Pixie Lott - 'Boys And Girls'
I've been playing air tambourine to this. Air TAMBOURINE though! For a while it was drums, cos the verses are sort of Mark Ronson-y and that's all about acting like you're one of Motown's house-band, and if you're gonna do that, is there anyone cooler than the drummer? Damn right.
But in the end, the sheer fizziness and upward thrust of the chorus called for something a bit more lively. Luckily it's very easy to switch from one to the other, and I always keep an air tambourine in my bag. I got into the habit after getting caught out listening to 'Love Machine' with only an air kazoo in my pocket. It wasn't the same, and I think the other people on the bus were getting pretty fed up with it, by the time I got off.
I've never been caught out like that since, and neither should you, not when there's songs like this, ready to strike when you least expect it.
(Here's the video. Bling on a budget! )
Comparisons out of the way first. There's a hefty dose of 'I Want It All' from High School Musical 3 to the verses - although the song's been around for more than a year, so it's unlikely any actual copying has gone on. There is also a lot of Rihanna to the chorus. So that's ruthless Sharpay in the verses, and frosty Rih for the rest of it.
To anyone who felt a little let down that Pixie was originally sold as (yet) another cleaned up Amy Winehouse-type souled-out Duffy junior, these are key reasons to come back and listen again. And to anyone who felt that the Sugababes comeback has been less than astonishing, musically speaking, this is the song they should have had, and here's why:
The chorus is a one-note drone, with harmonic support, over a three-chord pounding vamp thing. So while Pixie stays in the same place, the world moves all around her. That's the drama. There are proper musicological reasons as to why this is a good thing, but there's no need to get the magnifying glass out, just let it happen.
And, y'know, always keep the relevant air percussion to hand, if only for the comfort of your fellow travellers.
Download: Out now
CD Released: September 7th
www.pixielott.com
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 13:13 5th Sep 2009, secondjasmine12 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 2.
At 15:35 5th Sep 2009, spirit wrote:Great pop song.
A TOP TEN HIT !
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Comment number 3.
At 19:23 5th Sep 2009, kutox wrote:didn't like her last song but this is a belter. could be no.1, it will be top 3 at least.
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Comment number 4.
At 21:48 5th Sep 2009, Ss994 wrote:It's good but it's so too much like "Shut up and drive"
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Comment number 5.
At 01:49 6th Sep 2009, kutox wrote:'too much like Shut up and drive'
oh i've never heard anyone say that about this song before! for goodness sake it's getting so tedious now. no offence to you serena, but in every place that this song is discussed there are so many people making that comparison.
yes people, we all know that (only) the backing music in the chorus sounds like Shut Up & Drive, but that's the fault (if you can call it that) of whoever produced it, not Pixie. to be honest i think many people are just using it as an excuse to bash Pixie, when it's not even her fault.
please people, just drop it, i'm so sick of hearing it said now!
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Comment number 6.
At 10:55 6th Sep 2009, flatknees wrote:btw people. she wolf by Shakira. massive. the video will turn gay men straight and make lesbians out of the straight women. oh my goodness
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Comment number 7.
At 16:33 6th Sep 2009, MozFoz wrote:She Wolf freaked me out at first but the song's grown on me. Too much contortionism to make a lesbian of me though.
Better that Mama Do if you ask me, and you know interestingly enough, my mom said she thought this was the Sugababes. Hmm.
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Comment number 8.
At 19:50 6th Sep 2009, spirit wrote:So glad that SHE WOLF has finally bitten you , I think I said number one months ago on RYBAK . It is a great pop song !!
NUMBER 1 !
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Comment number 9.
At 19:37 13th Sep 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Another number one for Sugarb... I mean Pixie Lott!
(I do actually really like this)
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Comment number 10.
At 21:27 13th Sep 2009, MozFoz wrote:Sugababes, golden opportunity missed.
Even though I actually like Get Sexy.
About a Girl is good though. What you reckon Spirit?
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Comment number 11.
At 16:33 16th Sep 2009, spirit wrote:Hi MOZ .
Get Sexy is a crackingly good pop song to dance to , full of hooks and it is going down well in the Turkish night clubs which I frequented recently.
It seemed a dancefloor pleaser .
I have only heard ABOUT A GIRL about 4 times , so give me a few days and I will give you a predicted chart placing , once it's truly in my veins and hitting the heart , soul and hips !!!!
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