Music

23 Oct 2023

October Skies, Nights & Trees: 15 Songs About the 10th Month of the Year

Ah, October — beacon of pumpkin spice lattes, cinnamon-scented candles, Gilmore Girls reruns and Halloween decor. It’s the time of the year when autumn finally feels like it’s kicking into high gear. 

And it’s no wonder why the 10th month has been a muse to so many musicians over the decades, from tried-and-true 20th century songwriters to fresh-faced Gen Z artists. October love also knows no genre bounds; everyone from Eric Whitacre to Deadmau5, James Taylor and Alessia Cara have turned in tributes to the coziest, spookiest, most colorful 31 days of the year, spanning classical, electro house, folk rock, pop and beyond. Simply typing “October” into Spotify’s search field yields hundreds of results.

Even more vast is the canon of songs devoted to autumn itself, from Sinatra classics such as “Autumn Leaves” to Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” (“Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place”), or Ed Sheeran’s entire 2023 album, Autumn Variations. There’s also a lot to be said about the subgenre of music dedicated to Halloween alone, although you won’t see “Monster Mash” or “Spooky Scary Skeletons” on this list – this story is only for tracks with “October” in the name, odes to the month as a whole in all its versatility and warmth.

With the change of seasons, it’s time to give playlists a refresh, too. Queue up these 15 tracks centered around the month of October, from an indie-pop offering by Girl in Red to an alt-rock throwback from Yellowcard, and enjoy the season:

23 Oct 2023

10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Kevin Abstract, beabadoobee & Bananarama

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These 10 tracks from artists including Kevin Abstract, beabadoobee, Griff and Bananarama will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of our favorite cool pop songs of this year.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Timbaland and Anna Margo, “My Way”

Following a buzzy Nelly Furtado/Justin Timberlake collab, Timbaland teams with an L.A. singer by the name of Anna Margo for “My Way,” a funky slow-burner that samples elements of his iconic Aaliyah production “Are You That Somebody.” Goes without saying that this baby-boosted reimagining isn’t gonna replace the original, but it’s still a delightful spin. – Joe Lynch

UPSAHL, “No Hands”

Taken from Side A of UPSAHL Presents: The PHX Tapes, “No Hands” shows UPSAHL weaving a seductive, spooky tapestry of dark-pop that suits the season. “I wanna be cold, I wanna be hard, I wanna be ruthless / I wanna be hot, I wanna be soft, I wanna be stupid,” the singer-songwriter moans on a bridge that’s almost as much fun as the anthemic chorus. – J. Lynch

Moyka, “Never Say Sorry”

Norwegian pop star Moyka’s new album Movies, Cars and Heartbreak features plenty of flourishes that demand a close listen — chief among them the moment on standout track “Never Say Sorry” in which the drums crash in to throttle the chorus, adding depth to an atmospheric track. “Never Say Sorry” finds Moyka comparing her relationship to a cinematic romance, but the hook here delivers plenty of real-life drama. – Jason Lipshutz

Griff, “Into the Walls”

“Today, I think I’ll disappear into the walls / Only for a day or two, at most,” Griff declares on “Into the Walls,” an ode to wanting to escape main-character status and watch the world without emotional response. With its relatively sparse production, “Into the Walls” could have been an icy affair, but Griff’s voice animates the environment, floating from withdrawn to impassioned with self-assured skill. – J. Lipshutz

Kevin Abstract, “What Should I Do?”

Throughout his time in Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract always demonstrated a confident handling of pop hooks, and the solo single “What Should I Do?” (which precedes new album Blanket, out next month) features a full commitment to that melodic craft: the guitar strums, chirping backing vocals, Auto-Tuned singing and sunny instrumental breaks swirl into a wholesome, almost twee product. “What Should I Do?” shimmers with light and affection, a powerful sign of what else might be coming. – J. Lipshutz

Bananarama, “Feel the Love”

Bananarama will always be known for ‘80s staples like “Cruel Summer,” “Venus” and “I Heard a Rumour,” but “Feel the Love” allows Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward an opportunity to bring their spirit into a new pop era with bright colors and sweeping synth movements. The single never flags in pace across its run time, as Bananarama’s shiny harmonies encourage longtime fans and new listeners to flood the dance floor. – J. Lipshutz

The Veronicas, “Perfect”

Australian sister duo The Veronicas have successfully hoisted their winning pop-rock formula from the mid-2000s and plopped it into the 2020s — first with their back-to-back 2021 albums Godzilla and Human, and now with “Perfect,” the proud middle-finger lead single from next year’s Gothic Summer album. Created with John Feldmann and featuring Travis Barker on drums, “Perfect” rejects social norms with guitar chugs and calls to “F–k designer / Start a riot!” – J. Lipshutz

beabadoobee ft. Laufey, “A Night To Remember”

Indie singer-songwriter beabadoobee and modern jazz breakout Laufey sound like long-lost sisters on the sultry “A Night To Remember.” The way in which they bring their distinct personalities to this song, yet manage to harmonize in gorgeous synchronicity, makes this team-up just as memorable as the night they sing of. – Lyndsey Havens

MK.gee & Two Star, “Are You Looking Up”

“Are You Looking Up” may sound familiar to some (speaking to you, indie-alt fans) thanks to the intentionally strained, lo-fi vocals, but make no mistake — the artist known as Mike Gordon is paving his own path. Gordon made waves in 2021 as a key member of Dijon’s band, working on the artist’s breakout debut album Absolutely. Now, Gordon — as Mk.gee — along with Two Star is building on that creative foundation and creating a world all his own. – L. Havens

Barry Can’t Swim, “Always Get Through to You”

Electronic artist Barry Can’t Swim delivers a dance-pop jam with “Always Get Through to You,” complete with a slinky bass line and repeated falsetto that elicits the question: “Can I always get through to you?” There’s a subtlety in the way the title drops any sense of question, arriving as a self-assured statement, only for the song itself to unpack that uncertainty — as if the artist is trying to win the “you” in question over with each twinkling beat. – L. Havens

23 Oct 2023

Bad Bunny’s ‘Monaco’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts

Bad Bunny’s “Monaco” blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. songs charts (dated Oct. 28). The Puerto Rican-born superstar earns his fourth leader on the Global 200 and his third on Global Excl. U.S. The song is from his new LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which debuts as his third No. 1 on the U.S.-based Billboard 200 albums chart.

Bad Bunny debuts two other songs from the set in both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. top 10: “Perro Negro,” with Feid, and “Fina,” with Young Miko.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

‘Monaco’ No. 1 Worldwide

“Monaco” begins atop the Billboard Global 200 with 82.3 million streams and 2,000 sold worldwide in its first week (Oct. 13-19). Bad Bunny notches his fourth No. 1, and second No. 1 debut, on the chart, following “Where She Goes,” which led for a week upon its start in June. He previously reigned with “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, for two weeks in May and “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez (now Jhayco), for three weeks in November-December 2020.

Bad Bunny breaks out of a tie with Drake and Olivia Rodrigo for the most Global 200 No. 1s among soloists; overall, only BTS, with seven, has more.

Bad Bunny debuts two other songs from his new set in the Global 200’s top 10: “Perro Negro,” with Feid, and “Fina,” with Young Miko. They open at Nos. 4 and 6 with 56.8 million streams and 51.7 million streams worldwide, respectively. Bad Bunny ups his count to 19 top 10s, passing Taylor Swift (17) for the second-most, after Drake’s 35. Feid, from Colombia, and Young Miko, from Puerto Rico, each reach the top 10 for the first time.

Swift’s “Cruel Summer” surges 14-2 on the Global 200, surpassing its prior No. 3 best, with 52.4 million streams (up 22%) and 47,000 sold (up 982%) worldwide, following the Oct. 18 release of a live version, from her The Eras Tour, and an LP Giobbi remix.

Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top five, Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” holds at No. 3, following four weeks at No. 1 beginning in September, and Tate McRae’s “Greedy” rises 6-5, after reaching No. 4.

Bad Bunny Also No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S.

Bad Bunny’s “Monaco” likewise launches atop Billboard Global Excl. U.S. with 57 million streams and 1,000 sold outside the U.S. Oct. 13-19. He notches his third No. 1, and second No. 1 debut, on the chart, after “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, rose to the top for three weeks in May and “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez, began at No. 1 and ruled for five weeks in November-December 2020.

Bad Bunny solely claims the most Global Excl. U.S. No. 1s among soloists and ties BLACKPINK for the second-most among all acts; BTS leads all artists with seven No. 1s.

Bad Bunny debuts two other tracks in the Global Excl. U.S. top 10: “Perro Negro,” with Feid (No. 7), and “Fina,” with Young Miko (No. 10). Bad Bunny now boasts a record 18 top 10s (ahead of runner-up Swift’s 11). Feid adds his second top 10 and Young Miko scores her first.

Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, rebounds 3-2 on Global Excl. U.S., following nine weeks at No. 1 beginning in July; Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” rises 4-3, after two weeks on top starting in September; and Iñigo Quintero’s first entry, “Si No Estás,” pushes 6-4, while concurrently becoming the Spanish singer-songwriter’s first top 10 on the Global 200 (17-10; 51.4 million global streams, up 3%).

Plus, Jung Kook and Jack Harlow’s “3D” falls 2-5 on Global Excl. U.S., two weeks after it debuted at No. 1.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Oct. 28, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 24). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

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.

23 Oct 2023

Blink-182 Announce ‘One More Time!’ 2024 North American Tour: See the Dates

Blink-182 is returning to North America one more time. Just days after the release of the trio’s new album, Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker have announced plans to bring their new songs on the road in North America next year.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Tickets for the One More Time Tour — named after the band’s Oct. 20 album — will go on sale this Friday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. local time for each venue. The trek will kick off June 20 in Orlando, after which the rock group will make stops at both stadiums and arenas across the United States. The leg will end with one show in Canada; Aug. 15 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Produced by Live Nation, the band’s 30-date North American tour features a hometown performance at Petco Park in San Diego as well as shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Citi Field in New York, Fenway Park in Boston, and more. Blink also has dates scheduled in Australia, New Zealand, Peru and Mexico throughout the first half of 2024.

Pierce The Veil, a fellow rock band native to San Diego, will join the North American leg as a special guest.

The tour announcement ties a bow on an exciting year for the “All The Small Things” musicians, who announced in October last year that DeLonge would be reinstated as part of the band. The singer/guitarist had previously left the group twice, once in 2005 and again in 2014. Their new album One More Time… marked the first time Blink’s classic lineup had been in the studio together in a decade and features 17 Barker-produced tracks, including Alternative Airplay No. 1s “Edging” and “One More Time.”

See the announcement, which contains the full list of tour dates, below.

23 Oct 2023

Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Her 10th Leader

Taylor Swift joins the elite club of artists with 10 or more No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as “Cruel Summer” ascends to the summit, from No. 9, becoming her 10th leader. The song, which previously peaked at No. 3, was originally released on Swift’s 2019 Republic Records album Lover before being promoted as a single and gaining new prominence as the superstar has performed it on her The Eras Tour this year.

Helping spark the song’s Hot 100 coronation, new mixes were released during the latest tracking week, which also began with the Oct. 13 wide release of the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Elsewhere, Drake’s “IDGAF,” featuring Yeat, at No. 4 on the Hot 100 a week after it debuted at No. 2, becomes the most streamed-song in the U.S., rising to the top of the Streaming Songs chart, where it’s Drake’s record-extending 20th leader.

Plus, Bad Bunny adds his 12th Hot 100 top 10 with the No. 5 debut of “Monaco.” The song is from his new LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which launches as his third leader on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated Oct. 28, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 24). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Here’s a deeper dive as “Cruel Summer” becomes the 1,158th single to top the Hot 100 over the chart’s 65-year history.

Airplay, streams & sales: “Cruel Summer” drew 77.8 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 2%) and 18.6 million streams (up 35%) and sold 41,000 downloads (up 1,482%) in the Oct. 13-19 tracking week, according to Luminate, as it wins the Hot 100’s top Streaming and Sales Gainer awards.

The single bounds to No. 1, from No. 13, on the Digital Song Sales chart, becoming Swift’s record-extending 27th leader; holds at No. 2 on Radio Songs, following a week on top three weeks earlier, having become her eighth No. 1; and returns to its No. 5 high, from No. 32, on Streaming Songs – where, as on the Hot 100, multiple songs vault a week after Drake charted all 23 tracks from his album For All the Dogs, which began atop the Billboard 200 a week earlier.

Helping spur the latest surges for “Cruel Summer,” new mixes arrived Oct. 18: a live version, recorded in Los Angeles during The Eras Tour, and an LP Giobbi remix. They followed the Oct. 13 wide premiere of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which has already become the highest-grossing music concert film ever.

“Cruel Summer” was released on Swift’s 2019 album Lover and since June has been promoted as a proper single. It gained momentum as Swift has performed it on The Eras Tour (which began in March), her first in which she’s been able to spotlight songs from Lover, which was released shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taylor’s 10th: Swift joins 10 other acts since the Hot 100 began on Aug. 4, 1958, with 10 or more No. 1s each.

Most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s:

  • 20, The Beatles
  • 19, Mariah Carey
  • 14, Rihanna
  • 13, Drake
  • 13, Michael Jackson
  • 12, Madonna
  • 12, The Supremes
  • 11, Whitney Houston
  • 10, Janet Jackson
  • 10, Taylor Swift
  • 10, Stevie Wonder

Here’s a recap of Swift’s 10 Hot 100 No. 1s:

  • “Cruel Summer,” one week at No. 1 to-date, Oct. 28, 2023
  • “Anti-Hero,” eight weeks, beginning Nov. 5, 2022
  • “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” one week, Nov. 27, 2021
  • “Willow,” one week, Dec. 26, 2020
  • “Cardigan,” one week, Aug. 8, 2020
  • “Look What You Made Me Do,” three weeks, beginning Sept. 16, 2017
  • “Bad Blood,” feat. Kendrick Lamar, one week, June 6, 2015
  • “Blank Space,” seven weeks, beginning Nov. 29, 2014
  • “Shake It Off,” four weeks, beginning Sept. 6, 2014
  • “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” three weeks, beginning Sept. 1, 2012

Over four summers later …: “Cruel Summer” debuted, at No. 29, on the Hot 100 dated Sept. 7, 2019, as parent album Lover launched atop the Billboard 200. The song fell to No. 71 on the Hot 100 the following week before re-entering, at No. 49, this June; in July, it hit the top 10 and stands as one of Swift’s 42 career top 10s, the most among women.

The song completes the fifth-longest trip to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in terms of time from a debut to scaling the summit. Of those five enduring songs, two have reigned this year (both on Republic), as “Cruel Summer” follows The Weeknd’s likewise revived “Die for You,” which reigned for a week in March following the release of its remix with Ariana Grande.

Most Time to No. 1 on Hot 100, from Chart Debut:

  • 19 years, 11 months, 2 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2000-19; originally released in 1994, the carol ultimately first led 25 years after its release)
  • 6 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, “Die for You,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2016-23)
  • 5 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “When I’m With You,” Sheriff (1983-89)
  • 4 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “Red Red Wine,” UB40 (1984-88; the pop/reggae classic and Sheriff’s love song above were renewed, in part, by adventurous radio exec Guy Zapoleon)
  • 4 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, “Cruel Summer,” Taylor Swift (2019-23)

First No. 1 from Lover: Over four years after Lover’s release, “Cruel Summer” becomes the set’s first Hot 100 No. 1. The first two singles each hit No. 2: “Me!,” featuring Brendon Urie, and “You Need To Calm Down.” The LP has yielded four top 10s, with the title track having hit No. 10. The first three top 10s peaked in May, June and September 2019, respectively.

A not-‘Cruel’ twist for ‘Summer’: Chart-watcher Jesper Tan, of Subang Jaya, Malaysia, wrote in last week, noting: “If ‘Cruel Summer’ tops the Hot 100, it would be the first No. 1 with ‘cruel’ in its title. It would also become only the third song with ‘summer’ in its title, and the first in over 57 years.” Here are the three, with only one having led during summertime:

  • “Cruel Summer,” Taylor Swift, one week at No. 1 to-date, Oct. 28, 2023
  • “Summer in the City,” The Lovin’ Spoonful, three weeks, beginning Aug. 13, 1966
  • “The Theme From A Summer Place,” Percy Faith and His Orchestra, nine weeks, beginning Feb. 22, 1960

Notably, Elvis Presley’s classic “Don’t Be Cruel” topped multiple charts in 1956, prior to the Hot 100’s inception. Until this week, Swift’s new leader had tied James Darren’s “Goodbye Cruel World,” a No. 3 hit in 1961, for the top-charting Hot 100 hit with “cruel” in its title. Next up: Cheap Trick’s cover of Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” (No. 4, 1988). Meanwhile, Bananarama’s own “Cruel Summer” reached No. 9 in 1984.

Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” rebounds 4-2 on the Hot 100, following three nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning in September. It adds a seventh and eighth week, respectively, atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same multi-metric methodology as the Hot 100.

SZA’s “Snooze” jumps 7-3 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 2. It rules Radio Songs for a third week (80 million in audience, up 3%) and notches a 12th week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart.

Drake’s “IDGAF,” featuring Yeat, falls to No. 4 on the Hot 100, a week after it debuted at No. 2. It ascends 2-1 on Streaming Songs, despite a 36% decline to 26 million streams, becoming Drake’s record-padding 20th leader on the list, and Yeat’s first; Drake collected his 19th Streaming Songs No. 1, “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole, a week earlier.

Bad Bunny’s “Monaco” debuts at No. 5 on the Hot 100, driven by 25.7 million first-week streams.

The song is the star’s 12th Hot 100 top 10. It’s from his new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which bounds in as his third No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The track also begins as his 14th No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart.

Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves, advances 14-6 on the Hot 100, after it led for a week upon its debut in September. It tops the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts for an eighth week each and Hot Country Songs for a fourth frame.

Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” revs 13-7 on the Hot 100, following eight weeks at its No. 2 high; Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” featuring J. Cole, falls to No. 8 a week after it entered as Drake’s 13th No. 1 and J. Cole’s first; and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” rebounds 19-9, following 16 weeks at No. 1 starting in March, the most ever for a non-collaboration.

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” returns to the tier, soaring 25-10. The track, like “Last Night” from his album One Thing at a Time, debuted at its No. 9 high in March concurrent with the LP’s debut atop the Billboard 200. As previously reported, “Thinkin’ Bout Me” becomes Wallen’s 10th No. 1 on the Oct. 28-dated Country Airplay chart; it drew 36.2 million in all-format radio audience, up 7%, in the tracking week.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Oct. 28), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Oct. 24).

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.

23 Oct 2023

Charly García Turns 72: Celebrate His Birthday With 72 Hits, Lesser-Known Gems & Everything in Between

Charly García turns 72 years old on Monday (Oct. 23).

The storied Argentine legend has constantly challenged the status quo as an unflinching and unpredictable risk taker in both music and in his personal life (he once casually jumped from the ninth floor of a building to a swimming pool).

With a wild and unapologetic spirit, the Buenos Aires native has left an enduring legacy that dates back since the late ‘60s on Spanish-language rock, penning some of the most enduring classics of our time. From his early days with Sui Generis to his groundbreaking work with supergroup Serú Girán, Charly has consistently defied musical norms. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The “No Voy en Tren” singer’s distinctive voice and piano virtuosity, coupled with his fearless approach to composition and the fusion of rock, pop, and progressive elements, has made him an emblematic figure in Latin music. Whether he’s singing about love, madness, or existential introspection, Charly García’s impact is undeniable.

“Charly García is freedom! Happy birthday king of kings! I love you so much I don’t have the words to explain it! In the end that’s what getting here was all about. Not having words. Thank you for guiding me in the dark and laughing so much during all these years!” tweeted fellow Argentine maverick, Fito Paez.

In 2013, Billboard debuted its first Spanish-language edition with Billboard Argentina with the iconic Charly García on its cover. 

And on Monday night, more than 20 artists and bands will come together to honor the music of the Argentine legend in virtual fashion, in Vos No Sos Lindo Fest (or You Are Not Cute Fest). 

In honor of this musical maestro’s birthday, Billboard has put together a playlist that pays tribute to Charly’s greatest hits and some lesser-known gems showcasing his boundless creativity. From the anthemic “Rasguña las Piedras” to the hauntingly beautiful “Los Dinosaurios,” these tracks represent the essence of his musical genius.

Listen to the playlist below.

23 Oct 2023

8 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Catie Offerman, Hannah Dasher, Cody Jinks & More

This week’s crop of new music includes established artists and newcomers alike. Carolyn Dawn Johnson returns with a churning, empowering new track, while newcomer sibling trio The Castellows offer a twangy, lighthearted debut single. Hannah Dasher issues a brash redneck anthem, while Cody Jinks celebrates the free spirits and Riley Green brings a tender ode.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Catie Offerman, “OK Cowboy”

Texan Offerman revels in smooth, classic country sounds on her latest, which she wrote with Joe Clemmons, Matt Dragstrem and Adam James, with production from Dann Huff. Here, Offerman’s voice — honeyed, slightly husky and always commanding — makes it clear that barroom infatuations don’t automatically equate to long-lasting romance: After all, as she sings, she “ain’t a stranger to a dust cloud heartbreak song.” Swirling fiddle and guitars converge to make this fan-favorite track a hit contender.

Hannah Dasher, The Other Damn Half

Singer-songwriter Dasher has gained a solid following on TikTok due to her music/cooking series “Stand by Your Pan,” but her music deserves greater recognition than it’s garnered. While her retro aesthetic and effervescent personality have drawn more than a few Dolly comparisons, the material on her latest project leans more toward Gretchen Wilson’s tell-it-like-it-is compositions. The songs on Dasher’s new project range from brash “Redneck A**” to the witty “Crying all the Way to the Bank” and the tender, faith-filled “Ugly Houses.”

Throughout, the album is soaked in glossy country twang and offers a perfect foil for her rough-hewn, expressive vocal, as she sings of hard-fought faith, hopeful romance and standing your ground all with the same fervor. She also wraps in her own version of “Go to Bed Early,” a song she cowrote that was recorded by Brad Paisley on his Love and War project, another nod to her underrated songwriting talents.

Cody Jinks, “Outlaws and Mustangs”

Since he debut project in the early 2000s, “Must Be the Whiskey” hitmaker Cody Jinks has done things his own way and has found success on his own terms in the process. Following his 2021 album Mercy, Jinks’ new song glories in the enlightenment-seeking rebel journeys of the free spirits. A glimmering gospel choir ushers the song to its closing zenith moments.

“You ain’t leaving me worried … The thing about outlaws and mustangs is they always come home,” he sings on this track he wrote with Thomas James McFarland (Tennessee Jet), offering a vote of confidence to a lover deadset on chasing their own dreams–and letting them know he innately understands that same drive.

Riley Green, “My Last Rodeo”

Green broke through with his wistful 2019 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” and he returns to similar ground on this tender outing, which also serves as the title track from his newly-released, dozen-song album Ain’t My Last Rodeo. The song is a solo write from Green, one that details an older gentleman’s last moments before dying — though he views it as another step on a long journey. Green’s warm vocal is stately here, bolstered by swirls of delicate instrumentation.

The Castellows, “No. 7 Road”

This sibling trio from Georgia recently signed with Warner Music Nashville, and is also repped by Make Wake Artists and WME. Sisters Ellie (acoustic guitar), Powell (banjo) and Lily (lead vocals) make their debut with “No. 7 Road,” a jangly uptempo number filled with charming twang that offers gratitude for their rural roots. A melodic outing is a promising start from this newcomer group.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson, “Road Blocks”

A singer-songwriter known for not only for her own 2000s hits such as “I Don’t Want You To Go,” as well as a writer on Chely Wright’s 1999 hit “Single White Female,” Johnson returns with her first new music since 2020’s “Light Changes Everything.” With “Road Blocks,” she brings a sultry, hard-charging empowerment anthem that elevates sheer tenacity, maintaining that setbacks don’t have to be permanent. The song is a preview for her new album, There She Is, out in 2024.

Sierra Ferrell, “Fox Hunt”

Ferrell follows her recent string of collaborations with Diplo, Margo Price and Zach Bryan with this cinematic solo outing, a first taste of an upcoming album. Here, Ferrell’s distinct, wisened twang and blistering fiddle work embody the frantic pace and hunger-fueled impulse to steer a fox hunt fast and intensely — capturing a time when a failed hunt meant forfeiting the next meal. The instrumentation and Ferrell’s voice display a masterful musicianship that can veer on the edge of untamed, while maintaining exquisite control.

Charley Crockett, “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Americana Music Awards winner Charley Crockett teamed with T-Bone Burnett to craft this song two years ago, inspired by the 1920s killings of at least 60 members of the wealthy Osage nation in Oklahoma, after oil was discovered on the tribal lands; the land was inherited or deeded to their guardians, local white businessmen, while the Bureau of Investigations found that the murders were led by William Hale in order to steal the Osage nation’s oil riches. The story is also currently covered in the Scorsese film of the same name, as well as the 2017 David Grann book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.

It takes a roughened, commanding voice to match the harrowing tale depicted here, and Crockett has that in spades. Cushioned by cinematic, Western sonics, the song succinctly and hauntingly lays forth the story’s hazy details in classic country murder ballad fashion.

23 Oct 2023

J. Cole Announces Dreamville Festival 2024: Here Are the Dates

On the heels of an impressive feature run this year, J. Cole has announced the dates for Dreamville Festival 2024. Via a press release, the Grammy-winning rapper and his acclaimed Dreamville artist collective detailed all of the preliminary information for the event’s fourth iteration.

The Dreamville Festival will return to Raleigh, N.C., April 6-7. An early-bird ticket sale will kick off imminently, with e-newsletter and SMS text subscribers receiving first access. The festival will once again return to Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh’s largest public park, and will also offer attractions and activities for fans of all ages, including carnival rides, immersive art installations, dozens of local vendors, food trucks and community organizations from the Wake County region.

The lineup for Dreamville Festival 2024 will be announced at the top of next year. Next year’s headliners will follow Usher, Burna Boy and a double-billing of J. Cole and Drake. In addition to the headliners, last year’s Dreamville Festival also included performances from Summer Walker, J.I.D., Ari Lennox and more.

The news regarding Dreamville Festival 2024 arrives on the heels of a major career milestone from Dreamville head honcho J. Cole. On Oct. 21, he earned his first-ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single with “First Person Shooter,” one of the breakout hits from Drake’s For All the Dogs album. The achievement comes the same year Cole matched his previous Hot 100 peak (No. 2) with “All My Life,” a crossover rap smash from Lil Durk that recently received a pair of remixes from Burna Boy and STRAY KIDS.

In addition to “First Person Shooter,” J. Cole has earned 11 other Hot 100 top 10 hits, including “Middle Child” (No. 4), “Deja Vu” (No. 7) and “Kevin’s Heart” (No. 8). On the Billboard 200, he has sent all six of his studio albums to the top.

23 Oct 2023

SEVENTEEN Returns With 11th Mini Album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’: Stream It Here

CARATs, SEVENTEEN‘s 11th mini album, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, is finally here. The K-pop group’s latest album arrived on Monday (Oct. 23), along with a technicolor video for the project’s lead single, “God of Music.”

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The video for the soul inspired, funky pop track features the group — which consists of members S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino — parading around Budapest, bringing music to life and spreading joy and their love for music in various spots around the city.

“What is our happiness/ Don’t fret, let’s just dance and sing/ This is our happiness/ One morе time, hey/ Music is our breath/ No dangеr here, keep taking it in/ Everybody, let’s listen up/ If there is a God of Music/ This is a message for you/ Gather one note after the other, mm/ Dance and sing, this feels amazing,” the member gleefully sing on the chorus.

Other tracks on the album include “SOS,” produced by Marshmello, and songs from each of the group’s units — “Back 2 Back” (Performance Unit), “Monster” (Hip-hop Unit), and “Yawn” (Vocal Unit). SEVENTEEN also thanks its devoted fanbase on tracks “Diamond Days” and “Headliner.”

With SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, the K-pop group has a chance at continuing its top 10 streak on the Billboard 200. Previous set FML peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre tally in May, and spent a total of nine weeks on the list. SEVENTEEN’s fourth album — a repackage of Face the Sun — peaked at No. 4 in August 2022 and enjoyed four weeks on the survey, while its parent release charted at No. 7 in June 2022 and spent seven weeks on the chart.

Stream SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN in the link below, and watch the video for “God of Music” above.

23 Oct 2023

The Rolling Stones’ Six-Decade Career: Looking Through Their Past, Darkly

The title of the U.S. version of the Rolling Stones’ first album was England’s Newest Hit Makers – but that was almost 60 years ago. Their latest is Hackney Diamonds, a polished, straightforward return to rock n’ roll from a band that helped define it. In between, the Stones released 24 albums, went through three guitarists and have had enough diva arguments to fill several books and documentaries. Leaving no stone unturned, Billboard rolled back the pages to shine a light through the past, darkly.

Street Fighting Band

Reviewing the band’s U.S. debut single, “Not Fade Away,” in the April 11, 1964, issue, Billboard hailed “another hot GB group that proves how deep the R&B roots have gone over there.” “The Redcoats Are Coming” declared a June 6, 1964, headline of an impending Stones tour; in that same issue, a full-page ad trumpeted, “Watch the Rolling Stones crush The Beatles!” In smaller text: “This space has been given, in the public interest, by an advertiser.”

Paint It, Wack

By the Nov. 22, 1969, issue, the Stones had notched five No. 1s on the Hot 100 (of an eventual eight), but Billboard had a heart of stone when it came to their tour. The show worked, “but more because of who they were than what they did,” we wrote. “[Mick] Jagger’s theatrics became trite at times to an audience much older than the teeny boppers who flocked to see him in 1966.” And we must have been out of our heads in the June 12, 1971, issue, where we erroneously reported that “Wild Horses” featured “Keith Richards taking the lead” vocal.

The Last Time?

Billboard was hip to the Stones by the release of Some Girls, saluting their “diffuse yet coherent sense of rhythm and urban angst” in the June 17, 1978, magazine. In the same issue, Billboard embraced what has now become a 45-year tradition: predicting the end of the band. “Also note major tour. Possibly the last.”

Sympathy for the Regional Promoter

The Dec. 9, 1989, Billboard reported on the band’s game-changing Steel Wheels tour, for which the group embraced sponsorships and “a national promotion arrangement,” which “alarmed top regional tour promoters.” In a Billboard interview, Jagger dismissed the concerns: “I like seeing the most efficient way of doing business … It’s not a charity.” Richards agreed — “What do they want, a pension?” — but admitted to being amused by the flood of Stones-branded clothing. “I’m in the rag trade here,” he said.

As Years Go By

Drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021 at age 80, but the band had been reckoning with his mortality during sessions for 2005 album A Bigger Bang as Watts endured cancer treatment. “There’s suddenly Mick and I looking at each other and going, ‘Possibly we’re the only two left of the originals,’” Richards said in the Aug. 6, 2005, issue. But “you don’t talk about that sh-t, you know?” By then, the Glimmer Twins were getting along glowingly. “There are too many pluses for an odd minus to get in the way,” Richards continued. “Maybe it’s called growing up.”