We finally made it to the end of February! This month was largely spent lazing around, recuperating from illness, and devouring boyband documentaries… and I think that influence is clear here. However, this selection isn’t just about the classics. Instead, it highlights some of the more overlooked gems in boyband history. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

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THE ESSENTIAL FIVE

Damage – Love II Love

Silky, soulful ’90s R&B with romantic strings and velvety melodies.

Sam Fender – Arm’s Length

Classic Sam—an infectious guitar riff, driving drums, and a Fleetwood Mac-esque refrain.

Polly Money – i’m not proud

A perfect queer pop anthem, masterfully using juxtaposition between the bright, buoyant backing track and lyrics exploring forbidden feelings for another woman.

Boyzone – Stronger

A stunning, country-tinged pop ballad that serves as the perfect closer to 2009’s ‘Brother’ album.

Damage – Love Lady

Irresistibly smooth ’90s R&B with delicate keyboard flourishes and crisp programmed beats.

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THE LONG LIST

Damage – Love II Love

Watching the brilliant BBC documentary Boybands Forever reminded me of 90s R&B group Damage. While I was aware of them beforehand, the documentary sent me down a rabbit hole of their discography. I particularly love their debut album Forever and have fallen for many of its tracks. This song is effortlessly smooth and soulful, with punchy beats, romantic strings, and syrupy melodies. Peak nineties perfection!

Sam Fender – Arm’s Length

With every album cycle, I always find myself falling in love with at least one Sam Fender track, and I think this might be the one this time around. Staying true to his indie-rock sound, Arm’s Length explores themes of avoidance and emotional distance. The song is built around an infectious, earworm guitar riff, accompanied by a driving bassline, atmospheric synths, and Sam’s raw, impassioned vocals. My favourite part? The almost Fleetwood Mac-esque “do you have to know me, know me inside out?” refrain, layered with stunning harmonies—especially in the outro, where the chord progression subtly shifts. Gorgeous!

Polly Money – i’m not proud

I’m familiar with Polly Money through her work touring with The 1975 on their last two tours. On I’m Not Proud, she delivers a GLORIOUSLY infectious indie-pop gem, filled with earworm melodies and soft vocals over acoustic guitars and propulsive percussion. It has hints of Phoebe Bridgers but still feels fresh and uniquely her own. A song that makes exquisite use of juxtaposition, blending cheeky, forbidden lyrics about fancying a girl while already in a relationship with a bubbly, upbeat backing track, it’s a compelling listen. Just brilliant, this!

Boyzone – Stronger

After watching Boybands Forever, I naturally followed it up with the Boyzone – No Matter What documentary. I loved every minute and was reminded of their brilliant career. One thing led to another, and I found myself revisiting this underrated gem—arguably my favourite Boyzone track. A little-known album closer from 2009’s Brother, Stronger was released after Stephen Gately’s tragic passing and is one of the final songs he recorded. A breathtaking ballad featuring melancholic acoustic guitars, programmed beats, Ronan’s signature husky vocals, and Stephen’s ethereal delivery—it’s simply exquisite and deserves far more recognition.

Damage – Love Lady
Another Damage track. Over swinging, almost new-jack-swing R&B beats, the 90’s R&B vibes are real on this! The simple but effective chorus sticks in your head, while the song itself is a beautifully stripped-back blend of programmed drums, delicate keyboard twinkles, and lush violin accents. Just lovely, this!

Ultimate Kaos – Some Girls
I wasn’t aware of Ultimate Kaos before the ‘Boybands Forever’ documentary but discovered this absolute belter of a song due to it. On this fun, irresistable Pop-Reggae fusion, Haydon Eshun is reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson in his Jackson 5 days, his pre-puberescent voice sounding both pure and rich over the R&B beats and punchy bassline. Addictive!

E-17 – Ain’t No Stoppin’
After East 17’s notorious demise back in the late nineties, they returned as a three piece now without chief songwriter Tony Mortimer but with lead singer Brian Harvey reinstated. The result was a rebrand to E-17 and a brilliant (yet underrated) R&B album – Resurrection. This track is classic 90s pop-R&B—while the lyrics are a little on the predictable side (“Ain’t no stoppin’, we’re gonna keep on rockin’”), the song itself is fun, full of energy, and unmistakably of its era.

Blue – If You Come Back
Boybands Forever reminded me just how brilliant this Blue ballad is! I adored Blue growing up—they were probably the first boyband I properly loved. Written by an assortment of songwriters, including 911’s Lee Brennan, If You Come Back perfectly encapsulates Blue’s signature R&B sound, with its acoustic guitar flourishes, layered harmonies, and polished production. Lee Ryan’s soaring vocals in the chorus are nothing short of stunning, blending beautifully with the rest of the band’s “back to me, back into my life” refrains. Just brilliant!

Thin Lizzy – Sarah
I stumbled across this 1979 pop gem by Thin Lizzy by chance and instantly fell for its breezy charm. Apparently written by Phil Lynott about the birth of his daughter, it radiates optimism, with its uplifting drum patterns and warm acoustic strumming. Just delightful!

MN8 – Dreaming

I’ve loved this gorgeous, lilting 90s R&B track for years. Dreaming exudes romance and tranquillity, with gentle, floating melodies over a quintessentially 90s backing. The orchestral elements add a lush depth, and the emergence of the gospel choir in the middle eight is pure magic. Stunning.

Lizzy McAlpine – Spring into Summer

A simply beautiful song by Lizzy McAlpine, full of delicate guitar strums, rich piano chords, and country-tinged slide guitars. Effortlessly lovely.

Wham! – If You Were There

Despite being a huge George fan, I someone how missed this one – and I’m gutted it took me so long! That said, I’ve always been more into his solo work than his Wham! days. As much as I love George Michael, I somehow missed this one—and I’m gutted it took me so long! That said, I’ve always been more into his solo work than his Wham! days. A tasteful and arguably superior cover of The Isley Brothers’ 1973 song, If You Were There is a hidden gem in Wham!’s catalogue. George’s vocal delivery, as expected, is sublime. I love songs that radiate sunshine, and this one does exactly that.

Olly Alexander – I Know

For some reason, Olly’s album seems to have flown under the radar, which is a shame because it’s great. This is my standout track from Polari—a euphoric, trance-infused slice of electronica, featuring frenetic beats, glitchy samples, and Olly’s unmistakable vocals fluttering above it all.

Boyzone – Better

A gorgeous cover of Irish singer-songwriter Tom Baxter’s Better. While I love both versions, the pop lover in me loves this arrangement just a little bit more. Stephen Gately sounds especially exquisite here, his vocals perfectly complementing the song’s sweeping melody. Romantic, a touch sentimental, but utterly gorgeous. Not to mention, this was the first boyband music video to feature a same-sex couple kissing—an important milestone.

Chappell Roan – Kaleidoscope

Chappell delivers a breathtaking piano ballad, beautifully capturing the complexities of love—especially same-sex love—by comparing it to the shifting colours of a kaleidoscope. Simply stunning.

Want more recommendations? Probably not but in case you do, here’s the full Spotify playlist which an additional ten songs which didn’t quite make the cut!