For the first single from her second album, Nelly Furtado channeled her experiences of the industry and growing up in Canada into an empowering anthem about reclaiming identity and forging your own path...
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...
The second - and last - Fame Academy winner flew under the radar with her second album in the autumn of 2005 - and not just with the general public.
With a new sound, new image and new album, Westlife were poised to enter the second chapter of their career - until Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh had other ideas.
Texas appeared on the soundtrack to the Richard Curtis blockbuster Love Actually in 2003 - something most people have forgotten until now.
Sinead Quinn's self penned debut after finishing runner up on the first series of Fame Academy made a clear statement of intent.
WRITER'S NOTE: This is a new version of a blog I first wrote back in 2018 for the 15th anniversary of the Everything's Eventual album, now updated for its 20th anniversary and new release on vinyl. I've spoken many a time before on the blog about life after hugely successful pop bands - solo efforts … Continue reading Nicole and Natalie: from All Saints to Appleton – ‘Everything’s Eventual’ at 20
It's Thursday and it's midday - it therefore must be time for me to trawl my personal playlists of yore to bring you another lost gem in Pop Essays. This week: an album track from one of Britain's most promising teen protégés in the early 00s... Artist: Amy StudtSong: Carry Me AwayRelease Date: 30/06/2003 (on … Continue reading Pop Essays #25: Amy Studt, ‘Carry Me Away’
Bringing you more uncovered gems from my old iTunes library of pop yore every Thursday at midday, this is Pop Essays. This week: the tale of how one cover version derailed carefully laid plans for a promising pop rock outfit... Artist: SpeedwaySong: In and OutRelease Date: 07/06/2004Writers: Jill Jackson / Jim Duguid / Guy ChambersProducers: … Continue reading Pop Essays #22: Speedway, ‘In and Out’
Good afternoon, it's Thursday and time as always for our latest post in the Pop Essays series, where we bring you a second light on forgotten gems from pop music history. Bit of a first this week, as I write about my first non-single of the series... Artist: Siobhan Donaghy Song: Man Without Friends Release … Continue reading Pop Essays #9: Siobhan Donaghy, ‘Man Without Friends’
The Niche Reference 