Tuesday, 1st February 2005

Darius - Live Twice (Mercury)

1 star

Paul Clarke

POPSTARS reject Darius will always be haunted by the excruciatingly brilliant version of Britney’s Baby One More Time he ‘performed’ on the hit reality show.

But good on him for dusting himself off and having another go on Pop Idol when he came third behind Will Young and Gareth Gates.

And now he is supposedly seeing Geri Halliwell so he needs all our support and sympathy.

Now to the music and this is where it all goes wrong. It’s true that Darius looks and acts like a pop star, but his insipid mid-Atlantic songs just drift by on his utterly insincere baritone.

Live Twice is the sort of sub Elton John twaddle that Gary Barlow launched his solo career with and look what happened to the ‘talented’ one in Take That. Darius has drafted in Mike Stock - from the mighty Stock Aitken and Waterman - but despite all the tasteful guitar and strings being in the right place this just doesn’t work as a pop song.

Written as a love song to an ex-girlfirend pleading for one more chance I suspect Darius may soon be begging his record company for one more shot at the big time before he’s dropped.

Darius

Live Twice (Mercury)

Just how many times can you XXXX up and then come back a winner? We are of course, talking about the man we all love to hate (or is it hate to love?), Mr Darius Danesh, who here drops the second single from his second album of the same name. Despite return single ’Kinda Love‘ reaching No.8 last October on virtually no airplay, when the album failed to reach the Top 30, many (including ourselves), wrote the guy off. However, it looks like once again, he may well have the last laugh. Possessing more than a little resemblance to Enrique’s ’Hero‘ and Bedingfield’s ’If You’re Not The One‘, Danesh has come up trumps with this emotive ballad. With radio finally on board, and the track claiming the most-requested top spot on The Box for the past few weeks, this could well see him back in the top five, or possibly even No.1

Darius live twice Is it just us, or does it seem like Darius has been hideing for the past year? Can't be easy when you're 8ft 6in...or something. The man hasn't forgotten how to write a tune,though,,and this weepy track is a real grower!

Darius Live Twice ##### FAR superior to Kinda Love, Darius's second single from the album of the same name could give the long player a boost.

Written for his dad Booth who has been battling cancer, the song is a sophisticated and infectious ballad which will have those who should know better humming along.

Also Colourblind is on the free cd:-

5. Darius - Colourblind Darius's debut single Colourblind went to No.1 in July 2002 and spent 16 weeks in the charts.

Famed for his appearances on two reality star-search shows, Darius has continued to enjoy success since the release of this self-penned song.

Aw! Darius might pack more cheese than a Dutch dairy farmer at times but he's gone and turned out a half decent tune with 'Live Twice'.

Gone is the idea that you had to sticky-tape together the best bits of six Darius songs and play it backwards to enjoy his special brand of singer-songwriter-lite acoustipop.

We don't know where he's been rooting around lately for inspiration, but his standard strummy opening suddenly opens the door on a swelling ballad that Westlife would kill D-Side for (and who's to say they haven't?).

What's more, the song sports a melody that Darius can finally be proud of, and you can hum without people knowing who it is. so everyone's a winner, surely?

Darius Danesh rides out the new lease of life offered by his recent album with this title track single. Not, as it may first appear, a slushy love ballad about his latest D-list celebrity squeeze, but in fact a quite moving account of his feelings whilst his father battled with cancer. Obviously, it's not free of cliché - the half-whispered opening vocals sound like something from a black and white aftershave ad, and the elevator percussion is pure Phil Collins. Nevertheless, Darius continues to rise steadily in our estimations (although seeing as he started at rock-bottom, that's not the greatest of praise).

Released : 10th January 2005

Label: Mercury

Darius - Live Twice Critics Reviews

Created on January 7, 2005, 12:55:12

Darius has continued to grow and this is a superb single...... Brilliant this deserves chart success. Jazzie femalefirst

The rating is 8

'Live Twice' is the follow up to Darius' top ten smash hit 'Kinda Love' and is the second single to be released from his new album; also entitled 'Live Twice'. A truly beautiful song showcasing Darius at his very best

Darius 'Live Twice'

'Live Twice' is the title track from Darius latest album. The single is inspired by his father's illness and also the singers belief that he has been given a second lease of life. It reveals a more sophisticated side to Darius that was lost in his guitar based pop tunes. The single grows on you with each listen and will defiantly be another chart hit.