pop music - Page 3

Album Review: Victoria Bigelow bares her soul on ‘Songs For No One, Vol. 2’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

The singer-songwriter’s latest EP captures the sweeping sounds of the West while grappling with hard truths…

May 8, 2024

A woman with brown hair and a blue sweater is sitting in front of a background of paper covered in writing, intimately strumming a guitar. Her eyes are closed and her lips set in a stoic position, implying she is in deep contemplative as she parcels out each individual note. Her name -- Lana Del Rey -- is written on a torn piece of paper, taped to the background in the upper-right corner.

Lana Del Rey: The Evocative Melodies Behind Performative Stardom

When examining Lana Del Rey's music and history, one finds a fascinating conversation between the artist and the veil of celebrity.…

March 21, 2024

Who Are P1Harmony?

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

K-Pop Group P1Harmony Enters the Music Scene With Their Single "Fall In Love Again…

January 29, 2024

The Weeknd Provides a Case Study in Toxic Masculinity

Nnekakwo Adibe, Lesley University

Some want us to separate the art from the artist, but that doesn't remove the sexism, misogyny, toxicity and depraved messages about love, sex, drugs and women present in his work.…

November 12, 2020

Lee Su-hyun’s Debut Solo Track “Alien” Highlights the Beauty of Being Different

On ‘ALIEN,’ Lee Su-hyun Highlights the Beauty of Being Different

Sammi Looi, Baruch College

One half of the brother-sister duo AKMU, the musician is spreading a message of positivity with her debut single.…

November 10, 2020

Nina Nesbitt’s Quarantine Creations Are Putting Her Ahead of Other Artists

Julia Greene, Columbia College Chicago

The Scottish pop singer is using her extra time during the pandemic to create new versions of her old music, as well as compose entirely new pieces — with a twist.…

October 7, 2020

image of artist, Rosalía, among sunflowers

Rosalía Shows Her Flamenco Roots On Her Rise to Pop Stardom

Emma T., UC Berkeley

The Barcelona singer spent her childhood learning music long associated with revolution. Now, Rosalía is revolutionizing the music industry herself.…

September 14, 2020

Illustration of musical duo Chloe x Halle by Daisy Daniel's

Chloe x Halle Have Cemented Their Place in Music History With ‘Ungodly Hour’

Renee Cantor, University of Pittsburgh

Sibling acts like the Jackson 5, the Jonas Brothers, HAIM and the Bee Gees need to make room because there's a new and ferocious sister duo that's here to stay.…

August 26, 2020

An illustration of the Glass Animals "Dreamland" album cover

Glass Animals’ ‘Dreamland’ Uses Multimedia To Redefine the Album Release

Emma Smith, Wesleyan University

Their latest record is far more than just a collection of songs: Here’s a closer look at how the band has changed the game when it comes to debuting new music.…

August 25, 2020

The Storytelling of Taylor Swift Includes a Rainbow of Colors

Julia Greene, Columbia College Chicago

The artist’s renowned songwriting has gone from red to monochrome to the full spectrum of colors to create vivid imagery in every line.…

August 18, 2020

Illustration by Shelly Freund in article about Spotify

You Need To Hear These 5 Spotify Users’ Iconic Playlists

Audrey Martin, Boston University

Playlists are king on the streaming platform. These five users take their playlist curation to the next level.…

August 12, 2020

‘1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues’ Embodies the Hyperpop Aesthetic

McKenna Uzelac, Columbia University

100 gecs' latest release is a remix album that features artists like Charlie XCX, Fall Out Boy and Kero Kero Bonito.…

July 29, 2020

Illustration by Sezi Kaya of Lauv, creator of "Without You"

‘Without You’ Cements Lauv as the King of Pop Melody

Srishti Tyagi, Cornell University

The artist's simple rhythms, addictive melodies and evocative lyrics have converged into a masterful EP that demonstrates his songwriting and production genius.…

July 23, 2020

Jukebox the Ghost Is Your New Favorite Pop-Rock Band

Anna Barnard, St. Olaf College

The Washington D.C. trio puts catchy piano melodies at the center of their sound, and wears their love of Queen on their sleeves.…

July 4, 2020

‘Set My Heart on Fire Immediately’ Shows the Power of Feeling Everything

Caleb Mullenneaux, St. Olaf College

Throughout Perfume Genius' latest album, Mike Hadreas embraces emotional excess and channels it into one of the best indie pop efforts of the year.…

June 16, 2020

Long After the ’90s, Shania Twain Remains a Symbol of Girl Power

Kali Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus College

The Canadian singer took the world by storm, and now with a newfound voice, she is determined to defeat the odds set upon her by the media.…

June 3, 2020

Is KAACHI Redefining K-Pop or Corrupting the Genre?

Nanda Illahi, Okayama University

With British, Spanish and Korean members, the UK band has people everywhere divided on what it means to be a K-pop group.…

May 14, 2020

‘Trolls World Tour’ Uses Popular Music To Talk About Coming Together

S. T. Perez, Texas A&M University, San Antonio

Underneath the catchy songs is a message about reaching out to others despite our differences.…

May 9, 2020

Illustration of the new Dua Lipa album, Future Nostalgia

Dua Lipa’s ‘Future Nostalgia’ Is the Upbeat Dance Party You Need Right Now

Asha MacKay, Wellesley College

The title track begins, 'You want a timeless song, I want to change the game.' Over the course of 11 tracks, the British pop star accomplishes her goal.…

April 21, 2020

Is Pop Music Tackling Mental Health, or Just Fetishizing Depression?

Rose Younglove, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

They say it's not good to keep it bottled up, but is letting it out doing more harm than good?…

March 10, 2020

A still image of Lorde from her music video Perfect Places

After Time Out of the Public Eye, Lorde Might Be Coming Back

Lauren Buchko, Michigan State University

She entered the spotlight in 2013 but has since taken a break from the public eye. Is the New Zealand singer about to make a comeback?…

March 2, 2020

EDEN Switches From EDM to Emotionally-Resonant Indie Pop

Sarah Stager, University of Pittsburgh

Even with a new sound, the Irish musician continues to use poetic lyrics and a masterful blending of rock, pop and electronic music to connect with audiences.…

February 9, 2020

Illustration of Selena Gomez, who recently released album Rare

Selena Gomez Returns to the Spotlight With Her Hit Album ‘Rare’

Vaishnavi Kalyana, College of DuPage

The past four years have not been easy for the pop star, but she’s back in the music world and she’s making her mark.…

February 8, 2020

Ariana Grande Releases Surprise Live Album, ‘k bye for now (swt live)’

Caleb Dukes, Rice University

Released just moments after her Sweetener World Tour ended, this recording perfectly captures the intensity and skill of the musician's live performances.…

January 3, 2020