2024 picks
brat!!! cindy lee!! chappell roan!!! addison rae!! hacks!!! challengers!!! pop culture has really been culturing this year...
🥳so it’s that time of year again when i overshare my thoughts on all the pop culture media i’ve enjoyed this year including albums, songs, tv shows, movies, and more. everything is ranked randomly based on whatever comes to my mind first. sooo let’s get started! ٩(◕‿◕)۶✨
💿music
💿🩻imaginal disk - magdalena bay
one of the best pop albums this year in my opinion. it’s fresh, innovative, and it came out at the perfect time. “angel on a satellite” felt like they were written for me. i cried so hard while listening to the song on my way back to the motherland. “man, play that thing / makes me think of summer winds / and places that I know / just the ones I love to go” aghhhhhhhhh
top picks: angel on a satellite (!!!), vampire in the corner, image, the ballad of matt & mica
💿🍏brat & charli xcx
“i feel like god, i feel like shit. the paradox, an even split” a quote from madonna that has always stuck with me describes this album very well. i think what makes this album so great is how she expresses vulnerability and honesty within a rave record, going from being on top of the world to feeling like shit in a second. a juxtaposition. a woman’s duality.
not to mention the global phenomenon of brat summer. when i fall in love with an album, it’s never just about the music. it’s about everything: the execution, the vision, the creative direction, the marketing, everything. and this album cycle has exceeded all of my expectations. her vision for this album was so right from the start. from creating the album cover that half the world hates to gradually becoming one of the most iconic album covers and uses of color in history. and finally making the perfect era that pop culture has been longing for. it also came at just the right time for me to live in the summer that i have always imagined. truly never been happier.☺️
been ride or die with charli since the vroom vroom days and it’s been tough watching her be so misunderstood for so long. so it’s freakin great to see her thriving more than ever. her victory lap fr.
top picks: talk talk, von dutch, i think about it all the time with bon iver, girl so confusing with lorde
💿⛽️diamond jubilee - cindy lee
it was love at first listen!!!! there was an instant click between me and this album. i first heard about this one when pitchfork named it number one on their list, and saw it had just been added to streaming platforms (though sadly, they’ve taken it down again now🥲). so i decided to give it a try and damn… it was one of the best decisions i’ve made in a while. the tenderness, folky vibe transported me to places i’ve never been before. so so so grateful to have found a new comfort album to cherish.
top picks: all i want is you (!!), and the whole two hour album.
💿🍀deeper well - kacey musgraves
kacey is such a comfort artist for me and this album does not disappoint. it goes back to her roots with her signature thoughtful lyrics and metaphors. “the architect” is def my fav this year like it is one of the few songs that touches on my field and it’s good in it’s own terms. “I don’t understand, are there blueprints or plans? / This life that we make, is it random or fate? / Is there an architect?” yes kaceyyyyyy that is meeeeee
top picks: the architect (!), anime eyes, sway, irish goodbye
💿🎠chappell roan
not to brag but it feels sooooo good when an artist i’ve been supporting finally gets the recognition she deserves. it’s like i knew i was right all along (🧏🏼♂️😋) i always believed she was destined to be a STAR and “good luck, babe” is the proof. not trying to jump into the gaga comparison thing but part of why i’m so invested in her and rooting for her right now is because she gives us everything we want: a pop star with an eccentric persona. it reminds me of what i loved about gaga 10++ years ago. it seems like it takes a decade for someone like her or gaga to show up unapologetically in this media world today.
top picks: good luck babe, the subway (!!), red wine supernova, casual, femininomenon
💿🤠cowboy carter - beyonce
let’s be real all of these mockery towards her rn is starting to feel a little bit unfair or maybe even discriminatory to her as a hardworking artist at this point. this album is so well-crafted and it showsss. she’s breaking the rules of genre & blending them seamlessly into this one cohesive record. it’s not about whether an artist has 1 collaborator or a 1000--it doesn’t automatically determine the quality of the album. she could have 10,000 collaborators if she wanted if the result is great. even it proves that she has an incredible artistic sense and knows how to choose the right people to bring her vision to life sooo.💁🏻♂️💁🏻♂️
top picks: ii hands ii heaven, alliigator tears (!!), texas hold ‘em, levii’s jeans
more of of my picks here!!!!!! ⬆️⬆️
📺tv
📺🏜️hacks
"a story about an ignorant bigoted stand-up comedian who pairs up with a woke gen-z comedy writer" well honestly, just this premise alone sold me on watching it and it’s hilarious as helllllllllllllll. but what really stands out is how much heart it has. like how these two characters opening up to each other and learning from their differences. all wrapped in a road trip comedy vibe. jean smart is absolutely phenomenal, and what makes her shine even more is the incredible ensemble cast. a perfect 10 for me.👏🏼
📺🔮agatha all along
must be the season of the witch… one thing about marvel is that they often miss or hit (recently) but when it hits, IT HITS. that’s when the creators have 100% of their freedom to create without limits. like who knew the legend patti lupone would be in the mcu?? and making everyone cry????
📽️movies
📽️⏳dune part two (!!)
can i say that it was one of the most cinematic experiences i’ve ever witnessed? had the privilege of watching it on the big ass imax screen and it was an out-of-body experience. everything about it was just *chef kiss*🤌🏼
📽️🦂alien: romulus (!)
the story of a seamless journey fits right into the alien universe: exciting, original, and true to it’s roots. this is how you revive an iconic franchise, and it’s been done flawlessly.
📽️🧪the substance (!!)
girl that’s the epitome of a pop movie like idk what to say but it’s giving brat realness with all the creative direction they went through. had an absolute blast watching it. a modern-day death becomes her fr.
📽️🎾challengers
i’ve already screamed about this in one of my old posts, that pretty much says it all. to this day i’m still listening to the soundtrack for some certain occasions.
📽️⚰️the first omen
another surprisingly good franchise revival for me… it was magnifico! (is that how you say magnificent in Italian?☠️). a bloody horror with stunning cinematography. this might just be my new favorite type of movie fr. everything about it was so perfect. (ps. i couldn’t help but notice how much it felt like immaculate tho😭. unfortunately i watched that one first so it made the twist a bit predictable for me. but overall i enjoyed this one slightly more. it was executed perfectly.)
📽️🦋anora
i’m all about chaotic movies and this one’s totally right up my alley. it’s fun but also raw and vulnerable just like anora herself. one of my fav from sean baker.
honorable mentions:
💿🧜🏼♀️addison rae
what makes her stand out is how enthusiastic she is about pop culture and how determined to be among the coolest people around. she’s finally found the right path for herself and won’t get lost like some of her peers did. she will soon become as bright and shining as her personality, so just keep an eye on her.
top picks: aquamarine, diet pepsi, obsessed
📽️egoist
it hit me in the right spot oh my GOD makes me feel everything from being totally turned on to completely depressed likeeee😭😭
📀💿charm - clairo & tension ii - kylie minogue
10/10 no notes.
💿🦢birds of a feather - billie eilish
what can i say… from the moment i heard the snippet in the heartstopper teaser, i just knew it was gonna be a banger. my sis billie really delivered a fresh new sound with this one and i’m obsessed. it has this aura that makes me smile every time i listen to. we need more optimistic pop songs like this in the game!!!!
💿sky ferreira
she’s back and better than ever! yes i used to joke about her work ethic (☠️) but honestly, it’s heartbreaking how cruel the capitalist system in the music industry can be to artists these days. i’m so glad she got out of that terrible record deal and can finally do what she wants. (shoutout to her new single “leash” no amount of sabotage could ever dim her creative genius. she’s still taking it.)
📺baby reindeer
idk why it took me so long to watch this, but it turned out to be so impressive. it does an amazing job of showcasing how toxic relationships can stem from the past trauma, and the way it’s portrayed is both well executed and surprisingly fun to watch.
💿sabrina carpenter
she’s & chappell are absolutely killing it right now. a new pop star darling.
📽️longlegs
a24 better watch out bc neon is not playing around this year. i think part of what makes longlegs so successful aside from the movie itself is because all the creative marketing neon team put into it. it made the movie even more interesting and i really appreciate that. but tbh i wasn’t as blown away by nick cage’s performance as everyone else seemed to be but i still enjoyed it nonetheless.
📽️wicked
the last part… (and the press tour😭)… i’m holding space to it for sure.
✌️🏼🥳💜so ready for next year!!!!!!