There are many things about 2020 that we'll all be quick to try and forget about once it passes. But one positive thing is that for the first time in a very long while, where pop music is concerned, it has caused everyone involved to pull their socks up a little. In short, this year … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: Little Mix (@LittleMix) – ‘Confetti’ / Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) – ‘Disco’
Take yourselves back now, to a time when the Spice Girls were just a twinkle in their creator's eye, and when Little Mix were but mere specks in the pop constellations. The year is 1979, and childhood friends Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward have just moved from outside Bristol into the YWCA in London. Little … Continue reading #CrazyStupidBook: Bananarama – “Really Saying Something”
If you had said to anybody this time 20 years ago that the Spice Girls would still be a bankable interest - whether in group or solo efforts - they would have laughed in your face. That's not meant in a glib way, you understand. Next week's The Story of Pop: 2000 entry will cover … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: Melanie C (@MelanieCmusic) – ‘Melanie C’
"Why is it called 'Quite'? Well, because it's my favourite word. It's a raised eyebrow, an aside. 'Well, quite.' But at the same time, it's firm, restrained, and it manages your expectations ... and that's what we need, I think." And so begins the first ever book from Claudia Winkleman. To most people, she is … Continue reading #CrazyStupidBook: Claudia Winkleman – “Quite”
"Listen up, we're looking for recruits / If you're with me let me see your hands / Stand up and Salute". So sang the Little Mix ladies on their massive hit single from 2014. Now, almost 10 years after they became the first ever group to win The X Factor, they are launching a brand … Continue reading #CrazyStupidTV: Little Mix – The Search (BBC One, 26th September)
Now here's the thing. Under old circumstances, this review would have been up when this album came out three months ago. Alas, with its release coming just as the world literally stopped, old circumstances have given way to new ones since then. Ones that I haven't really coped with all that well on a wider … Continue reading #CrazyStupidAlbum: Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) – ‘Heartbreak Weather’
ARTIST: Four of Diamonds & Mr Eazi SONG: The Writer SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? By rights, the Four of Diamonds girls should be, if not globally huge, then at least of consistent top 10 hitting heights levels of success. That they remain slept on by Joe Public in 2020 … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Four of Diamonds & Mr Eazi – ‘The Writer’
ARTIST: Izzy Bizu SONG: Faded SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Unlike most people, my knowledge of Izzy Bizu came prior to her break through as a solo artist in 2016. Prior to that, she was a member of SoundGirl, a clever if not quite big pre-Little Mix who supported Pixie … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Izzy Bizu – ‘Faded’
ARTIST: Little Mix SONG: Break Up Song SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? We can only imagine what a fine line music stars must tread in these current times. And for Little Mix, we imagine that line is an even finer one for them to tread being at the poppiest end … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Little Mix – ‘Break Up Song’
ARTIST: Lawson SONG: Lovers SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Lawson are - to use the Smash Hits term - BACK! BACK! BACK! Admittedly not in the time they thought they'd be returning in when they were mapping this all out a month or so ago but hey, it's a return … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Lawson – ‘Lovers’
Alex's Blog (still Crazy, still Stupid)... 