Can't Stop The Pop

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

This week, Matty and Craig take a walk of life as they look back at Day & Night, the lead single from Billie Piper's second album.

There's little disputing this as a veritable '00s classic, and while Matty is particularly enthused by the killer double-chorus, Craig is tormented by a launderette sequence in the music video. But behind the general brilliance of the track, Billie Piper wasn't having such a great time as a chart-topping pop star. So, while there's much to celebrate about Day & Night, it also came at a high price...

To read about Day & Night on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2019/05/13/billie-piper-day-night/ 

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

We've got a steptacular exclusive this week because Matty and Craig are joined by BAFTA Rocliffe-winning, double Offie-nominated Shaun Kitchener, writer of the forthcoming Steps musical: Here & Now. 

Naturally, we wanted to talk about the song that inspired the title of the show. Released in 2001 as a double-A side with You'll Be Sorry, Here and Now was the final single from the group's third album, Buzz. There might be a few tears on the dancefloor because Matty and Craig had quite different opinions on this one!

Plus we talk to Shaun about developing a musical based on Steps, his favourite deep-cut album tracks, thoughts on the group's solo endeavours (Faye Tozer album when?) and which Steps song he'd like Kelly Clarkson to cover.

To read about Here and Now on Can't Stop The Pop: https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2021/05/31/steps-here-and-now/ 

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

Check out Shaun Kitchener at https://shaunkitchener.com, X: @ShaunKitchener and Instagram: @shaunkitchenerbentley

The Steps musical, Here & Now, opens on the 9th of November at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre. Visit https://thestepsmusical.com/ for more information and tickets. 

In this episode, Matty and Craig take a look back at the track that turned Leona Lewis from the winner of a TV talent show into a bona fide superstar: Bleeding Love. 

We discuss how the song went from being rejected by Jesse McCartney's record label to becoming one of the biggest global hits of the '00s and even birthed a sub-genre of soundalikes. Plus, there are not one but two music videos to talk about! 

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