Richey Edwards would have been a Lolly fan. He would have worn a Lolly button badge just above his left nipple and right next to the one reading 'I Want My Virginity Back' that used to make female journalist's come over all swoonsome.
He'd probably have written a song for her called 'Tasty Little Morsel' or some other such nonsense which she'd then refuse to cover and that lass from Dubstar would have ended up ruining it on a Manics B-side instead.
Lolly is aimed purely at probably the most important new demographic in pop; the aspirational pre-pubescent girl. The Spice Girls started the whole high-pitched shebang, their genius lying in coming across as your little sister's best mate and not her better-looking rival. Which is where the like of Faith, Hope and Charity fell down.
Lolly has taken the whole thing to it's logical extreme and 'Pick 'n' Mix' is as throwaway and gooey-sweet as you might expect from a singer who claims 'hanging out in the park with your pals' as being one of her favourite things. There's a crowd of grizzled old blokes in the park near me that would probably agree with her as they're always in there having a bit of fun.
Cover versions include dot-by-dot reruns of Toni Basil's 'Mickey', Cyndi Lauper anthem 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun', Michael Jackson's 'Rockin' Robin' and - Liam's fave - 'She Loves You' by The Beatles.
'Listen To Your Heart' sounds exactly like you'd expect a song called 'Listen To Your Heart' to sound like and 'Per Sempre Amore' is the currently obligatory Latin-flavoured drunken romp through a tapas bar.
Best by far though is the genuinely ace 'Big Boys Don't Cry' a great tear-soaked epic about what it means to be a man. Hmmm,
wonder how she knows?
There's something achingly familiar about Lolly as well…wait a minute….that bee-stung pout, those big bunny rabbit eyes, the girlie arms and concave chest…. My God, it can't be can it?? Is that really you Richey?? I don't know where you've been hiding sonny but your lyrics have certainly come on in leaps in bounds…Welcome back little fellah.
