Tag: Cher

Cher – Gimme Gimme Gimme

“YES BITCH I’M CHER AND I’M DOING THIS.”

Tom: Right. There’s a dearth of new music. And I’ll admit that my eyes skipped over this when I saw it in the ‘new music’ lists: surely, it’s just a cash-in off Mamma Mia 2? Well, maybe it is: but it’s the lead single from an entire ABBA tribute album that Cher’s putting out. I heard it on the radio, and, well, have a listen to this:

Tim: Music aside, briefly: I LOVE that video, stating quite clearly YES BITCH I’M CHER AND I’M DOING THIS.

Tom: Does this need to exist? No, of course not. The original’s a classic, and it’s part of musical history. But you know what? I’d say that introduction and first verse might actually be an improvement on the original, even with all the vocoder there.

Tim: I don’t think you’re too wrong there – I mean, the intro’s basically identical, but her voice certainly adds a lot – it’s a lot stronger, particularly the ‘don’t wanna hear my praaaaaaaaaayer’ bit. Whether or not that vocal and the effect it comes with is an improvement is entirely subjective, and I know I like it.

Tom: This is a 21st-century cover, sung by someone who couldn’t just be replaced by a session singer.

Tim: See also: SOS, and indeed the entire album, which is coming out at the end of September, and which I cannot WAIT for.

Saturday Flashback: Cher – I Hope You Find It

“What year of Cher’s long career is this from?”

Tom: I want to open this link without looking too much at the title or date, Tim, and work out: what year of Cher’s long career is this from? And who’s she covering?

Tim: Ooh, that’s a good Cher track, that is. From the video I’d say it’s a recent one, but tell who she’s covering.

Tom: The answers: 2013, and Miley Cyrus. Which astonished me! This sounds like a vintage Cher track from years and years ago.

Tim: It does have a hint of classic Cher, and it’s a damn good hint as well.

Tom: Miley Cyrus’ original isn’t that good — an overly-sweet title song from a movie soundtrack. With that modern production and Miley’s voice, it doesn’t work — but it’s as if it was written for Cher’s lower, more soulful voice. And because it’s Cher’s voice, and the world is used to this sound from her: it sounds right. Or at least, it does to me.

Tim: Hmm – we’ll have to disagree about Miley’s version, because I’ve always been a sucker for overly-sweet title songs from movie soundtracks. Can’t disagree with you, though, that Cher’s version does sound very right as well.

Tom: Although quite why she performed it on tour dressed like she was from a church window, I’ve no idea.

Tim: No, but then if Asos have their way, soon we’ll all be out of a church window.

Cher – Woman’s World

“Can be summed up in three words.”

Tom: It’s impossible to write a review about Cher without at least touching on the subject of her age. So let’s get it out the way: she’s 67, she’s got a new album twelve years after the last one, and she looks good.

And now: the lead single, which can be summed up in three words:

Tim: “Bloody weird hair”?

Tom: It’s no “Believe”.

Tim: Oh, yes. That too.

Tom: But then, that was always going to be the case: that Big Song of hers got a Grammy Award and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Just based on regression to the mean, it ain’t going to be that good.

So let’s try to set those expectations aside: is this actually any good if examined on its own? Well, it’s a good club track, she can clearly still sing, and the message is enough to get a crowd jumping.

Tim: Yes, I think it’s pretty good. Though I do have one problem: the regularly repeated “I’m stronger, strong enough to” bit, which, every single time, makes me want to listen to Kelly Clarkson instead. Because let’s face it that’s a much better track.

Tom: But like so many tracks, there doesn’t seem to be much there: the chorus has been drilled into my head, sure, but I don’t think I like it being in there. It’s, what, one or two notes?

Tim: Well let’s all have a decent chorus then. WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER. STAND A LITTLE TALLER.

Tom: I suspect that this won’t trouble the Top 10. I also expect Cher won’t be at all troubled by that.

Tim: Probably not. And if I’m honest, neither will I.