Pop Shots – Thank You Notes

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Ariana Grande’s record breaking “Thank You,” to Cardi B telling Offset thanks for the memories, to LL Cool J and Tommy Lee saying thanks for noticing … now give us our money, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Ariana Grande’s video for “Thank U, Next” amassed a YouTube record 55 million views in its first 24 hours. In a related story, a whole lotta teenage boys missed school that day and were “too sick” to leave their bedrooms.

* Katy Perry was the highest bidder for a date with Orlando Bloom – whom she’s dated in the past – shelling out $50k for the honor at the One Love Malibu benefit show. I’m out here hoping the women I go out with will at least pretend to reach for the check, meanwhile Katy Perry’s droppin’ $50k for an ex. I’m not sayin’ I’m mad, I’m just sayin’ I need to date more Katy Perrys. (whipped cream shooting boobs are totally optional)


* Cardi B took to social media last week to announce that she and Offset have broken up. And so ends the storybook romance that gave us such tender sentiments as, “Cardi put the p*ssy on Offset.”

* Hootie and The Blowfish will be hitting the road in 2019 for a 44-date tour with Barenaked Ladies. Word is there were other bands that wanted to be on the bill, but Darius Rucker and crew told Barenaked Ladies, “I Only Wanna Be With You.”


* Human rights activists are asking the Black Eyed Peas to cancel a scheduled appearance at a music festival in Saudi Arabia. There’s no word on if this is because of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, or if they consider Black Eyed Peas performing a human right violation.

* LL Cool J is taking legal action against the founders of the now-defunct Rock the Bells music festival. He’s accusing the company of trademark infringement and cyber piracy, among other things, stemming from their use of the name of his 1985 single “Rock the Bells.” I’m no legal expert, but wouldn’t it have made more sense – and cents – to have sued them when they actually had money?

* A microchip etched with the phrase “Green Day Since 1986” was included in NASA’s InSight Mars Lander, which recently touched down on the red planet’s Elysium Planitia. I guess this makes sense, since the Mars Lander is giving us quite the “Longview.”


* Tommy Lee is threatening to take legal action after seeing similarities to his 360-degree mechanical loop in a structure being used for rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld Tour. If Tommy Lee is suddenly into suing over similarities I hope he never sees my sex tape.

* Last, but certainly not least, Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus released a fantastic video for their collaborative single, “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart.” The clip for the country-pop song manages to tackle a number of issues going on in the world today while not being overly preachy. As an aside, Miley sounds fantastic on the song, as her vocals seem to get better and better with every release.


And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.