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The Niche Reference

A new name, inspired by all influences…

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Category: Ireland

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 50)

Dec 14, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

With the race for the 1998 Christmas number one under way, B*Witched threw their denim stetson into the ring - whilst also aiming for their third consecutive chart topper...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 39)

Sep 28, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 2 Comments

B*Witched proved that following up a single as huge their debut in the summer was no difficult task, as they scored their second consecutive chart topper.

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 34)

Aug 24, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

It took approximately three years for The Corrs to become one of Ireland's biggest musical exports. And it took some timely remixes and a Fleetwood Mac cover to do so...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 32)

Aug 10, 2023Apr 28, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

For all their adulation and avid fanbase, Boyzone still lacked a huge selling crossover single. That was until Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber entered the equation...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 22)

Jun 1, 2023Oct 23, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 2 Comments

Clad in double denim and wearing their Celtic influences with pride, B*Witched came from nowhere and injected some much needed loife into the charts as the summer arrived...

#CrazyStupidPlaylist: St Patrick’s Day

Mar 17, 2018Mar 16, 2019 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

For today's blog and curated Spotify playlist, I am paying homage to my paternal heritage with a celebration of all things Irish, for St Patrick's Day. Whilst I have Celtic blood on both sides of my family (I am Scottish primarily on my mum's side), the Irish side is from my dad. His mum - … Continue reading #CrazyStupidPlaylist: St Patrick’s Day

#CrazyStupidPlaylist: The Corrs

Oct 25, 2015May 20, 2017 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Perhaps one of the more welcome news of a pop comeback for me in recent times is for that of Dundalk family band The Corrs. If, like me, at the end of the late 90s and early 00s, you were growing up in a part Celtic family there's a chance your household owned a copy, … Continue reading #CrazyStupidPlaylist: The Corrs

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