57.5 million reasons to love lana

the buzz #5 - on 2015 core, siwa's spiral & nepo baby superstars

May 05, 2025

hi party peeps! this has been a busyyyy weekend for me, so i’ll keep this short & sweet. i hope you had an amazing week and enjoy this week’s buzzing (psst… it’s my sunday newsletters covering everything pop culture!). Time to unpack → But first! Something new for this week:

On My Radar:

At The Table: lettuce wraps!!

On the Nightstand: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty + the best lip gloss everrr

In the Queue: What Was That by Lorde + party 4 u by charli xcx 4ever

On My Mind: Met Gala Monday, Lorde’s anticipated album Virgin, & Lady Gaga’s record-breaking concert in Brazil (2.5 million attendees!!)

Inspiration for 04/27/25 - 05/4/25:

The Buzz #5:

Ed Sheeran Makes Me Miss My iPhone 5

This might be my favourite marketing rollout of 2025 so far. Ed Sheeran recently announced his eighth studio album, Play, dropping in September. Currently, he’s in his ‘single phase,’ releasing a variety of engaging songs to create excitement for the project. The second single, Old Phone, came with a creative twist: Ed launched a new Instagram account, @teddysoldphotos, where he’s been posting a series of photos from 2013-2015.
There was no explanation at first - just a feed of throwback photos with silly captions. We’re talking photos of Mac Miller, One Direction, Taylor Swift (with Calvin Harris… remember that?!), Sam Smith, Ed’s first Grammys, and Notes screenshots of lyrics that would later become hits. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a scrapbook of a golden era, especially for those who lived through it.
This rollout doesn’t just lean into nostalgia, it throws us headfirst into a time we (or maybe I) remember so vividly and fondly. Like we talked about in last week’s What Was That/party 4 u analysis, it’s not just a feeling, it’s a full sensory throwback.
As Ed puts it, “I got rid of my phone in 2015, and moved onto email full time…[but] when I got sued, I switched on my old phone. It felt like a time capsule.” I’m not the biggest Ed Sheeran fan, but this promo got me to listen to the song…and actually add the song to my playlist. Now I want to dig up my old phone!!

Go Jojo… But Oh No Jojo

Jojo Siwa’s appearance on Celebrity Big Brother UK has been a lot. To be fully transparent, I don’t really understand Big Brother. A bunch of celebs are in a house doing random challenges and having fun..? I just don’t get it but alas, this season has caused quite a stir.
When Jojo entered the house, she had been with her partner Kath for five months. They’d talked about marriage, were reportedly very committed, so Kath wasn’t worried about Jojo on the show. But just a few days in, Jojo started getting close to fellow housemate Chris Hughes, a British TV personality. The pair were filmed canoodling, dancing alone (Dirty Dancing-style!), exchanging foreheads kisses and private convos, etc. Very couple-y behaviour.
In the midst of this emerging relationship, Jojo shared a personal revelation: she no longer identifies as a lesbian, but as queer. Genuinely, go Jojo! It’s so powerful to see someone discovering more about themselves and I’m genuinely so happy that Jojo got to learn more about herself in this experience. However… the days that followed left a sour taste in my mouth.
Just one day after leaving the house, Jojo broke up with Kath…at the reunion party. Kath posted a Tik Tok saying they felt “blindsided and used.” Meanwhile, Chris and Jojo have been doing the talk show circuit, with Jojo even saying she “might stay in England longer.”
After a deep-dive convo with my friend (hi shae!!), here are a few tips for Jojo:
- 1. If you catch feelings for someone while in a relationship on national TV, speak to the camera and say “I want to break up.” Your partner will be watching and it avoids emotional cheating.
- 2. Jojo’s revelation is valid, but the way this all unfolded plays into harmful stereotypes, specifically the idea that lesbians “just haven’t met the right guy yet.” As this Tik Tok states, “i get changing your mind and figuring out your sexuality but girl, ON TV?!”
- 3. Jojo is 21. Chris is 32. Please, for the love of anything good in the world, listen to 29 by Demi Lovato.
So yes, self discovery is great. But public messiness at the expense of others? Not so much. Jojo, I’m rooting for your growth…but also, oh no Jojo.

57.5 Million Reasons To Love Lana

Last weekend, Lana Del Rey graced the stage at Stagecoach in a 1950s bob and pin-up red dress, and gave us a unexpected gem. Mid-set, she debuted a new song, unofficially dubbed 57.5 by fans. The main chorus goes something like this:
- “I’ve got 57.5 million listeners on Spotify / Roger Miller made them laugh / I guess some folks still like to cry / I ain’t got a man but maybe one of them’s a fan of mine / in that 57.5 million listeners on Spotify.”
I mean… iconic. After the first chorus, Lana knelt down and laughed - and honestly, same. The line delivery and deadpan self-awareness makes this song gold. The performance is now blowing up online, with Tik Toks everywhere begging Lana for an official release.
But wait, it gets better. Before she started the bridge, Lana casually drops, “this is the last time, I’m ever going to say this line…” (okay Lana… go on). Then she sings:
- “I kissed Morgan Wallen / I guess kissing me kind of went to his head / If you want my secret to success / i suggest don’t go ATVing with him when you’re out west.”
Tell me you didn’t just laugh out loud. There’s just something so fun and freeing about artists who’ve been around long enough to not take themselves too seriously. While I still love a perfectly polished album, why not release a tongue-in-cheek single poking fun at yourself, other celebrities, and pop culture?
This song just gives me 57.5 million more reasons to love Lana, and yes, I’ll stream it that many times if she ever drops it.

Rumi + Blue Are the Moment

Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour has officially begun, and with a setlist of over 40 songs spanning decades of music, fans are screaming Ya Ya. But for me, the real highlights (and what’s taking over the internet) are the appearance from her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter.
Blue Ivy, who joined the Renaissance tour as a budding performer, is now fully stepping into her power. Watching her grow from a timid tween into a confident young woman on stage is just amazing. Like seriously, watch her shine. She’s not just Beyonce’s daughter anymore, she’s a star in her own right.
But the moment that truly melted hearts came when Beyonce brought out her youngest daughter, 7-year-old Rumi, during Protector (a track Rumi is actually featured on). This was Rumi’s first real public moment and it was pure magic. She waved at fans, beamed from ear to ear, and hugged her mom mid-performance. I fully teared up, it was that sweet.
As someone who used to be a diehard Beyonce fan, but drifted a bit due to what felt like a lack of authenticity (personal opinion!), this moment brought me back. Watching Bey onstage with her daughters felt real and human, not curated and calculated. Just a proud mom, sharing her world with the girls she’s raising, and that is everything.

Is It Too Early to Call the Song of the Summer?

My sister and I (hi issy!!) recently debated about what we think the 2025 song of the summer will be. Last year, it was without a doubt Espresso, but 360, Red Wine Supernova, and Birds of a Feather were strong contenders. This time last year, most of these songs were already out and everywhere. So my question remains: what will it be this year?
Here are a few early contenders that I’ve got my eyes (and ears) on:
- Headphones On by Addison Rae
- Luther by Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- What Was That by Lorde
- Abracadabra by Lady Gaga
- Show Me Love (with Tyla) by WizTheMC
As I was making this list, I started thinking about the concept of ‘song for the summer’. There’s the song for the masses - the one that blasts from beach speakers, radio stations, retail stores, and every teens’ pool party. And then there’s your personal song of the summer - the one that defines your season, constantly playing in your headphones or car all summer long.
Let me explain. Summer 2024 was my first ‘working summer.’ Two part-time jobs, two different cities and a lot of bus rides. That was also the summer I fell deep into my Chappell Roan obsession, seeing her Coachella performance ad never looking back. Her songs were my soundtrack between jobs, so I consider Red Wine Supernova my personal song of the summer. But let’s be real: Espresso owned the aux cord everywhere, so that one belonged to the people.
This year, I’m keeping my eye on the Billboard charts, waiting to see which track rises, sticks, and takes over. Until then, what was your 2024 song of the summer?

3 things that made me happy this week:

smile cookies!
flowers perking up from the sun
hard work paying off

stay sunny, chlo ☼