Straight To The Heart - the tracklist

Okay, i know i've made tons of predictions, but i'm sure this time i've got it right. Richard X mentioned on Black Melody that 2 out of 3 songs of his would end up on the album. But Sophie's MySpace says "The" Richard X track. So i'm unsure about Magic. The rest of the tracks are confirmed.

Oh and whoever told me (and stupid of me to publicise without proof) that Synchronised is co-written with Sophie was wrong. PROOF!

1. Sophia Loren (Cathy Denis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Christopher Rojas)
2. Revolution (Cathy Denis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Greg Kurstin)
3. Not Giving Up On Love (Armin Buuren, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Nervo Sisters)
4. Bittersweet (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Freemasons, Biffco)
5. Starlight (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard X)
6. Off And On (Cathy Denis, Roisin Murphy, Calvin Harris)
7. Dial My Number (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe)
8. Cut Thru' The Heart (Ed Harcourt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dimitri)
9. Make A Scene (Metronomy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
10. Synchronised (Ina Wrolsden, Fred Ball)
11. I Still Believe In Magic (Hannah Robinson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard X)
12. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Biffco, Freemasons)


(this is not the official cover, don't worry. i'm just playing around with a picture i found online)

Bittersweet - The review

Put together Blue Monday '88 (by New Order), Strangelove (by Depeche Mode), Sweet Dreams (by Eurythmics), One Word (by Kelly Osbourne) and The One (by Kylie Minogue), mix those with Sophie's bittersweet vocals and what you get is...well..."Bittersweet"

Bittersweet, which is first single from her fourth album recently titled Straight To The Heart, is produced by the Freemasons & Biffco and co written with them and Hannah Robinson. The nearly-9-minutes long orgasmic mix by the Freemasons, which leaked a couple of days ago, boasted of the Eurythmics meets Depeche Mode "oh-holy-shit-mother-of-all-riffs" all through the mix, with hints of New Order on drum snares. Everyone raved about how good the mix was and how it blew them away, but little did they know that there was more to come... The Radio Edit of the song which recently hit youtube surpasses the Freemasons Extended Mix in almost every way possible. Almost, yes.

The arresting riff, which got a usual clubber to go "oh fuck hell yeah" at it's premiere, is safely hidden under the verses of the Radio Edit? Why they chose to overshadow that is a mystery to me. But the Radio Edit is far more beefy - in that it has lots of lush strings and synth, and layers of sounds that completely make up for the lack of the riff. But wait, there's more. The 80's style disco anthem, drawing influences from some of the recent hits by K. Minogue and K. Osbourne, oozes elegance and melody in a gentle yet strong manner. The lyrics and the delivery are perfect, as usual, with Sophie experimenting her part-silk-cushion-part-scorched-lizard vocals - elongated words, high pitched "ooohs", meandering melody, whispers (oh my god!)...and just when you think you have heard it all, the feline siren comes back mewing "so here i am". DigitalSpy rightly calls this moment as three seconds of pure pop loveliness. Indeed!

If you haven't already wet your pants, then try this, but i warn you - you may get insanely addicted!
Bittersweet (Radio Edit) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WvGElFmZYI
Bittersweet (Freemasons Extended Mix) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOqkkv8tT4
Bittersweet (Jodie Harsh Remix) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT_O6c-EDDE

Sophierazzi gives a thumbs up to the Freemasons and Biffco, and salutes Sophie, the rightful pop Goddess.
Bittersweet (Radio Edit)- 10(0000)/10
Bittersweet (Freemasons Extended Mix) - 9.9999999/10
Bittersweet (Jodie Harsh Mix) - 7/10

P.S. - People, please don't forget she also has a single with Junior Caldera which is out; the video will premeire soon. Keep your eyes peeled. Love, Kx.

Official Catch Up (Pt. 2) - Sophie talks about Bittersweet

So Bittersweet is the first single. How long has that song existed?
Well, I remember I wrote it just after Kit had come home from hospital. So I think it must have been April. It should be on the radio around its first birthday!

Where did you write it?
It was a very, very relaxed writing session just after I'd come back from hospital. I was taking things easy and Hannah Robinson, who I write a lot with, came round. I was still feeding Kit at the time, so I had to keep stopping every two or three hours to feed him. I remember at one point in particular I was actually feeding him while I was writing. I was thinking, "This is pretty much the modern pop star - feeding a baby and writing a dance track!".

Must've been quite memorable for Hannah too.
Ha! Well, I've been working with Hannah for years. I first met her for the third album. We wrote Me And My Imagination together, and a few other songs. She's lovely. She's a great songwriter and we just really clicked. I think she's probably my favourite top line writer to collaborate with, really.

So you're pleased with Bittersweet?
I really am. It's one of those songs where the more I listen to it, the more I like it. Last week I was rehearsing with the band and it sounds really great live.

And it's a Freemasons collaboration too?
Yes. They sent the instrumental to me and we wrote our stuff over the top. Then they mixed it and added a few parts.

We hear there's also a remix by Jodie Harsh.
There is indeed. I've known Jodie for a few years now - he's someone I always used to see out and about. He's getting involved in doing remixes, so he offered to do it. I think it came back really well. It's a little bit more hardcore than the Freemasons' mix.

Have radio stations heard the single yet?
No, don't think we've got to that point yet. That's always a bit scary. Sod it, though, it's too late to worry now! But I really don't feel I could've done any better. I'm really happy with it, and I think it deserves to do well. But I do appreciate that the music industry loves something new, and the fact I've been around for ten years doesn't always help. But, at the same time, it does also mean I've got a platform which you wouldn't get as a new artist. So I think there's a positive and a negative from having been around a while. I'm certainly appreciative of the fact that I've been able to do it for so long. I know now how special that is, I think.

SOURCE: SEB.net

and then she tweeted.....

"the new single's about when you can't resist something that you know is bad for you. a guilty pleasure. like watching celebrity big brother."
Lol. I find the comparison quite hilarious. So it's a song about guilty pleasures. I'm glad its not another heartbreak on the dancefloor.

"out early april, heading to radio early february"
oh. I was hoping for January, but i'm still quite excited. February is not far away.

"the new single is called Bittersweet. it's written with those lovely Freemason's again (and lovely biff and lovely hannah too.)"
Freemasons/Biff/Hannah/Sophie. Wow. Its like nothing can go wrong. But i suspect this was more of a Fascination move. Heartbreak did well and stayed for a long time, so why not use the same formula and spice it up. Oh well, i'm still on board. I hope it is as "massive" as Fascination deemed it to be. *fingers crossed*

album nearly finished...

On Nov 3rd, Sophie tweeted saying: "album writing all done now. just final vocals and mixing. woo! have to pick my final album tracks then january it all goes public..." and "done another lovely song with the freemasons, biff and hannah. i am a lucky gal!" Unfortunately though, she caught a cold and she couldn't sing. But recently, Sophie tweeted this
"Celebrated finishing off v good new song by whole vacherin cheese just for me and R with red wine. Was yum but feel bit gross today."
and
"another day, another song sung! album nearly finished yay yay yay."

The good thing is she is back in the studio and the album is finally being recorded and completed. Its all out in January, according to Sophie. So fingers crossed we get a great (electro-pop dance) album. The campaign is supposed to be really bizarre but we're in for a treat.

Here is a list of known songs (updated), who knows what will end up on the album:

1. Love Deluxe (Ellis-Bextor/Harry James/Wilcox Simon)
2. For Love (Douglas John Henry/Ellis-Bextor/Poole Karen Ann)
3. Not Giving Up On Love (Buuren Armin/Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia Margaret)
4. Calling It Love (Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Richard Wiles)
5. Dial My Number (Hang Up) (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
6. Give Into Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
7. Magic (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
8. Lose Myself (Christopher Rojas/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
9. My Priority (Lamont Dazier/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/John Stack Graham/Daniel Woodcock)
10. Off And On (Cathy Dennis/Roisin Murphy/Calvin Harris)
11. Only For This Moment (Alexander Perls/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
12. Sophia Loren (Christopher Rojas/Cathy Dennis/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
13. Sorry Now (Christopher Mohr/Cohen Wayne/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
14. Starlight (Richard X/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
15. Supersexy (Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
16. Synchronized (Ina Wroldsen/Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Fred Ball)
17. Make A Scene (Metronomy/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
18. Under Your Touch (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
19. Whispers On The Street (Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
20. Wicked Game (David Lipsey/Jeremy Shaw/Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
21. Immune To Love (Sophie Ellis-Bextor/Hannah Robinson/Richard X)
22. We Got A Chance (Ellis-Bextor/Nervo Miriam/Nervo Olivia/Rowbottom Matthew Paul)
23. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer (Ellis-Bextor/Freemasons)

and the songs which are not going to be on the album (confirmed by an inside source)
Carnival
In The Name Of Lust
Moving Cities
Music Took My Man
Still Mixed Up

updating you (again) about the fourth album...

Everytime i think of the producers for this album i think "oh my god she's got the entire shebang in there"...
Kish Mauve (Supersexy and Whispers On The Street), Groove Armada, Richard X (I Still Believe In Magic), Calvin Harris (2 songs with him - Calling It Love and Off And On), Freemasons (Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer and another track), Richard Biff Stannard, Metronomy, Sneaker Pimps (Under Your Touch, Give Into Love, Dial My Number) , The Hoosiers, Dimitri Tikovoi, Christopher Rojas (Sophia Loren), Hannah Robinson

She's short of Bloodshy & Avant to make this X (Kylie's album) pt. 2. I do wish for the album to be as creative and bloody entertaining as X or any of her (Sophie) previous albums..

She's been co-writing with Cathy Dennis and Ina Wroldsen (Synchronised) who has also penned songs for Kat DeLuna, The Pussycat Dolls, Lindsay Lohan, Hayden Pannetiere and The Saturdays...

Some really random titles like Immune To Love and In The Name Of Lust had also surfaced, but there was no proof about them, so they were phased out as rumours. One of Sophie's friends said that there would be two songs on the album from the TTLF sessions - Still Mixed Up (not sure if this is a TTLF reject) and Music Took My Man (this definitely is a TTLF reject, i've seen this much before plans of the 4th album came up)

She's in the studio with Biff and Calvin now who are doing the finishing touches for the album. Hopefully it will be done soon, and in two months we should have the second single out.. can't wait!! All the best Sophie!! And hurray for Heartbreak, its doing well on the charts!! FANS KEEP YOUR SUPPORT GOING!!!

Sophie's 4th album - more song titles

Those of you who were wondering what in heavens name that tracklist on wikipedia was, here's the answer. Those are actual song titles, registered with ASCAP as well. But i don't think Sophie has recorded them yet, she must have just written the songs

Dial My Number Two
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 343177173)

Give Into Love
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 371786837)

In My Taxi (Supersexy)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 393530517)

Under Your Touch
(Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liam Howe, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 510685459)

Whispers (On The Street)
(Jim Elliott, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriel, Hannah Robinson)
(Title Code: 532935218)

Sophie also confirmed that she is working with the Freemasons on another track for the album.

So now we have these:
1. Sophia Loren - with Christopher Rojas
2. I Still Believe In Magic - with Richard X
3. Off & On - with Calvin Harris
4. Calling It Love - with Calvin Harris
5. Synchronized
6. Music Took My Man
7. Still Mixed Up
8. Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - with the Freemasons
9. the other freemasons collab
10. the groove armada collab
11. the sneaker pimps collab
12. the metronomy collab

new Sophie track

Someone from universal hinted that there is another collaboration with Richard X apart from I Still Believe In Magic...

There seems to be a song called Immune To Love, with Richard X and Hannah Robinson. I'm thinking its probably going to be another 70's disco "China Heart" type songs... ooh can't wait for the new album...