A Y2K Time Warp
Apparently, it's the Super Bowl Edition
Another Super Bowl passed, and I don’t care.
Ironically, I live in a state where football is practically a religion. Still, I don’t care about the NFL. From what I heard, it’s another ego inflated win for a deflated ball. Fortunately, it wasn’t a complete bust. The Super Bowl did remind me of two things; how much I miss live music and the legendary Ms. Britney Spears’ Pepsi commercials.
Back in the early noughties, Britney changed the entire pop stratosphere in 2000 with THAT incredible catsuit performance. It was a media frenzy, and I knew this at 13, yes I was in the prime Hulu Pen15 age during this specific era, and it was as unbelievable as the pictures.
Then in 2001, Britney once again set the bar so high for pop stars during the iconic debut premiere of her lead single, I’m a Slave 4 U, at the MTV VMA’s (I don’t even have to look it up, I remember lol).
Britney solidified her mega-stardom in 2001, shedding that insurmountable teen role model status and all the pressure it came with it into a young woman coming into her own. Her yet-to-be-released album at that time (Britney) was all about growing into her own with tracks like Overprotected, Lonely, Let Me Be, and I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman. I remember watching Making the Video of Britney’s I’m a Slave 4 U and interviews on how she wanted to emulate her forever icon, Janet Jackson (child star to music superstar).
Britney usurped her own pop culture Pepsi cola moment the following year with another mega commercial in true legend fashion.
Now and Then follows the Joy of Pepsi. Both are favorites with such stylistic retrospect of iconic looks from different eras (while capitalizing and targeting youth culture like always). The commercials won because of Britney but failed to make me drink Pepsi, the true king of soda drinks is Cherry Coke (subjectively).
The commercials were pop culture resets. I remember getting to school that next morning and EVERYONE was discussing it. Britney Spears blew our seventh-grade minds, we witnessed pop culture greatness, and it was from my forever icon (Britney’s final Pepsi commercial was in 2004 with fellow superstars Beyoncé and Pink with a cameo by Enrique Iglesias).
Britney’s Pepsi era was iconic and pop culture defining moments, funnily enough I’ve gifted a life-size Britney cut-out before. No regrets.
For your viewing pleasure, here are Britney’s iconic Pepsi commercials for those who think young. ✨ Also, peep a young Jamie Lynn Spears in the ‘70s era of Now and Then below.
The early ‘00s were a prime time; it’s wild to see so much come back around. So for this week’s The Audio Files, my pick is Christina Milian’s AM to PM.
If it sounds familiar, you may have seen it in the seminal classic The Hot Chick. This Afro-Latinx is long overdue to her flowers, especially after giving her voice to serve BACKING vocals to Jennifer Lopez’s Play.
Again, for some reason, it’s a Super Bowl theme but better than football is fashion. For this week’s The Style Files, my pick is the incomparable Texas forever icon, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.
Only can Beyoncé or Rihanna can make Ugg’s look stylish, and I don’t know if it’s my y2k warped brain, but this 2004 outfit is lowkey still cute. (Unfortunately, 2004’s Super Bowl was also the year a vile ex-boy bander did what he did to the one and only Janet Jackson. I’ll get into that when I finish my Britney Spears piece.)
This week’s affirmation is brought to you by my hilarious five-year-old niece, Sloan; why become moody when you can shake your booty. She recommends Dua Lipa’s Physical, she has the routine down. I did the same with …Baby One More Time. ✨
#SelfCareFriday
I’m channeling my inner Star and staying in with my cozy new socks and pj’s while Texas has decided to freeze. Here are my self-care plans:
Stop and unwind by watching movies; it’s been a while. Catch me watching Barb and Star again because it was the campy mess I needed and deserve.
Oui’d (my anxiety is a dramatic bitch these days, so that Purple Punch is calling my name). 🌱
As mentioned before, it’s now week two of that new skincare products; I’ll reanalyze next week to make it a full month’s use. (Not the usual skincare coverage of only one week.)
Catch up on Zoey’s Playlist. Shoutout to my longtime dear friend Vannessa for the recommendation. It’s like Glee but cohesive and no Lea Michele.
15 Hidden Gems: Underrated ‘90s/‘00s film version.
Swimfan
Get Over It
The Perfect Score
Whatever It Takes
Blast from the Past
Can’t Hardly Wait
Josie and the Pussycats
Crazy/Beautiful
Orange County
Sky High
Stick It
Loser
and lastly, the Denise Richards cult classic trifecta:
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Starship Troopers
Wild Things
Time Warp is where I’ll feature moments in pop culture for the day. Here’s what happened on this day, February 12th.
1931 – Dracula premiered in theaters.
HBD Judy Blume, American author. Thank you for the childhood magic with Ramona Quimby and Superfudge.
HBD American talk show icon and Actor Arsenio Hall.
HBD American gothic icon Christina Ricci.
The # 1 Hit in 1972, Al Green Let’s Stay Together.
Former POTUS Bill Clinton is acquitted on both impeachment articles against him: perjury and obstruction of justice. I was in elementary school, and the chaos of this was huge. Hindsight is 20/20 🥴
Massive win for equality in America on this day in 2004, the city and county of San Francisco began to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples. GAY RIGHTS.
Hetero couples were so shaken, Mattel announces that Barbie and Ken broke up in 2004.
Do ya thing! Show your love or sound off and comment below, don’t be shy.
I love the Perfect Score!!! Classic Evans and Johansson 😌