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
Back in March this year, we featured the return of Belinda Carlisle with her song "Big Big Love." She also released an EP in May called Kismet. We went to check it out and learned that there was a second single released in May called "If U Go." D'oh! So we missed it! Better late than never.
"If U Go" is a great sing-a-long anthem about considering the end of a relationship. The chorus is a great one and Belinda sounds better than ever. We've added the official lyric video to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
"If U Go" was written by Diane Warren. It was produced by Mathia-Mathithiahu Gavriel and Peter Stengaard. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Belinda and Poptastic Confessions on social media …
Swedish duo Rebecca & Fiona are back with a new EP of remakes called Greatest Tits. We love the title. The first single was "Oh Mama", which we featured back in April. Since then, they have 2 more singles from the EP.
First up is "Sing Hallelujah", which was originally recorded by Dr. Alban in 1993. It's a great dance track if you don't know it, and Rebecca & Fiona give it a modern twist. We've added the official audio video to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
Next up is "Take A Chance" and if you know pop music than you already know this song by it's longer title: "Take A Chance On Me" originally recorded by ABBA. Rebecca & Fiona's version of this song is a re-imagined dark electro pop number. The music sounds nothing like the ABBA version. You wouldn't even know it was a cover until they start to sing. We think that is pretty cool. Have a listen here ...
"Sing Hallelujah" was written by Denniz Pop, Douglas Carr, and Dr. Alban. It was produced by Stefan Haag and Rebecca & Fiona. "Take A Chance" was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It was produced by Rebecca & Fiona. Both are available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copies today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Rebecca & Fiona and Poptastic Confessions on social media using these links ...
Dear Poptastic Readers, English singer Claire Richards from Steps has released a new single called "I Surrender" from her forthcoming sophomore solo album Euphoria. This is a remake originally recorded by Celine Dion in 2002.
"I Surrender" is a big pop ballad that Claire has been singing live for years as it it is a nice song to feature her big vocals. It is a ballad of sorts, but it ends up with a dance beat. We've added the music video to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
"I Surrender" was written by Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters. It was produced by Steve Anderson. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Love, Truth & Honesty, —Sausi O'Sullivan P.S. Please follow Claire and Poptastic Confessions on social media!
Norwegian pop artist Dagny is back with a new single called "Same Again (For Love)." This follows her previous single "Heartbreak In The Making", which we have absolutely loved since featuring it in May.
"Same Again (For Love)" is an upbeat pop song with a big chorus, that has a hint of ABBA. Dagny does an amazing job, as always. We've added the official audio video to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
"Same Again (For Love)" was written by Dagny Norvoll Sandvik, Lise Reppe, and Edvard Førre Erfjord, who also produced the track. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Dagny and Poptastic Confessions on social media …
Last month, pop legends Bananarama celebrated the 40th anniversary of their mega hit "Cruel Summer", which was originally released in the UK in 1983. Bananarama have recorded a new chill out version of the song and they have released it as a single today! WOO!
The version is called 3am Mix, but it is a brand new recording and new vocals, as well as some additional lyrics that were not in the original. It takes the song to an ambient chill out place that you wish you were lying by a swimming pool dreaming your cares away. We've added the official lyric video to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
Now over the years, there have been many versions of "Cruel Summer" so we thought it would be good to explore them.
Let's start with the original. Originally recorded in 1983, it would be the first single from their second album simply titled Bananarama. It was a top ten hit the UK and Ireland, and thanks to being featured in the movie The Karate Kid, it became a top ten hit in the US in 1984. The music video was filmed in New York. Have a look ...
In 1989, Bananarama released the single "Cruel Summer '89" which was produced by Stock, Aitken, Waterman. It was given the quickly dated "new jack swing" treatment. Despite new member Jacquie being in the group and on the single cover, she did not record new vocals. The original vocals were used, but it is possible that Siobhan's vocal track was taken out as they were recording separately by then, and the vocals also have a higher pitch. This version also has added lyrics that were omitted from the original: "Who can I find while I am trapped inside these 4 walls?"
In 1998, Swedish group Ace Of Base recorded not one, not two, but three versions of "Cruel Summer." The first version was a more modern take on the original classic, this was the single version in the UK and US where it also went top ten on both charts.
However, there was more hi-nrg version with a latin feel that most of Europe got. This was also a different vocal take. It used the same footage as the standard version for the music video ...
For France, Ace Of Base teamed up with French boy band Alliage for new version even with some of the lyrics sung in French. They even made a music video for it that takes place at a gas station in an ode to the original. Watch it here ...
In 2001, Bananarama made an album called Exotica with a French record company and the label asked for some some remakes of their hits. The best remake they did for the album was for "Cruel Summer." It has a latin-feel with lots of horns. The best part about this remake is the additional lyrics that just really added to the story of "Cruel Summer." These lyrics are also present in the new chill out mix. Listen it here ...
In 2002, a rap group called Blestenation released their version of "Cruel Summer" for the movie Blue Crush. Their version samples the original music, but only features the chorus of the original. The verses are rapped by a male, and the chorus is sung by females, but not Bananarama. Be warned: this has explicit lyrics ...
In 2009, Bananarama rerecorded "Cruel Summer" again for a b-side of "Love Comes" from their VIVA album. This version is a full-on electro sound. Also what is interesting about this version is that Sara and Keren alternate sining the lines of the verses solo. There are no additional lyrics on this version. Have a listen ...
In November of 2017, girl group Company B, who were most popular for their 1987 freestyle song "Fascinated", released a cover of "Cruel Summer." You can check out their music video for it here ...
In 2018, Bananarama released 2 live albums from their Original Lineup Tour with Siobhan. Both live albums feature live versions of "Cruel Summer" that sound like a mix between the original and the VIVA version. Check out their performance at The London Eventim Hammersmith Apollo ...
During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the group Evanescence recorded a somber version of "Cruel Summer" and it ended up as a Japanese bonus track to their 2021 album The Bitter Truth. Check it out ...
In May of this year, DJ Sidekick did a mashup of "Cruel Summer" and "Summertime Sadness." The "Cruel Summer" vocals are actually from Ace Of Base, not Bananarama. Check it out here ...
There you have it! "Cruel Summer" was written by Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Steve Jolley, and Tony Swain. The 3am Mix was produced by Ian Masterson. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Bananarama and Poptastic Confessions on social media ....
"Lights On Fire" is a fun pop dance song. It has a lovely melody and the female singer does a great job. This is really uplifting. The music video is a like an old video game of a young girl who wants to become an astronaut. We've added it to our 2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
"Lights On Fire" was written by Christian Jonson (aka Chris Tall) and Malena Uamba Grannerud. It was produced by Chris Tall. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Chris Tall and Poptastic Confessions on social media …
Australian artist Carda is back with a new song called "Just Say So." You might remember that we featured Carda's previous single "For The Ride" back in February.
"Just Say So" is an uplifting pop song about falling in love with your best friend. The singer is named Madison Olds, and this is the first time we have heard of her, but she gives a great vocal performance. Carda always brings it with the catchy music. Check out the lyric video, which we've added to our 2023 Poptastc Confessions Playlist on YouTube ...
"Just Say So" was written by Adrian Cardamone (aka Carda) and Cardamone. It was produced by Carda, Alex Borel, and Colin Foote. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our2023 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.
Cheers then,
—Davearama
P.S. Please follow Carda and Poptastic Confessions on social media ....
