So to start off the Danish Pop Exploration! We thought it would be pertinant to begin our study with a group that have been offering us pop gems for years yet only now has the world decided to bathe in the light they provide: the band that call themselves Infernal. 2006 marks their tenth year of forming as a threesome becoming one of Denmarks most loved pop band.
You can check out their total discography over at official.com and as you will see they've been around for yonks. While their current single From Paris To Berlin is undergoing a disease otherwise called victim of World Cup, they've updated their addictive yet annoying international debut hit single in the style of a hot Spanish polemic that has nothing to do with football. This suggests to us at DontStopthePop that the From London To Berlin "thing" is pretty much a UK record thing.
Anyway...
I used-scrap that-still have a crush on Paw the very cute male vocalist in the band. As you can see despite his interesting hair styles over the years he's got that something special:
As far as duo bands go I think the picture to the left ensures Infernal are clearly in the lead for having the best sort of eye candy on offer to us listeners. Those eyes, those nipples and that navel!
However those rather cute ears do make me worry...they look like they've had a history of being tugged with particular strength...
And here is Paw with friend and another very interesting hair style at Gay Pride in Stockholm:
& if you've listened to the track Ultimate Control on their most recent LP you could infer something rather timultuous in the lyrics sung by a tortured Paw. Nevertheless its all relativist and what I see as an ode of the confessional and the hunger for liberation some might see as a love story. Basically, my interpretation is lost amongst the waves of their addictive beats and thats how it should be.
Infernal are about to be trumped out by a fake artist in the UK charts but their international success with From Paris To Berlin is well deserved. The Danish pop band have been working at entertaining crowds for years & if you are able to see them live: do! Their live shows are scary yet amazing experience like no other:
Infernal now consist of Paw Lagermann and Lina Rafn. From Paris To Berlin might be their first international hit-indeed it was a big hit in Germany last year-but they've been around much longer. The current album, also called "From Paris To Berlin", is already the band's third. I say now because the Infernal I know always contained three members. With their new material, the third member vanished from the album/single covers however I think he's still there, lurking in the background...
Infernal are now a "youthful" band where hot sweaty sex rules the day. Their videos consist of white liquid all over the breast of a random female clubber and dripping down a six pack of a very cute+naked male stranger. I sound like I'm complaining but I'm not: this is the Infernal realm of darkrooms, sweaty walls and hot flesh. A night at Ghetto comes to mind as the hawt image of Paw illustrates below:
Music:
On offer today we've gone back to the earlier days of Infernal. Kiss The Sky and Living Under Water are not on any of the releases of their last album but are two huge tracks that send crowds into an hyper daze when performed.
Kiss The Sky-Included on their rather rather rare Muzaik album. Released 2001 on Flex Records, it contained an unusual sound, combining pop music with traditional Turkish drums/percussion. Kiss the Sky is not too trance but ever so anthemic. Alternative download location.
Living Under Water-Thrilling dance/pop track that simply never gets tired. Also included on the 2001 Muzaik album. Living Under Water will take you to Ibiza without destroying your ear drums like so much their fellow trance acts. Alternative download location.
Bonus recent track: I Took A Ride (FairyTale)-This track has been re-recorded on the international re-release of their 3rd album From Paris To Berlin. The Danish one that I have is sung mostly by a boy whereas the other one is a girlie track.
Please support Infernal by checking out these lovely places: TDC Musik, Cdon and Amazon.
Words: Intense, unforgiving electro, pulsating
THE INFERNAL POP ESSAY
THE DENMARK DIMENSION OF POP IS ON ITS WAY
Denmark is the land of Mermaids, controversial Cartoons and excellent pop music. Yes yes, the Danes are always outshadowed by their fabtastic neighbours, the Swedes and with their sublime ABBA who could deny such pop historicity... However Danish pop music is currently riding high with the Infernal boys+girls charting with their monster of a global hit single, From Paris II Berlin: so its about time a blog celebrated the country that calls itself "an occupied hollow in a wild forest".
Coming up is Constitution Day which established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy, and honors the constitution of 1953 which was adopted on the same day. It is celebrated on the fifth of June of each year so DontStopthePop will fly the Danish flag with pride.
Acts encountered will be Safri Duo, Brother+Sister, Infernal, Aqua, Sanne & the legend that is Christine Milton amongst others....Any suggestions will be adored!
MAGNUS CARLSSON Mellan Vitt Och Svart-FIXED!!! Now no.2 in Sweden!
That's a bit tasty!
Giving Carola a run for her flower pots, Magnus Carlsson illustrates one thing with this HUGE POPTASTIC Mellan Vitt Och Svart: the brilliance of pop music to encompass everything decadant, fluffy, sexual, repression and of course campness. This song trancends language so don't be put off by the all Swedish lyrics.
This is truly how pop music should be done: building, strange electronic blips and blaps, guitars, thumping beat, keyboards and of course backing vocals that go "la la la la la" and "woooh". This comes from his self-titled second album (the first being a Christmas L.P which includes a Mariah Carey cover) which takes the best of the 80's, throws in a bit of indie and remembers the great electronic love affairs of the 1970's and 2001. If your expecting pop of the sorts from his old band Alcazar or even BwO you'll either be surprised or melancholic for the pop on the album ignores the 4x4 baseline for something a bit more experimental. Think silly-Goldfrapp instead of Alexander Bard/Army Of Lovers.
Magnus Carlsson needs no introduction to DontStopthePop readers: however we do hope you love the pic we've chosen to highlight his dirty+sleazy looks.
Enjoy!
Words: Nu-Swedish, Alcazar, Darren Hayes, Eurovision, Barbados
LALEH Storebror
Born in Iran Laleh moved to Sweden when she was 12. She personally produced and wrote her debut album in 2005 which recieved seven nominations at the Swedish Grammis beating the likes of Robyn to win three: Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.
Storebror sounds the like a dirty tavern that time forgot somewhere in a dusty part of Copenhagen before it was a trendy city of Europe that it is today. And yet, it is rather universal, chanson, drunk rant and tragic. For this alone it could be called the relativist sirens song.
Words: Piano, drunk, wasted, ranting
JOHN GLOVER Hallaluah!(You Found Yourself Another Man)
As I sooth my sinful headache, straighten out my arguements I had with long lost lovers the night before and try to rid the taste of wine, men and glitter lipstick from my mouth, unsigned artist John Glover wraps around my body and tells me everything is gonna be alright. The song starts of rather acoustically yet soars once he gets to the second chorus. Those who love TheZapping blogspot will adore John Glover...
While his music appears quite distant from the usual DontStopThePop faire, I feel that the disco stomper always needs a calmer soliloquy to actually realise the potential of the mirrorball anthem.
Who is John Glover then? The sexiest man you'll ever meet! Younger brother of the equally amazing unsigned artist Dana Glover, American and relaxed. He was signed by Mca last year but his album was lost amongst the shoals once RCA bought out the cute little record label famous for nurturing Alanis and Dannii in their younger years.
John Glover is unsigned and has the voice that will ease out any knots you have from the club night before. As you will hear on Hallaluah, the question of sexuality is answered in the most subtle but bitter manner and for this we love!
John we love ya and hopefully we'll hear more of you soon! When your website goes live, DontStopthePop will be right behind you!
Bonus: Underground Lover
VETO SILVER When Your With That Girl
Riding the jetstream of uber, Veto Silver are in charge of their own destiny and making electric waves in the hinterland that is the British music industry. When Your With That Girls comes from the limited e.p release that came out last year and while rough around the edges you can really hear the real potentially/possibility literally creaming out of the 3 minute pop gem. With their brilliant new single "Stay Young", they're "pitching" the tents of those over at Select, Ghetto, NME and popjustice. Their myspace is getting "heavy-biscuit". They are the electro fairies pleasing all sorts of corners!
You can also find out a rather FAB interview of the band and an exclusive review of their new album in this rather interesting edition of Gay Times which is on the Best of British. I'm gonna post the front cover purely because I think the guy eating the Cox apple is really crunchy.
Yummy!!!
JONNA Sateen Jalkeen+Ella's Statement!
Hi! I'm Ella & I'm here to add that womans touch that this place needs! So to my first ever song to give you...Jonna! Who is proof that the Finnish and their music are nothing like that of Lordi and quite classical in production and vocals. She's somewhat like the best of Britney, Natasha Beddingfield & Mania yet very much herself. Her material is of a very high standard and you could locate her position in the Finnish music industry as that of Swedens mighty Robyn. Jonna is simply huge there.
I hope you like her!
Things are gonna change 'round here. Not only will DontStopthePop be a blog primarily about recalling a particular strands of global pop often lost or forgotten but now some acoustic expressions, or what is sadly labelled as 'indie', of melodic pop will be included and enjoyed...
You might have heard of the slogan "rights without borders": Don'tStopthePop is about pop without borders. Music that transcends. In the few months of DontStopthePops inception-its only been here for 5 months- we've heard pop music from India, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, U.S, Germany, Romania, Bosnia, Japan, Ukraine and now Finland.
However the music exposed, explored, examined and revitalised appeared to express just one form of poptastic music. This is what we will try to change. Just as the bells of Pay-tv need celebrating, DontStopthePop will ALSO now search for material that goes for the soft or minor approach. This moment in pop multiplicity was forced in our minds once Finland won Eurovision while Kate Ryan was left to pick up the very shattered pieces of her wonderful and now deviant pop anthem. But don't think this blog will turn into a Coldplay/NME/Sandi Thom/ 'arteest' love-in...for sure, DontStopthePop won't suddenly be estolling the virtues of gothrock but pop must be inclusive and so will we!
NIARA SCARLETT+NATACHA ATLAS Who's My Baby?-NOW FIXED!!!!
& now for something completely different...
Niara Scarlett is probably one of the most talented pop writers in the post-80's ex-Smash Hits music realm. She is one-half Mania and her names graces some of the best pop songs the UK has ever produced. Bit by bit however her name is slowly coming foward from behind the songcredits and taking center stage. Her first foray in the blue spotlights was with her mate Giselle in the defunkt pop band Mania.
At first if ya fail, you gotta dust yourself down and reply the lipgloss+glitter fuck me pumps. Niara sure has done that: she's already peaking MTV video charts in some urban outfit.
This is a typical Xenomania track with a bit of a difference...for it includes the legend that is Natacha Atlas. To download the COMPLETE Mania discography including the ultra rare material from the cancelled LP check out the sublime blog, Tip Top Pop. However if you want the Mania online b-side don't download the one on the website 'cause it will get all Mission Impossible on your ass so just head here for the quite delightful rare track: DNA
So who is Natacha Atlas?
Atlas was born in born in Belgium. She is known for her fusion of Arabic and North African music. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" (i.e., an updated form of Egypt's pop music). It also includes many influences from styles like hip hop, drum and bass, and reggae. Madonna, Tricky, William Orbit amongst others have said to be avid followers of Natacha Atlas.
Some kind thoughts on Natacha's quite beautiful 2003 release, Something Dangerous...
Endowed with a high, sinuous voice perfectly suited for the serpentine embellishments of Egyptian music, Natasha's focus has long since been to combine Middle-Eastern modalities with modern Dance and Ambient Dub styles, not dissimilar to Bally Sagoo's Brit-centric underground annexation of classical Indian vernacular. On Dangerous, the Club element is represented by Mi Julee aka Princess Julianna, Tuup and Count Dubulah of Temple of Sound. Sinead O'Connor appears on "Simple Heart", the Prague Symphony on the otherworldly opener "Adam's Lullaby". From "rub yourself all over me, it's so addictive" Rap/Dub vocals and slam beats to the synthesized strings of desert lounge; from James Brown's "Man's World" -- made over into a hip-swaying, smokily seductive ode to the feminine gender -- to the slow-mo break-dance attitude of "Layali"; from the rasta'fied riddim jibes of Tuup to "the greatest joy belongs to the simple heart" duet with O'Connor and the gorgeous ballad "Le Printemps" above synth pedals; Dangerous is a cannily balanced release that dances on the knife edge of good taste, MP3 appeal and exoticness.
Her albums, Diaspora (1995), Halim (1997), Gedida (1999), Ayeshteni (2001, Foretold in the Language of Dreams (2002), Something Dangerous (2003) and this years Mish Maoul are all absolutely stunning.
She is currently billed to star in the film Whatever Lola Wants, due to be released in 2007. It will be directed by Nabil Ayouch and co-starring Saïd Taghmaoui.
As of this precise moment DontStopthePop has gone off in a huff due to the absolute crime of Kate Ryan not making the final of Eurovision. Sabotage! Why did the TV shoot to some random foot when Kate's song was about to orgasm!? Why?! Why?! We will be brooding for about a week but when we come back there should be the Part 2 of the Robyn Special and Scooch Saturday ready to go on our return!!!
ALANIS Fate Stay With Me
FLASHBACK! Alanis: The Disco Queen of Pop!? What!
Back in the day, Alanis was actually the discopop princess of Canada. She rivalled Kylie in the big hair-fag-bangles-big beat disco classics. She released 2 disco/pop/rnb albums before the age of 20 and they came with pop videos with brilliant "urban dance moves" that would make Janet Jackson blush.
Alanis should be put in the same "popstars/pop idol" box as Will Young and Girls Aloud..why you ask? She's actually an early star of an music/tv pop contest.
When she was 9 years old, Morissette wrote her first song. With the money saved from her stint on the children's television show You Can't Do That On Television, Morissette released an indie single Fate Stay With Me with the B-side Find The Right Man. She then went to Star Search, a popular American talent competition and used her stage name Alanis Nadine. Morissette flew to Los Angeles to appear on the show. She lost.
After that she signed up to MCA and released two huge albums that went double platinum and featured singles that were all relative hit pop singles.
Once she was done with MCA she moved down to LA and signed up to Madonna's record company Maverick who were so nervous about Alanis' pop history that they went to every record store in Canada and rounded up copies of Alanis and Now Is The Time so as to make out Jagged Little Pill was her debut.
However Alanis was NEVER ashamed of her pop history like her representation and would include her early hits in many of concerts. Her cover of Seal's electro 80's classic Crazy reminded DontStopthePop of the Alanis the world tends to forget. Sadly, Alanis' early work is very difficult to get especially her debut single Fate Stay With Me so enjoy...
BONUS: Can't Deny of the second MCA album Now Is The Time
BONUS: Superman from the 1st MCA album Alanis
See Alanis next week in the amazing play The Exonerated at the Riverdance Studios. We've seen it 5 times and its stunning! Its based on case notes and narratives of individuals who've been placed on death row in the U.S. No set, no gimmics and no stage. You just have to see it! The Exonerated
STOP PRESS: ALANIS HOOKS UP WITH DANCESTAR TRICKY!
It seems the Alanis has put back on her disco shoes! Welcome home girl!
I LOVE FREE THINGS I DO! The MidWeek Tidbits including Robyn & Mrs.Robinson
The second single from Mrs.Robinson, Don't Forget My Name...
Mrs.Robinson are releasing the album Obsession very soon and already they are promoting their online single Don't Forget My Name. You can get your free mp3 of it
here thanks to the girls and the army. The song we reviewed a few days ago was a clear standout track so much so the Army have actually picked the anti-gulf war polemic as "their" new anthem. The girls have done a series of concerts for the Army which should be online very shortly. We love Don't Forget My Name but we hope I'm A Career Girl will be the next single.
The Other single from Robyn, Ola and Christian Falk but mostly Robyn....
So here is the video for the high quality version of the Robyn/Christian Falk/Ola Salo collaboration Dream On. I actually like it. See/Hear it here.
Other Tidbits...
Dannii does Africa
New PopJustice mag which is just another reason to grab a Spanish man this summer
Sparkpop does new P!nk remixes
Welcome to the PlanetPop
Vote for BestPop without a Blunt in sight
Get in a Flux with Brittany
Supreme Pop music from Pandora amongst others
MARILYN'S BOYS Hot Stuff
This marks DontStopThePop!'s very first boyband. But this is one with a difference: the boys are all gay. However the band refused to hide their sexuality and before the band even broke they all stated, with pride, their sexuality. So their 2 single career in the German charts would be without the hiding, closeting or pretend girlfriends. Success-wise they did pretty well for the short stay they booked with fame.
Marilyn's Boys first single, "I give you the stars", hit the airwaves in Germany in the middle of October as well as in local clubs. It is EXACTLY like Alcazar's Crying At The Crying At the Discoteque so track it down if you like your trashy male pop floorfillers.
Today on this pretty grim sunday we're celebrating Marilyn's Boys' take on the hit Donna Summer hit single Hot Stuff. However note the I Feel Love baseline throughout the song thus indicating the all-round campness of the record.
When I play this cover i get whiffs of summer, Ky-Gel and deviant mirrorballs.
Enjoy
DESPINA VANDI Opa Opa (Let's Dance In the Sunny Weather)
Just wait for the chorus...
Summer is here! And Opa Opa is the perfect track to pull you to the beach volleyball, sand dunes and salt water. Its so summery it literally smells of sunscreen. This song will make you whiggle ya bum and waive ya hands. Lyrically its all in English but its by a Greek queen of pop music: the legend that is Despina Vandi.
So who is Despina Vandi...Well if Anna Vissi is the Madonna of Greek music, Despina is the Kylie which makes Helena Paparizou the Greek Britney. Which is all good! Like Kylie, who is big in a country she wasnt born in, Despina Vandi(which rimes with candy...) is actually GERMAN! From Dusseldorf actually. Recalling Helena P, Opa Opa sounds like a hyped up version of her Eurovision win last year. Opa Opa came out first. We say nothing more...
Moreover Despina has studied psychology and philosophy at the University of Thessaloniki. No false intellect impressions-looks at Madonna-for this diva.
In 2003 she embarked on an international career, something Greek performers have had little success in accomplishing. Her first three international singles, Gia (2003), Opa Opa (2004) and Come Along Now (2005) entered the charts around the world, something that had not been achieved for decades by a Greek artist. Her first internationally-distributed albums are named after the songs Gia and Come Along Now.
Enjoy!
LENA PHILIPSSON Han jobbar i affär
Staying in Sweden we turn to Lena Philipsson, the Queen of Camp. Now this song sounds like everything British pop material really should, or at least tries to, be. Indeed Han jobbar i affär has a very close beatline to Rachel Steven's cover of Knock On Wood and her better singles. Play Rachels Some Girls and this track back to back and it'll be one record.
Indeed Goldfrapp appear to be HUGE Lena Phillipsson fans. Just listen and you'll see why.
