Recap: This week in Pop Culture (Nov 10)

The U.S. Election takes place

The moment Americans had been waiting for (or not) for months finally arrived this past Tuesday, when millions took to their local polls to cast their vote for the next President of the United States. In a heated battle between current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the stakes were high and so were the emotions across the internet.

Ultimately, the electoral votes indicated Donald Trump as the winner and outlets like CNN, AP and NBC News officially projected him as the 47th President of the United States at approximately 3am PST.

The following day, Kamala Harris took the stage at Howard University where she delivered her concession speech. The Vice President communicated to the crowd and millions of Americans watching at home that “we must accept the results of this election.” She reiterated by saying: “While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people.”

Beyoncé releases BODYGUARD visuals on Election Day

Beyoncé surprised fans with a visual for Cowboy Carter track BODYGUARD which takes us on a nostalgic trip to the sun-kissed shores of the 1990s. Titled "Beywatch," the video is a playful homage to Pamela Anderson's iconic Baywatch character, C.J. Parker.

Drenched in vintage charm, the video sees Queen Bey sporting a classic blonde wig and the unmistakable red swimsuit. As she struts along the beach, she exudes an effortless confidence that's pure Baywatch. The nostalgic visuals are further enhanced by a retro color palette and a soundtrack that evokes the era's carefree spirit.

beyonce

View more on Instagram

But the video isn't just about nostalgia. It also carries a powerful message. In a surprising twist, Beyoncé fires a bang flag gun, sending a bold message across the screen: "VOTE!" It's a reminder that even amidst fun and frivolity, civic duty is paramount.

Lady Gaga performed at Kamala Harris’ rally on Monday night

Pre-election, Lady Gaga rallied with Kamala Harris in Philadelphia. As the anticipation swirled among fans at Kamala Harris’ final rally on Monday night, many were eager to discover which song the pop icon would select to set the tone for the momentous evening. In a dazzling twist, Gaga chose an even more monumental classic than her own hit Edge of Glory — the emotional and patriotic ballad God Bless America, written by Irving Berlin, which resonated deeply with the crowd as a prelude to Harris’ empowering speech.

Sitting gracefully at the piano, Gaga introduced the song with heartfelt sentiment, reflecting on a time in America when women were often silenced. “For more than half of this country’s life, women didn’t have a voice,” she declared, her voice filled with passion. She continued, reminiscing about the tireless efforts of women throughout history: “We raised children. We held our families together. We supported men as they made the decisions.” Amid the charged atmosphere, she emphasized the pivotal moment at hand: “But tomorrow, women will be a part of making this decision.”

With her poignant words, Gaga acknowledged the strength and resilience of the women who paved the way for the present. “Today I am holding in my heart all the tough, tenacious women who made me who I am,” she said, a tribute that resonated with many in the audience. “I cast my vote for someone who will be a president for all Americans. And now, Pennsylvania, it’s your turn.” Her call to action thundered through the venue: “The country is depending on you. So tomorrow, make sure all your voices are heard. Come on, let’s go!”

After the electrifying climax of Harris’ speech, Gaga returned for the midnight moment as the clock struck 12, ready to perform her signature anthem Edge of Glory. With that, the night transformed into a celebration of hope, unity, and the promise of future change as election day officially commenced.

Celebrities react to Donald Trump’s second term

At her Nashville concert on Wednesday, Billie Eilish, known for her passionate and vocal support of Kamala Harris, struggled to maintain her composure as she confronted the harsh reality of the 2024 election results. 

Hours after Donald Trump secured his victory, the atmosphere in the venue was charged with emotion. Eilish, visibly shaken and with tears in her eyes, candidly expressed her turmoil with the audience. She explained how difficult it was for her to step onto the stage and perform under such disheartening circumstances, and explained that the clash between her love for performing live and her deep disappointment over the election outcome had left her feeling vulnerable. 

Despite the celebration of her concert, Eilish’s heartfelt expressions of struggle and determination struck a chord with her fans, fostering a sense of unity in a moment of collective grief and resilience. 

She then introduced her 2021 track Your Power, explaining, “The song that we’re about to do is a song that my brother Finneas and I wrote. It’s about the abuse that exists in this world upon women and a lot of the experiences that I have gone through and that people I know have gone through.”

The singer further added, “I’ve been taken advantage of. And I’ve been… my boundaries were crossed, to say it politely. Now, a person who is a convicted… uh, so many things… let’s say a convicted predator, let’s say that, someone who hates women so, so deeply, is about to be president of the United States of America.”

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel fought back tears as he addressed the audience following Donald Trump's election victory, which he labelled a "terrible night" for the nation. In a heartfelt opening monologue, Kimmel articulated the stark choice that faced voters, characterizing it as a decision between a prosecutor and a criminal, ultimately lamenting that "we chose the criminal." 

He further emphasized the potential implications of the election results, suggesting it was a "really good night" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, hinting at widespread apprehensions regarding America's ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst rising global tensions. Overcome with emotion, Kimmel mournfully reflected on the broader repercussions of the election, declaring it a disastrous event for women, children, and the countless hardworking immigrants who contribute essential labor to the country’s infrastructure. He noted the chilling impact this night would have on health care, climate action, scientific progress, journalism, justice, and free speech. 

Kimmel expressed deep concern for vulnerable populations, stating it was a dreadful night for the poor and the middle class, as well as for seniors who depend on social security. He voiced worries about the implications for U.S. allies in Ukraine, NATO, and the overarching values of truth, democracy, and decency. In a poignant conclusion, he reached out to all voters, asserting that it was a terrible night for everyone who opposed him, but also a grim night for those who voted for him — a sentiment they might not fully grasp yet.

Other celebrities like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Sabrina Carpenter and Ethel Cain reacted on social media as well.

Grammy nominations are released

After a hectic week clouded by election results, the Recording Academy finally unveiled nominations for the 2025 Grammys on Friday morning.

Female artists made a significant impact on this year's nominations, particularly in the pop category. Beyoncé's critically acclaimed "BODYGUARD" and Sabrina Carpenter's summer hit "Espresso" are both vying for Best Pop Solo Performance. They are joined by a strong field of nominees, including Charli XCX's "Apple," Billie Eilish's "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," and Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!"

The Best Pop Vocal Album category is also dominated by women. Sabrina Carpenter's "Short 'n' Sweet," Billie Eilish's "Hit Me Hard And Soft," Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine," and Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" are all contenders for this prestigious award.

Beyoncé's versatility is on full display once again, as her country album "COWBOY CARTER" is nominated for Best Country Album. Her powerful performance of "16 Carriages" is also recognized in the Best Country Solo Performance category. She is the most nominated artist this year with 11 nods.

The Best New Artist category is highly competitive this year, with a diverse range of nominees including Benson Boone, Doechii, Chappell Roan, Khruangabin, Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.

The Song of the Year category features a mix of chart-toppers and critically acclaimed tracks. Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" is up against Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' hit "Die With A Smile," which dominated the charts for over 50 days. Other notable nominees include Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!," Taylor Swift and Post Malone's "Fortnight," Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather," Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," and Sabrina Carpenter's "Please, Please, Please."

The Record of the Year category is equally competitive, with nominees including The Beatles’ “Now And Then”, Beyoncé's “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”, Carpenter’s “Espresso”, Charli xcx’s “360”, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, and Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s “Fortnight.”

The Album of the Year category features a diverse range of genres and styles. André 3000's "New Blue Sun," Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," Sabrina Carpenter's "Short 'n' Sweet," Charli xcx's "Brat," Jacob Collier's "Djesse Vol. 4," Billie Eilish's "Hit Me Hard and Soft," Chappell Roan's "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess," and Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" are all vying for the top prize. — Katie MacBeth

Best New Track: For our favorite release this week, Dua Lipa released “These Walls” featuring the Belgian pop singer Pierre de Madre. It’s actually a pretty neat addition to the song’s former arrangement, and their harmonizing just does the job in every aspect necessary. Pierre’s humming grazes all the best parts of our listening. We’d love to hear them together again sometime. — Dawson There

In other news…

• Legendary music producer Quincy Jones has died at the age of 91. The producer is best known for his work on Michael Jackson’s releases.

• ‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ by Ariana Grande has reached 1 billion streams on Spotify, becoming her 18th track to achieve the milestone - the most for any Female artist

• Camila Cabello has revealed that Beyoncé told her she loves ‘C,XOXO’ at Michael Rubin’s party.

• Troye Sivan has revealed that the SWEAT Tour will most likely not go international because of scheduling conflicts.

• Ariana Grande has explained that she ‘scrapped’ a lot of Positions content due to the negative fan response, in a new podcast she stated that she got ‘this is not what we want’ vibes from her fans. 

• Girls Aloud set to release their first new material in over a decade. ‘I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Version)’, will be a charity single honouring the late Sarah Harding and features Sarah on lead vocals throughout the track.

• Netflix have unveiled the episode titles for Stranger Things 5 - the final episode of the show will be titled ‘The Rightside Up’.

• Gracie Abrams has earned her first #1 on US Spotify with ‘That’s So True’.