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27 Jan 2023

Sam Smith, Rosalia, The Kid LAROI & More: What’s Your Favorite New Music of the Week? Vote!

Happy new music Friday! This week’s round up of fresh tunes includes material from Sam Smith, one of 2022’s biggest hitmakers; Rosalía, a formidable force in the Latin pop space; and The Kid LAROI, who previously dominated the Billboard Hot 100 with a global smash.

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Smith’s highly anticipated album Gloria is led by the sizzling No. 1 single “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras, which served as a window into Smith’s newfound voice. At the core of every track on the record is Smith embracing their newfound freedom, as seen in the sexually liberated anthem “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” and more vulnerable, confessional songs such as “Perfect.”

Latin pop star Rosalía switched things up with the release of “LLYM.” The Max Martin-assisted track sees the “Despechá” singer trading her native Spanish for English; she sings in a luscious falsetto and explores how disingenuous fake affection can be, and yet, craves it anyway. “I don’t need honesty/ Baby, lie like you love me, lie like you love me,” Rosalía pleads on the track.

After releasing introductory single “Can’t Go Back to the Way It Was” for his debut studio album, The Kid LAROI came back on Friday with the release of “Love Again.” Instead of a larger than life single, LAROI follows in the footsteps of his own breakthrough hit “Without You,” making himself vulnerable while pondering resolution in a relationship.

Chlöe, Zach Bryan and Lil Yachty also return with offers. With so many options, we want to know: Which release was your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

27 Jan 2023

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Sam Smith, Pvris, Adam Lambert & More

Another week, another opportunity to rock out to some of your favorite LGBTQ artists!  Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Sam Smith’s glorious new album to PVRIS’s scintillating new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Sam Smith, Gloria

The old Sam Smith can’t come to the phone right now. Gloria, the long-awaited new album from the British pop phenomenon, is a full-on reinvention for Smith as they take a bold step into a new musical (and personal) era. Sure, there may be a few leftover heartbreak songs that fans have come to associate with the singer (“How to Cry,” in particular, stands out) — but the majority of Gloria revels in playing with new topics and new genres, from seductive disco anthems (“I’m Not Here to Make Friends”) to electro-pop pleas (“Lose You”) to chorales of self-worth (“Gloria”). With a bolstered sense of raw confidence, Smith sounds as though they’ve reached a new artistic breakthrough with Gloria — and we can’t wait to hear where it takes them next.

PVRIS, “Goddess”

Lynn Gunn is done waiting around for anyone’s respect — on PVRIS’s thrilling new single “Goddess,” the lead singer let’s her divine side out, excoriating the standards she’s expected to uphold. The relentless drums keep the song constantly moving, while a blown-out guitar line adds the urgency to the throbbing track. It’s Gunn’s killer voice, though, that makes “Goddess” so endlessly entertaining, as she growls out lyrics like, “I’ve been iconic since I started/ I keep climbing and clawing/ This s–t is so exhausting.”

Adam Lambert, “Getting Older” (Billie Eilish cover)

While Adam Lambert has made a habit out of covering old-school rockers and iconic divas, his latest rendition sees the American Idol alum taking on a newer sound to cover Billie Eilish’s “Getting Older.” For the majority of the track, Lambert remains largely faithful to Eilish’s original, adding in some drums and guitars for a little extra glam kick. But by the time he reaches the song’s bridge, Lambert goes all-out with his stratospheric voice, making the song sound entirely his own with some pure rock flair.

Khai Dreams, Absolute Heartbreak

To call Khai Dreams’ music “bedroom pop” feels incredibly reductive — “bedroom chaos” feels like a more appropriate descriptor. Nowhere is that more present than on Absolute Heartbreak, the rising singer-songwriter’s debut album; Dreams’ songs run the musical gamit from folksy ballads (“Panic Attack”) to pop-punk anthems (“May”), all while maintaining a cohesive identity under the banner of the LP. It may be named after romantic anguish, but make no mistake; Absolute Heartbreak will make you fall in love with Khai Dreams.

Blondshell, “Joiner”

While some other artist may write songs about aiming their romantic sights as high as humanly possible, indie up-and-comer Blondshell is perfectly content writing about a whirlwind romance founded near a dumpster. “Joiner” basks in the messy parts of romance, as Sabrina Teitelbaum knocks her distant, mesmerizing vocal performance out of the park.

Jordy, “Story of a Boy”

As interpolations and samples continue to flood our new music feeds every week, it’s nice to find one that feels like a genuine tribute to the original. Jordy’s “Story of a Boy” takes the iconic chorus of Nine Days’ 2000 hit single “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” and retrofits it with some queer messaging. Now detailing Jordy’s long-term, constant infatuation with a guy who simply doesn’t know he exists. It’s the kind of sweet-but-sad single that Jordy has already proven to be a master of, now with a smartly-chosen nostalgic twist to get you listening ASAP.

Dakota Jones, “Sugar Pie”

Let’s get some good old-fashioned funk in here: Brooklyn-based funk four-piece Dakota Jones’ new single “Sugar Pie” sees the band hitting their stride with a deliciously smooth sound. Bringing all of the drums, organs and bass together is lead singer Tristan Carter-Jones’ sultry alto tones, crooning about “sweet songs since day one” in a way that feels timeless and up-to-date all at the same time.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

27 Jan 2023

Nick Cannon Shows Off TikTok Dances With Dem Babies

Daddy duty. Nick Cannon hopped on TikTok recently to dance it out with his two oldest kids, Monroe and Moroccan.

In one clip, the host of The Masked Singer bounces around in Dem Babies’ playroom to a sped up version of Chris Brown‘s 2005 debut single “Run It!” as his twins with ex-wife Mariah Carey dance alongside him — that is, until he accidentally knocks both over with a well-placed booty bump. “Blooper,” he captioned the video, using a laughing emoji and the hashtags “#fyp #funny #blooper #fail.”

In a second video, Monroe lip-synchs and dances to The Starrkeisha Cheer Squad’s “Petty song” as text on the screen reads, “You act just like your dad.” As she struts off the screen, Cannon appears, showing off his moves. “We petty!” he captioned the video with a laughing-crying emoji.

The singer-actor closed out 2022 by welcoming his 12th child, daughter Halo Marie Cannon. The baby girl was his second with model Alyssa Scott following son Zen, who died in late 2021 at five months after battle with brain cancer.

Throughout the second half of the year, Cannon also added Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi, Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole, Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell and Beautiful Zeppelin with DJ Abby De La Rosa to his ever-growing brood. When asked by Andy Cohen about whether a vasectomy was in his future during CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live” special, the TV personality laughed off the possibility and joked, “My body, my choice!”

While Roc and Roe continue to gain half-siblings by the near-dozen, they kept busy during December by taking part in Carey’s series of “Merry Christmas to All!” holiday concerts in Toronto and New York City, as well as her CBS special. Monroe even took to the stage to duet with her mom on “Away in a Manger” for the shows.

Watch Cannon’s cute TikTok videos with Dem Babies below.

27 Jan 2023

A Year After Diego Verdaguer’s Death, His Family Releases a New Version of ‘Ven, Ven’

To mark the first anniversary of the death of Argentine-Mexican singer-songwriter Diego Verdaguer, a new version of his ’70s hit “Ven, Ven” dropped today (January 27) on digital platforms.

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It’s one of the last recordings that Verdaguer made as part of a show on the esplanade of the Cholula Regional Museum, in the central Mexican state of Puebla, in November 2021 — according to the press office of the Verdaguer-Miguel Family in Mexico.

“Ven, Ven (Que Se Va La Vida)” was released as a ballad in 1976. But for its 2021 version, the song was adapted to Mexican cumbia, with some “sonideros” touches at the beginning of the song — much in the style of street DJs in Mexico who mix the local cumbia with electronic music. In the video, Verdaguer is seen dancing happily, surrounded by a group of musicians playing in front of the Sanctuary of La Virgen de los Remedios, in Cholula, Puebla.

With this release, Verdaguer’s artistic and life partner — the also Argentine-Mexican singer Amanda Miguel — and their daughter Ana Victoria pay a heartfelt tribute to the great love and driving force of their lives.

“I miss him terribly. My heart is broken and it cannot be sewn up. Nothing can fill this void; it is very hard not to have him to hug and kiss. Time passes, but the pain does not lesses, it is only accepted irremediably,” says Amanda Miguel in a press release.

According to the press office, Amanda Miguel and Ana Victoria were holding a private ceremony on Friday at their home in Los Angeles, “praying and appreciating the nature that Diego was inspired by and loved so much.”

This will be an intimate moment only for immediate family, including the late Argentine star’s brother, Víctor Raúl, with his wife and children. “All together honoring him who united them and built unbreakable ties with them,” the statement reads.

The press office in Mexico told Billboard Español that the Verdaguer-Miguel family has declined to do interviews at this time.

“My grandson and daughter are my daily bread, the sun that caresses me and the sky that covers me. I have also felt peoples’ embrace, your letters full of beautiful words have been a balm, it is very nice to read your messages accompanying me at all times, from those that sincerely regretted the departure of my husband, to those congratulating me when I was awarded last November with the [Latin] Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award,” says Amanda Miguel.

“I know this was recognition because I have dedicated my whole life to music, but my husband also deserved it — that’s why I received it for both of us,” she adds, emphasizing what she told Billboard Español days before receiving the honor.

This week, it was also announced that mother and daughter will give a concert on March 16 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City — part of their Siempre Te Amaré Tour 2023 — to relive the hits that Verdaguer immortalized with his wife.

Diego Verdaguer was born in Buenos Aires on April 26, 1951, and made his solo debut at 17 with the single “Lejos del Amor.” He moved to Mexico in 1980, and became a Mexican citizen. He dedicated to his adoptive country his album Mexicano Hasta Las Pampas (2009), which earned him two Latin Grammy nominations. And a few years later he released Mexicano Hasta Las Pampas 2, as well as two volumes of the live album Mexicanísimos.

In 1986, Verdaguer debuted on the Billboard charts with his seventh studio album, Estoy Celoso, which spent 11 weeks on the Latin Pop Albums list, peaking at No. 7. That year, the album’s title track earned him his first entry on Hot Latin Songs, where it peaked at No. 25. He had many other appearances on the charts, including with Mexicano Hasta Las Pampas (No. 68 on Top Latin Albums in 2009) and El Mejor Show Romántico de América, a live album with Amanda Miguel (No. 30 from the same list in 2011).

Diego Verdaguer and Amanda Miguel met when they were 24 and 18, respectively. The couple had their only daughter, singer Ana Victoria, in 1983.

“Corazón de Papel,” “Que Sufras Más,” “Creo Solo en Ti” and “La Ladrona” are some of the hits Verdaguer released throughout a five-decade career. He died from complications of Covid-19 on January 27, 2022 in Los Angeles at the age of 70.

27 Jan 2023

The National’s Bryce Dessner Opens Up About Collaborating With Taylor Swift: ‘We’re All Big Fans’

The National is gearing up to release their ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein on April 28, and the band’s Bryce Dessner sat down with Hanuman Welch for ALT CTRL Radio on Apple Music 1 this week to discuss the project.

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Most notably, Taylor Swift is featured on The National’s “Alcott,” which will be included on the forthcoming album. The National previously worked with Swift on Evermore‘s “Coney Island,” and Bryce’s brother Aaron Dessner frequently collaborates with the 11-time Grammy winner. “We’re all big fans of Taylor, and she’s been really generous with us, inviting us to be part of ‘Coney Island,’” Bryce shared. “And obviously my brother’s worked with her a lot, and I’ve done a bunch of orchestration for her albums.”

He continued, “‘Alcott’ is a song that she co-wrote with Matt [Berninger], where she co-wrote the lyrics. It’s really amazing to hear her, the way she was able to take what Matt had done and then reinvent the song, and it’s really a special song.”

As for the inspiration behind The National’s literary album title, Bryce explained that Berninger came up with the name, after the frontman went through a pause in creativity. “I think he was just blocked about what he wanted to sing about, lyrics weren’t coming,” he shared. “And typically in the past, he’ll pick up favorite books, and so apparently he picked up Frankenstein, the [Mary] Shelley book — people know the film and some people don’t realize it’s based on a book — and that helped him get out of his, somehow opened a door for him. I’m not sure why, maybe thinking about monsters or something. But, it helped open the flood gates and in the later stages of the album, he started writing really quickly.”

Listen to the full interview on-demand on Apple Music here.

27 Jan 2023

First Country: Luke Combs Brings His Two Albums Together With ‘Growing Up and Gettin’ Old‘, Cole Swindell Gets Over His Ex In ’Drinkaby’, Zach Bryan Teams Up With Maggie Rogers & More | Billboard News

First Country is a compilation of the best new country songs, videos & albums that dropped this week. Luke Combs bridges his mos recent album with upcoming album with new song ‘Growing Up and Gettin’ Old’, Cole Swindell gets over his ex in ‘Drinkaby’, Zach Bryan teams up with Maggie Rogers and more!

27 Jan 2023

DJ Khaled Models Savage X Fenty Fits For Valentine’s Day Campaign

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2022 MTV VMAs – Show

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DJ Khaled is back in his brand ambassador bag once more and this time, he’s taking on the role of model. For Savage X Fenty’s new Valentine’s Day campaign, the We The Best Music honcho donned some relaxed fits for the hot-selling fashion line.

DJ Khaled, 47, revealed that he was soon to take to the runway as a model for Savage X Fenty in an exclusive first look at the campaign in a Zoom chat with BET Lifestyle. The Miami star was grateful for the opportunity to work with Rihanna’s brand and saluted the Barbadian businesswoman’s vision.

“I want to thank Rihanna and Savage X Fenty for letting me be part of this campaign,” Khaled said. “Rihanna is a visionary, and for her to give me the opportunity to wear the clothes, it was so dope and organic. I love that she lets me be myself. I promote to the world to always be yourself. She inspires me.”

Rihanna announced the Valentine’s Day campaign as only she can on Jan. 12, and the entire collection for both guys and gals and whoever can be purchased now.

To see DJ Khaled and his Savage X Fenty look, check out the post below.

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Photo: Getty

27 Jan 2023

There’s Now an Electronic Remix Package of Iranian Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’

On Feb. 4, the evening prior to the 65th Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy will award its first-ever award for song for social change at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony. The frontrunner to receive this award is considered to be “Baraye,” a Farsi language protest song by 25-year-old Iranian musician Shervin Hajipour that received a reported 95,000 of the 115,000 submissions for this category.

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Hajipour wrote “Baraye” using words from internet posts Iranians wrote about the uprisings in that country in the wake of the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police. (The crime was her purported lack of appropriate head covering.) Posted on Sep. 28, less than two weeks after Amini’s death, it quickly went viral, becoming the anthem for the global protest movement sparked by her death. Hajipour, who lives in Iran, was arrested by the Islamic regime the day after posting the song. He was released on bail the following week and is currently awaiting trial.

“Baraye” has been covered by numerous artists, including a rendition in English by Iranian singer Rana Mansour and another from Coldplay, who performed “Baraye” at a November stadium show in Argentina, with accompaniment by Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani. Designer Jean Paul Gaultier used it to soundtrack his runway show at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month.

Today (Jan. 27) Iranian-German DJ/producer Human Rias is taking “Baraye” a step further with a six-track remix package. This project, Baraye the Remixes for the People of Iran is the inaugural release on his newly minted 7Rituals label. Proceeds from the project will go to a foundation benefitting Iranians.

The first of these remixes is done by Rias himself and taps into his instinct for dancefloor heat via precise drum work and a percolating trance rhythm. He slots Hajipour’s heart-wrenching words neatly into his rework, retaining all the sorrow and hope of the original vocal, bolstering it with uplifting atmospherics and occasional effects-treated snippets of Hajipour voice. Listen to this remix below.

Subsequent remixes from the project will be released every Friday. A stunning version from Berlin titan Jan Blomqvist drops on Feb. 3, followed by Hamburg-based duo ANDATA (who are also partners in the project’s associated merchandise through Customised Culture), PEGAH, American producer RSRRCT, and ending with Berlin-based pair Victor Ruiz & Tao Andra on Mar. 3. As there is no official studio recording of “Baraye,” and therefore no stems available, remixers worked with what was available online, altogether delivering a powerful package that expands the song’s reach into the global electronic scene.

Rias’ idea for the package was sparked when Blomqvist posted his version of the song to Instagram last November. “The idea is to help put Iran and [its people’s] suffering into the public eye, to ensure that the world is exposed to what is happening,” Rias says of the project. “What better [way] to do this than [by using] my resources the best way I know how, through our global electronic music platform?”

Berlin-based artist PEGAH was also a huge part of the inspiration for the remix package. Rias explains: “She approached me at one of my parties in Munich, where I could truly see her passion and her hurt as a fellow Iranian, and it was clear it was important to have her involved as well.”

“I didn’t really choose the remixers based on who they are — but rather their sound, and music that I personally love,” he continues. “Having more artists on this means we have more diversity, and that’s important to expand across genres. I hope everyone finds a remix that works for their sets, enabling more of our colleagues to play this song.”

Like all Iranians and their supporters, Rias awaits the announcement of the Special Merit Award with bated breath. “In a way, it makes Iran be seen again by the West, which has led to a massive surge in global support,” he says. “That brings me to tears, and also leaves me speechless that the rest of the world has united to support.”

27 Jan 2023

Flo Rida to Headline Official 2023 Grammy Celebration

People attending the 65th Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, will have many options for post-show parties, but if they attend the Recording Academy’s official afterparty — dubbed the 2023 Grammy Celebration — they will see performances by headliner Flo Rida, as well as Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, who will perform in the Grammy Celebration Jazz Lounge.

The 2023 Grammy Celebration will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which is adjacent to Crypto.com Arena, where the Grammy telecast will be held. Michelle Pesce will return as the evening’s DJ.

Flo Rida is a five-time Grammy nominee. He was nominated for best rap song and best rap/sung collaboration for his breakthrough smash, “Low” featuring T-Pain; best rap album for R.O.O.T.S, album of the year as a featured artist on Lady Gaga‘s The Fame; and best rap/sung collaboration for “Wild Ones” with Sia.

O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra have won three Grammys for best Latin jazz album, and are nominated in that category again this year for Fandango at the Wall in New York. O’Farrill has won two additional Grammys for best instrumental composition.

The Recording Academy will produce the post-telecast Grammy Celebration, which is expected to draw more than 5,000 guests. “We’re excited to return to Los Angeles with a larger-than-life experience that truly captivates the last year in music,” Branden Chapman, COO & head of entertainment for the Recording Academy, said in a statement.

Following the event, the Recording Academy will once again partner with the charitable organization Musically Fed to repurpose leftover food to feed those in need in the local community. The Academy will also partner with that organization to repurpose leftover food from the MusiCares Persons of the Year event on Feb. 3 and the official telecast.

The 2023 Grammy Celebration is a private, ticketed event.