POP CULTURE MOMENTS OF 2024
Graphic by me.
It was hell on Earth, but heaven in the world of music. When looking back, it is astonishing how many amazing pop culture moments happened. The best part is many old but new(ish) - aka 10 years in the making - names emerged and enriched the music scene. This year's biggest names include Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams and Charli XCX. It is impossible not to notice all are women. Women topped charts, won awards, and sold millions of vinyls. They played the biggest stages in the world. People recognize women as serious artists rather than merely as sources of entertainment. To conclude this year, I am sharing some of my favourite pop culture moments of 2024.
Royel Otis cover of 'Murder on the Dancefloor'
18th January
Australian duo Royel Otis eased January blues with their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 2001 hit, "Murder on a Dance Floor." Thanks to the band, the song and Bextor had a comeback this year. She performed it at the BRIT Awards after 23 years of its release. Royel Otis' cover sounds very different from the original. That's the key. Royel Otis made it their own. It is groovy, catchy and addictive. Highlight is Otis Pavlovic’s singing. He sings effortlessly in a 90s-inspired style. It's half singing, half shouting.
“i’m just ken” The Oscars performance
11th March
It is all so glamorous, but The Oscars’ ceremony can be boring to watch. Everyone is uptight, appearing somewhat like smiley robots. Very often, the ceremony misses an element of enteirtament but the crew of Barbie decided to shake it up. Ryan Gosling’s hilarious performance of “I’m Just Ken” was the best part of this year’s ceremony. It was one of the best moments in a long time. Gosling brought much-needed unseriousness and lightness. He should’ve won The Academy Award just for keeping the straight face throughout the whole performance. It was the best way to conclude the whole Barbiehaimer era. Almost everyone were up from seats enjoying this moment of pure joy. Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and America Ferrara really had the time of their lives in the front row. As they should!
olivia and chappell
21st August
Roan exploded this Summer. It all started in February with Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts World Tour." Her music finally started getting deserved attention and by the Summer, Roan became one of the biggest musicians of this year. Their duet of a smash hit “HOT TO GO!” must’ve felt like a full circle moment for both of them. Rodrigo has been a fan of her music for years, partly because they share the producer, Dan Nigro. Chappell was her supporting act on both tours, “Sour Tour” and “Guts World Tour.” The songs is tailor-made for live performance and singing from the top of the lungs while doing all the steps of “HOT TO GO!” dance.
dua lipa at glastonbury
28th June
This was the first year Glastonbury aired the Friday and Saturday Pyramid stage concerts. So, anyone could watch it. Lipa was scheduled for a Friday night. Her third record, Radical Optimism, came out in May. It was crucial for her to play her new songs on one of the biggest stages. Instagram comments on the official Glastonbury page showed scepticism about the lineup. This festival is Europe's most prestigious and long-time fans see it as a religious experience. Critics said Lipa was too pop for a "rock festival." They forgot she is a music nerd who studied what makes a great Pyramid stage concert. Musician proved she can sing, dance and make the show worthy of this iconic festival.
kamala is brat
22nd July
So many things happened this Summer. One of the biggest was Charli XCX’s post on X calling Kamala brat. “It was off the cuff. Naively, I didn’t think it would take on quite the life it did” Charli said to Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview. Researchers will study the whole brat marketing strategy for years to come. Charli did the a masterful campaign and painted the whole word in colour green. This moment, when she mixed pop culture and politics, raised Harris' campaign to a new level. This is a prime example of pop politics. It shows how creators craft a clear, funny, and viral message.
kamala IS brat
— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024
paul Mccartney at the eras tour
23rd June
When this video came out, every comparison of Beatlemania and Taylormania made sense. Paul McCartney was always the most curious member of The Beatles and he stayed that way. He is not and never will be a grumpy man who is not willing to understand and experience all things new. His and Swift’s friendship didn’t happen at The Eras Tour - it goes back to the days. At the “SNL 40” party nine years ago, they sang and played together “Shake It Off” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” It was unreal to see Sir trading friendship bracelets, singing and dancing at “Daddy I Love Him” and being part of this multi universe of madness.
@wanderingguru No one prepared me for Sir Paul McCartney dancing to But Daddy I love Him in Front Left #londonn3 🙌🏼🫶🏼 #taylorswift #erastour #paulmcartney @Taylor Swift @Taylor Nation @Paul McCartney ♬ original sound - W
Chappell Roan at VMAs Carpet
11th September
There is not much to say except I am glad young musicians like Roan stood up for herself. She could’ve smiled, posed and pretended like she did not hear it, but she decided to do the opposite. It's reasonable that new musicians struggle with comments like this. They likely fear making a mistake and would prefer to remain silent. It is refreshing to see a new generation who doesn’t choose to stay silent and Roan is right at the forefront.
Childless Cat Lady
11th September
When Taylor Swift sees an opportunity to take revenge be sure she will do it. Future Vice President JD Vance said in 2021 that America is run by "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too." NPR wrote a brilliant article about cats and feminism. It said, "Cats were used as a symbol of anti-suffrage propaganda, but reclaimed by some suffragists."” Many women in America answered were insulted by Vance’s comment and this was Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris.
