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“Writing songs is my therapy,” Ed Sheeran told his fans upon announcing his new album, –. “It helps me make sense of my feelings.” In early 2022, Sheeran required that outlet: although his latest album, =, had produced a new batch of smashes in “Bad Habits” and “Shivers,” he had been taken to court due to a copyright lawsuit over “Shape of You,” his best friend Jamal Edwards had passed away suddenly at the age of 31, and his pregnant wife was diagnosed with a tumor that couldn’t be treated until after the birth.

That all occurred within the span of a month, and Sheeran’s world was upended — so he decided to examine his feelings through his craft. As suggested by muted lead single “Eyes Closed” and a rollout focused squarely on the acoustic nature of the project, – is not your typical Sheeran album, and doesn’t contain the no-brainer radio hits that have colored his full-lengths over the past five years.

Yet if – marks a searing left turn in Sheeran’s recording career, his songwriting has long been working up towards an unfiltered, emotionally intelligent statement like this. A superstar who grew from busking on the street to playing stadiums — with just himself onstage, no less — over the course of a decade, Sheeran has been gradually improving his song construction without relying too much on pop machinery, and sounds ready to meet this moment.

Bringing in Aaron Dessner, The National polymath who helped Taylor Swift explore the indie-folk woods on Folklore and Evermore, to help produce this vision was a wise decision. Dessner helps Sheeran understand when to assemble a city of instruments around his pain, and when to leave it unadorned.

Some moments are more affecting than others, but ultimately, – succeeds due to its unabashed honesty: from unyielding grief to thoughts of ending it all, Sheeran never shies away from the most curdled pieces of his soul here. The album may not become a blockbuster, but commendably, Sheeran’s intent is catharsis, not commercial returns. More A-listers should take risks like this.

So which tracks represent the early standouts? Although all of Sheeran’s new album is worth exploring, here is a preliminary ranking of every song on the standard edition of –.

“Spark”

On “Spark,” Sheeran and his romantic partner set fire to their troubled past, tossing petty arguments and unnecessary tears into a metaphorical flame, then concluding, “We hope the spark survives.” The song gets off the ground conceptually, its orchestral sweep is marked by an elliptical piano line — and while other songs on the album allow this particular sound to take flight more memorably, “Spark” serves as capable connective tissue in the album’s back half.

“Borderline”

There aren’t many popular artists who could handle an all-falsetto chorus like the one Sheeran deploys on “Borderline,” a piano-led rumination on lingering depression — but he powers through in his upper register, blurting out confessions and rhetorical questions with a naked fragility. And the way Sheeran comes down from that high — yearning through plain-spoken lines like “Guess I should take this on the chin / But I don’t even know how all of this began” — makes “Borderline” an even more compelling listen.

“Colourblind”

Sheeran has always been adept at engineering a waltzing love song, but “Colourblind” offers a twist on the formula of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Perfect” thanks to a newfound maturity — instead of focusing on exploding romance, Sheeran sings about being able to relax with a partner, and wash away all of the day’s brightest hues during a quiet night together. “Colourblind” captures the personal evolution of Sheeran, no longer pluckily searching for love and instead writing about his own grounded reality.

“Vega”

While all of us experience personal hardships, Sheeran has done so as one of the most famous musical artists on the planet — and on the hushed, confessional “Vega,” he admits to struggling as he’s dealt with difficult moments (here, his wife’s diagnosis), especially under the brightest spotlight. “Vega” shines thanks to its lyrical detail: when Sheeran sings, “Need rest, bite, bleed time dry / She’ll be fine, she’ll be fine” as the strings swell, the listener can picture him pacing in a room, alone with his desperation.

“Life Goes On”

Remember back in 2017, when Sheeran launched his ÷ album by releasing “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill” on the same day? Consider the back-to-back placement of “Eyes Closed” and “Life Goes On” early in the – track list as a one-two gut-punch that tackles a shared theme of grief through wholly different approaches: here, Sheeran does away with anything hummable, reflecting on his friend’s death with uncluttered folk and a cracked voice.

“Boat”

“Boat” was apparently stripped down from a heavily orchestrated track into a simple acoustic guitar song, although some of the strings and grand piano can still be heard in the mix. Sheeran was correct to pivot: “Boat” works better as both an album opener and an anthem of resilience due to its simplicity, his voice gathering strength as he repeats the line, “But the waves won’t break my boat.”

“Curtains”

Dessner packs “Curtains” with ornate production details — playing a whopping 11 instruments himself on the track, while recruiting his brother (and The National band mate) Bryce to play a few as well — but the drums, courtesy of James McAlister, hit the hardest, and offer some rare rock-band tumbles. “Curtains” ponders the moment when it feels okay to whisk away the shades and bask in the sun following personal devastation, and its combination of driving tempo and rousing messaging makes the song an easy choice for a future single.

“No Strings”

Immediately following “Sycamore,” a panicked song about preparing for the worst news imaginable, on the album’s track list, “No Strings” acts as both a sigh of relief and affirmation: the worst has passed, and now, Sheeran and his partner can overcome anything together. “We tore the walls down to build them up / Never was in doubt,” Sheeran sings with brimming confidence — and that’s before the drums kick in to add heft to the graceful piano and Sheeran’s soothing words.

“Dusty”

“There’s more than sadness we got within us / Let’s put some color into the grey,” Sheeran softly declares on “Dusty,” a restrained electro-pop track inspired by listening to Dusty Springfield with his young daughter. After a run of wrenching songs, “Dusty” offers a calm reprieve: the synths, programmed drums and guitar congeal into a midtempo sway-along, and Sheeran’s voice is often doubled, as if he’s finally arrived at a supported moment.

“Salt Water”

In between the two pre-release songs on the – track list, “Boat” and “Eyes Closed,” sits perhaps the darkest song of Sheeran’s career: “Salt Water” finds the singer-songwriter prodding his own suicidal thoughts, belting out, “I’m free in salt water / Embrace the deep and leave everything” over a tangle of guitars, cello and tambourine. With its backing vocals on the chorus, “Salt Water” soars as a folk-pop sing-along when divorced from its lyrical context — but as it stands, the longest song on the album is ambitiously unnerving.

“Eyes Closed”

Lead single “Eyes Closed” translates so many of Sheeran’s top 40 trademarks — the earworm intro, the emphasized first line of the chorus, the post-refrain vocal hook — into a quiet, mournful song about not knowing how to move forward after losing a loved one. On an album like –, “Eyes Closed” makes for the perfect radio offering, crystallizing the project’s sorrow and presenting the emotion as a catchy, universal product (Max Martin, Shellback and Fred Again.., who produced the track alongside Dessner, surely helped with that effect).

“The Hills of Aberfeldy”

Sheeran began dreaming up the idea of – years ago, and that idea kept getting pushed back and shape-shifted — but “The Hills of Aberfeldy,” written with Foy Vance when Sheeran was an aspiring singer-songwriter, was always intended as the closing track whenever that album came out. Today, “Aberfeldy” sparkles in its wide-eyed intimacy, a rustic love song with string interludes and a sense of patience — as if its message was always meant to endure, after the song was so long preserved.

“End of Youth”

Longtime Sheeran fans slightly thrown off by this album’s shift in tone, and looking for a song to unlock the heaviness, should consider starting with “End of Youth,” which distills all of Sheeran’s best qualities — his sense of melody, his impactful lyricism, his ability to let his voice roam into both huge falsettos and patient rapping without losing its center — into the full-length’s darker shades. The meditation on losing your innocence is purposely bleak, but over a steady beat, Sheeran is firing on all cylinders.

“Sycamore”

Sheeran wrote “Sycamore” in a state of dread, attempting to focus on a beautiful tree while his wife’s pregnancy complications were unraveling the fabric of his world. That fear resulted in one of the most gorgeously rendered songs of the singer-songwriter’s career: in the same way that “Sycamore” finds Sheeran’s life evolving while overcoming devastation, he uses the song to grow his craft, tossing out open-ended questions and ideas of love’s cyclical nature within straightforward melodies and full-hearted vocals. “Sycamore” will possibly make you cry; within Sheeran’s growing catalog, it will definitely stand out.

Here Are the Top 10 Most-Watched Super Bowl Halftime Shows

djfrosty

May 4, 2023

While the Super Bowl is one of the biggest television events in the United States every year, the star-studded halftime show is often what gets the most online attention.

In 2023, Rihanna returned to the stage for the first time in more than five years to perform at Super Bowl LVII at Glendale, Ariz.’s State Farm Stadium, and the hype surrounding the performance led to a history making accomplishment. With 121.017 million viewers, RiRi’s performance narrowly surpassed Katy Perry’s 2015 performance as the most-watched halftime show of all time.

Rihanna’s achievement comes after Nielsen revised this year’s original 118.7 million viewers “after a review that revealed encoding irregularities as well as issues with out-of-home measurement,” according to the Associated Press. (The revised report regarding the Super Bowl LVII game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles also made this year’s football match the most-watched Super Bowl in history with 115.1 million viewers.)

Over the years, a number of stars have passed the 100 million viewership mark, stretching all the way back to Black Eyed Peas’ 2011 performance. From Rihanna and Beyoncé to Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake, see below for the Super Bowl halftime shows with the all-time most viewership.

Jennifer Lopez & Shakira

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Total viewers: 104 million

Two female Latin powerhouses took the Super Bowl LIV stage in 2020, as Jennifer Lopez and Shakira traded off performing their hits, like Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block” and “Waiting for Tonight” and Shakira’s “She Wolf” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Lopez’s daughter Emme Muñiz all joined them onstage as guests, and the performance had a total viewership of 104 million.

Justin Timberlake

Image Credit: Christopher Polk/GI

Total viewers: 106.6 million

Justin Timberlake 2018 Super Bowl LII performance garnered 106.6 million viewers with hits like “Sexy Back,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” and a Prince tribute with a rendition of “I Would Die 4 U.”

Black Eyed Peas

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Total viewers: 110.2 million

With 110.2 million viewers, Black Eyed Peas’ 2011 Super Bowl XLV halftime show performance makes the list. The group performed songs like “I Gotta Feeling,” “Boom Boom Pow” and “Where Is the Love?”

Beyoncé

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Total viewers: 110.8 million

Yes, Bey made the list twice. Her solo show included hits like “Halo” and “Run The World (Girls)” before an iconic Destiny’s Child reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to perform “Bootylicious,” “Independent Women Part I” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” The 2013 XLVII halftime show garnered 110.8 million viewers.

Madonna

Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Total viewers: 114 million

Madonna took the Super Bowl XLVI stage in 2012 with a viewership of 114 million, as she performed a slew of her hits and welcomed LMFAO onstage to deliver renditions of “Music,” “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It.”

Bruno Mars

Image Credit: Getty Images

Total viewers: 115.3 million

Bruno Mars brought the heat to 2014’s Super Bowl XLVIII with slick performances of “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Treasure” and “Runaway Baby,” in addition to a guest appearance by Red Hot Chili Peppers. His show garnered 115.3 million views, just shy of Coldplay’s numbers.

Coldplay

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Total viewers: 115.5 million

Beyoncé and Bruno Mars joined Coldplay during the band’s 2016 halftime show, which got 115.5 million viewers with performances of “Yellow,” “Paradise,” “Viva la Vida” and “Fix You,” among other hits.

Lady Gaga

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Total viewers: 117.5 million

Gaga’s 2017 performance for Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, featured hits songs like “Poker Face,” “Born This Way,” “Paparazzi” and “Just Dance,” and ultimately brought in 117.5 million views.

Katy Perry

Image Credit: Rob Carr/GI

Total viewers: 121 million

With 121 million views, Katy Perry’s 2015 performance at at Super Bowl XLIX trails just behind RiRi as the second most-watched show. The meme-making performance (remember Left Shark?) featured Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliot and the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band as Perry performed hits like “Roar,” “California Gurls” and “Firework.”

Rihanna

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for Roc Nation

Total viewers: 121.017 million

With 121.017 million viewers, Rihanna’s 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.

During her performance at Glendale, Ariz.’s State Farm Stadium, she revealed she was pregnant with her second child with partner A$AP Rocky, and performed Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits like “Only Girl (in the World),” “We Found Love,” “S&M,” “Rude Boy,” “Work” and many more.

10 Artists Who Could Possibly Headline Coachella 2024

djfrosty

April 27, 2023

Coachella 2023 was a rollercoaster ride — at least as far as the headliners were concerned. After Frank Ocean was announced for the 2023 edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival even before the 2022 fest took place, Bad Bunny and BLACKPINK rounded out the slate of headliners upon the lineup announcement earlier this year. Then, an abrupt change between the first and second weekend of the fest: Ocean pulled out of the latter due to an ankle injury, with Blink-182 and the trio of Skrillex, Four Tet and Fred Again.. instead closing out the main stage.

After months of anticipation, Coachella 2023 is in the rearview. Naturally, it’s time to start wondering who will top the 2024 lineup.

We’ve got a full year until Coachella 2024 and roughly nine months until its lineup is unveiled, but we can start daydreaming about which A-listers could possibly be en route to the desert in April 2024. These 10 artists could feasibly top next year’s lineup, thanks to a mix of star status, recent commercial wins and/or clues that new music is in the works. For the sake of simplicity, this list doesn’t include any past Coachella headliners who are currently active, like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd or Drake — so while Beychella Part II would be welcomed by all far and wide, we’re only thinking of artists who would be making their debuts as Coachella headliners, which is often the case for these bookings anyway.

So who are some names to keep in mind for 2024? Here’s a preliminary list of A-listers who would headline next year’s Coachella:

Rihanna

After rocking the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, could Rihanna finally be headed to the desert as a Coachella headliner in 2024? Rih was heavily rumored to top the 2023 festival lineup in the spot that ultimately went to BLACKPINK, and perhaps the baby bump that she revealed during her Super Bowl LVII extravaganza last February can help explain why.

Rihanna is about to become a mother of two, but not much is otherwise known about her next 12 months – including any timetable for the release of new music, after she issued a pair of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack cuts late last year, as well as any non-Super Bowl shows planned. Anytime she wants to headline the fest, Coachella will presumably be happy to have her; we’ll see whether or not the Navy can find love in a hopeless place in 2024.

Dua Lipa

“I gotta get out the studio more and see some sunlight,” Dua Lipa wrote on social media in February – a good indication that new music from the UK pop star, and perhaps the follow-up to her 2020 sophomore album Future Nostalgia, are very much in the works. Whenever Lipa does return, she’ll be able to add her new music to an arsenal of hits, spread out across her two studio albums (“Don’t Start Now,” “Levitating,” “New Rules”) and one-off collaborations (“Cold Heart” with Elton John, “One Kiss” with Calvin Harris).

If Lipa’s LP3 is ready to roll by this time next year, she would fit into the mold of recent headliners like Ariana Grande, Harry Styles and BLACKPINK – ultra-cool A-listers with new material to promote and/or premiere at Coachella. The shortlist of potential pop headliners at Coachella should undoubtedly include her name.

SZA

The artist behind the biggest song in the country — which hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 after eight weeks in the runner-up spot — is on a hot streak that extends far beyond “Kill Bill.” SZA’s long-awaited sophomore album SOS has been one of the biggest albums of the year thus far and has been showered with critical acclaim, setting up a potential awards-season run pushing into 2024.

The success of SOS has also pushed SZA into arena-headliner territory, as her tour in support of the album has added more dates due to high demand. Headlining Coachella would be the ultimate victory lap for a singular artist who has long been beloved by R&B fans, but has recently leveled up her commercial profile in every conceivable way.

Doja Cat

At the 2022 edition of Coachella, Ye backed out as the Sunday night headliner, and Swedish House Mafia with special guest The Weeknd shifted into the empty space at the top of the bill. Before the replacement became official, however, some fans pointed to another potential headliner already scheduled for the main stage on Sunday: Why not Doja Cat? After all, her 2021 album Planet Her spun off five top 20 Hot 100 hits, in addition to previous smashes like “Say So” and “Streets”; furthermore, Doja is a force of personality, and although she hasn’t been in the spotlight for too many years, she commands its presence.

Since Coachella 2022, Doja Cat has earned another top 10 entry with the Elvis soundtrack single “Vegas,” and hopped on hits with Post Malone and SZA. If she releases the follow-up to Planet Her before the end of the year, it will be one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2023. And a Coachella 2024 headlining booking would be a slam dunk, for both Doja Cat and the festival itself.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo’s 2021 debut album, Sour, became such a commercial triumph that her sophomore LP, whenever it arrives, will be greeted with feverish enthusiasm. That’s why the Grammy winner for best new artist could headline Coachella next year even with a limited catalog: Rodrigo has a finite number of released songs, but everyone in a headliner crowd would know them all by heart, from “Drivers License” to “good 4 u” to “Deja Vu” to whatever she deems to release next.

Consider a potential Rodrigo booking in 2024 similar to Billie Eilish’s headlining gig at Coachella in 2022: a young superstar with a sky-high approval rating, running through the ubiquitous hits and beloved album cuts that recently made her a household name. And as a nod to the festival’s rock roots, maybe Veruca Salt can join Rodrigo for her cover of “Seether,” too!

Cardi B

A few weeks ago, Cardi B celebrated the five-year anniversary of the release of her 2018 debut album, Invasion of Privacy… as well as the five-year anniversary of fans asking her when the follow-up will finally arrive. It’s hard to blame them: Invasion of Privacy remains one of the most cohesive, engrossing hip-hop debuts in recent memory, featuring No. 1 hits like “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.” While the wait continues for Album No. 2, the rap superstar has been able to tide fans over with chart-topping one-off singles like “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion and “Up.”

If a sophomore LP materializes for Cardi B in the next 12 months, expect her name to show up in the Coachella Possibility conversation. Honestly, it could show up even if an album doesn’t arrive — such is her continued, all-encompassing appeal.

Shakira

This year, Coachella made history by booking Bad Bunny, its first headliner who records predominantly Spanish-language music. The festival should consider giving future opportunities to Latin music artists as well — and who better to lead the potential 2024 headliners than Shakira, an international superstar currently experiencing a renaissance near the top of the Hot 100?

Shakira could have headlined any recent iteration of Coachella, thanks to her decades-long track record of hits. But in 2023, the Colombian star has returned to mainstream pop prominence with a pair of top 10 singles, thanks to her fiery Bizarrap team-up “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53” and her Karol G collaboration “TQG,” which peaked at Nos. 9 and 7 on the Hot 100, respectively. Although Shakira’s relevance within the Latin pop community has never flagged, that one-two punch has returned her to the U.S. mainstream in exciting fashion — and a Coachella slot could punctuate that run.

Miley Cyrus

Speaking of a veteran star coming off a rejuvenating hit: Miley Cyrus scored the biggest smash of her career earlier this year when “Flowers,” the lead single to her Endless Summer Vacation album, logged eight nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100. In the past, Cyrus has headlined festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits thanks to a slew of past hits and audacious stage persona — could she head to Indio next year armed with her longest-running chart-topper yet?

Cyrus has yet to announce a tour in support of Endless Summer Vacation, so we’ll see how exactly she plans to support her latest full-length on the road. If she ends up snagging a Coachella ’24 headlining slot, though, expect the set to become one of the more must-see (and potentially star-studded) performances of the festival.

BTS Members & Friends

A proper BTS headlining set at next year’s Coachella is going to hit an obvious roadblock: the mandatory military service required of their members, which has already halted larger group activities for the time being. While members have embarked on solo projects and performances over the past year, a full-on reunion isn’t likely until at the very least 2025, based on the members’ own comments on the matter.

Maybe that precludes BTS from having a presence at next year’s Coachella… or maybe the members who can perform at the 2024 festival get creative, with a one-of-a-kind set that functions as both a showcase to recent solo endeavors and a stopgap salute to ARMY before a globe-conquering group return. Imagine a headlining set featuring BTS members playing their solo material off of each other, special guests arriving to deliver features, and a few see-you-soon performances of the collective’s biggest hits to date. That type of show is unlikely at this moment, but it would also be the ultimate care package to fans if they can pull it off.

Taylor Swift

I mean… this works all too well, right? The superstar behind the most in-demand tour of 2023, capping things off with her Coachella debut in 2024? The festival constantly wants to one-up its collection of headliners, and after a blockbuster trio in 2023, no artist would raise the stakes quite like Taylor Swift would as a 2024 bill-topper.

Swift has long favored headlining tours over festival appearances, and this year is no exception with her Eras stadium run. So, no, Taylorchella isn’t likely for 2024. But we can dream.

Here Are All the Hot 100 Records That Drake Has (And Hasn’t) Broken

djfrosty

April 18, 2023

Every Drake release brings its share of Billboard chart history, and his new single “Search & Rescue” is no different.
The track debuts at No. 2 on the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated April 22), extending his records for the most top 5s, top 10s, top 20s, top 40s and total entries in chart history.
As Drake makes more history, here’s a look at all the Hot 100 records the superstar has broken in his career, and those that he hasn’t (yet), all through the chart dated April 22, 2023.
It’s worth noting that, as streaming has become more prominent in recent years, some acts have been able to achieve impressive Hot 100 feats after releasing high-profile albums. The model contrasts with prior decades, when acts generally promoted one single at a time in the physical-only marketplace and on radio. That shift in consumption helps explain why artists have been able to increase their total number of career entries and top 10s over short spans in recent years.

Most Top Five Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Drake has 35 top five hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Most Top 10 Hot 100 Hits

Drake has 68 top 10 hits on the Hot 100.

Most Top 20 Hot 100 Hits

Drake has 116 top 20 hits on the Hot 100.

Most Top 40 Hot 100 Hits

Drake has 174 top 40 hits on the Hot 100.

Most Hot 100 Hits

Drake has 294 Hot 100 hits.

Most No. 2-Peaking Hot 100 Hits

Drake has nine songs that have peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.

Most No. 1 Hot 100 Debuts

Drake has seven songs that have debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Most Top Five Hot 100 Debuts

Drake has 25 songs that have debuted in the top five on the Hot 100.

Most Top 10 Hot 100 Debuts

Drake has 53 songs that have debuted in the top 10 of the Hot 100.

Most Top 20 Hot 100 Debuts

Drake has 93 songs that have debuted in the top 20 of the Hot 100.

Most Top 40 Hot 100 Debuts

Drake has 141 songs that have debuted in the top 40 of the Hot 100.

Most Consecutive Weeks Spent on the Hot 100

Drake spent a record 431 consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 (2009 – 2017).

Most Simultaneous Top Five Hot 100 Hits

Drake had five top five Hot 100 hits on the Sept. 18, 2021-dated chart, matching The Beatles, who hit that record on April 4, 1964. Taylor Swift matched the record on Nov. 5, 2022.

Most Simultaneous Top 20 Hot 100 Hits

Drake had 15 simultaneous top 20 Hot 100 hits on the Nov. 19, 2022-dated chart.

Most Simultaneous Top 40 Hot 100 Hits

Drake had 21 simultaneous top 40 Hot 100 hits on the July 14, 2018 and Sept. 18, 2021-dated charts

Most Top 10 Hits in a Calendar Year

Drake earned 13 top 10 hits on the Hot 100 in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

Most Top 40 Hits in a Calendar Year

Drake earned 31 top 40 hits on the Hot 100 in 2022.

Most Cumulative Weeks Spent in the Top 10

Drake has spent 372 total weeks in the top 10 of the Hot 100 (combining the totals of all his 68 top 10s).

HASN’T BROKEN: Most No. 1 Hits

Drake has tallied 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in his career, the most among rappers. Among all artists, though, he’s tied with Whitney Houston for the seventh-most, after The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (19), Rihanna (14), Michael Jackson (13), The Supremes and Madonna (12 each).

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Hits

Morgan Wallen holds the record for the most entries on the Hot 100 in a single week, with 36 on March 18, 2023 from his LP One Thing At A Time. Drake previously held the record, when he charted 27 songs on the July 14, 2018-dated chart.

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Cumulative Weeks Spent at No. 1

Drake has spent a combined 54 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in his career. That’s the fourth-most, after Mariah Carey (87), Rihanna (60) and The Beatles (59).

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Consecutive Weeks Spent in the Top 10

Drake spent 51 consecutive weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10 in 2015-16, thanks to “Hotline Bling,” Rihanna’s Drake-featuring “Work,” “Summer Sixteen” and “One Dance,” featuring WizKid and Kyla. That’s the fourth-longest unbroken run in the top 10, after Katy Perry’s 69-week run in 2010-11, The Chainsmokers’ 61-weeks in 2016-17 and Justin Bieber’s 59 weeks in 2021-22.

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Simultaneous Top 10 Hot 100 Hits

Drake logged a then-record nine entries in the top 10 on the chart dated Sept. 18, 2021. Swift surpassed that when she blanketed the entire top 10 on the chart dated Nov. 5, 2022.

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Top 10 Hot 100 Hits From One Album

Drake scored nine top 10s from his 2021 album Certified Lover Boy, the record until Taylor Swift notched. 10 from Midnights on the chart dated Nov, 5, 2022.

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Weeks Simultaneously Topping the Hot 100 & Billboard 200

Drake has doubled-up atop both charts simultaneously on eight different occasions in his career, the third-most of all time after The Beatles and Whitney Houston, who have doubled for 12 weeks apiece.

HASN’T BROKEN: Most No. 1 Hits in a Calendar Year

Drake biggest year, in terms of No. 1 Hot 100 singles, was 2018, where he scored three of his 11 No. 1 hits: “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What” and “In My Feelings.” The record for the most No. 1 hits earned in a calendar year belongs to The Beatles, who earned six in 1964: “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Love Me Do,” “A Hard Day’s Night” and “I Feel Fine.” (Though Drake’s vocals are used on Travis Scott’s 2018 No. 1 “Sicko Mode,” he is not officially credited on the track and it therefore does not count towards his chart history.)

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Top Five Hits in a Calendar Year

Drake tallied eight top five hits on the Hot 100 in 2021 alone, his personal best for any year: “What’s Next,” “Wants and Needs,” “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” “Champagne Poetry,” “Girls Want Girls,” “Fair Trade,” “Way 2 Sexy” and “Knife Talk.” The Beatles hold the all-time record for most top five hits in a calendar year, with 10 earned in 1964: “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “Please Please Me,” “Twist and Shout,” “Do You Want To Know a Secret,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Love Me Do,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “I Feel Fine” and “She’s a Woman.”

HASN’T BROKEN: Most Overall Entries in a Calendar Year

Drake earned 41 total entries on the Hot 100 in 2022, a new personal best in a single year. The overall record for most entries earned in a calendar year is 80, achieved by the Glee Cast in 2010.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent at No. 1

Drake’s longest running No. 1 hit is “God’s Plan”: 11 weeks in 2018. Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, holds the all-time longevity record, with 19 weeks spent at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2019.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent in the Top Five

Drake’s longest running top five Hot 100 hit is “God’s Plan” (22 weeks). The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” holds the record for the most weeks spent in the region, with 43 weeks.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent in the Top 10

Drake’s longest running top 10 hit is “God’s Plan” (26 weeks). The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” holds the record for the most weeks spent in the region, with 57 weeks.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent in the Top 20

Drake’s longest running top 20 hit is “No Guidance” (Chris Brown featuring Drake; 31 weeks). The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” holds the record for the most weeks spent in the region, with 80 weeks.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent in the Top 40

Drake’s longest running top 40 hit is “No Guidance” (Chris Brown featuring Drake; 44 weeks). The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” holds the record for the most weeks spent in the region, with 86 weeks.

HASN’T BROKEN: Song With the Most Weeks Spent on the Hot 100

Drake’s longest-running Hot 100 hit overall is “No Guidance” (46 total weeks). Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” holds the record for the most weeks spent on the chart, with 91 in 2021-22.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Every Lip Sync From Season 15, Ranked

djfrosty

April 13, 2023

Despite what some lawmakers around the country are trying, the art of drag is not going anywhere. Case in point, RuPaul’s Drag Race continues its supreme reign as the pinnacle of modern reality television.

With its latest season, Drag Race managed to up the stakes not only financially (with a newly-boosted $200,000 cash prize) or in terms of network (the show made the jump from VH1 to MTV this year), but through its execution as well — with its largest-ever cast of 16 talented queens, each episode of the hit show’s 15th season saw every contestant working hard to earn their keep.

While the queens gave their all in each of the maxi challenges — including Drag Race staples like Snatch Game and the Rusical — it was season 15’s lip syncs where the queens really brought their A-game. Whether it was a Lip Sync For Your Life to survive another week on the show, or a Lip Sync Lalaparuza performance in the show’s battle royale format, every queen who appeared on season 15 had to rely on their lip sync abilities in order to impress throughout a season where everyone seemed impressive.

But which of this season’s many lip syncs stood out amongst the rest … and which ones failed to impress? Ahead of the finale airing this Friday (April 14), Billboard is taking a look back at all 20 of the lip syncs performed thus far on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, and ranking them from worst to best. Check out where your favorite landed below:

Malaysia Babydoll Foxx vs. Spice: Camila Cabello, “Don’t Go Yet”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Rule number one of every lip sync, on or off RuPaul’s Drag Race: you must know the words to the song. Yet in this Lalaparuza lip sync, neither queen could manage to remember the song’s lyrics — with one even choosing the song as a means of sabotaging the other. Both Malaysia and Spice ended up bopping around the stage while trying to hide the fact that they simply had no idea what Camila Cabello was singing on the song’s chorus.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Malaysia Babydoll Foxx vs. Salina EsTitties: Beyoncé, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

The moment that “Single Ladies” began playing in this mid-season Lip Sync For Your Life, members of the BeyHive everywhere got excited — at long last, one of Beyoncé’s most iconic hits would be making its Drag Race debut. But by the time it had ended, even lip sync winner Salina EsTitties was offering up an apology to Queen Bey. Neither queen managed to match the song’s hype or energy in this largely lackluster lip sync, though Salina’s commitment to recreating the video choreography beat-by-beat was at least admirable.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Loosey LaDuca vs. Spice: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)”

For a song as gritty as “Do You Wanna Touch Me,” we expected these queens to get much more into it than they ultimately did. Both Loosey and Spice seemed to lack the raw, punk spirit of the song, instead aiming for safe performances that would remove them from the Lalaparuza tournament. In the end, Loosey did manage to put some funny moments into the song, earning her early exit from the contest. But, in the words of Marcia Marcia Marcia watching from a couch: “Pick it up girls, c’mon.”

Watch the full lip sync here.

Amethyst vs. Princess Poppy: Diana Ross, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

Along with knowing your words, reading the room is the key to a good lip sync. That’s clearly what Amethyst did when giving her performance to Diana Ross’ rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Matching the groove of the song with the vibe of her performance, Amethyst delivered a perfectly serviceable, if not somewhat boring, lip-sync to an iconic song. Princess Poppy, on the other hand, decided to show as much of her “between-me-down-there” (as RuPaul would call it) as possible, making for a very strange and one-sided lip sync.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Salina EsTitties vs. Spice: Lil Nas X, “That’s What I Want”

The real criminal in this lip sync was the choice of song. Both Salina and Spice did fine given the assignment, but we’re stuck wondering why “That’s What I Want” was the song picked out of all Lil Nas X’s discography for a Lip Sync For Your Life. “Call Me By Your Name (Montero),” “Industry Baby,” and even “Old Town Road” would have all been much better choices with clearer paths to success for either of these two queens, while “That’s What I Want” offered very little for our performers to act on.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Loosey LaDuca vs. Salina EsTitties: Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Hear us out on this one. Yes, objectively speaking, this was a very bad lip sync — Loosey and Salina tried “Running Up That Hill” and instead came tumbling down it. But sometimes, a performance can be so bad that it transcends objectivity and becomes compelling again, and that’s what ended up happening here. A lip sync is meant to entertain, and watching a very sad sea monster and a hot-dog-fingered abstract painting try to convey the complicated emotions of Kate Bush’s classic single turned out to be very entertaining, indeed.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Sugar vs. Spice: Pat Benatar, “You Better Run”

Much like the “Running Up That Hill” lip sync, the inevitable showdown between Sugar and Spice entered into “so bad it’s good” territory pretty early on. Watching these twinning queens work together with matching choreography in a competitive lip sync, only to have one of them actually face-plant twice on national television is the kind of high-camp comedy we’ve come to expect from Drag Race. It’s giving pure chaos, which we simply love to see.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Anetra vs. Luxx Noir London vs. Jax: Vanessa Williams, “The Right Stuff”

There is no denying after watching season 15 that Anetra, Luxx and Jax are all incredibly gifted lip sync performers in their own right. But when tasked with performing at the same time to Vanessa Williams’ iconic “The Right Stuff,” it suddenly became very hard to follow who was doing what. Had this been a classic head to head showdown between two of these three, we imagine this lip sync could have been one for the books. But by introducing a third queen, the stage suddenly became too jumbled with kicks and splits and drops to fairly discern which queen was winning.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Anetra vs. Mistress Isabelle Brooks: David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland, “When Love Takes Over”

The final showdown ahead of the season 15 finale was another bit of proof that dancing and stunts are not what makes a good lip sync performance. For the majority of this head-to-head, both Anetra and Mistress Isabelle Brooks remained in their respective spots on the stage, choosing to let their faces do the performing. Sure, we still got some duck-walking from Anetra and some speedbag punches from Mistress, but this lip-sync was sold by the passion in both queens’ faces throughout.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Amethyst vs. Irene Dubois: Ariana Grande, “7 Rings”

If you listen to the beat and tempo of Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings,” you’ll realize that the star’s casual-flex anthem is not that easy to dance to — and yet both Amethyst and Irene Dubois still managed to bop and shake their way into a memorable premiere lip sync. While Irene’s laid-back, sexed-up performance certainly managed to pull our attention, Amethyst’s spot-on embodiment of the track’s energy won her the day, with Ariana herself smiling in approval.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Jax vs. Robin Fierce: The Bangles, “In Your Room”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

The Bangles may not be an obvious pick for a RuPaul’s Drag Race lip sync smackdown, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the way that Jax and Robin Fierce performed to their single “In My Room.” Offering up two completely different performances, Robin showed off her flowing dance chops, while Jax proved to be a lightning-fast, endlessly agile performer, each stunning the judges in their own ways. Even with her A-tier stunts and choreo, Jax still got a run for her money from Robin, making their face-off all the more entertaining to watch.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Luxx Noir London vs. Salina EsTitties: Celine Dion, “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”

Lip-synch smarter, not harder. That may as well have been Salina EsTitties’ motto when she faced off with Luxx Noir London to Celine Dion’s iconic “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” for the Lalaparuza. Picking and choosing when in the song she would serve emotion, camp or sexuality, Salina proved to be a master of timing with this performance. For every beat of the song, she kept viewers on their toes, wondering where she would take them next — which helps, since it left few eyeballs on Luxx’s lip sync.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Loosey LaDuca vs. Luxx Noir London: Hayley Kiyoko, “For the Girls”

There is nothing better in a Lip Sync For Your Life than seeing a queen who will do whatever she has to in order to stay, which is exactly what we got with Luxx and Loosey’s Hayley Kiyoko showdown. Where Loosey tried to show some restraint, Luxx let herself go wild in this performance. Utilizing dips, drops and more hair flips than we can could, Luxx proved that sometimes, the key to winning is being nothing but utterly confident.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Anetra vs. Jax: CeCe Peniston, “Finally”

At the end of a lip-sync marathon and performing their third number in a matter of minutes, Anetra and Jax were both understandably tired by the time they arrived at CeCe Peniston’s “Finally.” But even when they were both worn down, this pair of lip sync superstars managed to turn out one of the highest-energy lip syncs of the season. Pulling out every dance move in their repertoire to this certified bop, the queens gave viewers whiplash with how quickly we felt ourselves bouncing back and forth between their gag-worthy moves, resulting in a photo-finish decision from the judges’ panel.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Malaysia Babydoll Foxx vs. Marcia Marcia Marcia: Anitta, “Boys Don’t Cry”

Everyone loves an underdog. When Marcia Marcia Marcia was seemingly singled-out for this Lalaparuza lip-sync as a queen who could be beat, she had a tall task when it came to proving herself. Yet prove herself she did, showing everyone that she wasn’t joking when she said she was a classically-trained dancer. Every move in this performance was purposeful and clean, as Marcia whipped around the stage like a hurricane made of pure drag, leaving Malaysia deep in her wake.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Amethyst vs. Salina EsTitties: Janelle Monáe, “Q.U.E.E.N.”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Guest judge Janelle Monáe said all that needed to be said when she started screaming mid-lip sync. When the original artist cannot help but yelp at your performance, you know you’ve done something right. Amethyst and Salina both knew their assignment from the song’s first note —the lyrics literally instruct you to be “a freak for getting down.” But it was Salina who embodied every ounce of swagger found in “Q.U.E.E.N,” while also adding her perfectly-executed bits (like losing her skirt for the “skirt on the ground” lyric) to make this lip sync one for the history books.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Mistress Isabelle Brooks vs. Jax: Taylor Dayne, “Tell It To My Heart”

Going up against a noted lip-sync assassin like Jax would be nerve-wracking for any queen … unless, of course, you’re Mistress Isabelle Brooks. The self-proclaimed “heavyweight champ” earned her title with this stunning lip sync to “Tell it to My Heart”. Instead of falling into the trap of attempting to outdance a trained dancer, Mistress instead focused on the drama of the song, utilizing her already-commanding stage presence for a phenomenal embodiment of this late ’80s dance-pop classic.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Aura Mayari vs. Jax: Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa, “Sweetest Pie”

There was no “Pie” leftover after this lip sync ended, because Jax ate and left no crumbs. While Aura struggled to remember all the words to Megan Thee Stallion’s rapid-fire rap, Jax remained cool, calm and collected while hitting every word and every movement of this song with perfect precision. Every flip and roll she did throughout the number landed with grace, fluidly transitioning each time into her next “oh my god how did she do that” trick. We’d say that Aura did a good job, too, but if we’re being honest, we kind of forgot that she was there about halfway through this incredible routine.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Anetra vs. Sasha Colby: Fifth Harmony, “I’m In Love With A Monster”

There is a reason that this lip sync was the showdown fans had been waiting for until it finally happened in episode 8. Anetra and Sasha are two of the best lip sync artists in the show’s history, and having them battle it out to Fifth Harmony halfway through the season felt like a gift for fans who’d been dedicated to keeping up with the season. Both queens had their words, their stunts, their acting and their presence down to a science throughout this high-octane number, never letting up on the gas. How the judges decided which of these two won or lost is simply beyond us.

Watch the full lip sync here.

Anetra vs. Marcia Marcia Marcia: Doja Cat, “Boss Bitch”

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

By every possible metric you can judge a lip sync from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Anetra and Marcia Marcia Marcia’s “Boss Bitch” performance gets a perfect score. Words? Dance moves? Face-serving? Storyline? Moments that make you say out loud “wait did she actually just leap over her body?” 10’s, 10’s, 10’s across the board.

Anetra and Marcia definitively showed what makes the Lip Sync For Your Life format — and for that matter, the art of lip-synching itself — so compelling; from the moment Doja Cat groaned “Mmm, I ain’t tryna,” both queens kept their audience rapt while they masterfully executed perfectly plotted-out presentations. While there were plenty of excellent lip-syncs throughout season 15, none of them came close to the masterclass displayed here.

Watch the full lip sync here.

A Timeline of Taylor Swift & Joe Alwyn’s Relationship

djfrosty

April 11, 2023

Swifties worldwide felt a collective sense of heartbreak on Saturday (April 8), when reports emerged that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have split after six years of dating.

“The relationship had just run its course. It’s why [Alwyn] hasn’t been spotted at any shows,” a source reportedly told ET. Billboard has since reached out to representatives for Swift and Alwyn, but had not received a response. The couple has yet to publicly reveal the status of their relationship.

Swift began dating the actor, who has appeared in a number of films including 2018’s The Favourite and 2022’s Conversations With Friends, in 2016. They’ve stayed private about their relationship throughout the past six years, though they’ve mentioned each other in interviews.

Alwyn also worked with Swift on her albums under the pen name William Bowery, winning his first Grammy in 2021 as a co-producer of Swift’s album of the year winner, Folklore (along with Swift, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner).

On Evermore, Alwyn co-wrote “Champagne Problems,” The National-assisted “Coney Island” and “Evermore.” And on Swift’s most recent release, Midnights, he contributed to “Sweet Nothing.”

We’ve compiled a timeline of Swift and Alwyn’s relationship, which you can check out below. We also have a timeline of everything the former couple has said about each other, which you can find here.

November 2016 – Swift Attends ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ Premiere

After rumors began swirling that Swift met Alwyn at the 2016 Met Gala, and that the duo attended a Kings of Leon concert a month after the superstar’s split from Tom Hiddleston, the first public sighting of Swift and Alwyn in the same location came in November 2016.

Swift was joined by her mom and friends Este and Alana Haim at the Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk premiere, in which Alwyn plays the titular character.

May 2017: First Reports of a Relationship

The Sun published a report that the duo had been together for a few months.

“This isn’t a new couple alert or a secret relationship – the only people this has been a secret to is the media because all of us, Taylor and Joe’s closest friends and their families, were aware they have been together for several months and have known each other for a long time,” a source reportedly told the publication. “After her 1989 tour and all the attention Taylor received, she learned she had to be more protective of her personal life and she and Joe decided early on to keep their private life private.”

Summer 2017 – First Paparazzi Photos

The couple was finally caught in public in June 2017, when they were seen sitting on a balcony in Nashville. A month lather, they were snapped leaving Swift’s NYC apartment (while trying very hard to be incognito).

May 2018 – Instagram Official (Kind Of)

Both Alwyn and Swift posted photos of themselves (solo) next to the same exact cactus, which the actor later admitted was unintentional. “I didn’t even think of that until I was in New York and someone else mentioned it,” he said, according to ET. “It wasn’t purposeful at all!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bif99lZH4NY

https://www.instagram.com/p/BihcBfFB5yc

September 2018 – Joe Talks About Taylor for the First Time

“I’m aware people want to know about that side of things,” he said of their relationship. “I think we have been successfully very private, and that has now sunk in for people.”

“But I really prefer to talk about work,” he added.

November 2018 – Swift Posts About Alwyn’s Movie

Another subtle Instagram nod to their relationship came when Swift promoted The Favourite, in which Alwyn played Samuel Masham. She even tagged Alwyn in the caption.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgSGXVl22M

February 2019 – Swift and Alwyn Step Out at BAFTAS After Party.

The duo walked hand-in-hand, with Alwyn dressed in a sleek tuxedo and Swift in a pale blue Stella McCartney dress, as they headed out of the party.

August 2019 – The ‘Lover’ Era

In August 2019, Swift released her seventh studio album Lover, which she revealed during a YouTube Live is about relationships and her current “lover.” Fans then began noticing clues about the couple in songs like “London Boy,” “Cornelia Street,” “Paper Rings” and the album’s title track.

October 2019 – ‘SNL’ After Party

After Swift took the stage at Saturday Night Live, the couple were seen holding hands while heading to New York’s Zuma for the show’s after party.

December 2019 – Alwyn Attends ‘Cats’ Premiere

Alwyn supported Swift at the premiere of Cats, in which she played Bombalurina.

January 2020 – Date Night at the Golden Globes

While the duo didn’t walk the red carpet together at the 2020 Golden Globes, where Swift was nominated for best original song for her and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats track “Beautiful Ghosts,” the couple sat together inside the venue.

April 2020 – Benjamin Button Photos

With COVID-19 spreading rapidly, Swift and Alwyn seemed to enjoy quarantining together, as Alwyn shared multiple photos of the singer’s cat Benjamin Button.

July 2020 – William Bowery Enters the Scene

With the release of Folklore, fans noticed a mysterious William Bowery credited as a writer on both “Exile” and “Betty.”

Fans immediately began speculating that Bowery was Alwyn, as the couple had spent a lot of time in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City early in their relationship.

November 2020 – Swift Reveals ‘Peace’ Is About Alwyn

During a conversation with Paul McCartney for Rolling Stone, Swift shared that the Folklore track is “actually more rooted in my personal life. I know you have done a really excellent job of this in your personal life: carving out a human life within a public life, and how scary that can be when you do fall in love and you meet someone, especially if you’ve met someone who has a very grounded, normal way of living. I, oftentimes, in my anxieties, can control how I am as a person and how normal I act and rationalize things, but I cannot control if there are 20 photographers outside in the bushes and what they do and if they follow our car and if they interrupt our lives. I can’t control if there’s going to be a fake weird headline about us in the news tomorrow.”

She added that while Alwyn “absolutely” understands her life, the relationship has changed her perspective on privacy. “Whether that’s deciding where to live, who to hang out with, when to not take a picture—the idea of privacy feels so strange to try to explain, but it’s really just trying to find bits of normalcy. That’s what that song ‘Peace’ is taking about. Like, would it be enough if I could never fully achieve the normalcy that we both crave?”

November 2020 – William Bowery’s Identity Is Revealed

In Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions, Swift revealed that the identity of Bowery is none other than Alwyn, confirming fan speculation. “There’s been a lot of discussion about William Bowery and his identity because it’s not a real person,” she said in the Disney+ special. “William Bowery is Joe, as we know.”

December 2020 – William Bowery Reappears on ‘Evermore’

Bowery is credited on the album’s “Champagne Problems,” “Coney Island” and “Evermore.”

April 2021 – Alwyn Is Officially a Grammy Winner

Alwyn co-produced six songs on Folklore, which won album of the year at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards – “Exile,” “Betty,” “My Tears Ricochet,” “August,” “This Is Me Trying” and “Illicit Affairs.” In addition, he co-wrote “Exile” and “Betty” under the pseudonym William Bowery.

March 2022 – The Couple Attends Pre-Oscars Party

“Taylor was introducing Joe to many people around her,” a source told E! of CAA’s pre-Oscars party at the San Vicente Bungalows. “She looked smitten and proud to be there with him.”

Another source said the two “were very coupley and cute and seemed happy to be there together. Taylor and Joe were together all night. He was leading her around introducing her to people, and Taylor also introducing people to Joe. When Joe was leading Taylor around, he held his arm around her back.”

April 2022 – Alwyn Addressed Engagement Rumors

Rumors had been circulating for years that the duo planned to tie the knot, but Alwyn kept the topic private as usual. “If I had a pound for every time I think I’ve been told I’ve been engaged, then I’d have a lot of pound coins,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn’t say.”

June 2022 – Bahamas Vacation

TMZ shared photos of the couple kissing while swimming in the ocean, and relaxing on sun beds during their sunny vacation.

February 2023 – “Lavender Haze” Music Video

Before releasing Midnights, Swift revealed to fans that “Lavender Haze” is inspired by her relationship with Alwyn. “I happened upon the phrase ‘Lavender Haze’ when I was watching Mad Men,” the musical artist explained in a post on Instagram. “I looked it up because I thought it sounded cool, and it turns out that it’s a common phrase used in the ’50s where they would describe being in love…If you were in the lavender haze, then that meant that you were in that all-encompassing love glow, and I thought that was really beautiful.”

She continued, “I guess theoretically, when you’re in the lavender haze, you’ll do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off of that cloud. I think a lot of people have to deal with this now, not just ‘public figures’, because we live in the era of social media. If the world finds out that you’re in love with somebody, they’re going to weigh in on it.”

When the music video for the song was released in February 2023, Swift snuck in one of her famous Easter Eggs on a “Mastermind” vinyl that appears in the clip. On the cover are Sagittarius and Pisces constellations, which are Swift and Alwyn’s zodiac signs, respectively.

April 2023 – Breakup Reports

According to ET, a source said the breakup was amicable and “was not dramatic.”

“The relationship had just run its course. It’s why [Alwyn] hasn’t been spotted at any shows,” the source reportedly noted. Swift and Alwyn have yet to publicly confirm or deny the split.

43 Times Parody Singer Randy Rainbow Roasted Donald Trump

djfrosty

April 3, 2023

Shady singer extraordinaire Randy Rainbow is well-known for his politically charged parody videos.
Although they started off as mock interviews with politicians and celebrities, Randy eventually showed off his singing abilities in parody music videos based on Broadway tunes and pop hits. In these videos, Randy has taken a particular interest in President Trump and his administration.
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Not only does he have incredibly versatile vocals, Randy is also a hilariously talented lyricist. His sharp wit and tongue are the perfect tools that allow him to create the most scathing videos, guaranteed to make you laugh.
Here are 43 times Randy Rainbow has read Trump for filth since the start of his 2016 presidential campaign.

“Ya Got Trump Trouble”

“Ya Got Trump Trouble” was Randy Rainbow’s first-ever political satire song about Trump. Randy made this video in response to Trump’s official GOP nomination in 2016, and it got more than 4 million views on Facebook. In this song, Randy warns the American people of the impending chaos that Trump will unleash should he win the 2016 election, all to the tune of “Ya Got Trouble” from Music Man.
Watch here.

“Grab ‘Em by the P—y!”

In this video, Randy plays the role of Trump’s conscience and offers him some advice about one of his earlier scandals in 2016. The parody was made in response to Trump’s infamous discussion about condoning the sexual assault of women in a 2005 recording.
Watch here.

“Trump-Pence, Trump-Pence”

“Trump-Pence, Trump-Pence” was Randy’s final warning to the American public that voting for the duo on Election Day would be a very bad idea. Sadly, not even this solid rendition of “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins would be enough to prevent the election outcome.
Watch here.

“Donald Trump, Grow Up!”

After Mike Pence was booed during a showing of Hamilton, Trump took to Twitter to defend the vice president. In response to his stance, Randy crafted this Hamilton-inspired track that completely roasts Trump.
Watch here.

“Tweets, Tweets & Nothing But Tweets”

In “Tweets, Tweets & Nothing But Tweets,” Randy rants about Trump’s incessant tweeting to the tune of “Greens Greens” from Into the Woods. Not only is Randy completely over Trump’s never-ending stream of tweets, but he also hilariously points out all of the spelling errors Trump has made in several of his ridiculous tirades.
Watch here.

“You’re Making Things Up Again Donald!”

Randy holds nothing back in this parody of “Making Things Up Again” from Book of Mormon. In the song, Randy opens up with Donald spewing made-up facts about other countries and calls Trump out on spreading false claims.
Watch here.

“Putin and the Ritz”

Randy grills Jeff Sessions in a mock interview at the beginning about Trump’s involvement with Vladimir Putin and Russia. After breaking into a parody version of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Irving Berlin, Randy comes for Trump’s relationship with Putin and also drags Trump’s entire staff for failing to keep it a secret.
Watch here.

“Unpopular”

Randy’s response to Trump’s dwindling support during his first 100 days in office came in the form of this parody of “Popular” from Wicked. In the song, Randy lists all of Trump’s controversies and failures that have surrounded him since his inauguration at the beginning of 2017.
Watch here.

“The Russian Connection”

Randy takes on Trump in an interview about James Comey and his ties to Russia in “The Russian Connection.” Randy sings about Trump’s failed attempts to sway the FBI from investigating his connection to the foreign country, as well as Trump’s accomplices who also tried to cover it up.
Watch here.

“Donald Trump’s Mango Tour”

Randy channels Evita in another parody video digging at Trump’s inability to properly form decent relationships with other countries. Instead of the “Rainbow Tour,” Randy fittingly named the song “Donald Trump’s Mango Tour” to match the president’s appearance.
Watch here.

“Covfefe: The Broadway Medley”

One of Randy’s most ambitious parodies comes in the form of “Covfefe: The Broadway Medley,” which incorporates a handful of big hits from Broadway. While all of these songs come from different musicals, they all explore the same issue: How does one exactly pronounce “covfefe”?
Watch here.

“Before He Tweets”

Randy breaks from his usual Broadway shtick and takes on Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” In this parody, Randy drags Trump for being a complete and utter troll on Twitter.
Watch here.

DACA Shame

Randy opens up this parody video by interviewing Kellyanne Conway about the Trump administration’s decision to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In Randy Rainbow fashion, he bursts into song and touches on the racist undertones that Trump’s decision carries.
Watch here.

“Desperate Cheeto”

“Despacito” also received the Randy Rainbow political-satire treatment. In “Desperate Cheeto,” Randy decimates Trump and lists every single controversy and issue that has risen since he took office.
Watch here.

“Buttons”

Randy starts this video as a journalist grilling Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about Trump and Kim Jong-un’s nuclear attack threats. When he breaks into song, he compares the two world leaders and warns viewers that if Trump continues to poke at Kim Jong-un, we might find ourselves in a nuclear war.
Watch here.

“All About His Base”

Randy criticizes Trump’s fans and supporters and the president himself about their lack of awareness to the problems that he has caused in the parody of Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass.” Scarily enough, Randy explains that as long as Trump has his “base,” there’s no talking sense to him.
Watch here.

“You Can’t Stop His Tweets”

Randy Rainbow tackles Hairspray and Trump’s horrible tweeting in this “You Can’t Stop the Beat” parody. Much like Randy’s other parody videos surrounding Trump’s tweets, Randy goes in on Trump’s incessant habit of posting the most absurd things on Twitter.
Watch here.

“Commander of Cheese”

This parody song was inspired by Kellyanne Conway’s slip-up during an interview with CNN when she called the commander in chief, the “Commander of Cheese.” Leave it to Randy Rainbow to take this hilarious case of word vomit and make an entire song comparing Trump to moldy cheese.
Watch here.

“A Very Stable Genius”

Randy certainly has an ear for the best songs that make for the perfect foundation to make fun of Trump’s massive ego. In “A Very Stable Genius,” Randy parodies “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” from The Pirates of Penzance and points out Trump’s habit of making himself seem grander than he actually is.
Watch here.

“If You Ever Got Impeached”

Randy lists all the countless possibilities if Trump were to ever get impeached for his shady actions in this parody of “If I Only Had a Brain” from The Wizard of Oz.
Watch here.

“Voting”

The singer makes a few digs at Trump, all while encouraging American citizens to vote during the midterm elections.
Watch here.

“Trump’s Favorite Things”

The iconic “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music was also parodied by Randy Rainbow. In the spirit of the original track, Randy lists a handful of things that Trump is very fond of, such as climate change deniers, $5 spray tans and traitors.
Watch here.

“There Is Nothin’ Like a Wall”

In this South Pacific-inspired video, Randy focuses on the government shutdown and Trump’s obsession with building a border wall.
Watch here.

“The Donald Trump Cell Block Tango”

Randy Rainbow’s video, “The Donald Trump Cell Block Tango,” is a parody of the original “Cell Block Tango” track from Chicago. With a couple of nods to Trump’s indicted associates, Randy warns that Trump and Sarah Huckabee Sanders “have it coming” next.
Watch here.

“Border Lies”

“Border Lies” is a parody of Trump’s declaration of a national emergency regarding his campaign’s promised border wall. Rainbow, acting as a CNN reporter at Trump’s most recent press event, then begins his spoof by telling the president, “Some say that you’re full of shit and others, well agree/ That you’re just fomenting fear with your hyperbole.”
Watch here.

“Suckers”

With a song as ubiquitous and catchy as the Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker,” it was almost guaranteed that Rainbow would parody it. Following the president’s tweets calling for four democratic Congresswomen to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” Rainbow took aim at Trump’s supporters not only for their continued support, but also for echoing his rhetoric. “‘Cause they’re suckers for all of the criminal/ Shame-worthy things that you do,” he sings.
Watch here.

“Cheeto Christ Stupid-Czar”

When Trump tweeted that he was the “King of Israel” and looked to the sky during a press conference and said “I am the chosen one” in August 2019, Randy Rainbow had a field day with the president, crafting a full medley of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Mashing together songs like “King Herod’s Song,” “Everything’s Alright” and the titular track, Rainbow skillfully burned the president for appearing to claim that he was in any way holy.
Watch here.

“He’s Just a Gurl Who’ll Quid Pro Quo”

As the impeachment inquiry took place in the House of Representatives throughout November 2019, the president’s team began claiming that nowhere in Trump’s phone call with Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky did the president offer a “quid pro quo” of foreign aid in exchange for dirt on Joe Biden. Rainbow, naturally, disagreed with his hilarious take on Oklahoma‘s “I Cain’t Say No.”
Watch here.

“That Don!”

As the impeachment inquiry turned into an impeachment trial before the Senate, Trump was facing criticism for everything from the Ukraine scandal to his decision to assassinate Iranian leader Qassem Soleimani. So Rainbow stepped in to offer him some campaign advice (mainly, advice that he should drop out) with a hilarious rendition of “Gaston” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Watch here.

“No Rules For Donald”

Once the impeachment trial in the senate wrapped up, with Trump being acquitted for both articles of impeachment brought against him, Rainbow decided to give Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” a makeover. Crafting a parody where he lays out that the President’s acquittal led to more bad behavior, he confidently declares “there are no rules for Donald, he can do anything at all.”
Watch here.

“The Coronavirus Lament”

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the world in March 2020, Trump was roundly criticized for his lack of response to the fast-spreading virus. So, Rainbow offered his own critical take, hilariously roasting the President to the tune of “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys & Dolls, singing “From a lack of intelligent leadership/ And a headline that’s getting real old/ A person can develop a bad, bad cold.”
Watch here.

“A Spoonful of Clorox”

After Trump made a comment in a White House press briefing about how ingesting disinfectant could potentially kill the coronavirus in the body, Randy Rainbow joined the medical community in shutting down the idea. Parodying “A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins, the singer listed off a few harmful ways of “treating” COVID-19, before declaring that “a spoonful of Clorox makes your temperature go down/ In the most destructive ways.”
Watch here.

“The Bunker Boy”

The White House confirmed that during the Black Lives Matter protests outside of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave on June 1, the president was moved to an underground bunker. The news led the hashtag #BunkerBoy to trend on Twitter, and inspired Rainbow’s June 7 video. “The Bunker Boy” is sung to “The Jitterbug,” a tune performed by star Judy Garland that was cut from The Wizard of Oz. In the video, Rainbow teases the president by wondering where he is and pointing out that he’s in hiding. The singer also pokes fun at Trump by depicting him as an orange munchkin speaking behind a heavy-duty door, and dressing as The Cowardly Lion.
Watch here.

“Cover Your Freakin’ Face!”

Rainbow had more material to work with after Trump told attendees at his June campaign rally that he had instructed his team to “slow the testing down” as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the United States. In addition, the president has continued to refuse to wear a mask, though health experts have advised the facial covers help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. In response, the comedian dropped his latest video on June 29, rewriting the lyrics to “Put on a Happy Face” to “Cover Your Freakin’ Face!” He sings to the jazzy tune: “Maybe if we can’t see your mouth, you won’t say stupid s–t/ Don’t spread droplets all over the place/ And cover your freakin’ face.”
Watch here.

“Poor Deplorable Troll”

When President Trump’s approval ratings began plummeting alongside his polling numbers against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, fans could practically hear Rainbow cracking his knuckles. With his The Little Mermaid parody “Poor Deplorable Troll” released on July 6, the singer gleefully took on the villainous role to mock and humiliate the president as much as he possibly could. Rainbow also made it clear that with this song, he wouldn’t be holding anything back, as is evident with searing lyrics like “I couldn’t help but notice all your rallies and events are like your sex life; no one comes.”
Watch here.

“Gee, Anthony Fauci”

Rainbow, like many people in the country, are looking for scientific expertise to help lead the U.S. out of the coronavirus pandemic, so he implored Dr. Anthony Fauci to come to our rescue. In the July 22 parody, the comedian took on West Side Story‘s “Gee, Officer Krupke” to poke fun at Trump and his staff. “Please, Anthony Fauci, we’re all at a loss/ We can’t rely on Barbie or Cruella DeVos,” Rainbow sings. “He’s winding ’em up and they’re playing his tunes/ They’re all unethical buffoons!”
Watch here.

“If Donald Got Fired”

Rainbow teamed up with Patti Lapone to parody Gypsy’s “If Mama Was Married” to dream about what the world would be like without Trump as commander in chief. Sings Rainbow: “We could go back to life as we once knew it; miserable and unfair, but at least without the daily threat of complete authoritarianism and apocalyptic destruction!”
Watch here.

“How Will You Vote?”

The satirist went over the qualities of presidential candidates Trump and Biden in a parody set at the final debate, weeks before the election to help viewers decide who to cast their ballots for. Not surprisingly, the president’s weren’t too positive. Sings Rainbow about the business mogul: “Well, does he give a flying f— about whether you live or die? / Cover up his crimes and wish them all away? Does he lock children in cages? / Act like Nazis are okay? / That’s how you know, that’s how you know that he’s the one.”
Watch here.

“Not Re-Elected Today!”

While Trump continued to refuse to concede that he lost to Joe Biden nearly two weeks after the election, Rainbow was busy putting together a parody to poke fun at the president’s inability to come to terms with his defeat. Dressed as White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany — complete with blonde wig — the satirist parodied Company‘s “(Not) Getting Married Today,” singing: “He’s embarrassed so he isn’t coming out because he lost / I mean he didn’t lose, he won / And that’s exactly what I said / And so he’s sending out his staff to make preposterous pronouncements / While he binges Egg McMuffins ’til reality sets in.”
Watch here.

“Sedition!”

Rainbow once again drew inspiration from Fiddler on the Roof‘s “Tradition,” this time to point the finger of blame at Trump for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by the president’s supporters who want President-elect Joe Biden’s victory overturned.
Watch here.

“Seasons of Trump”

On Jan. 19, 45’s final full day in office, the comedian released a farewell video. Parodying Rent‘s “Seasons of Love,” Rainbow recalled all “2,102,400 minutes” of Trump’s presidency, from covfefes to various lies and more. “How do you measure four years of this s–t/ In scandals, impeachments, in porn stars, in Scaramuccis/ In rallies, in insurrections, in flies,” sings Rainbow while dressed in various costumes.
Watch here.

“Lock Him Up Yesterday!”

Rainbow took aim at his most frequent target in light of the Jan. 6 committee’s hearings. Starting out the video posing as a faux-Representative on the House Committee, Rainbow cuts to video footage of Trump fumbling his speech denouncing the attacks on the Capitol and struggling with the word “yesterday.” This, naturally, leads to a parody set to the tune of The Beatles‘ 1965 hit “Yesterday.” Mocking Trump’s seeming inability to pronounce the word, Rainbow uses his opportunity to also spoof the high-profile FBI raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. “Does it really take the FBI/ To verify he tends to lie?” he sings.
Watch here.

“Grumpy Trumpy Felon From Jamaica in Queens!”

The comedian went back to the former president’s roots — he was born in Queens, NYC — for his April 3, 2023, jab. The parody dropped one day before Trump’s expected arraignment in New York after being indicted by a grand jury after an investigation into an alleged hush money payment scheme to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The video kicks off with a fake interview between Rainbow and the real estate mogul, during which the comedian urges Trump to come up with a new campaign slogan for his “comeback/indictment tour.” After a few failed suggestions, Rainbow launches into “Grumpy Trumpy Felon From Jamaica in Queens!” — a take on The Andrew Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” In the spoof, he roasts Trump as “the bloated orange lunatic who’s been twice impeached,” and compared him to “a butternut squash” with bleached hair.

Watch here.

15 Transgender & Non-Binary Artists You Need to Know: Peppermint, Ethel Cain, Cavetown & More

djfrosty

March 31, 2023

Despite what some lawmakers may be attempting throughout the U.S. right now, transgender and non-binary people are not going anywhere anytime soon — and they’re more than ready to make their voices heard.

Friday (March 31) marks International Transgender Day of Visibility, an annual commemoration since 2010 that has been honored around the world as “a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces,” according to GLAAD.

This year, the world certainly needs a reminder of what exactly trans and gender diverse community is up against — despite being only three months into the calendar year, 2023 has already broken the record for the most anti-trans legislation introduced across the U.S., with states like West Virginia, Iowa and Kentucky all banning gender-affirming care for minors.

In a 2022 interview with Billboard, Human Rights Campaign deputy director of communications Laurel Powell put it simply: “There is a very well-funded, well-organized movement to try and drive a wedge between people and their LGBTQ+ friends, neighbors and family,” she said. “This is being driven by extremist legislators.”

International Transgender Day of Visibility provides allies another opportunity to not just contribute to the many organizations across the U.S. that are fighting to stop this wave of anti-trans hatred, but also to celebrate the myriad contributions trans and gender diverse people have made to society.

Below, Billboard takes a look at 15 artists who are redefining what it means to be openly transgender and non-binary in the music industry today:

Shea Diamond

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Shea Diamond, both an activist and a singer-songwriter, belts out the bold anthem “I Am Her” with soul and strength. “There’s an outcast in everybody’s life / And I am her,” she sings. According to Diamond, the song began as a statement to a world which said she shouldn’t exist and now stands as an anthem “for all those that felt shunned for simply being who they were.”

Find Shea Diamond on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Anohni

Anohni is not afraid of tackling topics often considered controversial. In “Drone Bomb Me,” Anohni sings of a nine-year-old Afghan girl whose family has been killed by a drone bomb. Her latest album, Hopelessness, covers issues from climate change to Guantanamo Bay. “I wanted to do something that was gonna go down fighting,” Anohni told Pitchfork.

Find Anohni on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

SOPHIE

There are few artists who have directly impacted the current sound of pop music more than the late SOPHIE. A pioneer in both the dance and pop fields, the producer pushed the boundaries of her respective genres to their breaking points, eventually giving way to glorious soundscapes that were fueled by the aesthetics of bubblegum pop and the experimentation of the avant-garde dance scene being led by the collective at PC Music. But it was on their magnum opus project Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides where SOPHIE finally took a moment to allow herself to stand in the spotlight, coming out publicly as transgender and fully taking ownership of her trailblazing work in the music industry.

Find SOPHIE on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Peppermint

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Along with being the season 9 runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Peppermint is also a talented musical artist in her own right. While she flexes her many talents on everything from original ballads to pop diva tributes, it’s on her 2017 anthem “Civil War” where Peppermint gets real about the reality of life as a transgender woman in this day and age. “I’m an army of one, marching alone/ Fighting for my life,” she sings, stirring up emotions.

Find Peppermint on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Skylar Kergil

Skylar Kergil, an American activist, singer-songwriter and YouTube personality, has a folk sound that sends a statement. “Strangers stare and they want to be the first to/ Ask for my life in one word/ But it’s not that simple,” Kergil sings in “Tell Me A Story.”

Find Skylar Kergil on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Left at London

While many people know Left at London for their hilarious Vine and TikTok content, they really ought to know her for her music first. The singer’s eclectic offerings can range from funk-driven, sexy anthems to folksy kiss-offs aimed at transphobes, all while infusing her charismatic persona and expert songwriting into instantly memorable tracks that you’ll find yourself going back for again and again.

Find Left at London on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Ryan Cassata

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Ryan Cassata has been representing the transgender community in the music industry for over a decade. Whether they’re preaching the importance of community on songs like “We’re the Cool Kids” — which Cassata said is about coming together, battling ignorance “and hopefully beating it” — or getting real about heartbreak on more recent tracks like “If You Ever Leave Long Island,” Cassata always manages to uplift and celebrate his community through song.

Find Ryan Cassata on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Ah-Mer-Ah-Su

Star Amerasu, a self-professed “poptronic princess,” chronicles her complicated encounters with anti-anxiety medicines known as benzodiazepines (or benzos) in the song “Klonopin.” The light lullaby peeks into the taboo topic of prescription pill use and abuse. “I got problems, you got problems, they got problems, we all got problems / Why don’t we just run away, come again another day,” Amerasu sings.

Find Ah-Mer-Ah-Su on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Against Me!

In “Transgender Dysphoria Blues,” Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! tells the tale of gender dysphoria. “You want them to see you / Like they see every other girl,” Grace sings. “They just see a faggot / They’ll hold their breath not to catch the sick.” The punk rock track seeps the pain and frustration that many transgender people feel. Since coming out publicly in 2012, Grace has talked often and openly of her identity. Recently, Grace told SF Weekly that she feels free — a sensation she never had in the first part of the band’s life.

Find Against Me! on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Ethel Cain

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

Since her debut in 2019, Ethel Cain — the haunting, righteous persona inhabited by singer-songwriter Hayden Anhedönia — has been crafting her own dark world to mirror the reality we all live in. That universe came into full fruition on 2022’s Preacher’s Daughter, a moving alternative album tracking a story about trying to live up to the impossible expectations of the American Dream, especially as a transgender woman struggling to find acceptance. It’s just one testament to Cain’s staying power as a musical auteur that she can craft a story that simultaneously disquiets your mind, while also never letting your attention stray from her phenomenal music.

Find Ethel Cain on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

The Cliks

Lucas Silveria, known as the front man of The Cliks, was one of the first transgender men to be signed to a major label recording contract. The Cliks released Snakehouse with Warner Music Canada in 2006. After transitioning, Silveria admitted that he needed to take on a new sound. The Motown swing of “Savanna” is something to be swayed by.

Find The Cliks on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Dua Saleh

Non-binary artist Dua Saleh is here to give you honesty. The rising rap-meets-R&B-meets-pop phenomenon out of of Minnesota writes what they feel on the regular, whether it’s pain (“Cat Scratch”), pleasure (“Day to Day”) or anything in between. With a voice you won’t be able to get out of your head and a tendency towards enthralling production, Saleh is an artist more than worthy of listening to ASAP.

Find Dua Saleh on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Cavetown

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

For indie artist Robin Skinner, a.k.a. Cavetown, the name of the game is community. Along with crafting instantly-catchy indie-rock tracks, Skinner spent much of his career building their core fanbase through direct interaction — whether that’s on video sharing sites like YouTube or through streaming platforms like Twitch. Using their platform to give back when the opportunity arises, as well as dedicating some of their songs to their community, Cavetown has proven the power of platform time and time again.

Find Cavetown on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

KC Ortiz

“When I was 17 or 18, I wanted to be the next Lil’ Kim,” Chicago-based rapper KC Ortiz told Billboard in an conversation with LCD Soundsystem’s Gavin Rayna Russom about President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military members. The former Air Force personnel released her second album Church Tapes this July.

Find KC Ortiz on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

Nakhane

South African star wants to show you a good time. The pop singer-songwriter spent much of their career blazing their own trail as an openly non-binary African star. It was with their 2018 masterwork You Will Not Die that they captured the attention of veritable stars like Elton John and Madonna. Nakhane’s versatile musical voice lends itself toward change more often than not, meaning you never know what to expect when you press play on their latest work — making it all the more fun to find out what they have in store for you.

Find Nakhane on Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

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15 Transgender & Non-Binary Artists You Need to Know: Peppermint, Ethel Cain, Cavetown & More

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State Champ Radio

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