In weather terms, they call it “rapid intensification” — the process by which a storm intensifies dramatically in a short period.
In pop culture terms, they call it Taylor Swift.
It's not like Swift didn't have big size – huge! – Years before that. But 2023? This was ridiculous.
There were, of course, non-Swiftian developments in popular culture. Beyoncé, ever the superstar, had it huge tour by itself, And rule the box office with “Renaissance: A Beyoncé Film.” Speaking of Renaissance, look no further than Barbie, who is technically 64 years old but is now living her best life in plastic, thanks to Greta Gerwig broke Barbie records. By mere coincidence of timing, Gerwig's candy-colored creation Paired With Oppenheimer It provides fuel Barbenheimer is a phenomenon Which single-handedly revitalized the multiplex.
Our highly selective (and this year, Swift-centric) stroll down pop culture memory lane:
January
If anyone needs to come back, it's him Golden balls. The year starts with comedian Jerrod Carmichael Skillfully navigate host duties, He quips, “I'm here because I'm black” – a reference to Diversity scandal Trophies were plagued. Speaking of scandal, no one does it better than the royals: Prince Harry “Spare Parts” It sold more than 3.2 million copies in one week. Also breaking records: Shakira “BZRP's 53rd Music Session”, in which she sings in a sour voice to her ex-lover, Former soccer star Gerard Pique. January (Taylor version): US Senators Question Ticketmaster about her Huge collapse in SWIFT ticket sales.
February
In the Super Bowl, Rihanna floats Over the 50-yard line in a bright red jumpsuit… and Baby bump reveal! she is First solo performance In seven years and her first since Become a mother Nine months ago. It's time to learn things we didn't know about Pamela Anderson, Whose memoirs “Love Pamela” fell and joined Netflix documentary. in grammy, It's definitely a mixed bag for Beyoncé Breaks the record For professional victories, but was excluded from the higher categories. Harry Stiles Best album of the year, Fueling controversy With his acceptance letter.
He walks
that it Oscar time! And no one slaps! “Everything is everywhere at once” It lives up to its title, Sweeps through almost every major category. This feel-good night is proving to be a big moment for Asians and Asian Americans in Hollywood. “My journey began on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp,” he says emotionally Ki Hui Quan, Winning the Best Supporting Actor award. Some may have skipped the Oscars entirely — that is Pedro Pascal fans, Final catch “The last of us.” Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix, two longtime valiant leads, broke up when it was revealed that Sandoval was having an affair with their “Vanderpump Rules” co-star, a development that will happen soon. It's called a “scandal.” In a courtroom in Utah, Gwyneth Paltrow wins A fight over a ski collision, but she also gets arrested “Quiet luxury” Fashion Award. And the era of “eras” begins: Swift She opens her tour in Arizona.
April
Back to the courtroom for a moment: Did you see? “Jury duty”? the Sleeping hit the TV Landing sticks. Somehow, common man Ronald Gladden never realized that everyone else doing jury duty was an actor, including… James Marsden, Playing the deliciously cocky…James Marsden. Back to the SWIFT watch: Neither of them have confirmed it, but reports say she's broken up with her longtime boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.
maybe
If Samuel Beckett had attended met gala party, Sure enough, he wrote “Waiting for Rihanna.” Most guests come in time for cocktails. Rihanna shows up Closer to dessert, but makes it worth the wait. This is the year Jared Leto wearing a giant cat suit, But still the animal world represents him in an unforgettable way … cockroach! A real person walks the carpet and entertains the media waiting for Rihanna to crush! Goodbye Cockroach – also goodbye to the ROY kids, aka Kendall, Roman and Shiv, who are gloriously self-destructing in… The last episodes of the series “Caliphate”. Leave it to Hollywood writers, Attractive now, For the smartest signs: One says: “HBO Max pays the minimum for HBO.” They will remain on strike for approximately 150 days. The actors joined him In July.
June
We'll keep this brief: heard about Shake grimaced At McDonald's? All the rage on TikTok. A new group of luminaries have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including David Byrne, Austin Butler, Keke Palmer, Ki-Hui Kwan — and yes, Swift.
July
Take, for example, a popular doll with a complicated history. Add talent like GERWIG, get it Margot Robbie For the star, bring Ryan Gosling To chew the scenery, you have “Barbie,” the biggest movie of 2023 and A milestone for female directors. Now stir “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan, The rest is Box office history. Speaking of history, there is not a single famous bird left. Elon Musk Drops old logo and decrees TWITTER going forward To be called “X”. History too: SWIFT has it now More #1 albums Of any woman, eclipse Barbara Streisand. From eclipse to earthquake: Scientists report they have detected seismic signals roughly similar to a 2.3-magnitude quake beneath Seattle's Swift View.
August
Guess who has 277 million followers on Instagram? You know who he is. Guess who has almost double that? Lionel Messi, That's who, with $493 million. The god of Argentine football in his first month With Inter Miami, Excites fans and gives A jolt of adrenaline for US soccer.Kim Cattrall It goes back very quickly to the “Sex and the City” reboot.
September
Now that summer is over, let's examine the damage we mean by all the recent celebrity splits: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, ariana grande and dalton gomez, britney spears and sam asghari, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, among others. But wait, someone is looking for love: retired widower Jerry Turner, “The Golden Bachelor” He begins his search on ABC. also, T-shirt sales quickly intensified This month is for one person travis kelsey, The Kansas City Chiefs' tight end is down about 400%. Very strange, do you have any idea why? In unrelated news, SWIFT attends Chiefs game.
October
It's a good month to turn 80! Martin Scorsese She becomes a TikTok star through her daughter, Francesca Silly videos Delivering one of his most ambitious films to date, “Moonflower Killers.” 80-year-old Mick Jagger also joins younger Rolling Stones bandmates Keith Richards (79) and Ronnie Wood (76) in producing the exciting new album. “Hackney Diamonds.” in long awaited memoirs, Britney Spears details her heartbreak, suffering, relationships, and situation Nearly 14 years of guardianship. Swift reaches billionaire status — and makes her Hollywood debut “Ages” movie, Which will become The most successful concert film all times.
November
Hollywood writers and actors are Thank God again, Back to where they once belonged. Which brings us to the Beatles: No, they're not getting back together. But after six decades of Beatlemania, a new and final tune… “Now and later,” It was released thanks to artificial intelligence. The Friends team gathers to mourn Co-star Matthew Perry At his funeral. The “Ages” Tour takes to international venues in Argentina,Then Brazil With more to go in 2024.
December
SPOTIFY ANNOUNCES 2023 Most streamed artist -It's fast, to get rid of BAD BUNNY. Beyonce It wins at the box office on opening weekend With her movie “Renaissance”. Is it a foregone conclusion that, finally, SWIFT will end its year staring at us from magazine covers? Time magazine's Person of the Year, Did she achieve her fame in a year similar to “nuclear fusion”? Which brings us to our final question: How quickly can a storm intensify? But the truth is that SWIFT always seems to rewrite the rules.
