Not for the first time, the choice of a single off a well-liked album has caused ripples of bickering among Team ChartBlog. Particularly between Steve P and yours truly. In the case of this song, I won't go into detail as to the two viewpoints we've been expressing, as it's not dignified. Let's just say that one of us thinks the disco-tastic 'Love Is Here' should have been released instead, and the other one of us rightly thinks that this is much better, and that Steve P is wrong.

 

Now, the reason I am right is that, while Sophie Ellis Bextor has one of the best and most distinctive voices in pop, it doesn't always carry a lot of hot passion. She's usually far too reserved for such vulgar displays of emotion. That's not to say her songs aren't emotional, more that she has a kind of icy, melancholic robot oboe of a voice, all haughty and reedy and frosty and sleepy (but not grumpy, happy or, to the best of my knowledge, bashful).

 

The first time I heard 'Today The Sun's On Us' was as part of a randomised playlist of songs including Sophie's album, Avril Lavigne's album, various singles and a few other bits and bobs. It sort of stood out, with its '80s verses and gently meandering melody, but nothing really astonishing happened until the chorus.

 

Oh my good Lord, the chorus... Now I will freely admit that I am as vulnerable to being sideswiped by a song which seems to address me personally as anyone. And there's very few people who can honestly claim that they're good at enjoying the good things that they have in their lives while they have them, without looking to the future with a worried eye.

 

But to hear the previously reserved Ms EllBex PLEADING with me, literally BEGGING that I stop worrying my little head about possible bad things and just relax for a bit. Well, it actually made me blush out loud, and try to be a better person for her sake (she sounds ever so upset).

 

So that's it, there may be better pop moments on her album, but none as moving, and for this reason alone, the wider world deserves to hear it (but please can we have Steve's choice next?).

 

Download: Out now

CD Released: August 13th

www.sophieellisbextor.net

www.myspace.com/sophieellisbextor

(Fraser M)

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/images/5_stars.gif

 

WELL THAT'S FUNNY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PLAYLISTED IT

WELL THAT'S FUNNY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T PLAYLISTED IT

 

That's exactly what I thought. :rolleyes:

It's a blog run by the old TOTP team, just appearing on R!'s website. It's nothing to do with Radio :( Hence not being playlisted.