Stereogum — '80s London pop greats Bananarama got together in 1979, and they effectively broke up when group member Siobhan Fahey split acrimoniously from her two bandmates in 1988, going on to form Shakespeare's Sister. In the years in between, Bananarama were ... more info

Popdose — Shaggy, Erick Sermon and the beloved Shakespears Sister highlight this week of Bottom Feeders. more info

Guardian Music — Originally published in the Guardian on 17 July 1992: One jazz, one classical, and one world music album have made it, along with U2, Simply Red, and the Jesus and Mary ChainAn award designed to be the music industry's equivalent of the Booker Prize ... more info

Guardian Music — The non-shrieking, spangly goth half of Shakespears Sisters is back and her post-Marcella Detroit material sounds weirdly contemporaryWith goth-pop revivalists Chelsea Wolfe, Charli XCX and 2:54 all currently whipping up grave and solemn storms, it's... more info

411 Mania — Originally performed on The X Factor more info

Guardian Music — Even with her bootylicious, showpony body very much on display, Beyoncé's show became a huge feminist singalong"A girl, a woman, has not headlined in 20 years, so this is history for me," Beyoncé Knowles exclaimed mid-way through her heartstoppingl... more info

The Vinyl Villain — It's been a long while since this series was featured, so I thought I'd start with a reminder of what has come before:-1. Nowhere Fast2. This Night Has Opened My Eyes3. William, It Was Really Nothing4. The Queen Is Dead5. Wonderful Woman6. Golden Lig... more info

Guardian Music — Charli XCX Stay Away (This Is Music) To the Home Counties and Charli XCX, a teenage over-achiever who I like to think was named after an eBay user account. Upon discovering how old she is – she's 18 but has been plugging away at pop for years – p... more info

Guardian Music — (Sony Legacy)Of all the artists who passed through the doors of Sam Phillips's Sun label in the 1950s, Roy Orbison must have seemed the least likely to succeed. He gave it his best shot, cutting a minor rockabilly hit called Ooby Dooby, but he wasn't... more info

Guardian Music — Wembley Arena, LondonIf you've ever wondered what The X Factor would be like if you removed the judges and just focused on the musical acts, then wonder no more. This two-hour long showcase of the top nine finalists from last year's series starts li... more info