Audio CD review:
Darren Hayes - Popular

Darren Hayes - Popular

Band: Darren Hayes Title: Popular Rating: Release Date: 2004-11-09 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Popular [Radio Edit] 2: Touch 3: Zero 4: Popular [DP Rich Bitch Mix]

Biting satire and b-sides...a perfect combination. The edit of Pop!ular is very similar to the album version. Pop!ular was the first of two singles released from Darren Hayes's second solo album "Tension and the Spark," and features two mixes of the title track (edit and Rich Bitch remix), as well as two non-album tracks: Touch and Zero. The Rich Bitch mix, predictably, uses the "Rich Bitch" line, along with a different backing and chord progression. Still catchy, just different. Darren sends up the overly decadent, image-obsessed music industry that swallowed him whole before and after his stint with Savage Garden: "Hollywood will beckon/everyone will listen/my friends are all in limousines/my friends are all celebrities/and I just sold my soul. " Touch is my least favorite of the two bonus tracks. The lyrics bring to mind some lines from "Affirmation" on love being a chemical reaction, but honestly, the song has a downright orgasmic vibe in the breathless bursts of lyric and moans: "One touch, spark, electricity/Flame, burns, hot and viciously/ Scent, elation, glittering/Ember heat sun viciously/Pulsing flow. " However, Zero made the single worth the price. A throwback to very early Savage Garden B-sides from the late nineties, Darren's voice sounds younger, sensual, and the backing less electronic than most of the tracks on "Tension and the Spark. " The lyrics as well are much more upbeat: "Don't be scared, sing your song/bring your soul to it/and when you're through with it/I know you're better than that. " . It's Darren, you can't go wrong. Both Touch and Zero are awesome songs that you can't get on the album. I didn't buy this single for Popular, I bought it for the b-sides. I can see why they weren't on the album, it's not that the quality of the songs are not "good enough" (no pun intended :), but they just don't fit the vibe of the album. Touch is a slighty faster than midtempo song that has lyrics that make you think (the universe has been changed because we touched). Zero, well, lets just say I'm trying to figure out who Zero was written to or at least what he means until your Zero is gone. A beautiful soothing song though :). Darren Hayes's New Hit Single Rocks! It's addicting to listen to. Being the huge fan of Darren Hayes that I am, I pre-ordered this single, and ever since I got it in the mail, I can't stop listening to it. "Pop!ular" is a great song, and the b-sides "Touch" and "Zero" are truly amazing songs also. And the remix to "Pop!ular" rocks! I can't wait until Darren's new album "The Tension and the Spark" comes out here in the US! If you are a fan of Darren Hayes or Savage Garden, this single is something you should definitely add to your collection of CD's!!!. You can see a complete list of all Darren Hayes discography, or go back to the Darren Hayes tabs