pop culture

Modern, popular, and iconic pop culture moments in music. From current events, to trending topics and more.

Rock 'n' Roll Highschool
Riff Randell (actress P.J. Soles) likes to rock ’n’ roll — that much is safe to say. And in this cult hit from 1979, she does her rocking with the help of those lovable lunkheads The Ramones (who, according to singer — the late frog-legged crooner Joey Ramone — once collectively pissed in a beer before handing it to John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon). She’s ensconced at Vince Lombardi High, a school where even Mötley Crüe might feel at home, thanks to all the “smokin’ in the boys room.”
By Tom Baker5 months ago in Beat
Sabrina Carpenter:The singer exudes humor in her latest music video, Tears. AI-Generated.
Sabrina Carpenter has just released her latest album, Man's Best Friend, which is full of humor and originality. One of the songs on this latest album is Tears, whose video faithfully reflects the style of the beautiful artist.
By Ninfa Galeano5 months ago in Beat
The Sabrina Carpenter Slowburn (The Opening Act)
Stars. Giant clouds of hot gas. Burning lightyears away. A dot to the naked eye. We call her a star, too. The blonde bombshell. The salacious supernova. Just another big name to the naked eye.
By DJ Nuclear Winter5 months ago in Beat
10 Eighties Emo Albums That Defined the Genre
Eighties music has a reputation for being bright, sparkly and poppy, but in Washington, D.C., a darker genre was starting to evolve. The first "emotional hardcore" bands emerged from the 80s punk scene, setting the stage for mainstream emo to explode in the 2000s while giving listeners an outlet for their heartache, grief and rage.
By Kaitlin Shanks5 months ago in Beat
The Sabrina Carpenter Slowburn (Girl Meets World)
This review is Part III of my critical chronicle of Sabrina Carpenter. For Part II of The Sabrina Carpenter Slowburn, click here.
By DJ Nuclear Winter5 months ago in Beat
Sierra Hull interview
By Brian D’Ambrosio On Friday nights in Pickett County, Tennessee—the smallest county in the state, tucked up against the Kentucky border—you could find a young Sierra Hull squeezed into a crowded community center, mandolin in hand. The room smelled of hamburgers and hot dogs from the concession stand, and local bands played while neighbors filled the folding chairs. Hull, barely tall enough to see over the microphone stand, was already a fixture on stage.
By Brian D'Ambrosio 5 months ago in Beat
Worship Without Walls — Taking Praise to Festivals, Bars, and Streets
The Church Without a Ceiling For centuries, worship has been synonymous with sacred spaces: vaulted cathedrals, polished pews, stained glass windows. But if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s this: God is not limited by walls.
By Sunshine Firecracker5 months ago in Beat
The Movie vs. The Movement: Learning from Jesus Revolution
A Film That Sparked Nostalgia In 2023, the release of the film Jesus Revolution brought the story of Pastor Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, and Lonnie Frisbee to the big screen. For many, it was a fresh reminder of a time when the church cracked open its doors to an unlikely group of barefoot seekers. The movie became more than a faith-based film; it was a cultural moment that reignited conversations about revival.
By Sunshine Firecracker5 months ago in Beat
Music at the Margins: Why the Church Needs Outsiders to Lead Revival
God Moves at the Edges History makes one truth clear: revival rarely begins at the center of power. It begins at the margins, among those dismissed, overlooked, or rejected by polite society.
By Sunshine Firecracker5 months ago in Beat
Brandon Lake: The Chuck Smith of a New Generation?
Is Brandon Lake sparking a Jesus Revolution 2.0 as the Chuck Smith of our time? The original Jesus Revolution began when Chuck Smith welcomed the outsiders of his day into Calvary Chapel. Today, worship leader Brandon Lake may be playing a similar role—tearing down barriers through music, radical love, and collaborations that reach the margins. Could his ministry be the beginning of a new awakening?
By Sunshine Firecracker5 months ago in Beat
Why 3Quency Is the Next Big Name in Music
By Sandy Lo This summer, Netflix introduced viewers to a wave of musical hopefuls on Building The Band, hosted by Backstreet Boy AJ McLean. The twist? Their bandmates were chosen Love Is Blind-style, in private booths where the only things to go on were vocal talent and vibe-check conversations.
By All’s Fair in Love & Writing5 months ago in Beat
10 Nineties Emo Albums You Should Hear
I'll admit it: I've been a bad emo kid. Like a lot of millennials, I sincerely thought that emo started in the 2000s, when bands like Taking Back Sunday and Aiden appeared on the scene. However, when I did some research, I learned that emo's roots go all the way back to the mid-eighties.
By Kaitlin Shanks5 months ago in Beat