Pop
Justin Bieber Found Inspiration From Action Movies to Prep For His ‘Hold On’ Daredevil Stunt
Justin Bieber was inspired by a few action-packed flicks before gearing up for a wild ride in his “Hold On” music video. Billboard‘s current cover star discussed his inspirations in the new Vevo Footnotes clip that was released on Thursday (March 11). Bieber and “Hold On” video director Colin Tilley took notes from The Place Beyond the Pines, Good Time and Hell or High Water, where the living-on-the-edge protagonists from all three movies rob banks to provide for their loved ones. Even though Bieber did most of his own motorcycle stunts, the cinematographer pulled off their own dangerous mission by crashing through the bank window to get the shot of Bieber escaping his heist and ended up getting 14 stitches. “Justin called me and said...
Jorja Smith Releases New Single “Addicted”: Stream
Jorja Smith is back with an irresistible new track called “Addicted”. The song comes with a music video filmed entirely in isolation, which you can watch ahead. Following last year’s “Come Over” with Popcaan, “By Any Means” of Roc Nation’s Reprise compilation, and The Eddy contribution “Kiss Me in the Morning”, “Addicted” marks Smith’s first single of 2021. Musing in the atmosphere of a hazy beat punctuated with live guitars, the song is as alluring as a siren. Which is fitting, since the lyrics call for a lover to recognize how good they have it and “be addicted to me.” In a press statement explaining the track, Smith noted it’s about “focusing on wanting the full attention of someone who’s not giving enough (or any) when they should be.” “Addicted” comes with a self-directed video (...
Britney Spears’ Dad Responds to Call for Federal Hearings Into Conservatorships
Jamie Spears’ lawyer Vivian L. Thoreen issued a statement in response to Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday (March 10). “From the beginning, the court has closely monitored Britney’s situation, including through annual accountings and in-depth reviews and recommendations from a highly experienced and dedicated court investigator who annually meets at length with Britney and all involved in her conservatorship,” the statement reads. “Britney’s Conservatorship of the Estate was co-managed by a private professional fiduciary and her father until early 2019. At that time, Britney requested in court papers that her father be the sole conservator of her estate. Her Conservatorship of the Person is not managed by her father but by a private professional fidu...
Zayn Says Grammy-Slamming Tweet Was ‘Not Personal’
It was about transparency. Just hours after he slammed the Grammys over its voting process, Zayn returned to Twitter on Tuesday night (March 9) to say that his comments were “not personal,” but rather about the “need for inclusion.” The singer, 28, teed off on the Recording Academy on Tuesday, just five days before the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, writing, “F— the grammys and everyone associated. Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionary.” Zayn, who has yet to receive a Grammy nomination for his solo work, appeared to have second thoughts a short time later, returning to Twitter to explain his earlier comments. “My tweet was not personal or abo...
Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’ Is Still on Top, But It Took Four Tries to Get Her Actual Permit
Unfortunately for Rodrigo, the horn on her mom’s car didn’t work so the instructor had to halt the test. “I go to honk it and the horn doesn’t work on my mom’s car,” she said, explaining that her mom is a super-chill driver, so she probably didn’t even realize the horn was busted. “And so he said: ‘Your car is legally unsafe, I can’t take you out to take the test, go home.’” It was a tough blow for the singer, who said, “I didn’t even get to drive out of the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles]… I was so upset, I literally cried in the DMV parking lot.” But, like a real-life fairy tale, the fourth time was the charm and she passed the test no problem. “License” was released Jan. 8 on Geffen/Interscope Records and debuted ...
CHIKA Covers Billie Eilish’s “my future”, Reimagines “U SHOULD”: Stream
All this week, the Spotify Singles series is highlighting the nominees for the 2021 Best New Artist Grammy. But the contribution from CHIKA comes as a double celebration, as today happens to be the Alabama MC’s 24th birthday. As a gift for your ears, she’s delivered a new rendition of her single “U SHOULD” as well as a cover of Billie Eiilish’s “my future”. Plenty of artists have put their own spin on Eilish’s single from last summer, including Artist of the Month Arlo Parks and Miley Cyrus. CHIKA takes it into a new realm, however, taking ownership of the luscious, jazzy ode to self worth with a whole new verse of her own. “Ain’t no stopping shooting stars/ They got their own mind, and that’s the gold mine,” she raps. “The whole grind is nuts, so hold mine/ I promise you I’m set for go ti...
Harry Connick Jr. on the ‘Thrill’ of His 15th Grammy Nod & Going It ‘Alone’ for New Album
He jokes, but in actuality, the New Orleans crooner now has three Grammy Awards to his name (he won again in 2002) and 15 total nominations — including one at Sunday’s show: best traditional pop vocal album for True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter. While his first priority is making great music, Connick admits the nominations never get old. “I’m not really thinking about Grammys when I’m recording, but when Grammy time comes around, I think we all think about that and what an incredible thrill and honor it is,” he says. “So I pinch myself. It’s a really big deal.” Looking back on his early wins, Connick remembers just how massive Music’s Biggest Night truly felt back then. “You have to understand, that was before cell pho...
Gwen Stefani Needs You to ‘Slow Clap’ for Her Upcoming Single
A “Slow Clap” is required for Gwen Stefani‘s latest announcement: Her new single is coming on Thursday. Stefani giddies up for the single’s cover in her bedazzled and diamond-fringed cowgirl getup. A couple of Easter eggs, such as a boombox, basketball, alarm clock that reads 5:44, ice cream cone, cassette tape and bicycle, surround the iridescent star, some of which she’s already shown fans before. The pop star teased her single on Monday with a picture of her inserting the “Slow Clap” cassette tape into a boombox, and on Sunday, Stefani posted a photo of an alarm clock with the time 5:44 on it. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power....
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” Becomes First Song in History to Remain in Billboard Top 10 for a Whole Year
The Weeknd just made chart history. The Canadian superstar’s smash hit, “Blinding Lights”, is now the first song to ever spend an entire year in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Ever since the iconic singles chart was first established on August 4th, 1958, there’s never been a song that’s remained in the Top 10 for a full 52 weeks, until now. Sure, the artist born Abel Tesfaye didn’t get the Grammy nomination he was hoping for, but the enduring success of “Blinding Lights” is arguably a more historic feat. Interestingly, the After Hours single didn’t look like a runaway success when it was first unveiled. The Weeknd released the tune on November 29th, 2019 as the second single for his album rollout. However, it only debuted at No. 11 on the Hot 100 during its first week, and then it pl...
Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas and More of the Best ‘Shallow’ Covers: Watch
Now that “Shallow” has earned Gaga her first Academy Award, Billboard decided to honor her latest masterpiece with a roundup of some of the best covers. Kelly Clarkson During the Green Bay, Wisc. stop on her Meaning of Life Tour on Feb. 15, 2019, Clarkson took her love for A Star Is Born to the next level with her own version of “Shallow.” “I don’t have a Bradley Cooper here, so I’m just holdin’ it down,” she joked before humbly quipping, “I hope I don’t suck, and if I do I hope [Gaga] doesn’t see it.” Though she slipped up one lyric, her powerhouse voice certainly made up for any flubs. Lea Michele and Darren Criss The former Glee stars sang “Shallow” together on the sec...
Miley Cyrus Urges Everyone to Get Vaccinated in New ‘Angels Like You’ Video: ‘Each of Us Can Help Stop the Pandemic’
“The audience here is fully vaccinated health care workers who have been fearlessly + tirelessly fighting COVID-19,” reads the handwritten note that pops up at the end of the clip. “We all look forward to being together again + this can happen sooner than we may have thought with vaccines becoming more available. Each of us can help stop the pandemic by being vaccinated. Together we can make the experience of live music a reality again.” During her roughly 90-minute pre-game concert — which included surprise appearances by Billy Idol and Joan Jett — Cyrus repeatedly thanked health care and frontline workers in the audience and watching at home for all they had done during the global pandemic. “All of us have a purpose,” she said at one p...
Faouzia’s International Women’s Day Playlist With Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Blackpink & More: Exclusive
Singer-songwriter Faouzia has curated an International Women’s Day playlist exclusively for Billboard to celebrate the global day today (March 8). Faouzia, who recently released the stirring “Minefields” in collaboration with John Legend, looks up to some of the biggest voices in pop — including Rihanna, whose 2016 single “Needed Me” kicks off the playlist. “Rihanna has always been an inspiration of mine growing up and still to this day,” Faouzia tells Billboard of her first pick. “She is so strong, unique, and isn’t afraid to be herself.” Female forces like Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Blackpink and Miley Cyrus (who just happened to release the official music video for “Angels Like You” today) also made the list. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are loo...
