COVID's Influence on Pop Culture

The pandemic has worked its way into every aspect of people's lives. One of the biggest ways people shared parts of their lives during the lockdown was through pop culture. This included funny tiktoks, YouTube videos, funny COVID songs from the music industry, and much more. Neil Diamond, an American singer-songwriter, made a video signing his famous hit "Sweet Caroline," but he changed some of the words to fit the pandemic. 

Neil Diamond's Update of "Sweet Caroline"

The video was a simple video filmed at Neil's home, featuring him sitting, playing the guitar, and singing the song, with a few clips of his dog. The lyrics "hands...touching hands" was changed to "hands...washing hands" to encourage people to wash their hands frequently. He also is reminding people to social distance by saying "Don't touch me, I won't touch you." This rendition of the classic song was a fun way to spread smiles during the toughest days of the pandemic. Neil Diamond started the video by saying "I know we’re going through a rough time right now, but I love you, and I think maybe if we sing together we might feel a little bit better." Thank you Neil for blessing us all with this updated version of your hit.

Example

Another example of the pandemic weaving into pop culture occurred in China. They began a tiktok trend of showing off street fashion, especially outfits incorporating masks. These tiktoks usually feature Chinese influencers walking in slow-motion, staring directly at the camera. They are sometimes wearing high-end brands, and their outfits are usually over the top. Occasionally, the videos feature couples or pairs wearing matching or complimentary outfits. The videos are just another friendly reminder to wear a mask when you are out, especially when you are in busy places such as the streets in China.