On a crisp Autumn morning in 1998, the world was introduced to the voice of Britney Spears, and pop would never be the same. Britney’s mix of vocal fry, percussive pronunciations, and timbral play on “...Baby One More Time” hadn't been heard before. As successful as they were, these techniques were derided by critics as parts of her manufactured “baby voice. ... Show More
Mar 3
Can Bruno Mars counterprogram his way to another hit album?
Bruno Mars is back with a new album called The Romantic, his first solo release since 2016’s 24k Magic. At first listen, the lead single, “I Just Might,” sounds like an outtake from 2021’s collaborative album with Anderson Paak, the Philly soul-inspired An Evening with Silk Sonic ... Show More
44m 52s
Feb 24
Charli XCX’s "Wuthering Heights" fever dream
Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 gothic romance "Wuthering Heights" is the most talked-about film of the year. But for pop lovers, the soundtrack is the real event: Charli xcx, asked to write one song, ended up recording an entire album for the movie while ... Show More
48m 13s
Nov 2020
Toxic Tango: Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera
For ‘80s babies, Britney and Christina represent the ultimate fan face-off. Originally friends and co-stars on The Mickey Mouse Club reboot in the early ‘90s, by the decade’s end they were pitted against one another in the press and in the charts. On the surface, the comparisons ... Show More
54m 12s
Mar 2022
Britney Spears : amour, gloire et toxicité
<p>Toxic est peut-être la chanson qui résume au mieux la relation que l’on entretient avec Britney Spears… Superstar des années 2000, Britney a rythmé notre existence avec des titres comme <em>Oops I did it again</em> ou encore …<em>Baby one more time</em>, mais également avec d ... Show More
34m 35s
Jun 2021
Welcome to Pieces of Britney with Pandora Sykes
Britney Spears: pop icon. Pandora Sykes pieces together what we know about her story, and what it tells us about sex, entertainment, and how we treat women in the public eye. In this eight-part series for BBC Radio 4, Pandora traces Britney’s incredible life: from her hardscrabbl ... Show More
3m 25s
Feb 2020
Justin Bieber's 'Changes' Proves the Enduring Allure of Child-Turned-Adult Pop Stars
Justin Bieber released his debut album, My World 2.0, almost exactly a decade ago, and last week, the pop star put out his fifth studio album, Changes, which is on track for yet another No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200. Keith & Katie talk all about the power of that connection be ... Show More
26m 27s