Chappell Roan, Beyoncé & more recommendations
Happy April! I’m writing this newsletter from a coffee shop two blocks from Mr. Beef in Chicago, because I was led astray by an unreliable Tweet claiming that The Bear would be filming in this neighborhood today. Alas, I’m seen no TV cameras or celebrities, so I’m stuck drinking an overpriced and mediocre latte in River North. But I persevere. Instead of dwelling on my misfortune, I’m sharing some pop culture recommendations with you!
Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess: Even though The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess was released last September, it’s had a huge resurgence recently thanks to Chappell Roan’s Tiny Desk Concert and her opening spot on Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts tour. I’m sorry to admit that it was not on my radar before but it’s been a mainstay on my Spotify rotation over the last few weeks. It’s fun and sexy and upbeat and each track feels like it could be featured on an episode of The Bold Type (in the best way). Favorite songs include: After Midnight, Hot to Go! and Red Wine Supernova. For those of you unfamiliar with Chappell Roan, this Washington Post profile details the singer’s origins.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter: Another album in my Spotify rotation? Cowboy Carter. In an Instagram post about the new music, Beyoncé wrote, “[The album] was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.” If you’re looking for more context around the album, Vulture’s Cowboy Carter review and oral history of the 2016 CMA performance are great overviews to read. The album is excellent from start to finish. The way each track flows from one song to the next reminds me of my favorite Beyoncé album, Lemonade, making Cowboy Carter a close second. Singles like Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages somehow work even better when listened to along with the full 27-track release, which features Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone and more. Topping my repeat listen list right now: Bodyguard, Texas Hold 'Em, II Most Wanted, Levii's Jeans and Ya Ya.
10 Things I Hate About You turns 25: One of the very best romcoms (ever!) passed an important milestone earlier this week — 10 Things I Hate About You celebrated its 25th birthday. In honor of this occasion, The New York Times published a profile diving into Julia Stiles’ career, Entertainment Weekly talked to screenwriters about adapting Shakespeare for the big screen and Decider spoke with writers Karen McCullah and Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith about the movie’s lasting legacy. It probably goes without saying… but this 25th anniversary milestone is the perfect excuse for a rewatch.
Dear Felicity: I said I wouldn’t do it. I said I couldn’t possibly listen to yet another TV rewatch podcast. But then The Ringer announced Dear Felicity. This podcast series moves its way quickly through episodes, recapping 2-3 quickly at the top and moving moving into interviews with cast and crew members for the rest of the time, which makes it a more digestible listen for those who are hesitant to commit to a full rewatch podcast (although personally, I always appreciate more time spent on episode deep dives). The conversations are led by The Ringer’s Juliet Litman with Felicity cast members Amanda Foreman (Meghan) and Greg Grunberg (Sean) rotating turns in the co-host seat. And they’re getting EVERYONE to talk. Even with only five episodes out, the majority of the main cast (including Keri Russel and creator J. J. Abrams) have already popped on for interviews. Most recently even Jennifer Garner joined to talk about her brief, recurring role on the WB show!
