On 3 December 1984, Wham! released a Christmas single that over the years would lose none of its power despite becoming a sonic monolith of the festive season. Ian Wade reflects on how the song has haunted his life, and the strange melancholy of a Christmas pop death.
Why exactly should the enjoyment of a great piece of music be marred by guilt? Following last week's Black Sky Thinking about the problems (and positives) of the concept of the 'guilty pleasure', the Quietus writers declare their undying, entirely non-ironic love for their favourite uncool songs. Introduction by Jimmy Martin
Ahead of his appearance at this month's Green Man Festival, Sathnam Sanghera talks Tara Joshi through his favourite music, from Goldfrapp to Dave and Massive Attack, Sly, George Michael, Prince, Bally Sagoo and much more
Arusa Qureshi was never allowed a skateboard, but the soundtracks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of computer games were a vital introduction to music – one that, she argues, was far more effective than today's algorithm-driven discovery mechanisms