Nicole Scherzinger - Try With Me - Video Review

When did Nicole Scherzinger become so completely and utterly amazing? Her first attempt at solo stardom was all kinds of wrong but "Killer Love" is one of 2011's best pop albums and is set to get even better with a re-package due on November 14 (in the UK). The new version contains three previously unreleased tracks - "Trust Me I Lie", "Tomorrow Never Dies" and her jaw-droppingly good new single "Try With Me". Written and produced by Australia's own Nervo twins, Scherzy's new smash wipes the floor with your fave's battered wig. I love everything about this. Don't be fooled by the pretty piano intro - "Try With Me" is no ballad. Dreamy synths soon rain down over surprisingly sweet lyrics before the entire thing goes nuclear with an epic chorus. There is something so fresh and unashamedly romantic about this that sets it apart from the rest of the field. I thought Ricki-Lee's "Raining Diamonds" was everything Leona Lewis wanted "Collide" to be but "Try With Me" is even better.

Amazingly, Nicky also found time to knock out a killer video. After sitting through Britney's hideous "Criminal" earlier this afternoon, the former-Pussycat Doll proves that you don't need to be a mutton-dressed-as-lamb mess cavorting with your ugly boyfriend to make an impact. Filmed in Mexico's Xilitla forest, "Try With Me" is visually astounding. The 32-year-old stunner basically wanders around the breathtaking scenery looking gorgeous. It actually reminds me a lot of Robyn Loau's "She Devil" video, which is a big compliment. My only objection is the fake piano playing at the beginning. That brought back flashbacks of Dulta's "Out Of The Blue", which is something I could have done without. Apart from that this is just about perfect. Beautiful song, beautiful clip, beautiful woman. I take back all of the Flopzinger quips. 2011 is Nicole's year. She's finally coming into her own and making the rest of the game look mediocre by comparison.

9.5/10

Nicole Scherzinger - Wet Interview

Along with reviewing Beyoncé's "4" showcase at the Roseland Ballroom, the professional highlight of my LA trip was definitely interviewing Nicole Scherzinger. I was sent along to cover the former Pussycat Doll's appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe for Idolator. On my way there I got a text saying I might be able to talk to her. Needless to say, the prospect of speaking with the iconic diva behind "Puakenikeni" kind of threw me - so my dear friend Bruce dragged me across the road to Hooters to calm my nerves with a couple of stiff drinks. After being exposed to all that cleavage and vodka, I was ready for Nicole. She is an absolute sweetheart and apart from the awkward exchange at the beginning (I was told to go into the room and tell her which publication I was writing for but there was a bit of a misunderstanding), the interview turned out really well. If you're interested in reading my review of the show click here and if you're wondering why the chat is so short, each journalist was allotted five minutes. Good times!

Hi Nicole, nice to meet you.
Thank you. Where are you from?

Idolator.
Where?

Idolator. It's a pop blog.
No, which country? Your accent...

Oh sorry. I’m Australian.
I love Australia!

Nice. So, we posted your "Wet" video today. It's great!
Thank you so much!

What was the theme or concept behind it?
The concept behind it was... basically, we went against the lyrics of the video that were just kind of stereotypical which was being wet. It's about me and a group of friends that are just kind of in this total radical underground world. We find this warehouse. There's a pool in it and we drain the water out of it and we just have a party in this abandoned warehouse, we do graffiti and we just do whatever we want and then the cops come and break it up and then we leave but we left our mark on the place so it's cool, it's edgy, it's fun.

There's an amazing choreography breakdown around the two and a half minute mark where you're just dancing on your own. How important is choreography these days? You've got Beyoncé taking it to the next level with "Run The World (Girls)". It seems to be important again.
For me it's very important because I don't know a lot of artists that are doing it and doing it hard... like full throttle like Beyoncé. I've been working with Jacquel Knight he's been inspiring and pushing me even more, so the choreography that I've been doing in "Wet" for example is the hardest choreography I've ever done. Way more advanced than what I did with the Pussycat Dolls. So it's important for me in every aspect not only choreography and dance but to always be growing and challenging myself as an artist in every aspect.

That solo is brilliant...
Thank you I really appreciate that because I injured my neck learning it.

What happened?
It's not normal for a human to do a back bend and land on their shoulders gracefully and I had to do it twice. And it was a really, really hard dance to learn but I didn't give up and it came out swimming.

"Killer Love" has been a big success in Europe. Is the tracklist going to be different in America?
It is. It's going to have a good chunk of different songs that are catered more to my US fans. So it's going to have more urban, hip hop infused songs.

Will "Don’t Hold My Breath" be released as a single in America?
I think that's going to be my second single in the US. I'm really excited about it.

I also really love "Say Yes".
Yeah that's a really fun song. It sounds like 80s rock to me.

[Assistant tells me time is up]

Thanks for the chat.
Thank you. Have fun in America.

Songs of the (American) Summer

In case you're wondering what I've been listening to for the past couple of months, here are ten tracks that formed the soundtrack to my American trip. They are clearly all defining anthems of the highest quality, so don't pay too much attention to the rankings. An honourable mention should go to DJ Khaled's "I'm On One", which I was obsessed with for a couple of weeks before coming to my senses.

10. Say Yes - Nicole Scherzinger (Listen)

After years of throwing around insults like Shitzinger and Flopzinger, Nicole turned out to be a total sweetheart when I met her at a showcase. To make matters worse, "Killer Love" is one of the year's best pop albums and I'm now another crappy, soft porn video away from becoming a Scherzy stan. How fucking depressing! One of the highlights from her stunning opus is "Say Yes" and I probably listened to one hundred times over the past couple of months. RedOne finally gave something decent to someone other than Gaga!

9. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum (Video)

I've always had a soft spot for the world's most successful country act but hearing "Just A Kiss" on the radio every day in LA sealed the deal. This gorgeous mid-tempo ballad walks the line between pop and country with the grace and skill of 90s Shania. Bring on the album. I'm sick of waiting!

8. Motivation - Kelly Rowland (Video)

Ms Kelly's fuck anthem was unavoidable in the States. Ladies from Alaska to Alabama are raining over their newly inspired men thanks to the latest jam from the most successful (on the R&B airplay chart) child of destiny. I've already written about "Motivation" but it's still pushing my buttons all these months later.

7. Bang Bang Bang - Selena Gomez (Listen)

All hail Selegend! The thinking man's Disney diva is not only riding the holy cock of Biebus, she's also revolutionising popular music with her triumphant album of Britney rejects "When The Sun Goes Down". While everything Selena touches turns to gold, my favourite song on her third offering is pre-release buzz single "Bang Bang Bang". Sure it rips off La Roux and highlights the fact that 18-year-old multiple Grammy winner (in waiting) has a thinner voice than LeAnn Rimes' bikini body but I dare you not to love it.

6. Let Me Down/Dark Side - Kelly Clarkson

The landslide of Kelly Clarkson demos to hit the net in 2011 is extraordinary. Almost as startling as the American Idol winner's inability to lock her computer when ducking out for a McDonald's run is the high quality of the songs. "Let Me Down" and "Dark Side" are brilliant pop/rock anthems with hit potential. Which makes her decision to go with "Mr Know It All" (AKA that shit Bruno Mars B-side) all the more perplexing. Pray that these tracks make the album.

5. Remind Me - Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwoood (Video)

The best country duet since "Islands In The Stream". Enough said.

4. Lift Off - The Throne featuring Beyoncé

Queen B - most successful artist of the millenium and the slayer of your faves - lends her exquisite vocals to her hubby and VMA defender's joint project "Watch The Throne". I find it a difficult album to get into but "Lift Off" clicked intantly. I love the epic feel, the almost retro 60s vibe that runs through it. And Bey tears up that beautiful chorus like a diva possesed. Rihanna lost her wig just listening to this on the radio.

3. Inescapable - Jessica Mauboy (Video)

Earlier this year I met Jess and told her to stop releasing shit singles from an otherwise great pop album. Instead of throwing a drink in my face, she kind of agreed and said she wanted to release "Maze" but was going with a new song called "Inescapable" written by Dianne Warren. I assumed it would be a ballad but I couldn't have been more wrong. This is pure 80s bubblegum pop and I love every second of it. It's her first song with true international appeal since "Burn". Welcome back, baby.

2. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People (Video)

Someone told me this jam is actually about a vigilante killer, which is upsetting because it's my happy song. Hearing this on the radio in America never failed to put a smile on my face. I love the quirky little hooks and the fact that it sounds like it was recorded on someone's iPhone. As for the lyrics, I don't understand them, and to be honest, I don't really care. As far as I'm concerned this song is about wearing shiny new shoes or something equally lame.

1. Gucci Gucci - Kreayshawn (below)

The only femcee worth her fake nails broke big this summer. Kreayshawn made the transition from YouTube sensation to genuine pop star with less fuss than anyone in history. "Gucci Gucci" was unavoidable in America and I'm still obsessed. Time will tell if she's a one hit wonder or the next Nicki Minaj but, for the moment, I'm too busy laughing at her amazing rhymes to care. The basic bitches have been put in their place and for that we should all be very grateful!

I Hate That I Love This

Taking the piss out of Nicole Scherzinger is one of my favourite hobbies. I've always respected the fact that she can actually sing and dance (unlike most of her contemporaries) but there's just something shady about this bitch. It's rude to ride a manufactured girlband to fame and then act like you're too good for the other hos in your troop. Even if they are a bunch of useless no-hopers like Jessica Sutta. And don't even get me started on the shameful debacle that was her first attempt at solo stardom. Nicole took flopping to new heights with such non-smashes as "Whatever U Like", "Baby Love" and "Puakenikeni". If the latter isn't the worst song of the noughties, it's definitely in the top 10. But credit where credit's due. She wiped the egg off her pretty face and returned to the Pussycat Dolls for another album before giving it another go. And it looks like Nicole has finally found the winning formula.

I hated "Poison" but it was an international smash and she's now officially ditched her Flopzinger moniker with a UK number one hit. More importantly, "Don't Hold Your Breath" is a genuinely amazing pop song. It was written by Toby Gad and produced by Billy Steinberg, who has crafted gems for international superstars like Ashley Tisdale and Jessica Mauboy. This is the kind of pure pop explosion I was hoping Britney would deliver instead of a stillborn club banger like "Hold It Against Me". Unlike that epic fail, Nicky's catchy floorfiller has real heart and attitude. It's one part "I Will Survive", two parts Kate Ryan - with a dash of faux RedOne flavouring thrown in for good measure. The resulting Imma get my shit together and show you anthem is utterly irresistible. But shame about the dire video that looks like it was filmed on her assistant's battered iPhone.