JLS - 'One Shot'
You've got to love a song with two tempos. I mean most songs have just the one. They begin, tick away the minutes, sometimes stopping, sometimes starting up again, but they really don't ever tend to deviate from their one central pulse. But this has got TWO. TWO!
The opening verse is wafty and slow, Aston calmly explaining that he's got his eye on a special someone and he's trying to screw his courage up into a little ball so that he can go and ask her out. Then there's some ravey synth action, which is whizzy and fast and we're into the chorus, which is - and this is where the genius lies - BOTH OF THESE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME!
Phee-yoo! That is some fancy musical wizardry and no mistake!
(. It's got magical microphone stands. That is all you need to know.)
And that's not the only amazing thing that is going on here. Once we're through the mirror of Two Tempos, we enter a crazy topsy-twisty world where up is wrong, down is high, left is brown, and lyrics no longer have to make sense.
There are two brilliantly daft moments which are worthy of discussion.
Brilliantly Daft Moment 1:
"Sometimes I pinch myself a mile away"
From where? Here? Where you are? Where SHE is? What are you trying to say here, exactly?
Brilliantly daft moment 2:
"I know she's the reason that my heartbeat
Goes like da-da-da, d-da-da-da..."
[LONG, MEDICALLY SCARY PAUSE FOLLOWS]
That's right, JLS would like it to be known, in musical form, that this is the girl for them, the girl they would forever regret not asking out. And this is not because they can see a long and happy future together, or a simple case of young lust run riot into verbally dramatic territory. No, it's because she makes them DIE.
Well he did say he'd love her until "the end" I spose...
Download: Out now
CD Released: February 22nd
´óÏó´«Ã½ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 20th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:It doesn't matter what any of us think or say on here. They're simply an unstoppable pop machines at the moment, no matter how good or bad their songs are. End of really.
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Comment number 2.
At 20th Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:As opposed to other artists, whose chances of a hit depend on whether you, me, Harry and Thranjax like them...
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Comment number 3.
At 20th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:you never know ;) and spirit, he'll be very disappointed you forgot him.
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Comment number 4.
At 20th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:The world would be a better place if they got rid of songs that Chart Blog didn't like. (unless they were songs I liked)
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Comment number 5.
At 20th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:I don't like it.
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Comment number 6.
At 20th Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:Me either. That's a 50% negative rating from the electoral college already. I guess that means it's already out of the top 20. Harry, Jonesy, what say you?
(BTW, I just picked four regulars off the top of my head. I guess Spirit, Random, Danny, Flatknees, Liam etc can look after the album charts.)
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Jan 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:I hate this song and I hate JLS and their ridiculously toned abs. I cringe every time Marvin sings that "da da da da" thing. 2 stars from me. Better than Everybody In Love but still horrible. And Marvin and Aston need to have a sit down with their ego...
Sorry for The Saturdays quote.
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:GLOSSY MAGAZINES!
I really hate the face Aston pulls when he sings! It's a mixture of joy and disgust.
In fact, I don't like JLS at all. You're right though. They're unstoppable at the minute and it's a real shame they're being marketed so much better than their counterpart, Alexandra Burke. She's so far gone with a Leonard Cohen cover, a Flo Rida mash up and a song about broken shoes.
I think I'd like JLS more if they didn't lift their shirts at random throughout their videos. I think my hatred stems from a deep jealousy if I'm honest.
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Comment number 9.
At 20th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:I'd love to see how long it would take all 4 of them put together to actually write a song, rather than prance about in ripped clothing...
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Comment number 10.
At 20th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:Oh and for the sake of the survey result, I don't much like it either.
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Comment number 11.
At 20th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Another commercial success for JLS !!
After the NUMBER 1 successes of Beat Again , Everybody in Love , and their self - titled debut album , here comes another guaranteed top ten hit .
Another supremely catchy pop chorus , and another cohesive display of togetherness and team rapport in this video.
These guys are working hard , and their target audience are gonna lap this song up .Not really my bag , but speaking professionally ,One Shot IS A COMMERCIAL MASTERSTROKE .
Radio and T.v are gonna love this .
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Comment number 12.
At 20th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Dan , can you elaborate on why you think Alexandra is not being marketed well ?
2 NUMBER 1 singles , a number 1 album , a current top ten hit , Broken Heels , which as we stand is the most watched music video in the country right now.
It sits at number 1 in the t.v airplay chart.
What more do you think could be done ?
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Comment number 13.
At 20th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Oi Curtain. I easily rack up as many posts as most. Although if you count actual content and musical debate perhaps not.
This song? No thanks.
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Comment number 14.
At 20th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:It just seems that we hear a lot more from JLS than Alexandra. They've had more singles out than her and they're always on the telly doing countdown shows and what not. Alexandra seems pretty invisible in the media to me.
It's difficult to get away from them, whereas it's fairly easy to ignore the over play of Bad Boys (And I think I can say it's overplayed. I watched an interview with Alexandra and she even thought it herself) and her other song, Broken Heels.
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Comment number 15.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:It doesn't help that 'Broken Heels' is very similar to 'Bad boys'. And not even in a good way. Factor in the insane over playing of 'Bad boys' .. people just don't want to hear such similarities and overplayedness combined. It's dull and not particuarly good.
Of course JLS's first and second singles were pretty similar. This is a bit different, giving them credit there. However I guess more different than Alexandra's first two. She should have pulled a ballard for her second in my opinion. I've not heard the album, are any good enough?
JLS obviously work very, very hard. They are everywhere. I hate the fact, but it sure is effective in their promotion. They have virtual blanket coverage of the TV and radio! Credit where credit is due. Where on earth is Miss. Burke?!
Also want to know the defining difference between the suceess of the two, in my humble opinion? Masses upon masses of female fans. Girls will buy into 6 packs than girlpowersassyfemalemusic these days.
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Comment number 16.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:The JLS boys are T.v gold .
Their friendships and togetherness exudes warmly in to all their videos and musical and verbal T.V performances , and this sits well with a lot of their watching audience .
They appear really natural and entertaining when being interviewed , aand all the time they spent together struggling to make it , and then the X Factor experience has clearly bonded them and given them belief.
Their management are well happy with their attitude and determination too .
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Comment number 17.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Good point at 15 Liam . A lot of the song buying public are young females , and JLS appear to be marketed extremely well in this area !
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Comment number 18.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:As brilliant as blanket media coverage and screaming throngs of girls is ... does it really add up to Brit nominations? Apparently so. I'm not convinced.
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Comment number 19.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At 14 .
If you count the current singles , both JLS and ALEXANDRA , have now both released 3 singles, and both have had a number 1 album , and both had their first 2 singles go to number 1.
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Comment number 20.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I think its a little unfair on JLS to count Alexndra's X Factor single. That's swinging statistics in your way a bit isn't it?
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Comment number 21.
At 21st Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:Ok, I'm beginning to draw the conclusion that:
We don't like them at all but we appreciate how well they're marketed to the public and can see that they work hard to remain on top. We also don't really like Alexandra Burke, although I do agree that I'd probably like her a little more if she released a ballad. But I guess that's just not her. Are there many ballads on the album, Spirit?
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Comment number 22.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Danny boy , what gives you the impression that I have listened to Alexandra Burke's album , in it's entirety ? lol
Ask Thranjax , Liam or First Lady Curtains. :)
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Comment number 23.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:2nd paragraph, comment 15. Clearly state, not listened to album. Not my cup of tea.
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Comment number 24.
At 21st Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:Comment 22, Paragraph 2, line one, words one and two.
For some reason I have neglected to listen to either Alexandra or JLS's masterworks in their entirety. Possibly HMV had run out of brown paper bags to hide them in that day so I never bought them.
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Comment number 25.
At 21st Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:Well you just seem to big her up so much, Spirit I guessed you were a big fan...
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Comment number 26.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I am a fan of music and all its different angles . I have to know all about her singles , success and marketing strategies but I have no plans to listen to the album . Also if she releases a ballad , she must be careful not to veer and blur into leona s waters .
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Comment number 27.
At 21st Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:The JLS and Alexandra Burke albums? Oh yeah, got 'em both. Twice - the normal and collector's editions. Picked them up along with the Cheryl Cole album, Justin Bieber's single, and the entire back catalogues of Pink and the Black Eyed Peas.
One Shot? Only if I was lucky, and they were all standing in single file...
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Comment number 28.
At 21st Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Wow I've missed a bit! To add to the survey I don't like JLS either even if they released a good song I wouldn't like it, they'll have to make up for all the rubbish the thrown out previously.
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Comment number 29.
At 21st Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:CORRECTION *they've thrown out previously*
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Comment number 30.
At 21st Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:Curtains you made my break at work with that comment hahaha
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Comment number 31.
At 21st Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:Dan, my friend, I'm here to serve.
OK, so the ChartBlog Singles Panel has determined that One Shot by JLS will not be granted Top 40 success (in case it's not clear, one person liking gets it a 40-31 place, two people 30-21, three 20-11, and four 10-1). Sorry lads (and Aston).
BTW Liam - partner - was nothing to do with proliferation of posts. Like I said, just took a random group. Don't feel bad, you guys get to decide albums. That's where careers are made and broken.
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Comment number 32.
At 21st Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:ChartBlog has spoken.
Make it so.
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Comment number 33.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Well approx 200,000 other people will make it a top ten single in the coming weeks . ( while you are sleeping . )
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Comment number 34.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:No. Not once Chartblog has spoken. No top 40. Next.
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Comment number 35.
At 21st Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Spirit, I'll have you know that while JLS is on the prowl I shall never sleep!
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Comment number 36.
At 21st Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:comment 27 is brilliant curtains.
and nice voting system as well, the British music industry would be a better place again. chartblog decides=the future
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Comment number 37.
At 21st Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:But I don't want any newbies deciding. Voting lines are closed. It's only us.
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Comment number 38.
At 21st Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Post 27 isnt great because it implies P!nk is bad. She isnt.
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Comment number 39.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Too right liam ! And I like the BLACK EYED PEAS too !
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Comment number 40.
At 21st Jan 2010, spirit wrote:So curtains , how do you feel about your beloved FRASER giving SO WHAT by PINK and BOOM BOOM POW by the BLACK EYED PEAS both 5 STARS ?
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Comment number 41.
At 22nd Jan 2010, CurtainJerker wrote:To be honest, Spirit, it's enough to make me question my belove for him.
Pink and the Black Eyed Peas are two particular pet hates of mine. Don't expect everyone to agree, but I think they're dreadful. Thankfully, I'm now in a position to limit their future chart success.
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Comment number 42.
At 22nd Jan 2010, spirit wrote:CURTAINS and FRASER .. . . . Is there trouble in paradise ?
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Comment number 43.
At 22nd Jan 2010, U14309275 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 44.
At 22nd Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Pink. Has she always spelt her name with an exclamation mark? Anyways, I refuse to.
I kinda like her but at the same time she annoys me. I dislike how she calls herself a 'Rock star' because she's not. However, I also think she's got a excellent voice and some of her songs are pretty good lyrically and vocally. Sober being one of my favourites.
On a side note though, I watched her Funhouse tour last night on 4Music and it just looked awful. Like, hilariously bad. A highlight of mine was the "So What" pillow fight. I've never seen anything so funny. Everything just looked so amateur. I also noticed that her backing singers took all the high notes for her.
Anyways, this is all irrelevant, I still don't like JLS.
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Comment number 45.
At 22nd Jan 2010, pinkparadox wrote:I love Marvin's cowl neck top, but the cleavage reveal is a bit much.
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Comment number 46.
At 24th Jan 2010, zara wrote:Post 9: jonesybcfc JLS have actually co-written 9 of the 13 songs on their album. I really like this song, it's better than their first two songs.
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Comment number 47.
At 24th Jan 2010, charlotte wrote:I love JLS and i think they make great music. Yes i have bought the album and i think that One Shot is a great song, doesn't matter if it's cheesy or not it's a great song, and one of my faves at the moment. And the Brilliantly daft moment 2 as you called when Marvin sings "i kno your the reason that my heartbeat goes like da da da, da da da da, is my fave part of the song. So it's a thumbs up from me i love it!
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Comment number 48.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At post 11 , I said this was a guaranteed top ten hit , and tonight it is number 10 !!
So Curtains your little Chart panel never worked , if you want to know if I song will be a hit or not , ask Spirit ! :0
Next....
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Comment number 49.
At 24th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:If I want to know if a song will be a hit I'll just use common sense. Predicting JLS will have a top 10 hit isn't very hard, they could probably release a song of them shouting their names over and over and it would be a hit, as long as they had their tops off in the video.
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Comment number 50.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:OK , not impressed ?
Try this prediction then.
I have heard it , and I am predicting it will hit number 1 for sure.
Ice Ice Baby by Jedward featuring Vanilla Ice.
Whatever you think of it , MY RADAR FOR A HIT TELLS ME IT IS A NAILED ON NUMBER 1 !!!
Let's see !
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Comment number 51.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:And as it has only been played once on UK radio , I am probably the first and only person so far , to say that it will go to number 1 !
There is no I TUNES CHART to help , but it is my ear for a hit that is buzzing !!
Number 1 FOR JEDWARD !!!
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Comment number 52.
At 24th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Im going to predict it won't go to number one. Because I really believe that? Not really, I just always like to have the opposite opinion! Its a personality fault lol.
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Comment number 53.
At 24th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:And that's why we love you !
Personality faults n all .
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Comment number 54.
At 25th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:(Shudder) - Jedward
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Comment number 55.
At 25th Jan 2010, OddOne wrote:I agree with BloggingLiam in that One Shot won't go to number 1. I think JLS are given way to much credit; in my eyes they're trashy X Factor cast-offs who, yeah they can sing, they can sing quite well in fact, but do they really need to flash/strip in every video?
So, we know they can sing, we know they can strip, so just get on with making a decent track already.
Danke.
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Comment number 56.
At 25th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Unlike Liam I don't belive Jedward will get to number 1 for 3 reasons:
Reason 1: The single is released digitally on the 31st of January and physically on the 15th of Febuary. Why? They're just going to miss out on some first week sales, also it just screams bad planning.
Reason 2: Jedward don't work without the spectacle, as Simon Cowell rightly said 'if you heard it on the radio it would be the worst thing you'd ever heard'. Unless they have some hilarious video to go with the single I just can't see people buying it.
Reason 3: Jedward buzz seems to be over because no-ones really talking about them anymore, even after the live performance at the NTA no-ones really talking about them, most people didn't even know it happened. Just because people voted for them on X-Factor doesn't mean they care about them anymore, remember Rhydian? There was outrage when he didn't win X-Factor but when he released a record no-one cared.
There are probably more reasons than that but those are the three most important in my opinion. I will be happy to admit I'm wrong if that turns out to be the case.
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Comment number 57.
At 25th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:I would like to believe you Harry really I would, but I feel that you are putting common sense on one side of a pair of scales and on the other, you have an enormous pile composed of every idiot in the UK. This will almost certainly cause idiot-tiltage and result in Jedward-Number-Oneage. And a hernia for whoever clears up afterwards.
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Comment number 58.
At 25th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:I agree there are a lot of idiots in the UK, most of them voted for Jedward on X-Factor, but my problem is that a lot of people voted for Jedward because they were funny to watch put them on the radio and it's not funny anymore, it just ends being a horrible mash-up of two songs, which is exactly what it is.
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Comment number 59.
At 25th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Sorry Harry. . .
At 56.
Reason 2 " I just can't see people buying it . "
I can somehow see this comment coming back yo haunt you.
Probably by me. :)
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Comment number 60.
At 25th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:I'm sure it will get top 10 but I don't think it will make no.1. Maybe I shouldn't have said 'I just can't see people buying it', what I should have said was I can't see people with brain cells buying it.
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Comment number 61.
At 25th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:I think it will get to number one, although as a member of the ChartBlog adjudicators, I'm blocking it from happening.
I agree with you though, Harry. It'll be those without brain cells who buy it.
After all, Bob The Builder once got to number one. Saying that though, he's still marginally better than Jedward.
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Comment number 62.
At 25th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:So no-one else has faith that the British public can stop Jedward's reigh of terror, fine we'll see who has the last laugh.
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Comment number 63.
At 25th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:It probably won't be me
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Comment number 64.
At 25th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Jedward for number 1 !
Ha ha !
People are definitely gonna buy this song , it will appeal to many , and many will find it absolutely atrocious !
It is definitely a marmite tune.
Personally I like it , and from a pure business point of view , it is absolutely the right single choice , and the correct delivery and arrangement for the song . It flows superbly , with elements of the Queen , Bowie and Vanilla Ice songs sitting well together .Thousands are gonna love it , and it was far and away their best X FACTOR performance .
Come on , you didn't expect them to do a Muse cover , or write their own number 1 did you ?
This is the best we could have hoped for.
The Twins will soon be in the charts !
Take cover. lol
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Comment number 65.
At 25th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:At 56
"Remember Rhydian ? There was outrage when he didn't win X Factor , but when he released a record no one cared . "
Rhydian's first album in the UK sold almost 500,000 copies . He is not really my cup of tea , but credit where it's due , almost half a million people cared to buy his first album .
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Comment number 66.
At 26th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:That was a terrible year for X Factor. I thought Nicky (Nicki?) was the best that year but she went out 4th from what I remember. She had a voice and a half. Shame she wasnt Scottish.
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Comment number 67.
At 26th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:Oh god I would so love it if Jedward did a Muse cover. I think reality would just collapse or something, kind of Hadron Collider ish.
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Comment number 68.
At 29th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Even though I hate Jedward I can't wait for the Ice Ice Baby/Under Pressure music video after seeing the clip on Friday Night with Jonathon Ross.
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Comment number 69.
At 31st Jan 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:I'm in agreement with Spirit and think that Jedward will go to Number 1. Not just in the UK but in Ireland too because we always support home acts no matter how bad they are!
Isn't Vanilla Ice featuring on the single? That's a bit of star power there, that is! And they've promised to make a really fun Americanised video. I'd imagine it's gonna be full of that Jedward energy. I really don't like these guys but I think they're gonna take the World by storm. They'll have their own Disney show and everything. Ewww!
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Comment number 70.
At 31st Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:Vanilla Ice. Star Power. Two phrases I never thought would make it into the same paragraph. Random, I salute you.
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Comment number 71.
At 1st Feb 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Yay for teenage girls not all spending their pocket money on this, Number 6. Now drop like a stone please.
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Comment number 72.
At 1st Feb 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:I'm still quite confident Jedward won't make it to no.1 seeing as it's only being released digitally so far and it isn't at no.1 on any charts i can find.
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Comment number 73.
At 1st Feb 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:Number 1 on the Irish iTunes chart. It's gonna climb. I can get the sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach.
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