"Don't it make your heart go wow, how I've turned this whole thing round," sings Nicola Roberts on her debut solo single, Beat of My Drum. You might find her question presumptuous - especially if you're someone whose heart hasn't gone "wow" since your teenage years. But even so, it's hard not to be stirred by the way the singer has reinvented herself.
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Roberts, 25, has been a member of British pop troupe Girls Aloud since her own teenage years. The all-female five-piece were formed in 2002 on a reality TV show called Popstars: The Rivals - essentially a prototype version of The X Factor. At the time, few expected this gimmicky-looking combo to last beyond their first album. However, thanks to a combination of charm, chutzpah and high-quality pop songs crafted for them by British songwriting team Xenomania, Girls Aloud would buck expectations - time and time again.
By the time they announced their plans to take a break from the treadmill of touring and recording in 2009, the group had notched up 20 UK Top 10 hits, had their songs covered by Bloc Party and the Arctic Monkeys, and earned an estimated $40m along the way.
But while Girls Aloud became the manufactured pop group it was alright to like, Roberts herself earned a less favourable reputation. With her pale complexion, shy demeanour and distinctive ginger hair, she didn't fit the Noughties archetype of the blonde, bronzed girl-band Barbie. She didn't go in for showbiz niceties either. If she thought a journalist was disrespecting her band mates, she'd respond with a look that could wither an orchid.
Roberts addresses this period of her development on Take a Bite, a typically candid song from her debut solo album, Cinderella's Eyes. "When I got down to London, I had the press on my case, 'cause I didn't walk round with a smile on my face," she recalls. She later vows to make her critics "eat all their words".
It's this combination of honesty and moxie that's helped Roberts "to turn this whole thing round". And she shoots from the hip across the album. Songs like Fish Out of Water, Porcelain Heart and Yo-Yo find the singer laying herself romantically bare.
The suitably combative Gladiator sees her square up to her critics. And on the album's closer Sticks + Stones, Roberts deals with the contradictions she faced while growing up in the public eye.
That last song features what could be the album's most candid moment. Looking back on her first flush of fame, Roberts recalls having to persuade her driver to buy an alcoholic drink for her - because she wasn't old enough to purchase one herself. "How funny that I was too young for so many things, yet you thought I'd cope with being told I'm ugly," she sings. It's heartbreaking stuff.
The album's centrepiece, i, is almost as powerful. It's a stream of consciousness list of the singer's fears - everything from "losing control" to "being some two-faced person's little stepping stone" - and dislikes, which include both "Batman" and "bitchy girls". In the hands of a less likeable artist, i could become self-indulgent, but thanks to the sincerity of Roberts' vocal performance, it's touching instead. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she flips the song on its head in its final minute. When Roberts sings "I hope that one day we get the answers," i becomes something universal.
What is it about Nicola Roberts that makes her easy to empathise with? Well, in addition to being a tough cookie and a straight-talker, she has the courage of her convictions.
During her teenage years, Roberts succumbed to the western fad for sunbed tanning. As she explained recently, "I just wanted to look tanned and fit in with everyone." However, the singer has since given up this potentially risky habit and embraced her natural "English rose" skin tone.
This led her to present an eye-opening TV documentary called Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning, after which she backed legislation to ban minors from using sunbeds in the UK. She also launched a line of beauty products specifically designed for women with paler complexions. Indeed, her Dainty Doll range is now so popular that it's stocked in the UK's leading pharmacy chain, Boots, which has an additional 28 outlets in the UAE.
As she's become more comfortable in her skin, Roberts has also honed her own sense of style. In the video for her current single, Lucky Day, Roberts is shown strolling the streets of New York in retro trainers and a short floral smock top. It's a gutsy outfit - one of many that's led British fashion designer Henry Holland to declare Roberts his muse. "Nicola's got a real sense of English rose about her and she likes to experiment. She doesn't conform," he enthused during a recent interview. He also likened the singer's look to that of a Hitchcock heroine.
Cinderella's Eyes features songwriting and production contributions from the Canadian pop mavens Dragonette, Joe Mount of the English electronic combo Metronomy, and the trendy French DJ Dimitri Tokovoi.
Most remarkably of all, the album's lead single was co-written and produced by Diplo - MIA's beatsmith of choice. Naturally, there is a story behind this.
The stress of perfecting Beat Of My Drum had been making Roberts ill during her recording sessions, so she decided she had to bring Diplo on board. The subsequent phone call was apparently like "ringing a boy for the first time", but Roberts' bravery paid off. "I'm so proud of [the track]. I can't believe it's mine," she gushed recently.
And Beat Of My Drum was no fluke. Roberts has made a pop album that's as cool, fresh and moreish as a coffee granita.
Cinderella's Eyes skips confidently from playground chants (Beat of My Drum) to dayglo electropop (Lucky Day) to Hi-NRG modern disco (Cinderella's Eyes, Say It Out Loud, Gladiator) to clinking synth-pop (i) to its own wobbly brand of electronic soul (Yo-Yo, Fish Out of Water). There's even one song that sounds a little like Gwen Stefani fronting a 2011 version of The B-52's (Take A Bite). Along the way, Roberts finds time to reinvent The Korgis' Eighties classic Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime for the iPad generation.
She also packs in enough pop choruses to seduce the sniffiest indie music snob. And in the process, she never sacrifices her core values: honesty, self-acceptance, tenacity, respect. Whether you've followed Nicola Roberts from her reality TV days, or just noticed her turn this whole thing around, that's got to be enough to make your own heart go "wow".
Nick Levine is a freelance music journalist based in London.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
