djfrosty

James Arthur Secures U.K. Chart Crown With ‘Bitter Sweet Love’

James Arthur completes a come-from-behind victory in the U.K. chart race, as Bitter Sweet Love (via Columbia) bows at No. 1, his second leader.

The British singer and songwriter’s fifth studio album was languishing in third place during the first half of the chart week, before Bitter Sweet Love grew wings and edged into the lead.

According to the Official Charts Company, Arthur’s LP pulled ahead in the “final hours” of the cycle, consigning The Reytons’ Ballad of a Bystander to a No. 2 debut.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Bitter Sweet Love leads the nation in downloads, and physical copies account for 74% of its total, the OCC reports.

A former X Factor U.K. champion, Arthur boasts five top 3 albums in the U.K., including his 2013 self-titled debut (No. 2), 2016’s Back from the Edge (No. 1), 2019’s Release You (No. 2) and 2021’s It’ll All Make Sense in the End (No. 3).

The Reytons, meanwhile, narrowly miss out on a second consecutive No. 1, with Ballad of a Bystander finishing the chart week as runner-up. It’s the followup to the indie rockers’ 2023 chart leader What’s Rock and Roll? (The Reytons).

Completing an all-new top three is the Smile‘s Wall of Eyes (XL Recordings). That’s a career best for the Radiohead side-project, eclipsing the No. 5 peak for their 2023 debut A Light for Attracting Attention. The indie trio, featuring Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood alongside Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, had briefly led the chart race.

Wall of Eyes was the week’s best seller on vinyl, the OCC reports.

Also new to the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Jan. 2, is Tom Odell’s Black Friday (Urok), new at No. 5. That’s the English artist’s sixth U.K. top 10 album, a list that includes a No. 1 with 2013’s Long Way Down.

Further down the tally, U.S. synth-pop act Future Islands land their first U.K. top 10 with People Who Aren’t There Anymore (4AD). It’s new at No. 7, for their fourth U.K. top 40 appearance. Also, British punk rock outfit Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes bite down on a fourth top 10 album with Dark Rainbow (International Death Cult), new at No. 10,

Finally, Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys grabs a fourth top 40 title with Sadness Sets Me Free (Rough Trade), new at No. 22, and northern England rockers New Model Army snag an eighth top U.K. 40 with Unbroken (Ear Music), new at No. 31.

Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish & More 2024 Grammy Record-Setters

Female artists dominated the 2024 Grammys, just as they dominated pop music – and pop culture in general – last year. The 66th annual Grammy Awards were presented at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday (Feb. 4).

Female artists swept the Big Four awards for the third time in the past five years. Taylor Swift’s Midnights won album of the year. Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” took record of the year. Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (which she wrote with her brother Finneas) won song of the year. Victoria Monét grabbed best new artist.

Swift became the first four-time winner for album of the year. She previously won for Fearless, 1989 and Folklore. Swift had been tied with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon with three wins each in this category.

Serban Ghenea won as an engineer/mixer on Swift’s album. He’s the first person (not artist, mind you) to win album of the year five times. The Canadian engineer/mixer previously won in the category as an engineer/mixer on Swift’s 1989 and Folklore, Adele’s 25 and Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic.

“Flowers” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks – Cyrus’ longest run by far. “Flowers” represented a major breakthrough for Cyrus: If anyone still thinks of her as the former Hannah Montana star who then went a little overboard in trying to smash that image, it’s time to get over it. “Flowers” proved that she’s a thoroughly credible mainstream pop star.

Eilish and Finneas first won song of the year four years ago for “Bad Guy.” This year’s win for “What Was I Made For?” puts the sibling pair in a tie for the most wins in this category with (take a deep breath) Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer, James Horner, Will Jennings, U2, Adele, Bruno Mars & Christopher Brody Brown and Dernst Emile II (D’Mile).

“What Was I Made For?” is likely to win the Oscar for best original song on March 10. If it does, it would be the first song to win a Grammy for song of the year before winning the Oscar since “You Light Up My Life” 46 years ago.

Monét’s win for best new artist marks the seventh consecutive year that a female solo artist has won in that category, following wins for Alessia Cara, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo and Samara Joy. This equals the longest consecutive win streak by female artists in the category’s history. From 1997-2003, the award went, in turn, to LeAnn Rimes, Paula Cole, Lauryn Hill, Christina Aguilera, Shelby Lynn, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones.

Female artists or female-led groups also took top album awards in most major genres, including pop (Taylor Swift’s Midnights), alternative music (boygenius’ The Record), rock (Paramore’s This Is Why), progressive R&B (SZA’s SOS), R&B (Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II) and country (Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country).

Boygenius, SZA, Victoria Monét and Killer Mike were the night’s top winners in terms of number of awards won, with three awards each.

Trevor Noah hosted the Grammys for the fourth consecutive year. Songwriter Justin Tranter hosted the Premiere Ceremony, where more than 80 of the 94 awards were presented, live from Peacock Theater, which is adjacent to Crypto. Both hosts were Grammy nominees this year. Noah was nominated for best comedy album; Tranter for songwriter of the year, non-classical. Alas, both lost.

Killer Mike swept the rap categories, winning best rap album for Michael and best rap performance and best rap song for “Scientists & Engineers.” Killer Mike, 48, accepted the awards exuberantly, saying they proved that you’re never too old to rap.

Boygenius’ The Record won best alternative music album. This is the fourth consecutive year that a female solo artist or all-female or female-led group has won in this category. Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters won three years ago. St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home won two years ago. Wet Leg’s eponymous debut album won last year.

Jack Antonoff became only the second producer to win producer of the year, non-classical three years in a row. The first was Babyface, who managed to threepeat in 1995-97. In his acceptance speech, Antonoff gave thanks to Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, praising Swift for remaining loyal to him back when he wasn’t that big a name.

Theron Thomas won songwriter of the year, non-classical, a newish category which is in its second year. Thomas’ credits for the year include Lil Durk featuring J. Cole’s “All My Life,” which won best melodic rap performance.

Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country won best country album, having already won album of the year at both the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Awards. It’s the ninth album to complete country music’s “triple crown” by winning at all three of these shows. Here’s a list with full details.

“Ghost in the Machine” by SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers won best pop duo/group performance. This marked the third time in four years that an all-female collab won in that category. Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande’s “Rain on Me” won three years ago. Doja Cat featuring SZA’s “Kiss Me More” won two years ago.

Chris Stapleton took best country solo performance for a record-extending fourth time. Carrie Underwood and Willie Nelson have each won twice in the category. Stapleton won this year for “White Horse.” The song, which Stapleton co-wrote with Dan Wilson, was also voted best country song. A different song with the exact same title (by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose) won in the category 14 years ago.

Joni Mitchell’s Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) won best folk album, 54 years after she won her first Grammy – best folk performance for Clouds. This Mitchell’s 10th Grammy won in competition.

Metallica won best metal performance for a record-extending seventh time. They won this year for “72 Seasons.”

Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito, which made history as the first all-Spanish language album by a woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, won best música urbana album. The Colombian singer is the first woman to win in that category. Karol G’s album won album of the year at the 2023 Latin Grammys, which was held on Nov. 16 in Seville, Spain.

Samara Joy, last year’s surprise winner for best new artist, won best jazz performance for “Tight.”

Ludwig Göransson won best score soundtrack for visual mediafor Oppenheimer. The Swedish composer first won in the category five years ago for the first Black Panther.

John Williams won best instrumental composition for “Helena’s Theme” from his score for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It makes him just the seventh person in Grammy history to win 26 or more Grammys. Beyoncé leads with 32 awards, followed by classical conductor Sir Georg Solti (31), Quincy Jones (28), Alison Krauss (27), Chick Corea (27) and classical conductor Pierre Boulez (also 26).

Williams, who turns 92 on Thursday (Feb. 8), is the fifth-oldest Grammy winner in history. He trails only blues artist Pinetop Perkins, who was 97 when he won in 2011; Tony Bennett, who was 95 when he won in 2022; comedian George Burns, who was 95 when he won in 1991; and former President Jimmy Carter, who was 94 when he won in 2019.

The Beatles’ “I’m Only Sleeping” won best music video, though the Fab Four (or what’s left of it) didn’t personally win. The award went to the video’s director, Em Cooper, and its four producers. The Beatles were credited as winners in the category 27 years ago for “Free as a Bird.”

Michelle Obama became the first first lady or former first lady to win twice for best audio book, narration and storytelling recording. She won this year for The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, having won four years ago for Becoming. Moreover, by winning a second Grammy, Obama pulls even with her husband, who won twice while he was a U.S. Senator. The Obamas are the first First Couple in Grammy history to each become multiple Grammy winners.

Elaine Martone won producer of the year, classical, for the second time. She previously won in 2007. In her acceptance speech, Martone thanked her husband, Robert Woods, who has won seven times in the category. They are the only husband-and-wife team to have each won in this category. Martone is one of three women who have won in that category, along with Joanna Nickrenz (a two-time winner) and Judith Sherman (a seven-time winner). No woman has ever won for producer of the year, non-classical.

Julian Marley & Antaeus’ Colors of Royal won best reggae album. Julian is the fourth member of the Marley family to win in this category, following Ziggy, Damian and Stephen. The patriarch of the family, Bob Marley, died in 1981, three years before the category was introduced.

Dave Chappelle won best comedy album for the fifth time in the past seven years. He won this time for What’s in a Name? He’s one of just four artists to win as many as five times in the category. Bill Cosby leads with seven. George Carlin and Richard Pryor also won five.

The Count Basie Orchestra Directed by Scotty Barnhart won best large jazz ensemble album for Basie Swings the Blues. Basie was a double winner at the very first Grammy Awards in May 1959. The jazz legend died in 1984, so he won’t personally be credited with this year’s win.

Some Like It Hot won best musical theater album, beating, among others, Kimberly Akimbo. This helps makes up for the fact that, at the Tony Awards last June, Kimberly Akimbo beat Some Like It Hot in three key categories – best musical, best book of a musical and best original score written for the theatre.

Three current trustees of the Recording Academy won Grammys. Michael Romanowski won best immersive audio album for a deluxe edition of Alicia Keys’ 2004 album The Diary of Alicia Keys.  J. Ivy won best spoken word poetry album for The Light Inside. P.J. Morton won best traditional R&B performance for “Good Morning” (featuring Susan Carol). All three had won previously in those categories. Some have questioned whether their high-profile involvement in the Academy gives them an unfair advantage in the voting.

Celine Dion Makes Surprise Appearance at 2024 Grammys Amid Health Troubles

While the 2024 Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Feb. 4) were chock-full of surprises, perhaps none was bigger than the appearance of pop icon Celine Dion.

Presenting the final award of the evening — the coveted album of the year trophy — Dion walked onto the stage at Crypto.com Arena dressed in a long, burnt-orange coat with a large statement necklace. As the crowd cheered for her return to the public eye, the singer applauded them right back. “Thank you all,” she said. “I love you right back. When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart.”

Since December 2022, Dion has remained largely out of the public eye due to her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder known for causing uncontrolled muscle spasms that make it hard to move. The “Power of Love” singer was forced to postpone all of her 2023 tour dates, before ultimately canceling the rest of her tour entirely. Last December, Dion’s sister Claudette revealed that Celine had “no control” of her muscles.

Dion showed no signs of weakness during her brief appearance at the annual ceremony on Sunday, though. Before presenting Taylor Swift with the coveted album of the year trophy, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer made sure to remind the artists in attendance to bask in the moment while they were still at the Grammys.

“Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must not take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world,” she said.

Billy Joel Live-Debuts ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ for His First Grammy Performance in 30 Years

The Piano Man was back at the 2024 Grammys, with Billy Joel taking the stage to perform his latest single “Turn the Lights Back On.”

The performance — the first time Joel has played at the Grammys in 30 years — was preceded by a video package explaining the new song’s origin story, with co-writer Freddy Wexler saying his dream of meeting Joel was fulfilled when his wife introduced him “to a doctor who knew another doctor who once knew Billy Joel.”

This loose association led to a long lunch meeting between Wexler and the icon who, Wexler says, became “unlikely friends” and ultimately wrote the song together.

“It took him awhile to talk me into it,” says Joel, who says he did a recording and “didn’t hate my voice, and I usually do.”

Joel, who has scored 33 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, ended up co-writing “Turn the Lights Back On” with Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Wayne Hector. Wexler also produced it. It’s Joel’s first song released with words since 2007’s “All My Life.”

“The whole point of doing what I do is because it was so much fun to do when I first started. I kind of lost that after awhile. Freddy got me to find the joy in it again,” Joel said.

The performance featured Joel at the piano singing the ballad, his voice sounding lower than it did in his heyday but still rich and true, with the camera occasionally cutting to Wexler singing along. Joel’s accompanists included Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey, who won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album earlier in the evening.

Joel later closed the 2024 Grammys with a rousing rendition of his 1980 classic “You May Be Right.”

Victoria Monét Wins Best New Artist at 2024 Grammys: ‘This Award Was a 15-Year Pursuit’

Victoria Monét won best new artist during the Sunday (Feb. 4) Grammy Awards, which were held in Los Angeles, besting fellow nominees including Noah Kahan, Ice Spice and Jelly Roll.

Monét, who was nominated for seven accolades, took the stage to accept the all-genre award, receiving rapturous applause from the audience. Monét thanked the Recording Academy voting members, saying, “This is because of you guys. You guys pressed that button. We were in your emails. Thank you so much. Thank you to my mom, a single mom raising this really bad girl. Thank you so much. I just want to say to everybody who has a dream, I want you to look at this as an example.”

Drawing a deep breath she added, “Thank you, God … This award was a 15-year pursuit. I moved to L.A. in 2009, and I like to liken myself to a plant who was planted. And you can look at the music industry as soil, and it can be looked at as dirty, or it can be looked at as a source of nutrients and water. My roots have been growing underneath ground unseen for so long. And I feel like today, I’m sprouting finally above ground.”

Monét continued, “I’d like to thank my team of visionaries who could see through that soil.” She spoke of the vision that her manager, Rachelle Jean-Louis, had. “There was a binder that I made to take this really important meeting out of label, and I thought I was going to be signed and I was an independent artist with no team, and I just thought, ‘Maybe my music would stand for itself.’ But that binder left collecting dust in her office and a label, and Rachelle found that binder and she decided to take a chance, leave that label and be my manager. So thank you so much for seeing me.”

The all-genre best new artist trophy wasn’t the only Grammy Monét picked up Sunday evening. Monét’s album Jaguar II also won for best R&B album; the set also won for best engineered album, non-classical.

In December, Monét’s “On My Mama” hit No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Taylor Swift Wins Historic Fourth Album of the Year Grammy for ‘Midnights’

Taylor Swift made history at the 2024 Grammys on Sunday night (Feb. 4) by winning her fourth career album of the year award, for 2022’s blockbuster Midnights.

The award was presented by legendary pop singer Céline Dion in a surprise rare public appearance, following her being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2023. “When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” Dion raved. “Those who have been blessed enough to be here on the Grammy awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives, and to people all around the world.” 

Dion then announced Swift’s Midnights as the winner, with Swift taking the stage alongside go-to-producer Jack Antonoff and “Snow on the Beach” collaborator (and fellow 2024 album of the year nominee) Lana Del Rey. She thanked both of them in her speech, calling Antonoff one of her best friends and a “once-in-a-generation producer,” and referring to Del Rey as “a legacy artist, a legend in her prime right now … I’m so lucky to know you and to be your friend.”

Swift also stipulated that as overwhelmed as she was with her Grammy triumph, it brought her no more happiness than it does “when I finish a song, or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love, or when I finish the shot list for a music video … for me the award is the work.” She then repeated her ultimate career-related wish: “All I wanna do is to be able to keep doing this.” 

The album of the year win for Midnights follows previous Swift victories for Fearless (2010), 1989 (2016) and Folklore, moving her out of her tie with Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon, and making her the lone record-holder of most album of the year wins in Grammy history with her four. As she reminded audiences during her introduction of the category, Dion was also a winner herself in 1997, for her RIAA diamond-certified LP Falling Into You.

Miley Cyrus Jokes She ‘Might’ve Forgotten Underwear’ During ‘Flowers’ Record of the Year Win at 2024 Grammys

After winning her first career Grammy earlier in the evening Sunday (Feb. 4), Miley Cyrus took home her first Big Four trophy a few hours later when “Flowers” won record of the year at the 2024 Grammys. The pop superstar proceeded to take the stage and deliver a short but raucous acceptance speech that concluded with Cyrus admitting, “I don’t think I forgot anyone — but I might’ve forgotten underwear. Bye!”

Mark Ronson and Meryl Streep presented Cyrus with record of the year for “Flowers” after the smash hit became her longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 in early 2023. “This award is amazing,” Cyrus declared upon receiving the trophy, but added, “My life was beautiful yesterday. Everyone in this world is spectacular, so please don’t think this is important!”

Cyrus also shouted out her “main gays, because look how good I look!” as well as her “Flowers” collaborators, which included producers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson.

Earlier in the evening, Cyrus performed “Flowers” on the stage of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and interjected during the performance, “I just won my first Grammy!”

“Flowers” won the best pop solo performance before Cyrus took home record of the year. Cyrus had previously been nominated for two Grammys before collecting her first trophies in 2024. “Flowers” defeated Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” SZA’s “Kill Bill,” Boygenius’ “Not Strong Enough,” Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” and Jon Batiste’s “Worship” for record of the year.

Burna Boy Brings Out Brandy & 21 Savage to Perform ‘Sittin’ on Top of the World’ at 2024 Grammys

Burna Boy made Afrobeats take center stage at the 2024 Grammys Awards Sunday night (Feb. 4) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Earlier in the broadcast, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. introduced the “superstar from Nigeria,” who started his performance with “On Form,” then stomped his way into “City Boys” with his boys. He eventually escorted 12-time Grammy nominee Brandy down to the main stage for “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” which samples her 1998 Mase-assisted track “Top of the World,” and 11-time Grammy nominee 21 Savage, who’s featured on the remix. Savage was up for five awards Sunday.

“Sittin’ on Top of the World” was released on June 1, 2023, as the lead single of Burna’s seventh studio album I Told Them…. The song peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 2 on Rhythmic Airplay, while its parent album I Told Them… peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on World Albums.

Burna was nominated for four Grammys: best African music performance (“City Boys”), best global music album (I Told Them…), best global music performance (“Alone”) and best melodic rap performance (“Sittin’ on Top of the World” with 21 Savage). This year’s Grammys marks the first time best African music performance was awarded, and Tyla won for “Water.”

The 10-time Grammy nominee won his first and only award in 2021 for best global music album with his fifth studio album Twice as Tall.

Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox & Jon Batiste Honor Late Music Legends at 2024 Grammys

Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox and Jon Batiste were among those honoring the lives and careers of late music icons during the Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 4) in Los Angeles.

Wonder honored the late, legendary performer Tony Bennett, who died July 21, 2023, at age 96. Wonder performed “The Best Is Yet to Come,” as well as “For Once in My Life,” the latter as a “duet” with Bennett, with footage of the late artist performing on a big screen. Bennett recorded “For Once in My Life” in 1967, with Wonder’s version of the song releasing in 1968.

Wonder celebrated Bennett’s “love for art, his love for peace, his love for unity, his love for civil rights.” He added, “Tony, I’m going to miss you forever.”

Lennox teamed with duo Wendy & Lisa to fete the late Sinead O’Connor with a rendition of her hit “Nothing Compares 2 You.” Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman were part of Prince’s band The Revolution (the late Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U”). Lennox ended her performance by calling for a ceasefire and asking for world peace, another nod to O’Connor’s own activism. The Irish singer-songwriter died on July 26, 2023, at age 56.

As each musician performed, the names and photos of numerous artists, songwriters, performers and music executives who passed away in the past year scrolled across screens, as the Grammys honored Jimmy Buffett, Chita Rivera, Burt Bacharach, songwriter Cynthia Weil, rapper Magoo, as well as executives including country music radio executive Charlie Monk, A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss, Sire Records’ Seymour Stein and more.

Lenny Kravitz appeared to honor Clarence Avant, known as “The Godfather of Black Music,” who died in August 2023 at age 92. Avant played key roles in labels including Venture Records and Sussex Records, and managed artists including Little Willie John and Jimmy Smith. Kravitz called Avant “a trusted mentor and believer in the likes of Quincy Jones and Bill Withers, just to name a few.”

The In Memoriam section continued as Batiste joined with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Ann Nesby and Cory Henry for a soulful, uplifting performance that included “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me” and “Optimistic,” featuring soul-searing vocals from Nesby. Later in the evening, Fantasia Barrino and Oprah Winfrey feted late entertainer Tina Turner.

Billie Eilish Says She’s ‘Shocked Out of My Balls’ After Grammy Song of the Year Win

Billie Eilish won song of the year for “What Was I Made For? [From The Motion Picture Barbie]” at the 2024 Grammys Sunday night (Feb. 4).

The song won best song written for visual media earlier this evening. It also earned nominations for record of the year, best pop solo performance and best music video. Eilish first won song of the year in 2020 for “Bad Guy” and she was nominated for song of the year in 2021 for “Everything I Wanted” and in 2022 for “Happier Than Ever.” All three of those songs have also been nominated for record of the year, with “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted” taking home the trophy. Her brother Finneas also won the award, which goes to the song’s songwriters, and he joined her onstage for their acceptance speech.

“That’s stupid guys,” Eilish said. “That was a crazy list of incredible people, incredible artists, incredible music. I feel crazy right now. I’m shocked out of my balls. Thank you to the members of the Recording Academy, thank you to my brother who’s my best friend in the world and makes me the person that I am today.”

She also thanked Greta Gerwig for making “the best movie of the year” with Barbie, which is up for eight Oscars. After she saluted the blockbuster Barbie film, the camera cut to Taylor Swift nodding in the audience.

“We’re so lucky. We just continue to be just deeply, deeply privileged, lucky people. And it’s hard to feel deserving ever, but we certainly don’t right now,” added Finneas. “We’re very humble, and we’re very grateful. Thank you so much.”