Music

28 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Is In Her College Era: Harvard, University of Florida Add Courses Dedicated to Pop Star

More college courses dedicated to Taylor Swift have been added to the academic canon for 2024, including a class at one of the most famous universities in the world: Harvard. 

Starting in the spring, both Harvard University and the University of Florida will offer studies on the 33-year-old pop star: “Taylor Swift and Her World” and “Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and other Iconic Female Artists,” respectively. Summaries of the courses are already available online. 

At Harvard, English department instructor Stephanie Burt will guide students through examinations of fan culture, celebrity culture, adolescence, adulthood and appropriation, as well as approaches to white texts, Southern texts, transatlantic texts and queer subtexts. “We will learn how to think about illicit affairs and hoaxes, champagne problems and incomplete closure,” adds the course description on Harvard’s website, referencing track titles on Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums. 

Meanwhile, UF’s Melina Jimenez will oversee “13 gorgeous weeks of discussing Taylor Swift’s discography, with a focus on her evergreen songwriting,” according to the institution’s similarly song reference-filled course description. Students will also “draw parallels between Swift’s enchanting lyrics and works by other famous female masterminds” while dissecting themes such as “old flames, infidelity, aging and double standards.” 

Harvard and University of Florida are just two of the latest schools to offer Swiftian studies, following in the footsteps of institutions such as University of Texas, Arizona State University, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. The fast-growing trend in Taylor-themed classes stems from New York University’s groundbreaking Swift course taught by Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos, which was launched early last year. Soon after, the “Anti-Hero” singer received an honorary doctorate from the university and spoke at its spring 2022 commencement ceremony. 

The news comes on the heels of Swift closing out her final Eras Tour show of 2023, wrapping up three nights in São Paulo, Brazil, Sunday night (Nov. 26). It’s proven to be a blockbuster year for the 12-time Grammy winner, who picked up six more Recording Academy nominations earlier this month, in addition to winning 10 Billboard Music Awards. She’s also released two albums this year alone – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) — while also reportedly reaching billionaire status thanks to her global Eras trek and corresponding concert film. 

28 Nov 2023

Here Are the 3 Finalists for the Brits’ 2024 Rising Star Award

Pop hitmaker Caity Baser, all-female indie rock band The Last Dinner Party and teen pop/soul singer Sekou are the three finalists for the Rising Star Award at the 2024 Brit Awards.

Baser’s “Pretty Boys” reached No. 26 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in February. She has had three other entries on that chart: “X & Y”; “Feels This Good,” a Sigala feature which also featured Mae Muller and Stefflon Don; and “Dance Around It” with Joel Corry. Baser is also a member of Loud LDN.

The Last Dinner Party’s “Nothing Matters” reached No. 16 on the Official Singles Sales Chart in July. The band, which was formed in 2021, consists of Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute), Georgia Davies (bass) and Aurora Nishevci (keys, vocals).

Sekou was born in Leicester but is now based in London and Los Angeles. He attracted label interest after a video of him performing in a car park went viral. He lists his main influences as Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.

Previous winners of The Rising Star award, which is now in its 16th year, include Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding and last year’s recipient, FLO. The award is open to British artists who, as of Oct. 31, had not yet achieved a top 20 placement on the Official Album Charts or achieved more than one top 20 chart placement in the Official Singles Chart.

The shortlist and winner are determined by a panel of music editors and critics from the national press, online music editors, heads of music at major radio and music TV stations plus songwriters, producers and live bookers — those working with new rising talent on a regular basis.

While the roster of winners includes some of the biggest British talent of the past two decades, the show has also missed a few. Lewis Capaldi was nominated in 2019, but lost to Sam Fender. Dua Lipa was nominated in 2017, but lost to Rag ‘n Bone Man.

Here’s a full list of past winners and other finalists for The Brits’ Rising Star Award.

2008: Adele; other finalists: Duffy, Foals

2009:  Florence + the Machine; other finalists: Little Boots, White Lies

2010: Ellie Goulding; other finalists: Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds

2011: Jessie J; other finalists: James Blake, The Vaccines

2012: Emeli Sandé; other finalists: Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre

2013: Tom Odell; other finalists: AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula

2014: Sam Smith; other finalists: Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl

2015: James Bay; other finalists: George the Poet, Years & Years

2016: Jack Garratt; other finalists: Izzy Bizu, Frances

2017: Rag’n’Bone Man; other finalists: Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa

2018: Jorja Smith; other finalists: Stefflon Don, Mabel

2019: Sam Fender; other finalists: Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia

2020: Celeste; other finalists: Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes

2021: Griff; other finalists: Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama

2022: Holly Humberstone; other finalists: Bree Runway, Lola Young

2023: FLO; other finalists: Cat Burns, Nia Archives

28 Nov 2023

Bunnie XO Responds to Claims She’s ‘Jealous’ of Jelly Roll’s Friendship With Lainey Wilson

Bunnie XO, who hosts her Dumb Blonde podcast and is married to singer-songwriter Jelly Roll, isn’t putting up with online rumors.

On her Instagram Stories Monday (Nov. 27), Bunnie XO responded to a Radar Online article that suggested she was “jealous” of Jelly Roll’s friendship with his BBR Music Group labelmate and fellow CMA Award winner Lainey Wilson.

Bunnie shared a series of videos of herself meeting Wilson backstage, including at this year’s CMA Awards.

“When you meet Lainey Wilson and fall in love,” Bunnie XO’s caption read in part. She wrote on a second video in her Stories, “It’s actually me that wants Lainey, so do better research. LMAO.”

The clip also contained the caption, “Wanna kno the type of woman Lainey Wilson is .. she’s the min your husband wins his first cma award she’s there to hug & cheer you on.”

Jelly Roll won his first CMA Award, for new artist of the year, on Nov. 8, while Wilson picked up multiple trophies, including female vocalist of the year and the entertainer of the year. The two also currently have a No. 2 Billboard Country Airplay hit with their collaboration “Save Me.” The song is included on Jelly Roll’s 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel. Wilson and Jelly Roll also performed the song together during the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this year, while Jelly Roll also made a surprise appearance to collaborate with Wilson on the song during her recent Nashville show opening for HARDY in October.

Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll have been married for seven years, and earlier this year, they renewed their wedding vows in a Las Vegas ceremony.

28 Nov 2023

Cher Laughs About Iconic Hit ‘Believe’ Turning 25: ‘Pisses the F–k Out of Me’

Cher has been turning back time for decades, defying the march of the calendar pages with an eternally youthful look and sound. But after more than six decades in the public eye, the ageless 77-year-old singer is having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that her iconic 1999 dance single “Believe” is turning 25 this year.

“It’s not that amazing, OK? Pisses me — it pisses the f–k out of me,” the singer laughed as she discussed the annivary with the Today show’s Harry Smith. “And you can’t put that out.” T

he dance pop hit that introduced the world to the wonders of AutoTune spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and racked up three Grammy nominations, including best pop album for the LP of the same name, record of the year for the single and the singer’s only Grammy win to date, for best dance recording.

When Smith asked her if she’s “not friends” with age, the singer confirmed she’s not a fan of Father Time. “No. My mother didn’t mind. But I do. I hate it,” she said in a shoutout to her mother, Georgia Holt, who died at 96 last December. How much does she hate aging? “I’d give anything to be 70 again,” Cher said.

The singer’s 22nd studio album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart and is now available in a 25th anniversary deluxe edition with a bonus disc featuring three remixes of “Believe” from that era, as well as three remixes/radio edits of the singles “Strong Enough” and “All or Nothing” and four remixes of “Dov’è l’amore”; the collection compiles the mixes for the first time in 3LP and 2CD formats.

Now that Barbra Streisand, 81, has finally released her memoir, My Name Is Barbra, which was a decade in the making, Cher said she’s struggling to make progress on her book. “It’s very difficult because I’ve lived too long, and I’ve done too many things,” she said. “And so it would have to be, like, an encyclopedia, truthfully.”

Cher just released her first-ever Christmas album, Christmas, and she’ll be performing selections from it at Wednesday night’s (Nov. 29) Christmas at Rockefeller Center on NBC, which will also feature Chloe Bailey, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Liz Gillies, Darlene Love, Seth MacFarlane, Barry Manilow and more.

Watch Cher on the Today above.

28 Nov 2023

Bad Bunny Achieves 23rd No. 1 on Latin Airplay With ‘Un Preview’

A week after crowning multiple Billboard year-end charts, Bad Bunny adds a new chart achievement to his roster as “Un Preview” ascends 2-1 on the Latin Airplay ranking dated Dec. 2. The song’s new coronation follows its command on Latin Rhythm Airplay, for a third week in charge.

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“Un Preview” checks into the penthouse on Latin Airplay with 10.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the Nov. 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate. That’s a 14% gain from the week prior, which sends Myke Towers’ “LaLa” to No. 6, after two weeks atop, with 16% dip, to 7.8 million impressions.

As “Preview” takes the lead, Bad Bunny earns his 23rd champ, thus tying with Maluma for the fifth-most No. 1s overall, since Latin Airplay began in 1994. As the Top Latin Artist of 2023 “previews” a new No. 1, here’s the list of all artists with as many or more:

  • 36, J Balvin
  • 33, Ozuna
  • 32, Enrique Iglesias
  • 28, Daddy Yankee
  • 23, Bad Bunny
  • 23, Maluma

The new No. 1 also continues Bad Bunny’s chart-topping achievements as a soloist. Among his 23 champs, “Preview” becomes his eighth solo leader, unaccompanied by any other act. Further, it’s the second No. 1 song as a soloist with an English-language title, after “Where She Goes” topped Latin Airplay last August. Let’s take a look at those solo winners:

Peak Date, Title, Weeks at No. 1

  • March 14, 2020, “Vete,” one
  • Aug. 1, 2020, “La Dificil, one
  • June 6, 2020, “Yo Perreo Sola,” two
  • Sept. 4, 2021, “Yonaguni,” one
  • July 30, 2022, “Moscow Mule,” one
  • Sept. 24, 2022, “Titi Me Preguntó,” one
  • Aug. 12, 2023, “Where She Goes,” one
  • Dec. 2, 2023, “Un Preview”

Elsewhere, as mentioned, “Preview” rebounds to its No. 1 high for a third week on Latin Rhythm Airplay.

28 Nov 2023

André 3000 Breaks Hot 100 Record With 12-Minute, 20-Second Hit From New Album

Hit songs are generally quick – Billboard Hot 100 top 10s run an average of three minutes and 15 seconds in 2023, according to Hit Songs Deconstructed – but the three longest Hot 100 hits by run time have all charted since 2019, with a new record-breaker debuting on the latest, Dec. 2-dated survey.

André 3000’s “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time” has, fittingly given its title, a lengthy run time: 12 minutes and 20 seconds. As it enters the Hot 100 at No. 90, it becomes the longest-running song ever to have hit the chart, surpassing Tool’s “Fear Inoculum,” at 10:21 in length. André 3000’s track – an instrumental, also atypical for a modern Hot 100 hit – additionally bests the No. 93 peak of Tool’s track in August 2019.

Now in third place among the longest-running Hot 100 hits to date, Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” is 10 minutes and 13 seconds in length (in its longest version). The song launched at No. 1 in November 2021, becoming the longest leader by run time in the chart’s archives.

André 3000’s track is from the former OutKast member’s debut, all-instrumental LP New Blue Sun, which arrives at No. 1 on the New Age Albums chart with 24,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in its first week (Nov. 17-23), according to Luminate. The song starts with 5.8 million official streams (and 22,000 in radio audience, including exposure on adult alternative stations KEXP Seattle and WXPN Philadelphia).

OutKast – André 3000 and Big Boi – charted 19 Hot 100 hits in 1994-2007, including three No. 1s: “Ms. Jackson” (one week at No. 1, 2001); “Hey Ya!” (nine weeks, 2003-04); and “The Way You Move” featuring Sleepy Brown (one week, 2004). The pair also scored five No. 1s on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

André 3000 adds his seventh solo Hot 100 entry, having reached a No. 24 high in 2008 as featured on John Legend’s “Green Light.”

Echoing the title of his new Hot 100 hit, the 48-year-old recently told NPR, “In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album. So, maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”

Below, take a quick look at the five longest Hot 100 hits by run time over the chart’s history (with assistance from Paul Haney at Joel Whitburn’s Record Research).

28 Nov 2023

Country & Pop Remain Tied on Top: The State of the Hot 100’s Top 10 Through Q3 2023

What were some of the most notable trends on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart over the first three quarters of 2023?

Hit Songs Deconstructed, which provides compositional analytics for top 10 Hot 100 hits, has released its Q3 2023 State of the Hot 100 Top 10 report.

Here are three takeaways from Hit Songs Deconstructed’s latest in-depth research.

Country Remains Tied With Pop on Top

Over the first nine months of 2023, country and pop tied as the most common primary genres in the Hot 100’s top 10, each contributing to 21% of all top 10 hits. Country and pop shared the lead in Q1 2023, at 26% each, and at midyear, each with 23%.

“Country was the big gainer, surging from just 4% of songs in 2022 to 21% YTD 2023, its highest level in over a decade, largely thanks to Morgan Wallen,” Hit Songs Deconstructed’s report notes. Wallen’s haul has been led by “Last Night,” which first topped the Hot 100 in March and reigned for 16 weeks, the longest command for a non-collaboration in the chart’s history.

As for pop, despite its shared domination with country, its 21% share of all Hot 100 top 10s in the first three quarters of 2023 continues a decline for the genre, from 35% in all of 2022; a leading 39% in 2021; 40% in 2020; and a winning 47% in 2019.

“Pop dropped to its lowest level of prominence in over a decade,” according to Hit Songs Deconstructed. (At the same time, as Hit Songs Deconstructed noted earlier this year, while country has ascended in the Hot 100’s top 10, driven by Wallen’s hits, among others, the genre boasts notable similarities to pop songs.)

Below country and pop, two other primary genres scored double-digit shares of Hot 100 top 10s from January through September: hip-hop at 19%, and R&B/soul at 15%.

Hip-hop’s presence, like pop’s, continued to fall among Hot 100 top 10s, with its 19% take, and its third-place rank among primary genres, over Q1-Q3 2023, down noticeably from a first-place 38% finish in 2022; 34% in 2021; a leading 41% in 2020; and 34% in 2019.

R&B/soul’s share so far in 2023, conversely, nearly doubled from 8% for all of 2022.

Smaller Songwriting Teams (Sort Of)

“While songwriting teams of five-plus writers are still most common, they’ve seen a significant drop so far in 2023,” Hit Songs Deconstructed’s report indicates. Such groups accounted for a leading 38% of all Hot 100 top 10s over the year’s first three quarters, though down from 60% for all of 2019.

Songwriter groups of three (22% of all Hot 100 top 10s) and four (19%) ranked second and third, respectively, over Q1-Q3 2023.

Songwriter Team Size Graph

Courtesy of Hit Songs Deconstructed

Notably, while only 8% of Hot 100 top 10s in that span were penned by a single writer, one hit No. 1, for two weeks in August-September: Oliver Anthony Music’s self-written and -performed “Rich Men North of Richmond.” (In each of those frames, Luke Combs ranked at No. 2 with “Fast Car,” his update of Tracy Chapman’s likewise self-authored 1988 classic.)

Jersey in the Club

Among sub-genres/influences, Jersey club claimed an 8% share of Hot 100 top 10s in the first three-quarters of 2023 – following no presence between 2019 and 2022.

“Leading the way was Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Just Wanna Rock,’ followed by Ice Spice and PinkPantheress’ ‘Boys a Liar, Pt.2,’” recaps Hit Songs Deconstructed. “Bad Bunny followed with ‘Where She Goes,’ and Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj and Aqua kept the trend going with ‘Barbie World.’”

Among other standout sub-genres/influences in the Hot 100’s top 10 in the latest research period were psychedelic/retro, via SZA’s No. 1 “Kill Bill”; Afrobeats, thanks to Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which hit No. 3; and classical, as heard in JVKE’s No. 10-peaking “Golden Hour.”

28 Nov 2023

‘The Book of Clarence’ Releases First Soundtrack Single ‘Hallelujah Heaven’

Jeymes Samuel, director of the critically acclaimed 2021 film The Harder They Fall, is now busy spreading the word about his second film, The Book of Clarence. And coming ahead of the Legendary Entertainment film’s Jan. 12, 2024 nationwide theater arrival is the first song from its soundtrack.

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Released today (Nov. 28) along with the film’s official trailer, “Hallelujah Heaven” is performed by Samuel himself and also features Lil Wayne, Buju Banton & Shabba Ranks. 

Jay-Z and Kid Cudi are among the additional featured guests and collaborators on the Roc Nation soundtrack, more details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks. Beyond writing and performing on the soundtrack, Samuel also composed the film’s score.

“The Book of Clarence is a film that I wanted to make for many years,” says British filmmaker Samuel in a release announcing the soundtrack’s lead song. “While I was working on The Harder They Fall and all my other projects, the story and the music for The Book of Clarence were always there percolating in my mind. There was never a question as to whether I would compose the score and write and perform on the soundtrack, as well as write and direct the movie. It was all one amazing journey where one depended on the other. But I also worked with the most awesome artists on our track ‘Hallelujah Heaven.’ Collaborating with Lil’ Wayne, Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks was so dope; I loved getting them all on the same track.”

Samuel’s reimagined take on Hollywood’s classic Biblical epics stars LaKeith Stansfield as the streetwise Clarence, a man who is struggling to make a better life for himself and his family. Inspired by the rising power and glory of the Messiah and his disciples, Clarence stakes his own claim to a similar life as he embarks on a journey that encompasses risks as well as redemption and faith. A lyric sample from “Hallelujah Heaven” further illuminates Samuel’s unique twist on the movie’s Biblical theme:

“Hallelujah

From Hollygrove to Honolulu (Hallelujah)

Me Shabba Buju, the holy ghost will probably spook you

It’s kinda coo coo, it’s New Orleans a lot of voodoo (Hallelujah)

Pour holy water in my codeine sippin’ like yoo hoo

Goodness gracious I look at faces they look like satans (Heaven)…”

Being released through TriStar Pictures, The Book of Clarence boasts a cast that includes David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor and Benedict Cumberbatch. Working alongside Samuel as the film’s producers were Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, James Lassiter and Tendo Nagenda.

The Book of Clarence

The Book of Clarence

Courtesy Photo

28 Nov 2023

Foo Fighters, Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age to Headline 2024 Hellfest

The lineup for the 2024 edition of the French hard rock festival Hellfest will featuring a quartet of heavy hitters headlining from June 27-30, including Foo Fighters, Metallica, Machine Head and Avenged Sevenfold.

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The first night — topped by A7X — will feature support from Megadeth, Dropkick Murphys, Bad Omens, Baby Metal, Enter Shakari and more. Machine Head top the Friday night lineup, with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello on the bill along with The Prodigy, Fear Factory, Steel Panther, Ice-T’s Body Count, Shaka Ponk, Biohazard, 311, Fu Manchu, Corrosion of Conformity and others.

Metallica will headline on night three, along with Mass Hysteria, Extreme, Mammoth WVH, Black Stone Cherry, The Dead Daisies, Saxon, Bruce Dickinson, Accept, Yngwie Malmsteen, Suicidal Tendencies, The Interruptors, Mr. Bungle and more. Foo Fighters do the honors on the final night, with support from Queen of the Stone Age, Royal Blood, Heart, Nova Twins, High on Fire, The Offspring, Corey Taylor, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, Simple Plan, Neck Deep, Madball, Rival Sons, Therapy?, Dimmu Borgir and many more.

The 17th edition of Hellfest will take place outside the western French city of Clisson with more than 160 bands setting up on six stages. Weekend tickets are already sold out and single-day tickets slated to go on sale early next year.

Last year’s event featured sets from Kiss, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Def Leppard, Tenacious D, Sum 41, Pantera, Rancid, Black Flag and more.

Check out the full lineup and the Hellfest 2024 poster below.

28 Nov 2023

Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor Bring the Christmas Spirit With ‘Wrap Me Up’: Watch

Move over Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor have unwrapped their own Christmas song.

Fallon, the host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, chose the platform of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live to premiere “Wrap Me Up,” a throwback doo-wop-meets-hip-hop Crimbo number.

Trainor came decked-out as a red Christmas tree, Fallon wore the tux, and four of Santa’s helpers provided backing moves and vocals.

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Fallon pumped up the new single be taking it to the streets, and handing out presents to passers-by. It’s all captured in a social post, beside which he writes: “I was so excited for this song to come out that I wanted to spread some holiday cheer and surprise folks on the streets of New York City with some presents. Hope you all love this song as much as I do.”

“Wrap Me Up” has been months in the making. Indeed, Fallon let the cat out the bag way back in March of this year, when he announced a holiday album. “Full album. It’s all originals,” he recently told SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up. “And nothing sounds like Mariah Carey.”

It’s not his first Christmas music rodeo. Fallon often performs holiday songs on his late night show with his famous friends. Back in 2021, he released a pandemic-era holiday song “It Was A… (Masked Christmas)” alongside pop stars Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion. And in 2022, Fallon joined forces with Dolly Parton for “Almost Too Early for Christmas”.

Trainor also lights up with Christmas spirt at this time of year. In 2020, the “All About That Bass” singer dropped A Very Trainor Christmas via Epic Records, her first Xmas-themed collection. Its single “White Christmas” featuring Seth MacFarlane, jingled all the way to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart in the month of December.

Watch the late night performance of “Wrap Me Up” below.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=lepAylfErvQ&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent