Music

Hot 100 First-Timers: Sierra Ferrell & The War And Treaty Debut With Zach Bryan Features

Sierra Ferrell and The War And Treaty are both officially Billboard Hot 100-charting artists, thanks to their featured appearances on Zach Bryan’s new smash LP Zach Bryan.

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The set debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 200,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week (Aug. 25-31) in the U.S., according to Luminate. It’s the third No. 1 country album of 2023, so far, after Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time and Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and the first rock No. 1 of the year. (The set is categorized as both a country and rock album.)

Bryan’s “Holy Roller,” featuring Ferrell, debuts at No. 37 on the Hot 100 purely on the strength of its first-week streaming sum: 12.1 million U.S. streams earned. That total helps the song open at No. 20 on the Streaming Songs chart. Genre-wise, it also starts at No. 14 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 17 on Hot Country Songs. (The Hot 100, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Country Songs charts all blend streams, sales and airplay data for their respective rankings.)



Ferrell, from Charleston, West Virginia, is a newcomer to Billboards charts. The country/folk/bluegrass singer-songwriter scored her first overall chart appearance in September 2021, when her third, and most-recent LP, Long Time Coming, reached No. 15 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart and No. 25 on Top Album Sales.

She’s returned to Billboard’s charts once since then with her featured appearance on Ray LaMontagne’s “I Was Born To Love You.” The song climbed to No. 38 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart in June 2022.

Outside of the charts, she’s released two additional solo LPs: Pretty Magic Spell in 2014, and Washington By The Sea in 2016. She’s also collaborated with Diplo (“Rain on My Mind,” also with Paul Cauthen), Shakey Graves (“Ready Or Not”), and Old Crow Medicine Show (“Belle Meade Cockfight”).

Next year, she’s scheduled to open for Bryan on his stops in Las Vegas and Denver on his Quittin Time Tour.

Bryan’s “Hey Driver,” featuring The War And Treaty, debuts at No. 14 on the Hot 100, also largely on the strength of its first-week streaming sum: 18.3 million U.S. streams, plus 1,000 downloads sold. The streaming sum also generates a No. 5 debut on the Streaming Songs chart. It concurrently debuts at No. 2 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 5 on Hot Country Songs.



The War And Treaty are a husband-and-wife duo, based in Albion, Mich., comprising Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr.

The pair are relatively new to Billboard’s charts. The act first appeared on a chart in 2018 with its second studio album Healing Tide. The set climbed to No. 11 on the Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 26 on the Independent Albums chart. Two years later, in 2020, the couple notched its first song entry on Billboard’s charts with “Five More Minutes.” It peaked at No. 20 on Adult Alternative Airplay.

Since then, the act’s third and fourth albums both charted on the Top Current Album Sales ranking: Hearts Town reached No. 70 in October 2020 and Lover’s Game peaked at No. 56 in March.

Aside from the charts, the War And Treaty have also collaborated with Shovels & Rope (“Tomorrow”), Blues Traveler (“Need Your Love So Bad”), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (a star-studded cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin,” also with Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle and Jason Isbell), and Dierks Bentley (a live cover of U2’s “Pride (In The Name of Love)”).

Outside of the War and Treaty, Tanya Trotter (née Blount) forged a successful career as a solo act in the ‘90s. She charted three solo songs on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list (billed as Tanya Blount): “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” (No. 57 peak in 1994), “Through The Rain” (No. 27; 1994) and “Hold On” (No. 66; 1995).

“Through The Rain” also crossed over onto the Hot 100, reaching No. 90 in October 1994. The track appears on Trotter’s sole solo album, Natural Thing (released via Polydor Records), which climbed to No. 58 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

She first rose to prominence after she was cast in the 1993 Whoopi Goldberg film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit—as the role of Tanya. She has a breakout moment in the film, when she sings “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” alongside future No. 1 Hot 100 artist Lauryn Hill. The duet appears on the soundtrack to the film, which reached No. 74 on the Billboard 200 in 1994.

The Chainsmokers Recreate NSFW Photo of Justin & Hailey Bieber in Their Underwear

Don’t ever say The Chainsmokers never took a creative risk. In anticipation of their upcoming single “Summertime Friends,” groupmates Alex Pall and Drew Taggart stripped down to their underwear to recreate a steamy photo originally taken by Justin and Hailey Bieber for a 2019 Calvin Klein campaign.

The picture finds Pall straddling Taggert, sitting on his bandmate’s lap as Taggert grips Pall’s rear-end. Tinted black and white, the snap shows the two men wearing no shirts, their Calvin Klein undies peeking out past the waistbands of their jeans.

“Summertime friends comes out this week and this was supposed to be the cover art but it came out ridiculous,” the pair joked in an Instagram post, sharing the photo alongside their reference photo of Mr. and Mrs. Bieber. “we are so upset. firing creative director immediately. never trusting our team again.”

The “Closer” band also shared a video of the photoshoot in action, writing in the caption: “it came out okay i guess.”

The photo parodies one of several shots from Calvin Klein’s 2019 50th anniversary campaign, which also starred Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky, Troye Sivan and more. The Biebers posed for content showing them dancing together and enjoying a makeout sesh for the campaign, all while modeling CK pieces.

At the time of publication, neither Justin nor Hailey have reacted to the tribute. The couple was recently spotted together at an event for the Rhode founder’s new lip product, after which the “Peaches” singer proudly posted photos of his wife on Instagram. “???baby girl with the @rhode @krispykreme STRAWBERRY GLAZEEE,” Justin captioned his post.

See The Chainsmokers’ hilarious parody of Justin and Hailey Bieber below.

NAMM Becomes the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 She Rocks Awards

NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants) will be the presenting sponsor of the 2024 She Rocks Awards, the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) announced on Wednesday (Sept. 6). Taking place on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, the event will be held in the Ballroom at the Anaheim Convention Center during the NAMM show.

The She Rocks Awards has become a premier event during the NAMM Show, bringing together industry professionals, artists, fans, and the media to celebrate the contributions of women from across the music and audio industries. 2024 will mark the event’s 12th anniversary.

“We’ve always aligned the She Rocks Awards to happen during NAMM. Now we are delighted to have NAMM support us as a partner to encourage participation in this meaningful event,” Laura B. Whitmore, founder of the She Rocks Awards and the WiMN, said in a statement.

“Our partnership with the WiMN continues to elevate and promote the tremendous achievements by so many incredible women in the music industry,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “The NAMM Show will continue to provide critical platforms such as the She Rock Awards to highlight and celebrate incredible women who shape our industry’s future. Along with Women of NAMM and the WiMN, we have great potential to grow our show on a yearly basis.”

This evening includes live music, awards and speeches, dinner, a silent auction, gift bags and more. Tickets are now on sale. This event is open to the public; however, a 2024 NAMM show badge is required to attend the She Rocks Awards. Find out more and purchase tickets at sherocksawards.com.

Past honorees of the She Rocks Awards include Go-Go’s, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Lzzy Hale, Gloria Gaynor, Judy Collins, Linda Perry, Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar, The B-52s, Colbie Caillat, Sheila E, Chaka Khan, Noelle Scaggs (Fitzs & the Tantrums), Ronnie Spector, Orianthi and The Bangles.

The 2024 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by NAMM (presenting), Sweetwater, PRS Guitars, Positive Grid, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp Foundation, Reverb.com, Fishman, Shure, Berklee Online, M.A.C Cosmetics, Exploration.io, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Roland, Taylor Guitars, Earthquaker Devices, dw Drums, Cuccio, DiGiCo, Seymour Duncan, Monster Energy, Guitar Girl Magazine, Music Connection, AXS TV and more. For information regarding She Rocks Awards sponsorship opportunities, contact info@thewimn.com

Learn more about the She Rocks Awards and get tickets at sherocksawards.com.

The 2024 NAMM Show will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center Jan. 25-28, 2024 with online registration at registration@namm.org.

Founded in 2012, the WiMN unites women who work within all facets of the music and audio industries. The organization produces and hosts events such as the WiMN She Rocks Showcase series, the She Rocks Awards, and a variety of workshops and panels throughout the year. For more information, visit www.TheWiMN.com.

NAMM is a not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals. For more information, visit www.namm.org.

Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, The War and Treaty & More to Perform at 2023 Stand Up for Heroes

Stand Up for Heroes — New York’s annual event that honors the veterans, as well as their families, who have served in the in the military — has set its date and revealed star-studded list of performers for 2023. The event will return this fall on Nov. 6, and will take place the David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

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The night will feature performances from Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, The War and Treaty and more. Stand Up for Heroes is presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), and will additionally feature sets from comedians Jimmy Carr, Ronny Chieng, Shane Gillis, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart and actress Rita Wilson.

“I’m thrilled to announce the 17th annual Stand Up for Heroes, an amazing night of hope, healing, and laughter to honor our nation’s veterans and their families,” Woodruff said in a statement. “The evening will include a fantastic lineup of comedic and musical performances. Beyond that, Stand Up for Heroes will shine a light on the incredible service and sacrifice of our veterans, service members, and their families, and raise important funds to support the men and women who have had our back and who now need us to have theirs.”

Tickets for the event are offered in tiers, with the third tier tickets prices starting at $175 and going up to $5,000 for orchestra seating. Military personnel can purchase tickets using a GOVX discount; tickets can be purchased on the Bob Woodruff Foundation website or at Lincoln Center box office.

A.I.-Generated Song That Mimics Drake & The Weeknd Submitted for Grammy Consideration

After the anonymous artist Ghostwriter went viral with their A.I.-generated track “Heart on My Sleeve” — which mimics Drake and The Weeknd — earlier this year, representatives for the unknown act recently disclosed in an interview with The New York Times that they submitted the controversial song for next year’s Grammy awards

Submitted for best rap song and song of the year, “Heart on My Sleeve” was eligible despite the use of A.I. technology on the record, Harvey Mason, jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, told The New York Times. “As far as the creative side, it’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human,” he noted.

Billboard has reached out to Drake and The Weeknd for comment. 

Last April, “Heart on My Sleeve” was pulled from streaming services after generating more than 600,000 plays on Spotify and 275,000 views on YouTube. Following the outrage, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, TIDAL and Deezer yanked the song from their respective platforms. In a statement to Billboard, UMG denounced the track and usage of A.I. by saying the viral postings “demonstrate why platforms have a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists.”

Mason told the paper that he sent Ghostwriter a direct message on social media after the song’s explosion and organized a virtual roundtable discussion with the Recording Academy to understand further the powers of A.I. Ghostwriter attended the meeting with a distorted voice, further hiding their identity. 

“I knew right away as soon as I heard that record that it was going to be something that we had to grapple with from an Academy standpoint, but also from a music community and industry standpoint,” said Mason. “When you start seeing A.I. involved in something so creative and so cool, relevant and of-the-moment, it immediately starts you thinking, ‘OK, where is this going? How is this going to affect creativity? What’s the business implication for monetization?’”

The Recording Academy announced Artificial Intelligence “protocols” earlier this year. “Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a Grammy Award,” the Academy stipulated. “A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category. The Academy may disqualify any entry in a particular category if it determines, in the Academy’s sole discretion, that such entry does not incorporate meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship that is relevant to such category. {The Academy offered a definition of that term: “De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance, so minor as to merit disregard.”

On Tuesday (Sept. 5), Ghostwriter returned with a new A.I.-generated song titled “Whiplash,” featuring vocals that sound like Travis Scott and 21 Savage. The record mimics both artists and pokes fun at Ghostwriter’s detractors with lines such as “Me and Writer raise a toast/ Trying to shadowban my boy but you can’t kill a ghost.”

Billboard has reached out to reps for Scott and Savage. Listen to the song below.

Miley Cyrus Says Her Divorce From Liam Hemsworth Came From ‘A Place of Love’

Miley Cyrus has clearly been having a good time revisiting some of the peak moments of her long career in the ongoing TikTok video series “Used to Be Young.” She’s reminisced about not making a dime on her Bangerz tour, the real story behind the “stripper pole” during her 2009 Teen Choice performance and recalled how Beyoncé and Rihanna treated her like a “little sister” the year before.

But in the latest clip posted on Wednesday morning (Sept. 6), Miley said she wanted to get serious for a moment while discussing the dissolution of her marriage to actor Liam Hemsworth. She revealed that around the time she was getting ready to headline England’s Glastonbury Festival in June 2019, the decision had been made that “me and Liam’s commitment to being married, just really… came from of course a place of love first because we’d been together for 10 years,” she said in part 37 of the series.

But, Cyrus added, it also came from a place of “trauma and just trying to rebuild as quickly as we could.” Cyrus said the day of the show was the same day she decided that “it was no longer going to work in my life,” in reference to the couple’s marriage.

“That was another moment when the work, the performance, the character came first,” she added, noting that since that time she’s dedicated herself to not prioritizing those professional things over the personal. “The human comes first,” she said.

Cyrus, 30, and Hemsworth, 33, met while filming her movie The Last Song in 2010 and got married in 2018, the split in August 2019 after less than one year as man and wife. In a “Used to Be Young” video posted last week, she reacted to a photo in which she was kissing Hemsworth, which sparked memories about the origins of their love.

“I think one of the elements that made that movie feel so special was it was watching two very young people fall in love with each other, which was happening in real time and real life,” she said. “So, the chemistry was undeniable and that was the beginning of a long, 10-year relationship.”

Watch Cyrus talk about her divorce below.

Beyoncé Improvised a Voices Reference for Tia Mowry at Renaissance Show: See How She Reacted

Tia Mowry was left blown away by Beyoncé after the pop superstar improvised an impressive tribute to the 45-year-old actress’ childhood singing group Voices, just seconds after spotting Mowry in the Monday (Sept. 4) Renaissance World Tour audience.

The on-the-fly tribute came as Bey was singing “1 + 1” onstage, during which she clocked Mowry enjoying the show. After blowing Mowry a kiss, she seamlessly inserted a snippet of Voices’ 1992 song “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” into her performance without even a second of pause: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, the boy makes me say.”

“From the beginning, Beyoncé’s undeniable talent is only rivaled by her incredible kindness and generosity,” Mowry wrote on Instagram after the concert, sharing a Destiny’s Child era photo of her meeting Bey with her twin sister and Voices bandmate Tamera Mowry. “You can truly see how amazing and detailed an artist she is, and how much thought and love was put into this show.”

The Sister, Sister alum also shared a snap of her metallic concert outfit, as well as a clip of her dancing along to the show. “The highlight of the night was when she saw me in the crowd, and she gave me a smile and a hello, and then started singing ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ from when @tameramowrytwo and I were in the singing group, Voices!” she continued. “I was so touched by her gesture, and I still can’t believe that it truly happened!”

“She’s a true icon, who continuously inspires me with her talent, dedication, humility, and beautiful spirit,” Mowry added.

The Twitches actress was just one of many stars who showed up to Beyoncé’s Monday concert in their best silver attire, with Lizzo, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Adele all spotted by fans in the audience that night at SoFi Stadium. Some of Hollywood’s most famous couples were also in attendance, including Zendaya and Tom Holland, Justin and Hailey Bieber, and, making their public debut as a pair, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.

The show just so happened to coincide with Bey’s 42nd birthday, for which none other than Diana Ross came onstage as a surprise guest to help celebrate. The 79-year-old legend led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to the “Break My Soul” musician, who also commemorated the night with an emotional speech thanking her fans, family and former Destiny’s Child bandmates.

See the moment Beyoncé spotted Tia Mowry in the crowd at the Renaissance Tour below:

The Rolling Stones’ First Album of New Songs in 18 Years Promises ‘Damn Funky Riffs’ and Lady Gaga

LONDON — The Rolling Stones unveiled details of their first studio album of original material in 18 years — and the band’s first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts – at a packed-out press conference in London on Wednesday (Sept. 6).

Hackney Diamonds, the group’s 24th studio album, will be released Oct. 20, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards announced at an invite-only launch event at London’s historic Hackney Empire theatre.

The event, which was hosted by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and streamed globally on YouTube, culminated in the premiere of the band’s new single “Angry” — a classic Stones-style rock tune built around a funky guitar riff, catchy chorus and Jagger’s instantly recognizable yelped vocals — and its accompanying video starring Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney (The White Lotus, Euphoria), who was at the launch.

Hackney Diamonds is the Stones’ first studio album of new songs since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

Talking about the 12-track record, which features two songs the band recorded with drummer Charlie Watts in 2019, Richards paid tribute to his former band mate, who died in 2021 aged 80.

“Ever since Charlie’s gone, it’s been different. He’s number four. Of course, he’s missed,” said Richards.

The guitarist said that Watts had personally recommended drummer Steve Jordan, who toured with the band last year and plays on 10 tracks on Hackney Diamonds, to replace him if ever “anything should happen to him.”

“It would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing,” Richards, wearing a trademark trilby hat and dark glasses, told Fallon.

Referring to the almost two-decade-long gap between the new album and A Bigger Bang, Jagger pointed out that the band has “been on the road most of the time,” but joked, “maybe we were a bit too lazy.”

The 80-year-old singer said he got together with Richards and Wood just before Christmas last year and gave themselves a deadline of Valentine’s Day to make “a go of” a new record.

23 tracks were recorded in total, said Jagger, before the group settled on the final 12 songs. Track titles revealed by Fallon included “Mess It Up,” “Whole Wide World,” “Live By The Sword and “Depending On You,” which Jagger said was about “relying on someone and they let you down.”

Another song entitled “Sweet Sound Of Heaven” features Lady Gaga, one of a number of superstar musicians rumoured to feature on the LP, the group confirmed.

The Rolling Stones’ original bassist Bill Wyman also plays on one track, Jagger confirmed, while Richards sings “Tell Me Straight,” although he confessed “I have no idea what it’s about.” Hackney Diamonds was produced by Andrew Watt, who Jagger said, “kicked us up the arse.”

The singer — who was in jovial mood, joking with his bandmates and Fallon throughout the press conference and at one point joined the host in an impromptu version of 1965’s “Off The Hook” — said the mood of the album was “angry” and “eclectic” and spanned a range of genres, including love songs and ballads.

Richards said alternative titles they considered for the album included “Hit And Run” and “Smash And Grab” before the trio agreed upon Hackney Diamonds – a reference to the London district of Hackney, where the launch took place. The band choose the title as they are “a London band,” said Richards.

“I don’t want to be big-headed, but we wouldn’t have put this album out if we hadn’t really liked it,” Jagger told the audience, made up of media and journalists from around the world.

“We said we had to make a record we really love ourselves,” said the vocalist. “We are quite pleased with it. We are not big-headed about it, but we hope you all like it.”

Richards said that the album contained a collection of “damn funky riffs.”

According to a press release from the Rolling Stones’ label Universal Music Group/Geffen, Hackney Diamonds was recorded in various locations around the world, including Los Angeles’ Henson Recording Studios, London’s Metropolis Studios and New York’s Electric Lady Studios and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios.

Warner Music Group’s Interval Unveils New Podcast Series ‘Amplify Color’

Interval Presents, Warner Music Group’s in-house podcast network, is announcing the launch of its latest series. Amplify Color, premiering Sept. 13, will chronicle the history of Black radio in 14 episodes hosted by veteran Atlanta DJ, two-time Emmy winner and Black Radio Hall of Fame member Ryan Cameron.  

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“Stepping into the world of Amplify Color has been an electrifying experience,” said Cameron in a statement. “As someone deeply rooted in the radio industry, I’m honored to host this incredible series that unravels the dynamic stories of radio luminaries. This podcast is not just about radio history, but about the unbreakable spirit that has driven change and inspired countless individuals. Join us as we journey through the remarkable tales that have woven the fabric of Black radio.”

You can listen to it here.

The cast of radio luminaries delving into Black radio’s past, present and future includes pioneers and contemporary stars such as Jack L. Cooper, Petey Greene, Cathy Hughes, Dyana Williams, Tom Joyner, Mr. Magic, Stretch and Bobbito, Robin Quivers, Big Boy, Sway Calloway, Wendy Williams and Charlamagne tha God. Also on tap: a bonus episode featuring the aforementioned Cameron and Allan Coye, senior vp, digital strategy & business development and GM of Interval Presents at Warner Music Group.

“This series embodies our commitment to amplify diverse voices through premium storytelling and is a great overlap with the industry that Interval Presents lives in,” commented Coye. “It underscores the vital contributions of icons who shaped the radio industry by shedding light on their lasting impact.”

As noted, the first episode of Amplify Color will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 13, on all major podcast platforms. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays. The series is produced by audio-first media company Double Elvis.

Amplify Color Show Art

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Pitbull Signs With WME In All Areas

Five years after making a move, Pitbull returns to WME.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer and songwriter is once again represented by the talent agency worldwide in all areas.

The Cuban-American artist (real name: Armando Christian Pérez) originally signed with WME in 2017, leaving 17 months later for an arrangement with United Talent Agency.

His new deal is inked ahead of the release of his 12th studio album Trackhouse, named after the NASCAR racing team he co-owns.

The U.S.-born star returned to the road in 2022 for the North American Can’t Stop Us Now Tour with guests Iggy Azalea and Sean Paul, and his SiriusXM Globalization DJs play to heaving rooms across the country. Next month, he’ll embark on a major trek with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin for The Trilogy Tour, produced by Live Nation.

It won’t be the first joint trek for these Latin stars. In 2017, Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull went on tour with CNCO as the opening act. The trek grossed $38 million and sold 415,000 tickets, according to Billboard Boxscore numbers.

“With billions of audio streams and video views plus hundreds of gold and platinum certifications,” reads a statement from WME, “Pitbull has one of the most impressive careers in music history along with being a force in brand partnerships.”

Outside of music, Pitbull founded Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!), tuition-free public charter schools across the U.S, and he has joined self-help guru Tony Robbins, for numerous speaking engagements around the world.

Earlier this year, the Miami, FL artist joined YouTube’s billion-views club for the fourth time with his Billboard Hot 100 leader from 2011, “Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer.
He previously reached the streaming milestone with his second Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Timber” (featuring Ke$ha), “Rain Over Me” (featuring Marc Anthony) and Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor.” “Give Me Everything”.