Pop corner

This week AILBHE MALONEchickens out of the chorus

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Candyby Tieranniesaur. Combining two of our favourite things, Talking Heads and dinosaurs, Tieranniesaur (who are mates with the Popical Island gang) are one of the most vibrant new Irish bands since B*witched. Candy's full of hi-Life guitars and a clocks in at a perfect two minutes, 30 seconds. Summery and striking, this is the Calippo in the corner shop of Irish music.

N-DUBZ WATCH

With Tulisa getting all the attention of late, it’s only fair that Dappy – famed for his level-headedness – should pipe up. Speaking at the weekend, he decided that “people who don’t write their own songs shouldn’t be allowed to release them in the charts. We’ve come from nothing and wrote all our own stuff ... Rappers who only feel they can rap and not do the chorus and let someone else do the chorus, that’s cheating as well. Do the whole tune, 3½ minutes by yourself and I’ll take you seriously.” So, Dappy, does that mean that the songs your bandmate Fazer is currently writing for Katy Perry won’t count either?

** Sound the collaboration klaxon! The Script have added a member in the form of Tinie Tempah. Drummer Glen Power told the Daily Star that “we have recently written some songs together with Tinie. Every now and again you meet artists you just click with, and he’s one . . . we really get on with the guy – he is so down to earth and we love hanging out with him. He’s just normal.” Guitarist Mark Sheehan explained that “some people might think it is an interesting hook-up but that kind of music is our background. We studied RB and hip-hop for 10 years in America with Dallas Austin. ” We’ll reserve judgment until we hear the final result.

** Finally, can we extend our congratulations and our hellos to the youngest Beckham, little Harper Seven. While Victoria’s come under fire for the name, we think Harper’s actually quite a lovely moniker and will come in especially useful if the young’un wants to move into espionage in the future.