Sophie may do West End

Here's a recent post from the PJ music forums:

"Hypothetically speaking, if a pop star who enjoys a borderline abusive relationship with her fans had recently attended an audition for one of the main roles in a West End show based on a Hollywood movie, would this indicate that her proposed upcoming fourth album has nothing more than a Ghost of a chance of coming out?

Naming no names, obviously."

and after a little discussion about it, the same person said

"Going from her brilliant acoustic versions, she can certainly hold an unchained melody without any problem..."

I'm not sure if she will star in the show or not because it was an audition. IF (repeat: IF) this is true, then i hope she gets the part. I'd like to see Sophie doing some acting. Besides, this could also be a good opportunity for Sophie to learn some simple dance moves.

EDIT - It's probably this one - http://www.ghostthemusical.com/
Lets hope she gets the part

artwork, tracklist, release date and tour news

Phew! Suddenly there's so much to cover in one day.

Anyway, here's the artwork for Sophie's new single, and i must say, it's GORGEOUS! I'm a little upset that it isn't following the black and white trend, but who cares. It's such an awesome picture of Sophie.... WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!! If you find the HQ somewhere, please post a link in the comments.

TRACKLIST:
1. Album Version
2. Extended Version (please let it be a 4 minute track and not longer)
3. Dash Berlin 4AM Remix
4. Jorn van Deynhoven Remix

Release Date: 20th August.

iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/not-giving-up-on-love-ep/id386933803

TOUR DATES: (December)
12th - Brighton Concorde 2
13th - London Islington Academy
16th - Bournemouth Firestation
17th - Manchester Academy 2
18th - Birmingham Academy 2
19th - Oxford Academy 2

Keep your eyes peeled!!!

EDIT - Here's the opening shot of the music video.

more about Not Giving Up

This morning (ignoring the time difference) i posted a clip of Not Giving Up. Here's what happens after that in the song:

"The bit after the clip fades brings the 4/4 beat back in with handclaps and raising synths, and then it goes full-blown into the 'cos I feel it inside, taking over tonight...' bit. There is indeed a breakdown with beautiful strings and real drums where Sophie sings the 'Im not giving up, I'm not giving up' hook before the very last chorus."

Sadly though, the song's run time is a little less than 3 minutes. I know it's going to leave me craving for more, but i'm just glad that we're finally getting a single, so i'm not going to fuss about it. I'm just going to hope that there is a slightly longer version for the album. Maybe with some wooshs in the very beginning of the song...

"The radio edit clocks in at 2:55, but I have no idea whether or not there'll be a longer album version. There might just be that one edit."

Thanks Xondus for all the info about the song

Not Giving Up (Radio Edit) - Clip

Sophie's latest tweet
"preview of my new single http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRkLcYxO_D4 ps - video looks LOVELY!"

It sounds AMAZING!!! Looking forward to listening to the whole song now. The one thing that i'm really happy about is that the production kept the emotion of the song intact. The piano adds to the melancholic feeling of the song. Lovely. Kudos to Armin for the gorgeous and light production.

Also, someone on the PJ forums who has already heard the radio edit in full said:
"That preview sounds exactly the same as the radio edit I have, so yeah that must be the version that's getting a release. I have to say the clip doesn't really do it justice, you gotta hear it in full to appreciate its lush dreamy trancyness. It's a bit of a grower too I reckon."

Anyway, here are the acousic and remix versions of the single
Live Acoustic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrqSWcEUwmY&feature=related
Dash Berlin 4AM Mix Edit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuA7YJcUv-8&feature=related

Sophie live at Amnesia with Armin

Sophie live at Amnesia (Not Giving Up On Love) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCtlh4Vqmdo&feature=player_embedded

not sure why Armin keeps playing the Dash Berlin Remix of the song everywhere instead of playing the single version. Sophie sung along to the remix and moved her hands every now and then. There was one moment when she sat down like doing a little pole dance move. If they are using scenes from the live video, they should use that bit. I love it.

Also, i adore her outfit. It's perfect for that packed atmosphere. I hope Sophie Muller uses scenes from the live performance. She could zoom in to Sophie's facial expressions. I'd like to see her hair and make-up for the event. From a distance, the hair looks like it's pinned up or something.

a little bit about the Sophie/Armin video

1. The video is being filmed in Ibiza. And Sophie posted a picture (left) of herself by a pool. My guess is that there's going to be a party by the pool and Sophie will be swimming and stuff.
2. Sophie and Armin approached Sophie Muller to do the video for them
3. There's going to be a boat in the video
4. This (right) was a picture taken during soundcheck for the video. My guess is Armin wants a couple of live scenes at the club with Sophie singing and him DJing at the background or something like that. It makes sense though - many of his videos have him doing a live set. Something else to take note of - Sophie's new hairstyle. I'd be okay if the video was something like.
5. Sophie posted a picture of herself swimming. Music Get's The Best Of Me part two, anyone? I'd love to see another video with Sophie having fun.

PS - totally love that outfit that she's wearing in the first picture - H-O-doubleT!!

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