Music Blogs

The music wires are off-the-scale today with the news that Britney Spears was a total disaster on this weekend's "X-Factor". As supposedly pop's greatest entertainer, one might expect her to be able to sing, dance and talk to other humans with a degree of success. Sadly, her out-of-sync lip-synching, wobbly, elephant-sized moves and mis-wired brain have prompted some outraged fans to call for her to retire. Let's face it, a dismal display like that from any of the actual remaining contestants would surely have seen them voted off the show.

Fortunately it seems a readymade replacement is finally beginning to up his game, more than 15 years since last troubling the charts. Yes, Rick Astley looks well placed to capitalise on this Britney-shaped void and claim what many believe to be still rightfully his. At last month's MTV Europe Music Awards, Astley was named Best Act Ever, as a result of the internet phenomenon "Rickrolling", which saw 25 million people watching the vide to his "Never Gonna Give You Up" when they didn't even realise they wanted to.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton accepted the prize in Liverpool, while Astley has retained an enigmatic silence, speaking only to quip about how "honoured" he was in this tantalising statement: "This is the first time I have been nominated for the EMAs and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me." Until now, that is! Because last week, he made a high-profile, hard-hitting return to the showbiz frontline, stunning fans at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York by emerging from the shadows to party with the other muppets on the Cartoon Network's float and deliver this bravura display. Britney, wake up! He is coming for your crown!!!