EOIN BUTLER'Sguide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
BEYONCÉ
Why Don’t You Love Me?
Columbia
****
"You must have bumped your head," Beyoncé admonishes her man. "And I love you enough to talk some sense into you." A bonus track from the latest rerelease of her I Am . . . Sasha Fiercealbum, Why Don't You Love Me?has become a YouTube smash on the back of an inspired video treatment by Melina Matsoukas. The singer's performance combines Lorraine Bracco's chutzpah as a two-timed mob wife in Goodfellaswith the demented energy of a Benny Hill sketch. A must see.
JASON DERULO
Ridin’ Solo
WEA International
***
Bad comedians take note: there’s a year’s worth of material to be had from this kid if he makes it big. First, there’s his Shaggy-meets- James Blunt vocal style (he pronounces the track “ridin’ thotho”). Then there’s the pencil-thin beard, gratuitous product placement and the fact that he takes himself ridiculously seriously. Not since Craig David will you have been handed such a gift.
JLS
Club Is Alive
Epic
*
“You could be the DJ,” propose the JLS boys. “I could be the dance floor. You could get up on me.” Urgh, not since Borat’s lime-green mankini have we seen an attempt at sexiness so badly botched.
KAREN ELSON
The Ghost Who Walks
Third Man/XL
**
Given the chequered history of models-turned-musicians, we can be forgiven for not salivating at the prospect of an offering from Karen Elson, a former supermodel and current wife of rock star (and Third Man label honcho) Jack White. That scepticism is largely vindicated by this competent but instantly forgettable fare.
WEIRDZ
Flush Posh
**
Billed as potentially Ireland’s first rap/r’n’b superstar, Weirdz grew up in Nigeria but is now based in Dublin. (“Embrace him now,” the PR blurb breathlessly advices, “before the world catches on and takes him from our shores!”) Sad to say, if Weirdz has dreams of international stardom, he’ll have to try a fair bit harder than this. myspace.com/weirdz247
shuffle