“Rock Music,” Anti-Poptimism, and Neoreactionary Masculine Resilience (opens in new tab)

May 7, 2026 Jacobin published a piece titled “Liberal Poptimists Tried to Kill Rock. They Failed” and one of the 2020’s “pop girlies” Charli XCX announced a new album and single titled “Rock Music.” Charli’s song takes the mocumentary tone of her recent A42 film THE MOMENT and applies it to an updated version of the Max Martin/Kelly Clarkson pop-rock sound of the aughts. With some literal and figurative winks throughout the track, “Rock Music” feels like the British club kid version of Shop B...