POPJUNE 2023 GENRE EXPRESS To indie folk from country PERFECT SKIN PERFECT BODY Secret of beauty TAYLOR SWiFT Global icon discover how Taylor influenced her generation.
ContentsTaylor Swift EXO: Exist SHALALA God Is A Woman 4 - 5 6 8 - 9 10
TAYLOR SWIFT: GLOBAL ICON Taylor Alison Swift, an American singer-songwriter, is a native of the region. The 13th of December, 1989, birth. She is recognized for her songwriting, musical variety, aesthetic reinventions, and influence on the music industry. She is a key cultural personality of the twenty-first century. Swift obtained a recording contract with Big Machine Records in 2005 and started creating songs professionally at the age of 14. Starting with her self-titled album (2006), she released six studio albums with Big Machine, four of which were for country radio. The hits “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me” from her subsequent album, Fearless (2008), which explored country pop, propelled her to mainstream success. Rock elements were present in Speak Now (2010), while “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was featured on Swift’s first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, Red (2012). With the synthpop album 1989 (2014), which featured the #1 songs “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Bad Blood,” she abandoned her country persona. Her upcoming hip-hop-influenced album Reputation (2017) and its number-one hit “Look What You Made Me Do” were influenced by media scrutiny. Lover, her seventh album, and Miss Americana, an autobiographical documentary, were both published after Swift renewed her contract with Republic Records in 2018. Her 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore embraced indie folk and alternative rock, while her 2022 album Midnights explored chill-out genres. The number-one singles for each album, “Cardigan,” “Willow,” and “Anti-Hero,” were a major factor in the albums’ numerous record-breaking accomplishments. After releasing three of her first 6 albums as “Taylor’s Versions” in 2021–2023, a disagreement with Big Machine forced Swift to redo them. The longest song to top the Hot 100 chart is “All Too Well (10-Minute Version)”. In addition to starring in a number of supporting parts, Swift has also directed music videos and movies, including All Too Well: The Short Film (2021). Swift is one of the best-selling musicians, the most streamed female artist on Spotify, and the only act to have five albums debut with more than one million US sales. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide. She has been on prestigious lists like Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Artists, the Time 100, and Forbes Celebrity 100. Twelve Grammy Awards, including three for Album of the Year, a Primetime Emmy, 40 American Music Awards, 29 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, three IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year awards, and 98 Guinness World Records are just a few of her honors. Swift, who has received awards like Woman of the Decade and Artist of the Decade, is a supporter of women’s emp o w e r m e n t and the rights of artists. The 21st century’s most influential musician, Swift, has had a big impact on the music business. She has attained chart success, received critical acclaim, and is adored by her fans. She is regarded as a cultural “vitality.” In a market where streaming has taken over, Swift’s million-selling albums have been considered anomalies. She advocates for independent record stores and is known as the “Queen of Streams.” Alan Krueger’s idea of “rockonomics” was motivated by Swift’s economic brilliance. S w i f t , d u b b e d the “world’s biggest pop star” by Jody Rosen in 2013, defied established patterns and became an alltime musical titan. She defied genres, eras, demographics, paradigms, and trends, making her the most-Googled lady and musician in 2019 and 2022. Social standing
TAYLOR SWIFT: SKILL Influences Voice Songwriting Genres Video & Film Performance Swift’s early music experiences include listening to her grandmother’s singing in church, enjoying Disney film soundtracks, and owing her confidence to her mother. She was introduced to country music by Shaana Twain, Faith Hill, and the Dixie Chicks, who were her biggest musical influences. Swift also explored older country stars like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton, as well as alt-country artists like Patty Griffin and Lori McKenna. Swift has been influenced by various pop and rock artists, including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, the Rolling Stones, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, and Carly Simon. As she grows older, Swift aspires to prioritize music over fame, citing Keith Urban’s musical style and Fall Out Boy’s lyrics as major influences. Swift’s mezzo-soprano vocal range and soft timbre have been criticized for their strained nature as a country singer. However, Swift has worked hard to improve her vocals, with mixed reviews after transitioning to pop music in 1989. Critics appreciate Swift’s use of her voice to communicate her feelings, prioritizing intimacy over power and nuance. Her attention to detail and her ability to use her voice as a percussion instrument have been praised in later albums and performances. Swift’s mature, deeper tone has been praised in her 2021 re-recorded albums, with reviews highlighting her “leagues better now” with her newfound vocal furniture. Her country twang has faded, and her nuanced delivery has been praised in reviews. Swift is a highly praised performer and entertainer in mainstream music, known for her showmanship and stage presence. She commands large audiences, turning stadium spectacles into intimate settings. Critics have praised her versatility as an entertainer, switching onstage personas and performance styles depending on her albums’ themes and aesthetics. Swift’s concert productions are Broadway theatrical, often featuring a live band and various instruments. Her solo acoustic performances are intimate and emotionally resonant, complementing her storytelling-based lyrics and connection with fans. Swift is considered “pop’s most approachable superstar” and the 21st century’s most popular performer. Swift is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Her personal experiences inspired her early songs, which focused on love, heartbreak, and insecurities. Her “diaristic” technique began with identifying an emotion and a corresponding melody. Swift’s music explores themes such as family dynamics, friendship, alienation, self-awareness, and tackling vitriol, particularly sexism. Her confessional lyrics have received positive reviews, with critics praising her melodic songwriting and her ability to create vivid details and emotional engagement. However, tabloid media often linked her songs to her ex-lovers, which Swift herself criticized as sexist. Swift’s 2020 albums, Folklore and Evermore, explored fictional narratives and complex emotions with precision and devastation. Her songwriting is categorized into three types: “quill lyrics,” “fountain pen lyrics,” and “glitter gel pen lyrics.” Swift was awarded the Songwriter Icon Award in 2021, deemed the foremost female songwriter of modern times, and named Songwriter-Artist of the Decade in 2022. Taylor Swift, a “music chameleon,” has diversified her music genres and reinvented herself. Her country music identity was initially rooted in country music, but her pop music style has evolved over time. Swift’s albums, including Red, Reputation, and Lover, have incorporated hip-hop, trap, and EDM elements, while Midnights (2022) has a more experimental, subdued pop sound. While reviews of Swift’s pop albums generally praise her, some critics argue that her pop music production reflects her pursuit of mainstream success, eroding her authenticity as a songwriter. Swift’s pop music transition was motivated by her desire to expand her artistry, and her career has always been one of transcendence and boundary-pushing, defining her as a unique artist. Taylor Swift focuses on visuals in her music, collaborating with directors for music videos and writing and directing projects. She has worked with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2015. Swift Productions, Inc., produces all visual media, including the Reputation Stadium Tour. She co-directed Lover singles and won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video as the sole director.
A boy band from Seoul called Exo is South Korean and Chinese. SM Entertainment created it in 2011, and it made its debut in 2012. The nine individuals who make up the group are: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. Their use of Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese in their music releases and performances is well known. Exo, a Korean boyband that is regarded as the “Kings of K-pop” and the “biggest boyband in the world,” has put out albums including XOXO (2013) and Don’t Mess Up My Tempo (2018). Numerous accolades have been bestowed upon them, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year. SM Entertainment CEO Lee Soo-man unveils Exo, a boy band promoting music in South Korea and China, contrasting TVXQ and YG Entertainment. On July 10, 2023, EXO will make their album Exist available. They released a pre-release single called “Let Me In” on June 12 and will release a music video for their subsequent track “Hear Me Out” on June 30.Since the release of “Don’t Fight The Feeling” in 2021, the song and music video for “Let Me In” are EXO’s first joint musical endeavors.ICYMI, EXO is one of the most well-known boy bands in K-pop. The group made its debut in 2012 with the single and EP “Mama” and now has 12 members. Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun were split up into the Chinese-Korean group EXO-K, and Xiumin, Lay, Chen, Kris, Luhan, and Tao formed EXO-M. Before the release of “Overdose” in 2014, EXO-K and EXO-M, respectively, performed music in Korean and Mandarin. Since then, EXO has performed as a unit and released music in other languages. The announcement of EXO’s upcoming album comes a week after the group’s members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin said they would be breaking their contracts with SM Entertainment (EXO’s record label) because of “mistreatment and unfair contract terms.” The trio has stated that they intend to continue being a part of the nine-member boy band despite their anticipated legal troubles with SM. Separate from resolving legal matters with SM, the members issued a statement saying, “We genuinely thank the fans who have offered love and support to EXO over such a long time.” We will faithfully and diligently continue our group activities under the band EXO, regardless of how this legal battle ends.” EXO: Exist Comeback
Italian American with Sicilian and Abruzzese ancestry, Ariana Grande-Butera was born in Boca Raton, Florida. She is the daughter of Joan Grande and Edward Butera, and she and her maternal grandma get along well. “God Is a Woman” was hinted at in the “No Tears Left to Cry” music video, and it was later declared to be the follow-up single from Ariana Grande’s album. Although Camila Cabello was the intended singer, the song didn’t sound good on her. In 2023, a leaked copy of the original version with Rita Ora appeared online. Ariana Grande’s “God Is a Woman” reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the US Mainstream Top 40 radio chart. The song also reached number 10 in 17 countries, including Greece, Iceland, Israel, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, and Austria. ARIANA GRANDE GOD IS A WOMAN
SHALALA TAEYONG THE 1st MINI ALBUM Shalala is Taeyong’s debut EP, released on June 5, 2023, featuring seven tracks co-written by Taeyong and songwriters Royal Dive, Squar, and Zayson. The EP sold over 380,000 copies in its first week. The music video for “Shalala” released on June 5, 2023, featuring Taeyong as a hacker with multiverse abilities, criticized by Han Seonghyun. South Korean singer and rapper Taeyong, known for his work with K-pop boy group NCT, collaborated with artists and released songs like “The 7th Sense” and “Sticker.” He also joined SM Entertainment’s supergroup SuperM. In 2021, he released his first extended play, Shalala, featuring seven tracks. Shalala received a four-star rating from Carmen Chin of NME, who also praised Taeyong for his propensity to develop a close relationship with his audience. Taeyong’s moving performance is featured on the album, which keeps NCT’s distinctive sound. Lee Tae-Yong Background & Release Critical Reception