This week rolled through with the same malaise as the others, but by the end of it, despite all evidence that would encourage me otherwise, I was feeling pretty optimistic. Not least of which being that I have news — next week, I’ll be started a new job at The Black Sheep Agency. Throughout the pandemic, it’s become clear that good people and good work will always win out over good pay, and I’m aware that this opportunity proves just how lucky and privileged my career has been.

But back to what this is about, and that’s my weekly roundup. From first impressions of “In the Air Tonight” in 2020 to a potential TikTok ban, there’s a lot to dissect (and even take joy from) out of this week, so let’s get into it.

Top Five — 8/7/2020

1. Cardi B hypes up Normani on the set of “WAP”
   ”WAP,” the new single from Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion dropped on Friday and I shall not be linking to it here as it’s incredibly NSFW. Which means you should absolutely go listen to it. I’m talking the explicit version, people — go all in. The music video, which features a more censored version of the song, included cameos from some fellow pop stars like Normani. In the clip, Cardi can be heard singing“Motivation” and hyping up her friend as Normani films her shots — and puts all of our perceived ideas of flexibility to shame. You’ll see what I mean.
   
   

2. FIRST TIME HEARING Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight REACTION - Twinsthenewtrend
   From The Carpenters to Blake Shelton, twins Tim and Fred Williams are willing to listen to it all and film their reactions for YouTube. And while the brothers are open to pretty much everything (and rarely seem to write anything off completely), they were no match for Phil Collins — a simple reaction video turns into a total groovefest.
   
   

3. Privacy Concerns Fuel Executive Orders, But the Real Threat Isn’t TikTok
   This administration loves to arbitrarily select scapegoats. And this week was no deviation from that as we saw executive orders targeting TikTok come down from the White House. For the BSA blog, I discuss how advertisers and marketers should react, but also dig into what the perceived security issues seem to be — and patently aren’t.
   
   

4. Italy Reopens Plague-Era Wine Windows
   Un bicchiere di malbec, senza COVID-19, per favore. Italy, having been hit incredibly hard and early in the coronavirus pandemic, is using their ancient architecture to their advantage. The wine windows of Florence and Tuscany once served as a way for wealthy, vineyard-owning Italians to sell glasses to-go. During the bubonic plague, they offered a safe way to conduct business — and in our socially-distant times, they’re making a comeback.
   

5. Impact — SG Lewis and Robyn
   My kingdom for a dance party. 2020 has released some of the best dance and pop albums we’ve had in years (Disclosure, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Jessie Ware, HAIM, and the 1975, to name a few) and yet, we’re all stuck at home! But perhaps this gives me more time to practice my moves before reentering society.