Music

Shouse Scores Billions Award For ‘Love Tonight’

Shouse shuffles to an APRA AMCOS Billions Award for their “coming out of lockdown” anthem “Love Tonight.”

The Melbourne dance music duo is saluted for notching one billion streams of their song, an overnight sensation that was, in reality, five years in the making.

“Love Tonight” is the creation of Jack Madin and Ed Service, one a primary school teacher, the other an arts community manager, who were spotted performing the moody number in 2016 by OneLove head of A&R Ant Celestino. He documented the performance on video; in the cold light of day, Celestino knew it was a total banger.

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Soon after, the track was recorded with a choir of local Melbourne friends and released in 2017 on the OneLove imprint Hell Beach.

The story took another turn when, in early 2017, OneLove struck a partnership deal for global digital distribution and label services with Ingrooves Music Group, an arrangement that cleared a path for “Love Tonight.”

“It was like an unhealthy obsession,” Celestino told this reporter on stage at 2022 Indie-Con. “We never stopped. I just thought the record was so good.”

The eight-minute original cut was spun off into a string of new remixes and edits, the track was serviced to radio, DJs and tastemakers in 2021, an underground swell bubbled away in European clubs, and when the doors finally burst open after the pandemic — a global hit.

The single went top 10 in over 20 countries including Germany, France, Greece, Netherlands, and Belgium. “Love Tonight” reached No. 18 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.

According to APRA AMCOS, “Love Tonight” is certified diamond in France, triple platinum in Australia, double platinum in Belgium and Portugal, Platinum in Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Greece, and gold in Denmark, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.

“Hearing the voices of our makeshift Melbourne choir resonate across crowds around the world will never get old,” comments Madin and Service on receiving their circular trophy. “We’re thrilled and stunned that our little moment of collective joy here in our home has made an impact on so many. They always sing along. We hope that this song inspires people to sing and create music with friends, family and their community. Music is magic!”

The 1,000,000,000 List takes into account streaming numbers from major services Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and is given to APRA AMCOS songwriter members and their publishers in recognition of a song surpassing one billion streams.

It’s said to be the first award of its kind to recognize a songwriter’s achievement. Other recipients include Tones And I (for “Dance Monkey”), 5 Seconds of Summer (“Youngblood”), Vance Joy (“Riptide”), Gotye (“Somebody That I Used to Know”), VASSY (“Bad”), Harry Michael and Tyron Hapi for Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Ocean.”

Read more on the “Love Tonight” story here.

Lewis Capaldi Blasts to No. 1 In U.K. With ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent’

Lewis Capaldi steamrolls his way to No. 1 with Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent (EMI), his sophomore album.

The Scottish singer and songwriter had set a fearsome pace. At the midway mark in the chart cycle, Capaldi’s LP was outselling the rest of the top 20 combined. When the chart was published May 26, Broken By Desire chalked up more than 95,000 chart sales, the best opening week for any title in 2023.

According to the Official Charts Company, it’s the most streamed, downloaded and physically purchased LP of the latest cycle, and passes the 76,000 first week chart units notched by Ed Sheeran’s Subtract (Asylum).

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That outguns the opening effort of Lewis’s 2019 debut Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, which accumulated 89,000 chart units in its first seven days.

The last album to bag a bigger opening week was Taylor Swift’s Midnights in October 2022, with 204,000 chart units, and the loftiest start for a male solo artist since Harry Styles’ Harry’s House reached the top in May 2022 with 114,000 chart units.

With his big feat, Capaldi halts Sheeran’s run at the top with Subtract at two weeks; it dips 1-2.

British metal band Sleep Token enjoys a career best (and first top 10 appearance) with Take Me Back to Eden (Spinefarm), which bows at No. 3, while Def Leppard’s Drastic Symphonies (Mercury) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra is close behind, for a No. 4 start.

Finally, Swedish rockers Ghost grab a third U.K. top 10 with Pantomime (Loma Vista). The followup to 2022’s Impera, which peaked at No. 2, Pantomime is new at No. 8.

Grupo Firme, Becky G, Myke Towers & More: Sueños 2023’s Best Moments From Day 2 

Sueños 2023 is a wrap.

The second day of the music festival delivered its own set of show-stopping performances in a stacked lineup that included Grupo Firme, Becky G, Nicky Jam, Myke Towers and Eladio Carrión, to name a few.

Sunday (May 28) was more varied in terms of genres. While the first day was exclusively all urbano artists, the final day featured regional Mexican acts such as Junior H and Grupo Firme.

Firme was in charge of closing day two and Sueños’ second edition, and, in their signature style, they partied hard in Chicago following their sold-out show in Los Angeles at the SoFi Stadium where more than 65,000 people gathered to see the Mexican band perform their 360-style show.

Additionally, Becky G and Eladio Carrion made their Sueños debut just months after performing for the first time at Coachella. And they both brought the desert energy to the Windy City. Wearing a green, red and white Gucci set and a matching Chicago Bulls hat, Carrión sang from “Coco Chanel” to “Mbappe.” Meanwhile, Becky G serenaded a sea of fans with her hits including “Shower” and “MAMIII.”

The second day followed a strong start to Sueños 2023 on Saturday (May 27) with performances by Wisin & Yandel, Feid, El Alfa and Ivy Queen. Best moments in day one included an all-green takeover for Feid, with fans wearing green from head to toe in support of the Colombian hitmaker. He also joined Wisin & Yandel for an epic performance of “Yandel 150.”

From Grupo Firme’s party on stage to Myke Towers’ inspirational message, check out Sunday’s best moments below:

Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent’ Blasts to No. 1 In Australia

Lewis Capaldi wouldn’t be denied his first No. 1 in Australia, as Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent blasts to the summit.

The Scottish singer and songwriter’s sophomore album eclipses the No. 7 best for his debut Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent from 2019. Platinum-certified Divinely Uninspired bounces 34-30 this week in its 210th cycle on the survey.

Coming in at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart, published May 26, is John Farnham’s Finding The Voice (Wheatley Records / Sony Music Australia), the soundtrack to the documentary of the same name.

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Finding The Voice becomes the legendary Australian singer’s 20th top 10 album in Australia.

The documentary, like its companion album, is a hit. In the weeks following its release May 18 through Sony Pictures, Finding the Voice was confirmed as the best-selling theatrical release of an Australian music documentary.

Farnham is accustomed to life at or near the top of the charts. His blockbuster 1986 album Whispering Jack spending 25 weeks at No. 1, and is the highest selling album by an Australian act, shifting more than 1.6 million copies. Today, it’s certified 24-times platinum.

He also led the albums tally with Age Of Reason (1988), Chain Reaction (1990), Then Again… (1993), Highlights From The Main Event with Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow (1998), 33 1/3 (2000), The Last Time (2002), Highlights from Two Strong Hearts: Live (2015) and Friends For Christmas, both with Olivia Newton-John (2016).

Farnham has been in the headlines due to poor health. The ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted singer underwent major surgery last year to remove a cancerous growth on his throat, and subsequently endured a stint in hospital as he battled a chest infection.

Completing an all-new top three is Sleep Token’s third album, Take Me Back To Eden (Spinefarm/Inertia). It’s new at No. 3 for the British rock band’s first appearance on the ARIA Chart, while Ed Sheeran‘s latest, Subtract (Atlantic/Warner), dips 1-4.

Also cracking the top 10 on debut is South Coast, Australian indie band The Vanns with their second album Last Of Your Kind (Upper River Records/AWAL), new at No. 8, for their first impression on the tally.

Adelaide alternative rock band Bad//Dreems starts at No. 10 with Hoo Ha! (BMG/ADA).

Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Morgan Wallen logs a seventh week at No. 1 with “Last Night” (Republic/Universal).

Finally, Lana Del Rey secures the top debut with her recently unearthed recording from 2012, “Say Yes To Heaven” (Interscope/Universal), new at No. 20, while Australia’s pop princess Kylie Minogue scores her 49th top 50 single with “Padam Padam” (Liberation), new at No. 39.

Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing’ Has Most Weeks at No. 1 for a Country Album in Over 30 Years

Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time spends a 12th week in a row, and in total, atop the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated June 3) – the most weeks at No. 1 for a country album in over 30 years. As the album surpasses the 11-week reign of Taylor Swift’s Fearless in 2008-09, Wallen’s set has the most weeks at No. 1 for a country album since Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some Gave All, which notched 17 weeks, all consecutively, atop the list (June 13-Oct. 3, 1992-dated charts). (Country albums are those that have charted on, or are eligible for, Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.)

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One Thing at a Time earned 129,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending May 25 (down 4%), according to Luminate.

One Thing at a Time continues to have the most weeks in a row at No. 1 since the Titanic soundtrack ruled at No. 1 for 16 consecutive weeks in 1998 (its entire run at No. 1, Jan. 24-May 9 of that year). The last album to spend at least 12 weeks in total at No. 1 was Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti, which notched 13 nonconsecutive weeks atop the list in May-October 2022.

One Thing at a Time debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated March 18 and has yet to yield the top slot. As it has now spent its first 12 weeks at No. 1, One Thing at a Time is just the second album to rule for its first 12 weeks on the chart, after Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life logged its first 13 weeks at No. 1 (of a total of 14 weeks in the top slot) in late 1976 and early 1977. (For context, today, it’s common for albums to debut at No. 1. However, before 1991, when the Billboard 200 began utilizing Luminate’s electronically monitored tracking information, only six albums debuted at No. 1, including Songs In the Key of Life.)

Wallen has now spent a total of 22 weeks at No. 1 across his two chart-topping albums (One Thing at a Time, with 12 weeks, and his last album, Dangerous: The Double Album, with 10). Among acts with the most weeks at No. 1 this decade (2020-onwards), Wallen pulls further ahead of the act with the second-most weeks at No. 1 in that span of time – Taylor Swift, with 20.

Notably, Swift’s most recent No. 1, Midnights (which spent five weeks atop the list in late 2022), was reissued in multiple formats on May 26 (on vinyl, CD, digital download and via streaming services), with some iterations containing additional bonus tracks. The sales and streaming impact of those new variations will be reflected on next week’s Billboard 200 chart, dated June 10.

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200 albums chart, Dave Matthews Band earns its 14th top 10-charting effort with the debut of Walk Around the Moon at No. 5. Plus, Ghost logs it fourth top 10, and second in a little over a year, as its new five-song covers set Phantomime bows at No. 7.

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 June 3, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 31 (a day later than usual due to the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. on May 29). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of One Thing at a Time’s 129,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending May 25, SEA units comprise 121,000 (down 3%, equaling 162.52 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 36 songs), album sales comprise 6,000 (down 30%) and TEA units comprise 2,000 (up less than 1%).

SZA’s chart-topping SOS jumps 5-2 with 77,000 equivalent album units earned (up 52%) following the album’s release on CD and vinyl on May 19. The set sold 29,000 copies across all formats (physical and digital) – up 22,963% from a negligible sum the previous week. SOS was released on Dec. 9, 2022, via streaming services and to purchase as a digital download album.

Swift’s Midnights falls 2-3 with 58,000 equivalent album units (down 4%), while Wallen’s Dangerous climbs 6-4 with 47,000 units (down 2%).

Dave Matthews Band achieves its 14th top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200 as its new studio effort Walk Around the Moon debuts at No. 5. It’s the act’s first new studio set since 2018. The new album earned 44,000 equivalent album units in its first week. Of that sum, album sales comprise 40,000 (making it the top-selling album of the week), SEA units comprise 4,000 (equaling 5.45 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The album’s first-week sales were supported by multiple vinyl editions, including exclusive color variants for the band’s fan club and webstore, Barnes & Noble, independent record stores and Target.

Dave Matthews Band notched its first top 10 with Crash (No. 2 in 1996) and has earned at least one new top 10 album in every decade since (three total in the 1990s, eight in the 2000s, two in the ‘10s and one so far in the ‘20s). In addition, Matthews himself has three solo top 10s.

Dave Matthews Band is the 11th group to have tallied a new top 10 in each of those four decades, joining AC/DC, Def Leppard, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Marilyn Manson, Megadeth, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2.

Swift’s former No. 1 Lover jumps 10-6 with 38,000 equivalent album units earned (up 1%). That’s the highest rank for the 2019 set since that December, sparked by Swift performing songs from it live for the first time on her ongoing juggernaut The Eras Tour.

Ghost’s five-song covers project Phantomime debuts at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 with 36,000 equivalent album units earned. It’s the fourth top 10 for the band, and second in a little over a year, following Impera, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 (March 26, 2022-dated chart).

Of Phantomime’s 36,000 units earned, album sales comprise 34,000, SEA units comprise 2,000 (equaling 2.67 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across a variety of physical formats, including multiple vinyl LPs (including exclusives color variants for independent record stores, Target and Urban Outfitters) and even a cassette tape.

Phantomime boasts covers of Genesis (“Jesus He Knows Me”), Iron Maiden (“Phantom of the Opera”) and the late Tina Turner (“We Don’t Need Another Hero [Thunderdome]”).

Luke Combs’ Gettin’ Old rises 12-8 on the Billboard 200 with 34,000 equivalent album units earned (down 3%), Bad Bunny’s former No. 1, Un Verano Sin Ti, ascends 11-9 with nearly 34,000 (down 4%) and Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak bumps 15-10 with 32,000 (up 5%).

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.

Lana Del Rey Delivers Live Debut of ‘Ocean Blvd’ Songs at First Concert in Three-Plus Years

Lana Del Rey returned to the live stage for the first time in more than three years at the MITA Festival 2023 in Rio De Janeiro.

During her headlining set on Saturday (May 27), the alternative-pop princess delivered the live debut of numerous songs from her latest album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, including set opener “A&W,” “Candy Necklace,” “The Grants” and the title track. Check out some of her performances from the fest here.

Ocean Blvd, Del Rey’s ninth album, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March 2023. The 16-song set includes guest appearances by Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Father John Misty, Judah Smith, Tommy Genesis, and SYML.

The Brazilian music fest also found the songstress giving first-time performances of “Arcadia” (from 2021’s Blue Banisters) and “Flipside” (from 2014’s Ultraviolence), according to Rolling Stone.

The MITA Festival reportedly marked Del Rey’s first full concert since November 2019. Since then, she’s appeared on such TV programs as The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and made an onstage appearance with Bleachers at High Water Festival in 2023.

Del Rey received the Visionary Award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music. Speaking at the annual ceremony earlier in early March, the singer admitted to being happy with how it’s all going.

“I don’t exactly have a long-term vision at all, but if you were curious, I am very, very happy,” Del Rey said during her speech. “When I released my first album 14 years ago, the waters were not quite as warm. I’m really happy for everyone who feels like it’s a wonderful time in the culture to be themselves and express themselves. It didn’t feel that way in 2008.”

Feid, Wisin & Yandel, Ivy Queen & More: Sueños 2023’s Best Moments From Day 1

The 2023 edition of Sueños got off to a strong start with performances by Feid, Wisin & Yandel, El Alfa, Ivy Queen, Gera MX, paopao and many more. 

Unofficially launching the summer, day one of the music festival in Chicago had it all: old-school perreo with Chencho, girl-power with the ever-so fierce Ivy Queen and even a passionate speech from Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson.

“As long as I’m mayor of Chicago, Sueños will always exist,” the newly-elected leader said in front of a euphoric crowd.

The exclusively all-Latin Sueños is taking place in the city’s Grant Park on Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-28). From the founders of Mexico’s Baja Beach Fest, Sueños made its debut in 2022 with headlining acts J Balvin, Ozuna, and Farruko. Returning acts include Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers, Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa, as well as reggaeton pioneers Wisin & Yandel.

“We’re thrilled to be coming back to Chicago for our second annual Sueños festival,” Aaron Ampudia and Chris Den Uijl, co-founders of Sueños, previously told Billboard Español. “Last year was such a moment, you could feel the energy and excitement from fans no matter where you were at in the festival. It just felt like we were meant to be there, celebrating Latin music and culture with Chicago’s thriving Latino community — and this year we’re bringing even more.” 

For a second year in a row, Wisin & Yandel — or best known as “El Dúo de la Historia” — helped close out the fest. The Puerto Rican hitmakers took fans down memory lane performing all the reggaeton hits such as “Abusadora,” “El Teléfono” and “Pam Pam,” to name a few.

Check out Saturday’s best moments below.
 

Taylor Swift’s Best Moments at MetLife Stadium on Night 2 of Her Blockbuster Eras Tour

Taylor Swift brought her Eras Tour – which, so far, has seen arguably the biggest pop star on the planet playing to sold-out crowds on a trek that’s on track to net at least $590 million in ticket sales – to East Rutherford, New Jersey for a second night on Saturday (May 27).

Aside from the hoops everyone at MetLife Stadium went through to be present (Swift’s tour ticket sales proved too much for Ticketmaster to handle, a situation that escalated to the U.S. Congress), people showed up with fairly high expectations for the evening. After all, the previous night’s Eras Tour stop in Jersey saw a surprise appearance from Ice Spice on their newly released “Karma” remix; Jack Antonoff joined his frequent collaborator for “Getaway Car” on one of two surprise songs; and Swift debuted three flashy new outfits.

So on Saturday, the crowd was prepared for a show. And after a three-and-a-half-hour tour through the catalog of one of the 21st century’s biggest artists – one whose discography has shown a lyrical breadth and growth that few of her peers can lay claim to – attendees were more than satisfied, if not ecstatic, after night two of the MetLife dates.

It didn’t hurt that Ice Spice made her second consecutive appearance on the tour for the show-ending “Karma,” a sly pop bop that afforded the Bronx-based rapper the opportunity to flex in front of a 74,000-strong crowd of New York and New Jersey folks following the breakout success of “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and the Nicki Minaj collab “Princess Diana.”

Here are the seven best moments of Taylor Swift’s second night at MetLife Stadium.

Billie Eilish Calls Out ‘Women Hating Weirdos’ From Her Comments Section

Billie Eilish isn’t taking any foolishness over the internet this weekend.

Eilish responded to a number of comments that followers have recently left on her photos on Saturday (May 27). Addressing those saying she’s “changed” and calling her “a sellout,” she defended her choice to present herself however she wants to.

“letter to some comments i be seeing sometimes…,” she wrote in an Instagram Story.

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“i spent the first 5 years of my career getting absolutely OBLITERATED by you fools for being boy ish and dressing how i did & constantly being told i’d be hotter if i acted like a woman,” Eilish reminded folks.

She continued, “and now when i feel comfortable enough to wear anything remotely feminine or fitting, i CHANGED and am a sellout.. and ‘what happened to her’ oMg iT’s nOt thE sAmE biLlie she’s just like the rest bla blah… you guys are true idiots. LOL. i can be BOTH you f—ing bozos. LET WOMEN EXIST!”

“FUN FACT! did you know that women are multifaceted!!!!!??? shocking right?? believe it or not women can be interested in multiple things,” wrote Eilish. “also that femininity does not equal weakness???!!!! omg?! insane right? who knew??”

“suck my absolute c— and balls you women hating a– weirdos,” the pop star concluded.

Earlier this month, news was confirmed of her breakup with Jesse Rutherford, after seven months of dating. She also recently officially released a short cover of Drake‘s “Hotline Bling.”

See her weekend message to followers via her Instagram Stories here.

Taylor Swift Fans Are in Shambles Over ‘You’re Losing Me’

Taylor Swift‘s “You’re Losing Me” has fans in tears.

Swift’s new song is a vault track from Midnights that’s included on Midnights (The Late Night Edition), a special edition of the album first released exclusively to fans at her MetLife Stadium concert in New Jersey on Friday, May 26. Later Friday night, her official webstore dropped a digital download of The Late Night Edition priced at $5.99, but stated it’d be up for purchase for only 24 hours.

It’s a lot to keep track of, but “You’re Losing Me” can only be found on this Late Night Edition of Midnights; Swift also released brand-new takes of “Snow on the Beach” feat. More Lana Del Rey and “Karma” feat. Ice Spice as extra tracks on both The Late Night Edition and the Til Dawn Edition of the album this week.

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Back to “You’re Losing Me”: The emotionally-charged ballad set to a beating heart illustrates the painful, slow ending of a longterm relationship. Swift’s split with boyfriend Joe Alwyn after six years together made headlines in early April.

“You say, ‘I don’t understand’ and I say, ‘I know you don’t’/ We thought a cure would come through in time, now, I fear it won’t/ Remember lookin’ at this room, we loved it ’cause of the light/ Now, I just sit in the dark and wonder if it’s time,” she sings in the first verse of “You’re Losing Me.”

The second verse goes on to describe a couple who were not on the same page: “Every mornin’, I glared at you with storms in my eyes/ How can you say that you love someone you can’t tell is dyin’?/ I sent you signals and bit my nails down to the quick/ My face was gray, but you wouldn’t admit that we were sick.”

But it’s the bridge of the song that really broke fans’ hearts: “And I wouldn’t marry me either,” Swift sings, “A pathological people pleaser/ Who only wanted you to see her/ And I’m fading, thinkin’/ Do something, babe, say something/ Lose something, babe, risk something/ Choose something, babe, I got nothing/ To believe, unless you’re choosing me.”

Many fans pointed out the song’s parallels to Lover‘s foreboding “Cornelia Street,” where Swift had worried, “I hope I never lose you/ I hope it never ends,” and the themes seen in many other songs in the musical mastermind’s discography over recent years — including “Champagne Problems,” “Exile,” “Tolerate It” and “The Great War.” Alwyn actually co-wrote some of those sad songs (“Champagne Problems, ” “Exile”) with Swift under the pen name William Bowery.

Swift’s Midnights (The Late Night Edition) album is available to purchase via physical CD at MetLife Stadium this weekend, and it’s also available as a digital download here on Swift’s webstore — but be quick, at it’s currently only up for a very limited time (until 7:59 p.m. ET tonight, Saturday, May 27).

See some of the reactions fans had to “You’re Losing Me” below.