Kevin Borg – Young At Heart

“It’s not just unremarkable: it’s completely forgettable.”

Tim: The video’s been deleted now, but about a year ago someone worked out what Man of Steel would look like without the ludicrous colour grading they did in post production, and a lot of people quite liked it. Apparently, though, someone didn’t take the hint.

Tim: The song itself is largely unremarkable: uplifting ballad, but as a former Idol winner, Kevin really should know that your standard choruses should be at least at the level that that final chorus is at.

Tom: I can’t even remember that final chorus. It’s in one ear and out the other. It’s not just unremarkable: it’s completely forgettable.

Tim: Everything here, except possibly the first verse and maybe the middle eight, is way too underplayed for this to be the uplifting ballad that this wants to be. The video, on the other hand – well, I’m not sure who’s responsible for those bedroom scenes, but they should take a long hard look in the mirror and consider whether they’re actually in the right job, because (for me at least) that excess of blue genuinely took attention away from the song.

Tom: As someone who’s just had to do a tricky colour grading job: sometimes you do the best with what you’ve got. I think they might be trying for a “day for night” shot there: if so, it hasn’t really worked. Too much blue.

Tim: Yep. Mind you, my attention loss could be partly the song’s fault for not being exciting enough in the first place.

Kevin Walker – Belong

You’re probably thinking that this sounds a lot like Wake Me Up

Tim: Last Friday X Factor, today Swedish Idol, and this year’s winner, Kevin, a (still active) professional footballer.

Tom: That’s a multi-talented person right there. Just like Gazza.

Tim: You’re probably thinking that this sounds a lot like Avicii’s Wake Me Up, with it’s country-esque verse, lone vocal and than big dance chorus, and you’d be right – it would seem the Idol producers thought that since they’re always accused of being cynical and manipulative of the music industry they might as well go all in, so let’s have something very similar to the biggest hit of year.

Tom: It’s similar in style, but the vocals and production are different enough that it didn’t immediately remind me. It’s not a complete ripoff, but yes, they’re certainly just grabbing onto the coattails of whoever’s currently popular.

Tim: However awful that sort of attitude may be, damn, it does seem to work. Farmhouse music —

Tom: Is… is that like house and garage, only with country? ‘Cos that’s a cracking term, if so.

Tim: Pretty much, yeah and it seem it’s here to stay; whether it’ll become as universal as piano dance was eighteen months back remains to be seen, but I like this. Entirely derivative, and unashamedly so, but it’s a decent enough track to dance to. Of course, it’ll be nowhere near as successful as Avicii what with being six months too late for dancing to, but it’s the thought that counts.

Kevin Borg – Unstoppable

This song seems really familiar.

Tim: BREAST CANCER!

Tom: Gah! What?

Tim: Pink trousers, you see.

Tom: Charity single. Got it.

Tim: This is nice – uplifting, the inspirational kind of charity single rather than the doom and gloom one.

Tom: There are two very different approaches to charity singles: the sad ballad or the uplifting, enthusiastic one. Or, of course, you could put zombies in your music video, but then that’s just McFly.

Tim: The thing is – this song seems really familiar. It’s not that it reminds me of a different song – I just have this feeling I’ve heard it before.

Tom: Yep. It’s as if someone mashed a dozen vaguely uplifting records together.

Tim: Given that it’s an original song, there’s one conclusion – this is entirely generic. Which, let’s be honest, it is, but it’s not a great thing, really, is it?