Music News

29 Nov 2022

All the Music Stars Who Have Left Twitter After Elon Musk Took Over

In October, it was revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk took control of Twitter after a lengthy legal battle and months of uncertainty.

Since beginning his reign on the popular social media platform, the multi-billionaire has made a number of controversial decisions, including reinstating former president Donald Trump to Twitter after the site’s previous owners had permanently suspended him for violating company rules in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The decision to reactivate Trump’s account comes after Musk posted a Twitter poll asking users if they would like to see the former president back on the platform — days after Trump announced his third White House bid. After that, Musk announced that he would return the suspended Trump account after around 15 million users allegedly voted 51.8% in favor of reinstating it.

Amid Musk’s Twitter takeover, a number of stars have removed themselves from the platform, citing hate speech and Musk’s decisions. We’ve compiled all the musicians who have decided that Twitter is no longer for them, including Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor, Sara Bareilles, Jack White and more. See below.

29 Nov 2022

Jennifer Lopez Reveals Sweet Inscription Ben Affleck Put Inside Her Engagement Ring

Jennifer Lopez is so in love. The singer can’t help but gush about her relationship, and opened up in a new interview on Tuesday (Nov. 29) about her renewed romance with Ben Affleck.

Affleck and Lopez got engaged for the second time in April, 20 years after their high-profile romance in the early 2000s when they became known in the press as “Bennifer.” And sitting down for a wide-ranging chat with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Lopez shared that Affleck had a special promise inscribed on her engagement ring.

“Not. Going. Anywhere.,” she said. “Because that’s how he would sign his emails when we started talking again. Like, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

While the two superstars finally married this past August, their love story also inspired J.Lo’s upcoming ninth studio album, This Is Me… Now — a follow-up to 2002’s This Is Me… Then, which is set to be released in 2023.

“Twenty years ago, I fell in love with the love of my life and I was working on an album, and it was called This Is Me… Then,” she told Lowe. “And it was all about capturing that moment in time. I said, ‘Now the most amazing, incredible, unbelievable thing has happened.’ And the reason we’re here is because I want to capture this moment in time. ‘Cause it is even better than the first time.”

Lopez’s third album originally bowed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, becoming her third consecutive top 10 album and contained smash singles “Jenny From the Block” featuring Jadakiss and Styles, “All I Have” featuring LL Cool J and “I’m Glad.”

Watch J.Lo’s full conversation with Lowe about her new album and Affleck below.

29 Nov 2022

Kelly Clarkson Begs For a ‘Stupid Love’ in Lady Gaga Cover: Watch

Get ready to freak out, freak out, freak out, and get down, get down, get down to Kelly Clarkson‘s newest Kellyoke cover. On the Tuesday morning (Nov. 29) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the pop star-turned-talk show-host performed Lady Gaga‘s electric 2020 single “Stupid Love.”

Standing under a constellation of strobing, Chromatica-inspired pink, purple and blue stage lights, Clarkson and her band Y’all put a slight rock edge to Gaga’s dance pop banger. “All I ever wanted was love,” sang the three-time Grammy winner, wowing her audience as usual with her ever-impressive belt. “I want your stupid love.”

“Stupid Love” was released as the lead single off Gaga’s sixth studio album Chromatica, which marked her first proper solo LP since 2016’s Joanne. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned four Billboard Hot 100 singles — one of which was “Stupid Love,” which peaked at No. 5.

The album’s second single, “Rain On Me” feat. Ariana Grande, marked Gaga’s fifth No. 1 single. It was named Billboard‘s top song of 2020.

The “Stronger” singer’s new cover can be added to her slowly growing arsenal of Lady Gaga Kellyoke performances. She’s previously performed the Mother Monster’s Born This Way single “You & I,” 2008 breakthrough hit “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” on her Emmy-winning talk show.

At the moment, Gaga is gearing up for next year’s Grammy night following the announcement earlier this month that her scoring work on Top Gun: Maverick had received a pair of nominations. “It’s a real dream to be included in this celebration of music with a song and musical theme so close to my heart thank you,” wrote the Haus Labs founder on Instagram in light of the news. “I fully cried, this never gets old and I’m super humbled.”

Watch Kelly Clarkson cover Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love” in the video above.

29 Nov 2022

BTS Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Its ‘Love Myself’ UNICEF Campaign: ‘Create Greater Positive Energy in People’s Lives’

BTS‘ Love Myself campaign is officially five years old. Launched in 2017 and in partnership with UNICEF, the campaign — named after the group’s Love Yourself album trilogy — was designed to extend a helping hand to children and teens who have experienced violence, and give them the tools to uplift themselves as well as others. On Tuesday (Nov. 29), the septet reiterated their campaign’s message in a video that features all seven BTS members.

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“The Love Myself campaign that BTS, BigHit Music and UNICEF initiated together in 2017 marked its fifth anniversary,” RM said as he kicked off the heartfelt message. “Over the past five years, the Love Myself campaign’s message has permeated our lives like background music. When I look into the daily lives shared by ARMY, the massage of Love Myself seems to take big parts of their emotions.”

Jin added, “Love Myself campaign is like background music hits home. As we live our lives to the fullest each day, we might not notice its presence. When we’re troubled or stumbling, however, Love Myself shows up in the right place and gives us the courage to overcome.”

“I’m delighted and proud that our Love myself message comes to many people’s minds in their daily lives. But, at the same time, I’m afraid there might be people who still don’t know how to love themselves,” Suga said

To that, J-Hope added, “If you find anyone who needs the strength to love themselves, please reach out first. Please teach them how to love themselves, and give them the energy of hope.”

To honor the campaign’s fifth anniversary, Jimin said that he wants fans to try and love themselves. V stated that he believes loving oneself is the beginning of true love, while Jung Kook encouraged fans watching the message to take a look back at the emotional progress they have made over the year.

Concluding the message, RM told fans, “We believe that you will continue to support the Love Myself campaign to create greater positive energy in people’s lives.”

According to the campaign’s website, as of August 2021, BTS’ Love Myself partnership with UNICEF has raised over $3.4 million, while #BTSLoveMyself hashtag has been used more than 15 million times across social media.

Watch BTS’ message regarding the fifth anniversary of the Love Myself campaign in the video above.

29 Nov 2022

Lars Ulrich Reveals the Reason Metallica Allowed ‘Stranger Things‘ to Use ’Master of Puppets’

Metallica recently changed their tune on licensing out music, and now, it’s paying off big time. In a Monday (Nov. 28) interview with Howard Stern, Lars Ulrich opened up about how the band’s game-changing collaboration with Stranger Things — which saw one of the show’s most pivotal season four scenes using “Master of Puppets” as a backing track — came to be, from start to finish.

“It used to be, with Metallica, we were always the ‘no’ guys,” Ulrich explained, saying he and his bandmates had never wanted to lend out their songs to TV and film projects until just a couple years ago, when they changed their minds.

“We did a 180,” the drummer shared. “We just said, ‘You know what? This is stupid. Why are we hanging onto these [songs] like they’re so important, like they’re the crown jewels?’ We started saying yes to everything. Let’s share our music with the world.”

After the Netflix sci-fi series heavily featured “Master of Puppets” in its season four finale — during a scene in which Joseph Quinn’s character Eddie epically performs the 1986 track in the Upside Down — Metallica experienced a surge in streams. Nearly four decades out from its original release, “Master of Puppets” made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100, skyrocketing to a peak at No. 35.

“It was such a mindf–k to see how that became a phenomenon,” Ulrich continued. “It was totally unexpected. Who would’ve thought 40 years later that these songs could still have that impact? We were psyched to be part of it.”

This isn’t the first time Metallica has shown love to Stranger Things following the tribute. The band gave its seal of approval four days after the season four finale dropped on Netflix, writing on Instagram that they were “blown away.” And just last month, frontman James Hetfield dressed up as Eddie for Halloween.

Over the summer, Metallica also met up with Quinn for an epic jam session, which Ulrich also talked about with Stern. “He came, we played together, he knew the song,” he raved. “He was such a sweetheart.”

Watch Lars Ulrich talk about Stranger Things with Howard Stern below:

29 Nov 2022

Omar Apollo Has a NSFW Clapback for Fan’s ‘Queerbaiting’ Speculation

Grammy-nominated R&B star Omar Apollo isn’t trying to hide anything, despite what one Twitter user may have thought.

In a tweet posted on Monday (Nov. 28), Apollo responded to a fan who questioned whether or not the singer was “queerbaiting” his fans. “no i b sucking d–k fr” the singer wrote in his NSFW response, immediately following the tweet by saying “from the back.”

The original tweet focused on whether or not Apollo was “queerbaiting” his fans by wearing certain kinds of clothes, with the user wondering if the “Evergreen” singer was “like those type ‘i don’t label myself let me wear cropped and paint my nails and i say i find another guy hot’ … i like his song but i don’t like supporting straight men doing queerbating [sic].”

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Many of the star’s fans, though, were quick to point out that the term “queerbaiting” doesn’t apply to real people navigating their sexuality in public, but was instead created to discuss the marketing of fictional characters in television and film. “A reminder that queerbaiting refers to fiction where writers hint at a queer relationship without ever making it explicit in order to appeal to queer audiences without alienating straight ones,” one user wrote. “Real people do not queerbait themselves. Stop demanding that people out themselves.”

Apollo recently earned his very first Grammy nomination for best new artist. The “Tamagotchi” singer is up against other fast-rising stars such as Latto, Anitta, Maneskin, Wet Leg and more.

Check out Apollo’s hilarious clapback to the speculation below:

29 Nov 2022

Takeoff’s Brother, YRN Lingo, Pays Tribute in Emotional Post: ‘I’ll Carry Your Name Until the Day I Die’

Late Migos member Takeoff‘s brother, rapper YRN Lingo, paid loving tribute to his fallen sibling on Monday (Nov. 28) in a lengthy Instagram post in which he looked back on the huge impact Take (born Kirsnick Khari Ball), 28, had on his life.

“Dear Take, I don’t know where to begin, I honestly still can’t believe it,” Lingo wrote in the multi-page post that featured family photos of the brothers with their mom through the years and a final slide of them as adults. “My big brother, my right hand, my other half, my literal twin. The one I could call upon anytime no matter what time, weather, situation you were in. You always made sure the family was straight, even when I didn’t need anything you always gave me something.”

Lingo recalled a time when they were children when Takeoff came into his room and promised that when he made it as a rapper, “‘you can ask me for anything. I mean anything.’” But, in the wake of Takeoff’s killing in an as-yet-unsolved Dec. 1 shooting at a bowling alley in Houston, Lingo said now he has to adjust to life without his older sibling.

“I hate that I have to move on with my life without you physically here, I wish I could just stop time and wait, but I know what can’t happen,” he wrote. “It’a a lot of things I’m going to miss about you, I could name them but it would be a full list and that would take forever. I looked up to you more than anyone on this earth and I will never stop looking up to you.”

Lingo promised to “carry” Takeoff’s name for the rest of his life, calling himself the pupil to Take’s teacher. “You thought [sic] me things and brought me places that [a] majority of the people can say they never seen or heard, level-headed, nothing ever got to you unless it had to do with family or money,” he wrote. “You always stayed in your lane and never bothered anyone. Quiet, but very well-spoken and a real HUMBLE GIANT.”

Calling his brother one of God’s “purest angels,” Lingo said he’s still trying to wrap his head around the killing, asking his big brother to help guide him through this “hell on earth, ’cause it’s going to be hard, super hard without you bro,” he said, listing the little things he’ll miss, including rolling one up and watching a movie and Takeoff’s sage counsel to pay attention to the details.

“I have to live by your book now, think before I speak, love the family before anyone and put my faith in God,” he wrote. “I will see you again one day in heaven brother along with my great grandma. I’ll take care of Mama and Heaven down here. Take you fulfilled your purpose and more. You will forever remain in my heart, our hearts.”

Check out Lingo’s post below.

29 Nov 2022

Rivers Cuomo Is Every Band Member In Weezer’s ‘What Happens After You’ Video: Watch

It’s been a win-some, lose-some type of stretch for Weezer. In the “win” column, Rivers Cuomo and Co. are deep into their four-part seasonal offerings, the SZNZ series. And the “loss,” when Weezer’s planned Broadway residency in celebration of those EP cycles was seemingly scrapped due to reported poor box office and sky-high production costs. 

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With the Broadway dream behind them, Weezer returns to SZNZ: Autumn, and the track “What Happens After You,” which is now visualized with a lo-fi music video.

Peter Quinn directs the clip, which sees a band of Cuomos take over the studio and cut loose.

Each SZNZ EP (pronounced “Seasons”) offers its “own palette of colors, creatures, and emotions to explore.  They’re also being created in real time, made in tandem with the season themselves,” reads a statement. 

Spring, Summer and Autumn have arrived. Winter is coming. When it does, the final EP in the collection “will create an incredible collection of some of Weezer’s best songs yet, which is no small feat for a band that never leaves the zeitgeist,” reps say.

Weezer kept the seasonal theme running when, during Halloween, the band kicked off its “Weezerween” pumpkin-carving competition, with the lucky winners scoring their “very own billboard somewhere in America.”

SZNZ: Winter is scheduled to drop Dec. 21. U.S. tour dates will follow in early 2023.

Watch the new video below:

29 Nov 2022

Matty Healy Says Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ Almost Featured The 1975

Fans of The 1975 have a new reason to see Taylor Swift as a musical anti-hero. In a recent interview, frontman Matty Healy shared that his synth-pop band was almost featured on a version of the “All Too Well” singer’s blockbuster new album Midnights, but it never came to be.

Speaking with DTS Sound Station on KROQ-FM, Healy first revealed that Swift had heard some of The 1975’s new record, Being Funny In a Foreign Language, before it came out in October. Jack Antonoff served as producer on both Healy’s new record and Swift’s Midnights, which came out a few weeks after.

When asked if the Grammy-winning pop star had “returned the favor” by allowing Healy and his bandmates — Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald and George Daniel — to listen to an early cut of Midnights, the “Somebody Else” singer said that she’d actually gone one step further. “Yeah,” he said in a snippet of the interview, posted Monday (Nov. 28) to DTS’ Instagram story. “We actually worked a bit on that.”

“But then the version of it never came out,” he added, prompting some in the audience to vocalize their disappointment.

“No, no, no – that’s not how it works,” he said in response to some booing. “It was for reasons that are not to be criticized. She’s amazing.”

The revelation might come as a surprise to fans whose dreams of a Swift x 1975 collaboration were crushed prior to the release of Midnights. Healy himself had shut down rumors of the band’s involvement a couple months before the record dropped by confirming that a “leaked” tracklist — which showed his band featured on a nonexistent song called “In My Dreams” — was definitely false.

“I would love that! But unfortunately FAKE NEWS,” he wrote at the time, retweeting the faux list of song titles.

Watch Matty Healy talk about the Taylor Swift collab that never was below:

29 Nov 2022

Kanye West Compares Himself to Martin Luther King Jr., Then Bails on Interview After Challenge Over Antisemitism

Kanye West continued his bizarre alt-right media tour on Monday (Nov. 28) when he was joined by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and professional troll Milo Yiannopoulos on Tim Pool’s Timcast IRL podcast. At first, West (who now goes by Ye), energetically defending himself against the media backlash spurred by his recent rash of antisemitic comments — while simultaneously doubling down by repeating hate language about Jewish control of the media and banking — but when Pool gingerly probed that line of questioning Ye quickly bailed.

“I just got to go to the heart of this antisemite claim,” West said as he dove into a monologue in which he accused former retail partners Gap and Adidas, as well as Vogue magazine, former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump and his personal trainer of being part of a Jewish-led conspiracy to destroy his career. “It’s the truth,” Ye said of his antisemitic claims, pointing to his rapid fall from grace as proof that he’s been targeted and brought low by a shadowy, citing former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner for no clear reason other than that they are Jewish.

When right-wing host Pool probed that area and noted that where West sees Jewish people and “associates” them with power, Pool doesn’t think that is not relevant to the discussion. Yiannopoulos then praised West for breaking the “biggest dam,” seemingly referring to the discussion of hateful tropes about alleged Jewish control of media and banking. “We were all wondering how this dam was going to break… what is the root of this hypocrisy? Why can people talk about white people a certain way, why can’t we talk about that group a certain way?,” he asked. “The wretched and wicked and prevailing orthodoxy of cancel culture… well, it turned out that the one thing that was going to break the dam was the biggest star in the world… and now the dam is broken.”

West complained that “they tried to put me in prison,” without going into specifics, discussing his “de-banking” and claiming he’s trying to start his own bank to avoid the traditional systems. When the conversation turned more directly to allegations of Ye’s antisemitism, the rapper tightened and threatened to bail before doubling-down on his anti-Jewish statements. “I feel like it’s a setup … I’m going to walk the f–k off the show if I’m having to talk about,” Ye said. “‘You can’t say Jewish people did it,’ when every sensible person knows — that Jon Stewart knows — what happened to me, and they took it too far.” Then, less than 23 minutes into the conversation, Ye walked out.

Trump has been widely condemned, by both sides of the political aisle, for hosting Ye and white nationalist Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago estate last week, where, according to the disgraced rapper, he pitched the former commander-in-chief on being his vice president as West seemingly ramps up for a second long-shot White House bid.

Visibly angered by Pool’s antisemitism questions, West compared himself to Martin Luther King Jr., evoking the horrific images of the 1960s civil rights struggle as a metaphor for his feelings about the meltdown of his once-formidable fashion and music empire in the wake of his repeated slurs against the Jewish people.

“I thought I was more Malcolm X, but I found out I’m more MLK. As I’m getting hosed down every day by the press and financially, I’m just standing there,” West said. “When I found out they were trying to put me in jail, it was like a dog was biting my arm and I almost shed a tear. Almost. But I still walked in stride through it.” When Pool tried to commiserate with West by saying that “they” (which he identified as the “corporate press”) had been “extremely unfair” to Ye, Fuentes attempted to speak on the rapper’s behest before Kanye got fed up, pulled off his headphones and angrily left the set.

“Corporate press. I don’t use the word as the way, I guess, you guys use [it],” Pool said. “It is them, though, isn’t it,” Fuentes asked. “No, it’s not,” Pool replied. “What do you mean it’s not?” Ye said annoyed before leaving.

Speaking on a follow-up Timcast, Pool said he thought the walk-off was “staged” by Ye, even as he referred to Yiannopoulos as a “genius” for what he suspected was a secret plot by Milo to get revenge on Trump and ruin the twice-impeached real estate mogul’s chances for a third White House bid; Pool also noted that he finds Yiannopoulos and Fuentes’ statements on Jewish people to be “ridiculous” as he speculated that West’s aim all along was to walk off in protest to create a spectacle.

Fuentes has been called a “white supremacist” by the Anti-Defamation League and in February at the the America First conference, he was widely denounced for praising Adolf Hitler in his introduction to alt-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying, “And now they’re going on about Russia, and ‘Vladimir Putin is Hitler’ — and they say that’s not a good thing … Can we get a round of applause for Russia? Yes!”

Yiannopoulos, who has also been accompanying West lately and is reportedly his 2024 presidential campaign manager, is a well-known right-wing troll who interned for Greene earlier this year and has been blocked from most major social media platforms for his repeated comments about Islam and feminism and his embrace of antisemitic figures.