The search for the ever-elusive “bop” is difficult. Playlists and streaming service recommendations can’t do much. They often leave a lingering question: are these songs really good or are they just new?
Walk in Bop Shop, a handpicked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection is gender neutral and can include anything – it’s a snapshot of what matters to us and what sounds good. We’ll keep it fresh with the latest music, but also expect a few old (but good) ones from time to time. Get ready: The Bop Shop is now open.
The 1975: “Happiness”
In 2018, Matty Healy told me that he and fellow 1975 member George Daniel wrote songs with a simple metric in mind: it had to make them want to dance or cry. “Happiness”, their group’s last single before the new album, Being funny in a foreign language, may constitute the midpoint of this particular Venn diagram. It’s hectic as hell in the late 80s and early 90s that they love to play in, but it also feels down and tired. Healy himself sings in a shrunken tone, older than he’s ever been and given that fact. Naturally, I love it. The saxophones in particular sound great. It also sounds the opposite of their debut single “Part of the Band”. This leads me to conclude that “happiness”, just like happiness, can make you both dance and cry. Which group. —patrick hosken
Taylor Swift: “August”
Taylor Swift’s claim in the eighth month of the year cannot go unnoticed. Even though it’s been two years since the surprise release of Folklore, Every time the end of summer approaches, fans pump out the labored bop “August” and relive memories of a love triangle that only the singer herself could have written to feel so familiar, even if you don’t. haven’t lived. The song tells the other woman’s story in such vivid and heartfelt detail that you might even take her side. There’s no such thing as a Taylor Swift bridge, and this song is no exception. “Back when we were still changing for the better / Wanting was enough / For me was enough / Living for the hope of everything / Cancel the plans in case you call and say, ‘Meet- me behind the mall” / So much for summer love and say ‘we’ / “‘Cause you weren’t mine to lose. We’ll always have August. —Alissa Godwin
Take Van: “How did you come out like that”
Take Van is tired of petty judgments and focuses on freedom and fun. This track is perfect backlash for haters who disparage those who express their individuality, especially through their looks. It’s an endorsement to ignore dirty looks, enjoy the moment and fashion in your most eccentric outfit. So when Take Van asks, “How did you come out like that?” say, “With pride!” —Gwyn Cutler
AJR: “I won’t do it”
New York-based AJR is back with another catchy bop that doubles as extremely relevant social commentary. On “I Won’t,” the alt-pop trio (and their real brethren) use their larger-than-life sound and defiantly reject authority and conformity. “Acapulco, Tel Aviv and maybe Japan / And the pretty people yell at me to follow the dance / So I do what you tell me and do it to death / But I can’t do this shit again”, sings the singer Jack Met on a brilliant piano melody. The track is for anyone who is fed up with the pressure our social media obsessed society puts on us to keep up with the latest trends. — Farah Zermane
Whitney: “Blue”
Ahead of their new pop-forward album, Spark, Chicago duo Whitney have released two singles that point to their exciting future and one that celebrates their past. I count “Blue” as the latter, a vintage falsetto vocal performance by Julien Ehrlich that dances freely like the wind. Their folk and soft-rock roots evolved into brighter ground as they matured, but Ehrlich and Max Kakacek rarely sounded better and more upbeat than on the unbeatable “Blue.” Calling it car music with the windows down would be cliche as hell, but mate, I lived it. —patrick hosken
Harry Styles: “Boyfriends”
If you’ve recently attended a Harry Styles concert or seen the many videos on TikTok, you know the singer is known for helping his audience blast his boyfriends from the stage. As it should be, there’s a song for that on his latest album, Harry’s house. Although slow, this song deserves bop status because its soothing melody and soft notes almost sound like a lullaby – a song where an international mega pop star gently sings you to sleep with the idea of not letting your boyfriend mistreating you. (How sweet! Thank you Harry.) Through his serenade, Styles urges listeners to take a thoughtful look at their relationships and realize they deserve better with lyrics like “Boyfriends, they think you are so easy / They take you for granted” and “You like a fool who knows just how to get under your skin / You always open the door.” If Harry Styles tells you to throw them away, then do it. —Alissa Godwin
Rina Sawayama: “Hold the Girl”
Rina pours out in this heartbreaking yet soothing ballad about never giving up, no matter how many times you’ve let yourself down. Forgiving for breaking personal promises and evading self-reflection is a hard pill to swallow. However, this is not as damaging as neglecting yourself and relentlessly punishing yourself for your mistakes. Rina clings to her inner child for life, refusing to lose her or let her go, while giving her space to grow. By accepting her past, she can embrace the future without leaving her old self behind. “They’ll tell you to sit down, shut up and grow up / What do they know? / Because the girl in your soul sings on / And you owe her the world. —Gwyn Cutler
Paco Versailles: “Soy Gitano”
Capital Cities singer Ryan Merchant and guitarist Vahagni – also known as the duo Paco Versailles – are back with their latest single, “Soy Gitano”. Lather up the sunscreen because this track is the perfect addition to your latest poolside playlist. The song is a sweet flamenco-inspired fantasy, which will have you dancing in the depths, lost in your own personal disco daydream. —Chris Rodolphe
Rod Wave: “Rolling Stone”
Poignant and contemplative without delving into melodrama, this tired Rod Wave ballad could have been a lost gem of the classic era of Southern hip-hop. As he spins a thread about achieving his dreams (and what it costs), a shimmering instrument gives his words added weight — and a reason to keep playing the song again. —patrick hosken
