Melissa Kacar

While the pandemic era saw a wave of music born from isolation and uncertainty, Charli xcx 's how i'm feeling now remains one of the most innovative, immersive and deeply personal projects to emerge from that time. Charli embraced a fully DIY approach over the course of five weeks, turning this forced isolation into a unique opportunity to produce an album entirely from home while documenting every step of the process in real time through social media. "The nature of this album is going to be very indicative of the times just because I'm only going to be able to use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, artwork, videos everything," Charli revealed in a public Zoom call with fans in 2020.  From pitching the idea to her label, to writing, producing, conceptualizing, filming music videos and creating album artwork, Charli shared all of the ups and downs through social media, offering fans a unique look into the process behind making an album. This a...

Released in May 2020, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber 's collaborative charity single, "Stuck With U", is a cute and optimistic love song about being stuck inside with someone you love. The track has a soft doo-wop vibe, making it feel nostalgic and comforting, which perfectly fit the time it was released. "So, lock the door and throw out the key, can't fight this no more, it's just you and me," they sing in the chorus. "And there's nothin' I, nothin' I, I can do, I'm stuck with you, stuck with you, stuck with you". Originally written as a solo track, Ariana came up with the idea to add Justin to the song, turning it into a duet that became an instant hit. It became Justin's sixth and Ariana's third number one single, also joining their long list of songs that have surpassed a billion streams . "We just wanted to make something fun that also helps and kind of makes people feel less alone and be hopefully somewhat ...

"505" is one of Arctic Monkeys ' most beloved tracks, a song that has grown from a deep cut into a fan favorite over time. In an interview with NME , lead singer Alex Turner once described it as "the first proper love song we've done... as in like, 'Oh, it's that one person.'" That sentiment is embedded in the song's evocative lyrics, which paint a haunting atmosphere filled with longing and emotional intensity. Sonically, "505" was so ahead of its time, foreshadowing the direction Arctic Monkeys would later take in their future releases . As the closing track on their classic 2007 album Favourite Worst Nightmare , it serves as a powerful finale, as well as being a distinct shift in tone from the record in terms of tone and atmosphere. It carries a grungy romanticism that feels understated yet deeply sincere. Part of what makes "505" so compelling is its lyrical ambiguity. The song's title and setting could represent a...

Oops!...I Did It Again is the iconic sophomore album by Britney Spears , released in 2000 as the highly anticipated follow-up to her legendary debut ...Baby One More Time . Following the massive success of her debut, there was definitely a pressure for Britney to replicate its impact. To achieve this, she teamed up with a range of producers and songwriters, primarily Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, the masterminds behind many of the era's biggest hits, including key tracks from her debut. This album is stacked with timeless pop classics that defined the early 2000s and solidified Britney as one of the most defining voices of the era. While it had elements of the bubblegum pop sound from her debut, it also incorporated subtle R&B and funk influences, which added depth and variety to its sound. The title track, "Oops!... I Did It Again", is undeniably one of the greatest pop songs ever written and remains a staple in Britney's discography. Much like her breakthrough...