Cheryl is one of those people I can't help but love. I loved her as the feisty Geordie one from Girls Aloud, she was the best judge on X Factor and the profound dislike I feel for Nicole Scherzinger is directly related to how the later took Cheryl's place as she was fired from X Factor US. Was it Nicole's fault that she was fired? Who knows. Do I care? Nope.
The thing is, I am a fan, and sometimes we're not very rational. And yet, I will admit that when she announced a solo career, I wasn't very thrilled. At the time Girls Aloud were at the height of their career and suddenly she was going solo, and even though the band wasn't splitting up I didn't feel very reassured. I am a 90's kid, I saw Ginger leave the Spice Girls and that was truly traumatic for an 8-year-old. I really didn't want to relieve it with another girl band again.
Thankfully, Girls Aloud only took a break, which, despite being a long one, will be officially over by the end of this year. And now Cheryl, who had been noticeably absent since the X Factor fiasco, is also back. 'Call My Name' is the title of her new single, which premiered on Friday and it's set to be a huge success. Produced by Calvin Harris, Cheryl attempts to create her own 'We Found Love', an irresistible dance floor anthem that aims to please a wide audience and will, hopefully, give her a ticket to the US charts.
'Call My Name' is the first single from Cheryl's third album, titled 'A Million Lights'. In a way, it's the introduction to a renewed Cheryl, both musically and personally. She has dropped the 'Cole' out of her name and her pop sound has taken a turn towards dance. Alex Da Kid, Will.I.Am or Lana Del Rey are among the producers and writers who have collaborated in the making of her new album, which makes it all really promising.
The video is premiering the 2nd of May and was directed by Anthony Mandler, who has worked with people like Rihanna, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, Usher and Drake. Everything feels bigger and better this time, like a natural evolution from that girl who once conquered the charts singing 'Fight For This Love'. And I for one am really happy to have her back.