Housekeeping

It's time for a little blog housekeeping. Basically, this post is a dumping ground for thoughts and little tidbits of information that I've been meaning to share for the past couple of weeks. I guess I should get the (really) boring stuff out of the way first. I finally pulled my finger out and made a Pop Trash Addicts Myspace. Add me as a friend if you can be bothered. I also need to overhaul my links. If you write or simply want to recommend a quality pop blog, send me an e-mail. You can find the address in my profile. Warning: I reserve the right to place a voodoo curse on anyone who directs me to a Girls Aloud fansite! Moving on to more exciting things, my Asian tour edition of "X" (pictured above) finally arrived. It's beautiful and actually worth owning - unlike the Australian version. I love the "making of" videos and it's nice to have Kylie's BRITS performance of "Wow" on DVD... even if the poor old thing looks like a bored housewife on Valium.

Speaking of fabulous Australian divas, how fantastic is it to see Jessica Mauboy at #1 on the singles chart? Written and produced by the Danish team behind Kylie's "Like A Drug" and "All I See", "Burn" really is a sparkling slice of urban dance-pop. I wasn't crazy about the song to begin with but it just gets better with each listen. Jess is now one of only three Indigenous performers (that I can think of) to reach the summit of the charts - along with Casey Donovan and Jimmy Little. If Sony manages to pick a decent follow-up single, I don't see why she can't do it all over again. Don't be put off by the hideous cover, "Been Waiting" is a really great pop album. Another quality local release that I've been playing all summer is Sneaky Sound System's "2". Unfortunately, this fabulous opus is suffering from serious BSC or bad single choices. After flopping miserably with "When We Were Young", the group have settled on "16" for single number 3. Great move. Another depressing piece of filler that you couldn't pay radio to play. It's frustrating because "2" contains so many hot jams with great hit potential. "I Want Everything" and "Lost In The Future" are two very obvious choices.

I'm on a roll, so I might as well continue with the local acts. Pop Trash readers will be very familiar with Melinda Jackson. I wrote about her regularly in 2007 ("Fall In Love" is still one of my favourite songs) but she sadly dropped off the pop radar last year. Happily, Mel has returned with a hot new sound and even a new name! She is starting over as Mindi and I wish her all the best. Mindi's edgy new tracks are streaming on her Myspace. They are definitely worth checking out. Another diva to feature regularly on Pop Trash Addicts is Zoe Badwi. I was completely obsessed with Sirens and raved about her first solo single way back in October. "Release Me" ended up being a #1 club hit for 7 weeks and three months later, it's still hovering in the top 5. A video has finally been released - sort of. Zoe's live performance at Sensation (a big NYE party) will serve as the clip unless "Release Me" crosses over to the pop charts. Check it out below. I really hope the song takes off. Zoe is amazing and "Release Me" deserves to be huge.

Now for the international divas. I'm not sold on Kelly Clarkson's new song. Pink did it first and Katy Perry did it better. There's no denying Max Martin's ability to knock out a catchy pop/rock tune but the man is turning into a boring production line of mediocrity. Pink and Katy get away with it because they have enough attitude to make his songs their own. I can't imagine anyone but Pink singing "So What" and who else but Katy Perry would blurt out "you PMS like a bitch, I should know". Kelly, on the other hand, gets completely lost in the mix. She's harmless enough but the woman is a personality free zone. For an example of Max Martin trying something different, I recommend Pink's new single "Please Don't Leave Me". It's one of the best songs on "Funhouse" and I love hearing it every 5 minutes (literally) on Australian radio.

While on the topic of American pop, I have to mention Christina Milian's amazing new single. "Us Against The World" sounds like the bastard child of Alicia Keys' "No One" and Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love". In my mind, that's a very good thing. The sing was released digitally way back in October without making much of a splash but it finally seems to be taking off thanks to the recently filmed video clip. It's pretty classy - Christina basically rolls around some sand dunes wearing a series of increasingly skimpy outfits. I'm looking forward to her new album, "So Amazin'" was a real guilty pleasure. I guess I should also mention Beyoncé's new singles. Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous. "Halo" is my favourite song from "Sasha Fierce" and I'm thrilled, if a little surprised, that it's going to be the next Australian single. Unfortunately, Beyoncé is going with "Diva" in America, which more than likely means we'll get it next. Words can't adequately describe how much I hate that song. A diva is NOT "a female version of a hustler". May drag queens smite you down, bitch! Annoyingly, the "Diva" video is totally fierce. I love the 80s shoulder pads and wicked dance moves. The "Halo" film clip, on the other hand, is the most insipid piece of shit Beyoncé has ever put her name to. At least the song is brilliant.

Just a few more things to get off my chest. Firstly, Spain is fucked. Soraya came second in the initial Eurovision vote - to this revolting rubbish. Even the shirtless men can't make that shit bearable. On the bright side, Soraya got enough votes to progress through to the next round, which will be a televised gala. I'm convinced Spain will fall under Soraya's beautiful spell when she belts out "La Noche Es Para Mi" in front of a live audience. If not, I'm moving to Portugal. That is when I find my Spanish husband. If nothing else, Eurovision has breathed new life into Soraya's amazing album - it's climbed from #99 to #57 over the past 3 weeks. That's true Dannii-esque $ucce$$! Soraya isn't the only fabulous Euro-diva desperately trying to revive their career at the moment. Germany's Sarah Connor has recorded a duet with Enrique Iglesias for the German version of his Greatest Hits. Amusingly, it's a re-make of "Takin' Back My Love" - the current American single that Enrique recorded with Ciara. Poor Sarah might get Ciara's sloppy seconds but at least it's a good song. Last but not least, spare a thought for poor La Toya. I can't believe Toy Toy was evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house. The United Kingdom clearly has no fucking taste!

Melinda Jackson's New Video

The video has finally arrived for one of my favourite Australian pop songs of the year. Melinda Jackson's "Magic" is not so much a cover of the Police's "Every Little Thing That She Does Is Magic" as a complete musical overhaul. The result is a dose of pure, unadulterated pop! The fun video finds Melinda rolling around in bed, looking gorgeous as usual. I particularly like the quirky special effects! "Magic" is released on Monday. The single contains 7 fabulous mixes (including the awesome Moustache Club Mix) and can be purchased here. Bring on Melinda's debut album!

Melinda's Single Cover & Other Tid Bits

With any luck you are looking at the freshly designed single cover of Australia's next breakout pop diva. Melinda Jackson's record company was kind enough to send me a preview and I think it looks fantastic! The cover suits the song's fun, 80s sound and Melinda looks gorgeous. Make sure to check out the Moustache Remix of "Magic" posted below and the radically different radio version on Melinda's Myspace. There's still no word on the official release date but I will keep you posted.

Now for some housekeeping. I've finally updated my list of links - if I forgot anyone, please let me know! It's been a busy couple of weeks in Blogland. I need to give Robpop a big shout out for his spectacular Robyn interview. I have my fingers (and other bits) crossed that "With Every Heartbeat" tops the UK chart this week. Rob's endless promotion and enthusiasm have played an integral role in the song's UK success. Take a bow, sweetheart!

In other news, ex-Young Diva and Pop Trash favourite, Ricki-Lee, has debuted at #2 on the Australian Singles Chart this evening with her brilliant anthem, "Can't Touch It". What an amazing achievement for Ricki-Lee and her record company! Check out the fabulous video and make sure to buy the single. Ricki-Lee's album, "Brand New Day", is released tomorrow. The buzz surrounding the album suggests that it will be truly spectacular. Purchase your copy here.

Furthermore, can someone please explain how Beyonce has managed to release so many good singles from such a shit album? The original version of "B Day" is one of the crappiest things I've heard in years but each single has been transformed into a winner by the Freemasons. I'm positively salivating over the remixed version of "Green Light" and it truly pains me to say nice things about Beyonce! The video itself is something of a trash masterpiece. The Robert Palmer references appeal to 80s child in me and Beyonce's stunning array of stripper outfits would make a Vegas whore blush! Watch the clip here.

I know that I haven't updated Dannii's Dirty Box lately but the highly disputed queen of pop is never far from my heart and mind. According to an English newspaper, Dannii is currently without a recording contract in the UK. The great one has been dumped by every record label in the UK over the years and always manages to fall on her well-heeled feet. I'm sure Holidannii will once again take the music world by storm after her stint on the X Factor is done! My friend Tommie posted a clip on Togerland yesterday and it reinforces everything I love about Dannii. Watch in awe as Australia's brightest star sings her fabulous hits to a crowd of beer swilling, disinterested tourists in Ibiza. Dannii Minogue = LOVE!

Melinda Jackson - Magic

Melinda Jackson's "Fall In Love" is undoubtedly one of the year's best pop singles. I thought that song was going to be a hard act to follow but Melinda has come up with another slice of blissful pop for her second single. "Magic" is a gorgeous cover of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police, which transforms Sting's anthem into a sweet burst of mid-tempo pop. The radio version is an excellent change of pace for Melinda and cements her position as one of Australia's most promising pop divas. With the right support, "Magic" could be huge. I've been hooked since it first appeared on Melinda's Myspace several months ago and have found a whole new appreciation for the song since hearing the fabulous remixes.

Melinda's record company has kindly given me permission to post the excellent Moustache Remix. Moustache have already done great work with Melinda in the past and this is no exception. Their remix of "Magic" will be dragging trashbags to the dancefloor for months to come!

I'm not aware of the official release date as yet but I'm told Melinda is currently filming the video clip. If her last clip is any indication, "Magic" should be brilliant. Make sure to check out the radio version of "Magic" of Melinda's Myspace. That version is completely different to the one that I've posted. Expect to hear a lot more from Melinda in the very near future.

Fleetwood Who?

One of the best songs of 2007 is Melinda Jackson's brilliant debut solo single, "Fall In Love". Australian pop music has rarely sounded this inspired. "Fall In Love" hasn't exactly set the charts on fire but I guess that is to be expected in a country where the sound of drowning cat on Valium (ie Missy Higgins) passes for popular music. However, I am convinced that there is a niche for a divine pop siren like Melinda. I have played "Fall In Love" to every second queen on Oxford Street and ever single one has been instantly smitten! When I first featured Melinda on Pop Trash Addicts, the response was overwhelmingly positive and I received numerous e-mails asking if she had released anything else.

So, by popular demand, I'm featuring Melinda's first recording as a guest vocalist on Moustache's amazing cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere". The song was released in 2005 and became a massive dance hit before crossing over to the mainstream Charts. "Everywhere" was, and still is, a massive breath of fresh air. Moustache transform the song into a pop anthem complete with retro synthesisers that would make Infernal foam with jealousy. In fact, the comparison with Infernal is quite apt. Moustache does for "Everywhere" what Infernal did for Laura Branigan's "Self Control". Yes, it's that good!

Melinda's record company, iSPY kindly responded to my last post and brought my attention to their Myspace site, which is currently showcasing a new song by Melinda called "Magic". Well, the title could not be more appropriate. "Magic" is a brilliant follow up to "Fall In Love" and it becomes more addictive with each listen. The song reminds me of Gwen Stefani's "The Real Thing", with its sweet melody and warm synth soundscape. If these two songs are any indication, then Melinda's new album will blow the other pop pretenders out of the water! Interestingly, iSPY's site also features new material by Moustache. They collaborate with Siena on an excellent dance track called "Ordinary Day", which is also worth a listen.

You can purchase "Everywhere" from iTunes, the Cabin Crew remixes are excellent. Watch the classy video here. Remember to check out Melinda's new material on iSPY's Myspace and become one of Melinda's Myspace friends. All the cool people are doing it!

Falling In Love With Melinda Jackson

"Fall In Love" is one of the best Australian pop songs to be released in 2007 thus far. Melinda Jackson has produced an absolutely scorching debut single, which is frankly one hell of a surprise from a woman whose dubious claim to fame is singing backing vocals for Ja Rule on his Australian tour. Melinda first came to my attention when she provided vocals for a craptastic cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere". The song was a massive dance hit and Melinda performed it in every shopping mall and nightclub across Australia. I was excited to hear that she had recorded a solo single but didn't expect it to be this good. I have been playing "Fall In Love" on repeat for the past couple of weeks and I still can't get enough of it. The song is everything I love about music. It's catchy, poptastic and vaguely ridiculous!

As a general rule, I never post the radio edit or single version of a freshly released song. It's just not fair to the artist or their record company. This is really frustrating because I want everyone to immerse themselves in the magic of Melinda Jackson's "Fall In Love". The remixes are great but they don't convey the original's fabulous bubblegum pop sound. However, I have found a nice compromise with the "Fall In Love (Radio Rap)", which is only slightly different from the radio edit.

Make sure you check out the astoundingly resourceful video which is a great example of how to make a striking clip without a huge budget. Melinda also has a glamorous Myspace which is worth visiting. Melinda says she's working on an album and I can't wait to hear it. You can purchase this stunning pop anthem from Chaos, Sanity and iTunes.