Music

04 Aug 2023

Sinead O’Connor’s Streams Surged by 2,885% Following Her Death

Streams and sales of Sinead O’Connor’s catalog vaulted following the Irish singer’s death on July 26, with many of her songs returning to the Billboard charts dated Aug. 5.

O’Connor’s catalog earned 7.9 million official on-demand U.S. streams in the July 21-27 tracking week, up 774% from 901,000 July 14-20, according to Luminate.

As for July 26-27 vs. July 24-25, O’Connor’s official on-demand U.S. song streams grew from 243,000 to 7.3 million, up 2,885%.

Additionally, downloads of her songs totaled 17,000 July 21-27, a 5,348% surge from a negligible amount July 14-20.

In terms of albums, O’Connor’s music earned 11,000 equivalent album units July 21-27, up 1,346% from 1,000 the week before. Of those 11,000 units, 4,000 were via album sales.

With consumption gains come multiple appearances on the Billboard charts for O’Connor, paced by her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which returns to the Rock Digital Song Sales and Alternative Digital Song Sales surveys at No. 1 with 10,000 downloads sold.

The song also accrued 3.2 million streams, which, combined with its sales, drive it onto the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally at No. 10 (where older songs are eligible to appear if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their resurgences).

It’s the song’s second time on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (which began in 2009); it ranked at No. 16 on the May 14, 2016, chart with streaming and sales gains following Prince’s death.

“Nothing Compares 2 U” was O’Connor’s lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, reigning for four weeks in 1990.

O’Connor’s songs “Mandinka” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes” also reach Alternative Digital Song Sales, at Nos. 16 and 17, respectively, and Rock Digital Song Sales (Nos. 24 and 25), with approximately 1,000 downloads sold apiece. “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was O’Connor’s lone other entry on the Hot 100, as the follow-up to “Nothing Compares 2 U” reached No. 60 in 1990.

Further placements for O’Connor’s music are possible on the Aug. 12-dated Billboard charts following a full week of sales, streaming and airplay tracking (July 28-Aug. 3).

O’Connor died in London at age 56. A cause of death has not been announced.

04 Aug 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Grupo Frontera, Kali Uchis, & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Grupo Frontera, El Comienzo (Grupo Frontera)

After gaining virality with their Morat cover of “No Se Va” and taking advantage of the momentum to release original music — which has earned them seven titles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 10 on Hot Latin Songs (including a No. 1 hit) — Grupo Frontera has officially launched their debut studio album, El Comienzo (the beginning). Home to 11 tracks, the McAllen-based group delivers a traditional norteño-cumbia set with some very heartfelt and relatable lyrics — mostly about love and heartbreak.

Most notable are the star-studded collaborations. For “Alta Voz,” Frontera brings back Junior H in his sad boy era, singing about missing someone and calling them despite the hour; in “Las Flores,” Frontera and Yahritza y Su Esencia’s second collaborative effort, we find an upbeat, ‘90s-inspired grupero melody backing a vocal about regretting falling in love; and on focus single “El Amor de Su Vida,” with Grupo Firme, a man makes his peace that the love of his life is with another person. El Comienzo also includes previously released collabs “Que Vuelvas” with Carin León, “Ojitos Rojos” with Ke Personajes, and the Bad Bunny-assisted “Un X100to,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year. Stream and listen to the album above.  — JESSICA ROIZ

Kali Uchis, El Alfa & JT from City Girls, “Muñequita” (Geffen Records)

Kali Uchis brings her enigmatic allure to the main room on the sultry single, “Muñequita.” This time, the Colombian-American femme fatale enlists an eclectic cast, Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa and JT of City Girls, who each bring their dynamic energy to kick off a new summer anthem. “I love bringing artists together that you’d least expect,” said the Grammy winner in a press release. “El Alfa is a Latino legend and JT is someone I’ve admired forever. Both of them are known for their summer hits and high energy, so I’m incredibly excited to bring them together for a fun, sexy song like this.” Produced by Mazzarri and FABV, “Muñequita” is the first single that will lead to Kali Uchis’ upcoming Spanish-language album. The singer recently wrapped up the first leg of her sold-out Red Moon In Venus national tour. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Timø, “Quédate” (Universal Music Latino)

Between a deluge of urban songs and regional Mexican music that is so hot these days, it’s also refreshing to hear a good Latin pop song. Emerging boy band TIMØ brings us one this week with their single “Quédate” (Stay). With strong synth lines, an infectious kick drum that drives the song and crescendoing acoustic guitars, the Colombian trio takes turns singing about an unexpected reunion with love. “I only know that you and I met again, stay,” they conclude in their lyrics. In the video, you can see the members in different shots enjoying a party at sunset and at the beach. The talented group, which mixes pop music with hints of funk and tropical, made in Colombia, turns out to be a pleasant discovery. — LUISA CALLE

Camila Fernández, “Una Vida” (Universal Music Mexico)

In true Fernández dynasty form, Camila Fernández’s delivery of a mariachi or norteño song is just as evocative as her grandfather’s (Vicente Fernández) and her father’s (Alejandro Fernández). The accordion-led “Una Vida,” Camila’s latest single, is a gorgeous mariachi ballad about finding and preserving genuine love — one that centers on each other’s spiritual growth. With her striking, mature and deep vocals, Camila sings, “today I place all bets on you even if there’s no guarantee … if I had to repeat every step that led me to you, I would do it with pleasure.” The song follows previously released singles “Fue Tan Poco Tu Cariño” and “Todo Todo” from earlier this year, as well as her 2022 debut album, Vulnerable. The music video for “Una Vida” features Camila’s maternal grandparents, who portray a beautiful love story. — GRISELDA FLORES

Damian, “Sabrosura” (WOW! Entertainment)

Colombian singer-songwriter Damian — one of Billboard’s On the Radar Latin artists — continues spreading the joy of the Caribbean with his new single “Sabrosura.” The song, which follows his romantic vallenato “El Amor No Es Amor,” is a refreshing urban cumbia that invites you to dance and put your sorrows aside, with rap verses like “Forget your problems, there is a solution for everything/ Let this rhythm enter your heart,” and a contagious chorus that repeats, “Sabrosura, traigo sabrosura,” which could be translated to “Flavor, I bring flavor.” The colorful music video, filmed in Barranquilla, Colombia and directed by Harlyn Camargo, is sure to put a smile on your face. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Lagos, “Soltando a Pedazos” (Warner Music Mexico)

Luis Jiménez and Mr. A on the Beat (real name: Agustín Zubillaga), the up-and-coming Venezuelan pop duo LAGOS, present their latest single “Soltando A Pedazos.” The single kicks off the start of a new creative phase, leading up to their forthcoming sophomore album. Powered by the melodies of an electric piano with ’80s-reminiscent melodies, and laced with their soothing voices, this song talks about the complex emotions that arise when it’s time to let go of someone knowing that it’s not an easy decision. “And although I’m letting you go, it’s by pieces/ I’m leaving confident, but I’m going slowly, step by step,” they sing. — INGRID FAJARDO

Check out more editor’s picks in the weekly playlist below!

04 Aug 2023

Doja Cat, Halle, LE SSERAFIM x Demi Lovato & More: What’s Your Favorite Music Release of the Week?

This week’s new music Friday is stacked with releases across the genres, featuring a new rap song from Doja Cat, a stunning R&B release from Halle and a collaboration from K-pop’s LE SSERAFIM with Demi Lovato.

Doja continues to poke fun at her detractors in her newest release, “Paint the Town Red.” Led by a sample of Dionne Warwick’s classic “Walk on By” to leverage the chorus, the rapper knows exactly what her naysayers think of her, and taunts them with their own comments on a bouncy chorus. “Mm, she the devil/ She a bad lil’ b—h, she a rebel/ She put her foot to the pedal/ It’ll take a whole lot for me to settle,” she sings. The track is the second look fans have received of her upcoming fourth album after single “Attention.”

Halle is following in big sister Chloe’s footsteps, and has released her first solo single. The singer has already established herself as one half of Chloe x Halle, and as Ariel in The Little Mermaid live-action remake, but new song “Angel” sees her going for rhythmic lyrics and piano instrumentation while letting it be known she plans to transcend her insecurities and walk in the light of a new path.

LE SSERAFIM’s single “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” is the gift that keeps on giving. The K-pop group — which consists of members Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha and Hong Eun-chae — released an English version of the song on Friday, with the addition of a sultry verse by Lovato. It follows the group’s Rina Sawayama collab for the track the week prior.

Grupo Frontera, Usher and Crosses also released music this week.

Which new release was your favorite this week? Vote in our poll below.

04 Aug 2023

‘The Message Is a Gift to Us All’: Maureen McGovern on 50 Years of Her Hot 100 No. 1, ‘The Morning After’

“‘Morning after’ … oh, I can’t take this. Give me a Strauss waltz anytime.”

“I rather fancy it …”

Early in the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure, two crew members on the cruise ship Poseidon are working as the band aboard rehearses a hopeful pop ballad. One, a grizzled veteran, clearly isn’t interested, but the other, younger, hand on deck is intrigued.

By the time the movie, an eventual cornerstone in the disaster film canon, had become a box office hit, audiences decidedly agreed with the latter listener.

Serving as the theme to the movie and released as a single, Maureen McGovern’s “The Morning After” began a two-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Aug. 4, 1973. (The song hit No. 1 on the chart’s 15th anniversary, as the list launched with the edition dated Aug. 4, 1958.)

Prior to its Hot 100 coronation, “The Morning After” won best original song at the Academy Awards, for its writers, Joel Hirschhorn and Al Kasha. It’s one of an elite 17 Oscar winners to have topped the Hot 100. (In The Poseidon Adventure, McGovern doesn’t sing the song; the character of Nonnie, played by Carol Lynley, is shown performing it, twice, although it was actually sung in the film by Renee Armand.)

The song sparked McGovern’s nomination for best new artist at the Grammy Awards in 1974 (the first of two Grammy nods in her career) and became her signature hit, one which, she tells Billboard, has sparked a legacy of healing.

Upon the 50th anniversary of the single beginning its Hot 100 command, McGovern, who in August 2022 shared her diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy (a disease with symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia), discusses the impact of the song, her varied career as an entertainer and how music, beyond “The Morning After,” can be therapeutic.

Billboard: Maureen, how did you come to record “The Morning After,” and what did you think of the song initially?

McGovern: During the late 1960s and early ‘70s I traveled throughout the Midwest as the lead singer for a folk band called Sweet Rain. Carl Maduri was a producer in Cleveland. In early 1972, I was performing at a club in Cleveland when a friend of Carl’s attended my show. I’ve been told that this friend informed Carl that he had to hear me sing. Carl then came to see me perform and called my manager at the time. Meetings ensued …

A call was placed to Russ Regan, then president of 20th Century Fox Records, and apparently, he was told that I was quite a talented singer.

Russ Regan knew that Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, the writers of “The Morning After,” were looking for a singer to record the song. I was asked to record a demo, and my manager and the record label loved it. Russ Regan signed me to 20th Century Fox Records and, in late 1972, “The Morning After” and The Poseidon Adventure were released.

Recording that song opened the door to my career. I have always been extremely grateful for that opportunity and for the enduring legacy of that song. To this day, for all of 50 years, I have had people write letters to me, talk with me at concerts, even stop me on the street to share how the song helped get them through something in their life that they were not sure they could survive.

It has been a part of almost every one of my live performances over the past five decades. Whenever I start to sing “The Morning After,” the audience breaks into spontaneous applause, and I feel the love in the room. The song’s message is a gift to us all.

Do you remember finding out that the song had won at the Academy Awards, and what your reaction was?

Stunned … thrilled … I could not believe it!

I was a girl from Youngstown, Ohio, aspiring to have a career as a singer. I was performing on the East Coast the evening that “The Morning After” won. The Oscars were being presented in LA. During my performance, the venue owners ran in, interrupted my show and announced that the song had won the Oscar! The entire crowd erupted in grand applause. Their recognition and applause at that moment was the biggest thing that had ever happened to me. It was breathtaking.

I had recorded the song in the fall of 1972 to only minimal fanfare. But that Oscar win ultimately created a lot of attention for the song. By August of 1973, “The Morning After” was at the top of the Hot 100. It was a dream come true.

Having also recorded “We May Never Love Like This Again,” a Hot 100 hit in 1975 from The Towering Inferno – and another best original song Oscar winner for Hirschhorn and Kasha that year – you became somewhat of a go-to for songs from disaster movies … which you played up in your cameo, as a nun, in that iconic scene in Airplane. How did that casting happen, and what was the experience like filming it? (Shirley, it couldn’t have been too serious on the set.)

The casting for Airplane happened extremely quickly. Apparently, the actress that had originally been selected to play the role had become unavailable. My agent received a call from the film’s production team on a Thursday afternoon and by the next day, I had my script in hand and was to report to the set the following Monday ready to go!

It was incredibly interesting to see how different actors interact. The cast that I worked with was delightful. It really was great fun.

You also recorded a song that, like a track tied to a movie, had built-in exposure: “Different Worlds,” the theme from the ABC TV show Angie. Any special memories of that song, which became another Billboard No. 1 for you, on the Adult Contemporary chart?

It was a lighthearted song that resonated with the adult contemporary audience. Meeting the cast of the show was special. I really enjoyed this opportunity.

From music to movie placements to Broadway, you have forged such a rich career. You must take pride in that versatility.

Success in this craft not only requires some God-given talent, but also a great amount of effort and a good bit of luck. I have been blessed to be able to create a fulfilling life and a wonderful career, doing what I know I was always meant to do: singing.

I do take pride in the fact that my work has spanned genres and venues from small supper clubs in the tiniest of towns to grand performance centers like Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, from private concerts and benefits to performing for global dignitaries and U.S. presidents, and from summer stock to Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute and even Broadway. I have recorded and performed myriad genres starting with folk and moving to pop, jazz, musical theatre and music written by such greats as George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Rodgers and Hart and Hammerstein and so many more.

My career has taken me to recording studios, movie sets, television stations, theaters, concert halls and symphony centers literally all over the world.

It’s inspiring that you value music therapy, among other philanthropic pursuits of yours. Can you talk about how you got into that, how you’ve helped people in that manner, and how you think music can help heal people in different ways?

From the very beginning of my career, as I traveled to different cities to perform, I would make it a priority to visit hospices, hospitals and prisons. This was my effort to bring hope and healing through music to people in need. That’s always been a part of my heart. This work has given me so many remarkably memorable experiences. I recall one evening, following a concert performance, I was asked to visit a children’s hospital the next morning, on Christmas Day. There were babies in cribs and children in beds. The babies didn’t know anything about me or my music, but the parents needed to hear a hopeful message. After I sang, they came and hugged me. Something as small as a song changed how they were feeling, even if just for that moment.

Another special memory happened when I was visiting a hospice with my friend, Dr. Deforia Lane, a music therapist. We had the opportunity to meet a family gathered around their grandmother who was in her last moments of life. I thought, “Oh, my God, what can I do to help this woman and her family at this time?” You could feel the sadness in the room. Her family said that she liked country music, so we sang a familiar country song for her, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver. I got to a certain point in the song, and we heard a soft “whoo, whoo, whoo” sound. She was “singing” along with us. There was such beauty in that. Her children and grandchildren began crying tears of joy. Sharing a simple gift like that is wonderful. Music is healing.

When people are feeling low, music lifts their souls. It brings me great joy to help others find hope in music.

04 Aug 2023

Ricky Martin Breaks Silence on Divorce, Says Split Has Been in the Works Since ‘Pre-Pandemic’

Ricky Martin spoke for the first time about the decision to separate from his husband, Jwan Yosef, whom he was married to for six years. In an interview with Telemundo Puerto Rico, the singer shared that the process of separation between him and Yosef dated back to pre-pandemic years.

“Jwan and I will always be family. We have two children together that we will raise together. This didn’t just happen. We’ve been planning this situation for a while now — pre-pandemic.” He added, “When the public found out, we had already been through a solid process of grief. We knew this had to happen for our own good. And for the well-being of our children. We’re better than ever and we’re single.”

Martin and Yosef announced in a joint statement in early July that they were divorcing; they had married in 2017. The “Tiburones” singer made their relationship official in 2016 when the pair walked the amFAR Inspiration Gala red carpet together. That same year, they announced they were engaged. He and Yosef share two kids: daughter Lucia (born in 2018) and son Renn (born in 2019). The singer is also dad to 14-year-old twin sons Matteo and Valentino, whom he welcomed via a surrogate in 2008.

“For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect, and dignity for our children — preserving and honoring what we have experienced as a couple all of these wonderful years,” they wrote in the heartfelt statement.

“Our greatest desire now is to continue having a healthy family dynamic and a relationship centered on our genuine friendship as we continue the joint upbringing of our children,” their statement continued. “As always, we thank you for all the love and support we received throughout our marriage. We are united in nurturing this new chapter of our lives.”

04 Aug 2023

Hip-Hop Artists & Execs Write Love Letters to the Culture

This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a milestone that is being celebrated with curated concerts, special programming and more.

To commemorate such a momentous birthday, influential hip-hop executives and artists honor the groundbreaking and culture-defining genre with personal love letters to the art form that continues to inspire them every day — and will for many more years to come.

Tuma Basa
Director of Black music and culture, YouTube

Tuma Basa, Sound

Tuma Basa

Courtesy of YouTube

I grew up in Zimbabwe listening to hip-hop from here and could feel the realness from all the way over there. And in true hip-hop fashion, when I got to the States, I was able to flip my love for hip-hop into a whole career. To me, it’s not just a culture, it’s a vibration. … It’s not just music, it’s the actual news! That artful reflection of reality is unmatched and is going to keep me loving it till infinity.

Jermaine Dupri
Artist/producer/songwriter/DJ; author; CEO, So So Def

Sound, Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri

Steven Eloiseau

I believe hip-hop has created opportunities and opened doors for people — artists, producers, designers, etc. — that no other music genre has. It’s a lifestyle that has evolved over 50 years and its legacy is deeply rooted in Black culture and our experiences. A lot of the choices I make are because hip-hop makes me do it.

Stephen Hill
TV producer; former BET and MTV executive

Stephen Hill, Sound

Stephen Hill

Marteen DeBoer

Socially conscious music existed before hip-hop; artists observed social challenges, oppressions and disparities and incorporated their views into their work. Often brilliantly, hip-hop is and has been the platform on which those who actually live their daily lives fully in those challenges, oppressions and disparities can stand and be seen and heard … authentically. Hip-hop is also one of the entities responsible for the largest growth in Black millionaires (and a few billionaires) in this country. Increased Black wealth leads to increased Black ownership. Black ownership leads to a cleaner and better lit, though not unfettered, path to freedom. This is America.

MC Lyte
Rapper/DJ/entrepreneur

MC Lyte, Sound

MC Lyte

Michael Buckner for Variety

Hip-hop means everything to me. It has been an integral part of my life since I was a kid and is woven into every significant fabric of my life. It put me on a pathway and journey that I couldn’t have imagined in the beginning. It has changed my life, my family’s lives and so many others over the past 50 years. Hip-hop is beyond music. It is style, fashion, dance and even taught as part of the curriculum in universities nationwide. Hip-hop has allowed me to use my voice to inspire, ignite and give back. It is also the embodiment of Black culture and the ultimate voice of the people. I’m so proud to be part of its legacy, which is constantly growing and evolving — as it should. Hip-hop is forever.

Mona Scott-Young
CEO, Monami Entertainment

Mona Scott-Young, Sound

Mona Scott-Young

Jaxon Photography

To me, hip-hop has always represented freedom. More than just freedom of expression, it’s freedom from the limitations of stereotype, freedom from socioeconomic boundaries and freedom to live and speak our truth. Hip-hop is community — a common expression of experiences that allows us to connect to one another and better understand each other, even when the experiences expressed are not our own. Hip-hop is a global platform that allows us to be heard, seen, recognized and acknowledged in spaces and places where we would not otherwise have a voice. Hip-hop is a testament to our resiliency and ingenuity and its legacy is one of hope, empowerment and freedom.

Mopreme Shakur
Rapper/producer; member of Thug Life with stepbrother Tupac Shakur

Mopreme Shakur, Sound

Mopreme Shakur

Talia Rodríguez-Shakur

For those who grew up in our generation, hip-hop was our hope, our dream, our creation, our baby. It is something that brings us pride and affirmation of the power of our voices to connect with the world. Our creation came from the ground up and it has fed our communities. Hip-hop is our culture, our love, and most of us don’t give a damn who likes it or not. We’re the rebels whose art became a force and went on to inspire the world. Hip-hop and its legacy mean power to me. Long live hip-hop!

Roxanne Shanté
Rap legend; host, SiriusXM

Roxanne Shanté, Sound

Roxanne Shanté

Prince Williams/WireImage

Back in the day, they always said that hip-hop was not going to last. So now, to be here 50 years in and to have the celebration we’re having right now worldwide, for me, it’s an honor and a blessing. When you think about how they always thought that hip-hop was only going to be the music for the urban area or how they thought it was always the news for the urban children going through situations and circumstances, it now seems to be the word for everyone, everywhere. Nothing can be sold without it, no story can be told without it. It’s a beautiful thing.

This story will appear in the Aug. 5, 2023, issue of Billboard.

04 Aug 2023

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Doja Cat, Halle, LE SSERAFIM & Demi Lovato and More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Doja Cat leaves you on red, Halle make a heavenly solo debut, and Demi Lovato links up with LE SSERAFIM for uptempo fun. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Doja Cat, “Paint the Town Red” 

One could reasonably expect for Doja Cat to snap back at faux supporters trying to constrict her to one sound or style; a bit more surprising is Doja Cat delivering a belated tribute to recently passed musician Burt Bacharach. Yet she does both on crackling new single “Paint the Town Red,” which utilizes the Dionne Warwick classic “Walk On By” as a foundation for the audacious multi-hyphenate superstar to declare, “Yeah, bitch, I said what I said.” While stans will pore over every line and innuendo, the entirety of “Paint the Town Red” sounds more dynamic than Dojo’s previous single, “Attention”: she’s naturally in the pocket during the rap verses, and the extended hook is a pop-rap triumph, brimming with self-assured skill.

Halle, “Angel” 

Unlike most debut singles, “Angel” arrives after its creator, Halle Bailey, has already made a significant impact on popular culture — first as one-half of the acclaimed R&B duo Chloe x Halle with her equally talented sister, and then as a rising star in Hollywood, leading the live-action The Little Mermaid and coming soon in The Color Purple remake. “Angel” could have been a quick check-in for hungry music fans, but Halle infuses the rhythmic, piano-led track with vulnerability and heart, sharing her insecurities while declaring that she will ultimately fly above the sentiments trying to weigh her down.

LE SSERAFIM feat. Demi Lovato, “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” 

Demi Lovato continues a particularly adventurous streak by hopping on a new remix to K-pop group LE SSERAFIM’s viral B-side “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife,” leaping into the boundaries of the megawatt song and proceeding to nudge them just a little bit farther outward. The track was already a thumping, quick-moving flirtation, and Lovato’s voice provides another powerful siren cry: “I see it written on your face, yeah / I know you want a little taste, yeah,” Lovato sings with a world of confidence.

Grupo Frontera, El Comienzo 

The story of Mexican music’s global breakthrough in 2023 cannot be told without Grupo Frontera, the Texas group who fully transitioned from releasing viral covers to scoring their own smashes this year. Debut album El Comienzo acknowledges the songs and co-stars that helped the collective conquer the charts — “No Se Va” and their Bad Bunny team-up “un x100to” are the first two songs on the track list, after all — yet Grupo Frontera have plenty of new tricks up their sleeves on the project, as they bring new collaborators into their universe and shine on their own with tracks like the emotionally heightened “Cansado De Sufrir” and the airy, charming “Me Gustas.”

Usher feat. 21 Savage & Summer Walker, “Good Good” 

Modern R&B is rife with euphoric love songs and devastated heartbreak songs; less common are the post-breakup anthems in which both sides are pleased with the split and can newly coexist as friends. “Good Good” finds Usher exploring that rare terrain while sounding especially spry: maybe it’s the fresh subject matter, or maybe the presence of 2020s A-listers 21 Savage and Summer Walker have pushed the veteran to step his game up, but regardless of the reason, Usher is downright reinvigorated on these vocal runs and sumptuous hooks.

Editor’s Pick: ††† (Crosses), “Invisible Hand” 

Nine years after Deftones leader Chino Moreno and producer/multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez released Crosses, the debut album of their project †††, we’re finally getting a proper follow-up — Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. will be released Oct. 13 and feature guest spots from Robert Smith and El-P. Their official return as a duo is cause for excitement in the hard rock world, and lead single “Invisible Hand” is only going to heighten expectations for the rest of the album: the track locks in on a blindingly bright electro-rock groove before jerking the listener in different directions, and Moreno’s voice, driving and emotive as ever, serves as a guide to each pivot.

04 Aug 2023

How Messi’s Miami Arrival Gave La Mosca’s ‘Muchachos’ New Life

Lionel Messi’s march toward MLS dominance continued with Inter Miami’s win over Orlando Wednesday (Aug. 2), with the Argentine star scoring two goals for a total of 812 over his career to date.

And every time Messi scores, fans hear the strains of “Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar” (which translates loosely to: “Boys, Now We’re Full of Excitement Again.”) The song, by ska/fusion Argentine big band La Mosca, was already a fan favorite in Argentina pre-World Cup. But it became a global hit during the World Cup last year after Messi said in an interview that it was his favorite World Cup song. Now, with the arrival of Messi to Inter Miami in July, it’s again capturing international attention.

Since last month, “Muchachos” has been the theme of a national Lay’s campaign titled “Goats for Messi”. In the hilarious spot, a goat farmer welcomes Messi to Inter Miami as the “Greatest of All Time,” or “G.O.A.T.” Then, the farmer’s goats (807 of them, representing the 807 goals Messi had scored up to that point), are shepherded to create an image of Messi’s face on the grass. The song is also being used in Inter’s own campaign as well as in Adidas’ new campaign for Messi-branded apparel. Further, an updated version of Messi 10, the Messi-inspired Cirque du Soleil spectacle, will feature a scene in which the soccer star lifts his World Cup trophy to the tune of “Muchachos.”

“What’s happened with ‘Muchachos’ was global. But post-World Cup, Messi signed with Inter and thank God people continue to pair the song with Messi,” says La Mosca’s longtime manager, Santiago Ruiz. “What I’ve done is make big deals with well-known brands to keep the song alive. Fortunately, ‘Muchachos’ still goes along with Messi, and luckily brands continue associating the song with him.”

Ruiz, who has managed the band via his own Nacho Producciones since the launch of its career over two decades ago, was the first to see a glimmer of possibility in the track.

Back in 2021, while watching the Argentine national team play Copa América on TV, he saw a group of fans singing to the tune of “Muchachos” but with different lyrics.

The original La Mosca song, a kind of ska/tango released in 2010, was titled “Muchachos, esta noche me emborracho” (“Boys, Tonight I’ll Get Drunk”), and it dealt with lost love. A hit in Argentina, it had been adopted by fans as a soccer anthem, but with new lyrics penned by a fan that alluded specifically to the Argentine soccer team and national pride: “In Argentina I was born/Land of Diego and Lionel/Of the boys from Malvines/ who I’ll never forget,” the opening line goes. “I can’t explain/Because you’ll never understand/The finals we lost/How many years I cried.”

Ruiz was struck by the lyrics, but also by fans’ reaction — as the song was sung organically in stadiums each time the team played.

“I thought, we need to find the person who wrote the lyrics, show it to the band and convince them to re-record the song,” he says. It was an unorthodox proposal, but La Mosca indeed re-recorded the new “Muchachos” as if it were a brand new song, with a new title, and adding the fan who wrote the new lyrics — Fernando Romero — as a co-writer alongside original writers and La Mosca members Guillermo Novelis (the band’s lead singer) and Sergio Cairat.

“Muchachos” was quickly adopted by team Argentina and became a local smash. But once Argentina began winning matches in the World Cup, its popularity really skyrocketed — all the way to the 2022 final in Qatar, where Messi held up the trophy as the song played.

“It was epic,” laughs Ruiz. “Truly the cherry on the cake.”

Argentina’s World Cup win gave “Muchachos” another hefty lift. The song soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart in December 2022. That same month, it also entered Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart at No. 132 — a first for La Mosca on the tally — as well as the Latin Digital Songs chart at No. 9.

Released as a World Cup single for La Mosca under their new recording deal with Sony Music, “Muchachos” was supposed to be fleeting. The group already had a new album featuring new versions of their greatest hits ready for release. But the success of “Muchachos” pushed back the release date of the album to this fall. A first album single is slated to drop Aug. 18, but in the meantime, “Muchachos” just keeps on playing.

In addition to many local deals in Argentina, Ruiz has recently closed international campaigns for the song, including Lay’s in the United States and Adidas globally — the latter of which will run for six months.

At a more local level, La Mosca recorded a new version of the song for the Messi presentation with Inter last month in Miami — specifically for that moment — and distributed pamphlets with the lyrics so fans could sing along.

Now, says Ruiz, the idea is to use the new exposure to promote an upcoming La Mosca tour.

“To come to the U.S. hand in hand with this icon [Messi] has lengthened and magnified the song and puts us again on the map,” he says. “I’ve managed La Mosca for over 25 years. I got them their first record deal. This song has made us No. 1 on the charts, it’s raised our prestige, it’s opened the doors to new festivals and places we hadn’t been to in years. We have nothing but gratitude because we’ve been able to take our Argentine flag around the world.”

04 Aug 2023

The Nine Best Moments From Taylor Swift’s First Night in Los Angeles on Her Eras Tour

At long last, Taylor Swift has arrived in Los Angeles for the final stop of her U.S. tour — or so fans thought. 

Earlier on Thursday, August 3 — hours before the superstar would take the stage at SoFi Stadium — she announced a second leg of North American dates for 2024. The new dates include stops in Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Toronto. “Turns out it’s NOT the end of an era,” Swift wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

And as she made perfectly clear on the first of her six-night run in L.A., slowing down is simply not in the cards. Neither is performing the same show night after night, as evidenced by the addition of two surprise songs to each set list, which Swift says is a fun way to challenge herself to dig deep into her extensive catalog — while also keeping fans on their toes, creating a sort of “gotta catch ’em all” energy.

But on Thursday, there was an even greater buzz radiating throughout the packed stadium as 70,000 fans poured in, many of whom were eagerly discussing rumors that Selena Gomez may make an appearance or that the next Taylor’s Version could be announced on this very night.

That’s the thing about the Eras Tour: it’s safe to expect the unexpected. 

As it turns out, neither rumor was true. And yet, Swift’s opening night was nothing short of magical and filled with firsts, like having never performed at SoFi before or selecting a surprise song that she has never played live. And thankfully, it was all captured by a cameraman following her every move on stage, filming for something, as Swift managed to kick her power and poise into an even higher gear.

The night also included stellar opening sets from Gracie Abrams, who will join Swift on her 2024 dates, and HAIM. Of the sister trio, Swift said: “Not only are these three individuals my besties, but they’re my favorite band,” also noting it was a hometown show for the rockers. 

“We have a lot to catch up on, musically speaking,” Swift said later on. “I haven’t toured in five years before the Eras Tour; This is the last city on the U.S. leg and we knew we wanted to end someplace special.”

And that is was. Below are the best moments from Swift’s opening night in L.A.

03 Aug 2023

LE SSERAFIM Teams Up With Demi Lovato for ‘Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife’ Remix: Stream It Now

It’s here! Just hours after announcing the collaboration, LE SSERAFIM unveiled the English version of its single “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” featuring Demi Lovato on Friday (Aug. 4).

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See latest videos, charts and news

“I see it written on your face, yeah/ I know you want a little taste, yeah/ You know I’ll put you in your place/ You’re crawling on the floor/ Begging me for more, ooh/ I’m sicker than the flu/ Come put me in the mood/ My body touching you, do you like that?/ Ooh, just watch the way I move,” Lovato belts on the sultry, rock-tinged track.

Lovato joins a string of “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” remixes, following Rina Sawayama’s version released on July 28, and UPSAHL’s on July 14. “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” is the second single from LE SSERAFIM’s first studio album, Unforgiven. The track peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart dated June 3, while the album it’s on peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

Lovato, meanwhile, is prepping to release an entire album featuring rocked-out versions of some of her biggest hits. REVAMPED is slated for release on Sept. 15 and it will feature the reimagined guitar-heavy versions of “Sorry,” as well as the previously released “Heart Attack (Rock Version)” and “Cool For the Summer (Rock Version).”

Listen to “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” featuring Demi Lovato below.