In Case You Haven't Heard Part II

Promises promises. I know I promised a more POP-focused post following my rock-themed update back on September 9th, but life happened. Apologies.  Now the tunes I wanted to mention here are even more outdated but that's OK.  There are still some quality tunes here worth talkin' about. In this post we cover new stuff from X-Factor winners, Little Mix, UK dreamboat Ben Montague, pop cutie-patootie MIKA, Canadian popstar Esthero, plus a couple more. Enjoy!

How this little JAM slipped by me I'll never understand, especially considering how invested I was in season 8 of the ORIGINAL X-Factor.  Little Mix (formerly known as Rhythmix) are a four-piece girl group comprising members Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall and have the distinction of being the FIRST group to ever win it all on The X-Factor.  While they took their sweet-ass time to release any new tunes, first single "Wings" proves that these girls are well worth the wait.

Following the release of the girls' first #1 single, a decent enough POP cover of Damien Rice's tear jerker of a singer/songwriter ballad "Cannonball," they unleashed a proper up-tempo dance/pop tune on Great Britain in the form, of the TMS-produced hit "Wings," which went on to become the girls' second consecutive #1 hit single. You go girls!  The single was released on August 26th, backed by a tight remix package, featuring dance floor makeovers by The Alias and Sunship.  As nice as the remixes were, the song really shines brightest in it's original form.  It's a forceful little stomper of a pop tune, chock-full of plenty of soul and punchy attitude.  

Upon first listen, you could swear Little Mix has been singing together for years, rather than being the prime example of "manufactured" pop, a group made up of four solo singers plucked from the X-Factor reject pile by mentor/judge Tulisa Contostavlos.  The girls prove themselves and THEN some in their first official single, taken from their forthcoming debut album, DNA, which is scheduled to drop November 19th via Syco/will.i.am.   Here's hoping they do well enough in their native land to warrant a trip over here to the States.  If Cher Lloyd could do it successfully, I see no reason why these girls can't!

Download "Wings" on UK iTunes and check out the colorful and fun video ABOVE.

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[Hot Video Alert] 2 Shoes - Turn Me On (Turn Me Out)

X-Factor Series 8 finalists 2 Shoes made quite a splash last season when they joined Judge Tulisa's team as one of the "Groups."  The Essex-based duo consisting of Charley Bird and Lucy Texeira were known for their over-the-top personalities, overdone hair and makeup and of course, their obsession with SHOES.  Now signed to dance label and Universal subsidiary All Around The World (AATW), 2 Shoes are STEPPING it up with the release of their debut single, "Turn Me On (Turn Me Out)" on August 13th. 

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The X Factor's Misha B to Release MASSIVE Debut Single, 'Home Run, July 15th

20 year old singer/songwriter Misha B releases her official debut single, "Home Run" July 15th via Relentless Records/Sony. Produced by rising UK producer MNEK (The Saturdays, Diana Vickers, Parade) "Home Run" features a righteous blend of genres including, R&B, reggae and drum and bass, proving that Misha B hasn't lost that special something that carried her through last season of The X Factor.

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Hot Video Alert: Tulisa - Young

I don't really know what to make of X-Factor judge and now former N-Dubz vixen, Tulisa Contostavlos' debut solo single, "Young." The song was written by Peter Ibsen, Ali Tennant and Richard 'Fazer' Rawson, who also served as producer on the track.  "Young" just might be one of those mindless summer club anthems that everybody dances to because it's playing.  Stop and listen to the lyrics (or lack their of) and you'll quickly realize that this song is completely without substance.  Of course there's a place for this kind of music, unfortunately for Tulisa, Cascada currently corners that market and has for sometime.  Here's hoping the rest of her album offers a bit more.

"Forgive me for what I have done, cos I'm young," she repeats over generic David Guetta-lite dance beats.  I guess if Tulisa was looking to create a fun, clubby summer anthem, she's completely succeeded.  The single is complemented perfectly by a beautifully shot video, filmed early March in Miami.  The video features Tulisa and some friends having fun, trashing a big luxurious hotel suite and frolicking on the beach.  About what you'd expect, given the song's depth.  Overall,  I was just hoping for a little bit more.  While it's quite evident that Tulisa can sing, "Young" just does absolutely nothing to showcase her talents.  

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