Hairbrush Divas

Hairbrush Divas - If all you want is a night in with all your girlie mates then this is the CD for you!!!

There is nothing I like better than listening to an album full of tracks that will encourage me to sing along. Whilst surfing through HMV recently, I found a new compilation of tracks, presented in a two CD offering entitled "Hairbrush Divas". The collection retails at £15.99, and although it can not be purchased on CD Wow at present, it is readily available in outlets such as WH Smith and Woolworths, for the more acceptable price of £12.99.

The review accompanying the album, as well as the picture of four girls on the front cover, suggested to me that the 42 tracks contained on the album would have me reaching for my hairbrush to mime along to the lyrics.

The first track on the album certainly sets the mood. "Spinning Around" by the diminutive Kylie Minogue, was her comeback track, after years of failing to make the Top Ten. The song has an 80's disco backing track, with a funky guitar riff and is a promising start to the album. Although this is not one of Kylie's stronger songs, and there are still snatches of Stock, Aiken and Waterman, it is a catchy number and is guaranteed to set the toes tapping.

We are transported back to 1984 with the track "Solid" by Ashford and Simpson. An Eighties disco classic, and a song that can lift my mood immediately, 'Solid' is a feel-good song, which reminds us how a strong relationship can make a person feel as though they can conquer the world. Touches of R&B made this song ahead of its time when originally released.

Robin S provides the track "Show me Love", which was released in the early 1990's, and re-released in 2002. The track begins with a bassy beat, with the gentle banging of cymbals, before her vocal comes in, and for the older members, the music accompanying this has a touch of the old 70's hit "Popcorn", despite being a great danceable track. Robin provides strong vocals, with a great range and plenty of attitude, and promises that she will devote herself to her man, after a series of relationships in which she was taken for granted.

Cher's rendition of "The Shoop Shoop Song" taken from the film "Mermaids" provides a 60's feel to the album. The song was originally released by Merry Clayton in the 60's, but has been covered by many other artists. The basic premise of the song is questions being asked about a man and what makes him so special. These are answered, and of course the answer is that the answer to all his qualities lie in his kiss. Although this is one of Cher's best know songs, her voice certainly isn't used to its full potential, and at some times the backing vocals take over her voice completely, yet the track is still a classic and will guarantee to make everybody sing along.

Any person who is familiar with songs from the 80's decade can not fail to remember Chaka Khan's rendition of "Ain't Nobody", recently released by Liberty X. The track has a funky beat throughout, with a kind of twangy guitar riff, and due to the lyrics that tell of a love so great that nothing can compare, many couple would claim it as "their song". A classic track.

Back to recent times with "Complicated" by the skateboarding chick, Avril Lavigne. This track always sounds as if it is sung by Natalie Imbruglia and is a very catchy track with a rock beat. Despite only being young, Ms. Lavgine has a very strong voice, and manages to capture the essence of being angry at a boyfriend's dual personalities, almost shouting at some points in the song.

Ronan Keating's "Lovin Each Day" can only be described as a tonic. Since leaving Boyzone, Ronan has flung away the boy band demons, and this track shows a much more adult Ronan, and although a song about love, and the despair felt at being apart from a partner, the song has an upbeat theme, and the enjoyment he feels at singing it can clearly be felt throughout the track and is guaranteed to give that warm glow factor.

"Woman Trouble" sets the R&B tone for the track by Artful Dodger, featuring Craig David and Robbie Craig. A pumping bass line and catchy drum beat, together with the distinctive vocals of Craig, interspersed with some scratching, and sounds almost like mobile phone ring tones, the song tells of the problems with women and relationships.

Who can forget the classic 70's single "We are Family", from Sister Sledge, which begins with the piano and guitar disco beat, similar to so many songs of that period? The four girls, all lend their vocals to the track, which has had so many different mixes made of it now I lose count, but the song is as fresh now as it was back when it was first released, and tells of strong family bonds, and how a tight knit family help each other to get through hurdles in life.

SWV's donation for the album is their track "Right Here", which borrows the music from a Michael Jackson track "Human Nature", and if it is not him doing the backing on the track, the person is a very good impersonator. The track begins with a quick drum beat, before the vocals quickly come in, and the main female vocals profess to the man she is pursuing that true love does exist and she will give him the world.

"Kiss" by Prince has long been a favourite track of mine, but I do prefer the voice of Tom Jones for this track. Prince, despite having a very high voice, manages to bring life to this song, and the track begins with him moaning before the introduction of the music. Kissing noises can be heard at various points during the song, which is a fast paced track, and is really made the stonker it became, by the wonderful voices of the backing singers.

"It's raining men" by The Weather Girls, again takes us back to the early 80's, and is another fast paced track, which opens with the sound of thunder, before the music soars upwards, reaching a crescendo, over which the sounds of the female vocalists can be heard, before they begin singing. Their voices are soulful, and have hints of Aretha Franklin, mixed amongst their throaty tones, in this light hearted thought of men falling out of the sky, after which the women can take their pick.

"Stars" by Simply Red, released in 1992, slows the beat a little, and the opening bars of the song, provide a strong backdrop to the soulful tones of Mick Hucknall. The addition of the piano, makes this a memorable track and Mick's voice is full of emotion as he proclaims his love and the fact that "I wanna fall from the stars,

Straight into your arms".

"Somebody elses guy" by Jocelyn Brown was a huge club hit during the 80's. The track begins with her hugely powerful voice holding that first "I" and being only accompanied by a piano, before the music absolutely thumps in and the "oohs" of the backing singers. Again, the piano makes a huge impact during the song, and also the addition of trumpets, despite the song having a predominantly disco feel, the use fo the brass instruments take it to another dimension.

A sound almost like an aircraft taking off begins "Groovejet" by Spiller, one of the great dance tracks of 2000. Sophie Ellis Bextor provides the vocals on this track, and all I can say is what a great pity none of her solo efforts have lived up to this track. The song questions love and if it is not the feeling she is experiencing, what on earth is it?

"Teardrops" by Womack and Womack, begins with what can only be compared with the voice of Robert Palmer, before the introduction of a female vocal. Another track from the 80's, this song tells of a relationship that has broken down, and all the little things that remind the person of their lost love.

"Footsteps on the dance floor remind me baby of you

Teardrops in my eyes, next time I'll be true"

Gloria Gaynor lends her most popular song to the album. "I will survive" has been the anthem for many a person when reaching breaking point, and is again, another disco track from the 80's. I can't help feeling that the music never seems to go with the vocals on this track, it just seems too wishy washy when compared to the powerful lyrics.

"Shackles" by Mary Mary, singers who had a gospel upbringing, and originally released in the Summer of 2000, is another positive song on the album, and tells of throwing the shackles away and getting on with life. It is song of spiritual enlightenment, and emits positive vibes, with evidence of gospel origins as well as R&B throughout.

A slow introduction to "Waterfalls" by TLC, with the guitar, trumpet and echoing keyboard providing a great backdrop to a song that made a great contribution to R&B when it was first released in the 90's, as well as proving that female singers can rap as well as the men. The message in the song is clear, don't chase unrealistic dreams, stick to what you know.

"Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to,

I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all, but I think you're moving too fast"

Donna Summer belts it out in her song "Hot Stuff" released, again, during the 80's when disco was at it's peak. As well as being made popular all over again in the film "The Full Monty", the track is a disco classic, and begins with an almost 70's "Sweet" feel, before the music lightens up, and the distinctive tones of Summer's voice erupt proclaiming that she needs some hot stuff, and she needs it now. Whenever I hear this track, all I can think of is the men practising their stripping routine in "The Full Monty"!

My favourite track on the album would have to be "Things can only get better" by D:Ream, originally released in the early 90's. From the opening lines of the song "You can walk my path, you can wear my shoes", the song give out such a positive message, and has really poignant memories for me, as this was the song that my Mum and I used to sing along to so much, when she was suffering with leukaemia in 1995.

"I'm too weak to fight you

I got my personal health to deal with"

I am really glad that I bought the album, as apart from two tracks, Anastacia's "I'm outta love" and Sophie Ellis Bextor's "Murder on the Dancefloor", the album certainly lived up to its promise, and the tracks all made me want to sing along, although not necessarily with a hairbrush! Sublime messages abound in a great many of the tracks, most conveying the message to stay positive and it is always possible to turn your life around. There is a great variety of tracks, both old and new, but the one thing that did strike me while listening to it, was just how many of the songs have been re-released either by the original singer, or through cover versions.

I think the fact that the songs come from so many different periods, as well as being from different music genres, add to the appeal of the album, and it is an album that I know will be played for many years to come. 'Hairbrush Divas' is a must-have compilation album, and with an impressive 42 tracks, will guarantee that there is something to suit every musical taste.