Author: Barry
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Ep. 1.39 – Diana Gordon: The Wynter of Her Discontent
This week, we're talking about Diana Gordon, and why even though you think you don't know her, Sorry, you absolutely do. Also: Falling down stairs, getting blackout drunk on airplanes and what its like having a celebrity like your civilian tweets.
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Ep. 1.38 – P!nk: She’s Not Dead, But Her Singing Career Almost Was
The pop music public embraced P!nk’s 2001 evolution from R&B tough chick to feisty pop-rocker with her sophomore "surprise, I'm white" effort, 2001’s multi-platinum Missundaztood. She doubled down on her rocker edge with 2003’s Try This but a falling out with her main musical collaborator and clashes with her label made for a rushed, uneven product that US audiences didn’t embrace. Today we’re talking about the second single from that album, “God Is A DJ.”
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Ep. 1.37 – Fantasia: Chicken Soup For Rock-Soul
This week, we're talking about "Lose to Win," the 2013 single from singer Fantasia - who, despite winning season 3 of American Idol and originating the role of Celie in the Broadway adaptation of The Color Purple, still doesn't get the adoration we think she deserves.
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Ep 1.36 – Carly Rae Jepsen: Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You, Maybe
Canadian Idol Bronze Medalist Carly Rae Jepsen tunneled a hole straight into the center of our collective craniums with her 2012 earworm "Call Me Maybe" and scored the world's biggest song of that year. But after her album Kiss failed to generate the same heat, her future as a pop sensation seriously hit the skids. In 2015, she returned with the album EMOTION featuring the song "Your Type." And although the album basked in the glow of critical acclaim, a cult fandom and hipster credibility, the majority of music consumers sent it straight to voicemail.
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Ep. 1.35 – Years & Years: An Episode We Spent Minutes & Minutes Prepping For
This week, we're talking about the UK pop group Years & Years, and their single "Take Shelter" from their 2015 debut album Communion. Also: It's A Sin on HBOmax, Sex Education in San Francisco in the 90s, Jason's endless search for "queer joy" in music and most importantly, negotiating the process of leasing a new car.
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Ep. 1.34 – Danity Kane: Damaged Beyond Repair
Making The Band alums Danity Kane were poised to become one of the top girl groups of the aughts, having scored two #1 albums as well as two top 10 lead singles under the management of P. Diddy and Bad Boy Records. But in 2008 the “Showstopper” songstresses literally had to stop the show as interpersonal conflicts boiled over onto their MTV reality show, resulting in the confounding and unexpected split of the group. Today we are lamenting what could have been with Danity Kane, and getting sucked in by the song, “Sucka For Love.”
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Ep. 1.33 – Janelle Monáe: Ready For Primetime
Janelle Monáe first landed in our pop culture universe as android messiah Cindy Mayweather in 2007. Her song Primetime, a sexy duet with Miguel, failed to break into...primetime. Today, I seek justice.
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Ep. 1.32 – Kids Uninterested: Fergie
In 2006, Fergie made a splash with her solo debut, The Dutchess, spawning five top five singles in the US. After a long hiatus, she returned in 2017 with the album Double Dutchess and the song "You Already Know" featuring Nicki Minaj. Unfortunately, double the dutchess was not the double the pleasure.
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Ep. 1.31 – Betty WHO?: Betty Who
Betty Who burst onto the pop music scene in 2013 when her song, "Somebody Loves You" was used as the soundtrack to a viral flashmob gay marriage proposal. (remember those?). Today, we're exploring why, after 5 EPs, 3 albums, and 1 Queer Eye theme song later, people are still asking, Betty, WHO?
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Ep. 1.30 – When They Go Solo, We Go Buh-Bye: Nicole Scherzinger
Like a moth to a flame, the allure of the solo spotlight has long drawn singers like Diana Ross and Michael Jackson away from the groups they broke out with. But for every Justin Timberlake there is a Nick Lachey, and for every Beyonce, there is a Geri Halliwell. Today we’re giving a closer listen to 2007’s “Baby Love” the second solo single from Pussycat Doll’s lead singer Nicole Scherzinger and asking the question: what does it take to go from pop group standout to standalone superstar?