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Flopstars
Author: Sam Murphy + Nic Kelly
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© Sam Murphy + Nic Kelly
Description
Flopstars is a podcast presented by Sam Murphy and Nic Kelly, looking at our favourite popstars in our hearts who can’t quite compete on the charts. Together we’ll be going deep into projects that were criminally underrated commercially but won cult adoration. This is a chance to dig into some of the best pop records of our time and also have a little laugh about the ridiculous world they’re forced to compete in.
120 Episodes
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What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Our wrapped
Best albums/songs of the year Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard
Taylor Swift Time Person of the Year
Charli XCX has finished her new album
WELCOME BACK TO THE POP IN!
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
The rise and rise of Tate McRae - could she clinch a Billboard #1?
Spotify Wrapped is out - unpacking the global Top 5 songs and artists
Dua Lipa's Houdini - our 4 week late review
Nicki Minaj album next week same week as Tate McRae and SZA deluxe what a time
Quick unpack of what the rest of the year looks like on the pod
Billie Eilish's second album 'Happier Than Ever' was a big turning point for her. Her first album was a streaming giant but this album marked a pointed move to establish herself as an artist without worrying about the hits. The result was a cohesive, mature and startingly honest album that's both wildly experimental while also being classic.
In this episode, we talk about how important this album was for positioning her as an artist and also why it perhaps didn't garner the same success as her debut.
This week on The Pop In:
Beyoncé is bringing the Renaissance World Tour to cinemas
*NSYNC are back with a song for the Trollz soundtrack
Ed Sheeran's new album is lacklustre
Doja Cat is struggling to pull the numbers she deserves
Jorja Smith's new album is bliss
PinkPantheress nails the vibes on her new song
Ariana Grande makes her Flopstars debut with her divisive fourth album which came after a traumatic time and signalled the start of a creatively fluid period for her. It's an important album in her discography, one that sees her stepping into her own and learning to react to very personal situations in real-time. It wasn't for everyone but it was for us and we explore that on this week's pod.
This week on the Pop In:
Kim Petras drops Problematique - why now?
Kylie Minogue and Doja Cat release two of the most anticipated albums of the year this week
Let’s talk about Madison Beer
Drake/SZA - Slime You Out
Tate McRae is having a huge time on streaming with Greedy, but has she had her proper mega hit yet?
Selena Gomez's 'Rare' came after a period of experimentation for one of the most popular people on earth. She had collaborated with dance producers and had a string of excellent standalone releases so 'Rare' could've been anything. 'Lose You To Love Me' instantly became her first #1 - a startingly honest ballad unlike anything she's ever done before - and the bar for 'Rare' was set high. Was it met? Probably not but we get into it all here.
Ryan Beatty is someone we've needed to talk about for a while. 'Boy In Jeans' is one of Nic's favourite records of all time and it's an important jumping block to discuss a really interesting career. It's a record about embracing queerness and joy while also unpacking trauma from the past and it's done so in a nuanced masterful way. If you're not already on the Ryan Beatty train, this is your invitation.
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Dua Lipa teases her new era's sound and release date
Olivia Rodrigo single coming Friday - what sound can we expect?
Doja Cat is headed for a great chart moment this week - but is she really not doing pop?
Bop or Flop
Halle - Angel
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - One In A Million
Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red
Jorja Smith - GO GO GO
Gretta Ray - Dont date The Teenager
Nao - Balance
We finally talk about an artist that we’ve been fascinated by for a while on this episode. Bebe Rexha’s third album ‘Bebe’ is the focus. A cohesive, strong pop album that is overshadowed by a behemoth hit that is bigger than the artist herself. We discuss what needs to happen for Bebe to be finally given her flowers and much more on this week’s episode.
We turn to Kelly Clarkson's fourth album 'All I Ever Wanted' in this episode, a record that was a chart hit but perhaps a personal defeat. After 'My December' this saw Clarko back on the charts but giving up some of the intimacy of the previous record. It's a varied but ultimately triumphant album.
What’s been happening this week?
Britney & Will.i.am is happening and Sam makes a discovery about will.i.am's name
New Zayn and Tinashe on the way this week - does time heal everything?
Carly Rae Jepsen's new album is coming
Troye is doing some of his all time best numbers, but do we need to talk about the bodies in the video for Rush?
Bop or Flop (featuring our First Ever Guest, Friend Of The Show Jono)
Troye Sivan - Rush
Billie - What Was I Made For
Pinkpantheress & Destroy Lonely - Turn Ya Phone Off
Disclosure - Talk On The Phone
Jung Kook & Latto - Seven
Joel Corry, Icona Pop & Rain Radio - Desire
Blusher - Limelight
Post Malone - Overdrive
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Speak Now Taylor's Version chart records & first reactions
New Britney and will.i.am coming this month?
Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)” featuring SLASH is coming this Friday
Ava Max proves she's the perfect popstar on the Barbie pink carpet & Nicki Minaj reviews Barbie (Part 1)
Bop or Flop
Taylor Swift - I Can See You
Fifty Fifty & Kaliii - Barbie Dreams
Anne-Marie - TRAINWRECK
Tkay Maidza & Flume - Silent Assassin
Dominic Fike & Weezer - think fast
TXT & Jonas Brothers - Do It Like That
Kamille, Tamera & Bellah - Options
NewJeans - Super Shy
We're back for season 8 and we're tapping in with a legend. Mariah Carey's 'E=MC2' came after a massive return to form with 'The Emancipation Of Mimi'. The follow-up didn't achieve the same success but it did nab a huge record with 'Touch My Body' and it's become a late fan favourite. It's a freeing R&B record that has only gotten better with age. Dive in with us.
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Kim Petras gets a 4.1 from Pitchfork - why?
Olivia Rodrigo announces new album Guts - how does she follow up the first?
Taylor Swift tells the crowd not to bully John Mayer
Kylie's Vegas residency confirmed... by Kelly Clarkson
Glastonbury - Elton's special guests, Lewis Capaldi, and Rick Astley's most iconic moment
Bop or Flop
Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Barbie World
Carly Rae Jepsen - Shy Boy
Kim Petras - King Of Hearts
Coi Leray - Make My Day
Diplo + Elle King - Without You
Kelly Clarkson - lighthouse
Anitta - Funk Rave
Charley - Timebomb
Maisie Peters - Run
+ some news about an exciting new era for The Pop In!
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
The Idol - our review
Padam Padam is doing the Padamn thing
Romy announces debut album
Bop or Flop
Popular - The Weeknd & Madonna
Madison Beer - Home To Another One
Bizarrap, Peso Pluma - Bzrp Music Sessions 55
Dom Dolla, Nelly Furtado - Eat Your Man
Ty Dolla $ign - Motion
Kelly Clarkson - i hate love
Rose Gray - Happiness
Ed Sheeran - A Beautiful Game
We'll be back with a new season proper in mid June!
In the meantime... Welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big new music releases and stories of the week!
What’s been happening this week?
The whole Matty Healy drama unpacked
The Weeknd The Idol debuting this week and the critics despise it already - but we're very ready for it
Sam Smith x Madonna
Taylor Swift Cruel Summer and Miley Cyrus Angels Like You becoming hits
Bop or Flop
Dua Lipa - Dance The Night
Taylor Swift - Karma (Feat. Ice Spice)
Tove Lo - i like u
Gretta Ray - Heartbreak Baby
Needanamebro- Not a lot left to say
Dominic Fike - Ant Pile
One Republic - Runaway
Robyn's 'Honey' is our focus for the season finale and what a record to end on. 'Honey' came 8 years after the groundbreaking 'Body Talk' and after a tumultuous personal time for Robyn. It took time but she found joy in music once again and converted it into a tender, spacious record that walks a tightrope between pop and electronica. On this episode, we discuss the impact of the record, the commercial shortcomings and Robyn's overall influence on pop music.
Ava Max has had an interesting run. She broke through with her single 'Sweet But Psycho' at a time when the charts were shunning pure pop. Now they're embracing it though, her star has faded somewhat. 'Diamonds & Dancefloors' was plagued by leaks and delays but despite that it presents as a pretty perfect pop record. It's bold, unapologetic, and escapist. On this episode, we talk all things Ava and give 'D&D' its flowers.
It's a return to the podcast for Jessie Ware with her fifth record 'That! Feels Good!'. It delves further into the dance world that she concocted on 'What's Your Pleasure' but it goes even bigger. It's cheekier, hornier, poppier, and dancier in the best way. We delve into how Ware has found an artistic hot streak with this sound and how this may be one of the best albums of the year.
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