ThePensmith

Oooh this is good Jay. I was posting on their fan group yesterday on Facebook about "Bubblin'" turning 18 and I couldn't find any set sales info anywhere! Thanks 👍 I think "Best In Me" as I recall was only released in Asian territories as the fifth single off the first album. I've been reading old Music Weeks from 2002 and I think because the All Rise album was still selling healthily after "Fly By II" came out (in fact it was after that single came out that it went to number one here) Innocent didn't think a fifth single was worth it, but they made the video an exclusive for the Emap music channels so their fans back home didn't miss out. I agree though that or "Long Time" that they performed on TV a lot were such missed opportunities for singles. Have to say I'm curious to this day why "U Make Me Wanna" was a single from One Love when "Riders" was literally right there and had been performed on the BRIT Awards etc. They certainly didn't milk that album for singles.

"The Show" was released 18 years ago today, as the first single off the second album What Will The Neighbours Say? eGUIE844hxk I remember so clearly everything about this, the first performance on CD:UK, the video, the chairs with their names on that they did all the promo and artwork with. And to top it all just a really brilliant song. Good memories.

Stereoboard are listing it as anywhere between £45-46 (London aside which is £52).

London for me all being well 🤞

Would now appear the Anniversary Remixes vinyl is coming out on 22nd July. Limited to 3000 copies. Banquet Records have it available for preorders but I believe they only have about 20 left: https://www.banquetrecords.com/sugababes/an...ixes/LMS5521591

Second single is indeed "Dance With Me". Comes out Wednesday this week: They've also just been confirmed today as the headline act for the switch on of the Blackpool Illuminations on 2nd September which will be broadcast on MTV: "Haven't Found You Yet" was also played on Love Island the other night.

They uploaded this behind the scenes of the "Bubblin" video on their socials yesterday - on the end of which is a teaser of their cover of 112's "Dance With Me" which I would imagine is going to be the second single. All the "Too Close" vibes!

New interview on Gay Times from Mighty Hoopla a couple of weeks back: https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/duncan-j...ter-coming-out/

"Haven't Found You Yet" now on the A list at Radio 2: @1538855148486811648

Finally got round to listening to this last night. Definitely an album of two halves; you can hear the progression and the journey it takes. It maybe isn't packed with obvious singles like "Staying At Tamara's" was but I get the feeling from George that's not the point with this album. I especially love 'Manila', 'Don't Give Up' and 'Sweetest Human Being Alive'. He's releasing a film that he made during the making of the album tied into the album that's coming out in cinemas for one night only on 29th August:

Out next Friday:

I can't say I'm entirely surprised. That they eventually got to do the tour is a miracle in and of itself considering everything that was chucked their way in the last two years with COVID etc. I imagine they will probably bide their time and take a leaf out of Steps' book whereby they return when there's an anniversary to mark - 15 years, 20 years, whenever that may be, because there'll be more impetus to hang a campaign off of. I'm gutted I had to end up cancelling going to the tour myself but I know on reflection I wouldn't have fully enjoyed it with all the restrictions that were still in place at the time. I'm optimistic that they'll do something again someday, if not in the immediate future. It doesn't take away from the album either; it's still a wicked album and so many bops and I love it. Statistically because they are viewed as a "heritage act" they were always going to be on a back foot from that angle. But Radio 2 and Capital really got behind it, they did loads of TVs, and it went top 5 which considering what other albums it was up against - Adele, ABBA, Ed Sheeran - was an achievement.

Just come across and been watching this interview Lee and Simon did for a podcast recently. Quite insightful actually: t5xMQBfsHpI VQX6wEY0CqY

Confirmed for the bill on the Sunday for BBC Radio 2 Live in Leeds in September today: @1536626560853221377 Got no idea if this means new music is on the way or not. I'd be very surprised if it did given he's still recovering from his knee to all intents and purposes.

It's a toss up between This Woman's Work, Babooshka and Don't Give Up with Peter Gabriel for me. I bought her best of in a HMV sale a couple of years ago and those are the standout career moments. I'm fully here for her reappraisal and for Running Up That Hill being as successful as it has been.

Just seen that of all people, John Legend has just done a faux "my label forced me to do a TikTok video" video. The fact it's trying to be humorous is just next level cringe

Kimberley Walsh from Girls Aloud has offered her views on this in OK Magazine this week. She's said it's sad that no one's taken Little Mix's place and that it's time for another girl group or boyband: https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/kimberl...ersary-27124685

Don't know if this adds to the discussion or not but I was talking to a good mate of mine on Instagram yesterday about the fact S Club 7's "Sunshine" is out on vinyl next week at HMV for the first time, and how we were both excited about that. I mentioned in passing about this new Platinum Collection - which she wasn't aware of - and she's subsequently gone off to pre-order the silver swirl vinyl. So there you go, an example of a casual conversion!

I was gonna say the clips of her at Mighty Hoopla over the weekend have got me really excited for October now, so her best of has been on rotation again for me today. "That Day" is such a beautiful song lyrically and musically, I love the kind stream of consciousness vibe. Was it ever established why there was two videos for it?

I was gonna say maybe low top 10 or #5 on a quiet week would be near enough my estimation as well. Had it still got released after they split I reckon it would have been a different story and it would have struggled.

Just caught up with the interview just now on iPlayer. This comes out the week before my birthday and a couple of weeks after I see them up the road from us in Chelmsford for the first time :) Be lovely having the old hits on vinyl together with the newer songs too - I've got the signed one on pre-order!

Doesn't surprise me that The Alias / Jewels & Stone have done this megamix. They really understand the assignment - just look at the ones they did for Girls Aloud and The Saturdays. This is up there with those. That segue from Neon Blue to Stomp with a snatch of The Slightest Touch especially is incredible!

So I've booked for Chelmsford Racecourse now :) Will be my first Steps show. Quite looking forward to it actually!

I should state for the record that I've not engaged in TikTok, nor will I ever; it's origins and safety concerns and general brash noisiness that appeals to those with the attention span of a mayfly has put me off it. I'm in my early 30s and have a clear idea of what is and isn't appealing to me now. But like it or lump it, it is part of most current social and business fabrics now, the music industry included. Evidently, there probably are some artists who are making videos like Halsey's one with intentions that aren't genuine or coming from a place of despair. But that's equally not to invalidate those artists who are feeling pressured under their contracts to do certain things or be set completely unassailable goals in the name of chasing virality. You only need look at Raye and the dramas she went through last year with Polydor. You would think after the last few years and different things happening like #metoo, Black Lives Matter etc that labels would be showing more responsibility for looking after the very asset that is keeping them in business in the first place. Artists are humans, not preprogrammed robots. Sadly on this basis, it doesn't seem like they are. It's not the 80s or 90s where you can get away with any old crap. Fans are not stupid and they will make themselves quite as if not just as vocal as the artist if they sense bullshit or uncompromising behaviour at play. By all means incorporate TikTok into the wider marketing plan - and also make it make sense relative to the artist, their music and audience - but pinning all your energies on virality on there for a hit will inevitably come back and bite them on the arse once TikTok reaches and passes peak saturation point, which it probably will do within a year or two.