Music

27 Nov 2023

Janelle Monae Invokes the Spirit of Prince, Stevie Wonder, Grace Jones & More During Soul Train Awards Acceptance Speech

One of the highlights of Soul Train Awards 2023 was Janelle Monae’s powerful acceptance speech after being presented with the Spirit of Soul Award during the show’s premiere on BET (Nov. 26).

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Delivered before a rapt and cheering audience, the current Grammy Award nominee’s remarks fervently underscored the core mission of the annual ceremony, launched by Soul Train dance show creator Don Cornelius in 1987.

Here’s the full text of Monae’s nearly five-minute speech:

“There’s nothing like being recognized by your own family. Thank you, Soul Train. Thank you, BET, for keeping soul alive. So many people have reinvented that word. I’m so honored to have something like this for us that continues to evolve and showcase so many different forms of what soul can be. As I think about this moment, [there are these] words: ‘I used to walk into the room head down. I don’t walk, now I float’ [reciting a lyric from their song “Float”]. When I think about where my spirit is today, my spirit is lighter. And as I think about the word spirit, I know y’all have heard this: Let the spirit use you, baby. My grandmother would always say that. And I’m just so thankful for her spirit. Her spirit was one of humbleness. Her spirit was one of taking care of our family. She would always tell me, ‘Take care of your family, baby.’

“And that is what I’ve tried to do since the beginning of my career: take care of my family. Y’all are my family. I wanted to shine a light on our community through my storytelling, through the art that I make through music, movies, fashion; bringing it back around to us, to our Blackness, to our beauty. And I cannot help but think about the spirit of so many who’ve had to whisper to me, ‘thank you,’ in my ear because they did not feel seen. They did not feel safe. And they felt unheard for far too long. I’m thankful to be able to show up for you. I’m thankful to show up for my people in ways that are rooted in love. I’m thankful for that.

“I’m thankful for the spirit of so many who have come before me. The spirit of Prince, whose spirit taught me ‘I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand’ [lyric from Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”]. I’m thankful for the spirit of Nina Simone, who reminds me that my job as an artist is to reflect the times. I’m thankful for the spirit of Grace Jones, who encourages me to remain a free-ass MF. I’m thankful to the spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire for reminding me if there ain’t no beauty, make some beauty. Have mercy [paraphrasing lyric from the band’s “All About Love”]. I’m thankful for the spirit of Stevie Wonder, who reminds me that love is still in need of love today [referencing the icon’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today”].

“As we continue as a people to fight against the systemic injustices and abuses of power that have gone unchallenged for way too long, y’all … we see it around the world. We see what’s happening. I ask us all to please let the spirit of love use you. Let the spirit of kindness use you. Let the spirit of empathy use you. Let the spirit of peace be your guide, always and forever. And may our spirits guide us toward creating a safe and equitable space for our people. May we all experience joy, the spirit of true joy. I love you. Let the spirit use you, baby.”

26 Nov 2023

Madness Prevails on U.K. Chart With ‘Theatre of the Absurd’

The U.K. has had a week of Madness, as Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie (via BMG) debuts at No. 1.

Theatre of the Absurd is the pop-ska band’s lucky thirteenth studio album. The leader at the midweek stage of the chart cycle, Theatre of the Absurd is the north London act’s 11th top 10, third leader, and first-ever U.K. No. 1 studio album.

Suggs and Co. previously reigned over the chart with career retrospectives Complete Madness (from 1982) and Divine Madness (1992).

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Theatre of the Absurd manages to go one better than Madness’ 1979 debut album, One Step Beyond, which peaked at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, as did their sophomore set from 1980, Absolutely.

With Madness sweeping the nation, Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) is deposed after a three-week stint at No. 1. Swift’s fourth re-recording project dips 1-2 on the national tally.

Meanwhile, Drake’s chart-topping For All the Dogs (OVO/Republic Records) rockets 21-3 following the release of its deluxe Scary Hours Edition.

Dolly Parton proves herself a rockstar once more with her latest LP, Rockstar, starting at No. 5 (Big Machine), for her fifth U.K. top 10 album. Inspired by her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Rockstar is a collection of rock cover versions, with assists from Miley Cyrus, Sting, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and others.

Further down the list, violinist and showman André Rieu’s Jewels of Romance (Decca) with Johann Strauss Orchestra bows at No. 12 on the Official Chart, published Friday Nov. 24, for the Dutchman’s 20th U.K. top 40.

As the festive season nears, Michael Bublé’s Christmas is heating up again, rising 32-16. Also, U.S. alternative rock act the National snag a sixth U.K. 40 album — and second this year — with Laugh Track (4AD), new at No. 24. It’s the followup to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which peaked at No. 4 in May.

26 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Debuts ‘Say Don’t Go’ & ‘It’s Time to Go’ Live at Final Eras Tour Show of 2023

Taylor Swift put together a themed set of surprise songs for the final Eras Tour concert she’ll play in 2023.

The São Paulo, Brazil, crowd loudly chanted “Reputation” during Swift’s acoustic set Sunday (Nov. 26), but did not get Reputation surprise songs.

Instead, at Swift’s Sunday night concert at Allianz Parque stadium — the 13th international date on The Eras Tour, and the last date until the tour resumes in February 2024 — she performed “Say Don’t Go” and “It’s Time to Go,” treating the audience to live renditions of both for the first time ever.

The emotionally charged ballad “Say Don’t Go,” which Swift debuted live on guitar, was co-written with Diane Warren and just released in October as a vault track on 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

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Then came the concert debut of “It’s Time to Go,” a track co-written with Aaron Dessner and featured on the deluxe version of 2020’s Evermore.

Swift has been performing two surprise songs each night of The Eras Tour and trying to not repeat them.

“There’s some songs that I still really, really wanna play,” said Swift.

But she explained that when she gets back on tour in 2024, she plans to reset and “make all the songs fair game” again.

Throughout the night, “Rep TV” trended on X as fans widely theorized that Swift might announce the release date of Reputation (Taylor’s Version) during her last concert of 2023. That theory grew stronger when Swift slipped up and said “Rep” instead of “Eras” Tour on stage, while introducing her acoustic set.

Although a Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement didn’t happen at the show, it was still a very special one for Swift. Earlier in the night, sitting at the piano during the Evermore era of the set, she told the cheering crowd, “This has been the most magical adventure of my life.”

“We find ourselves on the last night of The Eras Tour 2023,” she said. “This tour is something that I thought of because I really wanted to celebrate all the times you guys have been there for me and put together a show that incorporated all my favorite memories of touring — and I’ve been touring most of my life. I love traveling through these memories with you.”

Watch clips of Swift playing “Say Don’t Go” and “It’s Time to Go” below.

26 Nov 2023

SZA, Usher & Victoria Monét Are Top Winners at 2023 Soul Train Awards: Full List

SZA was the top winner at the 2023 Soul Train Awards, which premiered Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. The red-hot star won four awards: best R&B/soul female artist, album of the year for SOS, and both song of the year and the Ashford & Simpson songwriter’s award for “Snooze.”

This is the sixth consecutive year that a female solo artist has won album of the year at the Soul Train Awards. H.E.R.’s H.E.R. won in 2018, followed by Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You, Summer Walker’s Over It, Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales, Beyoncé’s Renaissance and now SOS.

This marks the second time SZA has won best R&B/soul female artist; she previously won in 2017.

SZA, who was Billboard’s woman of the year for 2023, is this year’s leading Grammy nominee with nine nods, including album of the year and best progressive R&B album for SOS (which logged 10 weeks atop the Billboard 200) and best R&B song for “Snooze” (which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100).

Usher was runner-up at the Soul Train Awards with three awards, followed by Victoria Monét with two. Keke Palmer hosted the show, which was billed as “the soulful house party of the year.”

Usher won best R&B/soul male artist for the second time. He previously won in 2010 in a tie with Trey Songz. He also won the certified soul award and best collaboration for the hit “Good Good,” on which he teamed with Summer Walker and 21 Savage. That was the only award for Walker, who went into the night with nine nods (tied for the lead with SZA and Usher) and 21 Savage, who was the nominations runner-up with eight.

Monét won best dance performance and video of the year, both for “On My Mama.” That track is up for two Grammys: record of the year and best R&B song.

Coco Jones was named best new artist. She also won in that category at the BET Awards on June 27. Jones, 25, is nominated in that category at the Grammys as well.

Kirk Franklin won the best gospel/inspirational award for the fifth consecutive year, and the sixth time overall, for “All Things.”

Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Janelle Monáe and October London, each of whom received four nominations, were shut out, though Monáe received the Spirit of Soul Award. The show tweaked the name of its Lady of Soul award, which it has presented annually since 2015, “to honor the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s recipient.” Monáe identifies as nonbinary.

Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, oversaw the annual show and executive produced for BET with Jamal Noisette, VP, specials & music programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, served as executive producer, along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.

Fans can watch encore presentations of the show on Monday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on BET. The show will air internationally on BET Africa on Monday, Nov. 27, at 3 CAT, and on BET France on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 20:45 PM CET. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the U.K. beginning Thursday, Nov. 30.

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Soul Train Awards nominees, with winners marked:

Album of the year

The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe

Age/Sex/Location, Ari Lennox

Clear 2: Soft Life EP, Summer Walker

Girls Night Out (Extended), Babyface

I Told Them…, Burna Boy

Jaguar II, Victoria Monét

WINNER: SOS, SZA

What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe), Coco Jones

Song of the year

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Favorite Song,” Toosii

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe

“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA

Video of the year

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice

“Boyfriend,” Usher

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe

WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Special,” Lizzo

Best R&B/soul female artist

Ari Lennox    

Beyoncé        

Coco Jones  

H.E.R.    

Janelle Monáe        

Summer Walker      

WINNER: SZA       

Victoria Monét

Best R&B/soul male artist

6lack   

Babyface       

Brent Faiyaz

Burna Boy     

Chris Brown

Eric Bellinger        

October London    

WINNER: Usher

Best group

Dvsn    

Flo        

Jagged Edge

Kool & The Gang     

WINNER: Maverick City Music         

Phony Ppl      

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers   

Tank and The Bangas       

Wanmor         

Best collaboration

“America Has a Problem” (Remix), Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar

“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice

“Creepin’ (Remix),” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy Feat. 21 Savage

“Fly Girl,” Flo feat. Missy Elliott

WINNER: “Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage

“Special,” Lizzo feat. SZA

“To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug),” Summer Walker, J. Cole

Best new artist

Ambré 

Ayra Starr   

WINNER: Coco Jones  

Doechii

Flo        

Fridayy

Tyla     

Wanmor         

Certified soul award

Anthony Hamilton 

Ashanti

Ciara   

Eric Bellinger        

Monica

PJ Morton     

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers   

T-Pain   

WINNER: Usher

The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award

“Back to Your Place,” October London

“Favorite Song,” Toosii

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“ICU,” Coco Jones

“Kill Bill,” SZA

“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage

WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA

Best dance performance

“Better Thangs,” Ciara Feat. Summer Walker

“Boyfriend,” Usher

“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage

“How We Roll,” Ciara & Chris Brown

WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét

“Snooze,” SZA

“Summer Too Hot,” Chris Brown

“Under the Influence,” Chris Brown

Best gospel/inspirational award

“All of the Glory,” Shirley Caesar

WINNER: “All Things,” Kirk Franklin

“Came Too Far,” Fridayy Feat. Maverick City Music & My Mom

“Cry,” Koryn Hawthorne

“Feel Alright (Blessed),” Erica Campbell

“God Problems,” Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine

“The Journey,” H.E.R.

“Try Love,” Kirk Franklin

26 Nov 2023

Ozzy Osbourne Addresses Whether He’ll Perform Live Again Amid Health Struggles, Slams Geezer Butler

Ozzy Osbourne is “taking it one day at a time” amid new health struggles, but he still hopes to perform live again one day.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone UK, the 74-year-old metal icon reveals that a tumor was discovered in one of his vertebrae during a fourth spinal surgery. The operation was mean to repair damages from a 2019 fall that dislodged metal rods from a procedure in the early 2000s.

“It’s really knocked me about,” Osbourne said. “The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled. I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f—ing rod in my spine. They found a tumor in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It’s pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f—ed up.”

Over the summer, the rocker — who also has Parkinson’s disease — canceled his headlining set at October’s Power Trip festival in Indio, Calif., which would’ve found him performing alongside Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, AC/DC and Metallica, among others. He last took the stage in 2022 for brief performances in Los Angeles and England.

Osbourne announced his retirement from touring earlier this year, but he hopes to take the live stage again someday despite his health struggles.

“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” he tells Rolling Stone UK. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’”

He added, “I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the f—ing point in that? I’m not going up there in a f—ing wheelchair. I’ve seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he’s got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn’t do that.”

Osbourne, who said in September that he’s working on a new album, notes that a final performance would give him a chance to say goodbye and express his gratitude to fans.

“For whatever reason, that’s my goal to work to. To do those shows. If it’s at Ozzfest or somewhere, or even a f—ing gig at the Roundhouse,” he says. ““If I can’t continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’ That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.”

During the interview, Osbourne also touched on his relationship with the other members of Black Sabbath, including bassist Geezer Butler.

“It’s sad, man. We all grew up together, and he can’t pick up the f—ing phone like a man and see how I’m doing,” said rocker continued, who has received support from Tony Iommi and former Sabbath drummer Bill Ward.

Butler took to social media to respond to Osbourne’s comments after the interview was published.

“I don’t want to engage in a tit for tat. Having made 2 attempts to wish Ozzy well, without a reply, I figured it best to privately keep him in my thoughts,” Butler wrote on Instagram.

26 Nov 2023

Drake’s ‘For All the Dogs’ Back at No. 1 on Billboard 200 After ‘Scary Hours’ Deluxe Release

Drake’s For All the Dogs jumps back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (dated Dec. 2), for a second week atop the list, rising 4-1 with 145,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 23 (up 102%), according to Luminate. Nearly all of its units were driven by streaming activity. The album’s return to the top is fueled largely by its deluxe reissue on Nov. 17 with six new songs, dubbed For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition. All versions of the album are combined for tracking and charting purposes.

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For All the Dogs debuted atop the chart dated Oct. 21.

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Dolly Parton achieves her highest-charting album ever — and third top 10 — as Rockstar opens at No. 3, while ENHYPEN logs its third top 10 with the No. 4 arrival of Orange Blood.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Dec. 2, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Nov. 28). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of For All the Dogs’ 145,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Nov. 23, SEA units comprise 141,500 (up 99%, equaling 190.23 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 29 tracks, inclusive of its six added songs), album sales comprise 2,000 (up 884%) and TEA units comprise 1,500 (up 456%).

Taylor Swift’s chart-topping 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is a non-mover at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning 138,000 equivalent album units (down 14%).

Parton’s Rockstar makes a splashy debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, scoring the legend her highest-charting album ever and her third top 10. She previously visited the region with Blue Smoke (No. 6 in 2014) and Trio (her collaborative set with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris; No. 6 in 1987).

Rockstar launches with 128,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Nov. 23. Of that sum, album sales comprise 118,500, SEA units comprise 8,000 and TEA units comprise 1,500. The arrival marks Parton’s biggest week, by units earned, since the chart began measuring by units in December 2014. Further, with 118,500 copies sold, Parton achieves her biggest sales week for an album in the modern era, since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991. She more than doubles her previous biggest week, notched in 1993 when Slow Dancing With the Moon sold 50,500 copies in its second week on the chart (rising 54-19 on the March 20, 1993-dated list).

The star-studded Rockstar was promoted as Parton’s first rock album (she’s primarily released country music in her nearly 60-year career), and its recording was sparked by Parton’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. The 30-song set has a mix of original songs and covers, and boasts a cavalcade of guest stars — 40 in all. Among them are Pat Benatar, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Chris Stapleton, Ringo Starr, Sting and Steven Tyler.

Rockstar’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across a variety of editions and formats, in addition to some non-traditional music retailers including Cracker Barrel, Dollar General and HSN. The album’s CD edition was available in four editions — a standard version and three variants, each with alternative cover art: for HSN, with three bonus tracks; a Dallas Cowboys version, and a Tennessee Volunteers edition with a bonus track. The latter two were tied to a pair of high-profile live TV performances from Parton: during the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers football game on Nov. 19, and during halftime of the Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys football game on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23).

Rockstar was pressed on more than 10 vinyl variants, including exclusive editions (all in different colors, some with different cover art) for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent record stores, Parton’s webstore, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame store, Target and Walmart. Parton’s webstore also carried a deluxe digital download version of the album with three exclusive bonus tracks. Rockstar was also offered in multiple deluxe boxed sets, sold through Parton’s webstore, containing either a vinyl or CD version of the album with a branded T-shirt of various designs.

ENHYPEN nabs its third top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 as Orange Blood bows at No. 4 with 90,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 87,000, SEA units comprise 3,000 (equaling 4.68 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The Korean pop ensemble previously hit the top 10 with Dark Blood (No. 4, in June) and Manifesto: Day 1 (No. 6, 2022). Nearly all of Orange Blood’s first-week activity was generated by CD sales (86,000), enhanced by the album’s availability across a dozen collectible CD packages (including exclusive versions sold by Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart; all with branded merchandise inside, some with randomized elements).

The top 10 of the Billboard 200 is rounded out by six former No. 1s, as Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 5 (68,000 equivalent album units earned; down less than 1%); Swift’s Midnights rises 7-6 (56,000; up 9%); Stray Kids’ ROCK-STAR falls 1-7 in its second week (51,000; down 77%); Swift’s Lover bolts 14-8 (nearly 51,000; up 16%); Swift’s Folklore climbs 18-9 (45,000; up 22%); and SZA’s SOS bumps 12-10 (44,000; up less than 1%). (Many albums on the chart, including Swift’s Midnights, Lover and Folklore, see sizable sales gains owed to holiday shopping promotions and early Black Friday campaigns that kicked in during the tracking week.)

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

26 Nov 2023

Beyonce Stuns With Gorgeous Silver Hair at ‘Renaissance’ Film Premiere in Los Angeles

Beyonce certainly knows how to make an entrance.

The 42-year-old superstar singer was a vision of beauty with long silver hair and a stunning Versace dress at the premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, held Saturday evening (Nov. 25) at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The star-studded event featured a chrome carpet graced by Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett, along with other celebs like Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Chloe X Halle‘s Chloe and Halle Bailey, Gabrielle Union, Lupita Nyong’o, Tyler Perry and Kris Jenner, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bey’s parents Tina and Mathew Knowles were also in attendance.

Beyonce didn’t formally walk the carpet, but snuck in and out of the screening with her family, THR reports.

The 32-time Grammy winner wrote, executive produced, as well as co-directed the concert documentary, which chronicles her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour.

Director Ava DuVernay, who attended the L.A. premiere, shared a lengthy statement about the concert film on her Instagram Story following the event.

“My favorite part was a section that made me so emotional I felt as if she was speaking for me,” DuVernay wrote. “She talks candidly about having to fight to be heard as a Black woman leader working at a high level of difficulty. Having to endure being second guessed often and gaslit constantly. We actually see moments of this happening to her on camera. People directly doubting, shortchanging, gaslighting her. I haven’t seen that described in a film before. Something that I’ve experienced far too often, unfolding on the big screen, in detail, as proof, as evidence that this is real and not in our heads.”

Beyonce’s longtime publicist Yvette Noel-Schure also shared a photo of her client’s gorgeous look at the premiere.

“There is so much I want to say about RENAISSANCE: A Film by Beyoncé, after the Los Angeles premiere, but nothing could top what @ava has said,” Noel-Schure wrote on Instagram, referencing DuVernay’s post. “You are about to explore the most creative mind on Mother Earth. And she looks Foine. Foine. Foine.”

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce opens worldwide on Friday (Dec. 1). Following the L.A. premiere, Renaissance will have another major screening in London on Thursday (Nov. 30).

26 Nov 2023

Jennifer Lopez Promises a ‘Musical Experience’ in ‘This Is Me… Now’ Album Teaser

Jennifer Lopez is taking fans on a “musical experience” in a new teaser for her upcoming album.

On Saturday (Nov. 25), the 54-year-old singer and actress dropped a brief clip packed with tons of visuals to further build anticipation for her upcoming ninth album, This Is Me… Now.

The 18-second teaser opens with the words “Hear It, See It, Live It” before transitioning to stunning shots of her dancing in the rain, twirling in a factory, a motorcycle racing through water, and more.

“This musical experience is a manifestation through music, film, and reality, of life’s journey on the search for truth about love,” reads a message at the end of the clip, along with a link to onthejlo.com.

A larger announcement about This Is Me… Now is expected to arrive on Monday (Nov. 27), according to Lopez’s social media accounts and website.

This Is Me… Now is the follow-up to the superstar’s similarly titled 2003 album, This Is Me… Then, which was dedicated to her partner at the time, Ben Affleck. The two were engaged in 2002 before parting ways in early 2004. The pair rekindled their romance in 2022 and married soon after. Lopez has confirmed that Now is also inspired by Affleck and their stronger-than-ever relationship.

The forthcoming set, which does not yet have an official release date, marks Lopez’s first solo album since 2014’s A.K.A., which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2022, she teamed up with Maluma for the soundtrack of their Marry Me film.

See Lopez’s This Is Me… Now teaser on Instagram below.

25 Nov 2023

Taylor Swift Performs ‘Safe & Sound’ and ‘Untouchable’ Live for the First Time in Over a Decade in Sao Paulo

Taylor Swift surprised fans with two rarely performed songs at her Saturday night concert at the Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 25.

“This has been a tradition that I started on The Eras Tour,” Swift said to the São Paulo crowd, explaining that she tries her best to deliver two songs she’s never played, or at least hasn’t played in a very long time, during her acoustic set. “Both songs I am playing tonight I have never, ever played on this tour.”

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First up was “Safe & Sound” off of The Hunger Games soundtrack, on guitar. The song from the 2012 feature film hasn’t been heard on Swift’s stage in a decade; she last played it in 2013 on her Red Tour. The original recording featured The Civil Wars, but Swift performed the tune solo Saturday night.

Next, on piano, was the ballad “Untouchable,” which Swift re-recorded for Fearless (Taylor’s Version) but hasn’t performed live since 2011.

Night one in São Paulo featured the live debut of “Now That We Don’t Talk” from the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault. “I’ve never performed this one live before,” she teased the crowd on Friday. “Let’s see how I do with it.” She followed that surprise with a rare performance of Speak Now‘s “Innocent” at the piano.

She’ll return to São Paulo’s Allianz Parque stadium for a third night on Sunday.

Over three nights in Rio de Janeiro last weekend, Swift played several songs live for first time in he career, including 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault tracks “Slut!” and “Surburban Legends,” and the emotional “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” from Midnights (3AM Edition).

Watch clips of “Safe & Sound” and “Untouchable” from the Nov. 25 São Paulo show below. You can stay up-to-date with of all the surprise songs from The Eras Tour with Billboard‘s full list here.

25 Nov 2023

Billy Joel Says He Scored ‘Cool Dad Points’ After Taking Daughters to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

Billy Joel earned “very cool dad points” after taking his daughters to see Taylor Swift in concert.

The Piano Man opened up during an interview with People about attending the pop superstar’s Eras Tour in Tampa, Fla., on March 15 with his little pair of Swifties.

“Oh, she’s great. She’s really very good,” Joel told the publication during the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, which opened Friday and features an exhibit in his honor. “We’re going to probably go see her again.”

After the Eras Tour show in March, the “We Didn’t Start the Fire” singer took to Instagram to share a gallery of photos that included his wife, Alexis Roderick, and their two daughters, Della Rose, 8, and Remy Anne, 6.

In the snapshots, the girls appeared to be dressed in outfits inspired by Swift’s Folklore/Evermore and Lover eras, posing for pictures before the show and later dancing along as the singer belted out “Are You Ready for It?”

“Rockin’ into our new ‘era’ thank you @Taylorswift we loved the show! #swifties #taylorswift #theerastour,” Joel captioned the images.

Della and Remy also got an extra special treat: They were able to meet Swift herself backstage alongside their mom and dad.

The legendary artist and his family are far from the first celebrities to geek out at Swift’s Eras tour. Selena Gomez, Jack Antonoff, HAIM, Aaron Dessner, Marcus Mumford, Diplo and Shania Twain are among the tour’s celebrity attendees (see a full list of all the famous guests at The Eras Tour here).