Following Tulisas hat trick at last years inaugural celebration of the worst in British music , The MALONEYS are back.
Sponsored by Isme and taking place the same night as the Brits.
This year its Union J who lead the pack. The success challenged boyband aee vying for 5 of the uncoveted awards.
Just behind them are Asda crooner Jahmene Douglas whose inexplicable Number 1 album Love Never Fails garners the virgin 4 nods.
As expected ,charm school graduate James Arthur has chalked up 3 nominations.
Kimberley Walsh finds herself nominated for the prestigious Tesco Clubcard Worst British Album for the seminal Centre Stage , much to the delight of Nadine Coyle.
The Z list studded bash will be hosted by Rylan and will honour Adam Rickitt with the Appalling Contribution to British Music.
Full nominations are
TESCO CLUBCARD WORST BRITISH ALBUM
Kimberley Walsh -Centre Stage
Union J-Union J
The Wanted -Word Of Mouth
Jahmene Douglas-Love Never Fails
Richard and Adam -The Impossible Dream
WORST BRITISH GROUP
Union J
One Direction
The Wanted
Loveable Rogues
Stooshe
WORST BRITISH SINGLE
Geri Halliwell-Half of Me
Passenger -Let Her Go
Loveable Rogues-What A Night
Gabz -Lighters
JLS -Billion Lights
The Wanted -Walks Like Rihanna
One Direction -One Way Or Another
Jahmene Douglas-Titanium
James Arthur-You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You
Union J - Carry You
Jessie J - It's My Party
Olly Murs -Army of Me
WORST BRITISH MALE
Jahmene Douglas
James Arthur
Matt Cardle
Passenger
Richard and Adam
WORST BRITISH FEMALE
Jessie J
Kimberley Walsh
Geri Halliwell
Andrea Begley
Susan Boyle
WORST BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH
Union J
Gabz
Jahmene Douglas
Andrea Begley
Loveable Rogues
WORST BRITISH LIVE ACT
Union J
Atomic Kitten
Kimberley Walsh
Rita Ora
Matt Cardle
WORST iNTERNATIONAL GROUP
Boyzone
Glee Cast
Fall Out Boy
30 seconds To Mard
The Script
WORST INTERNATIONAL FEMALE
Azealia Banks
Miley Cyrus
Britney Spears
Selena Gomez
Nicole Scherzinger
WORST INTERNATIONAL MALE
Robin Thicke
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
PSY
Will I Am
Despite it's size , Wales has a truly glorious musical history. Manic Street Preachers , Catatonia , Stereophonics , Super Furry Animals were all major indie darlings and the Manics are legends. Then there's the veteran acts like Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones. There's long been something in the waters that stream through the Welsh valleys.
And in 2014 , it seems to have happened again. And in completely different style. It;s not everyday you get a Welsh electro-pop act.
Enter Underground Ally. A sibling dance act made up of Ash , Kristian and Vicky Owen. I was introduced to their music shortly before Christmas and was instantly smitten by the fresh , clubby combination of powerhouse vocals courtesy of Vicky and the thrilling radio friendly beats that signal a huge dance influence but are steeped in current pop sensibilities. Underground Ally are a thrilling prospect, and their tracks Addict , Blood and 2 Minutes are blistering earworms.
Having always had an interest in music Underground Ally officially formed in 2012. Kristian , Vicky and Ash upped sticks from their Swansea home and headed to where else , but London. Bringing a whole new meaning to the independent route , the talented siblings bought and refurbished a flat by day whilst working on synths by night with Kristian taking charge of production duties. He took it upon himself to learn how to use Logic and produce from home having been frustrated by the lack of vision for the tracks that he had conceived.
It's testament to their "do it yourself" attitude and incredible work ethic that the stars were beginning to align and Underground Ally were slowly but very surely coming together as a potentially credible dance pop trio.
Their backstory is an inspiring one. They had always seemed destined for a career in music. Vicky had previously sung vocals for their older brother at just 14 before entering into a management deal with Bonnie Tyler's manager. Even recording some of Bonnie;s songs. Not surprisingly as Vicky has what can only be described as a powerhouse voice. One which took her to the Hammersmith Apollo where she shared a stage with Sir Tom Jones and Heather Small. Following that were a number of gigs in the legendary Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in Soho.
On her return to Wales , Vicky formed Kiddo360 with her older brother and roped in Kristian on keyboards. Despite winning UK Live and Unsigned and Vodafone Best Unsigned Act , Kiddo360 soon disbanded.
Which brings us to Underground Ally. Or U.A as they're popularly known. 2014 is set to be a huge year for the Owens gang. Addict was the first track I heard and I loved it instantly. In the video Vicky looks every inch the pop diva in waiting. Shit cool and kick ass with a voice that could be heard from London to Barry Island. Her subtle yet fierce "oh ow , oh ow , somethings gonna get me " elevates the track and harks back to 90s dance. It's s a track you can imagine yourself losing your shit to at 2 in the morning. Ash's voice has a phenomenal tone to it , potentially one of the best new pop voices to emerge in a long time. It is effortless. And it's that commercial , although not purposely , style that deserves to see U.A make a dent on the charts and find space on your iPod.
The intro to Addict , to my ears sounds reminiscent of Girl Gone Wild by Madonna from her last album. Ignore her spoken word bit and theres a small likeness. Addict is hi-energy , frenetic dance with a modern pop sound that is a brilliant precursor to what this lot are capable of. Blood is another stomper , Vicky slaying it again , but as does Ash. "bloods thicker than water , stand by your side, stand by your daughter." It's the perfect Saturday night anthem. Polished , euphoric and addictive. I cannot get enough of this track. Superb little stomper of a track with a tinge of dubstep. Ash completely owns it. A pop voice that could rival or actually better most of the X Factor/The Voice fodder. Stronger than any of the lads from The Wanted , or even Olly Murs. Just a pop voice that's too good not to be successful.
It is not surprising Underground Ally have caught the attention of Wes Maebe who mastered Addict. This being the same guy that's worked with British soul queen Beverley Knight and none other than Ellie Goulding.
Underground Ally are constantly honing their considerable skills live too. Gigs at Westfields and a triumphant homecoming gig in Swansea last week have added to their burgeoning live reputation. There's also the small matter of Kristian and Ash getting their kits off for Gay Times Magazine recent Naked issue. Mouthwatering.
Ah , but it's all about the music. But having an adonnis like Kristian and a cutie like Ash certainly helps. The Owens certainly aren't the ugliest kids in the pop playground. And it doesnt harm their appeal. Of which , there is lots.
There's not really a current pop or dance act taht I could realistically compare U.A to. And that's very much a good thing. Sure , theres little glimpses of Scissor Sisters , old 90's dance. But their sound is a melting pot of pulsating mainstream dance and floorfiller beats , modern pop finesse , stunning and powerhouse vocals and unlimited potential.
Prepare for Underground to go overground. The weekend has landed. It's euphoric , hedonistic and banging and in 2014 it;s gonna be soundtracked by Underground Ally. U.A if you're nasty!!
The past few months have seen a bit of a backlash for Lady Gaga. The pop icon was the target of sustained criticism for low first week sales of the heavily hyped but brilliant ARTPOP. There was the daily hammerings from professional parasite Perez Hilton and diminishing returns chart wise for singles Applause and Do What U Want.
It seems to be the in thing at the moment to bash Gaga. It's a combination of a host of factors. There's blatant trolling for the sake of it. There's apathy with the drawn out hype around every artistic venture she undertakes. And fair enough , casual pop fans are just plain bored and there seems a disconnect between her and the record buying public. Thats;s perfectly fine. But whispers from inside Gaga's camp and now from the woman herself seem to suggest that something is indeed rotten in the Haus of Gaga.
Following Troy Carter's departure as her manager in November , the layest mini catastrophe is the prolonged delay in the premiere of the Terry Richardson directed video for current single Do What U Want.
The track first appeared in October , then subsequently replaced Venus as single Niumber 2 in November. It is now January and the much promised video has yet to materialise whilst the track has already peaked chartwise. Despite the remixs featuring Rick Ross and Christina Aguilera , the second single has been a disaster.
Which is abominable when you consider how truly great the song is. But even if the video drops thsi week or next week , the moment has come and gone. And it should still be a great moment.
According to a lengthy blog posted on her Little Monsters website , Gaga has claimed that she has been 'gravely mismanaged ' , argued that the Applause video was largely rushed. Also it seems that those detractors within her own camp have now been dispensed with.
Gaga writes -It is late because,
just like with the Applause video unfortunately, I was given a week to plan and
execute it. It is very devastating for someone like me, I devote every moment
of my life to creating fantasies for you. All my my most successful videos were
planned over a period of time when I was rested and my creativity was honored.
Those who have betrayed me gravely mismanaged my time and health and left me on
my own to damage control any problems that ensued as a result. Millions of
dollars are not enough for some people. They want billions. Then they need
trillions. I was not enough for some people. They wanted more. I am very
grateful to the photographers and designers who have always stood by me to make
sure my fans are never aware of the things that happen behind the scenes, but
unfortunately after my surgery I was too sick, too tired, and too sad to
control the damage on my own. My label was not aware that this was going on.
The next few months of ARTPOP will truly be its beginning. Because those who
did not care about ARTPOP's success are now gone, and the dreams I have been
planning can now come to fruition. Please forgive me that I did not foresee
this coming, I never thought after all the years of hard work that those I
called friends and partners would ever care so little at a time I needed them
the most. Give me a chance to show you the meaning of seeing art all around
you. Open your hearts to me again that I may show you the joy of us coming
together through our talents, that we are stronger as a unit than when we are
alone. Let me be for you the Goddess that I know I truly am, let me show you
the visions that have been in my mind for two years. I love you. Forgive me
monsters. Forgive me ARTPOP. You are my whole world.
Ultimately it seems as though ARTPOP has had a false start of sorts. It;s a great record which doesnt deserve much of the biased poison thrown at it. Gaga now needs to concentrate on single Number 3 whether it be Gypsy . MANiCURE or Sexx Dreams. That single and indeed video need to be out around Easter and then a big hitter for mid summer. Just because an artist is in the midst of a commercial backlash , it does'nt mean the quality of the work itself is any the poorer. It isnt. But with a heavy heart , I say Gaga is floundering when it comes to orchestrating a singles campaign , worthy of her status. If her creativity is rushed and laboured then let her enjoy a lengthy hiatus. Gaga is not Rihanna or Katy. And I dont write that disrespectfully. She's not a record company workhorse expected to fire out material on cue every fourth quarter. This campaign is salvageable, Prolonging the wait for the Do What U Want video is damaging. Move on. Devise a creative plan that will reignite the ARTPOP era. Theres at least another 3 , maybe 4 singles off the record. But as I always say , you dismiss Gaga at your peril
Both are two of music's most lusted after women. Both are no strangers to globe conquering superstar duets. Now it seems that Colombian queen Shakira and Bajan icon Rihanna are set to unleash their own collaboration later this month.
Shakira release her first English speaking album since 2009's She Wolf later this year. Having previosly teamed up with Beyonce on 2007's Beautiful Liar , it seems as though shes hoping for similar success with Rihanna.
Cant Remember To Forget , although unconfirmed , but retweeted on RiRi's official Twitter , looks to be said duets title.
The track is expected to premiere next Tuesday January 14th. Expect a suitably sultry , flesh revealing eye popping video from acclaimed director Joseph Kahn.
Both Shakira and Rihanna are tipped for summer album releases in 2014. A collaboration between the pair is a mouthwatering prospect and another chance for Rihanna to break yet another record whilst gliding to the top of the charts
2014 looks set to be another banner year in the already heavily decorated career of Antipodean pop queen Kylie Minogue.
The Aussie legend will this weekend begin her stint as a judge on the UK version of The Voice when the show returns to the BBC on Saturday night.
Music wise , its back to business as she looks geared to release her first album under Jay-Z's Roc Nation label since she signed last year. As yet details of her 12th (Yes, her 12th ) studio album are sketchy so far. We do know she's worked with Darkchild and Brooke Candy on the follow up to 2011's Aphrodite.
Kylie took to her Instagram account to post a picture of her clad in high heels , stockings and suitably glittery jacket walking down a street in London from the set of her new video.
No details as yet about the single or album's title. Another Instagram picture posted on New Years Day hinted the new single or album would be titled Into The Blue.
Kylie has suggested that the forthcoming single is sonically similar to her last UK chart topper , 2003's Slow.
Interesting times ahead for La Minogue. Her stint on Yhe Voice is sure to increase ratings for a show that has'nt captured the public's imagination as much as the BBC had anticipated. Being seen regularly on primetime Saturday night tv should serve as excellent promo for Kylie ahead of single and album release. It feels as though Kylie's last few albums have been somewhat hit or miss , although not without moments of sheer pop brilliance. All The Lovers for one.
And with her being signed to a predominantly urban label in Roc Nation , will this sound influence teh neww record. Kylie did somewhat have a brief dalliance with RnB pop almost twenty years ago on 1994's self titled album. An album that gave us classics Confide In Me and Put Yourself In My Place. A little risk taking would be welcome at this stage of her career. There was a safeness about Aphrodite and X.
Dont bet against Kylie catching us all offguard this year.
Watch the music vidoe for Kylie's last UK Number 1 Slow below
Ellie Goulding has premiered the video for forthcoming single Goodness Gracious. The promo see's the British singer partying in LA amidst bright neon colours. The singer is curretly riding the crest of a wave with her current repackaged album Halcyon Days finally hitting Number 1 on the album chart despite being released originally in October 2012.
Goulding is widely tipped to pick up Brit Award nominations later this week for Best British Female and Best British Single for her first Number 1 , Burn. Ellie previously won the Brits Critics Choice in 2010.
Goodness Gracious will be the sixth track taken from the sophomore album.It follows the Top 10 successes of Anything Could Happen , Burn , How Long Will I Love You and Top 20 hits Figure 8 and Explosions.
Ellie seems to be experiencing her Halcyon Days right now as she goes from success to success. Expect another huge hit in 2014 and another Brit come February
Pitbull and Ke$ha have scored the first new number one of 2014 tonight with Timber.
The superstar pairing ascended straight to the summit of the UK chart. They knock Pharrell Williams Happy from the top.
It is Pitbulls second UK Number 1. His previous best was 2011's transatlantic smash Give Me Everything alongside NeYo. The track currently trails Eminem and Rihanna on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Meanwhile, Ke$ha this weekend disclosed that she was seeking help in a treatment facility for an eating disorder. The Tik Tok star expects to spend a month in treatment. We wish her luck.
