With The Wanted middling between moments of greatness and moments of utter tedium, and One Direction turning ever more mildly irritating despite a great debut single, thank God JLS can be relied on to deliver another corking single and remind us exactly why they're the country's biggest and best boyband bar Take That. And so, leading into their hotly anticipated 3rd album 'Jukebox' (out next Monday, 14th November) comes 'Take A Chance On Me'.
Anyone expecting an ABBA cover will be disappointed, but what will be said is that it's actually a rather marked departure from the thudding dancefloor mania of 'Eyes Wide Shut' and 'She Makes Me Wanna' before it, instead opting for a slightly Motown-ish, 60's/70's-esque mid-tempo feel with a smallish hint of Bruno Mars thrown in. The same four guys who came bounding onto the scene with 'Beat Again' 2 years ago are now becoming men and it's ever more apparent with their vocals, particularly Aston's on this track.
Lyrically as well, they're maturing ever more too. Pitched next to the drama of 'waiting forever and a day for you' or 'only getting one shot' in their first album's singles, 'Take A Chance On Me', there's positivity yet also a collected, yearning wistfulness as they sing about 'seeing how great it could be' in a life beyond an ex-lover to a heartbroken companion. The video, shot in nighttime on London's South Bank is bound to warm your cockles too, so another chart smash is sure to happen for the guys (or should that be men? You decide.)