Readers of That Grape Juice know how passionate we are about music – whether that be past or present.
However, unlike our other segments – Retro Rewind, TGJ Replay, and From The Vault – The Pop Stop is the most in-depth look at Pop songs that may have flown under the radar over the last week that you should know, rather they be from music’s biggest stars or those on the rise.
This week, we want to highlight cuts from Taylor Swift, The Veronicas, John Splithoff, and Malia Civetz.
Join us inside…
Taylor Swift – ‘Don’t You’
If one were to enter ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ searching for the charming nuance of her earlier country-pop works, but with the modern gleam of her pop albums, then ‘Don’t You’ is the perfect marriage between the two. Swift turns to longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff to give this previously unreleased song a facelift. The storytelling plays similarly into her old material – running into an old boyfriend – but the lyricism is some of her most mature and clever to emerge from this era. Pair it with the layers of keyboards, electric guitars, drums, and Swift’s more mature voice, and you have a dazzling showcase of classic Swift at her best. It’s a shame that the track never saw the light of day until now, but the world is all the better that it has finally revealed itself.
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The Veronicas – In My Blood
So, this one is cheating. However, when a song is this good, one just has to make some exceptions. Originally released in 2016 for an album that never materialized, ‘In My Blood’ has been repackaged for Australian pop duo The Veronicas upcoming fourth studio album ‘Godzilla’. A song that has such shimmering electronic production that is paired with bongos – of all instruments – should not work this well, but it does. Despite its initial release years ago, the sound still sounds surprisingly fresh. A subtle club anthem that still deserves its time in the spotlight, ‘In My Blood’ stands among their best work to date.
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John Splithoff – Fahrenheit
It’s been 3-years since singer-songwriter John Splithoff released his ‘Make It Happen’ album, but the wait for new music is finally over. Serving as a single for his upcoming ‘All In’ album, ‘Fahrenheit’ is a subtle, lush pop-R&B gem. Built around dreamy synths, light strums of electric guitar, and a luxuriant beat, the production creates a seductive cocktail for those nights in with someone special. But, the real standout is Splithoff’s velvety voice, which acts like simple syrup in a whiskey sour, making the song that much sweeter and helps create a tune that is so easy to get drunk on.
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Malia Civetz – When You’re Lonely
From her childhood in Hawaii to Ryan Seacrest debuting her song ‘Champagne Clouds’ on KIIS FM, to joining JoJo on tour, Malia Civetz has been making waves in the music industry. However, with her upcoming EP ‘Heels in Hand,’ she is looking to take the music industry by storm. Case in point, ‘When You’re Lonely.’ This track is a rich slice of synth-laden R&B-pop that allows Civetz’s buttery vocals to do the talking. The moments of vulnerability are mirrored with the resilience that comes from knowing your self-worth. Across the track she asserts, “I ain’t no second choice / I ain’t no backup plan,” and she’s right. She is not a backup plan, because she is too busy taking over the music industry with undeniable bops such as this.
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Do you agree with our picks?
