Tim: A former bandmate of Danny from EMD has gone back to doing solo stuff; he’s also gone back to doing songs of Pop Idol winners. Formerly it was his own; now it’s a cover of South Africa’s Jason Hartman, from 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0bi-bRDmjQ
Tim: You can tell it’s a winner’s song, can’t you?
Tom: If I had a lighter, it’d be in the air.
Tim: Absolutely – the happy key, the increase in emotion towards the end – all adds up to something formulaic, entirely predictable, somewhat dull, and guaranteed to make you like it. Because that’s what these songs do.
I have no real trouble with this, mind, but for your first release as a returned-solo artist, why cover this?
Tom: Most people in his home country won’t have heard it; and if it’s already been picked as a winner’s song it’s reasonably bankable.
Tim: Yes, I suppose on some levels it’s appropriate, but it’s also boring (and almost identical to the original). Give us something good.
Tom: Oh, he’s already managed that. Something new, now that’d be worth a listen.