This Must Be Pop

This Must Be Pop

By This Must Be Pop PodcastMusicMusic Commentary
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This Must Be Pop episodes

  • JC Chasez | Pt. 2: The Solo Artist

    Ana and Sasha continue their conversation about JC Chasez by diving into JC's short-lived career as a solo artist. We talk about JC's story with Jive records, and discuss the lack of support he received from the label. We also analyze songs from his debut album Schizophrenic and also discuss the ethical dilemma surrounding the never released but recently leaked "Story of Kate" album. We end with talking about JC's current status as a music producer and songwriter and what is potentially in store for JC's future.

    Links:

    1. JC Chasez Producing & Songwriting Credits (Spotify Playlist): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UtCaSNajRaStAKbvDh2qi?si=f35c730fcb284c71
    2. Documentary: Dirty Poplitics & the Solo Career of JC Chasez
      • Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhlQk8wfquw
      • Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB6_tHHl950
        • 1 hr 29 min
      • JC Chasez | Pt. 1: The *NSYNC Member
        In Part I of our special "JC Series", Ana sits down with Sasha, a musician, photographer and (most importantly) a lifelong *NSYNC fan. Sasha and Ana also happen to be childhood friends and became such due to their mutual love of *NSYNC when they were pre-teens. Ana and Sasha get into why JC Chasez is the greatest boyband member of all time and reminisce about some of JC's best moments in *NSYNC. They also discuss what it was like to see *NSYNC live back in the day, and why *NSYNC worked so uniquely well as a vocal harmony group and boyband. They also talk about the early days of JC's solo career while still a member of *NSYNC.
        Links:
        She's the Max (Unreleased *NSYNC Demo, co-written by JC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzW90pr92eY
        Part II discusses JC's career as a solo artist as well as producer and songwriter.
        44 min
      • One Direction | Pt. 2: Albums 2-5, Solo Careers, Queer Fans & the 1D Business
        Ana & Lizzie start Part 2 with discussing topics from Maria Sherman’s book “Larger Than Life”, including the business of One Direction and their professional relationship with 5 Seconds of Summer. We also talk about the Rainbow Direction and how 1D was most likely the first ever queer-friendly boyband, and how this benefitted them. We then get into a deep dive of their albums Midnight Memories, Take You Home, Four, and Made in the A.M.  Credit is given to how 1D re-defined so many boyband “rules”, including properly setting up every member for a successful solo career with the proper backing and support from their label and music industry (and yes we compare this to how JC Chasez and the rest of *NSYNC were treated) Don't forget to listen to Lizzie's Essential One Direction Spotify Playlist! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13q5MfPxa3QNAxQcK4jxvM?si=a0186391a4d84812
        1 hr 14 min
      • One Direction | Pt. 1: Beginnings, Social Media & Up All Night Album

        Ana & Lizzie discuss Lizzie's all-time favorite boyband: One Direction. In the first part of the episode, Lizzie talks about her study abroad experience as an American in London during the beginning of One Direction's rise to success. We also analyze the influence (both positive and negative) that social media had on One Direction's career. We also discuss the specific vocal arrangement, style and abilities of each member, and then do a deep dive into their debut album Up All Night.  Also, check out Lizzie's Essential One Direction Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13q5MfPxa3QNAxQcK4jxvM?si=a0186391a4d84812

        52 min
      • *NSYNC | Pt. 2: No Strings Attached & Celebrity Albums
        PART 2 OF 2. Ana & Ceci are joined by friend Teena to break down the music and cultural influence of *NSYNC. In this episode, we discuss their albums "No Strings Attached", "Celebrity" and some of the songs from the "On the Line" soundtrack.
        *Warning: This episode leans VERY heavily on the musical abilities of JC Chasez, and also gives a lot of credit to the talents of Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, and Joey Fatone. 
        Links to noteworthy performances mentioned in the episode:
        "This I Promise You" - Atlantis Concert Performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Suye6DCJ0 
        "Digital Get Down" - Madison Square Garden Performance from HBO special [No Strings Attached Tour] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhcrVUFqCaI
        "Selfish" - Performance from the Pop Oddessy Tour [note how JC belts through a key change on the bridge of the song... INSANE!!!] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7NJXz8hzrk
        50 min
      • *NSYNC | Pt. 1: Their Music & Influence
        PART 1 OF 2. Ana & Ceci are joined by friend Teena to break down the music and cultural influence of *NSYNC (Ana's favorite boyband). We start off discussing our *NSYNC origin stories as well as other pivotal moments in our lives associated with them; seeing them in concert,  waiting in line for their CDs, and watching their TV concert specials. We then do a deep dive into their self-titled 1998 album. *Warning: This episode leans VERY heavily on the musical abilities of JC Chasez, and also gives a lot of credit to the talents of Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, and Joey Fatone. NSYNC’s 2003 Bee Gees Medley: https://youtu.be/kDgh0Tlw5I8
        1 hr
      • Pop Sonnets of 1D, *NSYNC & BSB [ft. Erik Didriksen, author, "Pop Sonnets"]
        Ana interviews Erik Didriksen. Erik is a musician, songwriter and author of the book "Pop Sonnets", a book where he takes modern pop songs and reimagines them as Shakespearean sonnets. Erik recites three of his sonnets converted from the following songs:
         "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys
        "Bye Bye Bye" by *NSYNC
        "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction. 
        Ana and Erik analyze the lyrics and feelings the songs convey, and discuss how cheesy love poetry has been part of art for centuries. The topic of society not seeing the value in certain artforms is discussed (i.e. "high art" v. "low art") as well as comparing societal disdain for pop music as well as disco music and new jack swing; though all of those genres are important and influential. Lastly, the topic of pop punk bands from the late 90s/ early 2000s is also mentioned, answering the question once again if those bands are technically boybands.
        39 min
      • Episode 1 | Why Supporting Boyband Fans is Important

        This Must Be Pop! Today's debut episode is dedicated to discussing our backgrounds and music journeys in relation to boybands and pop artists. We also talk about how pop music and boyband music guided us through our adolescence and teenage years as well as the societal stigma felt when liking a boyband.Check out our Spotify Playlist of songs we discussed during this episode:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7y70XdekJLUEIOLLnANcru?si=f29c0ff7c6044762Bands discussed: *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Hanson, One Direction, Jonas Brothers, 98 degrees, O-Town, the Moffatts as well as solo artists such as Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and JC Chasez.

        58 min
      • Boybands 101
        SPECIAL PREVIEW EPISODE
        Every decade spawns male vocal groups (i.e. "boybands") who capture the hearts and minds of their teen and pre-teen fans. This episode is setting the stage of our podcast by defining:
        What "pop music" means
        What a "boyband" means
        The history of boybands
        We also take the time to discuss what truly defines a boyband; why they are overlooked and why their cultural and societal impact is important to be discussed. 
        [Our hosts Ana & Lizzie are on this episode. Our other co-host Ceci, will be on the premiere episode.]
        Bands Mentioned: The Temptations, The Beatles, The Monkees, The Rolling Stones, The Jackson 5, The Osmonds, New Edition, Menudo, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Bell Biv DeVoe, Hanson, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 degrees, LFO, O-Town, Jonas Brothers, Big Time Rush, One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, The Wanted, BTS, Why Don't We
        15 min

      About This Must Be Pop

      From the publisher's feed

      Connecting with a pop group when we're young is often one of the most defining moments of our lives, but why are we so afraid to talk about it?