Nizlopi - jcb song
So it missed out on the festive top spot, beaten by the latest reality TV five-minute hero Shayne Ward, but this race for Christmas number 1 did see it sneak into the top ten best sellers of 2005 alongside such music masters as Westlife, James Blunt and Crazy Frog – they must be so proud!
Given that you've doubtless heard this track already, you've probably made your own mind up about Nizlopi and their 'JCB Song', the track that brought a bit of sensitivity to the Christmas music market. If you haven't just switch your radio on and you're likely to hear it soon enough as, unlike most offerings at Christmas time, this has some staying power.
The interesting thing will be, does this track act as a springboard, or albatross? Will they go on to bigger and better things or will they forever be known as the "JCB Band"?
For a start, what do you actually know about Nizlopi?
They're from Leamington in the West Midlands. Their MySpace page describes them as "Acoustic / Folk / Hip Hop". There's two of them, Luke Concannon and John Parker, and they met on a school bus aged 13 (that's their age not the age of the bus!), and the rest they say...
A continued read of the MySpace section tells us that they are "without doubt, the freshest, brightest, craziest, most real sound on the British music scene today, and in today's musical climate of manufactured, fake, soulless artists, Nizlopi are just what music needs. Two men, who have a mission, to deliver real music to real people!" - God they must have been pleased when 750,000 sheep went out and bought the X-factor winner!
They're debut album 'Half These Songs Are About You' has been out since early Autumn 2005, and has gained rave reviews from those who've heard it. What they do next will be very interesting to see, anyone remember 'Mad World' covered by Gary Thingy and Michael what's his name?
It's hard to tell whether a shot at Christmas number 1 was always the plan or if they got caught up in the search for something semi decent to play on the radio during December. If they do continue in a less high profile way, some will give them stick for being a one hit wonder, but this will hardly be fair as they've ground it out at festivals and in tiny venues around the UK, had an album and double A side out already and the fan base has been building before it exploded, and all this before we even new that Mr. Ward spelt his name with a Y.
Are they a band to watch in 2006?
Without question they are!