2023 (Taylor's Version): The year in pop culture

By JOCELYN NOVECK 

AP National Writer

In weather terminology, they call it “rapid intensification” — the process by which a storm strengthens dramatically in a short period.

In pop culture terminology, they call it Taylor Swift.

It’s not like Swift didn’t have big – huge! – years before this. But 2023? This was ridiculous.

From the blockbuster “Eras” tour that conquered the United States before a planet-vanquishing international leg, to the re-release of more albums on the road to reclaiming her catalog, to the record-smashing concert film, to becoming a billionaire — and yeah, that thing with “the guy on the Chiefs” — it all made for a year you could reasonably call “2023 (Taylor’s Version).”

There were, of course, non-Swiftian developments in pop culture. Beyoncé, ever the superstar, had a huge tour herself, and ruled the box office with “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” Speaking of renaissance, look no further than Barbie — technically age 64 but now living her most fantastic life in plastic, thanks to Greta Gerwig’s record-shattering “Barbie." Through mere coincidence of timing, Gerwig's candy-colored creation paired with “Oppenheimer” to fuel “Barbenheimer,” a phenomenon that singlehandedly revitalized the multiplex.

There were comebacks, as always. The Rolling Stones never left, surely, but produced their best new music in decades. Even the Beatles released a new song. On TV, Samantha even made it back — for a minute — to the “Sex and the City” franchise. A pregnant Rihanna soared (literally) at the Super Bowl, and again showed us that nobody makes a more glamorous, more fashionably late Met Gala entrance.

Our very selective (and this year, very Swift-centric) stroll down pop culture memory lane:

JANUARY

If anyone needs a comeback, it’s the GOLDEN GLOBES. The year begins with comic JERROD CARMICHAEL deftly navigating host duties, quipping, “I’m here because I’m Black” — a nod to the diversity scandal plaguing the awards. Speaking of scandal, nobody does it better than the royals: PRINCE HARRY’S “Spare” sells more than 3.2 million copies in one week. Also breaking records: SHAKIRA'S “BZRP Music Session #53,” in which she bitingly sings of her ex, former soccer star GERARD PIQUÉ. January (Taylor's version): U.S. senators grill Ticketmaster about its mega-breakdown selling SWIFT tickets.