The Second Truly Great Song Of 2008.
I was going to talk about this last week when I first heard the song but, you know, shit I couldn’t cope with went down and life went on hiatus for a bit. But now that I’m on the mend, it’s time to discuss The Second Truly Great Song Of 2008; Axle Whitehead’s “I Don’t Do Surprises.”
Aussie readers will know Axle from Australian Idol, Video Hits and The ARIA Awards. Those who know the story behind Axle’s appearance at the ARIA Awards a couple of years ago will probably chuckle at the song title of his new single… and something tells me he probably is as well. I’ve always been a fan of Axle, from his days on Australian Idol to catching the last 10 minutes of him hosting Video Hits once I’d woken up on a Saturday/Sunday morning. He’s funny, is incredibly charming, is very nice to look at and has the all the makings of a proper pop star. So it’s nice to see this is where his focus is in 2008.
“I Don’t Do Surprises” is essentially a Coldplay Pop Song Without The Hindrance Of It Actually Being A Coldplay Song And Needing A Remix To Be Listenable - ie: Very, Very Good Indeed. The verses are just a small taste to the brilliance of a completely sublime chorus, which blew my technically in-tune socks off when I first heard it. The video clip is cute as well, with Axle looking as fiercely handsome/sexy/etcetera as ever, and comes complete with pixelated bodies, people with torches, and a postal package delivered to Whitehead by a real-life child. Already a more enjoyable Mise-En-Scène than that found in a Young Divas clip, not quite as good as the Mise-En-Scène found in a Van She one. Could this be the very first artist with an Australian Idol connection whose video clip isn’t an actual crock of shit? Yes Marcia, I’m talking to you too; I said connection.
You can listen to the song over on Axle’s MySpace page. You can view the video by clicking here and, while you’re there, scroll down to the bottom of the page, in between Numbers #33 and #34. You’ll see Axle’s name and the song title; click on the red button which says “VOTE,” thus helping its chances of getting the track higher in that Hot Hits chart show Jackie No helps co-assault Australia with on what I believe is still a nightly basis.
Unsure of when the single officially drops, but I’ll keep you informed. Cannot *wait* for his album to hit shelves now. Interestingly, this Axle news officially makes the two albums I’m most looking forward to hearing in 2008 records performed by Australian artists (Van She and Axle.) I have a very good feeling about Aussie Pop Music this year… Regular readers of the column I write in Forte Magazine should expect a “I Don’t Do Surprises” gushfest next fortnight.
Will be playing the track on the radio show come Friday night too for those keen on hearing it via the FM waves.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Adem, this is (one of the reasons) why I love reading your site–I barely know anything about Axle, only what you’ve written in the past, would certainly have never had an inkling to pay attention to him for the sake of a future music career, and I don’t know where on earth I would have heard of this song besides here–and I LOVE it! You’re right, great chorus, and I love that middle 8 too (especially the bit where the pace picks up). Video wouldn’t play for me at the moment, but I did vote for it–I hope the song does well!
I hope you keep moving towards feeling better.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I hope he flashes his cock again…
January 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
This is a great song! I had to head over to youtube to hear it, but I’m glad I did! And ditto what PPG said, I’d have no exposure to good Aussie muzik without your site. Keep it coming, Adem!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
That is nothing short of amazing. Never in a million years did I think Axle would come out with something that good and I now have a lot of faith in whats to come. thanks adem i hadnt even heard about this. he looks pretty delish in the clip too dont he?
January 30th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Great choon, great guy. When can we buy this? I fucken miss Axle, glad he’s back.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:30 am
Ace tune/ Plus his tussled hair and sexy beard do weird things to my nether regions. Hahaha. PS - your previous blog title is pure genius…
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
wow. this is much better than I EVER would have expected ANYONE from idol to have released. this had more credibility than the rest of their releases combined. hot
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I really like this. Of course, I ‘d like the song more if Axle were face down in my jeans, but I’m not that finicky.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
PG: Glad you like it, I was hoping you would actually… Will have a looksie around YT again to see if the video has been uploaded, though I’m pretty sure you can check it out now on his MySpazz page.
Mike: SO DO I.
Yuri: Thank you mister!
Campbell: Very.
Sarah Jones: Not sure on release date, waiting to hear back from his “peeps.”
Paul: Hahah, I’m glad you liked the Readers Indigestion headline… When I thought of it I seriously wanted to pat myself on the back, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t please me.
Emma: Oh yay! Very pleased to hear you liked it… hopefully radio are onto it.
D’luvly: It certainly is the dream. Axle’s - criminally - as straight as they come (ho ho!) but he does love the gays and has no problem with them hitting on him, which I found out several years ago in an interview he did with local gay mag DNA.
Oh and Axle’s been around these parts and has enjoyed all your comments.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Oh my word, what a lovely middle-8 and what a lovely suit.
We love you Axel!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
This song should be called a remix…. at the very least. Its just this Axle dude singing to a drum machine, with samples of Coldplay tracks put over it. Its cheap, unimaginative, and definately not original. He has got a good voice however, and Im sure he’s a nice dude too! peace out.