Pop
Wang Chung on Rewriting Old Hits for New Times
Kyle Meredith With… Wang Chung Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public Wang Chung founder Nick Feldman spoke with Kyle Meredith about the band’s involvement in last month’s Back to the Basement fundraiser, which found several ’80s stars live streaming to raise funds for frontline workers. The duo also rewrote one of their biggest hits — re-dubbed “Everybody Stay Safe Tonight” — to not only reflect the pandemic, but also speak to the BLM protests. The new wave legend also weighs in on how their songs have soundtracked Hollywood, last year’s Orchesography, more orchestral live shows, and the release of their long-awaited Clear Light Dark Matter compilation for later this year. Kyle Meredith With… is a...
Darren Criss Pays Tribute to Naya Rivera: ‘Rest in Peace You Wild, Hilarious, Beautiful Angel’
Following the devastating news on Monday (July 13) that Naya Rivera has been declared dead, a number of her Glee co-stars have taken to social media to remember her vibrant, quick-witted presence. Darren Criss, who played the charming Warbler Blaine Anderson, shared a string of thoughts in honor of his late co-star. “She was bold. She was outrageous. She was a LOT of fun,” he tweeted. “Naya made me laugh like no one else on that set. I always said it while we were working together and I’ve maintained it ever since. Her playful, wicked sense of humor never ceased to bring a smile to my face.” She was bold. She was outrageous. She was a LOT of fun. Naya made me laugh like no one else on that set. I always said it while we were working together and I’ve maintained...
Maroon 5 Announces New Routing for 2021 Tour
Maroon 5 was one of countless artists who were forced to cancel their 2020 tour dates as the coronavirus continues to spread. However, the group announced on Monday (July 13) their official 2021 dates. Tickets and LaneOne Premium Packages purchased for the band’s 2020 tour will be honored for the new dates. A new show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden has also been added for September 10, 2021. Unfortunately, the band’s concerts in Hartford, CT at XFINITY Theater, as well as Flushing, NY at CITI Field will be cancelled. Ticket holders for Flushing will receive an email with an opportunity for a pre-sale for the MSG show, or a refund. Tickets for the MSG show will go on sale Friday (July 24) at 10 a.m. See the full list of new dates below. Ma...
‘Hamilton’ Hits No. 2 on Billboard 200, Is Highest-Charting Cast Album Since 1969
Set also captures biggest streaming week ever for a cast album. The original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton: An American Musical surges to a new peak on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as the set vaults from No. 14 to No. 2 in the wake of the show’s Disney+ premiere on July 3. The album earned 102,000 equivalent album units (up 294 percent) in the U.S. in the week ending July 9, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, 32,000 are in album sales (up 592 percent). The last cast recording to reach the top two on the chart was the original cast album of Hair, which spent 13 weeks at No. 1 in 1969. The Hamilton album is basking in the glow of the Disney+ streaming premiere of the filmed version of the Broadway stage show, with most of the original Broadway cast. T...
Top 5 Covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”
The tale of Fleetwood Mac (the Reader’s Digest version, anyway) can be told in two parts. There’s the blues rock version of the band, which featured a revolving-door of guitarists and gradually transitioned into softer rock over several records, and then there’s the pop powerhouse the band became famous as once guitarist-singer Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks joined for the outfit’s self-titled 1975 record. It’s the landmark album that would give the band its first huge success in America and result in several fan favorites like “Rhiannon” and “Landslide”. The album began a string of records lasting into the late ’80s, including Rumours in ’77, where the group, despite plenty of inner turmoil, could seemingly do no wrong musically. [embedded content] Though not originally a si...
Katy Perry Reveals New Album Smile, Shares Title Track: Stream
Katy Perry has announced her newest album Smile. The follow-up to 2017’s Witness arrives August 14th, and the pop singer is celebrating the announcement by sharing the title track. This will be KP’s fifth studio effort, and so far we’ve heard the singles “Daisies”, “Harleys in Hawaii”, and “Never Really Over”. Already, this time feels different. Over the course of these (now) four singles, Perry hasn’t collaborated at all with ghostwriters like Max Martin or Dr. Luke. That’s unprecedented for Perry, who vaulted onto the scene with a Martin-and-Dr.-Luke ditty, “I Kissed a Girl”. Martin in particular is Perry’s oldest and steadiest collaborator, and together they co-wrote five songs on Teenage Dream, over half of Prism, and three Witness singles including “...
Louis Tomlinson and Syco Music Part Ways: ‘I’m Really Excited for the Future’
Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell’s Syco are saying goodbye. The One Direction-er took to social media on Saturday (July 11) to announce that his relationship with Syco has ended. The 28-year-old singer signed a solo recording contract with the label in 2017. “Hope everyone is doing ok! Just wanted to let you know that Syco Music and I have agreed to part ways,” Tomlinson tweeted. I’m really excited for the future and to be back in the studio writing the next album. Can’t wait to finally see you all on tour!!” One Direction’s five studio albums were released through Syco/Columbia Records. In early 2019, Tomlinson joined Arista Records within the Sony Music family, where he signed to Epic under Cowell’s Syco in 2017. As part of the deal, the sin...
Katy Perry Comments on Kanye West’s Presidential Run: ‘The Job Is Best Suited for Someone With Experience’
Katy Perry offered her opinion about Kanye West running for president in a virtual interview with the U.K.’s Hits Radio on Friday (July 10). The pop star, who called in for a 16-minute video chat about topics including her upcoming album, being in quarantine, her pregnancy and her dog’s birthday, was prompted with the question: “We all know that 2020’s one of the weirdest years so far … How do you feel about Kanye West making it even weirder by becoming president?” Perry didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts. “I think, you know, what we’ve learned looking back is that the presidential job is best suited for someone with experience and that is a pro in their field,” she responded. “I think we have seen and learned from experience that when we ...
Camila Cabello Reimagines ‘My Oh My,’ ‘Señorita’ & ‘Liar’ With Pretty Piano Medley
Camila Cabello has mashed up three of her Romance singles in a special medley recorded for the next installment of her virtual “Priceless Experiences at Home” concert series. The new episode of the series is set to be released on Friday (July 15). “They say he likes a good time, my, oh my,” Cabello begins in the first verse of the medley, accompanied by piano. The singer shared a preview of it on Instagram, commenting, ‘This might be my favorite one!” The track sees a smooth transition over to a solo “Señorita” before building up to “Liar” with several layers of vocal takes from Cabello. Check it out below, and tune in to episode two of her “acoustic jam session” with Mastercard on YouTube at 5 p.m. ET on July 15....
Christina Perri Announces She Is Expecting ‘Rainbow Baby’ After Miscarriage
Christina Perri has shared the happy news that she is pregnant, six months after revealing that she had a miscarriage earlier in the year. “carmella is gonna be a big sister !!! our rainbow baby is coming in january,” the “Jar of Hearts” singer tweeted Saturday morning (July 11), along with a rainbow emoji. Carmella, pictured wearing a rainbow T-shirt with the words “big sister to be” in Perri’s update, is her two-year-old daughter. In January, Perri posted a heartbreaking note about having a miscarriage just before she and husband Paul Costabile were about announce they were expecting a second child together. “We are shocked and completely heartbroken,” Perri, who hoped to “help change the story & stigma around miscarriage, s...
Dixie D’Amelio Goofs Off With Sister Charli in ‘Be Happy’ Behind-The-Scenes Video
Rising artist and social media star Dixie D’Amelio might’ve sung about her bad days in her debut single “Be Happy,” but the behind-the-scenes clip of the music video shows how her family puts her in high spirits. The 10-minute exclusive BTS clip, which D’Amelio premiered on YouTube Wednesday (July 8), features the entire D’Amelio clan clowning around on set. The TikTok star confessed to using a pore vacuum the night before the shoot that ended up bruising her face. “Hopefully, my parents don’t see it,” she wished before the follow-up text slide read, “My mom saw the bruise” and documented her mother criticizing her decision. Her 16-year-old sister and fellow TikTok topliner Charli D’Amelio make...
First Out: New Music From Kim Petras, Donna Missal, Tayla Parx & More
Another week, another set of LGBTQ new music releases to jam out to. Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new weekly music releases from LGBTQ artists. From Kim Petras and Kygo’s stunning new music video to Donna Missal’s long-awaited sophomore album, check out some of our favorite new releases this week. Kim Petras & Kygo, “Broken Glass” (video) With their new music video, Kygo and Kim Petras are ready to let their icy music freeze your heart over. In the new visual, Petras is seen amidst a snowy car wreckage, reminiscing on the end of an ill-fated relationship. Throughout the dark, frozen void, the pop singer’s look continues to evolve, until she is a Mad Max-meets-Elsa from Froze...
