Welcome back to Pop Loser! Spiritually, I’m in a place of the 2001 VMAs when Britney Spears debuted “I’m a Slave 4 U,” and apparently I’m not alone—the track is having a moment with Gen Z. I’ll dive into some herstory about the albino Burmese python from the famed VMAs performance. Plus, the 2026 VMAs happened this weekend, if you even care. And oh my god, Tinashe’s new album Popstar is perfect.
This Week in Music:
This week in Strangerland, I attended Lily Allen’s West End Girl tour at the Paramount on Thursday night, which was a masterclass in public shaming. Read my full review here.
On Friday, the Space Needle glowed pink in honor of Dolly Parton. The occasion marked Seattle’s first official Dolly Day, 9/25 (a reference to 9 to 5), which councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced last week. The Pacific Science Center, Lumen Field, the Great Wheel, and Columbia Tower also added touches of pink to the skyline in Parton’s honor.
Spiritually, I’m in a place of the 2001 VMAs, when Britney Spears debuted “I’m a Slave 4 U,” adorned in body glitter and dripping with sweat, with an albino Burmese python draped around her neck. And I’m not alone—according to Rolling Stone, new Spotify data shows that the 25-year-old song is trending amongst Gen Z. Fifty-five percent of global streams in the past month came from listeners born between 1997 and 2012. Twenty-seven percent of listeners were not even born when Spears debuted the song.
Fun fact: The celebrated serpent featured in the VMAs performance is apparently named “Banana,” something I learned back in 2006 when she was used in a photo shoot on America’s Next Top Model. MTV staff writer Crystal Bell tracked the python down in 2016 to confirm that the female snake was still alive and had, in fact, grown nearly four times larger; the owners estimated she weighed in at around 20 pounds in 2001 and had grown to roughly 100 pounds (and around 14 feet long). Personally, I need to see another 10-year update on Banana.
Speaking of the VMAs, that happened over the weekend (if you even care). Madonna opened the show (her first VMA performance in 23 years) with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX (nobody kissed, unfortunately). There were also cameos from Julia Garner, Seth Rogen, Andrew Watt, Debi Mazar, Gabbriette, SOMBR, and Madonna’s ex, Tony Ward (who appears in music videos for “Cherish,” “Justify My Love,” and “Erotica”).
Other highlights from the 2026 VMAs included two very unrehearsed speeches from Madonna, who won Best Collaboration and Best Dance (and several other untelevised categories). When the Queen of Pop accepted the award for Best Dance, she feigned pulling a laser out of her ass, then remarked: “I’m kind of unclear what this award is for…” (It was for “Confessions II.”)
Oh, you wanted some highlights that didn’t include Madonna? Fine. Kacey Musgraves performed a beautiful tribute to Dolly Parton, singing “I Will Always Love You” while sheathed in a Dolly-style, sequin-crusted pink gown trimmed in ostrich feathers. Snoop Dogg hosted the event and delivered a dozen jokes that didn’t make any sense, at one point telling a knock-knock joke with a “deez nuts” punchline. SOMBR, Raye, Teddy Swims, and Adam Lambert paid tribute to the late George Michael, and it’s best I don’t say anything more about that…
When SZA met Danny. SZA was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Friday, but “more importantly,” as she put it, she was able to meet fellow inductee Danny DeVito, who also hosted the ceremony. The meeting is evidenced by two adorable photos—a selfie and a photo of them taking the selfie. DeVito is sporting a suit, paired with black Crocs. Stars—they’re just like us!
Now, take a deep breath and enjoy…Patti Smith flyers from the Post More Bills exhibition at Howl Arts in New York City.
Music Events Worth Your Hard-Earned Money This Week:
Ivri, Forest Sept 30, Barboza, 7 pm, all ages
Maya de Vitry, Sarah Brunner Sept 30, Ballard Homestead, 7:30 pm, all ages
Shearling Sept 30, Black Lodge, 7 pm, all ages
The Hayley Williams Show Sept 30, White River Amphitheatre, 7 pm, all ages
Yungchen Lhamo, Rafe Pearlman Sept 30, Woodlawn Hall, 7:30 pm, all ages
Alicia Witt: Between Heaven and Earth (and David Lynch) Oct 1, The Rabbit Box Theatre, 7:30 pm, all ages
Remi Wolf Early Listening Party Oct 1, Easy Street Records, 5 pm, all ages, free
Rat City Recon 2026 Oct 2–3, Southgate Roller Rink, 6 pm, all ages
Atmosphérique: JENNGREEN ft. ROCCO Oct 2, Timbre Room, 10 pm, 21+
Nick Hakim Oct 2, Neumos, 8 pm, 21+
Beth Orton Oct 3, Washington Hall, 7:30 pm, all ages
John Teske, Stephanie Wood Oct 3, Chapel Performance Space, 8 pm, all ages
Maris Oct 3, Baba Yaga, 7 pm, all ages
NOCTURNE: A Big Gay Dance Party – HALLOWEEN VERSION! Oct 3, Chop Suey, 9 pm, 21+
Ok Carol (EP release), St. Tyro, Kevin Long Oct 4, Sunset Tavern, 7 pm, 21+
Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Dish Pit Oct 6, Showbox, 8 pm, all ages
The Songs That Keep Me Up at Night:
“Pillow Fight” by Tinashe
Hallelujah, Tinashe dropped her new album Popstar. Like Charli XCX, Tinashe has been amassing a cult following since the early 2010s, but has yet to achieve Brat-level success. I am hoping that this album will be her breakthrough—which seems promising, considering it’s hot with critics. “Pillow Fight” is pure pop perfection with glossy production reminiscent of Mariah Carey’s 2005 The Emancipation Of Mimi.
“Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6
I am never not thinking about this song and the accompanying music video. It’s the blueprint, and I strongly believe that its simple, stripped-down beat influenced “I’m A Slave 4 U.”
