Album: Tell Me You Love Me (2017) | Single Release Date: July 11, 2017 | Album Release Date: September 29, 2017 | Label: Island Records / Hollywood Records / Safehouse Records | Songwriters: Demi Lovato / Oak Felder / Trevor Brown / William Zaire Simmons / Sean Douglas | Length: 3:23 | ⚠️ Explicit
Favorite Lyric: "Showin' you up like I knew that I would"
An unapologetic banger about not dimming your light for anyone. Fifteen years in the making, this is my theme song for PositiveBuzz: authenticity and human emotions are always valid here.
Peak Performance: Peaked at #6 on Billboard Hot 100, making this song Demi's highest career peak at the time.
Citations:
Album: Whistle (While You Work It) Single | Single Release Date: February 10, 2015 | Label: Atlantic Recording Corporation | Songwriters: Katy Tiz (Kate Alexandra Tizzard) / Kinetics & One Love / Emily Warren / Jorge Menezes | Producers: J.R. Rotem / Teal Douville | Length: 3:35
Favorite Lyric: "Gotta smile while your hurting, and whistle while you work it"
Keeping those empowerment vibes going with a peppy beat that says "don't let them see you sweat." Put on anytime you need to get through an impossible task to stay focused!
Fun Fact: The Simlish version (for The Sims game) is peak chaos and worth reading!
Citations:
Album: Like a Prayer (1989) | Single Release Date: March 3, 1989 | Album Release Date: March 21, 1989 | Label: Sire Records / Warner Bros. Records | Songwriters: Madonna / Patrick Leonard | Producers: Madonna / Patrick Leonard | Length: 5:43 | RIAA: Multi-Platinum
Favorite Lyric: "It's like a dream, no end and no beginning"
When I was 5, this song coming on the radio felt like winning the lottery. Pre-streaming, music felt rare and magical. Madonna's ethereal vocals still transport me—pop perfection from an icon who never apologized for being talented but controversial.
Behind the Music: The music video sparked controversy for its religious imagery, including Madonna kissing a Black saint. The song signaled a more artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna.
Citations:
Album: Millennium (1999) | Single Release Date: September 3, 1999 | Album Release Date: May 18, 1999 | Label: Jive Records | Songwriters: Max Martin / Kristian Lundin / Brian Littrell | Length: 3:52
Favorite Lyric: "All you people, can't you see, can't you see / How your love's affecting our reality?"
A reminder to never dim your shine. Be LARGER THAN LIFE every day. One of many BSB hits, but this one hits different since the lyrics make you feel like apart of the song. I chose my favorite lyric to highlight that Larger Than Life is a thank you to the Backstreet Boys fandom for their encouragement and devotion. Still going strong in 2026!
Cultural Note: It was on Blender's list of the "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born." Millennium held the record for most shipments in one year, with 11 million in the US in 1999.
Citations:
Album: No String Attached (2000) | Single Release Date: June 13, 2000 | Album Release Date: March 21, 2000 | Label: Jive Records | Songwriters: Max Martin / Andreas Carlsson / Rami Yacoub | Length: 3:11
Favorite Lyric: "All that I do is not enough for you"
No pop mixtape is complete without a BSB/*NSYNC double punch. This one's my 2026 motivator: if what you're doing isn't "enough" for someone, maybe they weren't your audience anyway. However, Justin Timberlake explained the song is about a girl who keeps rejecting you, and by the time she decides you're the one, it's too late.
Not Your Average Broken Record: No Strings Attached sold 2.4 million copies in its first week—a historic record. Also - take a moment to really appreciate the irony of the album art.
Citations:
Album: None - Single Only | Release Date: February 27, 2010 | Label: Sweat It Out! / Ultra Records | Songwriters: Based on "Tu vuò fà l'americano" by Renato Carosone (1956) | Length: 4:30
Favorite Lyric: "Pa-parla americano"
This beat SLAPS. Takes me back to my high school exchange trip to the Netherlands—dancing at an electronica show near Amsterdam, surrounded by people speaking Dutch. I was one of the only Americans there and loved every second of it.
A Reimagined Cultural Phenomenon: This track sold over 5 million copies worldwide and amassed over 200 million YouTube views. It's a nu-disco/electro house reimagining of a 1956 Italian song.
Citations:
Album: Spiceworld (1997) | Album Release Date: November 4, 1997 | Label: Virgin Records | Songwriters: Spice Girls / Richard Stannard / Matt Rowe | Length: 4:30
Favorite Lyric: "Livin' it up is a state of mind"
Yes, "Wannabe" is an iconic single from Spice. However, I'd also argue the entire Spiceworld album is flawless front-to-back. This track reminds me that the good times come back around—so don't stay down too long. The album's 25th anniversary in 2022 proved its enduring appeal.
Movie Magic: If you've never had the pleasure of enjoying the Spice World movie - I highly recommend, especially if you need some relief that only the 90s can bring.
Citations:
Album: Josie and the Pussycats (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)(2001) | Album Release Date: March 27, 2001 | Label: Epic Soundtrax / Sony Music Soundtrax | Songwriters: Babyface / Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) / others | Length: 3:41
Favorite Lyric: No favorite lyric because it's lyrical satire perfection—it would give too much away. Just enjoy it.
The best, most innuendo-filled pop song by a fake boy band. Catchy beat, multi-voice perspective, layers like an onion. In the film, DuJour performs this song in a scene that resembles the end of Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" video. It plays as they answer a few questions in an interview and then head into their private jet - those who know enough about music industry should anticipate what happens next.
Satire At It's Finest: Once you finish watching Spiceworld, I would recommend watching Josie and the Pussycats next for a look into the dangers of cute pop music wrapped in a propaganda bow. It's one of my favorite movies - it's sure to rank high on your list, too.
Larger Josie & The Pussycats deep dive coming soon!
Citations:
Album: Sheryl Crow (1996) | Single Release Date: June 30, 1997 | Album Release Date: September 24, 1996 | Label: A&M Records | Songwriters: Sheryl Crow / Jeff Trott / Brian MacLeod | Length: 3:50
Favorite Lyric: "Chasin' dragons with plastic swords"
Sheryl cuts through the bullshit and speaks to the soul. It was hard to pick just one by her for this playlist, but being the new year, a change sure would do us all some good. This track showcases Sheryl's signature blend of rock, pop, and deeply honest songwriting. I chose my favorite lyric to highlight the clever storytelling that paints a fun mental image.
A Global Icon: Peaked at #8 and spent 5 weeks on UK Official Singles Chart starting the week of December, 7, 1997.
Citations:
Album: None - Single Only | Release Date: June 2, 2023 | Label: 11:11 Media LLC (Paris' Version) | Songwriters: Fernando Garibay, Sheppard Solomon, Ralph McCarthy | Length: 3:50
Favorite Lyric: "Some people never get beyond their stupid pride"
I LOVED this when it originally came out in 2006, and I still love it now. Pop cheese in the best way possible. This updated version with Kim Petras highlights another amazing artist. After listening to Paris's audiobook and learning what she endured—even with wealth and privilege, trauma is trauma—I respect her journey to authenticity even more. Plus, she's a genuine LGBTQ+ ally and donated her entire wardrobe to Repo! The Genetic Opera because she appreciates indie art.
More Than Just "That's Hot": Without being asked, I've started defending Paris Hilton being more than just a girl living in her father's shadow. The original entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #18—one of the highest debut singles in the US in 2006. The 2023 version celebrates 17 years of the song's lasting appeal.
Citations:
Album: Gloria (2023) | Release Date: September 22, 2022 | Label: Capitol Records / EMI Records | Songwriters: Sam Smith / Kim Petras / Ilya Salmanzadeh (ILYA) / Jimmy Napes / Blake Slatkin / Omer Fedi| Length: 2:37 |⚠️ Explicit | Awards: Grammy for Best Duo/Group Pop Performance (2023) | RIAA: Platinum
Favorite Lyric: "You know everyone is talkin' on the scene"
Back-to-back Kim Petras! I got obsessed in 2023 and haven't looked back. Dark, industrial, peppy, poppy—gritty modern pop with edge that makes the masses sing along in unison. "Unholy" climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in just four weeks and topped the UK Official Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks.
A Grammy First: It was Kim Petras's first Grammy nomination ever, and she became the first openly transgender woman to win in this category.
Citations:
Album: Tension (2023) | Release Date: May 18, 2023 | Label: BMG Rights Management | Songwriters: Kylie Minogue, Ina Wroldsen, Lostboy (Peter Rycroft) | Length: 2:47 | RIAA (UK): Platinum
Favorite Lyric: "Padam, padam, when your heart goes 'padam"
ANOTHER QUEEN. When I heard this the first time, I put it on repeat for 30 minutes straight. Sixteen albums deep and Kylie's still creating addictive pop magic. It's her world in 2026; we're just living in it. Kylie describes the song's genre as "Hypnotic Electro." Also, she has yummy wine!
Cultural Note: "Padam Padam" became a global viral sensation and the song of summer 2023, with 157 million global streams and four weeks in the UK Top 10. It was certified Platinum in the UK in March 2025 (21 months after release).
Citations:
Album: Everytime We Touch (2006) | Release Date: March 3, 1989 | Label: Zooland Records / Robbins Entertainment | Songwriters: Kylie Minogue, Ina Wroldsen, Lostboy (Peter Rycroft) | Length: 5:43 | RIAA: Platinum
Favorite Lyric: "Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky / They wipe away tears that I cry"
A song that redefined pop-electronica. I was 12 when this came out, and us tweenie boppers danced and sang along like our lives depended on it. The perfect closer for Pop Chart Day. The song borrows its chorus from Maggie Reilly's 1992 single of the same name.
A Real Crowd Pleaser: The hit single reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the charts for 25 weeks. It was certified Platinum in the US and sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
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WHY THIS MIXTAPE?
Theme: Empowerment, authenticity, nostalgia, LGBTQ+ support, and pure joy. These songs span 1989–2023 and represent different eras of my life—but they all share one thing: they make me turn the volume UP.
Annual Tradition: Every January 4th, I'll release that year's edition. Future versions will include Last.fm data showing what I actually listened to that year.
No Guilt, All Pleasure: Every song here is a "guilty pleasure" by someone's definition. But there's no guilt in joy.
Did you discover a new pop favorite? Let me know and share your favorites in the comments!