Music Is My King Size Bed: [Review] Paije Richardson

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

[Review] Paije Richardson - Bang Bang

Unless you're a resident of the UK, you probably haven't heard of Paije Richardson (even if you are, I'm not sure how well known he is), so here's a bit of a refresher. Paije competed on the The X-Factor, Series 7, known for his big range, big notes and big talent. While he was ultimately eliminated from the competition (that went on to crown Matt Cardle as winner), Richardson stuck with it and is ready to release his debut single and album, later this year. First single, "Bang Bang," is due out July 16th, followed by the release of his album sometime this Fall.

Seemingly following in the footsteps of Marcus Collins, Paije's sound is the perfect blend of old and nu school R&B/soul music. "Bang Bang" has plenty of retro flare for the classic soul lovers out there, but it doesn't sound remotely dated. Richardson gets into a groove right off the bat, with an intro that recalls Mary J. Blige's 2001 hit single "Family Affair." Starting in immediately with the first chorus, Richardson sings, "'Bang Bang' goes the drum. 'Bang Bang' goes the rhythm. 'Bang Bang' goes my heart, every time that we're together." He's got such confidence for someone so young!

"Bang Bang" is an up-tempo soul-filled stunner that perfectly showcases Richardson's big voice and range without overdoing it. It's easy for an artist with a voice like Richardson's to over sing, but with a percussion-driven tune like "Bang Bang," there's really no room for the big notes. The song really allows Paije to flex a different kind of soulful muscle, with the brunt of his vocal power going into each bridge and chorus. We all know Paije Richardson can wail on a note, so let's save that for a ballad, shall we?

Paije Richardson is a 22 year old former cinema usher and fashion student from Islington, London. Richardson auditioned for series 7 of The X-Factor not once, but twice. First time around, Paije auditioned with the classic "Fly Me To The Moon," earning only the support of Judge Louie Walsh. Walsh encouraged him to learn a new song and come back at the end of the day to sing for them again, which he did. This time around, Richardson dazzled all three judges with a cover of "It's A Man's Man's World." After performing a stirring rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," Richardson failed to make it into the initial Top 12, but later sneaked in as Dannii Minogue's Wild Card pick.

Week after week, Paije Richardson blew the judges and the audience away with sultry, soulful performances of hits like "Killing Me Softly With His Song," "If I Ain't Got You," "Ain't Nobody" and "Back To Black" by the late great Amy Winehouse. During week 7, Beatles Week, it was Richardson's performance of "Let It Be" that landed him in the bottom for the first time all competition long and he was sent packing after the judges chose Cher Lloyd to stay.

Now, a couple of years after The X-Factor, Paije Richardson is ready to dazzle us all yet again. Pairing up with PledgeMusic, Richardson is raising money for the independent release of his upcoming debut album, with a portion of the proceeds going to War Child International. Fans can bid on any number of items, from Richardson's unreleased debut album, and tote bags to T-shirts, exclusive concerts and your name in the credits of the album artwork. Fantastic opportunity to get some new music and donate to a good cause.

Make sure you visit Paije Richardson's PledgeMusic page and show your support. You can also listen to Paije's new single, "Bang Bang," due July 16th ABOVE, along with another album track called "Just Like Yesterday." Paije Richardson is yet another talent to emerge from the ashes of Series 7 of The X-Factor, following Rebecca Ferguson, Aiden Grimshaw, Matt Cardle, Cher Lloyd, One Direction, ~~Wagner~~, which really does speak to the show's ability to cultivate raw talent. Haters be damned!