Back in February, Scarlett Johansson had big plans.
She was creating a super-pop supergroup girlband along with: Este Haim; Holly Miranda; Julia Haltigan; and Kendra Morris. They were to be called 'The Singles', and would release music sporadically, in the style of 'The Go Go's', 'The Bangles', and 'Grimes'.
It sounded exciting, especially as Johansson's last couple of musical ventures (she released 'Anywhere I Lay My Head', a CD full of Tom Waits covers, in 2008, and 'Break Up', a collaboration album with Pete Yorn, in 2009) were nothing short of weirdly spectacular. Clashing music and her almost-manly-at-times vocals created a somewhat distopian alien atmosphere, and her iTunes exclusive live album, released in 2008, only exacerbated the Marmite-like sound. You either love it, or you hate it. She's what you would call a refined musical taste.
And then a song appeared online a short while later. Titled 'Candy', it was the first taste of what was to come from 'The Singles'. Johansson's vocals were prominent, saccharine tones dripping with sickly sweet lyrics. It was a flirty love song, comparing men to sugary treats. Its explicitness is oozing and sticky, disguising its true meanings with syrupy metaphors. it's a slightly-underproduced gem of a pop piece.
But just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanished. Not even a week later and there wasn't a trace of 'Candy' anywhere. An already established band, also named 'The Singles', filed a cease-and-desist, pulling the plug on Johansson's plans. The song was removed from its home on Soundcloud and disappeared from YouTube a short time later.
Of course, it will never be completely wiped out and removed - everything lives forever on the Internet, it's already sprouted back up on YouTube - but it's safe to say that thanks to the legal implications that are now surrounding them, there probably won't be any new music from this super-pop supergroup. Unless they change their name.
So I beg you, Scarlett Johansson, please reconsider. Please rename your band and release more gloriously-guilty pop-pleasures. Please don't let the supergroup dream die.
With Este Haim working on Haim's next album though, it looks unlikely. For now, 'Candy' lives on through my iTunes library, and that will have to do.
