Robbie Williams – Better Man
In which Dan asks the question "Is 'Better Man' Robbie Williams' career-defining song?" Dan is American, and therefore has an entirely different perspective from the rest of us who are all shouting "NO, IT'S OBVIOUSLY ANGELS" right about now.
Buggles – Elstree
Or: How I Learned to Stop Fearing Martians and Love Synthesisers.
Sophie Ellis Bextor – Not Giving Up On Love
She's the finest British pop star of the 21st century who keeps releasing amazing records. We're the people who don't buy enough of them and therefore we don't deserve to have nice things. Bingo! State of the charts these days EXPLAINED.
Fruits of Passion – Kiss Me Now
In the scramble for limited chart spaces someone always gets left behind - so while their contemporaries raced ahead, Fruits of Passion never really got off the starting blocks. Which is, as we shall see, a massive shame.
Kylie Minogue – Turn it Into Love
Fun fact! This was probably the song that started off the whole Into the Popvoid concept. I've been bitter about Turn it Into Love's non-single status for 28 years.
Kero Kero Bonito – Picture This
Joe Rivers on a cracking bit of pop that is very much built for the age we live in.
Gina G – Every Time I Fall
Every chirpy pop star must at some point become a Frowning Concept (thank you Neil Tennant for that phrase), and Gina G's turn came with this lovely dreamy ballad. Note also cut-price version of Kylie's "Put Yourself in My Place" video.
Gwen Stefani – Make Me Like You
Brilliant song, amazing video, but Gwen Stefani can't get a hit single. Are those pesky "isms" to blame? Dan Poliak investigates.
Talk Talk – My Foolish Friend
They may have been label-mates with Duran Duran, but while Le Bon and co. jetted off to tropical climes for their videos, Talk Talk got a Super Saver to Halifax. Amazing.
Debbie Gibson – Anything is Possible (Remix Edit)
In which bubbly pop princess Debbie Gibson attempts to grow up a bit and is roundly rejected because we are all TERRIBLE PEOPLE.
Red Box – Heart of the Sun
One of those bands that made you feel a bit clever for liking them, Red Box made a classic debut album which flopped terribly - and, as it turns out, quite unnecessarily. Thanks, record label types!
Britney Spears – I Wanna Go
Britney's Femme Fatale era: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Here's the best bit.
Kate Bush – Eat the Music
In which Kate Bush makes us all want to tuck into a bowl of Fruit 'n Fibre with our BARE HANDS.
Wang Chung – Everybody Have Fun Tonight
30 years may have passed, but I'm pretty certain I could say "everybody Wang Chung tonight" out loud and most people would know what I was talking about. Right?
Simple Minds – Love Song
1981 and 1982 - are they the MOST EXCITING years in pop? Spoiler: yes, yes they are.
Lily Allen – URL Badman
Lily Allen - the pop star so amazing we'd have had to invent her if she didn't already exist. Here's Joe Anderton on the frankly brilliant "URL Badman".
R.E.M. – Sitting Still
1981: a fresh faced young man from the west coast arrives in New York city and heads straight for the nearest record shop.
Belle and Sebastian – I Didn’t See it Coming (Richard X Mix)
In which Belle and Sebastian turn into Dollar for four perfect minutes.
a-ha – Nothing is Keeping You Here
Not many bands really get better with age, but a-ha managed it.
Matt Bianco – Whose Side Are You On?
In which we ask the question: why did nobody admit to liking Matt Bianco at the time, when they were in fact dead good?
Into the Popvoid 