Welcome to the weekend, readers! It’s time to leave your worries behind and just relax. Monday—you can deal with them.
It’s been a revealing week! The boys in particular are really opening up: Greyson Chance opened up about her time with Ellen, Colton Haynes opened up and let the girls breathe, and Adam Levine… well, he didn’t open up willingly, but It’s definitely hanging out now.
The music folks are totally freaking it out this week, too. Some with a confessional lyrical style, and some just wearing their Saturday shoes and cutting footloose.
From hotel rooms to feel-good tunes, here’s your weekly bop roundup:
“Star Walkin'” by Lil Nas X
Although League of Legends paid as much for this partnership/approval/collaboration, Lil Nas X deserves a small tip. He had that “that ***** since I came out of my mama” snippet driving the TikTok sound field for weeks, and for good reason. He even slaps him when the price tag hangs from the track. The league’s little nerds better go crazy when he plays at the World Open later this month.
Alaska 5000. “All That She Wants” by
Ace of Base? everything red? Bosco’s complete posterior out? Alaska came on this video set ready for check boxes we didn’t know were on the list. It turns out that pulling this song up was meant to put too much bass in that ace, and it works. Alaska’s recapture of the ’90s and y2k hearkens back to its whole new time red 4 shit The albums are very effective at spinning off periods of queer suppression in the festivities and keeping them at bay. drag race Sister Gyret definitely fits the bill for this ragged beat.
“Hotel Room Sad Song” by Joshua Bassett
You know, as we gay people, we get the option of calling the mid-tempo ballad bop, especially when it’s coming from this charmingly charming little Disney prince. Between a teen divorce album, health problems, and an oddly received moment, Mr. Bassett has been having it for the past few years. As much as this song and the EP of the same name share in that sadness, they seem like an acceptance, a breather. Very “now you exhale, Simon” tea. This Titanic song doesn’t have a perfect ending, but its head-turning recollection makes for a good listen.
“Trust in Me” by David Archuleta
David Archuleta went through his therapy session, then through his coming out, and now seems ready to just cut loose and have some fun. The track is full of feel-good danceability, and the video is serving up a totally cute teen movie breakfast club dance moves 10 Things I Hate About You Football stands. The fact that it’s directed by Kevin McHale and former NLT bandmate Justin Thorne just adds an extra layer of cute guy spice to it. Also, cuffed jeans and high tops? There was a sense of complete bisexuality.
“In My Head” by Joe Serafini and Andrew Barth Feldman
It was a turbulent process deciding whether to include a double dose of HSM: TM: TS Cast member songs on this list or not. Then I realized that this couple actually constitutes a third of the dose, so that evens it all out. PEMDAS or something, I’m not a scientist.
Anyway, this is the sweetest pop Broadway mutual gay crush tune you’ll hear for a minute. Writers Smith & Mertzluft Are Offering a Balm for Everyone Who Heard “Forever” and Just Thought for a Moment dear evan hansen would be lovely and fruitful, and the adorable singers did what needed to be done. A little ambitiously melismatic in the end, but who would blame the tenors for being tenors?
Come join us here next week for another BOP after Bop!