Flopstars

It's the Pop In and our agenda this week is:

• The Grammys
• Justin Timberlake vs. Britney Spears
• Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj
• The new Ice Spice song 'Fart'
• TikTok vs. Universal Music

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?

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up

• Sam went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Mexico City

  Nicki Minaj teasing new single ‘Last Time I Saw You’

  Ashnikko album out. What happened to her popularity?

  ELTON JOHN HAD A FALL (HE'S OK)

  THEY CANCELLED THE IDOL

Bop or Flop

• Selena Gomez - Single Soon

• Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young

• Conan Gray - Winner

• Omar Apollo - Ice Slippin

• Alright - Victoria Monet

• Ashnikko - dying star (feat. Ethel Cain)

• Joel Corry & Rita Ora with MK - Drinkin

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.

Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to Flopstars running through the big releases and music stories of the last 7 days.

Coming Up

• Miley Cyrus is teasing a new single on the 10th anniversary of Wrecking Ball

• Oliver Anthony - who???

• We're doing our first ever live show at Beyond The Valley Festival

• Joel Corry & Rita Ora have a song coming out this week which feels very our brand 

• Addison Rae EP unpacked

Bop or Flop

• Addison Rae - 2 die 4

• Charlie Puth - Lipstick 

• Doechiii - Booty Drop

• Renee Rapp - Pretty Girls

• HEMLOCKE Springs - enknee1

• Olivia Rodrigo - bad idea right

• Fred again - adore u

• Chappell Roan - Hot To Go

  
  

  also sam saw lana in mexico

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.

Welcome back to The Pop In!

What’s been happening this week?

• Halle's debut single coming Friday called ‘Angel’ - what can we expect?

• Huge numbers for Travis Scott's UTOPIA - where are we at with him?

• Kylie's Vegas residency announced

Bop or Flop

Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch

Travis Scott & Beyonce - Delestro (Echoes)

Sam Smith & Calvin Harris - Desire

Post Malone - Enough Is Enough

Tkay Maidza - Ring-A-Ling

Holly Humberstone - Superbloodmoon

Tori Kelly - Cut

ADDITIONAL VIEWING

Calvin Harris with Roman, Sian & Chris on Capital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLfL9nrqX5A

Vice Australia with Tkay Maidza: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvWg1X2pZRz/

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

ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK!

• (1.40) Nicki Minaj’s album has been pushed back for “some really exciting news” - what is the news?

• (2.50) The Idol Season Finale reviewed and unpacked

• (6.15) Troye Sivan’s Rush AND Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire makes us unpack the whole ‘teasing songs for ages’ thing

• (13.58) Zayn Malik is on the comeback trail & who is the bigger 1D member - Zayn or Niall?

Bop or Flop

Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire (18.40)

Charli XCX - Speed Drive (23.35)

Rita Ora - Don’t Think Twice (27.44)

BENEE / Mallrat - Do It Again (30.11)

Alok & Ava Max - Car Keys (Ayla) (32.33)

Holly Humberstone - Antichrist (32.38)

Mae Muller - Me, Myself & I (35.29)

PANIA - BURNA FONE (37.28)

Issey Cross - Bittersweet Goodbye (39.37)

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.

Welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big new music releases and stories of the week!

Coming Up:

• Sam saw Caroline Polachek

• America Has A Problem got a Kendrick remix

• Let’s talk about Peso Pluma - officially one of the biggest artists in the world right now

Bop or Flop

• Bad Bunny - Where She Goes

• Zara Larsson - End Of Time

• Post Malone - Mourning

• Conan Gray - Never Ending Song

• Chappell Roan - Red Wine Supernova

• Kelly Clarkson - Favorite Kind Of High

• Anne-Marie - Unhealthy (Feat. Shania Twain)

• Kito & Grimes AI - Cold Touch

Hello and welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big music news stories & song releases of the week!

Coming Up:

• The Renaissance tour has started

• Lana Del Rey releases 10 year old song Say Yes To Heaven

• Kylie returns and announces new album Tension

  
  

  Bop or Flop:

  • Jorja Smith - Little Things

  • Janelle Monae - Lipstick Lover

  • G Flip - Be Your Man

  • Remi Wolf - Prescription

  • PNAU, Bebe Rexha, Ozuna - Stars

  • Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam

  • Roisin Murphy - The Universe

  • Kesha - Only Love Can Save Us Now

  
  

  
  

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.

Hello and welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big music news stories & song releases of the week!

Coming Up:

• Beyoncé tour starts tomorrow - what will she and won't she perform?

• Ed Sheeran album - turning the critics (and the Sams)

• Daft Punk Random Access Memories 10 year anniversary - has it aged well beyond the song Zara Larsson used as a sample?

• Jonas Brothers album coming out - do we care?

• The Weeknd to kill off the moniker - what will his new name be?

Bop or Flop

• Ed Sheeran - Curtain

• Blusher - Backbone

• CXLOE - Flight Risk

• Hemlock Sprigns - Server The Blight (also known as Hemlocke Springs - Sever The Blight)

• GAYLE - Don’t call me pretty

• Moistbreezy - why can’t it be you

• Amaarae - Co-star

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.

hellloooooooo!!!!! i'll put a more concise description in soon! instead, here's a copy paste of the runsheet!

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up

• The Met Gala

• Big week of album releases: Jessie, Bebe, Ryan Beatty

• Frank Ocean/Rosalia collab leaked

• Miley’s Angels Like You is going viral

Bop or Flop

• Kesha - Eat The Acid

• Bebe Rexha - Seasons

• Coi Leray - Bops

• Miguel - Give It To Me

• Ryan Beatty - Bruises Off The Beach

• Dagny - Heartbreak In The Making

• Peach PRC - Kinda Famous

• Jess Glynne - Silly Me

Back for the Pop In for another week! Our adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big releases and moments in music this week. THERE'S SO MANY SONGS.

Today: SZA makes history, Fred Again did Coachella but is it a good thing? Kim Petras & Nicki Minaj FINALLY put out Alone and we find a resolution on the Chorus Fiasco (please consult past episodes for further information) and we have new music from…

• Fatboy Slim & Rita Ora - Praise You
• The Weeknd & Future - Double Bubble Toil And Trouble (Double Fantasy)
• Madelline - Dopamine (A TIKTOK REQUEST! YOU CAN MAKE THESE!
• The Kid Laroi - Where Does Your Spirit Go?
• Bebe Rexha & Snoop Dogg - Satellites
• Christine and the Queens & 070 Shake - True love
• Bree Runway & Khalid - Be The One
• AJR - The Dumb Song
• Needanamebro - Better Love
• Latto - Put It On Da Floor
• Armani White & A$AP Ferg - Silver Teeth
• Oliver Cronin - Speed Bump
• Ed Sheeran - Shivers

We've reserved our longest episode ever for Madonna. It only feels right given we're discussing 'Ray Of Light', one of her seminal works and an experimental masterpiece that shifted the course of her career. Both Nic & Sam had never listened to the project in full so this is a first impression of sorts. This is a crash course in the genius of Madonna as much as it is a talk-through 'Ray Of Light'.

Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to FLOPSTARS where we run through the big new songs & music moments of the week.

On this show: Sam's cooking some sort of confusing tomato dish, we wrap the response to last week's Flopstar Frank Ocean's divisive Coachella headline performance + the vibe around BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny & Becky G's sets from Weekend 1, we've got a new chapter and absolutely no closure on the saga of Where Is The Chorus Actually In Kim Petras & Nicki Minaj's 'Alone', excitement over Bebe Rexha & Snoop Dogg's California Gurls moment, the female rap battle between SZA & Doja Cat + Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice, and new music in Bop Or Flop as follows...

• Jessie Ware - Begin Again

• Romy - Enjoy Your Life

• SZA - KIll Bill (Feat. Doja Cat)

• Ice Spice - Princess Diana (Feat. Nicki Minaj)

• Kelly Clarkson - Mine

• Jorja Smith - Try Me

• Muna - One That Got Away

• Diplo - Use Me (Feat. Dove Cameron & Sturgill Simpson)

• Joel Corry - Do U Want Me Baby (Feat. Billen Ted & Elphi)

• Dominic Fike - Dancing In The Courthouse (this causes an argument.)

Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' is considered by many to be the best album of the 2010s. It's one of the most influential albums of our time; a wonky, off-kilter listen that's deeply personal. It's so mysteriously affecting that it's difficult to put into words exactly what it makes you feel but on this episode of Flopstars we give it our best shot.

These two Swifties are devastated to bring you the Pop In this week, the adjacent podcast to Flopstars. Is true love dead? We explore. Along with talking about The Weeknd's potential surprise appearance at Coachella this weeknd (yes), previewing the headliners, talking about the Nicki Minaj & Kim Petras thing and what the f*ck a chorus is, as well as new music from Mahalia, Ellie Goulding, Jonas Brothers, Drake, Shygirl and one more I can't quite remember at the point of typing. THERE'S ALSO A WHOLE THING ABOUT HOW THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH MIGHT BE CAMP NOW? idk. Follow us on Insta & TikTok and join the chat!

Sabrina Carpenter is the subject of Flosptars this week as she makes her podcast debut with 'emails i can't send'. Her fifth album was a career breakthrough for her coming off the back of a highly publicised relationship, that brought new ears to an intimate project. It's a weird and wonky pop record that challenges at points but ultimately shows her off as a unique artist.

SO MUCH TO SAY about the biggest new pop music and stories in the land! Taylor Swift's Eras tour lands - are we happy with the setlist? Pinkpantheress phones in her SXSW and we think it's entirely deserved, are we getting Endless Summer Vacation Part 2 from Miley? plus new music from Taylor herself, Ryan Beatty, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, Lewis Capaldi and more goes under the Bop or Flop treatment.

Rina Sawayama's second album 'Hold The Girl' is a bombastic, emotional journey. Written as a device to process trauma, Sawayama leaves nothing off the table as she wades through the weeds on a trek toward healing. Along the way, we encounter movie-ready pop, widescreen rock, and edgy garage. It's thrilling and a lot to unpack. 

Lily Allen's fourth album 'No Shame' is on the Flopstars radar this week. The confessional record was released around the time of her tell-all book and saw Lily at her most honest and vulnerable. Musically, it trips through genres marking her first LP without Greg Kurstin at the helm. It's a moving listen that manages to be both devastating and fun.

It's the Pop In! The adjacent to Flopstars wrapping up the big music stories & new songs of the week. We've got details on the Miley album, we talk the shitshow of Glastonbury's headliners, Rosalia fans taking matters into their own hands, a wrap of Sydney World Pride & new songs from Nicki Minaj, Kali Uchis, Peach PRC, Boygenius, Mimi Webb, Eliza Rose, Oliver Tree & David Guetta.

The Weeknd is the most streamed artist in the world so how is it possible that his last era was a flop? 'Dawn FM' was a challenging concept record that came out at the top of 2022. It was a much-needed reprieve for the time but it was also overshadowed by longlasting hits from his previous album 'After Hours'. In this episode, we explore whether the album actually had the juice to create hits. 

It's the Pop In! Today we've got new music from The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, Kali Uchis, Lola Young, Blusher & Halsey plus details on another collaboration between Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding and P!nk's regretful of some things she said but it's okay we forgive. 

P!nk's 'Funhouse' may be the most successful album of her whole career so why does it appear on Flopstars? Well, P!nk is the ultimate Flopstar. An artist who the public has fallen in and out of love with. 'Funhouse' is an excellent jumping block to discuss an artist who saved herself from flops by being her unfiltered self. 'Funhouse' - a breakup record - is wild, devastating, vulnerable and silly. We get into all of it. 

We're back for Season 7 and we're kicking it off with pop royalty, Taylor Swift. Her seventh album caught her at a crossroads in her career. She was struggling to hold onto huge chart hits and also experimenting with different sounds. It's an uneven album that's hiding a brilliant album and it displays Swift at the boldest point of her career. 

The Pop In is our adjacent podcast, a weekly wrap of the biggest moments and music in pop. This week - Beyonce's shock GRAMMY loss and record breaking moment, we went to a Fred Again... concert and the RAYE album is out, plus new music from Peach PRC, Shania Twain, Caity Baser, Daine, Caroline Polachek, Anne-Marie and one I've probably forgotten. CATCH YA THURSDAY FOR OUR FIRST PROPER EPISODE BACK!