Tim: X Factor 2010 – the series that just keeps spewing.
Tim: You’ve probably lost count by now (I know I had), but a visit to Wikipedia told me that Aiden is the seventh of the sixteen finalists to release solo material.
Tom: Is that all? I’d have expected all of them to at least have tried it.
Tim: No, but I’m fairly sure that’s a record by quite some margin. And if it’s any consolation, they have all tried YOUR MUM. (OH YES – IT’S STILL ON.)
Tom: Damn. We may only have two regular readers, Tim, but at least we rewards them with running jokes.
Tim: Anyway, Aiden was originally my favourite, because for some reason he was the only one who could put proper emotion and feelings into a downbeat song, with some proper SERIOUSFACE going on.* And he’s not really lost that particular talent – he’s looking properly ‘with his thoughts’ in that photo.
Moving on to the music, I like it a lot, mainly for the chorus, because it’s interesting, it’s vibrant and more importantly there is A LOT HAPPENING. The starting build-up, then the falsetto voice and then the backing that all kicks off like nobody’s business – it’s brilliant.
Tom: Drum and bass almost seems out-of-date now, what with its younger sibling dubstep coming along to make some noise. It’s an odd choice to pick as a pop single backing, but it works very well.
Tim: Unfortunately, it’s let down by the verses, which just don’t compare at all. That second verse in particular, short as it is, just seems dull and I’m waiting for the next chorus to come along. It’s also a bit weird the way it drifts away after what ought to be the middle eight, but that’s allowed, I suppose, but it’s the verses that turn me from loving it to just liking it.
Tom: I think it works well as a whole: aside from that ending. Maybe I’m just too traditional, but one final BIG CHORUS would have worked for me.
Tim: Well, whatever niggles we may have, there’s a lot of potential there, so let’s hope the next one’s even better, yes?