Taigan

My only other thought is... if in fact she is on the soundtrack album for Spider-Man, might be worth sending that song to radio. She'd have the backing of the label as well as the film studio. See: the other girl's soundtrack single that no one is streaming but is at the top of radio. Hope that's what this is.

Not sending a second single to radio when the first went #1 and the GP is clearing loving the album... smells like sabotage. I think about Olivia being politically vocal, especially on the issue of Palestine, and wonder if she now has some enemies at radio.

The public is craving connection to a powerful songwriter.

Demi being supportive <3 from one vocalist to another

cigarette smoke... ummm... i don't think ive ever heard a pop song with this intensity. the last minute will shake you. "why'd i try at all?"

Wow. maggots for brains the cure purple

Makes sense it's dropping on Apple Music. All the stans who bought the iTunes versions may be playing those bought versions rather than streaming. Hopefully the versions for sale on iTunes were enough to secure the #1 since I think it might cut into longevity of streams.

Spotify numbers for today? Is this starting to grow on radio?

Hopefully the video stabilizes the song! I think Ari's music is also always elevated by her live performances. I personally love the song and think it deserves to do well commercially. Birds of a Feather is the biggest song of Billie's career, and also probably the biggest single from a female artist in this current time (3.7B streams versus Cruel Summer 3.3B). Guess what? Birds of a Feather never went number 1 on Billboard. We need to stop being obsessed with going number 1, and instead enjoy the musical journey. People always try to dunk on Ari because "someone else is currently bigger" or "someone else is going #1". The most impressive aspect of Ari's success is her consistency. We're going into the 8th era and still competing with the most successful of the pop girlies.

Ariana's songwriting is very poetic. She relies on images and metaphors that aren't immediately obvious. The song balances melancholy with confidence and a quiet resentment, which I appreciate. "I can't tell you why But something inside is dancing with fire" -> Reminds me of 'playing with fire' -> flirting with something that might not end well. "Eyes lit like the sky Turned tears into diamonds, got good at goodbyes" -> Taking the relationships that ended tragically and turning them into art, then moving on. Throwback to major theme of 'thank u, next'. Take the lesson learned and leave. Ariana has never been one to stay too long in a bad situation. Reminds me of Nonna's message she wanted to include in 'ordinary things'. "And as I told her, never go to bed without kissin' goodnight. That's the worst thing to do, don't ever, ever do that. And if you can't, and if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you're in the wrong place, get out" "Just know that I will find my way from you Like flowers from a tomb while you decide who you are" -> Eerie, morbid image. Metaphor for relationship ending in tragedy but being resilient enough to grow from that and emerge as something else. "And I can see right through, ooh-ooh, like shadows on the moon And it's all bad news" -> Seeing right through someone / a situation and knowing full well it's not going to end well. Similar to 'we can't be friends', this feels like she may be talking to a lover but also could be talking to the industry. Seeing straight through the facade; realizing it'll chew you up and spit you out if it can. It is designed to lift you up but only if it can then tear you down. "Yeah, I, I, I hate that I made you love me Sorry if I made me your type Yeah, I, I hate that I made you love me 'Cause I barely tried, yeah, I, I, I" -> Women being lusted after when they never wanted that attention. The arc of that seemingly starting out as a positive thing before we realize this "attention" and "adoration" is actually more insidious. This is realized with images in the next verse. "What's happening now? You studied my crown and borrowed my body" -> Intense level of scrutiny of her likeness. You studied it. You dissected it. "Warm, kissed by the sun, then cold likе the wind" -> Nature providing completely opposite sensations in the same moment - 'warm' vs 'cold'. Realizing you are in a toxic situation when first you felt safe. A bee stuck in honey" -> Something supposedly sweet and nurturing actually becoming a lethal trap. I believe this is the strongest metaphor of the song, and it is so simple. "I've held your projections when you've felt so insecure Tell me, why is it this way? Why you so hate to see women endure?" -> Why is society not only fascinated with the rise of women but also with their downfall? Why do we insist that women are doomed to their downfall. Why is their legacy defined by their worst mistakes? Why can't women endure and evolve like men? "Is it really my fault you all gave me your hearts of your own accord? I don't really think so" -> Makes me think of what it must be like for women when men turn against them if their advances are not welcomed. To be honest, it's kind of a c*nty way to say "it's not my fault I'm so enchanting", and I think that's so feminine and divine about that.

Let this post be the perfect metaphor for the mean girl energy Swifties capture so well. Like mother like daughter I guess.

Hard to tell with Ariana if the tonal changes are due to aging or stylistic choices because she's such a vocal chameleon. I would say the tone now is lighter and warmer. She used to create more depth and fullness to the tone that I personally miss.

The truth to this. Taylor clearly the villain on this. Not a good look. Swifties turning nasty because this is hard to defend.

It's objectively a timeless song so seethe

We also all know the Eurosummer video is going to push the song. When all is said and done Midnight sun will be a hit, Eurosummer will be a hit, Stateside is a smash, and Lush life re-smashed this year. Zara is more than fine.