photo credit: Sophie Rogers
Pop music was at a peak this year with many favorite artists releasing albums and going on international tours.
“The Tortured Poets Department”: three out of five stars
According to ABC News, Taylor Swift released her 11th album, “The Tortured Poets Department”, on April 19 with 31 new songs. She followed up her 11 albums with the biggest tour of her career, the Eras Tour.
People who have attended the popular Eras Tour were amazed with her stamina and athleticism that allowed her to perform for hours almost every night.
“The Tortured Poets Department” wasn’t my favorite of her albums because I felt that many of the songs were repetitive, and while they all had intricate lyrics that told impactful stories, to me they weren’t as memorable as her previous albums like “Lover” and “Reputation.”
“The Secret of Us”: five out of five stars
Included in the more than three-and-a-half-hour show, Swift brought out two talented artists: Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter. Both artists also released new popular albums that resulted in their very own tours as well.
Abrams released her album, “The Secret of Us”, on June 21, and it quickly became one of my favorite albums in 2024, with its complex and vulnerable lyrics and amazing vocal skills. According to Rolling Stone, she added on to that album with a deluxe version that comprised four bonus songs and many live songs that got the viewers, including me, excited for the new creations.
While Abrams finished performing with Swift in the North American shows, she started her very own world tour that explores the themes of heartbreak and personal growth. With being such a young artist, she has become an inspiration to many aspiring musicians.
“Short n’ Sweet”: four out of five stars
Another artist who accompanied Swift is the popular Sabrina Carpenter with her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet”, released on Aug. 23, according to Billboard Top 100.
Carpenter’s songs have an upbeat, entertaining vibe surrounding them, and she isn’t scared to step outside the box and have fun with her performances and songwriting. Her Short n’ Sweet Tour has exploded into a must-see concert with her artistic set, new costumes almost every night and incredible performance skills.
I had the opportunity to attend her opening show in Columbus, Ohio where the energy was unmatched, and her acting and singing skills came together to put on a concert that immersed the audience into a T.V. show showcasing her original ideas.
While her “Short n’ Sweet” album included many catchy songs that can get stuck in one’s head, her previous albums, especially “emails i can’t send”, had a more heartfelt meaning and a more authentic sound that left a lasting impression.
“Guts Spilled”: five out of five stars
My overall favorite pop artist of 2024 was 21-year-old Olivia Rodrigo with both her “Guts” album and her Guts World Tour. She is a very inspiring singer with great talent in her songwriting capabilities.
She released her “Guts” album in September 2023, but in 2024, she put out “Guts Spilled”, which I rated a five out of five, with five additional songs, which compared to her original album, were more upbeat and love inspired, rather than the heartbreak focuses the other songs had.
Many people felt that Rodrigo should have released the songs in the “Guts Spilled” album with the original instead because they were enjoyed more than the original. I disagree because I feel that the popularity earned from those songs was a result of the surprise element of anticipation.
I also attended her Guts World Tour concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and it was an incredible experience to witness her amazing performance ability. She leaves an emotional impact on the audience, which I think is a difficult thing to do as a singer.
At a very young age, she has established herself as a worldwide songwriter and performer who continues to make unbelievable pieces of music with lyrics that sound like poetry.
2024 has been a year with many artists stepping out of their usual music style and making heartfelt but entertaining music that bumps them up in the music industry more every year while still inspiring younger generations to show their creativity. While 2024 was a great year for music, I am very excited to see what’s to come in 2025.
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