Darius - "Kinda Love"

Playing time | Label Mercury | released on 10/18/2004

Reviewed by Les Linyard | overall marks 3/5

Young Mr. Danesh resplendent in kilt, goatee beard and pony tail telling us how much love there was within the room he had entered is famous for surviving two reality shows and remaining around. The likes of Hear’Say (Heresy more like) and seemingly, the even younger warbler, Gareth Gates have fallen by the wayside whilst Darius churns out the songs, a touch cheesy, a mite sentimental and yet somehow honest and acceptable at the same time.

This single, the first from his second album Live Twice is proof that like Will Young he has just enough about him to keep touching the charts. He once said he’d have a number one single and a triple platinum album by the time he was 35 and was scoffed at for his arrogance, well maybe it was self belief and maybe he was right…

Darius - Kinda Love

Posted by AlMachine on Monday, November 8, 2004

Darius. A cheesy ***********, but I have a soft spot for him. "colourblind" was a cracking tune, So i'm going to give this a chance before slagging it off at least...

Darius worked with Steve Lipson on this new album/single, which could go one of two ways... It could go the way of S Club, Amy Studt, The Pet Shop Boys or Sophie B Hawkins (ie pop genius)...

or it could go the way of Whitney Houston, Will Young, Michell Macmanus or worst of all, Rho-Nan ******* Keating (what is it with this guy today? he's everywhere - like dogshit)

Actually, I spy a trend.He has worked with pretty much all of the pop idol lot. I guess he must be on Cowell's payroll or something.

OK, so i guess it's time to actually listen to the single... nice jangly piano intro and thumping bass drum to start.... high pitched "ba da ba baba" chorus backing vocals. cheesy lyrics ( I love how she never gives in / But is it love if she wants me / Like a cup of coffee / One taste/kiss and then she's on her way)

yep, its catchy as hell, and I expect the album will have a similar effect.

It's not the genius that was "colourblind", but it will do for now.

Wanye

Darius - Kinda Love

Darius, you may recall, is the man that just wouldn’t go away. Every time he was rejected from a wannabe TV show, he’d dust himself down in a typically British, plucky underdog, fashion and put himself back in the firing line of the brutal public. With this first track from his upcoming and appropriately titled Live Twice album it looks like he’ll have the last laugh. It’s a slab of over produced cheeky chappie pop with plenty of ba-da-da-da’s, that sounds utterly ludicrous in 2004. And that, is precisely why it works.

Three stars

Darius - Kinda Love

It's hard to get respect when you're a Pop Idol reject named after a Persian emperor. On the receiving end of more dissing than Peter Andre, young Darius clearly knows that he's got to pull out all the stops to keep bouncing back into our affections - and that's exactly what he's done with Kinda Love. Instead of coasting into the charts with a predictable ballad, he's poured every ounce of energy he's got into this exuberant, chant-along song, even enlisting a rowdy chorus of girls for a round of ba-ba-ba-baaing. Surprisingly enjoyable.

It’s hard not to harbour a secret admiration for Darius. Anyone who could make such a **** of themselves on TV, as he did on Popstars, and then come back and turn it around with a genius track like ’Colourblind‘, deserves a little respect. The 24-year-old Scot returns to music this week with this lead single from his second album, Live Twice. On the first listen, it’s hard not to wince your way through hopeless lyrics such as ’Is it love that she wants me like a cup of coffee‘ and random ’ba ba ba baa’s‘, but with each hearing of this ridiculously catchy Beatles-esque track, you could become rather immune to Big D’s over-pronunciation of the word ’craay-zay‘ and may even find yourself humming along. Either way, this will either be the track to take him to new career heights, or back to obscurity. Rating: three stars

HOT THIS WEEK

Darius – Kinda Love

It’s nearly four years since Darius made a spectacle of himself on ‘Popstars’ and he shows no sign of letting up with the release of this first single from his forthcoming second album. It’s not a huge departure from his previous stuff, but Darius seems to be keen to develop a sound all of his own.

towering scot beauty has the lot. Good looks, a gorgeous hollywood girlfriend and a fab new single. This crazy, quirky pop gem that's a lot different to what you'd expect from him. Fabulous!

5 Stars

Darius Kinda Love #####

LIKE pick 'n' mix sweets, Darius' music is something we know we shouldn't like, but find hard to resist. The key to his on-going success is his uncanny ability to make utterly addictive tracks which hook us in, albeit against our better judgment. His latest, Kinda Love, is another radio-friendly pop rock fusion, with a silly quirky little hook which worms its way into our affections and simply won't let go. While Darius will probably never really set the music world alight with his music he is, nonetheless, an inoffensive and enthusiastic artist whose self-belief has convinced the listening nation to take heed far beyond his allotted five minutes of Pop Idol fame.

Quite an achievement.

Darius: ‘Kinda Love’

I have to be honest and say that I thought Darius would have disappeared by now. But if there is one thing you can’t accuse him off is lying down quietly. He seems to be a very determined guy. And this is a pretty cool track actually. No drab ballads here, oh no. Darius is back with an upbeat pop tune, which cunningly sounds like Ronan Keating covering Blur. Honest it does! A fun tune, it’s nice to have him back!

Young Scot Rating: 7 out of 10

This towering Scot beauty has the lot. Stunning good looks, a gorgeous Hollywood girlfriend, and a fab new single. This is a crazy, quirky pop gem that's a lot different to what you'd expect from him. Fabulous.

5 stars

Darius's latest tune opens like a West End Musical and once he adds his husky vocals to the mix, the upbeat tempo continues in the fashion we've become used to. Sure to be a hit with the laydees.

3 stars

" The devilishly dishy Darius returns to the limelight this week with a song that proves he's been busy polishing up his sound while he's been away. Kinda Love is far funkier and kookier than anything on his 2002 debut album Dive In. It's a funny tale of unrequited love, featuring a hands-in-the-air catchy chorus, daft lyrics, and backing singers purring 'bah, bah, bah' every 20 seconds. Look out for the video, which stars actress Natasha Henstridge, who lucky Darius got to have a fling with during filming."

"New Verdict - Darius returns with a brassy, funky sound. We like!"

4 stars

"So, is Darius going out with Species star Natasha Henstridge or not? Well, she smoulders away in the video to this new single - running coquettishly through the woods and reclining on a bed on a beach. Darius' new album Live Twice (out 25 October) was produced in LA. This lively first single is built around an infectiously clunky piano line which pumps out his story of bewildering new love with a girl (hmm... wonder who?), helped by chirpy rock dynamics and a bouncy "ba-ba-ba" chorus."

4 stars

Darius - Kinda Love (Mercury)

UK release date: 18 October 2004

Ah, Darius. Remember how we laughed when the goatee-bearded ponytailed one performed his Britney Spears cover version on Popstars? And how we giggled when he said he'd have a number one single and a triple platinum album by the time he was 35?

Well, the joke's on us now. With Hear'Say dead and buried and Gareth Gates apparently the latest to suffer from the reality TV curse, Darius is still churning out his likeable, if cheesy, pop. Kinda Love is a horribly catchy, upbeat number which stays just the right side of irritating.

It's nothing new and it's certainly not cutting-edge, but you don't expect that from Darius. With a new album set for release, it looks as if Mr Danesh, love him or hate him, is going to be with us for some time to come.

- John Murphy

More rockier than normal but with a large slice of cheese. Chorus gets into your head and takes up residence. *** (top one was ****)

D back looking cuter than ever, with a catchy feel-good tune that will have you singing along. In a pop world of miserable lads moaninf about life, it's good to have someone to make you smile top 10 ( could be top 5 or top 20)

Plinky-plonky pianos and foot-stomping beats mark Darius' comeback. We love the shouty "bada ba da da" bits - they make us want to sing along like loons, ***

Jennis Jukebox with Jennifer Fleming

Darius - Kinda Love

My credibility for writing this column may be about to go down the drain but there is something I need to get off my chest - I love Darius.There I said it. I know he is Mr Cheesy with extra cheese on top but he is very hot, and so is this tune. I for one am very glad that Mr Danesh is back on the airwaves.