2010s

I notice Normani Kordei of Fifth Harmony just did a collaboration with Khalid for the Love, Simon soundtrack. Perhaps she's considering a solo career of her own, similar to Camila? Seeing how spectacularly unsuccessful Fifth Harmony's first post-Camila album was (except in Spain), I wouldn't be surprised if the group goes the One Direction route and splits into four distinguishable solo careers after their fifth member already overshadowed them on their own. Actually, Lauren Jauregui already recorded a couple of songs without Fifth Harmony, but they weren't successful.

As far as girl groups go, Fifth Harmony are not that great. "Miss Movin' On" was cool, but once they actually made it big internationally, most of their hits felt pretty underwritten and millennial-pandering. For some reason, I've actually grown kind of addicted to "Worth It," even though it's objectively not a very meaningful song – I suppose I just really like the track's distinct phrasing – but for the most part, the group hasn't proven too much, despite being the lone successful US Edition X Factor alumni. I think Little Mix have released much better hit songs this decade, and it's a shame Americans won't give them a chance, like the Spice Girls are the only single British girl group in existence or something.

With that said, considering how much more personality the members of One Direction (for better or for worse), as well as Camila Cabello gained after going solo, it would be interesting if the same happened with Fifth Harmony. For the record though, "Love Lies" is really just a typical Khalid song with Normani providing guest vocals; it could be to Normani what "Bad Things" was to Camila.

Oh my god, somebody please get “God’s Plan” off the UK #1 spot. It’s not this earth-shattering, emotionally-packed masterpiece like its uninterrupted success is trying to convince you it is. Why is dull, humdrum trash like that and “Rockstar” able to get so gigantic? Drake’s song isn’t as bad as “Rockstar,” but it’s still undoubtedly one of his worse hit singles over the years.

On another note, when is “Shape of You” ever gonna finally go away? Are the Brits seriously not sick of the “bedsheets smell like you” line?

I just watched the music video for the song, and I think its overwhelming success is much better explained by that. On its own, the song is middling autotune hip hop without any investment in its delivery, but the video definitely provides a warm sentiment to those struggling in the world as it is now. It may be sort of a sort of ego trip in the Bono fashion, but at least it highlights something far greater than whatever “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling” were trying to communicate.

I'm not sure if I've even listened to "God's Plan" yet. I don't think I want to though.

On an unrelated matter, "I Fall Apart" by Post Malone is receiving a lot of radio airplay at the moment. In a way, it's kind of good, because I was getting sick of hearing "Young, Dumb and Broke" by Khalid being played so often!

YEEAAHH, BAABYYY!!!! This is a super hot jam that will leave its historic imprint on 2018 just as "Shape of You" was the "Hey Jude" of 2017!

It debuted at #4 in the UK. Again, I respect the Brits for mostly rejecting Cardi B and Migos, but unfortunately, Post Malone isn’t nearly as vulnerable to Americans Hate Tingle over there.

Interestingly, Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton’s “Say Something” is now in the top 10 in the UK. Based on that, as well as the fact that even “Meant to Be” is slowly becomig a minor hit over there, it’s possible that the UK is slowly just starting to open its mind to country influences in popular music again, though it still has a long way to go to return to ‘60s and ‘70s levels of acceptance.

By the way, “God’s Plan”? Yep, you guessed it.