CATCH PARTS I & II HERE.


MINI VIVA. To put it bluntly, I LOVE these girls. From the atrociously infectious club banger Left My Heart in Tokyo, Britt Love and Frankee Connolly have been winning the hearts of critics (and mine) with their always-funtasmic videos and vibrant songs. Mini Viva has been gearing up the yet-to-be-titled album for a December 2009 release, but it was pushed back for understandable reasons (I've heard an August release is coming our way). So far, they haven't released a horrid single (don't pay attention to the charts), and judging by their album sampler, the LP is going to be great at the very least. Here's One Touch (Do You Want A Candy?).


ALPHABEAT. The Danish dancepop band released their second album The Beat Is... late 2009 in their native Denmark, peaking at #6 on the albums chart. The Spell, their very contagious dancepop number, reached #1 in Denmark and also made the UK top 20. Their music takes a stab at the late 80's with heart-pounding synths, heavy dance vibes, 'whoa's, THE WHOLE SHEBANG. SO HAVE A LISTEN SO I CAN STOP TYPING IN ALL CAPS.


EXAMPLE. I'm not exactly a big fan of rappers, but Elliot John Gleave blends it with wonky pop (and who doesn't like that, eh?) and while a massive lot of rappers cover either sex, booze, or something grim/broody, Example dabbles into fun electropop territory warbling about treating girls right or being magnetized in an instant. I seriously can't choose which is better between Won't Go Quietly and Kickstarts, so here's both. Oh, and get a free track from him here.

Won't Go Quietly

Kickstarts



LOLENE. This lovely Bristol babe (please stop me from abusing that phrase) showed some potential back in '09 with first-but-not-official release Sexy People, reaching #5 on the Billboard Dance chart. "Miss Foo Foo" is on her way on becoming a proper popstar with her blunt, infectious electro records and very warming persona. Don't take it the wrong way though, because this girl can WRITE. She has collaborated with award-winning writers such as Chris Braide (Cheryl Cole), and also worked with Christina Milian on Teairra Mari's track Diamonds featuring Kanye West. Rich (Fake It Til You Make It) is no less than brilliant, and I have a feeling The Electrick Hotel (album) will be as good if not better. I was also lucky enough to have a Q&A with the lovely lady (where I professed my love for her).


DRAKE. Okay, a handful of rappers with actual talent (and versatility) have emerged, and seeing as I made the "not a big fan of rappers" statement (which is true, mind you), Canadian rapper/actor Aubrey Graham aka Drake (along with the aforementioned rappers) almost urged me to retract it. ANYWAY, let me go back to versatility. He recently showcased his smooth-as-silk brilliant vocals and ditched rapping altogether in Find Your Love, which I've already said enough about. As of now, two singles from Thank Me Later have been released, and though I naturally prefer Drake's break from rap, Over is a pretty good hip hop tune.

Over

Find Your Love

It's the UK MIDWEEKS! Diana Vickers told Digital Spy she'd be #1 next week, but things aren't looking bright as Once slips down two spots, behind Usher's OMG and a new entry from Roll Deep, Good Times, which is at the tip of the pyramid. Plan B remains strong at #4, while Chip and Esmée slip down two spots to #5. In the albums, however, Usher is set for a #1 UK debut with Raymond VS Raymond, with Plan B's The Defamation of Strickland Banks and Glee's The Power of Madonna trailing behind.

In other news, the gang from Cobra Starship premiered their self-proclaimed "viral video", called Living in the Sky With Diamonds, which is actually pretty good. Check it out here.

Oh, and take a gander at the Alphabeat single sleeve for DJ (I Could Be Dancing), to be released on May 31st. Here's the video for it as well. (It looks amazing, btw)


That's all.

First off, I'm not entirely sure if this is the final version of Alexandra Burke's collab with Pitbull, All Night Long, because... well, it's either the cameraman is having major spasms or it actually IS the concept of the video. Either way, the song is bloody good.

Release Date: May 17th


Danish pop band Alphabeat has also premiered their video for DJ (I Could Be Dancing), with some orgasmic neon strobe lights, disco balls, lasers, old records, THE WHOLE 70's SHEBANG.

Release Date: May 31st


The lovely gentlemen from Hurts were kind enough to send off the theatrical trailer of their upcoming single Better Than Love. This teaser has three things: ladies, ladies, and... more ladies.

Release Date: May 24th


ALSO, Christina Aguilera has a video preview for us from her single Not Myself Tonight. It's pretty (REALLY REALLY) short, and not amazemular (yes, you heard me) as I expected from Miss Xtina.

Video premiere date: April 30th