Clare Maguire wrote 'the last dance' for her hero

You may remember that I posted you about Clare Maguire last Wednesday as one of the most exciting new acts to watch in 2011. After the stunning "Ain't Nobody," the Birmingham singer returns with a new video for her follow up single, "The Last Dance," that is the first proper single from Maguire who seems to suddenly be all over the place thanks to her inclusion on just about every 'big in 2011' list going. The bog standard '80s style synth build is nothing to write home about, but the focus of this song is understandably not the instrumentation or the gospel-y backing vocals that are probably unnecessary when all is said and done, but on the voice of Maguire herself.
Written the day after her childhood hero Michael Jackson passed away, "The Last Dance" is the second single and the one of the most personal tunes to be released off Maguire's upcoming debut album, "Light After Dark." The new single will be released on February 20 on Polydor, and her debut album, the heavy-sounding "Light After Dark" follows a week later. The 22-year-old singer describes the album as a big album with epic production. "There's a big, epic production sound to the album, and I'm worried about how I can get that across live. I'm worried and excited about bringing these songs to Ireland. I'm so passionate about this because when you've been waiting 22 years to do something, you really want to get it right."
Not only was writing "The Last Dance" a way for the singer to cope with the untimely death of her childhood hero, it was also a way to vent about the misplaced rumor and innuendo that immediately followed Jackson's passing. "The Last Dance" is probably the most mainstream sounding song we've heard from Maguire thus far, which is definitely a good thing since it should allow her to turn some of this critical buzz into commercial success. It's not a bad tune, and you'll find yourself nodding along wants the drums and bass really pick up towards the middle of the song. Listen to the stunning voice of Maguire as she belts out a self-written number for her long-time idol, Micheal Jackson.
I can't get over how wonderful Maguire's voice is. It evokes a lot of emotions for sure. Listening to this song evokes a very deep, slightly unbearable sense of nostalgia and sadness. Not to sound like some 40-year old going through a mid-life crisis, wanting to recapture my youth or anything. But I think some of you might get what I'm trying to say. It's a very beautiful song. Maguire may be barely in her 20s but she's already got received more accolades in her brief time in the public eye than most acts garner during full careers. The 23-year-old possesses a good ear for pop tunes and deep, throaty wail that landed her on BBC's The Sound of 2011 list. The brummie beauty looks mighty fine in the video to her epic new single, flashing her long legs in a variety of frocks and leotard. Enjoy the refreshing and breathtaking Alex & Liane-directed video below.