Matt Cardle - Starlight [Music Video Premiere]

I wouldn't blame you if you hated Matt Cardle. After all, for a man who does a lot of talking about how he's credible and has put down The X Factor, the show that was his launching pad, numerous times, yet released a totally generic by the numbers pop/rock single Run For Your Life, co-written by Gary Barlow, with the song showing off the wrong sides of Matt's voice.

Of course, there's the pressure to not become another Leon Jackson or any other male winner of The X Factor, to be dropped as soon as a new X Factor winner comes along. However, seeing the way Run For Your Life has plummeted down the chart, his label are rushing out a new single. Smart move. And it appears to be the markedly better Starlight. But that's not anything to go by because Run For Your Life was really terrible, so anything after that would be an improvement. That said, it's still quite a forgettable tune. But at least it's a likeable forgettable tune. The music video doesn't have much going on either, but if you haven't heard it yet, there you go.

Matt Cardle - Run For Your Life [Music Video Premiere]

When a person wins a reality tv singing competition watched by millions every week, it's quite a scary step to take when you release your first single outside of the hype machine. Particularly when you're Matt Cardle. The former painter in his late 20s falls into what I'd call "the perfect X Factor winner" stereotype. He appeals to a different kind of audience. The older demographic that's less iTunes-savvy, more "oh this lad's got a lovely voice, I think I'll vote for him", but this fanbase isn't a strong fanbase to fall back on.

Also, while you may have heard of Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke who've all gone on to do rather well for themselves, you have the male winners who've all been screwed over by Simon's label and either faded into the darkness (everyone minus Joe McElderry and Shayne Ward) or found other ventures to go into (Joe McElderry - opera singing. The boy's got a good voice, you can't deny that).

So who's to say this bearded chubby guy with a rather bland personality (if I'm being totally honest) will do otherwise?

Introducing Run For Your Life, the first single lifted off his debut album Letters. The Gary Barlow-penned track talks about not being good enough for the one you're with. Perfect if you're lovesick and having messy emotions then. But the track itself feels more like a theme to a movie like Twilight or the kind of song that gets played in the background on The Vampire Diaries. It's a good song, but it's not great. But for those that thoroughly enjoyed his X Factor coronation single When We Collide and wanted more mushy big ballads from the mushy big guy, they've gotten their wish.

Big News: Matt Cardle announces debut album 'Letters'!

Remember Matt Cardle? Oh you know, the painter that hit the big time after he won The X Factor in the UK last year? Fast forward a year, Simon's brought the show to the States, humiliating Cheryl Cole in the process, revamping The X Factor UK with three quarters of the judging panel completely replaced by Take That's Gary Barlow, N Dubz' Cheryl Cole Tulisa, and pop/R&B songstress Kelly Rowland.



Nevertheless, along with his fellow X Factor contestants Cher Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson One Direction, Matt has been hard at work on his debut album, now announced to be titled Letters released October 17th. Above is the album cover, which I absolutely love. The first single to be released is Run For Your Life, described as "reminiscent of Snow Patrol's biggest hits", and that it's the only song on Letters Matt didn't co-write on. In fact, the song was written by Gary Barlow, the Gary Barlow that's on The X Factor UK panel.



Songwriter Guy Chambers whom Matt worked with on Letters, said that Matt is powerful and emotive, a cross between "Coldplay, Travis and Snow Patrol".



I'm interested to see how his career will take off from here, and I sincerely hope his album is what songwriters are claiming it is.



And is it just me, or is Rebecca Ferguson taking an awful long time to give us some new music? Hmmm.

Matt Cardle - When We Collide live at NTAs 2011

At the recent NTAs, X Factor winner Matt Cardle delivered another sterling rendition of his record-breaking #1 coronation single When We Collide. He still proves that he's got an amazing instrument, nailing everyone of those ginormous notes, high upper range is properly glorious, if I'm being honest. Of course, there's still much to prove - for he doesn't seem like the kind of artist that could do really, really well outside of the UK. Oh well. At least he's one of the best, if not the best male vocalist The X Factor has found.

Big News: Cheryl Cole nabs two nominations at this year's BRIT Awards!

The BRIT Awards have finally released their nominations and the multi-platinum selling X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has managed to nab two nominations for British Single for her swell pop tune future classic Parachute and British Female Solo Artist. Jessie J has also won BRIT's Critic's Choice, while Alexandra Burke, The Wanted and Matt Cardle have all managed to get a nod for All Night Long, All Time Low and When We Collide respectively in the British Single Category.

Check out the entire list of nominations: HERE

Matt Cardle - When We Collide [Music Video Premiere]

Last year's X Factor single The Climb, covered by 2009 champ Joe McElderry wasn't able to nab the Christmas #1, but reports have indicated that Matt is storming the charts and is on course to collect the Christmas #1. The music video has just premiered and as always, is a montage of his X Factor journey. Let's just hope his career goes more of the way of Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke than Shayne Ward and Joe McElderry (who was unfortunately ruined by an overproduced first single).

Matt Cardle new track: When We Collide

After a couple of years where X Factor judge Cheryl Cole had one of her acts take the eventual crown, this year's X Factor winner was from the Boys' Category, Matt Cardle, mentored by Dannii Minogue. Matt Cardle to The X Factor, to me, is like what Lee DeWyze is to American Idol. First off, there's the paint store background, secondly, it's the singer/songwriter vibe he's giving off. We've seen how Lee DeWyze has done in the States, and if I'm being honest, Matt might suffer the same fate. First off, he's incredibly hard to market, and he needs something groundbreaking/really good if he wants a lasting, successful career.

In a world where pop music seems to be dominated by the do-it-alls (Beyonce), outrageously wild acts trying to outshock each other (Ke$ha, Gaga), coulourful/vibrant/fun (Rihanna, Katy Perry), Matt (and Lee) will be tough to market. We'll see if Simon Cowell can market him right.

On the other hand, Matt may have beaten Rebecca Ferguson, One Direction and Cher Lloyd, but don't dismiss the latter three just yet. Rebecca is a shoe-in for Simon Cowell's record label. She has a beautiful tone to her voice, looks gorgeous, and is humble. But her voice is a problem as well. The beautiful tone in her voice only masks one thing, she doesn't have a wide range (in fact, any range at all). Plus she doesn't seem to have a lot of personality.

One Direction.. Oh dear. The boys we'd all love to hate. But Simon is definitely going to sign them, they're going to do well, sell millions of records, the tweeners will go mad etc. They'll be fine.

Cher Lloyd? She's a little grating to watch sometimes. And she comes off as a bit cocky. Actually not a bit, very cocky. But she's interesting to watch. I'll leave it at that.

Nevertheless, check out Matt's debut single When We Collide below.

Download Link: HERE
Download Link 2: HERE
Download Link 3: HERE