The key cornerstone of Xenomania's branch out into an in-house record label, Mini Viva were positioned as the all new pop duo phenomenon to take them from their success in the 00s to the 2010s...
Pop Essays #58: Mini Viva, ‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’
Author: Alex the Pensmith
Thirtysomething. Essex born and bred. Son. Uncle. Dreamer. Writer and blogger. Pop music, books, VW campers and comedy. Fanboy of many things. Makes an excellent cup of tea. Likes bacon.
Pop Essays #57: Janet Jackson, ‘Someone To Call My Lover’
No one had due cause to think Janet Jackson was about to slip into the realm of only being as good as her last single. But for better or worse, that's what happened with the release of the third single from her All For You album...
Pop Essays #56: S Club, ‘Who Do You Think You Are’
Seeing Double, S Club's debut and only big screen jaunt, may have been marred in its execution, but one of its songs proved they were still at the top of their game musically prior to their split...
On the eve of his 15 Years of Hits Tour, a definitive ranking of all of Olly Murs’ singles.
We take a look back and offer our hand-picked ranking of all 31 of the Essex pop legend and all round good one's singles from 2010 to today. Good news for "Oh My Goodness", bad news for practically all the singles off Marry Me...
It Starts (again)…
August 2024: Allow us to reintroduce ourselves...April 2025: It starts in the head and it beginsIt starts and it changes everythingIt starts and it never fades awayCan I lay my head down, will you say,"Every little thing's gonna be okay"?- 'It Starts', Nerina Pallot, 2009. Well hello there. Hope you're all keeping out of mischief … Continue reading It Starts (again)…
Pop Essays #55: Alda, ‘Real Good Time’
Even though it's intense pre-release airplay preceded it's overall success, Alda's debut single was one of the liveliest and most charismatic UK chart hits of 1998...
Pop Essays #54: Kristian Leontiou, ‘Some Say’
Even with a huge marketing launch that set him at odds with his own musical ambitions, the debut - only? - album from Kristian Leontiou was full of promise, even if it was squandered away on major record label clownery...
Pop Essays #53: Mel Blatt, ‘Do Me Wrong’
Nearly two years after All Saints acrimoniously split, Melanie Blatt finally emerged with her first proper solo single - that was almost as cool and unphased as the lady herself was to its arrival...
Pop Essays #52: Olive, ‘Outlaw’
Following up the unprecedented success of their number one with "You're Not Alone", Olive opted instead to mine their latter trip-hop inspired groove further still...
Dear The Saturdays: it is time for the reunion tour
With a decade now passed since their last tour and album, it is surely time for one of our best - if unfairly overlooked - girl groups to make their return to the concert halls of the UK?
The Niche Reference 