CHERYL - UNDER THE SUN (video)

Being an American fan of British pop music is like fighting a constant battle.  Your favorite artist releases a new video.  You get really excited.  BUT NOPE.  Can't play it in your country.  But one without the region blocking usually shows up eventually and here's one for Cheryl Cole's new video for "Under the Sun".  It's basically Cheryl walking around town looking amazing and not giving a fuck about anything.  Which is what most pop videos should be.  There is one weird bit where it gets scary for a couple of seconds.  But then she just goes back to dancing with a bunch of dudes.

CHERYL - TELESCOPE

Two b-sides to "Call My Name" have surfaced online.  This one, "Telescope", is really lovely.  I was not expecting one of the b-sides to be a ballad.  And being really picky when it comes to ballads, I also was not expecting to like it so much.  Especially since it's not an electro-pop ballad, but a proper piano & strings ballad.  Perhaps it's the handclaps that do it for me.  It is short and sweet and not overwrought.  And because Cheryl doesn't have the strongest voice (that's not an insult), there's no ridiculous, unnecessary vocal acrobatics to bring it all over the top.  Thank you, subtlety.  Thank you, Cheryl.

CHERYL - CALL MY NAME (video)

So, here's the new Cheryl video.  She walks through a tunnel, she dances with some guys while wearing Hammer pants, and she drives around a bit.  But who am I kidding?  This is Cheryl so even if she was just sitting in a chair the entire time, I would still get excited.  Plus, the dancing seems like it was really good.  (Editor's note: This writer knows nothing about dancing. (Editor's note, pt. II:  The editor is also the writer.))

PLUS, this song is really great.  I'm hoping the rest of the producers on the album can live up to what Calvin Harris has done with this one.  Because as it stands right now, I am really pumped up for A Million Lights.  Third plus, Lana Del Rey collaboration (!).

But really, I just want this album to hurry up and come out and sell a bajillion copies so we can all get on with this Girls Aloud reunion and all can be right with the world again.  Thank you very much.