Music

Irish pop radio in the 2000s

A playlist featuring The Saturdays, Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Lily Allen, Duffy and more.

The Meteor awards, Cheerios Childline concert, X Factor live final, Christmas no. 1 single. Top of the Pops. The late late show with Pat Kenny. Big Brother. Bebo. Do these words mean anything to you?



I'm not sure what it was that spurred me on to make this playlist earlier this year. Maybe I was missing Dublin a bit, yearning for some unhealthy nostalgia. Also frustration with 2000's revival there's no shortage of noughties playlists out there. But none of them capture what was being played on Irish radio.

We didn't really listen to the radio at my house growing up. But you couldn't get away from the radio in the local shop. I have extremely vivid memories of hearing The Coronas, James Blunt & MIKA over the speakers next to the meat counter. I feel like I spent a third of my life as a child and teen in the local shop.

The specific pop sound circa 2010 reminds me of tween discos. In the local community centre, or a now defunct night club named Shenanigans or "Shags". This is now an absolutely unthinkable business model having a club night where you're selling no alcohol, also why the hell would a DJ want to do this.

I watched "The Promise" music video a couple months ago, the first time I'd seen it since it first came out and felt a level of intense nostalgia I don't even know how to describe. I remember the album art for the single, purchasing it and downloading it onto my iPod also sending eachother ringtones and songs by JLS and stuff like Horse Outside by Rubberbandits to our mobile phones via InfraRed. INFRARED. I don't even understand the technology behind that honestly why did we abandon it though it was like the original airdrop.



I can't help but notice how pervasive black culture and music is as an influence in Ireland at this time, as all times. The Horse Outside music video is constantly referencing Michael Jackson. I am completely torn on Republic of Loose. Instrumentally, songwriting, production arrangement is literally perfection and is a total appreciation and tribute to funk and soul. The lyrics however are kinda... strange "You kinda remind me of Bugs Bunny" "Down on the pavement to lick my balls" "I don't know why I'm just so unbelievably cool" With all due respect he is talking absolute shite obviously and the stupid lyrics let the celebration of funk fall into a bit of a gimmick gimmick. Even The Promise is completely sonically and visually a take on Motown, The Supremes and 60's Americana. The influence and appreciation is there but I wonder is the respect and healthy reverence too.



If you don't understand X-Factor ad the campaign for Christmas No. 1 Single, you don't understand noughties pop culture in Ireland. X-Factor was my first and last experience of true watercooler television. I won't get into it too much because honestly The X-Factor deserves a write up in itself. But rest assured Leona Lewis, Diana Vickers, Matt Cardle, Jedward and other X Factor legends feature heavily.

Let it be known I was an original Bieber hater.

It's no secret there's basically an economy on nostalgia. There's no shortage of reboots and album re-releases and low rise jeans and people wearing little sunglasses. The recently released MV for Girl Like This is based off Lily Allen's first album, The Saturday's 'Up'.*** I'm wondering when fun reminiscing crosses the line and transforms in to cheesy, sad, fruitless escapism and yearning for a never-existed past. "Remember when is the lowest form of conversation."

***For the record I am a PinkPantheress stan and she can literally do no wrong in my eyes.

Playlist is personal to my taste and memories. There's many other songs and artists that are pure nostalgia for me (Katy Perry's Hot and Cold was a must have at any party in 2010, and don't get me started on Usher's OMG, Flo-Rida LOW Apple Bottom Jeans!!!!!) but I wanted to focus on Irish and British artists.

! ! access full playlist here ! !

music that was important to me in twenty-twenty-five

I quit Spotify in March of this year. I've always loved listening to albums start to finish, I find it hard to get into an artist that releases singles alone. I noticed my relationship to music was changing, I was finding hard to find a deep connection with new music and artists, for the most part I found the Spotify algorithm sucked. I was sick of getting paid pennies as a musician for tens of thousands of streams, how streaming model was contributing to the enshittification and devaluation of music, and their Swedish founder using my money to invest in arms companies was the final straw for me.

Since March I listen to music on my modified iPod gen. 5 classic which I got from Player Mods. I get music from new artists on bandcamp or otherwise Soulseek. If for whatever reason I can't use my iPod I have YouTube music but tbh its rare I use it.

The battery lasts days, I don't need internet to use it, I don't get autoplayed songs I don't care about, I will never be forced to listen to AI music!!! I have to be much more intentional about adding music, rather than being suggested music by a computer it forces me to have a focused music discovery session mostly based on suggestions from my peers, intentional searches and chance encounters.

Here's the music that was important to me this year. Some released in 2025, most not. I'm high key too lazy to link/add photos or album art to every entry you got search engines.

Song of the Year

Welcome To My Blue Sky - Momma

"I stopped to talk like we always do /
But something's off, swear it's me, not you /
It's not your fault 'cause I always knew /
This blue sky won't bring me back to you

I stopped to talk, yeah, I'm doing fine /
You're paying the cost of my new life /
When I hang up, it's our last goodnight /
Don't try to find me in my blue sky"

Albums of the Year

Welcome To My Blue Sky - Momma
Bleeds - Wednesday
2000: In Search of The Endless Sky - Fleshwater

Also best live show I saw all year and one of the best bands to ever do it. Post hardcore forever and Marisa is not playing with them vocals and I can confirm the mic is on live.

Yarin Yoksa - Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek
Tuff Times Never Last - KOKOROKO
Fancy That - PinkPantheress
Luster - Maria Somerville

Spring Beginnings

Twin Plagues - Wednesday

one week in the spring I had a "no reading" week. No reading, social media, news, books, podcasts, talk radio. One night I just lay in bed like when I was a teen just listening to music. I listened to Twin Plagues and felt a lot of things. Probably one of the best weeks of the year.

Habibi Funk 015: An eclectic selection of music from the Arab world, part 2

Put on while making your Saturday morning coffee to have the best time of your life.

Black Phonemics - Steve Coleman
Return to the Seventh Galaxy - Return To Forever
Romantic Warrior - Return To Forever
Visions of The Emerald Beyond - Mahavishnu Orchestra
Mothership connection - Parliament/Funkadelic
Chocolate City - Parliament/Funkadelic
The Clones of Dr Funkenstein - Parliament/Funkadelic
Chick Corea - Where Have I Known You Before

Sounds of the Summer

Welcome To My Blue Sky - Momma
Disaster Trick - Horse Jumper of Love
Billboard Heart - Deep Sea Diver

Normally not an indie/pop lover but I was really impressed by a live video of them posted on YouTube by KEXP and pretty sure I have the same guitar as their guitarist, and the guitar sound and playing was phenomenal to me at the height of taking my guitar lessons.

Songs About You Specifically - MICHELLE
Louder Now - Taking Back Sunday
What Chaos is Imaginary - Girlpool
Powerplant - Girlpool

Revisiting Girlpool's Work reminds me they are probably among the best songwriters of the 2010's - Faultline from their last album is perfect.

Saturday Night Wrist - Deftones
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence - Glassjaw
Yarin Yoksa - Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek
Tuff Times Never Last - KOKOROKO

Fall Forever

Bleeds - Wednesday
2000: In Search of The Endless Sky - Fleshwater

Graduation - Kanye West
College Dropout - Kanye West

I know I KNOW but we could have had it all he kind of want the goat AAGHH All Falls Down?? Jesus Walks??? Flashing Lights????? Come onnnn

Reflection of Another Self - Milena Casado
Luster - Maria Somerville
Roy Ayers - Virgin Ubiquity I and II
Rejuvenation - The Meters
Fancy That - PinkPantheress

Tender Winter

On Letting Go - Circa Survive
Busy Body - Luther Vandross

The Night I Fell In Love - Luther Vandross
Dreams To Remember - Otis Redding
Love Deluxe - Sade
One In A Million - Aaliyah
Lonesome Crowded West - Modest Mouse
Paramore - Full Discography plus B Sides and deep cuts (O Star, Stop This Song, I Caught Myself, Decoy...)

Music is my life xxx

Happy Christmas - here's some music for you

Christmas time can be a challenging time of year for so many - I was certainly not the biggest fan for a while. But as I get older and take life into my own hands, create my own traditions, it is growing on me.
I adore making playlists for certain occasions and having the playlist right is very important to me. I thought I'd share some underrated Christmas songs I discovered this year that I've had on repeat. Write and tell me what you think.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Take 6 ft. Yellowjackets

A soulful, jazzy and unique rendition of a less appreciated Christmas song. Nice hook, Jaco Pastorius-esque bass, scatting, plus a tight saxophone solo. What more could you want?

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season - Kirk Franklin and Family

This Gospel track will hype you up like crazy. Kirk Franklin confirms for me that it was a blessing to be raised Catholic because if I was around music like this I would never be able to leave the church... The harmonies and choral arrangement are phenomenal and the drummer is going insane on this.

Christmas Fantasy - Anita Baker

A gorgeous jazzy deep cut from Anita Baker, bashful yet soft. I love a modern original Christmas song as opposed to a cover and Anita does it right.
Enjoy have a good Christmas and happy new year ^^