- By JOSE MARTINEZ
- Photo Courtesy of COLUMBIA RECORDS
The latest UK sensation to hit the U.S. shores is singer and Über personality Olly Murs, actually born, believe it or not, Oliver Stanley Murs (gotta love the Ollie and Stanley connection). With over 5 million records sold worldwide and three double platinum albums, as well as four #1 singles, in the UK, his first U.S. release, Right Place Right Time, just came out and its impact has immediately been felt. The record’s first single “Troublemaker” is already gold in the U.S. and has over 120 millions youtube views.
Olly’s sound is a little reminiscent of Maroon 5 and his infectious voice comes off somewhat like Adam Levine. The English singer-songwriter originally rose to fame after finishing second in the sixth series of X Factor in 2009. Teaming up with Flo Rida on “Troublemaker,” the song instantly took off. In NYC to promote the album’s release, Olly had teenage girls crying, screaming and lining up en masse at promotional appearances.
Mixing old school charm and spot-on vocals with contemporary, hip-hop beats (check out “Heart Skips A Beat” with guest Chiddy Bang), the music of Olly Murs is “it” for young fans and a guilty pleasure for veteran music lovers who may otherwise not claim a teen idol as their musical preference. I’m not sure how serious of a troublemaker Olly is, I doubt it’s in the Keith Richards, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Moon level, but he’s fun and charming and doesn’t take himself too serious. Here’s to the anti-Bieber!
Catch Olly Murs at House of Blues Anaheim on Wednesday, May 15.
