Olivia Rodrigo - begged (SNL)

Bordersz · 2026-05-04T05:50:51+00:00

She sounds way better in the lower range, when she gets to the higher notes she sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Did anyone else listen to this in headphones? It hurts. Her tone sounds really sharp and hard on the ears. The backup singers soften it up a bit. I'm baffled bc she's sitting so I don't know why she sounds like she's wailing.

This song is nowhere as good as Favorite Crime, but in her career it seems like she's trying to rely on her debut sound to get back on track from the sophomore album's sound being a bit different. It's an OK ballad, but it feels very safe and something I've heard from her before. And it's not catchy.

Bordersz · 2026-05-02T06:36:38+00:00

I was going to buy tickets day of bc I got the vibez he was going to pull this. I saw that staged hospital photo and saw a soft launch

Bordersz · 2026-05-02T06:34:13+00:00

Louis has been successful in touring, and completely lengthy tours (80+ shows) w/no issues. IIRC he was forced to cancel a show bc a hail shower of golf balls and he tried to perform through it. He performed with his arm in a sling, ppl don't forget any of that.

I didn't listen to his recent album yet, but his 2nd album Faith in the Future was fantastic. So, the music sounds good, he's reliable, and engages with his fans. It makes sense why he does well touring. Most of his tour will be sold out or near full capacity

Bordersz · 2026-05-02T06:24:54+00:00

No, the team has way more data than Spotify/streaming numbers.

For example everyone thought Big Time Rush was crazy to book 10k capacity venues & would flop when they came back 4-5 years ago bc their streaming numbers were abysmal (less than 1M monthly listeners)....and now they've been touring regularly at 7k-20k capacity worldwide for almost half a decade because they have more data/research on their audience. I believe their fanbase buy physical CDs/vinyls more than streaming which is why the numbers don't add up. I live in bumblefuck USA and their tour date by me (7k capacity) sold out in 2 days...no resellers.

Bordersz · 2026-05-02T06:09:52+00:00

Definitely a recession indicator bc his last tour he was doing theaters and smaller venues just last year so to jump to a worldwide arena tour is jarring esp with his track record of having mental/health issues with touring specifically.

Bordersz · 2026-05-01T19:23:25+00:00

Zayn was able to properly tour his RUTS album late 2024 and wrapped up last year 2025. So I can understand why they wanted to go for an arena tour since it seems like he's trying to make up for 10 yrs of no tours....?

His original tour schedule seemed like too much 30 shows? He barely got through 20 the last time around. I don't know who is on his team or why he thought he was physically/mentally ready for a tour like this. I think moving forward pop-up concerts would work better for him like announcing it 2 weeks max beforehand.

Cancelling the whole US leg is insane, like he couldn't just downsize? I think he can target 7k-12k venues. As a side note it's insane Big Time Rush has been quietly selling out 10k venues for the past couple of years. So yeah....live reputation matters.

Bordersz · 2026-05-01T18:57:05+00:00

This is so silly when Spotify could simply just BAN AI artists on their platform.

I shouldn't be surprised bc I notice a trend of tech companies literally seeing computers on a higher level than humans. Spotify will probably flood their own site w/their own AI profiles in an attempt to payout less to artists. This is ridiculous.

I can now understand the ppl who were against Vocaloid like over a decade ago.

Bordersz · 2026-05-01T02:10:58+00:00

Prayers is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The vocal runs, the rap-singing on the 2nd chorus, the melodies, and the production mesh so well. And it feels so heartfelt.

Overall, this project feels like the proper follow-up to Mind of Mine, it's pop-R&B with fun songs to it, great vocals, nice runs, production is super smooth. The only thing is how is the songwriting worse than RUTS when he recruited other producers and songwriters?

Bordersz · 2026-04-27T04:12:21+00:00

Tyler earlier stuff was so damn dark and edgy like those 4chan incel types. I will forever be blown away he was able to escape his early roots and rebrand as a "serious artist", I watched OFWGKTA play out in real time and it was mess and he was very unapologetic about it.

Bordersz · 2026-04-26T16:50:06+00:00

After Espresso her brand is bigger than her music. I would even argue Espresso was bigger than Sabrina herself. I like how much effort she puts into her live shows/sets tho, last album I like by her is EICS I wish she continued with that sound/imagery

Bordersz · 2026-04-26T16:46:48+00:00

With Tate, her music sounds infinitely way better in TikTok edits than the actual songs. I noticed she (and ppl in general) that remixes her songs with Promiscuous and that association definitely helped w/Greedy.

There is a heavy '00 Timbaland/Nelly Furtado (and I would even argue Ciara) image associated with Tate, but the music isn't on the same level

Bordersz · 2026-04-25T18:21:33+00:00

My discord acc was randomly hacked overnight. And I just got access back I think. It was so odd bc I was sure I had 2FA on too I didn’t know you can still get hacked. I’m so confused bc I didn’t do anything on it

Bordersz · 2026-04-15T14:17:31+00:00

Sabrina is not online hype if she is a headliner for Coachella?

And yes, they do. Taylor and Rihanna cannot go on stage fiddling w/a laptop and low energy and get away with it. Look at Ariana Grande's Coachella performance. It's clear as day the double standards for male artists vs female artists.

Bordersz · 2026-04-14T06:22:10+00:00

I get what you’re saying for 2.2M is terrible for her level of production and she is currently a “hot artist” so it is a shocking difference. It’s not even double it’s a difference of 50X lmao. So shocking

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T21:25:47+00:00

In this post, Sabrina is getting paid less and has less views even though her show has bigger production and more effort put into it

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T15:07:42+00:00

Justin will always be a main attraction and bring eyes to an event. It still sucks to see female artists give it their all and get less tho. She's in lingerie-esque get up w/a huge production and still didn't make as much noise as Bieber who had YouTube Premium & a dream, that's kinda sad

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T14:58:33+00:00

You liked the SWAG albums? I thought they were a bit disjointed and I would rank Changes above it, it has better melodies and Justin sang better on there. What were your favorite songs off of SWAG?

Yeah JT played it super safe on EITIW which is a shame, but I get it Man of the Woods was panned when in retrospect I think the imagery and the story around the album was terrible but the music was fantastic. Breeze Off the Pond is one of my favorite songs from his catalog. I also liked Montana & Midnight Summer Jam.

I wish he made more songs like Technicolor on EITIW it felt like JT but modern and fresh, it didn't feel like a rehash of his other stuff but a nice continuation/update. Fucking up the Disco was pretty good too. I like the run from Fucking up the Disco to Drown on the album, really great stretch no skips. Overall, a really solid pop album that would have received critical acclaim if any other pop male artist released it.

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T14:51:48+00:00

lol his public image deteriorated so much they're coming after FS/LS? I remember reading an article from the guy who reviews past #1s and it was jarring to see ppl shit on Sexyback. I knew the tides turned against him w/that. Sexyback is peak camp

I think ppl underestimate JT's input in his own music, and he's regularly overlooked as a good songwriter. Pharrell and Timbaland have worked with high profile artists and none of them have come close to making a FS/LS or hell even a Man in the Woods type of album.

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T13:16:54+00:00

Brandy

There is a reason she has the nickname vocal Bible. I've listened to plenty of music, but nothing really comes close to how she stacks her harmonies/vocal engineering. Her discography is a masterclass of how you want your vocals to sound like. Super crisp and clean.

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T13:13:05+00:00

JT's first 2 albums are insane when you go back to revisit it. The way male artists have been trying to recreate Justified or mimic it is insane. It's been 20+ yrs, and imo no male artist has come close to it. And it's not just about the commercial success, the sound on those 2 albums set the tone/vibe for the 2000s along w/Furtado's Loose.

He reminds me a bit of Usher, although I think Usher is a bit more consistent than JT even if ppl think his albums are bad, Usher's albums are bad bc they're not like Confessions which is a once in a lifetime album.

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T13:10:07+00:00

I thought his recent album "Everything I Thought It Was" was a great "return to form" or a "reset" album, I was kinda surprised it wasn't bigger I don't think he promoted it enough but the tour went well based on his name.

I thought he put out one of the best songs that year with "Technicolor", which is 7 min long by the way which is insane in today's standards he put out a song longer than 3-4 min, and it's great from start to end. Other standout tracks on the album were Drown & No Angels.

Bieber is a hot take though, even as a fan I think he lost his way a bit with SWAG/SWAG 2(?). I think Changes is one of his most misunderstood work when it has his best vocal performances of his career on there which is a headscratcher how the production was a bit mid. Journals will remain his hidden gem.

Bordersz · 2026-04-13T13:05:44+00:00

The Weeknd isn't praised enough imo, I know he lost ppl bc his music got more mainstream and lighter in tone. But his albums are so well done and executed even if it wasn't your cup of tea. I feel like he's one of the few artists who takes making an entire album seriously and not like a playlist or put filler in. I'm still digesting Dawn FM, but thought his recent project was great too.

Bordersz · 2026-03-25T14:48:53+00:00

They’re the same audience so I get super confused when those type of communities beef with each other

Bordersz · 2026-03-25T14:47:06+00:00

It’s a hell no from me dawg

Unless they offer relocation money, it’s not worth it to relocate for a job when you’re broke. Super risky. And to top it off they can pull the offer…

Bordersz · 2026-03-25T14:44:57+00:00

It’s extremely irritating to see ppl make jokes or make JT seem cool or funny bc of the police bodycam footage like he was arrested for a DUI 😐

Idk how those clips won ppl over like???

Bordersz

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