Carly Rae Jepsen Goes Full-On Cat Lady, Iggy Azalea Falls Flat, and Selena Gomez Snores
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Yeah: Carly Rae Jepsen, “Now That I Found You” (video) – This peculiar video stars one cat as the object of Carly’s obsession, which then multiplies into many cats. The cat is creepy at first; it watches Carly shower and does that thing cats do where they sit upright like humans, but ultimately it’s another living thing keeping her company. Sure, the cat lady as manifestation of loneliness has been overdone, but this is okay. —Clover Hope
Kinda of, yes: Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin, “I Can’t Get Enough” (music video) – I love the bedtime theme of this music video, and the beat is near identical to “Mi Gente,” which was obviously a banger. “I Can’t Get Enough” is not the most innovative thing in the world, but sometimes you just need to hear an whisper-y, auto-tuned, sleepy Selena Gomez hiss about someone’s body, you know? —Maria Sherman
No: Steve Aoki ft. Blink-182, “Why Are We So Broken” – Who asked for this? And can I speak to their manager? —MS
Also no: Julia Michaels, “Apple” – “Apple” sounds like the pop ballad debut of a YouTuber trying their hand at the music thing, and that is no way a compliment. I blame the trend of minimalist pop, but Michaels (remember “Issues”?) has the range. Show it off! —MS
Sure: 2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande, “Rule the World” – “Rule the World” is infinitely better than Ariana Grande’s recent blaccent on, like, “7 Rings,” (and most of thank u, next, if we’re being real.) I’m a sucker for a 2 Chainz love song, and this one goes. —MS
Yes: Low Life, “Lust Forevermore” – Sydney, Australia’s chaotic post-punk band Low Life first came onto my radar in 2016, when they released their sludgy full-length debut Dogging, complete with a song that name checks Rihanna half a dozen times. (Believe me when I say that’s a rarity for a band most commonly described as “snarling.”) Their second LP, Downer Edn, is somehow even more addictive than the first. It just dropped today, so excuse me while I find a new favorite to obsess over for the next week. Right now, it’s the goth-y “Lust Forevermore.” —MS
Y: Sean Paul and J Balvin, “Contra La Pared” – One of my teen favs meets one of my currents. SeAn PaUl (Sean Paul voice) dips his foot into Spanish while I proceed to immerse myself in his unmistakable, sexy vocals and Tainy’s stellar beats. This is a natural pairing. Although Balvin collabs with more artists than I can count, and not all make the most sense, this is one that I can get behind. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
It’s Alright: Ozuna ft. Darell, “Vacía Sin Mi” – Is it just me or do all of Darell’s songs feel long but not long enough? The mastermind behind “Te Boté” joins his Puerto Rican pal for this post-breakup “you feel empty without me” trap song that has a similar, though not as crass, message. I don’t mind it, and I like the video concept, but I expected more here and don’t think I’ll be coming back to it like I do with their others. —ELC
No: Iggy Azalea, “Sally Walker” – I really don’t know what this was attempting to do other than highlight a few well dressed drag queens. If that was the goal, they succeeded, because the queens looked good, but that’s about it. The song itself starts off promising enough and has a fun beat, but the lyrics just don’t deliver, and it all falls flat. The best part of this entire video were the last few seconds, which seemed to tease a different Iggy song entirely (and it actually… good?). But overall, my review can be summed up by this cameo of James Charles:
Lemme translate it, that’s a no: Mariah Carey, “A No No” Remix, feat. Stefflon Don – “A No No” is one of the best—and frankly, one of the only good—tracks on Mariah Carey’s Caution; another one is “The Distance,” and I can listen to both on repeat almost anytime. That’s why I ultimately have to rank this remix a “No”—it’s essentially the exact same song, with British rapper Stefflon Don throwing in a few words at the very background and then launching into a verse after almost two minutes of just Carey singing. In other words, I’ve heard this! The promise of a really good remix—that elevates one banger into another, totally different banger—is left unfulfilled here. Parlez-vous français? I said non. —Frida Garza
Kinda of, yes: Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin, “I Can’t Get Enough” (music video) – I love the bedtime theme of this music video, and the beat is near identical to “Mi Gente,” which was obviously a banger. “I Can’t Get Enough” is not the most innovative thing in the world, but sometimes you just need to hear an whisper-y, auto-tuned, sleepy Selena Gomez hiss about someone’s body, you know? —Maria Sherman
No: Steve Aoki ft. Blink-182, “Why Are We So Broken” – Who asked for this? And can I speak to their manager? —MS
Counterpoint: This song is bad, but Matt Skiba’s vocals in the verses are the only salvageable parts of it. I suspect that in an alternate universe, with a few tweaks this could be a really freaky-but-not-dreadful Alkaline Trio song… featuring Steve Aoki. —Ashley Reese
Also no: Julia Michaels, “Apple” – “Apple” sounds like the pop ballad debut of a YouTuber trying their hand at the music thing, and that is no way a compliment. I blame the trend of minimalist pop, but Michaels (remember “Issues”?) has the range. Show it off! —MS
Sure: 2 Chainz ft. Ariana Grande, “Rule the World” – “Rule the World” is infinitely better than Ariana Grande’s recent blaccent on, like, “7 Rings,” (and most of thank u, next, if we’re being real.) I’m a sucker for a 2 Chainz love song, and this one goes. —MS
Yes: Low Life, “Lust Forevermore” – Sydney, Australia’s chaotic post-punk band Low Life first came onto my radar in 2016, when they released their sludgy full-length debut Dogging, complete with a song that name checks Rihanna half a dozen times. (Believe me when I say that’s a rarity for a band most commonly described as “snarling.”) Their second LP, Downer Edn, is somehow even more addictive than the first. It just dropped today, so excuse me while I find a new favorite to obsess over for the next week. Right now, it’s the goth-y “Lust Forevermore.” —MS
Y: Sean Paul and J Balvin, “Contra La Pared” – One of my teen favs meets one of my currents. SeAn PaUl (Sean Paul voice) dips his foot into Spanish while I proceed to immerse myself in his unmistakable, sexy vocals and Tainy’s stellar beats. This is a natural pairing. Although Balvin collabs with more artists than I can count, and not all make the most sense, this is one that I can get behind. —Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
It’s Alright: Ozuna ft. Darell, “Vacía Sin Mi” – Is it just me or do all of Darell’s songs feel long but not long enough? The mastermind behind “Te Boté” joins his Puerto Rican pal for this post-breakup “you feel empty without me” trap song that has a similar, though not as crass, message. I don’t mind it, and I like the video concept, but I expected more here and don’t think I’ll be coming back to it like I do with their others. —ELC
No: Iggy Azalea, “Sally Walker” – I really don’t know what this was attempting to do other than highlight a few well dressed drag queens. If that was the goal, they succeeded, because the queens looked good, but that’s about it. The song itself starts off promising enough and has a fun beat, but the lyrics just don’t deliver, and it all falls flat. The best part of this entire video were the last few seconds, which seemed to tease a different Iggy song entirely (and it actually… good?). But overall, my review can be summed up by this cameo of James Charles:
Welp! —AR
Lemme translate it, that’s a no: Mariah Carey, “A No No” Remix, feat. Stefflon Don – “A No No” is one of the best—and frankly, one of the only good—tracks on Mariah Carey’s Caution; another one is “The Distance,” and I can listen to both on repeat almost anytime. That’s why I ultimately have to rank this remix a “No”—it’s essentially the exact same song, with British rapper Stefflon Don throwing in a few words at the very background and then launching into a verse after almost two minutes of just Carey singing. In other words, I’ve heard this! The promise of a really good remix—that elevates one banger into another, totally different banger—is left unfulfilled here. Parlez-vous français? I said non. —Frida Garza
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