Hairbrush Divas Vol.2 (Music You Just Have To Sing Along To) - Various Artists

...enough track, but not a Hairbrush Diva song by any means, and when it is followed by the instantly memorable ‘Jump’ by The Pointer Sisters, it is immediately forgotten, while the image of the sequin clad, big permed Americans screaming ‘JUMP FOR MY LOVE’ enters my head, only to be quickly displaced when I hear one of my all time favourite songs. ‘Night To Remember’ by Shalamar is truly a classic, and I love Jodie Watley’s voice on this track.
...we put up our best offering with the next track……’Love In The First Degree’ by Bananarama. Now I know they were our most successful girl group, but let’s face it, they didn’t have much competition. The 80’s are represented well again. ‘Atomic’ by Blondie would work for me as just an instrumental track, but then Debbie Harry starts to sing, and not for the first time listening to this CD, I wish I could sing too, and not kill most of the songs on ... more

My daughter has recently been going to a summer club and has become more passionate about listening to music as each week has gone on. As a treat, I took her shopping and let her choose a treat for herself. Not surprisingly, we headed to the nearest music store, and left an agonizing 20 minutes later with this CD, ‘Hairbrush Divas 2’. She made me read the track listing on countless CD’s, but this was the one which had her most excited. That was 1 week ago, and I think we have now listened to the CD at least 3 times every single day, so I feel I am more than qualified to review it! The CD has a mix of styles and eras, and even the choosiest listener will find at least one song which they can listen to, so it is ideal if you are having a few people around as most of them will be happy with the choice of music at some point during the night!

For the pop lovers, their desires are fulfilled immediately with a double pop dose. First up is all smiling Irish boy Ronan Keating with ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’, quickly followed by ‘Round Round’ by girl band The Sugababes. I like the Sugababes music, and to a certain extent, their attitude, although the ‘don’t give a damn’ scowl does become a bit boring sometimes. Liberty X give a good account of themselves with the Mantronix cover ‘Got To Have Your Love’, which still has one of the best opening bass lines ever in my opinion. It is no surprise to see that Atomic Kitten also feature on here, but I was surprised that their slower tempo ‘If You Come To Me’ is the track, as I am sure there are more sing-along friendly tracks in their collection.

Are Destiny’s Child pop or are they R&B? I just like music, I am never that great at knowing which genre it fits into. Anyway, Beyonce and friends are here with their Charlie’s Angel’s theme song ‘Independent Women’, as are M People with ‘One Night In Heaven’. I liked this band, and I once saw them play live, and Heather Small had an amazing voice. Dido’s magnificent ‘Here With Me’ ends the first CD, and leaves you feeling quite mellow after enjoying such a sing-along.

The 90’s are well represented by Prince with his anthem ‘1999’ and Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’, but then the standard drops with the inclusion of the dire ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany always sets my teeth on edge, and when people do the hand under the chin dance, I just feel mortally embarrassed for them. I am sure that there are songs we have all loved at one time, but hate to admit it now, and for me, one of those songs is ‘I Love Your Smile’ by Shanice.

One of the first live concerts I ever went to was Erasure at Whitley Bay Ice Rink in the late 1980’s, and it is nice to see they have not been forgotten with the inclusion of ‘Sometimes’ It is still a great song, and reminded me that these are a band I have somehow let settle at the back of my mind, although I can’t say that my daughter held the same view, and barely lets this song past the intro before her finger is on the skip button, although I will not allow her to do the same with the next track ‘Freedom’ by Wham!

‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ by The Pretenders was a surprise when I saw it on the track listing, but then as soon as I hear it, I know just why it has been included, as it never fails to get me singing even if I barely know the lyrics!! How sexy was Terence Trent D’Arby? Not a lot, I hear many of you answer!!! Well, he was the first pop star who I fancied, and I used to have the video for ‘If You Let Me Stay’ on repeat so much that I actually managed to wear out the tape! The shame of it!

It would be a crime if there was no disco on a sing your heart out style album such as this, and I am glad to say that there is disco aplenty, with McFadden & Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’ sounding as good as ever, although it is eclipsed by the magnificent Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, which is one the songs which never fails to fill a dance floor, so it’s inclusion on here was probably automatic, but I am surprised it was not included on the first album. A little lower down, and not one of their best is Chic’s ‘Good Times’, which is a song I find a little samey, and depending on my mood too boring. Even further back in time is covered with the original version of ‘This Is It’ by Melba Moore.

Highlights on the first CD for me are ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera, which although I would never say it made me a fan of her music, I just liked the slightly harder edge this song had. The second CD starts off the best way I can think with Kool & The Gang’s bootie shaker ‘Ladies Night’, but then as much as I like them, Westlife and ‘World Of Our Own’ just seems woefully out of place in this collection, especially following such a classic opener.

The second CD is all over the place in terms of style and tempo compared to the first CD, and The Corrs track ‘So Young’ is a nice enough track, but not a Hairbrush Diva song by any means, and when it is followed by the instantly memorable ‘Jump’ by The Pointer Sisters, it is immediately forgotten, while the image of the sequin clad, big permed Americans screaming ‘JUMP FOR MY LOVE’ enters my head, only to be quickly displaced when I hear one of my all time favourite songs. ‘Night To Remember’ by Shalamar is truly a classic, and I love Jodie Watley’s voice on this track.

Not to be outdone by the Americans, we put up our best offering with the next track……’Love In The First Degree’ by Bananarama. Now I know they were our most successful girl group, but let’s face it, they didn’t have much competition. The 80’s are represented well again. ‘Atomic’ by Blondie would work for me as just an instrumental track, but then Debbie Harry starts to sing, and not for the first time listening to this CD, I wish I could sing too, and not kill most of the songs on here as I cackle into my hairbrush. ‘Tainted Love’ by Soft Cell had to be on here to satisfy the masses, and I admit that if you only listen to it once in a while, it is an excellent song.

Again, disco is the main theme, and the super charged ‘Knock On Wood’ by Amii Stewart fits into the collection perfectly, and sitting alongside ‘Lost In Music’ by Sister Sledge, listening to this CD becomes easier and easier, and it reaches a peak with the brilliant ‘Let The Music Play’ by Shannon. I am not so keen on Yvonne Ellman’s ‘If I Can’t Have You’, but I think it was included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack which I listened to far too much years ago, that I probably tainted some of the songs. I also tend to switch off when Lisa Stansfield’s ‘All Around The World’ comes on, as it is just not a sing-along song for me. Many people will disagree with me, but I detest Candi Stanton’s ‘Young Hearts Run Free’. I think it is overdosing on it at too many wedding receptions, which this and ‘Chain Reaction’ are guaranteed to be played after the buffet has been devoured.

More recent tracks include the lacklustre ‘Kiss Me’ by Sixpence None The Richer, and ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ by Toploader which has been dirtied after watching Jason dancing to it on this year’s Big Brother. Defunct All Saints offer up their debut ‘Never Ever’ which is just okay, but does not shine amongst the other songs on offer, and the same goes for one hit wonder Jennifer Paige’s ‘Crush’. The album ends with Craig David’s ‘7 Days’, and since Bo Selecta, I can no longer take the man or his music seriously…sorry, but it’s not proper Bo! The highlight on the second CD for me is the beautiful ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper. I get goose bumps whenever I listen to this song, and the lyrics always hit home.

I am a convert, as I think sometimes there is nothing better to lift your mood than a good sing-along to pointless pop songs! It is more aimed at women than men, based on a quick survey amongst some friends at a BBQ last weekend when our daughter was DJ! It is inoffensive, you don’t have to look for the meanings in each song, you just have to open your ears to listen, then open your mouth and sing your heart out!
 

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