It's time...

For our Christmas episode, we're celebrating 30 years of All I Want For Christmas Is You and discussing how Mariah Carey's 1994 festive hit has become a perennial chart staple.

Among the talking points are the song's origins (and an embarrassing attempt by Craig to pronounce Walter Afanasieff's name), its initial chart success and what's happened in the streaming era, we look back at some iconic live performances, reflect on how the track has become an annual meme, and Matty shares his thoughts on All I Want For Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!) featuring Justin Bieber. 

We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did recording and editing it. Happy holidays to all our listeners. 

If you like what we do, please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Welcome to the third episode in a special four-part series of Can't Stop The Pop X CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show, where we pit Steps against S Club in an almighty pop-off.  

Here's how it works: The singles from both acts were paired chronologically from their debut onwards, and we picked our favourite for each round. In this episode, S Club pass the baton to S Club Juniors as we compare and discuss:

Deeper Shade Of Blue vs AliveWhen I Said Goodbye vs Say GoodbyeSummer Of Love vs Love Ain't Gonna Wait For YouStomp vs One Step CloserIt's The Way You Make Me Feel vs Automatic High

Which act will triumph? Listen to the full series of episodes to find out. You'll be able to check out the next episode over at CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show. 

Follow CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show on X: @cctvpops, Instagram: @cctvpops and on YouTube: @cctvpops

Follow Craig on X: @cantstoppop, Instagram: @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstop_thepop Follow Matty on X: @matkinsactor , Instagram: @mat_atkins9 and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Welcome to the first episode in a special four-part series of Can't Stop The Pop X CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show, where we pit Steps against S Club in an almighty pop-off.  

Here's how it works: The singles from both acts were paired chronologically from their debut onwards, and we picked our favourite for each round. In this episode, we compare and discuss:

5, 6, 7, 8 vs Bring It All BackLast Thing On My Mind vs S Club PartyOne For Sorrow vs Two In A MillionHeartbeat vs You're My Number OneTragedy vs Reach

Which act will triumph? Listen to the full series of episodes to find out. You'll be able to check out the next episode over at CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show. 

Follow CCTV: The Nonstop Pop Show on X: @cctvpops, Instagram: @cctvpops and on YouTube: @cctvpops

Follow Craig on X: @cantstoppop, Instagram: @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstop_thepop Follow Matty on X: @matkinsactor , Instagram: @mat_atkins9 and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Easy V doesn't come for free! For our second season finale, we're discussing an artist and a song so seismic that they allegedly brought down an entire record label. It's Victoria Beckham with her dance-pop track, Let Your Head Go.

We delve into a complicated situation that resulted in two different albums being recorded (neither of which was officially released), Victoria Beckham's prominent role in relaunching Top Of The Pops, the brilliantly self-deprecating music video for Let Your Head Go and the song's continued absence from streaming platforms.   

If you like what we do, please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! 

To read about Let Your Head Go on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/12/23/victoria-beckham-let-your-head-go/ 

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

It's confessions on a podcast this week as we discuss Madonna's ABBA-sampling smash hit, Hung Up. To help us dissect this behemoth pop song we're joined by a special guest: James Rodriguez, host of The Original Doll. 

With James' expert knowledge, we delve into the circumstances surrounding the single and why Madonna's tenth studio album - Confessions On A Dancefloor - was such a significant moment in her career. Matty shares his memories of Hung Up and what it means to him as a Madonna fan, while there's an unexpected drag battle revelation from Craig. 

Please check out The Original Doll with James Rodriguez. You can find information about the show at: https://theoriginaldoll.com/ 

You can follow James on X: @JamesRodriguez, Instagram: @the.original.doll and TikTok: @thejamesrodriguez 

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Dude, you wanna crash the mall? Grab your air guitars because, in this episode, Craig and Matty are coming back down to earth to talk about Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi. 

We discuss what it was like to be a teenager when pop-rock took over the charts (think baggy jeans, hoodies and those chains that hung from everyone's pockets) and how Sk8er Boi managed to condense pretty much everything that era represented into a 3½ minute song. Plus, no critique of Avril Lavigne would be complete without acknowledging the enduring conspiracy theory that is...Melissa. 

If you like what we do, please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! 

To read about Sk8er Boi on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2023/10/16/avril-lavigne-sk8er-boi/  

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

This week, Craig and Matty are discussing Your Disco Needs You, the Kylie Minogue song that was allegedly deemed "too gay" to release in the UK.

Can Matty talk about one of his favourite artists of all time without going off on a tangent? Almost. We managed to stay focused for long enough to cover the song, the remixes, the incredible vocals and the music video for this intentionally camp Kylie classic. 

If you like what we do, please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! 

To read about Your Disco Needs You on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2022/01/17/kylie-minogue-your-disco-needs-you/ 

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

This week on the podcast, Craig and Matty are stuck on Stacie Orrico, a Christian Contemporary artist who was signed by Virgin Records and launched as a mainstream pop star in the '00s. 

(There's Gotta Be) More To Life was her second single, and it's flipping brilliant. We discuss the track and the music video (with its many looks, both good and bad). Matty gives an informed, technical analysis of Stacie Orrico's voice, plus, find out which iconic '00s movie Craig has never seen. 

To read about (There's Gotta Be) More To Life on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/10/14/stacie-orrico-theres-gotta-be-more-to-life/  

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Who's that Pokémon? This week, Craig introduces Matty to Don't Say You Love Me by M2M, which is, of course, taken from the official soundtrack to the cinematic masterpiece Pokémon: The First Movie. 

We discuss the song, the brilliantly '90s/'00s music video (with unnecessary dance breaks aplenty) and what M2M did after Don't Say You Love Me. Plus, find out which were our first ever starter Pokémon. The results are revealing... 

To read about Don't Say You Love Me on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2020/03/16/m2m-dont-say-you-love-me/ 

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast

Take those lies and let them go (woah, woah) because this week, Matty and Craig are talking about Scooch's top-five hit, More Than I Needed To Know. 

We discuss how the group was formed and why this was such an important second single for them. Matty is particularly enthused by the music video, while Craig longs to own a promotional Scooch lunchbox. One thing's for four sure: there's rather a lot of grammatical confusion about the title of the group's debut album. 

To read about More Then I Needed To Know on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/01/07/scooch-more-than-i-needed-to-know/ 

You can also follow us on X: @matkinsactor @cantstoppop, Instagram: @mat_atkins9 @cantstop_thepop and TikTok: @cantstopthepoppodcast