Daniel Merriweather is the chap who announced himself by DARING to cover The Smiths' "Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before" with Mark Ronson. Somehow he managed to survive the frothy-mouthed outrage that predictably followed, and now he's keen to show that he don't need no moody Manc lyrics to get him in those there charts.

Er, he does appear to need Ronno though. Magic Mark produces "Changes", but if you're as trumpeted out as me you'll be glad to hear he goes easy on the horns. Instead the main hook is a snippet of twinkly piano which goes rather well with guest rapper Wale's rhymes. By the way, you pronounce Wale "wah-lay". You have to mention that any time you write about Wale. It's rap law.

(Incidentallement, Seinfeld fans who are not averse to hip-hop should check out Wale's "Mixtape About Nothing" from last year - get it for zero outlay here.)

I think this "Change" number could be a sizable hit, don't you? Ah, you still haven't forgiven him for covering The Smiths? GET OVER IT PLEASE.

Daniel Merriweather's debut album, Love and War, will be released later this year.

See the vid after the jump.

[video: icolumbia]