(via Shutterstock)
Pop music is catchy yes but you also want it to say something, mean something and make you feel something.
There must be dancing and thinking and dives into the depths of the soul, all of which we get with these five songs from incredibly talented and marvellously diverse artists.
So, fire them up, lose yourself in the music but also pay attention to the insights they bring, to the lived experience that run through every song and to the way you look at life a little differently after hearing pop with heart and soul, and more than a small dash of garrulous vivacity.
“King Queen Supreme” by Dyan Tai x Lupa J
(courtesy official Lupa J Instagram)
Oh good lord of pop culture, this is a fun song!
“King Queen Supreme” is a collaboration between Dyan Tai, an Australian performance artist, producer, DJ and Gaysian Empress of Sydney, and Lupa J who emerged as an artist at 15 and who has toured with Tegan & Sara and Grimes among others, and it’s exuberantly alive with all kinds of joyously upbeat queer pop energy.
The song has been rightly described by Acid Stag as “a smashing electronic offering filled with an energetic nature amongst an off-kilter influence that keeps you on the edge of your seat not knowing what’s coming next”.
But that’s not all …
With a thumping energy evoked from the ground floor up courtesy of the commanding beats compiled, ‘King Queen Supreme’ hypnotises all within its path through its blistering energy that is as intoxicating as they come. With a wide array of instrumentation compiled such as the Guzheng and Chinese cymbals, as well as Lupa J‘s violins, both artists put their unique spin on this release and in doing so ensure a freshness in its approach that keeps you highly engaged throughout.
“The Bomb” by Lydia Night
(courtesy official Lydia Night Instagram)
Once the lead singer for American punk rock band, the Regrettes, who called it quits in 2023, Lydia Night is now the proud owner of a just-released debut solo album Parody of Pleasure.
One of the singles to burst forth from the singer’s LP is “The Bomb”, a catchy guitar-heavy slice of bouncy pop that folds all kinds of “you’ve just someone great” feelings and danceable beats into a delicious of dance-heat musical vivacity.
In an interview with the Ones to Watch Lydia Night talks about how the song came to be alive and kicking:
‘The Bomb’ was created at the same time as ‘The Hearse’, where we were just trying to make something fun. I had gotten notes telling me I was overcomplicating my lyrics, since I write a lot of wordy melodies. So, this song is me being like, “Okay, fuck you. I can write a simple song. I can dumb it down.” It started with trying to write the dumbest chorus ever, but we ended up falling in love with the concept. It’s about the cravings I have when I start talking to someone new. If I’m not feeling intensity and over the top disguises of love, then I feel insecure. It’s a simple song, but the concept is complex.
It’s short, it’s sweet but it’s a gorgeous piece of springy pop with edge that will have you pogostick-ing around the room within seconds.
“iwannaliveinadream” by Alison Wonderland
(courtesy official Alison Wonderland Instagram)
Known professionally as Alison Wonderland, Alexandra Margo Sholler is an Australian electronic dance producer, DJ and singer who grew up in Sydney training to be a cellist.
Inspired by The Knife’s “Silent Shout”, the artist put aside the cello and picked up the keyboard, releasing her first album, Run, in March 2015, with her fourth, Ghost World, due in October this year.
All of which has led to the single in the reviewing spotlight right now, “iwannaliveinadream” which comes complete with a very cinematic clip – possibly courtesy of filmmaker husband, Ti West? – and this pithy, on-point review by Acid Stag.
Leading us in with a gentle introduction through those pristine vocals, ‘iwannaliveinadream’ ascends itself through the insertion of the synth presence that rises from the ground floor and hits incredibly hard once its drops. Coupled by the powerful percussion and emphatic bass, Wonderland shifts things into the next gear with a ferocious approach in the production that evokes a sense of euphoria immediately.
“Heartbreak” by MØ
(courtesy official MØ Instagram)
I love Danish singer-songwriter MØ.
She’s an endless font of really clever, diversely imaginative pop who always finds a way to marry incredibly cool, hugely listenable music with some really emotionally incisive insights.
“Heartbreak”, lifted from 2025 album Plæygirl, is every bit as good as anything that’s come before, a percolating torrent of emotively rendered pop that bubbles up and out with a passionate energy and the authentic beat of people exactly who you are without apology. (“This song, for me, symbolizes. Like that moment of like, instead of being in your head, just being present, being like, I don’t care what people think, I’m just gonna be myself.” / Acid Stag)
Initially we are introduced to ‘Heartbreak’ through a restrained foundation set, whereby the bubbling percussion sets the liveliness in the backdrop all while MØ‘s stunning vocals stand tall and carry forth a buoyancy. When we arrive at the chorus, we are met with an explosiveness carried on from the bright synths and commanding percussion that showcases a significant strength and power in production.
“God’s Raver” by Nemo
(courtesy official Nemo Instagram)
I fell in love with Swiss non-binary artist Nemo when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2024 with the genre defying operatic pop charms of “The Code”.
Not only did they bring some seriously queer pop energy to proceedings, but they delivered a song that had personality, charm, presence and an infectious musicality that well and truly stands up under many repeated listens.
There have been a string of highly memorable singles since culminating with his latest release, “God is a Raver”, the most recent song to be lifted from forthcoming album, Arthouse, which hits the airwaves on 10 October.
It’s a joyously catchy slice of pop that dances and bounces with endless exuberance and which proves once again just how talented Switzerland musical Eurovision wunderkind is and how he has to offer if you’ll just lend your ears and two very danceable feet.
We have a host city people – hello Vienna!! The city will host the 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest from Tuesday 12 May 2026 – Saturday 16 May 2026.
Refreshing the logo is also a thing ahead of the big anniversary show with Eurovision.tv singing the praises of the artwork and what it represents.
The Eurovision logo that you’ve seen represent the Contest for over 20 years now has been refreshed from the iconic hand-drawn script that was launched in 2004 and refined in 2014. Now, it’s been simplified into a single, unique marque, with one familiar element at its centre: that unmistakable Eurovision heart which is now beating louder than ever.