Flop Redeemer

Amy Winehouse broke through in a big way with her 2006 album Back To Black, earning the British Singer-Songwriter five Grammy Awards for her unique, modern take on vintage soul music. Pop music pundits wondered whether her success signaled a cultural turn toward a retro renaissance. Today we’re talking through some of the winners and losers in the world of throwback pop music.

Rock band Paramore broke through with their 2007 single “Misery Business” and lead singer Hayley Williams was once lauded by John Mayer as “The Great Orange Hope.” In 2017, the band released their fifth studio album After Laughter featuring a newish sound with a newish lineup into a pop musical landscape that had grown increasingly unfriendly toward rock music in the preceding decade. Today we’re talking about the lead single from that effort, the disco new wave fantasia, “Hard Times.”

Today, we're talking about Cher's 1982 post-disco flop, "I Paralyze," which didn't just paralyze her music career, it shot it and put it in a five year coma.

What does it take to sustain a pop music career for multiple decades? Talent? Charisma? Sheer force of will? Twelve-year-old singer Mariah Carey's attempts to remain in the pop cultural spotlight for over thirty years have given us some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Today we're discussing one of those lows, 2012's non-album single "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" and its accompanying Throwback Remix.

Today, we're talking three holiday songs that we believe should be on every holiday playlist: "Joyful Joyful" by Jazmine Sullivan (and Pentatonix), "Joy To The World" by Whitney Houston, and Barbra Streisand's chaotic "Jingle Bells?" Happy Holidays!

In 2007, actress and singer Miranda Cosgrove rose to stardom on the hit Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, a show which inspired the youth of America to seek fame by broadcasting themselves on the internet with seemingly little concern over their personal privacy or safety. In 2010 she took an obligatory turn at pop stardom and released her debut album, Sparks Fly. Though a moderate hit, the album may not have reached as many non-iCarly fans as hoped, and by the time iCarly ended in 2012, so too had Miranda Cosgrove’s recording career. Today we’re talking about her 2010 song, “Disgusting.”

Today we're talking about the actress Brittany Murphy and her cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love" from the 2006 animated penguin film Happy Feet, as well as the fantastic Stevie Wonder cover by Fantasia, Patti LaBelle, and Yolanda Adams on the same soundtrack.

In 2002, Kelly Osbourne parlayed her role in her family's reality show into a major label record deal and a buzzy pop punk single featured on MTV. In 2005 she debuted an entirely new synthpop sound, and though audiences seemed to be warming up to this new iteration of Kelly, the effort proved to be her swan song. Today we're talking about her final single, "One Word."

Today we're talking about "Million Dollar Bill," Whitney Houston's last single released during her lifetime, which, after more than 25 years topping the charts, hit number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the 90s, pop singer Jennifer Lopez rode a wave of success, starting as a Fly Girl on TV's "In Living Color" and ending the decade as a certified triple threat. But after a string of hit movies and albums, 2007's Brave proved a threat to no one and its second single "Hold It Don't Drop It' failed to chart.

Following her win on the third series of The X Factor, this artist dominated worldwide charts in 2007 with the album Spirit and it's breakout single "Bleeding Love," but by 2009 her particular brand of mid-tempo musings were providing diminishing returns and her sophomore effort Echo garnered far fewer accolades. Seeking to reignite her career with a new sound in 2011, she released the up-tempo EDM track “Collide,” intended to be the lead single from her third studio album, Glassheart. But a public feud with an up and coming DJ/Producer and threats of a lawsuit overshadowed the track’s release and it ultimately disappeared from the album’s final track listing. Today we’re talking about Leona Lewis, and her song, “Collide.”

Today we're talking about VINCINT, and his debut album There Will Be Tears, along with some other queer artists we're bopping along to as we come to the end of this Pride month.

Get out your rainbow can of Bud Light and get ready to reapply your SPF every 90 minutes because it is June, which means that it’s Pride season. This week we’re talking about Imperial Teen, the alternative rock band that hit it big with 1999’s “Yoo Hoo,” the quintessential 90s soundtrack for accidentally murdering your best friend in the trunk of your car with an oversized piece of candy during a birthday prank gone wrong. In 2002 the band released their third album On featuring the song “Our Time” which I consider my overlooked pride anthem.

This week we're talking about "4th of July," the 2nd single from singer Kelis' 5th album, the unexpectedly dance-focused Flesh Tone, and why this song, and her whole discography, deserve more credit and love than she currently receives.

The month of May has come and gone, and we have missed AAPI Heritage Month in its entirety. But as the saying goes, better late than never!  Today we're talking about Rachael Yamagata, the singer-songwriter behind the 2003 single "Worn Me Down."

British multi-hyphenate Estelle took the US by storm in 2008 with her double-platinum, grammy-winning single “American Boy.” She followed it up in 2010 with the David Guetta produced track “Freak,” a sex-positive dance anthem intended to be the lead single for her highly-anticipated third album. But when the album, 2012’s  All Of Me appeared, “Freak” was nowhere to be found. Today we ask, what happened?

This week, we're talking about "A Brand New Day," a showstopping number from 1975's The Wiz, a movie musical starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson and which to this day, we still haven't seen.

Riding high of the success of her debut album and Grammy-nominated single "No Air" pop singer Jordin Sparks set out to keep the momentum going with her sophomore effort, 2009's Battlefield. But after a string of lukewarm singles, a cancelled tour and perennially delayed third album, all indications were that the air had been let out of Jordin's career. Today we're talking about her song, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head."

Tween TV star turned pop singer Ariana Grande was riding high off the commercial success of her first two studio albums, 2013's My Everything and 2014's Yours Truly. But a minor scandal and a scrapped single in 2015 turned this girl next door into a dangerous woman. Today we’re talking about her 2015 non-album single, “Focus.”

This week, we're talking about Toni Braxton, the R&B superstar who unbroke our hearts in the 90s but who many people assumed fizzled out in the early-aughts. Jason is here to tell you how that almost happened but didn't, and why her last three albums, including one released just last year, are among the best work of her career. 

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. 

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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?

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?

Katy Perry and her unique brand of cotton candy pinup girl pop rock dominated pop music from her bi-curious debut in 2008 to her shark-ridden Superbowl performance in 2014. But after the three year hiatus that followed, she reemerged in 2017 with a new look, a new sound, and a new album that no one wanted. Today we’re talking about the album Witness, and it’s second single, “Swish Swish.”

Jessie J has been bubbling up through the public consciousness in one way shape or form since 2009. Today we're talking about the song "Thunder," and exploring why she's had big hits, but never really connected in the US.

Swedish band the Cardigans scored a #2 on the billboard music charts with 1996's  "Lovefool," an infectious pop tune about unrequited love, successfully bringing their unique brand of vintage inspired lounge pop to the American mainstream. After a brief hiatus, the band re-emerged in the US in 2004 with a new sound and a new album, Long Gone Before daylight, featuring the single "For What Its Worth"

Singer Jazmine Sullivan shot to commercial and critical success when she burst on the scene in 2008, busting windows and taking on lions and tigers and bears. 12 years, 3 albums, 11 Grammy nominations and 2 hiatuses later, she's still not getting her flowers. Today, we'll get into why she already deserves to be one of the greats, and I why I think the best may be yet to come.

Singer, Actress and Songwriter Christina Milian achieved early success with top 20 chart placements for a collaboration with Ja Rule and a songwriting credit for Jennifer Lopez, but after unforeseen delays and the ultimate cancellation of the release of her debut album, she struggled to regain her footing in the years that followed, while her peers began rising to stardom around her.

R&B singer Mya burst onto the scene in 1998 with her sexy vocals and sultry dance moves, but after a string of hits and high-profile projects, she largely fell off the public radar for the last decade. Today we're talking about her 2018 song "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and where she's been all this time.

Disney launched co-ed pop group The Party in 1990 as a spin off of their recently rebooted variety TV series, The All New Mickey Mouse Club. But by 1993, with four albums and only a moderate number of hits under their belt, the group abruptly disbanded. leaving fans with their swan song, "I Wish You Peace"

This week, we're discussing Josh Groban's song "What I Did for Love," which appears on his 7th studio album Stages, released in 2015.

This week, we're discussing Keri Hilson's song "Pretty Girl Rock," which appears on her 2nd studio album No Boys Allowed, released in 2010. The song it self was a platinum success, but it wasn't enough to save the album - and was her last release in 10 years.

In part two of our foray into the wide world of Sia-penned pop tunes, Jason makes the case for "You Lost Me" from 2010's Bionic as one of his favorite Christina Aguilera songs, despite its lack of chart success.

In part one of this two part episode featuring Sia-penned tunes sung by princesses of pop, we're talking about "Perfume" sung by Britney Spears. Despite Sia's rising popularity as one of pop music's most sought-after songwriters, her talents did not translate into a hit for this princess of pop.

Our foray into the mysterious world of men continues as Jason extolls the virtues of Wrabel, and his song Ritual.

In part one, Barry ponders why Austrailian singer Daniel Merriweather didn't break through with his 2010 single, Water And A Flame.

In Part 2 of I Remember Us, we talk about MKS, also known as the original lineup of the Sugababes. After a series of lineup changes left the group unrecognizable to fans, the original members attempted a reunion with the song Flatline, but a full album has yet to materialize.

In this two part episode, we're talking about groups that reunited years after parting ways but weren't able to recapture the level of success they once had. In part one, Jason gives us the lowdown on whatever happened to SWV.

This week, in a continuation of the episode "Where Credit Is Due" we're making the case for R&B Legend Patti LaBelle's original version of "If You Asked Me To", later popularized by Celine Dion.

We're giving credit where credit is due, featuring songs originally recorded by one artist, only to gain popular success later, after being recorded by another artist. In part one, we're talking about soul singer Dee Dee Warwick and her original recording of If "You're No Good," more popularly sung by Linda Ronstadt.

Mariah mania continues! We share our reactions to Rarities as well as some insights from The Meaning Of Mariah Carey. We explore the ups and downs of Mariah's post-Glitter catalog, finally landing on 2018's Caution and the standout track "8thGrade."T