Recent releases reviewed

Trust Robbie to write a love ballad to himself, complete with Midnight Cowboy harmonica and jangly REM guitars. This is from Bridget Jones: The Big Pants Strike Back, and it's surprisingly rather restrained. Is Rob getting modest in his old age?

THE CORRS
Long Night 
Atlantic

Poor Andrea's all alone in bed without even a decent love song to help her make it through the night. Meanwhile, there are at least 5,000 blokes wandering around Dublin who'd kill for her home address. Life's so unfair.

BRYAN ADAMS
Polydor

Wanna fly without wings? Then belt up, and let the gritty old Canadian be the captain of your heart. What, is there some big romantic movie about airline pilots coming up soon?

THE CELTIC TENORS FEATURING SAMANTHA MUMBA
You Raise Me Up
NJM Records

Written by Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland, this is Danny Boy, When A Child Is Born and The Wind Beneath My Wings rolled into one mawkish popera ballad. Betcha a tenor Sam won't go carol singing in that dress.

KYLIE
I Believe In You 
Parlophone

No, it's not a song to Santa - this Donna Summer-type disco anthem is written by Jake Shears and Babydaddy of Scissor Sisters, so it's guaranteed to go down a treat on the runway.

KRISTIAN LEONTIOU
Some Say 
Polydor

We're onto you, Leontiou. You reckon the girls will go ga-ga for your smooth, acoustic r 'n' b ballads and your suave Brit/Cypriot looks. Two words, mate: Dar ius.

JOSS STONE
Right To Be Wrong 
EMI

The 17-year-old diva's got that Gladys Knight thing going on here on this Misty Blue soul ballad. It's all a bit rhythm 'n' blues by numbers, but hey, that's Joss's prerogative. Paul Weller should rope her in for a duet proper quick.