Sophie Ellis Bextor - 'Today The Sun's On Us'
Not for the first time, the choice of a single off a well-liked album has caused ripples of bickering among Team ChartBlog. Particularly between Steve P and yours truly. In the case of this song, I won't go into detail as to the two viewpoints we've been expressing, as it's not dignified. Let's just say that one of us thinks the disco-tastic 'Love Is Here' should have been released instead, and the other one of us rightly thinks that this is much better, and that Steve P is wrong.
Now, the reason I am right is that, while Sophie Ellis Bextor has one of the best and most distinctive voices in pop, it doesn't always carry a lot of hot passion. She's usually far too reserved for such vulgar displays of emotion. That's not to say her songs aren't emotional, more that she has a kind of icy, melancholic robot oboe of a voice, all haughty and reedy and frosty and sleepy (but not grumpy, happy or, to the best of my knowledge, bashful).
The first time I heard 'Today The Sun's On Us' was as part of a randomised playlist of songs including Sophie's album, Avril Lavigne's album, various singles and a few other bits and bobs. It sort of stood out, with its '80s verses and gently meandering melody, but nothing really astonishing happened until the chorus.
Oh my good Lord, the chorus... Now I will freely admit that I am as vulnerable to being sideswiped by a song which seems to address me personally as anyone. And there's very few people who can honestly claim that they're good at enjoying the good things that they have in their lives while they have them, without looking to the future with a worried eye.
But to hear the previously reserved Ms EllBex PLEADING with me, literally BEGGING that I stop worrying my little head about possible bad things and just relax for a bit. Well, it actually made me blush out loud, and try to be a better person for her sake (she sounds ever so upset).
So that's it, there may be better pop moments on her album, but none as moving, and for this reason alone, the wider world deserves to hear it (but please can we have Steve's choice next?).
Download: Out now
CD Released: August 13th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
I LOVE this song. It's just so lovely to listen to. It's like she's reaching out to you and grabbing you by the ears and you just completely surrender to the song. I quite like Only One off the album though the album has many top pop moments.
Probably one of the best songs from Trip the light fantastic. It's quite understated, but somehow it grabs you.
As good as this song and Sophie herself are it's fair to assume that with 1 format only to buy it on and zero radio 1 play this will bomb unbelievably badly...
Lovely review... however, I think both you and Steve are completely off your respective trolleys to think either song merited a release more than If You Go.
1st paragraph made my day :P Thankyas ;)
Was completely thrown by this review as I was sure I'd already read one of it .. I must have cheated on CB.. sorry :P
Don't know the album so no clues about whether this is the best song for release right now... All I know is that I listened to it and thought it was okay, but I can't have been paying attention because now I find the first half way too repetitive... I could listen to the second half of the song quite happily.. but all of it is too much.. even with the funky chorus.
This is the best song, i have ever heard, it is out of this world.
She is releasing some of the best songs this year.
i love this song, sophie ellis bextor is the best of the best.
great song
Its such a beautiful song....
doesnt her iciness makes her lovable....and that doesnt mean at all she lacks of passion.
i love her new album, its so awesome...u could get at least 3 more singles of it...and i´m almost positive that the next one will be if i cant dance.
ps: cant wait for the single cd to come out...coz includes a cover (propaganda/duel), and sophie does great covers!
Duel the b side is really good, this is a buy buy track
Today the sun really has been on us, and long may it continue,
excellent sophie
I am telling you, i love this song, summer song is this one.
Hope it does well, i just downloaded it!!
I love this song i bought it about 2 months ago nearly. Its such a beautiful song and it makes you geniunally happy. The lyrics are extremely powerful. Sophie's voice is so clear and strong.I reccomend this song because we've had 3 months of rain and now Today the suns on us.
How comes the radio haven't played this song yet? It's sounds perfect for the summer. Unusual video for the song too - cool. I like it.
This is a must buy song, it is fanastic
This song has had tons of plays on R2 (inc. Kennedy, Wogan, Bruce, Wright and Evans), so maybe it's thought to appeal to the "slightly" older music fans. Anyway it's a wonderfully haunting song, both lyrically and musically, with a great chorus as described above.