| Post | Date | Excerpt | | The Cure breaks through in 1985 with The Head On The Door | 08/30/2025 | In 1985 The Cure (finally) reaches a huge audience. The combination of pop and doom works like a charm and saves Pinkpop. A look back! |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers and George Clinton work together, Freaky Styley was the funky result | 08/16/2025 | In 1985 Red Hot Chili Peppers released their second album, Freaky Styley. The story of funk, punk, drugs and George Clinton! |
| Peter Gabriel – Live At WOMAD 1982 | 08/09/2025 | In 1982 the first ever WOMAD festival takes place. The full first Peter Gabriel concert on that festival is available, now. A look back! |
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God | 08/30/2024 | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return after 5 years with the wonderful, moving and exciting Wild God. A review! |
| Oğuzhan and Prince | 08/27/2024 | Oğuzhan wanted an introduction to Prince, well, here it is! |
| Prince fulfills his contractual obligation: The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale | 08/24/2024 | In 1999 the Prince album The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale was released. Prince didn't want to be associated with it in any way. |
| Breakups, 25 songs about the end of a relationship | 08/13/2024 | 25 Years ago the marriage of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall was declared null and void. A great opportunity to share 25 beautiful breakup songs! |
| Prince and George Clinton, ‘diss’ tracks and respect | 08/02/2024 | George Clinton on Paisley Park Records and the cooperation with Prince. A story of respect and great music! |
| The New Power Generation debuts with Goldn**** | 08/31/2023 | In 1993 The New Power Generation's debut album Goldn**** was released. What was Prince's role in it all? A look back. |
| The 25 best Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds songs | 08/21/2023 | 40 years Bad Seeds, 10 years Push The Sky Away, 35 years after my first concert: great reason for the ultimate list: 25 times Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds! Includes playlist! |
| A1 People – Fresh Juice | 08/11/2023 | In 1998 A1 People released their, nowadays unavailable, debut album Fresh Juice. A retro dance album that still provides glorious escapsim. |
| Crass became ambitious in 1982: Christ – The Album | 08/14/2022 | In 1982 Crass released the boxset Christ - The Album: 15 new songs, a live album, a poster nad a booklet. Impressive! |
| The 10 best Madonna singles | 08/06/2022 | As a tribute to the most successful female artist of all time, A Pop Life presents a compilation of the best Madonna singles. |
| Cleo Sol – Mother | 08/30/2021 | Recently Cleo Sol released a beautiful and impressive album, dealing with her newfound motherhood and a look back on that of her mother. Listen and shiver! |
| Army Of Lovers and the ultracamp of Massive Luxury Overdose | 08/26/2021 | In 1991 Army Of Lovers had their major break through in Europe. It was campy, humourous, ironic and uplifting. Was that all though? |
| Prince & The Revolution overwhelm The Netherlands | 08/18/2021 | On August 18, 1986 I witnessed Prince live for the very first time. I wasn't prepared for this overwhelming, exciting and pure genius show! |
| Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires | 08/09/2021 | The story about the fantastic reggae dub classic Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires! |
| Bob Dylan – The 10 best albums | 08/31/2020 | Finally, an overview of Bob Dylan's best albums. Even though I don't listen to him very often, Dylan is and always will be required listening for every music lover. His best 10! |
| Prince and the failed movie adventure, the story of Graffiti Bridge | 08/21/2020 | In 1990 Prince released Graffiti Bridge, the album and the movie. Billed as a sequel to Purple Rain, the movie was a huge failure. The music was fine though. A look back! |
| The Family, the ultimate Prince satellite project | 08/12/2020 | In 1985 The Family, a Prince sattelite act, released their debut. The album was and is a great example of the crossroads Prince found himself at. Impressive and innovative! |
| Deee-Lite’s Groove Is In the Heart | 08/07/2020 | On August 7th, 1990, Deee-Lite debuted with their stunning World Clique album. It contained one of the biggest hits of the decade: Groove Is In The Heart. A look back. |
| 35 years ago the impressive Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw is released | 08/25/2019 | In 1984 the Dutch band Claw Boys Claw from Amsterdam debut with their Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw, an album that was recorded in just three hours, after winning a prize. A look back! |
| Claw Boys Claw – With Love From The Boys | 08/25/2019 | The second album by Claw Boys Claw, With Love From The Boys, is not available anywhere. A disgrace! |
| Prince releases the fine album Come (and nobody seems to care) | 08/12/2019 | In 1994 Prince, using his old name, released the album Come. Prince was buried and the general public didn't understand at all. The story on a forgotten, great album! |
| Spoon sparkles, rocks and funks on They Want My Soul | 08/05/2019 | The American band Spoon started ay back in 1993, but in Holland they weren't really noticed until 2014. At last: They Want My Soul is superb! |
| Aswad – Live And Direct | 08/28/2018 | In 1983 Aswad performed at the Notting Hill Carnival. It was one of the best shows of their entire career and became one the best-known reggae live albums of all time. A look back on a beautiful summer's day. |
| Herbie Hancock – Future Shock | 08/18/2018 | In 1983 a strange video was shown. It featured images and sounds from the future. Herbie Hancock's Rockit and the Future Shock album announced new times. |
| N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton | 08/08/2018 | 30 Years ago gangsta rap came bubbling up from the undergound. N.W.A. released their influential and shocking Straight Outta Compton. Hip-hop would never be the same again. |
| Cat Power – Sun | 08/29/2017 | The ninth Cat Power album contains a lot of electronica, which is unique for a Cat Power album. Is that a good sign? Absolutely! A look back. |
| What Time Is It? The Story Of The Time | 08/25/2017 | The Time: the most beloved, well-known and popular Prince satellite act. In 1982 they released their best album What Time Is It?. Looking back on The Time. |
| Concert Allah-Las cancelled due to terrorist threat | 08/23/2017 | Concert Allah-Las cancelled due to terrorist threat |
| Richie Havens Sings Beatles And Dylan | 08/20/2017 | Richie Havens Sings Beatles And Dylan caused a major division between music lovers, and it still does to this day. Why? |
| Compact Disc turns 35 | 08/17/2017 | Compact Disc turns 35 |
| David Bowie – Cracked Actor | 08/16/2017 | David Bowie's 1974 tour released in a beautiful document. Given Bowie´s state at the time it is amazing he could stand, let alone give this kind of great shows. |
| Elvis Presley, 01/08/1935 – 08/16/1977 | 08/16/2017 | Elvis Presley, 01/08/1935 - 08/16/1977 |
| Vanity 6: sex sells, or something more? | 08/11/2017 | In 1982 the album by Vanity 6 was released. 35 years ago Prince's second satellite act was launched. Is it just about the lingerie or is there more? A look back. |
| Marilyn Monroe, after 55 years still ‘forever young’ | 08/05/2017 | Marilyn Monroe and music. Do the two go together? A (small) inquiry and the tale of her one and only musical tour in Korea 1954. |
| Sezen Aksu – Söylüyor | 08/29/2016 | Sezen Aksu, the most important person within Turkish (pop)music of the last decades, in 1989 made this beautiful Söylüyor. A tribute. |
| Paisley Park Museum – City Of Chanhassen | 08/24/2016 | Paisley Park Museum - City Of Chanhassen |
| 30 years ago, the best show I ever witnessed | 08/18/2016 | 1986 was an important year. I turned 20 years old, moved to Amsterdam into a (spaceous) flat. I bought my first cd-player and on August 18th I went to a concert that would resound for years to come: Prince & The Revolution at Ahoy Rotterdam. |
| My favorite music, part 2 (by guest author Timur) | 08/05/2016 | The second story by my son Timur. The goings on at the North Sea Jazz Festival and other music memories. |
| Concert | Date | Excerpt | | Dilek Türkan & Elif Sanchez, 08/30/2025 | 08/30/2025 | 3½/5: A nice show at a special location in the greatest city in the world. Songs Atatürk used to love played in a surprisingly modern way. |
| Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, 08/21/2022 | 08/21/2022 | 5/5: Unbelievable, but true. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds shine once again! And, in a fairy tale like environment in Istanbul. Heaven! |
| Hooverphonic, 08/27/2017 | 08/27/2017 | 3½/5: Great show at an idyllic location. |
| Patti Smith, 08/11/2016 | 08/11/2016 | 3½/5: On a rainy night in Bloemendaal the "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith put on a great show. |
| Neil Finn, 08/07/2016 | 08/07/2016 | 4/5: Split Enz, Crowded House and solo work. Beautiful, Beatle-esque songs, the one even more beautiful than the other. Happy to have seen him! |
| The Waterboys, 08/08/2015 | 08/08/2015 | 3½/5: Solid set by The Waterboys. Good, but not special. |
| Prince & 3rdEyeGirl (show 2), 08/11/2013 | 08/11/2013 | 4½/5: The second show was too short (but did include Breakdown!). First (and last) time my son Rachid saw Prince. |
| Prince & 3rdEyeGirl (show 1), 08/11/2013 | 08/11/2013 | 4½/5: The first show was the best. New band (3rd Eye Girl), new music, heavily indebted to hard rock. He was very, very inspired and the sound level was worthy of the Concorde. Top day. |
| The Roots, 08/01/2012 | 08/01/2012 | 3½/5: The Roots were in great shape. Questlove wasn't able to keep his social media addiction at bay during the show. Drumming and updating his Twitter and Facebook profiles simultaneously! |
| Arcade Fire, 08/29/2011 | 08/29/2011 | 4/5: Once again a great show by this special band. Tour supporting the top-album The Suburbs. |
| The Artist, 08/23/1998 | 08/23/1998 | 4½/5: Good inspired show by Prince in a very atmospheric Zürich. |
| Prince & The New Power Generation, 08/10/1993 | 08/10/1993 | 4½/5: Show as part of the Act II tour. A good tour. Especially this show because of the (heavily rocking) encore: Peach and the, at the time unknown, Chaos And Disorder. |
| Prince & The New Power Generation, 08/09/1993 | 08/09/1993 | 4½/5: Show as part of the Act II tour. A good tour. |
| U2, 08/03/1993 | 08/03/1993 | 4/5: The renowned U2 tour. They played some songs off the, at the time, brand new album Zooropa. Good show! |
| Public Enemy, 08/30/1992 | 08/30/1992 | 5/5: One of the most exciting shows I have ever witnessed! |
| Prince, 08/06/1990 | 08/06/1990 | 5/5: Topconcert in Dortmund. Blues in C (If I Had A Harem) was a great surprise! |
| Prince, 08/05/1990 | 08/05/1990 | 5/5: The Nude tour in Heerenveen. A memorable show. The best version of Purple Rain ever and introduction to (the never released) The Flow and Thieves In The Temple. Top night! |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers, 08/26/1989 | 08/26/1989 | 4/5: The band started playing while mrs Joosten was still lecturing the audience. Top mini concert! |
| Prince, 08/19/1988 | 08/19/1988 | 5/5: Third of three Prince Lovesexy shows at De Kuip. This night the encore wasn't played. Candy Dulfer played along and was immediately re-christened Candy D. Topconcert! |
| Prince, 08/18/1988 | 08/18/1988 | 5/5: Second of three Prince Lovesexy shows at De Kuip. This night featured a solo piano part by Prince. Topconcert! |
| Prince, 08/17/1988 | 08/17/1988 | 5/5: First of three Prince Lovesexy shows at De Kuip. Topconcert! |
| Prince & The Revolution, 08/18/1986 | 08/18/1986 | 5/5: The soul revue that Prince served this night was otherworldly. It would never be as good as this ever again! |
