Nice to know we are all connected!
Warning: B*ns*n B**ne is featured in this newsletter.
My newsletters are coming out at a rate almost as unpredictable as our current political climate! I know you don’t care, but I will do better.
Do you think the algorithm will bring people to this newsletter if I open it with the occasional selfie? Let’s try it!
Some might call me a gamer—that is, if you consider playing the NYT’s Wordle, Connections and mini crossword gaming. Sunday’s Connections—in which you select groups of four items that share something in common—had a funny music theme for its trickiest category (purple) that I wanted to share.
I won Sunday’s game just because I figured out those first three categories. Out of context, I had absolutely no idea what “Abracadabra,” “Centerfold,” “Mickey” and “Physical” had in common. And in context, I thought I only knew “Abracadabra” and “Physical”—a quick listen to “Centerfold” and “Mickey” proved otherwise.
What made the NYT games team choose this category, identifying No. 1 songs from 43 years ago? That’s not even an even number. Was someone feeling nostalgic that day? Were they inspired by Lady Gaga’s single “Abracadabra,” from her new album? Is there a guy in their office, muttering, “Back in my day, ‘Abracadabra’ was by Steve Miller Band…”
Someone was being silly and quirky and randomsauce with this game and I am here to honor them. They inspired me to rediscover four random hits from 1982. And I wasn’t the only one, according to the YouTube comments on some of these songs’ music videos.
❤️ LOVE NOTES ❤️
Quick beats from the week:
For once, I feel blessed that I’m single for Haim’s new album release cycle. “Relationships” was stuck in my head before the single was even released. Now I’m obsessed.
Rolling Stone is rolling out four covers of “the future of music,” pegged to a series of SXSW shows, and the first cover was…Benson. Boone. If you read my Grammys predictions newsletter, you know how I feel about pop music’s flip-happy, sparkly-onesie-wearing, FYPcore-making resident Mormon. There’s more I can say, but instead I’d like to share my favorite quotes and details from this cover story.
This lede: “When Benson Boone is about to jump out of a helicopter hovering 60 feet above Utah Lake, which is the kind of thing Benson Boone likes to do, a single thought passes through his mulleted, 22-year-old head: This is gonna be sick.”
“ I’m not much of a fearful guy. Like, I don’t worry about many things.”
His new album is tentatively titled “American Heart.” “A lot of it is very Bruce Springsteen, Americana, like a little more of a retro vibe,” he says. Regarding the title, he says, “It’s not political at all. It’s more of a personal thing. It’s just me. ‘American Heart’ is my heart, and it’s not my heart because it’s American. It’s my heart because I’m Benson Boone.”
He talks about his body a lot. “I definitely remember there was a time where I would take my shirt off because I didn’t know what else to do…There is an art to making anybody go crazy.… I also don’t want people to come to a show expecting me to just take my shirt off and it to be like a gun show. One, I don’t have the guns for that. Two, that’s just not what I’m about.… I don’t want to rely on my physical form to be the primary driver of my shows.” “I enjoy working out and I want to keep my physical shape because I need to. But I can’t be the sex icon of the century, just because that’s not who I am.”
He and his manager used to drink Wild Berry Blast energy drinks while brainstorming the social media strategies. “We would crack those, and that’s what we would call our ‘scheme time.’ We’d drink those and think that it would get our brains ready to take over the world.”
He’s Benson Boone. “I don’t want to be the same as Harry Styles,” he says, “and the same as Freddie Mercury, and the same as Justin Bieber, and the same as One Direction, like, because it’s not me. I’m Benson Boone! I’m completely different.”
The lows are low and the highs are high. The second Rolling Stone SXSW cover featured country singer Megan Moroney, who put out one of my favorite albums of last year. She also had a Tiny Desk come out this week! I loved it, but the energy in the room seemed kind of bad? Like why was no one laughing at her jokes?
Speaking of Tiny Desks! Third Eye Blind’s came out yesterday. Lead singer Stephan Jenkins said he was getting over the flu, which is why is vocals…aren’t great in this. His shirt said “Punk rock saved my life.” And when he finished the set, he said “We’re on your side!” Was he referring to the defunding of public radio? If so, I love him even more.
🚨 VIBE CHECK 🚨
What the people are actually listening to:
This week’s charts are pretty boring—the top 9 songs on the Hot 100 stayed exactly the same. It’s times like these that make me feel like we’re all living in a simulation. The highest debut on the chart is…”Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else” by Benson Boone at No. 44. Sorry, I’m here for anyone other than Benson Boone. See ya next week.
Lisa’s new album “Alter Ego” debuted on the albums chart at No. 7. I’m glad she has the data to back her up, because her Pitchfork review was brutal.
💋 HOT DATE 💋
What I saw this week:
Cameron Winter at Joe’s Pub, March 11
In one of my earlier newsletters, I said I couldn’t decide how I felt about Geese’s Cameron Winter’s solo album, “Heavy Metal.” After Tuesday’s show, I’m sold. His voice is so rich, it’s almost operatic. Like, maybe he should audition for Les Mis. And the setting of the show contributed to the lounge-singer bit…or is it a bit? People were ordering martinis and shrimp cocktails while Winter performed at a piano, pouring himself glasses of wine from his own personal bottle. “Everyone enjoying their appetizers? Ask for the green sauce, it’s not on the menu,” he joked.
😘 Friday I’m in Love 😘
Today’s notable releases:
“Birthmarks” by Bambara
It’s a slow release week, but listen to this Brooklyn band if you’re looking for something new.
More notably, Chappell Roan’s new song “The Giver” came out last night! I love it and I’ll be playing on repeat this weekend, but I’m really curious how well it will do compared to her more pop-oriented songs like “Good Luck, Babe” or “Pink Pony Club.” Guess we’ll find out in a couple weeks. Watch this space.
There are only two things you actually need to know about me. My name is Natalia and my favorite podcast is Las Culturistas. They end every episode with a song. I end every newsletter with a song.
I saw Allison Ponthier open a concert a couple of years ago, and I remember telling myself that I need to listen to her music. This week the Spotify algorithm brought her back to me, and I’ve been listening to this song multiple times a day. I think early spring weather is steering me towards fun indie pop that can soundtrack walks around the city.