Nicola Roberts - Cinderella’s Eyes 3 track sampler. UK pop has a new queen

3Nicola Roberts and her legsNicola Roberts as she might look burgling your house

Nicola "amazing" RobertsNicola "amazing" Roberts

“I don’t like the people that leave comments on the Internet”
Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:13 by Tim Chipping
  • 9/10

We’d really like to apologise to Nicola Roberts’s PR for the fact we’ve been whining like shut-in dogs to hear her new solo stuff. And presumably just to shut us up, they’ve very kindly sent us a three track sampler from Nicola’s forthcoming debut album Cinderella’s Eyes. We will now listen to those tracks and not let the fact we think Nicola is already the best pop star in Britain colour our judgement. Here goes...


1. Beat Of My Drum
If you’re anything like us (and you so are) you’ll have been playing the 30 second iTunes sample of Nicola’s first single on repeat all week. On first listen, M.I.A. obviously comes to mind, given the Diplo element. And the rap. THE RAP! If you’d asked us what we wanted from a Nicola Roberts solo record we’d have requested a rap. We didn’t think we’d actually get one. The cheer leader chorus is either Daphne & Celeste or Tings Tings-esque - depending on your age/preference. The breakdown section in the middle is fucking nuts. She’s singing and rapping in her own accent, which is incredibly important. It’s two minutes fifty five seconds long - also important. And... basically Beat Of My Drum is exactly what modern synthetic British pop music should sound like in 2011. Remember when you first heard Girls Aloud’s Wake Me Up? Beat Of My Drum has that same shock and awe factor. Absolutely. Amazing.

2. YoYo
An 808 kick drum thumps to a dramatic, 50s girlpop pastiche. The word “shit” is sung in the second verse. Some brilliantly unhinged chorus vocals, as Nicola wails: “Don’t want to be the last to know-oh oh oh”, with “last” pronounced to rhyme with “gassed” - as you’d hope. The 50s feel goes completely out the window for an even more unhinged middle eight, accompanied by the classic club mix speeding up drum machine thing (you know the thing we mean). No need for a Tony Lamezma remix here. This is huge.

3. I
An odd sampled Eastern intro, gives way to new romantic synth stabs. And... it’s a list song! A list of all the things Nicola Roberts fears, hates, and all the things she hopes. Be still our beating heart. “I’m scared to wake up one day and find out that my bubble’s burst”, “I hope that everybody loves my new direction.” “I don’t like the people that leave comments on the Internet”... every one could and hopefully shall be a t-shirt slogan. We’re not afraid to admit we cried at this one. And it isn’t even a sad song. It’s just a song you won’t believe you’re hearing. It’s so specific and personal. The closest comparison lyrically would be Lily Allen’s first album. Musically, we haven’t a clue; her voice is out of this world. I doesn’t sound like anyone else around. Completely original 21st century pop music. Who’d have thunk it?

We’re supposed to be listening to music by other people for the rest of the day. That’s not gonna happen now. Other people’s music can do one. Bothered?

Nicola Roberts - Beat Of My Drum is out on June 5.

 

www.nicolarobertsmusic.com

 

 

Girls Aloud pictures, Music News, Music Review, Nicola Roberts pictures, Nicola Roberts

Review Summary

  • Holy Moly rating:
    • 9/10

Comments

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 15:55

  • But I thought everyone liked them #notinpopjusticelandanymore

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 15:05

  • I'm going to go out on a limb and hazard a guess that TGT is not the worlds biggest Girls Aloud fan

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:53

  • Amazing you're able to say that before you've heard this. And I know you haven't heard it because it sounds nothing like Little Boots. Maybe just wait until you've heard it and then if you still don't like it then at least I'll know you gave it a try. Like broccoli

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:46

  • It's so very far from shit. But of course it depends on whether you like Girls Aloud or not. If you do, and your favourite ones are where they sound totally fucking nuts for a talent show pop band, and you've been utterly appalled at their solo efforts so far then you'll love this. If you don't like Girls Aloud then, well...

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:43

  • Rumour has it she was the only one of Girls aloud with any writing input. Doesn't change the fact that this WILL be shit.

    topguntop Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:24

  • Ok Mr President of the "International We Love Daphne & Celeste" fanclub. I didn't mean to in any way suggest that your journalistic skills were lacking I was just making a point about another good review I've seen.

    Here's a picture for you :)

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 13:35

  • Me neither. She sounds like Little Boots, but without the kooky charm and massive musical talent

    fuckwit Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:54

  • That Nicola Roberts...absolutely indistinguishable from Dot Cotton, no?

    kendoddsdadsdogsdead Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:39

  • WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

    Excitingggggggg.

    tescopop Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:39

  • Meh........ I still prefer Rumer:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpuwpFnz7bw

    whothehellamiagain Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:01

  • They were nothing like those things you mentioned. But it doesn't matter, each to their own and all that. I don't really need to "learn from" an opinion that's different to mine though. I could equally say you need to learn from the fact that I think they were brilliant. But I wouldn't say that because it doesn't make any sense. So I won't. Anyway, back to Nicola...

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:36

  • i dont understand any of this

    bojangles Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:34

  • Never let it be said that I don't care about pointless media trivia ! I'm sure they are lovely girls but their music was up there with the crazy frog and Timmy Mallet. I'd go as far as to say that next to them the Blazing Squad look like meaningful musicians :(

    On a related topic the most succinct and acurate music review I ever read was the following - "The Tings Tings, it's like Daphne & Celeste never happened" Genius Mr Chipping, you would do well to learn from whoever wrote that.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:25

  • Ooooh (stick you)

    dandyboy Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:23

  • All their idea to do that though. They thought it was hilarious. The girls were/are pop geniuses. Celeste was in an episode of 30 Rock, you know. Well, you do now... you don't care, I know.

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:18

  • The best thing Daphne & Celeste ever did was get pelted with shit & piss at the Reading Festival.....in fact come to think of it that may be the best thing that's ever happened at Reading.

    My Lady GaGa comment still stands.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:10

  • If you're seriously implying Daphne & Celeste were anything less than amazing I am retracting the LOL I just did at your Gaga face comment.

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:35

  • "The cheer leader chorus is either Daphne & Celeste or Tings Tings-esque".

    Thanks, that's all I needed to know.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:29

  • "The cheer leader chorus is either Daphne & Celeste or Tings Tings-esque".

    Thanks, that's all I needed to know.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:29

  • If you're seriously implying Daphne & Celeste were anything less than amazing I am retracting the LOL I just did at your Gaga face comment.

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 10:35

  • The best thing Daphne & Celeste ever did was get pelted with shit & piss at the Reading Festival.....in fact come to think of it that may be the best thing that's ever happened at Reading.

    My Lady GaGa comment still stands.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:10

  • All their idea to do that though. They thought it was hilarious. The girls were/are pop geniuses. Celeste was in an episode of 30 Rock, you know. Well, you do now... you don't care, I know.

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:18

  • Ooooh (stick you)

    dandyboy Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:23

  • Never let it be said that I don't care about pointless media trivia ! I'm sure they are lovely girls but their music was up there with the crazy frog and Timmy Mallet. I'd go as far as to say that next to them the Blazing Squad look like meaningful musicians :(

    On a related topic the most succinct and acurate music review I ever read was the following - "The Tings Tings, it's like Daphne & Celeste never happened" Genius Mr Chipping, you would do well to learn from whoever wrote that.

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:25

  • i dont understand any of this

    bojangles Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:34

  • They were nothing like those things you mentioned. But it doesn't matter, each to their own and all that. I don't really need to "learn from" an opinion that's different to mine though. I could equally say you need to learn from the fact that I think they were brilliant. But I wouldn't say that because it doesn't make any sense. So I won't. Anyway, back to Nicola...

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 11:36

  • Meh........ I still prefer Rumer:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpuwpFnz7bw

    whothehellamiagain Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:01

  • WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

    Excitingggggggg.

    tescopop Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:39

  • That Nicola Roberts...absolutely indistinguishable from Dot Cotton, no?

    kendoddsdadsdogsdead Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:39

  • Me neither. She sounds like Little Boots, but without the kooky charm and massive musical talent

    fuckwit Fri, 20/05/2011 - 12:54

  • Ok Mr President of the "International We Love Daphne & Celeste" fanclub. I didn't mean to in any way suggest that your journalistic skills were lacking I was just making a point about another good review I've seen.

    Here's a picture for you :)

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 13:35

  • Rumour has it she was the only one of Girls aloud with any writing input. Doesn't change the fact that this WILL be shit.

    topguntop Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:24

  • It's so very far from shit. But of course it depends on whether you like Girls Aloud or not. If you do, and your favourite ones are where they sound totally fucking nuts for a talent show pop band, and you've been utterly appalled at their solo efforts so far then you'll love this. If you don't like Girls Aloud then, well...

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:43

  • Amazing you're able to say that before you've heard this. And I know you haven't heard it because it sounds nothing like Little Boots. Maybe just wait until you've heard it and then if you still don't like it then at least I'll know you gave it a try. Like broccoli

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:46

  • I'm going to go out on a limb and hazard a guess that TGT is not the worlds biggest Girls Aloud fan

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 14:53

  • But I thought everyone liked them #notinpopjusticelandanymore

    Tim Chipping Fri, 20/05/2011 - 15:05

    The Rev Jesse Custer Fri, 20/05/2011 - 15:55

Related Stories

Article Timeline