We are officially two weeks into the new year, and the biggest news in music today was supposed to be Beyoncé’s announcement today which has now been postponed out of respect for the ongoing situation in Los Angeles. B is the It Girl all the it girls aspire to so, even though it’s generally a quiet time at the start of January, artists who do choose to launch their projects right off the top of the new year tend to get an advantage. This week we’ve got a few it girls (past and present) being thrown into the mix with JADE from Little Mix serving as the highlight with her new single “IT girl” ; whether or not you all feel they fit that elusive title will be up for debate, let’s let the music speak for itself.
I’ll say more about this in a second, but one thing I admire the most about an artist like JADE is the fact that she is putting in the effort and the work to actually be a true pop star. As we’ve seen from artists like Beyoncé, there’s a certain level of work ethic that goes into becoming an it girl and, more importantly, staying one. If Beyoncé’s (now delayed) announcement and the hype around it says anything about her genius, it’s that she has worked and continues to work as hard as she did (if not harder) when she started out, keeping the public interested in every artistic move she makes. You can quote me on this for later: I believe that JADE is going to be a big deal. Unlike her fellow Little Mix alums who have been trying to go solo for what feels like years now, she’s not just talking the talk, she’s walking the walk.
An “It Girl” can be described in a variety of ways. If we take the urban dictionary definition it’s a girl everyone wants to be, or one who is commanding the most attention at one point in time. It girls have never not been one of the pillars of pop music but over the last few years, it feels more and more like they are the foundation and the layers are deep as new it girls emerge all the time.
Tate McRae is gearing up to release her new album in February and dropped this snippet to her next single “sports car” over the weekend. No doubt it’ll be at the top of my playlist the second it drops because that snippet gives me PCD, 2000s main pop girl moment… what dreams are made of. If any of you remember the show Pussycat Dolls Present where they searched for the next Doll, Tate McRae’s newer sound is giving the masterclass to all of the contestants on that show. If my memory serves correctly, one of the themes on an episode of that show actually was the “It” factor, so everything comes back full circle.
Next week, new releases from 2000s R&B crooner Craig David and a posthumous album by Mac Miller (including a SZA duet) are due to hit the market, and who knows when we’re finally getting Bey’s announcement, which could very well happen next week. Mac’s latest release opens a conversation about the integrity of posthumous albums, but more on that then. For today, aside from my very own current it girl JADE, this edition of MC’s Music Lounge also includes music from former Disney Channel it girls, a Canadian rapper/singer on the rise, an artist who was crowned one of Spotify’s top new artists for 2025, and another new hit from music’s Latin king (whose new album is all but inescapable at this point). My personal favourite choice of the week is the viral pick, something that the millennials in the chat might appreciate as well.
Listen on…
MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK
The last of the ladies from Little Mix to go solo (shoutout to LM alum Jesy Nelson who announced her pregnancy over the weekend), JADE debuted last summer with the pop anthem “Angel of My Dreams” – and every release since then has been an absolute banger. She is truly carving her own lane and sound, leaning into all the things we love the most about pop girlies. Whether it be her fierce allyship to the LGBTQ+ community, her references to pop girls of the past through her visuals or music, or just her attitude, she is the embodiment of what an it girl in music is to me. The song was co-written with pop mega-producer Cirkut who you might know for his work with Charli XCX, Gaga, The Weeknd and more, so we know she’s got the right collaborators. If you listened to her first single, you would have noted that she is here to push boundaries and experiment with new electronic pop sounds to make something different from the group sound. She also recently described “IT girl” as the “c-nty little sister” to her first single. Those who are tuned into to the queer discourse online know just how much of an exciting statement that is all on its own. There is still no official release date for JADE’s full-length debut project but if you take one thing away from today’s music lounge it’s this: JADE is the one to watch when it comes to dance pop. Take a dive into her recent releases and see for yourselves, but she’s got it.
“It Girl” by JADE
“Are You Even Real” by Teddy Swims ft GIVEON
One of 2024’s breakout artists, and one of Spotify’s current best new artists for 2025, is none other than Teddy Swims. His breakout #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Lose Control” was one of the biggest hits of the last year, and introduced his signature voice to the world. To kick off the new year, Teddy drops the second single from his sophomore album which is due out in a few weeks; and as if taken from a page in my diary, he enlists GIVEON to assist him on the song. I saw GIVEON in concert two years ago, and the show was like an R&B safe haven. Just vocals for days, so the two of these guys together on a song? It’s pure magic, and it seems the general public seems to agree; well at least on my feed, lol. I’ve seen this song shared on more stories than I have from any new release in a while.
“Her World” by Skiifall ft Jorja Smith
A Canadian rapper from Montreal, Skiifall has been making a name for himself in the music world for a few years now. After collaborating with fellow Canadian artist Charlotte Cardin on her album 99 Nights, a whole new audience has been introduced to his music and now he has collaborated with another lovely lady for this reggae-infused track, the incredible Jorja Smith. Together, the two make for a dazzling duo, and the song is a perfect chill vibe. It’s always great to see someone from my hometown (Montreal) make some noise in the music world.
“What It Feels Like” by Aly & AJ
As an avid listener of the Call Her Daddy podcast, I was delighted to see that last week’s guests were none other than 2000s it girls Aly & AJ. I was in love with them when I was younger, into their albums and watched their movies Cow Belles and My Super Sweet 16 on repeat; and let’s not get started on the screaming karaoke renditions to “Potential Breakup Song”. The girls are back with new music, and it’s refreshing to see them in this light, in their 30s, not chasing any trends and simply making music because they love it. The track is an indie-pop song that has some dream-pop elements; picture something you’d hear frolicking through a field on a sunny day a la Katy Perry’s “Prism” album photoshoot. The song is fun, it’s light and feel-good, but it actually isn’t just the song that has gotten these girls back on my radar after all these years. The girls recount a recent story of an executive who let them know they were too old to be signed to their label, and that they only wanted to break artists in their 20s (for reference: the girls have now opted to release their new music independently). Can we please put an end to this narrative that women’s talents expire after they turn 30? Not to mention, Aly & AJ don’t need to be “broken”, they already have an established fan base. Not for nothing, just to prove the misogynistic and ageist executive who tried to silence them, let’s give “What It Feels Like” the chance it deserves.
“DtMF” by Bad Bunny
Now that Bad Bunny’s new album has been released for just over a full week (it was released last Sunday, defying “New Music Friday” industry standards), new favorites and standout tracks have emerged, and in a big way. The latest off his new release to make a splash is the emotional laid-back cut “DtMF”. One of the themes of the album is the idea of not taking enough photos to capture the memory of a person, moment, relationship, whatever it is; he’s telling us to take more photos. A little ironic given that this is the very man that two years ago threw out a fan’s phone after he caught them trying to snap a phot of him. Is he being cheeky? Is he being petty? Is it just a coincidence? Maybe it’s a mix of all of them, and that’s the beauty of Bad Bunny. A new viral trend has emerged with people sharing sentimental photos of their loved ones to the song, pulling on all of our heartstrings. “DtMF” has since become the top song on global Spotify, earning 11+ million streams a day. He also just announced a 21-date concert residency in Puerto Rico, as a love letter to his hometown, so between the music and the shows, he is really doing the work to represent his people. We are living in the age of Bad Bunny domination, lean in y’all, it’s a wonderful place to be.
MC’s VIRAL PICK
“I’ll Do It” by Heidi Montag
With the fires in California dominating the headlines, it’s been a grim week. Naturally, the internet is going to latch on to a glimmer of hope, something that can keep a stream of positivity in the zeitgeist; maybe it’s a trauma response, who knows… but I can’t think of another reason why Heidi Montag and Spencer Prat are back all over my feed. When the news broke that Heidi and Spencer had lost their home in the fires, his vulnerability online regarding their financial situation struck a chord with people, me included. The result is a complete revival and newfound general support for the couple that was not always there. To me, Heidi was always treated unfairly and I will now confess something – I think her 2010 album Superficial is nothing short of you guessed it… iconic. I was bumping that album HARD in the 9th grade regardless if people thought it was good or not. It was the era of Gaga pop, and this album which she at that time described “as good as ‘Thriller’”, (iconic, see? haha) was treated as a joke when in reality, it actually had a lot of potential. The noise around her infamous plastic surgery and tabloid stories were just way too intense for anyone to actually take her music seriously.
She may not have the vocals of Lady Gaga, but honestly, the songs were great lol. Many of the tracks were leftovers intended for the likes of Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, so the album is a treasure trove of underrated pop gems. Now like clockwork on the album’s 15th anniversary, due to a fan movement on TikTok driven by millennials, the album is #1 on the iTunes charts and the song “I’ll Do It” has gotten thousands of uses on TikTok (including Em Rata and Flavor Flav). People are actually wanting to help them, and spread some love. In this day and age, with all the negativity we have to take in on a daily basis, it’s actually quite wholesome. The Heidissaince and return of THE 2000s reality show “it girl” is alive and real.
@emrata
@flavorflav Wishing y’all a speedy recovery and stay safe,!! ðŸ™ðŸ¾ @heidimontag @Spencer Pratt
♬ I'll Do It - Heidi Montag
@rustyrooftop21 I’ll do it @heidimontag @Spencer Pratt #thehills #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage #fypage #fires #millennial #trending
♬ I'll Do It (Sped Up Remix) - Heidi Montag
@tanamongeaulol
@bethelbeexisting Sometimes the best ideas happen when you’re deep conditioning your hair. Pitbull and Heidi Montag needs to happen #mashup #pitbull #heidimontag #spencerpratt @heidimontag @Spencer Pratt @Pitbull
♬ original sound - Bethel
@chrispitsicalis Replying to @DownSouthMama🇺🇸 @heidimontag @Spencer Pratt #illdoitdance #heidimontag #spencerpratt
♬ original sound - Chrispitsicalis
@trishahrh stream superficial by heidi montag 💓 #spencerpratt #heidimontag @Spencer Pratt @heidimontag
♬ I'll Do It (Sped Up Remix) - Heidi Montag
You can also check out my MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE Spotify playlist here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year.
What have you been listening to this week? Let's Squawk about it! (App link here)
With Love,
MC
Attached - Bad Bunny performing at a subway station with Jimmy Fallon yesterday in NYC.
