Macdonald admits she never liked her flop single 'LA'

Few artists are known for their humility – or their fondness for critics – but a rising star of the music world has bucked the trends of her trade by agreeing with hatchet-job reviews which described her latest single as "yawnsome" and "completely forgettable".

The Glaswegian singer/ songwriter Amy Macdonald, 20, whose debut album was greeted with enthusiasm by fans and critics alike when it was released earlier this year, received damning reviews for her latest release "LA", which failed to sell enough copies to get into the top 30 of the chart. But, instead of shrugging off the criticism and carrying on regardless, Macdonald has poured her heart out on her internet blog, expressing embarrassment at the flop and admitting she never really liked it much herself.

She wrote on MySpace: "So I've thrown myself right back in at the deep end and have been rewarded with a lovely chart position of 48! It's more embarrassing than anything else. If I'm honest I really don't like "LA" all that much and don't think it represents the album one bit."

Despite a nationwide tour to promote the single, including television appearances, "LA" failed to impress. A review from music website Digital Spy said: "It's perhaps a rare talent to make a tune that's so insipid and bland that it becomes tricky to describe its terribleness, but if there was an award for such a gift then young Amy would be well in the running for the accolade."

The Manchester Evening News was similarly uninspired. "Whilst she may have a commanding vocal delivery, "LA" is a completely forgettable showcase for it, rolling along the same yawnsome middle of the road path as fellow Scot K T Tunstall and Sandi Thom, and fails to make any lasting impression beyond vaguely pleasant background noise."

Macdonald's online message described her current moo1d as "annoyed". She also expressed her frustration at having had to cancel a series of gigs. "As you all know, I've not been keeping very well," she wrote. "I was and still am completely exhausted. This resulted in me coming down with a horrible cold which wouldn't go away. It was really starting to hurt my throat and I just needed some time to sleep.

"I absolutely hate cancelling gigs, more than anything. Playing is the best part of what I'm doing by an absolute mile. It's the reason I do what I do, so please understand how hard it is for me to cancel a gig and that I don't just do it for the sake of it."

However, she could find some consolation in the fact that the single had been played on both EastEnders and Coronation Street. It also rose up the charts before swiftly falling out again. She said: "It's currently at number 31 after 11 weeks, so I'm definitely not complaining. On the up side, this week my songs have made appearances in both Walford and Weatherfield. I find this hilarious."

"LA", which was inspired by the Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal, was the second single to be released from Macdonald's debut album, This is The Life, which charted at number two. Her first single, "Mr Rock & Roll" went into the charts at number 12 in July.

Macdonald, who played her first gig in Glasgow aged 15, signed a record deal with Vertigo six months after being taken on by the London-based production and management company Melodramatic Records. Her song "Road to Home" is the official anthem of Glasgow's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.