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![]() 1 . Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars - Die With A SmileReleased in August 2024 under Interscope Records, this soft rock duet blends pop, soul, and rock influences reminiscent of 1970s collaborations. The lyrics exude urgency and devotion in the face of uncertainty. The music video adopts a vintage aesthetic with denim and red ensembles, aligning with the song's soulful tone. A creative synergy born spontaneously in the studio, the song achieved commercial success, including topping the Billboard Global 200 and earning Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The music video is directed by Daniel Ramos & Bruno Mars
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![]() 2 . Billie Eilish - Birds Of A FeatherWritten by Billie Eilish and Finneas over nearly a year, "Birds of a Feather" embodies deep emotional themes of connection and fear of loss. Its Grammy-nominated lyrics unfold within an abandoned office setting, adding haunting visuals to its heartfelt narrative. The music video is directed by Aidan Zamiri Featured on the album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
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![]() 3 . Lady Gaga - Abracadabra"Abracadabra," Lady Gaga's February 2025 single, offers a propulsive energy hinting at her forthcoming album's direction. Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, began performing in New York City's Lower East Side during the mid-2000s. Rising to prominence with "The Fame" (2008), featuring "Just Dance" and "Poker Face," she's since explored diverse sonic terrains through albums like "Born This Way" and "Chromatica." Her accolades span 13 Grammys, an Oscar for "Shallow," and a BAFTA, alongside acting roles in "American Horror Story: Hotel" and "A Star Is Born." The music video is directed by Lady Gaga, Parris Goebel & Bethany Vargas Featured on the album MAYHEM >> More by the same : Website
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![]() 4 . Lady Gaga - Shallow"Shallow," the emotive centerpiece of A Star Is Born (2018), showcases the magnetic chemistry between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Opening with Cooper’s raspy vocals and an acoustic guitar, the track transitions to Gaga’s powerful voice in the second verse, creating a swelling country-folk ballad. The song underscores Ally’s rise to fame and the deepening emotional connection between her and Jackson Maine, culminating in an unforgettable live performance scene filmed at the Greek Theater. Shallow quickly became a global success, capturing several prestigious awards. The music video is directed by Bradley Cooper
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![]() 5 . Billie Eilish - Everything I WantedBillie Eilish’s "Everything I Wanted," released in 2019, takes listeners into the depths of a nightmare where Eilish envisions her own death going unnoticed. Supported by a minimalist downtempo bass and piano, the song weaves through themes of depression, anxiety, and the weight of external expectations. Produced by Finneas, the track’s melancholic tone is balanced by a glimpse of solace found in Eilish’s bond with her brother. This haunting piece earned multiple Grammy nominations, winning Record of the Year in 2021. The music video is directed by Billie Eilish
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![]() 6 . Billie Eilish - Happier Than EverStarting as a soft acoustic ballad, "Happier Than Ever" transforms halfway into a raucous rock explosion. Billie Eilish uses this duality to express the emotional turbulence of a toxic relationship. Released in 2021, the title track of her second album sees Eilish moving away from her signature trap sound, opting for an experimental blend of jazz and electropop. The song explores themes of personal liberation and the joy of breaking free, solidifying its presence in major award nominations, including the 2022 Grammys. The music video is directed by Billie Eilish
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![]() 8 . Lady Gaga - Hold My HandLady Gaga delivers an 80s-inspired arena rock ballad with "Hold My Hand," the emotional anchor of Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Co-written with BloodPop and Benjamin Rice, the song echoes the themes of courage and redemption, with Gaga offering a comforting hand through her soaring vocals. The cinematic anthem became the heart of the film, as acknowledged by Tom Cruise, and its themes of resilience earned the track nominations at both the Golden Globes and Oscars. The music video is directed by Joseph Kosinski
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![]() 9 . Charli Xcx - Guess (w/ Billie Eilish)Sampling Daft Punk's "Technologic," Charli XCX's "Guess," featuring Billie Eilish, explores themes of boldness and sensuality. Released in August 2024, the remix of this provocative anthem from Charli's deluxe album Brat reached UK chart-topping status. The music video, showing both artists scaling a mountain of undergarments, adds a playful visual to its daring lyrics. The music video is directed by Aidan Zamiri Featured on the album BRAT
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![]() 10 . Billie Eilish - Bad GuyBillie Eilish mocks traditional notions of toughness in "Bad Guy," an electropop sensation released in 2019. With its minimalist instrumentation, quirky production—including a sampled Australian pedestrian signal—this track challenges stereotypes while asserting Eilish as the true "bad guy." Winning both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2020 Grammys, "Bad Guy" is also notable for its abrupt shift into darker, more introspective territory in its final moments, further deepening its ironic commentary on power dynamics. The music video is directed by ave Meyers
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![]() 11 . Lady Gaga - DiseaseLady Gaga's “Disease” channels a brooding, shadowy energy that's part confession, part confrontation. The track trades her usual theatricality for pulsing dark electronic synth-pop, a genre she manipulates with sharp precision. The production, helmed by Gaga alongside Andrew Watt and Cirkut, layers glitchy beats, foreboding basslines, and icy synths, creating an unsettling yet magnetic atmosphere. Lyrically, Gaga wrestles with inner demons—themes of fear, self-doubt, and personal reckoning ricochet through lines that feel both raw and calculated. The accompanying video, directed by Tanu Muino, is a surreal spectacle where Gaga battles multiple versions of herself, each iteration an exaggerated metaphor for her inner conflict. Visually drenched in ominous hues and stark contrasts, the clip embraces chaos, straddling the line between melodrama and genuine emotional purge. Released in late October 2024, the timing underscores a haunting vibe, with its debut tied to her performance at a prestigious Venetian film fest—because why release a song quietly when you can cloak it in grandeur. Positioned as the lead single for her upcoming seventh album, it hints at a more introspective, experimental era while still clinging to her proclivity for theatrics. While “Disease” might lack the immediate earworm quality of her earlier hits, its determination to unsettle rather than appease serves as a deliberate, provocative artistic statement. The music video is directed by Tanu Muino
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![]() 12 . Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande - Rain On Me"Rain On Me," the electrifying house-pop anthem by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, dropped in 2020, radiating themes of resilience and emotional release. Powered by disco beats and funk guitars, the song uses the metaphor of rain to represent life’s challenges and healing. A chart-topping success, it became the first female collaboration to win the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The track blends the best of both artists—Gaga’s emotional depth and Grande’s vocal agility—creating a euphoric, danceable celebration of perseverance. The music video is directed by Robert Rodriguez
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![]() 13 . Aurora - Cure For MeAurora’s 2021 single "Cure For Me" unapologetically denounces conversion therapy and challenges societal norms. The track’s theatrical, EDM-infused electropop beats, laced with arcade-like melodies, create a jubilant yet rebellious atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from Brazilian composer Ary Barroso’s "Aquarela do Brasil," the song turns a joyful tune into an anthem of freedom, pushing back against outdated, harmful practices targeting the LGBTQ+ community. The music video is directed by Sigurd Fossen
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![]() 14 . Lana Del Rey - Doin' TimeLana Del Rey reinterprets Sublime’s "Doin’ Time" with her own dreamy, melancholic spin. Released in 2019 for her album Norman Fucking Rockwell!, the trip-hop-inspired track retains Sublime's laid-back, California-cool vibe while imbuing it with Lana’s signature sadness. The song’s imagery of toxic relationships and feeling imprisoned aligns with the carefree aesthetic of 90s Southern California. The music video, with Lana as a giantess roaming Los Angeles, adds a playful visual nod to 1958’s Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. The music video is directed by Rich Lee
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![]() 15 . Billie Eilish - NdaIn "NDA," Billie Eilish reflects on the price of fame and the need for privacy in a world eager to scrutinize her every move. Released in 2021, the track merges dark pop with elements of industrial and techno, creating a foreboding atmosphere. Eilish reveals her personal struggles, referencing stalkers and secret house purchases. The video, shot at night with cars racing dangerously around her, mirrors the anxiety and chaos that fame has brought into her life. The music video is directed by Billie Eilish
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![]() 16 . The Weeknd - Open HeartsReleased in January 2025, "Open Hearts" lands as the seventh track on The Weeknd’s sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, via XO and Republic Records. Co-written and produced with Max Martin and Oscar Holter, it pairs glossy synths with restrained drama suited to the artist's signature twilight-pop sensibility. Preceded by a 180-degree Apple Immersive video experience for Apple Vision Pro, the song is teased through a surreal vision where The Weeknd confronts a darker version of himself. The music video is directed by Anton Tammi
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![]() 17 . Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country ClubLana Del Rey’s wistful 2021 ballad "Chemtrails Over the Country Club" juxtaposes the carefree imagery of suburban summer with underlying melancholy. Produced by Jack Antonoff, the track evokes 70s folk-pop serenity while subtly commenting on hidden illusions behind idyllic settings. With references to her personal relationships and a longing for simplicity, Lana crafts a song that captures both the beauty and disillusionment of chasing normalcy amid a whirlwind of fame. The music video is directed by BRTHR
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![]() 18 . Billie Eilish - Therefore I AmIn "Therefore I Am," Billie Eilish shrugs off expectations and judgments with a confident and cheeky tone. Released in 2020, the track blends electropop and hip-hop elements, giving it a rebellious edge. The music video, shot in an empty mall, sees Eilish roaming freely, grabbing snacks as she gleefully dismisses societal pressures. The song’s empowering lyrics and carefree visuals present a refreshing declaration of self-identity and autonomy. The music video is directed by Billie Eilish
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![]() 19 . Charli Xcx - Von DutchCharli XCX’s "Von Dutch," released in 2024, is a glittering throwback to Y2K pop culture. The song’s title references the iconic fashion brand, popularized by early 2000s celebs like Paris Hilton. With a playful electropop beat and cheeky lyrics poking fun at fame and jealousy, Charli embodies the "it girl" persona. A remix featuring Addison Rae heightens the song’s nostalgic vibe, bringing in even more Y2K flair with its updated production by A. G. Cook. The music video is directed by TORSO
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![]() 20 . Billie Eilish - All The Good Girls Go To HellBillie Eilish infuses dark humor and biting commentary on climate change in "All the Good Girls Go to Hell," a track from her debut album. The 2018 song fuses electropop with alternative sounds while using religious symbolism to critique moral corruption and environmental destruction. The striking music video, where Eilish emerges from a pool of oil to walk through a city on fire, evokes imagery of environmental disasters and serves as a stark reminder of humanity’s responsibility to the Earth. The music video is directed by Rich Lee
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ABOUT ART POPThe Music of Art PopThe musical essence of 2020s Art Pop is built on catchy melodies and sophisticated arrangements, combining electronic instruments, synths, and futuristic sound textures. This sonic aesthetic is meticulously crafted by innovative producers who shape the genre’s identity.
The Words of Art PopLyrics in Art Pop often explore contemporary themes like identity, celebrity, technology, and consumer culture, sometimes with cryptic references to pop culture or abstract concepts.
2020s Art Pop: Fashion Endorsers & EndorseesArt Pop’s fusion of music and visual arts is intimately tied to fashion, with artists frequently collaborating with fashion houses and designers to push the boundaries of style, creating looks that amplify their musical and artistic personas.
Further Reading and ViewingSeveral platforms focus on the intersection of music and visual artistry that defines Art Pop, offering in-depth analysis and coverage of this evolving genre.
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ADJACENT GENRES
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