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When introducing Sam Smith and Kim Petras at the 2023 Grammys, pop icon Madonna offered a thought to the audience watching at home: “If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative or dangerous, you are definitely on to something.”
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The “something” that Madonna is now “on to” is a new song with Sam Smith. “Vulgar,” out now (Friday, June 9) via Capitol Records, is a pulsating dance anthem aimed at taking back the titular adjective for your own pleasure. Each of the pair offers their own breathless, spoken-word interpretations of fierce indulgence of the song’s verses, with Smith proudly proclaiming that “you know you’re beautiful when they call you ‘vulgar.’”
On the track’s chaotic chorus, the bass and beat picks up as a swirl of strings play an entrancing melody to lure listeners even further in. As if to accentuate the point, as the song comes to a close, Madonna accosts the listener: “Do you know how to spell my name? B-I-T-C-H,” she snarls. “Go f–k yourself, you heard me, b—h, say our f–king names!”
“Vulgar” comes after a few weeks of teasing from the pair. Smith first teased the team-up in a social media clip, with the pair each chanting “Sam and Madonna” over and over again. In announcing the single last week, the duo offered some new branding for their team-up, restyling their names together simply as “S&M.”
Both Smith and Madonna are currently ramping up their live schedules; after finishing up the European leg of their Gloria Tour, Smith is bringing their show stateside starting on July 25. Meanwhile, Madonna’s long-awaited Celebration Tour is set to kick off this summer, starting at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., on July 15.
Stream Sam Smith and Madonna’s “Vulgar” below:
Happy Pride, everybody! What better way to celebrate the reason for the season than with a cornucopia of new tracks from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
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From Tove Lo’s Y2K dance anthem to Adam Lambert’s appropriate new Pride cover, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Tove Lo, “I Like U”
That’s right, we’re kicking off Pride with one hell of a new dance song. Tove Lo’s “I Like U” doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is — a feel good, fire-up-the-smoke-machine single about the revelry of newfound love. With production courtesy of frequent collaborator Timfromthehouse, Tove’s new song is a perfect party banger to kick off your Pride Month, as she wails “I li-li-li-like you/ I want you tonight.”
Adam Lambert feat. Sigala, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” (Sylvester cover)
When you think of “Pride anthems,” a handful of tracks immediately come to mind — one such song is Sylvester’s classic 1978 hit “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).” Now, 35 years after the disco icon’s death, Adam Lambert is ready to pay tribute to a great that paved the way. Teaming up with Sigala for a dance-fueled remix of the track, Lambert’s falsetto stylings fit perfectly with the song, nailing each note of the track, but never aiming to emulate the late star — rather, he honors his legacy with this dedicated cover.
Paris Hilton feat. Kim Petras, “Stars Are Blind (Paris’ Version)”
Say it with me — “that’s so hot.” Paris Hilton is, in fact, back with a re-release of her beloved single “Stars Are Blind.” (Note Taylor Swift’s impact, with Hilton dubbing her new rendition “Paris’ Version”). This time, though, Hilton is bringing along her friend and past collaborator Kim Petras to amp up the newest version of the track, with a pitch perfect second verse.
The Aces, I’ve Loved You For So Long
You shouldn’t mistake The Aces’ new album, I’ve Loved You For So Long, as nostalgia; while much of the 11-track project does deal with delving into the past, not all of it is done fondly. Throughout this expansive LP, the group retrods everything from teenage self-loathing (“Miserable” and “Always Get This Way”) to co-dependency (“Girls Make Me Wanna Die”), all done with their signature indie-pop sound and top-shelf songwriting completely intact.
Claud, “Wet”
Ever had that one person in your life who just refused to commit? If so, Claud has a song for you. The alt-pop star’s latest offering “Wet” deals with this exact dilemma, as Claud chastises a could-be partner for their refusal to just go for it. The thrumming, synth-focused production only adds to the drama, as the singer passively tells the song’s subject, “That’s not an apology/ But I’ll take what I can get/ Dip your feet but not too wet.”
Jake Shears, Last Man Dancing
It bears repeating that in dark times, it feels good to unplug and dance for a little while. Jake Shears’ phenomenal new album Last Man Dancing provides exactly that opportunity, while also offering something of a history lesson in queer music. Revisiting the chaotic electroclash that defined the late ’90s and early 2000s (especially on album standout “Really Big Deal”) and diving headfirst into gorgeous disco-tinged dance songs (the Kylie Minogue-assisted “Voices”), Last Man Dancing is a triumphant call to joy from Shears for the queer community. Sure, the world’s turning into a dystopia, but when has that ever stopped us from making our own good time?
CHIKA, “Requiem For A Dream”
When it comes to penning lyrics that make you sit back in your chair and exhale loudly, CHIKA is nearly unmatched. Her return single “Requiem for a Dream” is a perfect example — throughout this woozy track, the rapper dives deep into her own mind, plucking out insecurities, fears and self-scrutinizations and laying them out for the listener. But after shooting off a veritable laundry list of the problems she’s dealing with, CHIKA comes to a gorgeously-sung resolution on the song’s chorus: “I’m alright with pretending that all’s well …We’ll be okay,” she sings, before hampering her own thought. “F–k, I’m delusional.”
Zolita, “Grave”
As fun as it is to be petty, sometimes you just have to suck it up and be the adult in a relationship. For all of the angst she’s sung about thus far in her career, Zolita’s ready to be the grown-up on “Grave.” This chilling new track sees the rising pop singer living through the aftermath of a breakup, and instead of going scorched earth on her ex (see past single “20 Questions” for that particular tirade), Zolita decided to just take it in stride. “You said things you never thought you’d say,” she offers, spitefully. “You’re lucky I’ll take that s–t to my grave.”
Dorian Electra, “Sodom & Gomorrah”
If right-wing politicians want to use the Bible like a cudgel, Dorian Electra says “let them.” On “Sodom & Gomorrah,” the hyperpop star takes a look back at that “ancient story” where “two cities got super horny,” and turns it into a metaphor for what they’d like to see their lover do to them. With some cheeky wordplay and a lot of thinly-veiled innuendo, Electra gets their point across with ease in this sexed-up single.
Trixie Mattel, “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous” (RuPaul cover)
Her Snatch Game impression of RuPaul might have been a bit rough, but Trixie Mattel’s new cover of a RuPaul classic is, as she put it, a “winner winner chicken dinner.” Taking the (frankly underrated) RuPaul track “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous” and giving it a modern facelift, Mattel leans into the unbridled camp of the dance single, pouring every ounce of faux-sincerity into the song’s central question of “How do I look?” Considering the fact that the music video is also raising money for the Drag Isn’t Dangerous fund, and you simply have no reason not to press play.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
With Pride less than a week away, freshen up your playlists with some new songs from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
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From Arlo Parks’ long-awaited new album, to Demi Lovato’s rocked-out version of a fab-favorite track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Arlo Parks, My Soft Machine
For all of the talk of your 20s being “the best years of your life,”rising alternative star Arlo Parks has a slightly different take. With My Soft Machine, her sophomore album, the UK artist floats between existential dread over the ending of relationships (“Weightless,” “I’m Sorry”) and introspective musings on self-worth (“Impurities,” “Devotion”), all done with an eclectic blend of dream-pop and rock to form a singularly fascinating project. It’s a further testament to Parks’ inimitable talent and vision that My Soft Machine stands firmly as a distinctive, moving body of work, even in the wake of an album as lauded as Collapsed in Sunbeams.
Demi Lovato, “Cool for the Summer (Rock Version)”
After reimagining her much-beloved song “Heart Attack” as a rock anthem earlier this year, Demi Lovato is ready to give you more. This time around, they’re taking their warm-weather ditty “Cool for the Summer” and amping up the intensity. With raging guitars, pounding drums and an all new set of vocal tracks, the song is radically transformed into an edgy, gritty pop-punk single worthy of Lovato’s latest musical era.
Hayley Kiyoko, “Greenlight”
Hayley Kiyoko is tired of waiting for permission to live her life — so she’s giving herself the “Greenlight” on her latest single. Co-written with pop luminary Jesse St. John, the new track from Lesbian Jesus keeps her streak of life-affirming pop singles alive, playing with delicious falsetto while accompanied by stacked synths and a steady bass line. Be warned, though; once you press play, you’ll “wanna keep goin’ and goin’,” as Kiyoko says.
Towa Bird, “Boomerang”
Living in a long distance relationship is maddening, as rising singer-guitarist Towa Bird can attest. On her latest single “Boomerang,” Bird agonizes about the “separation anxiety” of being in L.A. with a girlfriend in New York — sure, she knows she’ll see her soon, but that doesn’t make the time in between any easier. Punctuated with some excellent garage-rock sounds, and you’ve got a theme song for the frustration of loving long distance on your hands.
Miya Folick, Roach
To say that Miya Folick’s new album Roach is about any one thing in particular is to largely miss the point of its construction. With this wide-ranging, often-chaotic sophmore album, the alt-pop singer instead takes a scattershot approach when it comes to subject matter — whether that’s serene self-reflection (“So Clear,”) bitter anger (“Cockroach”) or familial dynamics (“Mommy”). The most consistent thing about this extensive project is the top-tier quality, keeping you invested for the entirety of its 42-minute runtime.
Cat Burns, “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”
There are a plethora of reasons why a relationship might end — Cat Burns is simply asking her ex to give her one. On “You Don’t Love Me Anymore,” the UK up-and-comer begs her former lover to “list all my baggage,” or “drag my ego to the floor” rather than use the song’s dreaded title when describing why their relationship has to end. It’s a heartbreaking song made even more gutwrenching by how endlessly relatable it is.
Royal & the Serpent, “One Nation Underdogs”
If you’re planning on protesting the seemingly endless onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed around the country this Pride Month, then Royal & the Serpent has just the song to soundtrack your demonstration. “One Nation Underdogs” speaks directly to our current dark moment in history, throwing a defiant middle finger in the face of right-wing politicians, offering this grinning kiss-off in response to their attacks: “There’s more of us and less of you/ We’re the future where you fell off.”
Jeffrey Eli, “Sleeping Beauty”
If you somehow haven’t heard Jeffrey Eli’s haunting voice on TikTok, now is the time to remedy that situation. With his latest release “Sleeping Beauty,” Eli claims his space and plays with the fluidity of his ridiculous range to drive home a point. Examining his own childhood, Eli deconstructs the gender binary right before our eyes — and the moment he’s done so, you’ll realize that the music followed perfectly along the journey, building into a glorious explosion of sound. Seriously, if you haven’t listened to Jeffrey Eli, stop reading this and go listen.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Taylor Swift and Ice Spice both big-up “Karma,” Dua Lipa shimmies into the summer and Lil Durk continues to unspool his story. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Taylor Swift feat. Ice Spice, “Karma (Remix)”
Taylor Swift and Ice Spice may be at different phases in their respective experiences with fame — Swift the biggest name in music, headlining stadiums on the hottest tour of the year; Ice Spice a fresh-faced star in mainstream hip-hop, collecting her first top 10 hits after going viral last fall — but on the remix to “Karma,” from Swift’s Midnights album, the two artists share a musical sensibility marked by an effortless confidence in their craft. The highlight of Swift’s Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition), which also includes a “More Lana Del Rey” version of “Snow On The Beach” and the debut of “Hits Different” on streaming (among other goodies), the “Karma” remix finds Ice co-signing Swift’s philosophy that what goes around will come back around, in her favor: “It’s okay, baby, you ain’t gotta worry, karma never gets lazy / So, I keep my head up, my bread up, I won’t let up,” she raps.
Dua Lipa, “Dance The Night”
Rejoice: we have a new disco-pop single from Dua Lipa in time for summer. “Dance The Night,” which leads the upcoming soundtrack to the Barbie movie, functions as an uptempo stopgap between Lipa albums in the same way that singles like “One Kiss” and “Electricity” helped soothe impatient fans in between Lipa’s 2017 self-titled debut and 2020’s Future Nostalgia: working with Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt and Caroline Ailin on the track, Lipa sends “Dance The Night” into the same hustle-ready stratosphere as “Levitating,” her forceful voice turbo-charging the hooks in the first half of the song and then delivering one of the sleekest bridges in mainstream pop this year.
Lil Durk, Almost Healed
As Lil Durk has transformed from promising new talent to commercial question mark to late-blooming superstar over the course of his career, the Chicago rapper has remained introspective as both a solo artist and collaborator: put him in any context, over any beat, and he’ll likely share personal stories of past brutalities that help explain his present-day hardened exterior. Almost Healed, which opens with a literal therapy session with Alicia Keys and ends with Durk begging someone not to lie to him over a squealing electric guitar, also boasts guests like J. Cole, Future and 21 Savage, but is once again defined by his confessional, affecting tone.
Peso Pluma, “Bye”
For as singular a voice as Peso Pluma possesses, and how quickly his profile has expanded from the popular Mexican music scene to the entire world, the 23-year-old has often done so while joined by other artists, from Eslabon Armado on “Ella Baila Sola” to Yng Lvcas on the “La Bebe” remix to Becky G on “Chanel.” “Bye,” his first solo single since 2021’s “Por Las Noches,” capitalizes on both Pluma’s individual momentum and the rapidly shifting boundaries of regional Mexican: as horns and guitars mournfully careen off one another, Pluma proves unafraid of baring his soul and extending his syllables for maximum listener engagement.
d4vd, Petals to Thorns
Over the course of his short career, as songs like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me” graduated from TikTok flare-ups to streaming smashes with nine-figure plays, d4vd has revealed himself to be a canny, cross-genre multi-hyphenate, an 18-year-old whose songs evoke strong reactions from older rhythmic-pop fans and screen-scrolling teens alike. All of new nine-song EP Petals to Thorns, and particularly stormy new single “The Bridge,” demonstrates his quick-grade evolution: even though “Romantic Homicide” is a highlight of the project, the newly unveiled songs sound more carefully considered than d4vd’s breakthrough hit, as if his songwriting has already adjusted to the brighter lights.
In the midst of her Eras tour, Taylor Swift has announced a handful of new releases related to her current era: the superstar has revealed that “Karma,” a fan favorite from Midnights, would be getting a new remix featuring rising rap star Ice Spice, out this Friday (May 26). Meanwhile, a different version of the Lana Del Rey collaboration “Snow on the Beach” would also be released, as would “You’re Losing Me,” a “vault track” from Midnights — all as part of a new Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) deluxe album.
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“Um. SO much to tell you,” Swift wrote in a message to fans on Wednesday (May 24). “I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch. So delighted to say that Karma Featuring the incredible @icespice will be out TOMORROW night at MIDNIGHT ET as a part of the new Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) deluxe album that you can pre-order now at store.taylorswift.com!
“In addition to Karma Ft Ice Spice…,” Swift continued. “You asked for it, we listened: Lana and I went back into the studio specifically to record more Lana on Snow on the Beach. Love u @honeymoon 🥰😆☺️.”
“Karma” originally debuted at No. 9 on the Hot 100 chart upon the October 2022 release of Midnights, and was among the tracks that helped Swift become the first artist in Hot 100 history to dominate the chart’s entire top 10 in one week. Swift has been closing out her Eras set lists with “Karma” — which rises three spots to No. 32 on the current Hot 100 — since the stadium tour began in March.
Meanwhile, Ice Spice’s popularity has exploded since she first shot to viral fame with “Munch (Feelin’ U)” last fall. Her debut EP, Like..?, arrived in January on 10K Projects/Capitol, and Ice Spice proceeded to score top 10 smashes on the Hot 100 with the PinkPantheress team-up “Girl’s a Liar Pt. 2” and the Nicki Minaj-assisted remix to her song “Princess Diana.”
“I saw all of my supporters being like, ‘She’s the People’s Princess! She’s Princess Diana!’ ” Ice told Billboard in her recent cover story. “At first, I was confused. I was like, ‘Um, Princess Diana? Out of everybody?’ But [then] I was like, ‘F–k it, she’s iconic.’ ”
“Snow on the Beach” is the lone Midnights track with a featured guest, as Swift and Del Rey worked on the song with their shared frequent collaborator, Jack Antonoff. Midnights is back up to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in its 30th week on the chart — and as Swift tours the U.S. performing her catalog of hits, nine of her albums chart in the top 40 of the current tally.
“But wait there’s more… for those of you going to the East Rutherford shows – we will have a new special edition CD available ONLY on site starting at 12:30pm ET on Friday!” Swift wrote. “This CD will have a never before heard Midnights vault track called ‘You’re Losing Me’!”
Swift’s Eras tour continues this Friday with three nights at MetLife Stadium outside of New York City in East Rutherford, N.J. In addition to the unexpected Midnights releases, Swifties can also look forward to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Swift’s third re-recorded album in her six-song project, set for a July 7 release.
BLACKPINK in your area — and also on your phones. The K-Pop sensations dropped an original mobile game earlier this week, and now, they’ve confirmed that a brand new song is on its way next. In a Thursday (May 18) teaser video on the girl group’s YouTube channel, four animated avatars of bandmates Rosé, Lisa, […]
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Bad Bunny has a summer banger to offer, Summer Walker checks in between full-lengths, and Post Malone is working at a furious pace. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Bad Bunny, “Where She Goes”
Bad Bunny is not satisfied with simply dominating one summer: after Un Verano Sin Ti was released last May and proceeded to take the world by storm, the superstar bursts back into view with “Where She Goes,” a new single that, unlike his recent Grupo Frontera team-up “un x100to,” is clearly designed to conjure summertime perspiration. After about 40 seconds of stormy synths and emotional crooning, the clubby percussion kicks in, and Bad Bunny morphs into a master of ceremonies, his energy never flagging even as the tempo of the track shifts around him. Bad Bunny is in a Midas-touch phase of commercial success — but even divorced from the timing of its arrival, “Where She Goes” sounds like a surefire smash, ready to pounce upon the season with hungry melody.
Summer Walker, Clear 2: Soft Life EP
At the beginning of 2019 — a year that would be momentous for Summer Walker, thanks to the October release of her Over It album — the R&B singer-songwriter released and EP, Clear, which would continue the momentum from her Last Day of Summer mixtape and set the parameters of her artistic formula. While fans await the proper follow-up to 2021’s Still Over It, Walker returns with Clear 2: Soft Life, a nine-song stopgap defined by her uncompromising perspective, whether it’s applied to yearning for company (like on the Childish Gambino collaboration “New Type”) or rejecting easy comforts (like on the spectacularly performed “Hardlife”).
Post Malone, “Mourning”
“Got a lot of s–t to say, couldn’t fit it in the chorus,” Post Malone declares at the end of the “Mourning” hook, and he’s correct, even outside of the context of the song: after 2022’s Twelve Carat Toothache marked Posty’s first full-length in three years, he’s already back next month with Austin, his fifth studio album, which was preceded by the single “Chemical.” Unlike that more pop-leaning offering, “Mourning” finds Post Malone operating within singsong rap, yelling at God and refusing to sober up while grappling with the excesses of fame; in this prolific period, the superstar is prodding at his sound and identity, and the results are intoxicating.
Kesha, Gag Order
The reinvention of Kesha’s pop career during her years-long legal battle against Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald has simultaneously been heartbreaking and revelatory: while the personal trauma that the “TiK ToK” singer has experienced during this time has been incalculable, she has mined the depths of her artistry and come up with wholly impressive sonic explorations like new album Gag Order. This album demands attention: as Kesha embraces throbbing cacophony and tries to make sense of senseless circumstances, her songwriting and vocal technique evolve with zero abandon and riveting results.
Lewis Capaldi, Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent
The list of modern artists not named Adele who can guide heart-wrenching ballads to the billion-stream club is exceedingly short, but Lewis Capaldi, who earned international success with “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go,” is on it, understanding the cocktail of vulnerable songwriting, tender production and vocal skill needed to affect the tear ducts of global listeners. On Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, the Scottish singer-songwriter doesn’t rip up the formula that made him a star — instead, he offers more stories that aim to stir, using songs like “Haven’t You Ever Been In Love Before?” and lead single “Forget Me” to reach wide and inspire as many listeners as possible to simply, effortlessly feel.
Kaytraminé, Kaytraminé
The combination of singer-rapper Aminé and production multi-hyphenate Kaytranada not only makes sense on paper as a fusion of two like-minded creatives who have worked well together over the years, but Kaytraminé, the duo’s self-titled debut album, also works brilliantly as a late spring release, primed to soundtrack Memorial Day Weekend hangouts and months of hazy beach days. With guests like Freddie Gibbs, Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg stopping by to buttress Aminé’s silky flow and Kaytranada’s luxurious beats, Kaytraminé is a summer essential on the same level of shorts and sunscreen.
Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
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These 10 tracks from artists including Lauren Daigle, Daft Punk, Charlotte Cardin and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of our favorite 2023 cool pop songs.
Charlotte Cardin, “Looping”
Montreal singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin makes the most of a sample of Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were,” and her own vocal loops, on a track that turns the phrases that haunt us through mental repetition into a literal refrain. Created with Mr. Hudson, Felix Joseph and Jason Brando, “Looping” fits into the soulful pop tradition that made a mark on top 40 radio near the beginning of the 2010s, but the songwriting makes Cardin’s obsessions sound thoroughly modern. – Jason Lipshutz
Victoria Anthony, “New Disaster”
The title track of Victoria Anthony’s just-released sophomore album captures a delightfully familiar teen-hang scenario: after breaking her best friend’s phone and realizing it’s time to head back to her house, the Vancouver native lingers a little too long with the wrong partner, knowing it’s a mistake but being okay with making it. “New Disaster” speeds ahead with a light pop-punk touch, as Anthony commits to her course of action with youthful energy and plenty of hooks. – J. Lipshutz
Becky Hill & Lewis Thompson, “Side Effects”
A wondrous dance song like “Side Effects” isn’t the least bit surprising when considering Becky Hill’s track record: the UK house mainstay has been scoring hits for nearly a decade, and her voice is pristinely attuned to this type of kinetic energy. Working with British producer Lewis Thompson, Hill wields her power comfortably on “Side Effects”: belting with restraint on the pre-chorus, racing alongside the beat on the hook, and injecting every stray thought about an ex with roof-rattling emotion. – J. Lipshutz
Kamille feat. Nile Rodgers, “Muscle Memory”
Part of the fun of first listening to “Muscle Memory,” the new disco strut from British multi-hyphenate Kamille, is waiting for Nile Rodgers’ main guitar riff to arrive, as if the song waits a bit before reaching another gear of groovy euphoria. Once the legend steps in, “Muscle Memory” really takes off: with Kamille guiding the action and Rodgers supporting her direction, the track invites repeat listens so that you can experience that arrival all over again. – J. Lipshutz
Local Natives, “NYE”
Indie-rock staple Local Natives have returned with “NYE,” the lead single off Time Will Wait For No One and a new balancing act for the band, as its members deliver a characteristically breezy melody with more edge and urgency. Member Ryan Hahn recalled in a statement how the song was inspired by his own wedding, during which the band continued its tradition of performing at one another’s nuptials. Once Hahn’s bandmates started to play a song by The Strokes, “I thought we had to do a fast and wild song — and ‘NYE’ was born.” — Lyndsey Havens
Lauren Daigle, “Ego”
2023 is a major year for Lauren Daigle: fresh off a label deal with Atlantic Records, the Contemporary Christian Music star has now released the first half of her two-volume self-titled album, filled with songs that highlight her brand of personal pop and soulful roots. “Ego” is situated in the sweet spot of Daigle’s register, as she sings in a low and cautionary tone: “Have we lost who we are to the pressure / Trading souls for the sake of the pleasure / I’m done wrestling with my ego / Lord knows it all feels so hollow.” — L.H.
Beverlee, “I Am a Window”
“Don’t have to open all up baby, go slow,” sings Beverlee on new single “I Am a Window.” With its playful rhythms, plinky synths and a recurrent siren, this ode to finding balance in a relationship (which comes with a “lesbian reimagining of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” music video) is an irresistible slice of quirky queer pop, reminiscent of Tune-Yards, from the L.A.-based singer-songwriter. – Joe Lynch
Tucker Nichol, “Long Story Short”
Juxtaposing sensual R&B vibes with blunt lyrical kiss-offs (“to make a long story short, I can’t stand you”), “Long Story Short” finds up-and-comer Tucker Nichol expertly demonstrating that you can move on from a toxic relationship while still feeling yourself. – J. Lynch
Daft Punk feat. Julian Casablancas and The Voidz, “Infinity Repeating”
Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories turns 10 this month, and to celebrate, the defunct French duo released a deluxe edition of the album featuring several demos from the vault — including the Julian Casablancas and The Voidz collaboration, “Infinity Repeating.” While the original version of the album will cause fans to draw comparisons to “Instant Crush,” “Repeating” serves as its jazzier B-side: Casablancas languidly sings over hi-hat drum beats and trinkling synth keys as he reflects on the fickle nature of humans. – Starr Bowenbank
Albert Hammond Jr. feat. Matt Helders and Steve Stevens, “Thoughtful Distress”
Albert Hammond Jr. rolled out the first half of his fifth studio album, Melodies on Hiatus, last week, and of its nine tracks, “Thoughtful Distress,” serves as a delightful surprise. Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders and Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens teamed up with The Strokes member on the song, helping to flesh out its simmering yet groovy instrumental as Hammond Jr. plays tug of war with the object of his affection. – S.B.
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Jonas Brothers are back for more summer fun, Lil Durk and J. Cole turn contemplative, and Shakira tries to continue her hot streak. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Jonas Brothers, The Album
Happiness Begins was, for all intents and purposes, Jonas Brothers’ comeback album, a wildly successful return in 2019 after a 10-year gap between full-lengths that brought the trio to the top of the Hot 100 for the first time and launched a long-running, mega-selling arena tour. Four years later, The Album smartly does not try to recapture lightning in a bottle: instead of trying to manufacture another “Sucker,” the project moves briskly across shared ideas and throwback musical interests, as songs like “Waffle House,” “Summer Baby” and “Montana Sky” function like retro FM radio offerings stuffed with warm harmonies. The JoBros have little to prove at this point in their careers, and the looseness of The Album seems to telegraph: this is where the real fun begins.
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
“All my life, they been trying to keep me down,” a choir of children sings on the new Lil Durk/J. Cole team-up “All My Life,” a nod to the doubt that both rappers faced from hip-hop gatekeepers as they evolved their careers over the past decade-plus. Instead of a straightforward proved-the-haters-wrong anthem, Durk and Cole wisely expand their shared focus on the track, with Durk lamenting the systemic issues that forced him to turn to rap as a form of survival, and Cole sounding haunted by the violence that too often pervades his world.
Shakira, “Acróstico”
Casual fans might regard “Acróstico,” the tender new single from Shakira, as a heat check from the Colombian superstar, considering the monumental success she’s already achieved this year with her Bizarrap collaboration “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53” and Karol G duet “TQG” both hitting the top 10 of the Hot 100. Yet Shakira has spent her entire mastering this sort of piano ballad as powerhouse vocal display: “Acróstico” shimmers with restrained production and technically dazzling emotion, as Shakira follows a pair of ostentatious team-ups with a gorgeously stripped-down solo showcase.
Bailey Zimmerman, Religiously. The Album
Bailey Zimmerman’s Leave the Light On EP, featuring his smash hit “Rock and a Hard Place,” is barely six months old at this point, but considering the commercial breakthrough that the country singer-songwriter has experienced since its release, it’s little surprise that his debut album has promptly arrived in time for summer streaming. Fortunately, Religiously. The Album finds cohesion in Zimmerman’s songwriting: the Illinois native supplements his husky drawl with phrases that cut right to the listener’s core, whether he’s asking rhetorical questions (“Fix’n To Break”), setting a dimly lit scene (“You Don’t Want That Smoke”), or asserting the “broken roads that I’m tryin’ to mend” (“Where It Ends”).
BTS, “The Planet”
A soundtrack single from the action-adventure animated film Bastions, “The Planet” marks a welcome check-in from BTS as the world-conquering K-pop group continues its break from group activities. And while it remains to be seen how much the BTS members can actively promote the new track, “The Planet” sounds like a hit regardless of the marketing plan: a snappy electro-pop track with a pogoing beat and playful vocal performances from all of the members, the song contains the hooks and tempo to highlight several summer playlists.
Lauren Daigle, Lauren Daigle
Nearly five years have elapsed between Lauren Daigle’s 2018 album Look Up Child, which turned the singer-songwriter into one of the most successful artists in contemporary Christian music in recent memory, and this year’s self-titled follow-up, during which Daigle signed a new label deal with Atlantic Records, teamed up with veteran producer Mike Elizondo and generally pushed her artistry into several exciting new directions. Instead of doubling down on the stately balladry of her breakthrough hits, Daigle explores ‘60s pop, folk, jazz and R&B on the project, creating a fantasia of inspiration powered by her mammoth vocal takes.
Jonas Brothers fans had to wait four long years for a new album — although, that’s nothing compared to the ten-year gap between 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times and the band’s 2019 comeback record Happiness Begins. Nevertheless, Friday (May 12) certainly gives major cause for celebration, the trio’s long-awaited sixth studio record The Album […]