Kate Nash: 'Merry Happy'

Released on Monday, Mar 24 2008

Published Tuesday, Mar 11 2008, 16:03 GMT | By Alex Fletcher | 12 comments

So what is Kate Nash? To many, she's a pampered Brit School irritant who needs to learn how to pronounce her words properly. Others, such as the Brits Academy and NME Awards' voters, view her as an important role model for the Facebook generation. Her kooky pop hits may provide hours of merriment for some music fans, but as many others would like to see her piano-tinkling fingers removed and her affected singing voice banished from the airwaves.

New single 'Merry Happy' will only widen the divide between the two camps. With a plinky-plonky melody straight from Fisher Price's My First Piano guide and dozens of "doo-doo", "baa-baa" harmonies, it isn't a great advert for the songwriting department at Croydon's most famous educational establishment. Luckily, Nash's chirpy enthusiasm just about saves the day, as she relates a sweet tale of heartbroken defiance ("I can be alone, yeah, I can watch a sunset on my own"). The conclusion? It won't alter opinions on the ginger popstress, but it should keep her supporters smiling for another month or two.

> Click here for our review of Kate Nash's Made of Bricks album

More: Kate Nash, Music

Your Views

12 Comments

Your Responses

Barry, Liverpool, on May 22nd, 2008
Why won't she just go away?

Tom, Penrith, on April 10th, 2008
Bloomin' awful, can't wait until everyone has gotten fed up with this girl. It's no suprise her ex-producer has been slating her, 'childish' is an understatement.

Amy, Dundee, on April 10th, 2008
To the 'voice of reason', you appear unaware of the very nature of a 'review'! 'Reviews' are not supposed to be merely blanket praise for the artist in question, they are supposed to represent the general consensus on that artist - i.e some people like them, others do not. If someone has an interest in the arts, they will undoubtably read reviews, whether they like the artist or not! In conclusion, when you next read an unfavourable review, bear in mind the author is not 'berating' other people's opinions, they are merely voicing their own.

Voice of Reason, on April 10th, 2008
Deary me. I have to ask - if you hate her so much why bother wasting your time reading about her and then writing a negative comment!? It's ok - you don't have to like everything and other people don't have to like everything you like. Go and say something nice about something you think is great rather than berating other people's taste.Tsk tsk!

Jack, Bristol., on April 4th, 2008
Some silly reviews here. Kate Nash is quality, as is Merry Happy.

abi, southampton, on April 4th, 2008
kate nash is amazing, you dont know what you're talking about :| her music is completly original! yr a rubbish reviewer tbh.

Lizzie, Bristol, on March 28th, 2008
Ginger? Honestly. The girl really isn't ginger. And no I'm not ginger myself, I'm a naturally blonde brunette, I just think to call her a "ginger popstress" is quite franky bizarre. As for the song, I really quite like it but it probably doesn't deserve more than a 3, although 3.5 would be quite fair.

Amy, West Mids, on March 25th, 2008
I agree with Andy, Kate's success is frankly outstanding, considering the banality of her lyrics and the god-awful mockney twittering. No it's not cool to pretend you're from the streets, we all know you're middle class so stop trying to pretend you're not. Although guilty of the mockney affect, at least Lily has a charming voice. Unlike Kate.

Andy, Hull , on March 17th, 2008
When is this girl going to grow up? I am so sick of listening to awful lyrics that my 5yr old nephew could have wrote, sang in a grating "mockney" accent over a piece of music which relies on repeating the same 3 circles of fifths with ill timed tempo and octave jumps.

She can surely afford a writing team after such unwarranted success and perhaps she can begin to grow as an artist rather than staying in this "rebellious teen" phase. Grow up or shut up Kate, Lilly does it better, and that girl can actually sing, and write a lyric with a little depth!

Ben, Peterborough, on March 14th, 2008
I Love This Song! I Have It On My Phone.

Luke, Halifax, on March 13th, 2008
Another great song from the Nash. She continues to be a breath of fresh air in the UK charts. More top 10 singles, chart topping albums and awards await Miss Nash.

Miss E, Manchester, on March 12th, 2008
Not sure I completely accept this review. Merry Happy is a great song but it would possibly have been better left as a album track. I loved Kate Nash before she was signed (I can actually say that for once!) and have been singing her praises for over a year now so I'd love to hear some brand new songs. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I think anyone who releases something a little more quirky than Katie Melua or The Enemy should be praised. As for the simplisitic song writing - it's refreshing to hear lyrics that don't require a dictionary to decipher. Call me daft but I think people who can't relate to the joys of eating toast with their better half is in need of a reality check!