Bops of The Week — Week 1
I listen to a lot of music.
Welcome to Bops of The Week!
Each week I listen through the iTunes charts in search of new music. Some are what I like to refer to as bops. For those unfamiliar, here is a handy little definition:
Bop
used to reference a good song; to say that a song is really good
For reference, I am not a person that refuses to listen to music because I dislike an artist or genre. Overall, I listen to a wide variety of music from Alternative to Rap to EDM. But mostly Pop.
Let’s get to this weeks bops.
Malibu — Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is a polarizing figure. Since her infamous rise to pop super-stardom only a few short years ago, she has been highly controversial. From her appropriations of black culture to her naked wrecking-ball riding, the world has been anxiously awaiting her next musical project.
Oddly, Cyrus was back this week with something completely different. Stripped down, equipped with guitars and some drums, she sings longingly about being with who we can only assume is her beau Liam Hemsworth in Malibu.
Does it work? In pieces. While the hook is straight pop and Miley’s background vocals are reminiscent of Bangerz, the song doesn’t feel much like a single. Not even a country-pop single. Instead, it feels like a transition. It’s a let down that her return doesn’t feel bigger, but I wonder whether this is a one-off or move into a direction similar to Lady Gaga’s Joanne.
Grade: B-
Bon Apetit — Katy Perry
Oh how I long for the days of Teenage Dream. Like many of her peers, Katy Perry is hot off of a 3 or so year break from music. Unfortunately, these breaks don’t seem to be doing artists any favors. Lady Gaga’s Joanne, while a solid effort, never was the comeback fans wanted. Similarly, Ed Sheeran’s “÷” showed a shocking lack of musical evolution in favor of commercial success. Now Perry, who claims she’s evolving, seems to have lost her way completely.
Lyrically, I cringe every time I hear this. “I’m on the menu” doesn’t sound sexy, nor do any of the lyrics for that matter. Bon Apetit is awkward, off-brand and completely lost in what is otherwise a catchy beat. What happened to Katy Perry’s “woke” era? Why is Migos, someone not particularly beloved by Perry’s base on this song at all?
But more importantly, why wasn’t this song axed in the studio?
Grade: D
Bad Liar — Selena Gomez
I’m not surprised by music much these days. Selena Gomez, somehow, has surpassed my expectations. In her early music, I often felt that her voice wasn’t strong enough to compare with the likes of Demi Lovato, who she shared the Disney spotlight with for a long time.
To my surprise, Gomez has managed to find a style that fits her voice and image. Revival was a stellar change of pace for the former Disney star and successfully established her as a forced to be reckoned with in Pop. Bad Liar fortunately builds on that success without feeling dated.
Lyrically, Bad Liar isn’t groundbreaking, but it does a lot of good for Gomez. It’s catchy, on-brand and the beat is absolutely delicious. It’s a testament to how well Gomez knows her fans and what works for her voice. Surprisingly, Bad Liar succeeds where Cyrus and Perry are failing. Gomez isn’t searching for her identity any longer and I’m loving every minute of it.
Grade: B+
Despacito — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (feat. Justin Beiber)
As a Spanish-learner who often uses Latin music for studying purposes, I was very excited to see that Justin Beiber was added here. Like I’ve said before, my personal feelings about artists don’t dictate what I listen to. I hope you don’t either because Beiber works quite well on the track. His soft, boyish vocals blend surprisingly well.
There’s a reason this song is so popular. It’s got a killer beat, a huge star and it’s just plain fun.
Grade: A-
Believer — Imagine Dragons
I’ll admit it. Night Visions, Imagine Dragon’s 2012 album, still appears in my Recently Played from time to time. There’s a lot of heart-wrenching, drum-heavy bops on that album. Smoke + Mirrors, with the exception of I Bet My Life, was underwhelming. Honestly, they kinda lost me.
Believer makes up for it’s lyrical shortcomings by playing to the band’s strengths. The drums are heavy again, the lyrics sharper and the chorus practically asks for you to throw your head back and forth. I can’t help but cringe a little at the rap (if you could even call it rap), but fortunately it doesn’t ruin the song.
Grade: B+
That’s it for this week! Check back in next week to see what I’m listening to and tell me what you think in the comments.
