Straight To The Heart Tour: Remastered Audio

many thanks to Snider from the official forum for recording and remastering these audio files.

All the files sound really good. They got me really really excited about the new album again.

Revolution is fabulous and HAS to be a single. I'm not sure how it will perform on the charts, but it just HAS to be a single. It is SOOO good! Dial My Number and Starlight sound really good too.

Release the album, Sophie. We're all craving for it.



DOWNLOAD HERE

Sophie's Straight To The Heart Tour: Reviews

xondus said:
Great gig from our Sophie tonight at the Academy! She looked stunning and was full of energy - vocals were good and on form throughout. She was drowned out by the backing band a lot though. I'm also not sure how well some of the more synth-y songs worked live - Bittersweet sounded like some random funk track with all that guitar and Not Giving Up fell quite flat for me. Most of the songs would have benefitted tremendously from having another synth player in the band but nevermind. Highlights for me were What Have We Started which was one of the tracks that really came together live, Get Over You, Heartbreak and Revolution - the latter is an absolute tune and I can't wait to hear it in studio form.. If we ever will, sigh. The crowd really got going during Can't Fight This Feeling as well which surprised me a bit seeing as it never really took off over here..
Oh and she failed to mention or even acknowledge the new album in any way... What on earth is the point of this tour if she's not plugging anything? Not even one simple 'here's another new track from my new album, which should be out this spring'... Mneh.


strictmachine79 said:
Sophie rocked again tonight... despite my manflu I made the Brighton and London gigs (just)... same songs, more chat at Brighton (though more to talk about - X Factor final, random balloon hanging around for the whole gig). All the friends I dragged along said the new stuff sounded better than her old stuff, after hearing Revolution live 3 or 4 times I think it's def the next best single option, love Dial my number too, but Starlight is def an album track (still love it though)... I thought Not giving up sounded great, they've beefed it up quite a bit since the pet shop boys tour...


China_Heart said:
Just back from the London gig as well. Sophie was absolutely amazing! I had such a wonderful time and she seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere!
The higlights of the evening for me were:
Today The Sun's On Us: gorgeous and one of my favourite songs from Sophie ever.
Not Giving Up On Love: I think the live version was stunning. The melancholic feeling really came through but at the same time it really made you want to dance!
Can't Fight This Feeling: really went down well with the crowd. I think it should get a proper release, it's bliss to dance to!
Revolution: absolutely breathless. Stunning track, it needs to be the next single.
But of course everything else was great as well. As someone mentioned before, the instruments were TOO LOUD and drowned Sophie's wonderful voice most of the time. That's my only complaint!
I can't believe nobody commented on her remark: "The good news is that I've asked all of your bosses to give you the day off tomorrow... But, actually, being friends of mine, I guess you ARE your own bosses..." Classic Sophie and so much fun! It shows she perfectly understands where she stands and she doesn't take herself too seriously! Loved it!


absintheboy said:
Amazing show! Yes, at times she was a bit drowned out by the band, but she has so much charisma as a performer. Lots of playful, witty banter with the audience and the *dancing* - ok, as we all know, our Sophs isn't the greatest daaarncer, but she carried off the moves she was doing really well.
I was pleasantly surprised about not only how well the "rockier" tracks like What Have We Started and the Rebellion cover went down with the audience, but also how great they sounded live. I've gone from being completely opposed to her ever doing anything but dance pop, to liking the idea of a synthy-rock album. The Lady (Hear Me Tonight)/Groovejet/Sing It Back medley was also a real highlight.
Revolution for the next single please. If we ever get one. I've no more faith that this album will ever see the light of day, but I'm so, so glad I caught her on tour. She's a natural live performer and (sometimes even I need reminding) a brilliant popstar.


misfitmenace said:
wow sophie was soooo good tonight, my highlights were dial my number, heartbreak, just cant fight this feeling, not giving up , today the suns on us and what have we started....... she should some great emotion during the slower songs, i was surprised and really touched.


christopher60 said:
Went to Sophie's concert in Brighton with my Wife last night. FANTASTIC! Superb show, brilliant sound - made up for the cancelled concert a few years ago! Can't wait for the new album and to see Sophie live again!

Arena Moscow Set List

HOLD YOUR BREATH!

1. Intro (some new song & Heartbreak, instrumental)
2. Dial My Number
3. Bittersweet
4. Take Me Home
5. Me & My Imagination
6. Today the Sun's on Us
7. What Have We Started?
8. Starlight
9. Rebellion (Lies)
10. Can't Fight This Feeling
11. Not Giving Up
12. Get Over You/Lady (Hear Me Tonight)/Groovejet/Sing It Back
13. Heartbreak
Encore:
14. Revolution
15. Catch You
16. Murder on the Dancefloor

An Arcade Fire Cover. Modjo's Lady with Groovejet in a medley with a Moloko cover! WHAT HAVE WE STARTED!! What an AMAZING, scratch that, FUCKING AMAZING set list! If only she could squeeze in "You Get Yours" in there - it would be the ultimate party set-list!

Here are:

Not Giving Up On Love (and it sounds 10x better live - too bad the album version isn't like this)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDxVGeKz4w0

Bittersweet (Snippet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDJtdixzwa0

Can't Fight This Feeling (Snippet) - AMAZING!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDJtdixzwa0

Sing It Back/Groovejet (Medley) - Sophie rules! Roisin would be proud!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT1VF_N-Ha8

Lady/Groovejet (Medley) - kinda odd to hear Sophie sing Lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ__y5FtYi8

Revolution - THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL WAITED FOR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8f8JrRvVoM

Also, in a recent Russian interview, Sophie stated that the album is called "Make A Scene" again. Lets hope this is true. Make A Scene befits the album, the genre, the situation it is in now...it's perfect!!! If you attend her concert, make sure you upload as many videos as you can...

Mewbox caught up with Sophie

You can listen to the interview on the Mewbox Site - http://www.mewbox.com/blog/sophie-ellis-bextor-mewbox-interview/

Sophie talks about:
1. Metronomy Track: quirky and leftfield. Joe and she have a mutual friend and that's how the collabration came about.
2. Wants to work with: Aha, Arcade Fire (she had also mentioned Daft Punk and Kings Of Leon in the past)
3. Tours with TT & PSB
4. She wants us to reward us for our patience by touring

thanks for the heads-up Danny.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor going fourth

This was a good read... definitely worth the re-post.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/sophie-ellis-bextor-going-fourth-26407/

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has a cough, but nonetheless she is happily chatting to me on her mobile about shopping for vintage clothes from her home in London. “The best place for vintage is still eBay,” she tells me, “but failing that I like car boot sales.”

At 31 Sophie has pretty much got it all. A rock-star husband (The Feeling’s guitarist Richard Jones) with whom she has two young boys, Kit and Sonny, an ex-Blue Peter presenter mother (Janet Ellis), a huge international hit (Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) with Italian DJ Spiller) and a fourth album due for release next spring which she describes as “my danciest album, very positive, shiny and sparkly”.

Two years in the making, the album features songs co-written with some of the very best songwriters around – Cathy Dennis, Greg Kurstin – and relative newcomers like Calvin Harris and Richard X. Who impressed her the most? “Basically every song that made it onto the album I really enjoyed making, and I enjoyed working with those people so I couldn’t say one specifically,” she neatly sidesteps before adding, “the criteria was that if I hadn’t enjoyed making it then I wasn’t using it.”

Unlike most artists, it was her third album that Sophie found the most difficult to make, not her second. “Because you’re aware what’s at stake,” she says. “The first one you’re so excited. The second you think, ‘Oh yeah, I know how this works’ and the third one you’re like, ‘Right, if I get this right then I’ve got a career’. That was the turning point but once you get past that… Well everybody treats you quite differently as well and, I think, don’t doubt your motives. Especially the British press. At the beginning they’re always there to trip you up, but once you’ve been around for a while they come to accept that maybe you’re an honest person getting on with what you do.”

And Sophie certainly does get on with it. This year already she’s been busy with live shows promoting singles from the forthcoming album, including a date at the O2 Academy Islington on December 13. “I was in Russia every weekend of last month. It is quite tiring and at the same time it is quite fun.” And December alone will see her back in Russia as well as Turkey and the UK: “It’s a bit chaotic, but there’s two more singles from the album that haven’t been released here but have been in other countries,” she explains.

Despite the glamorous jet-setting and many adoring fans – her MySpace and Twitter pages are testimony to this – Sophie is very rarely featured on the pages of the weekly gossip rags. Is this a part of celebrity culture that she consciously avoids? “Yeah, definitely,” she says, politely stifling a cough. “I’m kind of fascinated with what some people reveal to the public. I’ve just never felt the need to share everything all the time. I don’t think it’s particularly interesting a lot of the time, but also once you’ve done that you can’t get it back again.”

She also thinks there’s nothing worse than people getting jaded, especially pop stars: “I find cynicism a general turn-off anyway, I’m quite a positive person really. It is really easy to become bitter although some of the people I know who are like that are not necessarily the ones who have been hugely successful.”

And what does she think about celebrity culture being the motivation behind most young artists today? “When I was a teenager, teenage culture was all Melody Maker, Select, Smash Hits and Top of the Pops and everybody would talk about what bands you liked. Now if you look on the shelves it’s all celebrity culture, it’s not so much about music.” And although embracing celebrity is a route she’s chosen not to go down, being too judgemental about those who have is something she skirts around: “I don’t think one’s good or one’s bad, the whole way you go about your world has changed anyway and now it’s a lot more about branding, how you do your videos and how you do your artwork.” Her tolerant attitude is also backed-up by her thoughts on other artists. “Complaining about what other artists are doing makes no difference. There’s absolutely room for everybody, if you’re good at what you do there’s room for everyone. Of course there’s going to be people I look at and go ‘I don’t understand why they’re successful at all’, but it’s got nothing to do with me.”

A huge Mad Men fan – “I find watching it a bit like having a nice White Russian or a nice hot chocolate, kind of decadent and creamy and lovely” – she also, along with the rest of us, spends Saturdays nights watching The X Factor, although says sagely: “I think you can see some genuinely talented people come up through the ranks, but it’s important to remember that that’s not the only option.” And she’s also pretty busy on Twitter, though she questions this with a laugh. “I’ll go through a phase of answering loads of questions and I’ll just go quiet again. I don’t know how you can keep it up all the time, I suppose you have to write about everything you’re doing but I kind of feel like ‘Are they really interested in all that?’… Maybe they are. I’m a bit like that with all those things, I kind of go in and out of phases with them. I don’t really update my status on Facebook.”

This all sounds frighteningly normal as does the admission that she’s not a complete workaholic. “I’m not like Dolly Parton up at four and writing songs, I definitely let life get in the way,” but then when she starts talking of “jotting down lists of people she’d like to work with on the next record” and going for a more “stripped down live sound”, I’m reminded that maybe her world is a little more shiny and sparkly than most after all.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be appearing at the O2 Academy Islington on December 13 – for tickets, call the box office on 0844 477 2000

Sophie's 4th record will be out in Spring 2011.

Sophie was on BBC Radio Leicester this morning. Here are the highlights :
Touring next month
Setlist is gonna be all the singles, some stuff from the new record, some covers.
Situation with the new album - will be released in Spring (around April)

I made a fairly large post about my thoughts on PopJustice. I'll just quote the same thing here. But what are your thoughts?

I don't think she is blaming the DJs. Didn't someone here say that the project was going to have singles as DJ feat SEB etc., Seems like that was true. She confirmed that, well, sort of... Had Polydor not stopped Roger Sanchez from using that song she did with him, we would have a single now, and she wouldn't have said that.

The good thing is that she knows where she is and it's not like she believes she can still get away with a Christmas release. I appreciate her honesty for that. April release - i suppose i understand why she wants the album out in Spring. Remember, it was supposed to be out in Spring back when Sophia Loren was planned to be the lead single. It's a dance album, it wouldn't make much sense to release it in the winter when no one will care about it, unless of couse, it's something like Loud. There's your perfect winter dance album. Judging by Bittersweet, Not Giving Up On Love, Can't Fight This Feeling and Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer, i think the album is filled with summer anthems.

I hate to wait, just like any other person in this thread, but i think i will be okay with it eventually. We have waited 3 years. A few months really shouldn't matter that much. But i do hope and pray we have a single or two between now and the album. And hopefully that won't be CFTF....

I can think of several reasons for this delay:
1. Polydor have no interest in taking risks with her, so they want her to make enough money from her gigs and use that to fund this release.
2. My theory about a summer dance album
3. She intends on recording new songs
4. Polydor want people to disassociate the album with Bittersweet (which is tragic. so what if it flopped. it's the highlight of 2010 and deserves to be on the album. if it doesn't make it to the final cut, i will be very very disappointed)
5. Fascination couldn't really do much, but Polydor FINALLY have a plan in mind and they want to go about it that way
6. She has no record label and she is trying to release this on her own.

Read more: http://www.popjustice.com/forum/index.php?topic=21518.4995#ixzz15ZAxG0DW

bittersweet (not the song) news

Sophie is really random with her tweets. But...

@SophieEB stop tweeting and release your record!
@Josehsito just finalised new tracklisting. it's a beauty!

OKAY WHAT!? We're all looking forward to those 13 songs she mentioned earlier. And suddenly she says there's a new tracklist. This all seems to be going a little like Annie's "Don't Stop" which is a very very bad thing. Unless, if she going to shove the current singles onto a bonus EP and include some Kish Mauve tracks.

Sophie's 4th album will be out in November (according to Russian TV)

A Russian fan posted this on PopJustice:
"Last weekend Sophie was in Russia on privacy party. Yesterday I saw news from this party on TV and in the end they said that album will out in NOVEMBER"

Last i heard from someone, they were fixing schedules. Let's not forget, she has a charity gig in November. If Wallace Productions can line up some more PAs for her, she might be able to pull off a single release, followed by the album.

We're not actually clear as to what is going on with the album right now because Peter Loraine is splitting ways with Fascination. Fascination Records will still be a print on Polydor's label, but there has been no official word if Sophie is going to get absorbed back into Polydor, or if she will leave with Loraine. Afterall, Sophie has been Loraine's pet project for 10 years now!

All this is pure speculation. The one thing we do know is that Sophie is promoting the album heavily in Russia. In fact, she is going to be there for four consecutive weekends:
"In Yaroslavl for a show tonight. The first of four consecutive weekends in Russia. Putting the visa to good use..."

Sophie also tweeted about a band called Bertolf covering her latest single with Armin Van Buuren. Here's the live performance on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V85_Z8qhIM

I'm not the biggest fan of it, but Sophie seems to like it. They don't really do justice to the emotion in the song. It was a good attempt though.

Revolution lyrics (Starlight lyrics were posted last week)

Last week i posted the lyrics to Starlight. Here are the lyrics to Revolution. ENJOY!

The song has a beginning similar to If I Can't Dance, but it's much better. The beginning sounds more like a looped bit of the chorus. Sophie's muffled voice opens the song and then BANG!

------ REVOLUTION ------

Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revoluiton
Get on the revolution

Bang bang! It's a hold up
You about to give it up
In the boot they're slippin' up
We've been patient long enough ('nough)
It's a hold up
Rebels gonna play it tough
Wreck the deck and needle off
Shut it down and turn it off

Face to face
It's murder on the dance floor
Cut to the chase
Just give us what we came for

Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight) - robotic vocals
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight)

Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)
Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)

Bang bang! In the club crowd
Better off or down and bow
Chaos holding - what a wow!
Tearing up the sound now
Ow! Shout it out loud
Now we're warming up the ground
Rip the deck and needle up
Shut it down and turn it off

Face to face
It's murder on the dancefloor
Cut to the chase
Just give us what we came for

Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight)
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight)

Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)
Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)

Bang bang it's a hold up
Bang bang it's a hold up

Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight) - robotic vocals
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
Get on the revolution
(Wreck this club tonight)

Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)
Own me, own me, own me, own me, own me, own me
(Wreck this club tonight)

For those of you who haven't noticed yet, the lyrics to Starlight were posted last week. Once again, i don't have the song, and by posting the lyrics, i don't mean to hint that it will be the next single.

Spilling the beans

Word from the press is that her record company are "fixing up release dates and promo schedules at the moment" (quoting exact words). Words from inside are that the single will be out soon (although, i don't know what "soon" is supposed to mean). She has 2-3 contenders for the single. He didn't reveal which ones they are, but they are probably one of the songs that were sent out to the press or the ones that have been circulated inside Fascination HQ.

Quick recap:
The sampler sent out to the press has five songs: Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer, Bittersweet, Revolution, Starlight, Off And On.
The sampler circulated inside Fascination includes Magic and Synchronised.

AND.... a generous donor emailed the lyrics to Starlight. Before you get really excited and send me emails asking for the song, let me tell you that i don't have it and i haven't heard it. I'm just posting what i received. Also, this doesn't mean that Starlight is going to be the single.

This is what he heard:

(atmospheric effect - synth - drum crash)

Hold a moment in time
And look to the skies
And we are frozen in light
Not a second goes by

Is it a waking dream holding me?
You never really know till you know
In the blink of an eye
Hearts will unite

We are one
Find us under the starlight, starlight, starlight
I could die, right here in your arms
We are one
Ccaught here under the starlight, starlight, starlight
Oh! Cos tonight we found heaven in the dark

No silhouette in my mind
It's just you and I
And as the starlight shines
Bodies are blind

It's so natural, unbreakable
Won't ever let you go, let you go
Hand in my hand
Here till the end

We are one
Find us under the starlight, starlight, starlight
I could die, right here in your arms
We are one
Ccaught here under the starlight, starlight, starlight
Oh! Cos tonight we found heaven in the dark

As the new day rises
Lost in our embrace
WE ARE ONE!!

We are one
Find us under the starlight, starlight, starlight
I could die, right here in your arms
We are one
Ccaught here under the starlight, starlight, starlight
Oh! Cos tonight we found heaven in the dark

Rumours rumours rumours....and no album in sight! Sigh :(

There have been tons of rumours about Sophie splitting with Fascination and being signed on All Around The World. Let me first dispel this rumour.

Armin's label, Armada, does not handle releases of his singles in the UK. "All Around The World" are releasing the single in the UK on behalf of Armin's label. "Xelon Entertainment" are releasing it in Australia. "Neblua" used to release Armin's singles in the UK, but the last couple of releases have been digital releases by "All Around The World".

Someone probably came across AATW mentioned as the label and decided to start a rumour that she parted ways with Fascination. This is not true. Yes, there were some issues ("fisticuffs" in SEB's words) involved with the release of the single. That is probably why Fascination stayed away from promotion activities. But now that the single is out, they did mention it once on their twitter, and the new video has been uploaded on Sophie's official website.

Coming to the second rumour - Sophie's 4th album has been dropped and there is a GH on the way. A rumour came from Universal Records that Sophie's fourth album has been dropped. The whole GH speculation is a fan-thing that people from several boards (PJ, FlopPop, UKMix etc.,) have started on their own.

Why the rumour about the album being dropped was started, i can't tell yet. I have sent Fascination many emails regarding the rumours asking them to dispel them at once. But they haven't cared to respond yet. I have tried to get a lot of people from PopJustice and Sophie-Online to flood Fascination's inbox with emails, so they know that there is genuine interest in Sophie.

Frankly, i wouldn't be surprised if the album is cancelled. The lead single flopped miserably on the charts, even though it is the best song of this year and Sophie's best song so far in her career. The so-called second release from the album (Not Giving Up On Love) hasn't been promoted in the UK at all, and is only performing moderately outisde the UK. Yes there have been sales in the US as well, but it's nothing significant for Sophie because the whole release has been labelled as "Armin's" release. I wouldn't be too surprised if the track is later cut out of the final tracklist for the album (if it comes out). Polydor (Fascination's parent label) had plans to release "Can't Fight This Feeling" in the UK. There is a possibility for the song to do well because it has become quite popular in Russia, France, Lebanon, Spain and a few other European countries. It can be called a success for Junior Caldera. The single did what it had to do for him - put him on the map. For Sophie, again, it's nothing significant. The Freemasons single was her last moderate hit, only by sales. It charted outside the top 10.

Looking at these disappointing figures, Fascination MAY have decided to scrap the album. BUT there has been no official word from anyone, so it's best that we don't assume anything. Sophie still has her tour in December. In fact some of the venues are quickly selling out. If Fascination rushes out with a third single this September, and if it finds a decent charting spot somewhere on the higher side of the top 20, then they can still release the album and it will probably sell as much as TTLF did, or maybe a little more (because she has widened her fanbase by performing with Pet Shop Boys, Will Young, George Michael and Take That. And let's not forget her performance in NYC.)

Let's just hope for the best. If you want help dispel these rumours, please email and tweet Fascination and ask them what's going on. Who knows, if one of us are lucky, we might get a response.
email: info@fascinationrecords.com
twitter: @welovepop

Let's do our best, and see what happens with the release.

I love Sophie to bits, and i'm doing my best to dispel these rumours and promote her album. If you love Sophie and her music, promote her. Buy the Maxi that will be out on the 30th. If you haven't already bought Bittersweet, Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer and Can't Fight This Feeling, buy them. Spread the word about an upcoming fourth album. Let's just hope everything turns out to be just fine.

Jacques Townhouse + album and single news

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/aug/01/sophie-ellis-bextor-sexy-hotel

If any fantasy realm ever needed an ice queen, it's Jacques Townhouse, a pop-up hotel-cum-beauty parlour "soirée" venue in central London that looks like Alice's Wonderland on a sugar high, all candy-floss trees and frosted pink cupcakes. Enter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who curated the project with hotelier David Carter and should be able to shake up this lavish fairytale with a blast of her trademark froideur.

If previous interviews are to be believed, talking to the west London pop star is like conversing with a cool breeze. So it's a relief when Ellis-Bextor, 31, turns out to be warm, chatty and animated by her surroundings.

"It appeals to my girly side," she says, surveying a landscape of powder-blue cakes. "And I think pop-ups are quite sexy." Does the promotional aspect bother her? (Jacques Townhouse is run by a cider company.) "I do find it a bit disconcerting when your name becomes a brand," she admits. "Some people are really good at packaging themselves, but that's not really me. I don't lie awake at night asking myself: 'Who is Sophie and what does she mean?'"

Right now, "Sophie" means a string of dancefloor hits since "Groovejet" early last decade, with a fourth album, Straight to the Heart, due in October. "I've been working with a lot more DJs, so it's very dance-y."

After the last album, Ellis-Bextor took time out to give birth to her second son. The only really difficult thing about juggling motherhood and pop stardom, she says, is lack of sleep. But she doesn't seem fazed. "You need to have a life outside your career. Overall, it's kept me enjoying it more," she says, contemplating a cupcake. "I don't take what I do for granted."

If you missed one important bit in that article, i'll repeat it for you. Album out in October. Sophie and Armin have the second (or third, whatever) single coming out soon. They are shooting the video in Ibiza with Sophie Muller.

Sophie's new hair colour has received a lot of good feedback. I think it's great. Maybe she got it dyed for the video. Remember her red hair in Music Gets The Best Of Me? *fingers crossed we get an amazing video*

Here are some recent pictures of Sophie from here and there

the campaign is a little messed up

I'm not very happy with how Fascination are handling Sophie right now. Someone on PopJustice once posted that there was going to be a strange release strategy for the new album. Back then nothing was revealed. First Fascination decided to include the Freemasons single on the album. Next they made Not Giving Up an Armin Vs. Sophie track. They will also release the Junior Caldera track in UK. Lets add two and two

1st single - Freemasons feat. Sophie - Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer

2nd single - Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Bittersweet

3rd single - Armin Van Buuren Vs. Sophie - Not Giving Up

4th single - Junior Caldera feat. Sophie - Can't Fight This Feeling

album released after this

No wonder they didn't let Roger Sanchez use the Sophie/Nervo track which he made for his album. Fans would be confused if it's a Sophie release for her album or if it's just a Roger Sanchez release.

If it goes this way, we can all say bye-bye to b-sides. I don't think any DJ would want to release a Sophie-only song produced by someone else on their single as a b-side. We'll just get some more boring remixes.

The whole campaign seems like a desperate act to save Sophie's career after Bittersweet's flop. Banking on the DJ's goodwill to release a single so they can get an easy hit. I mean, if all this is just to score hits, why not make a collaboration with David Guetta (as much as i hate the idea myself), cos anything with his name is a hit somewhere in the world. They should also let Roger use the track for his album and stick it at the end of Sophie's album as a bonus track or whatever. Roger is huge. Why aren't they using his name!?

If both Not Giving Up and Can't Fight This Feeling end up in the top 10 and top 20 respectively, then maybe we'll have a Sophie-only single after the album release. Maybe Starlight or Revolution or Off And On.

What are your thoughts about this?

Sophie live from Dermont O'Leary

Not Giving Up - acoustic (7.0 MB) http://www.mediafire.com/?ezxnzqztzdg

Getting Away With It - acoustic (8.2 MB) http://www.mediafire.com/?2hdlwwzyqhn

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have a couple of other things to post about, and i will do that sometime today. I've been out of town rafting and hiking and stuff.

By the way, Not Giving Up is oh-my-fucking-gorgeous! Sophie sounds amazing when she sings live. I really wish it does well on the charts. The live cover of Getting Away With It is also gorgeous. Sophie should really do a guitar album, something on the lines of her theaudience sound. Maybe combine that with her disco pop.... maybe an album entirely with Metronomy and Alex James.

Anyway, here's the entire interview from the show - http://www.mediafire.com/?ogmy5za2mti

(Many thanks to Paul for all the links. You're a star Paul)

Straight To The Heart out in October

Sophie was on This Morning on the July 7th.
Here's the whole interview - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv53oWsfBi4
Sophie talks about the album being a very positive, up-beat and very dance-y. She had the most pleasurable experience making this 4th album. She says, "I know what I like now, and try to play to my strengths." She has built up a circle of people she loves working with, and keeps going back to them. It's become like a little work-family. "If it's hard work the songs don't sound so good. The best songs have that happiness imbued in them because you enjoy making and singing them." She has become popular in Russia. She has an urge to get back home to her children, so when she did a gig in Vladivostok (13 hours away) she came straight back home the same day.

Fascination (not Sophie) are confused about which single to release next. They are planning to release Can't Fight This Feeling in the UK now. I knew Can't Fight This Feeling would end up becoming a part of the album as a bonus track, but making that the second single just because it's doing better than Bittersweet is some parts is silly because it really seems like they're desperate for a hit. I don't see how releasing a song that is already released elsewhere and is sooo old can go top 10 in the UK. Besides, all SEB fans already have the CD, some may even have Junior's album. Who will care about it!?

Here's what Digital Spy extracted from Hard Candy's site:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has revealed that she is unsure over which single she is releasing next. The 'Bittersweet' singer has admitted her label are undecided on whether to release her collaboration with DJ Armin Van Buuren 'Not Giving Up', or the song 'Can't Fight This Feeling' featuring Junior Caldera, which has already been released in parts of Europe. She told Hard Candy Music: "There's a song I did with Armin which will definitely be a single called 'Not Giving Up', and then I also wrote a song with French DJ called Junior Caldera which was released in France and some places around Europe." "It has been doing well, so I think they're going to be bringing that out, [but] it's the same label bringing out both tracks so I'm not sure what order we're going to go for yet."
Ellis-Bextor also revealed that the music video for 'Not Giving Up' could be filmed in Ibiza. She said: "I think it's around Armin's schedule a bit because I have to go where he is and he's DJ-ing around the world all the time. I think it might be in Ibiza because he is doing a residency there." Sophie Ellis-Bextor is due to release her fourth studio album Straight To The Heart later this year.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a239827/ellis-bextor-unsure-over-single-plans.html

Sophie tweeted saying, "Tune in to dermot's show, radio 2 this Saturday for first performance of my Armin vs Sophie song, not giving up. Sung acoustically. Nice."
So the track might end up becoming Armin vs. Sophie. I thought it would be a SEB vs. Armin but anyway. It's sad how they're making almost every release a DJ feat. SEB. I'm still okay with it, so long as we actually get the single and the album. I'm kinda hoping for this era to pass by quickly so she can get on with a GH or the next album.

Here's the Fairytale Challenge that Sophie took up -
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JWU97YZ0 (DOWNLOAD)
"We set singer, model and fairytale fan Sophie a Twitter-style challenge.
Can Sophie, a Snow White lookalike, guess the famous fairytale from the Twitter-length 140 character description? It's not as easy as it sounds..."
(thanks to Paul)

I found a nice write up about Sophie on Edgeonthenet:
Sophie who? That might have been the question you asked if you ventured over to the NYC’s 2010 pride pier dance. Sophie Ellis-Bextor was one of the featured performers along with Ultra Nate. You might actually know Sophie and like her if you push your ipod aside and dust off some of those old CDs, Sophie had some mega hits in the early 90s like "Murder on the Dance Floor" and "Groovejet" that kept you dancing to the wee hours of the morning. I was interested to meet Sophie to finally put a face to the songs I have dance the night away to for years. Sophie is a well known pop star in the UK, but suffers a little bit of name recognition in the US even though she has some well charted singles here. Her debut appearance in the US was at this past Gay Pride Pier Dance in New York City. Sophie’s says she "never had a master plan" and is a believer in "serendipity" and always goes where "I am invited." Sophie looks forward to her next album in the US as a chance to break in to the huge US market. For Sophie’s next album she is working with several top DJs including the Freemasons, Armin van Buuren and Calvin Harris. Her singles with these DJ will be compiled on her own album and included in the the DJ’s own projects. Sophie worries that she might get lost behind some of these big names, but is excited to release a new dance pop album. Its no surprise superstar DJs are working with Sophie, she has a tone to her voice that works very well with elector dance beats that is distinct while not being overpowering. Her first release off the upcoming album is "Heartbreak" a song she did in collaboration with the Freemasons. Its quite a catchy upbeat song that will be surly be a contender for the song of the summer. But it seems to be contender for the song of the summer the artist has to have the outrageous factor, like running around at Yankees games in a bra and panties kissing girls ala Lady Gaga. Outrageousness might be a challenge for Sophie, she is 31 yo, happily married to The Feeling guitarist Richard Jones and the mother of two young boys. But don’t count her out when it comes to outrageousness, when she was a teenager she kissed many girls and she felt "it was an absolutely fine experience." Would she try it again? laughingly she said "I never met the right women" and now she is happily married and would considered such dalliances forms of infidelity. According to Sophie her cute husband wouldn’t be into her kissing another women for fidelity reason too. If that is right Spohie might want to give Sandra Bullock tips on finding a man and everyone other women in America. Sophie likes to vamp it up for her videos throwing on a pair of stilettos and a mini skirt. Oddly enough the British tabloids tag her look as being unconventional. Looking at her you would never know why she is unconventional looking I found her to be quite pretty and extremely charming. So I had to ask her why is her look so unconventional? Sophie says "I have been told on many many occasion that I have and odd face and it looks like an alien." Spohie is confident with her look and tells the tabloids to "bring it on." Screw the tabloids, she is on track to be one hot MILF I told her. She was quite familiar with the term and laughingly says "its charming". On a larger note she wants to break the sterotype of having children and being considered "a frumpy and unsexy mother". Well she is far from a frumpy and unsexy mother and I think her sons are going to be very popular during their high school years. Sophie better be prepare for a lot of sleepovers. Sophie is a former poster girl for Peta and feels terribly about what is happening in the Gulf and the effects on marine life. Sophie says "sometimes it feels like a scary time to be alive full stop with all the enormity of the things we are dealing with" Shohie is glad music and other forms of entertainment can provide some sort of escapism. Sophie recalled her NY Gay Club hopping days with her buds, Fred Schneider from the B52s and Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters. She quite fondly remembers hitting the former Beauty Bar with Jake, and Bunglow 8 and some other nameless bar with half naked men with Fred . She says she might be even hitting some of the hot spots with the Freemason after the Pier Dance. The kids are safe at home and Sophie is ready to party. Shophie is very excited to make her US debut by performing at this year Gay Pride Pier Dance in NYC. From the feedback I heard the boys loved her and want more. So hopefully we will see and here a lot more of Sophie in the US.

Sophie @ NYC, Dave Cromwell's interview and more

Sophie was at NYC with the Freemasons where she performed three of her biggest hits for the gay audience. Surprisingly, they knew the songs. Sophie should definitely perform in the US again. Also, i love how she handles the stage so well. I love her movements.
Here are the videos.
Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
Murder On The Dancefloor
Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer

Here's Dial My Number (click) live from Istanbul (better quality than the youtube video)

Dave Cromwell's exclusive interview with Sophie - Read here
(thank you Dave for doing this for all SEB fans)

And an interview at Club Arena, Vladivostok at One Year Party - http://www.twitvid.com/XWLBT

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - more than just a name in pop

From starting out in an indie band aged 17, Sophie Ellis Bextor's name has swelled beyond that of a successful pop artist to become a high street brand. The value of her name has grown and grown and she even became the face of Rimmel make-up in 2008.

Even though she now enjoys contracts with high street brands, there are drawbacks: "Yucky as it sounds, I feel you sort of lose ownership of your name," she said.

Brand associations - Sophie went on to tell Newsbeat: "Now when I say Sophie Ellis Bextor I feel that's not really me because that's become this entity from doing the gigs and the shows and the make-up contracts and whatever else."

Being associated with big brands is a long way from where she started out: "When I was seventeen, the idea of doing a clothing line for a high street brand would have been totally unthinkable but now it's completely the opposite."

"I'm a little bit allergic to the whole brand thing to be honest but maybe it's just happening around me and I'm not really aware of it."

Even though she has commercial commitments, and there are even more brands knocking on her door, she says she keeps a level head on the decisions she makes. "My rule for the corporate stuff is the same as with my music - I do whatever means I can sleep at night and whatever means I can be dignified."

Sophie Ellis Bextor's fourth album, Straight to the Heart, is due out this autumn.

Quickest song - She's been working with a number of different producers - Calvin Harris, Richard X and others including Greg Kurstin. He produced Lily Allen's album, It's Not You It's Me. Sophie went to Los Angeles to work with him and explained that he doesn't hang about when it comes to song writing.

"He holds the award for the quickest written song on the record. I turned up midday, we wrote, we had a long leisurely lunch and it was done by quarter to four."

"I've never done a song in under four hours before - from start to finish. It's called Revolution and it's probably going to be a single."

After this album she says she's going to change musical direction and she's recently been working with trance legend Armin Van Buuren who's ranked number one DJ in the world. "I must confess I knew very little about the trance scene, I'm more house and commercial dance but it was really interesting and different."

"If you're going to start in trance then you should start with the number one trance DJ in the world I figured. It's going to be really good fun."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10430000/newsid_10439900/10439980.stm

NGU is (also) a part of Armin's album Mirage

Not Giving Up is on Armin's album "Mirage". The whole confusion about Not Giving Up not being on Sophie's album makes sense now. No wonder she didn't talk about it in that interview with gay mag. Maybe this will end up becoming an Armin feat. Sophie track. I'm not happy with what's going on right now. They have potentially one of the best albums recorded by Sophie and they're just letting it all go down the drain!? What the hell is Fascination doing with Sophie's career!?!?!?

Mirage, which will be released mid-September, contains some special collaborations, just like the previous album. (...) This time he got some international artists to work with him: 'I worked with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Adam Young

'Armin will tour the world with his new music later this year during the Armin Only 2010: Mirage tour. 'I will be on tour for almost year from this October. A couple of countries have been added to the list.' 'Mirage' will be released in about thirty countries, such as the US.'

ORIGINIAL ARTICLE - http://www.depers.nl/entertainment/489763/Armin-werkte-harder-dan-ooit.html

Sophie to support PSB and more

YES! Sophie is supporting the Pet Shop Boys on their UK Tour.
Read the article here - http://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2521

Sophie also has a support tour with Will Young on his UK Tour. Hopefully both support tours help her sell the album. The new single "Not Giving Up" will be out soon. We still have no dates, but Sophie is shooting the video with Armin Van Buuren soon.

In other news, NRJ Radio Lebanon is still playing Bittersweet and it's currently #2 there. I'm really happy that the single is performing well internationally. It's a shame that the single fared so poorly on the UK Charts. Hopefully the next single performs better.
Here's the link to the NRJ Charts - http://www.nrjlebanon.com/music/chart_index.php#middle
thanks to Eden for the heads up

Also, Sophie and Junior's single is still getting some airplay internationally. "Can't Fight this Feeling" peaked at #14 on the Spanish Official Dance Chart?? But after a couple of weeks bouncing up & down, the single currently holds the #21 spot. You can vote for the single (once a day). Let's hope the single climbs higher next week.
Here's the link to vote - http://www.maxima.fm/51Chart/
thanks to Fran for the update

Sophie/Betty Boo collab

The Betty Boo collaboration is called "Is It Love". Not sure if this will ever get released as a b-side or a bonus track.

IS IT LOVE - Written by Betty Boo, SEB and Steve Robson
http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=11191381&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

Thanks to NunyaB for the heads up