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31 Oct 2022

Rihanna Challenges Taylor Swift For U.K. Singles Chart Crown

Rihanna ended her years-long music drought last week with the release of “Lift Me Up.” When the next U.K. chart is published, the pop superstar could be rewarded with a crown.

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The Barbadian singer is flying with “Lift Me Up,” which will appear in the upcoming Marvel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Based on sales and streaming data from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle, “Life Me Up” is the No. 2-ranked song. The leader in the early stages is Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” which bowed at No. 1 last Friday (Oct. 28) for TayTay’s second U.K. chart leader.

According to the Official Charts Company, the race to No. 1 is “incredibly close,” with former leader “Unholy,” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras, at No. 3 on the First Look survey.

Heading into the second half of the week, less than 300 chart sales separate the top three.

If “Lift Me Up” does indeed lift to the top it would be Rihanna’s 10^th U.K. No. 1, and first since 2017’s “Wild Thoughts,” with DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller. It will, almost certainly, give RiRi her 31st U.K. top 10 appearance.

Elsewhere on the chart blast, several tracks eye new peaks inside the U.K. top 10 — Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz’s “Miss You,” and Stormzy’s “Hide & Seek” (No. 6), while Venbee & Goddard are chasing a first appearance in the top flight with “Messy In Heaven” (No. 10).

SZA’s own comeback track, “Shirt,” could wear a top 20 debut. It’s on target for a No. 15 start.

Finally, Meghan Trainor “Made You Look” is the biggest gainer on the chart blast, the OCC reports, up 28-18.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published this Friday.

31 Oct 2022

Taylor Swift Snags Career-Best U.K. Haul as ‘Midnights’ Powers to No. 1

It’s a Taylor Swift takeover on the U.K. charts, as Midnights (via EMI) clocks up exceptional first-week numbers for her 10th No. 1.

Midnights and Arctic Monkeys The Car (Domino Recordings) fought an epic battle which, at the midnight point, saw both LPs surge past 100,000 chart sales.

There could be only one winner. Midnights made it a win for the ages and a personal best for TayTay.

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According to data published by the Official Charts Company, Midnights notches 204,000 U.K. chart sales, a volume that’s more than double her previous personal best of 90,300, for 2014’s 1989.

The first week tally for Midnights easily beats the previous best for 2022, Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, which accumulated 113,000 chart sales, and it’s the best first-week result for any title since Adele’s 30 raked-up 261,000 chart sales in November 2021.

Midnights was a streaming juggernaut too, racking up 72.5 million streams in its first seven days. That too is a year-best, overhauling the 53.9 million U.K. week-one streams for Harry’s House.

Swift now moves up the all-time leaderboard. With nine consecutive U.K. No. 1 albums, she overtakes Madonna to set a new chart record, by doing so in faster succession than any female artist, the OCC reports.

It took Swift just 10 years to achieve the feat, the time between her first leader with Red, in October 2012, and now Midnights, whereas Madonna took 21 years to reach double digits. The boss in that particular frame is the Beatles, with, nine chart leaders in just 5 years and 7 months, the time between the release of their debut album Please Please Me in May 1963 and The White Album in December 1968.

Also, Swift overtakes Kylie Minogue for outright second place in the list of female artists with the most U.K. No. 1 albums. Madonna leads that ranking, with 12. And Taylor extends her lead as the female solo artist with the highest tally of No. 1 albums this century.

With Midnights and “Anti-Hero” debuting at No. 1 on the respective charts, Swift becomes the first female artist to complete the chart double in nine years (Miley Cyrus was the last to do it, in August 2013).

Arctic Monkeys’ streak of six U.K. No. 1s comes to a screeching halt, thanks to Midnights. The Sheffield, England rockers’ latest album The Car revs up for 100,000-plus first week combined sales, an effort that would easily land the chart crown on most weeks.

Coming in at No. 3 on the fresh chart, published Oct. 28, is South London rapper Loyle Carner with Hugo (EMI), new at No. 3 for an equal career high.

Scottish ‘80s new wave legends Simple Minds start at No. 4 with Direction of the Heart (BMG), their 12th top 10 appearance; Kylie’s Impossible Princess (BMG) enjoys a return to the chart and a new peak position following its 25th anniversary reissue. Impossible Princess pushes to No. 5, surpassing its peak position of No. 10 in 1998.

Finally, alternative-rock outfit Dry Cleaning start at No. 11 with their sophomore album Stumpwork (4AD), while Norwegian ‘80s pop trio a-ha earn a No. 12 debut with True North (Music For Nations).

31 Oct 2022

Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti-Hero’ Debuts at No. 1 In U.K.

It’s Taylor Swift time on the U.K. charts, as the pop superstar bags a rare chart double.

Following the release of her album Midnights (via EMI), Swift cleans up on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, bagging the No. 1 with “Anti-Hero,” and respectively taking out positions 3 and 4 with “Lavender Haze” and “Snow On The Beach,” featuring Lana Del Rey.

“Anti-Hero,” which Swift has said described as “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” is also a favorite among Brits, as it becomes just her second U.K. chart-leader following 2017’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”

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With Midnights also rocketing to No. 1, Swift becomes the first female artist in nine years to simultaneously debut atop the Official Albums and Singles Charts, according to the Official Charts Company. Miley Cyrus was the last to do it, when Bangerz and “Wrecking Ball” both arrived at No. 1 on the Official Charts back in August 2013.

The single that stops a Swift trifecta on the latest chart, published Oct. 28, is Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” (EMI), down 1-2, while David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s former chart-topper “I’m Good (Blue)” dips 2-5.

Meanwhile, the only non-Midnights track to enjoy a top 10 gain is Oliver Tree and Robin Schultz’s viral EDM release “Miss You” (Atlantic), up 9- 8, while Southstar’s version of the song slips 23-27 via B1/Ministry of Sound.

Following the release of their seventh studio album, The Car (via Domino Recordings), Arctic Monkeys park two tracks in the top tier, with “Body Paint” accelerating 60-22, while “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am” enters one place below at No. 23, for the Sheffield, England alternative rock band’s 18th U.K. top 40 appearance.

Finally, U.S. singer Meghan Trainor lands her first U.K. top 40 single in four years with “Made You Look” (Epic), new at No. 28; Australian singer and songwriter Dean Lewis climbs with the teary “How Do I Say Goodbye” (Universal Music Australia), up 35-31; and Joel Corry and Tom Grennan debut with “Lionheart (Fearless)” (via Atlantic), new at No. 37.

31 Oct 2022

Loretta Lynn’s Life Celebrated by George Strait, Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker and More

As has been often quoted since her death Oct. 4 at the age of 90, Loretta Lynn said that to make it, “You have to be different, great or first. I think I was just a little different.”

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Time and time again during Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn, which took play tonight (Oct. 30) from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and aired live on CMT, viewers were reminded that Lynn sold herself short: she was all three.

Wynonna, The Gaither Trio and Larry Strickland opened the service with an elegiac “How Great Thou Art” and Alan Jackson sang “Where Her Heart Has Always Been,” a moving tribute originally written about his own mother’s death, but otherwise, the performers sang songs made famous by Lynn. The selections repeatedly showcased what a trailblazer she was in taking topics that were heretofore whispered about behind closed doors and turning them into country chart-toppers that rang out from radio stations across the land in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

As a very emotional Faith Hill said, “she didn’t just push boundaries, she shredded them.” Via video, Taylor Swift, whose ability to write songs with great universal appeal drawn from the most personal details of her own life takes a page from Lynn, praised Lynn for “saying things that might make people uncomfortable” with her brutal honesty. Also, via video, Kacey Musgraves laughed about being a 9-year old performing such feisty, grown-up tunes as “Fist City” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” (A number of other artists, including Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire also weighed in via video.)

In a bit of gender bending that worked very well (and showed the strength of her songs), Darius Rucker delivered a strident “Fist City” and George Strait drew a rave reaction for his take on Lynn’s first No. 1, “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind).”

Margo Price performed a spirited rendition of Lynn’s controversial 1975 liberation anthem, “The Pill,” after host Today’s Jenna Bush Hager noted the song had been banned by dozens of radio stations and Lynn supposedly threatened to quit the Grand Ole Opry if the august body didn’t let her sing it on stage.

Though Lynn was country through and through, she was “so much bigger than any genre,” noted Sheryl Crow, who recorded with Lynn. No more was that more evident than in 2004, when Lynn released Van Lear Rose, produced by the White Stripes’ Jack White. As Price recounted, Lynn and White endearingly met after the White Stripes dedicated their 2001 album White Blood Cells to the legend and she invited White and former bandmate Meg White over for chicken and biscuits, which led to Jack White and Lynn working together. She also introduced a video, recorded during the making of Van Lear Rose, of Lynn singing “Whispering Sea,” a song she said she wrote while “up in a tree fishing.” As White encouraged her to sing it in the small room, Lynn, still in top vocal form, simply said, “if I sang out, you couldn’t stand it in here.” Following the video, White played a spirited version of the Grammy-winning album’s title track.

The service’s emotional highpoint came toward the end when Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy Russell (noting this was the first time she has performed on stage without Lynn here “to look at me with her proud eyes”) and Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, sang “Lay Me Down,” a gorgeous song about death and rebirth that Lynn and Nelson recorded in 2016—the only duet by the two icons.

The daunting task of taking on Lynn’s anthem, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” fell to The Highwomen—Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby, Brandi Carlile and Brittney Spencer (filling in for Maren Morris)—who delivered a resonant version to close the service.

For as much focus was on the music, almost as much attention was devoted to Lynn as a true friend to fellow artists, especially the women who followed in her wake. Martina McBride, whom Lynn inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1995, told of the tremendous support Lynn had shown her and how she ended each phone conversation with “I love you, honey. Come see me anytime.” Now, McBride said, the responsibility is on today’s country female artists to carry on Lynn’s generous tradition. “She made us feel like she was in our corner,” she said. “Part of her legacy is for us to mentor and to make sure we have each other’s backs. And for those coming up the ladder, make sure we’re available and can say, ‘I love you honey. Come see me anytime.’”

The celebration, produced by CMT and Sandbox Productions in partnership with the late legend’s family, will re-air on CMT on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. ET and Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. ET. The special will also be made available on Paramount+ in early 2023.

Set list Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn

Keith Urban, “You’re Lookin’ At Country”

Tanya Tucker, “Blue Kentucky Girl”

Darius Rucker, “Fist City”

Alan Jackson, “Where Her Heart Has Always Been”

George Strait, “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind”

Jack White, “Van Lear Rose”

Little Big Town, “Let Her Fly”

Emmy Russell and Lukas Nelson, “Lay Me Down”

Margo Price, “The Pill”

Brandi Carlile, “She’s Got You”

The Highwomen, “Coal Miner’s Daughter”

31 Oct 2022

Lee Jihan, K-Pop Singer & Actor, Dies at 24 in Seoul Crowd Crush

Singer-actor Lee Jihan was among those who died in the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy in Seoul, South Korea. Two agencies representing the star, 935 Entertainment and 9Ato Entertainment, confirmed the news on Sunday (Oct. 30). He was 24.

Born on Aug. 3, 1998, Lee Jihan had made his first big move in the Korean entertainment industry by competing in the second season of the Korean singing competition Produce 101, where 101 K-pop hopefuls looked to land a spot in an 11-member boy band.

Representing as a K-pop trainee from Pan Entertainment at the time, Lee originally auditioned on the show with a cover of EXO‘s “Overdose,” delivered a well-received group performance of INFINITE‘s “Be Mine” with castmates, and was ultimately eliminated in the fifth episode. The show produced Wanna One (who scored five entries on the World Albums chart during their one year together) and other breakout stars.

Former Produce 101 contestants Park Heeseok and Kim Dohyun expressed their condolences and shared funeral information for their former castmate via Instagram Stories.

Post-Produce, Lee moved into acting. In 2019, he starred in the Korean drama Today Was Another Namhyun Day. 935 Entertainment and 9Ato Entertainment agencies both represent a handful of different actors in South Korea.

Lee Jihan is one of at least 153 dead in Seoul’s crowd crush incident over the weekend. The Korean government has announced a period of national mourning that will last until Nov. 5. Several K-pop music releases and events have been canceled or postponed in light of the tragedy. Artists like PSY, ENHYPEN and more have expressed condolences.

31 Oct 2022

Luke Bryan Defends Welcoming ‘Polarizing Figure’ Ron DeSantis to the Stage at Florida Concert

Luke Bryan responded to a wave of criticism he’s received for warmly welcoming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to his stage Friday night (Oct. 28).

The country star and American Idol judge brought out DeSantis in front of a Jacksonville, Fla., crowd, on a stop on his Raised Up Right Tour. In footage from the concert, DeSantis is seen tossing swag out to audience members and giving a high five to Bryan, who pats him on the back.

“We’re gonna have some fun and we’re gonna raise some money tonight for the great state of Florida,” Bryan announced at the show.

DeSantis shared a pair of photos on Twitter of the two appearing to have a good time on stage together. He wrote, “Thanks for letting me crash the party last night, @lukebryan!”

Bryan released a statement on Sunday defending his decision to have DeSantis join him at the show. He noted that “this felt right” as part of an effort to help raise awareness and money for people impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida. The singer had postponed a set of Florida tour dates in September due to the hurricane.

“I typically don’t respond to stuff when I’m getting run down on a social platform but here’s the deal. I understand Governor Desantis is a very polarizing figure,” Bryan wrote on social media Sunday afternoon (Oct. 30). “But I grew up in a country where if a governor ask you if they can come and raise awareness to help victims of a natural disaster you help.”

“I’ve generally stayed out of politics throughout my career,” said Bryan. “I knew people would chatter about this but for me the more important piece was if I am going to come back there a few weeks after a large portion of people have been affected by a natural disaster in a state where people have been good to me this felt right. Raise awareness, have a little fun between the GA and FL college fans before the game and do what I love on stage.”

He closed the note by writing, “This is all I am saying about this. I’ll be outdoors with my boys. Enjoy your Sunday.”

“Your greeting of DeSantis on stage certainly appeared to be more than wanting to help Hurricane victims. It looked like a full endorsement of DeSantis – DeSantis is worse than polarizing,” one person commented on Bryan’s post. It was one of the top comments of more than 13,000, a significant uptick from the usual amount of comments seen on the singer’s tweets.

“So, it’s impossible to support victims of a hurricane while also supporting the LGBTQ community?” another asked. DeSantis was behind Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prohibits instruction in Florida schools on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through grade three, or in any grade “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

“You can raise awareness (and money) with your own name,” noted another Twitter user. “Having Desantis on stage with you have the impression (true or not) that you supported him. In this day and age, we all have to be willing to speak out against lies, hate and injustice.”

Below, see a video clip of the moment Bryan welcomed DeSantis to the stage, followed by Bryan’s statement.

30 Oct 2022

Cardi B Wants a Third Kid: ‘I Can’t Wait’

Cardi B and Offset have two kids together, and Cardi seems to be planning for a third.

Already a mom to 4-year-old Kulture and 1-year-old Wave, she mused over adding another baby to the family on Twitter Sunday (Oct. 30).

Cardi shared three new photos of baby Wave with fans this weekend, gushing, “My son so fire.”

“I can’t wait to get business finish and have my third,” the rapper revealed in her tweet.

Fans left supportive messages in the comments, though some suggested that they’d really love to hear a new album before the Invasion of Privacy hitmaker focuses on expanding her family. “Nah sis, we need that album first!” one wrote.

The hip-hop power couple, who got married in 2017 and had a few bumps in the road over the years, welcomed Kulture on July 10, 2018 and Wave on Sept. 4, 2021. Cardi and Offset shared sweet family snapshots to celebrate Wave’s first birthday in September. “I LOVE YOU BIG MAN!!” Offset captioned a gallery on Instagram, which featured a heartwarming video of himself cradling Wave as a newborn.

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Offset also has three more children — Jordan, Kody and Kalea — from previous relationships.

See Cardi B’s cute tweet below.

30 Oct 2022

Jack Harlow as ‘SNL’ Host: Watch His Monologue & All His Sketches

Jack Harlow pulled double duty as host and musical guest of SNL and was part of an episode with some of the most memorable sketches of this season of Saturday Night Live, so far.

As host of Oct. 29’s Saturday Night Live, he set the scene for the night ahead with a laid-back monologue that showed he has no problem playing around and making fun of himself.

Bringing up some of the top jokes about himself he’s seen on the internet, Harlow said, “One guy said, ‘I don’t know why y’all think Jack Harlow is so special. You can find somebody who looks like him at any local gas station.”

“I’ve heard them say I look like ‘If you tried to draw Justin Timberlake from memory,’” he recalled.

The rapper added, “I think my favorite one might be ‘Jack Harlow looks like the guy who rips the tickets in half at the movie theater.’”

“I’ve also heard people try to romantically link me and Lil Nas X as an item,” said Harlow. “I’m gonna tell you right now, no. Everything that happened between us was casual. And consensual. And one of the best nights of my entire life … working with him, working with him.”

A couple of the best sketches of the night starred Harlow, including a hilarious AA meeting that somehow turned into a pitch for a Pixar film and featured a surprise cameo from Tom Hanks. Hanks returned for a reprise of his classic David S. Pumpkins character, with Harlow along for the ride.

Another SNL sketch led by Harlow imagined him joining the ladies of The View, and wooing Ego Nwodim’s Whoopi. “Don’t compliment me all quiet like that, Jack,” she said. “I have been closed for business since before you were born.” Harlow shot back, “Well, I’m looking forward to the grand reopening.”

Harlow also appeared as a giant tampon, a Kentucky groom with a Joker of a best man, and a tableside flair bartender with some not-so-smooth synchronized moves (with Bowen Yang). In a cut-for-time, pre-taped sketch, he was the star of a JNCO jeans ad with a twist.

He also brought Come Home the Kids Miss You vibes to SNL, with a medley of “Lil Secret” and “First Class,” plus a separate performance of “State Fair.” See both of those performances here after you watch his monologue and sketches below.

Jack Harlow Monologue – SNL

AA Meeting – SNL

The View: Jack Harlow – SNL

David Pumpkins Returns – SNL

Halloween Red Carpet Show – SNL

Joker Wedding – SNL

Bartenders – SNL

JNCO Longs – SNL (Cut for Time)

30 Oct 2022

Fans Choose BTS Member Jin’s ‘The Astronaut’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Jin‘s latest solo single “The Astronaut” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Oct. 28) on Billboard, choosing the BTS superstar’s upbeat pop-rock song as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“The Astronaut,” co-written by Jin and Coldplay, beat out new music by Rihanna (“Lift Me Up”), SZA (“Shirt”), Dove Cameron (“Bad Idea”), Polo G (“Bag Talk”), and others.

Jin’s latest offering, which features the K-pop idol singing in both English and Korean, features wistful lyrics about a love that transcends earthly limitations. The track reveals the stadium-sized rock sound that Coldplay is known for as a perfect bed for Jin’s steady, soothing vocals. The singer’s past solo work (“Awake,” “Epiphany”) has proven that he can bring raw emotions to his ballads, but “The Astronaut” captures that same sentimental approach to a more upbeat, dynamic pop-rock song.

Jin gave the debut live performance of “The Astronaut” alongside Coldplay at the British band’s concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday (Oct. 28). The sold-out stadium show was broadcast live across 3,5000 movie theaters in more than 80 countries.

BTS previously collaborated with Coldplay on the single “My Universe” for the latter’s 2021 album, Music of the Spheres. The track debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first Hot 100 No. 1 by two groups each sporting lead billing on a song.

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

30 Oct 2022

Issa Rae, Spike Lee, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Cast Honored at Ebony Power 100 Gala

“Moving Black Forward” was the theme marking this year’s return of Ebony Media Group’s signature event, the Ebony Power 100. Personifying that mission in celebration of Black excellence were the special awards presented Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. Among the honorees: Issa Rae, Spike Lee and the cast of the upcoming film sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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Prior to the gala/special award presentations, Ebony Media Group had earlier announced its 100 Power honorees encompassing business, entertainment, science and technology. Among 2022’s Black trailblazers were artists Usher, Tems and H.E.R., Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and TikTok influencer Khaby Lame.

Presented by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian Amber Ruffin, the evening launched with a captivating performance by Myles Frost. Introduced by singer/actor Janelle Monae, the Tony Award-winning star of Broadway’s MJ: The Musical performed a medley of Jackson songs including “P.Y.T.(Pretty Young Thing),” “This Place Hotel” and “Rock With You.”

Then the presentations got underway, beginning with the For the Culture Award, honoring the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. On hand to accept the award from actor Jonathan Majors were Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke and Dominique Thorne. Also referencing director Ryan Coogler and the late Chadwick Boseman as the cast accepted the award, Wright noted, “They always said our stories wouldn’t reach … Boy, were they wrong. Thank you for breathing life into us and for your support. As always, Wakanda Forever!”

Actress/writer/producer Rae (Rap Sh!t, Insecure) received the People’s Choice Award from actress Nia Long. “I create with us in mind,” Rae said. “To get an award from the people I have in mind is amazing. [We must] continue to value our stories; that’s the reason I’m here.”

Actor Roger Guenveur Smith, who has appeared in several of Lee’s films, presented the Icon Award to the director, noting, “He continues to transform the complexion of American filmmaking.” After thanking Smith, Lee saluted the key women in his life: his mother (“She stayed on me” growing up), grandmother (an art teacher who “put me through Morehouse, NYU grad school and helped with my first films”) and his wife (“She has made it possible for me to do everything; she held it down”).

The evening’s other honorees included activists Tamika Palmer and Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mothers of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery (Social Justice Award), McKissack & McKissack president/CEO Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Black-Owned Business Award) and Target Corp. senior VP, guest and brand experience marketing Maurice Cooper (Corporate Citizen Award).

Rapper/singer Tobe Nwigwe, accompanied by his pianist, background singers and joined later by his wife, took the stage halfway through the ceremony. Promising beforehand that “we’re going to groove a little bit, if you don’t mind,” he regaled the audience with three songs: “Catfish Blackened w/Grits,” “Hella Black” and “Fye Fye (At the Crib).”

Ebony Media Group chairwoman/CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar closed out the show, citing the inspirational spirit the evening “has given all of us to follow.”

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