Can't Stop The Pop

You cannot run and you cannot hide! Halloween is here, so what better time for Matty and Craig to examine the definitive '00s spooky bop: 'Things That Go Bump In The Night' by allSTARS*

We discuss the track's merits, including the quality of the production and an inspired Scooby-Doo reference in the lyrics that earned the song a place on the 2002 movie soundtrack alongside Shaggy, Baha Men and Kylie Minogue(!). There are some more questionable elements, though, particularly the dodgy lighting and frantic editing in the music video.

As for the chart stats…well, 'Things That Go Bump In The Night' had already fallen out of the top 75 by the time Halloween rolled around in 2001. But streaming has saved the day, and the song is finally getting some long-overdue appreciation.

In addition, Matty is not a fan of the double A-side cover of Duran Duran's 'Is There Something I Should Know', but it gives us an opportunity to discuss the ITV show '80s Mania', presented by Anita Dobson and Leslie Grantham. Plus, Craig rages about the rather good B-side, 'That Crazy Thing That We Call Love' being a cassette tape exclusive. And we try to work out why STARStreet took the formula of S Club 7's TV shows and then did the opposite of everything that made them so successful.

Settle in for an episode full of treats and a few tricks. Available on all major podcast platforms.

To read about 'Things That Go Bump In The Night' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/09/09/allstars-things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon and subscribe from as little as £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

Do you remember when you were 15? We certainly do, so in this episode of Can't Stop The Pop, Matty and Craig discuss Delta Goodrem's 2003 hit, 'Lost Without You'.

As ever, there's so much to talk about, including Jaci Velasquez's version of the track, released the same year; the US mix, which was a minor Adult Contemporary hit in 2005 following Delta Goodrem's guest appearance on the short-lived soap opera, 'North Shore'; and the 'Smash N Grab Remix', which belatedly finds its way onto Craig's gym playlist.

Matty explains the missed concept of the original music video, and we share thoughts on the – rather different – alternative US video. Plus, we get into a surprisingly profound discussion about Delta Goodrem's debut album, 'Innocent Eyes', and what it meant to us as teenagers growing up in the '00s.

We also run through the chart stats for 'Lost Without You' and reflect on the quite remarkable success of 'Innocent Eyes'. Also, no episode about this era of Delta Goodrem's career would be complete without a mention of 'Neighbours', so expect a Harold Bishop cameo.

Available on all major podcast platforms.

To read about 'Lost Without You' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2021/06/14/delta-goodrem-lost-without-you/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon and subscribe from as little as £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

Somebody hit the lights! In this episode of Can't Stop The Pop, Matty and Craig discuss 'Dip It Low' by Christina Milian, the lead single from her second album in 2004.

There is much to discuss, starting from the preceding events that saw Christina Milian's self-titled debut album go unreleased in America. What better way to make a comeback, then, than with a song that dialled up the sex appeal, packed in some hip-shattering choreography (someone call a chiropractor) and was accompanied by an eyebrow-raising video, of which Craig is unable to contain his revulsion.

The track was widely promoted, with three(!) different versions created featuring guest rappers Fabolous, Shawnna, and S-Word, respectively. It resulted in a huge hit, but what became of the album, 'It's About Time', and what happened next? We get into it all: the uncredited sample that resulted in a long-standing legal dispute; starring alongside John Travolta and Uma Thurman in a critically panned movie; turning down 'SOS'. Heck, we even find time to bring up Jennifer Lopez and *those* vocals on 'Play' because why not?

Also, a desperate plea as it turns out neither Matty nor Craig is hip or happening enough to know what 'spen cow' means – answers on a postcard, please.

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon and subscribe from as little as £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

Don't tell us that you're done as far as we go because in this episode of Can't Stop The Pop, we're sitting down to have a chat about The Saturdays' 'Ego' – which snuck into the UK chart at the very end of 2009.

'Ego' was a pivotal moment in The Saturdays' career. The second single from the group's second album, 'Wordshaker' – and later included on the 'Headlines!' EP – marked a point where commercial success wasn't solely defined by peak chart position and album campaigns shifted from traditional models.

Matty and Craig reflect on what it is about 'Ego' that connected so well after 'Forever Is Over', break down the superhero-themed music video and examine the chart stats. We also discuss the B-side 'Flashback' and look at where this single fits into The Saturdays' career overall, which features a wide-ranging and occasionally divisive discussion that includes 'Notorious', 'Gentleman', and even 'What Are You Waiting For?'. Buckle up – it's quite the journey!

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon and subscribe from as little as £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

In this episode of Can't Stop The Pop, we commemorate (or should that be commiserate) 30 years since the UK entered 'Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit' into the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 and finished in…eighth place!?

Matty and Craig discuss how Gina G's debut single tore through the UK chart for months prior to Eurovision, then became an international hit and even reached the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100, earning a Grammy nomination in the process. Yes, you read that correctly.

But what happened at Eurovision? We speculate on possible reasons why the track didn't sweep to victory – or indeed even come close – but how impactful it was on the contest in the following years, nonetheless.

As well as talking about the rather basic music video and those all-important chart stats, Matty shares a surprising fact about 'Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit' and Top Of The Pops, while Craig explains the legal drama that stemmed from the song and left Gina G stuck in a bad record deal.

To read about 'Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2020/03/23/gina-g-ooh-aah-just-a-little-bit/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon and subscribe from as little as £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

Get your vibe on because Can't Stop The Pop is back for a new year-long series of monthly episodes, and where better place to start than with Dannii Minogue vs. Flower Power's mid-'00s anthem, 'You Won't Forget About Me'.

Matty and Craig explore how the track represented a timely evolution of the 'Neon Nights' formula and marked a new era for Dannii Minogue's career as she signed with All Around The World (AATW). Yet, despite high expectations commercially, the fallout of what actually happened when the single was released, and the subsequent stop-start album(s) campaign leaves much to discuss – including an impassioned rant from Craig about the ineptitude of AATW and a wild comparison by Matty.

As ever, we cover the song, its unflattering video (Dannii Minogue should *not* be cleaning up drink spillages), the chart stats and a notable remix that reimagines 'You Won't Forget About Me' as elevator music. No, really.

To read about 'You Won't Forget About Me' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2022/10/24/dannii-minogue-you-wont-forget-about-me/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

It's the season three finale of Can't Stop The Pop, and as befitting such an occasion, we're looking back at 'Viva Forever' by the Spice Girls.

Matty and Craig reflect on how this – the fourth single from the 'Spiceworld' album – marked the end of the group's imperial era as Geri Halliwell quit. We examine what makes the song so sonically and structurally different from any other Spice Girls ballad, how the surrounding context elevated its impact and offer interpretations of the music video featuring those infamously creepy fairies. Matty also gives a thorough critique of the ill-fated 'Viva Forever!' jukebox musical and what went so wrong.

Along with the all-important chart stats, we discuss how Geri Halliwell's departure altered the plans for 'Viva Forever' to be a double A-side with 'Never Give Up On The Good Times' and how the song stacks up in the list of best-selling Spice Girls singles.

To read about 'Viva Forever' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/07/15/spice-girls-viva-forever/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

Things take a supernatural turn in this episode of Can't Stop The Pop as Matty and Craig discuss Goldfrapp's 2005 hit, 'Ooh La La'.

We examine how the duo's sound evolved from their earlier material, resulting in a breakthrough that propelled them to new commercial heights and helped shape the charts. It seems only fitting that in approaching the work of such a creative, diverse act, the episode contains tangential references to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, 19th-century poetry, Rachel Stevens and a well-known Soho sauna. But it's all (mostly) relevant to contextualise and celebrate the quality of 'Ooh La La', its visually striking music video and those all-important chart stats…before closing with a rant about the Grammys.

This episode is anything but Baudelaire!

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

In this episode of Can't Stop The Pop, two divas join forces to deliver a vocal masterclass as Matty and Craig discuss Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's superstar duet: 'When You Believe'.

We look at the manufactured rivalry between the two singers and how their duet for the soundtrack to the animated movie 'The Prince Of Egypt' was an almost inconceivable prospect in the '90s. There's some convincingly technical discussion about how their voices complement one another both on the track and in the live performances. Plus, we get into the Oscars drama where Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds – who co-wrote the 'pop' version of the song that Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston performed at the ceremony – missed out on an Academy Award for his contribution.

And, while 'When You Believe' wasn't a chart-topping hit for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, the track did later reach #1 when Leon Jackson released it as his X Factor winner's single. So, we felt compelled to talk about that, too (be warned: strong opinions are expressed).

To read about 'When You Believe' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2022/12/05/mariah-carey-whitney-houston-when-you-believe/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop

The S Club bandwagon comes to a crashing halt in this episode of Can't Stop The Pop as we look back at the bizarre turn of events that was I Dream.

Find out what happens when you merge S Club 8 with five additional aspiring singers/actors, cast them all in a TV show and then release a single featuring just two members of the group. It's fair to say that Matty and Craig have very different opinions on the resulting product that was 'Dreaming (Feat. Frankie and Calvin)'.

As well as the song itself, we discuss the muddled marketing for I Dream, share some first impressions of the TV show, try to work out what the ambition of the project was and vent our frustrations at S Club 8 being thrown under the proverbial bus in such a peculiar manner. Plus, we have the all-important chart stats for both 'Dreaming' and the accompanying album, 'Welcome To Avalon Heights' (brace yourselves for the peak position…).

To read about 'Dreaming' on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2020/11/09/i-dream-frankie-calvin-dreaming/

If you like what we do, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you want even more exclusive Can't Stop The Pop content, head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cantstopthepop

You can also follow us on: Instagram: @mat_atkins9, @cantstop_thepop TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast, @cantstop_thepop YouTube: @cantstopthepop