Tim: Matt Cardle’s had an interesting career – filled with highs and lows, and despite having been ditched by Syco as soon as possible, he’s actually emerged as one of the more successful X Factor winners.
Tom: Strange, isn’t it? I’d have predicted obscurity, but he just keeps going. I’ve got to respect that.
Tim: He won it two years after (the arguably should-have-been-more-successful) Alexandra Burke but he’s got more albums out, and more than Leona Lewis had at this point in her career. Here’s the third single off his new album, and, despite’s Syco’s best hopes, really rather good.
Tom: Hmm. I’m not convinced. What’re the good points for you?
Tim: The sound is great, it’s memorable, it’s loud and not excessively so, and what it shows most of all is his variety. Compare this with High School Musical extract Loving You, or his more recent funk-driven When You Were My Girl, and we’ve clearly got an artist who can do pretty much whatever he wants.
Tom: Of course, you could also spin that as a lack of consistency. For me, this track just doesn’t appeal: when the standout part is the lead into the middle eight, it doesn’t speak well for the rest of the song. But you’re right: he can certainly do what he wants.
Tim: It also gives an insight into both why he was so quick to break from X Factor – I’m guessing not enough artistic freedom – and why they were so quick to wipe him from history – he’s a clear example of what can go right when you don’t stay under the thumb. And it can clearly go very, very right.