NOW That’s What I Call Music 60! brings back Aaron Carter and youngerย pop contenders
America has made it to the 60th edition of NOW That’s What I Call Music. Since 2009’sย NOW 32, eachย NOWย release included up-and-coming artists in theย NOW What’s Next section that closes the compilation. In NOW 60, the ghost ofย The Chainsmokers stalks NOW What’s Next, though their #1ย “Closer” (ft. Halsey)ย is noticeably absent from the compilation. Theย NOW 60ย bunch is surprisingly all male, all of whom land somewhereย between pop-rock and dance. The elder statesman of the group is 28-year-oldย Aaron Carter.ย Yes, that earlyย 00’s teen idol @aaroncarter who was famous for “Aaron’ Party” and for being the younger brother ofย The Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter. I guess after selling over four million albums in the pre-digital era of 1997 to 2002, 14-year-old Carterย could coast for 14 more years before needing to get back to music. The comeback single “Fool’s Gold” abandons terrible early-00’s teen pop for modern dance-R&B that the Chainsmokers mastered with “Closer” and “Roses.” Unfortunately for Carter, the video is yet to break 1 million views on YouTube, but the man is busy at work on his fifth albumย LรธVรซย and soon enough we will know if @aaroncarter can be back on the charts after a 14-year sabbatical.
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Yep, that’s Aaron Carterย getting his Justin Bieber on
Other acts on NOW What’s Next were babies during Aaron Carter’s first run on the charts.ย The Weathers from Los Angeles bringย a poppier version of Millennial angst perfected byย Twenty One Pilots.ย “I take my pills and I’m happy all the time” they sing over brooding rock. About right. Then there isย Coin from Nashville who channelย Walk The Moonย and sing how “we talk too much.” Shut up and dance, fellas. Another Nashville product is singer-songwriterย Jacob Whitesides who has a smooth hushedย voice on “Lovesick,” which is the only song among NOW What’s Next peers that made the charts in the 20+ countries tracked by chart aggregator ACharts, making itย to #41 in Portugal this year. @jacobwhitesides also has the most Instagram followers (1.5 million) among these acts, though he got ways to go to catchย Shawn Mendes and his 16 million followers.
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Jacob Whitesides got to perform “Lovesick” on a float shared with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at this year’sย Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Remaining members of theย NOW 60 squad are the intense yet mopey singerย Stanaj and bicoastal bandย LANY (LosAngelesNewYork). While Stanaj ponders “Ain’t Love Strange,” he needs to up the sexy to compete withย Zayn. LANY take us back toย @thechainsmokers with a hushed and impressive “ILYSB.” Check out a live performance ofย the song below, they love you so bad and along with @jacobwhitesides appearย to be the most promising emerging artists among the NOW 60 What’s Next acts.
