Alright, so here’s a compact version of what happened:
I procrastinated too long in March and never ended up posting February 2021 favorites because I then managed to eff up my right (dominant) wrist during a 40-some-odd-day yoga streak (a story for another post).
Since my hand is still healing, I present to you a very short combined February and March 2021 favorites!
Well, now that we’re back to having competent human beings running the US government, news will be boring on the politics side of things (just the way I like it). There is no shortage of exciting pop culture news to recap for the month of January, though, and all of my favorite shows are back on TV, so let’s get to it!
Here are my faves in pop culture and entertainment for the first month of 2021!
Of course my neck would hurt and my head would start to pound on the last day of this God-forsaken year when I’m scheduled to recap the songs, artists and albums that kept us all sane in 2020.
OF COURSE.
Anyway, I’m powering through this with the help of Tylenol and eggnog.
Truly, music is the MVP this year. I’m amazed at how many artists followed through on their releases and then some (looking at you, T-Swizzle).
So without further ado, I present 2020’s Best in Music:
1. “Nydia,” Buscabulla, Regresa. Started out the year with these enchantingly addicting vocals.
2. “Sinner,” Galimatias, Renaissance Boy. This boy better get his behind on tour as soon as its safe to do so again.
3. “Pure / Santiago,” Lido, Peder. This year’s pleasant surprise for sure.
4. “Is It True,” Tame Impala, The Slow Rush. I feel like Tame Impala knew how 2020 was gonna go before it even started.
5. “Midnight Sky,” Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts. I can get used to this rock and roll phase.
6. invisible string, Taylor Swift, folklore. Back on that Taylor Swift train.
I really don’t have an excuse for not having this favorites post done before the 10th so I’m just going to skip any nonsense explanations and get right to it.
Years & Years put out a new album today called Palo Santo, and I’m really loving it!
My faves on the album are “Hallelujah”, “Rendezvous”, and “Karma”, which happen to be the more upbeat tunes on the track list. I’ve always loved the ballad-y songs from Years & Years, but this time around I’m digging the danceable melodies.
BØRNS released his new album Blue Madonna today, and I absolutely love it.
It’s got that smooth, laid-back grooviness I’ve come to really enjoy about his music. The album features Lana del Rey on “God Save Our Young Blood” and the title track “Blue Madonna.”
My faves on the album are “Sweet Dreams”, “Iceberg”, “Second Night of Summer”, and “Tension (Interlude)”, the latter being my number one favorite track on Blue Madonna.
In celebration of Blue Madonna, I’ve decided to feature this fun piece of fan art of BØRNS that I found on Tumblr by Erin Young. It’s an oil on canvas painting that depicts the singer with pink hair wearing a floral top and sunglasses that suit him perfectly.
I mean, it’s a pretty intense pop single. The video takes place at conference in Asia during the year 2028. One of the lyrics goes, “Put your filthy hands all over me.”
Excuse me, mister?
Anyway, in celebration of “Filthy”, I’ve decided to feature this amazing fan art of Justin Timberlake I found on Pixels by Chrisann Ellis. It features the singer sporting his signature smolder on a greeting card!
The Neighbourhood put out a new song this week called “Scary Love”!
“Scary Love” is part of the band’s upcoming EP To Imagine. It features some pretty high pitched synths, making it sound as scary as the title suggests. When I first heard it today, Jesse Rutherford’s vocals kind of scared me when he sang the opening line “Move to the city with me” in a screeching yet beautiful falsetto.
I’m used to the somber R&B feel of their music but I could definitely get used to a few hair-raising synths 😉
In honor of the release of “Scary Love”, I decided to scour the internet for some fan art of The Neighbourhood. I found this really fun cartoon of the band on Pinterest. It’s not signed at the bottom so I have no idea who created it.
I find it very interesting how the artist decided to give the band members a clown blush look on their cheeks, since The Neighbourhood seems like a serious bunch of guys. Gotta love juxtapositions!
Besides the fact that NYC weather refuses to fully transition to fall, September was pretty good in terms of pop culture and entertainment. The summer ended with a splash of great music, which I can never complain about. Also, the fall TV premieres did not disappoint.
As I predicted, the good music kept it coming in July 2017.
I’m really not sure where the year went at this point. Like really. I feel like I just celebrated my birthday but then I look at the calendar and I realize that was almost 3 months ago.
Anyway, here are my faves in the world of pop culture and entertainment for the month of July 2017: