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JLS - 'Beat Again'

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Vicki Vicki | 10:11 UK time, Friday, 10 July 2009

JLSEmbarrassingly '90s boyband atmos? Check. Squee!-worthy glimpse of torso? Check. JLS colours in the background? Check. Literal dancing to illustrate the lyrics? Check, check, check, cringe.

Thankfully though, I'm just cringing at the terribleness that is the new JLS video and not the song itself. Because, you see, the thing with the song is, well, it's quite simply...hmm...let me think how to put this...

I know...TOTALLY SWEETING AWESOME.

(. Srsly? A tank-top and a bow tie?)

Like, it's actually really, really good. And trust me, I wasn't expecting to say that. You see, I didn't watch much of the X Factor, but I knew that JLS were a boyband who each had a 'colour' and that Louis Walsh was their mentor. And I was pretty sure that this was all I needed to know. If you know what I mean. And I think you do - Recipe For Disaster.

But I was wrong! Which is something I would never normally admit to, but for the first time in my life, I'm very happy to to be so (just don't tell anyone, 'K?). This song, with its slick, production and hooky sing-along chorus, is a really great surprise. Truly.

OK, so it's not exactly the most original thing you've ever heard (Akon's 'Smack That', anyone?) nor is it the best showcase for the boys' vocal talents, and while I like a good metaphor, "I need love CPR" is just plain silly. But the point remains that this a seriously catchy, seriously good, seriously fun pop song.

JLS might not be proving themselves to be the most important, cutting-edge artists at the forefront of new pop music, but they are certainly worth keeping an eye on (and I'm not just saying that because Marvin gets his chest out in the video, promise).

(But that bit is at exactly 2.14 for anyone who is interested)

(Ahem)

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released: July 13th

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(Vicki Lutas)

PS: Watch The 5:19 Show JLS prom episode now! I am the amazing DJ

"The song is catchy but it's so pop-tastic that I just cannot work out if I like it or not."
"JLS is quite ambitious yet they have the guts to be the biggest boy band of today."

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    OK , the first thing I am going to do is make a chart prediction for this song.

    NUMBER ONE ! (Top 3 definitely ! )

    Right , you want reasons for this.... really ?

    1) Chorus as catchy as swine flu.
    2) The popularity these guys achieved on X - factor is immense , and this will translate into sales.
    3) They look good , sing good and dance good.
    4) The song was written by Daniel Bullard , who is a buddy of mine
    , who may be only 20 , but has a songwriting flair for the pop market.
    The song " Beat again " is one of his best moments , and he will feel very proud ,when he will see in a couple of weeks , the chart position for this song.
    5) Beat again is getting blanket radio play.

    On the negative side , the song and production isn't groundbreaking ,but it will serve it's purpose of successfully introducing JLS into the charts .

  • Comment number 2.

    OK , I wanted to put this comment in a separate post.
    In my opinion the JLS video is painfully awful.
    Please don't make me watch it again !!!

    By getting the guys to reveal their flesh , and lift their shirts , you have successfully cut off a part of their market that may have liked the song .

    I watch that shirt-lifting bit and cringe !
    And I bet half the population will when they see it as well !
    It's wrong , wrong , wrong !

    Whoever's idea it was , it is not a good idea, and this could be a factor in polarizing opinion on JLS.
    It's a bad mis-judgement !

    Great song , terrible , terrible video !

  • Comment number 3.

    I like this song :) and the video isnt awful! lol x

  • Comment number 4.

    When I first heard it, I thought it was a cover because it sounded so familiar... well, it's kind of annoying, but catchy, and really... bouncy? Energetic?

    Yeah, I agree - literal dancing should only be used as an ironic tool, and no offence to JLS, but they don't seem the kind to self satirise.

    Also, why are people so obsessed with them? They're too squeaky clean to be truly fit.

    Oh, and their cover of Umbrella is WUBBISH!

    I do like them though. And the song is good.

    Spirit, when will you stop with the swine flu simile?

  • Comment number 5.

    If you love JLS , you will love the video , I understand that , and if you fancy JLS, you will be in absolute heaven !
    (Bit like Jax and Curtains watching a Little Boots video, with the sound OFF ! )

    I know you and me haved loved this song for ages Nosh , I just wonder what some of the others think of the song and video....

  • Comment number 6.

    Hello Fluffy , I hope you are not shouting at me , while I squeak quietly in the corner . lol

    I first used the phrase " the chorus is as catchy as swine flu ! " back on May 20th to describe The Veronicas future top ten hit Untouched.

    I thought it was my own , but in an act of disingenuous behaviour , Fraser used it in his review of Cascada's Evacuate the dancefloor .

    I am now using it again , in an act of trying to claim it back , and also I wanted my JLS review to get your attention , as I know you study the words . lol.

    It worked :0

  • Comment number 7.

    Ok, I have never liked JLS and have never bothered to even learn their names. All I know is, they piggy backed their way through X Factor on the back of their good looks, their coloured merchandise and "The little one"'s voice.

    Now they've been signed (and not by Simon Cowell I may add, He doesn't like them, and me and Simon have always agreed!) and have a song I've tried to avoid like Swine Flu (Thank you, Spirit). In what I've seen of the video it's "The tall one with the shaved hair" who does most of the singing (and flashing of abs for no reason).

    Who said he was allowed to sing? The others seem to just be their for eye candy!

    In what I've seen of the video, it's set in a warehouse (Is that supposed to be edgy?) and the dance moves are literal, I agree! But! When it comes to videos with a lot of dancing, I believe that the dance moves have to be very difficult to master to make them interesting (Kinda like Single Ladies, which is probably one of the simplest videos ever made but is kept interesting by the complex moves). Simple dancing in a Warehouse doesn't cut it for me.

    All in all (and in my jaded, JLS hating opinion), this song is awful. I think it'll end up on one of those Pop Party 4 CD's for the kids. The dance will feature on the Bonus DVD which allows you to "Dance like a Star!"

    I'm guessing a lotta people will disagree with me. Lets start something!

    dannyboy__

  • Comment number 8.

    OK , so I can cause no further harm to the Alexander Ryback post , every Friday , I will blog news , future hits , releases and predictions that some of you may find informative.
    Here goes :

    NEW SINGLES

    Fightstar- Never change - 20/7
    Mr Hudson - Supernova - 20/7 I predict TOP 20. ( at least )

    27/7
    Peter Doherty - Broken love song
    Britney Spears - Radar

    3/8
    Beyonce - Sweet Dreams
    Eminem - Beautiful
    Kasabian - Where did all the love go ?
    The Killers - A dustland fairytale
    Little boots - Remedy
    Sean Paul - So fine
    Pink - Funhouse
    Tinchy Stryder/Amelle - Never leave you

    10/8
    Peter Andre - Behind closed doors - I predict this will be Pete's first hit for 5 years. It needed a departure in sound , a memorable chorus , incisive lyrics and a great controversial video. Check , check ,check and check !

    Athlete - Superhuman touch
    Black eyed peas - I gotta feelin . (It's huge all around the world , and will soon be a top 10 hit in the UK . This is a great pop/dance song!)
    Florida/Nelly Furtado - Jump
    Paulo Nutini - Coming up easy
    Calvin Harris - Ready for the WEEKEND - This is another slice of dance/pop brilliance that Spirit guarantees A TOP 10 placing.

    I am not sure when Preston's Dress to Kill, with it's Happy house sample will be released. but it will give him his first solo hit for sure !

    Hopefully all these songs will be reviewed by the wonderful Fraser.

    ALBUM RELEASES

    20/7
    Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
    VV Brown - Travelling like the light.

    27/7
    Reverend and the makers - A french kiss in the chaos
    Tinchy Stryder- Catch 22

    3/8
    Mr Hudson - Straight no chaser

    Calvin Harris - Ready for the weekend 17/8
    Athlete - Black Swan 17/8
    Sean Paul - Imperial Blaze 17/8
    Arctic Monkeys- Humbug- 24/8 ( NUMBER 1 ALBUM ! )
    Mariah Carey - Memoirs of an imperfect angel 24/8
    Basement Jaxx- Scars 7/09
    Jamie T - Kings and Queens 31/08 (Top 10 album ! )
    Muse - The Resistance 14/09 ( Number 1 album ! )



    I hope people find this informative , and if people like it , I will blog news , and new releases every Friday.

    Let me know what you think.....

  • Comment number 9.

    Do you know , I never , ever thought I would like a Peter Andre single this much.

    The funny thing is , when you hear it the first time , if nobody has told you who it is , you would never know it was Peter Andre !

    As soon as someone played it to me a while ago , and the singing came on , I asked them to stop messing about and put the Peter Andre song on.

    It reminds me of some Marillion songs with Steve Hogarth on vocals!

    Crazy , but that's what it reminds me of !

    Fraser's review in a few weeks time will be fun to read.

    To me it's a top 20 hit at least !

  • Comment number 10.

    Thats a very long comment there, Spirit! Interesting too, but I don't really think this is the place for it. It kinda hijacks the thread.

    Maybe you could create a Blogger account or something and post the link at the end of your comment for us to have a nosey at?

    dannyboy__

    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

  • Comment number 11.

    I know what you mean Dan , but as Alexander Ryback has now got 316 comments , people might miss the information there.

    Fraser is working on a future hits section, which I have have encouraged for ages. Should be good. Fraser suggested I posted the info on a recent post , in the meantime , so more people could read it.

    For music lovers , the information above will be relevant , and as Fraser is likely to review the singles in the coming weeks , it adds anticipation nicely.

    I do like your blogger account idea , but I also like the fact that I am blogging on Radio 1 , which for countless reasons , is the best place for the information.

    The key thing for me , is that the info reaches people who want to see it , and here seems like a good place.

  • Comment number 12.

    Actually I changed my mind. This song is really annoying, as is the video. JLS are like the English version of the Jonas Brothers.

  • Comment number 13.

    Well it's amazing what goes on behind the scenes.....
    Let's just say I have been , gagged , from saying anymore about the JLS song . lol. sssh Spirit.

    Ok more info.. (on other things )

    Florence and the Machine's next single will be Drumming song.

    Frankmusik's album "Complete me " is now available August 3rd.

  • Comment number 14.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 15.

    Ha ha I've been told off by record company politics , and Jax has been referred to the moderaters.... lol

  • Comment number 16.

    What do you mean Spirit, do you work for a record company and they have told you not to comment on boybands?

  • Comment number 17.

    yeah, spirit - where do you work? you keep telling us about future hits, so do you work for a record company?

    Bruv, you talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?

    Just keepin it real son.

  • Comment number 18.

    Not sure what walkin the walk is ...

    My main job is totally outside of music , and I am just beginning to fall in love with music, and all it's many facets all over again, after a break.

    At the moment , I don't work in the industry, but I am weighing up a few options . We will see .

    What about you Fluffy ?
    The way you study words and language is very intriguing.. what do you do ?

  • Comment number 19.

    Well spirit, I'm weighing up a few options too. Mostly what I do involves drawing, but I do write things sometimes.

  • Comment number 20.

    sigh :(

    Another awful boyband song...

    Alexandra Burke deserved to win and she did, the video and song is awful.

    And as for new songs coming out :)

    Mariah Carey - Obsessed 14/8/09

  • Comment number 21.

    Well ... like it or loathe it .

    As I predicted two weeks ago on the Chipmunk Diamond rings blog , this song is gonna be number one.

  • Comment number 22.

    Well , love it or loathe it , as I predicted weeks ago on the Chipmunk Diamond rings blog , JLS'S Beat again is going to number one.

  • Comment number 23.

    Yeah :(

    Also

    She Wolf - Shakira
    that song will be big ^^^^^

  • Comment number 24.

    Yo , Musical tips , keep the tips coming, when you get em.....

  • Comment number 25.

    Hmm. I've heard "obsessed" and I don't really like it. Someone loves you Mariah - be grateful.

  • Comment number 26.

    Without giving the game away , although it's featured in a lot of today's daily newspapers , JLS are set to make chart history on Sunday .

  • Comment number 27.

    Unfortunately due to rules and regulations , the JLS history attempt has been cancelled .
    They were due to have both A side and B side of their new single in the top ten , but chart rules say they must count together.

    They will have to be content with selling over 100,000 copies of their debut single instead .

  • Comment number 28.

    oh dear.

  • Comment number 29.

    JLS number 1 !

    This prediction larks a breeze ! lol

  • Comment number 30.

    Not a big JLS fan, but this song is ok, better than any of their performances on the x factor, 6-7months have done them good probably around for a while

  • Comment number 31.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 32.

    Just a bit of information on Jls , for anyone who wants to know.

    In the first week , Beat Again sold 106,000 copies .

    The second highest first week total for a single in 2009 so far.

    Does anyone wanna guess which single sold the most in it's first week ?

    JLS have announced a UK tour , tickets go on sale on Friday !

  • Comment number 33.

    This JLS single may have a lot of legs to stay at number one for a while.

    The next number one after JLS , will be one of the following acts :

    The Black Eyed Peas
    Mr Hudson
    Tinchy Stryder
    Calvin Harris.

    Just how long JLS will dominate at number one is anyones guess , but I reckon one of the following acts , might just do it......

    Let's see...

  • Comment number 34.

    Oh, and I almost forgot Dizzee Rascal's Holiday is well in with a chance of the top spot as well .

    Cool .

  • Comment number 35.

    I must admit, I hated them during the whole X Factor thing.

    And although they are still very cheesy in every aspect, I somehow dont find them as irritating as I used to.

    Dizzee Rascal and Black Eyed Peas are sure to extinguish the top spot in no time with their releases.

  • Comment number 36.

    I love JLS - and their album is AMAZING ... this track was fab too - just have a question now - I'm probably wrong, but I thought this track was written and produced by Steve Mac and Wayne Hector?

  • Comment number 37.

    You are totally correct , and that's the names that this song is credited to .
    Officially .

  • Comment number 38.

    Beat Again was written by Steve Mac and Wayne Hector. Never heard of Daniel Bullard and he is deffo not credited anywhere for the JLS track.

  • Comment number 39.

    oh right - so who is Daniel Bullard then?

  • Comment number 40.

    I'm Daniel Bullard. And you know what? I'm sick of standing in the shadows and letting those two glory-hounds Mac and Hector grab the limelight. They've been living off my talent for too long. It's my time now! From here on out, the world will know the true talent of Daniel Bullard!!

    (It's not just Mac and Hector, either. Who do think really wrote Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be, etc? Lennon and McCartney? Pfft. Couple of scally chancers.)

  • Comment number 41.

    Very interesting - so how does this all work then? If you wrote/produced the track how come you don't get the credit for it? Sounds a bit harsh if you don't get credit for such a great track! Would have thought if you wrote it you would own rights to it (and therefore be credited for it)? Sorry to be naive, but just don't understand it. Do you have your own website or anything? Have you worked on anything else?

  • Comment number 42.

    Daniel....that's harsh if you havent been credited...you would have copyrights if you helped write the song and should also be credited. You should look into that legally!

  • Comment number 43.

    Daniel...You are wrong about Lennon and McCartney...they were genius and never wrote with anyone else!

  • Comment number 44.

    Suffice to say , the music industry works sometimes in mysterious ways , and in hindsight , I should not have posted that information at 1 , until the writing credit and publishing rights were made official .

    Officially , Beat Again was written by Mac and Hector , who have also written other number 1's .

  • Comment number 45.

    Well it all sounds very strange and there is no reference to Daniel Bullard having any connection with the music industry. Sounds like someone's telling porky pies lol.

  • Comment number 46.

    So out of curiosity, working in the industry now Spirit?

    I was travelling for most of the posts on this review!

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