Practically Pop

We got another mini-sode this week, diving into Bridgit Mendler's 2016 hit '"Atlantis"' with Kaiydo, its unique experimental pop sound, the emotional themes behind the song, and the music video. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and Bridgit Mendler’s career background 00:24 - Bridgit Mendler’s journey from Disney star to music artist 00:35 - Overview of Mendler&#3...

Enjoy today's mini-sode and happy Independence Day!!!

In our first VIDEO EPISODE (yay!!!), I'm taking you guys behind-the-scenes of the journey of my soon-to-be-launched clothing/homeware brand Wear Without Care!!! Follow Wear Without Care on Insta: @wearwithoutcarebrand Chapters: 00:00 Overcoming Fear and Starting Your Business 00:21 Naomi’s Personal Hero Inspirations 01:00 The Birth of Wear Without Care: Concept and Vision 01:41 Early Days: Cre...

“Nunca es tarde para tener un buen día” (“It’s never too late to have a good day”): the first line sung in the chorus in Becky G’s positivity-packed, ESQUEMAS opener, “BUEN DIA”. In today's shortened episode, Naomi reveals the sweet connection she has to this song, emphasizing the importance of positivity on less-than-ideal days, and which Becky G song she can partly sing in Spanish. Chapters: 00:...

We are all about embracing the positivity on Dua Lipa’s 2024 record, Radical Optimism! Following her record-shattering sophomore effort and now-iconic Barbie single, Dua took a lighter approach to her third album, spreading messages of looking on the bright side of life, learning and continuing to grow in a healthy & optimistic way, despite whatever romantic and/or other challenges have gotten...

In our first bonus episode for season 4/Pop Girl Summer, I'm breaking down the Summer House part three reunion. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro and overall take on the Summer House reunion 00:25 - Amanda's relationship choices and behavior analysis 01:08 - Amanda's confession vs. her actions at their Hamptons-Vegas party 02:17 - Amanda's low self-esteem and her attachment to West 03:03 - A...

We're kicking off Pop Girl Summer with Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet opening track, "Taste"! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pop Girl Summer and Season Four 00:29 Initial thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste" music video 01:16 Comparison with Kelsea Ballerini's "If You Go Down" and "hurt my feelings" by Tate McRae 02:27 Lyric themes: Love triangles and their cultural impact 03:07 Personal vi...

Turns out I had more to say about the Summer House reunion...

"You don't cross that line." "Why lie about all this?" "This is all so stupid." Chapters 00:00 Summer House Reunion Overview 01:44 Amanda and West's Controversial Decisions 03:51 Emotional Affairs and Friendships 05:12 Comparisons to Scandoval 07:02 Public Perception and Consequences 09:09 Mental Health and Personal Struggles 10:58 The Impact of Betrayal 12:59 Amanda's Shift in Public Image 15:03...

On BANKS’ critically-acclaimed third record, III, growth is not an option. It is the ONLY way out of the messiness explored on the album. Between learning to reclaim her fierceness and hitting rock bottom in love, BANKS’ versatility and known insightful perspective was more powerful than ever. As one of the most intelligent, psychologically deep musicians of this generation, BANKS has never had a...

For our last Song Highlights episode of season 3, we’re diving into “lie to me” by HRVY!!! You don't wanna miss this!

When people have preconceived notions of who you are as a person, it’s a tough thing to break. Other times, people just count you out. Well, for Skylar Simone (then Skylar Stecker), she takes back all her power and makes herself a force to be reckoned with in her ultra-powerful second record, Redemption. Just a year shy then of becoming an adult, her redemption journey was riddled with control and...

On today's bonus episode, I'm doing my rundown of favorite looks from last night's "Costume Art" Met Gala. Plus, find out which stars I hope to see grace the Met steps next year!

Once again, Aly & AJ have knocked it out of the park with another stellar record: Silver Deliverer . Recorded and created amidst their With Love From tour and Aly’s then-pregnancy, you could truly feel all the feels from the eleven-track effort. Surrounded by coastal sounds and free-spirited energy, with some heavier topics weaved in (loss of a personal friend and a tour tragedy), it was the m...

I was already annoyed at the zero accountability taken at the VPR S10 reunion by Tom and Raquel. I don't want a repeat of that with Amanda and West at the Summer House reunion. Respect yourselves and take the blame.

TRIGGER WARNING: There will be discussions on overdose, substance and drug abuse topics, so please proceed with caution if you choose to listen. When I first watched Demi Lovato’s docu-series, Dancing With The Devil, five years ago, it was truly one of the most painful things I’ve ever seen from someone who’s been one of my biggest role models for most of my life. When she released her album, it i...

Don’t be alarmed by the title…not a finale! Just a (lame) play on the iconic 2007 single that made a WILD comeback in 2025 by the one and only, Hilary Duff! And on this week’s episode, we’re diving into the former teen queen’s first album in 11 years, luck…or something!

From #Scandoval to #Scamanda, it seems that *certain people* just can't stop embarrassing and burying themselves on Bravo with idiotic decisions! Now, just a month shy of the Summer House reunion, it's been an absolute sh*tshow of drama surrounding the cast. Friendly note: DON'T DATE YOUR FRIEND'S EXES! DON'T DO IT! DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!

I don’t how I became so obsessed with this song, but I just am and it’s so, so lovely! I have been singing/listening to this song every week since August 2024, it’s so crazy! Please enjoy this week’s mini-sode as I share my everlasting love for the greatest interlude in history!

A brand new, happier era awaits on Charlie Puth’s fourth album, Whatever’s Clever!

Though the drama hasn't stopped yet, we're now approaching a new dawn on Charlie Puth's self-titled third record, CHARLIE!

In this surprise bonus episode, we’re rewinding 40 years back to the moment the world was introduced to a deeply soulful album that quickly became a legendary staple in music during the quiet storm era of the 80s: Rapture by Anita Baker.

I don’t know if I should call these the “happy chapters”, but there was definitely a slightly brighter era that came after Voicenotes and before the CHARLIE era, which was captured in these specific 2019-2020 singles, “Cheating On You”, “Girlfriend”, and “Mother”, but it still came with its own brand of messiness, which I felt was the starting point of the Charlie Puth’s third album journey.

This week, we explore the intricate messiness that encapsulated Charlie's sophomore record, Voicenotes!

In part one of our very first Practically Pop: The Sessions series, we deep dive into the beginning parts of the central relationship told in select tracks from Charlie Puth's hit pop-R&B debut, Nine Track Mind (Deluxe Edition)!