Mid-Week Music Mania! (MMM!)

This MMM music feature is set to lift your mid-week lag with our very own music picks (we'd like to think we have good ears). Hopefully, these music intros can tide you over till the week's end. :)

Duffy's- Well, Well, Well (3.5/5 stars)

I just started hearing Duffy's new single being played on radio this week and was super super stoked that she has a new song out! Her voice is so instantly recognisable right from the first 3 acapella intro and outro words, "Well, well, well (duh!)". Her new song is upbeat and jazzy-band sounding. Duffy is definitely back with a big bang yet again what with her belting out in her trademark sassy-singing way. Good production, but theme is trite (her suspicious, insecure lover yet again) and Duffy is trying hard to repeat her 'Mercy' success formula. Yawn. But I guess what doesn't hurt you can still be recycled. I'm all for recycling but please, not to the extent of Taylor Swift's recycling method,  if you know what I mean.

Sylvia Ratonel's- It's Raining (to be rated)

For a locally-produced song, It's Raining sounds really really good, and I'm falling pretty hard for it (pardon the pun). At first, I was biased against the lame title (come on, it's raining. full stop. what can people gather from it?). But now, me thinks it's how a basic modal pop song should sound like actually- clean production, smooth, clear vocals and, a listenable memorable melody that sneaks up and grows on you. In essence, a feel-good song. I wanted to give it a closer listen on Youtube, but apparently, no one has uploaded the full studio version online yet, so I'll put my rating of it on hold for now (BUT, it's a solid listen to check out yeah). There's a short snippet, and below is the popular acoustic version she performed on 987fm, but with the music arrangement sounding different (in an alternative and good way of course :D Sylvia is really doing Singapore proud). Can somebody tell me where has Sylvia been secretly training her voice all this time?? That girl has NO FORMAL TRAINING and yet effortlessly sounds like a pro. Jealous much?

My Chemical Romance's- Na Na Na (4/5 stars)

The band members are killjoys (their superhero alteregos for this album, comic nerds alert!)? Uh, not for their new single, they're anything but. Though the overall image and perception of MCR (mostly by their ignorant haters) has always been that of being a dark, emo, band, this song will definitely put the critics in their place. I predict that Na Na Na (in your face, haters) will ironically earn the band new listeners and newfound respect as MCR's unabashed confidence and newfound ambition of world domination is fleshed out here. MCR's musical style has always been theatrical and exuberant (but linked with tales of struggle and tragedy), and MCR takes it up to the next level here by rightfully fitting in their usual playing manner with joy and positivity. MCR has come into their element, and almost on their way to, in their words be the "Best Band In The World" or die trying. Their former long-time member, drummer Bob Bryar doesn't know what he's done man, by abruptly leaving the band just as they are reaching the tipping point. *shakes head*