I thought it would be worth introducing some of the series which I plan to post here. This is certainly not a definitive list, rather just the ideas that spurred the creation of this blog. I’m sure that more will be thought up, and they will be ceremoniously announced on the – surprise, surprise – announcements page (or category, I’m still getting to grips with WordPress).

Popularish (or the Saga of Second Bests)

I am fascinated by the history of popular culture. I can’t help but to collate music facts and espouse them at any given opportunity. Essentially, I’m insufferable. I’m always scouring Wikipedia discography articles for chart listings, or reading some book to find niche autobiographical information on an artist.

So, when I stumbled upon FreakyTrigger, I couldn’t believe my luck. It happened as I was digging online about the sample and lyrics used on Sugababes ‘Freak Like Me’. I have a bit of a soft spot for blogs myself, each being someone’s form of personal expression (and I am naturally quite nosey), and so I clicked on what looked like a smaller website – ‘Popular Number 1s’.

What a treat! Tom Ewing’s collection of posts about the history of UK No1s is fascinating. A 3000-word article about the history of the Sugababes, interjected with Gary Numan and Adina Howard alike, spliced with the pages of Phonogram III, was the last thing I expected to find.

As I sunk my teeth further into it, the feeling that I should be doing something like this grew. I would whole-heartedly recommend you check out that website (link here).

Popularish (or the Saga of Second Bests, I’m not sure yet) is my response to Ewing’s never-ending blog. I plan to write not on every UK No1, but every UK No2. And how many corkers are there? ‘Common People’, ‘Ain’t No Pleasing You’, ‘Right Here, Right Now’, ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Wonderwall’ but the Mike Flowers Pops version.

Starting from 1952, I will wheedle my way through that list of underachievers, underdogs and toppled colossi.

Sonic Spotlight

I have less spiel for this series. I’m not quite sure yet exactly what form it will take, but for now, it will be a deep-dive into an artist’s discography. The full sound-and-vision approach. To start, it will involve artists that I love (Dexys, Bella and Sebastian, The Cribs, etc.), and an inspection of every album and song of theirs. I will attempt to mention enough of their material to give a full critical appraisal of their work, noting their highs and lows, sprinkled with the factlets.

Pot Luck Pieces

And these will just be whatever I feel like: gigs, new albums, interviews, and stories worth sharing.

Please please please feel free to comment, share, bookmark, etc. etc. The more of you that get involved, supplying your own opinions and knowledge, the more worthwhile this project becomes for everyone.

Best,

Alfie xox