- Culture
- 25 Aug 23
It's a good time to be a pop girlie - with plenty of new tunes coming from three queens of the genre, plus rumours of Taylor Swift working on new music. All that's missing is some Rihanna content!
Where to start? Pop fans can rest easy knowing the genre is in very capable hands. The return of Selena Gomez coinciding with a new Miley Cyrus release plus the re-release of Ariana Grande's 10-year-old album, Yours Truly, has sent the internet into a frenzy. The internet has also been alight this week, with rumours of new Taylor Swift music being recorded, on top of the upcoming release of 1989 (Taylor's Version). Plus - the era of music videos is well and truly back and better than ever, with Gomez and Cyrus both offering perfectly fitting accompanying videos as well as their new tracks.
First up, Selena Gomez. The singer seems to very seldom release solo tracks, with her new track 'Single Soon' marking the first of this year - and the first since November 2022, in fact.
Announcing the track, the singer tweeted, saying: "Y’all have been asking for new music for a while. Since I’m not quite done with SG3, I wanted to put out a fun little song I wrote a while back that’s perfect for the end of summer."
The bass heavy track details the singer's love of being single - likely a dig at the media who seems constantly infatuated with reporting on her relationship status, and obsessing over her past relationship with fellow popstar, Justin Bieber.
"I know he'll be a mess when I break the news, but I'll be single soon," the singer chants as club-like beats support the perfect dance tune. The musician's vocal abilities have never been in question, and she drives this home with this release, bringing flawless vocals to an expertly produced track. "Well who's next," says Gomez as a sneaky close to the track. We need a night out ASAP to get a boogy in to this track!
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Next, Miley Cyrus. A friend of the aforementioned Gomez, the two rejoiced as news that their singles would be out on the same day. In a tweet, Cyrus commented: "@selenagomez and I are both dropping our new SINGLEs SOON... I SAY WE #USEDTOBEYOUNG."
Despite only releasing her eighth studio album last week, the singer has decided to release a further single from the album with 'Used To Be Young', the emotional track detailing the fun of her youth. The Endless Summer Vacation era has brought Miley's pop sensibilities back to the surface, with tracks like 'Flowers', 'River', and 'Rose Coloured Glasses' marking a change in the music stylings of the singer. Still undeniably country and rock at her core, it's a refreshing change to hear the singer heading back to her beginnings as a pop star.
'Used To Be Young' shines a light on the vulnerable side of Cyrus, an ode to her younger self and her wild days. Growing up in the spotlight, the singer has had every part of her life deeply scrutinised, and this song shows the public reaction to her life in contrast to the life she has actually lived. Powerful lyrics turn this track from pop anthem to powerful statement, featuring an introspective, yet sincere aspect: "I know I used to be crazy/Messed up, but, God, was it fun/I know I used to be wild/That's 'cause I used to be young/Those wasted nights are not wasted/I remember every one/I know I used to be crazy/That's 'cause I used to be young."
Speaking about the release, Cyrus said: "This song is about honoring who we’ve been, loving who we are & celebrating who we will become. I feel proud when reflecting on my past and joyful when thinking about the future. I am grateful to my loyal fans who make my dreams a reality daily. I am sincerely thankful for the stability of your steadfast support. This song is for you."
Finally, we have the 10th anniversary re-release of Yours Truly, Ariana Grande's debut studio album. The superstar has brought out a new version of her first ever LP, featuring live versions of tracks, some of which the singer has recorded live videos of.
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Staying a little quiet online due to her work on the Wicked movie, other than posting about her makeup brand r.e.m. beauty, the singer has broken this silence to announce the schedule of events for this anniversary.
In an Instagram post, Grande said: "happy ten year anniversary to a project that changed my life. thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening and for growing with me every step of the way. love you always. :) Yours Truly Deluxe, Honeymoon Avenue and Daydreamin Live performances are out now ♡ 10 year anniversary celebration program goes as follows! friday: digital deluxe release, honeymoon avenue, daydreamin live performances. saturday: Q&A part 1, merch capsule. sunday: baby i live performance. monday: Q&A part 2, vinyl preorder. tuesday: tattooed heart live performance, right there live performance. wednesday: the way live performance, some behind the scenes stuff we found. i hope you enjoy! yours truly, ariana."
Check out all three releases through YouTube or alternatively by Spotify - which you can do below!