Michael Cragg
@mcragg.bsky.social
Journalist. Author (Reach For The Stars). Tall person. Currently finishing a book about Kylie (Minogue, obvs) for Faber, due out this year
Kylie in 2002, rocking up to the Top of the Pops awards and performing a Fischerspooner remix of the fourth single from Fever and obliterating a teen audience with electroclash and confetti www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qzz...
Kylie Minogue Come Into My World Live Fischerspooner Mix TOTP Awards 29 11 02
YouTube video by Kylie Minogue
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Kylie in 2002, rocking up to the Top of the Pops awards and performing a Fischerspooner remix of the fourth single from Fever and obliterating a teen audience with electroclash and confetti www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qzz...
A 10/10, chilly-winter-evening-playing-cards-and-losing-but-it’s-fine-actually album
January 29, 2026 at 8:58 PM
A 10/10, chilly-winter-evening-playing-cards-and-losing-but-it’s-fine-actually album
Sèbastien Tellier smoked about 60 cigarettes during this chat, and was possibly the most brilliantly French person ever www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
Sébastien Tellier: ‘I thought I’d be famous after Eurovision - but nobody noticed’
The musician’s elegant electropop marked him out as one of the ‘cool French dudes’, before an attempt to literally crash the Song Contest fell badly flat. Now back with an adventurous new album, he ta...
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Sèbastien Tellier smoked about 60 cigarettes during this chat, and was possibly the most brilliantly French person ever www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...
I’ve written about Lux, the Guardian’s album of 2025 www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
The 50 best albums of 2025: No 1 – Rosalía: Lux
On her monumental, maximalist opus, the dazzlingly audacious Spanish singer balanced pop and classical, experimentation and accessibility
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I’ve written about Lux, the Guardian’s album of 2025 www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Kevin Killian was obsessed with Kylie, so the announcement of his new poetry collection just as I was finishing my Kylie book, felt like a sign. I interviewed some of his friends for this here piece: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
What rhymes with la la la, la la la la la? Kevin Killian, the poet obsessed with Kylie Minogue
He wrote poems named after Kylie songs and named his collection of erotic fiction after her indie album. He even loved the B-sides. So what did the avant garde writer find so inspiring about the mini ...
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Kevin Killian was obsessed with Kylie, so the announcement of his new poetry collection just as I was finishing my Kylie book, felt like a sign. I interviewed some of his friends for this here piece: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Here are some people whose albums I am looking forward to hearing in 2026: Robyn; Sky Ferreira; Sugababes; Beyoncé; Harry Styles; Grace Ives; the xx; Agnes; Raye; Chappell Roan; Sekou; Björk; underscores; Lana Del Rey; Danny L Harle; Madonna! (Obvs some of these are wishful thinking #soon 🤷🏻♂️)
December 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Here are some people whose albums I am looking forward to hearing in 2026: Robyn; Sky Ferreira; Sugababes; Beyoncé; Harry Styles; Grace Ives; the xx; Agnes; Raye; Chappell Roan; Sekou; Björk; underscores; Lana Del Rey; Danny L Harle; Madonna! (Obvs some of these are wishful thinking #soon 🤷🏻♂️)
Tried listening to a celebrity podcast but the constant "what I love about you" chat made me want to disconnect the internet forever
November 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Tried listening to a celebrity podcast but the constant "what I love about you" chat made me want to disconnect the internet forever
I interviewed Russell Tovey for the cover of today’s G2. Features a bit where we compare gay sex to the Harvester salad cart 🥗
Russell Tovey on pride, sexual power and politics: ‘The Green party slogan – make hope normal again – is what we need’
Russell Tovey on pride, sexual power and politics: ‘The Green party slogan – make hope normal again – is what we need’
One of the most prolific and popular actors of his generation, he reflects on therapy, homophobia, why he suspects now is the worst time in history for trans people, and his secret life as a geek
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I interviewed Russell Tovey for the cover of today’s G2. Features a bit where we compare gay sex to the Harvester salad cart 🥗
Reposted by Michael Cragg
Why was Robbie Williams fired from Take That? @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social and @mcragg.bsky.social discuss why The Bad Boy of Pop, Robbie Williams was fired from Take That in 1995.
Full discussion here 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#RobbieWilliams #TakeThat #boybands #Glastonbury #90s
Full discussion here 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#RobbieWilliams #TakeThat #boybands #Glastonbury #90s
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Why was Robbie Williams fired from Take That? @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social and @mcragg.bsky.social discuss why The Bad Boy of Pop, Robbie Williams was fired from Take That in 1995.
Full discussion here 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#RobbieWilliams #TakeThat #boybands #Glastonbury #90s
Full discussion here 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#RobbieWilliams #TakeThat #boybands #Glastonbury #90s
Happy Robyn-finally-releasing-new-music day to all who celebrate
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Happy Robyn-finally-releasing-new-music day to all who celebrate
Reposted by Michael Cragg
🚨ICYMI🚨 This week @mcragg.bsky.social & @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social are talking about all the boy bands that took over the world in the ’90s. From Take That to Westlife. Listen now 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#boybands #takethat #westlife #robbiewilliams #garybarlow #90s
#boybands #takethat #westlife #robbiewilliams #garybarlow #90s
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🚨ICYMI🚨 This week @mcragg.bsky.social & @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social are talking about all the boy bands that took over the world in the ’90s. From Take That to Westlife. Listen now 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#boybands #takethat #westlife #robbiewilliams #garybarlow #90s
#boybands #takethat #westlife #robbiewilliams #garybarlow #90s
Here I am talking about Five and Max Martin, while wearing a Steps jumper. If you want to read more about all this you can in my award-winning Reach For the Stars, which has been out for a while now but doesn't age, much like J from Five: amzn.eu/d/aHIvklx
"...Baby One More Time" was almost a Five song, but Max Martin gave it to Britney Spears despite her being unknown at the time. Simon Cowell even offered Max Martin a luxury car for it, but that couldn't change his mind.
Full episode out now 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#britneyspears #five #boyband
Full episode out now 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
#britneyspears #five #boyband
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Here I am talking about Five and Max Martin, while wearing a Steps jumper. If you want to read more about all this you can in my award-winning Reach For the Stars, which has been out for a while now but doesn't age, much like J from Five: amzn.eu/d/aHIvklx
Had a lovely time chatting about 90s boybands with @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social. The results are up now (apols to Boyzone)
🚨NEW🚨 Boy bands were a big deal in the ‘90s, with Take That paving the way for hundreds of different groups. From Westlife, to 5ive to plenty you haven’t heard of or whose songs are forgettable, sorry Boyzone. @mcragg.bsky.social joins @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social to discuss 👉 linktr.ee/talk90stome
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Had a lovely time chatting about 90s boybands with @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social. The results are up now (apols to Boyzone)
Still a thrill! Did I move it to this position? How rude (yes)
November 2, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Still a thrill! Did I move it to this position? How rude (yes)
The studio setup for Simon Cowell’s new singing talent show, Who’s In the Band, is quite Naked Attraction, no?
October 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
The studio setup for Simon Cowell’s new singing talent show, Who’s In the Band, is quite Naked Attraction, no?
I love the Lily Allen album, specifically Dallas Major, but I can’t get over the fact it sounds like a mistake has been missed at the 28 second mark. She starts to sing “hate” but then the “I hate it here” hook plays over the top. Can everyone else hear it?? (“No one else cares!!” - everyone)
October 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I love the Lily Allen album, specifically Dallas Major, but I can’t get over the fact it sounds like a mistake has been missed at the 28 second mark. She starts to sing “hate” but then the “I hate it here” hook plays over the top. Can everyone else hear it?? (“No one else cares!!” - everyone)
I write about all of Max Martin's US top 10 singles on a blog called Maxopedia. As you can imagine, there have been a few of late - thank you Taylor! – so here's a blog on 'The Fate of Ophelia', Max's 28th chart-topper in America maxopedia.co/2025/10/14/t...
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
A thing about a song by Taylor Swift.
maxopedia.co
October 14, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I write about all of Max Martin's US top 10 singles on a blog called Maxopedia. As you can imagine, there have been a few of late - thank you Taylor! – so here's a blog on 'The Fate of Ophelia', Max's 28th chart-topper in America maxopedia.co/2025/10/14/t...
PinkPantheress’ Fancy Some More? mixtape is WILD! Kylie! Sugababes! Jade!
October 7, 2025 at 5:12 PM
PinkPantheress’ Fancy Some More? mixtape is WILD! Kylie! Sugababes! Jade!
“There’s Keats, there’s Shakespeare, there’s Scherzinger". I had a brilliant and baffling time in the company of Nicole Scherzinger last night www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Nicole Scherzinger review – raunchy gags and dazzling stylistic zigzags
Riding high off Tony and Olivier wins, the Pussycat Doll turned theatre star showcases her astonishingly versatile singing chops and a standup’s gift for chaotic humour
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
“There’s Keats, there’s Shakespeare, there’s Scherzinger". I had a brilliant and baffling time in the company of Nicole Scherzinger last night www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Saw some rock music last night 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼
Busted vs McFly review – millennial ‘rivals’ let the pop-rock punches fly
Busted vs McFly review – millennial ‘rivals’ let the pop-rock punches fly
The boybands go toe-to-toe with their catchy teenage anthems – and after a hefty 90-minute bout of greatest hits McFly just about edge it on points
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Saw some rock music last night 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼
Just thinking about how Uncut magazine gave Kylie’s Body Language album half a star. HALF A STAR OUT OF FIVE! An album that included Slow…
September 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Just thinking about how Uncut magazine gave Kylie’s Body Language album half a star. HALF A STAR OUT OF FIVE! An album that included Slow…
Had a lovely chat with Mawaan Rizwan ahead of series two of Juice, which is properly batshit in all the best ways (the first episode involves an escape hatch via a sperm-soaked sofa)
‘I’ve spent a lot of my adult life trying to prove myself’: Mawaan Rizwan on his long journey from shopping centre performer to Bafta-winning actor
‘I’ve spent a lot of my adult life trying to prove myself’: Mawaan Rizwan on his long journey from shopping centre performer to Bafta-winning actor
He’s the star and creator of the BBC hit Juice, but life has thrown him a few curveballs along the way. He opens up about his years of hard graft, his mum’s big acting break, and why things are getting weird with his therapist
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Had a lovely chat with Mawaan Rizwan ahead of series two of Juice, which is properly batshit in all the best ways (the first episode involves an escape hatch via a sperm-soaked sofa)
When all is said and done, perhaps still my favourite Beyoncé album. I Care, I Miss You, Love on Top, Countdown and End of Time all top tier. (Obvs Schoolin’ Life should have been on the main album in place of I Was Here)
September 6, 2025 at 9:26 AM
When all is said and done, perhaps still my favourite Beyoncé album. I Care, I Miss You, Love on Top, Countdown and End of Time all top tier. (Obvs Schoolin’ Life should have been on the main album in place of I Was Here)
I also interviewed Say She She about their disco-laced protest songs and how Nile Rodgers made them cry www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
‘Just being who we are is political’: disco trio Say She She on impressing Nile Rodgers and making bold protest songs
Their origin story may have been quintessentially New York, but the disco-funk band are now spread across the US – and they’re more determined than ever to be heard
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I also interviewed Say She She about their disco-laced protest songs and how Nile Rodgers made them cry www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
I went to Manchester to bare witness to the Steps jukebox musical, a shop-based non-stop pop blowout www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...
Here & Now review – Steps supermarket musical is a sweep of bangers, bops and ballads
Endlessly entertaining jukebox show frames its plot around a seaside store’s workers to purvey the band’s hits
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I went to Manchester to bare witness to the Steps jukebox musical, a shop-based non-stop pop blowout www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...