Are Popular Choices Clouding Our Minds? by Katy Schmeck

“Senorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, “If I Can’t Have You” by Shawn Mendes, and “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers are the top 3 pop songs according to, https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pop-songs-2019/ranker-music

But, according to, http://www.popvortex.com/music/charts/top-pop-songs.php, “Truth Hurts” by  Lizzo, “Senorita”, and “You Need To Calm Down” by Taylor Swift are the top 3 songs. 

I asked some people what they thought were the top three and only gave them 5 songs to choose from. But, I mixed it up a bit. The songs I offered “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, featuring Justin Bieber, “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi, “Old Town Road” by Lil’ Nas X, and an older song, “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas. 

Abigail K and Cassidy G. both chose “Senorita”, Edna W. picked “Old Town Road”, Lacey S. chose three, “Senorita”, “Bad Guy”, and “Someone You Loved.  Lily G. chose “Bad Guy”, and Payton C. picked “Old Town Road”, Jeada K. decided to pick “Bad Guy”, Indy O. chose “Someone You Loved” or “Bad Guy”. Finally, Zeke C. chose something I didn’t even say, he chose “Ransom” by Lil’ Tecca.

It had me thinking, everybody else chose what I said except Zeke.  Pop Vortex and Billboard take their information off how people viewed, liked, or disliked videos or songs, but, only the popular choices seem to be clouding our minds. I asked 10 people which song was the best, telling them that they were the top songs but, actually they weren’t. Nine of those people said one of my options, but one kid stuck to his gut. People need to stop trying to be popular, or trendy, and just be themselves.

It’s better to be yourself in the first place because, after all, fake friends don’t really last, and it will be harder to make new friends if you’re not yourself. So, if you stick to being your genuine self, you won’t have to go through all that drama. 

Be yourself. People don’t have to like you, and you don’t have to care.

Be Kind, Be You.