This post is so sweet it makes my teeth hurt. Do not, I say, do not expect me to post selections like this again.

Today on one of my too-many Substack subscriptions I read a “Swiftie”‘s take on the now $1 BILLION-dollar Eras phenomenon and the writer listed a few of his favourite Swift songs from when he was a tween. (God, can I get through this post?) One of them was “Hey Stephen”. Stephen being one of my many names, I was naturally curious, and that led me to listen to my first-ever, my first-ever, Taylor Swift song.

It’s a pop song, and it will never be in my rotation, but I was pleased not to have been forgotten. I mean, how many other men can say that a woman of her success has written a song about them? Not one, that’s how many. Except me. So, VICI. Thanks, Taylor, and it was a good pop song, it was. I listened to it three times today and may listen to it a few more in the context of this post. If I didn’t find it somewhat charming – and it is charming, that ear worm is phenomenal – no amount of success would have bought its inclusion on this pristine site. I have my scruples, darling.

So while I was down in the muck anyway, I decided to go all in and include this OK Go video as well. Again, not in my rotation, but well done – all their videos are clever – and palatable enough to sneak onto this site. Especially on this occasion. We’ll call it pop!shock! and forget it ever happened.

The photo was taken in Circo Massimo, as part of the celebrations commemorating the Birth of Rome on 21 April.