Pop History Book

“Always Be My Baby” was released in 1996 as the third U.S. single from Mariah Carey’s critically acclaimed fifth studio album, Daydream (1995). The song became Carey’s 11th number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Madonna and Whitney Houston for the most number-one singles by a female artist at the time.

Amy Winehouse performing “Tears Dry on Their Own” live at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 2007. “Tears Dry on Their Own” is the critically acclaimed song by Amy Winehouse, released in 2007 as the fourth single from her iconic second and final studio album, Back to Black. The track is celebrated for blending raw heartbreak with an upbeat, soul-stirring rhythm. Originally written and recorded by Winehouse as a slow, somber ballad, producer Salaam Remi suggested layering it over the Motown-inspired arrangement built around Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” creating the song’s signature bittersweet contrast.

Madonna revealing how she likes her sandwiches (2012) 🥪

"Hung Up" was released in 2005 as the lead single from Madonna’s critically acclaimed tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. The track became a global phenomenon, famously topping the charts in a record-breaking 41 countries. A true cultural reset. 👑

Lady Gaga performing “Born This Way” at the 2011 Grammy Awards Released as a powerful anthem of empowerment, individuality, and self-acceptance, “Born This Way” has become one of the most culturally significant LGBTQ+ pride anthems of the modern era. Earlier this year, the song was named the greatest LGBTQ+ anthem of all time by Billboard. 🏳️‍🌈

“Boy (I Need You)” was released in 2002 as the second single from Mariah Carey’s ninth studio album, Charmbracelet. The track features rapper Cam’ron and samples his hit song “Oh Boy.” The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, was heavily inspired by early-2000s Tokyo pop culture and anime aesthetics.

In 2006, Nelly Furtado released “Promiscuous” featuring Timbaland as the second single from her third studio album, Loose. The song spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains a defining staple of 2000s pop and R&B.

In 1997, Mariah Carey released “Breakdown” featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony as the third single from her fifth studio album, Butterfly. “Breakdown” remains one of Mariah’s most underrated songs and a fan favorite. It is widely beloved not only for its vocal performance, but also for its powerful and masterfully written lyrics detailing a story of a romance gone wrong.

In 2008, Britney Spears released “Circus” as the title track and second single from her sixth studio album, Circus. 🎪 The song serves as a metaphor for Spears’ experiences with fame, the music industry, and life as a heavily scrutinized performer. The Circus era marked Spears’ major pop comeback, delivering a chart-topping album, multiple hit singles, and a record-breaking world tour.

In 2001, Kylie Minogue released “Come Into My World” as the fourth and final single from her highly successful eighth studio album, Fever. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2004, marking Minogue's first-ever Grammy win. Directed by Michel Gondry, the iconic music video features a continuous, looping shot of Kylie walking around a Parisian intersection. Each loop duplicates Kylie and the people around her, creating a complex, multiplying reality.

In 2005, Jennifer Lopez released “Get Right” as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Rebirth.

In 2005, The Pussycat Dolls released “Don’t Cha” as the lead single from their debut studio album, PCD. It features lead vocals from Nicole Scherzinger alongside Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton. The song topped the charts in over 15 countries and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the spot for three consecutive weeks behind Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together".

The evolution of Mariah Carey’s “it’s time” announcement 🎅🎄

Cardi B draws a large crowd during her “Bodega Baddie” pop-up event in New York City

That time Beyoncé took her name as a compliment, 2010

Mariah Carey deserves the Video Vanguard award for this video alone.