Hilary Duff's "Sparks" - Single Review

   Stop what you're doing right this second!

   Did you stop?! Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?!

   Pop royalty Hilary Duff is taking us back to her dominating and desperately desired Dignity days with the release of a new catchy tune. This one is a definite must hear!

   "Sparks", the infectious, whistling overdose, is the latest single pulled from the artist's upcoming fifth studio album, following the folky yet underwhelming "Chasing The Sun" and the underrated country-leaning "All About You".

   The former Disney starlet made headlines in 2014 with her announced music comeback, releasing her first string of original material since 2008. We can't forget about "Holiday" now. While "Chasing The Sun" and "All About You" were impressive, unique releases in their own right, the songs failed to catch on with listeners and Duff was forced to put her music career on hold once again to film and promote TV Land's Younger, her new sitcom created by Sex and the City's Darren Star.

   "Sparks", which was first teased in a minute-long promo for Younger, is a pulsating piece of seductive dance music that fits in with the artist's new mature image and would sound perfect on any dancefloor. (She is 27 years old after all.) Co-written by current pop heavyweight Tove Lo, the new single will take listeners back to Duff's dance/pop sound of her last proper studio album. It's a thrilling, fun and sensual release that carries a necessary radio friendly hook demanding massive amounts of airplay. As of this writing, the song currently sits at number 38 on the iTunes charts.

   After a perky, attention-grabbing whistling intro, Duff chimes in with a low, seductive vocal performance that calls for some touching in the dark. "Ticking tocking like a bomb, throws me back to when I had you closer, skin to skin we get it on, without the love I feel you going bolder," she sings on a more adult-themed offering before the delicious chorus, which was sent directly from the pop gods above, comes through to force everyone to sing and "try" to whistle along.

    The single guides Duff down the right path of age appropriateness. "Sparks" is not the dirty, raunchy effort some pop princesses released before they were actually able to call themselves adults. The Bloodshy/Peter Thomas produced gem is exactly what the adored artist needs to get people salivating over her long-awaited return to pop... just as this blogger has been doing over the last eight years. Now do that thing I like!

   UPDATE: "Sparks" is getting a delicious club makeover with the help of an infectious remix by JØRG and it definitely amps up the dance appeal of Duff's latest slice of pop gold. Check it out below. 

   UPDATE #2 (05/14/15): Over a month after "Sparks" official premiere, Hilary Duff has finally released the music video in support of the brilliant Tove Lo-written pop track, featured on her upcoming fifth studio album, Breathe In Breathe Out. Directed by Hannah Lux David, the woman behind Jessie J's playful "Bang Bang" visual, the new release is split between a "behind the scenes" look into Duff's new Tinder dating life and beautiful, multicolor shots of the artists and her backup dancers partaking in choreographed dance routines. Duff has never looked better. Truly stunning.

   While the idea for the video is a smart, cute and creative concept, hopefully the artist will release a version of the video without her real-life dating adventures intact. They distract from the actual song, which does not work if Duff's team is hoping the visual will aid in the track's future chart success. Bits and pieces of the new project work, but as a whole, it does not reach its full potential. Watch below.

   UPDATE #3 (05/28/15): When the original version of Hilary Duff's "Sparks" music video was released two weeks ago, devoted fans got pretty upset with the pop singer. Instead of the neon colored visual masterpiece they were expecting, viewers were treated to an unofficial Tinder documentary chronicling the artist's dating adventures. While the video was a fun premise, it distracted attention from the actual track. Not good. 

   However, all is right in the pop world again as Duff has just unleashed an alternative, fan demanded version of the bright and carefree "Sparks" music video. This time around, the new video is as was originally intended, just Duff and her backup dancers showcasing some pretty unique moves as the eye-catching backdrops changes from pink to blue. It's a strong statement to Duff's evolution in the pop genre and serves as a better support system for the catchy single. 

   Besides getting more of the "All About You" artist, the unveiling of an alternate version of a music video is testament to Duff's relationship with her fans. The fans spoke, the artist listened. How many others can say that?... None.