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Sean Lennon has reflected on the impact that John Lennon‘s passing had upon his mother, Yoko Ono.
On Sunday (Dec. 8), Sean and the rest of his family will mark the 44th anniversary of father John’s death in New York City in 1980. Viewed by many as another example of ‘the day the music died’, Lennon’s untimely passing has had an impact on countless individuals throughout the world. No more have felt that impact, Sean says, than his mother.
Speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music about the recent Grammy-nominated expanded box set of John’s 1973 Mind Games album, Sean touched on his parents’ relationship around the record’s creation. At the time of Mind Games’ writing, John was in the midst of the 18-month ‘lost weekend’ period in which he was separated from Ono.
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“A lot of people said like, ‘Yoko wasn’t around for this record, why are they featuring her in the booklet’ or something,” Lennon began. “And I think there’s a lot of history, there’s a lot of assumptions made about that time period because they were sort of on their way towards that famous separation that people called The Lost Weekend.
“But the truth is, even when they were apart they were always talking, so I don’t think they ever really broke up, all his stuff was still in the apartment with my mum, it’s not like they had a real separation. And on top of it, all my dad was thinking about was her.
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“You look at the album cover, it’s a collage of my mum literally the size of a mountain, and he’s this little tiny thing sort of fading into the background” he continued. “And I think it’s clear what his view of my mum was in his life. She was monumental, obviously. And the whole album is about her.”
Speaking about his mother directly, Sean claimed that she “never has moved on from that relationship” since John’s passing, but agreed that the recent Mind Games release was something of a “love letter” to his parents.
“I’ve never put it that way but I would say it’s my best effort to try to be a good son,” Sean replied.
The fourth annual ASCAP Foundation Holiday Auction is back, with some of the biggest names in music contributing items to the sale.
Launching on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the annual auction is the latest to be launched by ASCAP, which aims to support music education and talent development programs throughout the U.S. This year, more than 70 exclusive items and experiences – the most in the auction’s history – have been donated by some of ASCAP’s top music creators.
Items in the auctions include a signed vinyl copy of Chappell Roan‘s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album; a behind-the-scenes studio tour and dinner with producer Jermaine Dupri; a signed merch package from Olivia Rodrigo; and a package of two VIP concert tickets for Usher’s upcoming European tour, including a meet-and-greet and travel vouchers.
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Elsewhere, signed guitar from Jack Antonoff, Peter Frampton, and Steve Vai are on offer, along with a set of books signed by Patti Smith, and VIP concert tickets for artists such as Gracie Abrams, Deftones, Graham Nash, and more.
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Other artists involved in the auction include Tate McRae, Reneé Rapp, Bernie Taupin, Max Martin, Noah Kahan, Sara Bareilles, Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Coheed and Cambria, Huey Lewis and The News, and numerous others.
“It’s been an absolute joy to work with ASCAP’s top members to dream up unforgettable experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts to delight music fans this holiday season,” says the ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Nicole George-Middleton. “With over 70 items from music legends, chart-topping artists and more, this year’s auction is bigger and better than ever.
“We are unbelievably grateful to the ASCAP community for these incredible contributions that will help us raise the funds we need to continue supporting the next generation of music creators.”
ASCAP’s annual auction is live now via Charity Buzz, and runs through to December 18.
The holiday season hasn’t truly begun until the iconic Rockefeller Center tree has been lit, and NBC’s annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center telecast on Wednesday night (Dec. 4) brought together a list of all-star performers to celebrate. The Backstreet Boys took the stage to perform a heartwarming rendition of Nat King Cole’s holiday classic “The Christmas Song […]
The upcoming biopic about Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown, is just weeks away from release, and the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” legend took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (Dec. 4) to give the film, as well as starring actor Timothée Chalamet, his stamp of approval. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest […]
Matty Healy is stepping back after a heated back-and-forth social media exchange with Azealia Banks.
“Guys I don’t have the right kind of intelligence / emotional maturity etc for social media I literally just end up saying stuff that immediately regret etc,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday (Dec. 4). “I’m actually just gonna stick to music cos I’m good at that. Having manic episodes on twitter at 35 is kinda pathetic.”
Guys I don’t have the right kind of intelligence / emotional maturity etc for social media I literally just end up saying stuff that immediately regret etc. I’m actually just gonna stick to music cos I’m good at that. Having manic episodes on twitter at 35 is kinda pathetic ❤️— Truman Black (@Gooodmorninguys) December 4, 2024
The post was seemingly in reference to his feud with Banks, which started when the “Liquorice” rapper took aim at Charli XCX, who is engaged to Healy’s The 1975 bandmate George Daniel. Banks called out the “360” singer’s looks, saying she “used to be soooo pretty. Ugh.”
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In response, Healy wrote, “Azealia you seem to have a blind spot when it comes to your ‘reads’. All the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you’re so talented but everything else about you is a failure. Just rap bro.”
Azealia you seem to have a blind spot when it comes to your ‘reads’. All the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you’re so talented but everything else about you is a failure. Just rap bro https://t.co/xKe9b71UV1— Truman Black (@Gooodmorninguys) December 3, 2024
The reply spawned a sequence of aggressive words between the two, and while Healy deleted a number of his posts in the feud, he at one point threatened to “slap” Banks after she began throwing jabs at his fiancée, Gabbriette. “The b—- look like Frankenstein to me. You both look like you share needles. Lmao,” Banks wrote when Healy claimed he would “use my mental illness to full affect” and “dox” anyone who were to attack Gabi.
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Healy then wrote to Banks, “I now you think your life is some episode of the library is open but I am not the one. Talk to me like that I’m not gonna side eye you at an awards do I’m going to f—ing slap you so hard I’ll get a Guinness world record for the highest a rat some b—- calls a wig has ever flown.”
However, the “So American” singer quickly took back his words and deleted the post, then asking Banks to “sort this out on the remix,” adding, “Nah I can’t be saying I’m gonna hit a girl that’s insane I’m sorry. You just can’t keep being so mean about my mates and my mrs it’s really hurtful gets me well defensive.”
“She’d f—in batter me tbf,” he continued.
Banks then threatened to sue Healy, and leaked DMs in which he apologized to her. She concluded by attacking The 1975 frontman for getting “fined 4m for kissing a man on stage In Malaysia, doing a nazi salute, watching violent porn, being a heroin addict, writing s—ty songs, randomly attacking black women and caping for trash white b—-es. I question the women who associate with him. I’m signing off for today, because my anger is really really really boiling.”
Some of Banks’ post was in reference to Healy stirring up controversy in 2023 when he made racist and sexist remarks about rapper Ice Spice on the Adam Friedland Show, during which he and the hosts made jokes about the rapper sounding like an “Inuit Spice Girl” and looking like a “chubby Chinese lady” before performing racist accents. After one of the men suggested Healy should have asked the MC about her ethnic background while dropping an Inuit ethnic slur, Healy called Ice Spice “dumb.” He later somewhat apologized for his comments.
Healy also kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald for an extended period of time onstage at Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia in July 2023, but the set came to an abrupt end after he spoke out against the country’s stances on LGBTQ+ rights.
Shenandoah, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean recorded a new, collaborative version of Shenandoah’s 1989 song “Sunday in the South” earlier this year. Now, they’ve teamed up for the corresponding music video. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The video clip was directed by Edde Brothers, with segments of […]
Spaniard Quevedo claims his highest-charting album on any Billboard tally, as his second studio album, Buenas Noches, launches at No. 2 on Latin Pop Albums (dated Dec. 7), for his first entry and top 10 there. The 18-track set concurrently opens at Nos. 29 and 11 on Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums, respectively.
Buenas Noches, released Nov. 22 via DQE/Rimas, is Quevedo’s most pop-inclined project to date, and first album with Rimas. Exploring Latin pop sounds with Spanish singer-songwriter Aitana and Pitbull, the 22-year-old also paired with Latin rhythmic greats De La Ghetto, Sech and Rels B.
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“It’s an eclectic album,” Quevedo told Billboard. “Since I had not released music for a long time, what I most wanted was to flow in the studio and do things that I felt like doing. Make a fun album above all, not so introspective.”
Buenas Noches debuts at No. 2 on Latin Pop Albums with 4,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. during the Nov. 22-28 tracking week, according to Luminate. Streaming contributes most of the debut week activity, which equates to 5.3 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs.
One unit equals to one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.
While Quevedo secures his first entry and top 10 on Latin Pop Albums with Buenas Noches, the 22-year-old Canarian artist previously scored a top 10 on Latin Rhythm Albums through their debut set Donde Quiero Estar, which also peaked at No. 12 on Top Latin Albums in February 2023.
Notably, with the new album launching in the top 10 on Latin Pop Albums, Quevedo becomes the first artist who primarily records Latin rhythmic songs to secure a No. 2 start on Latin Pop Albums in 2024. Here are all the artists who debuted in the list’s top 10 this year:
Debut Pos., Title, Artist, Debut DateNo. 1, Orquídeas, Kali Uchis, Jan. 27No. 1, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira, April 6No. 6, Final, Vol. 2, Enrique Iglesias, April 13No. 4, Música Buena Para Días Malos, Jay Wheeler, May 11No. 8, García, Kany Garcia, May 11No. 2, Buenas Noches, Quevedo, Dec. 7
Though none of the songs from Buenas Noches preceded the album across the songs charts, Quevedo took the stand-alone single “Columbia” to the stage at the recent Latin Grammy awards. The song earned him his last top 10 the Billboard Excl. U.S. chart, reaching No. 7 high in August 2023.
Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour is set to end this weekend after nearly two years on the road — but a new show will soon set up shop after being directly inspired by the trek.
During an interview with SiriusXM’s Hits 1 Miami With Mack & Jen, will.i.am revealed that The Black Eyed Peas‘ upcoming Las Vegas residency wouldn’t be happening had he not checked out the pop superstar’s blockbuster concert tour earlier this year — even though he was an Eras skeptic at first. “I’m like, ‘Everybody’s talking about that Taylor Swift show,’” he told listeners. “And they’re really hyping it. Like, ‘How dope can it actually be? It’s just a show.’ When people praise stuff that much, there’s no way that it’s that dope. It’s impossible.”
At this point in time, the “I Gotta Feeling” group had already been offered a residency slot in Las Vegas, but he and his bandmates apl.de.ap and Taboo were reluctant to take it. When they happened to be in town for Swift’s duo of July performances in Italy, will.i.am decided to tag along to one of the concerts — after which his mind was quickly changed on more than one front.
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“I went to Taylor Swift, like, with super heavy skeptics goggles on,” the rapper said before giving his honest review of the “Anti-Hero” singer’s three-hour-plus performance. “That was hardcore, bro. The best sh– in the world.
“I left like, ‘Yo, we definitely doing Vegas. Let’s do it,’” will.i.am continued. “That’s how transfixed I was [with] that Taylor Swift show. And then from there I called our management like, ‘Yo, that Vegas offer still there? Say yes to it … I just came from Taylor Swift’s show, and we’re gonna do it.’
“I’ve been freaking energized and inspired,” he added. “So thank you Swift.”
Following the pop star’s lead, The Black Eyed Peas are now set to kick off their residency at Planet Hollywood starting in February. As of now, the trio has dates scheduled through the end of May next year.
As for Swift, the 14-time Grammy winner’s incredible global run is just three shows away from its close. After performing a trio of concerts in Vancouver Dec. 6-8, Swift will finally tie a bow on a historic global sweep that found her performing songs from almost all her 11 studio albums each night. By its end, some reports estimate that the trek will gross well over $2 billion.
Watch will.i.am. explain how The Eras Tour inspired The Black Eyed Peas to do a residency above.
Selena Gomez gave a thoughtful speech about what representation and inclusion mean to her while accepting the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter‘s Women in Entertainment Gala on Wednesday morning (Dec. 4). After an introduction from her Only Murders in the Building co-star Molly Shannon, the 32-year-old singer/actress took the event stage at […]
BTS’ latest accomplishment is smooth like butter! The group notched their seventh entry into YouTube‘s Billion Views club with their 2021 music video for “Butter.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Their previous videos to hit one billion views on the platform include “Dynamite,” “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey and “DNA,” among […]
