Let’s have some fun before the apocalypse!
Pop Cult is a series of music, news, videos and GIFs collected and gifted to you, from me, as your regular dose of the important and silly sides of pop culture.
Happy Sunday! The bad news is that 2016 is going out in a blaze of hellfire that seems determined to consume us all. The good news? The BBC still represents everything that’s great about Britain.
Best moment: Presenter Kirsty Wark managing to keep a straight face throughout.
Another glorious aspect of this year: Hamilton. The hip-hop, rap-infused musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton has taken Broadway and the world by storm, and now its genius creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has dropped a 23-track Hamilton mixtape just when we needed it most: right now. Gloriously, two of the tracks are available. It’s Quiet Uptown by Kelly Clarkson is heart-breaking, but My Shot, with Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz & Nate Ruess, will leave you open-mouthed.
Best moment: “Ayo mugshots, gun shots, dope shots, jump shot / Take your pick, but you only get one shot.”
Speaking of fresh music, pop-rock band Hey Violet are starting to break through, and I haven’t been able to stop listening to them. 18-year-old singer Rena Lovelis goes from channeling Paramore in the glorious, too-true Fuqboi to captivating and Lorde-like in the visually stunning new video for Guys My Age. And she likes Battlestar Galactica, so.
Best moment: Characteristically, the first line pulls no punches. “I haven’t seen my ex since we broke up / Probably ‘cause he didn’t wanna grow up.”
And now for music of a different kind. Laugh, cry, and enjoy Neil Patrick Harris doing what he does best — which, yes, is pretty much anything. Frozen geniuses Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez are responsible for this gem, which captures the internal turmoil of lead Republican Paul Ryan as his party goes to the polls with “that troll”at the top of the ticket. All Ryan wants to do is ban abortions, same-sex marriage and gun control. Sad!
Best moment: “The truth sets in but the dream persists / I don’t believe you’re all white nationalists.”
So, one of America’s two main political parties has nominated a person who would be the most ethically horrifying president since owning humans was just, like, a cool economic plan. I know, it’s been horribly under-reported. Freakin’ mainstream media. Here to quickly, and I mean quickly, recap Trump’ s lowlights and finally put the “But they both suck!” argument to rest is the brilliant Seth Meyers.
Best moment: That at least this awful, awful person makes for good comedy.
If you still have the energy after 958623 days of election coverage (if not, feel free to skip to the frivolous hilarity below), this is a fascinating, funny, “totally pandering bipartisan stump speech” from fivethirtyeight. If the only thing you like more than politics, writing or words is deconstructing all of the above, this is a must.
Best moment: The writers’ side-notes. “In the real world, many taxpayers are lazy. In political rhetoric, they are all ‘hardworking.’”
In what hopefully was not an omen for Tuesday’s Presidential Face-Off For The Future Of Our Species, 40 million viewers saw the Chicago Cubs pull off an incredible comeback win in the extra inning to secure a first World Series in 108 years. While this may be exciting for baseball fans, it was a certain home run celebration which caught the eye. Butt-slapping is so two thousand and late — all the cool sports guys are penis-bumping now, and it’s hilarious.
Best moment: The way the commentators studiously avoid mentioning the penis-bumping happening in front of everyone.
And hey, if you like sportsball-type activities, you’re gonna love these gorgeous goals which propelled Turkish side Fenerbahçe to a 2–1 victory over Manchester United on Thursday. Firstly, a classic overhead from Moussa Sow after just 65 seconds, then a beautifully curled free-kick from ex-Sunderland player Jeremain Lens which left David De Gea utterly helpless.
Best moment: The way he makes it all seem oh-Sow-easy (sorry).
Other Pop Cult episodes
Episode I: Welcome to the madness: we have GIFs
Episode III: In the darkest night, the sun still shines
Episode IV: A New Ho-Ho-Hope
