It's no 'Two Ladies' from the Cabaret soundtrack

Following a mostly positive impromptu Britney album rate/discussion last weekend, her new single 3 has now had just about enough time to be picked over by Moopy.

The only new track on the forthcoming singles collection received its radio premiere yesterday:


It was written by Max Martin and it's not a million miles away from the mostly well-received Circus album. Winning combination surely? When was Moopy ever that predictable...

Admittedly, the response wasn't entirely negative. Whilst only one poster proclaimed it possibly better than Womanizer, there were murmurs of appreciation, (particularly for the middle-eight) even if some found the whole experience ridiculous to the point of amusement.

Mostly though, it wasn't good news. Let's face it, the song is barely more than a collection of random lyrics and a monotonised chorus. 3 is probably best summed up as insipid, uninspired old toot, rushed out far too soon after the mediocre Circus tour. Even those rating it a 7/10 moment acknowledge that's still far too low for a brand new Britney single. Maybe it's time to drop the electropop and vocoders, go away for a bit and come back when she's got something good to show.

3 is released in the UK on 16th November, one week before The Singles Collection.

Check out:
3 (New Single)
Britney Spears: The Singles Collection
I'm having a BRIT BRIT Sunday

This is going to become big news pretty soon (even if it is going to be shown on Five)

Debuting to around 12.5 million viewers in America last week, FlashForward comes to the UK tonight at 9pm, courtesy of Five.

Already touted as a worthy companion to Lost and Heroes, the show has been generating buzz over the past few months. Enough so that at least a few posters will be tuning in tonight and passing judgement.

Whether you watched it last week or are waiting until tonight, let Moopy know what you think in the discussion thread.

Also check out:

Moopy TV
US TV SEASON 2009-2010 - PLEASE VOTE!
Lost - Season 6
Heroes - Season 3

Let's face it, there's been an ACHING GAP in the nation's collective life since the previous incumbent gave up the post in 1997

The X Factor moved to Boot Camp in this weekend's pair of episodes, leaving us with the final 24 of the competition. Oh, and at last, the arrival of Dannii Minogue to series six.

Saturday's episode did pose a few burning questions: What happened to 3rd Miss Fit? Should there be more categories? Who exactly keeps picking Through The Rain as incidental music?

But it was Sunday that sent the X Factor forum into (relative) meltdown. After muted coverage during the auditions (compared to Cheryl, a point that hadn't gone unnoticed), even Moopy had written Dannii off. But yesterday saw a triumphant comeback of tears, manic laughter and of course, Kylie.

Whilst her saying bye to a perrenial loser was (potentially) the TV MOMENT OF THE YEAR, let's not forget Dannii's sombre "it's a 'no' from me" face. Or her introduction of Kylie (more on that next week). The Moopy concensus is that she well and truly
trumped Cheryl Cole over the past weekend.

Next week, the final 12 are chosen - although click here if you can't wait until then to find out who's going through. Amongst our early favourites: newly formed trio Miss F.R.A.N.K and Ethan (can't imagine why...), although currently most people think Simon has the strongest group with the over 25's.

Episode by episode discussion will be continuing over the next few months, alongside other general related topics and assorted Louis Walsh/Cheryl Cole depreciation. Check out:

Bootcamp
I'm so over Dannii as a judge right now
Final 24: Who's got the best group?
Worst X-Factor judge
Best X-Factor Judge - PAST and PRESENT

Look at the amazing success September has had with trying to formularise her sound...

Here's the thing. Moopy loves Sweden and the vast majority of the pop music that extends from within its borders (check out the Robyn forum if you think I'm under-selling it). Thus, we were behind the release of Agnes' Release Me earlier this year, but admittedly taken aback by just how well it did.

Looking at the reaction to the next single, I Need You Now, there's a fair amount of trepidation. Evidently fearing that the favoured On & On may sound "too Euro" for the British public (or should that be the oh-so-influential media), we've instead been treated to a remixed and re-recorded I Need You Now. That is, it simply involved adding a TINNY BEAT and some RELEASE ME-ESQUE STRINGS.

Which leaves the single caught somewhere between the two. Indeed, the new, non-ballad I Need You Now pertains strictly to the blueprint set down by Release Me which should, hopefully, give it a chance of playlisting (it's already been premiered by Radio 1). However, like September before her, releasing a diluted copy of a breakthrough single proves nothing of the artists' long-term potential. In fact, most fans agree that whilst the song is "ok", the album holds much better tracks.

Let's just hope then, that unlike September's digital-only album, I Need You Now does enough to warrant a full commercial release (7th December being the date). One that proves Agnes has more than just those Release Me-esque strings to her bow.

Check out:

Agnes - I Need You Now
Agnes - On And On
Agnes - 'Release Me'

I don't know who told this bitch we wanted another Charmbracelet, it certainly was not me

Whilst we're on the subject of artists who seem intent on showing their fans as little regard as possible, focus must turn to Mariah Carey.

For over two months now, the 'lambs' and the 'haters' have been scrutinising Obsessed's chart performance in America. After a slow-start, the "buzz single" managed to peak within the top ten. Thus inevitably, focus turned to the album.

Despite the immense amount of pre-release hype for the album (how exactly did we reach 27 pages?!), anticipation has been mixed from the start. Would Mariah's first JD-less album since Glitter be a good move? Would it return the lambs to plink-plong whispery Charmbracelet hell? What exactly could a song titled Ribbon be about?

The answer to all of the above is a mostly resounding "ZZZZ", with some posters unable to see the album through to the end. True, the first three tracks (Betcha Gon' Know, Obsessed and H.A.T.E.U.) have survived relatively unscathed, but the reaction to the album as a whole makes the ten-steps-backwards I Want To Know What Love Is sound earth-shattering by comparison.

Yet, the album does have some fans and there could be some Moopy-esque U-turns abound. Meanwhile, whether the album is a max volume or mute moment, we'll be keeping a close eye on the charts to see how Memoirs... plays out.

Check out:

Mariah Carey - Memoirs... FIRST LISTEN PARTY
Mariah Carey - Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (Pre-release rambles)
Mariah Carey - I Want To Know What Love Is
Obsessed CHART TRACKER

What am I supposed to do? Keel over into a flock of crows???

If there was one word to sum up this period of Madonna's career, Celebration, in all honesty, probably wouldn't be it.

True, whatever else happens, the compilation released on Monday is arguably one of the most important hits collections of all time, but there's a lot of discussion in the Madonna forum over the general lack of care that's been shown towards this album.

The lack of sleevenotes, the shoddy editing (the end of American Life audible at the start of Hollywood; mastering errors during Music; the unexpected sudden end to Don't Tell Me), the visible www.discosingles.net logo on the artwork, the tracklist. Almost every aspect of this album has been examined under the microscope and the results are not good!

Despite acknowledging that it'd be near impossible to create a two-disc Madonna retrospective and please everyone, the main issue here really is that neither she or the record company appear to have put much effort in at all.

Nevertheless, Celebration is #1 in the midweeks, albeit by a relatively small margin. We'll definitely be keeping tabs on this one to see how it performs over the festive period. In the meantime there's plenty of discussion (both positive and negative) to be had in relation to the project.

Check out:

RELEASE DAY
36 Songs That Changed The World...
How satisfied are you with the Celebration project so far?
Make a sane Celebration tracklist in as few moves as possible
Revolver
It's So Cool
"Celebration" UK iTunes thread

Update: Sugababes - OFFICIAL: Keisha OUT, Jade IN

The current line-up of the Sugababes has disbanded.

Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah will continue as the Sugababes and will be joined by new member Jade Ewen. They release their album ‘Sweet 7’ on November 23rd through Island Records.

Keisha Buchanan will continue to record for Island Records as a solo artist.

Admittedly, it wasn't quite the news anyone was expecting, but with rumours of a low-key album re-recording and Keisha being ousted from the group by Amelle and Heidi, it certainly makes for potentially the best pop story of the year.

So what next? With Jade Ewen on board, the new album still pushing ahead and Amelle poised to take centre stage, it seems the immortal Sugababes bandwagon ain't stopping here, despite having now seen out all three founding members...

Check out:
Sugababes - OFFICIAL: Keisha OUT, Jade IN for updates, speculation and reaction.
Vote for Your Favourite Ever Sugababe (2009 edition).
Compile your Ideal Sugababes line-up

It all went wrong when it stopped looking like it was being transmitted from a computer in Romania via a block of council flats in Shoreditch

If you had access to Sky or cable during the '90s, chances are you remember The Box. Not, as it is now, a selection of music videos scattered between a series of pre-programmed shows and teleshopping - but back when for £3.50, viewers could select any video listed and watch it through a dull blue haze.

This was the time when one minute you'd get a TLC/702/En Vogue TRIPLE WHAMMY and then B*Witched would come on (for the 40th time that day).


For every Busta Rhymes, there was a Solid HarmoniE. For every Steps, there was a Scooch. The Box was the channel where acts from the pop toilet were guaranteed coverage (and in some cases managed to score genuine hits). At least until 9pm, after that it was full of videos that were all just black women shaking their arses at the camera.

Evidently for many Moopists, The Box was a massively influential in terms of showcasing new artists, even if many of them never quite found their way to the big time. It may well live on to this day, now transmitting in HQ and accompanied by an array of sister channels. But it really never was quite the same when it stopped looking like it was being transmitted from a computer in Romania via a block of council flats in Shoreditch.

Check out: Let's remember The Box (90s style)

She's nicked Gina G's Eurovision dress

Alexandra Burke's single Bad Boys (Feat. Flo Rida was premiered last month on Radio 1. The Moopy reaction was mixed, to say the least.

Fast forward one month and now we have the video:

It'd be fair to say that the immediate impression is more than mediocre, with almost every aspect dissected: the disco shimmy at 48 seconds, the spazzy dance routine, even the dress (whose wardrobe is a garment down: Beyoncé or Gina G?)

So far then, a resounding EAT THAT LEONA YOU BORING ASS BITCH out of 10.

Let us know what you think: Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys

Who thought doing a parody of a bad Lady Gaga DRAG ACT in Justin's MY LOVE VIDEO was a GOOD IDEA

It'd probably be fair to say that as far as Cheryl Cole goes, Moopy doesn't exactly buy into the "Queen of Hearts" portrayed on The X Factor. Nevertheless, her first single 'Fight For This Love' has generated much discussion and now here's the video:


Is it a knockout for Cheryl, or are you in the "LOVE THE SONG. HATE THE BITCH" camp? Either way, let us know.

Strictly Come Dancing vs. The X Factor

End-of-year television stalwarts Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor are back and already generating discussion.

Strictly Come Dancing generates a weekly show thread (week one here) and some irreverent discussion like the Axe a Strictly Come Dancing Judge poll (look away Bruno) which is still open for votes and optional character assassination.

The X Factor has it's own sub-forum for anything and everything relating to the ITV1 juggernaut.

Hot topics include:

Dannii vs. Cheryl 2009
Diana Vickers: still a twat
What is Ruth Lorenzo up to these days?

Sugababes - Amelle OUT, Jade Ewen IN?

From the moment the "news" broke yesterday that Amelle has left the Sugababes, discussion has touched on just about everything and anything 'Babes related. Is it Keisha's fault ("someone needs to have a word with Keisha. EVERYONE HATES YOU WITH A PASSION, LOVE. WORD OF ADVICE: DON'T BE IN A GROUP. EVER.")? Is Jade Ewen joining the group (apparently, she's already been dropped by her record label)? Will Mutya, or noted former Mis-Teeq member Su-Elise step up to the plate? Is Amelle better off alone?

Despite the story passing for truth in the tabloids today, there's still been no official confirmation from the Sugababes camp. For the latest updates, rumours and obligatory slander, check out the Sugababes - Amelle OUT, Jade Ewen IN? thread.

Also see: Jade Ewen - Punching Out

Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill

Whitney's on the comeback trail. Except in the UK, where her new album has been delayed until mid-October (presumably to tie in with an X Factor performance), a move that most agree is a "shitty decision".

Nevertheless, despite the lukewarm reaction to the marketing strategy, the feedback on the Million Dollar Bill video is overwhelmingly positive. Log on, let us know what you think.

Also check out: I Look To You chart tracker: http://www.moopy.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63212