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Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar are back with new music. On Tuesday (May 30), the “Family Ties” tandem delivered a VHS-style visual for their latest collaboration, “The Hillbillies,” which shows outtakes from their time on tour together and features a cameo from Tyler, the Creator. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, […]
There was no snow on the beach when Lana Del Rey played Brazil. There was, however, a problem with a missing vape.
Lana’s drama was shared with the audience at the MITA Festival, Saturday (May 27) in Rio De Janeiro, her first live performance in more than three years.
As the alternative pop artist and her band kicked into the song “Norman F—ing Rockwell,” she went off-piste with the audible comment: “And also if you see my vape on stage, can you find my vape on stage?”
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In a video capturing the moment, Del Rey can be heard chatting with someone up front.
“You did? Where, though? Oh, all the way in the pit?”
She wasn’t going there. “F— it,” she said, accepting defeat.
Del Rey has a habit of losing her vaping device. According to Page Six, she lost her little nicotine buddy during a Portland concert in 2019. In a scene not dissimilar to what played out in Rio, Del Rey paused proceedings to start the search. Cue frustrated swearing — “Where’s my f—ing vape?” — which culminated in Del Rey giving up and moving along with her set.
Forgetfulness aside, Del Rey has a lot to be happy about. Her belated release from 2012, “Say Yes To Heaven,” debuted in the U.K. top 10, and a new edit of “Snow On The Beach,” her collaboration with Taylor Swift, could propel the track into the top 10 when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday.
Billboard’s 2023 Women In Music Visionary dropped a ninth studio album in March, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and No. 1 in the U.K. and Australia.
During her set in Brazil, Del Rey delivered the live debut of numerous songs from her latest LP, including set opener “A&W,” “Candy Necklace,” “The Grants” and the title track. Check out some of her performances from the fest here.The MITA Festival reportedly marked Del Rey’s first full concert since November 2019. Since then, she’s appeared on such TV programs as The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and made an onstage appearance with Bleachers at High Water Festival in 2023.
Royal Blood’s set at a music festival in Scotland turned into a royal mess as the band blasted the crowd and walked off, with frontman Mike Kerr raising his middle fingers as a departing gift. The English rock duo performed late afternoon Sunday (May 28) at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 Dundee.As the band neared the end of their performance, Kerr gave the audience a serve for a perceived lack of enthusiasm.“Well, I guess I should introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are,” the 32-year-old artist said in a video doing the rounds of social media. “We’re called Royal Blood and this is rock music. Who likes rock music? Nine people, brilliant,” he remarked, sarcastically.
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Introducing drummer Ben Thatcher, he added, “We’re having to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic. Well done, Ben.”
Kerr then stared down the side-of-stage camera and appeared to ask the operator: “Will you clap for us? You clap? You’re busy. Can you clap? Yes, even he’s clapping.” He turned to the audience, “What does that say about you?”
Then, Kerr let rip with an off-color chord as they walked off stage, his middle fingers held high to the audience.
Some fans have pointed out that Royal Blood was stuck in a tricky schedule, wedged between pop stars Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi, whose sophomore album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent is currently No. 1 in the U.K.
Other social media users have pointed out on that, yes, sometimes the crowd isn’t moved, and artists should roll with it.
The band’s fourth studio album, Back to the Water Below, is due out Sept. 8 through Warner Records.
A busy touring schedule through the U.K. and Europe should set up the release, including a performance at Glastonbury Festival, June 21-25, and a return to Scotland for TRNSMT Festival 2023, set for July 9 in Glasgow.
All three of their previous albums have gone to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart: Royal Blood (2014), How Did We Get So Dark (2017) and Typhoons (2021).
Watch Royal Blood’s unusual exit from stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Beyonce has paid musical tribute to her late idol, Tina Turner.
The “Single Ladies” singer used the platform of her Renaissance tour of the U.K. to remember Turner, who passed away last Wednesday (May 24), aged 83.
Wearing an all-blue ensemble, with matching gloves, Beyonce performed a stripped-back cover of Ike & Tina Turner’s 1966 hit “River Deep – Mountain High,” originally produced by Phil Spector.
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On this occasion, Bey didn’t attempt to match Turner’s high-energy version, instead reimagining the song as a power ballad.
Beyonce’s gave her salute to the “Nutbush City Limits” star Monday night (May 29) at north London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the first of a five-night stand.
Next stop on the Renaissance World Tour: Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on June 8.
Bey, like so many artists, was heartbroken when news of Turner’s death reached her.
“My beloved queen. I love you endlessly,” reads a message Beyoncé posted to her website. “I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”
Inspiration became collaboration, when the pair joined forces at the 50th annual Grammy Awards in 2008. On that occasion, the superstar artists performed “Proud Mary,” Ike & Tina Turner’s 1971 cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic.
Three years before that, Beyoncé had performed the same song solo at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors, in honor of Turner.
Bey spoke fondly of Turner when her tour paused last week at Paris’ Stade de France. “I just want to take a second and honor Tina Turner,” she told the crowd. “If you’re a fan of mine, you’re a fan of Tina Turner. I wouldn’t be on this stage without Tina Turner, so I want you guys to just scream, so she can feel your love. I feel so blessed that I was allowed to witness her brilliance.”
Watch fan-filmed footage of Bey’s musical tribute to Turner below.
Taylor Swift is all set for a top 10 takeover in the U.K.
Following the release last Friday (May 26) of Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition), three tracks from it are vying for top 10 berths.
Based on early sales and streaming data, “Karma” could vault 67-2, after the release of a new cut featuring Ice Spice. Further down the chart blast, fan favorite “Hits Different” could arrive at No. 8 and “Snow On The Beach,” featuring Lana Del Rey, could enter the top 10, thanks to a re-recording with additional vocals from the alternative-pop artist. “Snow” starts at No. 10 on the chart blast.
Rapper J Hus could snag the highest new entry on the Official U.K. Chart with “It’s Crazy.” It’s new at No. 6 on the chart blast, and, if it holds its spot, would become the Brit’s fourth U.K. top 10 appearance.
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Dua Lipa’s soundtrack from the forthcoming Barbie film, “Dance The Night,” is getting a lot of play time. It’s new at No. 16 on the chart blast, and should give Lipa her 23rd top 40 in the U.K. The Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie stars Margot Robbie as the titular Mattel doll, and is accompanied by a soundtrack, Barbie the Album, which was produced by Mark Ronson and includes songs by Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Karol G, Khalid, Ice Spice, Charli XCX, HAIM, The Kid Laroi, Ava Max and more.
Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue’s Padamic is sweeping the country. The catchy electro-pop number “Padam Padam” is on the rise, and could crack the top 20 for the first time. It’s at No. 18 on the chart blast, after arriving at No. 26 on the chart proper last Friday, for the Australian pop veteran’s highest position on the survey since 2014’s “In The Blue” hit No. 12.
At the very top of the chart blast is, once again, “Miracle,” the throwback rave number by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding. It’s charging to an eighth non-consecutive appearance at the summit, for what would equal Harris’ longest reign for a single.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published Friday (June 2).
Shouse shuffles to an APRA AMCOS Billions Award for their “coming out of lockdown” anthem “Love Tonight.”
The Melbourne dance music duo is saluted for notching one billion streams of their song, an overnight sensation that was, in reality, five years in the making.
“Love Tonight” is the creation of Jack Madin and Ed Service, one a primary school teacher, the other an arts community manager, who were spotted performing the moody number in 2016 by OneLove head of A&R Ant Celestino. He documented the performance on video; in the cold light of day, Celestino knew it was a total banger.
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Soon after, the track was recorded with a choir of local Melbourne friends and released in 2017 on the OneLove imprint Hell Beach.
The story took another turn when, in early 2017, OneLove struck a partnership deal for global digital distribution and label services with Ingrooves Music Group, an arrangement that cleared a path for “Love Tonight.”
“It was like an unhealthy obsession,” Celestino told this reporter on stage at 2022 Indie-Con. “We never stopped. I just thought the record was so good.”
The eight-minute original cut was spun off into a string of new remixes and edits, the track was serviced to radio, DJs and tastemakers in 2021, an underground swell bubbled away in European clubs, and when the doors finally burst open after the pandemic — a global hit.
The single went top 10 in over 20 countries including Germany, France, Greece, Netherlands, and Belgium. “Love Tonight” reached No. 18 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.
According to APRA AMCOS, “Love Tonight” is certified diamond in France, triple platinum in Australia, double platinum in Belgium and Portugal, Platinum in Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Greece, and gold in Denmark, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.
“Hearing the voices of our makeshift Melbourne choir resonate across crowds around the world will never get old,” comments Madin and Service on receiving their circular trophy. “We’re thrilled and stunned that our little moment of collective joy here in our home has made an impact on so many. They always sing along. We hope that this song inspires people to sing and create music with friends, family and their community. Music is magic!”
The 1,000,000,000 List takes into account streaming numbers from major services Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and is given to APRA AMCOS songwriter members and their publishers in recognition of a song surpassing one billion streams.
It’s said to be the first award of its kind to recognize a songwriter’s achievement. Other recipients include Tones And I (for “Dance Monkey”), 5 Seconds of Summer (“Youngblood”), Vance Joy (“Riptide”), Gotye (“Somebody That I Used to Know”), VASSY (“Bad”), Harry Michael and Tyron Hapi for Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Ocean.”
Read more on the “Love Tonight” story here.
Lewis Capaldi steamrolls his way to No. 1 with Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (EMI), his sophomore album.
The Scottish singer and songwriter had set a fearsome pace. At the midway mark in the chart cycle, Capaldi’s LP was outselling the rest of the top 20 combined. When the chart was published May 26, Broken By Desire chalked up more than 95,000 chart sales, the best opening week for any title in 2023.
According to the Official Charts Company, it’s the most streamed, downloaded and physically purchased LP of the latest cycle, and passes the 76,000 first week chart units notched by Ed Sheeran’s Subtract (Asylum).
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That outguns the opening effort of Lewis’s 2019 debut Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, which accumulated 89,000 chart units in its first seven days.
The last album to bag a bigger opening week was Taylor Swift’s Midnights in October 2022, with 204,000 chart units, and the loftiest start for a male solo artist since Harry Styles’ Harry’s House reached the top in May 2022 with 114,000 chart units.
With his big feat, Capaldi halts Sheeran’s run at the top with Subtract at two weeks; it dips 1-2.
British metal band Sleep Token enjoys a career best (and first top 10 appearance) with Take Me Back to Eden (Spinefarm), which bows at No. 3, while Def Leppard’s Drastic Symphonies (Mercury) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra is close behind, for a No. 4 start.
Finally, Swedish rockers Ghost grab a third U.K. top 10 with Pantomime (Loma Vista). The followup to 2022’s Impera, which peaked at No. 2, Pantomime is new at No. 8.
Lewis Capaldi wouldn’t be denied his first No. 1 in Australia, as Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent blasts to the summit.
The Scottish singer and songwriter’s sophomore album eclipses the No. 7 best for his debut Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent from 2019. Platinum-certified Divinely Uninspired bounces 34-30 this week in its 210th cycle on the survey.
Coming in at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart, published May 26, is John Farnham’s Finding The Voice (Wheatley Records / Sony Music Australia), the soundtrack to the documentary of the same name.
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Finding The Voice becomes the legendary Australian singer’s 20th top 10 album in Australia.
The documentary, like its companion album, is a hit. In the weeks following its release May 18 through Sony Pictures, Finding the Voice was confirmed as the best-selling theatrical release of an Australian music documentary.
Farnham is accustomed to life at or near the top of the charts. His blockbuster 1986 album Whispering Jack spending 25 weeks at No. 1, and is the highest selling album by an Australian act, shifting more than 1.6 million copies. Today, it’s certified 24-times platinum.
He also led the albums tally with Age Of Reason (1988), Chain Reaction (1990), Then Again… (1993), Highlights From The Main Event with Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow (1998), 33 1/3 (2000), The Last Time (2002), Highlights from Two Strong Hearts: Live (2015) and Friends For Christmas, both with Olivia Newton-John (2016).
Farnham has been in the headlines due to poor health. The ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted singer underwent major surgery last year to remove a cancerous growth on his throat, and subsequently endured a stint in hospital as he battled a chest infection.
Completing an all-new top three is Sleep Token’s third album, Take Me Back To Eden (Spinefarm/Inertia). It’s new at No. 3 for the British rock band’s first appearance on the ARIA Chart, while Ed Sheeran‘s latest, Subtract (Atlantic/Warner), dips 1-4.
Also cracking the top 10 on debut is South Coast, Australian indie band The Vanns with their second album Last Of Your Kind (Upper River Records/AWAL), new at No. 8, for their first impression on the tally.
Adelaide alternative rock band Bad//Dreems starts at No. 10 with Hoo Ha! (BMG/ADA).
Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Morgan Wallen logs a seventh week at No. 1 with “Last Night” (Republic/Universal).
Finally, Lana Del Rey secures the top debut with her recently unearthed recording from 2012, “Say Yes To Heaven” (Interscope/Universal), new at No. 20, while Australia’s pop princess Kylie Minogue scores her 49th top 50 single with “Padam Padam” (Liberation), new at No. 39.
Taylor Swift is a queen of the modern pop world. But when she joins forces with other artists, especially ones at the top of their game, the songs are automatically a cultural event. Big or small, artists who work with Swift always seem to pair with her voice perfectly — which is probably why she’s […]
Ex-Earth, Wind & Fire and the Commodores band member Sheldon Reynolds is being remembered by former collaborators as a fine guitarist, singer and songwriter, and an even better person.Reynolds died Tuesday (March 23) at the age of 63. “This news of Sheldon Reynolds transition is very sad for all of us who knew and worked with him. Sheldon vocally had Reese down,” writes Bailey in a social post, republished by the official EWF accounts.
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“That’s what Maurice said when he hired Sheldon to share vocals and play guitar. Sheldon was an excellent addition to the band, a great writer and producer, and a genuinely kind and loving person. He will be missed. Our condolences to his family.”
Details surrounding his death have not been formally announced.
Born Sept. 13, 1959 in Cincinnati, OH, Reynolds displayed a gift for the guitar at an early age. He went on to tour with singer Millie Jackson, and later joined Sun, recording three albums with the R&B act.
In 1983, he joined the Commodores. During a four-year spell with the band, he performed on the 1985 LP Nightshift and the following year’s album release United. The good times kept coming when Reynolds joined EWF as lead guitarist and co-vocalist. He went on to play on the soul band’s LPs Touch The World (1987), Heritage (1990), Millennium (1993) and In The Name of Love (1997). The midtempo Millennium hit “Sunday Morning” earned a Grammy Award nomination in the category of best R&B vocal performance by a duo or group.
Thanks in part to Reynolds’ contributions, the band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2000, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded in 1995.Reynolds went on to work across solo projects with Bailey and EWF’s late band leader Maurice White, who died in 2016. His passing closely follows the death of former EWF drummer Fred White in January, at the age of 67.EWF and Lionel Richie, who fronted the Commodores until 1983, before embarking on a successful solo career, will set out on a joint tour from this August, dubbed Sing A Song, All Night Long.