Tinie Tempah ft. Eric Turner - 'Written In The Stars'
Little word of advice. Do NOT pay special attention to the way Eric Turner sings in this song. In particular, try really hard NOT to focus on the way he breathes. The way he gasps and gags in between every line - particular after "seasons come and go" - could, to some ears, be considered monumentally distracting. And once you've spotted it, it could possibly ruin your enjoyment of the song as a whole.
Not that there's anything wrong with his singy bits, I might add. That epic, power-ballad howl acts as an angelic counterpoint to Tinie's grubby snicker. Eric is all heart and brain and lofty ambitions about fate and destiny, while Tinie is all groin and lizard-throat and funny-bone and elbow-in-the-ribs, and sharp tongue.
Between them, they make a perfectly-rounded and human whole.
(. It seems to have been filmed on the other side of the camera from that DJ Fresh one.)
There's a perfect pop moment in this song. One of those immaculate experiences which never grows tired and always packs the same punch, and unusually, it's to do with the video. Normally I'd be adamant that songs which only work with the video alongside are flawed in some way, but there's something brilliant about the way Tinie delivers the line "I only make hits like I work with a racquet and bat" and then mimes hitting a home run, while dipping one knee.
I have, in all seriousness, rewound that bit several hundred times. So I KNOW that it doesn't ever get old.
AND it goes some way towards illustrating why Tinie Tempah is barnstoming his way towards a third Top 3 hit, or higher. By which I mean it is a daft thing to say, but a funny thing to say, and if it DOES top the charts on Sunday, also a true thing to say. So he's not just bragging, he's bragging in an engaging, charming fashion, about something which happens to be factually accurate.
Which is all you can really ask from a pop song.
Well that, plus the sound of a blue whale emptying his blow-hole in between each line of the chorus.
Download: Out now
´óÏó´«Ã½ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"I know it's not the normal style of music we review, but the new single by Tinie Tempah is bloody amazing."
"It's a really great song and clearly has some real emotional backing behind it"
Comment number 1.
At 30th Sep 2010, arianiv wrote:YAY so glad you appreciate this song the way i do :D
..but i'm definitely gonna have to listen out for that whale impression..
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Comment number 2.
At 30th Sep 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:This is going straight to number one... and Tinie could do something we haven't seen for a while.
He could get the number one album and single at the same time. His album is released next week, and Written in the stars could easily stay number one for a second week AND his album should go to number one (just look at that artwork. Phwoar!).
That hasn't happened for a while.
What also hasn't happened for a while is an artist to succeed himself at number one. Miami 2 Ibiza is released next week, that could also be a chart topper.
But which of those is more likely?
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Comment number 3.
At 30th Sep 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:Oh god. I never heard it before, but now Eric turner's breathing is such a distraction...
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Comment number 4.
At 30th Sep 2010, stocksy wrote:Used to love this song, now its beginning to grind. 4*s
Although I LOVE the line that pays tribute the best thing to happen to British dance music ever. British Hip-Hop/Dance/Alternative Music owes sooo much to them. Guess who it is ;)
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Comment number 5.
At 30th Sep 2010, OddOne wrote:5 stars.
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Comment number 6.
At 30th Sep 2010, spirit wrote:I bigged this song up on Jedward about 4 months ago and it still sounds amazing . I will give it a spirit style review tomorrow .
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Comment number 7.
At 8th Oct 2010, flatknees wrote:yep, this is huge
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Comment number 8.
At 12th Oct 2010, Haducon2 wrote:2 stars, Tinie just grates on me.
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Comment number 9.
At 13th Oct 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:I prefer Wonderman now. I love how when the public is enjoying one song, I'm always on to the next big hit that they will enjoy in a couple of months.
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