Nadine Coyle - Insatiable

Keeping on the topic of Girl's Aloud members. Nadine Coyle has been working on her solo album for something like 2 years. You would hope that the album is going to be a stonker after working on it for so long. I do hope so.

I prefer 'Insatiable' to Cheryl Cole's efforts, but there is no denying that it is also a little bland. The sound is dated but maybe that was the point (he hopes!). I'm not very good at predicting these things but I don't think that 'Insatiable' will be a huge hit for Nadine. Unfortunately from what I've read, music journo's are saying that the album tracks are on a similar plain.

I don't want to judge the album until I heard it myself but Nadine will have to release a brilliant follow up single - otherwise this project will possibly destroy her solo career, which will be very sad. Nadine has a fantastic voice. She gets such bad press but I try not to believe everything you read, and so should you!

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for Nadine - and I'm also doing the same in hope for a brand new Girls Aloud album. Purrrlease.

Why I'm disappointed in Cheryl Cole....

There are many things I like about Cheryl Cole - a woman who is now labelled as a national treasure in the UK. I love seeing her playing judge on the X-Factor, bickering with Simon and scowling at Louis. She's gorgeous - and even as a gay man, I can appreciate that she is extremely easy on the eyes. I love that she is (was/maybe still/?) part of Girls Aloud, my second favourite girl group after Bananarama. I'm in no doubt that there is a lot to love about Cheryl.

However, unfortunately this article is not about loving the Newcastle lass. This article is actually about my huge disappointment about the way that her solo music career has panned out. 99.9% of Girls Aloud songs were fabulous. Therefore, I was expecting great things from Cheryl. I wasn't expecting copy-cat songs or solo recording of Girls Aloud demos that didn't make it on albums. I had expections that the songs would me both memorable and tuneful. I was expecting fun, fresh pop tunes with equally colourful videos. When Cheryl released her first single 'Fight For This Love', I was saddened because it sounded so flat. However, I (perhaps stupidly) thought that the follow-up album would be different. It wasn't. The album, in my opinion, is a massive dud. Not that it seemed to matter to the record buying public as they bought it in droves (shame on you).

Cheryl's new single 'Promise This' is just as uninspiring.

The album 'Messy Little Raindrops' is about to drop and there are preview clips everywhere. Listen and judge for yourself.

Nigela Lawson - secret excerpts from her forthcoming book

I've been lucky enough to be given a copy of a manuscript for Nigela Lawson's next book. In the book she writes about her life, career..and of course there are lots of fabulous new recipies from the kitchen temptress.

Nigela's publishers have given me permission to publish some choice excerpts from the future best selling book.



"Being a foody superstar can be exhausting. I'm often invited to other celebrity chefs homes for parties, book launches or bare knuckle fights with Delia Smith. When I arrive home late at night, exhausted and lacking in 'sexual' energy, I'm usually desperate for some comfort food like my Easy Thai Soup which can be made in minutes....."

Easy Thai Soup
This recipe is completely effortless and delicious.

1. First open a bottle of expensive wine and pour half of it into a large wine glass.
2. Ask a member of your staff to make a large bowl of Thai Soup.
3. Thumb through various food magazines whilst drinking the wine.
4. Tear up press photos of Jamie Oliver because it's funny.
5. Ta da! Soup Ready. Delicious!

I think you'll agree that the book will be a huge success.

Next week Nigela writes about her frequent nightly trips to the fridge, and why she likes to store chocolate bars in her underwear for emergencies.



(The above Nigela story may not be entirely true. Infact it isn't true. Infact I made it up. Don't hate me.)

The Rules - Part 1

According to many a music critic, there are several important elements that make a good popstar. Charisma, individuality, a great personality and perhaps most importantly - a fantastic singing voice. ...but is that really true?

I've been a fan of pop music for most of life. Here is Part 1 my rules to make the 'perfect' popstar:

1. Personality.

It's not always one of the most essential characteristics (Hello Leona), but having a big personality helps. Remember the 'Spice Girls' early television appearances? From day one, it was clear that these girls were something special. Not only were they incredibly irritating, they were also fun, fresh and loud. A mix of terrible fashion and faultless pop songs. Amazing. In 2010, we are lacking in decent music television. Gone are the days of 'Top Of The Pops' when we were able to see brief glimpses of personality during performances. Today's pop stars have to rely on guest spots on Alan Titchmarsh, performing for an elderly audience that are mostly asleep.

2. Great Songs.

In these current times, it's hard to hear a decent pop song as most of them are indentical. The songs are possibly written and produced by the same person. A good pop song is easy to recognise. In most cases it can produce an instant response - "F**k, this is brilliant" - or "I will sell my children for this song on mp3".

3. Stupid Clothes.

Lady Gaga, nuff said.

...more soon...

Viva Espana

I'm home and feeling super refreshed after spending a week in Mijas, a little village in southern Spain. I tend to go to Spain at least once a year. Mostly because I need a sun-fix, but also because I love to hang about Puerto Banus, a place extensively featured in a recent Piers Morgan documentary. Puerto Banus is a well known for its association with the boat-owning super rich. Whilst it's quite nice to rub shoulders with rich bitches and their elderly husbands, I like to enjoy sitting in the restaurants and spying on the passers-by. It's addictive. The seemingly young model-types are usually foiled by closer inspection - note: wrinkly hands and thinning hair. AND - you can't buy good taste. I'm seen so many hideous outfits - too many to count. It's nosey parker heaven.

My beloved Birmingham

I love Birmingham. I love everything about it. It's a diverse city. A city of fun. A mixing pot of cultures and the shopping is pretty darn good too.
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Two years ago, me and my partner in crime moved from Birmingham to Norwich. Yes, Norwich. Norwich (East Anglia - or as Jade Goody once said, 'East Angular') thinks it's a city, but it's not really. Don't get me wrong, there are worse places to live - though on occasions I need to remind myself of this. It has a nice theatre, I suppose - but it's not vibrant and pretty much everything closes at 10pm. There has been occasions where we have been sitting in a restaurant at 9:30pm by ourselves. To say Norwich is not exciting is cruel - but I'm afraid that's not far from the truth.
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Tonight, me and my man are travelling back to Birmingham for the weekend. I cannot wait to sit in a cocktail bar late at night and not be alone with bar staff sweeping up around my feet. Perhaps sipping on some champagne? - or something equally fabulous?

FYI - the most exciting person we have seen in Norwich is Christopher Biggins in Pizza Express in The Forum. Need I say more.

True Confessions of a Bananarama fan

It's 1986. A year that I had hair (unlike now). A time where I would spend my pocket money on 7" vinyl, pop magazines and mountains of sweets. I was a massive fan of girl group legend 'Bananarama'. I still have a crush on them now. This was the year when they released 'True Confessions' - the album that included the massive global hit 'Venus'. It was a time of innocence. A time where I didn't realise that I would end up being a massive homosexual. The video to 'Venus' featured lots of scantily clad male dancers - but being so young, I barely noticed them. I was far more interested in the girly threesome, their ridiculous dance moves and the high-NRG pop music that was blasting out of my dodgy Sanyo stereo.
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I desperately wanted to be Bananarama. I wanted to be prancing around in pop videos, singing with my mates and having a fabulous time. (Doesn't everyone want that?) I wanted their denim jackets. I wanted to be travelling the world and appearing on charity records with grumpy pop stars like Boy George.
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When I look at the current pop music climate, I wonder where the fun has gone? I miss the ragged edges of eighties pop music. Back in the 80's, there was no high-tech studio tweaking. If somebody sang off-key, that was OK. Pop videos were silly, less glamorous but still fabulous.
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Why do we still like the 'Eighties'? It's simple - it's because the nineties and noughties are less fun.

Alan and Kylie sitting in a tree (but not kissing obviously)

I thought I'd post this sweet picture of Kylie and Alan Carr - the photo was taken when she was a guest on his TV show a couple of months ago.

A few years ago I bumped into Alan in Manchester City Centre. I waved and ran over and we chatted. It was lovely and we said our goodbyes, hugged and went on our way. It was only five minutes afterwards when I realised that I actually don't know Alan personally. I had made the fatal error of assuming that we were actually 'friends' - when the reality is I've only ever known him by watching him on TV. MORTIFIED!

It's been a long time....

Well. It's been a long time since my last blog post. You may be asking yourself "What's he been up to?" Well, I've been busy as you might expect. I've stayed in a fantastic beachside apartment in Devon. I've recovered from an operation. I've been concentrating on work - which has been difficult due to a vast number of business changes and lost opportunities. It's been difficult but music has helped - it's my therapy.

If you follow my Twitter account, you will probably be aware of new obsession with the band 'Hurts' (see photo). Not only do I love their moody electronic pop songs, I also completely adore their styling. I'm not sure who has marketed them, but well done (whoever you are?).

Don't ask me why?, but I kind of hope they are both gays. It may have something to do with my twisted fantasy where both members are my boyfriends (*apologies to my current boyfriend of the last 6 years*).

I've also developed a mini obsession with Charity Shop window displays. My local 'Help The Aged' has a rather fetching display which always make me chuckle. Picture this - there is a large floral sofa in the window. An awkward female dummy (legs wide open) is perched on the sofa, she (ahem) is wearing a hideous (but equally 'amazing') 'pant / boiler suit' - she is also wearing a disco-style comedy blonde wig that was perhaps previously worn by the crazy lycra-clad dancer from 'Hitman & Her' back in 1989. If that doesn't make you want to go in and purchase something, I don't know what will.

Kylie's back!

Is it suprising that a gay man like myself loves Kylie? Could it be the timeless pop tunes? The half naked male dancers? ....or is it simply because Kylie is lovely? Nobody dislikes Kylie. She is a shining star in a sky of murky clouds. Pop may well be saved after all.