Culture
Page: 496
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so why not be thankful for these new tunes from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Brockhampton’s surprising double album release to Phoebe Bridgers’s latest Christmas cover, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Brockhampton, The Family and TM
After spending weeks billing The Family as their “final album,” Brockhampton managed to pull off a few final surprises. The first was the album itself, a lengthy tribute to the band’s legacy, which only primarily featured frontman Kevin Abstract. Marked by bittersweet songwriting, the album establishes how the band blew up, and eventually pointing out the flaws and fallouts that lead to the group’s end. For fans who were upset that they weren’t getting a “proper” Brockhampton album as their finale, their appetites were quickly sated when the band immediately dropped another full-length TM, executive produced by Matt Champion and featuring a wider range of the band. More of a celebration than a contemplation, TM allows the leading players in Brockhampton to get their last words in, and doing so while providing some truly memorable jams along the way.
Phoebe Bridgers, “So Much Wine” (The Handsome Family cover)
In her annual Christmas cover drop, Phoebe Bridgers is getting melancholy. Covering The Handsome Family’s sobering holiday song “So Much Wine,” Bridgers lets her voice ache with pain as she recounts the story of a lover’s spat on Christmas Day thanks to a lot of drinking. Bridgers smartly slows the original melody down, taking the bigger production elements away to offer an intimate look at a couple struggling to find common ground. If you’re feeling up for a Christmas song that’ll probably make you cry, Bridgers has got you covered.
Honey Dijon, Black Girl Magic
Get ready to dance, folks. Producer-to-the-stars Honey Dijon has finally returned with her long-awaited new album Black Girl Magic, a thrilling ode to joy, ecstasy and Black queer joy. It’s also an exploration of the power of house music, as the NYC DJ jams her way through all different manners of the dance sub-genre to prove her sheer dominance in the field. Dijon also doesn’t do it alone — the star earns plenty of high-profile assists throughout the album from the likes of Channel Tres, Eve, Pabllo Vittar, Mike Dunn and plenty of others. Turn up the volume and press play on Black Girl Magic ASAP if you’re in need of a mood boost.
Kelela, “On the Run”
After years of no Kelela, the alternative R&B star is making sure her fans are fed — following up her last two releases “Washed Away” and “Happy Ending,” Kelela’s “On the Run” gives a new flavor of her hyper-manicured sound. Maintaining the ethereal quality of her past few releases, the new single sees Kelela embracing a darker, brooding sound as she lets her lover know that she’s tired of waiting around for them to do right by her. The scintillating beat amplifies the sheer drama of the track, making “On the Run” an instant must-listen.
Rebecca Black, “Crumbs”
Toxic relationships aren’t good — except for when they’re great. Rebecca Black pretty quickly sums that up in her new dark-pop jam “Crumbs,” as she details a torrid affair of chaos and pain that she simply can’t stop going back to. Lines like “I get off on getting hurt” land with massive effect each time. It’s a fun evolution for the singer as she tries on a more alternative, less hyperpop-focused skin for this angsty, steaming new single.
K.Flay, “It’s Been So Long”
Welcome back, Rapper K.Flay! On the star’s latest track “It’s Been So Long,” K.Flay leans back into the sound that helped her breakthrough back in 2016, opening up the song with a slick rap verse about bringing back the good old “let’s go clubbing” days. But for those more inclined toward Singer K.Flay, worry not — once the song’s delectable chorus kicks in, her voice croons out a simmering melody urging you to get to the dance floor immediately. “It’s Been So Long” feels like a much needed breath of fresh air as we barrel toward the end of 2022.
Bronze Avery, Softmetal
Softmetal is exactly what it sounds like: On one hand, it’s delicate and gentle; on the other, it’s cold, hard and calculating. It’s a dichotomy Bronze Avery is determined to explore throughout his stunning new album, where he takes down the walls of his pop-infused R&B and expands his sound to greater effect with each song. Tackling toxic relationships, inner sabotage, emotional vulnerability and personal fortitude, Avery’s songwriting is at its apex here, crafting a world of clashing personality traits that form a harmonious whole. Simply put, it’s the singer’s best work yet.
Khai Dreams, “Rats”
Bedroom pop star Khai Dreams has nailed the concept of “upbeat song with very sad lyrics.” His latest single “Rats” is perhaps the purest distillation of that concept; the melody insists on worming its way into your ear, as acoustic guitars and cut-short drum beats lighten the mood. But the dour lyrics, depicting an uncomfortably relatable depressive episode, offer little in the way of relief. Melded together, the song becomes greater than the sum of its parts, blending into a cognitively dissonant pop jam that will stay in your head for the forseeable future.
Macy Gray stopped by Tamron Hall on Thursday (Nov. 17) to address the backlash she faced over her recent comments on gender.
In July, the Grammy winner appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored and gave her opinions about transgender athletes, which many perceived as transphobic. However, after the interview, she walked her controversial statements back on Twitter, claiming she had been “GROSSLY misunderstood.”
When she spoke with Hall, she addressed the backlash and what she’s learned from it since.
“Honestly, what I meant by being misunderstood is, what I was talking about was womanhood,” the singer said on the show. “So it’s just like when a boy becomes a man, so I was talking about maturing into a woman. Like, I have two daughters, and I don’t consider them women because, you know, they’re like two 20-year-old dummies, you know? They’re not on my level yet.
“But of course it got turned into me being a ‘transphobe,’ which couldn’t be further from,” Gray went on. “What I did learn was pure acceptance. I thought I was accepting before, but it was good for me because I’ve grown into just really, like, truly seeing someone and accepting them for who they are and who they want to be and their opinions. And that’s what makes the world what it is, is that everybody is different.”
Gray, who received two standing ovations from Hall’s studio audience, also promoted her upcoming 11th album The Reset with her band The California Jets Club.
Watch Gray clarify her comments about the trans community below.
Barbra Streisand took to social media on Thursday (Nov. 17) to honor Nancy Pelosi after the politician announced she would not be seeking another term as Speaker of the House.
“You are the best speaker there ever was!” the Broadway legend wrote beneath an Instagram snap of herself posing next to Pelosi. “We will all miss you. Actually, the world will miss you! My love and best wishes to you and Paul. Love, Barbra.”
In her speech, the longtime Democratic leader in the House of Representatives stated, “For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect, and I’m grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.” However, she still intends to maintain her role representing the 12th congressional district of California, a position she’s held for the past 35 years.
Following her announcement, Pelosi earned a flood of praise from politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican Speakers of the House Paul Ryan and John Boehner, as well as celebrities like George Takei and Alyssa Milano.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Streisand unveiled the first official release of her iconic 1962 set in Greenwich Village as Barbra Streisand — Live at the Bon Soir. The 24-track album contains enchanting live recordings of everything from “I Hate Music” and “Cry Me a River” to “Happy Days Are Here Again” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”
Read Barbra’s tribute to Pelosi’s decades of congressional leadership 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.
It’s almost game time! The 2022 FIFA World Cup begins Sunday (Nov. 20) with host country Qatar squaring off against Ecuador at Al-Bayt Stadium.
There are 32 countries participating in this year’s World Cup, which includes the U.S., Mexico, England, Brazil, Iran, Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Tunisia, Poland, France and Australia.
Read on for all the details on how to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup from anywhere (click here to buy tickets).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
2022 FIFA World Cup: Date, Time & How to Watch
The 2022 World Cup will be held from Nov. 20-Dec. 18 at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. World Cup matches will air on FS1 and Telemundo Deportes, while select games will air on Fox.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday, followed by the Qatar vs. Ecuador match at 11 a.m. ET.
On Saturday, Maluma and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares are expected to headline the FIFA Fan Festival and perform the official World Cup anthem “Tokoh Taka” for the first time. The song, featuring Nicki Minaj, will be released Friday. Lil Baby, Ozuna and Camilo are some of the other recording artists who have released songs for the 2022 World Cup.
Over the next month, several other music artists are expected to appear at the Live Stage by FIFA Sound, including Diplo, Kizz Daniel, Nora Fatehi, Trinidad Cardona and Calvin Harris.
Sunday’s Qatar vs. Ecuador match will broadcast on FS1 and Telemundo Deportes. Monday’s schedule will feature matchups between England and Iran airing on FS1, followed by Senegal vs. Netherlands and the United States vs. Wales, both airing on Fox (the U.S. vs. Wales match begins at 2 p.m. ET). Mexico’s first match will take place against Poland on Monday at 11 a.m. ET. Click here for the full schedule of matches.
How to Watch the 2022 World Cup on Peacock
Peacock will livestream all 64 World Cup matches in Spanish. The streaming platform will also provide hour-long pre- and post-match onsite coverage from Qatar. The first 12 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be available to Peacock subscribers on the free tier, while the remaining 52 games will be available to Peacock Premium subscribers beginning on Nov. 24.
Peacock Premium is $4.99/month after a free trial (cable customers may be eligible to receive a free subscription to Peacock).
If you already have access to local and cable channels, feel free to check your local listings for channel information to watch the World Cup on TV, computer or streaming device (you’ll need a cable or streaming provider log-in to watch online).
Cord-cutters can stream the World Cup on platforms such as Fubo TV, Direct TV Stream, Sling TV, Vidgo, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which are priced at less than $75 a month. And if you don’t want to pay anything up front, Fubo and Direct TV Stream offer free trials for up to a week.
Streaming the World Cup from outside of the U.S.? Use ExpressVPN.
Where to Buy World Cup Merch & Apparel Online
Stock up on shirts, socks, jerseys, and more World Cup gear at Adidas, Nike, Amazon, Fanatics, Dick’s Sporting Goods, World Soccer Shop and Soccer.com.
This Friday (Nov. 18), nine months after their bright, buoyant studio album Time Skiffs, Animal Collective releases a new project in the form of The Inspection, the soundtrack to an A24 film that opens the same day.
“The Inspection is a story of a Black, gay man who joins the Marines in search of validation from and acceptance from his mother,” says star and executive producer Gabrielle Union in a teaser trailer. “It’s about the fight every day to be seen and respected.”
The film stars Jeremy Pope as Ellis French, a character inspired by director/screenwriter Elegance Bratton’s own life. And while Animal Collective probably isn’t the first band you think of when you hear the words “U.S. Marines,” Bratton feels the experimental indie outfit provided him with the “perfect backdrop” to explore various emotional states on screen.
“We were very inspired by the music of our composers Animal Collective. We wanted to create the right rhythms to blur the line between what French thinks is real and what is really happening,” Bratton explained. “So those fantasy sequences could serve as the evolution of French’s inner life. In essence, we wanted to create a sense of the stir craziness of the monotony of boot camp, juxtaposed with the massive transformation Ellis French undergoes. Animal Collective provides the perfect backdrop to shrink and expand the time according to the emotion.” (The soundtrack also features contributions from singer-songwriter Indigo de Souza.)
With The Inspection being AnCo’s second feature-length film soundtrack (following 2021’s Crestone), we asked the group to share their favorite movie soundtracks of all time. See what Avey Tare (David Portner), Geologist (Brian Weitz) and Deakin (Josh Dibb) chose below.
If dunking on anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is a skill, then Maren Morris is an expert at this point.
The country star posted a comment on Instagram on Tuesday calling out actress Candace Cameron Bure for her recent comments on “traditional marriage” and queer characters. Writing under a post from LGBTQ influencer Matt Bernstein, Morris said “Make DJ Gay Again,” a reference to Bure’s most famous role as DJ Tanner on Full House and the 2016 reboot, Fuller House.
Morris is far from the only star to call the actress out — JoJo Siwa posted an Instagram on Tuesday calling Bure’s comments “rude and hurtful,” and GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis issued a damning statement saying it was “irresponsible and hurtful for Candace Cameron Bure to use tradition as a guise for exclusion.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The backlash came after Bure gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal regarding her departure from Hallmark, her new executive role at conservative network Great American Family, and what fans could expect from the Christmas movies she is set to star in there. When asked whether or not the network would include LGBTQ couples in their projects, Bure said they would “keep traditional marriage at the core.”
Since the backlash, Bure published a statement via her Instagram, where she said that it “breaks my heart that anyone would ever think I intentionally would want to offend and hurt anyone.” The actress also attempted to shift blame toward media coverage of her comments, saying that media companies were “seeking to divide us, even around a subject as comforting and merry as Christmas movies.”
Stopping short of an apology and never directly addressing the community she offended, Bure instead insisted that she “loves” everyone. “To the members of the media responsible for using this opportunity to fan flames of conflict and hate, I have a simple message: I love you anyway,” she wrote. “To those who hate what I value and who are attacking me online: I love you. To those who have tried to assassinate my character: I love you.”
Naturally, the star’s statement wasn’t sufficient for many in the community. Out singer-songwriter Wrabel commented on Bure’s post, saying that he didn’t buy her claim to love. “love is not typing ‘i love you.’ love is action. love supports. love listens. tries to understand,” he wrote. “if jesus was here today he’d be flipping tables at that network.”
This isn’t the first time that Morris has weighed in on LGBTQ issues this year. Following some openly transphobic comments from Jason Aldean’s wife Brittany, Morris joined fellow country star Cassadee Pope in calling her out, dubbing Brittany “Insurrection Barbie” in a tweet. When Fox News talking head Tucker Carlson called Morris a “lunatic” and a “fake country music singer” for her comments, the “Middle” singer created t-shirts that read “lunatic country music person,” and later donated over $100,000 worth of proceeds to GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program and Trans Lifeline.
Check out Morris’s comment here, as well as Bure’s official statement below:
Ryan Seacrest will have some expert help when he suits up for this year’s edition of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. ABC and dick clark productions announced on Thursday (Nov. 17) that 18-time host and show executive producer Seacrest will once again be joined by Work It star and influencer Liza Koshy and country singer Jessie James Decker for the show that will add the Disneyland Resort in Southern California as a celebration location.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Koshy will be alongside Seacrest at the usual Times Square location in New York, wile Decker will be along as the Powerball co-host for the fourth year. Ciara will oversee the Disneyland celebration, which will be pre-taped prior to the New Year’s holiday. Tony-winner Billy Porter will return as the co-host for the central time zone countdown in New Orleans, with D-Nice back to co-host the Los Angeles portion of the show.
The five-and-a-half-hour celebration has not yet announced the musical lineup for this year’s show, which will air from 8 p.m. ET until 2 a.m. ET.
Last year’s show featured performances from Ja Rule and Ashanti, Journey, AJR, Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker, Karol G, Big Boi with Sleepy Brown, Don Omar with Nio Gracia, French Montana, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Windser, Mae Muller, Maneskin, Masked Wolf, OneRepublic, Polo G, Daddy Yankee and Walker Hayes.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2023 will air live on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 31.; the show is produced by MRC Live & Alternative, which is owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.
There was a lot of funny business going on with The Masked Singer on Wednesday night (Nov. 16), as Fox’s quirky show celebrated “comedy roast night.”
After accumulating the fewest number of votes, The Bride was sent packing early.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The mask came off to reveal Chris Jericho, the former pro-wrestler and singer with heavy metal band Fozzy.
So why dress as a pink dinosaur in a wedding dress for national TV? “It’s always been inside of me, my whole life,” he said, staying in the ethos of comedy roast night.
“I was having a great time, this costume was amazing, it’s the best costume that I’ve seen on the show and I’m disappointed that I got beaten by an avocado.”
Avocado might have won that round, but he didn’t see the night out.
Following a battle royale with Snowstorm, in which the pair sang Rock Hall inductee Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Avocado went sent home.
Underneath the funny suit was Adam Carolla.
The comedian played his exit with good humor. “I gotta tell you,” he told host Nick Cannon, “somebody farted in this avocado suit and it wasn’t me. No, I know my essence.”
When asked why he wanted to join The Masked Singer, another quip. “Ever since I was a young lad growing up in north Hollywood, California, I dreamt of this moment. And a scant 47 years later here I am.” He continued, “so this is a dream realized. and if I die tonight… I’m gonna be pissed actually.”
Jericho and Carolla join the likes of George Foreman (Venus Flytrap), George Clinton (Gopher), Daymond John (Fortune Teller), the “Brady boys” Mike Lookinland, Barry Williams and Christopher Knight (Mummies), Montell Jordan (Panther), Jeff Dunham (Pi-Rat), Chris Kirkpatrick (Hummingbird), Eric Idle (Hedgehog) and William Shatner (Knight) as contestants revealed so far in the 2022 series.
TMS season 8 introduces several changes to its format.
For the first time, each episode features a completely new round of masked celebs with only one contestant moving forward by the end of the hour. Plus, the audience votes in-studio for their favorite performance of the night, and the singer with the lowest tally will then unmask in the middle of the show before taking his or her place in the new Masked Singer VIP section to watch the rest of the episode.
With the holidays coming up, it’s easy to forget that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Thankfully, Warner Bros. gave Magic Mike fans the perfect early gift on Wednesday (Nov. 16) with a new trailer for the third installment of the popular franchise.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In the two-and-a-half minute clip teasing Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Channing Tatum reprises his role as Mike Lane. After a lengthy hiatus, he meets a wealthy socialite played by Salma Hayek Pinault while working as a bartender in Florida. She’s blown away by his talent and gives him an offer to fly with her to London to start their own show. “With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?” the film’s description reads. The teaser is fittingly soundtracked by Donna Summer‘s 1978 track, “Last Dance.”
In the trailer, Hayek Pinaut’s character is heard encouraging Tatum’s Mike, saying, “People are alone, disconnected. We’re going to wake them up with a wave of passion they’ve never felt before.”
She adds, “I want every woman that walks into this theater to feel that a woman can have whatever she wants whenever she wants.” The original Magic Mike film was released back in 2012, and after significant commercial success, the Magic Mike XXL sequel was released in 2015.
The Steven Soderbergh-helmed film is set to hit theaters on Feb. 14, 2023. Watch the full trailer 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.Thinking about joining Paramount+? A free trial is the best way to test out a streaming platform to see if it’s a good fit — and Walmart is allowing customers to join the platform at no extra cost.
Shoppers can receive a free subscription to Paramount+ included with any Walmart+ subscription, the retail giant announced in September. A Walmart+ subscription is $12.95 a month (or $98 for the annual plan) after a free 30-day trial and unlocks free access to the Paramount+ Essential Plan.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Not a Walmart+ subscriber? There are other ways to go about getting a free trial to Paramount+ for up to a year. One option would be to go directly through the platform. Right now, Paramount+ is offering one week free at sign up. Use promo code “TULSAKING” to receive a 30-day free trial.
After the free trial ends, Paramount+ subscriptions start at $4.99 a month for the Essential Plan, which gives you access to tons of TV shows and movies with limited commercials, or upgrade to the commercial-free Premium subscription for $9.99 a month.
Paramount+ features a mountain of entertainment with a growing list of original programs such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jerry & Marge Go Large, Tulsa King, 1883, One the Come Up, Cecilia, Evil, Coyote, iCarly, The Game, Halo, South Park: The Streaming Wars, The Offer, The Good Fight, The Challenge All Stars, All Star Shore, Mayor of Kingstown, Seal Team, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Why Women Kill and The Stand.
Paramount+
$from $4.99/month after free 7-day trial
You will also find movies such as Smile, Orphan First Kill, On the Come Up, Sonic the Hedgehog: 2, The Lost City, Secret Headquarters, Honor Society, Jackass Forever, Scream 5, Paw Patrol: The Movie, The In Between, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, Beavis and Butt-head Do the Universe, and Rumble. The summer blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick is expected to arrive on Paramount+ sometime before the end of year.
In addition to tens of thousands of TV episodes and tons of movies, exclusives from MTV, BET, Nickelodeon and more — Paramount+ has NFL on CBS, PGA, Champion League and other must-watch sports.
How to Get a Free 1-Year Trial to Paramount+
T-Mobile is offering a one-year free trial with T-Mobile and Sprint wireless plans, T-Mobile Home Internet and T-Mobile for Business plans. After the first year, you will be automatically charged $4.99 a month unless you cancel before the 12-month promo ends or anytime thereafter.
A T-Mobile or Sprint phone number is required for the promo deal, or the phone number on your T-Mobile internet bill. Click here for more information on how to redeem the free one-year trial.
New releases on Paramount+ include new episodes of Ink Master, Blood & Treasure, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head, The Good Fight and Inside the NFL in addition to Destination Paris, The Lost City, Honor Society and When You Least Expect It, a Spanish-language original drama series (English subtitles are available) that follows five adults whose lives intersect in therapy as they battle with the loss of loved ones. Upcoming release include My Dream Quinceañera and Seal Team.
More Ways to Save With Paramount+
Want to save more cash? Bundling Paramount+ with Showtime for $7.99 a month and save 28% off what you would normally pay for both subscriptions. Students are eligible to receive a 25% discount to the Essential monthly plan.
And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can subscribe to Paramount+ through Prime Video and receive a free weeklong trial.