The Art of Reheating Nachos: When They’ve Gotten Burnt

Image by Liam Alexe

A new buzzword has emerged on social media over the past few weeks, dominating pop-culture discourse: “reheating nachos.” The expression’s origins are rather niche, tracing back to a moment in the reality TV show Baddies West. In a viral clip, reality star Natalie Nunn was captured looking desirably at a pan of nachos that rapper Stunna Girl was eating, an interaction users found comical. Following the video’s popularity, the phrase has evolved and taken on a life of its own. “Nachos” have now become symbolic of a defining, signature trait one may possess. One can reheat their own nachos by reconnecting with a specific aesthetic from the past. Although, it’s possible to “reheat” another's nachos by imitating their distinctive style. 

The expression has been adopted by music fans as a positive way to describe when an artist taps back into an aesthetic or sound they were known for earlier in their career. However, it can also be used in a more derogatory manner, perhaps to criticize one artist for mimicking another artist’s style. The trend is simultaneously rising with the release of Lady Gaga’s new single, “Abracadabra”, which sees the star channeling the edgy, dark-pop vibes of her earlier output (“Bad Romance”, “Alejandro”). Fans have deemed this a successful reheating of nachos. While exuding nostalgia, the production feels apt for the 2025 music scene. 

Spearheaded by Gen Z, this phrase is being applied to many artists from the 2010s — the era of music that provided a soundtrack to our childhoods. The 2010s were an exciting time for pop music. “Recession pop,” the style of uptempo music released in response to the social and economic depression from  2007 until 2009, ruled the charts. With the pandemic bringing slower styles of music to the forefront (bedroom pop and indie), there is a yearning to return to the infectious, danceable sounds of the early 2010s. 

Now, 2010’s hitmakers are much deeper into their careers. Many have resorted to a reliance on nostalgia to re-capture the success they once achieved during their prime. However, nostalgia can be challenging. Specific styles of music have the potential to age well, while others may age poorly and feel dated. Let’s explore some artists who have attempted to reheat their nachos, but left them cooking for a little too long.

143 by Katy Perry 

For her sixth studio album, Katy Perry sought to collaborate with Dr. Luke, the producer who helped shape the sound of her greatest hits (“Teenage Dream”, “California Gurls”, among many others). While Perry expected fans to appreciate the nostalgia of bringing Dr. Luke back onto  her team of collaborators, this choice did not go over very well with listeners. In 2014, Dr. Luke was accused of sexual assault by singer Kesha, and the two endured an intense lawsuit for 9 years before settling in 2023. 

When questioned about the controversial collaboration, Perry came to Dr. Luke’s defense. She attempted to assure fans, explaining: “The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that” (Dailey). Given the record’s focus on themes such as feminism and motherhood, collaborating with a man facing serious allegations was certainly not the right way to re-capture the essence of her previous eras. 143 was a major underperformance critically and commercially. While mostly containing inoffensive dance-pop tracks, it’s difficult for many to enjoy the “spark” behind Perry’s new music knowing who else is behind it.

Pink Friday 2 by Nicki Minaj

In December 2023, Nicki Minaj released Pink Friday 2 as a sequel to her iconic 2010 debut album, Pink Friday. Hoping to encapsulate  the aura of her early career, the project spawned some moderate hits post-release (“FTCU”, “Everybody”). With this being Minaj’s first effort since 2018, hype was quickly garnered amongst her fanbase — “The Barbz.” To expand the appeal, the fandom united to create an online universe called “Gag City”, generated primarily using Artificial Intelligence. “Gag City” went on to become the subject of many viral memes. While this did help to spread the word  about the album, controversy surfaced  when Minaj began to heavily incorporate visuals created by AI, as opposed to work created by artists, into the album and her tour. Additionally, the record was delayed twice and fans reported that physical copies were missing tracks present on the final edition available on streaming services. Despite the five  year gap since her previous release, it looks like Minaj could have reheated those nachos a little longer. 

Meghan Trainor: Takin’ It Back

After experimenting with different sounds in the late 2010s, Meghan Trainor made the decision to return to the doo-wop style that defined the early stages of her career for her fifth studio album — fittingly titled Takin’ It Back. While the single “Made You Look” was an infectious, viral TikTok hit that peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, it  was ultimately just a flash in the pan. The release debuted and peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200, failing to spawn any other hits. Now, why is that? First of all, the 50s/60s doo-wop sound is hard to integrate into the current sounds of the music industry. It may have helped give Trainor an edge in 2015, though the  industry has now moved on. Additionally, much of Trainor’s earlier works such as “All About That Bass” and “Dear Future Husband” have not aged well thematically, having become a  recurring topic of think pieces  for their faux-feminist themes.