Daniel Powter - Turn on the Lights

It’d be easy to assume that Powter hasn’t had a bad day since 2006—when “Bad Day,” the piano-pop nugget from his self-titled album, became a worldwide smash. But it wouldn’t be true. Although the Grammy-nominated song sold millions, its massive success was “a blessing and a curse,” he now admits. His subdued followup album stiffed and the Canadian singer-songwriter was at risk of becoming a one-hit wonder. Says Powter: “I actually found myself getting almost angry about it.”

            The dark clouds have lifted with Turn on the Lights, which finds Powter returning to the upbeat piano-pop sound that made him famous. The opening “Cupid” boasts ear-candy hooks similar to “Bad Day,” while the joyful “Birthday Suits” exudes a refreshing honesty. “I’m not a jock, I’m not a rock star,” he sings on the latter, “just a skinny kid from Vancouver.” With undeniably catchy songs, Powter is destined to beat the curse.