Pop: The History Makers with Steve Blame

George Michael was one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation, but who was the man behind the music?

In this conversation, bestselling author Sathnam Sanghera discusses his remarkable new book, Tonight the Music Seems So Loud: The Meaning of George Michael, exploring George's extraordinary journey from pop prodigy to global icon. Together, we look beyond the headlines to examine his artistry, his struggles with fame, sexuality, identity, grief, generosity and the search for authenticity.

Rather than simply telling George Michael's life story, Sathnam asks a deeper question: what did George Michael mean—not only to music, but to all of us? How did his songs reflect the world we were living in, and why do they continue to resonate so powerfully today?
Join us as we explore the legacy of an artist whose music transcended pop to become part of people's lives.

In case you're wondering, the sax solo in Careless Whisper was actually played by Raphael Ravenscroft not Courtney Pine as Sathnam says in the interview.

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Nearly fifty years after Rattus Norvegicus, Hugh Cornwell is still writing new songs—and still asking what a song can become when he takes it onstage. He’s preparing Succubus, revisiting a lifetime of music on All the Fun of the Fair, and calling his forthcoming solo acoustic tour Never Say Goodbye.

So what is he saying goodbye to, and what is he moving towards? Hugh declined to appear on camera for this interview, so this time, listen in as we talk about the music he made with The Stranglers, his solo work, and the songs he has yet to write. He also discusses the possibility of Stranglers-only shows for the fiftieth anniversary of Rattus Norvegicus, and a film about his life that he says is being made.

Tour dates and tickets: https://www.hughcornwell.com/live/

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Before 10cc, Graham Gouldman had already written some of the defining songs of the 1960s—including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Bus Stop,” “Look Through Any Window” and “No Milk Today.” He then helped form one of Britain’s most inventive bands, creating classics including “I’m Not in Love,” “The Things We Do for Love” and “Dreadlock Holiday.”

Become a channel member for access to Beneath the Applause, where I explore the lives behind the music, and Essential Stories, featuring memorable moments from my interviews. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5S9xw1B-ppDXVkAuvRRQtg/join

In this extensive career interview, Graham talks bout discovering songwriting, the extraordinary chemistry of 10cc, working with Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, and the circumstances that changed the band. He also discusses Wax and his creative partnership with Andrew Gold, producing the Ramones and the craft of writing songs that continue to connect with audiences across generations.

Graham Gouldman and his semi-acoustic band Heart Full of Songs will tour the UK in October 2026, performing material from across his remarkable career. Tickets are available from the venues and at www.grahamgouldman.info. HEART FULL OF SONGS 2026 TOUR 8 October — Corn Exchange Theatre, Stamford 9 October — The Stoller Hall, Manchester 10 October — Playhouse, Whitley Bay 11 October — Memorial Hall, Sheffield 13 October — The Stables, Wavendon 14 October — The Gate, Cardiff 15 October — The Hafren, Newtown 17 October — Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes 18 October — Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry 19 October — City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds 20 October — Drill Hall, Lincoln 22 October — Saint Luke’s, Glasgow 23 October — Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh 24 October — Epstein Theatre, Liverpool 26 October — Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury 27 October — St George’s, Bristol 28 October — The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 29 October — Cadogan Hall, London Subscribe to Pop: The History Makers for more candid, in-depth conversations with the artists, songwriters and producers who changed popular culture. If you enjoy these independent interviews, you can support the channel using the Super Thanks button beneath the video.
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Haddaway created one of the most instantly recognisable songs in pop history. Released in 1993, “What Is Love” became an international phenomenon and one of the defining records of the Eurodance era.
But Haddaway’s story is far more complicated than a single worldwide hit.

Born in Trinidad, raised in the United States and launched to fame from Germany, Haddaway’s life has crossed countries, cultures and musical traditions. Before success arrived, he studied political science and history, played American football, worked in fashion and made music at night.

In this candid interview, Haddaway explains how he fought to retain control of his identity, voice and work—and why he refused an early offer for “What Is Love.” He discusses his creative relationship with producers Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann, the intervention of legendary record executive Clive Davis and the personal heartbreak that gave “What Is Love” its emotional power.

He also reflects on the extraordinary success of “Life,” “I Miss You” and “Rock My Heart”; the importance of MTV Europe; the sacrifices demanded by international fame; and the unexpected afterlife of “What Is Love” through Saturday Night Live, A Night at the Roxbury, Eminem and Lil Wayne’s “No Love,” and David Guetta’s “Baby Don’t Hurt Me.”

More than three decades after first asking the question, Haddaway explains what love means to him now: respect, communication, understanding and space.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
00:59 Life beside Lake Garda
01:35 Trinidad, identity and finding somewhere to belong
02:58 Learning music through the trumpet
03:50 Studying political science and history
05:44 Why Haddaway left America for Germany
06:44 American football, fashion and surviving in Cologne
07:12 The Haddaway name and protecting his identity
08:23 Fighting for control of “What Is Love”
09:21 Tony Hendrik, creative differences and learning to share
10:24 Refusing to imitate Joe Cocker and meeting Clive Davis
11:30 The heartbreak inside “What Is Love”
12:30 Meeting the woman who inspired the song again
13:05 The voice and performance that defined the record
14:16 When “What Is Love” became a cultural phenomenon
15:13 How worldwide fame changed his life
16:19 MTV Europe’s role in Haddaway’s success
17:09 Controlling his image, name and rights
18:29 What fame gave him—and what it took away
19:37 “Life,” “I Miss You” and the Ayrton Senna connection
20:39 Escaping the Eurodance label
21:02 The early Haddaway song that represents him best
21:55 What singing dance music really requires
22:45 Saturday Night Live and A Night at the Roxbury
24:11 Eminem and Lil Wayne’s “No Love”
24:54 David Guetta’s “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
25:38 Being placed in the one-hit-wonder box
27:00 “The Sun” and taking complete creative responsibility
28:31 Optimism, responsibility and music with meaning
30:18 “Lift Your Head Up”
30:49 What if “What Is Love” had never succeeded?
31:34 The story behind his first name, Nestor
32:30 Why “What Is Love” remains a gift
33:13 Haddaway answers the question today
34:10 Closing thoughts

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My guest today is Chris Difford — songwriter, musician and co-founder of Squeeze, one of Britain’s most distinctive and enduring bands.

Together with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris created songs that turned everyday life into sharply observed pop: “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Tempted,” “Labelled with Love” and so many more.

His lyrics are filled with characters, conversations and small domestic details. They can be funny, uncomfortable, romantic and heartbreaking — sometimes within the same song.

But Chris’s story goes far beyond the hits. It is also about friendship, ambition, addiction, recovery, fatherhood and the complicated reality of keeping a creative partnership alive across more than five decades.
He has written for other artists, pursued a solo career, published his memoir and helped new songwriters find their own voices.

Chris Difford has never been afraid to examine the less polished parts of life — or himself. So today, I want to discover the stories behind those remarkable songs, the experiences that shaped the man who wrote them, and what he has learned from a lifetime spent turning real life into music.

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Squeeze UK tour dates 2026
The following British dates are part of the Tried, Tested and Trixies Tour, with special guest Billy Bragg:
12 November — OVO Hydro, Glasgow
13 November — Opera House, Blackpool
14 November — Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
16 November — O2 City Hall, Newcastle
17 November — The Globe, Stockton
19 November — Connexin Live, Hull
20 November — First Direct Arena, Leeds
21 November — M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool2
3 November — O2 Apollo, Manchester
26 November — The O2, London
27 November — Cardiff Arena, Cardiff
28 November — Utilita Arena, Birmingham
30 November — Swansea Arena, Swansea
1 December — Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
4 December — BIC, Bournemouth
5 December — Brighton Centre, Brighton

Tickets;
https://www.squeezeofficial.com/home/

#ChrisDifford #Squeeze #GlennTilbrook #Trixies #UpTheJunction #CoolForCats #Tempted #PullingMussels #LabelledWithLove #BlackCoffeeInBed #TakeMeImYours #AnotherNailInMyHeart #Songwriting #BritishSongwriters #BritishMusic #NewWave #MusicInterview #MusicHistory #BehindTheSongs #PopTheHistoryMakers
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