Plan B - 'Stay Too Long'
*cracks knuckles* OK here we go. I am writing this in a state of high excitement. Which means I may make a few mistakes, or gush on in a manner which will, when I have calmed down, probably be a source of embarrassment to me in the years to come. Right now though, I don't give a monkey's. Too excited, y'see.
I'm listening to a song which makes me want to play it again, louder, before it has even finished. I'm listening to a song which is close to perfect, while at the same time being scuzzy and dog-eared and scruffy and a bit of a mess. I'm listening to a song which makes me want to break stuff, or dance about at my desk instead of typing...hell, I'm struggling to get my hands to stay still long enough to put finger to keypad, let along construct coherent bandicoots.
No, it's not the new Girls Can't Catch...
(. It's lairy.)
Now, the strange thing about this state of excitement is that there are bits of this song which have the distinct whiff of Lenny Kravitz. This is not something which normally causes a state of excitement, unless that excitement is as a result of being able to run out of the room in which Lenny Kravitz is playing.
That said, his records do sometimes contain grungy-funk guitars like these, and falsetto singing like this, and a gospelly backing choir and swelling hammond organ like this. They don't tend to perform hand-brake turns into grimy, spittle-flecked hip hop though, or contain as much naked adrenaline. He's more of a cool cat, is Lenny, whereas Mr B seems to want to cause something of a ruckus.
And MY GOLLY what a ruckus he can cause. From the stomping first bar to the unbelievable climax, when he's just screaming full in your face, the swagger, the noise, the BLOODY AGGRO he brings is...is... well it's very good indeed. Play it next to Jamie T's 'Sticks and Stones' and your earphones will commence knocking seven bells out of each other in a pub car park. That's not even a metaphor.*
Seriously, you're all going to have to go away now. I need to put it on again. And again. And again...
Download: Out now
12" Released: January 4th
91Èȱ¬ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
* That is a metaphor.
Comment number 1.
At 8th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Yeah , a lot of us here have been excited about this song for ages on Rybak now .
This is a great mixture of a soul , with a catchy chorus , and in yer face wordplay that DEMANDS your attention .
At the heart of all this though , is the most important thing . A fantastic song .
Plan B achieved a top 10 hit with End Credits alongside Chase and Status , and Stay Too Long will grace the charts too .
** Plan B's next single will be HARD TIMES, which is out in March , and his album DEFORMATION , will be released on the 22nd OF March .
Cool !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 8th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Haha Fraser your review was epic. Obviously as a regular blog reader, I think its a great review. Anybody new to the blog will be like "What the hell?! This guy cant write, he just exploded onto a page and went off to crack one off after writing that in ten minutes".
This song .. the review said it all.
I'm amazing how restrained Spirit was about this tbh. I expected some capslock explosion of love and marriage proposals for Plan B.
Now I must play this song too. Again. Then 'Don't stop Believing', the Glee cast version. My other addiction at the moment.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 8th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Also, love the Jamie T reference. Who'd win in a fight? Physically I think Plan B would probably edge it ... mucically.. I obviously prefere Jamie T .. but Plan B has got a more epic edge. There's more going on, louder sounds and his voice is "better". Jamie T would still 'ave him though!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 8th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Just for the gorgeous Liam .
I LOVE THIS SONG !
It creeps up on you with it's melodic hook , then bites you with it's passionate ferocity . This PUPPY BITES !
Right now , it's almost as gritty as the country's roads !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 9th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:I remember hearing this for the first time on Zane Lowe's show without knowing who Plan B was and ended up being really suprised by the rapping bit in the middle and end. Thankfully after another listen all became clear and it's now one of my favourite songs of the year so far!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 9th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:I love this too, it's powerful, kicks you in the teeth with its energy, builds up lyrically towards a stunning finish and even the rapping comes off ok.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 9th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:Me likes it!
Did Guy Ritchie direct the video by any chance? It looks like it should feature Danny Dyer.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 9th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Nah it's too good for Dyer.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 9th Jan 2010, Daniel wrote:Ha, yeah, what was I thinking!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 10th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Good to see the gorgeous EFFY from Skins in this video with Ben .
She is so hot !!
Brilliant production from Paul Epworth too !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 10th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:I knew I reconised her from somwhere.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 10th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I bet you say that to all the girls .....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 10th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:.. and if only they all looked like her eh?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Beauty can take many forms ...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 11th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:Dobby from Peep Show, for instance.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Danny from Newcastle...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)
Comment number 17.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Curtains from Ayr....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 17)
Comment number 18.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Thranjax from Scunthorpe....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 18)
Comment number 19.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud .....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 19)
Comment number 20.
At 11th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:and Spirit from Bristol of course!
Not that I've seen any pictures of anyone here mind. And a Google images search for Thranjax doesn't bring me up. It doesn't even go to my site unless you take safe search off, lord knows why.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 20)
Comment number 21.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I've seen pictures of all of you !
Ha !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 21)
Comment number 22.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:The most flattering one , I have seen of you Thranjax , is where you have a staple going through your naked belly button . . . .
Complain about this comment (Comment number 22)
Comment number 23.
At 11th Jan 2010, thranjax wrote:Were you my P.E teacher?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 23)
Comment number 24.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:No , I saw the picture in a magazine , in a newsagents.
The man behind the counter , had to use a step-ladder to reach the magazine down for me......
Complain about this comment (Comment number 24)
Comment number 25.
At 11th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Dont forget Ant in Wales :p
Complain about this comment (Comment number 25)
Comment number 26.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:And Liam in . . . . . Sheffield ?
Originally from Ireland ?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 26)
Comment number 27.
At 11th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Nah not from Ireland and currently in Kent! Sheffield was close though :)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 27)
Comment number 28.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:So , you are currently in Kent ?
Is this the county that is called the garden of England ?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 28)
Comment number 29.
At 11th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:And Harry in..........
Complain about this comment (Comment number 29)
Comment number 30.
At 11th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Tis indeed Spirit, I'm not sure why though!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 30)
Comment number 31.
At 12th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:Watch this song go top 20 this Sunday , if not higher !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 31)
Comment number 32.
At 13th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:is it me or from 1 minute to about 1.07 does he look like a fatter version of the gay one from Westlife?
Plan B please dont hurt me.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 32)
Comment number 33.
At 13th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:I have just told him where you live !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 33)
Comment number 34.
At 13th Jan 2010, jonesybcfc wrote:Running now...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 34)
Comment number 35.
At 14th Jan 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:Ah Liam might not be from Ireland but I am! I know I haven't commented on this blog recently but I'm feeling down for being neglected from Spirit's shout-out to all the ChartBlog regulars! :(:P
Complain about this comment (Comment number 35)
Comment number 36.
At 14th Jan 2010, spirit wrote:and randy from near where shane filan lives . . Sshl!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 36)
Comment number 37.
At 14th Jan 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:And Mark Feehily and Kian Egan! :P
Complain about this comment (Comment number 37)
Comment number 38.
At 17th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Random come back!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 38)
Comment number 39.
At 17th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Plan B still hasn't featured in this week's chart and we're now at the top 10, judging by it's position in the Itunes charts I'm guessing Plan B is about to have a top 10 hit!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 39)
Comment number 40.
At 17th Jan 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:WOO! Plan B is at number 9 in the charts this week, good to see a really great song getting somewhere for once.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 40)
Comment number 41.
At 17th Jan 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:And Glee at number 5, nice.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 41)