RealMusic Editor's Blog

Shirley Bassey: Q&A

Clare Lydon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:54:22 +0000

The voice from Tiger Bay is still going strong as she’s proved recently with new album The Performance, which saw a host of artists writing for her including Gary Barlow, Manic Street Preachers and the Pet Shop Boys. Here, Shirley Bassey talks about still having a vocal coach, recording her new album and how she was born to do it: “Even when I had my first job in a factory and I was wrapping up enamelware for export I’d just sing and people would stop working…”

X-Factor Offical Music Video, 'You Are Not Alone'. You Are Not Serious, More Like...

Clare Lydon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:01:40 +0000

So, we saw them perform it live(ish) on Sunday night’ s X-Factor, all dressed in white looking like they had just walked off the Flying Without Wings music video in possibily the cheesiest X-Factor moment ever. If you thought that was a one-off hammed up performance for the camera, think again: the official music video is far, far worse…

Alice In Chains Interview

Clare Lydon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:46:21 +0000

Alice In Chains have had a remarkable career which includes multiple Grammy nominations, selling more than 17 million albums worldwide, topping the Billboard Top 200 album chart with two albums and 11 Billboard Top 10 hit singles. We thought now would be a good time to catch up with one of the original forefathers of early 90s rock, formed in Seattle in the late 80s and forever associated with the grunge genre. We spoke to William DuVall, Comes With the Fall frontman and the newest member of the band having joined in 2005…

Rihanna - Live Review

Clare Lydon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:41:09 +0000

Rihanna - Brixton Academy, London - November 16th

The last time Rihanna did a headline show in London she was a global pop star in love with another pop star, Chris Brown. How times change. She’s recently admitted that she found it hard coping with the transformation of “going to bed as Rihanna and waking up as Britney Spears” in relation to her much-publicised domestic violence, but with the release of her fourth album Rated R due next week, she’s getting all the support she deserves with her return to the stage, with both her mentor Jay-Z and rapper Jeezy showing up on stage last night at Brixton’s 02 Academy for her Nokia-sponsored gig…

Leona Lewis - Echo

Clare Lydon — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:31:02 +0000

Leona Lewis, the born and bred Hackney diva is back with the notorious second album, which is always a tough one to get just right; but our Leona was never going to have a problem, was she? As when you have the two biggest mentors in the business (Clive Davis & Simon Cowell) selecting every move you make, surely the album is going to be faultless…

Joss Stone Interview

Clare Lydon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:03:59 +0000

The West Country singer tells us she’s never had an American accent: “If people think otherwise, they can just fuck off!” she says sweetly. Watch her talk about her music, growing up in public and her thoughts on Jedward…

Joss Stone’s new album Colour Me Free! is out now.

Listen to Joss Stone Radio on RealMusic…

(Clare Lydon)

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Music Video Lounge

Clare Lydon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:20:28 +0000

This week’s Music Video Lounge features women smearing and dancing, pregnant men and one imitating Brian Harvey. Has pop finally gone mad? Some might say….

Norah Jones Interview

Clare Lydon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:59:46 +0000

We chat to the NYC songstress about her new album, playing live, singing Guns N’ Roses and being the love child of Willie Nelson and Keith Richards…

Norah Jones’ new album The Fall is out on November 16th; single Chasing Pirates is out now.

Listen to Norah Jones Radio on RealMusic…

(Clare Lydon)

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Listen to Rod Stewart's New Album

Clare Lydon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:25:15 +0000

Rod Stewart’s new album Song Book, a collection of 60s/70s soul favourites, is out today.

Listen to Rod Stewart Radio on RealMusic…

(Clare Lydon)

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Robbie Williams - Reality Killed The Video Star

Clare Lydon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:36:05 +0000

The knowing irony of Robbie’s new album title has been somewhat deadened by his recent comeback performance on the X Factor - even if he might claim he was being postmodern, wink to camera. Whatever, three years on from the generally panned Rudebox, the question isn’t is Robbie’s new album any good but rather, is Robbie the pop star worth the effort anymore?

Music Video Lounge

Clare Lydon — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:54:06 +0000

This week’s Music Video Lounge features artists who in their 20s, 30s and 40s - Frankie’s Holly Johnson turns 50 next February, so we just missed out on featuring another decade. Next time. Time to gargle this bunch of new videos and see if they make you belch with pleasure or pain…

Leona Lewis Live Review

Clare Lydon — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:16:45 +0000

Leona Lewis, Hackney Empire, London - November 2nd

Leona Lewis first appeared on the stage of the Hackney Empire when she was 13 years old. Eleven years later, the now sleek and shiny woman-sized Lewis returned to her hometown to play her first ever headline show before an audience of adoring fans last night. Security was heavy after Leona was recently punched in the face at a book launch. However, when she appeared on stage shimmering and trailing a long cloak, the Hackney resident cut a cool and confident figure as she launched into her first song…

Chase & Status Interview

Clare Lydon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:08:57 +0000

Chase and Status are London dance/electronic producers Saul Milton and Will Kennard. They’ve had numerous dance hits with their brand of progressive drum ‘n’ bass and this month sees them releasing their new single End Credits featuring Plan B - the theme song for the forthcoming movie Harry Brown starring Michael Caine. We caught up with Will on another hectic day for the boys en route to another sell-out show…

Watch Britney's new single "3"!

Clare Lydon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:16:38 +0000

She sings, she jiggles in a white leotard, she touches other ladies’ bottoms and she crimps her hair. Is there no end to Britney’s talents? She’s back (although to be fair, she never really went away did she?) with her new single 3 and a Greatest Hits collection just in time for Christmas. Rejoice in the healing powers of Britney…

Listen to Britney Spears Radio on RealMusic…

(Clare Lydon)

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Halloween Fright-Fest!

Clare Lydon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:35:19 +0000

Happy Halloween! If you’re American, you’re probably reading this while simultaneously dunking for apples and trick-or-treating with ET while dressed as a pumpkin. If you’re in Europe however, you may have bought a rubbish mask for less money than an egg sandwich but then left it on the bus on the way home. Nevermind. Whichever, there’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than by watching Michael Jackson’s Thriller video which is unsurpassed in execution, dance routines, budget and length to this day. RealMusic Blog takes a look at the 13-minute fright-fest, marvels at its Lego counterpart and points you towards our very own hand-crafted Halloween Radio…

Jackson's This Is It: Watch Premieres & New Clips!

Clare Lydon — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:43:51 +0000

Watch the UK Premiere with JLS, Chipmunk, Mel B and Michael Buble

Imogen Heap Interview

Clare Lydon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:31:39 +0000

Imogen Heap’s new album Ellipse debuted in the US album charts at No.5 last month. We caught up with the woman who some call the Queen of the Digital Age to chat about why America loves her more than her native UK, how she’s now mates with Mika, how she’s managed to get over a million followers on Twitter and why she invites these friends to comment on her music as she makes it and buys them drinks into the bargain at Heap Tweet-Ups…

Miike Snow - Miike Snow

Clare Lydon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:54:14 +0000

There’s been a flurry of hype around Miike Snow and their eponymously titled debut album - as the band themselves admit it’s something they never expected when they got together to “mess around”. But they’ve got form - of the trio behind the sounds, singer Andrew Wyatt has just finished Daniel Merriweather’s new album and Swedish pair Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg are also known as Bloodshy & Avant, the writing and production team behind Britney’s Toxic as well as a stack of other pop successes including Madonna, Sugababes and Kylie Minogue. So is their hybrid debut the sound of a hundred stars spun in a blender? Er, no…

Cheryl Cole - 3 Words

Clare Lydon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:22:27 +0000

3 Words - it’s an invitation of an album title isn’t it? Could do better. You’re so ca-yute. Dubious trouser choice. But that’s to get away from the point isn’t it - and the point, after all, is the music. It being time to face it etc. Oh no, hang on, Cheryl is not an X Factor contestant, something it’s difficult to discern these days. Let’s get back to the music. Not the shredded MC Hammer trousers, the military garb, the Janet Jackson dance moves. The music. Following hot on the heels of Alexandra Burke’s debut last week which was more Leona than Leon, Cheryl Cole’s debut had better be a belter right? After an exhaustive week of listening in RealMusic Blog HQ, we can say that it’s no Girls Aloud. Instead, Cheryl’s plumped for military drumbeats, sleek R&B and production so shiny you could wear it round to your mum’s for tea and get a complement…

Frankie: Behind The Scenes Of The New "Relax"

Clare Lydon — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:55:27 +0000

Frankie Goes To Hollywood are back. Don’t look so surprised - it’s the 80s again, remember? Watch our exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the new remixed Relax video, starring oodles of nubile guys and gals with not much kit on. There’s also Holly Johnson behind the decks smirking, as well as introducing the whole shebang. Watch it, then go and eat some Angel Delight just to prove how 80s you really are.

Listen to Frankie Goes To Hollywood Radio on RealMusic

(Clare Lydon)