Mike Posner

Every once in a while, something just stirs up such strong emotions in you that you must write about it.

I don’t know what to do with this guy. Is he a one hit wonder? Posner obviously had “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.” That 2015 song was really the only reason he was ever relevant. He did have “Cooler than Me,” a 2010 single that did hit charts briefly—it actually peaked at No. 6 on U.S. charts.

I never really cared for “Cooler than Me.” “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” was, on the other hand, one of the songs of my youth. I know every word to both versions of it and it’s very important I mention both versions. The original song, the OG Mike Posner version, was kind of meh. What made it super popular was Seeb, a Norwegian group, remixing it and that’s how you get the iconic version that 10 years ago—trust me—was being played everywhere nonstop.

It was Posner’s writing with quite a bit of help that made that song iconic.

Why do I bring this up now? 11 years later?

Mike Posner just put out this:

https://youtu.be/UDL6SEW4xKU?si=IWYzL_TsCN-txvZz

Is it supposed to be cute? Yeah, our hero, Avicii died and this song is a fun play? Or what? Now he knows love songs? But, in the words of Mike Posner himself, “Only God Knows” he can’t actually write a good love song.

This is where pop culture fails and, not spectacularly, but with the horrific irrelevance only pop culture can bring upon itself. That desperate plea of an artist and writer who was never really good trying to profit off of their one moment of fame. A movie director trying to milk a 14th sequel out of the franchise they have already beaten to death. An influencer posting one last picture following their cancellation in hopes of winning the public back.

American culture is pitiful these days. These last ditch efforts are even more so. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Irrelevance was a foregone conclusion. Now, these supposed stars need to understand how to live with it.