Unbreak My Chart

Gather round, there's something we need to tell you.

And it's not just that Louis Tomlinson has released a really good single with Bebe Rexha.

Seriously, Back to You is all sneaking charm. It has such a beautiful slow churn. No chorus, just the same four chords round and round and an atmosphere of anguished excitement, as if sung by someone who has decided the person who most annoys them in the world might also just be their best bet for a happy life.

Bebe Rexha is the true star of proceedings, but Louis is a more than able foil for her. It's a wonderfully measured song that is beautifully understated, particularly in the bridges (even the swearing seems oddly measured, rather than brattish showing off), and the minimal atmosphere is further proof that pop needs more songs like Bad Liar. And it’s got those weird 1D yelps that also appear in Niall Horan’s Slow Hands.

I wonder if it was conceived after Harry’s album came out, as there’s a kind of mature pop properness to the chords it that seems to be pitched midway between Harry and Niall.

Anyway the thing we need to talk about is not that. It's something else.

Laura's work has conspired to keep her away this week, but fear not Fraser is on hand to deliver the all-important Top 10 and put everyone out of their misery with regards to what the beginning of J-Hus's Did You See sounds like.

Oh, but he's talking about Bad Liar again.

Haim's cover of the song is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzI2FM2-7GM

Switched On Pop's discussion of Bad Liar is here: http://www.switchedonpop.com/65-selena-gomez-bad-liar-great-performer/

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

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Kesha's solo comeback Praying is a song that strikes at the heart of how pop is made and where the power lies. It also raises the question of whether authenticity is a prerequisite when listening to highly emotive songs.

Source material for this discussion includes Amanda Petrusich's excellent piece for the New Yorker:

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-pain-of-denying-kesha-her-audience

And John Seabrook's highly recommended book The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory.

Elsewhere in this week's podcast, there's a J-Hus challenge, some bickering over Rita Ora lyrics and an argument over Katy Perry, Calvin Harris and whether songs written as a patchwork quilt of little ideas still work.

Popjustice's review of Liam Payne's new single is here: https://www.popjustice.com/songs/zedd-and-liam-payne-get-low/

And we've made a Songs of the Summer playlist, to be updated with new suggestions as they come along: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/3Dwx8dc86Zksmf8aUNKJxG

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is "Equestrian" by Omni and Fraser's is “ALIENS” by Coldplay.

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

https://twitter.com/csi_popmusic

The Official Charts Company have issued new rules to tackle the Sheeran Singularity, and they appear to be partly based on suggestions that have appeared in previous Unbreak My Chart episodes.

We take a look at the new rules, and give them a prod to see how robust they may be. And along the way, accidentally embark on an imaginary cull of some of our biggest pop talents.

Pitchfork's Rihanna feature is here: http://pitchfork.com/features/overtones/10052-is-rihanna-the-most-influential-pop-singer-of-the-past-decade/

St Vincent's Guitar Moves interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vRPmJx8bYs

And we've made a Songs of the Summer playlist, to be updated with new suggestions as they come along: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/3Dwx8dc86Zksmf8aUNKJxG

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is "New York" by St Vincent and Fraser's is “Last Chance Saloon” by Hightown Pirates.

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Warning - this episode contains a slightly inept (and not remotely adult) discussion of the pneumatic reality of sex, as it pertains to the lyrics of Little Mix.

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

At last! The results of our Song of the Summer poll are in, and they are mighty, although a little predictable in some cases (take a bow, Fraser McAlpine).

The Zayn Malik piece mentioned by Elizabeth is here:

https://melmagazine.com/two-directions-5a4321b0156

Also under discussion this week: the Artists for Grenfell single and Lorde's new album.

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Here's a collection of excellent stuff to read about Lorde's Melodrama:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/26/on-melodrama-lorde-learns-how-messy-adulthood-can-be

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

It's the first week in Unbreak My Chart history that Ed Sheeran does not have a song in the Top 10, but Laura is not here to enjoy the moment.

Fraser is joined by the comic artist, writer and chart-keeper John Allison, designer of the UMC logo, who has plans to revolutionise the chart with democracy.

Note: there's some irksome telephone interference in this week's podcast. Do not adjust your listening device.

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

John's most-listened-to song this week is "Yuk Foo" by Wolf Alice and Fraser's is “Space” by Dizzee Rascal.

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

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https://twitter.com/badmachinery

Anyone in the mood for old beef? Taylor Swift and Katy Perry are on hand to dispense their leathery grumps, and Fraser appears to be trolling Laura.

Elsewhere, there's a realisation that nice people aren't always nice, we finally nail our political colours to a mast, and swoon appreciatively in the direction of One Love Manchester.

Fraser's BBC Music piece about Over the Rainbow is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/efc32112-f7a0-49b3-bfae-6e6a72a80572

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is "Did You See" by J Hus and Fraser's is “3WW” by Alt-J.

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

https://twitter.com/csi_popmusic

Political discourse has invaded the charts, in the shape of Captain Ska and his Theresa May-baiting social media hit Liar Liar. But will this usher in a new era for pop and politics, or is it just the Boaty McBoatface of popular song?

Also, indie veterans are making pop music, to varying degrees of success.

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is "Perfect Place" by Lorde and Fraser's is “The Line” by RAYE.

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This week, in an act of fannish solidarity with everyone who has been affected by the Manchester bombing, we're adopting a positive, gushing tone, putting all moans to one side and celebrating Great Things in pop music.

The Smash Hits Black Type tea towel is here: https://smashhitsttowel.tumblr.com/post/161066715057/swingorilliant-tea-towel-news

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is “Yellow Flicker Beat” by Lorde and Fraser's is “Power” by Little Mix ft. Stormzy.

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This week, why Harry Styles didn't saturate the charts, a consideration of all the One Direction boys' solo careers, and Katy Perry's pitiful Swish Swish.

Ann Powers' opus on Harry Styles and rock masculinity is here: http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/05/16/528617874/styles-of-the-times

Mitski's brilliant piece on how we project fantasies onto Styles is here: http://www.talkhouse.com/one-projection-harry-styles-art-idealism/

As ever, all of this week's notable tracks are in our rolling Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/snapes/playlist/2J6T6Ks6rQNNe9vUeu24ON

Laura's most-listened-to song this week is “Being Special” by Sophia Kennedy and Fraser's is “Bad Liar” by Selena Gomez.

You can email us on [email protected], or tweet us:

https://twitter.com/laurasnapes

https://twitter.com/csi_popmusic