaming up to create a perfect slice of pop music? Perhaps special guests for your album?

Hehe... We’ve talked about it since we first hooked up when we were on the same tour around Melodifestivalen 2007... especially when we go out to a party we always end up talking about how fab it would be hehe... I love those girls! But now since Alcazar has re-united we had to make a promise to not do anything togheter for awhile... We don’t want the disco divas in Alcazar to be forgotten in the shadows hahahahaha!!!!

Now on Neon Nights, Dannii Minogue wrote and dedicated a song to her vibrator/dildo. The song was called Vibe On and despite never ever being released it’s a bit of a favourite. What aspects of your life are influencing the subjects that you find yourself writing about and putting to music?

Everything. Totally!

September, Miss Match, Lucky Twice, Robyn, B-Tween, Danny, Magnus Carlsson, BwO….you can see where this is going.... Two questions. The first why is the Swedish pop scene so damn good? And secondly, where do you see your music and your style fit into that batch of singers?

First of all i do NOT agree with you.. I think some of these Swedish acts are really boring to be honest... But some of them are really super! Since ABBA we also had some strange self-confidence that we are a good music country... I think that helps... there are so many talented producers, writers and artists in Sweden... And somehow we all seem to get to be able to make magic... that’s the good part of being a small country. Hmmmm where do i find my music... well... thats a tough one though.

Out of all of those acts mentioned…which one would you 1) Go Camping with… 2) Go Partying with… 3) Collaborate on a Kylie tribute album…

Ok well I probably would say Miss Match on all three... but to make it more fun I’ll add some more!

i) love to go camping with Robyn (I’d love to have her for myself a couple of days!)
ii) go partying with September (she reaaaaaly knows how to party).
iii) To collaborate on a Kylie tribute album? That would have to be with Magnus (could it be more camp?)
iv) and go to bed with? BwO!

(I didn’t add part iv that was completely from the mind of Jonah!)

Can you tell the readers about the time you burnt the hotel down with the drag queen hostess Miss Matulda?

Once at a show in northern Sweden I was feeling sick, so I returned to my hotel room for some tea and lit a bunch of candles. Then I figured that wine would be a better cure, opened a bottle and then remembered that my friend, the drag queen hostess Miss Matulda, was in the room down the hallway. I went over with a glass for her as well. She was just in the middle of putting on her make up, so I went back to my room after ten seconds. When I opened my room door, I saw that the candles had set the whole curtain on fire. In shock, I figured the right thing to do was to immediately and take control of the situation for everyone’s best……..

So I managed to grab a hold of my Dolce & Gabbana’s and my designer stage clothes before the firemen pulled me out of the room. As the last to leave the building, I was standing face to face with about 50 firemen and police officers, but luckily for my guilty ass, no one was looking at me. Instead, all eyes were on the transvestite only wearing fishnet stockings, heavy eye-brows and a bare upper body.


Talking of burning down the house…Did you think Scooch deserved to do better at Eurovision?

I loved Scooch! Me and my best friend – a winner of Eurovision a few years ago - were watching it via satellite in Spain... I did the scooch-dance for the entire month in Puerto Banus And I even tried to teach a particular SchejkPrince from Arabia the lyrics. He loved the "coffee tea" part haha….

Are you yourself toying with the idea of entering the competition?

We are working on an entry for the Swedish competition. BUT my dream is to enter for England... yes you may think that seems strange but i have my reasons. And let’s face it... You could do with some Swedish help!

You’ve worked with Schlager legend Shirley Clamp. Would you ever consider releasing a schlager album (or perhaps just a bonus track?). I know its miles away from your current sound but I’ve always thought your deep vocals and a boy singing Linda Bengtzing’s “Alla Flickor” would be rather polemic! And an English version too?! I think we'd all love a male version of that Swedish classic!

Haha... I’ll perform it as a bonus on my first G A Y show... I promise you.

Am I right in thinking you taught arts at several universities in 2005?

Not arts... but performing arts... Well since 2000 really... mostly in sweden but also around Europe...

As it’s the title of your new single, what memory do you recall as a summer high? What made it so good? Was it “erotical” or “tragical” (or both!).

On my first visit ever to an English gay bar, my friends and I ended up having a bet about who would get the cute David Beckham-look-a-like that was strutting around looking delicious. I won, which was fun, but not as fun any more when I asked him what he did for a living and it turned out he was a prostitute! How did the night end? Well I didn’t have to pay!

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So there you have it-Jonah Hedqvist: A Pop Legend!! He's obviously the most exciting male acts to step up to the microphone since, like whenever. He’s taught performing arts around the globe some of which included teaching Arabian royalty the naughty lyrics and dance steps to Scooch’s Flying The Flag. His album sounds poptastic and DontStopthePop has already pre-ordered five thousand copies to give to loved ones come Christmas time. What strikes me reading the interview back is how utterly distinct, mature & frank Mr.Jonah is and in a time when male pop acts seem guarded, manufactured and believe screeching is singing Jonah is one of a kind. Jonah is the perfect DontStopthePop popstar & we all await his next move with baited breath!

Critical Links:

Jonah's Myspace
WorldofJonah (still in wip)
Buy Summer High at CdOn
Buy Once In A Life Time at QX
Pre-Order Welcome To My World at CdOn

DSTP Info: The voting for the Pop Awards has finally come to an end! The winners will be announced very soon. Album reviews for Caracola and Lucky Twice are on the way as are reviews for the new Cds by Pay-TV and Soccx.