Blast from the Past

Just like Sound of the Underground, Girls Aloud's second album What Will The Neighbours Say? just got an anniversary release treatment and I just received by vinyl copy! (plus CD, since they wouldn't bother pressing the new material)

Unlike its predecessor, this time we got some proper unreleased stuff! In fact, it made it to the news that finally, after 20 years of speculation, we go the girls' version of Wicked Games! Now, this song was rumored to be a single after the full run of singles of WWTS? which led to thinking it would have been the lead single for their third album. Now, things were quite that way, the song was indeed recorded but had nothing to do with the third album session, hence the release with WWTS? this time. Nevertheless, it was quickly scrapped and it did not make it to any release at all so far. It did inspire the opening line "Why don't you fool me, feed me, say you need me // Without wicked games?" of Biology. They did play around the fans knowing about Wicked Games but never really confirmed it until now!

Together with Baby When You Go and Disco Bunny, we got three never-heard-before recordings from Girls Aloud in 2024. And that to me is not just mind blowing but also really really cool! This was the level of commitment I was hoping for SOTU as well, but hey. We will take whatever is given to us, at this point. And in that spirit, I have nothing bad to say about any of the three recordings. Sure, one can see why Wicked Games was left behind (but then again, I would probably say the same about I'll Stand by You, context is key for these things, and we have no context for Wicked Games). To me, thing song, as a song choice, is too straight. Definitely clashing with the pure pop sound the girls were going for. I wouldn't have seen the need to try to appeal to a generic audience, who would have loved the original and recognised it way too much that I don't see anyone would have appreciated them singing it. Especially at that moment in their career. But now it's a good moment to release it into the wild. And honestly, I am kinda digging it. It's so weird, it's interesting again!

Baby When You Go is adorable. But, fan fact, I realised I had a version of this song in my obscure collection already! In fact, this was recorded by another Xenomania band, Mania (yeah...) around a similar time (not sure which version came first!) for their unreleased album Do You Know Your Daughter's On The Roof? Another case of Xenomania recycling machine! Mania's version actually has what it seems to be a full lyrics development with proper second verse and all, rather than an essentially repeated verse with different vocals. And yet the Girls Aloud's version simply sounds better (mind you, that album from Mania has a rough production and has a demo-quality that is not surprising at all). Anyway, definitely gonna keep this cute little ballad in my playlists for a while.

And finally the one everyone's talking about. Disco Bunny is the uptempo that people would have loved as a single. It's very cute, is it better than any other single from this album? I don't think so. Is it better than Graffiti My Sould which should indeed have been a single? Hell no! But it could have definitely made it into their immaculate catalog of b-sides! Better late than never. We can enjoy some tunes with Disco Bunny now at least!

I am going to leave also this link to this article which I found extremely nice to read about this re-release and this album in general: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/girls-aloud-2024-what-will-the-neighbours-say-b2511399.html

Oh oh oh and one more thing: I have read today that one of my favourite MALE singers (not just male, but straight even!) is going to release his first new single in more than 10 years this Friday and I cannot wait! I've been waiting for you, Aleksander With!

Ciao Reload till next time :)