Pop Shots – Home Improvement

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 bringing Mariah Carey home for the holidays, to Harry Styles telling fans what they need to do if they don’t want to stay at home, to Bruno Mars having inspired people to get out of their homes, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Funko has created a Mariah Carey Christmas figure. In a related story, there are gonna be some f*cked up manger scenes this holiday season.

* Taylor Swift is celebrating the one year anniversary of the release of Folklore with a merch collection that will be available at Urban Outfitters. Ah yes, cuz nothing says great anniversary party like making all the guests pay for everything. It’s like the complete opposite of an open bar.

* Shawn Mendes has joined the TV adaptation of the video game Life is Strange as executive producer. Since my video game playing days ended long ago, I have never heard of Live Is Strange, but I do know that people are strange when you’re a stranger, and faces look ugly when you’re alone.

* Harry Styles announced he’s requiring fans to provide proof of vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID test, before attending his upcoming shows. The vax thing is gonna be difficult since I’m pretty sure it still isn’t approved for people under 12.

* Demi Lovato, fresh off turning 29, decided to get another hand tattoo. The ink is of a lyric from the Infinite Universe song “Beautiful Chorus,” with the words surrounded by stars and planets. I have a birthday coming up next month, but I like my hands the way they are, and the only way I’ll have stars on them is if I trip and fall into a case of Lucky Charms.

* KISS was forced to postpone at least four dates of their End of the Road tour when frontman Gene Simmons tested positive for COVID. COVID is now in danger of being infected with Gene Simmons.

* Drake surprised the sister of a superfan with a much needed wheelchair accessible van. This is an incredibly thoughtful, and generous act, but he has to know we’re all thinking about his Degrassi character right now, right?

* After playing eight shows in July and August, Bruno Mars saw his Bruno Mars at Park MGM residency, which launched at the end of 2016, surpass the $50 million mark in earnings. This means he can now afford all classic funk and soul samples his heart desires, so maybe we’ll get another “Uptown Funk.”

* Speaking of artists who love to sample other people’s work, Olivia Rodrigo saw her debut album, Sour, ascend back up to #1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with 84,000 copies sold in the U.S. for the week ending August 26th. Of that sum, vinyl sales accounted for 76,000 copies. Her fan base, however, will be disappointed to learn their copy of Sour won’t fit on their record player.

* Kanye West’s latest album, Donda, had 60 million first-day U.S. streams on Apple Music, setting a one-day record for the streaming service for 2021. I know what you’re thinking, and I’m thinking it, too – 60 million people use Apple Music???

* In more Kanye-related news, Soulja Boy claims he had a verse cut from Donda, and called Kanye out in an extended rant on social media. Hey, anyone else remember diss tracks? It’s how real rappers publicly address beefs.

* Finally, after a four year hiatus, one of my favorite bands, The Summer Set, are back! Check out their new single, “Street Lightning.” Personally, I think it sounds like they picked up right where they left off, and that’s a beautiful thing.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.