#Daleypop

Music has been embedded in my life ever since I was in the womb. My Mum and Dad basically raised me on music, especially POP music. I grew up listening to Madonna, Mariah Carey, Kylie, Spice Girls, Britney (#FREEBRITNEY)... even AQUA! I feel so lucky to get to share my favourite current 10 songs from my Spotify every month and my favourite album of the month with you all from Scene HQ! Follow me: iitsdalemelitabitch tDaleMelita

Elton John & Dua Lipa Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) OMG Elton John and Dua Lipa have given us the chilled-out beach bar vibe bop we didn’t know we needed. I know it’s November but still… Shout out to PNAU, one of the best Australian music producers, for basically inventing the remix.

Little Boots Silver Balloons.

Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots, has returned with this electro-pop single and in an Instagram post (and Twitter actually) she wrote: “This song is about all our plans and parties bursting apart in front of our faces over the last 18 months like shiny balloons popping... All we could do to get through it was hold each other tight.” Super relatable, and such a magical track.

Foxes Dance Magic.

Dance Magic is the second single from Foxes’ third album The Kick (out in February) and it’s giving me nostalgic ’90s dance vibes that we need right now! Louisa Rose Allen (Foxes’ real name) said: “It’s about being swept up by the chemistry with someone, and not being able to see the sometimes dark reality, dancing around each other in a fantasy you’ve both created.” Eeeep, we can all relate!

Cœur de pirate On s’aimera toujours.

Canadian singer you need to check out if you haven’t already. On s’aimera toujours (translated as “we’ll love each other forever”) is a beautiful, intense love song but not your typical slow ballad; it’s a DELICIOUS pop synth-anchored disco song from her new album Impossible à Aimer (Impossible To Love) which I’m loving and you might too!

Lana Del Rey Arcadia.

Taken from the Grammy-nominated artist’s second (yes second, Lana stans are being fed) album of 2021, Blue Bannisters, Arcadia is a dreamy, heartbreaking masterpiece and so full of hope... A truly real artist who deserves so much more respect and recognition than she seems to be receiving. Lana has evolved so much in the 10 years since Video Games without ever straying away from the same aesthetic that defines her artistry, IMPO (in my personal opinion).

ABBA I Still Have Faith In You/Don’t Shut Me Down.

OMG I’ve personally waited 40 years for ABBA’s comeback and I’m 33 years old... I grew up listening to ABBA because my mum was and is a huge ABBA fan, so I was nervous when I heard about the comeback, for myself and for my mum and even for ABBA in case they were going to follow contemporary pop trends but nope, thankfully!

Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson said: “We’re not competing with Drake and all these other guys,” phew! “We can’t, because I don’t understand the ingredients in the songs that work today, so it’s impossible to emulate.” Both tracks are VERY ABBA and marvellous and... thrilling.

Charli XCX Good Ones.

“If Gaga’s and Marina’s music had a lovechild,” is the perfect sentence to describe this super catchy pop track – a comment I read on YouTube. Definitely an ear worm and addictive. Such a shame it’s only two minutes and 16 seconds long but I guess that’s what the repeat button is for.

Steps The Slightest Touch.

I know Steps won’t ever take part in the Eurovision Song Contest but... can you imagine if they entered with this Five Star cover from their latest album What The Future Holds Pt 2?! Speaking about the single, they said: “We’re SUCH massive fans of Five Star, when we started brainstorming a possible cover idea to include, this felt like the natural choice. They are absolute idols of ours and have always dreamed about giving one of their songs a euphoric Steps makeover. We are SO excited about the end result and hope fans love it as much as Chain Reaction and Tragedy.”

We do. Catch Steps bringing the party to the Brighton Centre on Thursday, November 25.

Michaela Jaé Something To Say.

For some reason I was always curious to know what MJ stood for – I guess I’m just nosey... Michaela Jaé ‘MJ’ Rodriguez, star of the sickening TV drama Pose which has sadly just wrapped up its third and final season (but was so good, so go watch it on the BBC iPlayer), has released her first ever single, which Michaela says is all about unity.

“This song is for everyone around the world, for them to stop, look around and see how we have more in common than we actually realise,” and “to stand up for what we believe. To embrace one another’s differences. Let’s stand for love! We are one!”

Kim Petras Future Starts Now.

Kim Petras tweeted “BUBBLEGUM POP FOREVER” in September and I retweeted straight away because it’s probably the most true statement I’ve ever seen. Kim made history being the first trans woman to appear at the MTV Video Music Awards this year too, which is kind of a big deal (though it shouldn’t be). Future Starts Now is an energetic feel-good bop and it’s only the beginning, the future starts... now!

Album of the Month

Natalie Imbruglia Firebird.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Natalie, and always sang Torn at the top of my lungs when I was nine OMG, so when she announced a new single Build It Better and that it was going to be first played on BBC Radio 2 at 7.50am during the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show in June I made extra effort to set to my alarm and get up early.

I was hooked straight away and it took me back to the good old days when I used to tape songs off the radio...Right back to reviewing the album, so Build It Better, according to Natalie, is about “letting something fall apart, and being okay with that. It’s something that I have had to do in my life, numerous times, but especially moving into this record and becoming a mum.

So, I’m really excited about that song, and about the video, which is total escapist fun – the world needs that right now.” I couldn’t agree more and it’s an instantly catchy track and clean and fresh and... ’90s vibes but in a good way of course. The whole Firebird album gives me ’90s nostalgia and Natalie even said herself: “Lucky me that the ’90s is trending.” Standout tracks: Maybe It’s Great, Not Sorry, Nothing Missing and of course... Build It Better.