25 April 2013 When I moved to Paris in early 2005, I expected my music-writing hustle for the folks back home to feature mostly Daft Punk, Air and other internationally-renowned notables of "le French touch". This did not turn out to be the case. For one thing, Daft Punk and Air were of little interest … Continue reading Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams – ‘Get Lucky’ →

11 April 2013 'Pompous' is an easy reach here, I know, but it seems this track really is about being petrified in cataclysmic clouds of Vesuvian ash and lava as a metaphor for some vague romantic angst. Hang on now. Those unfortunate enough to be made statues by the neighbourhood volcano were most likely not … Continue reading Bastille – ‘Pompeii’ →

21 March 2013 Where are you Kodaline hipsters to tell me you preferred them when they were 21 Demands? Okay, I throw down that gauntlet knowing full well that Kodaline fandom doesn't really lend itself to hipsterism. Chart factoids, though, are always hip, and this is a band who've had two Irish number one singles … Continue reading Kodaline – ‘High Hopes’ →

21 February 2013 One to remember for your next table quiz: which Irish act had a top 30 single in the UK and Ireland with 'Teenage Kicks'? Answer: Niall Horan, as part of One Direction, with this 2013 charity single that topped both charts. The original by The Undertones only reached no. 31 in the … Continue reading One Direction – ‘One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)’ →

14 February 2013 Macklemore made an unlikely return to the Irish charts in 2024 with 'Hind's Hall', an impressively committed and articulate track in response to the heavy-handed treatment of pro-Palestine demonstrations on US college campuses. I say "unlikely" because most of us had probably lost track of Macklemore, weren't aware of his politics, and … Continue reading Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – ‘Thrift Shop’ →

17 January 2013 It doesn't feature the crassness of David Guetta or the Black Eyed Peas, but this wouldn't be a Will.i.am hit without some tang of unpleasantness. 'Scream & Shout' was originally written and recorded by Tulisa, which gives it an Irish connection since two of her uncles from Dublin had an Irish number … Continue reading Will.i.am & Britney Spears – ‘Scream & Shout’ →