December 9th, 2019
werner's weekly
Wernerās Weekly (week 50)
This is Wernerās Weekly, your compass to the music that matters, containing the two most recent Carte Blanche Music Wildcards, and the best of the other new releases in alphabetical order:
- Julie Zenatti – Tout Est Plus Pop (Wildcard this week)
- Sebu – The Secret Is Out [Lucas Vidal Arrangement] (Wildcard last week)
- Corine – Un Air De FĆŖte Ć Tokyo [Japanese Version]
- Fitz & The Tantrums – I Just Wanna Shine
- North Parade – Keepthingscasual
- Peggy Sue – Validate Me
- Spacey Jane – Head Cold
Click the links for more info and listen to each of the tracks via the Wernerās Weekly player below.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist. Also added last week: Alanis Morissette, Polish Club, Regina Spektor, and many more.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
North Parade – Keepthingscasual
North Parade are an upcoming indie-pop band formed in Birmingham, but currently based in London. It consists of Henry Plumridge (vocals/guitar/piano), Chris Ettinger (guitar/vocals/synth), James Dewing (bass) and Ollie Clark (drums/percussion/vocals). In anticipation of their new EP How To Be Good, they shared its lead single Keepthingscasual. A track they say was written āentirely on a phone between a notes app and music software loopsā.
Keepthingscasual is an up-tempo pop/rock song full of hooks and with an infectious chorus. It brings The Wombats to mind, which is never a bad thing. One can hear the band had fun recording it, and youāll surely have fun listening to it.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
remake, single track
Corine – Un Air De FĆŖte Ć Tokyo [Japanese Version]
One year ago, French nu-disco queen Corine released her debut album Un Air De FĆŖte. A party record indeed, to which itās impossible to sit still. Iāve recommended several of the albumās singles, but the title track was my favourite. Not in the least because of the irresistible synth, that appears to be borrowed from Donna Summerās I Feel Love. Thereās no denying Giorgio Moroder has been a big influence, anyway.
Two years ago, Corine put out an Italian version of her debut single Pourquoi Pourquoi (called PerchĆ© PerchĆ©). Now, she chose Un Air De FĆŖte as her next single. However, as the new title Un Air De FĆŖte Ć Tokyo gives away, itās sung in Japanese. That doesnāt make it an easy choice for radio stations in Europe, for whom French is difficult enough. But itās a clever move for her to break through in Japan, with its 126 million inhabitants. And for those who listen first and foremost to the song as a whole, itās still the same fun track it always was.
Recommended as well:
Corine – Je Danse Le Mia
Corine – Un Air De FĆŖte
Corine – Maquillage
Corine – Il Fait Chaud
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Fitz & The Tantrums – I Just Wanna Shine
Tastemakers have had Fitz & The Tantrums on their radar since their 2009 debut EP Songs For A Breakup: Volume 1. A year later, Moneygrabber was the bandās first hit, followed by Out Of My League (2013) and Handclap (2016). Helped by a slew of remixes, the latter has been streamed over 400 million times now.
Fitz & The Tantrumsā latest album All The Feels just produced its fifth single: I Just Wanna Shine. It follows 123456, I Need Help!, Donāt Ever Let āem and the title track. In the video, we see a young girl wake up every morning to take care of her family. Then, she skateboards through Los Angeles to find different locales to practice her passion: breakdancing. After getting kicked out of various parking lots, she finds the perfect place to dance: the rooftop of her apartment building. This boasts a breath-taking view of the LA skyline.
Already a streaming success, Fitz & The Tantrums just released a radio edit of I Just Wanna Shine. With radio on board as well, this could very well be a new smash for the band.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Peggy Sue – Validate Me
When I was on holiday last October, Peggy SueĀ released the great single Motorcade. I didnāt get to write about it, but itās still worth checking out, obviously. Now, the London duoĀ come up with follow-up track Validate Me. A folky rock song, with a fresh lead melody, backed with fuzzy guitars.
Katy Young of the duo says: “We were listening to a lot of Ramones, and female bands that borrow from them – like Colleen Green and Vivian Girls. Validate Me takes inspiration from the way they can combine sweet and vulnerable and seething and heavy all in one track. This song owns up to a set of emotions that arenāt particularly empowering – to getting validation from someone elseās desire for you. But thereās something empowering about admitting to them.ā
Motorcade and Validate Me, along with their 2017 single Slow Fade, will appear on Peggy Sueās next album Vices. Released on 21 February 2020, it will be their first long-player in 6 yearsā time.
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Nada Surf – Something I Should Do
Way, way, way back, in 1996, Nada Surf scored a worldwide hit: the aptly titled Popular. A highly melodic, somewhat nerdy, but extremely lovable rock song. The fact they didnāt have another hit like that in later years, is everyoneās fault but theirs. For the band never stopped making brilliant music. Radio stations may have overlooked that, but the fans didnāt. Nada Surf has always been a very successful live act, although they didnāt tour much in recent years.
Mid-January 2020 however, a new world tour will start in the US. End of February, theyāll cross the Atlantic for an extensive European visit, only to return to Canadian and American stages in May and June.
The tour supports Nada Surfās upcoming ninth album Never Not Together, which will be out on 7 February 2020. Something I Should Do is the first single off the record. A delicious rock song with spacey synths and, most importantly, a spoken word section that reminds of Popular. Nada Surf has come full circle. How about radio doing the same?
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track, wildcardWildcard (week 49):
Wildcard (week 49):
Julie Zenatti – Tout Est Plus Pop
Julie Zenatti is a French singer and actress of Algerian, Italian and Jewish descent. After being discovered in a karaoke bar in 1994, at the age of 13, she recorded two songs with Lenny Kravitz, but those were never released. She only released her first album in the year 2000.
Zenattiās ninth album is expected to be due next spring, accompanied by concerts in April 2020. The first single off the album is Tout Est Plus Pop, a title that couldnāt have been more appropriate. Itās light, accessible, sparkling, catchy, memorable, short and snappyā¦ an invitation to sing along. Probably the best song Lio (Amoureux Solitaires) never recorded.
In the newly-released video, the singer travels through 40 years of pop music, based on gems she finds in her record collection. About the clip she says: āItās not meant to be nostalgic, just an ode to music entering our lives and creating memories.ā This might as well have been a description of Carte Blanche Musicā¦
Tout Est Plus Pop by Julie Zenatti is the new Wildcard!
In the Wildcards 2019 playlist you can find all of this yearās Carte Blanche Music Wildcards so far.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
re-release, single track
Bad Nerves – Canāt Be Mine
Bad Nerves donāt have an album out yet, but after only four singles, āpeople in the knowā are convinced: these East-Londoners might be the next big thing. In case you missed it a year ago, the British band just re-released their single Canāt Be Mine.
Sounding like a bastard child of The Ramones and The Strokes, āSupergrass on speedā is another good description. Canāt Be Mine is fast and furious, but melodic throughout. Catch them at showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag in the Dutch city of Groningen mid-January 2020, if you can!
Recommended as well:
Bad Nerves – Dreaming
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
single track
Spacey Jane – Head Cold
In 2017, Fremantle, Australia friends Caleb, Kieran, Ashton and Meils decided to start a garage-pop band, Spacey Jane. They released Still Running as their first single, but follow-up Feeding The Family provided them with their break-through. Two EPās, a sold out tour, multiple festival appearances and the vast support of Triple J later, the next chapter is around the corner.
2020 will see Spacey Jane, with Peppa replacing Meils, do another massive Australian tour. In anticipation of these shows, they just put out their new single. Head Cold reflects on a restless sleep. During the second verse, lead singer Caleb Harper sings: āStare at the ceiling with a steady gaze / Tossing and turning while the shuffle plays / Thinking of you under a head cold / Iāll be dreaming of you till I get old.ā
Head Cold is a catchy, memorable indie-pop song that will undoubtedly claim the airwaves in their home country again. But outside of the island, there is a whole world waitingā¦
For more great new music, follow the constantly updated Carte Blanche Music playlist.
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
chart
Your favourites (November 2019)
Roi by Videoclub is still ākingā in the listing of Your Favourites during the month of November. Thatās odd, because the French duo released three other singles already since they put out Roi at the start of the year. You could say: Roi still rules. Big time! Also in your Top 3, ToukassĆ© by Shanguy is another French track that has been popular among Carte Blanche Music visitors for a long time now. And a little bit further down, at #7, Therapie Taxi are the third Top 10 entry from France. Their new single Candide Crush went down very well last month.
The same can be said of Deacon Blueās former Wildcard City Of Love. A welcome return from the Scottish band, although it can hardly be called a comeback. They have been one of my favourites for over 30 years now, and Iām glad to see them featuring in Your Favourites as well. A total newcomer however, is Australiaās Jaguar Jonze. Kill Me With Your Love is only her third single, but it already ranks among the best read recommendations of November. Letās keep an eye on her!
Your full Top 10 of favourite blog posts in November is below. You can find them all (and many more) in my 2019 container playlist Carte Blanche Music. My Spotify list now holds circa 950 tracks, good for over 55 hours of great new music, released in 2019. Have a listen and/or follow it through this link.
- Videoclub – Roi
- Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
- Shanguy – ToukassĆ© (WC)
- Eliza & The Delusionals – Just Exist
- Sheppard – Kiss My Fat Ass
- Deacon Blue – City Of Love (WC)
- Therapie Taxi – Candide Crush
- Calby – The Everyday Bit
- Parov Stelar feat. Lilja Bloom – Go Wake Up
- Jaguar Jonze – Kill Me With Your Love
(WC) = former Carte Blanche Music Wildcard
I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.
