Generation Trouble in the Writers’ Room: Paula’s Pop Week at a Glance

Phenomenon of the week: Gen Z and the Arctic Monkeys

Do you know that, you have so many retro impressions through films, series, internet and so on that you can no longer distinguish them from your own biography? I listen to “There is a Party” by DJ Bobo, it’s suddenly 1997 or something, I can taste some cords in my mouth and I’m on some beach in Italy with my family, the BRAVOS are just flying around, the Tamagotchis are jingling, my Baby-G is being tested for water resistance, it smells like barbecue, Chlorine, vanilla, what do I know. I’ve hardly ever experienced it like that, almost everything was completely different, I was in Italy for the first time two years ago, but I still think a lot when I hear 90s songs: Ah, my awesome 90s childhood.

So are Gen Z people and it seems to be even more confusing for them, they have a few more decades to glorify and in the process, things get mixed up, there are no limits. For example, people long for the year 2014, but mistake it for 2007 in terms of clothing. Songs that are only a few years old are placed in the allegedly past, golden era of music (which must somehow be diffusely forever ago), “Do I Wanna Know?” (ten years old) by the Arctic Monkeys is considered a rock classic like before, only stuff from the Beatles. I think it’s great, everything gets mixed up that was never easy to separate anyway, that never ran in a straight line anyway. And the Arctic Monkeys themselves are also retro fantasists, they have always made collages and invented the past, so everything should be like that. Last but not least, they have always been an internet phenomenon. From MySpace to TikTok – the obviously youngest band in the world. Last year, sped-up versions of “505” also made their 505 rounds on TikTok – and this at least explains the surprisingly low average age at the Monkeys concert on Monday in Frankfurt.

Well, I don’t have much against sped-up versions…actually…but this is tough.

Cute of the week: Post Malone

That I have a weakness for Post Malone I’ve put it “on record” here a few times and it probably won’t get any better if he keeps going one step further. He performed in Cologne last week and brought a German superstar onto the stage. You “guess” it already, right, it was Apache 207. And the way Post Malone reacts to this appearance is way too cute. He’s totally celebrating Apache, seems pretty surprised and probably drunk too. Being looked at by Posty like that idiot Apache, seeeeeeeet.

Cover of the week: Anastacia

So, you have to be strong now. Yes, even stronger than the speeded-up version of “505”. Anastasia, DIE Anastacia is releasing an album on which she covers German songs. It should be called “Our Songs” and will be released in September. OUR SONG? OUR SONG? Oh my goodness. Uncomfortable and yet totally logical. After all, Anastacia has always been the more interesting Grönemeyer. Probably recommended the label to her because she has so many fans in Germany and Germans love it when someone imitates something German. And ultra-German it starts right away, and also somewhat great, it’s going to be much better than the original, hold on tight as fuck, please. The first cover song is none other than… No, stop. You should really find out, hear and experience it for yourself. I can’t rob you of this moment. Please:

Farewell of the week: James Corden

Cute talk show host James Corden hosted his latest Late Late Show two weeks ago. She was reasonably well again, one saw many men, there was laughter and tears. The reason for the end: Corden wants to go back to England to be able to spend more time with his family. Have fun! Above all, we will miss Carpool Karaoke, one of the best pop formats ever. In the last episode, Corden drove around with Adele again, it’s adorable and it makes you cry.

Also nice was the skit with all the other late night hosts (Colbert, Kimmel, Meyers, Noah, Letterman, Fallon) saying goodbye at Corden’s. Attention: It’s raining men.

A flashback was also produced, which is well worth seeing. And also a bit sobering when you think about how in this men’s late night world even a fairly unknown Brit was carted over to take over the “Late Late Show” instead of one of the women from the environment to resort to. May many more of these shows fall so that they can finally be repositioned. Funny as it was.

Strike of the week: Writers Strike

It doesn’t matter who’s sitting in front of the stage: All these late-night shows would be nothing without the authors who write them. And they are now on strike, just like authors for series and films. The working conditions in the streaming services in particular have exacerbated the differences between WGA (Writers Guild of America) and AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). After all, the last treaty changes are from 2008 – they followed a 100-day strike – and a lot has changed since then. The central demands relate to higher royalties, author quotas in writers’ rooms and protection against AI competition.

Since then, actors and, of course, the late-night boys have also shown solidarity.

Amanda Seyfried summed it up exactly:

What happened until now? Here is an overview of all pop column texts.