My kids and I were listening to some modern music lately when my 13-year-old sprinted to her phone to try to skip to the next song.
I asked her what she was doing as she stopped playing “Without You” by The Kid LAROI. She said she wanted to skip the song because she knew the song had swear words in it, and she wanted to “protect” me from it. She didn’t want me to hear the F-bomb in terms of “(expletive) all of your reasons, I lost my (expletive), you know I didn’t mean it.”
But before I start telling kids in the neighborhood to stay off my lawn, it’s helpful to think about the songs of my own youth. I’ve always enjoyed the rock dating back to the 1960s through the 1990s, and there are some less-than-pristineimages.
We’d found a station playing some of what I would’ve claimed were good songs when the 1994 song “New Age Girl” by Deadeye Dick started playing. I cringed as I heard the lyrics I once fawned over, “She don’t eat meat but she sure likes the bone.” I don’t really believe Brittney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” was about boxing, either.
Perhaps you like your classic rock a decade earlier. Perhaps Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” seems like a classic, back from when music was good. Yeah, it was filthy too: “I’m hot, sticky sweet, from my head to my feet.” And if you don’t know what ZZ Top’s “Pearl Necklace” is about, you’re better off not knowing.
The 1970s weren’t any better. There was a lot of stuff out there about youngsters losing their virginity or interest in underage girls, including Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
I remember my 13-year-old once misunderstood the lyrics of Andy Grammer’s “Honey I’m Good,” as she misunderstood which vice it featured. She was convinced it was about having one more beer, not about cheating on a loved one at home.
Sure, I wish the music of today wasn’t so loaded with innuendo and swearing. Still, we need to be a little more honest with the music of our past in that it wasn’t so virtuous either.
That having been said, I’ll stick with the Christian contemporary music I’ve enjoyed lately before I willingly choose the modern pop of Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” or “Astronaut in the Ocean” by Masked Wolf. That’s a decision that won’t require me to, as Masked Wolf asks, “put that (expletive) in slow motion.”
ASHWARYA: "I don't know what pop music is anymore" | Dork
Is pop as a label correct?
I don't know what pop music is anymore because if you look at a playlist, it's always so diverse. A song that used to be country is now pop; a song that used to be hip-hop is now pop. To label my music pop is a fair call, I guess, because it just means popular music, so I'll take that! The sound that I've explored so far is just a culmination of everything I grew up with and everything that was around me; I create music in a very improvisational way, so it's very much what hits in that moment. It's not a planned or formulaic method of songwriting at all.
Does 'PSYCHO HOLE''s darkness reflect how you felt at that time, and do you think having internal struggle is beneficial to creating art?
'PSYCHO HOLE' is the manifestation of going through anxiety, and although people perceive music differently, the lyrics really speak for themselves: "Oh tell me why you keep on creeping up on me, I can't shake this feeling I can barely breathe." It's like this darker version of yourself keeps trying to take over, and that's the concept of the song. Everyone can perceive it differently; it could be some other part of you that you want to get rid of.
I naturally and subconsciously put a more empowering spin on the way I'm feeling. The chorus is more uplifting as opposed to the twisted verse. It's not avoiding how I'm feeling, but it's looking for how I can get out of those dark situations.
Do you find it easy to be positive in bad situations like that?
I think we all long to feel a certain way – it's easier said than done, and we do sometimes fall into a spiral, but I at least feel like I miss better times. We all want to escape those low points. I don't think you need to always make a happy song in those dark places; as long as you're honest, I think that's more important.
If you could have one of your songs in any video game, which would it be?
Quite an old-school pick, but I'd have to go with Mario. Can you imagine 'PSYCHO HOLE' in Mario? If he goes from the Mushroom Kingdom to a castle level, it would work with the tempo changes; I can so see that working.
What overall impression do you want to make with the 'Nocturnal Hours' EP?
I want it to be a little lolly bag where people can pick and choose what they like. It's a very diverse and varied EP with a ballad, some hard-core psychedelic vibes; people can decide what they like and what they don't – if they enjoy it all, that's amazing, but I hope there's really something for everyone there. There are many facets to every human being, so I just wanted to express a few different aspects of who I am.
In Marina's New Album, a Pop Star Reflects on the Worries of the World (But in a Fun Way) | Vogue
Through the record, she wanted to acknowledge those lingering feelings of hopelessness but help to uplift people too. An underdog medium like pop music seemed, to her, the perfect way to do that. "I'm very playful with how I write with music," she says. "There's always a bit of a tongue-in-cheek essence to it."
Below, Vogue chats with Marina about Britney Spears, writing through the pain of a breakup, and her upcoming concert in the California desert.
I've experienced it in that there aren't many women employed in the labels. My record label is one of the few that has a woman at the top, both in the U.K. and the U.S., but that's still quite rare. With studios and production, it's predominantly male still. Sometimes it's boring to discuss, but we do need to keep talking about it until that changes. Five years ago, we still weren't really having these discussions.
Let's talk about "Purge the Poison," one of my favorite tracks. You reference Britney Spears in it, and there's been a lot of talk around the music industry's treatment of her. Did you connect with her in that kind of way?
I think about her a lot because I'm such a big fan. The way we have treated women growing up and the way that you and I grew up with the tabloids—that all contributes to how I've felt as a woman growing up in this music industry. I'm happy to see how things are changing. Britney, unfortunately, has become this symbol for a very specific treatment of women. I really hope that things are going to change for her; she's got such a magic quality. We didn't have the same understanding of mental health that we do now. It's very clear that she was having a nervous breakdown, and the only response people should have had is compassion. But it was pretty much the opposite—just being completely disrespectful and making fun of her. And in a way, that's still continued online, even with my own fan-base experience. [It's still popular] to make fun of artists.
On "New America," you really go in hard on America's dark history, with references to both stolen land and systemic racism. Was there a specific event that got you thinking about doing that song?
Your work span genres, but do you think the pop genre is changing in that artists can now explore these darker themes?
We have a really healthy landscape now compared to 10 years ago. Now, anything goes! It's so much more freeing and healthy. Teenagers and people in their 20s need to hear songs about what they're actually going through. We don't need 90% of songs to be about partying in the club—though we do need those songs too. We need a balance.
Speaking of creativity, I've been digging the fashion you've been wearing in your new music videos. What's been inspiring you in the realm of style lately?
The 50 Best Songs of 2021 So Far | Billboard
When we checked in on the best songs of 2020 last June , the charts (and radio in particular) were dominated by The Weeknd's After Hours and Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia -- the two big pop albums that weren't afraid to go large with their ambitions, even at the lowest, scariest point of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it's a year later, the world is opening back up, and the charts (and radio in particular) are currently being dominated by... yep, still After Hours and Future Nostalgia .
And as always, it's not just about the hitmakers, either: While they remain the centrifugal force of the industry, it's been a similarly fruitful time for new artists still in the process of finding their audience, with results that are thrilling even if they never lead to Top 40 ubiquity and contention for the Super Bowl halftime show. Here are our picks for the 50 best songs we've heard from this year so far -- including a handful technically released in 2020, but which were released as singles or peaked on the Billboard charts in 2021.
If the over 2 million videos it's inspired on TikTok are any indication, Wisin, Jhay Cortez, and Los Legendarios' " Fiel " is one of the biggest Latin songs of 2021. Its edgy reggaetón fusion has people of all ages swaying their hips and shaking their hands to a dance challenge; "The people made it viral," artist-producers Los Legendarios told Billboard . Penned by Cortez, the infectious bop is about having a crush on an independent woman. "It's refreshing, and one of my favorite songs on the album because it captivates your ear," Wisin explained. The song should continue to captivate through the summer, with a remix featuring Anuel and Myke Towers set to drop next week. -- JESSICA ROIZ
Memphis rappers Young Dolph and Key Glock effectively function as horror-movie villains on " Penguins ": over a haunted-house beat from BandPlay, the MCs repeat words relentlessly while displaying only the faintest emotion, jolting listeners with lines like "This s--t ain't nothing new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new" until we've reached total submission. " Penguins " showcases a pair of veterans at their most cold-blooded, the song construction tactic working spectacularly. -- JASON LIPSHUTZ
Earlier this year, Taylor Swift opened her vault and pulled this gem out. Left off the original release of Fearless in 2008, "Mr. Perfectly Fine " encapsulates everything we love about Swift -- the bitingly clever lyrics, a boppy tune that straddles the line between pop and country (it was written while she was still considered a country artist after all), and heartache simmering below the surface in a kiss-off song. It's vintage Taylor that still feels fresh in 2021, even following her recent foray into the indie/alternative world. And it's definitely more than fine . -- DENISE WARNER
"Bitch, I'm not your appetizer/ bitch, I'm the lasagna," the acclaimed actress -- known for roles in Transparent and Hustlers -- declares on her debut single. And true to her word, she's serving plenty of layers: "SMB" (that's "Self-Made Bitch") is a classic started-from-the-bottom anthem, but it's also a rallying cry for her fellow trans women who have had to fight for survival. "I feel like it might be going over people's heads," Lysette told Billboard of all the double-meanings in her lyrics. But her wordplay isn't the only thing to feast on — her magnetic delivery stands out all on its own, especially when she draws out her punchlines and makes each syllable a snack. -- NOLAN FEENEY
Reaching No. 25 on the Hot 100 thusfar, Glass Animals' " Heat Waves " marks the London-based alt-pop group's first-ever entry on the chart. And the fan-favorite fourth single from their third studio album Dreamland is still on fire, steadily climbing the listing thanks to its wavy production and relatable breakup lyrics. Earlier this year, frontman Dave Bayley revealed to Billboard that the bop was crafted in an hour, proving that Glass Animals heats up under pressure. -- DARLENE ADEROJU
When Yola announced her new album Stand For Myself in April, she said she had been "brainwashed" out of her own majesty -- and the first single "Diamond Studded Shoes" serves as a reclamation of magnificence. The catchy, upbeat chorus of "we know it isn't, we know it isn't" has fans tapping their feet, while the British crooner delivers a message of empowerment and, most importantly, understanding for Black folks who feel drained by historic and ongoing racism. In 2021, Yola is going to remind us all how to stand up for what we believe in, and "Diamond Studded Shoes" is just the beginning. -- TAYLOR MIMS
You don't need to understand the precise entanglements at the heart of Machine Gun Kelly and Blackbear's " My Ex 's Best Friend " -- MGK sings " My boy's new girl is your best friend ," which presupposes a quartet of competing motivations and Twelfth Night -style mishaps -- in order to shout along to the chorus, "I swear to GOD, I never FALL IN LOVE, then you showed up and I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!" MGK's Tickets to My Downfall album has demonstrated remarkable staying power as a new-school pop-punk pivot from the rapper, and " My Ex 's Best Friend " is one of the biggest reasons why. -- J. Lipshutz
Jessie Ware loves her 'culty' American fanbase: 'They're quite loyal'
"It's going to be very different to how I've done things before. Lots of dancing," says Ware, 36, casually chatting as she bounces on a pregnancy ball during a recent Zoom call. "There's like, gonna be choreography. I mean, I'm not gonna be Janet Jackson, but I want everyone to feel like they can do it with me."
Question: How does the reception to "What's Your Pleasure?" feel different than your past albums?
Jessie Ware: It feels like the buzziest record I've had since my first (2012's "Devotion"), in that sense of discovery and excitement. Luckily this time around, I have 10 more years experience and I can appreciate it and celebrate it with my fans that have grown (up) with me. For such a long time, I was so petrified and worrying about the next step that I couldn't just be in the moment like, "Things are good." I catastrophized everything, so I feel like I didn't get to enjoy myself enough and the achievements that were happening. So that's what feels different: I feel ready for it this time.
And, you know, I had lots of critical acclaim and it was my highest charting record in the UK, but still, I'm not on American radio. There's still this kind of culty thing with me that I think people actually really quite enjoy, especially in the States.
Ware: No, and I didn't want that. I wanted it to have a bit of filth and seduction and suggestion and persuasion. I wanted it to feel like those clubs you have been to that aren't necessarily Studio 54. I wanted those grand moments, but I also wanted those down-and-dirty interactions and the cheek of it. I think that's what people have really dug.
Ware: We wrote it in the initial phases of writing "What's Your Pleasure?" and I just didn't feel ready for it. I really liked it, but I don't think I appreciated how good it was. I felt like it didn't have the right tone for the rest of the record. But weirdly, from the reaction to "What's Your Pleasure?", I felt like it was mad to not offer up this song when it felt so generous and optimistic, because we need a little optimism.
Ware: I feel like it would be rude not to, because I feel like people like me on this. So the next record, I don't know whether you'd call it electronic dance music, but it's definitely upbeat and uptempo. It's not the same as "What's Your Pleasure?", but it's got energy.
Amazon Music Launches DJ Mode: The Brand New, On-Demand Listening Experience Blends Music with
"We're continuing to revolutionize how listeners experience music, and with DJ Mode we're combining the best of streaming and traditional radio," said Steve Boom, VP of Amazon Music. "With DJ Mode, fans can stream music selected just for them, while enjoying the personality of DJ-hosted radio. We're also delighted that Billie Eilish is behind our first-ever artist-led DJ Mode experience, which gives fans access to her musical tastes and storytelling, hosted by one of the most innovative artists in the world."
As seven-time Grammy Award-winning Billie Eilish prepares for the July 30 release of her album, Happier Than Ever , the 19-year-old Los Angeles native remains one of the biggest stars to emerge in the 21st century. Billie Eilish made history in 2020 as the youngest artist to receive nominations and win in all the major categories at the 62nd Grammy Awards, receiving awards for Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. Billie Eilish is also the youngest artist to write and record an official James Bond theme song, "No Time To Die." Most recently, she took home both Record of the Year for everything i wanted and Best Song Written for Visual Media for "No Time To Die" at the 63rd Grammy Awards.
Carrie Underwood & More Who Dominate Their Awards Categories | Billboard
Carrie Underwood wins Video of the Year for the 2021 CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena on June 09, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Carrie Underwood won video of the year for the ninth time at the 2021 CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night. She took the award this time for the video for "Hallelujah," a collab with John Legend that appeared on her 2020 Christmas album, My Gift .
And that's not the only CMT Music Awards category that Underwood has thoroughly dominated. She has won eight times for female video of the year. (Do you get the sense that CMT viewers really like her?)
Underwood isn't the first music star who has won so many times in a given category at an awards show that the category should almost be named in their honor. Here's a healthy sampling of other artists who have won eight or more times in a category at various award shows -- both EGOT-level and genre-specific shows. (In each case, these artists hold the record for the most wins in that category at that show.)
Enrique Iglesias : The second-generation Latin heartthrob won the American Music Award for favorite Latin artist eight times between 1999 and 2016. Fun fact: The category was added the year before Iglesias began his win streak. The winner that first year: his dad, Julio Iglesias.
Garth Brooks : The country titan won the American Music Award for favorite country male artist eight times between 1992 and 2000. Brooks' trophy case is jammed with other awards too. He won the CMA Award for entertainer of the year seven times between 1991 and 2019 and the ACM Award in that category six times between 1990 and 1998.
The Statler Brothers: The veteran group took the CMA Award for vocal group of the year nine times between 1972 and 1984. Fun fact: Despite the name, only two members of the group (Don and Harold Reid) were brothers and none of the group members had the surname Statler.
Alfred Newman: The late film composer and one of the founders of the Newman film music dynasty won the Academy Award for best original score nine times between 1938 ( Alexander's Ragtime Band ) and 1967 ( Camelot ).
Miranda Lambert : Lambert won the ACM Award for female vocalist of the year nine years in a row between 2009 and 2017. The star also took the CMA Award in that category seven times between 2010 and 2017.
Retro 2000s pop culture revival hits TV, K-pop biz
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