McFly - 'Party Girl'
How much YOWSA! can a single campaign sustain without causing serious injury? First the revelation came that the occasionally slightly doughy, occasionally skinny McFly boys have been spending some SERIOUS time in the gym, to the extent that they're all now super-buff. They chose to reveal this fact by - how else? - posing nude on the cover of Attitude magazine.
It was, and is, quite an eye-catching image. Grown women have been known to spend a LOT of time examining this picture with a thoughtful look on their eyes. Grown men too. It's that kind of a picture. And that's before anyone knew there was a sexy vampire video too.
Then there's the shock revelation that they've incorporated those saturated club synths into their pop-rock sound, courtesy of Dallas Austin, who produced their new album. I say 'shock' as if the idea of a pop band using an established pop noise in their pop music was actually a shocking thing, knowing full well it's really not. But nevertheless, it's an unexpected sonic innovation, especially as they're not being used to push the band into Enter Shikari / Pendulum dance-rock territory.
There's even talk of a Taio Cruz-penned McFly single coming soon. I know!
(. Old McDougie had a vampire, ee-aye ee-aye OW!)
There again, what's so surprising about McFly being into modern pop music? They're a modern pop band. It's not like their speciality was chanelling the spirit of the '60s, or tipping the wink to original punk rock. If they're going to develop - and BOY have they developed, right girls? - they've got to get with the times, daddio! Why the chorus alone features two melodic things which can be directly traced to other recent pop hits.
There's the wordless refrain which starts the song and boosts the choruses, which is surely just a trimmed-down version of the one in 'Bad Romance', and aren't those "whu-HOO!" bits a bit, well, Scouting For Girls-y? Yes, yes they are.
Of course, this isn't some desperate attempt to appear relevant to the kids of today, now the bulk of people who bought 'Five Colours In Her Hair' have gone to university. See the look of flinty determination in their eyes? This is a show of strength, a flexing of musical muscles to match the actual muscles.
It's a snoot-cocking exercise to show the doubters that there's life in the young dogs yet. They have battled long and hard, and now they are here to claim their kingdom. As one, the band have risen, beating a fist to their breastplates in salute to their fallen comrades, and shouting "WE ARE McFLY, HEAR OUR MIGHTY POP MUSIC AND QUAKE!"
Of course, Lady Gaga could eat them for breakfast, but that's by the by.
Download: Out now
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"While Party Girl is a departure in sound for McFly, it still sounds like a McFly track somehow."
"Let's face it, McFly are the Girls Aloud of boybands."
"I have to admit I thought that the band would bubble under fairly quickly after they parted company with Island Records in 2007."
Comment number 1.
At 1st Sep 2010, kutox wrote:I've never really been a McFly fan before but I absolutely LOVE this song and I'm not ashamed to say so in the slightest.
It was always going to get a negative reception from many, and while I don't blame McFly fans for disliking the shift to a pop/dance sound, I don't see how it can be called 'generic' - the pounding drum loop, huge guitar riffs, and massive chorus all add up to make this easily the heaviest song they've ever done. No other boyband would come up with a song like this.
I agree though - it's not as if they were the most alternative band in the world anyway, so they've hardly 'sold out', as some have put it.
Admittedly I'm a huge pop and dance music fan, so I'm inclined to love this song anyway, but they deserve a lot more credit for it than what it's getting from some of their fans. I hope they have warmed to it over time, it's a mighty effort.
5/5
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Sep 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:This can definately be filed under 'Guilty Pleasure' music but as 'Guilty Pleasure' go it's a pretty good one. I can't see why people are saying they've sold out as well from what I saw of their performance on Alan Carr's show they seemed more like a band than they ever had before.
4 STARS
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Sep 2010, spirit wrote:If you stay the same in the pop music world , or begin treading water , it is only a matter of time , before you go under and sink . (Even if you have had 8 number 1 singles , and a talented young song writer in your ranks. )
Kudos , for trying something different .
That huge chorus is a winner .
I also loved em in the Li-Lo flick "Just My Luck "
Lucky ol Harry eh ?
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Comment number 4.
At 1st Sep 2010, spirit wrote:The Interpol plugger who failed to get the excellent Barricade onto the Radio 1 playlist , needs 5 Radio - Active colours put in his hair !!
He won't be singing "I'll Be OK " , when I have finished with him .
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Comment number 5.
At 1st Sep 2010, Haducon2 wrote:I always get the urge to burst into a chorus of "rah-rah-ah-ah-ahs" after hearing the beginning of the song.
I prefer it to their ealier stuff, though It did me a while to warm to it
4 stars
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Comment number 6.
At 1st Sep 2010, flatknees wrote:lol, i see what u mean a bit haducon....
it really says something about the band and its fans when the most liked comments on the video are solely to do with the singer's hair.
and the whole vampire thing is to rake in even more (pre)teen girls who are obsessed with vampires because of twilight..
but never the less.... guilty pleasure music... makes me want that interpol album even more, as I need something that isn't instantly gratifying and soon wears off.. give me a true grower
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Comment number 7.
At 1st Sep 2010, OddOne wrote:Once again I agree with kutox (great mind's think alike, eh? :L)
I absolutely LOVE this transformation! 'Party Girl' is the right side of catchy and boasts a huge chorus that's going to garner a huge new demographic.
Definite contender for #1 on that fearsome battle for the top spot coming up on the week w/e September 12. It'll be up against Alesha Dixon, Alexandra, Stromae, and The Script.
5 stars.
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Comment number 8.
At 2nd Sep 2010, kutox wrote:Yeah we do seem to agree on an awful lot of things here!
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Comment number 9.
At 2nd Sep 2010, spirit wrote:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Could this be the first Chart Blog wedding ?
:)
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Comment number 10.
At 4th Sep 2010, kutox wrote:No, spirit, that's just how your mind works
:P
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Comment number 11.
At 4th Sep 2010, spirit wrote:Bah ! Now I will have to take the new hat back . :)
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Comment number 12.
At 4th Sep 2010, kutox wrote:You are crazy!
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Comment number 13.
At 4th Sep 2010, OddOne wrote:I took a back seat here, but if you're offering a hat, hey, by all means my address is ...
:L
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Comment number 14.
At 8th Sep 2010, soon-to-be-mrsburns wrote:I dont know!
I have only listened to the song once last night so my judgement is not really based on facts more my feeelings and man am I confused.
I am torn between hating it because I loved Mcfly as they where and hate the ide of them becoming dance etc and also liking the song becasue it is good.
I am sorry but there is nothing I hate more than an artist who changes their sound..I know people will disagree with me..Madonna, Beatles etc. But I am sorry I like what I like.
I just hope they dont do a Britney or Girls aloud and become terrrible.
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Comment number 15.
At 8th Sep 2010, kutox wrote:Courtney, Dallas Austin has said that Party Girl (which he produced) is the only song on McFly's new album with a heavily dance-oriented sound.
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Comment number 16.
At 10th Sep 2010, soon-to-be-mrsburns wrote:Thank you Kutox :) I read back my post and it sounded rather rude and small minded so I hope it wasnt taken out of contex.
I admite I have listened to it a few more times and it is growing on me slowly lol.
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