Billboard
Page: 114
Usher teases his highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime performance, talks about the advice and encouragement he’s received from other Super Bowl Halftime show performers like Katy Perry and Rihanna, his new album Coming Home, why people still resonate with his album Confessions 20 years later, his experience doing his successful Las Vegas residency and whether he’ll return to it, his thoughts on where the future of R&B music is going and more.
UsherPlayin’ the Super Bowl man.
Gail MitchellThis is Gail Mitchell, Executive Director of R&B and Hip-Hop for Billboard magazine, and I couldn’t be more thrilled because to my left is the one and only Usher.
UsherHey Gail, how you doing? How are you doing love? It’s been a while.
Gail MitchellIt hasn’t been a long time actually it’s been three years.
UsherWell three years actually is for everybody else is a long time.
Gail MitchellBut deja vu? Because we were sitting at Caesars Palace, yes, inside the theater. And you were rehearsing the first iteration of your residency. And look at you now on that stage Park MGM and now you’re going to be on a global stage.
UsherVery happy to have been able to have that moment with you very happy to have started that and then 100 shows later on now plays a Super Bowl in Las Vegas. I’m very, very happy.
Gail MitchellYou look very calm, cool and collected outside. It’s a matter of days at this point, right?
UsherI’m trying my hardest not to overthink it but it’s literally 12 to 15 minutes, if I can manage to impress the entire world, over 30 years of a career within 15 minutes. It’s, it’s a lot, you know, I’m definitely happy that I’m coming off a successful residency and kind of in the rhythm of it overall. Because otherwise, you know, you kind of have to restart and relive the moments, but every day going on that stage from Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, it just reminded me of what my music has meant, and how people feel about me, and how I feel about it. You know, after you know, years and years are doing this, you can go tired, and just kind of grow frustrated, especially as music changes the standards of how we count, it changes the standard of what is hot, what’s not the standard of what’s cool, and what is and all of those things can kind of get to your mind. And, you know, make you even question if you really want to continue to do but when I went to Vegas, it just made me excited about all of it all over again.
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Ahead of Music’s Biggest Night, the Grammys, Billboard staffers sat down and chatted all about their predictions, performances, snubs and more!Tetris Kelly:It’s Grammy Sunday! I’m Tetris Kelly, here at Soho Warehouse in downtown Los Angeles. We have a great show for you today with behind-the-scenes access, exclusive interviews with nominees like Dom Dolla and Scott Hoying of Pentatonix, and some hot performances. Plus, we’ll talk to Billboard’s experts covering all things you need to know, the biggest snubs, hottest genres and their picks in the Big Four categories, including the highly competitive best new artist. Oh, and by the way, we’ll introduce you to all eight best new artist nominees, so let’s run it down! Welcome to Billboard Celebrates Music’s Hottest Night!
First up are two of Billboard’s most in-the-know contributors Katie Atkinson and Rania Aniftos to talk about some of the biggest moments in music this year and what everyone is talking about going into the Grammys. Hey, ladies, how’s it going?
Katie Atkinson:Hi, Tetris!
Rania Aniftos:Hi, Tetris!
Tetris Kelly:I love that you got the green memo with me, Katie.
Katie Atkinson:That’s right! Sorry, Rania!
Tetris Kelly:Sorry, Rania!
Rania Aniftos:No one informed me!
Tetris Kelly:You we’re not informed, but you guys are the most informed in music. So let’s talk about this year. Can’t talk about it without the biggest tours — Beyonce, Taylor’s Eras tour, Renaissance tour, how did that shape music this year?
Rania Aniftos:I mean, you were at both the tours this year.
Katie Atkinson:I did. I went to both. I think Tetris did too.
Tetris Kelly:I had a good time!
Katie Atkinson:Basically, two of our biggest superstars had their career-defining tours this year and I think that kind of goes into the Grammys because it’s like who’s going to be next? Whoever gets coronated as the big star after Sunday night, maybe they’re gonna have the big career-defining tour next year, right?
Tetris Kelly:Absolutely and I mean, Taylor is also having a big year in nominations as well, correct?
Rania Aniftos:Oh, yeah, I mean, she’s nominated for album of the year for ‘Midnights,’ and she basically dominates the Grammys once again, as she does with every single album cycle. Something that I really liked about her tour, and I’m hoping that more artists do it and it seems like with Madonna and the Jonas Brothers, there are already artists who are playing on this “Eras thing,” you know, where they want to celebrate their discography and the music that made them who they are. And I hope that more artists look towards the future to do something like that.
Tetris Kelly:And we can’t talk about women having a big year without talking about the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack I mean Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, that soundtrack had bops on bops.
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