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How can you miss them if they don’t go away? That’s essentially what BTS‘ RM said during a Weverse livestream over the weekend, during which the singer promised ARMY that the K-pop supergroup is on target to regroup right on schedule.
After reading a heartfelt letter from an ARMY member expressing how much the group has meant to their fans over the past decade, RM offered some assurance, and hope, that things will be back to normal soon.
“I hope our songs and solo projects could be another reminder to you guys of how important ARMY was, has been and will be in our lives at the same time,” he read, speaking in English after listening to the ARMY-created tribute song “Love Letters” during the chat. “I hope that it is a reminder that spring will come again. Please continue to keep BTS alive in your hearts, in this moment and perhaps throughout your entire life.”
After sharing the ARMY thoughts, RM got personal, noting that band mate Suga talked “a lot” about the feelings he had during his 28-show solo run this year and how much love he felt from ARMY, who are patiently “waiting for the reunion in 2025”; BTS’ seven members announced last year that they were taking a group break to focus on solo projects while the men prepare to take part in South Korean’s mandatory military service requirement.
“Even though we’re doing our solo activities on our own… what I’m thinking these days when I’m doing my solo projects is… this is just like a vacation,” RM said of his solo efforts, which include his recent hot trending songs No. 1 collab with Colde on “Don’t Ever Say Love Me.”
“To get back to where I was, which was BTS and ARMY. All the solo [activities] is just a journey,” he said. “But it is a very important journey for Chapter 2. But it’s a journey to get back home safe.”
And then RM uttered the words all of ARMY have been waiting to hear.
“Eventually, when we get back and reunite together in 2025… [we will] be back for sure. We’ll be joining together again. And that will be in 2025.”
During the 40-minute video chat, RM also commented on his buzz cut (“no reason” he said when someone asked why he’d shorn his locks) and busted out some dance moves, admitting that he’s “scared” he’s going to forget the group’s choreo if he doesn’t keep practicing. He also munched on a candy bar and fessed up that he doesn’t really watch soccer unless it’s the World Cup.
So far, Jin and J-Hope have entered the military and Suga is expected to go next.
Watch RM’s live chat below.
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Beyoncé showed some love for Lizzo during her Renaissance gig in Atlanta on Monday night (Aug. 14). After previously appearing to leave the “About Damn Time” singer out of the lyrics to the “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)” earlier on the tour after Lizzo was hit with a lawsuit from three former dancers accusing her of creating a hostile environment and sexual harassment, Bey slotted Lizzo back in and added a shout out during the last of three gigs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Lizzo. I love you, Lizzo!” Beyoncé shouted during the performance of the song that finds her ticking off a list of legendary female artists including Bessie Smith, her sister Solange, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill and many others.
Just a week after being hit with the lawsuit from the former dancers — which also included allegations that they were pressured to touch nude dancers during a live sex show — the lawyer representing the three dancers said last week that “we have received at least six inquiries from other people with similar stories since we filed the complaint.”
The original complaint covering alleged harassment that allegedly took place between 2021-2023, was filed on behalf of dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez. It accused Lizzo (born Melissa Jefferson) and her Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. of a wide range of legal wrongdoing, including racial and religious discrimination. They also included allegations that the captain of Lizzo’s dance team, Shirlene Quigley, forced her religious beliefs on the plaintiffs and took repeated actions that made them uncomfortable, including commenting on their virginity and simulating oral sex on a banana in front of them.
Lizzo denied the initial allegations in a statement, in which she wrote that they are “false” and “sensationalized stories,” adding, “I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.”
She said that the allegations that she and her company created a hostile work environment were “unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.” Beyoncé had pointedly left Lizzo’s name out of the live performance of the “Break My Soul” remix during an Aug. 1 show in Massachusetts, repeating Badu’s name four times instead; she reportedly slotted the singer’s call-out back into the song during a show in Maryland on Aug. 7. Bey’s mother, Tina Knowles, said the apparent Lizzo leave out was not done on purpose, pointing out that the singer also left out former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland’s name that night, while fans have noted that not every name in the remix makes it into every performance.
Lizzo has kept a low profile since the lawsuit was filed and one of the only shows she had on her upcoming roster, a headlining slot at this year’s Made in America festival in Philly (Sept. 2-3), was pulled last week when organizers unexpectedly cancelled the event — which was also slated to feature SZA as a headliner — due to “severe circumstances outside of production control.”
Check out the Lizzo moment below.
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 No Rome, Sufjan Stevens, Trina, Whitney 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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No Rome, “Deep Diving”
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Alternative artist No Rome is gearing up for the release of his Blueboy Must Die mixtape (Sept. 8) and “Deep Diving” is the latest sampling. Though just one single, it can best be described as a sonic smorgasbord, abandoning structure and prioritizing experimentation — a risk that pays off in the form of fluttering beats, acoustic riffs and thumping, brassy live instrumentation. — Lyndsey Havens
Jonny Yukon, “Jealous”
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Johnny Yukon’s writing resume — having penned tracks for Lil Wayne, Camila Cabello and more — reflects the range of influences on his own sound, too. With a discography rooted in R&B and hip-hop, Yukon’s interest in left-of-center pop peeks out on singles like “Moment” and “Whispers.” But his latest, “Jealous,” takes a sharper turn toward psych-pop, creating a hazy daydream, much like a Tame Impala song — no jealousy, just flattery here. — L. Havens
Turnstile, BADBADNOTGOOD & Blood Orange, “Alien Love Call”
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Proving just how versatile Turnstile truly is, the Baltimore punk band teamed with Canadian instrumental band BADBADNOTGOOD for a collaborative EP, New Heart Designs, that reimagines three songs off the former’s 2021 album Glow On. And while the reworked “Alien Love Call,” which features Blood Orange on both versions, strays the least from the original, the assist makes it feel even more ethereal — and drives home just how surprising the song was for a punk act to begin with. — L. Havens
Whitney, “Kansas”
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“Kansas” arrives as a surprise gift for fans of Whitney, as the band has been performing the track live to positive reactions for some time. The duo (Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich) has said “Kansas” is what ultimately morphed into “FTA” (off its 2019 album Forever Turned Around), and only recently did they decide to finish it as originally imagined. The result is a return to the raw and folky sound crucial to Whitney’s core, making it the perfect release after the act’s poppier third album Spark. — L. Havens
Mette, “Van Gogh”
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Rising R&B-pop artist Mette may be best known for starring in N.E.R.D. and Rihanna’s “Lemon” music video, but as she continues to release singles at a steady clip, that soon could change. Her latest, the groovy and playful “Van Gogh” — on which she asserts, “I could be Van Gogh if you’d be my muse” — arrives with news of her signing to RCA, signaling that this is just the beginning. — L. Havens
Daisy World, “ur soggy”
As the lead single off a forthcoming debut album from newcomer Daisy World, “ur soggy” highlights the best of what she has to offer: confident sass delivered via gorgeous vocal runs and harmonies. And while the R&B-pop artist calls it a “silly little diss track” about rejection, when she sounds this smooth, it’s hard to imagine anyone turning her away. — L. Havens
Sufjan Stevens, “So You Are Tired”
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For over two decades, Sufjan Stevens has been able to conjure magic when he picks up an acoustic guitar. “So You Are Tired,” the delicately heartbreaking lead single from upcoming album Javelin, begins with some somber piano, after which Stevens quickly transitions into strumming through his confusion and sadness. “Tired” recalls the intimacy of 2015’s Carrie & Lowell — Javelin is billed as his first true singer-songwriter album since then — but the tapestry of voices that enter the song harks back to early-career triumphs like Seven Swans and Illinois. – Jason Lipshutz
Yeule, “Ghosts”
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Last year, Yeule’s Glitch Princess prodded at human identity with technical prowess and emotional curiosity; ahead of forthcoming album Softscars, they continue to explore those themes, as “Ghosts” adopts the perspective of a spirit looking in on our shared state of being (“If only I could be / Real enough to love,” they lament). Whereas the electro-pop of Glitch Princess was often adamantly experimental, the singer-songwriter sway of “Ghosts” is effective in its simplicity, making complex ideas accessible for a wider audience. – J. Lipshutz
Trina, DreamDoll and Supa Cindy, “Big Mood (Freestyle)“
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The same day Trina hit the stage at Yankee Stadium to celebrate #HipHop50 as part of the show’s Queens of Hip-Hop segment, the Southern rap legend dropped “Big Mood (Freestyle)” to demonstrate she’s still one of Da Baddest B-tches around. A collab with Bronx rapper DreamDoll and media personality Supa Cindy, the track’s subdued piano melody and laid-back beat allows the trio’s effortless yet hard-hitting flows to command your attention on this two-minute rush. – Joe Lynch
Sedona, “Domino”
Indie pop darling Sedona traded in the upbeat tempo of June single “Domino” and reinterpreted the meaning of the song for its acoustic version. The track’s biting lyrics cut even deeper with its drums stripped, with the singer openly discussing the painful dissolution of a relationship and its aftermath. “Taking sides it hurts so bad/ Solid footing just another scam/ Torn open again,” she softly croons on the track’s second verse, before setting up a solid chorus for the rest of the track to float on. – Starr Bowenbank
Ed Sheeran can’t stop reminding fans: “autumn is coming.” And while it’s certainly possible that the pop superstar is just really, really passionate about the fall season, Sheerios are pretty sure that he’s actually teasing the arrival of a new project.
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Let’s back up. Sheeran has been cryptically dropping the phrase “autumn is coming” for a couple weeks now, using it to caption a number of Instagram photos and videos. Funnily enough, one of the pictures was a meme of the musician standing in front of a fall landscape, with all of the leaves replaced with hundreds of pictures of him and his ginger hair.
Then, on Sunday (Aug. 13), the “Bad Habits” singer shared a montage of clips from his time in Minneapolis, where he recently broke U.S. Bank Stadium’s attendance record with his Mathematics Tour. In the caption, he wrote: “Had an absolute blast. Left some clues around the stadium about autumn coming. Did you know autumn is coming?”
While in Minneapolis, Sheeran also worked a shift at the Lego store in Mall of America, where he sang a surprise performance of his 2013 hit “Lego House.” He also passed out his own custom Lego figurine, which wears a shirt reading — you guessed it — “Autumn is coming.”
But that’s not all. Fans also noticed that at his Aug. 5 Kansas City show, Sheeran sported a jersey emblazoned with the number 9 and, in place of his last name, “Autumn.” Then, one week later, at his Minneapolis show, he wore a jersey with the number 29, this time printed with the word “Variations.”
With the potential clues in place, fans online are trying to connect the dots. “Autumn Variations?” theorized one fan on Twitter. “Autumn is coming! 9/29, 29/9 aka September 29?”
“I’m throwing this out there now that Autumn Variations is coming on September 29 based on the clues given by Ed this weekend in Minneapolis,” tweeted another fan.
If fans are correct and Ed’s unconfirmed next album does come out this fall, it’ll be his second LP to drop this year. In May, he released Subtract (stylized “–“), which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
See what Sheerios are making of Ed Sheeran’s “autumn is coming” mantra below:
lego house at the lego store with autumn is coming in lego? he’s having the time of his life LMAO— deka (@mendyoursoull) August 12, 2023
Ed confirmed at the show tonight that Subtract was the last album with his record label. The next one he’s releasing on his own label. A lot less promotion and no single or anything like that for this one. #AutumnIsComing— 🍁Honey Nut Sheerio🍁 (@TheIATeam) August 12, 2023
ed sheeran learned the words “autumn is coming” and never said anything else ever again— sisiii 🦋 (@edshivers_) August 12, 2023
Ed releasing autumn on his own. most likely next month. THIS CAN’T GET ANY BETTER— Ema falls in ♥︎ (@_teddyspics_) August 12, 2023
I’m throwing this out there now that Autumn Variations is coming on September 29 based on the clues given by Ed this weekend in Minneapolis.— Stooph (@St3ffffffffff) August 13, 2023
ed sheeran is so omg autumn variations september 29??? he teased us so much and now maybe we have a confirmation— tere is in the afterglow 🛰️ (@imhighwalls) August 13, 2023
Britney Spears is putting her dance skills to the test with a brand new apparatus. On Sunday (Aug. 13), the “…Baby One More Time” hitmaker revealed that she recently purchased a hot pink dancer pole, and put it to work in a video posted to her Instagram. The clip finds the 41-year old donning a […]
V may be about to embark on his solo career, but that doesn’t mean he can’t bring a buddy with him. In a couple dozen new concept photos previewing his upcoming debut album Layover, the BTS band member costars alongside his pet dog, Yeontan. In some of the snaps, V — real name Kim Tae-hyung […]
Even while chilling in a pub on vacation Jennifer Lopez can’t help being the star of the show. In a video posted by the Taverna Anema e Core (Heart and Soul) in Capri, Italy over the weekend, the singer/actress dazzles the crowd in the crowded bar when she busts into Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 disco anthem […]
Maybe Ed Sheeran is just catching up on all the crummy retail and food service jobs the rest of us did in our 20s by cosplaying as customer service during stops on his massive Mathematics tour. A few weeks ago, he was slinging dogs at Chicago’s legendarily salty Weiner Circle and on Saturday he popped […]
Jung Kook is showing off his sensual side with Calvin Klein. The BTS star appears in the brand’s Fall 2023 campaign focused on confidence, playfulness and, of course, feeling sexy. In the 30-second clip shot by fashion-photographer duo Inez & Vinoodh and soundtracked by Gary Numan‘s 1980 Hot 100 top 10 hit “Cars,” the 25-year-old […]
Dave Grohl loves a long con. And on Saturday night at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco he squared the circle on a joke he’s been telling for much of he Foo Fighters‘ current tour. For months at Foos shows, Grohl has been asking if anyone in the audience knows the lyrics to Michael Bublé‘s bouncy pop ditty “Haven’t Met You Yet” from the crooner’s 2009 Crazy Love album.
Aside from loving an inescapable pop hook, the gag is also a nod to the eclectic resume of drummer Josh Freese, a well-traveled studio and live player who, as luck would have it, did a stint playing for Bublé. And if it even has to be said, yes, Freese played the drums on the studio version of “Haven’t Met You Yet.”
Praising Freese’s lengthy resumé, Grohl had keyboardist Rami Jaffee cue up the springy piano intro to the song. “The last couple shows — I always look out [into the crowd] — someone’s like ‘I know the Bublé song,’ ‘I’ll come up and sing,’ ‘I know the f— Bublé song,’” Grohl said to the audience at the festival in a video of the moment.
“And every time someone f— says they know the song, they don’t know the f— song. Do you know the f— song? Who knows the f— song?,” the excitable Foos leader asked the crowd. Then, spotting a superfan in the crowd with an “I love Bublé” sign, Grohl called him up to the stage. “This motherf–er better know the song! Do you know the song? Because people say they know it but they don’t!”
Spoiler alert: it was the Bubes himself, who smoothly dropped right into the first verse as he took the stage in all-black for the perfectly executed gag with his old pal Freese backing him up. After crooning through the chorus (with some help from the crowd) Grohl admitted, “Okay, this guy’s pretty good. This guy’s pretty good,” before jumping in and asking if he could sing the hook.
Second spoiler alert: Grohl did not sing the word “met” in the chorus, substituting a more graphic lyric.
“Oh my God, it’s Michael Bublé!” Grohl said in shock surprise, explaining that every time they did it on tour people would claim to know the lyrics, but never actually did. “This bad-ass motherf—er, and I’m not even kidding, flew in today from Argentina to f–ing sing that song to you guys,” Grohl said. “‘Cause there’s no such thing as taking a joke too far.”
In a backstage bit posted by Bublé, the ultra-smooth singer announces that he’s finally been asked to join the Foos, to which Dave Grohl says, “f–k you Bublé!”
Watch the videos below.