Daniel Merriweather – Change

Being hand-picked by Mark Ronson to front the flagship single from your soon-to-be-a-mega-hit album kind of singles you out as a bit special.

Daniel Merriweather, as most of us are aware, owns the spectacularly soulful voice that helped Ronson’s cover of The Smiths’ ‘Stop Me’ to become a major success in 2007. Having colloborated with Ronson and rapper Wiley on ‘Cash In My Pocket’, released last December, Merriweather now releases his own brand of soul-RnB-pop with his debut single, ‘Change’.

The Aussie crooner’s first album, Love and War, is out in April and ‘Change’ gives off some promising signals. Yes, the pastiche Ronson horns and the funky beats rides high but there’s a hint of lyrical prowess here, as well as a timely rap from Wale. Citing Stevie Wonder as an influence is all well and good, but actually going some way to being as good as the man is rather commendable.

‘Change’ has a spring in its step, much like we all would if there was an upturn in the economy or some sunshine instead of snow. A shining light for 2009, with plenty of “la la la”s and “na na na”s.