Almost two weeks ago I threw together a dance classics edition of my weekly radio show, Inside Splinters. It's a regular thing I've incorporated into the show and happens on the last Friday of every month. The following podcast is a recording of the show from the 26th of October which - hilariously - was the last Friday of that month, and spawned the very first visit into the Inside Splinters time machine.
Pretty much every single one of these songs is a personal favourite; some of them haven't aged well but that's besides the point. They were great at the time, and the memories are still there. Anyways, this recording also includes a live telephone conversation between myself and the delightful Paul from The Zapping, which is worth the download alone really.
Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man 2000 Danube Dance - Unique Club 69 - Let Me Be Your Underwear (Slicker Nicker Disco Mix) The Shamen - LSI (Love Sex Intelligence) DeLacy - That Look Olive - You're Not Alone Moby - Move (Kid Paul Remix) Rollo Goes Mystic - Love Love Love (Here I Come) The Movement - Jump Deuce - Call It Love (JX Kissy Kissy Remix) Felix - Don't You Want Me '95 (Candy Girls Remix) E-zee Possee - Everything Starts With An E '96 Haddaway - Life The Source - Sanctuary Of Love Urban Cookie Collective - Feels Like Heaven Urban Cookie Collective - High On A Happy Vibe M People - One Night In Heaven Duke - So In Love With You (Full Intention Remix) DaHool - Meet Her At The Love Parade (Nalin & Kane Remix) Infinity - Dirty Love Morris Minor & The Majors - Stutter Rap Ruth Campbell - This Is It
So what's been happening on websites other than this one since my last Blogerati post? As you'd expect - seeing as that was well and truly a month ago - lots.
Australian Idol began here in, er, Australia, and a country rejoiced at the return of Scott, 2 Be Certain's triumphant Idol scribblings. 90% of the reason I watch Idol is so I can kill myself laughing week in, week out over on Scott's blog. His latest post rates each of the final 24 on their likelihood of success out of 10, lists an anagram or two for each of the contestants names, and officially endorses Matt Corby (pictured, left,) who is by far my early favourite (and really fucking easy on the eyes too), along with the wee lass sporting the Lindy Chamberlain haircut. Scott's top 24 round-up is quite possibly one of his finest, finest hours. Right up there with the Marcia God.
Pop Trash Addicts is shaping up to be one of my actual favourite websites of the year. It is like reading the minds of my best friend Ben & I, and like the conversations we have together in the car listening to tragic brilliance from Shakaya, Sirens, Joanne (who once told Ben in an email many years ago she was working on a second album that was "very edgy." As Ben said, "so edgy it never saw the light of day!") and other delights our fine nation has brought to the world of pop. There is news on Melissa Tk-tk-tk-tk-auktz, (who may very well still be waiting for me to call her and do that interview we'd organised back in 2005... er... oops?) a post honouring pop goddess and attitude-filled angel Samantha Fox, info on the sexing-up of Roxane-off-of-idol, ONJ and even some Slinkee Minx (who you may recall I interviewed on this site in very early 2006... will be re-posting that chat sometime next week in honour of their ace new album, which PTA have reviewed here.) PTA, like me and millions of others across the globe, love Dannii too, and have a sister site (*boomTISH*) called Dannii's Dirty Box, which is just as fabulous.
Speaking of Dannii, now that The X-Factor has begun in the UK, the IAR Official Dannii-Watch campaign begins once more. Each week, I'll be discussing - quite meticulously - the finer details of D's hair, make-up, attire, leg-stances, and flirtatious giggles directed at Simon. Could she be any more incredible? The answer is a resounding YES; we should all be honoured to be sharing the same air Dannii Minogue breathes in.
Paul's got THE BEST X-Factor first episode round-up I've read online over at The Zapping. And I quote: "Another woman is quite good... Nerves make her do a split second jazz hands during I Will Always Love You, so points for individuality. Oh and she has some dead relative who inspired her to audition." Fucking awesome. Paul also had a yarn withDeborah Gibson at the beginning of August too. This is also something you should read.
Another of my favourite new websites is Pop Unlimited, which, during its time with us, has featured Jam & Spoon, Deuce,The Tamperer, Human League and Grace (I just loved "Skin On Skin"), just to name a legendary few. And all in impressively great detail. Acerben, who runs the site, has the absolute greatest taste in classic dance this side of the internet - aside from mine of course.
I saw French scary flick Ils over the weekend and, knowing he'd watched it, rushed over to Glenn's Stale Popcorn to announce my feelings to him through the power of blog commenting. There's some interesting intel on Glenn's site regarding the US remake of the film starring Liv Tyler. I'm not at all convinced though that this will be any good - the original scared the living shit out of me (I only realised how much today, mind) and prompted one of my all time WORST nightmares last night... (5 FUCKING DAYS LATER! Now THAT'S an intense reaction!)
In what was probably the most important Internet pop revival of the month of August, D'Luv at Chartrigger discussed the absolute greatest song from the Who's That Girl soundtrack and 3rd greatest Stock/Aitken/Waterman production of all time, Michael Davidson's "Turn It Up." An army of pop lovers bowed down at the feet of D'Luv and thanked him for the precious gift.
Another blog-retrospective which was just as enjoyable came about on eMackinations, in the form of a classy collection of photographs and clips involving the trashtastic Marky Mark. Oh yes.
The outstandingWilliam at Fop announced his spunky blog was to be no more. :( Thankfully, the CFBGoesPopgirls returned shortly after. :)
Clem Bastow, she of ridiculously good beauty and excellence, began writing for the already top-notch Defamer. Her first piece was not only quite good indeed, but it also incorporated the genius LOLcats craze, which is very much my favouritest thing in the whole wide world at the moment.
Electroqueer have a collection of shoddily filmed Darren Hayes @ G.A.Y clips which are actually worth a go. There's also info on how to purchase Nelson Clemente's new music, a guy I've been meaning to talk about on here for ages but keep forgetting to. Anyways, he's very good and EQ have done a much better job than I of endorsing his brilliance.
Don't Stop The Pop spoke to Steve Anderson! The interview is aces beyond words and touches on the subjects of Rent Remixed, Kylie X, Robyn and, of course, Willy Baker.
Bop Pop posted some pictures of the glamorous Fergie with some weird looking blokes, two pairs of rave-wear sunglasses not being worn by Calvin Harris (and, therefor, somewhat irrelevant), and a pair of ug-boots being worn by a fat cow that used to sing songs and sell records.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Giveth with one hand, taketh with the other.
God (pictured, left, candidly straddling a boombox over the weekend) works in mysterious ways. She delivers joy, but whilst you are celebrating, she quite rudely rips something away from you. Unfortunately because of her general greatness, you just cannot question her madness--as they say, there is obviously a method to it and who am I to judge a decision God Almighty herself has made. It still saddens me though.
Let's start with the bad news. It seems that the totally amazing Samuel, who runs the totally amazing Hotstufffiles (it's all one bloody word!) has closed down his gorgeous labour of love for good. THIS UPSETS ME GREATLY. Over the past year it has been an absolute pleasure chatting to the lovely Samuel about nonsensical garbage like Jay-Z's role in Rihanna's "Umbrella," Girls Aloud flunking it down under, and other fabulous tomfoolery. He even allowed me to scribble my own series of shit for a couple of weeks in an accidentally ill-fated weekly column. So thank you Samuel, your site has provided me with much entertainment and laughs over the last 12 months plus, and it is incredibly sad to see you go.
NOW for the hand that giveth! You may remember how mortified I was when Popalastic closed its doors earlier in the year. Thankfully, they have come to their senses and taken note that the interweb's median land price's have sunk to an all time low since their self-imposed eviction from the world of pop and--in order to save us all--are returning with a totally jazzed up new look. Huzzah! You can read the exciting message of hope for yourself (complete with peacock-friendly photography) here.
Thank you for the music, Goodbye my friend, bye bye Miss American Pie; we'll miss you Hotstufffiles. Welcome back Popalastic.
To make up for my absence, I think it's high time I invested a bit of web-space to a blogerati round-up. Here's the online goodness that's been fondling my senses whilst I should be studying...
The woman to your left is the little-known sister of Dannii Minogue. She's looking a bit spectacular right now and xolondon has some lovely shots of her for your viewing pleasure. There is also a tidbit on the new Garbage track (thank you xo!) and a pretty accurate review of the new Sophie Ellis-Bextor album. Unless I decide to withdraw it, my review of that should be online tomorrow some time.
The gorgeous Paul and his Zapping are "fizzing at the slit" over Maroon 5 at the moment. I'm yet to listen to the album in full but I have bought it solely on Paul's recommendation, so if I dislike it I'll know who to send the receipt to. Paul was even lucky enough to have a chin wag with the quite-good-looking Adam Levine. FANTASTIC read.
Samuel's VERY ACTUAL LEGENDARY The Hotstuff Files somehow manages to get better as the days roll on. Today there is a piece on Steph McIntosh's UK launch, and how pop is always better in Australia. TELL THAT TO THE THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN'S WHO MADE SANDI THOM, HINDER, EVERMORE AND MISSY FUCKING HIGGINS NUMBER BLOODY ONE ON THE SINGLES CHARTS THIS YEAR. And would you believe that in the space of a couple of weeks, Hotstuff and the ace Pop Trash Addicts have made mention of Girlband? One day I'll write up my story with photographic evidence of their ridiculous children's clothing line at K-Mart. Oh yes folks, I'm actually being serious. In the meantime, you can read other things I've said about them.
Fun Fongo is one of those new sites I cannot stop "refreshing". Great content, very very funny stuff, bookmark this baby.
Speaking of Aussie pop, there is a heavy mention of IAR favourite/possibly convicted drug user Katie Underwood over at the rather delightful A Kind Of Love In. Pinkie's pretty ace, yeah?
The TV advert for the alarming new range of Sugababes Barbie dolls can be found at Bop Pop. Seeing is believing kids...
The mardy CFBGoesPop girls have got a hilarious few pieces on things that are better than Lily Allen. When I asked my mother what she thought was better than Lily Allen, she said "world war". We've already established my mother is not Lily's biggest fan in the past.
Speaking of Lily Allen, Chartrigger has a bit on the whole Cheryl Tweedy v Lily saga, which I refuse to talk about on the website because I think both of them are being absolute fuckwits. J'ason - calling Lily a "two-bit transexual" will certainly make my mothers day when I tell her tomorrow.
Robpop over at Don't Stop The Pop! is predicting a girlband revival of 2007. Yet another blog mention of Girlband! That crazy Columbian group who've covered The Aloud's "Something Kinda Ooooh" were mentioned first at the Pop by the way, further cementing why they're a bit fucking good at what they do down there.
NEW TIFFANY VIDEO CLIP OVER AT ELECTROQUEER!! Raj is my newest MySpace friend who's site I heart, PS.
There is talk of Deborah Hutton liking the cunt over at Luke's brill Billable Units. I HAVE IT ON VERY GOOD AUTHORITY SHE'S QUITE THE RUG MUNCHER.
William's marvellous Fop has looked into the Young Divas crystal ball, predicting big things in the form of 90's dance classics in their future. I may talk on this topic a little more next week some time.
One of my must-visit-daily reads is Pop Poster Girl's totally primo blog. Is this lady one of the pop worlds best bloggers? Yes, yes she is. A favourite story of mine this week is about a boy with lovely eyes.
Both the brilliant Scott, 2 Be Certain and Popjustice discuss Kelly Clarkson's new album cover. Hopefully what's on the actual CD isn't as shit as that new single.
New bookmarks added to the side link-up this week, including fellow Geelong-boy Glenn's remarkable Stale Popcorn, It's like 2 Unlimited; but it's not - it's Pop Unlimited, more goodness at Whudahexup!, and the charming Worrapolava, which I added about a month ago but keep forgetting to mention.
Also, Retro Remixes is one of the greatest new websites you will visit.
GOOD DAY TO YOU ALL! See you in a few hours for Sophie EB stuff.
So far mine has been running for two weeks which - as it turns out - would mean there are two column entires. I have absolutely no idea what I'll write about next week but I shall cross that bridge when I get to it, right?
This week I have spoken about how the fusion of Music & Television can change the way you feel about a featured song.
Last week I spoke about the whole Girls Aloud OZ Promo Tour 2006 vs Westlife OZ Promo Tour 2006 debacle. This particular column entry is infinitely better than this weeks, but what can you do.
Bookmark the new column and clicky-clicky. Have a good weekend...
First of all, let me talk about this album to your left. It's by an Alternative (!) band from Ireland called La Rocca, and it is titled "The Truth". One of the greatest songs to ever feature a piano, "Non Believer", features on this very album, and it is seriously breathtaking. If you like the first-album Keane stuff, really enjoy a heartfelt piano riff that comes from absolutely nowhere, or really quite enjoy the mellow-ish guitar strummings heard on One Tree Hill, then you are going to love not only La Rocca's best song, but their whole album too.
Before I go on, PLEASE visit their MySpace and listen to "Non Believer", the first song included on their MySpazz Music Player. The fabulous piano bit comes in just a bit after the 3:15 mark, and goes till about 4:00. Absolutely amazing stuff.
"Non Believer" was introduced to me through an episode of One Tree Hill, which I mentioned last week has become a serious obsession of mine during non-study periods of my day. A song so bloody beautiful, it encouraged me to investigate the group further. After listening to an, um, hem-hem, totally legal download of the album, it had engaged me so much that I promptly whipped out a credit card (apologies to whomever's card I used), and am now awaiting a proper copy of the album to arrive in my mailbox from the UK. And had this record actually been released THIS year rather than in August 2006, it would probably be sitting at about Number 4 on my albums of the year thus far.
NOW THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY - The tallying for the My Favourite Pop Record is almost over. I spent a large portion of my weekend counting up print outs, and will spend the next couple of days doing more of that. Hopefully by the start of April, I'll have the complete results - with added Blogerati commentary - online and ready to roll.
Speaking of the Blogerati, Paul from The Zapping has relocated his swishy site to an even swishy-er (?!) domain home. All of Paul's ace scribblings can now be found at www.thezapping.com.
It seems the All Saints have been dropped by Parlophone after 4 people bought their Studio 1 album. Oh dear. More at The Hotstuff and at Bop Pop...
The ace Popalastic seems to have returned, and disappeared again. COME BACK FOR GOODNESS SAKES!
Paul from The Zapping has contributed a piece about Love on Pinkie's A Kind Of Love In. And in a legendary turn of events, he (briefly) mentions De'Lacey's "Hideaway" in said piece. DO YOU REMEMBER HOW GREAT THAT SONG WAS? I sure do folks.
Popjustice has finally mentioned Van She - well, their on-the-side, remix project Vanshe Tech - on the front page. Now to attempt for the six millionth time: getting people interested in Van She's original material...
If there are no updates on the site for the rest of the week, you'll have to forgive me, but I'm picking up my brand new iMac Computer today and, after having a PC for well over 10 years, to say there's going to be some soul searching to be done would be an understatement. I'm excited, nervous, scared, thrilled... it's like losing my virginity all over again.
Anyways, in the meantime, I've been noble enough (!) to provide you with some things to do and places to see, whilst I'm on this brief, 3 day hiatus.
First of all, here is the new video clip for Fergie's "Glamorous".
This is easily the 2nd best song from Fergie's brilliant debut album (SHE SPELLS IN THE SONG. SPELLING IN POP IS MAGNIFICENT!) and the clip lives up to the songs brilliance. The clip features a glamorous 2007 Fergie, and a 1994 slightly-less glamorous Fergie. Genius really.
Also, all over the Internet...
The Hotstuff Files have the brand new Avril Lavigne single for streaming. It's called "Girlfriend". It's so good that it sits comfortably at Number #1 on my chart for 2007 thus far.
Long time commenter and good friend Luke Woodsman has finally opened up his own blog. It's called Billable Units, and it is fabulous.
The guys at Chart Rigger continue to burn their "on-fire" flame higher than anyone else, this time with some Birthday Greetings for everyone's dear friend Rick Astley. Oh Yes.
Bop Pop has news on poor Mark Owen's breaking-of-hand incident, along with some hilarious Cameron Diaz/JustinE Timberlake gossip doing the rounds.
Edward O's amazing Enthusiastic But Mediocre continues to dazzle and, whilst this may be quite an old post, his top 100 singles of 2006 is still the greatest reads you'll ever dive into online.
Girlfriend appreciation month has begun at the newly re-opened CFBGoesPop. There will be an IAR related submission for Girlfriend mania at some point next week...
Emackinations have a delightful photo of a young man on a skateboard.
Over at my sister site, the Australian themed Trang Pak's Burn Book, you'll find the Australian Princess finale write up AND some scribblings on The Biggest Loser.
Speaking of Nicola & Co, the quite wonderful Synth Me Spaghetti have the brand new Girls Aloud vs Sugababes video clip on offer, the Comic Relief aided cover of Aerosmith vs Run DMC's "Walk This Way". The clip turns an ordinary/terrible cover into an all out brilliant affair. "Our" Nic's fringe is quite spectacular in said clip, mind, whilst Sarah seems to have forgotten to change after the "Ooooh..." video clip. Oops.
The gorgeous Jess from Ausculture is in a state since hearing her year old made up word of "Sezbian" is going to be used in a future episode of Neighbours.
Poster Girl has some online goodies in the form of Akcent MP3s. Apparently, they have other songs besides their ode to the otherMinogue, "Kylie". Who knew?!!!
Don't Stop The Pop have the brand new Robyn CD cover, which is quite arty to look at. They also have news on the working title for Kylie's 10th Studio album (as opposed to her 10 greatest hits collections).
See you next week, unless I figure out the iMac before then!!!
While I've been spending the early stages of this week in a sleepless, zombie-like frazzle, other members of the Blogerati have been quite productive. Let's take a look at the goings on around the world wide web...
The Hotstuff Files are - like myself - in quite the state to see that Simon Webbe (ex Blue member) is no longer sporting his trademark hat. The end is indeed nigh.
XO & his Middle Eight are currently listening to the delightful sounds of Lucky Soul, who I'd not heard of until this post. Grace Jones (pictured, left), the pop star with the sharpest shoulder-pads in music history, is apparently quite the fan of them as well.
If you're like me and don't actually live in the UK, you might be incredibly curious to find out what's going on in the UK Celebrity Big Brother House, staring Jermaine Jackson (!!!), Jo O'ChinO'Meara and H "The Gay" from Steps. Luckily for us, the amazing Talent In A Previous Life are providing the world with day to day recaps, proving to be much more entertaining than Jo O'Meara's solo album.
Paul at The Zapping not only has a sexy new look for his blog, but has also managed to squeeze in appreciation of Deborah Gibson's AH-MAH-ZHING 2001 single "M.Y.O.B", which, long-time readers may remember, was featured on the now (temporarily?) defunct 1001 Greatest Pop Songs website mid last year.
Speaking of Deborah, ace new Magablog A Kind Of Love In has also managed to feature the lovely Ms. Gibson. Pinkie - the lovely man who runs the site - discusses his loin-approval for Eric Mabius, the rather gorgeous-as-fuck boss of Betty, seen on the splendid TV show Ugly Betty. You may remember him as the sexy-as-sin Dean Jack Hess from the OC last year, or as the boy bumming Joshua Jackson in the movie Cruel Intentions.
#1 Hits From Another Planet is featuring some delightfully good electro-pop courtesy of Emmon, in the form of an mp3. There's also a lovely Lady-themed EP available for download too.
RobPop & Mark over at Don't Stop The Pop have announced their Top 10 songs of 2006, with a rightful placing of Silvia Night's "Congratulations" at Number #2.
Chart Rigger adds some interesting detail to the whole Robbie Williams vs Ashley Hamilton (he-of-former-Shannen-Doherty-nuptial-fame) debacle over who actually wrote Williams' "She's Madonna". Robbie seems to be spending more time in court these days than Eminem did several years back.
Anthony Callea has done one of those "what's on your iPod" lists for iTunes, and the fabulous Poster Girl has analyzed every single one of the tracks on said list. Callea likes X-Tina, The Pussycunt Moles, Nick Lachey and - quite sadly - Augie March, who I explained had been responsible for "supplying many Australian's with reasons to off themselves since their first EP release in 1998" in Stylus Magazine last year.
Split Chick over at Tip Top Pop has a Live-mania Kylie Minogue megapost up at the moment, with downloadable audio moments from some of Kylie's biggest tours, including her take on Madge's "Vogue" on the recent leg of her Showgirl Tour.
Jess has updated Ausculture and has bid farewell to the amazing Will from Fop, who's moving to the UK forever, leaving all of his VERY SAD AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS BEHIND. We'll miss you oh-so-much Will, thanks for being so very special to all. xo
Over at Karinski.net, there's some serious loving headed toward Mark Ronson, Ms. E. Bextor, and the use of the word "Emop". Brilliance all round.
The superb Popalastic has news on Australia's latest "apparent" new Pop Princess. Her name is Suzy Ray, her first single is called "Disco In My Car", there is speculation that she may enjoy sex with her siblings and cows, and she is without a MySpace page. This is never a good thing folks ("Which bit?!!" - You). A band by the name of Clay Pigeon that I was banging on about last year suddenly broke up after recording their first demo CD, and they too were WITHOUT A MYSPACE PAGE. The curse of MySpace is an evil thing, and if Suzy Ray wants anyone to buy her incredibly shithouse-but-listenable single, she'd better get out of the depression and hop to joining the rest of the world in the year 2007 by 'getting to it'.
Popjustice.com are raving about Calvin Harris, and (once again) they're quite right in doing so. Calvin recently turned the average All Saints single "Rock Steady" into an absolute dancefloor stomper. What a pity not even God himself could turn the rest of their album into anything remotely worth listening to.
The always controversial and quite fantastic Kirkland Ciccone has launched a new website, which has some quite dazzling moments to be found within.
Finally, if you're after Australian Princess Updates, you might wanna head over to my other website, the slightly more Australian-TV-Culture-tinged Trang Pak's Burn Book.
