Welcome to this week's edition of The Story of Pop: 1999, our weekly look back at the all the big movements in the UK charts of twenty years ago. And I suggest you strap yourselves in for this week people, because we have not one, but TWO - yes, two - songs to cover. Prepare … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 45)
The covers album seems to be that most frequent hot potato to bash where pop music is concerned. Somehow, years of elitist rock critics have had open season, pouring scorn on such releases for being a mark of coasting on a 'safe' or more commercial banker at the expense of being 'cooler' or more worthy … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: Emma Bunton (@EmmaBunton) – ‘My Happy Place’
ARTIST: Emma Bunton SONG: Baby Please Don't Stop SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? If you read this here corner of the interweb with any regularity, you'll know a couple of things. Mainly, we love us a good girl group. And perhaps even more so than that, we love us a … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Emma Bunton – ‘Baby Please Don’t Stop’
Nostalgia. It's a powerful - and underestimated - thing isn't it? How a smell, a taste, a sound or an image can bring thousands of memories flooding back. The best nostalgia trips thrive on an assault of all these senses. For whilst a few thousand people were descending on Hylands Park in my home city … Continue reading Spice Up London: the 90s girl power pop exhibition that’s giving you everything
It's that time of year again people! Today and all weekend, the nation digs deep and gets ready to do all manner of crazy things to raise money for the BBC's annual Children in Need appeal, with the live telethon kicking off tonight at 7pm on BBC One. One of the longest standing traditions of … Continue reading #CrazyStupidPlaylist: BBC Children in Need Singles
As we left the first part, we touched on the release of "Viva Forever" being - at the time at least - the Spice Girls' final single as a five piece before Geri walked out of the group in May 1998. Though the Spices would go onto release one final album together - the much … Continue reading A #CrazyStupidPlaylist Special: 20 Years of the Spice Girls (Part 2 – Solo Spices)
Picture the scene exactly 20 years ago, in July 1996. Pop has never mattered the least in such a long time. Take That have split, and neither Gary Barlow nor Robbie Williams are yet emerging with viable solo prospects. Oasis and Blur, the two heavyweights of Britpop, are the main games in town. And Peter … Continue reading A #CrazyStupidPlaylist Special: 20 Years of the Spice Girls (Part 1 – Their Greatest Hits)
