There is absolutely no reason to celebrate everything about Robyn Carlsson. She just Robyn! So i'll just the music speak for itself. Enjoy:
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN-RADIO EDIT: If the Christian Falk single had not have happened, Robyn originally wanted to release a remixed version of one of her fan-favourites Should Have Known. Its an old song appearing on Robyns 3rd album, Dont Stop The Music and remixed for her fourth outing. This mix is far more electronic but still very seduced by a nasty nasty nasty baseline. Moreover in a typical liberal way, the radio edit still contains the swearword. This has never been released. GET IT HERE
SHOW ME LOVE(STRIPPED SHOW MIX): Robyn goes Kylie! This camp camp camp mix didnt fit alongside on the rnb sounding remixes that were included on the Cd Maxi and so it was left off EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BRAND NEW VOCALS!!! Very poptastic and sounds a bit like Kylie at her most NRG moments. Play it at your Europride parties this summer! This has never been released. GET IT NOW
DON'T STOP THE MUSIC-ORIGINAL CUT: Okay so this another absolute gem! This is the original version of the monster hit single and as you will hear is far more 80's/electro/rnb than the one that ended up the album. NOTE THE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LYRICS IN THE SECOND VERSE! This was sliced down, chopped up and renamed as the Ghost PM mix which was on the single maxi release of the song. However this particular original version has never been released on Cd. Sorry about the Z-Share link which means it won't be there for long so act quick. GET IT NOW!
CRASH AND BURN GIRL-CAT5 MIX: So a few weeks ago DSTP posted the other mix comissioned for this single. Now were doing the other rather house/tribal hardcore friendly mix by Cat5. This has never been released. GET IT NOW
NOT ROBYN BUT SORT OF!
BRITNEY: Originally this track was due to appear on Robyns American version of her Don't Stop the Music re-release but that didnt happen so Robyn then gave it to Britney. Then it got remixed and reproduced but sadly Britney never did anything grand with it. According to one of the key songwriters its about the kinda sex that the boys of Brokeback Mountain get up to. Naughty! GET IT NOW
In part two we have Robyn's unreleased versions of Message In A Bottle(Sting/ThePolice), Jack U Off(Prince), Life On Mars(David Bowie), Be Mine and the US single mix of Who's THat Girl.
Oh by the way you can now order the Robyn/Christian Falk/Ola Salo(of The Ark) collaboration here!
ROBYN SPECIAL PART ONE: Britney collabs/demos/mixes
i5 Scream Shout
"So what if you're pretty, Who cares if you're fat?...Scream shout let it out
Turn the music up real loud...Ready set here we go...Let the music take control!!!"
YOU WILL ADORE SCREAM/SHOUT!!!! DONTSTOPTHEPOP ASSURES IT!
Consisting of Tal B, Gaby Equiz, Kate,Christina Rumbley & Andi, i5 were otherwise known as INTERNATIONAL FIVE cos they're from around the world and they consist of 5 members(see what they did there...clever eh?)
I5 released a bonking pop album that suffered in terms of distribution due to the record company folding. It contained their cover of the S.O.A.P of Ladidi Ladida but also absolutely fabulous poptastic originals such as Scream Shout, Distracted and Sweet N' Sassy some written by the band! Morever i5 were THE first band to release Cinderella, a track that has been since covered by Tata Young, Play and Cheetah Girls.
If you adore Popsie, as recently seen on this particular wonderful/fabulous/sublime popblog or poptastic tracks in general, you'll adore Scream Shout!
It sounds like a better version of Kylies Please Stay or a far more spunkier lovechild of J:LO's best tracks: Waiting for Tonight and Lets Get Loud.
Everyone: "Bump, bump, Shake your rump, Everybody turn and jump, Left, right, side to side, Shake your body. Let it ride"
MRS ROBINSON OBSESSION: FIRST ALBUM REVIEW (IN THE WORLD!)
Who are Mrs.Robinson: A new electro girlband snapping at the stiletto heels of the likes of Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Clea and er Stiletto. General opinion: STUNNING!
Track By Track Review:
1. Teacher: If the ubergirlband Shampoo ever decided to comeback this would be the song they'd produce. A bit like the Faders if they donned electro backbeats and even has a brilliant bridge which turns the song into a chant-a-long anthem. However the song is not as good as it thinks it is and no one likes a clever swot. Yet..a swell way to start the album off. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 7.9
2. I'm A Career Girl: If you felt abused and amused by the Girls Aloud dirty twins Wake Me Up/Graffiti My Soul you will adore this. It even has a little Slovakian language lesson as in the girls actually word bits in the said language throughout the course of this electropulse gem. The vocals at the end are stunning. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 10
3. Don't Ask Me: Starts with some stunning Jungian prose "Sometimes I dream of being myself".... Muscially you are transported a lonely town in China which is a territory we've not visited since Steps did their After The Love Has Gone. However this particular journey is a typical ballad and as its so early on in the album it certainly suffers. Consequently you get the feel Don't Ask Me is a filler which is a shame because as its good song. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 6.9
4. Beautiful World: This is just weird. Its a country song. You are thrown right into the Brokeback Mountain hills. I can almost hear the bulls rumping the cows while the cowboys hold hands with other cowboys. Nevertheless its a brilliant track and theres even a fiddle! A fucking fiddle! If B*witched aint here no more Mrs.Robinson for sure make good use of it. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 6.9
5. Touched: Woah..another ballad. At this stage you might be thinking that girls can't find their sound especially after the two stunning initial tracks and sadly track 5 doesnt help to ease those fears. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING 4.2
6. I'm A Little Obsessed: The single. You should know it. Or Maybe you won't as it wasnt released. Oh well. If you like your Anna Sahlenes you'd like this track. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 7.5
7. Don't Forget My Name: Now this is more like it!!!! THIS IS AN ANTI-GULF WAR SONG!!!!!!Whoever thought a whistle on a guitardisco track would be sooooooo effective. My sources tell me that the ARMED FORCES are using this song in their recruitment promos in a few weeks!!!!!!!!!! If Only! Lyrically its about war, soldiers and the Gulf problematics:
"and though soldiers do what they can to survive..they're just pawns in a game built on lies"
and
"they're living in darkness, they trusted their leaders words..."
and heres the dig against Bush and his usage of rhetorics:
"it's easy preaching freedom while another mother buries her son"
Who would have thought: an album with Electropop, girlpop AND hardhitting radical leftwing politics...This album is starting to nudge out Clea's claim to the title of Best British pop release of the year. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 10
8. Hollywood Film Star: So think Kylies Loveboat with the message of P!nk's Stupid Girl. Listen to the way they say "whatever" and you'll fall in total submission with this band. This is their way of replying to Pay-TV's hilarious Miss.Captilist. Musically its very summery. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 8.9
9. Survive: Starts off with "You won't take me down" and sounds quite electric but in a softly soft way. Very Tatu but with a hint of 80's Cher. Haunting, revolutionary and uplifting with some raw hardhitting guitar rifts. We love the line "I'll survive and drink another glass of wine". This is I'm A Career Girl Mark II. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 9.9
10. Falling Asleep: I wasnt sure of this at first. It begins like the Celine's My Heart Will Go On. However it builds and evolves into a huge "waive-ya-hands" softrock
anthem. It sounds like a well-known hit that hasnt been released. We can't actually describe it other than its a bit like the New Radicals You Get What You Give and the Mandy Moores version of Whole of the Moon. Also has the beautiful conclusion to Mrs.Robinsons survival tactics of drinking wine previously mentioned on track nine with the lyrics "Red Bull and Vodka...again i'm wasted..alcohol is no friend of mine...". Cute song. DONTSTOP THE RATING: 9.9
11. Faded: Another piano driven ballad with sounds of children in background. I think this could be about a sibling dying much like the Sugababes Maya which was also the last track on their album. Nice but they really should have made this an hidden track and kept Falling Asleep the last track. DONTSTOPTHEPOP RATING: 7.7
In conclusion:
A very strong debut album which better be released or else! My only sour point is that the ballads take up invaluable space which is a real shame. Don't Ask Me should be moved and swapped with Falling Asleep. Actually you can hear the first three tracks from their album here. Its pretty annoying that they've kept the best songs to the back end of LP. Irregardless of position-for we all have Ipods don't we-this album could have have everying: You'll have eastern european languages, songs in discopop, electropop, guitarpop and songs about politics and alcoholism.
Obsession is interesting, singalong pristine, carefree, educational, cute and funny. Vocally its quite a surprise as the end of I'm A Career Girl proves. Well done Paula, Shareen & Tayna, you could have just made the most diverse British pop album of the year!
Obsession is due for release on the 8th of May.
PAUL OSCAR Make Up Your Mind
After Stevies weird selections, I thought it was my duty celebrate proper POPstars d so we're heading over to Iceland! Get ready for the disco whirlwind that is Make Up Your Mind. It only really gets wild until the chorus...so remember to buckle up those seatbelts.
Paul Oscar is the most popular and most respected pop star in Iceland. His Deep Inside is the twin sister to Madonna's Confessions on A Dancefloor only it was born some 7 years before the Americans attempt to lick the mirrorball proving that it is only europeans who do europop best. If not best, they do get there first!
Paul's participation in the 1997 Eurovision contest, where he performed "Minn Hinsti Dans" was not only a turning point in his career ... it changed the face of Eurovision contests forever.
His performance has gone down in Eurovision contest history: Paul sang his hit while lounging on a sofa, surrounded by four sexy, leather-dressed girls. It was simply too avant-gardiste for the official Eurovision contest jury.
Paul Oscar received not one vote from the jury, but his performance was a hit throughout Europe as at-home viewers tested out an early version of voting by phone from their homes.
Thanks to a string of hits, Paul Oscar's five solo albums have all gone gold in his native Iceland!!
Oh and "i think he's gay!"
Make Up Your Mind sounds like a total rip off of/or ultra close to Madonnas recent smash hit single Sorry even down to the melancholic uplifting spoken words behind the thumping retro electro disc beat.
PUSSY TOURETTE I Think He's Gay
Now for a slice of opera! Don't ever say our tastes here aint varied!
Pussy Tourette is an amazing opera singer. Laugh, sniggle and be outraged. I'm sure Tchaikovsky would have loved to write an aria of this kind back in cold cold Moscow! Such thinking puts the Nutcracker in new light....
Pop covers all sorts, philosophy, disco and fashion. (Homo) Sexuality in pop music are blood sisters. Criminalised and prohibited by the mainstream. A reading of the two segments of what now call cultural fundamentals has long been proscribed by public thinkers. However the boys in pink were also pretty important in the field of opera -which is really just an older form of disco-and this tiny tiny ditty kinda recalls that special relationship. Indeed if ya thought Will Young formed the sole poof doing music defined as "above-the-mirrorball" you'd be oh so wrong. Gay "pop" idols form a long list including Samuel Barber, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Gian Carlo Menotti and Karol Szymanowski.
Enjoy!
SIGOURNEY WEAVER Back In The USSR
Sigourney Weaver: the Lenningrad cowgirl, mistress of Apes, Oscar winner and Queen of Sci-Fi! Here she is as a svelt heartbreaker trying to seduce Gene Hackman....Cute short and sweet she steals the best bits of the Beatles classic hit.
I, with about 2 others in the entire world , are hoping that Sigourney Weaver will see the light of night and realise that acting clearly isnt for her. Indeed, I'm also waiting on the follow up to Goldie Hawns epic "Goldie" LP:
Maybe collaboration album could be in order....
TARA BLAISE Radio Star
Finally a slice of Irish electro pop music!!! Or as electro as Irish music will ever get. We've already introduced Tara before but that was ages ago and with the summer coming by to say hello we thought you might like this.
Lyrically it takes two dual stories. According to Tara herself, 1 is about falling in love and the other is about growing up gay in Ireland. You might be reminded of Robyns Dont Stop The Music. For this alone you gotta thank Tara!
This is taken from Tara's album Dancing on Tables Barefoot which is highly recommended. Once you've danced like a frantic dancing queen to BwO's recent disco spectacular album two thousand times...rather than fall asleep to some chill out album, if you put on Tara's album you can still strut but possibly without causing any cardiac troubles and remain suspended in the mirrorball utopia that only poptastic music can create. Get it now! Its called Dancing on the Tables Barefoot for feck sake! ! ! What more do you need to buy it.
Think: Goldfrapp-lite, keyboards, star trek electro sounds, Summer, Don't Stop The Music, the Casuality TV theme tune, an Ambulance siren, Anna Sahlene and soft backing vocals.
We are using a new system for the songs. Just "save-as". No need to go elsewhere.
CLEA TRINITY An early review
Lets just say this right away: Clea have released the British pop album of 2006. Lets hope it gets released. What we've heard at DontStopthePop! is making us salivate for its eventual delivery.
Songs we adore!
Surrender: Oh my Gay! This song is as poofy as a gay porn film. Why do songs with the word Surrender tend to be excellent! You've got the sublime Javine remix of the already fabdabby Diana Ross track, the K-Otic hit single and the divine Kylie funk record. Keeping with Kylie, Clea's Surrender sounds a bit like Light Years, On A Night like This has slept with Butterfly and produced a beautiful lovechild between the best of Atomic Kitten, Spinning Around and Britneys Breathe On Me. Very very good! You literally want to lift that shirt, dye your hair pink and head off to a Gay Pride march after hearing this song. Thumping baseline, seductive chorus and trippy lyrics. Amazing! You can smell the poppers.
Keep It Cool: Sounds VERRRRRRY like Sugababes Push The Button with a strange wink to Blondie's Rapture. This might have been a better single to lead with.
The Lie: You can actually already hear this on their first album. Still one of the best pop songs ever created. Slices in between classic pop, electro, hip hop, rnb and classical music.
Download It: We love the new version. Not to say that the original actually needed a change but this song deserves all the airing it gets. The writers/producers/girls should be proud that this song exists. Its so unusual.
Reasons: At first I hated this. Ballads spoil pop albums. The lyrics are sickly. But the production slowly but surely weaves itself around ya head.
Eanie Meanie: Recalls early Atomic Kitten when they were fun and not obsessed with being skinny. Poptastic. You can actually hear this track on their podcasts that you can track down through Itunes.
FreeStyle: Adore this track. Shoulda been a single.
Special mention: Kick Back Relax
The strangest message backed up by the most beautiful of melodies.
They say they “Brought you pain and the necessary tears”. How strange and how New York. “You look outside but theres nothing there to see…no need to be the man behind the mask...lets remove it! all you need to do is ask”. I can’t think of anything more perverse. What on earth is this very very strange Clea song about then?
Its called Kick Back Relax but the title is dangerously misleading. This sense of pretence and seduction is promulgated by the very fact the girls are backed up by one of the most memorable instrumentals ever written. So slick the girls hit you with hooks so catchy they slide right into your sensory transmitters and remain there forever. Think of the poetic Can’t Get You Out Of My Head but has consumed far too much marijuana. Instead of Kylies La La La’s, Clea rework the Na Na Na so well you’ll be humming it when your asleep. Indeed the girls plead to the object to put those “voices to bed”. How on earth can I do that when they record such amazing pop tunes!?
Sadly Kick Back Relax isn’t on the upcoming Clea album. Fingers crossed it will be used as a b-side or double a-side in the future. In the meantime head over to TipTopPop and read the wonderful interview with Clea.
Trinity is released on the 12th of June.
ROBYN, OLA SALO & CHRISTIAN FALK Dream On
“Tricks and hustlers, Cheats and trailers, Scum and low-lifes rest your weary heads, all is well. You won’t be sad or broken tonight. You wont be squealed or ripped up tonight. You wont be backstabbed, double-crossed, face down, teeth knocked out, lying in a gutter somewhere.”
Both lyrically and musically this is probably the most utopian anthem you'll hear all year without being too commanding or overbearing. All are welcome here and if your cold expect yourself to be warmed up by the ambers blowing in the Nordic wind.
In a trinity of Swedish legends, Robyn Carlsson, Christian Falk and Ola Salo have most kindly given us this stunning sound of the electronic undergound. Dream On comes from the upcoming album People Say released through Bonnier Records which will be released very soon. Expect it to join other great releases from Swedish acts this summer-BWO, PAY-TV, WestEndGirls to name but a few.
Dream On is everything you wanted and more. To steal the line from Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, Sweet Dreams(are made of these). Feel yourself lifted away from your worries, get taken from the gutter and swim in the tears of joy. Quite stunning.
And now for the boring bit: This version is not the same as the live mix and quite undone. Lyrically it is structurally different to the extended version and quite unfinished. Indeed a whole verse has been removed. However even in its restricted format it surpasses even the stunningly produced pop efforts in recent years.
DONTSTOPTHEPOPS TOP POP TOONS
DontStopthePop is back!! Althought it never really went way so to speak...normal operations are now resumed! Lots of international pop, overuse of exclamations marks (!) and very very very silly comments! Rar!
>>>>>>>Off of the scale-Kick Back Relax: Clea-This will take you to a summer beach hut and erase any worries you might have. Lyrically quite strange tho.<<<<<<<
1. Spaced: Cookie-This is amazing. A bit like Confide In Me and Do It Again.
2. Lucky Like That(United Nations Radio Edit):Clea-Amazing.
3. Already Gone: John Glover-Absolutely amazing. His voice is so soft I feel like using this song as a moisturiser.
4. Close To Me: Sarah Whatmore-Epic dance ballad. I like. Early Christina Aguilera.
5. Paperback Cliché: Tara Blaise-We think Tara is gonna be huge this summer. Give it time.
Very special mention:
Im A Career Girl: Miss Robinson-So the last single was pretty bad. But we all love I'm A Career Girl. Think Girls Aloud's The Show, Kylie's Come Into My World with the best of Tatu!! Listen to it here
GIRLFRIEND Triangle Love and more!
Oh
My
Goddess!
Before you had Spice Girls, Bardot, TrueBliss or Girls Aloud you had the Australian bilingual girlband GirlFriend. GirlFriend were the first ever fivesome girls in our cd collection that were not uniform but very ultrapop and appeared to have more attitude that was healthy. In FACT! we think Girlfriend were the first modern girlband!!! Forget OzPop patrons, lets be talking of musical legends!
Their debut album "Make It Come True" was released in 1992 and became a big hit in Australia with hits like "Take It From Me" and "Without You". Girlfriend were Robyn Loau, Melanie Alexander, Lorinda Noble, Siobhánn Heidenreich and Jacqui Cowell.
Moreover, the music that the produced was quite clearly before its time. Tracks like Bad Attitude would be copied by Max Martin with his dealing with Britney and silly boy bands like Busted and McFly. Before Madonna or Kylie did 'J-Pop' with their respective Nothing Really Matters and German Bold Italic singles, GirlFriend embraced the sublime teenage culture of the country without being too Gwen Stefani. Hell, they recorded a number of tracks in Japanese as Triangle Love proves.
They've covered Olivia Newton-John, reinvented themselves and had no.1's in Australia when the country couldnt stand for acts like Kylie.
So now to the Girlfriend bonanzaaaaaaaa! The tracks come from each of their released albums but a few are quite rare! Enjoy these little gems of OzPop/Pop history!
I Love This World Taken from ItsUp2U. Think of the Vengaboys with soul. FabTastic. An an equality anthem that really should be played to people like John Howard and Bush Jr. Girlfriend go political!!!
Bad Attitude This song is AMAZING. Saving the best till end, this track came last on their debut single album Make It Come True. Robyn takes lead vocals on this fierce-yes we've used that word!-pop anthem.
Go For It A brilliant pop toon!
Go For It-J Pop version The Japanese version! Don't say we don't spoil ya here at DST(OZ)P!!
So we say to RCA...release their 3rd album! Do it online if it costs too much! Don't let it burn up dust when Girlfriend clearly have quite a large following. Huge I say!
See other OZPOP legends including TeenQueens and Kylie Mole(and Girlfriend) Here!!
We'd like to thank the stars over at CFBGoesPop! Your skating on thin ice girls! This OzPop fortnight wouldnt be nothing without you! Thankies!
So OzPop has now to come an end but thats not say its O.v.a.h! We havent even dusted down our Gina G's, or Kath/Kims attempt at Disco("hello...revolting!"). So OzPop Part II is already in the works but in the meantime we'd put a call out to all the Aussies out there...go over to Catchy Tunes of Sweden(see links) and consider doing an Australian blog equilavent. Why? Because OzPop, like Scandipop, needs some internet love!
Roight! Have a bumpalicious Easter/Passover/weekend.
THEIR STILL STANDING, KEEPING YA DANCING
DontStopThe(Oz)Pop! welcomes back Kylie. We're sure you've seen all the pictures that Kylie posted on her website by now. Whether she decides to return to music or not, Australian pop music would be lost somewhere amongst the cakes of St.Kilda and the chorus of the Sons and Daughters theme tune. So essentially without Kylie we wouldnt have much of OzPop to celebrate! No need for feathers, tiaras or sequins to see that the showgirl is quite firmly back on her mirrorball. Simply effortless.
Go to the quite wonderful Spark*Pop for some rather electric and as of yet unreleased Dannii Minogue materal. As you'll hear OzPop is still going on strong and the Minogue name is back in town.
Here and Here
Hear the new/see Dannii single So Under Pressure here!!!
Kylie and Dannii you are the patron saints of DontStopthe(Oz)Pop! and your returns have made us all quite emotional.
BARDOT MEGAPOST! Empty Room
As our celebration of OzPop slowly comes to an end it seems natural pamper ourselves with a bit of Bardot and a nice selection of offshots that the reality-TV project created.
Bardot are one of the first PopStars band created and the group remains the most successful winning act of all four Australian seasons, achieving two successful albums and six consecutive hit singles in their two and a half years together.
Following in the footsteps of the brilliant TrueBluss, the TV talent show which promised to create "Australia's very own Spice Girls". In addition, the winning group would be sponsored by the Austereo radio network, New Idea magazine and Warner Music records.
After numerous rounds of singing and dancing workshops, Sophie Monk, Sally Polihronas, Belinda Chapple, Katie Underwood and Chantelle Barry were chosen to form what would become Australia's highest-selling female pop group, Bardot (named after French actress Brigitte Bardot.) However, during the early course of the show, due to mysterious circumstances, Chantelle was asked to leave the group and would be replaced by Tiffani Wood.
In mid 2001, after promotion and recording in the UK and a member less (Katie Underwood), the group re-established themselves as a four-piece with the release of 'ASAP', the first single from their forthcoming second album. This time around, Bardot had greater control over its music and image, resulting in a more confident and sophisticated feel. 'ASAP' continued their chart success, peaking Top 5. Following single, the disco-tastic 'I Need Somebody' confirmed the groups staying power, again peaking Top 5 and becoming the girls biggest hit since 'Poison'. The bands second album, 'Play It Like That' received critical acclaim upon release, debuting at no.16, achieving gold status. Final single, the lovely, mid-tempo ballad 'Love Will Find A Way' completed Bardot's string of consecutive Top 20 hits peaking at no.18. The group embarked on its second national tour with Human Nature before deciding to 'call it day'.
So now to the music!!!
Empty Room This was a b-side to the hit single Poison. Sounds like Everything But the Girl!
Dirty Water-Reloaded! A cover of the Made In London classic!
HitnRun This was a b-side to Love will Find A Way.
Now to the some brilliant solo work by Bardot!
Katie Underwood-Danger: Reloaded A Don'tStopthePop favourite!
Katie Underwood-Beautiful Stunning Dance track!
Sophie Monk-Come My Way Excellent dance track from Sophie Monk. More Sophie is featured down below(shes the one munching down on a flower as ya do!)
Both Tiffani Wood and Belinda Chapple have released some brilliant bubblegum pop but we suggest you go and check it down yaself! Check out Tiffani's fabulous new material at her MySpace where you can hear Spin That Bottle and Devil In Your Soul. For the stunning dance diva Belinda Chapple check out herefor more infomation!
Sadly this marks our penultimate Ozpop posting but we have something really special lined up as our swansong to pop music created under the loving glee of the Southern Stars!
CHRISTINE ANU My Island Home
Christine Anu forms one of most important foundations of OzPop and an Australian household name. To the Australian indigenous people (Torres Strait and Aboriginal) she is a warrior and a sign of hope in a time when the Australian government is having problems with its past.
My Island Home is a anthem that goes beyond skin, class, genre and identity. Under the word 'resonates' you will find this song. This song is pop, classic rock, sprock, soul, sensuality, sexual, ethnic, classical and dance. It is magical and it might make cry for no apparent reason.
Descending from the indigenous inhabitants of Saibai Island and Mabuiag Island, Christine Anu featured quite heavily alongside Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge! and appeared as Kali in The Matrix Reloaded. She has won a number of Aria awards and refused to make PopStars: Australia a trial-by-TV spectacle like so many other reality programes which got her fired from the show.
Christine Anu is gravitas, class and above all a good laugh. Her iconic appearance at the Lesbian And Gay Mardi Gra festival where she appeared from a swinging sun in pink flip-flops will be remembered along with her stunning performance at the 2000 Olympic Games.
Bonus!
Sunshine On A Rainy Day Yes its a cover but its a brilliant one and was big hit for Christine Anu after years away from the Australian charts.
COLLETTE Who Do You Think You Are
Bonus! What I Like About You
Now for an ultra Australian pop gem! Collette is the Kylie Minogue that never was. However she got ever so close to grabbing the tiarra from the singing budgie.
While the singers looked very similar, the comparisons were quite limited for Collettes music revealed little in sentimentality and cuteness. Rather tracks like Who Do You Think You Are became a soundtrack to a hard line urban pop sensibility that had little time for the kind of bubble gum that Kylie chewed on.
Collettes music harboured a smutty baseline that Madonna would slurp up on her Immaculate Collection a year later.
Sadly there is very little on Collette webwise however CFBGOESPOP! keeps the candle alight for the girls eventual return to pop!
KATE CEBERANO Bedroom Eyes
A very sexy bonus:
PASH! This sounds like the missing link between Sheryl Crow and Kylie Minogue circa Lets Get To It. Very hawt & sold Gold in Australia!
Due to illness, jury service, studies and busy schedules the blog hasnt been updated for some time. Normal services will resume shortly! For now DST(OZ)Pop! celebrates Kate Ceberano!
Bedroom Eyes sounds like at first a Culture Club b-side but then turns into a classic 90's anthem.
Like Marcia Hines, Kate is a Queen of Australian pop music. She's been nominated for ARIA Best Female Artist a whopping seven times (winning twice - a feat shared only with Kylie Minogue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Shes worked with PWL and a third-generation Scientologist, her grandmother having once been employed as a governess for L. Ron Hubbard's children. She retains close family ties, working closely with her mother Cherie Ceberano, her brother (guitarist Phil) and her husband (film-maker Lee Rogers).
In 2005, Ceberano appeared as a judge on the Australian version of the television reality show X Factor.
MARCIA HINES Time of Our Lives
Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees
I Got The Music In Me
What a feeling!
You-2005 Single Mix
Marcia Hines is a legend. Her albums are called simpy Queen of Pop and Diva. If America had Dionne & the UK had Dusty, Australia had Marcia.
Australia's undisputed "Queen of Soul", Marcia Hines has been praised as "arguably the best female singer in Australia" and since her Australian professional debut in 1970 at the tender age of 17, she has been thrilling audiences with her superb and soulful voice. A consummate performer who is equally at home in the theatre, on the concert stage or on television, Marcia is one of Australia's best-loved and most successful performers, and she remains Australia's top-selling female recording artist of all time!
"Time of Our Lives," hit number 31 in June 1999 and polled at number 29 on the Top 100 Most Played Tracks on Australian Radio for 1999.
Time of Our Lives eventually rose to no.17 in July 1999 and the third single, "Making My Way" was released in September. Her version of "The Lord's Prayer" appeared on the charity album Spirit of Christmas in December which was followed by the single "Woo Me" in January 2000. The Queen of Pop album was released on BMG in 2000 and in 2001, the anthology, DIVA, was released through Warner, supported by the single "(I've Got To) Believe." A fully authorized biography, Diva: The Life of Marcia Hines, was published in October 2001.
Marcia Hines was born in Boston (USA) in 1953 and arrived in Australia in April 1970 at the age of 16 to appear in the Sydney production of Hair. That in turn led to her taking the role of Mary Magdalene in the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. While American born, she now lives and breathes everything Australia.
In 2003 Marcia became one of the judges on the popular show, Australian Idol.........
