Another week, another reason to hit the ground running with our top-notch selection of great new music to get you through the morning commute. When it comes to our Brand New & Brilliant station, we’ve got you covered with some of the hottest tracks making waves right now. Here are some of our faves…

5 Seconds of Summer – She Looks So Perfect

If anyone stands a half decent chance at even vaguely challenging One Direction in the boy-band stakes, it’s 5 Seconds of Summer. These Aussie pop-rockers pack a satisfying punch, playing all their own instruments, and touting a sound with far more in common with the likes of Busted than the current crop of boy bands. We caught these chaps live late last year and the crowd was absolutely wild. Expect 5 Seconds of Summer to be all kinds of massive.

The Wanted – Glow In The Dark

Bowing out with a final run of tour dates later this year, it’s fast looking like this might be the swansong single from The Wanted. It lacks something of the charm of their early hits, but as far as a contemporary bit of dance-pop goes, this glossy club banger is sure to be a highlight at the live shows. You’ll miss them when they’re gone…

Katy Perry – Dark Horse

It feels like it’s been knocking around in the charts ever since Katy’s album dropped last year, but this week sees Dark Horse finally getting its ‘official’ release. And you know what? The song’s finally grown on us. While it might miss out on some of the insta-appeal of the chain of hits from the Teenage Dream album, the chorus is classic Katy through and through. Time to up your game, Gaga? Katy’s got this round covered…

It’s nearly April, so what better way to welcome in the new month then our handpicked selection of some of the brightest new stars to keep an eye on in 2014. This week we put the spotlight on three recent additions to our Next Big Thing station…

Rae Morris

Fresh from featuring on Bombay Bicycle Club’s ace single Luna earlier this eyar, Blackpool songstress Rae Morris is fast shaping up as one of the most promising female talents of the year. Her track Don’t Go is a thing of incredible, aching beauty – Rae’s vocals impossibly tender, paired to a rich, moving melody. With a voice this good, surely it’s only a matter of time before she goes absolutely stratospheric.

Catfish & The Bottlemen

For those that like their indie striding the perfect balance between poised cool and big pop choruses, Welsh rockers Catfish & The Bottlemen may just be the ones for you. With more punch than last year’s big breakthroughs The 1975, the band’s single Kathleen is a rip-roaring intro to the band’s style; updating The Strokes formula for catchy garage rock into something distinctly their own, and crucially, promises exciting things for guitar music as a whole over the coming year.

Kwabs

Already tipped by The Guardian – who dubbed him ‘the new Seal’ – Kwabs represents the face of modern British soul. His single Wrong Or Right drips with twirling, futuristic synth lines and is underpinned by the kind of rich, involving mix of melody and vocal prowess that’d find an easy home on a Frank Ocean album. Consider us thoroughly impressed.

blnkbox music caught up with Dane Bowers, Gareth Gates, Kenzie, Adam Rickitt and Kavana aka Big Reunion supergroup 5th Story to put your questions to them! 

Listen to the whole thing here, or read the interview in full below…

Dane “OK, so the first one’s from twitter, Blake and it’s for you Kenz, What is it like being in a different band?”

Kenzie “Um, different (laughs) We’ve only been together two months, I went to school with my other band, so I’ve known some of them almost fifteen years.

"But yeah it’s been a different experience, I’m preferring doing this now because I’m in a different stage of my life."

Kavana “OK, so Michelle Elvin – I know who you are, I see you on twitter all the time – us fans call ourselves #Storytellers – which we love – if you had to makeup a name for your fans what would it be?

Everyone “Definitely that! I would say Storytellers!”

Adam “Right then, the next one is from Gareth Gates Fan (@Gareth4Life), ‘Does Gareth find it strange being in a band?”

Gareth “Yes it feels extremely strange, but all the lads are lovely! And we have a lot of fun and like to shower together!”

Gareth “This next one’s from Hayley Douglas, “How excited / nervous are you for the big show on Friday?

“I’m really looking forward to it!”

Kenzie “Now we’ve just seen the stage here, obviously it’s going to be nerve-wracking, the thing for us is it’s out first ever group performance, it’s going to be tough, all the other bands have performed together for years, this is our first ever show!

So there’s pressure, but yeah, it’s gonna be fun!

Kenzie - This is from KatyNYE “What’s been your most embarrassing backstage story ever?”

Dane “Backstage on the Janet Jackson tour I was playing football with some of the American crew, I had a pint of pineapple juice in my hand for some reason, I’ve gone to kick this ball and I’ve absolutely missed it gone flat BAM! on my back, pineapple juice all over me, Janet was there having lunch and she spat her food out laughing, and I just laid on the floor like I was dead! Didn’t get up for a very long time…”

Dane “What’s surprised you most about being together in 5th Story?”

I’d say that we made all of our songs sound really good as a group. We thought we were going to get absolutely caned and didn’t know if we could do it or not, but we have and I actually think we’re a very good band now, and we’re going to take over the world.

Adam ”I also think we knew were going to have fun within 5 seconds of meeting each other because we all got on, but I think it’s also about how we’ve gelled as a band. The look of it, the sound of it, it actually works.”

Gareth ”Have you any surprising talents?”

"Well, I actually make sounds like this <pops cheeks>

Kavana “Which of you would be the last one standing on a night out?”

Gareth “I’d say that on a night out I’d definitely be the last one standing. I’m pretty hardcore. But who would be the first one to bed <cough> Kav? <cough>

Kavana “Not by choice!”

Adam “If you could pick any job to do for a year, what would you pick?

"I’d be the manager of this band. Although to be fair, the commission 2%, doesn’t cut it in the real world…"

Listen to the guys from 5th Story’s biggest hits for free by clicking here, and tune in to the finale of The Big Reunion tonight on ITV2 at 9pm. 

Looking for an excuse to kick back this Easter? Well over at blinkbox movies, there are loads of egg-citing movies and TV shows to keep you and everyone else entertained over the holidays. And with offers on selected titles, you can get more great entertainment for less.

If you’re not familiar with the blinkbox movie and TV-streaming service, it’s the easy way to watch the latest release movies and TV shows. You can rent or buy and it’s free to join, plus you can watch on a whole host of devices.

And right now, they’re giving you a free Easter egg for watching with them!

Simply head down to your local Tesco, purchase a blinkbox gift card and spend it on a movie or TV show of your choice to receive your Quality Street Easter egg coupon. Movies and chocolate – the perfect way to spend your Easter.

1. Buy any blinkbox Movie & TV Card in a Tesco store
2. Use your card to rent or buy on blinkbox before 8^th April
3. Receive a coupon from blinkbox by email
4. Collect your egg next time you visit a Tesco store – until 13^th April

Offer is for one Quality Street Insider egg only. Subject to availability. Full T&Cs

(http://blinkbox.me/EasterPromo)

Back in 2004, they predicted a riot, and ten years later, they’re still here; re-invigorated and revitalised following singer Ricky Wilson’s stint on The Voice. It could only be the Kaiser Chiefs.

The band have weathered the years, surviving when many of their peers have fallen by the wayside, their career encompassing everything from their debut effort going six-times platinum through to the unique, customisable release strategy of their The Future Is Medieval album.

Following a recent Greatest Hits retrospective, the band’s fifth studio album Education, Education, Education & War sees the band now looking firmly ahead, with teaser single Coming Home seeing them on a rare reflective note; tranquil synths playing up against a rebooted emphasis on melody for the band. 

We caught up with Ricky, Simon and Peanut from the band the other week for a good chat about all things musical; ranging from the band’s favourite influences to key collaborators. So, for a deeper insight into just what exactly makes the Kaiser Chiefs tick, tune in to our exclusive Hosted By station with the band below!

It might be April 1^st, but we’re certainly not fooling about when it comes to new music. As always, we’ve cherry picked some of our favourites from this week’s new releases and added them to our Brand New & Brilliant station. So, if you fancy a new music fix, look no further… 

The Pierces – Believe In Me

Probably our favourite sister act around, this talented twosome hail from LA and are pretty much your go-to gals when it comes to dreamy, retro-tinged melodic gems. Their latest single Believe In Me is no exception, currently holding the honour as the most played track on Radio 2. Fans of Haim and Fleetwood Mac will lap this up.

Rita Ora – I Will Never Let You Down

She’s back! Everyone’s favourite chart-topping popstrel returns, looking to repeat the remarkable success of her first album. This time teaming up with Calvin Harris on production duties, Rita’s latest number is a characteristically hook-drenched slice of fizzy pop glory. Talk about a chorus and a half.

John Martin - Anywhere For You

You’ll know him as the voice behind Swedish House Mafia’s mega hit Don’t You Worry Child, as well as more recently, Tinie Tempah’s Children of the Sun. Clearly as man with great taste in collaborative partners then. For his first solo effort, the Swedish singer-songwriter sticks to what he knows best, pairing his vocals to a colossal club backing to deliver a sure-fire dance anthem.

This week it’s all about the blokes, as we track down two of this year’s most promising male solo acts. Plus, there’s music from Jungle – the promising collective who seem destined to be firm festival favourites by the summer. Any of the below pique your interest? You can hear them all – plus a host of other hot new talent – in our Next Big Thing station. Enjoy!

Joel Compass

Touted by many as the UK’s answer to The Weeknd, Joel Compass impresses with richly produced R&B cuts; tripping between striking falsetto and memorably resonant choruses – best showcased on his single Run. His latest number Forgive Me takes him in a dancier direction; a more poised, darker alternative to the optimism of Sam Smith or John Newman.

Josh Record

Those fond of tender, emotional soul will find plenty to love with singer-songwriter Josh Record. For our money, his best track is last year’s excellent The War – a tranquil, surprisingly spacious track that pairs Record’s remarkable voice with delicate guitar work. Having supported Sam Smith on tour last month, watch out for the imminent release of new single For Your Love.

Jungle

Freshly signed to XL Recordings, these bright young Londoners tout a joyously springy take on current indie-pop tropes. Think someone halfway between the hooks of Bastille and the rhythms of Friendly Fires and you won’t be far off. Having just polished off a string of dates throughout the UK this March (including support slots for Haim), expect to hear a lot more from these chaps throughout 2014.

You just can’t get away from Avicii. The Swedish superstar DJ has become the definitive sound of commercial dance music of late, an inescapable presence on the airwaves racking up hit after hit as he goes.

With over 300,000 copies of his single Hey Brother sold in 2014 alone, he stands as one of the biggest selling artists in the UK right now - following on from the remarkable success of the Aloe Blacc-featuring Wake Me Up last year.

We caught up with Avicii a while back to get the low down on his inspirations, aspirations and where he fits into the global dance music scene. Read our chat with him below, plus make sure to tune in to our Avicii Artist Station– full of music from the man himself and his clubland contemporaries.

 
How did you get into DJ-ing / producing?
A friend of mine told me about a program that could be used to make music without playing any instruments, I got intrigued and downloaded a demo to try. I got hooked from day one.

You’re career has catapulted in the last couple of years, have you had guidance from any of your DJ peers?
The person who I couldn’t have made it without and who constantly provides me with a lot of direction, guidance and support is my manager Ash. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Most people will know you from the massive success of ‘Levels’ – tell us a little bit about the creation process behind the song…
Levels actually started out as a remix of another track and was originally meant to have a different vocal line. I heard the track Finally Moving by Pretty Lights, which used the Etta James vocal, and I fell in love with it. I placed the Etta sample on the Levels instrumental and it just worked so well!

Are you a fan of Etta James’ music?
I’m such a huge fan – I think she was a truly incredible talent. Voices like hers don’t come around very often.

What advice would you give any budding DJ/producers out there
The key is determination. Don’t give up and continue producing, putting your music out there and getting yourself noticed. Producing is really a full time job.

Where does the name Avicii come from?
A friend of mine once told me about the lowest level of Buddhist hell, called ‘Avici’. Later on when I tried to register on MySpace, that account name was taken, so I put an extra ‘i’ on the end of it. Since that I’ve really grown attached to the name.

You’ve described yourself as stubborn and ambitious in the past; can that make producing music difficult?
Ambition is very important in this business, and in any career path you choose. It’s what drives people and without it, achieving success is basically impossible. As for stubborn, I guess it’s not the best quality but it does work in my favour sometimes and gets me my way, I think it is important to stand up for what you believe in.

Have you got a five year plan?
Not as such, no. I mean I’m incredibly lucky to do what I love for a living. In terms of future goals, or a five year plan, I just want to keep doing what I’m doing for as long as possible. My manager is the one with the big plan. Hopefully I’ll be doing what I’m doing for longer than five more years!

How do you relax when you’re travelling and producing so much?
I watch a lot of series and movies, and when I’m home I try to hang out as much as I can with my family and friends.

Who are your DJ heroes?
The guys who really got me into producing house music were Daft Punk, Eric Prydz and Swedish House Mafia. 

Have you always been a fan of electronic music?
Yes – well, ever since I was a teenager, but not exclusively. I also love 60s rock and hip-hop. There’s so much amazing music out there and I listen to everything from classical to dub-step.

How do you decide on what tracks to play in your sets? Does it depend purely on the crowd or do you have a clear idea of the music you want to play?
I tend to play a lot of my own stuff in my sets, whether it’s originals, remixes or special edits that I’ve done. That doesn’t mean it’s not important to feel the vibe of the crowd – you can’t be a good DJ unless you react to the crowd and their response. 

How do you get in the mood to produce music?
I don’t know actually, the ideas and melodies just pop up in my head. When I’m on the road I often do rough drafts on the melody with my laptop and when I’m back in the studio I complete them.

Did you hear the news? Acclaimed actor, sometime rapper and general all round top bloke Idris Elba will be taking to the decks at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. Talk about putting the ‘star’ in superstar DJ.

With that in mind, we racked our brains for some of our other ‘favourite’ celebs to take a turn at the wheels of steel. Let’s just say you’re unlikely to see any of the below on a night out in Croydon…

When you’re done with the below, be sure to tune into our brand new Rise of the DJ station and hear how the professionals do it.

Ellie Goulding / Lorde / Katy Perry

Recently wowing the crowds at a glam BRIT Awards afterparty, this fashionable threesome were on ‘top form’ by all accounts – even if they did take the opportunity to play some of their own tracks to the captive crowds.

Justin Bieber

He’s got an army of fervent fans, and while these days he’s probably better known for his ‘antics’ than his music, you can’t fault his chipper attitude as he tries to get to grips with the decks backstage on Selena Gomez’ tour.

Kanye West

As a critically and commercial celebrated global sensation, you’d reckon Kanye would know a thing or two about picking out some top drawer tracks for his set. That said, we can’t get past his DJ name: Yeezy World Peace. Yup, really.

Prince Harry

Prince may have been the talk of the town recently with his impromptu secret London shows, but we’d much rather be entertained by this prince. We hear Harry learnt the trade on a recent trip to Jamaica and has quite the penchant for reggae.

Paris Hilton

Believe it or not, apparently Paris Hilton is one of the Top 5 highest paid DJs in the world. The singer might have caught a fair bit of flack for her DJ debut in Brazil two years ago, but we’d happily invite her to come spin the tunes for us if she promised to play Stars Are Blind.

This year is all about celebrating the 20^th anniversary of Britpop, and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll be bringing you all manner of things of get your teeth stuck into and relive the golden days of Cool Britannia.

To kick things off we’ve got three pairs of tickets to give away to an exclusive private view of the Oasis ‘Chasing the Sun 1993-1997’ exhibition in London on April 11th, including drinks and a Q&A with the original artwork creator Brian Cannon. Showcasing rare and iconic photographs, artifacts and memorabilia from the early years of Oasis.

Not bad, eh? All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is listen to our Best of Britpop station below and tweet us at @blinkboxmusic letting us know which Oasis song features in it,

a) Don’t Look Back In Anger

b) Champagne Supernova

c) Wonderwall

The competition ends on Thursday 10^th– good luck!

1. The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over, except for anyone directly connected with the planning or administration of the competition.

2. Entries must be received by 10^th April.

3. Illegible, damaged, lost or late entries cannot be accepted. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt.

4. Only one prize per household.

5. The entry instructions form part of the rules. By entering, you agree to accept and be bound by the rules.

6. The winning entry will be selected on 10^th April. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

7. The first prize is a pair of tickets to the Oasis ‘Chasing the Sun 1993-1997’ exhibition on the 11^th April.

8. Prizes are subject to availability and the prize provider’s own terms and conditions.

9. There are no cash alternatives.

10. Winners will be notified in writing/via email by 10th April. Winners’ names will be available after that date by emailing / sending a SAE to the competition address.

11. Prizes not claimed within 14 days of the prize winner being notified will be redrawn and awarded to the new winner.

12. Winners agree to their names and photographs being used for promotional purposes. Copyright in all material submitted as entries rests with the promoter.

13. Promoter: Tesco Stores Ltd., Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt EN8 9SL

14. This competition and these terms and conditions are governed by English law.

Fed up of Saharan smog and waiting to see if it’s warm enough to crack our the BBQ at the weekends? Well, we’ve got a cracking collection of new tunes to keep you occupied this week in our Brand New & Brilliant station. Just tune in below to get stuck in – and remember, if you’re heading somewhere with no internet connection, you can download it all straight to your smartphone or tablet beforehand to keep the tunes going even when there’s no wi-fi!

John Newman – Out of My Head

Quite possibly the best thing John Newman’s done since Love Me Again, for Out of My Head’s single release, the stripped back balladry of the original album version is traded in for a stonking jungle back beat. It’s like 90s warehouse rave-ups never went away.

The Saturdays – Not Giving Up

Having just announced their long-anticipated greatest hits compilation and accompanying tour, it’s time to celebrate in camp The Saturdays, and what better track to do it to than this fizzy pop banger? Boasting a killer chorus and a fistful of futuristic synths, this feels like the natural successor to career highlight All Fired Up.

The Vamps – Last Night

The chirpy boy-band return with their third single, and will be looking to go one better than their last two efforts and finally hit the top spot. With a jaunty, singalong vibe, Last Night feels like it could have come straight off the soundtrack to the latest feelgood US teen movie.

Already drawing favourable comparisons with the likes of The Kills, the Coves fit neatly into an exciting new wave of psych-rock, that sees them slot in neatly alongside the likes of the Temples with hazy, contemplative tunes that strike an exciting middle ground between the verve of young British indie and the languid nostalgia of Lana Del Rey.

Comprised of John Ridgard and Beck Wood, the boy-girl duo have already got things off to a cracking start, supporting Echo & The Bunnymen whilst simultaneously courting buzz reviews from the NME and Guardian.

Having added the band to our Next Big Thing station, we thought it only right we let them introduce themselves to our lovely listeners; so, if the above has whetted your appetite, read on for our whistle-stop Q&A with Coves. Plus, while you’re at it, be sure to listen in to their hand-picked Chosen By station, featuring a selection of their favourite songs and influences.

To someone who’s never heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?

Beck: Our sound is so difficult to describe. It sounds dreamy and dark and mysterious at times and then very rhythmic and cathartic at others. There’s definitely a psychedelic element but we never really set out to sound like any other band, we’ve just been lucky the ones we’ve been compared to are all good.

John: I always liked pop that was light on the surface but dark underneath.

If you could only pick one band that you’d hold up as your ‘key’ influence growing up, who would you choose?

Beck: My influence was never music when I was growing up, I was more focused on art - I got influenced by Andy Warhol and then Factory. Edie Sedgwick is still today a massive idol of mine, the way she seemed so free in life, with out any effort. 

John: That would be impossible. I always had my Dad’s record collection but then also what people were listening to at school. So I might have had a Beatles album, a Velvet Underground album, an Otis Reading album, a Blur album, a Slayer album, a Ministry of Sound compilation and a Now compilation in my bag at one time when I was a kid. 

As a duo, do you think you benefit from having such a close relationship – does it make it easier to put material together?

Beck: I’ve never worked with anyone else so I can’t give you something to reflect on, but I do know I wouldn’t change the way we put material together, it’s too much fun.

John: Yeah definitely, we have fun and it’s also good working with a good friend because you can be honest with each other.

As a band, is it nice to have that validation when really positive reviews start coming in? How does it make you feel?

Beck: I think anyone would be the same, good reviews are amazing, there is no way in any aspect in life you would turn your nose up on positivity. It makes me feel happy inside.  

John: We didn’t set out to write this album for any other reason than fun. If you had asked me a year ago I would have said that I didn’t give a crap what anyone else thinks. But now it’s released life would be pretty grim if I spent every day reading about how s**t we are.

You’re planning a great night in; popcorn, drinks, the works. What film do you pick?

Beck: ‘Now And Then’,but when I’m poorly I would watch ‘Home Alone’. 

John: I wasn’t aware that in the history of cinematography anyone had topped the quality of plot or sheer artistic beauty of ‘Rush Hour 3’?!! Or how about ‘Big Trouble In Little China’. Or the ITV pre watershed edit of the original ‘Robocop’??

Tell us something about yourselves that you think would surprise people?

Beck: I nearly died twice eating bacon and chicken, yet I’m still a keen meat eater. 

If there’s one thing you can always rely on, it’s that every Now That’s What I Call Music compilation will bring the hits. Big time.

The latest instalment – Now 87– hits shelves this week, and we’ve put together an exclusive taster station bringing together some of the hottest tracks on it to mark the occasion.

Featuring some of the biggest chart smashes of the past few months - including Pharrell’s Happy, Vance Joy’s Riptide and Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus – what are you waiting for? Get listening!

Here at blinkbox music, we like to bring you closer to the artists you love, so we’ve delved into our archives for some great pieces of content from some of the biggest artists on Now 87.

Avicii

The Swedish dance maestro has become something of an unstoppable hit machine of late – so who better to explain the method behind his remarkable success than the man himself? Check out our interview with Avicii to read more.

Foxes

Young British songstress Foxes – aka Louisa Rose Allen – is fast emerging as one of the most exciting female talents around at the moment, with her club collabs with Zedd and Rudimental opening the doors for her own material. Check out our quick-stop Q&A with her to see what more she has in store for us. 

Little Mix

The X Factor girl-group continue to go from strength to strength, having just released this year’s official Sports Relief single. For us though, it was Move that really proved just how good Little Mix could be at their best. Relive how it all started for the band with our classic Hosted By station from the girls.

This April marks the 40^th anniversary of Abba’s show stopping performance of ‘Waterloo’ at the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1974. Little did they know that this victory was to spark their global success… The Swedish group have come a long way since they strode into the competition in space suits and platform boots, topping the charts again and again, selling 380 million albums and singles to date worldwide and being part of the production and development of Mamma Mia; a musical so great, it has grossed more than any other.

We’re thanking Abba for the music with a selection of their hits and other similar artists with our Further Listening station below.

Enjoy the weather at the weekend? Almost good enough to start cracking out the BBQ, we’d say. And you know what that means, getting some awesome new music on the go to entertain everyone. Look no further than our Brand New & Brilliant station, packed full of all the biggest and best chart hits.

Elyar Fox – A Billion Girls

The latest young lad to challenge for the title of ‘the next Justin Bieber’, Elyar Fox comes very much from the same school of thought of recent efforts from The Wanted and The Vamps – name-checking Rihanna on a frothy, frenetic pop number that sees Elyar paying tribute to that one-in-a-billion lass that sends him head over heels.

Kiesza – Hideaway

Having topped the Shazam charts for weeks on end, this sprightly club behemoth is finally let loose on an eager public this week – the Canadian 20-something belting it out over an impossibly rubbery bassline and crisp house beat. Undoubtedly the sound of now, this track looks set to see dance music’s dominance of 2014 continue.

Meridian Dan – German Whip

From one club smash to another, Londoner Meridian Dan has already seen many blogs scrambling to proclaim a second coming of grime. Premature, perhaps, but it’s easy to see why German Whip has picked up fans in droves – toting sharp, machine-gun beats and viciously barbed raps.

It’s the age old question, Oasis or Blur… Blur or Oasis? The famous rivalry between Britpop’s two greatest purveyors generated miles of tabloid coverage in the mid-90s as the groups duked it out; both in the charts and with countless biting verbal exchanges.

Things came to a head in 1995 as both bands releases their latest singles on the same day. In the blur corner was Blur and the jaunty refrains of Country House, whilst in the red corner, Oasis came out with all cylinders firing on the propulsive, snarling Roll With It. The battle lines were drawn, and come the end of the week, there could be only one winner…

The history books inform us that Blur ultimately trounced Oasis, selling 274,000 copies of their single to Oasis’ 216,000. But the question lives on, the timeless argument, which band really was the best…?

Here at blinkbox music, to celebrate Britpop’s 20^th anniversary, we’ve picked five of the best tracks from each band in an attempt to help settle the question once and for all. Do you agree with them, or is your favourite Oasis or Blur track missing in action? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below!

BLUR

1. Song 2

The track that, in essence, ‘remade’ Blur – casting off the cheery English charm of their last two albums in exchange for meaty, grunge-influenced riffs. And all in a track that comes in at a brisk two minutes long.

2. Parklife

For many, Parklife will always be the definitive Blur anthem; trading slice of life lyricisms with a characteristically British sense of wit. Plus, it’s got Phil Daniels off of Eastenders on it.

3. Tender

At over seven minutes long, this gospel-tinged number marked the beginning of the end of ‘classic’ Blur for many. But for others, it stands as one of the most beautiful, sentimental moments in their catalogue.

4. Under the Westway

Not including their 2010 Record Store Day effort, Under The Westway marked the return of Blur after a decade long hiatus and had the likes of NME and Pitchfork lauding it as one of the finest songs of 2012. Now that’s what you call a comeback. 

5. Coffee And TV

The 17^th greatest music video of all time, if you believe Channel 4. With its animated milk carton heading off in search of guitarist Graham Coxon, Coffee & TV stood as a powerful reminder that Blur were just as much of a force visually as they were musically.

OASIS

1. Wonderwall

Your most popular Oasis track could only ever be Wonderwall. Covered countless times, in countless styles, by everyone from Ryan Adams to Jay-Z. A timeless classic, no two words about it.

2. Don’t Look Back In Anger

Proving that Noel was every bit the equal, if not better than his brother Liam at vocal duties, Don’t Look Back In Anger stands as one of the band’s finest ever choruses and was recently voted the 4^th most popular single of the last 60 years by an Official Charts Company poll.

3. Champagne Supernova

Ironically never released in the UK, the song was a massive hit in America, despite its seven minute-plus running time. Both lyrically and melodically, undoubtedly one of the band’s greatest moments.

4. Stop Crying Your Heart Out

Put the limp Leona Lewis cover version from your mind, this remains the definite Oasis ballad; an impassioned tear-jerker that makes a strong case for Oasis’ post-90s material. 

5. She’s Electric

Perfectly characterising the band’s lad aesthetic, this choice cut from (What’s The Story) Morning Glory is a firm fan favourite, wearing its Beatles’ influences proudly on its sleeve.

The best things in life are never rushed, they say – a motto it feels like Paolo Nutini would heartily subscribe too. Five years on since his last studio effort - Sunny Side Up – 2014 finally sees the release of his hotly anticipated third album Caustic Love.

Already courting immensely favourable reviews, many are already heralding the record as a potential candidate for one of the year’s biggest sellers, the kind of figures to be mentioned in the same breath as Adele or Emeli Sande.

No pressure then, eh? For the Scottish singer-songwriter, Caustic Love sees him eschewing the jangly pop of his first album and the jaunty Americana of Sunny Side Up to deliver a strikingly mature piece of modern soul, best evidenced in tracks like the epic Iron Sky and new single Scream.

With Paolo clearly thriving on a rich palate of musical influences, we’ve dug a little deeper into some of his key inspirations and collaborators to put together a Further Listening station. If you’re a big fan of Paolo, it’s well worth a listen – just tune in below!

How about something new to brighten up your week? Look no further than our Next Big Thing station; bringing you the hottest new acts around, all in one easy, bite-size dollop of musical excellence. We love discovering exciting new acts, and if you do too, why not check out some of our current favourites below…

Prides

We like to imagine Prides as a kind of musical equation involving one part Bastille to one part Chvrches. Mixing the hooks and laddy charm of the former with the synth-driven pump of the latter, they’ve already nabbed praise from the likes of Popjustice. Look out for their track The Seeds You Sow as well as their remarkable cover versions mixtape, it’s a good’un.

Elli Ingram

Already tipped by the Guardian, Elli Ingram instantly stands out as one of this year’s most promising female acts; with her classy, soulful vocals seeing her earmarked as a potential ‘new’ Adele or Amy Winehouse. Personally, we reckon her shtick is far cooler than that; with her standout track Sober touting irrepressibly crisp production values and the kind of blissed out sense of cool that could see it just as easily find itself on the playlists of Radio 1, Radio 2 or 1Xtra.

The Neighbourhood

Expect the Neighbourhood to deliver one of this year’s biggest sleeper hits, in a similar vein to Lorde’s Royals last year. Their track Sweater Weather is already massive in the US, and eventually racked up eleven weeks at the top of the Billboard Alternative charts. With their low-slung, hazy blend of urban and indie tropes, the five-piece make for an intriguing offering.

Spice Girl, Original WAG and Fashion Icon Victoria Beckham hits the big 4-0 today so we’ve decided to celebrate her life in fabulous gif form, of course.

Victoria was just 20 when she joined what was to become the most successful girl band of all time:

Source: fiercegifs


Source: fyeahVictoriaBeckham

Source: realitytvgifs

Her insecurities and shyness encouraged her to create a “moody” Posh Spice persona but we all know she has a wicked sense of humour - who can forget these iconic moments from Spiceworld:


Source: afterld.com

Source: fiercegifs


Source: fiercegifs

Look - I can smile!Source: spicefreakout

and make jokes:

Happy birthday, Victoria! Have a fabulous 40th. Here’s to the next 40!

Spice Up Your Life now and play our Spice Girls Station for free on blinkbox music:

Obligatory David Beckham gif, just… because.

We’ve all done it - fallen head over heels in love with a song, only to find out we’ve been singing the words wrong all along.

Still, while it’s not a great look, that’s no excuse for not seeing the funny side in it all, and trust us when we say some of the best cases of misheard-lyrics provide some absolute comedy gold.

With that in mind, we put the word out about putting together a definitive list of the Top 10 misheard lyrics of all time, and the results are in! We’ve put all the songs together into a fun little station, why not tune in and sing along (with the right words this time!)

Have you made any of the slip-ups below (we’ve listed some of our favourites), or do you reckon you’ve got an even better example? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below!

Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now Lorraine has gone / I can see clearly now, the rain is gone

Rihanna - We Found Love

What it takes to form a line / What it takes to come alive

Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze

Excuse me while I kiss this guy / Excuse me whilst I kiss the sky