Music

03 Jul 2023

Big Pokey Laid to Rest in Houston at Funeral Attended by Paul Wall, Slim Thug & Trae Tha Truth

Family and friends gathered at the funeral over the weekend for Houston rapper Big Pokey, an original member of the pioneering group Screwed Up Click.

Pokey, who was born Milton Powell, died June 18 at the age of 48 after collapsing at a performance in Beaumont, located east of Houston. Those attending his service Saturday at Fountain of Praise church in Houston included Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and rappers Paul Wall, Trae Tha Truth and Slim Thug, the Houston Chronicle reported.

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Among the others in attendance according to the paper were Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Derrick “D Reck” Dixon, CEO of Wreckshop Records, as well as rappers Lil O, Yungstar, DJ XO, Killa Kyleon and Lil’ Keke.

Pokey was known for Texas and Gulf Coast hits such as “Ball N’ Parlay,” “Who Dat Talking Down,” and a verse on DJ Screw’s nearly 36-minute freestyle known as “June 27th.” He was also featured on Megan Thee Stallion’s 2022 “Southside Royalty Freestyle.”

Nationally, Pokey was most known for a featured appearance on Wall’s 2005 debut hit song, “Sittin’ Sidewayz.” The chorus was sampled from Pokey’s verse on “June 27th.”

Pokey, who grew up in Houston, began garnering local fame in the late 1990s as an original member of the Screwed Up Click, a friend group-turned-rap collective led by DJ Screw, who developed a slowed, pitched-down music style known as “chopped and screwed,” which become synonymous with Houston.

Pokey released his debut album, Hardest Pit in the Litter in 1999 and Da Game 2000 the following year.

03 Jul 2023

Elton John, Lewis Capaldi and Others Experience ‘Glastonbury Effect’ on U.K. Charts

The mud has dried on Glastonbury Festival 2023, but the good times continue to roll for a string of this year’s performers.

Elton John’s Diamonds (via Mercury/UMC) collection goes off like a rocket following the pop legend’s headline slot at the main Pyramid Stage, on the final night.

The career retrospective climbs 11-2 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published June 30, with an 188% uptick in week-on-week chart sales (sales and streams), according to the Official Charts Company.

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The Rocket Man also makes his mark on the Official U.K. Singles Chart as his “Cold Heart” (EMI/Warner Records) collaboration with Dua Lipa, remixed by Pnau, vaults 66-30 and his 1983 classic “I’m Still Standing” (Mercury) stands at No. 34. That’s the first top 40 appearance for the single since its year of release.

Elton’s Glastonbury slot was billed as potentially his last show on home soil.

There’s an impressive chart ride for Stephen Sanchez who, after joining Elton on stage, sees his ballad “Until I Found You” (Republic Records) reennter the singles chart at No. 14, for a new high. “Until I Found You” posts a 105% week-on-week gain in combined sales.

Lewis Capaldi’s emotionally-charged performance at Glasto has seen the Scottish artist’s sophomore set Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (EMI) fly 16-3 — thanks to a 68% week-on-week gain in combined sales, the OCC reports. Also, Lewis’s debut LP Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent rises 34-9 on the chart, with a 114% gain in combined sales, while his trans-Atlantic hit “Someone You Loved” climbs 98-49 on the singles survey.

Around 210,000 people partied at Glastonbury from Friday, June 23, until Sunday, June 25, with the BBC airing all the hottest performances and highlights.

The Arctic Monkeys swung into Glastonbury with a Friday night headline slot, and this week lands three albums in the U.K. top 40 –– the most for any performer at the popular summertime festival.

The Sheffield rock band’s 2013 set AM lifts 12-7, 2005 debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not gains 29-20 and 2006’s Favourite Worst Nightmare reenters the top 40 at No. 38 — all through Domino Recordings.

Also benefiting from the exposure of playing Britain’s best-know festival is Foo Fighters. The band’s surprise set at the Eavis’ Worthy Farm helps lift former leader But Here We Are (Columbia), up 31-14, while their career retrospective The Essential Foo Fighters (Sony Music CG) enjoys a 63-22 spike, with a 67% week-on-week gain in combined sales, according to the OCC.

Lana Del Rey’s abridged Glasto set has added steam to her sophomore album Born To Die (Polydor), up 43-29, while Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. renters at No. 75, and Norman F**king Rockwell returns to the tally at No. 90.

Finally, Saturday Glastonbury headliners Guns N’ Roses can boast the highest-climber on the Official U.K. Albums Chart with Greatest Hits. Thanks to a 95% gain in combined sales, the collection soars 96-31.

One of those mega-hits, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Geffen), which peaked at No. 6 back in 1989, appears at No. 40 on the singles tally. That’s “Sweet Child’s” first stint in the top 40 in 34 years.

03 Jul 2023

Dave and Central Cee Win Another U.K. Chart Race With ‘Sprinter’

Dave and Central Cee complete a full month at No. 1 in the U.K. with “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood), as the hip-hop hit retains its chart crown.

The leader at the halfway stage, “Sprinter” soaks up 8.6 million streams during the latest cycle, the Official Charts Company reports, for its fourth consecutive week at the summit.

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The rap track outruns J Hus and Drake’s “Who Told You” (holding at No. 2 via Black Butter/OVO/Republic) and Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s “Miracle” (unmoved at No. 3 via Columbia), respectively.

Also making moves inside the top 10, published June 30, are Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry’s “Dancing Is Healing” (Room Two) up 6-5; while Hannah Laing and RoRo’s ”Good Love” (Polydor) is up 9-7; and South Korean DJ and producer Peggy Gou enters the top tier for the first time with ”(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings), up 14-9.

The highest new entry belongs to Stormzy and Fredo with “Toxic Trait” (Def Jam), the British hip-hop artists’ first collaborative venture. It’s new at No. 11 on the Official U.K .Singles Chart, published Friday, June 30, for Stormzy’s 29th top 40 appearance, and Fredo’s 19th.

As Swifties enjoy the British summer, listening to their favorite artist, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summit” (EMI) continues its march up the chart. The Lover release from 2019 rises 28-12 on the U.K. tally, for a new chart peak. Further down the list is Swift’s Midnights number “Karma,” up 32-31, and “Anti-Hero,” up 45-42. Swift recently announced the U.K. leg of her The Eras Tour, which is set to visit these parts in June 2024.

Also new to the Official U.K. Singles Chart is Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s contribution of the Barbie soundtrack, the Aqua-sampling “Barbie World” (Atlantic). It’s new at No. 25 for Ice Spice’s second U.K. top 40 appearance and Minaj’s 43rd.

Finally, Afrobeats star Burna Boy bags his 10th U.K. top 40 single with “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” (Atlantic), which lifts 46-38.

03 Jul 2023

Maisie Peters Flies to U.K. No. 1 ‘The Good Witch‘

Maisie Peters casts a spell on her countrymen and women as The Good Witch (via Atlantic/Gingerbread Man) debuts at No. 1 on the U.K. chart.

At just 23, Peters becomes the youngest British female solo artist to lead survey in almost a decade, the Official Charts Company reports.

You’d have to go back to Ella Henderson and her debut LP, Chapter One, which hit the top back in 2014 when Henderson was just 18 years of age, to find a younger female Brit to hit the summit.

The leader at the midweek stage, The Good Witch goes one better than its predecessor, Peters’ debut album You Signed Up for This, which peaked at No. 2 in 2021.

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“It’s just the craziest and coolest thing! I’m so happy for myself, my fans and everyone I work with; my band, crew, manager and label,” Peters tells the OCC.

“All of the fans, we’ve been on this journey together for the longest time and this album really felt like an album for all of us. This No. 1 is for all of us, too, so thank you so much.”

Further down the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published June 30, Young Thug bags his third U.K. top 40 with Business is Business (300 Entertainment), new at No. 15. The Atlanta rapper, singer and songwriter previously cracked the list with 2019’s So Much Fun (peaking at No. 9) and 2021’s Punk (No. 22).

Also fresh on the chart is Kelly Clarkson’s Chemistry (Atlantic), new at No. 22. It’s the U.S. pop and country star’s eighth U.K. top 40 LP, and first in six years, the most recent with 2017’s Meaning of Life (peaking at No. 11).

Finally, Glastonbury Festival is in the books, and a string of performers at this year’s edition are flying up the chart. They include Elton John, Lewis Capaldi, Arctic Monkeys and Lana Del Rey, all of whom enjoy top 10 spikes.

02 Jul 2023

Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing at a Time’ Spends 15th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time logs a 15th nonconsecutive and total week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated July 8), as it earned 110,500 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending June 29 (up less than 1%), according to Luminate.

One Thing at a Time, released via Big Loud/Mercury/Republic Records, continues to have the most weeks at No. 1 among all albums since Adele’s 21 logged 24 nonconsecutive weeks atop the list in 2011-12.

The Republic label has topped the chart for the last 17 weeks in a row, since the March 18-dated tally, when One Thing at a Time debuted at No. 1. That album spent 12 consecutive weeks at No. 1, and then stepped aside on the June 10 and 17 charts when Taylor Swift’s Midnights (on Republic) returned to the top and Stray Kids’ 5-STAR (JYP/Imperial/Republic) debuted at No. 1, respectively. One Thing at a Time then returned to No. 1 for the last three weeks (June 24-July 8 charts). 

With Republic’s 17th straight week at No. 1, the label has the longest streak for any label atop the chart since 1992, when Mercury ruled for 17 consecutive frames with Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some Gave All.

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200 albums chart, Young Thug scores his eighth top 10-charting effort with Business Is Business debuting at No. 2, Peso Pluma captures his first top 10 and the highest charting album ever for a regional Mexican release as Génesis launches at No. 3, and Kelly Clarkson nabs her ninth top 10 with the No. 6 arrival of Chemistry.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new July 8, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on July 5, one day later than usual due to the Independence Day holiday in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 4. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of One Thing at a Time’s 110,500 equivalent album units earned in the week ending June 29, SEA units comprise 104,000 (up less than 1%, equaling 139.68 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 36 songs), album sales comprise 4,500 (down 6%) and TEA units comprise 2,000 (up 5%).

One Thing at a Time has earned in excess of 100,000 equivalent album units in all 17 of its chart weeks – the most weeks any album has exceeded 100,000 units since the Billboard 200 began ranking titles by units in December of 2014. It surpasses the 16 frames logged by Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti in 2022.

Young Thug clocks his eighth top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200 as Business Is Business bows at No. 2 with 89,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 80,000 (equaling 106.32 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks), album sales comprise 8,500 and TEA units comprise 500. The album’s release came while the rapper is incarcerated, awaiting trial on racketeering charges.

If Business Is Business goes no higher than No. 2, it will mark the 11th album that One Thing at a Time has blocked from the No. 1 position. The latter has stood at No. 1 while 11 albums have debuted at No. 2: TWICE’s Ready To Be (March 25 chart), Jimin’s FACE (April 8), Melanie Martinez’s Portals (April 15), NF’s Hope (April 22), Metallica’s 72 Seasons (April 29), Agust D’s D-Day (May 6), SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEEN 10th Mini Album: FML (May 13), Ed Sheeran’s – (Subtract) (May 20), Niall Horan’s The Show (June 24), ATEEZ’s The World EP.2: Outlaw (July 1) and Business Is Business (July 8).

It’s not unusual for an album to spend a lengthy amount of time at No. 1 and end up keeping a number of albums from the top slot. Last year, eight different albums peaked at No. 2 behind Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti. In 2016, Drake’s Views also kept eight albums at No. 2 during its 13-week run at No. 1. In 2014, the Frozen soundtrack prevented 10 different No. 2-peaking albums from hitting No. 1 during the set’s 13-week run at the top. The last No. 1 album before One Thing at a Time to hold back at least 11 different albums from the top was Adele’s 21, which blocked 15 titles from the top over the course of its 24 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2011-12.

Back on the new Billboard 200, Peso Pluma achieves the highest-charting regional Mexican album ever, as his debut album Génesis debuts at No. 3 with 73,000 equivalent album units earned. The set is only the third regional Mexican effort to reach the top 10 (following two titles from Eslabon Armado in only the past 14 months) and it bows with the biggest week, by units earned, for any regional Mexican title since the list began measuring by units in December of 2014. The previous highest-charting regional Mexican album, and biggest week by units for the genre, was tallied by Eslabon Armado’s Desvelado, which debuted and peaked at No. 6 on the May 13-dated list with 44,000 units.

Of Génesis’ 73,000 units, SEA units comprise 72,000 (equaling 101.18 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs – the largest streaming week ever for a regional Mexican album), album sales comprise just under 1,000 and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. (Génesis was released on an off-cycle Thursday, June 22, instead of the traditional Friday for most new albums. The tracking week ending June 29 is the set’s first full chart tracking week.)

Peso Pluma has been red-hot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in 2023, having charted 11 entries on the list, including the top five smash “Ella Baila Sola,” with Eslabon Armado (which is not included on the Génesis album).

Taylor Swift’s chart-topping Midnights is a non-mover at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 57,000 equivalent album units (down 6%), while Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse falls 3-5 in its second week with 55,000 (down 36%).

Kelly Clarkson claims her ninth top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 as her latest studio album Chemistry bows at No. 6. The set launches with 53,000 equivalent album units earned, of which album sales comprise 43,000 (making it the top-selling album of the week), SEA units account for 9,000 (equaling 11.25 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks) and TEA units comprise 1,000.

Chemistry is Clarkson’s first studio album of non-holiday material in over five years, since 2017’s Meaning of Life. Clarkson charted her first album on the Billboard 200 just over 20 years ago, when her debut release Thankful opened at No. 1 on the May 3, 2003-dated list.

A trio of former No. 1s is next on the Billboard 200, as Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album falls 6-7 (47,000 equivalent album units; up 3%), SZA’s SOS dips 5-8 (47,000; down 2%) and Swift’s Lover bumps 10-9 (43,000; up 9%). ATEEZ’s The World EP.2: Outlaw rounds out the top 10, falling 2-10 in its second week with 34,000 units (down 68%).

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

02 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Shares the Stage With Gracie Abrams, Aaron Dessner During ‘Best Two Nights’ in Cincinnati

Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, was an exciting one for Swifties. She debuted two Evermore songs live for the first time during her acoustic sets — one with an assist from collaborator Aaron Dessner — and she performed a Gracie Abrams song with Abrams.

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The superstar shared several photos from her Cincinnati shows on social media Sunday (July 2), along with a message that recapped some highlights — and reminded fans what they still have to look forward to later in the week.

“Cincinnati I couldn’t love you more,” Swift wrote. “Had the best two nights with you!!”

She continued, “Last night was so special getting to sing ‘I miss you, I’m sorry’ with @gracieabrams in the acoustic set and bringing out @aarondessner to play ‘Ivy’ in his hometown.”

Swift invited Abrams to the stage with her Saturday night (July 1), as the opening act’s set was cut due to a schedule change based on the weather forecast. The two shared vocals on Minor track “I Miss You, I’m Sorry,” with Swift on guitar and Abrams on piano, and Abrams posted her own reaction to this unforgettable moment: “@taylorswift I love you forever friend. Just thank you.”

Dessner brought Evermore‘s “Ivy” to life on the stage for the first time with Swift the same night. And on Friday (June 30), Swift sang the album’s title track, “Evermore,” for the first time live.

Dessner uploaded a video of “Ivy” on Instagram and wrote, “Cincinnati!! It’s hard to describe what it felt like to play ‘Ivy’ from evermore last night with @taylorswift in the town I grew up in, where I learned to play music in the first place. Grateful as always to Taylor and all of you for listening.”

Meanwhile, Swift wrapped up her note to fans on Sunday: “See you soon Kansas City, meanwhile I’ll be counting down the minutes til Speak Now (my version) comes out July 7th WHICH IS VERY SOON.”

Swift first announced that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) will be arriving on July 7 at one of her Eras shows at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium in May. 

She wrote about Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on social media on May 5: “It fills me with such pride and joy to announce that my version of Speak Now will be out July 7 (just in time for July 9th, iykyk. I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions and wild wistfulness. I love this album because it tells a tale of growing up, flailing, flying and crashing … and living to speak about it. With six extra songs I’ve sprung loose from the vault, I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with you on July 7th.”

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is the third re-recorded album she’s releasing, following Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021.

For more about Swift’s weekend in Cincinnati, check out Billboard‘s review of Saturday night’s concert, plus an ongoing record of the surprise songs she’s performed on tour here. Watch clips of this weekend’s special performances with Aaron Dessner and Gracie Abrams below.

02 Jul 2023

Fans Choose Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Vampire” tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (June 30) on Billboard, choosing Rodrigo’s new single as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Vampire” brought in more than 64% of the vote, beating out new music from Lil Uzi Vert, Shakira & Manuel Turizo, Charli XCX and more.

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Piano ballad “Vampire” is off of Rodrigo’s forthcoming sophomore album, GUTS, due out Sept. 8 on Geffen Records. The singer-songwriter, who penned the song in December, told Billboard, “I remember writing it and feeling like something special was there.”

“We always said that it was kind of our version of a rock opera,” she added.

“It’s kind of an angry song,” Rodrigo said, “and I think I have a lot of trouble expressing feelings like anger and regret, those are particularly tough ones for me to express. I go to songwriting to get those feelings out that aren’t super comfortable to express in everyday life.”

Trailing behind “Vampire” on the poll is Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape, with 31% of the vote, and Shakira and Manuel Turizo’s ” “Copa Vacía,” with 4% of the vote.

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

02 Jul 2023

7 Best Moments From Taylor Swift’s 2nd Night in Cincinnati on Eras Tour: 2 Special Guests, 3 Surprise Songs

Even on one of the busiest weekends of the summer, and with competition from two hometown playoff-contender sports clubs, Saturday night (July 1) belonged to Taylor Swift. The Queen City was transformed into the pop queen’s city — SwiftCinnati if you will — during the second night of Swift’s home stand at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

But for one evening, all thoughts of helmets and pads was shunted in favor of glittery minidresses and custom shirts, a sea of colorful homemade bracelets and a trail of orphaned sequins littering the ground all over downtown. Swift appeared to have a steep hill to climb considering that the first-place Cincinnati Reds had moved Friday night’s game up to avoid a direct clash with the pop icon; the Reds played an afternoon game on Saturday to avoid a second conflict, but Swifties (and traffic cops) also battled hordes of fans attending first-place FC Cincinnati’s soccer match just a few blocks away.

Friday night’s first gig managed to avoid the predicted thunderstorms, but nearly four months into the epic Eras tour, some things remain a bit unpredictable. Like, for example, the trap door on the floor that failed to open on the first night, forcing Swift to do a quick pivot and sprint down the lengthy stage thrust to a hidden exit at the back of the set for a scheduled outfit change.

The weather was iffy again on Saturday night, but Swift packed Paycor once more, with thousands of additional fans filling the city’s streets and downtown’s Fountain Square for a massive Tay-Gate celebration in the hours before the show. Alas, due to expected bad weather, the start time was moved up an hour, which meant the nixing of opener Gracie Abrams’ planned set. That bad news, however, turned into the very best news when it resulted in Swift inviting Abrams up during the surprise songs acoustic set, which, for the first time, included three previously unplayed tracks.

Here are the 7 best moments from night two of Taylor’s Eras Tour in Cincinnati. (The tour resumes next weekend in Kansas City with two nights — July 7-8 — at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.)

01 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift’s July 1 Cincinnati Concert Will Start One Hour Early Due to ‘Weather Situation’

Attention, Taylor Swift fans: Swift will be taking the stage one hour earlier than planned tonight (Saturday, July 1) at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium.

“Hey Cincinnati – Alas we’ve got another weather situation but this just means I get to see you sooner! I’ll be going on an hour early at 7pm – we’ll open doors at 4:30,” Swift wrote in an update to fans on social media around 4 p.m. ET, just a half hour before doors would open at the venue.

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“See you then!” she added in the tweet.

Swift and her tour crew seem to be taking precaution to get ahead of thunderstorms on the local forecast for tonight. Paycor Stadium is an open-air venue, and while Swift is happy to sing through a full-on rainstorm, events generally see delays if there is lightning in the area.

She usually takes the stage closer to 8 p.m. on The Eras Tour.

See Swift’s weather alert below.

01 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Fan Conceals Identity to Attend Concert After Calling Out Sick From Work

A Taylor Swift fan skipped work to see the pop star in Cincinnati this weekend, hoping no one would recognize her when she was supposed to be home “sick.” Inspired by “Anti-Hero,” the fan hid her identity by dressing up as one of the music video’s ghosts.

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With a bedsheet draped over her head and sunglasses to top off the sneaky look, the fan boldly got in front of the camera for an interview with Cincinnati news station Local 12/WKRC-TV ahead of Saturday night’s (July 1) show at Paycor Stadium.

“I almost named my daughter’s middle name Taylor,” said the fan in disguise while in line for merch. She drove in from Louisville and told the news reporter that she was there to snag the grey quarter-zip sweatshirt.

The stealth Swiftie — who also attended The Eras Tour in Nashville — said she was taking a young fan, age 11, to her first Swift show this time, and planned to trade plenty of friendship bracelets at the venue.

The “Anti-Hero” ghosts are a visual representation of the first verse of Swift’s Midnights single: “I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser,” she sings. “Midnights become my afternoons. When my depression works the graveyard shift, all of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room.” See their cameo in the music video here.

Swift’s Eras tour is in Cincinnati this weekend before heading to Kansas City the following weekend. She recently announced international tour dates, and then added even more shows to the route just a few days ago.

Check out the fan’s disguise in the interview clip below. Hopefully her boss doesn’t recognize her voice.