pop culture

Modern, popular, and iconic pop culture moments in music. From current events, to trending topics and more.

A Swift Rise to Fame: the Internet's Favorite 7-Year-Old Taylor Swift Impersonator Unveils Her Axl Rose Impression
Last week, the internet went wild for Xia Vigor, a 7-year-old little popstar who's currently competing on the Philippine TV talent show Your Face Sounds Familiar (Kids). Despite ranking low in the show's weekly challenge, Xia broke the internet with her spot-on impersonation of America's sweetheart, #TaylorSwift.
By Karina Thyra9 years ago in Beat
Being a Girl in the Music Industry Is Hard. Top Story - December 2017.
Being a girl in the music industry is hard. Being a girl that has done porn and is now in the music industry? Even harder. The rejection, preconceived opinions and complete and utter dismissal at some points is heartbreaking at best. I’m not going to sit here and pretend I am the greatest songwriter or producer of all time. Or even that I am particularly special, but I do write and produce my own music, sing on the tracks and write the lyrics. However, my work is dismissed purely based on the harsh fact that I’m a moderately attractive girl with a background in adult film, a lot of the time before I have even had the chance to present any music.
By Samantha Bentley9 years ago in Beat
The Acoustic Version
There are few things that frustrate me like modern-day music. Lyrics are getting more vulgar and offensive by the day and auto-tuning programs strip voices of their uniqueness and any kind of emotion. The ones most willing to sacrifice their dignity are rewarded with fame, while true talent is left ignored in the coffee shop around the corner. I believe in rebelling against the stigmatic consumption of “Today’s Hits.” I believe in giving true artists the credit they deserve; I believe in listening to and appreciating the acoustic rendition.
By Ellie Renkert9 years ago in Beat
Top 10 BTS Songs You Have to Hear
As someone that has followed BTS heavily since debut in June 2013, I understand how overwhelming it can be for those that want to get into BTS but don't know where to start. That's why I'm here to kick off this "Get to know BTS!" Series with my all time must-hear BTS songs.
By Airess Kim9 years ago in Beat
Eminem Pledges Support In Wake Of Manchester Attack
Adding to the list of celebrities who've helped the victims of the Manchester Arena attack, Eminem has pledged his support, recently making a generous but undisclosed donation to the Justgiving page that has raised £2 million ($2.5 million) for the families of those killed and injured.
By The Television Time Capsule9 years ago in Beat
Stan You Believe It? Eminem's 'Stan' Officially Makes It Into the Oxford Dictionary
Talk about taking your sweet time, however, boy do we have a throwback for you. Some 17 years after Marshall Mathers rocketed up the charts with "Stan," becoming one of the best-known rap songs of the 21st century, the song's title has been accepted into the Oxford English Dictionary. Personally, I hadn't actually heard of the term since about 2003, but now "stan" joins the Holy Grail of wordery alongside the likes of "bantz," "brain fart," and "wine o'clock."
By Tom Chapman9 years ago in Beat
Stop The Music: Classic 'Friends' Song Isn't The Original!
Friends writer Betsy Borns has just shattered a little piece of the 90s for us. She revealed that the iconic song Smelly Cat, from the hit T.V. show, wasn't supposed to be about a cat at all! It was originally titled Smelly Dog.
By Tom Chapman9 years ago in Beat
Music Condescension: A Sanctimonious Affliction
We’ve all encountered and endured the hyperbolic rantings of music snobs. You know the type: someone who not only thinks they know more than the average music buff, but more than anyone else, period. The stereotypical music fanatic feels self-important and even entitled to an unjustified sense of coolness by playing the anti-mainstream music game, declaring a particular favorite band or artist is better than whomever someone else is listening to because said artist is more obscure. Yet, these so-called music aficionados are the first to abandon their favorites upon the very first sign of even a minuscule amount of commercial triumph, because of some imaginary belief system based on tiresome and ridiculous self-imposed “rules,” which decree mainstream success is evil and taboo.
By Eric Allen9 years ago in Beat
Must Try Harder; How the United Kingdom Could Win Eurovision Again
Oh, Eurovision: a guilty pleasure to some, a complete indulgence to others. Arguably (and most definitely in my eyes) the biggest music contest in the world, it is an enigma of sorts. It exists in its own bubble, one that’s both enjoyed and sneered at simultaneously. To some regions, it is the highlight of the year and entrants are mega stars. In my country, it’s an excuse to get plastered on cheap gin, generally make a mockery of other nationss ideas of musical taste, and wonder why nobody is giving us the famous 12 points (who wouldn’t vote for Engelbert Humberdinck?).
By VISION9 years ago in Beat
Things I Hate About
As my girlfriend says, I don’t like loads of different things. I thought I would write a few of them in an occasional series called, "Things I Hate About… First is music.
By ASHLEY SMITH9 years ago in Beat
An Open Letter to Pop Culture Nerds
Dear Nerds: I work for a man who does not care for The Beatles. He has no active distaste them, as I’m sure it must be pretty difficult to outright dislike The Beatles. But he has no affinity for them either, and this is in its own right a difficult thing for a Beatles fan to accept. At first, my instinct upon learning this about him was to argue, as he was clearly wrong, but my instinct for self-preservation thankfully overtook my instinct to be right, and I found it best to let this one go. But that was even harder to do when I found out how much he loved Cèline Dion.
By PJ Reilly9 years ago in Beat
Marching Band as a Sport
For many people, marching bands are a truly incredible sight to see. Visual effects, great music, and of course those mesmorizing dance girls and flag girls. But the performances were not always as together, and as organized as they appear. And yes, your favorite song was once looked at with aggravated eyes, and fearful hearts as memory tests were performed in rehearsals.
By Ayanna James9 years ago in Beat