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10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Alec Benjamin, Noah Cyrus, 100 Gecs & More
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.
These 10 tracks from artists including Alec Benjamin, Noah Cyrus, 100 Gecs, Caroline Polachek, Chloe George 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 all 10.
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Oliver Sim, “Sensitive Child (Soulwax Remix)”
A standout track from Hideous Bastard, the recent solo album from The xx’s Oliver Sim, becomes an enthralling, extended groove as Soulwax turns the shaggy rock of “Sensitive Child” into a thumping dance scorcher. The legendary dance group zeroes in on the refrain “I can feel it! When we kiss!,” and grounds Sim’s ethereal vocal take with heaps of percussion; the remix is almost six minutes long but could have been twice that length without growing the least bit stale. – Jason Lipshutz
Alec Benjamin, “Paper Crown”
The original version of Alec Benjamin’s delicate sway-along “Paper Crown” was released on his Narrated for You mixtape in 2018, and has since become a fan favorite that the singer-songwriter decided to retool as a year-end treat. The new edition of “Paper Crown” is marked by its clean production and Benjamin’s earnest delivery, which made him stand out upon the song’s original release and has helped him gain a sizable fan base in the years since. – J. Lipshutz
Eaves Wilder, “Morning Rain”
Plenty of schools are about to go on holiday break, but before that, London-based singer-songwriter Eaves Wilder has released a striking new single about being frustrated by returning to class when all she wants to do is make music in her bedroom. “Morning Rain” has a lived-in quality that nods to Wilder’s real-life experiences, with melancholic harmonies cascading over wandering piano chords and a despondent kick drum. – J. Lipshutz
Whenyoung, “Unchained”
Irish duo Whenyoung make songs that are both mysterious and wholly engrossing — witness “Unchained,” a haunting collection of hooks and fuzzed-out guitar that possesses some dissonance underneath its surface throughout its run time. The electro-pop lane that Whenyoung occupy is crowded, but a song like “Unchained” has enough intriguing details to make the group one to watch in 2023. – J. Lipshutz
Noah Cyrus, “Set for Life”
A best new artist nominee at this year’s Grammys, Noah Cyrus is back with an expanded version of her debut full-length, The Hardest Part. New track “Set For Life” is a lush, romantic slice of singer-songwriter pop in the vein of Carly Simon with light Lana Del Rey undertones. – Joe Lynch
$uicideboy$ and Germ, “My Swisher Sweet, but My Sig Sauer”
On “My Swisher Sweet, but My Sig Sauer,” latest collab between $uicideboy$ and Germ, $crim and Ruby da Cherry bring a percolating combination of attitude and insecurity to a lo-fi but busy trap production with a spaced-out guitar riff, a Star Trek sample and Middle Eastern flavoring. – J. Lynch
Mynolia, “All Things Heavy”
Mynolia’s “All Things Heavy” is like a comforting cuddle, as the folk singer’s inviting voice floats over the folky, mostly acoustic production. Also the title track off the artist’s debut album, “All Things Heavy” proves that sometimes the softest moments can make a big impact. — Lyndsey Havens
Chloe George, “Sunny D”
Built around and amplified by a crunchy chorus of harmonized “oohs,” alt-pop singer Chloe George confidently shows her range on “Sunny D.” Delivering more polished verses with Ariana Grande-like melodies right alongside grungier riffs, the song is a shining example of what an artist who contains multitudes — and isn’t afraid to explore them — can create. — L.H.
Caroline Polachek, “Welcome To My Island”
Caroline Polacheck is back — and with a vengeance. On “Welcome To My Island” the pop star embraces the feminine and ferocious kicking off with swooping ethereal notes reminiscent of a siren song and before evolving into booming, arena-ready synths. The lyrics, according to Polachek, explore “conflict and frustration” as the tension sets the tone for her forthcoming album, Desire I Want To Turn Into You. – Starr Bowenbank
100 Gets, “Torture Me (feat. Srillex)”
After taking a short break following April’s “Doritos and Fritos,” 100 Gecs — the duo of Laura Les and Dylan Brady — enlist Skrillex on “Torture Me,” an amalgamation of nightcore, emo, hyperpop and rap. Les and Brady’s delivery of the song’s many questions — “Do you wanna see me bleed?/ Do you wanna torture me?/ Do you wanna see me cry?” — complements the anguish well, and allows the experimental instrumentation to shine. – S.B.
Latin Music Stars Who Have Their Own 2022 World Cup TV Spots
We are just days away from finding out who the 2022 World Cup winner will be. By now, soccer aficionados who religiously tune in to watch a match might have come across a few Latin music stars on television or social media — such as Luis Fonsi and Ozuna — where they flaunt their Copa Mundial pride in 15- or 30-second ads.
With the quarter-finals just around the corner on Friday, Dec. 9, Billboard is celebrating fútbol by compiling some of our favorite 2022 soccer-themed ads.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Nov. 20 with host nation Qatar’s tournament opener against Ecuador. A total of 32 teams, representing different countries, have participated. Argentina, Croatia, England, France, and the Netherlands have already qualified for the quarter-finals round. In the end, only one team will be crowned the World Cup champion on Dec. 18.
Until then, see which Latin music stars have appeared in their own World Cup spots.
Danna Paola
A month before the World Cup officially began, Coca-Cola and Universal Music Group recruited three of its label artists to give Queen’s 1986 hit “A Kind of Magic” a new twist. Part of its “Believing Is Magic” campaign in Latin America, see the new version by Egyptian rapper Felukah, soulful Saudi Arabian singer-songwriter Tamtam and Mexican pop star Danna Paola above.
Luis Fonsi
Metro by T-Mobile has also hopped on the soccer train with its very own TV spot featuring Puerto Rican pop star Fonsi. Promoting the company’s 5G tablet, Fonsi chants “fiestas olé olé” on the streets as bystanders watch the game on the device.
Ozuna
Ozuna, who also forms part of the official FIFA World Cup soundtrack, teamed up with Coca-Cola Puerto Rico for limited-edition collectible cans, with 14 different designs representing some of the participating countries. In addition, the initiative will promote the development of sports on the island by allocating a donation of $50,000 for the rehabilitation of soccer fields in San Juan.
Prince Royce
Also in the fútbol spirit is Dominican bachata star, who teamed up with Google Pixel for a vibrant ad. In the clip, featuring a cameo by iconic Colombian soccer star Carlos “El Pipe” Valderrama, Royce is watching all things World Cup on the Pixel 7. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what team you’re rooting for, soccer is for all of us,” he posted on his YouTube channel.
Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams Inspires Viral TikTok Dance to Lady Gaga’s ‘Bloody Mary’ | Billboard News
“Bloody Mary,” one of Lady Gaga‘s 2011 ‘Born This Way’ deep cuts, has resurfaced and gone viral in the past few days thanks to a new TikTok trend of folks using it to recreate Wednesday Addams’ standout dance scene from Netflix’s new series ‘Wednesday’ starring Jenna Ortega in the title role.
Kelly Clarkson Forecasts a Torrent of Testosterone With The Weather Girls Cover: Watch
Grab your umbrellas because while it may be December, Kelly Clarkson‘s forecast calls for the very best kind of rain. The pop star opened her talk show on Monday (Dec. 5) by blazing through “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls.
“Humidity is rising, barometer’s getting low/ According to all sources, the street’s the place to go/ ‘Cause tonight for the first time, just about half past 10/ For the first time in history, it’s gonna start raining men,” she sang before belting out the track’s famous refrain of “It’s raining men, hallelujah it’s raining men!”
Originally released as the lead single off The Weather Girls’ 1982 album Success, “It’s Raining Men” became a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart — and bonafide gay anthem — that October. Also peaking at No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100, the testosterone-soaked track eventually received a Grammy nomination in the now-defunct best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals category.
Since the start of December, Clarkson has invited both Dolly Parton and Jimmy Fallon to her studio to duet on, respectively, “9 to 5” and Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” Other recent Kellyoke picks by America’s original Idol include Lady Gaga’s Chromatica-era lead single “Stupid Love,” “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage, “Dream a Little Dream of Me” as recorded by Mama Cass with The Mamas and the Papas and more.
Plus, the erstwhile coach of The Voice and Ariana Grande also dropped a live recording of “Santa, Can’t You Hear Me,” their 2021 Christmas collab, just in time for the holiday season.
Watch Clarkson power through “It’s Raining Men” below.
SZA Reveals ‘S.O.S’ Tracklist Featuring Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott & More
SZA is just days away from unveiling her long-awaited new album, S.O.S, and the star added to the anticipation on Monday (Dec. 5) by dropping the star-studded tracklist.
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“Which version for back tracklist?” she tweeted alongside two separate creatives for the 23-track list, which is scribbled in white font on a photo of SZA laying on the ground, oiled up with her underwear on display. The upcoming album has a number of guest features including Don Toliver on “Used,” Phoebe Bridgers on “Ghost in the Machine,” Travis Scott on “Open Arms” and Ol’ Dirty Bastard on “Forgiveless.”
Over the weekend, the TDE singer-songwriter also debuted a new song, “Blind,” from the upcoming set while serving as the musical guest on the Keke Palmer-hosted Saturday Night Live. She also performed her recent viral single “Shirt,” which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early November.
SZA recently covered Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue. In the cover story, she questioned her longevity in music and where she sees her career going forward. “I feel like music, in this capacity, I don’t see longevity,” SZA admitted. “I like to create, I like to write, I like to sing, and I like to share. But I don’t know if chasing after superstardom or whatever I’m supposed to be doing right now is sustainable for me or for anybody. I’mma take a good swing at it, and I’mma give ’em my absolute best.”
S.O.S follows the star’s 2017 debut, Ctrl, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and featured hits like “Love Galore,” “Broken Clocks” and “The Weekend.”
Paramore Is Playing a One-Night Only Album Release Show at the Grand Ole Opry House
Paramore has tacked on a special date to its 2023 arena tour. On Monday (Dec. 5), bandmates Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro announced an album release show in Nashville to celebrate the release of their sixth LP, This Is Why.
“Album Release Show. Nashville. Feb 6 2023,” the group tweeted along with a poster for the show, which revealed that it will take place at the Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry, and will include support from Louis Prince.
Fans hoping to secure tickets to attend the Nashville show will need to act fast. Presale signup via AXS’ Fair Ticketing system starts now and goes through Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 10 p.m. local time. Fans who have been granted presale access through email confirmation can purchase tickets before the general public, starting Thursday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. local time through 10 p.m. local time. Presale access does not guarantee tickets. General public onsale starts on Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. local time on paramore.net.
The Nashville concert date adds on to Paramore’s already-stacked list of shows for 2023. After performing a set on Feb. 9 for the Bud Light Music Music Fest, the band will head to South America for a series of dates in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and more in March, before going to the United Kingdom in April, and heading back to the United States for shows in May through August.
The tour will follow the Feb. 10 release of Paramore’s sixth studio album This Is Why, the band’s first LP in almost six years. The record’s lead single — which doubles as the title track — dropped in September.
The “This Is Why” era comes after Paramore took a nearly five-year hiatus from releasing music and performing. The trio made their official return to touring this fall with a run of intimate North American shows, their first circuit since 2017’s After Laughter Tour.
See Paramore’s album release show announcement below.
Madison Square Garden Resets Year-End Venue Revenue Record Thanks to Shows by Harry Styles, Billy Joel
In the first full year of tracking since the pandemic, New York’s Madison Square Garden (MSG) returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s year-end Top Venues (15,001+ capacity) chart. But more than that, MSG is the highest-grossing venue of any size or shape, eclipsing all stadiums, arenas, theaters and clubs. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Madison Square Garden hosted 124 shows during the tracking period, combining to $241.4 million and 1.8 million tickets.
For those following Billboard’s monthly Boxscore charts, MSG’s No. 1 finish shouldn’t be a huge surprise. The arena led the monthly venue chart in February, August and September, the last of which was a record-setter for the biggest one-month sum for a venue since the monthly rankings launched in early 2019. MSG’s 22 September shows raked in a combined $64.3 million.
MSG appeared on the 10-position chart for 10 of the year’s 12 months, only missing in January and March. Otherwise, including its three months at No. 1, it spent half of the year in the top three.
With 124 shows, MSG’s calendar was packed. Still, some heavy hitters can take some credit for its ultimate triumph. Harry Styles, No. 1 on the year-end Top Boxscores chart, led the charge with his mammoth 15-show residency. The shows collectively grossed $63.1 million and sold 277,000 tickets between Aug. 20 and Sept. 21, a key factor in the venue’s monthly wins.
And while they are regarded as individual engagements, Billy Joel’s ongoing residency continued with 11 shows during the tracking year – one show in each month except for January, during a largely dark period amid the Omicron wave. His shows combined to $29.6 million and 205,000 tickets sold. That means that Styles and Joel’s 26 shows accounted for $92.7 million, or 39% of the venue’s total annual gross.
Following Styles atop the heap, Phish ($8.8 million), Rage Against the Machine ($8.2 million), Elton John ($6.9 million) and Genesis ($5.3 million) round out MSG’s top five grossing concert engagements of the year with multi-show runs. Based on attendance, Styles leads Phish (76,000), Rage Against the Machine (71,000), John Mulaney (42,000) and Luke Combs (36,000).
MSG became the first venue to earn more than $200 million in a year when it closed out 2019 with $221.7 million. The arena reaches new heights three years later, but considering 2020 and 2021 were shortened due to COVID, its own record re-set is essentially immediate. The $241.4 million gross is the largest for any venue in a single year.
While Boxscore charts date back to the late ‘80s, year-end venue charts launched in 1999. In those 24 years, MSG has led the charge among venues with a capacity of 15,001 or more in 14 of those years. After starting at No. 6 in 1999, MSG was No. 1 for nine consecutive years from 2000-2008. It then floated around the top 10 while London’s O2 Arena assumed the throne from 2009-2016, falling one year short of MSG’s record ‘00s-era reign.
MSG regained the title for 2017-2020, slipped to No. 2 last year behind Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, and returns to the summit for 2022.
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Jingles Back to No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 Chart
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” dashes from No. 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, adding a ninth total week atop the tally since the list launched in 2020.
Plus, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” holds for an eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.
Meanwhile, holiday classics from Brenda Lee, Wham! and Bobby Helms resurge to the Global 200’s top 10.
The two global charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Billboard Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
Carey’s ‘Christmas’ Sleighs Competition on Global 200
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” blasts 5-1 on the Billboard Global 200, with 64.5 million streams (up 47%) and 8,000 sold (up 62%) worldwide in the Nov. 25-Dec. 1 tracking week. The 1994 modern holiday classic adds a ninth week at No. 1, after it topped the chart for four weeks each in the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons. Notably, the song leads a week earlier this year, on the chart dated Dec. 10, than in the past two years, as it first hit No. 1 on the Dec. 19, 2020, survey and returned to the top of the chart dated Dec. 18, 2021.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” keeps at No. 2 on the Global 200, following four weeks at No. 1 beginning in October, and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” drops to No. 3 after four weeks at the summit starting in November.
Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” originally released in 1958, bounds 19-4 on the Global 200, after reaching No. 3 in each of the past two holiday seasons, and Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” from 1984, jumps 21-5, after rising to No. 2 over the holidays the past two years. The latter also leaps 27-9 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, where it has likewise peaked at No. 2.
Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” from 1957, roars 23-8, after hitting No. 4 in both the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons.
Smith & Petras Continue Atop Global Excl. U.S.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” adds an eighth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 51 million streams (down 3%) and 5,000 downloads sold (down 10%) in territories outside the U.S. Nov. 25-Dec. 1.
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” holds at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S., after two weeks at No. 1 beginning in November, and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” soars 16-3, with 37.4 million streams (up 53%) and 3,000 sold (up 67%) outside the U.S. The modern carol topped the chart for a week in the 2020 holiday season and for three weeks over last year’s holidays.
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” slips 3-4 on Global Excl. U.S., after hitting No. 2, and Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” holds at No. 5 after reaching No. 4.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 10, 2022) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Dec. 6). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard‘s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
Man Charged in Takeoff’s Killing Says He’s Innocent
HOUSTON (AP) — An attorney for a man accused of fatally shooting rapper Takeoff last month said Monday that the musician’s death outside a Houston bowling alley was a tragedy but that her client says he’s innocent of the crime.
Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, made a brief court appearance in which prosecutors and his defense attorneys agreed to hold a bond reduction hearing on Dec. 14. Clark was arrested on a murder charge last week and is jailed on a $2 million bond.
Clark, handcuffed and dressed in orange jail clothing, did not say anything during Monday’s hearing. Letitia Quinones, one of Clark’s attorneys, told reporters after the hearing that Clark is feeling “nervous and he’s concerned” because “he’s being charged with something that he believes he’s innocent of, so how would anyone do in that type of circumstance?”
Prosecutors declined to comment Monday.
Takeoff, 28, was shot in the head and back as more than 30 people were leaving a private party at the bowling alley. Houston police said at a news conference Friday that the gunfire followed a disagreement over a “lucrative” game of dice around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, but that Takeoff was not involved and was “an innocent bystander.”
Police have said another man and a woman suffered non-life-threatening gunshot injuries, and that at least two people opened fired. Police said investigators are still trying to track down witnesses.
Born Kirsnick Khari Ball, Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the Grammy-nominated rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said last week that investigators didn’t know whether Clark was invited to the party or if he knew Takeoff. Clark works as a DJ, according to court records.
Asked Monday if Clark knew Takeoff, Quinones said, “We really don’t want to go into the facts at this point.”
She said that Takeoff’s death was a “tragedy and it’s happening well too often in our communities.”
“There is a lot of investigation that needs to be done. … So, we just ask that everyone keep an open mind and let the system do its part and let the Constitution do its part and that is, right now he’s innocent until he’s proven guilty,” Quinones said.
Court records indicate Clark was arrested as he was preparing to leave the country for Mexico after getting an expedited passport and that he had a “large amount” of cash.
Quinones said that Clark had been planning to go to Mexico on a vacation but had canceled his trip before his arrest.
“He wasn’t trying to go anywhere,” Quinones said.
Migos first broke through with the massive hit “Versace” in 2013. They had four Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, though Takeoff was not on their multi-week No. 1 hit “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. They put out a trilogy of albums called Culture, Culture II and Culture III, with the first two hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
In the weeks before his death, Takeoff and Quavo put out Only Built for Infinity Links. Takeoff hoped the joint album would build respect for his lyrical abilities, telling the Drink Champs podcast, “It’s time to give me my flowers.”
