Flop Stars: A Pop Music Podcast
21 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsYou can’t always come out on top. And this is a podcast that celebrates that very fact. Each week, hosts Billy Nilles and Greg Willis take an in-depth look into the world of pop music as only they can. Welcome to Flop Stars!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
A Flop of a Year: 2020 Recap
December 22, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 53.9 MBBilly and Greg, back together again in 2020...for one night only! Before this flop of a year is finally over, join us as we take a look back at one of the only things that got us through: music. We'll break down the totally insane last 12 months of our lives before offering up our picks for the Top 10 Pops of the Year. It's a countdown you won't want to miss. See you in 2021, babies!
The Pops and Flops of 2019
December 30, 2019 08:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBWhat. A. Year. Before we say goodbye to season two and the decade, Billy and Greg had to wrap things up with an in-depth look back at the year that was. And true to form, we could only send off 2019 one way: by breaking down our picks for the Pops and Flops of the Year. Join us as the ball drops on our No. 1 Pops--and our No. 1 Flops. We apologize for nothing. Not only that, but we also set our intentions for 2020, sharing our hopes and wishes for the music year ahead. Rihanna, you up? We'...
Artists of the Decade
December 11, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBAn episode 10 years in the making. As promised two weeks ago, Billy and Greg devote the penultimate episode of season two to the two women who were, undeniably, their artists of the decade. We're talking, of course, about Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Join us as we break down these superstars' last ten years, album by album, to prove why their impact on pop music is unmatched. Elsewhere in the episode, we share our picks for Pop and Flop of the Week and have a hard time choosing just one. Sue us!...
Christmas Music
December 04, 2019 08:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBIt's time to get festive! Join Billy and Greg this week as we deck those halls, trim those trees, and talk all things Christmas music. From the classics of our youth--did somebody say Dominick the Donkey?!--to the pop star pretenders making their yearly attempts at coming for the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey's throne, we've made our lists and checked them twice. Elsewhere in the episode, we discuss the minor pop emergency that is the Pussycat Dolls reunion and, as always, deliv...
The 2010s
November 27, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBIt's the end of an era! As we prepare to say goodbye to 2019, we've also got to accept that another decade is done and gone. In this episode, Billy and Greg do their damndest to recap the entirety of the 2010. Beginning with Kesha's debut album, the first LP to be released in the decade, and marching on through everything pop music had to offer in these ten years, our walk down memory lane is full of mind-blowing highlights and more than a few missteps. What a wild time it's been. Elsewhe...
Queer Artists
November 20, 2019 08:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBWe're here, we're queer and we're talking about our people! After weeks devoted to those pop divas the gay community worships most, Billy and Greg are putting the spotlight on the LGBTQIA artists carving out space for themselves in the ever-expanding world of pop music. From Elton to Troye, Melissa to Hayley, The Scissor Sisters to King Princess, we're covering it all. And if we missed anyone out there making music in this current rainbow revolution, please let us know on Twitter @flopstars...
1999
November 06, 2019 08:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBWe just wanna go back...back to 1999. So for this week's episode, we did just that. Before we begin to say goodbye to not only 2019, but an entire damn decade, Billy and Greg wanted to take it back, back, back 20 years to the year that changed everything and ushered in this modern era of music. From the explosion of bubblegum pop to the Latin craze, pop music's greatest historians do what they do best and take you through it. And as always, we've got our picks for Pop(s) and Flop of the W...
Ageism in Pop Music
October 16, 2019 19:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBIt's been a while. We know we shouldn't have kept you waiting.But we're here now. In a very special episode of Flop Stars, Billy and Greg take a look at how divas of a certain age are treated by the industry and fans alike. From Madonna to JLo to Miley, we break down the pervasive way ageism in pop music affects everyone whether they realize it or not. Elsewhere in the episode, we talk upcoming fall releases, the sounds of spooky season, and present our picks for a super-sized edition of P...
The Spice Girls
September 25, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBColours of the world, spice up your life! This week, Billy and Greg put two and two together and now you'll see what our friendship is for. We've packed our bags, purchased a couple of one-way tickets, and embarked on a trip to Spice World for this super-sized episode of Flop Stars devoted to all things Spice Girls. Some might say it's too much, and to them we say, stop right now, thank you very much. From their game-changing debut to Geri's earth-shattering departure, each attempt at a sol...
One-Hit Wonders
September 18, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBWelcome back! This week, Billy and Greg tackle a topic they've been waiting a long time to talk about: One-hit wonders! As you can imagine, there's a lot to break down. From artists who were always destined to earn the title to those who we can't believe are actually considered one, we cram it all in. As for our all-time faves? Well, they're just de-lovely and delicious. Elsewhere in the episode, we talk pop stars who managed to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump with their second albums (a...
Song of Summer 2019
September 11, 2019 17:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBWe're back, bitches! All it took was a long walk down an old town road to fill Billy and Greg with the motivation needed to get a super-sized season two of Flop Stars off the ground. With memories of the hot girl summer still fresh in our minds, we're breaking down the ephemeral and fleeting concept of the Song of Summer. Where did it come from? How long has it been around? And why did this year's winners seem to break all the rules? As we share our picks for a special Pop and Flop of Sum...
Britney Jean
May 09, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 32.1 MBGo call the governor! In this special season finale episode, Billy and Greg get to work, bitch, and talk all things Britney Spears and her most personal album yet, Britney Jean. Did it make us wanna dance until our body ache? Elsewhere in the episode, we leave you with our picks for the upcoming albums we're most excited about (we bet you can guess at least one!), narrow down our three favorite Britney tracks, and, as always, offer up this season's last picks for Pop and Flop of the Week. ...
4
April 30, 2019 15:00 - 1 hour - 30.1 MBStart the countdown. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg risk the wrath of the Beyhive to talk Beyoncé and her 2011 album 4. Can her persuasion really build a nation? Elsewhere in the episode, we share our picks for the best solo endeavors from former boy/girl group members (who aren't Beyoncé, naturally), try and narrow down our three favorite Queen Bey tracks (a fool's errand!) and, as always, reveal our choices for Pop and Flop of the Week. And if this wasn't a Lizzo stan-cast before...
Damita Jo
April 23, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBIt's time to dance. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg spend just a little while talking Janet Jackson and her 2004 album Damita Jo. Did her sexhibition have us saying "Don't stop!" or make us want to (strawberry) bounce? Elsewhere in the episode, we give you a glimpse between our sheets by sharing the three songs most capable of giving us some eargasms, narrow down our three favorite Janet tracks, and, as always, reveal our picks for Pop and Flop of the Week. Which of us was the boy w...
Witness
April 15, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 32.5 MBBreak out your rose-colored glasses. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg step outside their bubble and take a trip to Oblivia to talk all things Katy Perry and her 2017 album Witness. Were we feeling the purposeful pop or should she have just saved the whole thing as draft? Elsewhere in the episode, we share the three songs that always have us feeling wide a-woke, discuss our three favorite Katy tracks, and, as always, reveal our picks for Pop and Flop of the Week. Which unlucky boy ban...
My December
April 01, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 28.5 MBSome people wait a lifetime for a moment like this. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg take a trip to Irvine to talk all things Kelly Clarkson and her 2007 album My December. Did the OG American Idol's album leave us haunted or have us swearing never again? Elsewhere in the episode, we reveal our three favorite songs from reality TV stars (with varied levels of understanding the assignment!), narrow down our three favorite Kelly songs, and, as always, unveil our choices for Pop and Flo...
Rated R
March 23, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 29.1 MBThe wait is over. In this week’s episode, Billy and Greg enter the mad house that is Rihanna’s Rated R. Does the career-altering album hold up or did it turn us into a pair of rude boys? Elsewhere in the episode, we try to narrow down our three favorite pop diva-featuring dance tracks (why do we do this to ourselves?), reveal our choices for BadGalRiRi’s three best songs (are we gluttons for punishment?), and, as always, unveil our picks for Pop and Flop of the Week. Has this turned into a...
Bionic
March 16, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 35 MBThis is the moment that we take over your mind frame. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg dive headfirst into a world of love and glamour to tackle Christina Aguilera's Bionic. Did she indeed own the thrown with this one or did she sound like nothing more than a bobblehead? We also share our favorite collaborations (sorry, Lady Marmalade!), reveal our three favorite Xtina tracks (there's so much to choose from!), and, as always, unveil our choices for Pop and Flop of the Week. Sorry, no...
Brave
March 07, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 27.8 MBIt's time to be brave. In this week's episode, Billy and Greg discuss Jennifer Lopez, proving that (unlike Mariah) we do, indeed, know her. But how well do we know her 2007 album Brave? That's a different story altogether. Elsewhere in the episode, we try to narrow down the three best concerts we've ever seen (the agony!), come up with the three best JLo songs ever (a surprisingly harder feat than one might think), and, as always, deliver our choices for Pop and Flop of the Week. Find out...
American Life
March 02, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBWelcome back to Flop Stars! This week, Billy and Greg take on the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna, as they determine once and for all if her 2003 album American Life really deserved all the hate. Oh honey, trust us when we tell you that it was an x-static process. (Get it?) Elsewhere in the episode, we reveal which three pop stars make up their coven, try and name the three best Madonna songs ever (ahh!), and deliver their choices for Pop and Flop of the Week. Can anyone out there explain wh...
ARTPOP
February 21, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 29.7 MBGreetings, Himeros! In their inaugural episode, Billy and Greg dive headfirst into Lady Gaga's ARTPOP to determine if the masses were right when they labeled the 2013 album nothing more than an artflop. So lay back, and feast as this audio guides you through new and exciting positions—or just, you know, queens out about the artist formerly known as Stefani Germanotta for an hour. And remember, her artpop could mean anything. Oh, and Billy and Greg will give you their picks for pop music's ...