Vegas Girl - Conor Maynard

Conor Maynard releases his new single Vegas Girl on July 22nd. His debut single Can't Say No was one of the poppiest songs of 2012. It got to number 13 here in Ireland and to number 2 in the UK charts earlier this year. On the Sunday when Can't Say No was released there was a great push on Twitter to get the song up the charts which was a real sign of a new music artist cleverly using social media to its full commercial advantage.  

Vegas Girl is very catchy indeed and doesn't sound extremely different to Can't Say No which is exactly how second singles should sound if they want to chart well. The name checking of pop star names Keri, Rihanna and Alicia in Vegas Girl is a great hook too.  His debut album Contrast will be released on July 30th.

As is the law of video releases nowadays there has been a lyric video for Vegas Girl released and here it is.

100 Cover Versions #41: Jaime Nanci & the Blue Boys cover 'Babooshka' by Kate Bush

The first Kate Bush songs that I remember from my childhood were not Wuthering Heights and Wow but are Babooshka and Army Dreamers. I always remember that both of those songs almost frightened me a little bit, I always associate them with autumn or winter evenings; those Sundays when you had nothing to do with the radio playing in the background. I loved the whole world that Kate Bush created and still does with her songs. I remember Babooshka and Army Dreamers making me aware of how atmosphere and presence could be conveyed through music.  Each of  Kate Bush's singles are more than just songs; they are like favourite books that you keep and treasure. Both Babooshka and Army Dreamers featured on Kate's album Never for Ever which was released in 1980 and was the first album by a British female music artist to go to number one in the  UK album charts. 

Here is a cover of Babooshka that I have loved as soon as I heard it. It is by Jaime Nanci & The Blue Boys. They are a four piece Dublin based ensemble who comprise of Jaime on vocals, Pawel Grudzien on piano, Dave Redmond on bass and Abel Benito on drums and are sometimes accompanied by Judith Font on piano and Barry Donohue on bass. 

There are links to other songs such as Cry Me A River and Beautiful Feelin' on their website which can be found here. 

If you live in Dublin Jaime Nanci & the Blue Boys begin a Sunday residency between 5pm and 8pm in the Sin é music venue on Ormond Quay from July 8th. More information on their facebook page here. 

Here is a live in concert performance of Babooshka by Jaime Nanci & The Blue Boys which was recorded in Whelans music venue also here in Dublin in April 2011.

100 Cover Versions #40: Rita Ora covers 'Hey Ya!' by Outkast

Hey Ya! by Outkast was recorded ten years ago in 2002 and it was released in 2003. It was the big hit from their double album Speakerboxx/The Love Below. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in America and also was went to the top of the singles charts in Canada, Australia, Norway and Sweden. It was a number 2 chart hit here in Ireland and it got to number 3 in the UK.

Here is a nice soulful cover of Hey Ya! by Rita Ora. It's just her and a guy with a guitar.