Annie - Tube Stops and Lonely Hearts

After 4 years of silence from the reliably classy Norwegian popstress, Annie returns with "Tube Stops And Lonely Hearts", an unusual yet strangely addictive stop/start dance number that takes generously from her Europop roots, with hints of 80s and 90s revival that ensure Annie's twinkle-twinkle-little-star croon translates effortlessly into the 2010s pop scene. CHVRCHES, Purity Ring et al better keep an eye on Annie, she might just be biding her time to reclaim her europop throne.

FOR FANS OF: Charli XCX, Saint Etienne, Grimes

A*M*E - Play The Game Boy

It's tracks like this that are really what this blog are about. Pop songs that don't try to avoid being 'cringeworthy' or 'cheesy' (both words are are cheesier to apply in description than to hear examples of, at any rate), and as a result bring the most out of the pop music genre. Specifically, the hooks, the energy and, above all, the sense of fun.

A*M*E is a 17 year old UK pop singer, and the song is somewhat brattish, but innocently charming, tongue-in-cheek... everything that resembles a 17 year old girl. It's K-Pop/electropop mould is cutesy, sugary but full of attack, and it's clumsy 'play the game boy' wordplay is endearing, and I'm damned if I'm calling this a 'guilty pleasure'. I don't feel guilty in the slightest.

The colourful video brought to mind the debut efforts of Little Mix. Of course, Little Mix seem a little bit too mature to pull off a song like "Play The Game Boy", but maybe that's because they've been marketed to sing about believing in themselves and potential ("Wings") and gimmicky takes on love songs ("DNA"). And yet there's more of a marketable prospect in A*M*E then there is in Little Mix.

There's a lot to be said for not taking yourselves seriously after all.

FOR FANS OF: Annie, Robyn, Alphabeat