Pop of the Times

The soundtrack of every era 🎶
Rankings, throwbacks & forgotten pop gems

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Childish Gambino - This is America (2018)

- Reached number 1 in the US & number 6 in the UK
- Ranked 51st best selling song of 2018 in the US
- Certified 5x Platinum in the US & Platinum in the UK

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@pollthecrowds Her OG, Genie in a Bottle

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Next up in our top 10 breakup songs.

#9: Cher, “Believe”

The ultimate late-90s empowerment anthem. What started as a dancefloor hit quietly became one of the defining “I’m done” songs of the era.

Fun fact: the iconic vocal effect was created by using Auto-Tune as a creative tool rather than a pitch corrector.

Does this one still hit for you?

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@buffys

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Lucian Piane, the composer behind some of RuPaul’s biggest hits, has died at 46.

He co-wrote and produced “Cover Girl,” “Sissy That Walk,” and “Jealous of My Boogie,” and worked on the first eight seasons of Drag Race.

He was struck by a vehicle in Glendale, California, around 4:15 a.m. Monday and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Our condolences to his family and the Drag Race community.

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@PopCrave 1976 then 2013

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@Walianohohoh 🤘🏻🎸

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Hetfield makes a good point.

Meanwhile, Macklemore used his opening slot on Ed Sheeran’s tour to talk politics and was later dropped. Hayley Williams has also been vocal on stage, shouting “Fuck ICE” and “Free Palestine,” and calling MAGA supporters “pieces of shit.”

Do you think music should be political?

[Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson]

Metallica Frontman James Hetfield just called out artists who turn their concerts into political rallies: “Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their BULLSH*T.”

It’s great to hear a musician say this instead of betraying their own fans and attacking them from the stage.

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@onexsp So ironic!

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Starting our top 10 breakup songs of all time.

#10: Usher, “Burn”

Early 2000s R&B heartbreak at its most raw. Usher turns the final stages of a relationship into something almost cinematic.

Fun fact: it was co-written by Usher and Jermaine Dupri and became one of his signature hits.

Is this still one of the hardest breakup songs from that era for you?

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@itsVarsha5911 704 💪🏻

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@femmecrave Everyone had beef with Eminem in the 2000s!

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

Our countdown of the 10 TV deaths that hit hardest.

⚠️ Major spoilers for Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, The O.C., The Sopranos and The Walking Dead.

Which TV death hit you hardest?

10. Adriana La Cerva, The Sopranos
Even when it seemed inevitable, there was still hope she’d somehow make it back. She never did.

9. Mike Delfino, Desperate Housewives
A late-series death that felt completely unnecessary and remains one of the show’s most frustrating choices.

8. Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey
He’d just met his newborn son. The timing made an already tragic death feel especially cruel.

7. Lady Sybil Crawley, Downton Abbey
Just when the show had us believing she was safe, it pulled the rug out. A heartbreaking, deeply traumatic moment.

6. Rita Bennett, Dexter
A devastating twist that felt like a huge mistake. For many viewers, it was the end of the show.

5. Ned Stark, Game of Thrones
A true hero, killed in a deeply unfair and humiliating way. Joffrey ordering it made the moment even harder to stomach.

4. Nick Brody, Homeland
A haunting, devastating end to Brody’s story, and one of Homeland’s most unforgettable moments.

3. The Red Wedding, Game of Thrones
After Ned, it felt like the Starks were being wiped out one by one. One of the most shocking episodes in TV history.

2. Marissa Cooper, The O.C.
Her death changed the series’ entire dynamic. Season 4 never felt the same.

1. Glenn Rhee, The Walking Dead
An absolutely disastrous turning point. The show never felt the same afterward.

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@landofthe80s

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@pollthecrowds Britney didn’t make songs- she made timeless hits.

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

With Backstreet Boys announcing their Toronto tour stop, we’re counting down our top 10 favorite BSB songs 💙

#10 The Call
That urgent beat, the late-night phone call, the twist. One of their most fun songs to sing along to.

#9 Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
The spooky video, the iconic choreography, that chorus. A Halloween classic and a pop classic.

#8 As Long as You Love Me
A smooth, unforgettable love song with one of their best choruses.

#7 Drowning
The kind of dramatic, sweeping ballad that makes you want to sing every word at full volume.

#6 Incomplete
A heartbreak song with a huge chorus that still hits.

#5 Get Down (You’re the One for Me)
Pure ’90s energy. The beat, the hook, the dance moves. It’s impossible to sit still.

#4 Larger Than Life
A full-on pop anthem and one of their biggest thank-yous to the fans.

#3 Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
Beautiful harmonies, a moving video, and one of their most emotional songs.

#2 Shape of My Heart
A tender, gorgeous ballad that shows off just how good their voices sound together.

#1 I Want It That Way
The song that has to be at the top. That opening, those harmonies, that chorus. Still perfect.

What’s your favorite Backstreet Boys song?

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@daily_life_111 Same speed

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@PopCrave No it’s not

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@PopCrave She losin’ it.

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@MMONlKA @PopCrave @PopBase @PopFlopHQ AAAAAND THEY LOST IT

[Pop of the Times @popofthetimes]

@MMONlKA @PopCrave @PopBase @PopFlopHQ She crine + got ended