music blog
Chris Rock Says He Was Asked to Host Next Year’s Oscars But Turned It Down
Chris Rock famously became the talk of the 2022 Oscars after Will Smith slapped him on stage, but the comedian isn’t trying to be the talk of next year’s ceremony. In a recent stand-up set, Rock said the Academy asked him to host the 2023 Oscars, but he turned them down. According to the Arizona Republic, Rock told the crowd at a recent gig in Phoenix that returning to the Oscars would be like returning to the scene of a crime, comparing the offer to asking Nicole Brown Simpson to “go back to the restaurant” she ate at before being murdered. Rock also said he was asked to do a Super Bowl commercial in light of the slap, an offer he also refused. Elsewhere in the set, Rock said being slapped by Smith physically hurt, noting that Smith played Muhammed Ali in a movie. “He’s bigger than me,” R...
Arctic Monkeys Live Their ’70s Dreams in New Song “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball”: Stream
Arctic Monkeys have revealed “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball,” a retro new single from their upcoming album The Car. Drummer Matt Helders previously revealed that Arctic Monkeys’ next album “kinda picks up where” 2018’s loungey Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino left off, and “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” certainly proves his point. Lush with swelling strings and piano, the song begins on an almost ominous note before fully acquiescing to Alex Turner’s most cinematic, Phil Spector-inspired desires. Even the track’s grainy, sepia-toned music video fits the vibe, as the band track the song in collared shirts and dress pants. Take a trip back to the ’70s below. The Car arrives in full October 21st via Domino, and pre-orders are ongoing. Shortly after announcing the album, ...
Rayland Baxter Announces New Album If I Were A Butterfly, Shares Origins of Title Track: Exclusive
Origins is a recurring new music series giving artists the opportunity to share exclusive insights into their latest release. Today, Rayland Baxter breaks down “If I Were A Butterfly,” the lead single and title track of his fourth album. Nashville singer and songwriter Rayland Baxter has announced his fourth studio album and shared the title track, “If I Were A Butterfly,” on Tuesday (August 30th). The groovy, harmony-laden track is a fascinating foray into the sounds of If I Were A Butterfly, and its lush instrumentation compliments Baxter’s warm vocals and introspective lyrics perfectly. According to Baxter, the new album centers its themes on the loss of his legendary father, Bucky Baxter, who was a member of Bob Dylan’s band and Steve Earl’s Dukes, and who appears on several of&nb...
Plains (Katie Crutchfield and Jess Williamson) Don’t Talk About “Abilene” in New Song: Stream
Jess Williamson and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield have shared “Abilene,” another new song from their project as Plains. Listen to the track — and watch Yoga with Adriene’s own Adriene Mishler star in its music video — below. The classic country waltz melodies of “Abilene” soundtracks Plains’ journey to distance themselves from the Texas city, and the lives it once housed. “Young lovers like to dream/ We’ll settle down and we’ll make a good team/ Well Main Street was cute and the rents there were cheap/ But I was too much for you and for your Abilene,” Williamson sings. Crutchfield shared the inspiration behind the latest Plains song in a statement. “The song ‘Abilene’ really solidified the vision of the album for me,” she said. “I’ll never forget how giddy I felt when Jess sent me t...
The Wiggles Make History With Two Australian Arena Tours In 2023
The Wiggles continue their golden run with the announcement of another arena tour of Australia, a run that places the childen’s entertainers in the history books. With The Wiggles Holiday Party Big Show, announced Tuesday (Aug. 30), the Wiggles become the first band in Australian history to perform two national arena tours in a single year. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The “Hot Potato” singers will hit the road for 15 end-of-year dates, wrapping Dec. 17 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena — the country’s biggest arena, with a 21,000 capacity. Bruce Springsteen did the double with his Wrecking Ball tour in 2013 and with the High Hopes jaunt in 2014. The Boss’ visits were separated by twelve months, but weren’t in the same calendar year. The ...
Romeo Santos Shares Tantalizing Sneak Peek of Justin Timberlake Collab ‘Sin Fin’
“King” of bachata Romeo Santos has finally given us a sneak peek at his upcoming collaboration with another royal pop icon, Justin Timberlake. The dynamic duo dropped a 15-second preview of their anticipated collaboration on the sensual ballad “Sin Fin” (Endless) on Monday night (August 29). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The preview of the track from Santos’ anticipated Formula, Vol. 3 (Sept. 1) album spotlights JT’s vocals, as he sings, “You already know this love is all your, baby/ So take it/ We’ve been here before, it’s strong enough to save us, oh baby,” over what appears to be black and white footage from the song’s video. The various set-ups range from JT and Santos laughing and goofing around on set to Santos dancing with a woman and ...
Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson to Guest on ‘Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas’
Dolly Parton is planning an A-list Christmas special with some of her best friends. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas film will feature appearances from her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus (as well as pops Billy Ray Cyrus), as well as Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Allen and Zach Williams. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The NBC holiday musical movie will air at an as-yet-unspecified time between Thanksgiving and Christmas and star the 76-year-old country icon, alongside actors Tom Everett Scott, Ana Gasteyer and Angel Parker. The meta project is described as a “modern-day movie musical” about the making of a network TV special. THR reported that as Dolly strives to make a show that shares the “mountain ...
Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper Headline Otis Redding Center for the Arts Fundraiser
In tandem with celebrating soul pioneer Otis Redding’s 81st birthday and legacy, the Otis Redding Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony and fundraiser events for the future Otis Redding Center for the Arts on Sept. 9-10 in Macon, Georgia. Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper and Grammy-nominated country singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton are among the artists set to perform during the weekend celebration. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Slated to open in 2023, the Otis Redding Center for the Arts will be housed in an 11,000 square-foot space. To further foster music education for students from ages 3-18, the center will offer learning labs, collaborative spaces, practice rooms and a stage for performances. “Expanding our educa...
The War on Drugs Announce New I Don’t Live Here Anymore Box Set
The War on Drugs have announced a new limited-edition box set for their 2021 album I Don’t Live Here Anymore. Only 5,000 copies will be printed; the set is due out September 30 via Atlantic. Check out photos of the package and an unboxing video below. The box set includes the album on both 2xLP 180-gram vinyl and cassette, a 7″ single with the new songs “Oceans of Darkness” and “Slow Ghost,” a 16-page booklet with in-studio photos, a 24″ x 36″ poster, six postcards, an embroidered patch. The cassette version also includes “Slow Ghost” as a bonus track. The War on Drugs resumes their North American tour in New Haven, Connecticut next month; they released four episodes of their Super High Quality Podcast about their latest album in January. Check out Pitchfork’s feature pro...
Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn Announce New Album Pigments, Share New Songs
Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn have announced a new collaborative album called Pigments, sharing the four songs of its first movement: “Coral,” “Sandstone,” “Indigo,” and “Vantablack.” The full-length is due out October 21 via Merge. Check out the video for “Vantablack”—Richard’s directorial debut—below. Pigments features contributions from Stuart Bogie (clarinet), Mike Haldeman (guitar, sampled electronic instruments), Malcolm Parson (cello, violin, viola), Dave Scalia (drums), Kirk Schoenherr (electric guitar), Jas Walton (tenor saxophone, flute), and Doug Wieselman (clarinet). Of the new album—a tribute to her father Frank Richard of the funk band Chocolate Milk—Dawn Richard said in a statement: “I felt like the tools that I and other people like me were dealt weren’t shiny. Yet we still...
DJ Khaled ft. Future & Lil Baby “BIG TIME,” Offset ft. Moneybagg Yo “CODE” & More | Daily Visuals 8.26.22
HipHopWired Featured Video Today DJ Khaled released his latest project GOD DID and while social media was ablaze with talk of Jay-Z’s latest timeless verse and Jadakiss continuing his Verzuz MVP run somehow, Khaled comes through with some visuals with some of his Southern homies. Linking up with Future and Lil Baby for his visuals to “BIG TIME,” Khaled invites the two artists to a lavish estate where beautiful women pamper him as he bathes and sips on bubbly while praising God for believing in him. That’s one way to live, that’s for sure. Back in Atlanta, Offset continues to go on his solo route and for his latest clip to “CODE,” calls on Moneybagg Yo to turn up with him while on rocking some somewhat futuristic garments. Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from the Black So...
California May Be First State to Ban Use of Rap Lyrics in Court
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department A bill introduced earlier this year by South Los Angeles Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer may soon be signed into law in California. The bill would restrict the use of rap lyrics and other creative works as evidence in criminal proceedings. The bill has already passed both the State Senate and State Assembly. It will soon progress to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature, according to The New York Times. The bill is specific to the state, but follows a national bill called the RAP Act introduced in Congress by two Black democratic congressmen, Hank Johnson of Georgia and Jamaal Bowman of New York. It also follows the indictment of Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna on gang-related RI...
