Music

05 Feb 2023

Coldplay Welcome Friendly Aliens for ‘The Astronaut,’ Deliver Choir-Backed Rendition of ‘Fix You’ on ‘SNL’: Watch

Coldplay returned to Saturday Night Live as musical guest on Feb. 4 to deliver some recent tunes and revisit a fan-favorite classic.

The British band, led by charismatic frontman Chris Martin, opened with their 2022 single “The Astronaut,” a collaboration with BTS member Jin. The song opened with a starry background and colorful shooting lights, and later revealed the musicians donning friendly looking alien masks while performing the upbeat track.

For their second performance, Coldplay opted for a medley of their heartfelt songs “Human Heart,” from their 2021 Music of the Spheres album, and their 2005 classic “Fix You,” from X&Y. The band was joined during the emotional performance by Jacob Collier and choral ensemble Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.

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This marked Coldplay’s seventh time performing as musical guest on the NBC sketch comedy show. The episode also featured first-time host and The Last of Us actor Pedro Pascal.

Coldplay is currently nearing completion of its 10th studio album, the follow-up to 2021’s Music of the Spheres, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

“We’re finishing an album called Moon Music,” Martin recently told Toronto’s City News, “which is the second Music of the Spheres volume, but that won’t come out for a little bit.” The singer added that Coldplay “might” start playing some of the songs live “at some point this year.”

After launching the Music of the Spheres tour in Costa Rica last March, Coldplay recently added a series of new North American dates for later this year, slated to launch at Seattle’s Lumen Field on Sept. 20 and wind down on Oct. 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Watch Coldplay’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast will also stream on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans on demand access to previous SNL episodes as well.

05 Feb 2023

Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Party Returns With Whitney Houston Tribute by Jennifer Hudson, Performances by Lizzo & Lil Wayne

For the first time in three years, Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala brought together some of the biggest names in the music industry for a night of special performances, timely tributes and moving speeches. As always, the star power at the Beverly Hilton soiree was mind-boggling, with everyone from Tom Hanks to Cardi B to Max Martin to Joni Mitchell in attendance on Saturday night (Feb. 4).

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“You come back each year, bonded by the love of music,” Davis declared to the capacity crowd while kicking off the ceremony. The party had not taken place since 2020 due to the pandemic; although the 2022 Grammys were held in Las Vegas last April, Davis had opted not to move the gala from its Beverly Hills home.

As such, the 2023 gathering was the first to take place since the 10th anniversary of Whitney Houston’s shocking death in 2012, just hours before that year’s pre-Grammy party. Houston received multiple tributes on Saturday night: Jennifer Hudson performed a show-stopping rendition of “Greatest Love of All,” while actor Kevin Costner kicked off the evening by introducing Davis and regaling the audience with stories of their professional and personal bond with Houston thanks to The Bodyguard.

“We were both struck by Whitney the first time we ever saw her. …. Whitney would be our common ground,” said Costner, who co-starred in The Bodyguard with Houston as Davis was helping guide her music career. The Yellowstone star’s tribute to both Davis and Houston turned emotional: “Neither one of us, in the end, could protect your beloved Whitney,” a choked-up Costner said. “You were a miracle in her life. Thank you for being her bodyguard, Clive.”

Later, Sheryl Crow took the stage to perform “Songbird” and “Say You Love Me” as a tribute to Christine McVie, the Fleetwood Mac legend who passed away last year. And as a toast to the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, Lil Baby and Lil Wayne were giving back-to-back sets that included the former MC waxing poetic on “California Breeze” and the latter bouncing around the stage with Swizz Beatz on “Uproar.”

Long-running Atlantic Records leaders Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman were honored as part of the Recording Academy’s Salute to Industry Icons, and before each of their acceptance speeches, Lauren Daigle, the contemporary Christian music star and recent Atlantic signee, performed the label classic “Son of a Preacher Man.” And Cardi, one of the biggest superstars on Atlantic’s roster, introduced Greenwald and Kallman by discussing how instrumental they had been to her success.

“I’m here tonight because I want thank them for believing in me,” Cardi told the audience. “Julie, as a woman who has a family and a career, you’re such an inspiration. When I was crying, you told me it would be okay, and that we were gonna get things done. You’re such a boss-ass bitch and such a wonderful mother. You’re the one who told me I could have it all, and for that, I truly thank you.”

As always, Davis’ gala served as a platform for both emerging talent and established stars, with performances from Lizzo and Elvis Costello and the Imposters (with special guest Juanes) taking place in between sets from Grammy best new artist nominees Latto and Måneskin. After Måneskin barreled through their smash cover of the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’,” Frankie Valli took the stage to play “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” resulting in the evening’s biggest audience sing-along. And Myles Frost, the star of MJ the Musical on Broadway, closed out the performances with spot-on renditions of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and “Rock With You.”

Also back for the pre-Grammy party were Davis’ shout-outs to the music superstars in attendance — Janelle Monae, Olivia Rodrigo, Luke Combs, Machine Gun Kelly, Demi Lovato and Chance The Rapper were among those to be mentioned from the stage and receive rounds of applause. Yet the biggest ovation of the night came for both Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House and perennial Davis party guest, as well as her husband Paul, who was the victim of a home invasion attack in October but received roars of support on Saturday night.

Check out the setlist for Clive Davis’ 2023 pre-Grammy party:

Måneskin – “I Wanna Be Tour Slave,” ” Beggin’”
Frankie Valli – “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
Lizzo – “Break Up Twice”
Sheryl Crow – Christine McVie tribute “Songbird,” “Say You Love Me”
Jennifer Hudson – “Greatest Love of All”
Elvis Costello and The Imposters with Juanes – “Pump it Up,” “Peace, Love & Understanding”
Lauren Daigle – “Son of a Preacher Man”
Latto – “Sunshine,” “Big Energy”
Lil Baby – “Forever,” “California Breeze”
Lil Wayne – “John,” “Lollipop,” “Steady Mobbin,” “Uproar,” “A Mill”
Myles Frost – “Billie Jean,” “Rock With You”

05 Feb 2023

Ann & Nancy Wilson, Nirvana and More Accept Recording Academy Special Merit Awards at Intimate Grammy Week Event

Sometimes, smaller is better. The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards returned to the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday (Feb. 4) after several years at the larger Dolby Theater in Hollywood (home of the Oscars) where the show was taped for airing as a PBS special that ran its course.

Maybe the Special Merit Awards ceremony was always meant to be a small, intimate affair, where the Academy dispenses its lifetime achievement awards, trustees awards, technical Grammy Awards and the music educator award. As in years past—before the pandemic shut the event down entirely the past few years—you get personal glimpses of artists that are revealing.

Nancy Wilson, who received a lifetime achievement award along with her absent sister Ann Wilson, recalled that when they formed Heart in 1974, they wanted to be The Beatles. “Not to be married to them, or to be the girlfriend of one of them, but to be The Beatles.”

Wilson added “What an honor to stand next to this force of nature (referring to Ann) and rock our butts off.” She thanked such industry boosters as Don Passman, Rob Light and John Sykes and thanked the audience “for helping us survive the sheer insanity of this rock and roll circus. We couldn’t care less about the gender politics of the time and we still don’t.”

Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs, accepted the award on Ann Wilson’s behalf. He recalled being a 12-year-old in Canada and hearing Heart’s first hit “Magic Man” on the radio and said he has been a fan ever since. He noted that Ann is still going strong – featured on a track on Disturbed’s new album and on Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album.

Several artists and executives were honored for challenging gender or racial norms. Jim Stewart of Stax Records received a trustees award in part for Stax’s progressive stance for the time and place (Memphis) of having an interracial band, Booker T. & the MG’s.

Stewart died on Dec. 5, 2022 at age 92. A niece said that he advocated equal rights for all. She said “We should all try for a little more tenderness,” borrowing from the title of a 1966 hit by Otis Redding, “Try a Little Tenderness,” released on Stax’s Volt label.

The Supremes received a lifetime achievement award, in part for the way they broke down barriers that had kept white and Black fans separated – literally, in segregated theaters, and also culturally.

Diana Ross, who was present when she received a solo lifetime achievement award from the Academy in 2012, wasn’t on hand to receive the trio’s honor, even though she is its only surviving member. Instead, the award was accepted by daughters of Mary Wilson, who died in 2021, and Florence Ballard, who died in 1976.

It was a touching moment when Wilson’s daughter Jurkessa and Ballard’s daughter Lisa Sabrina – both middle-aged women now – hugged.

Jurkessa Wilson said that “The Supremes changed perceptions of how the world viewed Black people.” She also thanked Ross, who she noted was her godmother.

“I really don’t have many memories of my mom,” Lisa Sabrina Ballard shared. “I was just three years old she passed. But she was very well loved all over the world.”

Krist Novoselic spoke for Nirvana, which received a lifetime achievement award. Dave Grohl, an 18-time Grammy winner, also went up to accept the award, but let his former colleague take the lead. Novoselic said that he reads fan mail from around the world and detects that there’s a new generation of fans discovering Nirvana’s music.

Novoselic quoted the line “Teenage angst has paid off,” adding, “Well, and so it has.”

Slick Rick was honored, even though he has yet to receive a Grammy nomination or a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod. The rapper’s lifetime achievement award was presented by veteran industry executive Lyor Cohen, currently YouTube’s global head of music. Cohen noted that Slick Rick was the first act he signed to Def Jam Records.

Slick Rick appeared wearing a purple coat. “Do you like the coat?” he asked the audience, and then announced where he bought it: “Macys. Women’s section.”

He said that growing up in England, he knew he wanted to be a singer, singing snatches of Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By” and The Supremes’ “Baby Love” before identifying other favorites – The Beatles, Jamaican dance hall and hip-hop.

Nile Rodgers has received so many awards, you might think his trustees award would be just another one to put on the shelf, but he was emotional throughout his acceptance speech, in which he named many of the artists he’s worked with. “I don’t want to cry so I’m going to try to be strong,” he said, concluding “We are part of the great and wondrous musical family.”

Bobby McFerrin received a lifetime achievement award and demonstrated his talent by doing a seemingly impromptu acapella voicebox bit. He came across a bit like a Robin Williams of music – someone so inspired and gifted that they seem to just ping from one thing to the next.

McFerrin noted that his father was the first African American to sign a contract with the Metropolitan Opera of New York – so Bobby grew up listening, in his words, to Beethoven, Brahms and Basie.

Blues legend Ma Rainey, who died in 1939, was finally honored, her award presumably given fresh impetus by the 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, in which Viola Davis received an Oscar nomination for playing Rainey.

Henry Diltz, who became just the second photographer (following the late Jim Marshall) to receive a trustees award, recalled that he almost stumbled into his career. “I was happy being a hippie folk singer,” he said. “I saw a little second-hand store that had a table full of little used cameras. I got one and put film in it and decided to take photos of all my friends. Well, they all became famous.” And as Diltz rattled off just their first names – including Graham, Stephen, Joni, Jimi, James and Jackson – you realize he truly was in the right place at the right time.

Diltz ended his acceptance remarks with two bits of sound advice: “Behave properly. Be happy.”

Dr. Andy Hildebrand, who created the groundbreaking Auto-Tune software program for pitch correction, admitted that he didn’t realize the effect it would have on recording studio economics. Where singers would once have to do take after take of a song to get it right, now they could sing it once and a producer could Auto-Tune it. “It’s been an amazing trip and I’m still writing software,” Hildebrand said.

As in years past, the selections can sometimes seem random. The best way to look at each year’s class is as a representative sample of greatness across a broad range of genres, rather than, necessarily, the seven most deserving artists of those yet to honored.

The Academy had said that the song for social change award would be presented at this event. It was not even mentioned. It will presumably be presented on the Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday.

Here’s a complete list of 2023 Special Merit Award recipients.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

The Supremes

Nirvana

Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson

Nile Rodgers

Slick Rick

Bobby McFerrin

Ma Rainey

Trustees Awards

Jim Stewart

Ellis Marsalis

Henry Diltz

Technical Grammy Award Honorees

AES

Dr. Andy Hildebrand

Music Educator Award

Pamela Dawson, director of choral activities, DeSoto High School, DeSoto, Tex.

04 Feb 2023

Rita Ora Hosts and Performs New Single at Pre-Grammy Awards Party

On Friday night (Feb. 3), Rita Ora hosted a pre-Grammy Awards party to celebrate the release of her new single “You Only Love Me,” as well as the anniversary of her decade-long music career.

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Adjacent to the Los Angeles’ iconic Chateau Marmont hotel, the “Celebrating 10 Years of Music” party took place at a private West Hollywood residence for an intimate gathering of Ora’s close friends and peers. Stars in attendance included Kate Beckinsale, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kristen Stewart, Chloé Zhao, Tia Mowry and Camila Mendes.

At 10 p.m. sharp, guests gathered inside the residence for a cozy performance from Ora, who sang three songs acoustically. She opened with “Let You Love Me” off her 2018 album, Phoenix, followed by her new single “You Only Love Me,” which released last week. Ora finished off the intimate performance with another song from Phoenix titled “Anywhere.”

“It feels good to sing it like that,” Ora told the crowd about the new single. “It’s a lot of work to continue a career after a decade. You’re thinking, ‘S—, I’m getting old.’ But it’s also a nice feeling because you kind of grow in people’s face, and you have lots and lots to talk about, so that’s the beauty of being able to do what we do.”

Just last week, Ora confirmed that she recently married Thor: Ragnarok and Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi, who was also in attendance at the party. 

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

04 Feb 2023

Tim McGraw Sings ‘Gorgeous’ Cover of Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’

Tim McGraw fans are swooning over the country star’s cover of a Shania Twain staple from the ’90s this weekend.

As Twain released her sixth studio album, Queen of Me, on Friday (Feb. 3), McGraw took to Instagram to share his acoustic version of the ballad “You’re Still the One,” Twain’s 1998 country-pop hit that was No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at No. 2 on all-genre Hot 100 that year.

“@bobminner and I had some fun covering this @shaniatwain classic a few weeks ago,” McGraw captioned the clip. “Always been a big fan… can’t wait to listen to the new album!!”

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McGraw’s smooth performance caught the attention of Twain, who commented, “Gorgeous!!”

“Gonna need y’all to record that one!” actress Octavia Spencer chimed in, adding several fire emojis to her comment.

Queen of Me, led by the singles “Waking Up Dreaming” and “Giddy Up!”, is Twain’s first album with Republic Nashville. She’ll be a presenter at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 5).

Watch McGraw’s “You’re Still the One” performance below.

04 Feb 2023

Morgan Wallen on His 2-Year-Old Son Joining Him in the Studio: ‘He Brought a Lot of Joy Into the Room’

Morgan Wallen’s new album, One Thing at a Time, is a family affair. 

His sister Ashlyne and his two-year-old son, Indie, both participated in the making of the 36-track set, which Wallen and producer Joey Moi previewed in Los Angeles on Feb. 3. The project comes out March 3 via Republic/Mercury Big Loud, while his last album, Dangerous: The Double Album, still sits in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart 107 weeks after its release. 

Ashlyne, who is 15 months younger than Wallen, sings harmony on “Outlook.” “We’ve always been super, super tight,” Wallen said. “We grew up in church singing hymns and stuff and learning how to harmonize with each other and sing three-part harmony.” The song, Wallen says, is one of the first he ever wrote and addresses faith, “so it seemed appropriate from everything that we grew up learning and everything that we lived through together.” He also wanted his youngest sister, Mikaela, on the record, but she had just given birth so the timing didn’t work out.

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Wallen’s son, Indie, who was born in July 2020, was a frequent studio visitor. “He started coming in there and banging on guitar strings and, you know, delete songs for Joey and stuff like that,” Wallen said with a laugh. “But honestly, he brought a lot of joy into the room. He brought a new energy that we hadn’t had in there before.” By the end of the recording, Indie was frequently in Moi’s lap at the console, turning knobs.

The pair spent four months in the studio and while the intention wasn’t to surpass Dangerous’s 30 tracks, “the songs just kind of naturally came in,” said Wallen, who co-wrote 14 of the songs. 

“It seemed like the more we cut, the more songs would show up,” said Moi. “So it just kept piling up,” he said, adding that at one point they cut the track list down from 42 songs. 

The playback included 11 tracks bookended by album opener “Born With a Beer In My Hand” and album closer “Dyin’ Man.” Wallen has already released three tracks, “Last Night,” “Everything I Love” and “I Wrote the Book.”

The album brings in Wallen’s musical influences spanning country, alternative and hip-hop. From the songs played, the three influences subtly intertwine with each other through rap beats and rock guitar work. Wallen also talked about his biggest inspirations in each of the genres, including country superstar Eric Church, who appears on the record,  alternative act The War on Drugs and rapper T.I.

Wallen’s studio involvement has become greater with each set. “The first record, in a budding career [from a] new artist is weird, you kind of get stripped of all your time to make the record, so we really panicked our way through that one,” Moi says. “He was on tour, and then we would cut the songs together in the studio, and then he’d go off on tour. I’d squirrel away and work on the music getting ready for him to come back. He’d sing like six songs in one day. It was that process. Second record, we were able to engineer the calendar a little better but he was still heavy in obligations [but] he was present for way more than the first record. This one I feel like we nailed the calendar, and he was there for every moment of it. It was amazing having him in the room the whole time with me.”

Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time track listing (songwriters listed in parentheses): 
1. “Born With a Beer In My Hand” (Morgan Wallen, Zach Abend, Michael Hardy)
2. “Last Night” (John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ryan Vojtesak)
3. “Everything I Love” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
    Contains interpolation from “Midnight Rider” written by Gregg Allman, Robert Kim Payne
4. “Man Made a Bar” (Feat. Eric Church)(Rocky Block, Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet, Brett Tyler)
5. “Devil Don’t Know” (Travis Denning, Jared Mullins, Ben Stennis)
6. “One Thing at a Time” (Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak, Morgan Wallen)
7. “’98 Braves” (John Byron, Josh Miller, Travis Wood)
8. “Ain’t That Some” (Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Josh Miller, Blake Pendergrass)
9. “I Wrote The Book” (Morgan Wallen, Michael Hardy, Cameron Montgomery)
10. “Tennessee Numbers” (Jordan Minton, Blake Pendergrass, Travis Wood)
11. “Hope That’s True” (Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
12. “Whiskey Friends” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Jonathan Hoskins, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, Ryan Vojtesak)
13. “Sunrise” (John Byron, Blake Pendergrass)
14. “Keith Whitley” (Thomas Archer, Brad Clawson, Jared Mullins)
15. “In the Bible” (Feat. HARDY) (John Byron, Jeff Garrison, Jon Hall, Ben Johnson, Geoffrey Warburton)
16. “You Proof” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
17. “Thought You Should Know” (Morgan Wallen, Nicolle Galyon, Miranda Lambert)
18. “F150-50” (Jared Mullins, John Pierce, Ben Stennis)
19. “Neon Star (Country Boy Lullaby)” (Morgan Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, Ryan Vojtesak)
20. “I Deserve A Drink” (John Byron, Devin Dawson, Jacob Durrett, Hillary Lindsey)
21. “Wine Into Water” (John Byron, Matt Jenkins, Blake Pendergrass)
22. “Me + All Your Reasons” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
23. “Tennessee Fan” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Mark Holman)
24. “Money on Me” (Michael Lotten, Blake Pendergrass, Matt Roy)
25. “Thinkin’ Bout Me” (John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Ryan Vojtesak)
26. “Single Than She Was” (John Byron, Ben Johnson, Ryan Vojtesak)
27. “Days That End in Why” (John Byron, Blake Pendergrass, Driver Williams)
28. “Last Drive Down Main” (Jerry Flowers, Ryan Hurd, Michael Lotten)
29. “Me to Me” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
30. “Don’t Think Jesus” (Jessi Alexander, Mark Holman, Chase McGill)
31. “180 (Lifestyle)” (Rocky Block, Ashley Gorley, Mark Holman, Blake Pendergrass, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
      Contains interpolation from “Lifestyle” written by Arsenio Archer, London Holmes, Dequantes Lamar, Bryan
      Williams, Jeffery Williams
32. “Had It” (Rocky Block, Alex Eskeerdo Izquierdo, Ryan Vojtesak)
33. “Cowgirls” (feat. ERNEST) (Rocky Block, Ashley Gorley, James Maddocks, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
34. “Good Girl Gone Missin’” (Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, James Maddocks, Ernest Keith Smith, Ryan Vojtesak)
35. “Outlook” (Morgan Wallen, Rodney Clawson, Jeff Hyde)
36. “Dying Man” (Ben Johnson, Blake Pendergrass, Josh Thompson)

04 Feb 2023

Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson Honored at 2023 MusiCares Gala

The Los Angeles Convention Center was transformed into Hitsville U.S.A. on Friday night (Feb. 3) when the 32nd annual MusiCares Persons of the Year benefit gala honored Motown Records icons Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. The two-and-a-half tribute elicited a raft of standing ovations thanks to dynamic performances from a lineup of Grammy winners and current/past nominees that included Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, John Legend, Dionne Warwick, Sheryl Crow, Chloe x Halle and Jimmie Allen, among others.

Musical director Greg Phillinganes and the house band formally kicked off the proceedings with rousing versions of the Contours’ “Do You Love Me” and “Going to a Go-Go” by Robinson’s group the Miracles. Then the evening was off and running as the Temptations took over the stage with their signature dance routines and a rousing medley of several classics: “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “I Can’t Get Next to You” and “My Girl.” Their performance drew the first of the evening’s multiple standing ovations — as well as boisterous singalongs — from a star-studded audience that included Elton John, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul, Tom Hanks, Gayle King, Nile Rodgers and Richie Sambora, among others.

Also lighting up the stage and audience memories were performances by former Motown acts the Four Tops (“Baby I Need Your Loving,” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Reach Out [I’ll Be There],” “I Can’t Help Myself [Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch]”), the Isley Brothers (“This Old Heart of Mine”), Richie and Wonder. Before segueing into fan fave “Easy,” Richie noted, “I don’t know which means more … To be part of the Motown family or having Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson as my very dear friends.”

Wonder soloed on an early Miracles song co-produced by Robinson and Gordy, “I’ll Try Something New.” Then he teamed with the band for a reggae-vibed take on a song he co-wrote with Robinson, “The Tears of a Clown.” Recalling his early years at Motown, Wonder said, “All of my appreciation, respect and love go to you, Berry Gordy — who thought I couldn’t sing. Let’s keep it real … he said, you can play but you really can’t sing.” As the audience laughed, Wonder added that he once told Robinson, “I can sing better than you.” Ending on a serious note, he told both Gordy and Robinson, “Thank you, I love you. Thank you, I love you.”

Upping the tribute’s magic quotient even further was the diverse group of artists chosen to put their own spins on the sound of Motown. Crow mesmerized the audience with her vocals on the Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back,” while Legend and a trio of female singers sweetly harmonized their way through another Jackson 5 gem “I’ll Be There.” Legend talked about being the son of Motown-loving parents. “When my dad wanted to flirt with my mother, he’d start singing.” At this point, Legend mimicked his dad singing ‘I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day” — the first line to “My Girl.”

Songwriter/producer Valerie Simpson partnered with Allen on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” one of the many hits that she and late husband Nickolas Ashford crafted at Motown. Mumford & Sons turned in another crowd-pleaser with their slowed down, bluesy interpretation of the Barrett Strong gem and Motown’s first hit “Money (That’s What I Want).” Warwick wowed with “My Guy.” Additional performances included Trombone Shorty (“Shotgun”), Michael McDonald (“Lonely Teardrops”), Rita Wilson and Sebastian Yatra (“It Takes Two”), Brandi Carlile and the Hanseroth Twins (a riveting “The Tracks of My Tears”), PJ Morton and Lalah Hathaway (“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”) and Chloe x Halle (“Baby Love”).

A trio of performances by three current best new artist nominees rounded out the performance slate: DOMi & JD Beck (“All I Do Is Think of You”), Molly Tuttle (“The One Who Really Loves You” and Samara Joy (“Ain’t That Peculiar”). Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up. Also co-signing the performances throughout the evening were Gordy and Robinson themselves as the camera caught them singing along, smiling broadly and raising their arms at various intervals.

The most emotional moment arrived when Robinson walked onstage to pay tribute to his longtime mentor and best friend Gordy. “In my life I’ve been blessed enough to get a few awards,” he began. “But this one is really the most special to me because I’m getting this award with my very best friend in the world. I’m standing here tonight because when I first met this man, it was the beginning of my dream come true. I wanted to be a singer, to be in show business, write songs and make music. I never thought it would be possible for me from where I grew up. But he took me under his wing … I love you man; you are so precious.”

After Robinson performed “Did You Know,” a ballad he wrote about Gordy and their friendship, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. presented the Persons of the Year award to the pair — the first duo to be so honored. The spry, 93-old Gordy — who could be seen dancing to “Get Ready” as all the performers returned for the finale, said simply, “I’m happy to be here with my best friend.”

As the charity arm of The Recording Academy, MusiCares’ annual benefit gala salutes musicians for their artistic achievements in music and dedication to philanthropy. Proceeds from the gala, which included a silent auction of various music memorabilia and other items, will provide essential support as MusiCares continues to provide music professionals with health and human services across a spectrum of needs.

04 Feb 2023

Adele Reveals the Only Reason She’s Going to the Super Bowl

Adele is heading to Super Bowl LVII, but only for one reason: Rihanna‘s highly anticipated return to the live stage.

During her Las Vegas residency show on Friday (Feb. 3), the British songstress revealed to the audience that she’ll be attending the big game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 12. But it’s not because she’s interested in watching the face-off between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’m going just for Rihanna,” Adele joked with an audience member at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was caught on video and shared on social media. I don’t give a flying f—.”

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Next Sunday’s newly rebranded Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show — produced by DPS with Roc Nation — will mark Rihanna’s first live performance in five years.

The 34-year-old pop star, who welcomed her first child with A$AP Rocky in May 2022, is still fresh off releasing her first pieces of new music in six years with “Lift Me Up,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 last November, and “Born Again” as part of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

Super Bowl Halftime Show musical director Adam Blackstone recently teased what’s in store for RiRi’s big return.

“The story that she wants to tell is, ‘Let’s be epic.’ Let’s let this be a moment in time that people will have never seen or heard before,” Blackstone, who previously worked with Rihanna on her Savage x Fenty fashion shows, told Good Morning America on Jan. 31. “We’re forcing the concert in the middle of the biggest sporting event in the world.”

As for potential onstage collaborations, Blackstone kept his lips sealed, but assured, “I think you’ll be in for a surprise.”

04 Feb 2023

John Lydon Fails in Bid to Play Eurovision Song Contest

Punk icon John Lydon has failed in his attempt to become Ireland’s entry for the pop music competition the Eurovision Song Contest.

The former Sex Pistols frontman entered the song “Hawaii” with his post-punk band Public Image Ltd. in the national runoff for May’s continent-wide contest.

Jurors and viewers of a televised final on Friday (Feb. 3) chose the song “We Are One” by the band Wild Youth to represent Ireland at the contest in May. “Hawaii” came fourth of six finalists.

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The ex-punk firebrand once known as Johnny Rotten was born in London to Irish parents. He said “Hawaii” was a tribute to his wife, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision sees more than 40 countries compete for the continent’s pop music crown.

The 2023 contest will be staged in the English city of Liverpool after Britain was asked to hold the event on behalf of Ukraine.

Ukraine won the right to host the pop extravaganza when its entry, folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won the 2022 contest. Britain’s Sam Ryder came second.

British organizers say the event will be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and creativity as well as Liverpool’s musical heritage.

04 Feb 2023

Bebe Rexha Talks ‘I’m Good (Blue),’ Beyoncé, Grammy Nomination & More

Bebe Rexha recently sat down with Billboard‘s Rania Aniftos to celebrate her third Grammy nomination. This year, the superstar is up for best dance/electronic recording for her David Guetta collaboration, “I’m Good (Blue).”

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“In the same category as Beyoncé, that’s incredible,” Rexha gushed, noting that Queen Bey is also nominated for her Renaissance hit, “Break My Soul.” “I was thinking the other day, I was like, ‘I wonder if she read through the nominees and she saw my name.’ Maybe Beyoncé knows my name.”

Rexha’s nomination is particularly special, as her Guetta collaboration was made back in 2017, but wasn’t released until 2022, when a clip of the track began blowing up on TikTok. “I was in London,” the singer shared of making the song nearly six years ago. “I think I saw that David was in London through Instagram or I was texting him. He was like, ‘I’m in the studio, come through.’ We went to the studio and he played me this remix track of [Eiffel 65’s ‘Blue’]. We didn’t think anything of it. We weren’t trying to be serious, like we had to write this insane song. We were just having a good time.”

She continued, “Finally, it started going viral on TikTok and I texted him and I was like, ‘We have to put this out.’ There was no thought process into it. Sometimes you don’t always need to overthink things. You just go with the flow.”

Rexha was previously nominated in 2019 for best new artist and country duo/group performance for her Florida Georgia Line collaboration, “Meant to Be.” On her ability to seamlessly genre blend, the star noted that she likes “to try different things” over the course of her 13-year career. “Imagine if you ate pizza — I mean, pizza is amazing. But if you had it every day for the rest of your life, you get really bored of it,” she explained. “If you had it every day for the rest of your life, you get bored of it. You want to try pasta or tacos. So, for me, I don’t want to be stuck in one category.”

Watch Billboard‘s full interview with Bebe Rexha above.