Mouthful of Denim: On Ariana Grande’s ‘Love Language’ If this is what “Love Language” (2020) sounds like, then love isn’t just blind—it’s illiterate. Lyrics like “I’m unlearnin’ what ain’t right” read like something Ralph Wiggum migh…

Ariana Grande wants to talk dirty, but “Love Language” is a lyrical trainwreck of Givenchy metaphors, therapy buzzwords, and mush-mouthed babytalk.
#ArianaGrande #LoveLanguage #PopCriticism #LyricalAnalysis #MusicReview #PopCulture #Songwriting
songreading.wordpress.com/2025/01/25/l...

Katy Perry’s ‘Swish Swish’: Killer Queen, Clueless Pop Star In “Swish Swish” (2017), Katy Perry calls herself “a courtside killer queen.” “Killer Queen” is the name of one of the perfumes that Perry shills and the Queen song that inspired her to pursue show…

“Killer Queen” is about a high-class call girl. Katy Perry based her persona, perfume, and empowerment anthem on it—without catching the subtext.
#KatyPerry #PopCriticism #SubtextIsDead #SwishSwish #Queerbaiting #CulturalCritique
songreading.wordpress.com/2025/07/31/k...

The Truth Hurts, So She Avoids It: Emotional Dependence in Ashley Tisdale’s ‘Tell Me Lies’ Ashley Tisdale’s “Tell Me Lies” (2009) joins a long line of songs that treat deception as central to romance, including Depeche Mode’s “Policy of Truth,” Megadeth’s “Almost Honest,” Bon Jovi’s “Lie…

Ashley Tisdale’s “Tell Me Lies” isn’t just a weak track—it’s a case study in pop regression. While Depeche Mode, Shaggy, and Megadeth play with lies as moral dilemmas or satire, Tisdale asks to be spoon-fed delusion.
#PopCriticism #AshleyTisdale #TellMeLies
songreading.wordpress.com/2025/01/23/t...

Jennette McCurdy’s Generation Love: I’m Glad Your Singing Career Died I know that Jennette McCurdy disowned her acting past with good reason, but I still wish she had channeled some of her iCarly character into her singing. Or, for that matter, some of herself. Where…

Jennette McCurdy gave us raw honesty in I'm Glad My Mom Died — too bad her music career forced her into hollow, Hallmark anthems like “Generation Love.”
#PopCriticism #JennetteMcCurdy #ICarly #GenerationLove #MusicIndustry #PopCulture #SabrinaCarpenter
songreading.wordpress.com/2024/11/22/g...