ThePensmith

Well this is definitely under the category of "definitive boxsets no one knew they needed"! All three of Shayne Ward's first three studio albums are being reissued as deluxe versions with previously unreleased demos, mixes and bonus tracks, in a boxset called Anthology on 9th December, and his self titled debut album will also have a release on vinyl for the first time too: https://shayneward.tmstor.es/product/102846

So - not so much this week for obvious reasons - but I've noticed their Instagram has been quite active of late and that they've been hanging out again. Also tomorrow is unbelievably twenty years since "What I Go To School For" came out. Would be lovely if they're planning something to mark that!

Whilst it's been a very long time - reckon it must be nearly 10 years - since I listened to the chart on Radio 1 last, he's only had the job five seconds, give him a break. Besides, nothing will be as bad as when JK & Joel did it in the mid 00s, they were bloody awful, even accounting for the editorial decisions to try and make the chart relevant when CD singles had gone through the floorboards but downloads hadn't yet taken off, they basically talked over half the records played, and replaced the chart with inane crap like DVD charts and celebrity gossip.

Third single "Magnetic" is out tomorrow morning:

BBC Radio 2 Live In Leeds that Mel was due to be performing at next weekend has been cancelled in light of the Queen's death: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statement...e-in-leeds-2022

Pretty amazing news on the grapevine I've heard tonight: B*Witched will apparently be joining the tour as support along with Megan McKenna now! My 9 year old self who bought "C'est La Vie" is fully here for this :)

I just listened just now. Found it compelling but so heartbreaking at the same time. Honestly her family should be ashamed, they're - apologies for my French - f***ing lowest of the low. I really hope some justice for her comes out of all of this, and more importantly that she gets to a place she deserves to be - happy, fulfilled, well and around people that truly love her and want the best for her.

There's a rather lovely merch range she's released today ahead of the tour in October which includes previously unseen photos taken from the video sets of both "Torn" and "Big Mistake": https://natalie-imbruglia.backstreetmerch.com/ I've ordered one of the "Torn" tees for Shepherd's Bush, looks awesome!

Delighted Series 2 is confirmed!

So pleased for them. What a fantastic achievement as well! Who'd have had this down back when "5, 6, 7, 8" first came out? Truly national treasures.

Great news about the new deal. My money was on BMG so I was initially surprised to hear EMI is his new home. Although one of his new label heads is Jo Charrington who was on his team with Nick Raphael when he was first signed to Epic all those years ago (they also signed JLS and Lemar), so it makes perfect sense given they delivered his first three albums together.

Don't think there's a topic for this lot just yet... c20ADOxRSK4 The Future X are a new seven piece pop group from the States and Canada - Andrew Venegas, Angie Green, Luke Brown, Maci Wood, Sasha Maria, Tray Taylor and Jayna Hughes. Perhaps unsurprisingly because there's seven of them and the fact Simon Fuller has put them together, the S Club 7 comparisons are very obvious. Song's very catchy but I foresee this being another project of his like Now United where it doesn't get pushed at all here - although according to their biog online they've promoted this quite heavily on TikTok?

That's without question. Even I'm well aware that they are a fanbase concern these days. It's not an ideal set of circumstances - in fact it's starting to feel like a self fulfilling prophecy at this stage - but if they get the album out and do the tour with Lee back in tow for both that'll be nothing short of a victory, however small.

Don't think this has been posted about anywhere else but apparently a tell all documentary exposing allegations of abuse and bullying behind the scenes on the show is forthcoming: https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/14/x-factor-doc...works-17179971/

Blue have now pushed back the release of their new album to 28th October.

Perhaps not unsurprisingly the album's release has now been pushed back until 28th October. I've had an email just now from their official store for my pre-order.

Owing to Lee's recent arrest after being drunk and disorderly on a flight a couple of weeks ago, he has stepped back from promo duties with the band until further notice: Not ideal before the album's about to drop. Just hope he does get himself sorted out for tour.

Number 1 when I was born (26-08-1989): Jive Bunny, "Swing The Mood" (I mean FFS) 1st: Bombalurina - Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (I mean I obviously did something wrong in a previous life to have two crap novelty records at the top both ends of my first year on earth) 2nd: Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy (FFS) 3rd: Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart (FFS with a mullet) 4th: Urban Cookie Collective - The Key The Secret (TUNE) 5th: China Black - Searching (not heard this one) 6th: Clock - Everybody (wasn't a Clock fan. Next) 7th: Los Del Rio - Macarena (it's no Saturday Night) 8th: Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back) (Now THIS is more like it. Classic) 9th: Embrace - My Weakness Is None Of Your Business (meh) 10th: Apollo 440 - Stop The Rock (not my favourite of theirs. I prefer "Ain't Talkin' Bout Dub" more) 11th: Ronan Keating - Life Is A Rollercoaster (OK I'll take this one, it's one of his better solo singles) 12th: Robbie Williams - Eternity / The Road To Mandalay (Eternity is one of Robbie's best singles for me, I'll take this one) 13th: Will Smith feat. Tra Knox - Black Suits Comin (Nod Ya Head) (Not a patch on the original Men In Black. Bit shouty and not much cop) 14th: D Kay & Epsilon feat. Stamina MC - Barcelona (I LOVED this one!) 15th: D12 - How Come (Eminem having beef with the members of D12 who are not him. Next) 16th: Eminem - Ass Like That (Eminem having ass. Presumably not with the members of D12 who are not him. Next) 17th: Paolo Nutini - Last Request (this was quite gorgeous. I'll take this one) 18th: Eve - Tambourine (oooh this was a tune, forgot about this one) 19th: Nelly feat. Akon & Ashanti - Body On Me (meh) 20th: Bloc Party - One More Chance (I prefer "Banquet" more) 21st: Usher feat. Pitbull - DJ Got Us Falling In Love (meh) 22nd: Nicole Scherzinger - Wet (prefer "Your Love" or "Don't Hold Your Breath" more) 23rd: Cheryl - Under The Sun (meh. If this was "Call My Name" I'd be having no complaints) 24th: Arctic Monkeys - Why D'Ya Only Call Me When You're High? (Not really an Arctic Monkeys fan. Next) 25th: Oliver Heldens and Becky Hill - Gecko (Overdrive) (Could take or leave it) 26th: Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber - Where Are U Now (not listening to this for starters. Boom tish) 27th: Adele - Send My Love To Your New Lover (I'll pass) 28th: Drake - Signs (meh) 29th: Martin Garrix feat. Khalid - Oceans (meh) 30th: Normani - Motivation (better than anything Fifth Harmony ever did, although this still isn't much cop) 31st: Kygo & Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It (the original is better) 32nd: KSI and Lil' Wayne - Lose (meh) To summise: the great British public have mostly given me aural s**** for my birthday. There aren't enough slow claps to signify my feelings on this.

I was about to say, those and also "Deeper Shade of Blue". "Something In Your Eyes" and "Heartbreak In This City" had the "Oh this is new to me but it's a bop, let's try to do the dance moves" moments for most of the crowd :lol:

So Chelmsford City Racecourse was last night. And I had so much fun! I was so impressed, not just how brilliant live they were (they all sounded and looked amazing), but also what surprised me was how wide their audience is looking around at the crowd. Obviously the hardcore fans were there, but there was teens and twentysomethings, right through to older people in their 60s and 70s. Mind you it's not hard to see why; so many bops one after another! They could have easily done a three hour set! I especially loved during one bit of the show where a fan at the front gave Faye and H a sign to hold up and read saying that she'd come out last week. It was such a special moment and it proves what allies they are to the LGBTQ community. Overall I'd definitely go see them again! Some videos I took: cx8bj40cRKg mqzlSXX3SxU az7wer981uk zG6Rao-AffE nj1VmCCTLz4

Duncan and Antony are guests on Kate Thornton's podcast White Wine Question Time. Very funny interview :lol: https://open.spotify.com/episode/10tOV3a8RW...ource=copy-link

I saw her performing this when I went to her tour in Southend this year. Great single! Very "Trip The Light Fantastic" era.

They're performing "Haven't Found You Yet" and a few classics on The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan tonight on Channel 4 at 10pm.

I plucked up the courage to listen to Nicola's interview she did on Laura Whitmore's podcast a few months ago today. Wow, I'm a mess :cry: I can only really speak for myself but I've found myself dipping in and out of listening to both Girls Aloud and also their solo projects - Nicola this week especially with the vinyl reissue of Cinderella's Eyes - over the last couple of months. Maybe it's my way, like many others, of trying to come to terms with what's happened over the last year. But I'm not sure I'll ever be OK with the fact Sarah's not here anymore. In my head she's still here. When she corrected herself and said "only the other four, sorry three know". That just bought me completely undone.

Got Hammersmith in presale this morning. Buzzing! 😊