Weekend roundup: Chezza, Leona, Robbie, Sugababes

That boring personal stuff: I spent the Labor Day weekend in LA with a big group of friends, taking a break from the blogosphere for three days of pool parties and late nights out dancing and getting into trouble.  It was my introduction to the fun side of LA (I'd only traveled there previously for work), and it looks like we get along just great.  The weekend full of great times, but definite highlights were:

• Running off our Friday-night hangovers in Beverly Hills - I almost rolled my ankle starting at some of the "houses", but it was well worth it
• Lounging in the pool of a friend's Pacific Palisades house with an unbelievable view of the ocean
• Dancing like crazies to La Roux and Little Boots remixes at Here in West Hollywood with Peterbilt and getting laughed at by the bartenders

So, on to the music: Almost as good as the weekend away were the surprises waiting when I got back.  Christmas came early this year, and I didn't even get time to listen to the Girls Aloud "Chrismastry" album on repeat for three weeks first.  After Robbie Williams leaking on Friday, I wasn't really deprived for new music, but I'm not going to complain.  Hearing the new Leona, Sugababes, and most of all, CHERYL COLE singles for the first time all in one night has me in a state pretty close to ecstasy.  Here's why you should care:

Artist/song: Leona Lewis, Happy
What's their deal, then? X-Factor winner, global mega star-in-training, the person who sung the first "Bleeding love" before Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, etc beat it to death.  Has a rather big voice, nose, hair.
And the song? Very pretty singing.  Inspirational if cliche lyrics.  Seems a bit "Ryan Tedder" to be honest.
Best bit: Er, the single cover?  Will probably be very impressive live.
Worst bit: "I just wanna be Happy" ---> Can we be a bit more creative about this?  Kind of boring.
3/5

Artist/song: Sugababes, About A Girl

What's their deal, then? Best girl band in the UK, until Girls Aloud came along.  Tendency to drop / pick up group members.  Sassy fun pop, until the last album, which was all retro, rather good, and flopped.

And the song? Returns very successfully to fun sassy pop by enlisting Red One, but somehow manages NOT to sound identical to Just Dance or Remedy and stays very, very good at the same time.  Bravo.

Best bit: Either "oh ha-ay-ah oh-oh ha-ay-oh! oh-oh ha-ay-ah oh-oh ha-ay-oh!" bit or "Beauty like you never saw, take your number, never call"

Worst bit: Nothing yet, but let's just say I'm worried about the video for this.  

5/5

Artist/song: (Queen) Cheryl Cole, Fight For This Love

What's their deal, then? Most famous member of the best girl group, ever.  X-Factor judge.  Footballer's wife.  Apparently, something akin to a national obsession in the UK.  Will.i.am protege.  Rather pretty.

And the song? Very RnB, as expected, but surprisingly soulful and restrained.  Rather shocking how unlike Girls Aloud it is, but in a good way.  Nadine, you're up...

Best bit: "There's always a place in me you can call home"

Worst bit: The single cover? 

4/5

So, in summary:

Well played, Sugababes (Spend money on your video please, ok thanks).  Good effort, Cheryl but don't forget where you came from, we're holding you to that 2010 Girls Aloud album and I don't care what Simon Cowell says.  Leona, step it up.  And ditch that Ryan Tedder guy.

Things that continue to be amazing: Robbie Williams

Things that I'll write about asap because they're amazing but check them out in the meantime: "I am not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds (yes I'm a bit late to this one), the Fred Falke remix of Bulletproof, and Watch the Sun Come Up by Example.