2026 and pop music go together like New York Jets fans and making good choices in life. I don't know, it just feels like music has been in this weird cycle of songs sticking around way too long in the charts, and a bunch of new songs that aren't as memorable as you would think for being huge hits. The resurgence of country music in the USA is still going strong, it seems, with the top two songs on the chart belonging to Ella Langley. You know, Ella Langley, that one huge star everyone knows. Okay, I'll be honest, I had no idea who this was until her recent hit song "Choosing Texas" became unavoidable. You also have a nice mash-up with her and Morgan Wallen just outside the Top 10, because that guy can't seem to go away either. But let's take a look at the ten biggest current hits in the USA and see how music is going these days.
Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas
Been a while since I've heard a good old Texas country song. Feels like Nashville has been dominating the scene as of late. Wait, this song was recorded and produced in Nashville? Ah, never mind then. Actually, the song is more poking fun at Texas, as the guy Ella is in a relationship with leaves Nashville to be with another woman in Texas. "He's choosing Texas, I can tell," is how the chorus ends, as Ella is admitting defeat as her man leaves for Texas and she's left alone. It's a very simple song lyrically, not much to it that makes it very unique or original outside of a few Nashville references. Musically, it feels like a very basic country pop song, nothing that makes it stand out in any way here either. It's a very vague break-up song with almost no details of the relationship outside of "MY MAN LOVES TEXAS MORE THAN ME". Ella's vocals are just okay; she's got the country twang down, but other than that, nothing about this feels especially memorable. All I can think to say about this song is that it's about as plain as a country pop song can be, vanilla ice cream, and not even the good brands. It's not terrible, but man, does this really deserve as much play as it's getting? It's like the country version of that song "Ordinary", just a whole lot of nothing.
GRADE: C-
Ella Langley - Be Her
Alright, Ella, here's your second chance to make me feel something. Yeah, no, this song is even worse than "Choosin' Texas." The song is all about how Ella is super jealous of some woman we don't know, who is effortlessly perfect in every way (at least to Ella). I don't even think this person is real, but just an image of what Ella wants to be seen as to everyone around her. Just a married woman who tells it like it is, has money, and I guess loves Jesus and her momma. So like, a very generic American version of a successful woman? Make it as relatable as possible so that any person who listens to this can be like, "yeah! Me too!" I guess I can see why this was a hit... I mean, it's just as boring as a lot of country songs on the charts these days, so it fits right in. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to be relatable to your audience, but this just feels like it's pandering so hard that it makes it feel lazy, and it makes Ella just seem boring. These two songs of hers both just feel like they tell me nothing about Ella as a person or an artist, but she's just another generic pop artist with a country twang. But really, the chorus in this song is just terrible, and if you don't have a good chorus in a pop song, then why bother? Also, her voice isn't very good.
GRADE: D
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
Olivia Dean has been a rising star in music for a while now, but she now has a few big hits to her name. I've listened to a good amount of her music before this, and I've always enjoyed her style. In this song, Olivia is pleading with her partner to step up, as there seems to be confusion about what exactly their relationship is. I feel like Olivia is just waiting for him to tell her his real feelings, even going so far as to set up a time and place for him to do so. She's thinking he could be the one, but she just needs him to prove himself by talking to her and telling her what she needs to hear. I like the music here too, as the piano leads with its starts and stops, and the bass just jams out in the background. Olivia's voice is very smooth and easy to listen to, which I think is why this style of music works so well with her vocals. Solid song, one that I enjoy putting on from time to time these days.
GRADE: B
Bruno Mars: I Just Might
Bruno returned with a new solo album this year after 10 years since his last one. He did release the amazing collab with Anderson Paak back in 2021, but even that was 5 years ago now. This new project by Bruno feels more like a continuation of his sound in Silk Sonic, which is no bad thing. Of course, it certainly misses Anderson Paak and his contributions, but honestly, this is still pretty solid. My biggest complaint with "I Just Might" is that it may feel too safe for Bruno Mars. I guess I would say that was a problem if the song wasn't a big hit this year anyway. As far as his songs go, this one is still enjoyable, but something about it just feels missing. Like it's missing some energy or something different. It's got some awesome music, which is expected from Bruno's music these days. Bruno still has the vocals that will make any singer jealous as he hits his high notes perfectly. Yeah, I don't know, it's hard to hate on a song that's this fun, but even then, it feels like I needed just a bit more from him.
Grade: B-
Olivia Dean - So Easy (To Fall in Love)
Damn, that chorus is just too good. I feel like everything I said about Olivia in the song "Man I Need" can be repeated here, except even more praise. It just feels like the perfect song for her, like the song she was meant to make. I mean, I'm sure she'll make better songs in the future, but I just really like this song. I'll just say I'm happy I don't use TikTok much because if so, I'd probably be sick of hearing this song already. It's a song where Olivia expresses how much she is enjoying a relationship and all the little things in it. She feels something for this person and wants them to go with her because she thinks they could potentially go the distance. Why not give it a chance?
Grade: A
Alex Warren - Ordinary
Yeah, I'm so damn sick of this song. THANKFULLY, Drake and Noah Kahan both dropped massive albums the same week (Drake had three albums), and this song finally dropped out of the top ten recently. In fact, now that it's off the top 10, it should be gone permanently thanks to Billboard's new rules for how long a song can stay on the charts. Shoutout to Iceman.
Grade: Double F Minus
Olivia Rodrigo - drop dead
You know, this really feels like a Chappell Roan song in disguise as an Olivia song. Not that Chappell invented her particular style of pop, but with how popular it became, it certainly feels like this is taking heavy inspiration. To be fair, both artists have probably taken a lot of inspiration from each other. Also, this song is pretty good, so I'm happy if it was inspired by Chappell. The soft synth use is probably where the comparisons come from, as well as the way Olivia sings a few of the verses. The song is just about how Olivia has fallen hard for some boy, and it feels like she could drop dead of excitement if they end up together. I like how it feels like a very young love song, with all the little things that make it exciting, like just getting to know someone and that buildup to your first kiss or more. Olivia actually building up her vocals slowly through the song is a nice touch too, as she starts with more of a breathy sound at first and finally ends the song just singing her heart out. Overall, a solid first single from her upcoming new album. Hopefully, she keeps this up.
Grade: A-
Bruno Mars - Risk It All
This song certainly has a whole new vibe for a Bruno Mars song. I mean, it's not completely different than everything he's done, but at least it's got a more of a slow retro mariachi style, which I don't think he's done before. That being said, the song is just fine. I feel like everything I said about his first song on this list can apply here. It just feels like something is missing, and I don't know what it is. The vocals are great because, of course, and the music is well done. I guess it feels like there needs to be more risk involved, pun intended. It's not the kind of song I'm going to be listening to much, because it's just not very interesting despite its great production and amazing vocals. Give me something new, Bruno. I know you've got it in you. Also, does anyone else get very "catch a grenade for you" vibes from the lyrics of this one? Oddly similar to his old hit song lyrically.
Grade: C
Kehlani - Folded
Sometimes you just need a good R&B song to get you through the day, or in this case, get you through listening to the top 10 hits. This song reminds me a lot of early 2000's R&B with its electric guitar work throughout the song. The vocals are great, I mean, it's R&B, it wouldn't work without smooth, amazing singing. It seems to be about a relationship that's up in the air. From Kehlani's point of view, she may have needed a break for her own reasons. Even so, she wants the other person to come back because she's willing to give it another chance, using the excuse "pick up your laundry" as a way to give them another chance. Just a solid overall song.
Grade: B-
Tame Impala - Dracula (JENNIE REMIX)
Ugh, man, I don't know about this one. Lyrics are cheesy as hell, RUN FROM THE SUNLIGHT DRACULA! ISN'T THE VIEW SPECTACULAR! Honestly, I like the original version of this song a lot more than this remix with JENNIE. I've never heard of JENNIE before this, but I'm not very impressed with her contributions here. It just feels like she doesn't fit into this particular song at all; her vocals feel so out of place at times. I wonder why they even brought her in for this. Oh, she's got 54 million listeners on Spotify, yeah, that explains it. She also happens to be a member of the huge K-Pop group BLACKPINK, so that also explains her popularity. All that to say, this version of the song doesn't really work with her style of singing. The original "Dracula" is a solid Tame Impala song on its own. It's got some dark, moody sounds to go along with the vampire theme, and of course, the vocals are a little more toned down to match. So yeah, maybe just listen to the original.
Grade: D+
Looking through all the grades I gave the songs, it was a mixed bag of good and bad songs this time around. Anyone named Olivia dropped some bangers on the list; any country stars dropped generic, boring pop songs. Bruno Mars continues to be his usual self, which is good for the most part, and Ordinary is finally going away, thank GOD. Things could be worse, but nothing really blew my mind here either. Really look forward to hearing Olivia Rodrigo's new album; hopefully, that one lives up to the hype.