Got a case of the Mondays? Feeling low because spring has sprung and there’s still snow on the ground? Well, perk up, buttercups! Grab a cuppa and see if your mood doesn’t improve with these two tracks of musical Prozac.
Alphabeat – “Fascination”
From Denmark comes Alphabeat, a six-member pop band that shamelessly flaunts its ’80s influences. Proper first single “Fascination” (an ’07 summertime smash in their home country) is making big waves in the UK, thanks to some regular Radio 1 exposure.
“Fascination” nicks the beat and opening from David Bowie’s “Modern Love” (or Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose,” though perhaps “Footloose” got its groove from Mr. Stardust). The party goes out of bounds from there, with male and female lead vocals that remind me of the B-52s’ best work, though Alphabeat’s bash sounds even more fun. I think there may even be some unintentional Richard Marx in the mix, as if Alphabeat should’ve known better.
“Fascination” is totally infectious. Hear here:
To have a proper Alphabeat party here in the States, you’ll need the import. A “Fascination” medley is available for free download from the band’s MySpace page, but it’s a little offbeat.
If the sweet Danish is on your lips, and you’re hungry for more Alphabeat, check out the band’s fun and colorful “Fascination” video.
The Ting Tings – “Great DJ”
Pop artists have often given props to the DJ. Think Aretha Franklin’s “Mr. DJ (5 For The DJ)”; Indeep’s “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”; Madonna’s “Music”; and Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay” — all entreaties to keep the grooves coming from the mister or miss behind the mix. Even David Bowie brought forth “DJ,” though his was a much more cynical spin.
Now The Ting Tings add to that very specific playlist with their first single, “Great DJ.” The English duo of Jules De Martino (drums, vocals) and Katie White (vocals, guitars, bass drums) sprung forth from an artists’ workshop of sorts in Salford, UK. “Great DJ” is built around some insanely catchy lyrical repetition (“the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums,” for instance). But that sort of elementary-school simplicity is just The Ting Tings’ pop genius at work. Hear here:
“Great DJ” is available from Amazon and iTunes, proving that the U.S. doesn’t always miss out on great pop music.
According to their record label, The Ting Tings are the “Sonny and Cher of Salford Precinct for the Noughties.” Not sure about the comparison, but I do hope this duo’s beat goes on.