Pop Shots – What’s Real?

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 Neil Young fighting AI chatbots, to Taylor Swift embracing her inner Elizabeth Berkley, to BLACKPINK taking a moment to emulate a girl group of the past, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Neil Young left both Facebook and Instagram after reports that their parent company, Meta, enabled AI chatbots to engage with minors in inappropriate ways. I’m pretty sure he isn’t alone, as most rockers who had fame in the ‘70s probably prefer to engage with minors inappropriately the old fashioned way – backstage, while doing lines of cocaine off each other.

* Madonna celebrated her 67th birthday with trip to Italy, and a cake made to look like a Labubu doll. The material girl has taken an interest in the dolls, because none of her boyfriends have outgrown that phase of childhood yet.

* Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, is schedule to be released on October 3rd. There’s no word on if she’s working on an endorsement deal with Versayce.

* Jessica Simpson will be performing in Las Vegas on November 8th for a one-night-only show at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. I’m guessing she chose at date late in the year so the temperature won’t be 98 degrees.

* Morgan Wallen’s appropriately titled album, I’m the Problem, earned an 11th non-consecutive week at the top spot of the Billboard 200. Hey, anyone remember when celebrities were getting cancelled for bad behavior? How the heck did this guy slip through?

* Keith Urban has partnered with the Tamworth Country Music Festival for the Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship, which will award an artist from Australia a trip to Nashville, where they can experience life as a recording artist, with studio sessions included. Currently trying to enter as many times as possible – Iggy Azalea.

* Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” spent its tenth non-consecutive week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. I’m not saying I’m slightly out of the loop when it comes to the current flavor of the moment, but I could’ve sworn Alex Warren was the name of a third string quarterback struggling to maintain a roster spot.

* Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine announced the band’s next album will be their last, and they will have a farewell tour in support of it. If the farewell tour is anything like most most metal bands’ farewell tours, it will be the first in a series that will last 20 years.

* BLACKPINK, in honor of performing at London’s Wembley Stadium, covered the Spice Girls classic “Wannabe.” That’s cool, and all, but S Club 7 are from London, too! Can I get some “Never Had a Dream Come True?”

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