Did anyone catch SNL last weekend? Drew Barrymore hosted and Lily Allen was the musical guest.
I’ve been looking forward to Lily Allen’s first album after finding some demo tracks she’d released on the Internets, and downloading her first single "Smile" last summer (an iTunes free track of the week). I was hooked on her voice and very catchy songs.
Yeah it’s pop, but there’s nothing wrong with pop songs… well good pop songs. Lily’s songs are fun, smart, witty, and just kinda feel like summer.
Musical guests on SNL can be hit or miss. Something about the venue, the SNL audience, equipment setup, or maybe just rehearsal constraints can produce a lack-luster show. (or having the wrong tape queued up in the tape deck… Ms. Simpson, what the hell was with the dress you wore for your return performance a few weeks ago?)
Lily’s singing was great. Her band was tight. She wore a fabulous dress; so cute, I’d be willing to kill just to look good in. She performed the first two singles from her debut album Alright, Still, "Smile" and "LDN". Music videos for both are available on YouTube.
Her new single, a beautiful bittersweet song, is about past love remembered. I think everyone has had the experience of feelings long forgotten popping up when your brain finds some connection to a random event in your day.
Not the fights or painful breakup. Not even the best times you had together. It’s the littlest things.
Bonus Points: The song Littlest Things contains a musical sample from a 1974 film. The film is part of a "brand" estimated to have turned over more then US$5 Billion to date. That’s billion with a ‘B‘. Can you name the film? (hint, it’s not a ‘007′ film)
-April
Editors Note: This article was originally published here. It has been republished on this site to preserve continuity.
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