Here’s a date for your diaries folks - 22 December. That’s when Pink’s latest single Sober will be hitting the shops.

I’ve heard good things about Pink’s Funhouse album, and this single takes Pink into some darker territory, with a brooding tune and video to match.

Yes, if I was a sensationalist, I’d mention the twin versions of Pink getting it hot and heavy on a bed, but that’s really not as important as the music in this instance.

A few Pink commentators have said there are safer and more immediate singles she could have released. However -

Sober doesn’t have a memorable tune or a strong hook that will grab your attention, but if you give it a chance, it’ll crawl under your skin. I found the lyrics intriguing so kept listening to the song and now I’ve been sucked in.

In the same vein as So What, Sober is another seemingly autobiographical tune, but with a healthy helping of angst.

Like those ads on TV where you see a person starting off the night drunk, Pink is seen dancing around, puking in a toilet and doing other ill-advised stuff. At the same time, the alter-ego Pink is sober and singing about how she can get by on her own.

It might not be overflowing with happy thoughts, but there is a great take-away message from Pink on this track, which has remarkably little to do with alcohol when you sit down and listen to it!

Here’s a bunch of cool music-related blog posts I’ve come across recently.

Metal Council Convenes To Discuss ‘Metal Hand Sign’ Abuse

This Is SO WEIRD: Biggie records guide tracks for Lil’ Kim

A source of mirth at Unreality HQ is that the novelty record by George Sampson (yes, the dancer from Britain’s Got Talent) only charted at #30.

I keep saying this, but nobody pays attention: little girlies will vote for the teenage reality TV contestant in their droves, but ask them to spend their hard-earned cash on an official release and you’re barking up the wrong tree, matey.

1. Take That - Greatest Day: The TT boys score that inevitable #1 hit. I really want to see them come out with a good floor-filler next time though, because that was their original appeal. The adult-orientated tracks do get boring after a while.
2. Beyonce - If I Were A Boy: If Beyonce was a boy, she’d only have eyes for her girl, she’d treat her mama right and also end world suffering. While I admire the performance, the sentiment of the lyrics really sticks in my throat.
3. TI ft Rihanna - Live Your Life: My fave song of the moment - Rihanna and TI go chasing paper and living their lives, a great song to go and get rich to.
4. The Killers - Human: Ha ha to all the naysayers! This charting just proves what we suspected, fans are loving the new Killers single and are voting with their wallets. Brilliant track.
5. Katy Perry - Hot N Cold: Are you still hanging around here, Katy? Bet you thought Katy was going to be a one-hit wonder with I Kissed A Girl. Think again.
6. Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing: I heard a little snippet of another track from Alesha’s album during the weekend that had a more R&B vibe. Is The Boy Does Nothing the aberration that piggybacks on her Strictly appearance?
7. Britney Spears - Womanizer: Woma-womanizer. Probably the antidote to Beyonce’s ridiculous feminist ramblings. Not Britney at her absolute best, but good pop nonetheless.
8. X Factor Finalists - Hero: As sad as this will sound, I’m kind of glad to see this leaving the chart. It’s not a good song, it’s a charity record, and it’s am X Factor spin-off. Let’s make some room at the top for a good single…
9. Akon - Right Now (Na Na Na): …like Akon’s latest. What a darned good tune for a change. Mostly Akon’s music annoys me, but this is an example of finely crafted R&B.
10. Girls Aloud - The Promise: This one’s lasting the distance, isn’t it? Seems like this winter’s going to be a Girls Aloud extravaganza with Cheryl gracing our screens weekly and a TV special airing shortly. And people keep claiming they’re splitting up. They’re more at the heart of pop culture than ever.

That’s yer lot folks. I note that Snow Patrol have re-charted with Run, while Leona’s version is nowhere to be seen. Which is the best version though?

Someone on Leona’s promo team sent me a copy of Leona’s new single, Run. Hell, they sent me a copy of the Spirit deluxe edition, which I really must get round to reviewing and which also contains a copy of Run. 

And stalwart fans of the music blog will already know that I’m a massive fan of Leona. I’ll try to avoid GRS (gushing review syndrome) as much as possible though.

Actually, I do have one reservation about this version. I’ve sat down and listened to the Snow Patrol version, and I’ve listened to the BBC Live Lounge version. My bone of contention with this version is how overblown the whole production is. It starts off nice and subtle, but by the end, there are children’s choirs, massive orchestra, and I distinctly heard the clank of a kitchen sink.

Still, in the midst of it all is Leona’s beautiful voice. She manages to swing between whispering, delicate vocals in the intro to powerful during the climax of the song. And she does it effortlessly.

Simon would remind us that she’s Britain’s hottest vocal talent right now, and for once he wouldn’t be blowing smoke up our asses. Run is a timely reminder that Leona is the X Factor contestant to beat, even two years later.

As a showcase for her voice, Run is brilliant. I’d have liked to see Forgive Me get a little more chart action before being superseded by yet another power ballad. If they’d perhaps made the production a little more stripped down, it wouldn’t have my cynical senses tingling right now.

Anyway, I’m off to take my GRS tablet. I think it’s starting to wear off.

Take That have smashed yet another record proving that things just aren’t slowing down for the UK’s sexiest man band.

The band’s new album The Circus has become the most pre-ordered album of all time. The boys are currently thrashing Britney Spears new album called just Circus, five to one.

Take That are also 30 per cent up on the previous most pre-ordered disc, COLDPLAY’s Viva La Vida, according to Play.com.

Leona Lewis, currently number one in the UK album charts with the deluxe edition of her debut album ‘Spirit’, will release her much talked about version of ‘Run’ as a single.

Leona’s record label had shelved plans to release the track but witnessed incredible demand for the song after Leona gave a show-stopping performance of the song on The X Factor last week. ‘Run’ will be available as a digital single from this Sunday (30th November).

Speaking after her X Factor performance a clearly proud Simon Cowell commented, “I’m so proud of all Leona’s achievements. I’ve got to say that was absolutely incredible, seriously incredible.”

Leona first performed ‘Run’ late last year when she was invited to perform for Jo Whiley in Radio 1’s infamous Live Lounge. The performance soon became one of the most talked about Live Lounge performances, with Jo herself saying, ‘Her voice was phenomenal.’ The amazing reaction from fans was what prompted Leona to record a studio version of the track.

Leona recently shot a beautiful video for the track in South Africa, which started appearing on TV this morning.

‘Run’ is also available on the new deluxe edition of ‘Spirit’, which was released on Monday 17th November and went straight to number one. The album features 3 brand new tracks and a bonus DVD.

The band is thankful that RCA understood the task at hand and has allowed the band to continue on their own.

Apparently the move was precipitated by a need to focus on replacing Scott Weiland, who left the band in a not-so amicable split back in April. In the intervening time, the band hasn’t really be that hard at work finding a replacement. Slash has been off working on a solo record, and Duff McKagan has been out on tour with his other band, Loaded.

Is it fair to say that if Velvet Revolver don’t get their act together, and soon, they’re in danger of losing a lot of momentum. If Slash releases a solo record, will he have to spend time touring a and promoting it?

And I can appreciate the difficulty in finding a new frontman. They arguably need a famous face. As a they started out as a ‘supergroup’, they probably need a big name rather than an unknown. But then again, an unknown singer would give them a clean slate and an opportunity to reinvent the band.

On the difficulty of finding a new singer, Slash has said:

If you sit down and listen to 10 guys, you’re not giving the tenth guy the same listen you are the first guy. So we’ve gotta figure out how to go about this. I don’t think any of the guys we’ve heard so far are ‘THE’ guy, and I don’t think we can go out with a guy who’s just good — we have to have somebody that’s amazing. Scott was an amazing singer. I don’t think people would really buy it if we went out with somebody who’s just, sort of, good.

Isn’t it funny though that the fortunes of Velvet Revolver should be on the wane while Guns N Roses are having an amazing revival?