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The Niche Reference

A new name, inspired by all influences…

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Category: Pop

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 28)

Jul 13, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 1 Comment

Deep diving into the great big songbook of 90s R&B baby-making jams paid dividends for many - as it indeed did for Another Level on their freaky second single...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 27)

Jul 6, 2023Apr 27, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 1 Comment

Offering a positive yet rebellious statement of intent, Billie Piper launched off the pages of Smash Hits as its advert girl to become a smash hit in her own right...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 26)

Jun 29, 2023Apr 27, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Coming from a long line of musical lineage might have had most crying "nepotism". But not in the case of Eagle-Eye Cherry, releasing one of the summer's biggest radio hits...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 25)

Jun 22, 2023Aug 31, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Described by one critic as "the sound of plastic chairs being thrown at policemen", "Vindaloo" certainly bought some rowdy, unfettered riotousness to that year's World Cup in France...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 24)

Jun 15, 2023Apr 27, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

"Three Lions" had already become an anthem for England fans at Euro 96. It's resurrection for France 98 and the World Cup affirmed it once and for all...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 23)

Jun 8, 2023Apr 27, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

What "Horny" lacked in subtlety, it made up for in being one of 1998's most enduring dancefloor anthems for Mousse T...

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...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 21)

May 25, 2023Apr 27, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Few questions asked in pop over the course of 1998 were as important as this one: "What's she gonna look like with a chimney on her?"

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 20)

May 18, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

One of the few R&B / soul divas to not emanate from over the pond, Lutricia McNeal built on the success of "Ain't That Just The Way" with her biggest hit of all...

The Story of Pop: 1998 (Chapter 19)

May 11, 2023Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Even as they played to expected form by slowing things down for their third single, even this was not approached from a conventional angle by Aqua...

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