Music
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Keith Urban gave just a few hours’ notice before performing a free concert Friday night (Aug. 16) in the parking lot of a large convenience store and gas station in north Alabama. Hundreds of people turned out for the show in Athens, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Nashville. It was outside a Buc-ee’s, a […]
Taylor Swift did not announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version) Saturday night, but she did finally perform the album’s “I Did Something Bad” on The Eras Tour. At her Aug. 17 show, the song — a personal favorite, Swift said — got its tour debut during the acoustic set at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“The whole tour I’ve done 100s of songs, but I’ve not done one of my favorite ones,” teased Swift, guitar in hand in front of 92,000 people, “because I was waiting for the right crowd.”
And then came “I Did Something Bad” for the first time in 2024 — a sharp, acoustic version of one of Reputation‘s big pop pillars.
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Swift’s Eras rendition of the song still was a thrill, building up to a bridge that had her scream-singing the last “Light me up!”
Of course, it was a thrill to Swifties not just in a musical sense, but in getting hopes high that Swift’s much-anticipated Reputation (Taylor’s Version) might be this-much-closer to materializing.
With only two re-recorded album releases remaining in Swift’s queue, Reputation and her self-titled debut, and with the tip last December that Rep‘s previously unheard vault tracks are “fire” (it’s what Swift said), playing a Rep rarity, which many fans guessed would be saved to align with an album announcement, is an interesting choice. “I Did Something Bad” hasn’t been performed live by Swift since 2018.
Swiftstorians might recall that it was almost exactly seven years ago, on Aug. 18, 2017, when Swift cryptically went dark on socials ahead of the original Reputation album’s announcement. Without explanation, on Aug. 21, 2017, one post showed up on her feed: the first slither of the now-iconic snake imagery associated with her sixth studio album.
“I DID SOMETHING BAD” surfaced as a trending topic on social media into the late hours of Saturday, with fan memes aplenty. (Scroll through them below.)
In Saturday night’s acoustic set, she also played a piano mashup that pulled at the heartstrings: “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” from The Tortured Poets Department, and “Coney Island,” from Evermore. Swift has two more Wembley shows before wrapping her run of London tour dates.
Keep track of all of the surprise songs performed on The Eras Tour on Billboard‘s full list, after you watch “I Did Something Bad” and scroll through the general reaction Swifties had online.
TOMORROW IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN TAYLOR BLACKED OUT HER SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE REPUTATION AND SHE ALSO SANG I DID SOMETHING BAD TODAY??!!! pic.twitter.com/af2GheLwf4— veronica⸆⸉ (@thisisvertrying) August 17, 2024
Taylor Swift is praising Post Malone following his new album release.
The 34-year-old pop superstar took to her Instagram Story on Saturday (Aug. 17) to gush over the “Sunflower” singer’s country debut, F-1 Trillion, which dropped on Friday.
“Was lucky enough to hear this amazing music on set of the ‘fortnight’ video when Austin played it for me,” Swift captioned an image of herself on set with Malone, 29. She added, “It’s incredible how versatile his artistry is. And just the most down to earth guy alive.”
The “Anti-Hero” hitmaker’s post also included a link to stream F-1 Trillion.
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Malone has spent months in Nashville, writing and collaborating with Music City’s top country artists and songwriters in crafting the new set. He teamed with Morgan Wallen for the six-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “I Had Some Help,” and his collaboration with Blake Shelton, “Pour Me a Drink,” is at No. 14 on the Country Airplay chart.
F-1 Trillion also features collaborations with Luke Combs, Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Tim McGraw, Ernest, Hank Williams Jr., Lainey Wilson, Brad Paisley, Sierra Ferrell, HARDY and Chris Stapleton.
Earlier this year, Swift teamed up with Malone on “Fortnight,” the lead single from her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department. The track spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May.
Malone also joined Swift for the trippy music video of “Fortnight.” The visual features Post’s tattoos on Taylor’s face as she appears to wipe her face clean, only to reveal a face full of ink instead. In a series of flashback scenes, both of the musicians are fresh-faced, as Swift runs into the arms of a tattoo-free Malone.
See Swift’s post about Malone’s F-1 Trillion album on her Instagram Story here.
Bebe Rexha is claiming she was the victim of a “hate crime” after an incident at a German airport. In a series of emotional posts on her Instagram Story on Saturday (Aug. 17), the 34-year-old pop star alleged that she was “threatened” and banned from her Lufthansa flight at Munich Airport after speaking Albanian to […]
Paris Hilton says she is “safe” after a fire broke out on the set of her latest music video.
On Friday (Aug. 16), the 43-year-old Simple Life alum shared on social media that a blaze broke out in her trailer while filming a video for her new song “Bad B—- Academy.” The post included shots of the damage caused by the fire, along with a message pointing out that nobody was injured during the incident.
“Sadly an accidental fire broke out in my trailer on the set of my music video today,” Hilton wrote on her Instagram Story. “As heartbreaking as it is, l’m so thankful everyone is safe and I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing support I have around me.”
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The “Stars Are Blind” singer’s post included a shout-out to her team, including video director Hannah Lux Davis, as well as Heidi Klum, Meghan Trainor and Lance Bass.
Hilton shared a second post with a photo containing some of her charred belongings from the video shoot. “Not how I expected my music video shoot for ‘Bad B—- Academy’ to go,” she captioned the image.
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Hilton’s upcoming album, Infinite Icon, is scheduled for release during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 6. The upcoming release, executive produced by Sia, marks the entertainment icon’s first full-length since her 2006 debut, Paris, which spawned her biggest hit to date “Stars Are Blind.” The track reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Hilton recently collaborated with Meghan Trainor on the song “Chasin’.” Paris gushed about the “All About That Bass” singer in an interview with Billboard.
“One of my favorite features is with Meghan Trainor. She’s just so sweet and amazing,” she said. “We met years ago during New York Fashion Week. She just came up to me, like, ‘I’m the third Hilton sister.’ Then I immediately just loved her so much and we became best friends.”
See Hilton’s damaged trailer photos on her Instagram Story here.
Maurice Williams, a rhythm and blues singer and composer who with his backing group the Zodiacs became one of music’s great one-shot acts with the classic ballad “Stay,” has died. He was 86.
Williams died Aug. 6, according to an announcement from the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, which did not immediately provide further details.
A writer and performer since childhood, Williams had been in various harmony groups when he and the Zodiacs began a studio session in 1960.
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They unexpectedly made history near the end with their recording of “Stay,” which Williams had dashed off as a teenager a few years earlier.
Over hard chants of “Stay!” by his fellow vocalists, Williams carried much of the song and its plea to an unnamed girl. Midway, he stepped back and gave the lead to Shane Gaston and one of rock’s most unforgettable falsetto shouts — “Oh, won’t you stay, just a little bit longer!”
Barely over 1 minute, 30 seconds, among the shortest chart-toppers of the rock era, the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1960 and was the group’s only major success.
But it was covered by the Hollies and the Four Seasons among others early on and endured as a favorite oldie, known best from when Jackson Browne sang it live for his 1977 Running On Empty album.
“Stay” also was performed by Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty and others at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden and appeared in its original version on the blockbuster Dirty Dancing soundtrack from 1987.
The song was inspired by a teenage crush, Mary Shropshire.
“(Mary) was the one I was trying to get to stay a little longer,” Williams told the North Carolina publication Our State in 2012. “Of course, she couldn’t.”
Williams’ career was otherwise more a story of disappointments. He wrote another falsetto showcase, “Little Darlin,” and recorded it in 1957 with the Gladiolas. But the song instead became a hit for a white group, the Diamonds. In 1965, Williams and the Zodiacs cut a promising ballad, “May I.” But their label, Vee-Jay, went bankrupt just as the song was coming out and “May I” was later a hit for another white group, Bill Deal & the Rhondels.
Like many stars from the early rock era, Williams became a fixture on oldies tours and tributes, while also making the albums Let This Night Last and Back to Basics. In the mid-1960s, he settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in 2010 was voted into the state’s Hall of Fame. Survivors include his wife, Emily.
Williams was born in Lancaster, South Carolina, and sang with family members in church while growing up. He was in his teens when he formed a gospel group, the Junior Harmonizers, who became the Royal Charms as they evolved into secular music and then the Zodiacs in honor of a Ford car they used on the road. Meanwhile, he was a prolific writer and needed little time to finish what became his signature hit.
“It took me about 30 minutes to write ‘Stay,’ then I threw it away,” he later told www.classicsbands.com. “We were looking for songs to record as Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. I was over at my girlfriend’s house playing the tape of songs I had written, when her little sister said, ‘Please do the song with the high voice in it.’ I knew she meant ‘Stay.’ She was about 12 years old and I said to myself, ‘She’s the age of record buying,’ and the rest is history. I thank God for her.”
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Eladio Carrión’s Olympic Donation
Eladio Carrión is giving a donation of New Balance 990v6 sneakers to the athletes, coaches and staff of the Puerto Rican Olympic Team, according to a press statement. The announcement was first made during the season finale of Complex’s Sneaker Shopping series, where the Puerto Rican hitmaker made history with the show’s “largest purchase ever.” As a previous Olympic-qualifying swimmer, Carrión is “deeply committed to supporting and honoring the team’s dedication and hard work in their pursuit of excellence,” added the statement.
See Eladio Carrión’s episode below:
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Victor Manuelle to Receive Key to NYC
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the return of the ‘Rise Up NYC’ summer concert series, which will offer free outdoor concerts to New Yorkers across all five boroughs. On Aug. 21, when Victor Manuelle is set to perform in the Bronx, the salsa hitmaker will also receive the receive The Entertainers’ Key to New York City.
“With great honor! I thank Mayor Adams for this recognition and for allowing me to meet again with the Hispanic public of New York City, in an event as significant as Rise-Up. I’m very excited to present my show and celebrate a night full of music and energy with the Latin community,” the salsa singer said in a statement.
¡Viva! Broadway
The Broadway League and Museum of Broadway announced a new exhibit to celebrate Latin and Hispanic heritage on Broadway, titled ¡Viva Broadway!: Ayer, hoy y mañana. The exhibit will launch on Sept.15 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“The Broadway League’s ¡Viva! Broadwayinitiative is excited to collaborate with The Museum of Broadway in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the remarkable achievements of Latiné and Hispanic artists on Broadway through an immersive month-long exhibit curated by the museum and the League,” Jason Laks, interim president of The Broadway League, said in a statement. “Visitors will get the chance to see iconic pieces from favorite Broadway shows up close. Additionally, the month will feature a range of special events and panel discussions with distinguished Broadway performers and industry professionals.”
The exhibit will feature a mural by famed graffiti artist Soraya Marquez, aka Indie184, and will be open to the public Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 at The Museum of Broadway in Times Square.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Anthem
FIFA unveiled “Aheh-Aheh,” the official song for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 anthem. The song is a collaboration between Mambo Kingz, DJ Luian featuring Colombian artists Nath and Ysa C.
“This is a moment of great pride for Colombia,” said Ysa C in a statement. “We are showcasing our passion for football and our vibrant culture to the world. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is not just about sport, it’s about celebrating our unity and diversity.”
“Being part of the anthem for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia is a tremendous honor and a testament to our love for the game,” Nath added. “It’s an opportunity to highlight our nation’s talent, resilience, and the vibrant spirit of our people.”
The tournament kicks off Aug. 31 in Bogotá, Colombia. The match schedule for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 can be found here.
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Carlos Vives Lunches New Summit
The Colombian star launched the new Tras La Perla Summit 2024 on Thursday at the Teatro Santa Marta. Billed as a summit that “seeks to strengthen the social fabric of its territory of influence and promote the construction of the future of the city of Santa Marta,” which will celebrate its 500th anniversary in 2025.
The summit is part of the Tras La Perla initiative, founded by Carlos Vives and his wife Claudia Elena Vásquez, which is “dedicated to transformation and local development with identity” in the city of Santa Marta and the region.
On Thursday night, Bruno Mars was the first performer at the Intuit Dome arena in Inglewood, California — LA’s newest venue and the home of the Clippers.
The elusive musician is playing two nights, and the first was one for the books. He slid through all the hits and invited a very special guest onstage in front of all the fans and celebrities in attendance.
Below, we’re breaking down our favorite moments from the night.
Mars and Lady Gaga had been teasing their brand-new collaboration “Die with a Smile” all day, so of course it was the perfect time to live-debut the country collab. He surprised the crowd with the icon toward the end of the show and started by thanking her for having him on the song. Their voices blended perfectly, and the song sounded so good it felt like we were already listening to a classic.
Gaga wasn’t the only musician there: Intuit Dome was packed with celebrities. We talked to Meghan Trainor on the red carpet, who said her family’s favorite Bruno track is “24K Magic”. Inside the club suites, we ran into Halle Bailey and DDG and their adorable baby. The coolest celeb moment of the night was catching Jennifer Lopez with her hands up and whipping her hair to Mars’ “Marry You”. You better live, J.Lo!
Mars is a once-in-a-lifetime performer, and his skills were on full display during the show. He effortlessly executed high-energy choreography along with his band on songs like “Finesse.” You wouldn’t even notice because he’d then slip into a smooth ballad like “Versace on the Floor” and not sound even a bit winded. His belt was so loud you could feel his emotion all the way up to the top of the Dome. The mic was definitely on.
The Intuit Dome itself was a star. The paper and cashless venue was a marvel in technology. Each floor had bars and shops that operated so smoothly there were rarely lines. The club level had lounges for guests to mingle and eat before the show. The best part? Each seat had a charging port, so no more dead phones at concerts.
Mars’ fans were a vibe. They quickly ate up the exclusive merchandise for the commemorative evening. Blink and you would think you’re at Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, because so many fans were dressed as Mr. Mars. The most popular look was his 24K Magic album cover.
Mars is set for one more night at Intuit Dome on Friday night (Aug. 16), followed by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco on Saturday night, Latin star Marco Antonio Solis on Sunday night, and two nights of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS Tour on Tuesday and Wednesday.
She may not love the “London Boy” anymore, but Taylor Swift made sure to fittingly perform the song at Wembley Stadium. As part of her surprise songs section of the show on Friday (Aug. 16), the superstar told the London crowd that she loves “the English” before delving into the fan-favorite Lover track, presumed to […]
Alicia Keys‘ 2007 hit “No One” becomes her first solo diamond-certified record by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she announced on Friday (Aug. 16). “A song that is there for us when we need it most. Singing this song, together, all over the world is magical each and every time. Thank you for […]