This article discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault. We acknowledge this term is not universal.
News flash, hyper-pop is back—raw, unfiltered, and dominated by women pop artists.
Our current pop-culture moment is built around women pop stars who are concentrated on owning pop and ing fellow women. The young, pop stars who are everywhere right now like Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter exude confidence and inspire women around the world with their effortless way of “owning” it.
Despite the long-standing trend of hating on women in the pop spotlight—think Taylor Swift or Rachel Zegler—these artists don’t seem to care. They’re unbothered by misogynistic and dull critics. Watching them dance, scream, and slay on stage is an empowering celebration of being yourself and embracing your girlhood. Right now, the cultural wave celebrates women who are thriving and living boldly, no matter what anyone thinks.
Katy Perry, however, seems to have missed the memo. Her seventh studio album, 143, dropped on Sept. 20, and it’s being panned by critics. The nostalgic tricks of pop’s past aren’t landing, feeling flat and mediocre. Her track “WOMAN’S WORLD” comes off as corny and ironic, especially considering 143 was produced by the controversial Dr. Luke, who faced serious allegations of sexual assault by Kesha.
It’s no longer 2010. Today’s pop is all about authenticity, uniqueness, and fun—qualities Perry’s latest work seems to lack.
Chappell Roan, on the other hand, stays true to herself. She’s not interested in conforming to mainstream expectations. She’s bold, whether she’s singing about queerness, femininity, or sex, and she commands the stage with raw energy. Her ‘Hot to Go’ dance has encouraged fans to lose themselves in the music, she even scolded the VIP section at one of her shows for not participating in the dance, yelling “You’re not fun! Be fun and try!”
Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of songs from Olivia Rodrigo’s album Guts, and I’m loving the way she sings about relatable concepts so honestly it can’t even be called “cringe,” as being cringe is a factor within the genuineness of the album. People are cringe and awkward sometimes, and her song “love is embarrassing” acknowledges just that. “Obsessed” is all about being hyper fixated with her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, and “ballad of a homeschooled girl” is all too relatable after an embarrassing night out at Stages.
Sabrina Carpenter is the current “it” girl. She’s everywhere—on the cover of Time magazine, hosting SNL, and touring for her new album, Short ‘N’ Sweet. With her big blonde curls and flashy outfits, Carpenter seems aware of her beauty and is extremely comfortable and confident within her womanhood. She doesn’t shy away from sexuality either, ending every outro of her openers for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour with a cheeky, dirty joke.
These women aren’t just reshaping the pop landscape—they’re infusing it with girlhood, confidence, and fun. These positive, extra, and honest vibes are exactly what listeners of today need to have fun, feel comfortable, and be uplifted within our identities and who we are.
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