Music News

20 Oct 2022

Go Behind the Scenes of T1, Radien & The Boyz’s ’Last Man Standing’ Video Shoot: Exclusive

While K-pop stars have risen to newfound worldwide fame in the last decade, major players in the esports world are not too far behind in larger recognition, as made clear by a new collaboration.

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“Last Man Standing” is a new theme song crafted by K-pop super-producer Raiden, boy band The Boyz and T1, the South Korean esports organization with multiple world-champion titles for the massively popular, online multiplayer battle game League of Legends. The track follows up T1’s first foray into K-pop music with Raiden last year via “Runner,” which featured EXO member Baekhyun and Korean rapper Changmo. The collaboration will boost support as T1 competes in the League of Legends World Championship (also known as Worlds) that kicked off in September in Mexico City, which will hold its quarterfinals on Oct. 20 in New York City, ahead of the finals in November in San Francisco.

“Coming back as an executive producer for T1’s 2022 theme song ‘Last Man Standing,’ I feel more confident than ever,” Raiden tells Billboard. “I imagined this song to be ringing in everyone’s ears as we march for the Worlds trophy. In our music video, we worked with ILLUMIN, a very talented creative director, on a message ‘speaking through light.’ We captured The Boyz, T1 players and myself as the last men standing in saving the world. It is very cinematic and I’m happy that The Boyz were just as passionate as I was in delivering this song both vocally and on set.”

Produced by Raiden and co-written by The Boyz member Sunwoo, “Last Man Standing” is described as a culmination of creative admiration among the different artists. “We shared a lot of ideas together, so this is truly a collaborative project,” Raiden adds. “Sunwoo is such an amazing songwriter and a rapper—it was a pleasure being able to work with him creatively as well.” Billboard can also share exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and reflections from those involved.

The Boyz, Raiden esports team T1

Courtesy Photo

“I’m a big fan of T1 so it’s a dream to be able to deliver their 2022 Worlds theme song,” Sunwoo says of the track he helped co-write. “I think this song fits T1 and players very well. It has a majestic twist to it. What an experience—I’d love to play and learn the game from them more. Looking forward to reuniting!”

Meanwhile, T1 leader Faker adds that “It was great working with Raiden again after ‘Runner’ and I hope that the fans enjoy the music video for our theme song ‘Last Man Standing’ and cheer us on during Worlds 2022.”

Raiden, T1 players and members of The Boyz were all on hand to shoot the music video shoot for “Last Man Standing” where The Boyz gifted the gamers a signed copy of their latest album Be Aware featuring their summer hit “Whisper.”

“It was a very astonishing and cool experience to be at the shoot and a part of the same project with Raiden and T1 players,” The Boyz’s Jacob shares of the collaboration. “Personally, I am a big fan of League of Legends and T1 of course. ‘Last Man Standing’ is an amazing song!” Juyeon echoes the sentiment: “It was such a fun experience to shoot with Faker, Oner and Gumayusi, and sing their anthem. I will always cheer for T1 and their result for Worlds championship 2022.”

The Boyz, Raiden esports team T1

Courtesy Photo

The Boyz, Raiden esports team T1

Courtesy Photo

Even in the recording process, The Boyz leader Sangyeon says they envisioned the song helping the League of Leagues champs. “I recorded this song, hoping that our voice could help empower T1 and their endeavor for Worlds championship. I could not be happier with the final product. I hope for their best results at Worlds. This project united The Boyz, T1 and Raiden into one and I want to spread a joyful message to everyone through this amazing song.”

Plus, many of The Boyz members also follow T1.

“As a T1 fan, I hope for T1’s great results in their journey at T1 and onwards,” Younghoon says. “It’s an honor to be a part of this project.” And Hyunjae says, “this song fits T1 like no other—it sounds heroic and powerful. I will always be T1’s fan.”

The Boyz’s Kevin calls the collaboration “an honor,” member New called it “amazing,” while Q describes it as a “cool tune with a majestic edge to it.”

But Ju Haknyeon may sum up things best by saying, “This is a project with the world’s best team T1, and global DJ artist Raiden, it’s an honor to have all of us together for one song,” before adding a cheering message of his own: “Let’s go, T1! Let’s take on Worlds!”

Watch the music video for “Last Man Standing” below:

20 Oct 2022

Taylor Swift Says Ina Garten Made Her Think of Cooking as ‘Self-Care‘ Instead of a ‘Chore’

Taylor Swift penned a thoughtful tribute to Ina Garten in a new cover story about the famous chef for Food Network magazine, released Wednesday (Oct. 19).

“I’ve been lucky enough to meet Ina a few times and get to know the magnificent woman behind the TV show and the cookbooks,” the superstar wrote of the chef, otherwise known as the Barefoot Contessa, adding, “She’s one of those people who is even better, funnier, warmer than you’d hoped her to be.

“My most potent memories of Ina come from when I first discovered her TV show,” Swift continued. “I was in my teens, and my life revolved around touring. On my rare days off at home, I barely ever cooked because it had always felt like a chore. Watching Ina prepare a meal changed my perspective on cooking and reframed it as something relaxing. She made cooking feel like self-care. Ever since, cooking has been my escape from stress and one of the only ways I can truly calm myself on a rough day. I’ll always be grateful to her for giving me that.”

Other famous faces who reminisced about Garten’s impact for the story included Julianna Margulies, Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Katie Couric, Jennifer Garner and fellow Food Network personality Bobby Flay.

Swift is currently gearing up for the release of her landmark 10th studio album Midnights, which will drop, appropriately, at midnight on Friday (Oct. 21). In the lead-up to the studio set’s unveiling, she’s been teasing lyrics from its 13 tracks in major cities like New York, London, Nashville and São Paulo. She also used the rollout campaign to encourage her fans to vote in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections happening across the country.

Read Taylor’s thoughts about the Barefoot Contessa here.

20 Oct 2022

Shakira Is Heartbroken in New Ozuna-Assisted Single ‘Monotonía’: Stream It Here

Shakira isn’t holding back and is as raw and honest as one can get singing about heartbreak and the end of what seemed to be a perfect relationship.

In her new Ozuna-assisted single, titled “Monotonía (Monotony),” a bachata track that released Wednesday (Oct. 19), the Colombian star starts off declaring: “It wasn’t your fault, it wasn’t my fault. It was monotony’s fault. I never said anything but it hurt. I knew this would happen.”

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Marking the first collaboration between Shakira and Ozuna, “Monotonía” follows the singer-songwriter’s Latin Airplay chart-topping song “Te Felicito” with Rauw Alejandro, where she calls out her significant other and congratulates them on a stellar performance making her believe he truly loved her.

In the music video — which Shakira co-directed with longtime collaborator Jaume de la Iguana — she has an encounter with the ex at a grocery store where he blows up her chest and her heart is ejected from her body. She then runs around with her beating heart in hand until she hands it over to Ozuna, who takes it from her and puts it in a safe box.

“Monotonía” and “Te Felicito” follow Shakira’s very public breakup from her longtime partner, and father of her two children, soccer star Gerard Piqué. In an interview with Elle, she addressed the split, calling this moment one of the “most difficult” of her life. “I’ve remained quiet and just tried to process it all. Um, and yeah, it’s hard to talk about it, especially because I’m still going through it, and because I’m in the public eye and because our separation is not like a regular separation. And so it’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids. Incredibly difficult.”

Stream “Monotonía” below:

19 Oct 2022

Christina Aguilera Gives ‘Beautiful’ a Modern Update With Powerful New Music Video

Don’t you bring her down today. Christina Aguilera unveiled a new music video for her classic single “Beautiful” on Wednesday (Oct. 19) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her sophomore album Stripped.

The updated visual sends the song’s powerful message straight into 2022 as it depicts kids and teens grappling with the onslaught of negative messaging on social media, body dysmorphia, plastic surgery, depression and suicidal ideation.

“Every day is so wonderful/ Then suddenly, it’s hard to breathe/ Now and then, I get insecure/ From all the pain, I’m so ashamed/ I am beautiful, no matter what they say/ Words can’t bring me down/ I am beautiful in every single way/ Yes, words can’t bring me down/ Oh no, so don’t you bring me down today,” Aguilera sings as a team of young female dancers stare vacantly into their ring lights while applying makeup and other teens are transfixed to their phones.

Though she doesn’t appear in the new video, the singer shared her thoughts about the song’s impact on Twitter, writing, “The original ‘Beautiful’ video set out to bring awareness and a sense of compassion in the face of criticism. It still carries an important message to remember our core values outside of what’s being fed to us…to find a sense of balance and accepting ourselves for who we are.”

Originally released as a radio follow-up to lead single “Dirrty” in November 2022, the ballad peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera’s sixth career hit in the all-genre chart’s top three spots.

Watch the 2022 version of “Beautiful” and read Aguilera’s tweet below.

19 Oct 2022

Lana Del Rey Says She Lost Unreleased Music & Book After Her Devices Were Stolen

Lana Del Rey took to social media on Instagram this week to share a series of videos explaining that her laptop, hard drives and camcorders were stolen from her car while she was out on Melrose Place in Los Angeles.

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As a result, the star shared that she lost a 200-page manuscript for her upcoming book from Simon & Schuster, which she had not backed up and must start over. And while she erased the contents of the laptop remotely, Del Rey said she still is noticing unreleased songs being leaked online.

“Please don’t listen to the music if you hear it because it’s not coming out yet,” she asked of her fans. “And in terms of the book, I loved the book that I lost with all of my heart and put a lot of passion into it. And in terms of the camcorders, we shall see what happens with that.”

On a positive note, Del Rey is just days away from being featured on Taylor Swift’s upcoming album Midnights on the LP’s track, “Snow on the Beach.” Swift shared that her collaborator is “one of the best musical artists ever. The fact that I get to exist at the same time as her is an honor and a privilege.” Midnights arrives on Friday (Oct. 21).

See below for the full message from Del Rey, screen recorded and shared by a fan Twitter page.

19 Oct 2022

Musicians React to Kanye West’s Antisemitic Comments, ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirts

Kanye West has always had a knack for stirring the pot, but at the beginning of October, he’s taken his controversial statements to a new level.

Though Ye has been vocal about his conservative, pro-Trump opinions for years, his latest controversies started Oct. 3 when photos from his Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show showing some of his models wearing shirts printed with the phrase “White Lives Matter” started circling online. West himself had also worn one of the shirts to the show, and even stopped to take a photo with conservative commentator Candace Owens, who was also sporting “WLM” attire.

The situation was then exacerbated by West’s subsequent Instagram posts targeting fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who’d previously shared her horror at the shirts on her own account. These were followed by additional posts attacking stars who’d came to Karefa-Johnson’s defense, such as Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber.

He went on to defend his statements on Tucker Carlson‘s Fox News show, saying he used “White Lives Matter” — classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a “racist response to the civil rights movement Black Lives Matter” — simply because he thought it was “funny.”

Before that controversy even had the chance to die down, Ye started up another one — this time against Jewish people. After posting aggressive, explicitly anti-Semitic sentiments over the weekend of Oct. 8, he was temporarily restricted from using both Instagram and Twitter.

As a result, stars such as Ariana Grande, John Legend, Diddy, Jack Antonoff and more have all come forward to condemn the rapper’s views. Keep reading to see who’s weighed in.

19 Oct 2022

Here’s What Megan Thee Stallion Has to Say About Pardison Fontaine Engagement Rumors

Megan Thee Stallion had a few things to say regarding rumors online that boyfriend Pardison Fontaine had popped the question amid their second anniversary.

“Lol as nice as last night was we are not engaged,” she tweeted simply on Wednesday (Oct. 19), shutting down chatter among her loyal army of Hotties. However, the rapper didn’t hesitate to show off her anniversary date night with Pardi on her Instagram Stories.

In the first video, Meg shared her glitzy aquamarine gown and glamorous updo from the back of a car before her rapper beau crashed the frame, joking, “What, you thought this was a solo? Whatchu doin’, whatchu doin’? Why they always tryin’ to show the plate but never the date? What’s wrong with them? They crazy!”

Next she puts Pardi’s skills as a former teacher to the test as she requires him to do “tipsy math” and add up how many days they’ve been dating. “730 days of good lovin…wow,” she captioned the adorable video, in which her boyfriend hilariously asks, “Was last year a leap year or no?” before doing the arithmetic.

While Megan may not have a ring on it quite yet, she has another milestone to celebrate in her career, having just wrapped her first stint as both host and musical guest on last week’s Saturday Night Live. Between performances of “NDA,” “Plan B” and “Anxiety,” the Grammy winner showed off her comedy chops in sketches like “Girl Talk,” “Hot Girl Hospital” and “Women’s Charity.”

Read Meg’s response to the engagement rumors below and check out her date night Instagram Stories here before they expire.

19 Oct 2022

Kanye West Addresses Anti-Semitic Comments, Says He ‘Fought Fire With Fire’

Kanye West sat down for an interview with Piers Morgan on Wednesday (Oct. 19), where the rapper didn’t show any remorse for his string of anti-Semitic comments throughout the past few weeks.

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When asked if he was “sorry” that he said he was going to go “death con 3” on Jewish people, Ye simply replied, “Absolutely not.”

Morgan then quipped, “You should be,” to which Ye repeated, “Absolutely not.”

The English broadcaster continued to push back against West, explaining that his comments are as “racist as anything you’ve been through,” while the Yeezy founder is seen laughing. “Racism is racism, and you know that, don’t you?” Morgan asks.

“Yeah, obviously. That’s why I said it,” Ye replied. “I fought fire with fire. I’m not here to get hosed down. It’s a different type of freedom fighter.”

Later on in the interview, Ye proceeded to give a somewhat feeble apology to “the families of the people who had nothing to do” with his “trauma,” adding that “hurt people hurt people.”

Ye went on an aggressive anti-Semitic rant on social media earlier this month. After posting that he was about to go “death con 3” on “Jewish people” over the weekend of Oct. 8, he was temporarily restricted from using both Instagram and Twitter.

In a Drink Champs interview last week, Ye declared offensive remarks, blaming the murder of George Floyd on fentanyl and claiming that Jewish people are “[owning] the Black voice” through Black people wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt, “being signed to a record label, or having a Jewish manager, or being signed to a Jewish basketball team, or doing a movie on a Jewish platform like Disney.” 

19 Oct 2022

Missy Elliott Makes Triumphant Return to Her High School: ‘Yes I Was the Class Clown’

It’s not just gossip, folks: Missy Elliott hit the halls of her high school alma mater on Monday (Oct. 17) to celebrate having a street in her hometown named after her.

“Manor High! This my school I graduated from & yes I was the class clown always in the hallways cuttin up,” she tweeted on Wednesday (Oct. 19) alongside a video of herself ginning and dancing down the hallway. “All the teachers would say Melissa stop beating on the lockers & rapping get to class & now look I’m back Celebrating! #757 VA P-Town.”

The rapper made her return to Portsmouth, Va. to attend the dedication ceremony for the newly renamed Missy Elliott Boulevard and proudly shared a snap of herself holding the street sign with her name across it.

According to local reporting, the ceremony took place at Manor High’s football stadium and was followed by a parade in honor of the “Work It” MC that led from the athletic field out into town. Other A-list attendees included fellow Virginia natives Pusha T, Trey Songz and Timbaland, as well as Congressman Bobby Scott and Governor Glenn Youngkin. Portsmouth Mayor Shannon E. Glover also presented Elliott with a key to her hometown during the dedication.

Last month, Elliott performed during the RIAA Honors: Pioneers in Hip-Hop event in Washington D.C., where Dr. Dre and DJ Jazzy Jeff also took the stage. She recently reminisced on Twitter about working with Destiny’s Child to write “Confessions” for their 1999 sophomore album The Writing’s On the Wall.

Check out Elliott return to her high school for the naming of Missy Elliott Boulevard below.

19 Oct 2022

Goo Goo Dolls‘ John Rzeznik Joins Demi Lovato Onstage for ’Iris’ Performance

Demi Lovato brought their Holy Fvck tour to New York’s Beacon Theatre on Tuesday night (Oct. 18), and they surprised fans by welcoming Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik to join them onstage.

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The duo performed Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 classic “Iris,” trading lyrics as they sang the beloved track. Lovato shared the band’s Instagram post thanking them for the performance to their Story, writing, “This was a dream come true!!!’

Earlier this month, the “29” singer shared that they needed to reschedule their Rosemont, Ill., tour date on Oct. 5 after losing their voice. “Rosemont, today I woke up and had absolutely no voice. I’m so so sorry but it breaks my heart to tell you I have to reschedule the show,” Lovato wrote from the Holy Fvck tour’s official Instagram account.

In general, the Holy Fvck tour has been rough on Lovato. In September, they fell ill and told fans that their current tour will likely be their last. “I’m so f—ing sick I can’t get out of bed,” Lovato wrote on a series of photos of a window. “I can’t do this anymore. This next tour will be my last. I love and thank you guys.”

Holy Fvck, Lovato’s eighth studio album, features collaborations with Royal & the Serpent, YUNGBLUD and Dead Sara, as well as writing and production credits from Warren “Oak” Felder, Michael Pollack and Lovato. Like the album’s singles, Holy Fvck is a departure from the pop gloss of her Tell Me You Love Me days.