SONG 4 MUTYA (OUT OF CONTROL)

Groove Armada

With a title like that and lyrics like what it's got, the chances of this song being recorded by any old fool with a record contract are fairly slim, or as I prefer to say, completely non-existant. Obviously, you know what's what in the world of popular music and such, but for the benefit of my other reader here's the background. Groove Armada did this song for Mutya Buena (one of an increasing number of ex-Sugababes) and asked her to sing it, and she duly obliged, hence the title. They wrote "for" as "4" because apparently that's how the kids on the street pronounce it these days or something. I don't really understand it all myself, but as I'm a thirty-something music reviewer that's only to be expected. Song's quite good though, it's very summery, not to mention light and frothy without being too naff, the Milky Way of pop singles if you like. That probably makes Cascada the Kinder Hippos of pop music, which sounds about right to me. There was something about it that I couldn't quite put my finger on for a while too – mind you, seeing as CDs spin at around 300rpm I wouldn't recommend putting your finger on it anyway – and then I realised what it was. It sounds like a very distant cousin to Prince's U Got The Look (and how's about that for coincidence, someone else who can't be bothered with writing the title properly), and I mean that in a good way. Yep, it's pretty safe to say I like this one.

SUSPICIOUS MINDS and 17 other singles besides, yep, RCA have done it again

Elvis Presley

Now then, what's the best way to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the day Elvis left the building? Well, if you're RCA Records, apparently the best way to show your respect is to shove out yet another set of his singles. Trouble is, when it comes to all the big guns, they've rather shot their bolt - any Elvis fan or eBayer worth their salt already has the first box set containing the 18 Number One singles. So what do you do? Simple. You choose 18 singles that didn't get to Number One and tell the fans this is their chance to right what once went wrong, whipping all the Elvis fans up into a "Must Buy These On Day One" frenzy as you go. Of course, after last time, making the second lot all limited editions again is an absolute must, which pretty much guarantees high chart placings for all these – sorry, am I sounding cynical here? Well, maybe I am, but Elvis Presley's fans are a loyal and dedicated bunch – after all, you don't see many Billy Fury impersonators do you? – but I can't help feeling that RCA are exploiting them something rotten here. The first collection was extremely well-done and the second will be produced to the same high standard, but I can't help feeling that perhaps once was enough. Let's face it, £4 a single for 18 weeks and with no guarantees you'll get a complete set either, given the fact that they've already been through the mill once already this is asking for trouble. If you are an Elvis fan, and you intend to get the complete second set, I wish you the very best of luck. If you're from RCA, please try and think of something different (and cheaper) next time there's an anniversary of something Elvis did. I can see it now – a special DVD box set released to commemorate forty years since Elvis last played Twister with his family (be honest, with those hips he'd be a natural) – well, we've had 50 years of rock'n'roll, 70 years since he was born, now 30 years since he died, there can't be that many more landmarks worth celebrating can there?...