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Kate Nash - 'Pumpkin Soup'

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Fraser McAlpine | 09:39 UK time, Friday, 14 December 2007

Kate NashI'm beginning to think that it takes more determination than I possess to properly dislike someone. (Except Mika, of course. I will always hate Mika, come rain or come shine.) I was determined not to like Kate Nash, because although the chorus of 'Foundations' was amazing, the lyrics of the verses left a lot to be desired, and also I found her "MAI GLOTTAL STOPZ, LET ME SHOW YOU THEM" style of singing to be affected and unnecessary. It's fine when Lily Allen does it, because Lily Allen isn't really a good singer and so she needs a gimmick of some kind. Kate Nash, on the other hand, I think actually has talent beyond the current craze for mockney bobbins and I was determined to hold out until she realised this and packed it in. Which is why I'm really annoyed that 'Pumpkin Soup' is amazing and therefore utterly breaks my otherwise steely resolve.

Seriously, seriously brilliant. It's got the sort of overproduced bombast funk that was used to staggering effect on Britney Spears's latest album, which gives the whole track a real "clap your hands in the air" moment. I would add "and wave them around like you just don't care" to that, but obviously this song is squarely aimed at people who are far too cool to ever care about anything, so such an action would be redundant.

Anyone who saw my review of Avril Lavigne's 'Girlfriend' earlier in the year will know that songs which sound like catty, bubblegum-snapping playground chants are my weakness (which is why I will never get over the loss of Daphne and Celeste), so the sing-songy chorus of "I just want your KISS, BOY (KISS BOY, KISS BOY)" makes me weep with joy.

It's so utterly infectious, I'm going to be shouting it at strangers in the street for weeks, which is almost certainly going to get my nose broken by somebody with no sense of humour eventually.

I do still think that Kate needs a bit more honing as a lyricist, because while her tales of relationship-based angst are generally charming, the simplicity of her rhymes always grates after a while, and she can only bank on a killer chorus saving her a certain number of times. And of course, she's still really overdoing the accent, and we shall never truly be comrades until she stops that.

(I picture my battle to make Kate Nash sing properly as being like Bart and Lisa Simpson having a fight. "Mom, Kate's not pronouncing her Ts again! Kate, quit it. Quit it! Quit it! Quit it quit it quit it quit it Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!" And you'd better believe I would be pronouncing every last one of those Ts with such sharpness I would need some sort of spittoon on hand.)

But I'm no ogre, and I will always overlook minor quibbles if the impact of the overall song is strong enough, which I completely believe is the case here.

With that, in mind: well-played, Kate Nash. Let's call a truce, for now at least.

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released: December 17th

(Steve Perkins)

Comments

  1. At 07:37 PM on 14 Dec 2007, JESS wrote:

    This should so be number 1. Every1 buy it so xfactor isn't no1!!!!!!

  2. At 09:07 PM on 14 Dec 2007, Roxy wrote:

    I LUV this song, it'll probably get into the top 10 but it should be number 1!!!
    Much better than Mouthwash plus the video is sooo sweet and girly.

  3. At 12:33 PM on 18 Dec 2007, Jade wrote:

    Hiiiiiiyahhh =]

    Well I Dont Particualry Like This Song But That Is My Opinion !
    Her First Two Songs Were Better !

    Chow For Now !


    LoveJade

    x

  4. At 04:00 PM on 18 Dec 2007, wrote:

    I love this song, it is so good and infectious just like Avril's 'Girlfriend' only even better!

    This is my December song, although singing it removes my hetrosexuality if you get me.

  5. At 05:45 PM on 18 Dec 2007, Soph wrote:

    Lovely song :) totally catchy and very merry happy
    Although Merry Happy is my fave
    I agree with Jess, get Lewis off no1!
    xx

  6. At 05:46 PM on 18 Dec 2007, Soph wrote:

    Lovely song :) totally catchy and very merry happy
    Although Merry Happy is my fave
    YES Bleeding Love is finally off the bloody no1 spot!
    xx

  7. At 08:59 PM on 19 Dec 2007, sophie wrote:

    I think this song is utterly amazing

    mouthwash was a great song, shame it didn't chart well though, not like foundations which i agree is a great song aswell

    her album is one of my best albums of the year, the first track is a bit of a let down but all the rest are great

    fingers cross this makes it in the top 10
    or even better, number one, glad leona is off, good song but been on too long for my liking

    p.s Merry Happy is also my fav song on the album aswell

    Merry Christmas all !!

  8. At 10:27 AM on 21 Dec 2007, Hannah wrote:

    I love kate nash she totally rocks..=)

  9. At 10:31 AM on 21 Dec 2007, Hannah wrote:

    I love kate nash she totally rocks..=)

    Love her album...
    Love Birds and merry happy!..=)

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