ThePensmith

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! 😊

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.