I am deeply saddened to be hearing and thus writing a post about the news that Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding has passed away this morning at the age of 39, following a year long battle with terminal cancer. Although I never met her or knew her, the news has hit home today in a big … Continue reading Remembering Sarah Harding: pop’s walking primrose
Howdy! Firstly before we start a quick Happy Easter to you all. Secondly - time for this week's Pop Essays, as we revisit another lost gem of a track from the mists of pop time. This week: one of the greatest songs you've probably never heard by the greatest pop production team of the 00s... … Continue reading Pop Essays #13: Frank, ‘Never Left A Girl’
Welcome to this week's Pop Essays, my series of blogs shining light on the golden nuggets of pop's yesteryear that fell through the cracks but I am now resurrecting like some gilt edged Phoenix. I'll desist with this fictional bird analogy now, and move onto this week's essay, and a favourite pop love of mine: … Continue reading Pop Essays #4: Girls Can’t Catch, ‘Echo’
ARTIST: Girls Aloud SONG: Not Tonight Santa If you ever wanted proof of how British a prospect for pop Girls Aloud were in the 00s, this saucy as a seaside postcard original number from the special Christmas bonus disc of their 2005 album 'Chemistry' should act as confirmation of this. https://youtu.be/sMgOPKas6oE With a … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2018: Day 17
If you're wondering just exactly what was hitting the top of the UK charts on this week in the last 25 years, then you need our weekly retro pop blog juggernaut that is #ThrowbackTunesday. So without any ado, let's see who we've got on our marvellous playlist this week before we get to our featured … Continue reading #ThrowbackTunesday: Episode 39
It's Tuesday, and time for this week's #ThrowbackTunesday, where we bring you our playlist of five UK chart hits from this week in the past 25 years. As always, our featured song is on the way, but here's who we have on the playlist for you this week... 1993: Ace of Base - All That … Continue reading #ThrowbackTunesday: Episode 17
It's Tuesday people! Hope you had a good bank holiday weekend viewers. It's time once again for #ThrowbackTunesday. Before we get to today's featured song, let's see what five UK chart hits from this exact week in the last 25 years are on the playlist... 1993: Spin Doctors - Two Princes 1998: The Corrs - … Continue reading #ThrowbackTunesday: Episode 16
ARTIST: Nadine Coyle SONG: Girls on Fire SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Next month will be five years since Girls Aloud - but let's be honest, mainly Cheryl, Kimberley and Nicola - finished their 10th anniversary tour, and then promptly split up one of British pop's greatest acts of a … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Nadine Coyle – ‘Girls on Fire’
So today marks the start of what is by common consent in the UK, the one time of year when the entire nation suddenly takes a vested interest in its singles chart. Because as of midnight last night, the race to be 2017's official UK Christmas number one is under way. If you're a betting … Continue reading #CrazyStupidPlaylist: My Ultimate Christmas Number Ones
ARTIST: Girls Aloud SONG: I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas in a Nutshell) ALBUM: Chemistry - Bonus Christmas Version (2005, Polydor) From the mini album of festive covers and original Xenomania helmed winter warmers that accompanied the deluxe version of their much acclaimed third studio album 'Chemistry' in 2005, the girls' ode to clubbing on … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 8
Alex's Blog (still Crazy, still Stupid)... 