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The Niche Reference

A new name, inspired by all influences…

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Category: Spotify

The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 2)

Jan 9, 2020Jan 7, 2020 ~ Alex the Pensmith

It's Thursday, it's midday, and time to bring you our second installment of our new retrospective music series of blogs, with The Story of Pop: 2000, revisiting all the UK chart's big movers and shakers from two decades ago. This week: our first encounter with a man whose work defined this year... Our second week, … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 2)

#SongoftheWeek: Niall Horan – ‘Put A Little Love On Me’

Jan 3, 2020Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

ARTIST: Niall Horan SONG: Put A Little Love On Me SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Fresh from winning Man of the Year in our annual End of Year Prizes, Niall Horan only has the honour of being the man behind our first brand new #SongoftheWeek for 2020. Some guys have … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Niall Horan – ‘Put A Little Love On Me’

The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 1)

Jan 2, 2020Jan 16, 2020 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Hello one, hello all - and welcome to our first blog post of a new year and new decade! Today we begin The Story of Pop: 2000. Following on from our successful series about 1999 last year, every Thursday at midday we'll be boarding our pop tardis back to two whole decades ago, to revisit … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 1)

The Story of Pop: 1999 – Bonus Tracks

Dec 19, 2019May 5, 2024 ~ Alex the Pensmith

OK. So we're not quite done yet. As a little thank you for all the lovely feedback I've had on this series, here's one more special post for you. A collection of 12 songs that were also hits in 1999, which I didn't have time for on the main series. Among this list, you'll find … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 1999 – Bonus Tracks

The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 51)

Dec 19, 2019Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

It's Thursday, it's midday, and - sadly - it's time for the last installment of The Story of Pop: 1999. Over the last 12 months on this here blog, we've retold the story of the songs and the artists that were riding high at the top of the UK charts twenty years ago, but today … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 51)

#12ListsofChristmas: Day 1

Dec 13, 2019Mar 29, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

So. It may have not escaped your notice that I'm doing Christmas a bit differently on the blog this year. Where before I usually did my Christmas Song a Day Advent Calendar, this year I've decided to do something a bit more low maintenance. Along the same lines as my #15Daysof30Lists I did in the … Continue reading #12ListsofChristmas: Day 1

#SongoftheWeek: The Shires – ‘New Year’

Dec 13, 2019Dec 12, 2019 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

ARTIST: The Shires SONG: New Year SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? It's been a while since we last heard from The Shires, but good news, because - to use Smash Hits' parlance - they are Back! Back! Back! And not only are they back, but they're launching their forthcoming fourth … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: The Shires – ‘New Year’

The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 50)

Dec 12, 2019Jan 2, 2020 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 1 Comment

Welcome to the penultimate installment of The Story of Pop: 1999, our weekly series on the blog where we recount all the UK singles chart's hot movers and shakers from two whole decades ago. This week: a UK garage anthem that defined a generation - and launched the career of one young bright thing from … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 50)

#SongoftheWeek: Endor – ‘Pump It Up’

Dec 6, 2019Jan 2, 2020 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

ARTIST: Endor SONG: Pump It Up SO ALEX, WHY IS THIS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? It's been a while since the charts have delivered us anything resembling a floorfilling deep house/dance anthem, particularly at a time of year when seasonal ballads are generally the consensus. Brighton based DJ and producer Endor has delivered with … Continue reading #SongoftheWeek: Endor – ‘Pump It Up’

The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 49)

Dec 5, 2019Nov 26, 2019 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

It's Thursday, it's midday, and time to once again see what was storming the UK charts two whole decades ago, with The Story of Pop: 1999. This week: the launch of three feisty Liverpool lasses as they sunk their claws into the top 10... The pop explosion that the Spice Girls had started was still … Continue reading The Story of Pop: 1999 (Chapter 49)

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