brat
I just want to say, that I was right, and that I am never wrong and no one should ever doubt me, especially when it comes to Charli. The thing about Charli XCX is that she makes music with a specific sound and as long as she never decides to make a sad slow folk album, it’s going to be good. I guess part of being a Charli fan is talking shit about her until the album comes out and then rescinding all previous comments.
The issue everyone else seems to have is that they can’t see the forest for the trees. Charli is not just another pop girlie. She is the last thing some of us have left that even represents a subculture. It’s not that I’m a stan, it’s that at every portion of my life the key to community and coolness was represented by Charli, whether we knew it or not. That’s just as true now as it was when I was 16. The memes that came with the album were Charli letting us spin our wheels. It was the ideal form of the symbiotic relationship between cultural object and audience.
Me Watching/Me Recommending
Most of the time I think it’s not helpful or necessary to ask where a meme came from. Oftentimes, it doesn’t matter. In an attempt to understand a meme's origins, one often does not get closer to understanding the meme in practice. In this instance, I want to know where this meme came from and also who it’s for. It’s emblematic of the old internet and not in a good way. The sentiment being expressed is not unique. It’s a fandom meme but usually, fandom memes are nerdier or weirder. They have a specific look to them and they opt for webcomics rather than cobbled together stock photos. There is something off here and I want to get to the bottom of it.
TikTok
Who Shot Up The Taco Bell
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A meme is forming around this sound but it is unclear what the meme is. This is a case where the sound is so good, we feel we have to do something with it. We have a recipe for success here. A strong regional accent, an original phrase, and the inclusion of a beloved brand identity. It would be a waste to not exalt the phrase “who shot up the Taco Bell” to icon status. It is not abundantly clear what “who shot up the Taco Bell” should mean but it has to mean something. I like the interpretation that the Taco Bell is a beloved and identifiable institution, like a Lululemon blonde girl, and “shooting up the Taco Bell” is hurting it in some way. I’m pulling for the phrase to mean that in perpetuity but I’ll settle for whatever we decide. I understand we have to hold onto what we can when given something beautiful like this.
Don’t Embarrass Me Motherfucker
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Sabi C has more for us. Her second single is about her new boyfriend Barry Keoghan. It’s no Espresso but then again nothing is. This meme feels like it’s out of obligation. We love Sabrina Carpenter, she’s having a moment, we love her so much that we made a meme. Is that genuine? I don’t think so. “Don’t Embarrass Me.” is an easy sentiment to express and replicate. We’re all happy to play along if it means Sabi C gets to be the queen of the summer. Every single counts.