News about Michael Angelakos

It's impossible to find the ever-elusive "bop" in the hunt. Playlists and streaming-service recommendations can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new? Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked collection of songs from the MTV News staff. And MTV News has examined the future ahead of New Retro Week, a commemoration of the most influential artists, hits, and cultural events that made 2012 a seminal year in pop. We revisited Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" defining a moment, and how Fun's "Call Me Maybe" started the Jack Antonoff period in pop. Both KCON and Spotify's evolution and very different cultural dynacies were charted. We caught Rihanna's transformation from full-fledged mogul, Taylor Swift bringing the personal to pop, and One Direction vying for more control.