Grenfelle with Swinging Popsicle vocalist Mineko Fujishima to release debut single on Record Store Day 2021

New Japanese pop group Grenfelle — featuring Swinging Popsicle vocalist Mineko Fujishima — will release their first single “KEEP IT GOIN’” on July 17, RECORD STORE DAY. The single — sung entirely in English — will debut exclusively as a split 7-inch vinyl record, with a B-side featuring a remastered cover of Ben Watt’s “North Marine Drive” by French…

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AKB48 Group to livestream “Asia Festival 2021 Online” on June 27

AKB48 has announced a live broadcast event “Asia Festival 2021 Online”, which will present performances from the internationally popular J-Pop idols and their sister groups on June 27. The livestream broadcast event will unite AKB48’S sister groups from across Asia, including JKT48 (Jakarta), BNK48 (Bangkok), MNL48 (Manila), AKB48 Team SH (Shanghai), AKB48 Team TP (Taipei), SGO48 (Ho Chi Minh…

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Eurovision 2021 Review: Romania – Roxen – Amnesia

Roxen brings a modern pop number to Eurovision representing RomaniaRomania was planning on sending young pop talent Roxen to Eurovision last year and was one of the first countries to ask their representative to try again in 2021 after the cancellation of the contest. Her ballad ‘Alcohol You’ ended up in the top 10 of my ranking of last…

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Eurovision 2021 Review: Australia – Montaigne – Technicolour

Montaigne brings ‘Technicolour’ to the Eurovision stageSince Australia joined Eurovision back in 2015, they have never missed the final and only once finished outside of the top 10. Last year, they selected Montaigne and her dramatic pop song ‘Don’t Break Me’ in a national final. Although there were already plans to host another national selection in 2021, the Australian…

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Eurovision 2021 Review: Bulgaria – VICTORIA – growing up is getting old

VICTORIA chooses ‘growing up is getting old’ for Eurovision 2021If it wasn’t for the coronavirus, VICTORIA would have represented her home country Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest last year. Her song ‘Tears Getting Sober’ was one of the favorites for the win (and this blogs number 1) and although she sadly isn’t allowed to use this song again this year, the Bulgarian…

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Single Review: Olivia Rodrigo – deja vu

Olivia Rodrigo is on to another big hit with second single ‘deja vu’2021 might not yet have brought us a lot that we want to remember in a few years from now, but the meteoric rise of Olivia Rodrigo as a pop star is one of the few exciting things to happen. The Disney actress turned artist surprised the…

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Single Review: Years & Years – Starstruck

Years & Years returns as solo act with fabulous new single ‘Starstruck’Years & Years is back, but they are no longer a trio. The band announced earlier this year that from now on, Years & Years is Olly Alexander’s solo project as the upcoming album is his endeavor. This should not have come as a surprise for those who…

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The cover art of Depeche Mode

The cover art of Depeche Mode is among the most imaginative and visually arresting in music. Andrew Dineley revisits some of their very best designs… Depeche Mode’s 1981 debut single set an important visual trend for the band that would endure to the present day, with the band almost always opting out of appearing on their sleeves. Vince Clarke’s…

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Top 20 Pop Instrumentals Of The 80s

We count down our top 20 pop instrumentals of the 80s… By Matthew Rudd While the vocal power, stage presence and charisma of a good frontperson is always handy when making a career in pop, there were enough examples in the 80s to prove that record-buyers were happy to enjoy an opportunity to appreciate the material without distraction. House,…

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