Welcome to Poptastic Confessions! This blog is dedicated to glorious, unashamed alternative pop music! We hope to share new music with you that you might not have heard before because it is usually overlooked by the masses. Of course, we'll always encourage you to buy the music legally to support the artists. Enjoy! —Davearama, editor of Poptastic Confessions
Last year, we were so caught up with Rebecca & Fiona's song "Fet House Mode" that we forgot to watch them for other releases. So they had 2 singles out at the end of last year: "Another World" and "Champagne Promises."
Let's start with "Another World." It's an upbeat number with a great chorus. The music is very house pop with dominating keyboard riff. It will have you dancing in no time. They looks so 80s in the cover photo. We love it. Have a listen ...
"Champagne Promises" is actually a collaboration with an artist called ANIMAL. This is a more of a mid-tempo number with a glorious chorus. The music video is quite epic. Have a look ...
Swedish artist Henrikes is back with lovely song called Nostalgia. You might remember that she had 2 songs out the end of 2020 with "Velodrome" and "Vintage Love."
"Nostalgia" is a beautiful ballad about memories and how we deal with them. Henrikes give a lovely emotional vocal performance. You might need a tissue listening. Listen to the studio version here ...
"Nostalgia" was written by Josefin Henriques, Märta Gravers, and Nick Whitecross. It was produced by Märta Gravers. "Nostalgia" is available on digital outlets. Buy your copy today. We've added it our2021 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify. Enjoy!
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Henrikes and Poptastic Confessions on social media …
Last summer, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of "Only Your Love" by Bananarama. It was their first single from their 1991 album Pop Life. Today, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the second single called "Preacher Man."
"Preacher Man" is a glorious slice of pop music. It has a funky bass, soaring strings, a harmonica solo, and a gorgeous melody. It was mixed by legendary producer Shep Pettibone. It really is a wonderful song and it should have been a #1 worldwide. Sadly, it only went to #20 in the UK, and it wasn't released as a single in the US. It did got to #11 in Ireland.
The music video is a black and white affair where all 3 Nanas looks absolutely amazing. Have a look ...
Bananarama did lots of TV performances in the UK for this songs. You can find many of them on YouTube. However, it was the Top Of The Pops performance that fans love the most. Check it out ...
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Preacher Man", the Pop Life Fanzine has released a special edition dedicated to the single. It features fan's memories of the song, as well as Sara and Keren themselves.
In December, Parralox released their 7th Holiday series album. What is the Holiday series? Since 2014, Parralox has released an album near the end of each year mostly made up of cover songs. However, sometimes the songs are original. Most of the songs do not have a seasonal holiday theme, but there have been a few. Some albums are long, while others have been short.
Holiday '20 is the latest. At the end of this posts, we will give you links to the previous ones featured in Poptastic Confessions over the past 7 years. For now, here is our track-by-track review ...
This is a strange song and we didn't know the original. John give a great vocal performance. It does have a Christmas feel to it. At 2 minutes and 40 seconds, it is a shortest track on the album. Check out the music video Parralox made for it ...
This classic song gets a total synth-pop makeover as the original guitar part is now done by a keyboard. John is on lead vocals, but a really nice part of this remake is that the lovely Louise Love comes in near the end making a duet, and it works quite nicely. Parralox have a fun video as they took footage from the 1991 movie Career Opportunities where the Flock Of Seagulls version was played. Have a look ...
Parralox has recorded a song by Alan Parsons Project before. In 2013, Parralox covered the song "Eye In The Sky." We didn't find out about Parralox until 2014. Anyhoo ... Sirius is an instrumental track. It is also rather short, coming in at 2:45. You can hear Sirius at the end of the video for "Eye In The Sky."
I have a funny story about this song. I knew Parralox's Holiday '19 album from listening to it on Spotify. However, I bought the CD because I like to support Parralox instead of just listening on Spotify. This past summer, I put the CD in my car and was quite surprised when this song started playing. I had no idea what it was. I went to Parrlox.com and saw that it was a bonus track for the CD. I absolutely love it! The CD hasn't left my car since. Glad that it is on Spotify now, too. This is a fabulous song!
"Home" was the ballad that closed Erasure's amazing 1991 album Chorus. Parralox gives a faithful cover here with John on lead vocals. It is very nicely done. Have a listen ...
Now this is a remake that we didn't see coming. Way to surprise us, Parralox! Most people probably know The Scorpions from their 1984 his called "Rock You Like A Hurricane." However, "Wind Of Change" was by far their biggest hit reaching #1 in the Austria, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. As well as being a Top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. The lyrics are about the end of the Cold War in the Soviet Union. Parralox has put together a video for the song. Our favorite bit is the Techno Viking. Check it out ...
This isn't a song that we knew before. It's a downtempo song that is very artsy. John is on vocals here.
That ends our review. You can listen to the album on Spotify, but please consider buying the digital tracks or buying the CD to help support the artists.
You can check out our reviews of the past 6 Holiday albums here ...
Clara Mae started the new year with a duet with a singer named Christopher. The song is called "Good To Goodbye."
Who is Christopher? Well, he's a good-looking Danish artist, with a nice voice. The song is about heartbreak (we already know that Clara is the Queen of broken hearts). It's quite lovely and the music video shows the two out to sea. Check it out ...
"Good To Goodbye" was written by Christopher Nissen, Clara Mae, Kris Eriksson, and Lina Hansson. It was produced by Kris Eriksson. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today. We've added it our2021 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify. Enjoy!
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Clara Mae, Christopher, and Poptastic Confessions on social media …
Kylie Minogue's latest single from her Disco album is called "Real Groove" and it has already been A-listed on BBC Radio 2 in the UK.
"Real Groove" is a mid-tempo shiny disco pop gem. It has one of those choruses that you keep singing over and over. So far, there isn't a music video, but this live performance is pretty close. Have a look ...
"Real Groove" was written by Alida Garpestad Peck, Kylie Minogue, Nico Stadi, and Teemu Brunila. It was produced by Nico Stadi and Teemu Brunila. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it our2021 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify. Enjoy!
She had 3 previous singles from her current album Disco out last year. This is how they charted in our Top 100 Songs of 2020 ...
"Into You" was written by Melanie C, Niamh Murphy, Samuel Brennan, and Tom Hollings. It was produced by Billen Ted. "Overload" was written by George Reid, Jonny Lattimer, and Melanie C. It was produced by George Reid.
Happy New Year! Happy Friday! What a week! Each January, we do a recap about the countdown we we just did in December, and share some tidbits about the Top 21. Here are the chart toppers of 2020 ...
Steps, Dagny, Kylie Minogue, and Clara Mae were all in the Top 20 twice.
Newcomers to our Top 21 countdown this year were Yacht Rock Revue, R3HAB, Frank Walker, Fly By Midnight, Keeks, Allysandra, and Lastlings. While it is Allysandra's first time in our Top 21 as a solo artist, she has been in the Top 21 before as part of the group Dolly Style. (See below for past years.)
Thank you for visiting Poptastic Confessions this past year. We certainly hope you have liked our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. This year will be our 10th year! Here’s to 2021!
Cheers then,
—The Poptastic Confessions Collective P.S. Please follow us on social media ....
