Just over two years ago in 2019, when we wrote our 10th anniversary blog for the release of their debut album, we confidently predicted (or at least hoped) that JLS would both get back together and return to the UK and Ireland's arenas in December 2020 to tour and mark the occasion properly. Whilst the … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: JLS (@JLSOfficial) – ‘2.0’
When pop bands get to a certain level of success - hit singles and albums, stacks of awards and sellout tours, it's safe to say they've reached national ubiquity and adoration. It is therefore not out the question, then, to mark this transition into absolute phenomenon via their first big screen outing. But it's a … Continue reading JLS: Eyes Wide Open – the 10th anniversary of an intimate 21st century pop film
Well hello there, and a warm welcome to this week's Pop Essays, our weekly revisitation of personal pop favourites of ours from years gone by to give them the proper kudos that they've not - until now - been given. And - it'll make more sense as you read along - but this is the … Continue reading Pop Essays #7: Aston Merrygold, ‘Get Stupid’
It's official: JLS are - to use the Smash Hits term - BACK! BACK! BACK! Following on - we would like to think - from our retrospective piece we did for the 10th anniversary of their debut album last November, Oritsé, Aston, Marvin and JB finally settled months of speculation last week, and announced details … Continue reading Our definitive ranking of all of JLS’ singles.
It's funny how much has changed in ten years. Not least of all The X Factor. Once the cornerstone and an unmissable powerhouse of Saturday night entertainment on ITV, pulling in 16m viewers at its peak, it actually once did what it said on the tin and produced stars. Nowadays, it's a pitiful and irrelevant … Continue reading JLS: a retrospective piece on the 10th anniversary of their debut album
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
The post pop group solo career is a tricky, some might say unforgiving mistress to navigate. For every success story - Beyoncé, Robbie or Justin selling out stadiums and shifting albums by the bucketload, there's a thousand Abz, Lisa Scott-Lees or Appletons starring in Z-list reality shows and being dropped like hot potatoes from their … Continue reading Beating again: the rebirth of Marvin Humes
Alex's Blog (still Crazy, still Stupid)... 