Welcome to the madness: we have GIFs
Pop Cult is a new 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.
There’s only one place this series can start: President Obama being the glorious beacon of genuine humanity 2016 seems to be trying to eliminate.
Best moment: “Michelle! Lame duck!”
While we’re still riding the Obama train no-one wants to disembark, here’s Seriously, imagining his unspoken views on the election. Written by the incredible Sara Bareilles, sung by Hamilton’s own Leslie Odom Jr., this is special.
Best moment: “Still I pledge my allegiance to these / United divided States”
Take a break from constantly refreshing fivethirtyeight in a desperate bid to reduce your panic levels and dive into this fantastic long-read from BuzzFeed News political reporter Ruby Cramer, about Clinton’s core beliefs.
Best moment: “It’s incredibly frustrating. This is her heart. This is who she is”.
Seth Meyers has been a treat this election cycle, with his regular segment A Closer Look achieving what all comic takes on politics should: information as entertainment. And boy is his latest take entertaining.
Best moment: Meyers ripping into Trump for pretending to be a big-shot donor at a function for kids with AIDS that he wasn’t invited to and didn’t donate at.
Okay, that’s enough election talk. Though it is terrifying in its importance and imminence, there are other things in the world. Like, for instance, this mesmerising GIF of Mesut Ozil scoring Arsenal’s winning goal last night.
Best moment: The dummy shot which sends two defenders flying in opposite, equally helpless directions.
And while we’re on the subject of great goals, this gorgeous free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne to put Manchester City ahead against Barcelona was almost as good as it was important.
Best moment: The commentator’s reaction.
“Watch this!” your friends cry. “Listen to this, it’s brilliant!” Well, they’re probably right, and so am I. This new podcast on life for Muslim Americans is informative, warm and funny, just like BuzzFeed’s sister pod, Another Round.
Best moment: In episode 2, when host Ahmed Ali Akbar explains the three different ways of pronouncing his name that he’s learned to accept.
If you’re not already watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, I don’t know what else I can do to convince you. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a musical rom-com filled with parody songs like this week’s brilliant homage to mid-00s pop rock.
Best moment: “She’s so indifferent! / It makes me want a tangible commitment!”
Speaking of the mid-00s, don’t laugh, but JoJo of Leave (Get Out) fame is back — and her first full-length album in 10 years is damn good. After the first track breaks your heart, listen to JoJo spit bona fide fire.
Best moment: Bad-ass break-up song High Heels. “Boy, you’ve done me wrong / Leave the keys, burn the sheets / And then move along”
Also crushing it at the moment is Tove Lo, who follows Queen Beyoncé in releasing a film of her album. The extremely NSFW Fairy Dust starts with her laughing, screaming and crying — and only gets weirder. It’s pure gold.
Best moment: “Show we can chill, try and keep it platonic / Now you can’t tell if I’m really ironic” (Cool Girl, 20:04)
Other Pop Cult episodes
Episode II: Let’s have some fun before the apocalypse!
Episode III: In the darkest night, the sun still shines
Episode IV: A New Ho-Ho-Hope
