A couple of years back the UK’s obsession with TV talent Pop Idol contests hit its peak and we were swamped with aspiring vocalists and songwriters who longed for instant fame and a huge pop career. Amongst the many chunks of flash in the pan crap and failed dreams came a couple of handfuls of great songs…here are three.

Liberty X– Thinking it Over, [Thinking it Over]

Nicknamed the Flopstars after coming second place to the Popstars winners Hear’say, Liberty X (then called Liberty) were always the safer bet as sustaining interest. Aside from the fact that they were better looking than the victors, they also didn’t have to worry about staying Kids TV saccharine in order to appeal to the broadest possible audience. This, their debut single, was co-produced by Pete Devereux (the brains behind the Artful Dodger releases) and was just in time to coast along on the early stages of commercial garage’s sweep into the mainstream.

[visit Liberty X’s website here, buy Thinking It Over here]

Will Young– Lovestruck, [From Now On]

From Pop Idol winner Will Young’s overlooked superb debut LP, this is amongst the very best Bacharach and David impressions that I’ve ever come across, especially considering it’s a co-write between Cathy Dennis and Young. Capturing those first flushes of love that can paint the whole world sky blue, this song is a mile wide grin, candy floss and heart shaped balloons. The soft strummed guitars, counter melody strings and jangling triangle provide a perfect bed for Young’s warbling; this is a “get that girl/boy” summer mix-tape classic.

[visit Will Young’s website here, buy From Now On here]

Darius– Incredible, [Dive In]

His original appearances on Pop Idol were the stuff of UK TV history (find his infamous accapella of “Hit Me Baby One More Time”). He acted like an utter muppet the whole show. His return as a clean cut pop crooner on the follow-up series paved the way for a ‘comeback’ of sorts and some classic pop. The third single from his debut, Incredible is pretty much perfect pop with its handclaps, peaks, big strings, guitar i.e. a series of rushes and a lyric you can either view as smart (Darius’ realisations of self deceit) or as throwaway rhymes. Genius.

[visit Darius’ website here, buy Dive In here]