Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time Made It Okay for Everyone to Love Pop Music

From the front lines of MTV, I watched the young star transform pop music's audience. If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.       Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time Made It Okay for Everyone to Love Pop Music   Twenty years ago today, Britney Spears released her debut album …Baby One More Time and kicked off the last dominant megatrend of the monoculture. From its title track's first three notes, as ominous and unmistakable as the theme from Jaws, the message was clear: pure pop music was back. And this time, everyone had permission to enjoy it. The song and the album aren't just crammed full of hooks, they're a sweet, sexy transmission from a more innocent time. Twenty years later, we need to hold onto that wholesomeness as our world burns down. Dave Holmes reflects on watching the young star transform pop music's audience. Read More           'Using Parks as a Lever Is a Mistake': Columbia's CEO Elaborates on His Anti-Trump Ad   On Friday morning, Columbia took out a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post with a plea for the government to end its shutdown and open America's national parks."I think it'll raise the topic even more," he told Esquire's Christine Flammia. "How can somebody be against the national parks? I would say to him: Using the national treasures in this way is wrong. I think there are other ways to move opposition. Using the parks as a lever is a mistake." Read More           15 Actors You Didn't Know Were on The Sopranos   If you were an actor trying to make it big in the mid-2000s, chances are you made a stop on The Sopranos. The landmark HBO series—which premiered 20 years ago this week—featured a huge ensemble, with even more guest stars than there were dead bodies. Read More           The Best Waterproof Shoes for Keeping Your Feet Dry   Waterproof shoes—whether that's a sneaker, a dress shoe, or a boot—are vital for maintaining composure when you have to deal with crappy weather. Getting a functional shoe that is also stylish helps make every day of bad weather at least a little more bearable. Here are some of the best. Read More           The Aperol Spritz Should Be Your Winter Drink (and You Should Pair it With Pizza)   Grab a spritz, grab a slice, and pretend the dreadful weather outside your window is the Italian countryside. And if you don't know how to make one at home, we've got a recipe for Aperol Spritz from Seppe Pizza Bar, a new joint in Staten Island. Read More           60 Great Comedies to Stream on Netflix Right Now   From raunchy sex farces, witty social satires, to pitch-black dark comedies, the streaming service has plenty of movies to watch when you're tired of bummers, sick of thinking, and just want to hear some jokes. Read More         Read More on Esquire.com       Follow Us     Unsubscribe  Privacy Notice   esquire.com ©2019 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019