This is part of a weekly series called “Pop! Opinions” where The Lantern offers its take on the week’s pop culture news.
’90s bests are back
This week, Justin Timberlake released his first new single in about six years. Last week when I heard the news, I swear I heard angels singing as the gates of heaven opened – Timberlake and the rest of ’90s boy band ‘N Sync provided the soundtrack to my childhood. I was a bit let down, however, by Timberlake’s single, “Suit & Tie.” In fact, the only part I was really into was Jay-Z’s feature. But this isn’t discouraging me from looking forward to whatever else Timberlake will produce in the coming months – I’m sure the multi-talented artist has something great up his sleeve.
Girl group Destiny’s Child also released new music this week on social media news site Mashable, marking the first time in eight years the trio has released a track together. “Nuclear,” the new song from Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, is similar to some of the group’s music from the ’90s and 2000s and is a catchy, smooth song about love. The track will make a nice addition to “Love Songs,” a 14-track album set to release Jan. 29 and feature love songs from the trio’s 1997-2004 library along with “Nuclear.”
Golden Globes’ history more interesting than awards
Awards season has officially begun, as the 70th Annual Golden Globes aired Sunday, and the Grammys and Academy Awards are right around the corner in February. In my mind, the most important award shows have always been the Grammys, Oscars and Emmys. When the Golden Globes air, my first thought is always, “Why do we need another award show?”
If you’ve never looked up the history behind the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the organization behind the Golden Globes), you should. I always assumed the Golden Globes were more of a wannabe combination of the Emmys and Oscars, but the HFPA is actually a nonprofit organization that has donated more than $15 million to entertainment-related charities in the past 19 years, according to its website. And while other award shows might be more glamorous and well-known than the Golden Globes, the Globes actually have a longer history than both the Grammys and Emmys.
