Toodaloo, Myspace

Went down under for about ten minutes, didn't find anything all that interesting, but findings (such as they are) posted below. But first a detour.

DISNEYLAND


Sara Paxton

I think I've already done a Myspace post about her, but I was in the mood for "Take a Walk" again. I'm going to do a Best Teenpop Covers feature pretty soon (maybe next week), start providing some candidates! "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" probably won't make it (even though I like it, much prefer it to Elton John's version)...Skye's "Part of Your World" probably will, though. Shortlist: Mandy Moore - "Senses Working Overtime"; Girl Authority - "Hollaback Girl"; Kidz Bop - "Crazy Frog (Axel F)."


AUSTRALIA


Young Divas

S Club vibes, nothing to write home from Australia about. 4 "personalities" put together = 0 personality. But then you could sort of say the same of Girls Aloud, so maybe they just need better tunes [EDIT: for the record I'm aware there are actually FIVE Girls Aloud, same idea].


Rogue Traders

Very dull dance music with slight rock inclination (i.e., there's a guitar on it) on single "Voodoo Child," so far Australia's teenybopper population is a major let-down.


The Living End

Best of the batch, Australia's answer to Green Day, I guess. Still underwhelming, though. C'mon, surely an entire CONTINENT can offer one excellent youth phenom? I guess Kylie makes up for all deficiencies.


Melanie Horsnell

Hey lookit, Australia's got a thriving Myspace indie underground, too. Except this is on Rounder in Europe and MGM in Australia, so its "indie" status is questionable. Playful singer-songwriter with minor Wurlitzer dependency, like a lightweight Aimee Mann with a more pronounced Beatles fetish or something. Anyway, I like it OK.

ELSEWHERE


The Aquabats

The voice(s) of Yo Gabba Gabba, sounds like Spongebob power-pop. They call it "nerdcore," but any -core would be generous, probably wishful thinking on their part. Better off with "Party in My Tummy" (available on the YGG page).


Tiny Masters of Today

Got a text message from my friend Matt: "Fuck Smoosh, TINY MASTERS OF TODAY!" Is there a network for kid-fronted Brooklyn-based hipster bands or something? These guys are friends with Eyeball Skeleton and Smoosh. And all three of them are not very good.


Maya Bond

At least Maya Bond isn't trying to sound jaded (well, fake hipster jaded. Amy Diamond is undoubtedly a "grimly competent" professional and sounds great. And Grak beats all of 'em, anyway). She's six (I think), and she sounds...four. Great video.


Deviln Murphy

Only listened to one song, featured on Dorm Antics 6 or some such Nat'l Lampoon college movie. Musically notable for a pretty direct rip-off of the "Saved By the Bell" theme song, lyrically notable because of Devlin's 31 Flavors racial rainbow.

Japanese girl running a little late
laughin' with a denim smile
Hair like cherry grape
At the very same time
Black beauty waiting in line
To see a picture show
Looking so fine you know

One atomic wedgie, coming up.


Nicollette

Not bad, like the non-tabloid version of "Rumors," sub-Lindsay. Like Lindsay, she finds no need to make easy rhymes: "If you want him you can have him/ He's a loser anyway/ I don't need him I don't need you/ How d'you like that?" Not as good as "rhyming" "gotta paint it colorful" with "just believe in yourself." She's quick to respond to commenters...one person claimed she sounded like Hilary and Nicolette seemed a little upset that Christina didn't come to mind first. Word of advice: you're better off sounding like Hilary! No chance of Xtina and closer to H-Duff, anyway.


Rachel Ham

"What I Mo Give U" should probably be "What I'ma Give U." Anyway, she's wayyy too stiff to pull it off...like she studied slang with a dialect coach. Shout-outs from New York to Cali to Mississippi, D.C. to Georgia to Philly...is she just listing places at random? Not bad, Britnonymous, also a shout-out to Brit and Alex on her page. B&A and Paramore have been popping up a lot in influences/profiles.


Yoshida Brothers

Shamisen-rock?


Cali

One of the bigger names on the Camplified tour IIRC, Christian teenpop with bubblegospel leanings ("Get Up"). And there's also "TOODALOO EARTH," which is much better if you interpret to be about waiting for the Rapture (not the band).

(Verse 1)

Days go by so slow
Cause you know I want to be there with you
Be there with you

When Im happy in my soul
Dont you know I want to be there with you
Be there with you

And when you roll back the clouds
My heart will shout it out loud

(Chorus)

Hello sky, toodaloo earth
Ill say it again
Waiting for your love to take me
Hello sky, toodaloo earth
Ill say it again
Waiting for your love to take me away

(Verse 2)

I know heaven fills my dreams
Cause you know I want to be there with you
Be there with you

I got belief for everything
And you know I want to be there with you
Be there with you

And when you roll back the clouds
My heart will shout it out loud

(Chorus)

I don't put it out of the realm of possiblity that I'm wrong. (Ian: "I think it's about flying." Me: "NO!" Ian: "Could be a guy." Me: "NO!") And at any rate it's way better than the theme to Left Behind.

OK, enough for now, toodaloo.