Say what you like about popstars, but when it comes to releasing pop singles nobody else does it better.
Here are six important singles being released between now and the middle of April. (Please note that we are still deluding ourselves that singles are released on Mondays, even though they actually come out on Sundays. We will probably have to face facts at some point in the near future but just humour us for the time being.)
THREE DAYS AND COUNTING:
Kylie Minogue — 'Into The Blue'
How do you think this will do? It doesn't exactly feel as if the world of pop is 'battening down the hatches' in anticipation of an unstoppable Minogue-scented sales tsunami. At the same time: you can't go wrong with a bit of Kylie. (Unless you happen to be the person directing this video, who 'went wrong' on an epic scale and is partly responsible for this single's lack of momentum over recent weeks.) (Mind you the person who commissioned it then went "oh that's great, just what this song needs" when it arrived is probably more to blame.)
Also out on March 10 (we've deleted the boring ones):
Arctic Monkeys — Arabella
Chloe Howl – Rumour
Christina Perri — Human
DVBBS & Borgeous feat Tinie Tempah – Tsunami
Enrique Iglesias feat Pitbull – I'm A Freak <<< WOEFUL
Flo Rida – How I Feel
James Arthur — Get Down
Kyla La Grange – Cut Your Teeth <<< AMAZING
Lauren Aquilina – Liars
Lea Michele – Cannonball
Lonnie Gordon – Horny
Miley Cyrus vs Cedric Gervais – Adore You (Remix)
One Direction – Midnight Memories <<< THEIR WORST SINGLE TO DATE
Pixie Lott – Nasty
Polly Scattergood — Subsequently Lost
Redlight feat Lotti – 36 <<< PROPERLY AMAZING
Tensnake feat Nile Rodgers & Fiora – Love Sublime
TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING:
London Grammar — 'Hey Now'
The original version isn't going to rattle anyone's windows anytime soon but the Arty remix you can hear in the YouTubular window of amazingness above is a solid gold belter.
Also out on March 17:
Angel Haze feat Sia – Battle Cry <<< NOT ONE OF SIA'S BEST REALLY
Chase & Status feat Ed Thomas – Blk & Blu
Duke Dumont feat Jax Jones — I Got U <<< WHAT. A. SONG.
Example – Kids Again
Foster The People — Coming Of Age
George Ezra – Cassy O'
George Michael – Let Her Down Easy
Goldfrapp — Thea
Little Mix – Word Up
Nicholas McDonald – Answerphone <<< EMOTIONAL FAREWELL SINGLE
Picturehouse — Rules Of Science
Toy – Its Been So Long
Trey Songz — Na Na
THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING:
The Wanted — 'Glow In The Dark'
At this point The Wanted are so far into 'will this do' territory that they might as well have just released this single as sheet music and told their fans to fill in the blanks.
Also out on March 24:
5 Seconds Of Summer – She Looks So Perfect <<< STILL GOOD
Big Sean — You Don't Know
Celine Dion — Water And A Flame <<< AWFUL
Faul & Wad Ad vs Pnau — Changes
Gabrielle – Knew Me
Haim – If I Could Change Your Mind
Harvey – Thank You
Jason Derulo – Stupid Love
Katy Perry feat Juicy J – Dark Horse <<< STILL RECKON THIS WOULD BE BETTER WITH A PROPER CHORUS
Klaxons — There Is No Other Time <<< STILL AMAZING
Martin Garrix and Jay Hardway – Wizard
Michael Buble – To Love Somebody
The Overtones – Superstar
Paul McCartney – Save Us
Robbie Williams – Shine My Shoes
Tia Brazda – Cabin Fever
Tujamo & Plastik Funk feat Sneakbo — Dr Who
Vanquish – Damn
FOUR WEEKS AND COUNTING:
Aloe Blacc — 'The Man'
And Aloe can tell everybody that this is about 50% his song though in publishing terms probably significantly less. We love this song but the main thing we think while we're watching the video is: isn't he a bit hot in that big leather coat? This was the problem we always had with Breaking Bad. It's difficult to completely surrender yourself to the drama unfolding on screen when all you're really thinking is, "hang on, it looks pretty sunny there — why is everyone wearing a jacket?"
Also out on March 31:
Gotsome feat The Get Along Gang — Bassline
Paolo Nutini — Scream (Funk My Life Up) <<< NO THANKS PAOLO
Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Runaway Daydreamer
The Weeknd – Wanderlust
FIVE WEEKS AND COUNTING:
The Saturdays — 'Not Giving Up'
As we wondered out loud on Twitter the other day, does the release of 'Not Giving Up' falling during Lent mean that The Saturdays are declaring war on Christianity? This query aside the main problem we have with 'Not Giving Up' is that the song isn't really up to much BUT the TKNIK mix you can listen to above is fucking brilliant.
Also out on April 7:
Asgeir – Going Home
Avicii – Addicted To You <<< QUITE GOOD
DJ Cassidy feat Robin Thicke & Jessie J – Calling All Hearts
Franz Ferdinand — Fresh Strawberries
Iggy Azalea feat Charli XCX — Fancy
Jakwob feat Tiffani Juno — Somebody New <<< THIS IS GREAT
John Newman – Out Of My Head
Kamaliya — Never Want To Hurt You (Prince Igor)
Kings of Leon — Temple
Sigma – Nobody To Love
Tich — Breathe In Breathe Out
The Vamps – Last Night <<< PASSABLE
SIX WEEKS AND COUNTING:
Kiesza — 'Hideaway'
Kiesza is a really exciting pop thing isn't she?
Also out on April 14:
Birdy – Words As Weapons
Catfish & The Bottlemen — Kathleen
Gary Barlow — Since I Saw You Last <<< HOW ABOUT A YEAR OFF GAZBA
Meridian Dan feat Big H & JME — German Whip
Showtek & Justin Prime feat Matthew Koma — Cannonball (Earthquake) <<< IT'S NO BOOYAH :((
Anyway, that is what's happening over the next month and a half.
ALSO THERE'S A CALVIN HARRIS SINGLE AT THE END OF APRIL.
Also also, one song we glossed over in that rundown, and it's out next week, is a subtle little number called 'Horny' by Lonnie Gordon. Here is the video.
Good grief.