If anyone knows about being famous in late-noughties Britain, it's Lily Allen. Over the last seven days she's supposed to have condoned drug use, apparently threatened to post Katy Perry's phone number online and reportedly bagged a role as the new Dr Who assistant. It's no surprise, therefore, that her fame-themed comeback single is bang on the money.

'The Fear' finds her parodying the tawdry ambitions of today's Z-list celebs with a steady supply of sharp couplets. "I want loads of clothes and a f***load of diamonds," she deadpans, "I heard people die while they're trying to find them". Musically she adopts a more mature electropop sound here, but her gift for a memorable melody remains, making this a welcome reminder of why she became famous in the first place. Yes, she's gobby and her chatshow wasn't much cop, but Lily Allen's still got a knack for making smart, relevant, affecting pop music.


> Click here to watch Lily Allen's 'The Fear' video