#and the other is a die hard lady gaga and ariana grande fan

[cicada-dyke]

people need to stop assuming that just cuz i’m quiet i must also be smart, im just as dumb as the next guy i just don’t fucking like you guys

[bobbystompy]

My Top 88 Songs Of 2020

Previously: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Though we couldn’t get as trim as last year’s 75, still very happy to keep this under 100 for the second year in a row. This was a very difficult year in many ways, but music helped make it more bearable.

As always, criteria and info:

This is a list of what I personally like, not ones I’m saying are the “best” from the year; more subjective than objective

No artist is featured more than once

If it comes down to choosing between two songs, I try to give more weight to a single or featured track

Each song on the list is linked in the title if you wanna check them out for yourself; there is also a Spotify playlist at the bottom that includes the majority of the songs

Usually a pump up video goes here, but 2020 had a different energy, so Michael, take us in.

88) Katy Perry - “Smile”

Even Katy Perry’s good songs are a swirling spiral of maxed out auto-tune. This one is just fine. It’s... fine.

87) All Time Low - “Trouble Is...”

Is All Time Low the Katy Perry of pop punk?

86) Tee Grizzley f/ Payroll Giovanni - “Payroll”

I have never heard of Payroll Giovanni, but I have two questions:

1) Is this his song, and he got Tee to jump on it?

2) Or, did Tee write a song called “Payroll” and think to himself “You know who would be great on this? Payroll Giovanni!”

Favorite stretch:

Listen, we is not the same, you say "door", I say "dough" You say "floor", I say "flow", you say "for sure", I say "fa'sho"

85) Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - “Rain On Me”

Coming out in 2020 probably hurt this song, because I have no, like, out of the house memories with it. You can only have so much fun with Big Singers Singing over a pulsing beat when it’s coming from the phone in your kitchen as you’re indifferently scrambling eggs.

84) Benjamin Gibbard - “Life In Quarantine”

Now this is a song you can do nothing to; almost feels like it’s reluctant to even exist. It got released in March of 2020, so the outro (“No one is going anywhere soon”) served as a too sad reminder/mantra for what the year was about to be. Second shout out to Gibbard for the many YouTube sets he put together during the early stages of the pandemic (when so many of his peers were trying to figure out the next move).

83) Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion - “WAP”

This felt less like a song and more of a “whoa, did you see the music video?!” and/or a means to relitigate the eternal question “What is the sexual line in music?” And while it was fun to watch people freak the fuck out... the quality itself really needed to be better.

(Note: YouTube video is the edited chorus; explicit version here)

82) McKayla Maroney - “Wake Up Call”

Former Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney -- of medals and memes fame -- dips her toe into the music waters. It’s inside-the-box modern pop music. One thing that’s hard to escape: it doesn’t really sound like her.

81) Chelsea Cutler - “Sad Tonight”

He vocals really remind me of Alessia Cara.

80) blink-182 - “Quarantine”

Blink doing a Bad Religion impression. Docked a few points for the very weak chorus lyrics (“Quarantine, fuck this disease”). That said, as serious as the song comes off, there are some clever punchlines to be found.

79) Dave Hause & Brian Fallon - “Long Ride Home”

This is kind of a nothing song, but it’s easy listening. Also, if your guitar leads can’t clear the “Could Bobby have written or performed this?” bar, then said leads are probably pretty weak.

78) Travis Scott & Kid Cudi - “THE SCOTTS”

Two artists who pair so well together, it’s hard to tell who exudes more influence on the track (eh, that’s not true, it’s Travis Scott, but Kid Cudi is more of a roommate than guest). They want you to be high by the time the instrumental outro hits.

77) The Strokes - “Bad Decisions”

The beginning sound feels somewhat evolved, but by the time Julian Casablancas croons “Making bad decisions”, the song feels like it could be on their debut album “Is This It?”. And it goes in and out like that from there.

76) Thundercat - “Dragonball Durag”

Thundercat is one of those artists I wish I liked more, but when the occasional track does hit, it’s a momentary glimpse into what real fans seem to always see.

75) TI f/ Lil Baby - “Pardon”

Standard fare. Lil Baby’s cameo is very meh.

74) Porches - “Do U Wanna”

For a song that repeatedly asks “Do you want to dance?”, it sure makes you feel like you’re moving in slow motion.

73) NOFX - “Thatcher Fucked The Kids” 

On the best-named album of the year (“West Coast vs. Wessex”), Frank Turner and NOFX cover each other’s material. To start us off, the legends take a song from 12 years ago about British politics from 40 years ago and, well, very easily apply it to right god damn now in America.

72) The Bombpops - “Dearly Departed”

Ahh, my year’s first cancelled concert. The listed names in V1 always make me want to skip this song -- but patience, grasshopper. Chorus is aight.

71) Ratboys - “Alien With A Sleep Mask On”

This band name will never match what the music sounds like.

70) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - “She’s There”

The vocals in this song channel, like, four completely different singers for me, ranging from Bob Dylan to Cloud Nothings.

69) NOBRO - “Don’t Die”

An anthemic chorus meant to be belted in a room with sweaty strangers.

68) Oliver Tree f/ blink-182 - “Let Me Down”

The original solo version of this song is 1:52, and though the blink cameo pushes it over the dreaded two minute mark, it adds enough diversity to justify the choice (keep an eye out for the quick Green Day lyrical nod in the back half).

67) AJJ - “Normalization Blues”

This dropped in January, and if you thought the year was bad then. Punk News:

I'll admit I do want the album to age badly because I really don't want to have to listen to it years later and still say this is the world we're living in.

Said album being titled “Good Luck Everybody” is straight cryptic.

66) Selena Gomez - “Rare”

Very chill for big pop; triplet rhythm singing in the chorus gets me erry time.

65) Kid Cudi & Eminem - “The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady”

Cudi’s second split collab yields bigger results than his Travis Scott joint (admittedly with a worse beat here). It rarely ever hurts to let Eminem do the heavy lifting.

64) Alkaline Trio - “Smokestack”

A little cheerier than the average Alk3 song, but Dan Andriano seems like he’s been in a great place for a long time now; confident and in control. For me, the whole song builds up to the “You changed my life” chorus.

63) Frank Turner - “Scavenger Type”

Here, Frank takes on the acoustic closer to NOFX’s legendary 1994 album “Punk In Drublic”. Though the energy boost is most noticeable, my favorite part is how you can hear how much Turner loves this song as his melody bursts on the verses.

62) Mike Posner - “Alone In A Mansion”

Mike Posner, an artist I have a very soft spot for, released a storytelling concept album in 2020. From the intro track:

This album was written, recorded, and produced over a period of two weeks in Detroit, Michigan in my parents' basement. It's meant to be listened to all the way through. At least on the first listen. And it's about 36 minutes long. If you can't devote 36 minutes of undivided attention to this album, I again politely ask that you turn it off and return at a later time. I love you and I thank you for taking the time to listen in the first place. Also, it's important to note that the characters and the stories in this album are completely fictional. In addition, anyone struggling with a mental illness - depression, schizophrenia - should not listen to this album. Turn it off.

So those are the stakes. Pulling this song -- the record’s closer -- feels unfair void of context, but them’s the breaks.

61) Nada Surf - “Just Wait”

Heavy hitting chorus without having to be heavy; this could really work in a movie.

60) Matt Pond PA - “Wild Heart”

This having only 805 views on YouTube is criminal.

59) Liquid Death - “Unnecessary And Unimpressive”

Liquid Death -- in this iteration -- is a punk rock supergroup with members of Rise Against, Anti-Flag, The Lawrence Arms, and The Bombpops. If that didn’t interest you enough, all lyrics in the project (which, I believe, is for charity) come from hateful comments or negative reviews. Of the four artists involved, this sounds most like a Bombpops song, with Jen on lead vocals as others chime in.

58) PUP - “Rot”

Off my silver medalist for album name of the year (“This Place Sucks Ass”), PUP doesn’t do anything new here, but it was relieving to see them still going in 2020 when so many others got roadblocked, both physically and creatively.

57) Paul Harrold and the Nuclear Bandits - “Massanutten”

This reminds me of local Chicago artist Al Scorch. So much earnestness in the vocals, but a little more prairie for Harrold compared to speakeasy for Scorch. This would be a good road trip song. And I’m not talking about singalong... more for the stretch where you want to sit in silence and look out at the sun-kissed land blazing by. The song’s greatest victory is getting me to like something that cracks 6:00.

Note to future me: Massanutten is in Virginia (saved you a Google).

56) Kesha f/ Sturgill Simpson, Brian Wilson & Wrabel - “Resentment”

Kesha has been vulnerable in the past but never this stripped down sonically; the chorus would feel right at home on a country radio station. Love a good bridge, too.

55) Megan Thee Stallion f/ Beyoncé - “Savage (Remix)”

An up-and-comer pairing with a legend rarely lets down when both sides are this locked in. Bey wins. Fav line: “If you don't jump to put jeans on, baby, you don't feel my pain”.

She matches flows with Megan but also brings melody. Her blessing takes this song from pretty damn good to undeniably great.

That beat, too.

54) Red City Radio - “Baby Of The Year”

If all you want to do right now is grab a drink in a bar, here is a video built to troll.

(Also: a Liquid Death cameo?!)

53) Nathaniel Rateliff - “And It’s Still Alright”

The last time Mr. Rateliff had our attention, he just wanted a drink. That hit had a chorus with the very-sad-when-removed-from-the-song “If I can't get clean, I'm gonna drink my life away” lyric. Well, our man got sober since. And when the party is over, the introspection comes.

52) Direct Hit! - “HAVE YOU SEEN IT?”

Listening to slowed down Direct Hit! is like watching Usain Bolt lightly jog. It kinda makes sense because the core action is there, but it also feels sort of incorrect.

51) Hayley Williams - “Dead Horse”

Solo Hayley songs have this feel like they could do anything at any time... but then don’t. This one does the same until a very fun chorus breaks it up.

50) Kid Cudi f/ Phoebe Bridgers - “Lovin’ Me”

Probably the most improbable collab on this list (if 2020 hadn’t repeatedly taught us to not be surprised by anything).

49) The Homeless Gospel Choir - “Don’t Compare”

Listening to The Homeless Gospel Choir is kind of like getting a dedicated pep talk from a good friend... while fire rains down from the sky.

48) Carly Rae Jepsen - “Let’s Sort The Whole Thing Out”

Queen vocals with one prince of a tempo; this chorus is Sour Patch Kids riding Twix logs down a soda pop waterfall -- and it’s a b-side.

47) Green Day - “Meet Me On The Roof”

I like this song because it reminds me of summer and because it doesn’t really sound like Green Day (but still totally does).

46) Broadway Calls - “Meet Me On The Moon”

Promise -- swear -- I was gonna compare this Broadway Calls song to Green Day before realizing they both had titles about meeting in an escalated location. That said, I did put them next together on purpose to more coherently make this point.

45) David Rokos - “Building Bridges”

My buddy Dave wrote this song, and I think I’ve asked him three times what “burning sugar” meant (he says it’s a reference to absinthe). This song will make you want to travel to enjoy not only the places but the people around you.

44) Charli XCX - “claws”

Charli XCX keeps it futuristic in a video that could be described as sexy, cheesy, goofy, and playful-yet-serious.

43) Brian Fallon - “Lonely For You Only”

This is too easy and should not work (and maybe doesn’t). But that chorus... that circular phrasing... it still takes me all the way out. But I’m the same cat who proposed while a Gaslight Anthem cover was playing.

42) Waxahatchee - “Fire”

This song could be in a different language and hit just as hard.

41) Harry Styles - “Adore You”

Purifying pop.

40) Local H - “Hold That Thought”

Hardest rock song thus far. Local H was one of the first artists to play “live” once the lockdown hit (on a simultaneous YouTube/Facebook stream), and watching them attack music in their Chicago practice bunker felt a little bit like taking in the end of the world. New songs, old songs, covers -- it didn’t matter; their cool, unmatched apathy fits a pandemic or peacetime.

Ironically, was able to see them live in 2020, as they played a socially distanced, outdoor drive up concert in a minor league baseball parking lot. It wasn’t the same, but it was still something.

39) Crazy & The Brains - “I Don’t Deliver Pizza Anymore”

This song is just cool*. The verses feel tense and crucial, it starts to unspool in the pre-chorus, and the chorus itself feels like a light comedown more than anything else.

(* -  though the lyric video is docked some points for spelling y’all as “ya’ll”)

38) Drake f/ Fivio Foreign & Sosa Geek - “Demons”

Menacing Drizzy can be very fun from time to time. Also more than happy to keep “Toosie Slide” very far away from this list.

37) Hey Dad!!! - “Life’s Alright”

Small band, big song; though summer feels light-years away.

36) insignificant other - “i’m so glad i feel this way about you”

This song lands a big haymaker in the first few seconds, so it was probably a good call to pull back some for the chorus and, eventually, outro.

35) BTS - “Dynamite”

Heard they made the lyrics bad on purpose for their English hit, which makes sense, because they’re bad. That said, if you listen knowing they’re supposed to be bad, it kinda makes them... good? Listen, 771 million views would have me singing nursery rhymes in Pig Latin.

34) DaBaby f/ RODDY RICCH - “ROCKSTAR”

Someone said this could be the song of the summer, but, because there wasn’t really a summer, I feel like I only heard it once all year. Also, are we really pretending Post Malone* didn’t just do a “like a rockstar” song three years ago?

(* - and N.E.R.D. before that and Cypress Hill before that... though N.E.R.D. only waiting a year after Cypress, so maybe DaBaby actually was patient)

33) The Front Bottoms - “the hard way”

Don’t take it easy on the animal / I am the animal

Not quite sure what this line means, but I fixate on the phrasing every single time. This song sounds resigned in a very self-aware way.

32) The 1975 - “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”

For a band called The 1975, they sure sound like they’re on their ‘80s shit here. Also, a real thing that happened:

Me: Is he coercing her to get naked?! I thought this band was woke.

/scans lyrics

/notices “She said” before the “Maybe I would like you better if you took off your clothes” line

Me: Ahh.

Sax solo, take us out.

31) Charly Bliss & PUP - “It’s Christmas And I Fucking Miss You”

A song that is already a forever staple on all my future Xmas playlists.

30) 2 Chainz f/ Ty Dolla $ign & Lil Duval - “Can’t Go For That”

Shorty said she love me / I said “I love me back”

This is a real genre blur; rap at its core, but also soulful, funky, and very danceable. Damn creative.

29) Billie Eilish - “Therefore I Am”

Billie's 2020 gave a few singles -- but no new album -- and a body shaming scandal where the backlash to the backlash probably caused more headlines than the tweet that started it all. Still, she stays on cruise control above the clouds; can all eyes be on you if they can’t even make you out?

Video for this is fun, too. Not sure if her running amok in an empty mall is more of a COVID necessity or commentary on the dying retail industry. As always with her, fill in your own blanks for now.

28) Future f/ Drake - “Life Is Good”

This was my most listened to rap song in the first half of the year, and bumping again now, almost forgot how good it is. Drake just chasing one-liner Instagram captions in the first half:

- “Haven’t done my taxes, I’m too turnt up”

- “N****s caught me slipping once, OK, so what?”

- “B****, this is fame not clout, I don’t even know what that’s about”

And, of course, “Workin’ on the weekend like usual”. The man could make anything glamorous. Let’s hit that H&R Block, bro!

Future’s back half is a totally different song and feels mostly like noise, but the vibe is cool, so I don’t even totally mean that in a bad way. You can even make out a “Got Promethazine in my blood and Percocet” lyric to mark your Future bingo card and immediately move on.

27) I’m Glad It’s You - “The Silver Cord”

This song feels like cold air blowing on the back of your neck.

(Sidebar: thought this band was called The Silver Cord until literally right now)

26) The Spill Canvas - “Mercy”

A dreamy, distorted, at-home version of whatever you remember The Spill Canvas sounding like. This song is confessional and at peace, with the Grade A self-loathing we’ve come to love from this band.

25) 100 gecs f/ Charli XCX, Rico Nasty & Kero Kero Bonito - “ringtone (remix)”

100 gecs first hit my radar with the explosively obnoxious “money machine”, but that’s a 2019er, so this remix to “ringtone” will have to do. It’s catchy like a younger sibling persistently singing a song you’re sick of hearing*.

(* - /only child trying to work in sibling analogies)

24) iann dior f/ Machine Gun Kelly & Travis Barker - “Sick And Tired”

Iann Dior -- ...yeah -- channels Juice WRLD on the hook, and MGK/Travis Barker buoy a track that, honestly, doesn’t really even need the help.

23) Nick Lutsko - “Unleash Your Spirit”

Lutsko hit my radar on Twitter with some legendary political anthems (word to the RNC and Dan Bongino + his Dashboard Trump parody). “Unleash Your Spirit” is the song I most fear hearing (or even thinking of) within a few minutes of going to bed. Not because it’s Halloween theme is scary -- because it’s that god damn catchy. It permeates your brain. True story: a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with “Bobbing for apples with the boys” so ingrained in my head, it felt like someone was standing there yelling it through a megaphone.

22) Dogleg - “Kawasaki Backflip”

Bad 2020 robbed many concerts from us, and not getting to see this band live might take the cake. I end the year liking them but could have been *all in* with the right performance and the right venue. Also, Song Title of the Year until further notice.

21) Eminem f/ Juice WRLD - “Godzilla”

Eminem has all of the words and all of the lyrical dexterity, but sometimes it feels like there isn’t anything to ground him. Enter: one of the best beats he’s ever spit on and a Juice WRLD hook to give it pop angle. But let’s not put Slim in the corner -- when he starts accelerating at the end, it’s is a true “holy fuck” moment. It sounds faster than if you actually fast forwarded.

The video ends with a touching audio message from Juice WRLD.

20) Soccer Mommy - “circle the drain”

This song is so gloriously ‘90s; it leans in and does not care.

19) Sam Russo - “Always Lost”

The first time I met you, we were on the last bus You passed me a bottle, and I knew you were one of us

Took 25 words to hook me; I was txting friends before the first chorus even hit.

18) Sincere Engineer - “Trust Me”

Deanna Belos pushes her vocals in this one. I asked about the performance, and she said it was one of the first ones they recorded in the studio, but when they were done and listening back to everything, she re-did this track because her throat was much more used to what the song required.

“That’s why it sounds like I’m on roids lol,” she added.

17) Jay Electronica f/ JAY-Z - “Flux Capacitor”

Jay Electronica signed to Roc Nation in November of 2010. At of the start of 2020, he had still -- STILL HOW FUCKING STILL -- not released a debut album. When he announced it was finally dropping in February, it was met with skeptic eyes. He’d “announced” before. Shit, he’d even posted track lists of albums that never saw the light of day. He was a tease’s tease. It ended up getting a release date of March 12. As the pandemic got really bad in the March 11 zone, he finally had an actual reason to delay the proceedings (the plan: a studio live stream listening party*).

But no -- this is Jay Electronica. Why wouldn’t he drop as the world was ending? The same reason why his costar wouldn’t not have a watch like a Saudi prince. It had to end for it to happen. I wish I saved the memes, because they were fantastic. All I have is my own Twitter memory to prove it happened:

I love this song entirely: the “get the gat” hook (soooo New Orleans), Hov calling out the NFL/acquaintances clout chasing his potential death/rapping forever bars, Jay Elect’s ham-fisted and awkward ass Farrakhan line. Everything is exactly where it should be.

Final verdict on the full album: I don’t know, a B or B+? It had a lot more Jay-Z than expected (wooo), but -- and I rarely say this -- it could have actually been longer.

16) New Found Glory - “Greatest Of All Time”

NFG with a song referencing the Jordan-Rodman-Pippen Bulls only a few months before “The Last Dance” aired. Dare we call it marketing genius? The punk beat does not care; the punk beat is too busy taking souls.

15) Dave Hause f/ Amythyst Kiah & Kam Franklin - “Your Ghost”

“I can’t breathe”

On the heels of the George Floyd/BLM protests came Dave Hause’s somber attempt to capture the moment, desperation, and hurt. On a podcast, he said he was aware he might not ever lead the movement but still wanted to contribute something in an effort to use his platform as a white artist to change someone, anyone’s mind going forward.

14) Taylor Swift - “this me trying”

The chorus makes me feel like the crowd is parting like the Red Sea on a high school -- shit, no, middle school -- dance floor; smoke machine and all. Your crush is waiting for you on the other side. What are you going to say?

13) Phoebe Bridgers - “Kyoto”

Phoebe is one of the best lyricists out because of her specificity, but even though this song is about her dad, you can really fit it to your own narrative.

12) The Lawrence Arms - “Last, Last Words”

The Lawrence Arms wrote their new record (which singer Chris McCaughan described as “this end of the world outpost”) prior to the pandemic, but once you start to process album themes -- and research its namesake -- you do wonder. All of this, combined with some “Catcher In The Rye” references, and we’ve got ourselves a winning formula.

Dressed to kill for oblivion 

11) New Lenox - “Fairytale Of Gary, Indiana”

Your boy plays drums and is on the cover art for this one. Dave Rokos wrote the tune, which references The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”. Good news: no slurs in the Gary version. We’ll have you in and out in 90 seconds. Also: say hello to the recording debut of Alisa Caruso (some backup vox at the end). 

10) Beach Slang - “Tommy In The 80s”

My most played song of 2020, but it really was more of a byproduct of how early in the year the album dropped. I’m still such a sucker for it, though. Other than forced nostalgia, not totally sure what the track is about. Did learn Beach Slang recruited former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson to play on their LP, which was named -- /deepest of breaths -- “The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City” (so maybe it has something to do with that).

9) Juice WRLD f/ Mashmello - “Come & Go”

The :55 mark. Wait until the :55 mark. When the guitar kicks in and tempo doubles, we have a real “oh, shit!” moment. I knew who Juice was when he passed but only “Liquid Dreams”. His 2020 album (“Legends Never Die”) showed us of what could have been; 55 minutes, loaded with cameos and creativity and experimentation. This song had me in its gravitational pull immediately. By the end of the year, they were using it on sports broadcasts, and it felt like a ubiquitous part of the culture.

One of my favorite days of 2020 was visiting the Juice mural in Chicago with my wife. We went impulsively during the day after someone posted a picture on Twitter.

I snapped one of my own and posted to IG with the Signals Midwest lyric “There is such quiet grace in private moments in public spaces”. The band responded with “RIP JUICE”; the perfect online exchange.

Shortly after, I was out with a different group of friends, and we went back at night. This time, it was protected by a fence you had to squeeze past. When we got through, there were kids in there smoking, taking pictures, just hanging out; empty liquor bottles lined the bottom of the mural. Even though it didn’t take all that long to make it there, it still felt like a journey and total ‘movie moment in real life’; a complete rarity in a year like 2020.

8) Mac Miller - “Good News”

Maybe I’ll lay down for a little...

Sadly continuing the theme of artists gone too soon, we have this reflective Mac Miller single, which feels more like self-eulogy than traditional rap. You feel it the entire time. The song crests with “There’s a whole lot more for me waitin’ on the other side”, and it conveys a readiness for whatever happens next.

7) The Dirty Nil - “Done With Drugs”

I don’t pray to Jesus or even own a suit

We lost the creators of our last two songs to substances, and, if we are to take this song at face value, The Dirty Nil don’t want to go down the same path. Drying out never sounded so cool and defiant... until the IKEA suggestion.

6) The Weeknd - “Blinding Lights”

Uptempo Abel is undefeated. My favorite pop song of 2020 has you feeling like you’re speeding through the empty streets of nighttime Las Vegas in a stolen car; indifferent to your environment, only tuned in to your personal desire.

And, on the lamer side of the spectrum, it spawned a catchy TikTok dance.

5) Spanish Love Songs - “Self-Destruction (As A Sensible Career Choice)”

It won’t be this bleak forever... yeah, right.

SLS has always been over-the-top with their lyrics spotlighting the hopelessness of the human condition -- so it was the *perfect* combo to being locked inside with nothing looking to forward to. Bonus: fun cake video.

Though the song’s core is uncut despair, a random moment I remember from 2020 was my wife telling me “I can hear you smiling as you’re singing” from another room as I belted the despondent chorus.

4) Worst Party Ever - “False Teeth”

This song sounds like The Front Bottoms; insecure yet so full.

3) Run The Jewels - “the ground below”

There were a lot of songs *about* 2020, but I’m not sure any artist soundtracked what being alive now is like more than RTJ. My favorite rap song and rap record of 2020.

Fav Killer Mike line: “Not a holy man, but I'm moral in my perversiveness / So I support the sex workers unionizing their services”

Fav El-P line: “I'll slap a dying child he don't pronounce my name correct”

2) The Menzingers - “America Pt. 2″

The Menzingers unexpectedly released an acoustic, re-done version of 2019′s “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” single. It dropped on my birthday -- June 5th, 2020 -- as the rage in this country boiled over and protesters took to the streets. Though some of the lyrics remained the same, the new ones were changed with true purpose:

Well George Floyd was murdered by a cop The whole world saw the video and watched Now justice is long overdue Grab your pitchforks, we’re heading to Pennsylvania Avenue

I had nothing left when the first pre-chorus hit: “I hope the Devil and Donald and Mitch McConnell rot in hell for all tomorrows”. Tattoo this on my fucking soul.

All funds from the song were donated to Community Bail Funds (via Act Blue) & Campaign Zero. I purchased the track before hearing a note.

1) Machine Gun Kelly - “My Bloody Valentine”

Going into the year, I couldn’t tell you the difference between Machine Gun Kelly and Mac Miller -- now they’re both fixtures in this Top 10. All I really knew about MGK involved tattoos and a rap battle lost to Eminem (not that anyone ever beats Eminem).

In 2020, he took a punk/emo turn, with the services of GOAT drummer Travis Barker and new squeeze Megan Fox at his side. This song’s lyrics could potentially be cheesy but aren’t -- they all land. From the simulation going bad to not wanting “fake love” to all the damn second guessing and the earnestness that just won’t let you off the mat.

Every piece to the puzzle adds something: the messy hair, the Ken doll build, the forced iconic pink guitar that now feels actually iconic. It was almost like no one had any fun this year so he could have all of it on our behalf. There’s a half second shot of him sticking his tongue our during the pre-chorus, a joy 99.99% of us never got to feel.

The album itself was just as fantastic*; a 2000′s pop punk throwback with a Halsey duet, horrible skits (hi, Pete Davidson FaceTime), OpIvy lyrical nod (complete with a royalty check), a warp speed punk track that doesn’t even crack the minute mark, your token 6/8 ballad, acoustic closer (about his daughter), and some experimentation that leaves the new genre but still stays nearby; shades of Lil Peep, if he had Blink-182 as his backing band. Speaking of, please do not miss Travis’ fill at the 2:30 mark.

(* - named “Tickets To My Downfall”... woof)

MGK could get cancelled tomorrow, but we’ll always have this year in a bottle. The acoustic version of the song (sung in a lower resister), the 10 minute making of video (that I watched, uh, twice)... shit, he even turned it into a medley at the start of 2021.

It might be cliche to say “stay winning”, but when someone stacks this many W’s with no end in sight, what the fuck else do you call it? Real love.

* * *

Thank you so much for reading. Here is the Spotify playlist (includes 87 of the 88 songs).

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 06/03/2021 ("BED”, Digga D, Kali Uchis)

It’s finally a really short filler week on the UK Singles Chart but not one without its importance as we’ve got some real interesting stuff to talk about this week, even if there are only six new arrivals. Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” is at #1, and whilst I may not be able to post this on Twitter because I’ve been locked out – don’t ask why – this is still REVIEWING THE CHARTS.

Rundown

So, a lot of our debuts are gone, including “test drive” by Ariana Grande as well as other bigger hits dropping out of the UK Top 75 – which is what I cover – including “Burner on Deck” by Fredo featuring the late Pop Smoke and Young Adz, “i miss u” by Jax Jones and Au/Ra, Taylor Swift’s re-recorded “Love Story”, “Before You Go” by Lewis Capaldi, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. There are also a handful of fallers across the chart like Fredo’s continued drops as “Money Talks” with Dave is at #28, “Let’s Go Home Together” by Ella Henderson and Tom Grennan off of the debut to #34, “Love Not War (The Tampa Beat)” by Jason Derulo and Nuka at #36, “34+35” by Ariana Grande at #40, “Good Days” by SZA dropping hard with the streaming cut down to #46, “Mixed Emotions” by Abra Cadabra at #54, “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles at #60, “Didn’t Know” by Tom Zanetti off of the debut to #68, “Siberia” by Headie One featuring Burna Boy at #71 and “willow” by Taylor Swift at #72. What’s probably more interesting are our gains and returning entries, as for returns, we’ve got “ROCKSTAR” by DaBaby featuring Roddy RIcch back at #75, Wilkinson’s 2013 drum and bass track “Afterglow” featuring uncredited vocals from Becky Hill back at #74 for whatever reason, “Higher” by Clean Bandit featuring iann dior at #70 and “Goodbye” by Imanbek and Goodboys coming back strong at #59. Our gains are also pretty unique, as we have some second winds for “Looking for Me” by Paul Woolford, Diplo and Kareen Lomax at #67, “Loading” by Central Cee at #61 and “Roses” by SAINt JHN and remixed by Imanbek at #55. We also have a handful of climbers within the top 40, like “All You Ever Wanted” by Rag’n’Bone Man surging up to #33 off of the debut, which I’m pretty happy about as it’s a really good song. I’m less over the moon about “Little Bit of Love” by Tom Grennan at #27, “Believe Me” by Navos at #25 and finally, “My Head & My Heart” by Ava Max up to #19. There’s not much movement above that however, so let’s get into our new arrivals, starting with something I didn’t think I see here this soon.

NEW ARRIVALS

#65 – “SugarCrash!” – ElyOtto

Produced by ElyOtto

I love doing this show because I find out more about genres I’d usually tend to avoid. I’m not the most knowledgeable person about Afroswing or really, a lot of the house that ends up charting on the UK Singles Chart. I think I know my fair bit about at least the mainstream of a lot of the UK drill stuff, but what I really would consider myself somewhat specialised in is hyperpop. I’m probably too old to enjoy any of it as much as I do but that may just be why I have a connection to this overly online, digital scene of SoundCloud producers and rappers making pretty obnoxiously mid-2000s-influenced electropop, as it really does feel like a retreat to a simpler time with all of the angst of the emo-pop being made around the same time. The hyperpop scene and bubblegum bass as a whole has always felt inclusive, which I think is one of the main reasons why it’s big with teenagers nowadays, because there really isn’t much of a limit in the genre or at least the scope that we’ve found as of yet, whether it be integrating elements of ‘hexd’ or brostep or trance or what have you. Whilst companies may want us to be nostalgic for the 1990s, I think most people are taking a couple steps forward here, and it’s creating some genuinely great music – some of the time, at least. Hyperpop has birthed many SoundCloud-based sub-genres, or I guess micro-genres, including one of which being glitchcore, a glitchier, more off-the-wall brand of cloud rap with a lot of high-energy trap production and nightcore-esque pitch-shifting. I see some brands of infighting amongst people who listen to hyperpop and glitchcore seeing as glitchcore has arguably taken off a bit faster than other more electronic or pop-focused scenes, but I see that as evolution of a scene more than anything. 100 gecs sounds nothing like A.G. Cook, anyway, it’s pointless gate-keeping at this point, especially when TikTok gets their hands on this random kid from Canada. In a genre full of pioneers, this young Canadian guy’s debut single is what gains traction and for what it’s worth I’m happy for the guy but I’m not a fan of the song at all. This does feel like a parody if anything, with its fast-paced gecs impression and admittedly pretty ethereal synth patterns pretty drowned out by lightweight trap percussion and this ElyOtto guy who really isn’t a presence at all, especially if he’s going to pitch himself down and further into the instrumental on the outro... of a song that’s already only one minute and 20 seconds yet runs through two choruses and a verse, of which nothing really is said of substance. People like blackwinterwells and osquinn make similar music especially in terms of lyrical content but there is something to be said about their honesty and somewhat paranoid tones that creep in, whilst there’s nothing really emotionally convincing about this guy’s delivery or content, as while he may make the same semi-ironic references to self-harm, pain medication and Gen Z culture as they do, he doesn’t really have any tact and it feels overly self-aware to the point where I refuse to believe anyone outside of ElyOtto can really enjoy it fully. It makes perfect sense that this started off as a “short soundfont test” and really, it probably should have stayed that way. There’s a lot to be enjoyed in hyperpop but if this isn’t a satire and is a genuine attempt at approaching the scene, I’d be genuinely surprised. That said, his song “TEETH!” is legitimately good with the exact same length, so maybe I’m just full of it. Either way, I’m not a fan. Sorry.

#56 – “AP” – Pop Smoke

Produced by 808Melo and Rico Beats

Another posthumous Pop Smoke single, except this was actually recorded well before his death and probably finished before to boot, as it’s attached to a film, Boogie, that he will actually star in. With 808Melo on production, it’s guaranteed to have at least some hard-hitting drill production and, yeah, I mean, it’s fine. It’s got a pretty eerie vocal sample behind all the murderous lyrics and pretty busy drill percussion with some great 808s, even if it and the sample feels a bit too loud in the mix when Pop Smoke’s rich voice feels buried. It’s just gunplay, really, and a bit of flexing and references to his older songs, as he makes a call and it’s war and he’s off that Adderall. It’s sad that from now on, any material we get from Pop Smoke will be his leftovers and throwaways. That said, this is fine, perhaps a bit too long, and it could be worse – I mean, it originally leaked with a Rich the Kid verse, it REALLY could have been worse. Once again, RIP Pop Smoke and I hope 808Melo gets his YouTube channel back if he hasn’t already.

#50 – “Pierre” – Ryn Weaver

Produced by benny blanco, Ryan Tedder and Michael Angelakos

The UK Singles Chart is changing, and I think that’s what makes this such an interesting week as there is genuinely some stuff here we’ve never seen debut on the chart before – or anything like it – and that’s exciting to me. You probably know Ryn Weaver from “OctaHate”, a brief 2014 viral pop song written by Charli XCX and produced by Cashmere Cat that led to a debut album the next year and thanks to presumably TikTok, a deep cut from said album has now debuted in the top 50. Now I hadn’t heard of her before looking at the chart about an hour ago, so I can’t tell you much of anything at all about the California singer. I’m not really a fan of “OctaHate” but I do have a fondness for that janky electropop production from the mid-2010s – “Gold” by Kiiara is a hill I’d die on – so with production from Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit, I’d hoped “Pierre” would be pretty cool and, yeah, it’s pretty odd, actually. It seems like a pretty ballad but with a very fast-paced, raspy delivery from Weaver and some choppy production that soon tenses in the chorus and I’ve got to say, while I’m not 100% on the mixing, I can get behind the concept here, especially with some multi-tracked vocals from Weaver. The song itself is about trying to run away from her feelings for a lover that never really went away, particularly as she hooks up later with a man called Pierre who speaks in broken English, which gives a lot of reason for the tense pace of the song, even if that is undercut by the production being muddy and awfully willing to kill its momentum in the outro as there’s never really a proper climax. That said, it’s fitting for that final line, “I’ll come around”, which can be interpreted as about moving on or complacency – just coming back to that guy after years of searching for someone else. I do like this – or at least what it’s trying to do – but I feel like it’d enjoy it more with less clutter, particularly in that chorus, which could really elevate this but as it is, it’s fine.

#45 – “telepatía” – Kali Uchis

Produced by Albert Hype, Manuel Lara and Tainy

Okay, so alt-pop all the way from Latin America, that’s also a first... except not really, as ROSALÍA has charted before, if only off of the back of Billie Eilish. Regardless, this is a really high debut for a global hit from Colombian-American critical darling Kali Uchis, someone I’m always glad to hear from. Admittedly I did not check out that last project that was a return to a lot of the Latin American music, including reggaeton, she took early influence from. That debut studio album is mostly an English-language neo-soul record so I appreciate the risks taken, even if I personally didn’t check it out. I probably should though, because this bilingual streaming success “telepatía”, is pretty damn smooth with some of the signature fuzzy keys you’d hear from any Kali Uchis song, somewhat reminiscent of Tyler, The Creator in all of the elegant piano ambiance and soul drums that cut the line thin between live and programmed, but sound quite either way. I especially love the flushes of Latin guitar in the chorus but really, Uchis’ silky voice is what shines here, especially in the subtle, seductive double-tracking and how smoothly it switches from Spanish to English. It’s not perfect, I mean, the transition from chorus to second verse and back again is somewhat awkward, and it does feel like it runs a little short. I was honestly expecting a guitar solo or something but we get very little of anything after that final chorus. Given that I know Tainy mostly from his work with J Balvin – and I’ll admit, also mostly from his work on the Sponge on the Run soundtrack – I’m pretty pleasantly surprised with how this has meshed together and I do really hope this sticks around.

#23 – “Bluuwuu” – Digga D

Produced by Glvck

We didn’t get an album bomb from Digga D, bless the Lord, but we did get this one single and... do American rappers make genuine death threats on their top 40 singles? Just wondering, because this has several references to rival gang members and how he’s going to hurt them in one way or another. That would be fine if it were convincing, but this guy really isn’t, especially if he’s going to do the silly “bluuwuu” ad-lib in the chorus over one of the least interesting drill beats I’ve ever heard. The 808s don’t slide notably, the percussion is like a template and there isn’t any energy to this... which is fine, because it’s very much just about gang violence, half of it censored. That said, it crosses the line from intriguing detail to possibly too detailed in a way that’s just unwarranted over a boring beat and with the tendency to go off-topic with his flexing ever so often. I’d probably rather listen to the posthumous Pop Smoke single over this if I had to choose, at least that beat is, you know, good.

#20 – “BED” – Joel Corry, RAYE and David Guetta

Produced by Giorgio Tiunfort, New Levels, David Guetta and Joel Corry

I thought these guys were literally famous for just being producers, why does a song by two producers need two extra producers and if it really needs them, why aren’t they given a lead artist credit as well? Oh, right: name recognition, even though neither Corry or Guetta have ever made anything worth recognising. This song with RAYE, personality-void guest singer, relies on the line, “I got a bed, but I’d rather be in yours tonight”, because it’s a sex jam in one way or another, even though there are no stakes to that chorus line at all. Yes, I know RAYE has a bed; she probably sleeps very comfortably on it. She probably bought it from Premier Inn. Maybe they were having a sale. There’s no point in clarifying that you have a bed – in fact, a more interesting lyrical turn would to maybe bring some stakes into it by saying that RAYE does not in fact have a home, and the intimacy with unnamed man keeps her afloat in times of hardship. This is really just me stalling because this may be our highest debut but that does not mean it’s worth talking about. “BED” doesn’t really do much more than it’s supposed to. It’s got some vaguely 90s keys, fake hand-claps, a checked-out performance from RAYE and an anti-climactic deep house drop. Do you care? Does that description make you want to hear it? It’s not a negative critique, it’s an unbiased description of what happens. Are you intrigued with that? Do you want to check this out? This’ll go top 10 next week because of the music video, but God, this is just soulless, and that’s coming from someone who talks almost purely about the pop charts. I do like the post-chorus vocal melody for what it’s worth, but, yeah, no, I don’t care.

Conclusion

I don’t even care enough to give it Worst of the Week, as that’s going to “SugarCrash!” by ElyOtto with a Dishonourable Mention for Digga D’s “Bluuwuu”. Best of the Week should be obvious as Kali Uchis’ “telepatía” is the only good song here, but the Honourable Mention I guess goes to the late Pop Smoke for “AP”, even if that’s mostly because of 808Melo on the production. Here’s this week’s top 10:

I predict a lot will change next week, as we’ve got new songs from Justin Bieber, James Arthur, Bruno Mars (with Anderson .Paak!) and an EP from Drake... follow me on Twitter @cactusinthebank if you want in the event that I can use that again, and I’ll see you next week for that snoozefest.

[jmsa1287]

A Year in Review: The Best 100 Songs of 2017 (50-1)

The latest entry into my Year in Review feature. Check out The Best 100 Songs of 2017 (100-51) by clicking here. Below, find 50-1!

050. St. Vincent – “New York”

049. Broken Social Scene – “Hug of Thunder”

048. DJDS – “Trees on Fire” feat. Amber Mark, Marco Mckinnis

047. Charli XCX – “Roll with Me”

046. Jens Lekman – “What’s That Perfume That You Wear?”

045. Rita Ora – “Your Song”

044. Fergie – “Enchante (Carine)” feat. Axl Jack

043. MGMT – “Little Dark Age”

042. Blondie – “Long Time”

041. TLC – “Way Back” feat. Snoop Dogg

040. LCD Soundsystem – "call the police”

039. Sampha – “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”

038. Jessie Ware – “Midnight”

037. Julia Michaels – “Issues”

036. LANY – “Super Far”

035. The Killers – “Run for Cover”

034. Cashmere Cat – “Quit” feat. Ariana Grande

033. Nite Jewel – “2 Good 2 Be True”

032. Tinashe – “Flame”

031. The War on Drugs – “Holding On”

030. Dirty Projectors – “Cool Your Heart” feat. DAWN

029. Kali Uchis – “Tyrant” feat. Jorja Smith

028. Mura Masa – “1 Night” feat. Charli XCX

027. Phoenix – “J-Boy”

026. Terror Jr – “Death Wish”

025. Danny L Harle – “1UL”

024. Lorde – “Green Light”

023. P!nk – “Beautiful Trauma”

022. Pale Waves – “There’s a Honey”

021. Paramore – “Hard Times”

020. Fever Ray – “To the Moon”

019. The xx – “I Dare You”

018. BLACKPINK – “As If It’s Your Last”

017. Cam – “Diane”

016. P!nk – “What About Us”

015. HAIM – “I Want You Back”

014. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Cut to the Feeling”

013. Charli XCX – “Boys”

012. Lorde – “Supercut”

011. Destroyer – “Tinseltown Swimming in Blood”

010. Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”

Miley Cyrus was one of the big pop stars of late to go back-to-basics (think: Lady Gaga's "Joanne," Kesha's "Rainbow"). After capturing the zeitgeist in 2013 with provocative singles like "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop," Miley stripped things down with her new unplugged country album "Younger Now." That LP's first single "Malbiu" showcases the adult side of Miley, whose voice has never sounded better. A breezy and delightfully sweet ballad - one that never steps into the realm of preciousness - "Malibu" celebrates rekindling a love with effortless but poignant songwriting (she wrote the song in an Uber on the way to a taping of "The Voice," where she serves as a judge) that is also an ode to sunny Southern California.

009. Rita Ora – “Anywhere”

It's been a long, tough road for Rita Ora. She's never released an album in the U.S. (though she has great success in her native U.K.), nor has she had much traction with her previous excellent singles in the States. Unfortunately, that's not going to change with "Anywhere," arguably her best song ever, which has yet to chart in the U.S. Nevertheless, it's a high-quality dance-pop banger and it's the perfect antidote to the vile year that was 2017: A euphoric 3-minute and 35-second form of escapism that comes with one of the best pre-choruses in recent memory.

008. Terror Jr – “Caramel”

Just like the candy, "Caramel," the single from the mysterious pop group Terror Jr, is gooey and sticky. It's a hazy balled that references depression, drug use, gay rights and other hot button issues. Speaking with Thump, singer Lisa Terror said the song is "a reaction to the surreal world in 2017." With a minimal production, "Caramel" lures you in with finger snaps and slinky synths and Lisa's manipulated vocals, resulting in a captivating and hypotonic track.

007. Taylor Swift – “Delicate”

Taylor Swift's latest album "reputation" may be her weakest effort since her 2006 debut, but it still comes with some stellar gems. Produced by Max Martin and Shellback, "Delicate" is one of Swift's sexiest songs to date and her most mature. Here, Swift actually swears and sings about drinking as she cautiously pursues a new love interest - she's simultaneously confident and vulnerable. But what propels "Delicate" into one of Swift's best works is its simple sonic construction; a sensual wall of synths and powerful drums that enter halfway through the song, kicking it into a high-gear emotional drive.

006. Phoenix – “Fior Di Latte”

French band Phoenix's new album "Ti Amo" is an ode to summers in Italy and Italian disco. Its highlight "Fior Di Latte" is a glistening groovy jam. Like the Italian cheese itself, the track is a smooth and airy delight that's straightforwardness about making love under the Italian sun complements the track's song construction. The track builds with vibrant bass and singer Thomas Mars's silky vocals, which eventually gives way to a cataclysmic explosion. From one of indie music's most reliable bands, Phoenix's "Fior Di Latte" is a sensual stunner that bursts with light.

005. Selena Gomez – “Bad Liar”

Selena Gomez has low-key been one of the most reliable pop stars of the 21st century. With huge bangers like "Hands to Myself," "Good For You," "Same Old Love," "Come & Get It" and more, Gomez has slayed the charts with undeniable pop gems. For "Bad Liar," Gomez continues her brand of sultry pop, this time unexpectedly sampling the Talking Heads' 1977 single "Psycho Killer." With a funky bass and Gomez's cooing vocals, "Bad Liar" is cool and clever song; the most daring effort from the star yet, giving hope Gomez has further tricks up her sleeve.

004. Lorde – “Homemade Dynamite”

"Homemade Dynamite" wasn't an immediate favorite from Lorde's sophomore album "Melodrama." Unlike the instant hits "Supercut" and "The Louvre," both brilliant euphoric bops, "Homemade Dynamite" is weird. But over time, the track slowly revealed itself, exploring complex emotions with interesting production and slinky synth-work, courtesy of Jack Antonff. With Lorde's signature whispering, "Homemade Dynamite" is the perfect concoction of all of her best traits: A radio pop song that's bent just a little too much, making it fascinating and innovative while still completely accessible. Awesome, right?

003. SOPHIE – “It’s Okay to Cry”

SOHPIE's "It's Okay Cry" was a coming-out of sorts for the otherwise enigmatic British musician/producer. The song's accompanying music video was the first time SOPHIE made her official appearance, with the camera up close and centered on her. (At the same time, SOPHIE released a press release stating she prefers she/her pronouns.) The song is a queer anthem - a stirring ballad that's restrained for SOPHIE, who's known for her spastic and glitch-y synths. With honest lyrics ("The pain inside increases / It takes more strength to hold it in then to give in and surrender") and a massive buildup that erupts with a thunderous clap, "It's Okay to Cry" hits the reset button, making SOPHIE truly one of the most interesting artists to watch.

002. Kesha – “Praying”

There's no better song than Kesha's "Praying" to be the anthem for the abysmal year that was 2017. Her comeback single took aim at disgraced producer Dr. Lukas, who she accused of sexual assault (he has denied all claims). Kesha has been in court battles with the producer and her record label, forced into a music limbo. But when "Praying" unexpectedly dropped in July, it not only an excellent song that showed off Kesha's vocals, but it was also a battle cry, with Kesha throwing down the gauntlet. It established her as a new musician - the "TiK ToK" party days are behind her (remember, she's dropped the "$" in her name)- and posited her as a pop singer-songwriter. "Praying" isn't scornful or angry. Instead, it's full of hope and forgiveness with Kesha taking the high road: "I hope you're somewhere prayin', prayin' / I hope your soul is changin', changin' / I hope you find your peace," she screams during the song's breathtaking chorus.

001. Lana Del Rey - “Love”

No current pop artist has struggled with today's political climate more than Lana Del Rey. With songs like "National Anthem," lyrics like "Be young, be dope be proud / Like an American," and music videos showing her waving the U.S. flag, the elusive singer built her career from American pastiche. But that changed this year after Donald Trump entered the White House. Not only did she cast a witchy spell on him, but she also banned the American flag from her shows, and penned a track about the threats of North Korea. To say that Del Rey become more aware of her surroundings this year would be an understatement. With "Love," the first single off her excellent album "Lust for Life," the chanteuse gets nostalgic, looking back at the music that propelled her into stardom, and turns the track into an ode to her fans: "Look at you kids with your vintage music/You're part of the past, but now you're the future," she sings over a string arrangement echoing the music from her debut "Born to Die." It's a powerful and earnest song (something rare these days in pop music) where Del Rey winks at the Beach Boys and, most importantly, give hope to her millions of fans: "It doesn't matter if I'm not enough / For the future or the things to come / 'Cause I'm young and in love / Don't worry, baby."

[dippedanddripped]

As we’ve seen with contemporary acts from across a variety of genres, music merchandise is now a vital piece of the equation when evaluating the success of both an album and a subsequent tour. While recorded music itself remained the highest source of revenue (according to a 2016 study), merchandise grew year to year (2015-2016) by 9.4 percent. As a result, merchandise accounted for $3.1 billion in global sales, while the gross revenue from live music concerts worldwide was $4.88 billion.

As a whole, the industry has certainly taken note for the better part of a decade. In 2009, Bravado, a unit of Universal Music Group (UMG), secured a lucrative deal to create merchandise for the Rolling Stones. At the time, their roster already included Kanye West, Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, and Nine Inch Nails. More recently, they’ve added millennial talent like Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Brockhampton, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Migos, Playboi Carti, Post Malone, and Travis Scott.

In 2018, Warner Music Group completed a $191 million deal to buy Germany-based music merch maker and e-tailer EMP Merchandising. “In today’s streaming world, merchandise is still one of the best ways that fans can express their passions and personalities,” said Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music, WMG. “It’s also a big part of how music has visible and physical impact on global culture and fashion.”

There are countless dates which have become vitality important when unlocking the history of music merchandise. Here are some of the most important.

January 8, 1931: Wulf Wolodia Grajonca is born

After he immigrated to the United States during World War II, the German born rock concert promoter (better known by his adopted name Bill Graham) was amongst the most important early figures in band merchandise history. Graham managed acts like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin. Through anti-Vietnam War garb and other philanthropic means (like Live Aid and the “Human Rights Now!” tour), he personally planted the seeds for what we now recognize as band merch.

July 1956: Hank Saperstein and Colonel Parker agree on a deal, giving Special Products, Inc. the right to promote the image of Elvis Presley

Hank Saperstein’s company, Special Products, Inc., had previously handled merchandising opportunities for TV shows like The Lone Ranger and Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Peter Pan. Under the agreement, Presley’s manager, Colonel Parker agreed to an upfront fee of $22,500 against 45 percent of royalties and licensing fees. They soon began producing 30 different products, including hats, T-shirts, jeans, kerchiefs, sneakers, shirts, blouses, and belts.

December 31, 1956: Elvis breaks the $20 million mark

The front page of The Wall Street Journal reports that Elvis’ merchandise has grossed $22 million in sales. As a result, the creators, wholesalers, and retailers of America were poised to have one of their best seasons ever.

1960: Michael Vasilantone develops the first rotatable multicolor garment screen printing machine

The original machine was manufactured to print logos and team information on bowling garments, but was soon reappropriated to the new fad of printing on T-shirts.

1963: Beatles manager Brian Epstein hands the band’s merch rights over to Nicky Byrne

Under this agreement, Seltaeb (Beatles spelled backwards) would be a Byrne-controlled company, specializing in promoting the band’s interest in the United States. It is estimated that this decision, which gave the band just 10 percent of all merchandising rights, cost The Beatles around $100 million.

1966: Stanley Mouse designs the very first Grateful Dead T-shirt

Stanley Mouse grew up in a household where his father worked as an animator with Disney Studios, on projects like Snow White. He followed his father into the arts and attended Detroit’s School for the Society of Arts and Craft, but eventually dropped out and moved to San Francisco, drawn to the anti-war protests and resulting art work. Mouse met Alton Kelley, a like-minded artist, and the two went on to design the Grateful Dead skeleton and roses motif.

September 12, 1966: “The Monkees” pilot airs on NBC

The idea for the music-focused show was rooted in Richard Lester’s two classic Beatles films, A Hard Day’s Night and Help. At first, thought was given to building it around an existing pop group, the Lovin’ Spoonful. Instead, producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider decided to cast a band of their own construct. The TV-made Monkees’ debut album released the same day as their first show and sold three million copies in two months, faster than the Beatles’ first album. It also held the No. 1 spot for 13 straight weeks. Since NBC had both TV and music stars, they capitalized off strong merchandise sales as well. By 1967, they had sold 35 million albums — twice as many as the Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.

March 18th, 1968: Bill Graham opens the Fillmore East

Perhaps sensing that he needed to bring his influence to New York City, Bill Graham expanded his growing empire and opened the Fillmore East. As the Bill Graham Foundation noted, “If a new band played a great set at Fillmore East on Friday night, the entire music business knew it by the next morning.”

April 23, 1971: The Rolling Stones release “Sticky Fingers” with John Pasche-designed tongue logo

While the Andy Warhol/Craig Braun-designed cover for The Rolling Stones’ 11th studio album got a lot of attention — mainly for the close-up of a man’s crotch — it was in fact the John Pasche tongue logo that has endured. In subsequent months and years, this abstraction (which was inspired by Pasche’s meeting with Mick Jagger) came to be a focal point of the band’s branding. At the time, Pasche received £50 (about $77) for his work.

1972: Bill Graham and Dell Furano meet

At the time, Dell Furano was a Political Science major at Stanford, who planned to go to law school. Instead, he took a year off from his studies to learn about the concert industry underneath Bill Graham’s tutelage.

“Ironically, back in the ’70s, few bands wanted to sell merchandise, as it was considered very unhip, uncool, and way too commercial,” Furano said. “However, [the Grateful Dead] looked upon selling shirts as a ‘community thing’ and were pleased to have their fans wearing Dead shirts.’”

1972: The Grateful Dead embark on their first European tour

Amongst the many grails that Dead Heads have pined for over the years, the shirts commemorating the four London Lyceum shows that concluded the band’s first-ever European tour are some of the most sought-after.

January 1973: Ace Frehley designs the original version of the now-famous KISS logo

Although there was once speculation whether Paul Stanley had designed the KISS logo, it was finally agreed upon that it was, in fact, Ace Frehley’s creation. While we certainly recognize KISS’s impact on music merchandise, there remains a belief that the twin S’s in the logo actually represented the thunderbolts seen on Nazi uniforms. Frehley has continuously denied the allegation.

1974: Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood open their “SEX” shop in London

The London-based shop had several monikers — including “Let It Rock” and “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die” — before settling on the provocative “SEX” and its “rubberwear for the office” slogan. At the time, McLaren was managing the Sex Pistols and Westwood was a burgeoning fashion designer who had an affinity for combining traditional British symbols with more risqué elements of punk culture.

1974: Winterland Productions is formed

In the mid ’70s, the then-wife of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann asked Bill Graham whom she should see about selling T-shirts during a show. Graham eventually sent her to Dell Furano. Soon after, the two men — along with Dave Furano — established Winterland Productions. Amongst their notable first clients were Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and the Grateful Dead.

“In the ’70s, it was not cool selling merchandise, so we had to be careful,” Furano said. “Groups would say, ‘OK, you can sell, but don’t ­embarrass us. Stand in a corner.’”

March 23, 1975: 50,000 people fill Kezar Stadium in San Francisco to benefit afterschool programs

With performers including the Grateful Dead, Graham Central Station, Bob Dylan and the Band, Jefferson Starship, Tower of Power, the Doobie Brothers, Santana, Mimi Fariña, and Neil Young, this was the first big rock benefit concert in history.

January 25, 1976: KISS debut their “KISS on TOUR” program at Cobo Hall in Detroit

In his autobiography, Face the Music: A Life Exposed, Paul Stanley admitted that KISS had no master plan in regards to merchandise. He credits their manager, Bill Aucoin, with being the real visionary.

“Bill Aucoin always saw the bigger picture,” Stanley wrote. “He could tell that we connected with our fans in a way that far exceeded the norm. He grasped the extent to which people would respond to us beyond the music: he understood the potential of merchandising.”

The first big piece of KISS merchandise was in the form of a concert program for a show in Detroit, which also came with a KISS ARMY membership form. This simple form of communication between the band and their fans laid the groundwork for what would become a major merchandise machine.

June 26, 1976: The Grateful Dead release “Steal Your Face”

The Stealie, as Dead Heads call it, made its first appearance on their live double album, released in June 1976. Created by Owsley Stanley (an LSD chemist and the band’s sound engineer) and artist Bob Thomas, the Stealie has come to represent the bold iconography we continued to see on band merchandise in subsequent years.

1977: Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood create the iconic “God Save The Queen” T-shirt

McLaren and Westwood’s “SEX” boutique reopened as “Seditionaries,” transforming the straps and zips of obscure sexual fetishism into fashion and inspiring a D.I.Y. aesthetic. Amongst the most notable creations was a subversive image of Queen Elizabeth II.

September 25, 1981: The Rolling Stones embark on their “American Tour”

As with previous tours, the “American Tour” was promoted by Bill Graham when the Stones launched their romp around the States in Philadelphia. Midway through the tour, it was widely estimated that merchandising sales were averaging one T-shirt ($10) per customer — a gross of more than $20 million.

December 5, 1981: The Rolling Stones break a 33-year-long indoor concert attendance record

The more people attending a rock concert, the greater the chance to sell merchandise. When the “American Tour” hit the Super Dome in New Orleans, the 87,500 in attendance broke a record for indoor venues.

1982: Bolivar Arellano launches a dedicated Menudo store in Manhattan

Utilizing $5,000 in loans, Bolivar Arellano (a freelance photographer turned entrepreneur) and his wife, Brunilda, opened a dedicated shop to Menudo called Menuditis. Initially, 90 percent of Menuditis’ customers were Hispanic girls under the age of 17 – three years later, the overwhelming majority of the customers were still young girls, but only 60 percent were Spanish.

1984: Winterland Productions acquires the rights to Bruce Springsteen’s massive “Born in the USA” Tour

The tour continued for almost two years and was, at the time, the biggest grossing concert merch tour ever in terms of total merch sales.

1984: George Michael wears a “Choose Life” T-shirt

Designer Katharine Hamnett earned a reputation for her bold and politically pointed T-shirts, famously wearing a “58% Don’t Want Pershing” T-Shirt when meeting Margaret Thatcher. George Michael was amongst her greatest admirers, donning a Choose Life tee in Wham!’s video for “Wake Me Up Before you Go Go.”

1985: Bill Graham Presents is firebombed

The offices of Bill Graham Presents were firebombed and burned to the ground in 1985 by suspected neo-Nazis. Many believe the act was in retaliation to Graham’s public protest of President Ronald Reagan’s visit to a cemetery in Bitburg, Germany, where members of the Waffen-SS were buried.

1985: The Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association is formed

Licensing International, then formally referred to as LIMA, was formed to represent the interests of the various trade groups involved in the burgeoning merchandise industry, spanning music and film. At the time, about 70 percent of the world’s licensing revenue came from North America; today, international markets claim more than 40 percent of licensing profits.

July 13, 1985: Run-DMC perform at Live Aid

Run-DMC were the lone hip-hop group invited to be a part of 1985’s monumental Live Aid benefit concerts, which happened concurrently at both Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium and London’s Wembley Stadium for a total live audience of almost 200,000 people, with more than 1.5 billion watching via television. While performing, Jam Master Jay wore one of the first, soon-to-be iconic Run-DMC logo T-shirts, designed by an in-house designer for Island Records, Stephanie Nash.

1985: Winterland Productions is acquired by CBS Records

The interest in Winterland Productions on CBS Records’ behalf was to, “participate in income streams we haven’t been involved in.” Walter Yetnikoff, then Vice President of CBS Inc, noted that artists made as much as 1/3 of their tour revenue from merchandise.

May 29, 1986: Run-DMC release “My Adidas”

Whereas rap predecessor Grandmaster Flash was known for his flamboyant attire, Run-DMC captured the true New York City aesthetic by wearing items like black Lee jeans, Cazal glasses, and, of course, adidas sneakers. Whereas we now equate certain hip-hop acts with strict allegiances when it comes to sneaker endorsements, this was a watershed moment for the culture, leading to a $1 million endorsement for the group.

March 1988: Long-time friends Barry Cohen and Bob Colasanti take their love of the Grateful Dead and create a business

The pair scraped together $7,000 and leased a 250-square-foot store called Terrapin Station on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, NY. The store was loaded with Grateful Dead-related stuff — everything from clothing and bumper stickers to music and memorabilia. On their first day, they made enough money to pay the entire month’s rent.

April 29, 1988: MCA Inc. acquires Winterland Productions

Winterland’s top executives, including President and Chief Executive Officer Dell Furano and Chief Operating Officer Donald Hunt, continued to manage the company after it was sold for an undisclosed price. At the time, Winterland had provided merchandise for recents events including Live Aid and Hands Across America, and concerts by Bruce Springsteen, U2, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac.

1989: The Rolling Stones choose someone besides Bill Graham to run their “Steel Wheels” Tour

Although Bill Graham had certainly established himself as a major force in the music industry, he wasn’t without ample competition. Canadian promoter Michael Cohl made his name buying the concert, sponsorship, merchandising, radio, television, and film rights to the Steel Wheels Tour. According to The Washington Post, the Stones were predicted to earn between $20-$40 million.

Since then, the Stones have grossed over $1 billion on the road — something that continues to surprise frontman Mick Jagger: “When we first started out, there wasn’t really any money in rock ‘n’ roll. There wasn’t a touring industry; it didn’t even exist. Obviously there was somebody maybe who made money, but it certainly wasn’t the act. Basically, even if you were very successful, you got paid nothing.”

1989: The Stones turn to J.C. Penney and Macy’s

For those who didn’t make the 100,000-ticket cut for the first two Rolling Stones shows at RFK Stadium, the band released a 46-item line of designer fashions and related gear at J.C. Penney  and Macy’s. Designed by Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts, the items featured assorted Stones logos, including Converse sneakers that coordinated with skateboards (for the 12-18 crowd) and polo shirts, denim jackets and a $450 leather motorcycle jacket (for the parents).

1989: Elvis Presley and Zippo partner

According to Shirley Evers, archives manager at Zippo, the first big music act that featured branded imagery on Zippo products was Elvis Presley. A customer could purchase an individual lighter/s, or purchase the entire panel and lighters that captured the many faces of Elvis. In later years, Zippo and EP Enterprises partnered on many different products, including a lighter and pen set.

August 4-5, 1990: Depeche Mode cash in during their “World Violation” tour

When Depeche Mode played two dates at Dodger Stadium, drawing a total of 100,000 fans, the band made about $15 a head in merchandising sales. That’s $1.5 million for just two nights.

1990: New Kids on the Block become a certifiable cash cow

According to Dell Furano, the upstart boy band made around $400 million from merchandising between 1989-1990, from “touring, retail outlets and fan clubs.”

October 25, 1991: Bill Graham dies in a helicopter accident

Graham was returning from a concert in Concord, California on October 25 when his private helicopter smashed into a 200-foot electric transformer and exploded near Highway 37, outside of Vallejo. An investigation later ruled that the pilot had intentionally flown into bad weather.

March 22, 1992: “White Men Can’t Jump” & the parental advisory T-shirt

Although the Parental Advisory label had been issued by the Recording Association of America seven years earlier, White Men Can’t Jump – specifically Woody Harrelson’s character – turned the monochromatic emblem into a certifiable fashion statement.

1992: The other Dream Team turn to Grateful Dead basketball uniforms

Whereas most would equate “Dream Team” with the United States basketball squad sent to Barcelona to bring home gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics, there was a different team of hoopers that garnered worldwide acclaim, too. At the time, the Lithuanian team was in dire financial constraints. Šarūnas Marčiulionis — then playing professionally with the Golden State Warriors — attempted to raise funds stateside. This resulted in a news story and subsequent call from a representative of The Grateful Dead. The band and team worked out a sponsorship deal that involved the usage of Dead skull iconography on a variety of products. When the team won a Bronze medal, they took the stand in full Dead regalia.

1993: Cradle of Filth first print their infamous “Jesus is a cunt” shirt

The genesis for the controversial shirt began when Cradle of Filth prepared to go on tour with Emperor, a Norwegian black-metal band. Though they already had T-shirts printed up, they felt like they needed something new and (perhaps) shocking. At one point, someone broached the now infamous tagline. “We all were laughing about it, like, ‘Oh my god, that’s so anarchic – can you imagine that on a T-shirt?’” the band said. “We looked at each other conspiratorially, like, ‘Shall we?’ And yeah, we did it. Even at the time, we thought, ‘Well, this is pushing the boundaries a little bit.’”

The band originally had difficulty printing the T-shirts in their hometown of Hadleigh, Suffolk, but eventually found a printer in a smaller village who they paid discreetly in cash.

1993: Dell Furano leaves Winterland Productions

Furano was named CEO of Sony Signatures (later renamed Signatures Network), the merchandising arm of Sony Music.

1994: Terrapin Station moves to a large location in Buffalo

Terrapin Station grew from 250 square feet to 3,000 square feet, boasting a mural of Jerry Garcia on the wall outside Hertel and Virgil avenues in North Buffalo.

1994: Barbra Streisand breaks a record

When Barbra Streisand completed her first tour in 27 years, she offered her fans silk jacquard blouses, jackets, and limited-edition jewelry. Her merchandise sales broke industry records, averaging $40 per concert-goer.

1994: Brockum Global Merchandising develops a mail-order strategy

The catalog offered high-end swag, like a varsity jacket tied to the Pink Floyd tour. “You’re not likely to sell a $125 leather handbag to a Metallica fan, but for the Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd, you’re looking at people in their 30s or 40s who can afford to buy finer things,” said Steve Gerstman, a former Winterland vice president who consulted for Brockum. “It’s a question of the aging baby boomer.”

1997: The Spice Girls build an empire in just one year

Buoyed by the strength of their 1996 hit “Wannabe,” the Spice Girls produced more than £300m worldwide through merchandise in 1997 alone, strengthened by sponsorship and merchandise deals with the likes of Walkers crisps and Impulse deodorant.

1999: E-commerce strategies are developed

This new form of shopping was only strengthened as early pioneers like Madonna, Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, U2, Fleetwood Mac, and KISS saw the value in developing official websites. At the time, manufacturing led all industry sectors with shipments that accounted for 12.0 percent ($485 billion) of the total value of manufacturing shipments.

2005: Terapin Station hits $1 million in annual sales

Since first opening their doors, Cohen and Colasanti developed a close working relationship with many of the prominent Dead-sanctioned vendors. For instance: Terrapin Station is the only licensed local retailer that can sell Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir’s stir fry and spicy sauces. When a company such as Liquid Blue (which produces the Dead’s T-shirts) rolls out new items, Terrapin Station gets the first crack at them. The same is true for Grateful Graphics.

2009: Woodstock partners with Target

Although the original three-day music festival will be best remembered as a time capsule for the counterculture, in subsequent decades, Woodstock (and its intellectual property) has become big business. In 2009, they partnered with Target for a range of T-shirts, apparel, beach towels, posters, calendars, caps, and tote bags. At the time, the Live Nation-brokered deal was supposed to add to what was already a $50-$100 million yearly haul. When the exclusivity ended, other Woodstock products hit Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s, Hot Topic, the Gap, Spencer’s, and Urban Outfitters.

2011: A rare Led Zeppelin T-shirt sells for $10,000 at auction

One can only think that the original purchaser of a 1979 Led Zeppelin T-shirt from their 1979 Knebworth gig probably paid $20 for the item. Flash forward several decades, and an unidentified Australian bidder won the tee for a record-breaking $10,000. The shirt was deemed particularly valuable because it was printed in such low quantities, since it was meant to replace conventional backstage passes.

2012: Tyler, The Creator throws the inaugural Camp Flog Gnaw carnival

The one-day event – held outside the Nokia Theatre and featuring seven acts – grew to nearly 40 acts in 2017. Like most music festivals, it proved to be fertile ground for the release of Odd Future merch.

2013: Wes Lang designs tour merchandise for “YEEZUS”

To most, Wes Lang’s design sensibilities were rooted in bike culture and rock ‘n’ roll. Thus, he may have seemed like an unlikely choice when Kanye West was searching for a designer in support of his YEEZUS tour. However, Lang brought unexpected elements into the hip-hop sphere, including the Confederate flag, Native Indian headdresses, and skeletons. In a corresponding move, West also allowed his tour merchandise to be sold at PacSun.

2014: Dell Furano and Kym Furano found Epic Rights

Amongst the most notable artists/entities the husband-and-wife duo secured to Epic Rights were KISS, John Lennon, Aerosmith, Billy Idol, Jefferson Airplane, and Woodstock.

March 23, 2016: Kanye West claims to have sold $1 million in merchandise in two days

As the aforementioned merchandise milestones have already indicated, Kanye West certainly didn’t invent the practice. However, he underlined just how lucrative a playbook it really can be for contemporary artists. During a three-day pop-up in New York City, West claimed to have made $1 million in sales.

2016: Justin Bieber’s tour merchandise hits a diverse roster of stockists

Whereas Kanye West’s tactics spoke to the power of pop-up experiences, Justin Bieber and Bravado saw the importance in getting his Purpose tour merchandise on the shelves of major box retailers, including Barneys, Urban Outfitters, PacSun, and H&M.

January 10, 2017: Gildan purchases American Apparel

In 2017, Gildan Activewear agreed to pay $88 million for the American Apparel brand and some manufacturing equipment.

2018: Online Ceramics gains traction

The duo of Elijah Funk and Alix Ross officially began printing shirts as Online Ceramics for the Dead & Company tour – the band formed by John Mayer and original Grateful Dead member Bob Weir – and sold out their items in just a few days. Although larger entities like Epic Rights and Bravado dominated merchandise at the time, it was a shining example that anyone could get their foot in the door.

2018: Supreme x Public Enemy x UNDERCOVER

Supreme officially announced its Public Enemy x UNDERCOVER collaboration on Instagram, with the help of frontman Chuck D, who discussed the significance of the group’s third studio album, Fear of a Black Planet. While it certainly wasn’t Supreme’s first music-focused collaboration, it was amongst its most effective.

December 2018: Travis Scott designs a product for Houston high school

After a student at Houston’s Dwight D. Eisenhower High School asked Travis Scott for permission to use Astroworld artwork for her senior class T-shirt, the artist did her one better, opting to design T-shirts for the entire graduating class. Key details included “WISH YOU WERE HERE” emboldened on the right chest, “Seniors Eisenhower High” on the left , and a graphic of the earth, which had been turned into a smiley face.

February 2018: Justin Timberlake attempts a fashion rebrand with key partners

In support of his album Man of the Woods, Justin Timberlake enlisted several key collaborators to design a product to reflect each individual song. This included Heron Preston, Jordan Brand, Levi’s, Pendleton, Lucchese, Yeti, Maestro’s Classic, Best Made Co., Warby Parker, and Moleskin.

June 1, 2018: Kanye West releases “Ye” merch

Shortly after Kanye West delivered his ye album at a private listening experience at the scenic Diamond Cross Ranch in Wyoming, he followed up by releasing a merchandise collection online. The six-piece collection was designed by the in-house Yeezy creative team and ranged from $65 -$145.

August 10, 2018: Travis Scott & Virgil Abloh collaborate on Astroworld merch

The “BY A THREAD” design features a screen print of the rapper’s Rodeo character wearing the designer’s Air Jordan I “Chicago” sneakers. According to Abloh, the T-shirt was limited to 500 pieces, which fans could purchase at one his DJ sets at New York’s Sony Hall.

September 2018: Drake partners with SSENSE on special 2-day “Scorpion” pop-up

After previously hosting a Scorpion pop-up in New York City, luxury fashion purveyor SSENSE announced a special 2-day pop-up in SSENSE Montréal.

2019: Bravado purchases Epic Rights

In making the announcement, Mat Vlasic, CEO of Bravado, said: “As the industry’s preeminent brand management company, we are constantly looking for ways to evolve our company while providing fans around the world with an ever-growing array of products and experiences. I’m excited to work with Dell, a true icon in our industry, and expand the Bravado portfolio.”

2019: SLAYER goes big on their farewell tour

With several tour dates left in their farewell tour, SLAYER confirmed they already sold $10 million in merchandise. “There are only a handful of bands on the planet that are that iconic,” said Barry Drinkwater, who co-founded Bravado and now runs Global Merchandising.

[jessicakehoe]

Ariana Grande’s Brain Scan Reveals How Bad Her PTSD Really Is

Many campaigns have worked to normalize the discussion around mental health (Bell’s Let’s Talk and CAMH’s One Brave Night among them). But one thing that really reaches the masses is when a celebrity speaks out about his or her struggle to spread the message that it’s OK to have mental illness; it doesn’t make you weak.

Anyone who has ever suffered from depression or anxiety—whether temporary or chronic—knows the feeling of wanting to crawl into bed and stay there until things seem OK again. And somehow when these celebrities who seem to have it all come out and say that they actually don’t have their shit together, it is encouraging to us. By focusing on their health, it normalizes the conversation and gives us the courage to take care of ourselves (and be vocal about it). One can’t help but wonder whether more openness could’ve helped musical wonders of the past who turned to addictions and those who had publicly documented breakdowns.

Below, see the celebrities who are helping to fight the stigma against mental health by being open about their own struggles. Want to learn more about mental illness? Here are 5 myths about anxiety and depression, and information about different types of treatment.

Selena Gomez

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I have a lot to be thankful for this year.. My year has been the hardest yet most rewarding one yet. I've finally fought the fight of not 'being enough'. I have only wanted to reflect the love you guys have given me for years and show how important it is to take care of YOU. By grace through faith. Kindness always wins. I love you guys. God bless

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Nov 24, 2016 at 6:21pm PST

In August 2016, Selena Gomez announced that she would be taking a break from her career to deal with anxiety, depression and panic attacks associated with lupus (an autoimmune condition from which she suffers). She made a return to the spotlight in November that year at the American Music Awards, where she delivered an emotional, heartfelt speech, briefly touching on her battle with mental health issues.

“I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down,” she said. “If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.”

The songstress also opened up about her issues with mental health in the April 2017 issue of Vogue (which she covered). “Tours are a really lonely place for me,” she told the magazine. “My self-esteem was shot. I was depressed, anxious. I started to have panic attacks right before getting onstage, or right after leaving the stage. Basically I felt I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t capable. I felt I wasn’t giving my fans anything, and they could see it—which, I think, was a complete distortion.”

She revealed she spent 90 days in a mental health facility in Tennessee, surrendering her cell phone and taking part in various forms of therapy. And while Gomez is the second most-followed person on Instagram, she told Vogue she no longer had it on her phone, and an assistant had her password.

“It felt like I was seeing things I didn’t want to see, like it was putting things in my head that I didn’t want to care about,” she said. “I always end up feeling like shit when I look at Instagram. Which is why I’m kind of under the radar, ghosting it a bit.”

Camila Cabello

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#BGT  here I cooooome !!!! gonna b singing #cryingintheclub woooop

A post shared by camila (@camila_cabello) on May 30, 2017 at 5:06am PDT

Former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello made headlines in September 2016 after she left the stage early during a performance under the guise of a wardrobe malfunction. She later revealed, on Snapchat, that the cause was excessive anxiety, even tweeting, “just wanna sleep for 3 days.”

Cabello had already been open about her struggles with anxiety prior to the incident, however, telling Billboard that 2015 was a “low” for her, personally.

“I was having terrible anxiety, nonstop. My heart would beat really fast the whole day. Two hours after I woke up, I’d need a nap because my body was so hyperactive,” she recalled. “I was scared of what would happen to me, of the things my brain might tell me. I realized the stuff I thought was important isn’t worth my health. Now I write in a diary every day, work out and meditate.”

In March 2017, the Cuban-born star revealed to Latina magazine that she also deals with obsessive compulsive disorder. “It was just totally out of control,” Cabello told the magazine of her OCD. “I would wake up with a super-accelerated heartbeat and really negative, intrusive, compulsive thoughts. I was so inside my head, and I didn’t know what was happening.”

She continued, “I totally understand now, being in it, why there shouldn’t be such a stigma on mental illness, because it’s a pretty common thing for people. But you can get help. If you’re dedicated to making it better, you can—because I’m in a much better place now. I started reading books about it and it really helped a lot when I understood [the illness], and that [the thoughts I was having] weren’t real. Sometimes you have to remind yourself to slow down and take care of yourself.”

Zayn Malik

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A post shared by Zayn Malik (@zayn) on Aug 14, 2018 at 10:01pm PDT

In June 2016, former One Direction member Zayn Malik cancelled a U.K. concert due to anxiety. He made the announcement on Instagram, writing, “Unfortunately, my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months has gotten the better of me. With the magnitude of the live event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.”

Later that year, Malik revealed in his memoir, Pillow Talk, that panic attacks have stopped him from performing on more than one occasion. “I just couldn’t go through with it,” he wrote. “Mentally, the anxiety had won. Physically, I knew I couldn’t function. I would have to pull out.”

And while a member of his team offered to say he was sick, Malik insisted on being open about his struggle. “I was done with putting out statements that masked what was really going on. I wanted to tell the truth. Anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of; it affects millions of people every day,” he explained. “I don’t want to say I’m sick. I want to tell people what’s going on, and I’m not gonna be ashamed of what’s happening.”

Cara Delevingne

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Had the most incredible time at @finolhu_maldives this holiday. Thank you @gentlemonster for hooking me up with the shades 🕶 📸 by @james_suckling

A post shared by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne) on Jan 10, 2019 at 12:26am PST

In 2016, Cara Delevingne took to Twitter to reveal she took a break from modelling due to depression. “I suffer from depression and was a model during a particularly rough patch of self hatred,” she explained. Later that year, she told Esquire she had been struggling with mental illness since she was a teen, more specifically, after she discovered her mother’s drug addiction.

“I was suicidal. I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I realized how lucky and privileged I was, but all I wanted to do was die,” she told the magazine, adding a six-month break from school and medication might have helped save her life at 16.

However, Cara stopped the meds at age 18, saying “I get depressed still but I would rather learn to figure it out myself rather then be dependant on meds, ever.”

Adele

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Auckland / Mt Smart Stadium / Mar 25

A post shared by Adele (@adele) on Mar 25, 2017 at 9:41pm PDT

Despite being a 15-time Grammy winner, Adele still experiences stage fright. In March 2017, she admitted to her New Zealand concertgoers that she may never tour again, due to the ongoing issue. “Touring isn’t something I’m good at–applause makes me feel a bit vulnerable. I don’t know if I will ever tour again,” she told the audience. “I get so nervous with live performances that I’m too frightened to try anything new. It’s actually getting worse. Or it’s just not getting better, so I feel like it’s getting worse, because it should’ve gotten better by now.”

Lady Gaga

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I felt like a princess in custom @tiffanyandco made just for me for the #GoldenGlobes 🤗 The Aurora necklace was named after the Aurora Borealis as an homage to #AStarIsBorn 🌟 #TiffanyAndCo

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on Jan 8, 2019 at 10:29am PST

In 2016, Lady Gaga revealed she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after she was raped at age 19. “I suffer from PTSD, I’ve never told anyone that before,” she said on the Today show in December 2016. “But the kindness that’s been shown to me, by doctors as well as family and friends, has really saved my life.”

More recently, Gaga opened up about her mental health struggles in a conversation with Prince William, as part of the royal’s Heads Together #oktosay series, which aims to end the stigma with the help of celebrities.

“For me, waking up every day and feeling sad and going on stage is something that is very hard to describe. There’s a lot of shame attached to mental illness. You feel like something’s wrong with you,” she told the Duke of Cambridge via FaceTime. “In my life, I go, ‘Oh my goodness, look at all these beautiful, wonderful things that I have. I should be so happy,’ but you can’t help it if, in the morning when you wake up, you are so tired, you are so sad, you are so full of anxiety and the shakes that you can barely think.”

But despite her hardships, the A Star is Born actress told William “the best thing that could come out of my mental illness was to share it with other people.”

“I feel like we are not hiding anymore, we’re starting to talk, and that’s what we need to do really,” she said.

Demi Lovato

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A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on May 9, 2017 at 2:42pm PDT

Demi Lovato is one of the most vocal mental health awareness advocates in the biz. The former Disney star, who has battled drug and alcohol addictions, bipolar disorder, self-harm and an eating disorder for years underwent rehab in 2010 and in 2013. Now, Lovato is much healthier and is committed to ending the stigma against mental illness. In 2015, she launched the Be Vocal campaign as a way to encourage individuals struggling with mental illness to talk about what they’re going through.

“I think the more people vocalize what they’re going through—their experience or just simply educating themselves so that they can learn more about what they’re talking about—that’s going to be the key to creating a conversation about mental illness and making it more understood,” she told HuffPost. “There’s a lack of compassion for people who have mental illnesses and there’s a lot of judgment. Once you make people realize that mental illness can happen to anybody—and it’s not anybody’s fault—then I think they’ll become more understanding of what mental illness really is.”

Jennifer Lawrence

Photography by Steve Granitz/WireImage

Jennifer Lawrence opened up about her struggle with anxiety in 2013, telling Madame Figaro that she began experiencing symptoms as a preteen. “When my mother told me about my childhood, she always told me that there was like a light in me, a spark that inspired me constantly,” Lawrence told the magazine. “When I started school, the light went out. It was never known what it was, a kind of social anxiety.”

She eventually went to seek help from a therapist and turned to acting as a form of self-therapy. She also revealed to the New York Times that she manages her anxiety with the use of prescription meds.

Emma Stone

Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

Oscar winner Emma Stone told Rolling Stone in 2016 that she experienced bouts of anxiety and panic attacks as a child. “My anxiety was constant,” she said. “I would ask my mom a hundred times how the day was gonna lay out. What time was she gonna drop me off? Where was she gonna be? What would happen at lunch? Feeling nauseous. At a certain point, I couldn’t go to friends’ houses anymore–I could barely get out the door to school.”

She did reveal, however, that therapy and acting, specifically improv and sketch comedy, is what helped her work through it. “You have to be present in improv, and that’s the antithesis of anxiety,” she explained.

Chrissy Teigen

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My stoop buddy

A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) on Apr 29, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

Chrissy Teigen is never one to hold back, but she shocked fans when she penned an essay for Glamour in 2017 on her struggle with postpartum depression. “I couldn’t figure out why I was so unhappy. I blamed it on being tired and possibly growing out of the role: ‘Maybe I’m just not a goofy person anymore. Maybe I’m just supposed to be a mom,'” she wrote, later adding “postpartum does not discriminate.”

Months later, Teigen finally saw her family doctor, where she got her diagnosis. She began taking antidepressants. “I’m speaking up now because I want people to know it can happen to anybody and I don’t want people who have it to feel embarrassed or to feel alone. I also don’t want to pretend like I know everything about postpartum depression, because it can be different for everybody. But one thing I do know is that—for me—just merely being open about it helps.”

Troian Bellisario

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Thanks @coveteur I truly am a creepy eavesdropper. 😉 (📸 by @weston.wells )

A post shared by Troian Bellisario (@sleepinthegardn) on May 10, 2017 at 6:53am PDT

In November 2016, Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario revealed via a voting PSA that she struggled with an eating disorder when she was younger. She said it was early detection and mental healthcare that saved her. “If I had just been shunned to the side as not having ‘real problems’, I don’t know that I would be living today,” she explained. “I just want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunity for treatment that I have, and I think that we have to make sure that our government invests in those programs.”

Troian shared her story on her struggles with anorexia in her film Feed, which she wrote and directed. “It was not easy; it was like engaging with an addiction,” she told Interview magazine of revisiting her story, adding that working on the film was “like poking a sleeping dragon.” “One of the things I really wanted the film to explore was that once you have this relationship, once you have this mental illness or this disease, it never really goes away.”

And just like many others who suffer from mental illness, Bellisario said she feels like no one truly understands what she went through. “Still to this day, I couldn’t get anyone—even the people who loved me the most, even my boyfriend or my mother or my father—to understand what that experience was truly like for me,” she said. “It was about my eating disorder, and I found there were so many people who thought that it was about losing weight or being skinny, and I couldn’t quite get them to understand that it was about control on a very, very literal level.”

Gina Rodriguez

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One year after the devastation of Hurricane Maria, there is still work to be done. Thank you @ricky_martin for giving us all an opportunity to continue to contribute to the reconstruction of our beautiful island of Puerto Rico. #allin4pr #miislabonita ❤️🙌🏽 link in bio 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

A post shared by Gina Rodriguez (@hereisgina) on Oct 26, 2018 at 4:12pm PDT

Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez got candid about her struggle with anxiety in a moving Instagram post. “I suffer from anxiety,” she captioned the video, which sees her makeup-free in a New York Yankees cap. “And watching this clip I could see how anxious I was but I empathize with myself. I wanted to protect her and tell her it’s ok to be anxious, there is nothing different or strange about having anxiety and I will prevail.”

Shawn Mendes

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Je t’aime France ! 🇫🇷 x

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It may be hard to believe that Canada’s very own heartthrob has had his fair share of anxious episodes, but he has. In April 2018, the singer-songwriter told The Sun in an interview that he had seen a therapist a few times. “I found I was closing myself off from everybody, thinking that would help me battle [my anxiety], then realizing the only way I was going to battle it was completely opening up and letting people in,” Mendes said.

Said anxiety was chronicled in his single “In My Blood” (Lyrics: Help me, it’s like the walls are caving in, sometimes I feel like giving up, no medicine is strong enough, someone help me.)

“All pain is temporary, and the thing is with anxiety, and why it’s such a hard thing for people who don’t have it to understand, is that it is very random and it hits you at moments you don’t expect it. Sometimes it lasts two hours, sometimes it lasts a day and sometimes it lasts five minutes,” he said.

Sarah Hyland

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Velvet dragon scaled 🧜‍♀️ dripping in 💎 for the #goldenglobes @instylemagazine #instylewbglobes

A post shared by Sarah Hyland (@sarahhyland) on Jan 8, 2019 at 9:29am PST

Back in December 2018, Sarah Hyland opened up about experiencing suicidal thoughts after her body rejected a kidney donated by her dad. The Modern Family star, who has had a slew of health problems her whole life, appeared on Ellen in early January 2019 and spoke about her depression.

“After 26, 27 years of just always being sick and being in chronic pain every single day—and [you] don’t know when you’re going to have the next good day—it’s really, really hard…” she said.

“I would write letters in my head to loved ones of why I did it, and my reasoning behind it, and how it wasn’t anybody’s fault,” the 28-year-old revealed, adding that she was “very, very, very close,” to taking her own life.

When asked how she overcame her suicidal thoughts and depression, Hyland said that she confided in a close friend (“I finally said it out loud to someone… just saying it out loud helped immensely, because I kept it to myself for months and months at a time.”) who urged her to see a therapist.

Ariana Grande

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A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Mar 30, 2019 at 9:57am PDT

In British Vogue’s July 2018 issue, Ariana Grande opened up on her experience with PTSD after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. “It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe tremendous loss. But, yeah, it’s a real thing,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”

In November 2018, the singer/songwriter dropped a single titled “thank u, next,” dedicated to all of her exes, including the late-Mac Miller (who died this past September of a drug overdose) and ex-fiancé Pete Davidson, which resulted in fans wondering who her therapist is. “Therapy has saved my life so many times,” Grande tweeted in response. “If you’re afraid to ask for help, don’t be.”

photography via instagram/@arianagrande

In an Instagram story posted on April 11, Grande shared a side-by-side image of a healthy brain and a brain affected by PTSD. She also included an image of what is allegedly her brain, which appears to show incredibly high levels of PTSD. “Not a joke,” she captioned the story. In a follow-up story, Grande posted a selfie containing the captions “life is wild,” “she’s trying her muthafukin best,” and “my brain is tired.” The singer is currently on her Sweetener World Tour, and is slated to headline Coachella this weekend.

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