We Ain't No Divas

You're 20 years old with $100 million in the bank and no more Disney to answer to, what could go wrong?Miley Cyrus had something to prove but nobody to answer to when she released Bangerz in 2013. Her first album after being released from all Disney affiliated contracts, Miley described it as her debut album and reintroduced herself to the world while erasing Hannah Montana from their minds.The Bangerz era gave her two UK number one singles and her first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. She professionally partnered with Pharrell Williams and Mike Will Made It to create her new sound, while personally splitting with fiancé Liam Hemsworth in the middle of the campaign. Miley was at the centre of social media's first widespread cultural appropriation conversation - accused of using Black dancers as props while whitewashing twerking - while loudly posturing her new reputation as a drug-taking, sexually liberated party girl.12 years on, Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance revisit the era for a Diva Dive to discuss the era's problematic legacy and how it has impacted Miley's career.Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok!Hannah Montana and Disney eraLeaving Disney2012 Miley’s bun and Tumblr fameTHE HAIR CUTSnoop Dogg & will.i.am collabsWe Can’t StopWritten for RihannaMiley watched Pour It Up and wanted to make it her personalityWe Can’t Stop videoUsing Black dancers as propsVMAs performance with Robin ThickeWrecking BallNaked Music Video by Terry RichardsonWritten for BeyoncéLiam Hemsworth BreakupBangerz albumAdore You music video controversyBangerz Tour Set ListBangerz Tour ControversiesJoJo Siwa ComparisonsWhy Miley doesn’t tour Miley’s Sobriety Future Glastonbury Headliner?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Diva Digest, Lady Gaga beats Madonna's Brazil concert record in Copacabana, Beyoncé kicks off the Cowboy Carter world tour with new backup dancer Blue Ivy (!) and Lorde announces she's exploring her gender on new album Virgin.Plus, Little Mix album JADE has confirmed her debut solo album is currently delayed due to "label advice". Meanwhile, why are no songs going to number one in 2025?New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now!00:01:28 Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour set list00:11:06 How much is Blue Ivy Carter paid to be a backup dancer?00:16:30 Lady Gaga breaks Madonna's concert record in Brazil00:24:45 JADE confirms solo album delay00:31:48 Lorde announces new album Virgin00:38:44 Why is no 2025 song going to #1?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross and Sam are back for another Diva Digest and it's a meaty one!Lorde returns with What Was That, a thumping return to Melodrama's sound that may or may not be a diss track to Jack Antonoff. Addison Rae reigns supreme with fourth single Headphones On and announces her self-titled debut album. Meanwhile, Tate McRae and Lana Del Rey are on two sides of the Morgan Wallen coin - who is the country star and what is going on?Plus, Charli xcx gets her Kate Bush moment with party 4 u charting five years later, while Zara Larsson makes a bold attempt at a career revival.Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now! New podcast episodes every Wednesday.Lorde drops What Was ThatIs Lorde singing about Jack Antonoff?Addison Rae drops Headphones OnAddison, the debut album, is announcedZara Larsson returns with Pretty UglyCharli xcx's party 4 u charts thanks to TikTokTate McRae collaborates with Morgan Wallen - why?Lana Del Rey disses Morgan WallenWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh off Umbrella being the biggest single of 2007, Rihanna reissued Good Girl Gone Bad with three additional songs (including two more US number ones!), another haircut and a first hip-hop feature that'd make her the go-to girl for years to come.Part two of our Good Girl Gone Bad deep dive delves into the success of Take A Bow, Disturbia and Live Your Life with T.I., while we explore how fashion continued to play a pivotal role in Rihanna's rising star. Ross and Sam find out which song Rihanna nabbed from Janet Jackson, why Rehab was the final single and revisit the tabloid aftermath of Chris Brown assaulting her the night before the 2009 GRAMMYs.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!00:01:35 Rihanna - Take A Bow00:04:44 Beyoncé - Irreplaceable comparisons00:09:06 Rihanna and Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again00:12:39 The song Rihanna got over Janet Jackson00:14:33 Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded00:20:14 Rihanna - Disturbia00:28:28 Rihanna and T.I. - Live Your Life00:33:48 Rihanna - Rehab00:37:38 Chris Brown assaults Rihanna the night before 2009 GRAMMYs00:47:08 Diva Diploma - What do Ross and Sam rate the Good Girl Gone Bad era?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back and so are (some of) the main pop girls!Ross and Sam discuss Coachella Weekend 1's biggest sets, from Lady Gaga's career-spanning Mayhem live debut to Megan Thee Stallion's headline show. Charli xcx isn't sure whether or not she's done with the Brat era but are we ready for it to be?As for new music, Addison Rae has announced her debut album release date and Lorde has taken over TikTok with the first snippet of her comeback single "WWT (What Was That)". We discuss Lorde's influence on pop at large and what we're predicting for her fourth album.Finally, we review Miley Cyrus' new single End of the World and its low chart debut in the UK (23) and US (52), a huge dip from Flowers' record-breaking debut and reign of the charts. Can she pull it back for the Something Beautiful era? Does she care to?Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now! New podcast episodes every Wednesday.00:00:44 Lady Gaga debuts Mayhem live show at Coachella 202500:10:10 Did Charli xcx officially end the Brat era at Coachella?00:14:20 Is Charli launching a new era at Coachella Weekend 2?00:15:15 Megan Thee Stallion at Coachella review00:18:25 Addison Rae's live debut at Coachella00:19:09 Addison Rae announces debut album release date00:20:20 Addison teases Headphones On music video00:26:10 Lorde kicks off fourth album era00:26:52 Charli xcx's Girl, so confusing remix00:32:30 Miley Cyrus' End of the World review00:40:35 Diva Download - New music recommendationsWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi Divas! It feels like 2013 again with new music from Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez out this week. Ross and Sam react to the beginning of Miley's new album era after watching the Something Beautiful music video and chat about Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball and Kesha's first independent album.It's an all-out pop war as we dive into Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez's new albums (eternal sunshine deluxe: better days ahead, and I Said I Love You First), leaving us divided by a certain Charli xcx collaboration (Bluest Flame) and questioning the future of a Wicked pop superstar.Follow us @weaintnodivas on Instagram & TikTok now! New podcast episodes every Wednesday.00:01:31 Miley Cyrus announces new album Something Beautiful00:07:17 Kesha announces first independent album '.' (PERIOD)00:11:51 Lady Gaga announces The Mayhem Ball00:17:15 Selena Gomez & benny blanco's I Said I Love You First album review00:20:14 Is How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten about Justin Bieber?00:22:30 Selena collabs with Charli xcx on Bluest Flame 00:29:00 Ariana Grande's eternal sunshine deluxe: better days ahead album review00:35:10 Why the deluxe tracks are more direct to Ari's ex-husband Dalton Gomez00:36:20 Is Dandelion inspired by Doja Cat?00:40:10 Why fans think better days ahead is Ariana's last pop album00:44:15 Ranking Ariana Grande's albums00:44:47 New music from Mae Muller and MahaliaWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 years ago this week, Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty reintroduced herself to the world with Umbrella, the lead single from her transformative third album Good Girl Gone Bad.Just two years after she was signed by Jay-Z at 15, Rihanna overhauled her image and formed her pop A-team (Timbaland, Stargate, Justin Timberlake) to command the world's attention with her voice, personality and style. Umbrella was the longest-running Number 1 single in the UK of the 2000s and topped the charts in 19 countries, propelling her to the A-list of global pop. Good Girl Gone Bad is a hit-stacked album that set the tone for RiRi's genre-hopping career and was her first working with Kuk Harrell, the vocal producer who would train her voice for years to come.In this episode of We Ain't No Divas, Ross and Sam discover how the album was made, why Rihanna had to fight for Umbrella to be hers and the story behind her iconic bob hair cut. Plus, why Jay-Z interrupted her at the 2008 GRAMMY Awards, her performance with Chris Brown at the 2007 VMAs and much more.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!00:01:12 Why is Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad era significant?00:05:36 Rihanna's inspiration behind Good Girl Gone Bad00:09:28 How Rihanna got signed by Jay-Z00:13:33 Umbrella released as a single00:16:00 Why Rihanna had to fight for Umbrella00:18:45 Who Is Kuk Harrell?00:25:07 The "Umbrella Curse" of the UK00:26:10 Umbrella gave Ross tonsillitis00:29:17 The Umbrella music video00:30:15 Did Rihanna copy Victoria Beckham's "Pob"?00:31:04 The story behind Rihanna's bob hair cut00:37:11 Good Girl Gone Bad album review00:50:28 Follow-up singles: Shut Up & Drive, Hate That I Love You & Don't Stop The Music00:55:00 Shut Up & Drive's double meaning01:03:00 Performing with Chris Brown at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards01:04:40 Good Girl Gone Bad - Rihanna's first world tour01:05:09 Rihanna's first GRAMMY Award win01:05:57 Jay-Z interrupting Rihanna during GRAMMYs acceptance speechWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey Divas! Ross and Sam finally catch up on Lady Gaga's new album Mayhem and a ton of new music released by Chappell Roan (The Giver), Doechii (Anxiety), JADE (FUFN), Lil Nas X (Hotbox) and Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco (Sunset Blvd).Mother Monster is at her commercial and critical peak but the divas are divided when it comes to Mayhem's musical quality. Meanwhile, Lil Nas X has rebooted his sophomore album campaign with the Pharrell and Jay-Z-sampling Hotbox, which finds him referencing André 3000, Nelly, Nicki Minaj and LL Cool J. Is it enough to take Montero to the mainstream after his J CHRIST controversies? Plus, Ariana Grande reveals eternal sunshine deluxe edition tracklist.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!00:01:49 Chappell Roan releases The Giver00:06:54 JADE drops new single FUFN00:11:22 Lil Nas X returns with Hotbox00:20:04 Doechii samples Gotye on Anxiety00:25:39 Ariana Grande announces eternal sunshine deluxe00:30:13 Lady Gaga's Mayhem review00:44:40 Diva's new music recommendations00:46:30 Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's Sunset BlvdWe Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where were you when Lady Gaga staged her own death at the 2009 MTV VMAs during Paparazzi?Part two of our diva dive into Lady Gaga's The Fame, Ross and Sam revisit Lady Gaga's pivot from stereotypical dance-pop hitmaker to pop art provocateur with the campaign's third and fourth international singles LoveGame and Paparazzi.From paying homage to Britney Spears and gender-bending like Madonna in the Joseph Kahn-directed LoveGame to delivering her first original epic with Paparazzi with Jonas Åkerlund, the second half of The Fame rollout aligned her with the pop greats then built a blood-drenched seat at their table. Plus, we revisit how Gaga received the transvestigation treatment by the media, The Fame Ball Tour and her star-making set at Glastonbury.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!00:01:27 LoveGame and Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)00:04:17 "You wanna take a ride on my disco stick?"00:05:50 LoveGame music video controversies00:13:00 The Fame Ball Tour00:18:30 Performing on The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 200900:22:55 The Transvestigation00:31:36 Paparazzi00:33:18 Paparazzi music video00:43:32 Paparazzi at the 2009 MTV VMAs00:53:55 Diva Diploma - what do we rate The Fame era out of 10?We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dear Tate, we hope you're listening... Ross and Sam are back with an end-of-awards season special! Sam tells all about the 2025 BRIT Awards before we dive into JADE's star-making Angel of My Dreams performance and Sabrina Carpenter's royally racy Bed Chem performance.We discuss the whelming 2025 Oscars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's spectacular opening performance, and that Bond tribute by Doja Cat, LISA and Raye. Finally, we dive into our beloved Tate McRae's number one (!) third album So Close To What, its whirlwind takeover and if its chart-topping success means she's now in pop's A-list.Follow us @weaintnodivas to keep up with your faves and let us know your thoughts!We Ain’t No Divas is hosted by Ross McNeilage and Sam Prance. This episode was produced by Sam Prance, and edited by Ross McNeilage. Music provided by Monopoly Phonic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.