Pivotal POP! is the podcast that flips the script on your favourite albums. Each episode, host Xander Cross dives deep into a record—whether it’s a global sensation or a flop so cringe-worthy it’s legendary—and reimagines its rollout like the pop industry pros we all think we are. With a revolving door of exciting guests, expect fiery debates, bold takes, and a backstage pass to the moments that defined (or derailed) an artist’s career. If you’re obsessed with pop music, this is your ultimate behind-the-scenes fix!
The Pivotal Pop boys take a different route on this episode diving into the fictional girl group HARLOW from Paramount+ Paper Dolls. They bare a striking resemblance to another iconic aussie girl group that they also may have a lot to say about.
23 Jan 2024
S02 E02: POSITIONS - ARIANA GRANDE
Ariana was flying high after dropping "Thank U, Next" which broke numerous records and solidified her as a pop icon. No one expected her to go where she did next with 2020s "Positions". It split the opinions of fans and critics and even Piviotal POPs hosts.
12 Dec 2023
S02 E01: TOP 15 SONGS OF 2023
The Pivotal POP! boys are BACK!!!
After an unexpected year hiatus we are kicking off season 2 with a bang with our Top 15 songs of 2023. There are some big names and some that you might not expect, but what you can expect is banter, buffoonery and the very best (or worst) opinions on your favourite tracks.
20 Dec 2022
S01 E10 - TOP 15 SONGS OF 2022
This week we count down our Top 15 Songs of 2022. This is was compiled and voted upon by all 3 of us using a very complicated mathematical formula!
13 Dec 2022
S01 E09: BORN THIS WAY - LADY GAGA
Born This Way marked a new level of success for Lady Gaga and a new era for Queer representation in the mainstream. From a successful singles run which included the controversial Judas to the deep cuts which are beloved by fans, there was no escaping the Born This Way era. We dive into perhaps Gaga's most impactful moment in the mainstream and maybe her best?
6 Dec 2022
S01 E08: THE PINKPRINT - NICKI MINAJ
After the hyper pop of "Roman Reloaded" Nicki Minaj wanted top get back to her Rap roots and the end result was what many considered to be her best work "The Prinkprint". It coined one of the biggest hits of her career in "Anaconda" and critics and fans ate it up. Although along with this new sense of self came a messy singles roll out which didn't quite meet it potential and there was a sense of some Nicki fatigue in the air.
29 Nov 2022
S01 E07: FULL MOON - BRANDY
The release of Full Moon was meant to usher in a new era for Brandy and R&B music but the album was lost in controversy and never really saw the light of day. Full Moon however has gone down as the vocal blueprint when it comes to making R&B music and has influenced a generation of artists & musicians.
22 Nov 2022
S01 E06: SPICEWORLD - SPICE GIRLS
There is no arguing that the Spice Girls debut was truly a remarkable moment in time, but coming off its coat tails was the equally as trilling 'Spice World'. An album that truly showed all fans & haters that they could back it up and solidified the girl group as the icons that we know them as today. But the album wasn't without controversy and we break down every little bit.
15 Nov 2022
S01 E05: UNAPOLOGETIC - RIHANNA
It is truly hard to believe that Rihanna's first No.1 album on the Billboard 200 charts was Unapologetic after less than a decade of dominating the music industry. But Unapologetic is just what it's name suggest's, though not her most cohesive work it offers some of her best with some deeply referential moments and a controversial duet with ex boyfriend Chris Brown. This truly is a Pivotal album in her discography.
8 Nov 2022
S01 E04: WITH THE MUSIC I DIE - WYNTER GORDON
Possibly the most underrated artists of the 2010 era, Wynter Gordon made her mark with "Dirty Talk" a No.1 on the Australian ARIA charts and off the back of it's success came the Dance/Pop record "With The Music I Die" exclusively released in Australia. A trail blazer rarely recognized, "With The Music I Die" has stood the test of time and what some people may not know is that she is responsible for some of the biggest hits of the past decade.
4 Nov 2022
Is It Lorde...? Or The Lord Herself?
Haydn brought us a game that had us searching the old & new testament of Lorde's discography!
1 Nov 2022
S01 E03: SOLAR POWER - LORDE
Coming off the critically acclaimed album 'Melodrama', the hype and expectation for Lorde's 3rd studio album was very apparent among fans & critics. What we got was 'Solar Power' which Lorde has described as her 'weed album'. A psychedelic pop & folk record which was a departure from the heavy synth & dance orientated music of her last effort. The album divided fans & critics and is considered Lorde's flop album by many, which is why this album became a pivotal moment in her career.
28 Oct 2022
The Cosplay Of It All... Kylie Minogue
Ed brings us a very fun and interesting game comparing songs from Kylie Minogue's Album X to others that they sound very similar too.
25 Oct 2022
S01 E02: X - KYLIE MINOGUE
Kylie Minogue's 10th studio album 'X' is perhaps the most forgotten album in her discography. After surviving breast cancer it was time for Kylie to make a comeback, but it wasn't quite what people expected. Kylie gave us her most diverse & experimental record in years, it almost completely neglected the personal journey she'd been on over the last few years and struggled to have an identity. However amongst the mess that was 'X' we got some of Kylie's most beloved tracks and this will go down as one of the most Pivotal Moments in her career.
18 Oct 2022
S01 E01: GET EM' GIRLS - JESSICA MAUBOY
After a stellar "de-butt" album with 'Been Waiting' all eyes were on Jessica Mauboy to see what she would do next. With the announcement of a Snoop Dogg collaboration on the first single the hype was certainly there, but did "Get Em' Girls" live up to the hype and could a poor singles rollout be the Pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of her career?
6 Oct 2022
TEASER | WHAT (AND WHO) IS PIVOTAL POP?
Welcome to Pivotal POP! the music podcast where we break down an album and tell YOU how WE would have done the roll out. Each week you are joined by three majestic & gracious hosts (this is an absolute lie) Xander, Ed & Haydn who will delve each week into an album that has been PIVOTAL in an artists career.. for the better or worse! Join us every Wednesday and follow our Instagram @pivotalpoppodcast for the latest!
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4.8 / 5
28 ratings
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