Dissecting Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars Of The 21st Century 💀 Evolution of a Snake Podcast

[@theswiftologist]

EOAS tickets go on sale Friday 12/13 at 10 AM in YOUR local time!! 🐍 🐍 🐍 VIP M&G's are already SOLD OUT: evolutionofasnake.com/

[@JordanRael-e4d]

EOAS on sale December 13th.! Taylor Swift's birthday! OMG who needs a tree with all this SHADE! You guys have balls... 😂

[@re-e-ed23]

not to mention the fact that rihanna has stayed in the top 10 most streamed artists on spotify after years of no new music now thats queen behavior

[@zachbryanchicago]

singles (streams/digital sales) kind of her only strong suit. her album sales, awards, acclaim, tour and everything else not even close to either beyonce or taylor

[@meghansullivan6812]

DUDE i think about this all the time lmfao

[@jillsarah7356]

@@zachbryanchicago True but I would add serving looks. Her fashion NEVER misses

[@cuauhtez]

@@zachbryanchicago Yeah, I don’t think anyone said she was? Her achievement is still unique and amazing.

[@thiagocavalcanti6175]

To still spark people's interest after almost ten years?? Baby, that is queen behavior. People still wants new music!

[@neverland5233]

I'm beyhive and I appreciate how you talk about Beyoncé with respect even though you're a swiftie. That plus your vast knowledge of pop culture is why i watch your channel. Kudos.✨

[@sulathenewfie4277]

Taylor and Bey are friends… Taylor has clearly pointed to the fact she doesn’t like the competitive/comparing (“we all wear crowns”). They support each other, and a true Swiftie doesn’t trash Bey.

[@kyla4236]

what does this even mean lol

[@Njirimara]

​@@sulathenewfie4277 exactly! I've seen people doing the "she's just there because of x man" and I'm like, one of Taylor's career biggest motifs is her struggle with sexism, from speak now being written by herself to the life retrospective in TTPD, how can you so apathetically say that? Don't wanna sound corny, but I think it's very awesome that the top 3 is occupied by women, and I'm sure they're glad too.

[@camilledammasch3648]

Why does it have to be exclusive, as though you can't be both? Zac has immense respect for Beyonce, he has spoken on her so many times.

[@meghansullivan6812]

​@kyla4236 bro what do u mean?

[@summerchild_]

Lana deserved a spot in my humble opinion. She is not a charts topper and she hasn't had a single in ages but she shaped the sound of pop music forever.

[@zachbryanchicago]

She's had the cultural impact, the acclaimed discography, and also being a celebrity's celebrity (like beyonce), but she has 2 very glaring weak points: charting history (barely even a top 10 song) and live performance (awful and lazy performance).

[@crystalkadletc1944]

@@zachbryanchicagoI think Lana would be a more successful career as a songwriter and not a performer.

[@summerchild_]

@@crystalkadletc1944 no one could sing her songs like she does.

[@zachbryanchicago]

@@crystalkadletc1944 I think Lana did an incredible job as a studio singer, but if you can't bring the magic to your live performances, that's gonna take chunks of points as a pop star

[@anuradhalagna2424]

if Lana doesn’t disappear with her new husband, I could def see her having a more critically acclaimed later career like Leonard Cohen and those types of artists

[@paperbackenthusiast]

“You can’t brat if you don’t tik tok on the clock” MADELINE that was incredible

[@justjoannak]

Clocked them

[@nixoletloz]

let's take a moment to appreciate the best podcast ever

[@dana17958]

One other thing that adds to Ariana’s credit is that she was the only ex-act that wasn’t the face of their show and she still left such a big impression enough for her to successfully venture into pop. and she’s still reaching new heights 11 years into her career

[@karacoconutag]

Right! Victorious barely even let her sing either

[@demiotubaga]

That’s not true look at Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears both on the Mickey Mouse club and we’re not the face of the show bc it was an ensemble show but have very successful pop careers

[@kimendable]

@@demiotubagaok but there wasn’t really a “face” of MMC, they were all basically main characters where as Victorious definitely had tori/victoria justice & were positioning her as the lead/face of the show.

[@gravityblue3329]

@@demiotubaga mmc and v are two very different shows

[@giulianavalarino7892]

I personally don't care that Taylor is number 2. I haven't listened to Beyonce's music (she's not very popular where I live) but I'm really happy for her. That being said, I was so mad about them including the Famous video that Kanye made and I feel like we should be talking about that more. It's terrible.

[@charley.13]

I agree, we should DEFINITELY be talking abt that... it was so messed up

[@drawl13]

and their half assed apology after… no comment

[@roxUyolo]

Fr when I saw that I was flabbergasted like what were they even thinking they definitely did it on purpose especially with that KZbin / notes app ahh apology they posted after….

[@LimeSlimeee]

Me : **finally sits down to do some work** 1 minute later... **sees Zach's upload notification** Me : well YES!

[@mustafamehdi1663]

Rihanna is the ultimate IT girl of music industry shes like the Paris Hilton of Music shes always gonna be setting trends without even trying

[@zachbryanchicago]

NO, singles (streams/digital sales) kind of her only strong suit. her album sales, awards, acclaim, tour and everything else not even close to either beyonce or taylor

[@That_BrownGirl]

​@@zachbryanchicagodid you even watch the video??

[@Inksplatter1991]

​@@zachbryanchicago All 3 of them are billionaires and you are not. Worry about yourself.

[@classykalai]

​@@That_BrownGirl They did not watch the video. They are just commenting this under every rihanna comment.

[@arturonyc]

Avril Lavigne deserved at least a honorable mention. You had to be there at her peak to understand her power. Avril was the antagonist of Britney Spears

[@chelseywest2311]

I haven’t finished the video and I keep waiting for Avril and I’m so disappointed to know she’s not coming 😢 she was the moment!! She was IT. She was the reason I wore ties lmao

[@meghansullivan6812]

I was born in 1998 and avril's songs are some of the first songs logged in my gd memory! Same w Hillary Duff haha!

[@IssabellaPerezCruz7]

​@@meghansullivan6812I love Hilary❤

[@GalaxiesUniverse]

Canadians always getting snubbed. It’s like they forget we exist.

[@IssabellaPerezCruz7]

@@meghansullivan6812 I love Hilary😍😍

[@Sam_dea]

Something that’s really interesting to me about the whole thing is that Taylor is really the last of her kind. An old-school pop artist who really had to work for it. Obviously they all have to work hard blah blah. But I mean she was out there, boots on the ground, moving and shaking, walking into radio stations and labels and handing them physical copies of her music… while Justin Bieber was the first of his kind getting plucked from obscurity and thrown into stardom without much of an intense effort put forth on his part. He was just making music on his own and putting it out into the world and the “right” people stumbled upon it. But this was happening at virtually the exact same time!! How weird!

[@kristiebacigalupi8890]

Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I were a man

[@jillsarah7356]

Taylor's first album was 2006, Justin Bieber's first EP was 2009. So not exactly the same time, things def shifted a lot between those years

[@elisemc4109]

@@kristiebacigalupi8890 the always-a-victim Swifites really need to get a dose of reality. Taylor Swift is the daughter of a Merrill Lynch hedge fund manager who had the privilege of her parents investing hordes of cash in the early days to launch her career Justin Bieber is the child of a 16-year-old teenage mother born in the middle of nowhere Canada.

[@mandoz353]

Lana was doing this in 2006 also

[@onlyonekpopfan4842]

Not the last of her kind though, haven't we just this year seen Chapelle Roan reach mainstream success from doing pretty much this exact thing?

[@BlueMoon-io9eh]

I'd just like to add that Beyoncé is a big reason why we see a lot of the modern main pop girls on stage in leotards today.

[@RossBaby91]

Madonna been wearing them for decades. It was even a standard look during her Confessions tour a couple years before Beyonce would wear them in her Single Ladies video.

[@BlueMoon-io9eh]

@@RossBaby91 What you're referring to is called reinvention. If Sabrina becomes big enough that we start seeing the main pop girls in the 60/70s style platform boots for the next decade, then she would deserve credit for that as well.

[@vanillac0keh3ad]

@@BlueMoon-io9eh i mean gaga was rocking the leotard on stage pre-single ladies lol

[@char9240]

one direction was absolutely inescapable during their peak popularity and have spun off into five different solo careers, even if they’re at different levels of success.

[@theswiftologist]

okay

[@rosebud5788]

@@theswiftologist😭

[@raphynette]

Saying that Louis has a career is… generous - bordering on delusional I’m sorry

[@onlyonekpopfan4842]

Yeah, it's three solo careers if we are being honest, and only one and a half that are actually going well.

[@RosalindClarke-t9v]

I agreee they were hugeeee in the uk

[@KetlinCarramanhos]

I'm also mad Avril Lavigne was not in the honorable mentions. And I'd change Shakira to Justin Bieber's place. Like, if we're talking about Pop Staaaaars, she deserved better.

[@caplaa_vinyl]

MISTER ZACHARY THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEOOOOOOOO! I really can’t sit through podcasts if it’s not in video form so I VERY HIGHLY appreciate the videos! You 2 are the best

[@masterminded88]

Yeah some people definitely forget that the 21st century is not just the last 5 years

[@MTKWC]

As someone who fell down the BTS rabbit hole out of sheer curiosity, I was blown away by their Korean stuff specifically BECAUSE they are slightly different from the usual K-pop idol formula in that a lot of it it is self written and produced between them. Their member Suga is their main producer and some of their deep cut Korean stuff are straight up BANGERS. Don’t let the record labels attempt at cashing in on making them do very basic bubblegum pop English songs stop you from exploring some of their back catalogue. I became a huge fan when I least expected it. ( I’m a 31 year old white British woman just for reference 😅)

[@pikle777]

@@MTKWC also, to clarify… this was all during COVID when the members wanted to give fans around the world (knowing that English is a language that most know) something more bright and uplifting during those HARD couple years. Let’s refrain from saying that the English songs were ONLY to impact charts.

[@MTKWC]

@@pikle777 that’s fair. I was just trying to say don’t judge the English songs only cause their Korean stuff is amazing and a lot more complex naturally. I feel like a lot of people don’t know how good they are because they only got exposed to Dynamite or Butter but their deep cuts are soooo good 😭🫶

[@SonderDAzeX]

BigHit allowed them to be slightly more involved outsside the typical Kpop formula, however, Suga isnt their Main producer, it's PDogg. you cappin there.

[@meghansullivan6812]

Ok I might bite!!!

[@tayIorswif]

​@@pikle777 I'm crying just say you like the music not that these guys are saints 🥺🥺🥺

[@dorothyfischer2649]

You both make this cultural platform transparent, intelligent and thorough. Big Love and respect for your honesty and humor. Clearly the prince and princess extraordinaire of this musicality. Thankyou for your commitment to the evolution revolution. So glad I found you, finally something challenging, historic and accurate. Have a fabulous holiday, you've earned it!!

[@theswiftologist]

[@KimJetrey]

can't i just say EOAS might be the most important thing in the world rn, the way i clicked so fast 😭

[@cutiejiminxo6438]

Confidently saying that blackpink has a better discography than BTS does is mental 🥹

[@crystalsnow1138]

It's one thing to say that if you've actually listened to plenty of songs from both groups, but it's the fact they haven't really listened to BTS' discography is what makes that take even crazier.

[@nnnn-sc2im]

are you just finding out that people have different taste in music

[@milkwithanime]

Fun fact: Sabrina Carpenter loves Rihanna and it is her dream collab. It’s her inspo

[@hey-zel]

Yes I remember that. She already got to sing with Christina, it’d be cool if she got to with Rihanna

[@milkwithanime]

@ tbh this year was the first time I heard Sabrina mention Christina being a dream collab lol. I think it’s ppl kept saying that she reminds them of her

[@hey-zel]

@@milkwithanime she’s had many people she’s looked up to but the main ones she would always mention were Christina, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Taylor. Of course she loves Adele, Ariana, Brittany, etc. but they were the ones she’d talk about in interviews the most

[@dreamchaser7603]

Rihanna doesn’t seem to reciprocate though. She keeps mentioning Billie instead 😂

[@milkwithanime]

@ okay but where’s the Billie and Rihanna song at?

[@majorisker]

I think you could easily switch Bieber with The Weeknd and this list would be much better. Abel’s influence really cannot be over stated. Not to mention the massive numbers he has put up.

[@jmckenzie962]

34:46 She wasn't wrong, but the fact that she said this while wearing an NSYNC shirt was a massive ijbol moment

[@abyssalbleu]

Saying that BlackPink has better music than BTS is insane but unfortunately a common opinion among western pop stans, as all the most popular BTS songs in the west have been a commercial slop that their label made them pop out before sending them to the military. I can tell you've not listened to 1 BTS album. But for those who don't know, BTS is one of the most critically acclaimed K-pop artists in Korea because of their music and because they wrote and produced the majority of their output. They're album artists, and I would highly recommend listening to their Dark & Wild, HYYH pt 2, Wings, and Love Yourself:Tear albums. Also the fact that you guys only know Jungkook's solo again shows that y'all are only aware of the commercial western side of things. RM's recent solo indie album was ranked as the best K-pop album of 2024, and he is arguably the most critically acclaimed BTS member. J-Hope's solo stuff is also beloved among music critics. BTS and Blackpink music could not be more different from each other. BTS originally started out as a hip-hop/R&B group, and that's the direction many of their solo stuff goes. Blackpink is a more club-epic pop act that's more reminiscent of western pop girls, hence why I think western audiences connect with them better than someone like BTS. They're also more accessible because they speak English and are friends with Western artists, but BTS famously keep to themselves, and unless you really fully dive into their discography, you won't really get it. They're a lot like Taylor in that aspect where a lot of the work is self-referential and exists in the broader context.

[@smitanjalisahu2682]

I mean the agenda of bighit was to attract more western people with the bts eng songs and they did but the songs were not a great representative of bts as artist

[@valeriaguzman7928]

Yeah I was literally looking for a comment like this. Because it's very true

[@valeriaguzman7928]

​@@smitanjalisahu2682yep I think that's the main "issue". So it make sense they think their music it's more bland

[@nataliaprador.4760]

You're so correct about BTS being in a way kinda like Taylor when it comes to musicality, being album artists and building their own world and lane, I think BTS both as a group and soloists could be really interesting to Zach, maybe he wouldn't be into their most root music genres (such as hip hop, r&b and to certain extent rock), but he would absolutely appreciate the songwriting, the authenticity and the passion they have for their craft. I would recommend to check BE, as it's the pandemic album and even if it's not part of their strongest albums, the execution of the quarantine and isolation feeling that came with the pandemic was very fascinating. Ps: as soon as i heard RM say "i just hope you remember me, the best grave in your cemetery, you know you got the best of me" i was like omg this is so taylor coded, RPWP is absolutely my album of the year!

[@lobomarcela]

It's crazy that BTS is somehow still "niche" in a weird way, people don't know what goes on with them. Like, even people who are not swifties usually know Taylor is a songwriter and involved in making her music, but we will have Madeline and Zach who know so much about pop thinking people love BTS just because they are good dancers 😭😭😭 WILD lol Zach looking for music that goes a little deeper and then saying "Blackpink has better music" was crazy, but again so understandable if you think they were just exposed to what mainstream western audiences know And that's not to say Blackpink is bad btw, I love them too, but they fit way more into the kpop stereotype that Zach, Madeline and many people seem to know: great performers, absolute stars, but with less connection to making music and a more commercial/mainstream focus. Even blinks are upset about the short, kinda shallow albums and repetition of formulas in their singles lol (And I'm loving to see at least some of them break away from this with their solo work like Rosé just now, but it hasn't been the case for a long time) Even I don't like every single song BTS has ever made but simply because they try so many different styles. They have made SO MUCH music lol. I feel like people aren't aware they've been releasing diverse albums since the early 2010s. And even huge pop singles like Fake Love, Blood Sweat and Tears and Black Swan are ignored because they're not in english so they can't go mainstream

[@hannahperry2382]

the fact is, Justin Timberlake wouldn't be near that high if it wasn't for Britney and Timbaland. any other dude in his circumstances would've had the same career

[@bellereinette2938]

When the list dropped I really didn't get the outrage coming from Swifties like love Taylor, but Beyonce being number 1 checks out especially considering her cultural impact & consistency since the century started & to people out there don't compare two different artists imo Taylor is a once in a generation singer/songwriter & Beyonce is once in a lifetime artist/performer so people need to chill on that. & You guys are right as always they don't know about Rhianna & it is sad honestly.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

This whole episode really made me think about what pop culture values in an artist. I don't 100% agree with where everyone is on the list and definitely think Kesha should have been on there. Thanks for making such a good episode!

[@crystalsnow1138]

I can't wait for BTS' return after completing their military service. The fact they literally reached their peak (so far) at a time when the pandemic was happening and they couldn't tour, promote properly, or leave South Korea says a lot. And they are the only kpop group so far to have all its members reach the top 10 on the billboard 200 albums chart. Just wait for their return, it's going to be legendary because nothing will be holding them back.

[@Nikita-]

I feel like people who have heard only their radio hits artistically under appreciate BTS and the impact they’ve had on Kpop in general. They’re the textbook definition of started from the bottom and the artistry, the musicality, the lyrics and the vision of their albums especially since the wings era till the love yourself era is truly incredible. People judge them after listening to a few radio hits and its like hearing Shake it off and Blank space and saying Taylor isn’t that much of an artist when the real artistry lies in her albums same was with BTS.

[@meghansullivan6812]

Ok touche w the Taylor comparison! Tho blank space is in fact great and deep imo

[@marirezende8478]

​@@meghansullivan6812more like listening to shake it off and Me!

[@Erminence]

The thing with BTS is that their members write and produce their stuff. Their best songs are so well written but their not english and dont permiate the western market. They have a whole era where thier music videos were lore heavy and told a story.

[@kendal1649]

As a long time Swiftologist lover I would DIE to see y’all become hiphopologists for an episode! I took a history of hiphop class in college and it taught me SO much in general about music and the industry. I’d be more than happy to send over some research and interesting topics to cover if y’all are interested. Love you two, keep up the hard work! 🤍

[@rebeccapierce721]

im kind of surprise you guys didnt talk about Taylor swift more but then I realized you talk about her in every video lol. I think Justin Bieber deserved to be in the top 10 but I also agree Ariana should probably be above him which is hard for me to admit since I participated in Bieber fever lol

[@mustafamehdi1663]

Honestly id even be happy as Britney as no 1 because she kinda birthed every single popstar of 21st century

[@onlyonekpopfan4842]

I think Britney's position is correct, the top positions should also factor in recent relevance.

[@gerardo34.30]

Corrections Dangerous Woman was blocked by drake and didnt go #1 Toxic went top 10 No tears left to cry was blocked by drake Mariah, Madonna, so many female artists had top 10 albums across 3 decades and Selena and Taylor did it before Miley as well Heat waves surpassed blinding lights as the longest charting song Despacito spent multiple weeks at #1

[@adorkthatreads]

As someone who is within the kpop fandom, I can tell you that the mainstream success of BTS actually follows a similar line to that of Taylor Swift - in that their title tracks or singles are not often their best tracks (and you should disregard their entirely english songs because they were not creatively involved in those and they were made for the sole purpose of commercial success to an english speaking audience). Much like with Taylor's discography, BTS's talent lies in their deep cuts and their lyrics. That's why it can be hard as an outsider to understand or fathom the extent of their success. Not only do you have to actually listen to their albums, you have the extra factor of the language barrier. Like, it's hard to gather the purpose of their song Black Swan when the only words you understand are "do your thing", but in reality the song is about feeling cornered, used and burnt out in an industry that feeds on your success. Hope that clears things up ✌️

[@cesquivel1999]

Yup very well said, my thoughts exactly.

[@SonderDAzeX]

Unfortunately, BTS English songs is what "broke records" on Billboard charts for BTS.

[@fiza891]

Your videos really make the day better 💫

[@theswiftologist]

That’s so sweet, thank you! 💖

[@fiza891]

@theswiftologist 💓💓

[@angellombness4371]

Same

[@hien7879]

Oh as a long time Kpop fan, I check in to see yall's view on kpop since i heard you mentioned it before, and man, your opinions are very different from the general consensus of the kpop community (honestly speaking, Teddy has not had a good reputation for his works in yearsssss. Kpop community want him to retire, since general consensus is his production tend to be too formulaic and repetitive). To be fair, BTS's number ones are unfortunately the worst representations of their music quality, so i cant even blame you too much for that opinions if all you heard is 1 or 2 of their hits. Blackpink music wise has been quite limited in number, but I actually found the members' solo projects to be far more fun and interesting, and a better reflection of their taste and strengths than the group music. But ye, it's interesting to hear how differently a mainly pop audience view on kpop as a whole. I shall watch the whole thing when I have more time. Yall conversations are always very interesting ❤

[@pikle777]

People who love lyricism saying BP music is better than BTS is actually criminal (respectfully) and only confirms that you’ve not actually listened to BTS’s actual discography aside from the english songs. I understand how at first needing to read “lyric translations” can seem like an inconvenience not worth your time, but if you care about having an informed opinion about an artist then it’s a MUST, especially for BTS as their messaging, word play, and sincerity in their albums are incredible. It’s the reason why they are on this list and loved by so many.

[@lexa4160]

Right.. interesting how theyre more willing to get more info on the rest of the artists but not them. This usually happens with non western artists. I wouldnt care if they dont like their music after listening to it, but they should be informed to give an opinion in this topic. They clearly didnt do even a bit of research, its embarrassing. Cant take them seriously I swear lol

[@theswiftologist]

This video is not a BTS deep-dive. We're reacting to and reviewing a list. This is just our opinion based on the knowledge we have.

[@theswiftologist]

@@lexa4160 so DON'T WATCH! thank you x

[@martasorangeberry]

@@lexa4160 you don't need to make a deep dive research on something to have an option on it. People in western countries mostly hear the song BTS THEMSELF CHOOSE to market to us. If they write the songs in English and promote them to us, then that's how they choose to present themself to us, and I see no issue forming an option based on what THEY show us.

[@pikle777]

@@theswiftologist that knowledge is just extremely limited when it comes to what you guys know about BTS’s music. Your time is your time and you don’t have to dig into them but I think you’d have a very different opinion if you did listen to an album or just 4-5 of their other songs. There’s a reason why they’re on this list and loved by so many. Their music and the messages they share have truly changed millions of lives for the better. From 2013 to now a lot of us have grown with them and relate very directly to what they write about and are also going through (Hence why army’s tend to go to bat for them in comment sections when people with a platform make uninformed statements) again I also just think yall would actually really enjoy and appreciate a lot of their music.

[@rozig5014]

Im a big fan of you guys but your takes on BTS need to be medically studied, especially as a Taylor Swift fan, cuz they are more similar than you think. They are not just great, they are the greatest.

[@purplealien9048]

I think it’s important though that the reason Gaga is in the top 5 is because she started the fandom names. She started calling her fans little monsters & then every fanbase had a name. It was the first time a fanbase had been mobilized & identified by an artist & she did it with respect. She stood on stage every night & shared her success with them & that’s why she transcended being a pop star, she blended music with social issues & became a sort of pop star preacher. It was an insane thing to witness. The Monster Ball Tour encapsulates that perfectly. The MOTHER MONSTER.

[@jillsarah7356]

I'm pretty sure Mariah Carey called her fans Lambs first. And Beatlemaniacs for The Beatles def before. Deadheads for the Grateful Dead. The list goes on

[@cuauhtez]

It’s definitely not new or even that game-changing in terms of numbers, as the other commenter demonstrated (pop history is important y’all!) but you are right that her _image_ as a protector and caregiver for her fanbase who came to her for guidance and acceptance is something pop had not seen since Bowie’s Ziggy era.

[@scarletwitch616]

Hell even Lil' Kim had the Beehive for her fans

[@theswiftologist]

Gaga did not start that lol

[@daypeanut4406]

29:57 oh God this made me remember that scene in Gilmore Girls where Lane's bandmate Zac buys a headset to wear on stage lol. You're so right, that was such a moment.

[@meghansullivan6812]

Omg haaaaaa!!

[@summerchild_]

Shakira is so iconic and she deserves to be on the top 10!Bilingual goddess! Her recent comeback with Las Mujeres no Lloran proves she IS a main pop girl

[@cece6652]

FR 30 years in the game and selling out stadiums and with like 60 million monthly listeners. That’s literally mother.

[@lobomarcela]

I love hearing you guys talk and something that I always think is "Damn, I really wish they would learn more about k-pop because I'm curious about what they would have to say". This video only confirms it because the BTS and Blackpink comments are CRAZY lol. But at the same time I totally understand where that comes from. BTS seems to be absolutely huge and niche at the same time in a weird way. People outside the fandom often have no idea what's going on. BTS has its roots on rap and hip hop and was literally built around a member (RM, who just had his album on several "best of the year" lists) who is a rapper and songwriter. BTS members write, produce and work with other great producers in their company too. Songs like Dynamite might not show that, but BTS fans love their ALBUMS. A huge reason why they got so big is that they combine insane charisma and performance with authenticity and members who care about creating music. The members have different strengths that compliment each other. I'm so curious to see what you guys would have to say if you actually got to know BTS because it's such an interesting phenomenon. A group that came from near bankruptcy from a struggling company, built its success gradually and became one of the biggest in the world. There's so much to it and I think you'd also find it interesting. And other k-pop artists who fit more into the kpop stereotype than bts (more focused on just performance) release nice pop music too. Fun fact: I'm just like Madeline in my consumption of k-pop. I like mostly girl groups. BTS is literally the exception lol

[@denisez886]

THANK YOU. I was looking for this kinda comment. They clearly don't understand it or try to. When they said blackpink's music is better, it had me floored. Bts' music is objectively so genius and they're not even my ults anymore. The music, the lyrics, the meaning, the production, the choreos, the mvs etc. It's so genius and I don't even understand Korean fully, it just makes me wonder how much more it would blow my mind if only I could understand Korean better...

[@lobomarcela]

@@denisez886 What you say about not understanding korean is very true specially about the raps. Whenever I see a breakdown and translation of BTS raps I'm like damn, this would be so amazing if I could just understand korean lol And that's why there's a part of the fandom that are huge rap and hip hop fans and get into BTS because of the rap line!

[@ruthimuu]

All my ults are second gen girl groups but I loved Wings: You Never Walk Alone so much when I came out. I've not enjoyed the more recent BTS singles much at all (alongside being disillusioned with K-pop in general since 2020) but I definitely respect them! I miss Soshi so much 😢

[@ElWCont]

The other comments on this are very unnecessarily aggressive and this one is nice and understanding (and interesting!), so I thought that was worth noting. Thanks for the info queenie

[@lobomarcela]

​@@ElWCont No problem

[@wandering_thoughts]

Listening to your kpop opinions is so interesting as someone who spent years in this bubble In my opinion, BTS deserve their spot on the list not as mere representatives of kpop, but for their artistry (even if it's overlooked most of the time by westerners) and their huge impact on both the kpop and western music industry specifically

[@lonelytokki.-_-.]

Love your channel wandering thoughts!

[@eloise-q3p]

y’all’s bts take is very misinformed.. however i don’t blame you, as their english language songs are the worst representation of their discography. they 100% deserve a spot on this list, due to what they’ve been able to accomplish against all odds (in their own country + as being foreign artists in the usa)

[@sara-ic3jl]

saying blackpink has better music than bts was the biggest shock to me, i've always felt that blackpink has by far the weakest discography in kpop, i guess bts's mainstream music has also been weak compared to what they were doing before taking on a western production, and they are not my cup of tea, but hearing teddy praise seems so interesting and insane, very interesting take

[@onlyonekpopfan4842]

Blackpink does not have the weakest discography in kpop, that is crazy talk. In all of kpop? Even if you are just talking about the bigger groups nobody thinks that they are the weakest. There are so many groups in kpop with so many truly weak releases, even if you don't like their sound their music holds up pretty well in comparison to what is out there. Kpop has a very big range of production quality.

[@cece6652]

As a casual listener you’re right bp has a very small discography but they have pure bops. I started really paying attention to them when Coachella happened and I’m in awe. To each their own but they def appeal more to the western market and even more now with their solo music.

[@thankunext3378]

It's okay if you dislike their song but THE weakest in kpop?! Pls, their songs are not the most meaningful ones but atleast they make sense, i've seen so many songs released in 4th and 5th gen groups and i literally have no idea what they're talking about. And with bp they have very few songs, but with just that they managed to become the biggest gg, there's a reason for that and it's not bcu'z they discography is weak.

[@sophia_delrey]

it is time for my bagel and my swiftologist

[@banannabreadoligo]

so glad i discovered yall this year it has been a huge treat!!

[@soaribb32]

1:27:10 Billboard went literally we don't talk about Bruno 😂😂😂

[@emmasmith9477]

as a snake and an army, it makes sense to me that you guys prefer BP to BTS based on their western-geared/english language songs & you guys are typically more for the girlies. however i disagree with zach’s point about the lack of artistry in BTS’ music. BTS’ discography is very complex + introspective, covering topics like mental health, societal pressures, etc! if you guys are ever up to it, i’d recommend listening (and reading translations) of their albums dark & wild, the most beautiful moment in life: young forever, and love yourself: tear to get a full grasp of their range and level of artistry:)💜

[@cappylady1]

I am thoroughly enjoying this episode I love how much respect and accolades you guys give to early 2000s artists, it was rare, I was there, as a 40 year millennial, yall make me so proud ❤

[@lex-yy8rj]

Liam was also a great vocalist if even if you go back to the X factor days. Also their singles especially live while we’re young, steal my girl, best song ever, perfect, kiss you, are so iconic but maybe it’s only a generational thing? Love you guys!

[@onlyonekpopfan4842]

I think it's kind of a "you had to be there" type of thing, and the songs had very little impact outside of the fanbase. I really like Best song ever, and I see Night Changes used in KZbin shorts a lot, but I don't think they have a single hit with longevity, aside from maybe What Makes You Beautiful.

[@sofiacoppola1989]

​@onlyonekpopfan4842i started listening to 1d in 2022 and it's still best thing ever

[@Kennedy-yv8id]

Zach and Madeline y’all will always give Black women the flowers they deserve and I appreciate you guys so much for it

[@Hermionee-Jean-Granger]

the eoas was my yt podcast of the year btw💅

[@ariellyons1488]

I loooove Madeline’s hype for Usher. He was everything in the 2010s for suuuure

[@milaces1323]

I get why Lana was not included but my God, that woman shaped the pop we're listening right now, give her her flowers ffs 😤😤😤

[@paperbackenthusiast]

This was a treasure trove of brilliant takes as ALWAYS thank you for your wisdom

[@paperbackenthusiast]

Ooh I said this before hearing the One Direction slander. One day I need you to do a deep discography dive, Zack

[@wr8911]

Hi! Just wanted to say: I’m normally a little monster and ofc I’m on Stan Twitter, people were dragging you. But tbf: I really like your videos! You’re a non biased swiftie with a great sense of pop culture! Keep it going and greetings from Germany xxx ❤️

[@GreedyLiz]

What i didn't like wasn't Beyoncé as #1 , but the thing is they literally named Taylor in the headline of the article. Talk about why she is number 2 in her own space and give Beyoncé all the flowers, dammit

[@meghansullivan6812]

Damn ya totally overshadowing her

[@vanillac0keh3ad]

How do your minds work this way? Lol

[@illusionofartYT]

my god....

[@bethanyann37]

Chloe or Sam was my top song this year because of y’all. Love y’all so much! Can’t wait to hopefully see you!

[@cuddlingdeath4792]

Right before Zach said where's avril lavigne, I said the exact same thing. Also where's gwen stefani and mariah carey? I feel like them and pink were all popular around the same time, for me anyway.

[@rynnybyn205]

I think re: BTS, its worth noting that they ARE the greatest, pretty much ever, K-pop act in South Korea. They dominate the charts, the awards, everything, and have been working their way up to that for over a decade. (Also artistically y'all majorly underestimated them! I'd love to see you engage with their Korean language music, because the musicality and production is mindblowing)

[@SonderDAzeX]

Sure, but this is concerning Billboard and what has charted.

[@eloise-q3p]

@@SonderDAzeXthey’ve consistently charted since 2018 tho… 6 #1 hot 100s + 6 #1 albums

[@SonderDAzeX]

@@eloise-q3p Ok? Didnt say they didnt chart.

[@eloise-q3p]

@@SonderDAzeX then what was the point of your comment? it sounded like you were implying that they haven’t had chart success lol

[@marirezende8478]

Saying Blackpink has a better discography than BTS is actually insane lmfaoooo is like saying idk that Ice Spice has a better discography than Taylor Swift

[@theswiftologist]

i just said i like their music better. this isn't the kpop deep dive video it's about a list that i didn't even make. build a bridge and .... get over it!! xx

[@marirezende8478]

​@@theswiftologistYeah I know, still a really dumbfounding take, almost like a blasphemy anyways, even if you don't know them like that lol like saying they have no artistry, you can go to their Wikipedia page and the first like 2 paragraphs will disprove that, but it's ok!, it's just a jarring comment, that's probably why everyone is like "what????" in the comments

[@Americahasaproblemchile]

@@marirezende8478boombayah alone is evidence of Blackpink Supremacy.

[@jasonchristopher5316]

The fact Rihanna rounds out the top 3 with no new album or tour in almost a decade. The fact that in 2024 she ranks in the top 10 list of artists with the most monthly listeners on Spotify (...now read the first sentence again). Just proves the sheer power of her discography and her lasting hold on pop culture.

[@dreamchaser7603]

If she really tried /cared she could be No1!!

[@dreamchaser7603]

If she really tried/ cared she could be No1!! Her audience is more diverse than Beyoncé’s and Taylor’s and most people like her ( I actually never met a person who actively dislikes Rihanna). She has this effortlessly likable personality 🙌🏼

[@charlottebetts926]

I don’t usually comment but I really felt the urge to here. Before I start rambling, I will just say I absolutely love your content - I appreciate how thoughtful and analytical you (both) are. It’s always really interesting to watch your videos :) Now, it has been said in other comments but I just want to say it myself, in terms of BTS, I think (actually, I know) people have a skewed perception of them. Songs like Dynamite really do not capture the essence of what BTS are, what they’ve done for the industry and what they stand for. Yes the English songs are fun and cute, but they are outliers in their discography, intended to provide a bit of light in the pandemic, so it frustrates me that that’s what people know them for, when they have a catalogue of music that goes much deeper in sound, messaging, and is just, to put it bluntly, so much better than that. The reason us fans love BTS so much is first of all the range in their discography; there is so much diversity in their songs, so I really would recommend just delving into their discography further. Some song recommendations: Tear, Louder than Bombs, Interlude: Shadow, Dimple, Euphoria, Paradise, Cypher 4, Awake, Lie, Black Swan (I could go on and on and on but I will stop lol). BTS fuse genres together and utilise so many sounds - you cannot put them in a box at all. Notably, they actually started out more as a “Hip Hop group” rather than a “Pop group”. Second, they are creative visionaries and that’s what set them apart from other K-Pop artists. They really pioneered the inclusion of storytelling in K-Pop, and right from debut, they’ve included messages that defy and challenge both the industry and their society as a whole, which is so significant for an industry that is usually restrictive and controlled. They have album series such as Love Yourself and Map of the Soul that embody a wider vision. Everything is so purposeful, but it also has a message behind it. It’s not just about throwing out a “fun” song that fans will enjoy for a short period of time. It’s about creating a whole world and an experience that the fans become immersed in. This is what makes them “album artists” and what makes their fans so particularly passionate about them and their music. BTS have created a universe, an intricate story that us fans can always return back to. It reminds me of Taylor in the fact that every album is an “era” and it builds up a specific world, story and message. Everything is interconnected (the sound, aesthetics, messaging, lyricism, performance etc). While every album is unique, they all come together to create a wider story. It also HAS to be pointed out that they themselves produce and write everything (of course with notable collaborators), which also sets them apart from other K-Pop artists. They are definitely not the first self-produced K-Pop artists. Older artists like G-Dragon have to be brought to the conversation and must be rightfully acknowledged, but BTS have undoubtably been one of the most notable examples, as they took control of their artistic direction and defied industry norms, which ultimately allowed them to rise to unprecedented global popularity. Also, their story is very inspiring as they rose to fame having debuted in a small, unknown company, and literally were close to disbandment so many times for various reasons. Their growth was entirely organic and again, defied industry norms and expectations. This is why they’re so significant in the K-Pop industry and have reshaped what it looks like, absolutely defining K-Pop fan culture. Not to mention all the members have incredible solo discographies that are so unique and diverse, really showcasing the depth of their individual artistry and why they’re so powerful when they come together as a group of 7.

[@emmaweisensel]

^^^^you said it perfectly!!! soo frustrating when they’re judged based on their english songs, as those songs are the worst representation of their discography and their range as artists😭

[@awoosh13]

Tbf to Zach and Madeline, they only really have a cursory knowledge of BTS and Kpop in general. I think that’s where their throwaway comment abt Blackpink’s music being better than BTS’ comes from. Cuz if you stack BP’s English facing/Western promoted songs, they are objectively better and catchier (imo) than BTS’ English songs. However, I definitely agree that in Kpop, no one can compete with BTS work and caliber. Their discography and growth is amazing. I love their work and they’ve done so much for the community. Love all your points!!

[@charlottebetts926]

Thank you!! Yes, l agree:) As a Blackpink fan as well, the girls also have an amazing discography & I can understand why a Western Pop fan would gravitate towards them as opposed to BTS. And that's entirely okay - it's all about preference!! I love both groups for different reasons, but that's the point - they're so different in style, and also in terms of what they've done for the industry, so they really cannot be compared. Both deserve their flowers :)

[@JaiProdz]

Thank you for the flowers y'all give Legend Britney Spears!

[@Ella-j5f]

“blackpink has better music than bts” Zack please 🙏 hide i pray for your safety 🥲🥲

[@cece6652]

Are the bts fans that crazy?

[@crystalsnow1138]

@@cece6652 Every fandom has their crazies, but I like to call the BTS fandom passionate. It's just a crazy take considering he hasn't listened to a lot of BTS' music and making that statement.

[@thankunext3378]

​@@crystalsnow1138 Some bts fans had literally doxxed many people. So yeah, i would say that SOME of them are very crazy.

[@ym63738]

yall lost me with the one direction slander......wdym people wouldnt be able to name 5 songs from them?? 😭 what makes you beautiful? steal my girl? night changes??? story of my life??? best song ever?? drag me down ??? to name a few these are all hits that everyone and their mother knows about. and thats a fairly good amount of hits for the short period of time they made music in i don't think u can compare them to justin bc of that. and please go listen to fireproof what a feeling & where do broken hearts go (fun fact its about taylor) and tell me those aren't great songs cause i feel like you guys have never actually listened to their albums in full and are just judging based on their singles and first two albums. four & made in the am genuinely have some great songs on there. and other than harry and zayn liam could also sing very well he was literally the most “qualified” one & the most vocally trained out of all of them when they started on the x factor his pitch was crazy he practically carried the first album. you don't have to like them like that's fine but to say ALL of them couldn't sing/were not talented is just not true. especially if youre judging based on their performances from the x factor cause they were literally kids, i mean ed sheeran's voice when he was a kid was also horrid but that doesn't mean he can't sing or isn't talented or didn't have potential they just needed some vocal training 😭 the only person who can't sing out of them is louis (i personally think his voice is unique and harmonized really well with the rest but objectively speaking he can't sing that well live) but he wrote 90% of the songs with liam so he still contributed & held his own weight in the band in another way.

[@CatianaKeys]

I know many songs from every other artist mentioned, but I only know "What Makes You Beautiful" (and dislike it a lot). And I can attest that my mom - who's still in her 40s - doesn't know them either. My guess is it was a bit of a bubble/ niche thing for young girls and despite being in that category at the time it didn't land with me whatsoever ..

[@carolinedduncan]

i was thinking the same 😂

[@imbored7119]

Girl, I was 12 when all my friends turn directioners. It was the only thing they talked about on recess. I can only name 3: What makes you beautiful, story of my life... best song ever or something like that? They were impactful but only for our demographic.

[@ym63738]

@@imbored7119 okay and the same can be said about justin beiber. hence why i mentioned it because they were comparing them both to eachother

[@ym63738]

@@CatianaKeys “everyone and their mother” isn't literal. just because you don't know any doesn't mean millions of other people don't and i'm purely talking in comparison to jb because they were both targeted towards the same demographic

[@ErikaHobbyVlogs]

I’ve only watched to #4 but I think this is one of my fav analyses!! I think younger/ TikTok generation doesn’t understand how influential you had to be back when music videos, CDs & even iPods first released. Like actually downloading music or being young & learning the choreography to lose my breath or riding on the bus sharing earbuds to listen to Rihanna/ drake is why the top are the top. I think too Madeline & Zach clearly appreciate music for production, impact, lyrics etc. We know Taylor is in a category of her own & she’s a music lover too!! It’s about putting your music on shuffle & having variety & different emotions & sounds & attachment to music that I think sometimes ppl might miss out on if you limit yourself to only 1 or a few artists/ genres. (Said by someone who listened to 843 artists in 2024/ goes to festivals for new & loved music) 🫶

[@Alex-cj2kc]

I think Justin Bieber’s impact on pop music would be more appreciated if there were more male pop stars. After JT, Justin was like thee male pop star, and you can hear his impact in other male pop star’s sound and see it in the marketing.

[@vanillac0keh3ad]

You see i dont think justin has had any impact on other artists much at all. His own schtick was that of many that came before him and he didnt do anything unique to himself. So what influence is there to be given? Not trying to hate as ive got no negative feelings towards him but hes pretty much only where hes at because of his past hearthrob status and as the years go on hell fall off the top 10 just like katy perry. Had this list been made 7 years ago she probably wouldve been up there too lol there will be another male artist with more authenticity and hell become more of a footnote

[@Alex-cj2kc]

@@vanillac0keh3ad I mean cody Simpson, Austin mahone, disney channel with Austin moon, Shawn mendes; they were all sort of marketed as the next Justin Bieber

[@vanillac0keh3ad]

@@Alex-cj2kc and who are any of those people? Lol there was always random little boy pop stars like that marketed before justin bieber and there will continue to be in the future. Thats not something that happened because of justin bieber. He was just used for comparison because he was the flavor of the moment. In the early 2000s when jesse mccartney and aaron carter and others existed in the same way it wasnt because of justin bieber. Justins just one of a million little boy pop stars that came and went in the industry

[@DanAlexandrov]

I mean Justin Bieber has 2 no1 albums and 3 no1 singles in the 2020s decade alone, so, he seems pretty relevant to me.

[@dreamchaser7603]

Thanks for saying that!! I don’t get why people try to underestimate his talent - probably the result of a mad Selenator’s/Jelena smear campaign, which is still going strong, especially among Swifties ( after almost a decade of “no contact” 🤦‍♀️) Justin is the only true male Popstar of our generation!! He has been toping charts globally since 2008!!

[@DanAlexandrov]

@@dreamchaser7603to add more, all of his albums went no1 (8 in total) and he has top 10 albums and songs in 3 different decades since they mentioned that a lot in the video.

[@uzumakibarrage9642]

I literally chuckle and giggle with you guys. Im slowly realizing how much ive started loving these conversations with you both.❤ thanks for our food.

[@Pinkponyresistance]

Idgaf about billboard and truthfully, either B or Tay could win, and this list would be right. That said, the video with the wax figure being used was inexcusable.

[@shei938]

In my opinion, BTS good music is not mainstream, like their most popular songs of them are the blandest. And about Blackpink having better music it’s a blasphemy HAHHAAHAH, but I understand why someone who is not into Kpop would find Blackpink more appealing

[@smitanjalisahu2682]

I feel like bts mainstream singles are still good ofc there are more good songs in the album but most of the west know bts now for their eng singles which are the worst examples of bts music..

[@shei938]

@ exactly! Like dynamite or butter aren’t representative of their music at all, but since they are English songs they are the most popular

[@smitanjalisahu2682]

​@@shei938true and and a lot of new armys eat it up till this day but for me those eng singles are literally one of the heinous things that bts has put up..i can still enjoy dynamite but butter n ptd? Sorry they can vanish into thin air and i wouldn't shead a tear 😂

[@awoosh13]

I agree HAHAHA tbf to both Zach and Madeline, they are definitely more geared towards the girlies and they are at most casual listeners of K-Pop, which makes sense why they haven't been able to experience BTS' better songs.

[@bellereinette2938]

I agree I consume K-pop like Madeline it’s mainly girl groups with around 5-6 boy groups I listen to (& a couple more I dabble into from time to time!) but to me I like BlackPink but their songs are very repetitive like I can tell you the order of members & formula before even listening to the song! With BTS there’s more of a variety in their music & I can really appreciate that BTS is a self producing group as opposed to BlackPink who has a producer who is past his golden years to be honest now if I were to put both up with EXO for example (cuz they all debuted within 5 years) ngl I’d probably put EXO above both in terms of what I enjoy the most (& again like BTS there is a bit of a variety there unlike BP where it’s mainly girl crush “hip hop” pop which is fine! Nothing wrong with it but out of the 3rd Gen Girlys Red Velvet has my favourite discography bc of how vast it is & due to the fact it’s full of variety) then BTS then BP & I enjoy all those groups btw so no need to get crazy even though BP is also last cuz they’re discography isn’t as thick shall we say compared to those two. Like I can go through it in about an hour & a half!

[@valeriaguzman7928]

Love the podcast! I listened to it at spotify but came to youtube for the video format. Love you guys, always so interesting!!!!

[@melisabuckley2873]

The only reason I was upset about what the Billboards did I hated was because using the Kanye picture of a naked AI picture of Taylor . I agree that Taylor was the 2nd pop diva because Beyonce had been at it longer than TAYLOR AND Taylor is supportive of Beyonce and happy for her. Im sure that her only aggravation is the AI picture that they used of her

[@Everest111]

The patience you have to not ban the word BTS, more strength than me

[@thiagocavalcanti6175]

The Weeknd's placement I think is correct, there is a lot of recency bias, but Shakira??? Girls, now, after the death of the monoculture, it is easier to break into the north american market, but back in the 2000s??? That accomplishment alone deserved a higher placement.

[@frediemelperenaxiii235]

First of all, yay early 🎉🎉🎉 Secondly, I'm honestly very pleased with this ranking, especially top two. As a swiftie, I feel like Beyoncé is Taylor's only peer in this decade, so this ranking seems really good imo. Like if Taylor Swift isn't number one, it's definitely Beyoncé.

[@CatianaKeys]

OMG - For some reason I have been binge-listening to "Good Girl Gone Bad" and "Obsessed" specifically for the last three weeks. "Breakin' Dishes" and "Obsessed" just came to my head and I haaaaaaad to add them to my rotation. Those songs are timeless to me.

[@elidagjika8741]

Beyoncé's music is not my cup of tea.But in my opinion it is objectively good and I genuinely mean it when I say that I have huge respect and appreciation for the influence she's had in the industry,so personally I'm very satisfied with Beyoncé being number #1 instead of many other options.Still disappointed that Britney's not higher.Just the influence she's had in the music industry alone... it's mad to consider what artists they've put over her.

[@altheaosborn2648]

I was in middle school when Confessions came out and I was SEATED. Usher was absolutely everywhere at that time. He deserves to be higher than JB for sure

[@dreamchaser7603]

Internationally Usher has never been as popular as Justin Bieber was- that’s simply a fact!! Besides, Justin’s career has more longevity in the 21st century ( up until 2022). His songs Ghost, Hold On, Holly, Lonely were topping Global charts recently. Which global charts was topping Usher? ( I personally really like Usher because I grew up on R’N’B and hip-hop and never considered him pop lol, and I clearly remember how back then artists like him would take it as an insult to be called “pop”. Same goes for Drake). Mainstream audience ( out of his super fans bubble) can’t name a single song besides “Yeah”, let’s be real!! If anything, Chris Brown is way more popular than him and has way more hits ( we do not discuss personality here, as if Usher and Drake are not super controversial figures)

[@EmiliaStx9t]

WELL YES a two hour video??? 💜 i'm sat

[@Espi1502]

The appreciation for Shakira and Hips don't lie is everything to me❤

[@swiftie.vids13]

oh yes nothing better than a swiftologist upload on a cold thursday evening ❤

[@michelleelford]

Madeline - "I've never been into boy bands" wearing an NSYNC tshirt 😂

[@That_BrownGirl]

I love BP but wont ever downplay BTS. There is reason, and though I don't like it, I can agree it's deserving.

[@GabbyD2810]

Complaints about Rihanna are just faced with “you just weren’t there”

[@tinamardt7734]

Thank you guys so much for a thoughtful analysis

[@warrencaelum9536]

wackpink does NAWT have better discography than BTS WHAT?!😭 that is insane to say lmaooo

[@warrencaelum9536]

y'all clearly only heard the three english singles for basis💀

[@emmaweisensel]

likeee ly: tear alone CLEARS anything BP has ever put out…

[@tia-e2g]

they do unfortunately

[@nnnn-sc2im]

why do y’all get so offended if someone doesn’t love your fav it’s not that deep

[@abyssalbleu]

@@tia-e2g😂

[@heabooktubes]

Thank the snake for an actual reasonable analysis of this list and not just stan wars.

[@tarudas3943]

SIR. WHEN IS 2019 LOVER ERA POST MORTEM PT. 2 COMING 😭😭😭😭😭 such an unserious time in TayCulture history that i need both of yall to literally break it down for me shenanigan by shenanigan

[@peterr4048]

you two make me look forward to Thursdays! Thank you for everything you do

[@musicandmania]

35:46 "has beeeeeeeen, p it up flat screeeeeen" omg yessss this song is one of my shameless throwback favorites and I WAS NOT ready for that 🤣😭

[@mustafamehdi1663]

I can also see more international swifties get mad that is because internationally Beyonce isn’t that huge especially in this new generation Taylor on the other hand is still huge but Beyonce has more cultural impact

[@VaniyaAjaz1977]

Did I already hear this? Yes. Am I going to watch it again? Yes.

[@smitanjalisahu2682]

Tbh as a fan of both BTS and Blackpink i can say BTS and blackpink are very different musically and tbh music by ggs and bgs in kpop are different most of the times..Ugh and the eng singles by BTS are literally the worst representation of BTS music..they were definitely going out for the charts and grammy nominations and even a good chunck of bts fans don't like their eng single phase..Some of my fav bts music has to be RUN BTS, Black Swan, Pied Piper(one of the best kpop song...makes me breathless whenever i listen to it😭), DNA, I need you, Mic drop, Blood Sweat and Tears , Airplane pt 2, Spring Day...Anyways Will you react to Rose album???🤞🤞🤞 Edit: loved the pod as usual ❤❤❤

[@crystalsnow1138]

I don't think it's fair to say the English songs were made for the charts and Grammys. Dynamite was made because of the pandemic all their plans and world tour were postponed and eventually canceled. The wanted something to cheer up people during that difficult time and since they thought the song sounded fine in English they kept it that way. If it weren't for the pandemic, their English trilogy and their album BE never would've happened.

[@smitanjalisahu2682]

@crystalsnow1138 I kind of disagree because I feel like hybe and bts wanted to try see what will happen if they release all eng singles...I can give bts the benefit of doubt with Dynamite but with butter and ptd it was clear once they saw how well Dynamite did they wanted to push more into that area and they did so Butter came ( I hate this song) n the fact this was no. 1 for so many weeks and grabbed a grammy nomination( which they could have chose not to submit for but they did and armys were disappointed it didn't win because grammys were scamming bts) like why would bts want to know for winning a grammy for Butter? A song that has nothing to show what BTS stand for.. Also Bang PD saying K should be removed from kpop And jk going into full on pop also with them releasing eng version of Like crazy which they could have chose not to do since Like Crazy sound amazing in korean itself but they want bts to be more local in us..i fear to say hybe n bts still would want to release eng singles after military ( for more grammy nods) but still i think i got my insanity back when Run BTS was released

[@crystalsnow1138]

@@smitanjalisahu2682 I love Run BTS too. I enjoy their English songs, but you definitely see their versatility and artistry in their Korean songs more. I'm not opposed to them making more songs that are fully English but they need to push their boundaries a little and make songs that show more of who they are and what they are capable of as a group. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@emmaweisensel]

i feel like they won’t do more english songs in the next comeback bc in 2022 festa, namjoon talked abt the lack of sincerity in the recent songs they were putting out (dynamite, butter, ptd) and how they needed a break to have experiences that they could put meaningful lyrics to

[@SonderDAzeX]

The thing is fans boast their english songs to Number 1, that their non english, yet very well charted(Hot 100 , just not Number 1), songs were forgotten. Then they got mad when BTS didnt nominate or win Billboard awards. Well its because they(fans) cared for the immediate high rank rather than Longevity.

[@kianna270]

Rihanna was EVERYTHING when I was growing up. Ong I have so many memories with her songs just as a backtrack. I was so obsessed I watched her concert movie over and over again.

[@momokyuu69]

Bad Bunny absolutely deserves to be there (although maybe arguably where he is or a little lower, but definitely above Katy), and I’ll explain why. He rose to fame in such a meteoric way. Like a Puerto Rican Chappell Roan. He went from an unknown to globally recognized in a snap. He has several albums that has fundamentally cemented itself into every Latino’s playlists like YHLQMDLG and Un Verano Sin Ti HOWEVER. As quickly as he rose, he’s also fallen. When he started dating Kendall Jenner a lot of his fan base really cringed and asked, well… why ? (Me included) It’s hard to support a proud Latino artist when he’s connected to the most scammy family alive. Who has a bad fake (NOT made from the agave in Tequila, Mexico) tequila brand. The longer they’ve been together the more his fan base just can’t stand him. It’s giving “money changed me and now I’m above all of you that play my music” But even saying all that, his brief flicker of making the most bomb music still survives. My friend went to Spain and they were playing Bad Bunny in the streets and dancing. If there’s a car racing down the road blasting music it’s 70% probably going to be Bad Bunny. His music is THAT popular and DID change culture. Bad Bunny became a thing which lead to reggaetón being more in the mainstream and heck J Balvin got to sing with Beyoncé cause Blue likes reggaetón. Bad Bunny IS that guy, but he dates a very questionable… yup.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Yeah I remember seeing the big switch up after it was revealed he dated Kendall Jenner given how much Kendall have appropriated from Latin American culture but he made his last album all about celebrating the underground Puerto Rican culture bc it gets appropriated and gentrified from white Americans and Europeans if he really wanted to go Hollywood but be smart enough to keep his fanbase he should’ve done a PR relationship with a popular Latina American celebrity I also think what messed up bad bunny was his contradiction of his political stands I remember when he said in a interview that he didn’t think anti black colorism in the LA community wasn’t real bc he never experienced or seen the backlash was massive he had retract his statement apologizing and he meant he didn’t want to speak for other people experiences but does acknowledge colorism as a real problem, but the damage was done.

[@irenecd4235]

exaactly I'm from Spain and, although I'm not a fan of him, his impact in spanish-speaking countries is undeniable

[@boatsagainst]

I did not know any of his songs and had to go listen to him as I was watching this. I was so surprised to realize that so many artists in Finland,ä (where I'm from) who make music in Finnish, sound so much like Bad Bunny!So his influence must be so far reaching! I mean Finnish culture and language is almost the opposite of Spanish/Latin cultures 😅 monotone, introverted, melancholy... and yet all our locally chart topping artists manage to sound like him.