Mixed Pop Groups & Duos Rate • WINNER ANNOUNCED
- Thread starter Doodvid
- Start date
Oh yeah, I forgot about him!
You were both absolutely spot on with the connection to:
But is it H and Claire putting in their first appearance, or Johnny Shentall bringing his talents to another mixed group?
I can't help the way I feel right now
And I don't want to let my baby down
#63
Hear'Say - 'Lovin' is Easy'
Average score: 7.036
High scorers: @iheartpoptarts (10), @Hybridcookie (9), @Untouchable Ace (8.8)
Low scorers: @Sprockrooster (5), @idratherjack (5), @DJHazey (5.3)
Notable achievements: The first song in the rate with a minimum score of 5! Hear'say's final top 10 single.
"To me, this sounds like a number 1 record". So said Chris Herbert, Hear'say's manager, at least on camera! If only...After the shock departure of (sorry Noel, but no amount of belting ad-libs will disguise this fact) lead singer Kym Marsh, the band were in an existential fight for survival. It was decided to follow a similar format to Popstars, and create a TV show that followed the audition process for a new fifth member. However, this quickly turned quite farcical, when the news broke that Johnny Shentall, future husband of Lisa Scott-Lee had been picked as the fifth member. I guess it's the case that you can't be both 'of the people' as the Popstars etc franchise pretended to be, and recruit professionals? The show seems worth a watch, episode 1 seems absolutely brutal - handing out golden tickets to potential auditionees! Of course Lisa herself was called upon to depend this process, making an appearance in episode 2 of the Hear'say show and being grilled on MTV and CD:UK among others!
All this really didn't set the band up for the best start for their fledgling third album campaign. As the ever amazing Can't Stop the Pop highlights, the environment was growing harsher for the band, with the Popstars concept seeming dated and their cooler rivals Liberty X now on the scene. Lovin' is Easy follows the well-known trajectory of a more mature sound, incorporating some R&B lite elements. What's slightly suspicious to me is Mylene and Suzanne getting all of the lead vocals. From watching a few live performances, how much help were they getting from ghost singers? The band threw their all into promotion, with an energetic and more credible dance routine; was this the effect of Johnny's superior dancing skills? The B-side was a slightly stranger decision, with a re-recording of Pure and Simple. Hear'say scored a a decent #6 position in August 2002, but the increasing hostility to the band quickly led to their album campaign, and indeed the band's existence, drawing to a close before the end of 2002.
Voters say:
@iheartpoptarts 10
Of course their best single is the least successful. The world is like that.
@berserkboi 8
A bop, but does not have the delivery that (for example) H & Claire to make it that little bit extra special.
@Doodvid 7.9
Not massively authentic and I’d have much rather Lynsey from girls@play had taken Kym’s spot, but time has been a bit kinder to this in my eyes and now I can’t help but admire it, warts and all (that’s NOT a Danny/Shrek reference BTW)
@Ezz 7
It does all feel a bit half hearted and generic. Also is that really Mylene and Suzanne?
@Hudweiser 5.5
I was sorry for the abuse they received, but they overreached massively, trying to sound 'street' when they were anything but. Thus, this deserved to fail. I literally just played it and already forgot how it goes.
@DJHazey 5.3
At least their worst song here is the one not on Spotify for me, but really they only had one solid discovery with this batch.
I can't help the way I feel right now
And I don't want to let my baby down
#63
Hear'Say - 'Lovin' is Easy'
Average score: 7.036
High scorers: @iheartpoptarts (10), @Hybridcookie (9), @Untouchable Ace (8.8)
Low scorers: @Sprockrooster (5), @idratherjack (5), @DJHazey (5.3)
Notable achievements: The first song in the rate with a minimum score of 5! Hear'say's final top 10 single.
"To me, this sounds like a number 1 record". So said Chris Herbert, Hear'say's manager, at least on camera! If only...After the shock departure of (sorry Noel, but no amount of belting ad-libs will disguise this fact) lead singer Kym Marsh, the band were in an existential fight for survival. It was decided to follow a similar format to Popstars, and create a TV show that followed the audition process for a new fifth member. However, this quickly turned quite farcical, when the news broke that Johnny Shentall, future husband of Lisa Scott-Lee had been picked as the fifth member. I guess it's the case that you can't be both 'of the people' as the Popstars etc franchise pretended to be, and recruit professionals? The show seems worth a watch, episode 1 seems absolutely brutal - handing out golden tickets to potential auditionees! Of course Lisa herself was called upon to depend this process, making an appearance in episode 2 of the Hear'say show and being grilled on MTV and CD:UK among others!
All this really didn't set the band up for the best start for their fledgling third album campaign. As the ever amazing Can't Stop the Pop highlights, the environment was growing harsher for the band, with the Popstars concept seeming dated and their cooler rivals Liberty X now on the scene. Lovin' is Easy follows the well-known trajectory of a more mature sound, incorporating some R&B lite elements. What's slightly suspicious to me is Mylene and Suzanne getting all of the lead vocals. From watching a few live performances, how much help were they getting from ghost singers? The band threw their all into promotion, with an energetic and more credible dance routine; was this the effect of Johnny's superior dancing skills? The B-side was a slightly stranger decision, with a re-recording of Pure and Simple. Hear'say scored a a decent #6 position in August 2002, but the increasing hostility to the band quickly led to their album campaign, and indeed the band's existence, drawing to a close before the end of 2002.
Voters say:
@iheartpoptarts 10
Of course their best single is the least successful. The world is like that.
@berserkboi 8
A bop, but does not have the delivery that (for example) H & Claire to make it that little bit extra special.
@Doodvid 7.9
Not massively authentic and I’d have much rather Lynsey from girls@play had taken Kym’s spot, but time has been a bit kinder to this in my eyes and now I can’t help but admire it, warts and all (that’s NOT a Danny/Shrek reference BTW)
@Ezz 7
It does all feel a bit half hearted and generic. Also is that really Mylene and Suzanne?
@Hudweiser 5.5
I was sorry for the abuse they received, but they overreached massively, trying to sound 'street' when they were anything but. Thus, this deserved to fail. I literally just played it and already forgot how it goes.
@DJHazey 5.3
At least their worst song here is the one not on Spotify for me, but really they only had one solid discovery with this batch.
He/Him
We were fearing H & Claire going and in this elimination I mentioned them in my commentary!
Berserky - Psychic Queen!
Berserky - Psychic Queen!
I guess there are similarities between Lovin' Is Easy and Half a Heart in sound / RnB influence,,,
he/him
I hadn’t thought about this before but listening to it now… there is absolutely no way that is just Mylene and Suzanne nn. Whoever it is has a great vocal though!
Looking at my scores I gave this a whole two points less than my next lowest-scoring Hear’say song (spoiler: neither of the Popstars singles), which I think is slightly harsh of me but they just don’t quite have the ability to pull off the more ‘cool’ sound they were going for here, especially when you think this was released the same summer as ‘Just a Little’.
he/him
I enjoy how tragic the dwindling photoshoots were for the group at this stage.
EXHIBIT A) The dramatic reveal of the new member…from behind a jacket.
EXHIBIT B) LUNCHBOXES!!! Scooch found seething.
EXHIBIT C) Danny’s face says it all.
Somewhere, Kym Marsh was cackling…
…and of course releasing nice stuff like:
EXHIBIT A) The dramatic reveal of the new member…from behind a jacket.
EXHIBIT B) LUNCHBOXES!!! Scooch found seething.
EXHIBIT C) Danny’s face says it all.
Somewhere, Kym Marsh was cackling…
…and of course releasing nice stuff like:
he/him
Oh… my god!! Was this the official reveal?!EXHIBIT A) The dramatic reveal of the new member…from behind a jacket.
Now I regret not actively following them after their first album.
he/him
I believe so, yes! How the “mighty” fall eh?
Maybe the jacket was a hangover from Suzanne and Myleene fantasising about what they could wrap Kym’s cold lifeless body in before dumping her into the canal and it just kinda stuck?
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I can confirm it was the official reveal from their show! I've nailed through 4 episodes whilst writing this and doing other bits tonight - I definitely recommend...
The lunchbox picture - why is only Myleene feigning a smile?!?
The lunchbox picture - why is only Myleene feigning a smile?!?
she/her
Am I the only 'Lovin is Easy' stan on this forum? Life is hard.
(I prefer it to 'Just a Little'.)
(I prefer it to 'Just a Little'.)
I enjoy how tragic the dwindling photoshoots were for the group at this stage.
EXHIBIT A) The dramatic reveal of the new member…from behind a jacket.
EXHIBIT B) LUNCHBOXES!!! Scooch found seething.
EXHIBIT C) Danny’s face says it all.
Somewhere, Kym Marsh was cackling…
…and of course releasing nice stuff like:
SCREAMING!
he/him
It’s ‘DM Treasury’ because it’s at the Drayton Manor theme park (a lower rent version of Alton Towers)
Here’s further proof awwww poor Danny!
In fact they entice all the huge stars there at my local attraction.
In 1996 I was present when TV host Andi Peters opened a Ghostbusters style experience called ‘The Haunting’ and queued 2 hours. It was dreadful.
Atomic Kitten contemplating a return of Kerry Katona…
Something something something about towelling Lee down afterwards.
B*witched on a merry-go-round, just for @Untouchable Ace x
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I'm not sure why but okay.It’s ‘DM Treasury’ because it’s at the Drayton Manor theme park (a lower rent version of Alton Towers)
Here’s further proof awwww poor Danny!
In fact they attract all the huge stars there at my local attraction.
In 1996 I was present when TV host Andi Peters opened a Ghostbusters style experience called ‘The Haunting’ and queued 2 hours. It was dreadful.
Atomic Kitten contemplating a return of Kerry Katona…
Something something something about towelling Lee down afterwards.
B*witched on a merry-go-round, just for @Untouchable Ace x
I'll take this opportunity to acknowledge the rate discovery for me, Optimystic.
How dare they be out already.
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*note the members in focus.
he/him
Oops - I thought it was you who hated B*witched with a vengeance!I'm not sure why but okay.
I'll take this opportunity to acknowledge the rate discovery for me.
*note the members in focus.
Nice to see someone else share the love for Best Thing In The World, it's such a bop. I'm not even sure how I came to hear this song as like everyone else I wasn't buying Optimystic singles in the 90s. I recently rectified this and bought the CD single off Discogs, the extended mix with additional vocals is everything!I'm not sure why but okay.
I'll take this opportunity to acknowledge the rate discovery for me, Optimystic.
How dare they be out already.
*note the members in focus.