Pop
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The crossover of pop queens occurred on Tuesday night (Nov. 21), when Camila Cabello and Olivia Rodrigo spent some quality time together. The duo attended Doja Cat’s concert at Miami’s Kaseya Center, and commemorated the hang with a classic bathroom mirror selfie. See the snap on Cabello’s Instagram Story here before it disappears. Rodrigo is […]
Zara Larsson has come a long way since her debut 2014 studio album, 1 — not only personally, but also artistically.
That’s why her upcoming album Venus feels like a re-introduction. “This is a very solid body of work that I’m very proud of,” she tells Billboard, noting that she isn’t confined by the idea of remaining in one genre. “I find it really hard to stay sonically in one kind of genre. Even though the album is still pop, it sounds a bit more R&B-leaning and also has more just classic pop jams. There are drum patterns and drum beats on some songs and there are also some beautiful strings on most of the songs. So, while there are definitely elements which tie it together, overall, I would just say the real thread throughout the album is just my voice and me telling a story depending on what I’m feeling right now.”
In fact, vulnerability is also a common thread she’s exploring throughout the project, stepping confidently into her own inner goddess by reflecting on who she truly is — hence Venus being her first album release under her own Sommer House label.
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Take her musical reunion with David Guetta, “Oh My Love,” for example. “Into the dark, into the light, baby, I go / Whether it’s wrong, whether it’s right, I will follow / I’ll pay the price, I’ll sacrifice / That’s on my love,” she belts in the chorus, which represents a promise to her younger sister Hanna Larsson that she’ll do anything for her. “Sometimes you’re super happy and no one can stop you, and then other times you’re like, I feel so sad and I feel so broken. You just go through all the emotions,” she says of being human, which is a main theme of the album.
As for reuniting with Guetta seven years after their 2016 collaboration “This One’s For You,” Larsson says being in the studio with the beloved DJ and producer is like spending time with an “old friend.” “I do really love him,” she gushes. “He’s one of the most positive and amazing people that I’ve met in the industry, and he’s always so excited for the stuff that he likes. I just love the song. I think he’s so cool and I’m super happy. It feels like a full circle moment.”
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Guetta is not the only industry veteran Larsson looks up to, mentioning Tinashe, Victoria Monet and Troye Sivan as some of her current inspirations. “They’ve never been cooler, and with every video and every song, the image they’re creating for themselves is getting clearer,” she says. “I just love it. So hopefully, with this album too, I’ll continue to create more of a world with my music.”
She plans to do so not only with her upcoming album, but also with her UK and European tour, which is set to kick off February 16 in Manchester, England, and stretch across Europe before wrapping up on March 16 in Reyjavik, Iceland.
“She’s definitely more dynamic than Poster Girl,” Larsson concludes of Venus. “She is more brave in the sense that she dares to be more personal and emotional, but she’s also just a bit more personal in the sassy, fun way. Like she would say some s—, you know? She’s more playful, but at the same time, more honest.”
Venus is out on February 9. Pre-order the album here.
The whole point of Mariah Carey‘s Merry Christmas One and All! tour is to fill the holiday season with joy and jingling cheer. If that’s the goal, then as far as Jennifer Garner (The Last Thing He Told Me) is concerned it is mission accomplished. The actress posted a short video on her (since expired) […]
It was a love story dedicated to Taylor Swift on Dancing With the Stars Tuesday (Nov. 21). ABC’s long-running ballroom bash featured a night of cha-chas, tangos, rumbas and more set to the pop superstar’s vast category of hits. Before the competition kicked off, Swift herself sent in a video message to encourage the contestants.
“Hey guys! It’s Taylor! I just wanted to say thank you so much for having this me themed night on Dancing With the Stars!” she began happily. “I so wish I could be there to see what you and your amazing choreographers and my friend Mandy Moore have put together. I wish I could be there, but I’m on tour in Brazil, but I’m sending you guys all my love, and best of luck to all the contestants!”
Moore, who is Swift’s lead choreographer for her ongoing Eras Tour, was the guest judge for the evening, joining regulars Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Six remaining pairs competed on Taylor Swift Night. Actress Alyson Hannigan and pro partner Sacha Farber showed off their cha-cha moves to “You Belong With Me” and earned a score of 29 out of 40. Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix and pro Pasha Pashkov did a rumba to “Cruel Summer,” and despite battling back pain, she impressed the judges and got a 37. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach tangoed to “Don’t Blame Me” and redeemed themselves for last week’s lackluster performance, this time snagging a perfect 40. Too Hot to Handle‘s Harry Jowsey rumba’d with Rylee Arnold to “August” for a 30; The Bachelorette’s Charity Lawson tangoed with Artem Chigvintsev to “Look What You Made Me Do” for a 38; and Xochi Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy did a quickstep to “Paper Rings” and earned a 38.
After the competitors delivered a few relay dances for potential extra points, the judges’ scores were combined with fan votes to determine who would be out. The unlucky hoofer this week was Jowsey.
Swift — who is a big fan of the ballroom bash and has previously performed on the show — is currently wrapping up the South American leg of her megahit Eras Tour. She has three remaining shows in Sao Paolo, Brazil, happening Nov. 24-26. After that, she’ll take a quick break before kicking up the international leg of her tour again, starting with concerts in Tokyo in early February.
The 12-time Grammy winner also recently won big at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, earning 10 trophies, including top artist and top female artist. The victories put her in a tie with Drake for the title of winningest artists at the BBMAs, with 39 each. She has also been named Billboard‘s top artist of 2023.
BLACKPINK are K-pop royalty used to playing to massive crowds or adoring fans. But on Tuesday night (Nov. 21) Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa were happy to share the spotlight with some actual nobles when they attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The quartet were the guests of England’s King Charles and Queen Camilla at a glitzy state dinner in honor of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee during their visit to the UK. The Royal Family’s X account posted footage of the King greeting the four women and giving them awards for their roles as advocates at last month’s COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow.
“The King, joined by The President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea, has welcomed @BLACKPINK to Buckingham Palace, as they are awarded Honorary MBEs,” read the statement. “The K-pop band have been awarded the honours in recognition of their role as Advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow.” In the accompanying video, King Charles presents each member with their royal honor as they curtsy and shake the monarch’s hand.
In a second tweet, the four hold up their MBEs and smile alongside the message, “First appointed to the role by the UK Government in January 2021, @BLACKPINK encouraged millions of young people to engage with the global UN climate change conference and the top of climate action. Congratulations to Rosé, Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa!”
The royal account also posted a pic of the band posing with the King and the South Korean president as well as footage of a royal musical regimen performing a BLACKPINK instrumental outside the palace. BLACKPINK were among the more than 170 guests on hand for the event, during which King Charles shouted out the group, while praising the UK’s close relationship with South Korea and the nation’s — and BLACKPINK’s — commitment to increased sustainability, one of Charles’ longtime causes.
“It is especially inspiring to see Korea’s younger generation embrace the cause,” Charles said at the royal gathering also attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton. “I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, better known collectively as BLACKPINK, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.’s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.”
“I can only admire how they can prioritize these vital issues, as well as being global superstars,” Charles added in a speech that also touched the global impact of director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), the Netflix series Squid Game and, of course, BTS. In July, BLACKPINK made history when they became the first South Korean band to headline a major festival in the UK when they took the stage at the BST Hyde Park Festival.
According to Vogue, the always-stylish quartet brought their fashion A-game for the visit, with Jisoo wearing a “black, textured puff-sleeved dress from Christian Dior’s resort 2024 collection, which hails from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s ode to Frida Kahlo,” partnered with a monogrammed Dior top-handle purse. Rosé wore a “black strapless velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline,” matched with a hair bow and a black pointed-toe pump.
Jennie switched it up, contrasting with her bandmates in a simple, long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder “sweet, bridal ensemble” with a black platform sandal and a sparkly clutch. Lisa went neutral in beaded tulle “aquamarine dress with a regal, cape dress from Georges Hobeika,” accessorized with a metallic gold platform shoe and diamond necklace.
It was the second time this week BLACKPINK met with dignitaries, following on the heels of Rosé joining U.S. First Lady Jill Biden for a mental health event at Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, CA.
See footage and photos from the visit below.
🌎 First appointed to the role by the UK Government in January 2021, @BLACKPINK encouraged millions of young people to engage with the global UN climate change conference and the topic of climate action.Congratulations to Rosé, Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa! 👏 pic.twitter.com/odjv3oRKxZ— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2023
영국 국왕은 윤 대통령과 김 여사가 계신 자리에서 버킹엄 궁전의 특별한 손님인 @BLACKPINK 에게 대영제국 훈장(MBE)을 수여했습니다.블랙핑크는2021년 영국 글래스고에서 열린COP26의 홍보대사로 활동한 공로를 인정받아 이 훈장을 수여받았습니다. pic.twitter.com/MTbVejBl8f— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2023
All the members of BTS are now either preparing to enlist in the South Korean military or already doing their mandatory service. The K-pop supergroup’s label, Big Hit, announced on Tuesday (Nov. 21) that the final four singers awaiting the start of their enlistment — RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — have begun the […]
50 Cent had a very special, surprise guest for the fans at his “Final Lap” show at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night (Nov. 21). During his performance a giant box on stage flashed the message “there’s a monster in this box,” as the familiar strains of Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You” filled the arena […]
Too much Taylor Swift clearly isn’t enough as Dancing With The Stars paid tribute to the pop superstar with an all-TayTay special.
After remembering the late Whitney Houston on last week’s show, celebrity competitors this time strutted their stuff on the DWTS hardwood for “A Celebration of Taylor Swift.”
Leading the way once again was Jason Mraz who, along with his partner Daniella Karagach, enjoyed a bounce-back routine, an Argentine Tango to “Don’t Blame Me.”
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Mraz has impressed throughout the competition, now in its 10th season, though his performance last week didn’t hit his usual high marks. For a moment there, Mraz confesses he was concerned about an early exit. On Tuesday night (Nov. 21), the pair nailed it, earning a perfect score of 40 from the judging panel.
“Reputation restored,” remarked judge Bruno Tonioli, staying firmly in TayTay theme.
More points were up for grabs, as the teams entered the “Relay Dances.” Mraz and Karagach would face off against Bachelorette star Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev, with a cha cha to Swift’s “Lavender Haze,” remixed by Felix Jaehn.
There could only be one winner, and that was two-time Grammy Award winner Mraz and Karagach, as the pair bagged the additional three points for a perfect night out — and a spot at the top of the leaderboard.
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Earlier, the DWTS professional dance squad got matters moving with a performance to “Love Story” choreographed by guest judge Mandy Moore (not to be confused with the singer and actor), lead choreographer on Swift’s The Eras Tour.
“I wish I could be there but I’m on tour in Brazil,” Swift said in a clip that aired at the top of episode. “I’m sending you guys all my love and best of luck to all the contestants.”
DWTS is simulcast live across both ABC and Disney+ in local time zones and the next day on Hulu.
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There wasn’t much luck for Too Hot to Handle’s Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold, who were eliminated from DWTS with the semifinals in sight.
DWTS is simulcast live across both ABC and Disney+ in local time zones and the next day on Hulu.
Like leaves falling in an autumnal park, Ed Sheeran has begun dropping the official music videos from his latest LP, Autumn Variations.
Over time, Sheeran will share 14 new music videos in total, all created by Sheerios, the culmination of a global content, for which more than 4,000 music videos were entered from 75 countries.
Sheeran handpicked the winners, representing 14 different countries: Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, The Netherlands, United States, Brazil, Germany, Japan, France, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mexico, and India.
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The project, reads a statement from Warner Music, “continues the execution of Ed’s initial vision for ‘Autumn Variations’ as an album for the fans and by the fans as he spotlights their artistry.”
Today, the British pop superstar begins the drip feed with music videos for “Midnight” by Meg Igarashi from Japan; “That’s On Me” by Brazilian fan Beatriz Santamaria Pinha; and “American Town” by Michael Lamhang of the United Sates.
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“I made Autumn Variations for the fans and I really wanted to bring them into the fold on this album,” comments Sheeran in a statement. “I was keen to see how they interpreted the music, so I decided to ask my fans from across the world to make videos for each album track.”
The remaining music videos will roll out on YouTube over the coming weeks, reps say.
“There were so many wonderful submissions,” Sheeran adds, giving a shout out to “each and every fan who made these videos so special. I love them and hope you will too.”
Produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner, Autumn Variations extended Sheeran’s perfect albums chart records in the U.K. and Australia to seven, all consecutive (including two in 2023).
In the United States, the set gave Sheeran his sixth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart.
Sheeran has wrapped his The Mathematics Tour for 2023, a run that saw the Englishman smash attendance records on multiple continents, including East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (twice). The Asia leg of his trek will kick off in January 2024.
Sheeran kept the fans in the loop with the release of Autumn Variations (Fan Living Room Sessions), a compilation of recordings from 14 fan visits, which can be streamed in full below.
Check out the lineup of “Autumn Variation” fan-created official music videos below.“Magical” – Edel Temple (Ireland)“England” – Marlon Cang (U.K.)“Amazing” – Elder (Australia)“Plastic Bag” – Laura Days (Italy)“Blue” – Renee Schuurmans (The Netherlands)“American Town” – Michael Lamhang (U.S.)“That’s On Me” – Beatriz Santamaria Pinha (Brazil)“Page” – Gordian Schroedter (Germany)“Midnight” – Meg Igarashi (Japan)“Spring” – Ciara Griot (France)“Punchline” – Evan Heasman [Soju Shorts] (New Zealand)“When Will I Be Alright” – Karina Yang (Taiwan)“The Day I Was Born” – Mike Bautista (Mexico)“Head >Heels” – Anshul Mittal & Kanika Gupta [Digiscape Media] (India)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — when Billboard unveils the year-end charts! And this year, for the first time in a long time, the chart unveiling coincided with the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. If you tuned in Sunday, you know that Morgan Wallen was our big winner, taking home 11 prizes, while […]