Bravo! The Loose Circus Tour came to town. There were like backing dancers, security men, one overzealous screaming/fainting fan (Albert), an LCD Screen, musicians, lights, costumes changes, cover versions and even an encore.
What more could you want? Well we also got Canada's third favourite export behind Alanis and Morissette - Nelly Furtado. She is also Portuguese but I don't know anything about Portugal or what they export. Christiano Ronaldo perhaps? They have similar hair but she scores more often. Promiscuous
Impressive voice. The only bad thing was that she missed a trick by not performing the song she done did with that Kelly one from Destiny's Child. You know? That one that sounds like a nursery rhyme and goes 'I love and I need you Nelly, I love you, I do Need you'. Apart from that she entertained good and proper.
Moments later Nelly whipped off the wig to reveal a bald head with a tatoo saying 'Team Britney'
Loose
Nelly, disguised as Monica Gellar, searches the crowd for man dinner.
There is one
What a multi-tasker. Nelly shows off her rare 'Gibson Afro' guitar.
Now she is 'air DJing'.
Bling Bling. Nelly subtlety checks her watch and wonders if she will be home in time for 'The Red Shoe Diaries' on Channel 5.
I'm like a peacock?
Nelly told MTV about meeting her idols Oasis at The Brits:
"I've met Noel Gallagher before, but (after the awards) I ran over to Liam and said, ‘Hi, hi, I’m Nelly, I’m a big fan, and you were great tonight’, and he went, ‘Oh right - I like your song’, and I’m like, ‘Which one? 'All Good Things Come To An End'? And he’s like, ‘Yeh, that one', and I’m like, ‘Chris Martin helped me write it', and then he goes, ‘Oh, then I hate it, it’s rubbish.
Certainly not. Girls made most of the best music in 2006. Where other genres disappointed, Dirty Pop dominated. The Swede's (Stargate and Max Martin), Mark Ronson and Timbaland provided the guidance for the girls but they kicked it this year....
P!nk
The most under-rated singer/songwriter today. No-one knows where to put her, she has long since turned her back on her Babyface driven R&B roots. She isn't hard enough to be a full on rock chick. She is P!nk pop, delivered a classic album and the tour of the year in 2006. 'Dear Mr President' is one of the few occasions where a pop icon goes political without making you want to switch off. Sadly not used as a single but it probably would have resulted in career suicide Stateside.
'U and Ur Hand' sits nicely as a female response to the City Bankers 'Abacus' Anthem 'Gold Digger'. 'Stupid Girls' wasn't the best single but had a fantastic video. Here is the coolest performance of the year; go to 1 minute 50 Seconds
Regina Spektor
Spektor didn't deliver a classic but there is hope for that later. Her Joni Mitchell inspired songs made grown men weep (DH)
Jamelia
Nobody cared that she was back. Very sad because her album is excellent, perhaps with a couple more decent singles the British public might wake up. Jamelia is as good as anything the yanks throw at us.
Nelly Furtado
Certainly her year. She somehow managed to get away with being a loose promiscuous maneater. Two of the biggest songs of any year backed up by a strong LP.
Christina Aguilera
The curse of the double album. If this girl had any sense she would have stripped out half of the Linda Perry rubbish and only released the first CD with a few amendments. But Xtina is a brat and has no grip on reality. Harsh? No, listen to 'Thank you (dedication to Fans...)' never has anybody destroyed such as fantastic beat. Dj Premier must cry at night when he hears what she did to it. It is the worse song of 2006, so far beyond self-indulgent that it would make Michael Jackson cringe. The album shows how weird she is, the track 'F.U.S.S' (For u Scott Storch) is a diss to the washed-up producer but why is it on there? This album is the most upsetting of 2006, it has some amazing pop on the first CD and could have been a classic. Dj Premier, Mark Ronson and Kwame blessed her with wonderful production but her 'beautiful' Linda Perry mentality spoilt it.
Amy Winehouse
This was the most pleasant surprise of 2006. The ashtray mouthed drunk singer released the best soul album I can remember. Its length is perfect, short and sweet. The Ronson production is as fantastic as ever and the vocals are glorious. Well done Amy, you proved me wrong.
Beyonce
Boring live and a weak album on first listen. But, time has been kind to B-Day and on reflection it is not bad, far better than her first album. Get rid of Swizz Beatz and I will love you a lot more. 'Deja-Vu' was not well received in some quarters but for no decent reason, its a brilliant pop record; as is 'Irreplaceable'.
Ciara
The Janet Jackson killer. Good second album, dreadful interludes though.
Kelis
Mrs Jones made a solid album, even managing to get some good work from Scott Storch but really needs to get back into bed with the Neptunes
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