Good to have you back Lily – missed ya!

If anybody else out there was keeping score between Lily and Amy Winehouse, Lily is the winner in finally getting some new music out. The Fear is Lily’s first single from the new album, It’s Not Me, It’s You.

They say the second album is always a difficult prospect. You’ve got to keep the fans you gained with the first record, but you’ve got to offer something new at the same time.

If The Fear is anything to go by, Lily’s got it licked. It’s got that sweet, girlie voice coupled as usual with razor sharp lyrics. What’s new this time around is an electropop feel that really works with Allen’s vocals.

There’s a deadly combination of scathing lyrics and a video of Lily skipping around the set, dancing with oversized presents in a stately hall. She’s talking about celebrity lifestyles, money and – of course – herself…

It doesn’t matter ‘coz I’m packing plastic
And that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
It’s not my fault, it’s how I’m programmed to function
I look at the sun and I look in the mirror
And that’s when I know
I’m onto a winner

I love the lyric about looking at the sun and the mirror – she’s obviously referring to The Sun and The Mirror as barometers of her fame.

After a few months where it looked like an Allen backlash was on the cards, Lily’s come back stronger than ever. As far as I’m concerned, The Fear will win back the doubters easily, and  – can I be honest with you? – it put a smile on my face this Friday morning. Well done, Lily. Thumbs up.