Richard S. He
Pop producer, award-winning critic.
I've covered everything from music to film, celebrity, gender + feminism, pro wrestling, gaming, and Smash Mouth's "All Star". Hit me up: richaod@gmail.com
PROJECTS
Billboard
20 Years of Xtina: How She Found, Lost and Liberated Her Voice Again
When did Christina Aguilera’s voice become bigger than her singles? Has she become so defined by her vocal runs that we’ve forgotten her sheer personality? One of the biggest stars of the 2000s has, perhaps, become underrated. How did Christina Aguilera get here?
Billboard
Every Ariana Grande Song, Ranked
Pop music -- like dance, like love, like sex -- is about transcending yourself. It’s about control, being the best possible version of yourself. And then it’s about letting go, feeling everything; opening yourself up to the level of joy you can only experience with another person. Ariana Grande is one of the most impressive singers on the planet, but on “Into You”, she’s found a love so great that even she’s lost for words. All that’s left to do is give in to the music.
Redbull
From Darkness Comes Light: Halsey is the people's rockstar
Alone on her stage, Halsey is more impressive than most popstars are with legions of backup dancers. Tonight’s as perfect a show as you could expect from any 23-year-old with just two albums under her belt. And it doesn’t remotely feel like Halsey’s peaked.
Redbull
Dark Paradise: Lana Del Rey’s first Australian tour in 6 years
Lana’s more than a popstar - she’s become a generational balladeer, who makes millennials swoon the same way Carole King or Stevie Nicks made our parents feel.
Redbull
The Last Of The Real Ones: the long half-life of Fall Out Boy (Poptimism Gone Wrong #3)
Fall Out Boy influenced a generation of bloggers, emo rappers and social media stars. So why don’t they fit into the 2018 they created? And why is mainstream rock so terrible now?
Billboard
Taylor Swift's 'Delicate' Video Dances Away Her Regrets: Critic's Take
The video frees Taylor from our expectations. She casts off the burden of her name and face, and dances for the pure joy of music -- the reason she began writing songs in the first place. Her message: We are not defined by our lowest moments. We are how we choose to define ourselves, and Taylor chooses to humble herself through awkward, honest, cathartic dance. “Delicate” finally allows her to hit reset.
Billboard
Demi Lovato's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks
Through Demi’s voice, it’s more than a love song -- it’s the story of a woman who’s lived through the worst, and emerged with unshakeable faith. Demi Lovato is a thoroughly modern pop star, but “Give Your Heart a Break” is timeless.
The Guardian
2017's top Australian albums: Amy Shark - Night Thinker
Before Adore’s release, Amy Shark endured years of rejection from labels. Five years ago she might have been too big for indie, too cutting for pop. But in 2017, she felt just right.
Noisey
The Weeknd’s Live Show Proves That You Can’t Teach Effortless Cool
Your wildest dreams aren't half as debauched as Abel Tesfaye's songs.
The Guardian
Sia review – when she transcends spectacle, she soars
Sia has radically reimagined how a live pop concert can be staged, but she’s not doing the same for pop music.
Noisey
Lorde’s Final Performance of 2017 Was a Thing of Beauty
'Melodrama' comes to life at an outdoor concert at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Noisey
Taylor Swift’s 'Reputation' Is A Necessary Evil (Poptimism Gone Wrong #2)
Reputation is a morality play for the 21st century, where Taylor Swift acts out our deepest and most public desires and fears. It depicts the world in shades of grey, where there are no absolute truths, but endless contradictions... Reputation's not just a snake – it's a snake eating its own tail.
Billboard
Why Taylor Swift's '1989' Is Her Best Album: Critic's Take
With 1989, Taylor Swift moved beyond love songs. The album spoke to a generation of millennials living through uncertain times, looking for stability as young adults. Taylor’s songs offer no easy answers, but endless emotional generosity.
tinyletter.com
#1: I (Don't) Hate Personal Essays?
All essays are personal. Read between the lines, read the questions the writer asks, and you'll see inside their brain - not just what they want to confess to you. I hate "personal essays", but if you're reading me, I'm an open book.
Noisey
A Writer Returned from a Chainsmokers Gig and Says It Was Good, Do We Fire Him?
The Chainsmokers perfectly reflect your existing views about modern music. One person's fluid genre-hopping is another's cynical pandering. Listen to them, and you'll hear exactly what you want to hear.