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Never let it be said that Timothée Chalamet doesn’t do his homework. In his first extensive interview about his role as Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, the Willy Wonka star told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that he learned how to play 13 classic Dylan songs for the movie, in addition to working with a harmonica coach for five years to nail the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s signature style.
In addition to tapping a movement coach to help him embody the enigmatic icon’s physical stance, Chalemet also told Lowe that he took a “spirit-gathering” road trip mimicking the Minnesota native’s early years as a budding folk singer, starting off in Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing, MN, before traveling to neighboring Duluth, then on to Chicago and Madison, WI.
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“It was the best experience I’ve had as an actor or the most rewarding experience I’ve had doesn’t really necessarily translate to the effect of it, not only on people, but maybe in the finished product because I’ve also had more challenging experiences that come out great,” Chalamet said of the long journey to bring the singer to life on screen. “I’m happy it took five, six years because I am now deep in that Church of Bob. I feel like that’s my mission is the next three months, until the movie comes out, I feel like I’m in the Church of Bob, I’m a humble disciple, and I feel like I got this opportunity to kind of be a bridge to this music or this period, this time period.”
Despite his deep-dive, Chalamet said he wasn’t trying to do an imitation of the singer’s voice, explaining, “This is interpretive. This is not definitive. This is not fact. This is not how it happened. This is a fable.” In fact, he said none of his fellow actors were there to perform impersonations.
“This is about not only myself interpreting Bob, but Edward Norton interpreting Pete Seeger, Monica [Barbaro] interpreting Joan Baez and Boyd Holbrook interpreting Johnny Cash in this moment in the ’60s where American culture was a kaleidoscope and Greenwich Village was a kaleidoscope,” he said. “The way culture still is now too, but without being a history teacher, that was the beginning, personalized music, stuff with intention, stuff with poetry, it all started there in the movie.”
The journey was, as expected, arduous, given Dylan’s unique vocal style and quixotic public persona. Though he said he didn’t play guitar on the pre-records of the songs, Chalamet said he worried the guitar on the songs was too “friendly,” given that in the early 1960s Dylan was playing an instrument was “basically falling apart.” Similarly, the actor said he found that his voice had a baritone range, but that too sounded too “clean” too him.
“I was doing vocal warmups with Eric Vetro, who was this vocal coach who helped me on Wonka and helped me sing ‘Grand’ on Wonka. And then, here, I would listen to it back and I’m like, ‘Man, this sounds too clean,’” he said, calling the role the “most dignified work” he’s ever done.
In a nod to Dylan’s often unpredictable nature, Chalamet recalled that the singer’s manager secretly came to set one day and after watching the actor he praised him for capturing the “spirit” of his client. In fact, the text he got was so effusive and positive, that Chalamet said he and Norton were “jumping up and down and went, ‘man, Bob’s manager loves it’ and then we were like, ‘oh no, the real Bob’s such a contrarian that Jeff’s gonna go to him and say this movie looks good and then Bob’s gonna say well, it must be a piece of s–t.’”
Now that he’s been fully immersed in the “Church of Bob,” Chalamet said he feels like he can be a “bridge” to bring the the voice of a generation to a whole new generation. In a pair of trailers to date, Chalamet appears to fully transform his voice and physical manner to tell the story of Dylan’s early 1960s rise to fame and the controversial moment he switched to electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
A Complete Unknown opens in theaters on Dec. 25.
Watch the full interview below.
The Bay Area is having a moment, and P-Lo is making sure it’s one for the history books. Ahead of the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco, the rapper-producer has teamed up with Golden State Entertainment (GSE), the Warriors’ music and content arm, to drop “Players Holiday ’25.”
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Featuring an all-star roster of Bay Area talent, including Larry June, Kamaiyah, Saweetie, LaRussell, G-Eazy, thuy and YMTK, the track serves somewhat as a love letter to the Bay.
P-Lo sees this project as a celebration of Bay Area culture and a chance to bring together local talent. “As a Warriors fan growing up, it’s an honor to represent our region,” P-Lo tells Billboard, reflecting on the project’s cultural weight. More than just a bop, “Players Holiday ‘25” serves as the lead single for his upcoming EP, For the Soil, a GSE collaboration spotlighting the region’s iconic sound. With appearances from legends like E-40 and Too $hort, the EP is set to further solidify the Bay’s influence on hip-hop and its deep ties to basketball culture.
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For Saweetie, jumping on the track was an easy decision. “Me and P-Lo always find ways to plug each other,” Saweetie says, referencing their past work on the 49ers playoff anthem “Do It for the Bay.” Her verse channels her signature ICY energy while paying homage to the region’s player culture. “It feels good to be part of something so historic for the Bay,” she continued. “Growing up in the Bay, you learn a lot of ‘player’ vibes, and I wanted my verse to reflect that. The sample is fire, and I’m bringing my Bay Area perspective as a woman.”
Both P-Lo and Saweetie emphasize the power of music to elevate events like the All-Star Game, creating a bridge between hip-hop and sports fans. “Music connects people, and for a special event like All-Star, having a song that highlights the Bay makes it even more meaningful,” Saweetie says.
David Kelly, GSE’s chief business officer, echoes that sentiment. “When we set out to create Golden State Entertainment, we wanted to work with artists who represent Bay Area culture but can also do so on a national and global scale,” Kelly told Billboard. “P-Lo fits that perfectly. He has a massive following in the Bay. He’s a rapper, producer and someone we’ve worked with before. His connections with other artists, like Saweetie, G-Eazy, Larry June and Kamaiyah, allow us to create a project like ‘Players Holiday’ that we can tie into a global platform like the NBA All-Star Game. It’s the perfect match for what we want to do.”
With a lively video shot in true Bay Area style, “Players Holiday ‘25” is a celebration of community, legacy and hometown pride. Below, P-Lo opens up about the collaboration, the importance of representing the Bay on a global stage, and what fans can expect from For the Soil.
The Warriors are the first NBA team to launch an entertainment division. How did it come together and how does it feel to be part of this collaboration?
When I got the call, it was an honor. Especially growing up in the Bay as a Warriors fan, working with them to represent our region the way I see it means a lot. I love where I’m from, and I respect everyone in the scene who’s making a name for themselves and representing the Bay the right way. For them to call on me for this, that was a cool honor.
I met David Kelly a few years back when I was doing a halftime show for the Warriors. He told me about GSE, and then a friend, Caroline, who’s been with GSE for a while, reached out and said, “I think you’d be perfect for this project.” That’s how it all came together.
“Players Holiday ’25” features Saweetie, G-Eazy, Larry June and more. What was it like working with and recruiting such a diverse group of Bay Area artists?
Man, it was dope. Everyone on the record represents different parts of the Bay, but we all share that same love for where we’re from. Saweetie, G-Eazy, Larry June, Kamaiyah — it’s like bringing the old and new generations together, showing the world that the Bay stays united and always pushing forward. These are all people that I work with frequently, and they just so happen to be all Bay legends. So I just wanted to bring everyone together to really represent where we’re from. And I feel like this song resonates. As different as everyone is, like in music and their style, I feel like this song represents all of us like the same.
I love that you brought your friends along for this project. At the end of the day, it’s about putting people on to opportunities and giving them a spotlight to shine alongside you. I think that speaks to the idea of wanting to share your moment.
For sure. I mean, I don’t want to be the only one going up, you know? What does that really say about you if you can’t bring anyone else along? I’ve always been taught to share what I’ve got going on, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
Walk me through the creative process of this song.
There’s this song called “Player’s Holiday” by Ant Banks and The Whole Damn Yay (T.W.D.Y). It’s an old track from the late 1990s. I used to always watch the music video on this channel called CMC. They’d play hip-hop and R&B videos for like an hour, and “Player’s Holiday” was one of those songs that always came on. As a kid, I loved it, and as I got older, I kept thinking, Man, I want to flip that song someday.
When this opportunity came up, I knew it was the perfect time. It was the right moment to bring that song back and get everyone on it. That’s really what inspired the project.
Was there anything interesting that happened on set while you were filming, or any memorable moments you can recall?
Yeah, honestly, the whole day I was just smiling, feeling really grateful to bring everyone together. It’s rare to see that these days, especially with how divisive the media can be. Just being able to bring together all these artists, each with their own unique worlds and projects going on, and seeing everyone vibe together, it was amazing. I literally couldn’t stop smiling. It was dope. We had some Bay Area legends out there, and they were enjoying themselves. We also had some of the younger generation, and they were having a great time too. It just showed that when we actually come together and try to do something, we’re capable of pulling it off. It was a great moment.
The song and video capture that Bay Area vibe perfectly. How important was it to highlight the culture?
That was the whole point. The Bay has a unique energy. It’s fun, it’s celebratory, and it’s authentic. We wanted to show that off, especially with the All-Star Game coming to the Bay. It’s a global event, but it’s still about us, our roots, and how we do things here.
Do you see more collaborations like this happening in the future?
For sure. This is just the start. We’ve got the For The Soil album dropping in January, which will feature even more Bay Area artists. The Warriors are about blending sports and culture, and I’m excited to see what’s next. I just think the Bay Area has always been innovative in culture and technology and more. And I think with the Warriors leading that as well it’s just a perfect match. Music, technology, culture … that’s all the things that bring people together. And that’s what we’re doing.
Watch P-Lo’s “Players Holidays ’25” featuring Saweetie, G-Eazy, Larry June, Kamaiyah, LaRussell, thuy, and YMTK below.
John Mayer and director McG (Family Switch) have teamed up to buy one of Hollywood’s most historic studio lots. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for guitarist/singer Mayer confirmed that the pair are “under contract to buy Henson Studios.” THR reported that the approximately $60M bid was a “dramatic reversal” for the famed property […]
RAYE has announced her largest-ever concert at London’s All Points East Festival next summer. The genre-spanning musician will headline the 50,000-capacity Victoria Park on Aug. 23, 2025 and joins The Maccabees and Barry Can’t Swim as headliners for the annual music event. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
Selena Gomez already knew she was dating one of the Sexiest Men Alive. But it definitely felt good that People magazine agreed. After boyfriend producer Benny Blanco appeared in a preview of this year’s issue — in which he sprawled seductively across a desk while showing off his signature champagne and homemade Mexican Pizza meal […]
Robbie Williams has announced a string of live 2025 dates throughout summer across the U.K., Ireland and mainland Europe.
The British pop icon will begin the tour in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 31 before visiting stadiums in London, Manchester and Bath. He’ll then head to the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Latvia and more before concluding the run in Helsinki, Finland on Sep. 20.
Support on the U.K. leg will come from Warrington rock band The Lottery Winners, while Rag ‘N’ Bone Man will do the honors on select dates in Edinburgh and London. See the full run of dates below.
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Tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday (Nov. 15) at 10 a.m. GMT. Fans can secure early access to tickets by pre-ordering the upcoming compilation soundtrack to biopic film Better Man, which will be released on Dec. 26, 2024 in the U.K. and Ireland, and on Jan. 17, 2025 in the U.S. and Canada.
The soundtrack, which will feature Williams’ greatest hits, will be released digitally on Dec. 27 with a physical release to follow. A tracklist is yet to be confirmed.
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Better Man will tell the story of Williams’ life through childhood and his fame with ‘90s boyband Take Thats, and follow his wildly successful solo career which includes 13 No.1s on the U.K. Albums Chart and 18 BRIT Awards. Williams will be played by a CGI monkey throughout the film directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman).
In a press release, director Gracey expanded on the decision to not use a human actor in the otherwise live action film. “Robbie would say things like, ‘I’m up the back dancing like a monkey.’ After a while, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to represent Robbie as a monkey in the film?’ Because Robbie is telling this story – and that’s how he sees himself.” Watch the trailer for the film below.
Robbie Williams 2025 European Tour Dates
May 31 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, U.K.June 6 – Emirates Stadium, London, U.K.June 11 – Co-op Live, Manchester, U.K.June 13 – Royal Crescent, Bath, U.K.June 19 – Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, DenmarkJune 22 – Johan Cruyff ArenA, Amsterdam, NetherlandsJune 25 – VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, GermanyJune 28 – Werchter TW Classic, Belgium June 30 – Heinz von Heiden Arena, Hanover, GermanyJuly 2 – La Défense Arena, Paris, FranceJuly 5 – RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, SpainJuly 9 – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, GermanyJuly 12 – Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria July 17 – Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste, ItalyJuly 21 – Waldbühne, Berlin, GermanyJuly 22 – Waldbühne, Berlin, GermanyJuly 26 – Olympiastadion, Munich, GermanyAugust 1 – Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, LithuaniaAugust 3 – Mežaparks, Riga, LatviaAugust 7 – Stockholm Stadion, Stockholm, SwedenAugust 10 – Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, GermanyAugust 13 – Forus Travbane, Stavanger, NorwayAugust 16 – Granåsen, Trondheim, NorwayAugust 23 – Croke Park, Dublin, IrelandSeptember 7 – O2 Arena, Prague, Czech RepublicSeptember 9 – TAURON Arena, Kraków, PolandSeptember 12 – MVM Dome, Budapest, HungarySeptember 20 – Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
Paul Weller, Kneecap, Primal Scream, and Liam Bailey will be among the performers at a benefit event in support of humanitarian charities in Palestine at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on Dec. 13.
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The show curated by Weller, which is titled Gig For Gaza, will also feature guest speakers and short films. All proceeds from the night will go to MAP (Medical Aid For Palestine) and Gaza Forever. Tickets will be available on Friday (Nov. 15) at 9 a.m. GMT via Ticketmaster. The official artwork was designed by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack.
During recent performances, Weller discussed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Speaking on stage at a gig in Glasgow, Scotland last month, the songwriter explained that he didn’t want to subject audience members to “a political rant,” but felt as though it was important to speak his mind.
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“I would like to dedicate that last song to all the tens of thousands of women, children, babies, men, civilians in Palestine and Gaza,” Weller told the crowd at the city’s Barrowlands venue. “I would ask you one question. It’s really simple. There is no grey area. Are you for genocide, or are you against it? It’s a f–-king yes or no question…”
The war was sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, during which more than 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed by Hamas fighters who also took more than 250 hostages. In the year that has followed, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 42,000 Palestinians according to Palestinian authorities, as well as launching recent airstrikes in Iran and Lebanon.
Having previously fronted and supported left-wing movements (including organizing the pro-Labour party Red Wedge collective in the 1980s), Weller has a storied history of activism. He recently wrapped up a headline tour across the U.K. in support of his latest LP 66, which reached No.4 in the Official U.K. Albums Chart in June.
Irish rappers Kneecap, meanwhile, unveiled their debut album Fine Art earlier this year, which was supported by the release of their eponymous biopic starring the trio themselves alongside actor Michael Fassbender. Following Gig For Gaza, they will play their biggest headline show to date at Belfast’s 11,000-capacity SSE Arena on Dec. 21.
In March, Kneecap withdrew from performing at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, after it was revealed that the U.S. Army was a “super sponsor” of the event as well as defense contractor RTX Corporation. “It is done in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies,” the group explained of their decision via Instagram. “This will have a significant financial impact on Kneecap… but it isn’t an iota of hardship when compared with the suffering being inflicted on the people of Gaza.”
Ella Louise Jenkins, celebrated as the “First Lady of the Children’s Folk Song,” passed away on Nov. 9 at the age of 100.
A visionary in children’s music, Jenkins revolutionized the genre, introducing young audiences to a wealth of global musical traditions and promoting inclusivity through her songs.
Jenkins, born on August 6, 1924, in St. Louis and raised on Chicago’s South Side, grew up immersed in the sounds of blues, gospel, and local singing games that would inspire her groundbreaking work in children’s music.
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Introduced to the harmonica and blues by her uncle and captivated by gospel music from neighborhood churches and performances by artists like Cab Calloway, Jenkins developed a passion for diverse musical expressions early on.
Speaking of her early love for music to Smithsonian Mag in 2012, Jenkins said: “I’ve always liked music. Even when I was a child in our neighborhood, we sang and made up rhymes. It was very important to be able to carry a tune and to learn songs.”
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“In the neighborhood I grew up in [in Chicago] there was the Regal Theater, which had live entertainment. There were singers and tap dancers — tap dancing really intrigued me. Pretty soon I asked my mother if I could go to one of the centers and learn how to tap dance,” she said, adding that she enjoyed listening to the popular singers of the day.
In the early 1950s, Jenkins started as a YWCA program director before dedicating herself fully to music for young audiences. Her 1957 debut album, Call-And-Response: Rhythmic Group Singing, released through Folkways Records, featured call-and-response chants from the United States and Africa, specially adapted for young children.
Throughout her career, Jenkins released 39 albums, including Multicultural Children’s Songs (1995), which remains the most popular release in the history of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. She performed across all seven continents, sharing and learning about various musical cultures.
Jenkins introduced children to diverse rhythms and languages through songs like “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song,” now preserved in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. Her approach exemplified a gentle, inclusive way to address subjects like self-worth and acceptance.
Her televised appearances, including on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Barney & Friends and Sesame Street extended her reach to millions of children and families. In 2004, Jenkins received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jenkins’s influence extended beyond her Grammy nominations and record-breaking sales; she inspired generations of educators, musicians, and families to embrace diversity through music. She passed away peacefully at the Harbors at The Admiral at the Lake, a senior facility in Chicago.
Earlier this year, NCT DREAM opened up to Billboard exclusively about how DREAM( )SCAPE — the group’s March EP that’s pronounced as “Dream Escape” — represented some of the darker, more mature topics the septet was eager to tackle in their music.
From pushing past anxiety, yearning for freedom, and turning hardship into encouragement, the EP included “the message that we’ve always wanted to deliver to our audiences,” leader Mark explained. Facing the dark side head-on ultimately paved the way for the just-released, euphoric full-length DREAMSCAPE.
NCT DREAM’s new LP invites listeners into an expansive soundscape that’s nostalgic, escapist, and emotionally charged. Taking the introspective narrative of DREAM( )SCAPE, these 11 songs embody a generally lighter, more peaceful musical world. Seamlessly melding pop, house music, hyper-pop, R&B, and throwback hip-hop, NCT DREAM uses DREAMSCAPE to explore themes of love, dreams and childlike wonder, giving fans fresh and familiar sounds that sound specifically catered to Mark, Jeno, Renjun, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung.
Joining DREAM’s previously released English single “Rains in Heaven” from August and the pre-released buzz track “Flying Kiss,” the album centers around the uplifting, vintage synthesizer–driven single “When I’m With You.” NCT DREAM will likely bring the new singles to life during their upcoming performances on the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and New York, alongside the likes of Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Twenty-One Pilots, SZA, The Kid LAROI, Saweetie and more.
From the singles “Rains in Heaven,” “Flying Kiss,” and “When I’m With You” to the tracks written entirely by the members, as well as the soon-to-become-fan-favorite album cuts, here is our ranking of the 11 songs on NCT DREAM’s fourth full-length album, DREAMSCAPE.
“INTRO – DREAMSCAPE”
It’s already famous as one of English rock veterans Oasis’ longest songs, but now founding member Noel Gallagher has far exceeded that record with the creation of a six-hour version of “Champagne Supernova”.
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According to The Independent, Gallagher has created the new version of the enduring song as an ambient mixed track for a new exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
The Legends exhibition will open on Nov. 29 and run until Mar. 2, featuring more than 100 portraits of figures from the worlds of art, fashion, business, and entertainment taken by photographer Zoë Law.
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Alongside images of England World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton, the exhibition will also feature images of actress Kim Cattrall, actor Orlando Bloon, and Gallagher himself. It also features a portrait of Sienna Miller who is seen holding the 1967 Epiphone guitar which Gallgher used during the writing of “Champagne Supernova”.
Originally released in 1995 as the closing track to Oasis‘ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? album, “Champagne Supernova” was issued as the record’s sixth and final single, ultimately spending five weeks atop the Alternative Airplay chart in April and May 1996.
News of the extended ambient version of the track is the latest in a year filled with Oasis headlines, largely thanks to the British group’s unexpected reunion earlier this year.
Announcing a series of 2025 shows across the U.K. which sold out instantly, the band revealed five tour dates across North America on Sept. 30, with shows planned for Chicago, New Jersey, and California in August and September 2025. “America. Oasis is coming,” the band said at the time. “You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”
Despite the level of international excitement the reunion has inspired, Oasis’ upcoming tour dates have also made headlines for the wrong reasons, namely due to the usage of the controversial dynamic pricing practice.
Backlash from U.K fans was so intense that upon the announcement of their U.S tour dates, Oasis issued a statement noting the practice would not be used for their North American dates.
“It is widely accepted that dynamic pricing remains a useful tool to combat ticket touting and keep prices for a significant proportion of fans lower than the market rate and thus more affordable,” they said in a statement.
“But, when unprecedented ticket demand (where the entire tour could be sold many times over at the moment tickets go on sale) is combined with technology that cannot cope with that demand, it becomes less effective and can lead to an unacceptable experience for fans.”