Wellness Eras in Pop Music: Lorde, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, & More

BLINK THREE TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL IT KICKING IN…This week, we come to the consensus that the pop girlies are entering their ‘wellness eras.’ Gone are the hedonistic exploits and glamor of their prime; and welcome the newly-reformed, stripped-back songstress, complete with a bare face, neutral clothing, and an aura of calmness that looks too good to be true. Looking towards Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well, Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine, Dua Lipa’s forthcoming Radical Optimism, and more, we trace the roots of ‘pop wellness’ to country and folk, give Lorde’s Solar Power the flowers it deserves, and discuss how girlboss-era feminism may be responsible for the inevitable shift from pop stardom to granola girl-chic.Links:Spotify PlaylistPinterest BoardChristine A. Kelly, “Singing Out Between Tradition and Rebellion: Folk Music, Folk Womanhood, and American Feminism in an Era of Social Change, 1954-1985” (Fordham University)Chris Richards, “Kacey Musgraves made a wellness lifestyle album that isn’t Goop-core” (Washington Post)Chris Willman, Lorde’s ‘Solar Power’ Finds a Once-Dark Star Tripping the Daylight Fantastic: Album Review” (Variety)Nina Raemont, “A Year Later: In Defense of Lorde's ‘Solar Power’” (Substack)Albums Referenced:Ariana Grande, eternal sunshine (Google)Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism (Google)Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well (Google)Lorde, Solar Power (Google)Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation (Google)Outro Audio: @billzremix on YouTubeFind us:⁠Instagram⁠⁠TikTok⁠Watch ⁠this episode⁠ on YouTubeTimestamps:Intro 00:00What’s a Wellness Album? 00:18Hedonism vs. Wellness 03:19Lorde’s Solar Power 04:13Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine 09:25Retreat From the Mainstream 11:36Pop Star Goes Country 12:27Singer-Songwriters & Folk Music 14:20Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well 20:32Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism 25:00Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation 29:25Wellness Album Favorites 30:06Outro 31:07 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityvertigo.substack.com