Crucified Reborn by Merkel x Rolinski

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Last year, Tess Merkel from Alcazar and Martin Rolinski from BWO teamed up for a tour called BWO vs Alcazar where they sang the hits of both groups. Earlier this year, they released their debut single called "Let There Be Love" under both their names. Now their duo name has been shortened to their last names, and they have just released a cover of "Crucified" by the legendary Army Of Lovers. Their new version is called "Crucified Reborn."

"Crucified Reborn" is not really a cover, but perhaps an interpolation. Of course, it uses the chorus of the original and some of the lyrics for the verses, but other lyrics are new. The melody is the same and slightly changed too. The music video is a visual treat. Army Of Lovers members Jean-Pierre and Alexander have some cameos. Tess and Martin have pulled out all the punches with this one, and it shows. We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Crucified Reborn" was written by Alexander Bard, Anders Wolbeck, Jean-Pierre Barda, Tess Merkel, Martin Rolinski, and Johan Röhr. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Saint-like behaviour,

—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Merkel x Rolinski and Poptastic Confessions on social media ...

Merkel x Rolinski

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions Spectacular 15th Anniversary

Please like and share our posts so that more people hear the music! 

See our Top Songs of past years here ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Rave The Nation by Rebecca & Fiona

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Swedish duo Rebeca & Fiona are back with a new track called "Rave The Nation." We last featured them in June with their single "RAMA." 

"Rave The Nation" is another super-fast song! Rebecca & Fiona keep turning up the BPMs! We find this song is charming as the lyrics are a love song. There are lots of interesting musical elements here, and the choir near the end. We quite like it. We've added the official audio to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Rave The Nation" was written by Fiona Fitzpatrick and Rebecca Scheja. It was produced by Carli Löf. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Megadance,

—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Rebecca & Fiona and Poptastic Confessions on social media ...

Rebecca & Fiona
Facebook
Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions Spectacular 15th Anniversary

Please like and share our links so that more people hear and buy the music!

See our Top Songs of past years ... Rebecca & Fiona were in our Top 21 these years ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Side By Side EP by Appleton

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Sister duo Appleton recently released their new EP called Side By Side. It features the two singles: "Falling Into You" and "Ready To Begin Again."

The Side By Side EP has 5 songs, and we already know the first 2 tracks, so that leaves us with only 3 to review. It's a short EP, but quite good!

Up first is "Strange Kind Of Paradise." The music is a midtempo pop song with a strong guitar presence. The melody is quite good, and the chorus is catchy. Their vocals are very smooth. We quite like this. We've added the official audio to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Monster" starts off a bit somber with pleasant melody. Then the big chorus hits with a beat. The second chorus is downtempo, but a bit more dramatic than the first verse. We quite like it. We've also added the official audio to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

The last track is a live performance of "Wichita Lineman" from BBC Radio 2 Piano Room, where it was recorded with an orchestra. "Wichita Lineman" was originally recorded by Glen Campbell in 1968. This is quite beautiful, and it showcases the Appleton sisters lovely vocals. Watch their performance here ...

Side By Side is a lovely EP from Appleton. Although a bit short, it leaves us wanting more. We hope there is more new music in their future. Over the weekend, Appleton performed in England at BBC Radio 2 in the Park. They sang their All Saints hit "Pure Shores" and they sounded fantastic. It's absolutely lovely to hear them on lead vocals. We'd love a studio version of this! 

Both "Strange Kinda Paradise" and "Monster" were written by Natalie Appleton, Nicole Appleton, Daniel Zak Watts, and Gareth Young. They were produced by Shadowhands. Mixed by Pete Hoffman. Mastered by Dick Beetham. 

"Wichita Lineman" was written by Jimmy Webb. Arranged by Katie Chatburn. Produced by Shadowhands. Mastered by Dick Beetham. 

Side By Side is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today. Listen to it on Spotify here ...

You can also hear the songs on our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Swimming closer to you,

—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Appleton and Poptastic Confessions on social media ...

Appleton
Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions 14th Anniversary

Please like and share our links so that more people hear and buy the music!

See our Top Songs of past years here ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

STA!N by Emly Clausen

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Swedish artist Emly Clausen has released a new song called "STA!N." You might remember that we featured her song "Devilish Dreams" in 2024. And again in 2025 when it released with the Gideyo Remix.

"STA!N" is a bit of an epic midtempo pop song with lots of drama. It has a nice melody, and the vocals are quite good. We've added the official audio to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"STA!N" was written by Michael Lövgren, Linda Sonnvik, and Per-Olaf Dahl. It was produced by Michael Lövgren and co-produced by Linda Sonnvik. It is available for purchase on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today. We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Cheers then,
—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Emly and Poptastic Confessions on social media!

Emly Clausen
Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions Spectacular 15th Anniversary

Please like and share our links so that more people hear and buy the music!

See our Top Songs of past years here ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Orbit by Carda

Dear Poptastic Readers,

London-based Australian artist Carda has released his third single this year! The new song is called "Orbit." This follows "Gravity" and his comeback single "Future History" with Jack Newsome.

"Orbit" is a space-age pop song. The song starts off a bit somber, but the beat kicks in at about 1 minute turning it into an EDM banger. The melody is quite nice. Singer/songwriter Andie does a great job with the vocals. We quite like it! We've added the official visualizer to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Orbit" was written by Andie Mechanic and Zoe Giosa-Hirsh. It was produced by Carda. Mixed by Hayden Lauersen. Mastered by Bruno Gruel. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Around the world we go,
—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Carda and Poptastic Confessions on social media ....

Carda

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions Spectacular 15th Anniversary <— See Carda here!

Please like and share our links so that more people hear and buy the music!

See our Top Songs of past years here ... Carda holds the record for being the only artist featured in Poptastic Confessions to be in our Top 21 countdowns for 7 consecutive years! 

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Dirty Dirty Disco by Rogue Traders & Dannii Minogue

Dear Poptastic Readers,

The iconic Dannii Minogue is back with a new single called "Dirty Dirty Disco" with the Australian group Rogue Traders. In 2023, Dannii released "We Could Be The One", and in 2024, she released "Thinking 'Bout Us" with Autone. She skipped 2025, but we are happy she is back. We are new to Rogue Traders, so we need to check them out. This song an updated version of their song "To The Disco" from their current album Midnight Alarms.

"Dirty Dirty Disco" is a fun dance pop song, and it has an edge with that guitar riff during the chorus. Dannii takes the first verse and Natalie from Rogue Traders takes the second verse. The video is fab with Dannii and Natalie with their shiny outfits, hair flips, and ABBA poses. We love it! Check out the video on our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Dirty Dirty Disco" was written by Jamie Appleby, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Cameron McGlinchey, David S Fernandez, Richard J Fontana, Andrew Ramanauskas, Dannii Minogue, and Adrian Newman. It was produced by James Nash. It is available for purchase on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today. We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

Am I dreaming?
—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Dannii, Rogue Traders, and Poptastic Confessions on social media ...

Dannii Minogue
Facebook
Instagram

Poptastic Confessions 2013 article on Dannii's music career

Rogue Traders

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions Spectacular 15th Anniversary

Please like and share our links so that more people hear and buy the music!

See our Top Songs of past years here ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Gimme All You Got by Birdee & Rikky Disco

 Dear Poptastic Readers,

We just saw that Rikky Disco has a new song out with Birdee called "Gimme All You Got." However, it was released over a month ago! We missed it! D'oh! Better later than never! This makes the fourth single by Rikky Disco this year following: "It's My Style", "Feel You On The Dancefloor", and "Monte Carlo." 

"Gimme All You Got" is a glorious disco pop song that will put you in a good mood. There's something so charming about it that just makes you happy. It's got a funky bass, freestyle keyboards, a steady beat, and lovely melody. There is a music video that features Fanny and Chris riding bikes around until Fanny dances around in a park and then gets in the water. The music video is only 1 minute long, when the regular version is 3:26. We've added the video to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions YouTube Playlist ...

"Gimme All You Got" was written and produced by Marcello De Angelis, Christian Jonson, and Fanny Wahlqvist. It is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! We've added it to our 2026 Poptastic Confessions Playlist on Spotify.

It's my style,

—Davearama

P.S. Please follow Rikky Disco, Birdee, and Poptastic Confessions on social media!

Rikky Disco
Facebook
Instagram

Birdee

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions

Facebook

Instagram

Poptastic Confessions 14th Anniversary

Please like and share our posts so that more people hear the music! 

See our Top Songs of past years here ... Rikky Disco had the #1 song in 2021! They were in the Top 21 these years ...

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010