Aussie Music's Night of Nights

All up the ARIAs were pretty impressive this year. No-one really “owned” the night; with Wolfmother picking up three awards, Bernard Fanning, Eskimo Joe and TV Rock picking up two and singles awards going to a variety of others…

There were some fantastic performances with Silverchair's Midnight Oil tribute; Bernard Fanning with Clare Bowditch and Kasey Chambers performing 'Watch Over Me' and Pete Murray with John Mayer's duet a highlight.

Embarrassments of the evening were also frequent. Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon’s hair; Katy Steele from Little Birdy’s outfit and slurring at the microphone; Axel Whitehead and Jabba in general (Axel allegedly got his bits out, as is facing losing his job at Video Hits). Oh dear!

Winners:

Best Breakthrough Album: Wolfmother
They did deserve this.

Best Breakthrough Single: Youth Group
Oops, I missed their nomination!

Best Urban Release: The Hill Top Hoods
Two awards! Good work guys!

Best Pop Release: The Veronicas
Shannon Noll was the best, but knew the skanks would get it.

Best Country Album: Troy Cassar-Daley
How sweet was Troy’s speech?!?! Seems like a great guy. Glad he won!

Best Independent Release: The Hill Top Hoods
Whooo Hoo! Good work fellahs!

Best Rock Album: Wolfmother
Easy pick…

Best Adult Contemporary Album: Bob Evens
Thrilled about this, thought Human Nature was a shoe in.

Best Music DVD: Eskimo Joe
Wow, thought that Kylie was a sure bet!

Best Dance Release: TV Rock feat. Seany B ‘Flaunt It’
Yeah, saw it coming…

Highest Selling Single: TV Rock feat. Seany B ‘Flaunt It’
How often does this song get played at the radio do you think?

Highest Selling Album: Human Nature
This is cringe worthy!

Best Group: Wolfmother
Yep, picked it.

Best Children’s Album: Wiggles
No surprises here.

Best Comedy Release: Lano & Woodley
Matt Tilley was robbed!

Best Blues & Roots Album: The Audreys
Sorry, who???

Best Female Artist: Clare Bowditch
Never saw this coming! Fantastic!

Best Male Artist: Bernard Fanning
Picked this one too…

Single of the Year: Eskimo Joe - 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine'
Again, missed their nomination!

Album of the Year: Bernard Fanning - 'Tea and Sympathy'
Well, got that very wrong…

All up, 2 of my picks picked up gongs; and 7 of my “likely to wins” did. 9 out of 20…not too bad hey? That is nearly half…

Love Pop Princess xo

We're Mad, innit?

It is here.

It is now.

It is genius.

It is…..Robbie Williams – ‘Rudebox’:-

1. Rudebox:

Ok, you either love this song, or you hate it. After a little apprehension at first this song has completely won me over (in a very similar way to Trippin’). It is catchy, you can dance to it, it is cheeky and funny. It is gold.

2. Viva Life On Mars:

I think this song could really work at radio. It is completely inoffensive and is actually the one that reminds me most of Robbie’s previous albums album tracks. This would have fit on ‘Escapology’ easily.

3. Lovelight:

Hell yeah! Aside from the HOT clip, this is a great song. I have never heard the original, but love this version. It reminds me of George Michael; although I have heard others compare it to Prince and the Bee Gees.

4. King of the Bongo:

Again, I am not familiar with the original. I can see why people would enjoy this song, but it is not really my thing…I don’t skip it, but I don’t skip to it either. This track contains the first guest appearance by Miss Lily Allen.

5. She’s Madonna

This IS my thing. This song is one of the two the best on the album. Clever, catchy, 80’s inspired genius. I wonder what Madge thinks?

6. Keep On

This song is another that grows on me with every listen. The song features another appearance by Lily Allen. Did he think we didn’t realize that he “thinks with his dingaling”?!? You don;t need to convince us...

7. Good Doctor
This is the second of the two best tracks on the album. Foot tapping, self deprecating, brutally honest pop tied up in a nice bow with some horn sections. Adore it.

8. The Actor
“I am totally Strasburg”??? I see the point he was going for here, but again…just not my thing.

9. Never Touch That Switch
This is a bit electro, and a tad boring for me. This falls into the same basket as ‘The Actor”…It was pointed out to me that it would be great for remixing though.

10. Louise
This song is lovely. I would be interested to know what The Human League makes of this cover. Very sweet, again, would have fit on “Intensive Care” as an album track.

11. We're The Pet Shop Boys
Robbie + The Pet Shop Boys = Most gay men’s ultimate fantasy, I would assume? As I am not gay, or a man, I should not comment. Not my area of expertise :O)

12. Burslem Normals
Bit of a nothing song to me…but to have only one out of 17 is a pretty good effort! I feel strongly either way on all the other tracks.

13. Kiss Me
Take That? No – Robbie! You can see the choreographed dance moves in your mind as you hear this…it could be off “Take That – And Party”. Brilliant, never saw this one coming.

14. The 80's
This is another brutally honest Robbie moment. It is funny, but heartbreaking at the same time.

15. The 90's
Please see above. Wish it had have been released as originally intended…

16. Summertime
Sounds like it should, considering the title. I'll listen to it drinking a cocktail for sure!

Bonus Track – Dickhead:

Hmmm, well, I am still not quite sure what to make of this one…

Things I have been pondering:-

How can a band win? If your next album sounds like the last – then you are boring. If you change your style – then you are alienating your fans. So what do you do?

Why if you find some sort of level of fame, do you overnight become a “sell-out”? How do you avoid this tag?

Now, I know for a fact that I am not the only one who was horrified not only by Stephanie Macintosh’s live performance on The Footy Show grand final, but by the fact that her team would LET her perform live for the first time on live television. The question that I think has been ignored throughout all the criticism of the performance is WHY/HOW can anyone who has never performed live secure a record deal? Not only a record deal, but a 3 album deal?!? Did I miss something???

How can someone who talks in a language all of his own, be the Australian Idol judge that makes the most sense? Mark Holden knows his stuff…yes, he is a tool; yes, a translator is almost in order to understand exactly what he is trying to say. But compared to Marcia, who if a contestant dropped their pants and crapped on stage she would still approve – and respond with the stock-standard rotation of comments. I.E. “Thank you, thank you…that’s all I have to say”; “Let me ask you something, where you diggin’ it up there? Yes? I’ll leave it at that”; “I love what I do, and it makes me happy/warms my heart to watch a performer like you using their instrument/gift…thank you”; etc. Kyle? Ummm, he just waits to see what Mark and Marcia says, then takes it in turns to agree/disagree and throws in either: a flash of his black AMEX card (yes, we see you have one…we are all VERY impressed); a name drop (like his best mate Robbie Williams – I’m sorry, but I have complete faith that Robbie would have better taste); or a personal insult of some type (E.G. “mong”, “tic tac teeth” or “jelly belly”. This from the man marrying Popstar contestant, whatever her name is, you know, the one that inflicted that “Ohh Ahh I Lost My Bra” song on us all. Very concerning stuff…

Peace Out!

Pop Princess xo

I don't feel like dancin'

The new Take That single is on the Pop justice website! Go and have a listen…

www.popjustice.com

Whoo Hoo!!! Can’t wait to hear the whole album, apparently ‘Beautiful World’ will be released in November…just in time for Christmas (mum, are you reading this? Yes please). It can’t be Gary Barlow doing the lead vocals, it's Howard isn’t it? If it is Gaz, his voice has changed heaps…if anyone knows where I can watch the clip PLEASE let me know!

So, Scissor Sisters ‘Ta-Dah’. Ta-Dah indeed! I am so impressed, I am going to say something controversial…I like this album better than their first. I also think that ‘Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ is their best single to date. I hope ‘She’s My Man’ is the next single. Whilst I loved ‘Scissor Sisters’ there where tracks I would skip, or I would listen to half the album, get over it and then go back and listen to the other half later…not the case this time around. I will be honest, I was a little bemused after my first listen, and it took me probably three before I was able to decide definitively that I loved it!

Same goes with The Killers ‘Sam’s Town’. I think I was expecting ‘Hot Fuss’ all over again, and that is not what this album is. The more I listen to this album, the fonder I become. ‘When You Where Young’ is killer, and it will go off when they are here for the Big Day Out! There is nothing that can match the magic of ‘Mr. Brightside’ on this album…yet. But, as I said, I am discovering something new from this album with each listen, and I am thoroughly enjoying doing so. I think ‘Uncle Johnny’ has the potential to be phenomenal live too. No wonder Brandon Flowers is so cocky…I would be too if I was that good.

I will never understand why some people choose to listen to the likes of James Blunt when they could be listening to James Morrison. ‘You Give Me Something’ led me to ‘Undiscovered’…and I am so glad it did. This guy has a beautiful voice that I can’t really describe, but it is sort of “creamy” for want of a more articulate way of explaining it…but not in a lame John Mayer sort of way…Hmmm not explaining it very well at all. Just go and get it, thank me later…The boys got soul.

Did you take my advice and show your love for the locals and pick up a copy of Jet’s ‘Shine On’??? If not, why? Are you crazy?!? You clearly have not heard ‘Shine On’, ‘Rip It Up’ or ‘Stand Up’ yet, or you would have bought 10 copies. Jet puts their own spin on riffs and vocals influenced one can only assume by The Beatles and/or Oasis…and damn it has worked a treat. The album shows versatility the band had not yet communicated on ‘Get Born’. It is different, but superbly and undeniably Jet. Don’t think that if ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’ is not your thing that you wont still adore the album…in my opinion that was a poor choice of first single. I am proud that Jet are Aussies, I am proud they are Victorian, and I am proud that they can produce this quality of music following the pressure they must have faced after the success of ‘Get Born’. They set their standards sky high…and they have delivered, and then some. Get it.

Must run…going to see Live with Shannon Noll as their support this weekend, and to say that I am excited is a major understatement!

Luv Pop Princess xoxox

Aussie Jet fans!

'Shine On', Jet's phenomenal new album is available in stores now! What are you waiting for??? Go out and support Aussie music and get yourself a copy (or several copies)...Bloody awesome!

Pop Princess xo