Rajaa Alsanea's novel, set in the form of a gossipy internet blog about four upper-middle-class Saudi girls and their calamitous love lives, was officially banned in Saudi Arabia when it was published in Arabic two years ago (and a lawsuit was briefly filed against the author, fortunately away in America studying dentistry).

ECONOMIST: Saudi fiction

"The Girls Don't Care" in particular functions as an ideal sequel to "End of Love, " as Barzelay gently advises against hipper-than-thou posturing: "The girls don't care that you ache to be free, " he sings.

NPR: Eef Barzelay: A Blueprint For Finding Love

In this week's Hello magazine, Mr Opik insisted his love for Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia is based on a "meeting of minds" rather than "lust".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | MP Opik 'flattered by happiness'