IT'S MY LIFE

No Doubt

There are three songs I can think of offhand that are called It's My Life. There's the one by Dr Alban, which is apparently a popular song amongst ladies who regularly go roller-skating at the beach while being pulled along by dogs. There's the one by Bon Jovi, which sounds like an early Britney Spears song given to a guitar pop band that wants to sound a bit more grown up. Finally, there's the one by Talk Talk, which is the good one and (thankfully) this is the one No Doubt have covered. Now, sometimes, you get songs covered by people who've actually heard the original and, wouldn't you just know it, this is one of those - it even retains some of the incredibly eighties sound effects of the original. It doesn't quite have the get up and go that its predecessor had, but all things considered this has turned out half-decent. Considering No Doubt's duff songs far outweigh the good (and I count Don't Speak as a duffer), this is a pleasant surprise but I suppose it does help that I liked the song even before they got their mitts on it.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Blue featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone

Welcome to Blue Sing With The Legends, Part Two. Last year it was Elton John, this year it's Stevie Wonder. Is it any good? Almost doesn't matter really, the names on the cover alone should take it near enough to Number One as makes no difference. The record company know they could fill the CD case with cat litter and, just so long as it had Blue's name on it, it would sell by the bucketload, although obviously it wouldn't qualify for the charts as cat litter is classed as a free gift and that's cheating. Of course, the presence of the optically-deficient one helps lend a certain amount of style to this song that Blue can't manage. In fact, between them Messrs Wonder and Stone do a pretty good job of stealing the headline act's thunder, but then they've been around for a lot longer so they've had a bit more practice. The end result is well done, but something about it just seems a little off - I mean, come on, Blue have only been around a couple of years and already they've managed to sing with Elton John and Stevie Wonder - most people would kill to be able to sing with one of those throughout their entire career! Who's next, Roger Whitaker?

BRING IT ON

Alistair Griffin

Boring guitar pop in the style of Darius (hey kids, remember him?) that'll go straight into the charts at around 28 and vanish forever seven days later. There may have been a good idea for a single here once, but there ain't any more. All that's left is what I said in the first sentence. If it sounds unduly dismissive, that's probably because it's happened to so many other Pop Idol / Fame Academy rejects I've lost count.

I'M YOUR MAN

Shane Richie

It's a charity single and it sounds it. Shane Richie isn't a very good singer, but because it's for charity it wouldn't matter if he was the greatest singer the world had ever seen because of the It's-For-A-Good-Cause Factor. Think about it, Hale & Pace got to Number One - Hale & Pace for Heaven's sake! - with a song called The Stonk. That song title, those singers, if it wasn't for Comic Relief it wouldn't have stood a chance and you know it. However, Hale & Pace were good sports and so is Shane Richie so I won't knock him. His backing musicians, though, they're a different matter. I could be wrong, but the tune just sounds a bit lacking in interest, like the band know damned well this is going to be huge anyway so why bother putting in the effort. If you're well disposed towards Children In Need (and in the past, certain pop stars have been (remember Perfect Day?)), then I recommend you buy it. If not, then don't go near it. Just don't buy this for the song.