Bop Shop: Songs From Normani, Ben Platt, Calicoco, And More

The search for the ever-elusive "bop" is tough. Playlists and streaming-service suggestions can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new?

Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection doesn't discriminate by genre and can contribute anything — it's a snapshot of what's on our minds and what sounds good. We'll keep it fresh with the latest music, yet expect several oldies although goodies) every once in a while, also. Get ready: The Bop Shop is currently open for business.

Normani ft. Cardi B: "Wild Side"

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=DFMEBquxeO8

The longer Normani's path as a solo artist gets, the more the conversation turns to the question of her debut album. Namely, it's a question of any time. Nevertheless those anticipatory discussions miss the most fundamental element of Normani's power: She pretty much does it all. She's been sultry and explosive and playful. There's nothing left to prove, yet "Wild Side," a star-affirming collab with Cardi B complete with one more blockbuster visual, shows nevertheless another side. We'll visualize more once her album drops, obviously. In the meantime, she invites you to take a walk on the wild side. —Patrick Hosken

Lil Mariko ft. Full Tac: “Boring”

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=qtjdI0baXfY

Call it the lyric of the summer: "I'm not crazy, you're just boring." Lil Mariko tunes out the sound of dull males with this bombastic and ear-splitting track about unabashedly celebrating one's self-worth and dragging dudes who aren't worth your time. It's only fitting that she's the newest signee of Four Loko Records, and her self-awareness, sarcasm, and smirk hold their own against frequent collaborators like Dorian Electra and Rico Nasty. What begins as a hyperpop club-ready anthem transforms into screamo-level angst because the meme queen (who rose to viral fame with "Where's My Juul??") lets her quirks burst through beat by beat. —Carson Mlnarik

Ben Platt: “Happy to Be Sad”

https://youtu.Be/cXd8bIHaQ_o

Earnest piano ballads and rock-and-roll Lady Gaga covers aren’t all Ben Platt has up his sleeve. On his latest single, the Dear Evan Hansen star trades his Tony-winning Broadway belts for a more mellow, indie pop-inspired sound. The result is theater, a little “Merry Happy”-era Kate Nash, as well as a whole lotta bop. Peep the accompanying visuals for an appropriately fuzzy first look at Reverie, Platt’s sophomore album dropping in August. —Sam Manzella

Del Water Gap: “Hurting Kind”

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=EPFPDaksc_o

“Hurting Kind” is an angst-ridden moment of realization, the minute of a new relationship in which you realize things may not end the way you hoped, that the passion you’re attempting to build might not stand on the sturdiest ground. Over scratching electric guitar, S. Holden Jaffe contemplates what to do about the potential — “If we don't think about it, we can be fine,” he considers — ultimately giving in to this partnership’s treacherous slope: “If we learn our love is the hurting kind... I’ll let it devour me.” —Terron Moore

Porsh Bet$: “Whatever”

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=0AZ8c-pH13s

“I’ve made mistakes and I’ll be straightforward / Ain’t been the one to create a promise / Nevertheless I’ll back for you in August / End of summer time.” On this indie-pop ballad, rising artist Porsh Bet$ sings about his regret in being dishonest as well as a bad partner. He says it’s alright to be called out if he ever messes up: “Whenever I’m wrong, you let me know.” At least the music video suggests a happy ending — they seem to get with each other again and drive off into the woods. —Athena Serrano

Calicoco: "Heal Me"

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=Zl-HHhEAaK0

Once Giana Caliolo⁣ declares a urge to be lobotomized, you listen. Recording and releasing music under the Calicoco moniker, the musician and songwriter based in Long Beach, New York (with Rochester roots) has spent several years toying with tension and release — their 2018 album Float is littered with both. Although new cut "Heal Me" amps up the anxiety and throws long-established song structure in the bin. The result is a frenzied series of commands over snakebite guitar fuzz that crashes to a halt without warning. How else could this have ended? —Patrick Hosken

Kim Woojin: “Still Dream”

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=GGvAQk7XBrg

Marking his first official comeback as a solo act, Kim Woojin makes a lasting impact with “Still Dream,” a lyrically weak track aimed to tug right at your heart strings. Accompanied by an emotionally charged, choreography-heavy visual, “Still Dream” functions as Woojin’s true reintroduction to the spotlight, displaying both his personalized and artsy growth since fans last heard from him in 2019. Starting a new era, both sonically and visually, Woojin uses himself for example for his fans, inspiring them to persevere in times of adversity and continue to chase their dreams. —Sarina Bhutani

Modernlove.: “Come Over X”

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=r_3HqXhpS-c

Irish indie-pop order Modernlove. brings vulnerability and longing with acoustic chords and ethereal sounds on “Come Over X.” Lead vocalist Barry Lally sings of a secret relationship and wanting to be able to see his partner so badly: “Tiptoe to my room / I’m residence, calling you / Keep it down, Dad’s here also / Just come around, I need to be able to see you.” It’s clear Lally doesn’t want the relationship to routinely stay concealed from the world — and also his true self: “So how come I have to hide you? / So how come I have to hide?” —Athena Serrano

Dave ft. Snoh Aalegra: "Law of Attraction"

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=c9bcktpTQlg

A quietly smoldering cut from London rapper Dave's wonderful new album We're All Alone in This Together, "Law of Attraction" finds him trading his baritone rhymes with melodic interludes from Snoh Aalegra. The result is an intoxicating potion of push and pull, mirroring the forces of infatuation upon which the song builds its foundation. —Patrick Hosken

Julia Wolf: "Resting Bitch Face: Part 2"

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=fg_LTKZnYmc

in the event you were raised as a girl, you may relate to this pop anthem. Julia Wolf destroys the established expectations girls must uphold to please males with her direct lyrics. She sings about how females are guilty of promoting these old standards: “Momma notified me you better fix your face / You're never gonna find a nice guy that way." Nevertheless she doesn’t give a fuck what her momma thinks. She doesn’t care if she has bad RBF; maybe one day she plans to meet someone who will fully love and accept her for her. —Athena Serrano

Shwayze: “Corona and Lime”

The King of Summer has returned with a remake of his 2008 iconic hit featuring new vocals from reggae artist Hirie. While the lyrics remain the same on this hip-hop track, the acoustic chords and percussions have a faster tempo than the original. COVID-19 may be still raging, however don’t be afraid to party on with your Corona and lime bae (and beer) with this nostalgic bop, as long as you’re both vaccinated. —Athena Serrano

Girlpuppy: "Miniature Furniture"

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=GpUydv6JqPA

Atlanta's Girlpuppy, a.K.A. Becca Harvey, makes music that you can comfortably slot next to Snail Mail and Phoebe Bridgers — the latter's collaborator Marshall Vore even assists on Harvey's debut EP, Swan, out on August 20. On "Miniature Furniture," though, there's a lightness that puts her in her own league. Any time if she sings, "Maybe move to somewhere bigger / Chicago, Pasadena / 'Cause I still can't stand the cold," doubled by her own close-tracked harmonies, it sounds as breezy as her appearance in the video: floating in a pool, unhurried, matching ennui with bright jangle. —Patrick Hosken