Don’t Stop the Music

Ariana Zustra & Susanna Harrison

Don't Stop the Music

Immortal Pop Stars and What They Have in Common

Curtains up for the greats of music, icons and idols as you’ve never seen them before: in 53 double portraits, pop stars from eighty years of music history face each other – each a classic and a star of the present, with a connecting theme building a bridge across time and space. The first big girl band, The Supremes, meets the Spice Girls, Ed Sheeran shares the street as a stage with the Kelly Family, and the transformative Madonna looks in the mirror with style chameleon Lady Gaga.

These exciting comparisons are complemented by fun facts that round off the insight into the world of pop music.

Written by journalist and musician Ariana Zustra and generously illustrated by the internationally successful Australian Susanna Harrison, this pop-inspired non-fiction book is a diverse and entertaining read. Don’t ever stop the music!

 

Mixtvision

Non-fiction

Original title: Don’t Stop the Music. Unsterbliche Popstars und was sie verbindet
Age 9+
128 pp 
hc | 205 x 259 mm
Publication: March 2026


Author: Ariana Zustra
Illustrator: Susanna Harrison

All rights available

  • Entertaining journey through 80 years of music history
  • Filled with fun facts and insights into the world of pop music

Awards

  • Awards

* Chameleons in the charts: Madonna & Lady Gaga

* Success as a result of casting shows: Usher & One Direction

* From the streets into the big venues: Kelly Family & Ed Sheeran

* Widest vocal range: Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande

* Androgynous styling: David Bowie & Harry Styles

* Young & talented: Björk & Billie Eilish

* Multi-talented instrumentalists: Billie Joe Armstrong & PJ Harvey

* Biggest concerts: Elvis Presley & The Rolling Stones

* One-Hit-Wonder: “Tainted Love” (Soft Cell) & “Somebody That I Used to Know” (Gotye)

* Most influential albums in music history

* Club 27: Janis Joplin & Amy Whinehouse

* Siblings in a band: The Beach Boys & Oasis

* Pop Stars and Marketing: The Clash & Levi’s and Yel Naim & Macbook

* Misunderstood pop songs: “Born in the U.S.A.” (Bruce Springsteen) & “Royals” (Lorde)

* Most successful girl bands: The Supremes & Spice Girls

* Hidden identities: Daft Punk & SIA

* Special dance moves: Michael Jackson & Beyoncé

* Scandalous couples of pop music: Kurt Cobain & Courney Love and Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake

* Ode to …: “Candle in the Wind” (Elton John) & “Terrence Loves You” (Lana Del Rey)

* Most successful songsmiths: Prince & Max Martin

* Stars of Latin Pop: Jennifer Lopez & Rosalía

* Most spectacular stage show: Pink Floyd & Pink

* Covers that are more successful than the original: “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston) & “You’ve Got the Love” (Florence + the Machine)

* Queer woman in pop: Melissa Etheridge & Chappell Roan

* Biggest festivals: Woodstock & Coachella

* The most expensive music videos: “Scream” (Michael and Janet Jackson) & “Look What You Made Me Do” (Taylor Swift)

* Music and sports: “We Are the Champions” (Queen) & “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (Shakira)

* Sleeper Hits: “Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush) & “Runaway” (Aurora)

* Best-selling songs worldwide: “White Christmas” (Irving Berlin) & “Blinding Lights” (The Weekend)

* Most successful boy bands: The Beatles & Backstreet Boys

* Pop stars in the Guiness Book of Records: Tina Turner & BTS

* Protest songs: “Blowing in the Wind” (Bob Dylan) & “Alright” (Kendrick Lamar)

* Classics in the charts: “Never Forget” (Take That) & “Karma” (Alicia Keys)

* Nimble fingers on the guitar: Jimi Hendrix & Sophie Lloyd

* Biggest charity concerts: Live Aid 1985 & One Love Manchester 2017

* Dialects in Pop Music: The Proclaimers & Little Simz

* Pop Music in musicals: Mamma Mia (ABBA) & Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette)

* Fraud scandals: Milli Vanilli & Drake fet. The Weeknd

* Movie songs: “My Heart Will Go On” (Céline Dion) & “Skyfall” (Adele)

* World Music in Pop: Peter Gabriel & Peter Fox

* LGBTQ+ songs: “Freedom! ’90” (George Michael) & “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” (Lil Nas X)

* Iconic hair styles: Elivs Presley & Bill Kaulitz

* Political pop songs: “Wind of Change” (Scorpions) & “The 1975” (The 1975)

* Most covered songs: “Yesterday” & “All of Me”

* First band, then successful solo artist: Phil Collins & Justin Timberlake

* Story behind great hits: “Believe” (Cher) & “Another Love” (Tom Odell)

* Dancing trends in pop history: “Macarena” (Los Del Rio) & Gangnam Style” (Psy)

* Self-love in pop music: Gloria Gaynor & Lizzo

* From country to pop: Shania Twain & Miley Cyrus

* Pop stars with handicaps: Stevie Wonder & Lewis Capaldi

* From Disney Channel to the world: Christina Aguilera & Olivia Rodrigo

 

By the same author and illustrator