If this reads like I'm on the offensive, it's because I am.

I don't want you seven people who have read this far to be in any doubt about it. This is a statement of what I believe. This is not an ironic _"pop is actually shit"_ rant hidden in a single review. En garde!

I love the new Darius Danesh single, in fact it's quite possible I love quite a lot of music that many of you would guffaw at as you listen to the latest Kings Reach Towers sponsored mini-dynasty of amphetamined up Suzi Quatro sound-alikes.

Yeah, it's another love-themed pop song and the lyrics are smart and funny, and why shouldn't they be? Sprightly studio pop with a clear acoustic guitar part, big backing vocals with solid beats sprinkled with some pro-tools effects. But apart from that, this is a great song.

It has a glad-to-be-bloody-alive chorus that you can feel coming a mile off, and I'm already getting tingles imagining cars driving by in the sunshine with this blaring out. Why can't it be as credible as anything else out there regardless of whether he wrote it, sang it or has had nothing to do with it at all! In all sincerity, I get a rush up my back after at least *50* odd listens over the last few days.

(I know that nobody is actually arguing with me right now, as I write this, but don't worry.)

And you needn't bother giving me that _"played on real live instruments"_ and "not written his own lyrics" bullshit. Do you know how long it takes to make, and learn to play a guitar? You don't find them growing through the concrete like roses on street corners. People don't just pick up guitars and emote raw diamonds of musical brilliance in 3 and a half minutes. They play the same line over and over, asking opinions, ripping off old riffs and practising. So how is that more real than anything Darius or those lumped in with him could create? I like to enjoy the S-O-N-G, the blend of words, emotions and music. I don't care if everything is done by a guy in Sweden and sold to smart managers for pretty boys to sing on. If it's good, I like it. You don't need to coat it in skinny jeans and leathers, cheers all the same.

Look at some of you. You fawn over blue eyed, skinny rock stars throwing clichéd poses. Pretending to be something you are not is merely manufacturing yourself. Touche?

I'm off to calm down now.

*DiScuss: *Any medication tips for writers? Did he have a point?