Lorde is back, Ed Sheeran's genius marketing and Doja Cat says we're too chart-obsessed | Popping In Vol. 18
Lorde announced her album, Ed Sheeran's sharing throwback photos, and Doja Cat thinks her fans should touch grass (I agree)
For the second week in a row, I’m writing this week’s newsletter on a train and I can’t help but think of the scene in (500) Days of Summer when Tom and Summer end up spending the entire train ride to Millie's wedding together despite him trying to avoid her.
I saw Charli xcx's first of four shows at the Barclays Center on Wednesday night which felt like the perfect place to see (what I’m assuming to be) my last Brat-era show. It’s crazy to think that I saw Charli at the Brooklyn Paramount during Brat release week last June (2,700 capacity) and less than a year later I saw her in a 19,000-capacity venue. If only we knew what would come when we were bumpin’ that last summer.
On a very concert-centric podcast episode this week we chatted all about Beyoncé’s opening night of the Cowboy Carter Tour at SoFi stadium, which has already had a setlist change just 48 hours after the first show. We also recapped Stagecoach (but not in a MAGA way, in a “Paris Hilton brought out Lizzo” way), Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball, Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, and more. You can listen below if you haven’t yet!
Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating! 🌟💖
But in case you need some additional pop culture news to bring to brunch this weekend, let’s get into this week’s newsletter!
Lorde announces new album ‘Virgin’ will be released on June 27th
Do you hear that? It’s Lorde summer incoming, baby! There’s no denying how excited I’ve been for Lorde’s comeback (I even wrote an incredibly personal post all about it), but now we have a release date and name for the album: Virgin will be released on June 27th.
Lorde said this album’s color is clear like “bathwater, windows, ice, spit". She also let us know that this album is "the 1st music of my rebirth…really facing my body stuff head-on, & starting to feel my gender broadening a little bit” which makes me even more excited to hear what’s in store for this album.
Doja Cat urges “chart-obsessed” fans to “go for a run”
There’s something refreshing about this new era of pop stars who aren’t afraid to keep it reel with their fans. Being a fan in the social media age has many ups and downs, but the constant eyes on an artist’s chart data has got to be one of my least favorite parts of it. I’ve said time and time again that though I understand why chart positions matter for an artist and it’s fun to celebrate, I’ll never let a low-chart number stop me from enjoying a song or album, and Doja Cat is on the same page. In a now-deleted tweet, she said:
“the amount of streams on a song isn't indicative of the quality or effort put into it. If you disagree with this you could be having an episode and should seek love from the outside. Go for a run. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself in the safety of your mind if you are proud of that person or if you even like what you see. Next, do not punish yourself. Do not sabotage. Rather take it as an opportunity to become an even better version of who you once were. Look at it as the beginning of a fulfilling life. You deserve an adventure. You deserve to feel the sun on your skin. Don't trade that for being on this app with the blinds drawn. You deserve more.”
And you know what? Hell yeah.
There’s such a toxicity to “stan culture” and when it starts to consume your life because all you’re worrying about is how your fav is performing on the charts or looking down on another artist because their song didn’t sell or chart as well as another, something has to be done and I’m so glad Doja Cat said it.
Ed Sheeran announces new single “Old Phone” with a brilliant marketing tactic
If you know my music taste, you know that I don’t often find myself tuning into Ed Sheeran. I actually used to be a huge fan of his music in the early days, but as I’ve gotten older I don’t find myself listening to him often. However, when I see a genius marketing tactic, I have to give flowers where flowers are due. I saw him sending fans pink iPod Nanos last month with a new song on it and thought it was a great idea, but more recently he launched a new Instagram that features photos from an old phone he found and has been giving us some GOLD along the way. My personal favorite is the jar of jam Taylor Swift gifted him where she quoted K*ny*’s infamous VMA speech from 2009.
He’s been posting on this account for a little over a month which turned into a fun nostalgia ride for him and his fans, but then this week he took it to the next level when he announced his new single ‘Old Phone’ would be coming out this week. GEN. IUS. The song is all about the nostalgia you feel when going through an old phone camera roll and even the sound itself felt very nostalgic to the old Ed music I used to listen to (I still think Photograph is one of the greatest songs ever written). 10/10 to Ed and his team on this one.
New Music This Week
Maroon 5 ft LISA - Priceless
Kelly Clarkson - Where Have You Been
And that’s a wrap on volume 18! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend + I’ll chat with you on the podcast on Wednesday!