Pop Corner

AILBHE MALONEgets another dose of Beiber fever

TRACK OF THE WEEK

No Stringsby Chlöe Howl

How is it that the track of the year comes just as the year comes to an end? The debut single of 17-year-old UK singer Chloe Howl, No Strings is a banger, full stop. A little synthy, a little grimy, a little gobby, a little vulnerable. There’s a chorus that goes ‘fuck your no strings, I hope I have twins’ and a voice that nods a head to Adele’s imaginary bad-girl sister, and wry teenage angst. By gosh, it’s all just brilliant.

* The lovely Kelly Clarkson has announced her engagement to boyfriend Brandon Blackstock. She tweeted “Im engaged!!!!! I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and with the greatest man ever : )” Kelly told the Associated Press last month that the relationship is “probably my best accomplishment because, I think, for me, especially, I just didn’t think it would happen. It’s like one of those cheesy love songs that didn’t exist, but it does, so that’s cool.”

Hooray! Can we be bridesmaids?

yyy It doesn’t look like a JLS baby next year will make Marvin JLS slow down. Speaking to the Daily Star, he said: “By the time 2013 rolls round it’ll be time for our fifth album.This is usually a greatest hits in boyband territory but we don’t know if we’re ready for that yet. There will definitely be an album next year. There’s a lot of competition for us - not just from other boybands. So we have to stay ahead of the game and stay relevant .” Alright Marv, as long as you share nappy-changing duties with Rochelle.

* Bieber goes acoustic in 2013!

Justin explained that he’ll be releasing an acoustic album next year. “It’s something the fans really like. Because I started out on YouTube just playing my guitar, just singing without all the production, so I like to just put out acoustic albums. I think it’s more intimate.”