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Pick at the pops: 13 August 2007

Kate Nash and Robyn

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Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

Girls are on top this week as, after half the summer as the bridesmaid to Rihanna’s bride, Kate ‘Nasher’ Nash finally bares her teeth and gets to No.1 – in the album chart, that is. It’s all change in the singles too, with Swedish pop minx Robyn fashioning a deserved smash out of ‘With Every Heartbeat’ at the 12th (approximately) attempt. The kids have voted. They don’t want a Britain’s Got Talent winner or Timbaland’s millionth (approximately) single from Shock Value at the top of the charts – they want beauty, they want sass, they want to have fun.

Well, hard luck, kids. Po-faced quarters of the tabloid press are up in arms at Scots japester Calvin Harris’s plans to get the country partying. In a definitely-not-cynical tie-in with new single ‘Merrymaking At My Place’, Calv has encouraged the young people to throw house parties on a particular night, send him the details, and he’ll come and perform at the best one. Sounds like good larks? Apparently, it’s “irresponsible”, and we can’t be having people acting irresponsibly at teenage parties. Calvin’s now having to post films on YouTube about partying sensibly, to appease the killjoys – with tongue possibly not far from cheek.

We know how keen everyone is to hear about Hard-Fi’s battle against album artwork – “What are the latest developments?” you cry. Here’s a miffed Richard Archer, after taking a bit of flak: “If Radiohead had done something similar, it would be a work of genius. But because it’s Hard-Fi, it’s ok to have a pop.” Is it? Excellent. But hold on – wasn’t the whole thing supposed to be a statement? Why are we looking for critical acclaim then, Rich?

Finishing on a sombre note, we must pay tribute to a local newscaster turned national icon. No, not the late Richard Whiteley (but respect to him, obviously) – no, we remember Tony Wilson, the Factory Records founder and Manc legend who passed away on Friday. Hero, maverick, chancer, thinker, chronicler and disastrous businessman, Wilson brought us New Order, Happy Mondays, the Hacienda and endless entertainment over 30 swashbuckling years. We need more like him.

Matthew Horton

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