Music

16 Oct 2023

Here’s What Katy Perry Thinks About Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Romance

Much like seemingly the rest of the world, Katy Perry is here for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s romance.

After the rumored couple essentially confirmed their relationship by holding hands en route to a Saturday Night Live afterparty over the weekend — just after they both made surprise cameos on the show’s season 49 premiere — Perry was one of many fans to chime in on the photos that surfaced afterward.

“I ship,” the pop star commented on pictures shared by Vogue on Instagram.

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift

A Timeline of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Relationship

The SNL afterparty went down at Catch Steak in New York City early Sunday morning (Oct. 15), shortly after Ice Spice made her musical guest debut on the Pete Davidson-hosted episode. Swift was on air to introduce one of her “Karma” collaborator’s live songs, while Kelce appeared in a skit poking fun at the NFL’s continuous coverage of the two stars’ relationship.

In photos and videos from the weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was seen helping Swift out of the car and guiding her through a sea of paparazzi camera flashes. On Sunday night, the two were once again spotted holding hands, this time while out to dinner at New York City’s Waverly Inn.

The two outings mark the “Anti-Hero” singer and Kelce’s public debut as a couple, unless you count the time they first sent the public into a frenzy by leaving Arrowhead Stadium together in September. Since then, Swift has shown up at two more of the football player’s games, once with a fleet of celebrity friends including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner and Hugh Jackman.

It’s a love story that the world can’t seem to take its eyes off of, including Perry, with whom Swift has been on good terms with since the two ended ended their beef years ago. The “Teenage Dream” singer’s comment supporting the pop superstar’s new romance on Vogue‘s post garnered a couple hundred replies: “me too,” responded several fans, while another wrote, “@katyperry we all do ???.”

16 Oct 2023

Marco Antonio Solís Proves Enduring Legacy as He Wraps U.S. Leg of El Buki World Tour

The first time Marco Antonio Solís played in Chicago was in 1977 with Los Bukis, where the band performed in front of 20 fans that gathered in a club-like venue. Since, Solís has become a seminal figure in Latin music as a singer-songwriter who’s placed 27 top 10 hits on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart and 12 No. 1 albums on the Top Latin Albums tally.

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On Sunday (Oct. 15), as he wrapped the U.S. leg of his El Buki World Tour at the Allstate Arena just northwest of Chicago, the Mexican icon revisited his greatest hits and the timeless songs that have become anthems for multigenerational fans across the U.S. and Latin America. Dressed in a crisp white two-piece denim outfit that was covered in sparkly rhinestones (he later traded the white jacket for a blue vest), the man of the hour took the stage around 9:00 p.m. backed by a nearly 20-person live band powered by trumpets, trombones, electric and acoustic guitars, drums, a piano, and a troupe of dancers composed of four women.

A grateful Solís took in the applause from a roaring crowd — among attendees was Chicago native Marisol Terrazas (formerly Horóscopos de Durango) — that sang along to every single song throughout the set, which was over two hours. After singing “No Puedo Olvidarla” and “Dios Bendiga Nuestro Amor,” the singer expressed his gratitude but first addressed the tumultuous times we live in today.

“It’s difficult to digest and understand what happens around the world today but God knows what he is doing and we trust in him fully,” he said. “Life goes on and love never ends. Thank you for being here and for your support throughout these years. Thank you to my contemporary fans who are 50 years old and up and have been supporting me since Bukis. And thank you to the young fans here today who still believe in love.”

Marco Antonio Solís

Marco Antonio Solís

Eduardo Cardoza

The setlist spanned Solís’ decades-long career and vast catalogue, featuring “Y Ahora Te Vas,” “El Celoso,” “Si Te Pudiera Mentir,” “Acepto Mi Derrota,” “La Venia Bendita,” “Mi Eterno Amor Secreto,” “Más Que Tu Amigo” and “O Me Voy o Te Vas,” to name a few. He of course sang one of Los Bukis’ greatest hits, “Tu Carcel,” which called for a grand intro as Solís recalled writing the track back in 1986.

“I was on tour with Los Bukis and that year for me was very difficult emotionally,” he began. “When we arrived to Torreón, Coahuila, I asked what time our presentation was and they said 10:00 p.m. It was around 6:00 p.m. and I decided to take a nap. But then a melody entered my head, an insistent melody, I took out my tape recorder and started to record it. I really wanted to sleep, but the melody went on and on and I started to write down some phrases that came with the melody. I ended up with 75% of a song. By then it was almost time to go to the show. What I reflected in those circumstances, God never abandons us in the weakest moments we have. And he gave me this song as a blessing.”

Produced by Live Nation, the 40-city El Buki Wold Tour followed Solís’ history-making run with Los Bukis’ Una Historia Contada reunion tour, which landed in the top 10 tours on Billboard‘s 2021 Year-End Boxscore Charts. Solís is set to take his El Buki Tour to Latin America next.

16 Oct 2023

David Bowie, Tanya Tucker, Milli Vanilli and More Grammy Contenders for Best Music Film

Milli Vanilli made Grammy history in 1990 – in the worst possible way – when they became the first and only act to have their Grammy revoked. They had won best new artist at the February 1990 ceremony, but lost it nine months later after it was revealed that they didn’t sing a note on their smash album Girl You Know It’s True. (They did provide the look and the stage moves, which were probably just as important in their case.) The disgraced duo may find Grammy redemption this year: A music doc about them, Milli Vanilli, is among 94 films vying for a nomination for best music film.

As always, it’s a very competitive category. Two films that were on the Oscars’ shortlist of 15 films eligible for best documentary feature (though neither wound up with a nomination) are being considered here — David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen: A Journey, A Song.

At least 20 acts who have albums contending for album of the year nominations are also vying for best music film nods, including several for films that are direct tie-ins to their album counterparts. Boygenius’ The Film is linked to the trio’s The Record. Other films with closely linked eligible albums include Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) and Kelsea Ballerini’s Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (A Short Film),

Three past winners in this category are on the entry list again this year. Duran Duran, whose Duran Duran won in 1984, is a contender with A Hollywood High. U2, the 1995 winners for Zoo TV: Live From Sydney, are entered with Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman; Foo Fighters, the 2012 winners for Back & Forth, are entered with Preparing Music for Concerts.

The last two winners in this category were Various Artists films – Summer of Soul and Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story. Fifteen Various Artists albums are on the entry list this year, including several that document various music scenes: San Francisco Sounds: A Place in Time, Meet Me in the Bathroom (a journey through the New York music scene of the early 2000s), If These Walls Could Sing (the story of Abbey Road studios in London), and two that center on hip-hop: Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop and Mixtape.

More than a dozen of the films were recorded live. Longtime pals and tour-mates Elton John and Billy Joel are represented with films shot at stadium shows on opposite sides of the country – Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium and Joel’s Live at Yankee Stadium, a remixed and reedited version of a film documenting The Piano Man’s 1990 show at the legendary venue. Joel’s original film, produced and directed by Jon Small, received at 1992 nomination in this category. Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium is nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding variety special (live).

Other live films in the mix include A$AP Rocky’s Amazon Music Live With A$AP Rocky, Ellie Goulding’s Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens, Guns N’ Roses’ Live in New York, Imagine Dragons’ Live in Vegas, Carole King’s Home Again – Live From Central Park, New York City, May 26, 1973, Kendrick Lamar’s Live From Paris: The Big Steppers Tour, PJ Morton’s Watch the Sun Live: The Mansion Sessions, The 1975’s At Their Very Best: Live From Madison Square Garden, Sam Smith’s Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Stormzy’s Live in London: This Is What We Mean, The Weeknd’s Live at SoFi Stadium and the multi-artist Encanto Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

A sobering number of the contenders are by artists who, like Bowie and Cohen, are deceased. These include Louis Armstrong’s Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues, Whitney Houston’s I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston, Little Richard’s I Am Everything, Tupac Shakur’s Dear Mama and Donna Summer’s Love to Love You, Donna Summer.

Milli Vanilli isn’t the only Billboard 200-topping group with one deceased member on the entry list – Wham! (Wham!) and TLC (TLC Forever) are also in the running.

EDM is well-represented, with Diplo’s Apple Music Sessions: Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Zedd’s Clarity Orchestral Concert Documentary and Illenium’s Starfall.

Jelly Roll, a likely best new artist nominee (and in several other categories) is on the entry list with Save Me.

Tanya Tucker featuring Brandi Carlile’s The Return of Tanya Tucker, is also entered. The two stars shared two Grammys four years ago – best country album for Tucker’s While I’m Livin’ (which Carlile co-produced) and best country song for “Bring My Flowers Now,” which they co-wrote with Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth.

Selena Gomez is a contender with Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me. “Calm Down,” Gomez’s collaboration with Rema, would have been a sure-fire record of the year contender — but it’s not eligible because it came out before the start of the eligibility period.

Dionne Warwick, whose 1964 classic “Walk on By” is prominently sampled in Doja Cat’s Hot 100-topping “Paint the Town Red,” is a contender with Don’t Make Me Over, which draws its title from her 1962 breakthrough hit.

What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears looks at the band that had one of the biggest albums of 1969 (their self-titled set topped the Billboard 200 for seven weeks and won the Grammy for album of the year), but quickly faded.

More films by or about artists that are in contention this year include Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus, Jason Isbell’s Running With Our Eyes Closed (Music Box), Lizzo’s Love, Lizzo, Ed Sheeran’s The Sum of It All, Kenny Wayne Shepard’s Trouble Is…25: The Film, Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli and Virginia Bocelli’s A Bocelli Family Christmas, Wynonna Judd’s Between Hell & Hallelujah, Keke Palmer’s Big Boss and Chris Stapleton’s Kentucky Rising.

16 Oct 2023

Travis Scott Postpones Second Raleigh Utopia Circus Maximus Tour Gig at Last Minute With No Explanation

Travis Scott was just three dates into his just-launched Utopia — Circus Maximum Tour when he postponed a date on the outing at the last minute. According to the News-Observer, Scott played a sold-out show at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night, but when fans arrived at the arena for what was slated to be a second show at PNC on Saturday night they were told that the show had been postponed shortly before curtain.

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At press time spokespeople for promoter Live Nation and Scott could not be reached for comment on the cause of the show’s postponement. PNC Arena told fans to hold on to their tickets, which will be honored at a to-be-determined future date; the second show in Raleigh was added by LN in response to the first gig selling out.

WRAL reported that a number of fans showed up to the gig unaware that it had been postponed, with an announcement at the venue greeting them with the message that the gig was postponed due to “reasons beyond our control.”

The Travis Scott Presents Utopia — Circus Maximus tour is the first run of dates from Scott since the deadly 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, which left 10 people dead and thousands injured after a crowd stampede. The tour kicked off on Oct. 11 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. and was slated to play the PNC Arena on Oct. 13 and 14.

The next scheduled date is Tuesday night (Oct. 17) in Dallas at the American Airlines Arena. Scott did not appear to have addressed the postponed show on his socials at press time. Over the weekend, his Instagram feed featured a picture of the tour’s stage and the message “Raleigh let’s do this” followed by a Sunday post hyping the Texas show, with the caption, “TEXAS LETS DOOO THIS Dalllas seee YOU sooon SOON NC THANK YOUUU !!!
F–king turnt wtf.”

Fan comments on the latter post told a story of frustration, with disappointed ragers writing, “2 instas and not acknowledging postponing raleigh is craaaaazy,” “2 instas and not acknowledging postponing raleigh is craaaaazy,” “Wow this is ridiculous. Hours before night 2 and not a word said ????” and “What happened to the 2nd show. Flew up here and paid BANDS to come see u!!!!”

See Scott’s latest post below.

16 Oct 2023

P!nk Clarifies That She Doesn’t Fly Any Country’s Flags at Her Shows After Receiving Threats: ‘I Am Human. I Believe in Peace’

P!nk said she has mistakenly been dragged into the heated rhetoric surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas because of mistaken information about elements of her live show. “This post will be controversial for some. At this point, breathing is controversial. I am getting many threats because people mistakenly believe I am flying Israeli flags in my show. I am not,” the singer explained in a post on Sunday night (Oct. 15).

“I have been using Poi flags since the beginning of this tour. These were used many, many years ago by the Māori people in New Zealand and because they and the Māori people are beautiful to me, we use them,” she explained, adding that, “I do not fly flags in my show in support of anything or anyone except the rainbow flag. That will remain my position.”

According to media reports in New Zealand, the images of P!nk’s dancers flying blue and white “poi” flags on long poles are similar to those on YouTube of “flag poi spinning” in which users spin around while waving pieces of colorful cloth tied to flexible sticks; the segment of the show in question has been part of P!nk’s Summer Carnival Tour since the beginning of June, months before the armed wing of Hamas invaded Israel more than a week ago in a terror attack that left more than 1,300 Israelis dead and nearly 200 men, women, children and soldiers kidnapped.

“I am human. I believe in peace. Equality. Love,” added P!nk. “I am deeply saddened by the state of the world. I pray for all of us.”

P!nk recently wrapped up her 41-date stadium tour, which she hit pause on to kick off a North American arena tour in support of her Trustfall album before she heads to Australia and New Zealand in early 2024 for a stadium run.

P!nk’s post about the flag confusion came more than a week after Palestinian militant group Hamas staged a murderous assault on Israel in which more than 1,000 civilians were brutally killed in their homes — including more than 260 at a desert dance festival — leading to retaliatory strikes from Israel’s defense forces that have killed nearly 2,000 Palestinians. At press time Israel was preparing to launch a ground assault on the Gaza Strip in an effort to eradicate Hamas from the disputed territory.

See P!nk’s post below.

16 Oct 2023

Christina Aguilera and Latto Star In Lavish New Menulog Campaign

Burgers and fries, sticky Thai rice, ice-cream: Christina Aguilera and Latto have got the lot for a new campaign.

The U.S. stars of pop and rap join forces for the first time on a new recording of “Did Somebody Say” and its “hip-hopera” video, a project for the online food delivery service.

Latto, the Powerhouse Award recipient at Billboard’s 2023 Women In Music event, takes the lead and dishes out rhymes on how the Aussie business offers more than just “burgers and fries,” its menu has more “flavors than you tasted or you heard in your life.”

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Staged in what appears to be a Versailles-inspired palace, the official video sees Aguilera and Latto dressed to impress in elaborate 18th century outfits, as a team of men present their selection of tacos, poke bowls, sushi and more.

Christina brings the house down – or at least a crystal chandelier – with a run of high notes.

“Working with Menulog and my girl Latto on this genre-fusing project was honestly a blast,” comments Christina Aguilera in a statement. “We laughed a lot, sang loud and got to make a lavish video all in celebration of our favorite takeaway and grocery app.”

Latto adds: “When I heard about the opportunity to work with Menulog I was actually abroad on tour using the app! It was a no-brainer for me especially with the iconic Christina Aguilera involved. I had so much fun with this collab and have loved seeing it come to life.”

The “Just Eat Takeaway” campaign builds on previous, music- promotions led by Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry.

““Did Somebody Say’ has “helped put the Menulog brand on the cultural map and it’s amazing that the latest evolution reflects our own evolution as a business,” comments Simon Cheng, marketing director at Menulog, “with Latto and Christina speaking to our move into delivering grocery, convenience and non-food essential.”

Following Deliveroo’s exit from Australia’s app-based food delivery space in November 2022, three major food delivery platforms operate, led by UberEats, with Menulog said to occupy second place, ahead of Doordash.

16 Oct 2023

Drake’s ‘For All The Dogs’ Races to No. 1 In U.K.

Drake does it again, as For All The Dogs debuts at No. 1 in the U.K.

For All The Dogs (via OVO/Republic Records) marks Drizzy’s sixth U.K. leader and second in just over a year.

The leader at the halfway point, For All The Dogs finishes the week at the summit, joining his other best-sellers Views (from 2016), Scorpion (2018), Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020), Certified Lover Boy (2021) and Her Loss with 21 Savage (2022).

Drake’s delayed eighth LP outpaces another hip-hop recording, Crop Circle 3 (Zino) by London rapper Nines. It’s new at No. 2, equaling the peak of Crop Circle 2 from earlier this year. Crop Circle 3 is Nines’ fifth consecutive top 5 album in the U.K., a list that includes all three titles in the Crop Circle series, 2017’s One Foot Out (No. 4), and 2020’s No. 1 release Crabs In A Bucket.

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Roger Waters’ redux of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon crashes the chart at No. 3. The original, from 1973, is recognized as one of the most-successful British albums of all time, and has logged 560 weeks on the national tally.

Pink Floyd has six U.K. No. 1 albums, however Dark Side isn’t one of them; it originally peaked at No. 2.
Waters, the founding singer, songwriter and bass player with Pink Floyd, now boasts five U.K. top 10 LPs.

Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts (Geffen) completes the top 3 on the Official Albums Chart, published Oct. 13, dipping 2-3 in its fifth week.

DJ Joel Corry snags his first U.K. top 10 with Another Friday Night (Atlantic), his debut album. It’s new at No. 5.

Veteran U.S. artist Sufjan Stevens earns a second U.K. top 10, and first in eight years with Javelin (Asthmatic Kitty), which flies in at No. 7. To date, Stevens’s chart peak in the U.K. is No. 5 for 2015’s Carrie & Lowell.

Also new to the national albums survey is London rapper Slim’s Still Working 2 (No 22 via Warner Records), British indie folk group Stornoway’s Dig the Mountain (No. 49 via Cooking Vinyl) while U.S. singer and songwriter Noah Kahan’s Stick Season improves 48-28 (Island), following Olivia Rodrigo’s performance of its title track for her BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session.

15 Oct 2023

Kenya Grace Enters History Books as ‘Strangers’ Climbs to No. 1 In U.K.

Kenya Grace bags her first No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with “Strangers,” and, at the same time, earns a piece of history.

The South Africa-born, U.K.-raised artist completes her coronation with “Strangers” (via FFRR), a drum ‘n’ bass special, which reaches the top in its sixth week on the chart.

In doing so, she becomes just the second female artist to reach the summit with a song performed, written and produced entirely solo. The first to do it was, of course, Kate Bush, whose 1985 number “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” completed a remarkable chart-topping turn in 2022, powered by Stranger Things’ fourth season.

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According to the Official Charts Company, U.S. artist Tori Amos came close with her 1997 club monster “Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big),” which reached No. 1 but was boosted by a remix from DJ Armand Van Helden.

The leader at the midweek stage, “Strangers” becomes the first chart debut by a British female artist to reach No. 1 in almost a decade, since Ella Henderson’s 2014 release “Ghost.”

As predicted, “Strangers” ends Doja Cat’s five-week reign with “Paint the Town Red” (Ministry of Sound) which tumbles 1-12.

Coming in at No. 2 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Oct. 13, is Casso, RAYE, D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound), up two places for a new peak position, while Tate McRae’s “Greedy” (Ministry of Sound) holds at No. 3, its peak spot.

Thanks to the release of his chart-leading new album For All The Dogs (via OVO/Republic Records), Drake bags the highest entry on the latest singles chart. Actually, the Canadian hip-hop star secures the three top debuts with “First Person Shooter” featuring J Cole (at No. 4), “IDGAF” featuring Yeat (No. 5) and “Virginia Beach” (No. 6), boosting his total of U.K. top 10 hits to 44.

Finally, South African Afrobeats star Tyla rushes up the climb with “Water” (RCA), lifting 10-7, and Sonny Fodera, MK and Clementine Douglas crack the top 10 for the first time with “Asking” (Solotoko) up 11-10.

15 Oct 2023

Drake’s 6-Year-Old Son Adonis Drops Debut Song ‘My Man Freestyle’

Drake‘s kid is making music. Adonis, the rapper’s 6-year-old son with artist Sophie Brussaux, has a song out now, titled “My Man Freestyle.”

“Happy birthday my son…MY MAN FREESTYLE OUT NOW,” Drake wrote on Instagram Sunday night (Oct. 15), a few days after Adonis’ Oct. 11 birthday. He shared a clip of the track and its cute music video.

“My Man Freestyle,” with Adonis credited as a writer with producer Lil Esso, starts with a chorus. “Don’t talk to my man like that/ I like it when you like it/ My, my, my, my man/ My, my, my, my man,” Adonis says.

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On the track, Adonis describes a day leading up to a game: “I was waiting for this moment to arrive/ I was driving in the car and I smash my car/ I was playing in on my iPad and I broke my iPad/ I’m going to my house, seeing my dad/ I am saying hi to my dad and I have to go change/ I’m playing basketball.”

The accompanying music video, below, shows Adonis on the court and giving a pep talk to friends.

“We just have to work harder. We have to shoot better. We have to play better. Get your energy up,” he says to applause.

Dad Drake — who currently has the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 — also makes an appearance toward the end of the clip.

Adonis recently co-starred in Drake’s “8AM in Charlotte” music video, which begins with a cute father-son conversation about Adonis’ artwork. When Drake asks his child how much he earned for his beautiful drawing, he laughs and says, “Oh please.” The visual for the For All the Dogs track was released in early October.

In September, Drake revealed that his son’s line-drawing of a red-eyed pooch would be the For All the Dogs cover art.

Check out Adonis’ “My Man Freestyle” below.

15 Oct 2023

Fans Choose Bad Bunny’s ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Bad Bunny‘s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Oct. 13) on Billboard, choosing Bad Bunny’s latest album as their favorite new music release of the past week.

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which loosely translates to “Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow,” brought in more than 37% of the vote, beating out new music from Ice Spice feat. Rema, Troye Sivan, Offset and more.

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The Puerto Rican superstar’s fifth studio album, with 22 tracks, explores the uncertainties of what tomorrow may hold. He debuted the set to 16,000 guests at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (aka El Choli) in San Juan on Thursday (Oct. 12).

Check out Billboard‘s preliminary ranking of the songs on Bad Bunny’s new album here.

Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana follows Bad Bunny’s 2022 hit album Un Verano Sin Ti, which was only the second all Spanish-language album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it spent 13 nonconsecutive weeks at the top.

Trailing behind Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana on the poll is Ice Spice feat. Rema’s “Pretty Girl,” with 20% of the vote, and Troye Sivan’s Something to Give Each Other, with 18% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s poll below.