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With Pride less than a week away, freshen up your playlists with some new songs from your favorite queer 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 Arlo Parks’ long-awaited new album, to Demi Lovato’s rocked-out version of a fab-favorite track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Arlo Parks, My Soft Machine
For all of the talk of your 20s being “the best years of your life,”rising alternative star Arlo Parks has a slightly different take. With My Soft Machine, her sophomore album, the UK artist floats between existential dread over the ending of relationships (“Weightless,” “I’m Sorry”) and introspective musings on self-worth (“Impurities,” “Devotion”), all done with an eclectic blend of dream-pop and rock to form a singularly fascinating project. It’s a further testament to Parks’ inimitable talent and vision that My Soft Machine stands firmly as a distinctive, moving body of work, even in the wake of an album as lauded as Collapsed in Sunbeams.
Demi Lovato, “Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)”
After reimagining her much-beloved song “Heart Attack” as a rock anthem earlier this year, Demi Lovato is ready to give you more. This time around, they’re taking their warm-weather ditty “Cool for the Summer” and amping up the intensity. With raging guitars, pounding drums and an all new set of vocal tracks, the song is radically transformed into an edgy, gritty pop-punk single worthy of Lovato’s latest musical era.
Hayley Kiyoko, “Greenlight”
Hayley Kiyoko is tired of waiting for permission to live her life — so she’s giving herself the “Greenlight” on her latest single. Co-written with pop luminary Jesse St. John, the new track from Lesbian Jesus keeps her streak of life-affirming pop singles alive, playing with delicious falsetto while accompanied by stacked synths and a steady bass line. Be warned, though; once you press play, you’ll “wanna keep goin’ and goin’,” as Kiyoko says.
Towa Bird, “Boomerang”
Living in a long distance relationship is maddening, as rising singer-guitarist Towa Bird can attest. On her latest single “Boomerang,” Bird agonizes about the “separation anxiety” of being in L.A. with a girlfriend in New York — sure, she knows she’ll see her soon, but that doesn’t make the time in between any easier. Punctuated with some excellent garage-rock sounds, and you’ve got a theme song for the frustration of loving long distance on your hands.
Miya Folick, Roach
To say that Miya Folick’s new album Roach is about any one thing in particular is to largely miss the point of its construction. With this wide-ranging, often-chaotic sophmore album, the alt-pop singer instead takes a scattershot approach when it comes to subject matter — whether that’s serene self-reflection (“So Clear,”) bitter anger (“Cockroach”) or familial dynamics (“Mommy”). The most consistent thing about this extensive project is the top-tier quality, keeping you invested for the entirety of its 42-minute runtime.
Cat Burns, “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”
There are a plethora of reasons why a relationship might end — Cat Burns is simply asking her ex to give her one. On “You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” the UK up-and-comer begs her former lover to “list all my baggage,” or “drag my ego to the floor” rather than use the song’s dreaded title when describing why their relationship has to end. It’s a heartbreaking song made even more gutwrenching by how endlessly relatable it is.
Royal & the Serpent, “One Nation Underdogs”
If you’re planning on protesting the seemingly endless onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed around the country this Pride Month, then Royal & the Serpent has just the song to soundtrack your demonstration. “One Nation Underdogs” speaks directly to our current dark moment in history, throwing a defiant middle finger in the face of right-wing politicians, offering this grinning kiss-off in response to their attacks: “There’s more of us and less of you/ We’re the future where you fell off.”
Jeffrey Eli, “Sleeping Beauty”
If you somehow haven’t heard Jeffrey Eli’s haunting voice on TikTok, now is the time to remedy that situation. With his latest release “Sleeping Beauty,” Eli claims his space and plays with the fluidity of his ridiculous range to drive home a point. Examining his own childhood, Eli deconstructs the gender binary right before our eyes — and the moment he’s done so, you’ll realize that the music followed perfectly along the journey, building into a glorious explosion of sound. Seriously, if you haven’t listened to Jeffrey Eli, stop reading this and go listen.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Leave it to Lil Nas X to find the most hilarious way to smack down the conservative freakout over Target’s Pride Month products. Days after the mega-retailer removed or moved some Pride merch following backlash from conservative activists and media — which reportedly included some threats against the safety of its workers — the “That’s What I Want” rapper clowned the criticism with a hysterical tweet of his own parodying the tempest in aisle 20.
“Can’t believe target is supporting this nonsense, im never shopping there again, my son is not ‘too cool for school’ these shirts are ridiculous,” Lil Nas joked in a post that did not specifically mention the backlash, but instead alluded to it using the his signature arch comedic voice. “He is going to school and he WILL learn.”
In the midst of a wave of conservative legislation targeting the LGBTQ community — from bills restricting attendance at drag shows to laws banning gender-affirming treatment for transgender minors and adults — Target became the latest business to come under scrutiny after outrage from right-wing media over some of its pride products. According to NBC News, some Target customers posted TikTok videos showing Target Pride merch displays that had been moved to less visible locations, including in the back of some stores.
On Tuesday (May 23), a Target spokesperson told NBC News the company had “offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month” for more than a decade. But since rolling out this year’s collection, “we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work.”
“Given these volatile circumstances,” the spokesperson added, “we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year.”
After Target rolled out some of this year’s products for June’s Pride Month — which includes rainbow tops, tees that read “Trans People Will Always Exist” and more — it reportedly began to get pushback on items from the LGBTQ brand Abprallen, which offers items featuring “spooky, gothic imagery, such as skulls and Satan, in pastel colors.” The AP reported that among the items conservatives were outraged about was a “tuck-friendly” women’s swimsuit that allows adult trans women to hide their genitalia.
One tweet showed a man tossing a Pride display to the ground and stomping on it. Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson reacted to the latest culture war firestorm with a tweet featuring a dire warning: “Extremist groups want to divide us and ultimately don’t just want rainbow products to disappear, they want us to disappear.”
In April, transgender actor-activist Dylan Mulvaney reacted to a Fox News story over Bud Light sending one-off, not-for-sale commemorative cans to Mulvaney that spurred musicians Kid Rock, Travis Tritt and John Rich to swear off the popular brew.
“I think it’s OK to be frustrated with someone or confused, but what I’m struggling to understand is the need to dehumanize and to be cruel. I just, I don’t think that’s right. Dehumanization has never fixed anything in history, ever,” said Mulvaney, 26, in a video to her 13 million followers. After describing her childhood in a conservative family and in the church, Mulvaney said she still had faith, but that it’s been a struggle to hold on to it in the midst of attacks that reminded her of similar criticism she faced as a child for being “too feminine.”
“Now I’m being called all those same things, but this time it’s from other adults,” she said. “And if they’re going to accuse me of anything, it should be that I’m a theater person and that I’m camp. But this is just my personality and it always has been.”
See Lil Nas’ tweet mocking outrage over Target’s Pride Month products below.
can’t believe target is supporting this nonsense, im never shopping there again, my son is not “too cool for school” these shirts are ridiculous. he is going to school and he WILL learn.— pussy (@LilNasX) May 25, 2023
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It doesn’t take fancy, expensive lessons to turn yourself into a musician. Artists including Paul McCartney and Elton John were self-taught, meaning with a little time and dedication you can start strumming along to your favorite songs — or maybe write some originals yourself.
No matter what your skill level or goal is, there are online music lesson sites that can teach you how to play the guitar, piano, drums and more. You don’t even have to leave your house either! It’s done completely online from the comfort of your own space.
MasterClass Brings Back 2-for-1 Offer: Here Are 11 Musical Courses to Take From Mariah Carey, John…
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Regardless of your budget or preference, we scoured the Internet to see what was offered and compiled a list of the best online piano and guitar lessons. These sites aren’t just limited to piano and guitar either; most of them teach a variety of skills and instruments. So once you master one instrument, you can just move on to the next.
Take a look below to see our list of the best online music lessons to get you twinkling those keys or strumming chords at your own pace.
Udemy
Act fast! Right now, Udemy is offering classes for just $9.99. With some classes costing $60, that means you can score over 80% off with this limited promo!
Udemy
$Starting at $9.99
The deal ends Friday night (May 26), which means you don’t want to sleep on it. Classes are taught from experts around the world, with one even claiming to teach you guitar in just 21 days — and they aren’t limited to instruments. You can learn photography, marketing, business and more.
MasterClass
MasterClass has garnered attention for its library of classes taught by notable experts, including electric guitar lessons from Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, jazz piano teachings by Herbie Hancock and even vocal lessons from Christina Aguilera.
MasterClass
$Starting at $15/month
There are three plans for MasterClass, with the individual one being $15/month, which gives you access to the library of over 180 classes. There’s also a duo plan for $20/month that allows you to use two devices on one account and a family plan for $23/month, where you can use six devices on one account.
Skillshare
Skillshare is a membership-based learning platform that offers more than 27,000 classes (including around 2,000 free options) whether you’re looking to pick up an instrument or a cooking utensil.
Skillshare
$168/year after 30 days
Currently, you can get 30 days free before paying as low as $32/month (which equates to around $168/year).
Coursera
For those looking to get educated at the university level, Coursera Plus has over 5,800 courses, professional certificates and degrees from universities and companies.
Coursera
$59/month after 7-day trial
Classes include guitar basics and music theory for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the art. You can join for free — though the free membership has a limited library, whereas Coursera Plus will provide unlimited access.
ArtistWorks
ArtistWorks is having a Memorial Day promo with an additional 35% off their monthly plans with the code MEMDAY — meaning you can save more money on your music endeavor.
ArtistsWorks
$From $23.25/month 35% off% OFF
Through your membership, you’ll receive step-by-step lesson paths, personalized feedback, play-along tracks and more, with teachings by Grammy-nominated rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, renowned pianist Christie Peery and many others. Plans are based on a 3-month, 6-month and 12-month subscription.
For more music-related product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best record players and turntables and the best speakers.
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See the complete list of American Idol winners.
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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
The Kardashian are back. Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, along with younger sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner and momager Kris, return for a third season of The Kardashians, premiering Thursday (May 25) on Hulu.
In the documentary-style reality series, the Kardashian-Jenner gang reveal truths behind the headlines, while offering a behind-the-scenes peek into their private lives. From relationship ups and downs to navigating “motherhood, coparenting and building their own empires,” audiences will get a candid look at what the Kardashians have been up to since the second season dropped last year.
Since the show’s premiere season, Kylie and Travis Scott welcomed a new baby, Kourtney and Travis Barker tied the knot, Khloe welcomed a baby boy via surrogate and Kim ended her relationship with Pete Davidson.
In episode one, Kim opens up to her mom about her divorce from Kanye West and the rapper’s public tirades against her. “I have to sit here and not say anything ever because I know one day my kids will appreciate that, and I know that is the best thing for them,” says the mom of four, who admitted to blasting West’s music in the car and pretending everything is fine in front of their kids. “I will be his biggest cheerleader forever and one day, [the kids] see for themselves.”
“The one that was supposed to protect me, and still does interviews saying they will be my ‘forever protector,’ is the one that is hurting me the most,” she continues. “He was the one that started a rumor that said I was hooking up with Drake, having an affair our whole marriage. He accused me of that publicly … I really can’t wrap my head around how he thinks he is a protector.”
Read on for details on how to stream The Kardashians for free.
How to Watch The Kardashians Online for Free
Season three of The Kardashians is streaming exclusively on Hulu. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Not a Hulu subscriber? Join today and receive a for $2 for three months or subscribe to the ad-supported trial and enjoy a 30-day free trial to watch the highly anticipated reality series, and everything else that Hulu has to offer.
Hulu’s most popular membership plan is the ad-supported package, which is usually $7.99 a month. The platform is offering a discount on the cheaper plan but you only have until May 27 to redeem the promo.
Hulu $2 $7.99/month 75% off% OFF
Members get to stream thousands of TV episodes and movies such as Only Murders in the Building, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Clearing, White Men Can’t Jump, Queenmaker: The Making of An It Girl, Prey, The Girl From Plainville, Fresh, The Dropout, Saint X, How I Met Your Father along with most new episodes from network TV and cable shows the day after they air.
Hulu also has an ad-free plan for $14.99 a month. You’ll get everything in the cheaper package, plus you can download programs and stream them offline.
To get more bang for your buck, bundle Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month. Not interested in a bundle? Hulu members can add Disney+ by itself for an extra $2.99 a month and additional channels like Starz on HBO Max for an added charge. Additionally, students can subscribe to Hulu for just $1.99 a month.
Looking for live TV? Try Hulu + Live TV for $69.99/month. The streaming package includes over 75 live channels, DVR storage plus access to Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+. Hulu users can create up to six profiles under one account and stream from up to two different screens at once. Hulu is accessible from your smart TV, laptop, notebook or gaming console.
Watch the trailer for The Kardashians Season 3 below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. TikTok isn’t just a place for funny videos or hearing about the hottest trends — no, it’s also where you can […]
Warner Bros. Pictures dropped the full-length trailer for Barbie on Thursday (May 25) and yes, it’s everything. The clip stars Margot Robbie as the titular doll who appears to have it all: She’s got the dream house, an adoring Ken (Ryan Gosling) and feet perfectly arched for any set of heels. However, all is not […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
National Sunscreen Day is Saturday (May 27) but even outside of SPF’s special day, it’s important to lather on sunscreen — especially if you plan on attending outdoor festivals and tours. It may feel good soaking up that vitamin D, but too much exposure will turn that summer tan into a red hot sunburn.
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No matter if it’s rain, shine, overcast or even partly cloudy, wearing a solid sunscreen will help keep your skin looking smooth and healthy. The last thing you want to deal with is sped up signs of aging or, in worst cases, skin cancer. That’s why Billboard spoke with with Dr. Angela J. Lamb, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of Dermatology to discover the best sunscreens (and even added a few of ours and celebrity favorites in there, too).
Before you go and stock your cart, Lamb gave some tips to keep in mind including how to know if the one you’re using is truly “the best.”
“I recommend something that will go on easily, feel good on people’s skin and permit them to wear make up on top if desired,” she said. Lamb added that you should also look for ingredients like oxide and titanium dioxide as “those ingredients are going to help the sunscreen work immediately when applied to your skin.”
And in terms of how often you should reapply sunscreen, that’ll depend on what you’re doing.
“If you are outside sweating or doing any sports, your sunscreen really needs to be reapplied approximately every 80 to 90 minutes,” she said. “If you really only spend a little bit of time outside — maybe to or from work during your commute — you can put on sunscreen in the morning, and maybe, if the sun is still out when you leave to go home, reapply or use [a] powder [sunscreen] to touch it up.”
Memorial Day beauty deals are already happening meaning you can score quality formulas at discounted prices. To help you upgrade your beauty routine and pack up essential festival gear, check below for the best sunscreens, according to a dermatologist as well as ours and celebrity favorites.
Amazon
Neutrogena Purescreen+ Tinted Sunscreen for Face with SPF 30
$9.99-$18.06 $16.99 41% OFF
Lamb loves this Neutrogena’s Mineral UV Tint formula so much she even uses it herself daily. It comes in four shades and adds a hint of tint to your skin once it’s applied.
Amazon
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
$38.00
For another Lamb pick, this Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop is a lightweight formula that’ both water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes once applied. The texture is also clear allowing you to put it on without worry of leaving behind white streaks.
Black Girl Sunscreen
Black Girl Sunscreen Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
$15.99
Black Girl Sunscreen has garnered much earned attention for creating a quality SPF that’s fragrance free and long-lasting (like up to 80 minutes!). It’s even water resistant, allowing you to take a dip or sweat without needing to constantly reapply.
Ulta Beauty
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Face Sunscreen SPF 30
$34
The previous Billboard Hot 100 Chart topper Selena Gomez has been known to love Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF and we totally get why. Not only does it come with the dermatologist-approved ingredient oxide, but it features a fragrance- and essential oil-free formula that’s gentle on skin without leaving it feeling oily.
Amazon
Lancôme UV Expert Primer & Moisturizer With SPF 50
$48.00
Euphoria‘s Zendaya has previously stated her love of Lancôme’s UV Expert Primer & Moisturizer SPF, which not only provides protection against damaging UV rays, but smooths and hydrates skin — and did we mention it’s made with nourishing vitamin E?
And for more product recommendations, check out our roundups of AAPI beauty and skincare brands, refillable lipsticks and the best TikTok beauty alternatives.
Kim Kardashian is speaking out about one of her conflicts with Kanye West — this time about a rumor she had an affair with Drake during their marriage. In the season three premiere of The Kardashians, which premiered Thursday morning (May 25), the Skims mogul sits down with Kris Jenner to vent about what she […]
When Este Haim was approached to take on the executive music producer role on National Geographic’s limited series A Small Light, she felt ready to step out of her comfort zone and take charge.
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“I’ve always had this saying that people who say ‘yes’ have adventures, people who say ‘no’ play it safe and people who say ‘maybe’ spend their whole life saying ‘maybe.’ So I said yes,” the HAIM vocalist and bassist tells Billboard of the opportunity.
Turns out, she felt a special connection to the show’s story. The series is inspired by the true story of Anne Frank and follows the carefree and opinionated Miep Gies (played by Bel Powley) as she encounters Anne’s dad Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber), who asks her to help hide his family from the Nazis during WWII. “The producers and the writers of the show got in contact with me about doing a show about Miep and I guess they kind of assumed that I didn’t know who she was, but I knew very well who she was because I’ve read the diary of Anne Frank, cover to cover, a handful of times,” Este recalls, noting that she read The Diary of a Young Girl for the first time at just eight years old. “I thought that it was really interesting the way that they were telling the story of Anne Frank and I jumped at the chance to be involved in a TV show that showed the story through Miep’s eyes.”
For the soundtrack, Este was tasked with creating updated versions of classic songs from the 1930s and 1940s with her friends and fellow musicians, something that she was “super jazzed” about. “Pun intended,” she adds with a laugh.
“I’ve been listening to that music since I was a kid,” she says, noting that her great-grandmother, whom she affectionately calls “Bubby Blanche,” would play vinyl records for her as a child when she would visit her home in Palm Springs, Calif. “We would listen to the The Andrews Sisters, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk — she was such an avid music lover and I’ve come from a long, long line of musicians, so I already had a foundation when it came to knowing and understanding the material.”
Her passion for the songs that influenced not only who she is as a musician but also history in general led to a robust Small Light soundtrack that features everyone from King Princess and Orville Peck putting their spin on Bing Crosby‘s “I’m Making Believe” and Angel Olsen’s rendition of Larry Clinton‘s “My Reverie” to Remi Wolf‘s take on Nat King Cole‘s “Autumn Leaves” and Moses Sumney taking on Billie Holiday‘s “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
“Moses’ version of ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ is so f—ing heartbreaking and beautiful,” Este gushes. “He knows how much I love him and his artistry and his songwriting, but his voice is just so incredibly, insanely beautiful. For him to have signed on to this, I was over the moon.”
She adds that there was a few criteria for which artists she chose for the project. “They needed to be a vocalist that could really handle the material because it’s not easy material,” she explains, before jokingly adding, “But also I wanted people that I selfishly just wanted to be friends with and hang out with.”
Este even worked with her sister, Danielle Haim, on a rendition of Doris Day‘s “Till We Meet Again,” which she says was different than a regular HAIM recording session. “We’re all producers in our own right, but this time, Danielle just was kind of looking at me like, ‘Whatever you want to do,’” she said of creating the song with her sibling and bandmate. “It was different in the sense that we go into every session knowing that it’s a three-way democracy. This time, it was like, ‘This is your gig. I’m just here to sing the song.’ Thankfully, I know Danielle’s voice so well, so we finished ‘Till We Meet Again’ in, like, a day.”
She continues, “Danielle is just so f—ing talented and she has the best voice, and there’s a vulnerability to her voice that I knew would really lend itself to that song.”
As for what she hopes fans will take away from A Small Light, Este is rooting for everyday people to stand up for what’s right. “Miep is a shining example of an ordinary woman doing an extraordinary thing,” she says. “Now more than ever, I think that it’s important for people to stand up for what they believe in and to also protect their community.”
Listen to the full A Small Light: Songs From the Limited Series album below, and watch the show over on Disney+ and Hulu.