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Though Madonna‘s 40th anniversary Celebration dates in the U.S. have been postponed due to the serious bacterial infection that landed her in a New York ICU last month, the singer made it out to Beyoncé‘s show in New Jersey on Sunday in one of her first public appearances since the hospitalization. Video posted by fans […]
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 Tori Kelly, Cafuné, LE SSERAFIM, Yeek 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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Yeek, “$$$$”
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With sparse 808s and a “cash flow” vocal loop at the top of the song (not to mention the title), “$$$$” seems like it’s gonna be a midtempo hip-hop song — until Yeek’s moody, velvety voice transports it to Weeknd-adjacent territory, fit for late-night cruising down empty streets. Befitting the genre-liberated musician, “$$$$” closes out with a dynamic drum break, which nicely sets up the bedroom alt-rock vibes of the single’s B-side “ETA2” feat. Paris Texas. – JOE LYNCH
Ethan Tasch, “Shell”
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Ethan Tasch began his career as an indie-folk artist in 2020, most notably releasing breakout single “Room.” Now, as he prepares for the release of his debut album this month, the artist’s latest offers a sneak peek into the project. On the midtempo “Shell,” Tasch sings of being a shell of himself over a twangy guitar and steadying beat — capturing what it feels like to chug along the best one can, even on the not-so-great-days. – LYNDSEY HAVENS
Tori Kelly, “cut”
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Tori Kelly has returned after four years with a captivating EP that makes clear she’s at her most self-assured. “Cut” is a prime example, as the singer’s powerful vocals glide over a beat that fuses ’90s R&B production with a sped-up and shimmering dance-inspired chorus. Not convinced? Take her word for it: “I’m the only one you know who take control,” she asserts. – L.H.
Madeline Kenney, “Reality Mind”
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Some of the most effervescent pop moments of 2023 are tucked in the crevices of Madeline Kenney’s just-released album A New Reality Mind, and on “Reality Mind,” the synths are something to behold: as Kenney processes her personal evolution, her voice is surrounded by laser-beam riffs and a lovely pile-up of keys, giving the impression that the singer-songwriter is floating in space as she repeats the titular phrase. – JASON LIPSHUTZ
Nicotine Dolls, “How Do You Love Me”
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Looking for a track to scratch the epic alt-rock itch that bands like Snow Patrol used to regularly reach? Look no further than “How Do You Love Me,” a winning new belt-along from NYC group Nicotine Dolls, whose lead singer Sam Cieri wowed on America’s Got Talent last summer and now injects this song with palpable drama and soulful personality. – J. Lipshutz
Cafuné, “Demise”
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Cafuné wrote new single “Demise” “about feeling mentally stuck in that internal dialogue of being unkind to yourself; trapped in decision paralysis, silencing yourself for fear of being misunderstood,” according to a press release. Ironic, considering how effortless every aspect of “Demise” sounds: as a preview of the New York duo’s upcoming EP Love Songs for the End, the single radiates strummy pop confidence, particularly in the way the vocal hooks careen off each other. – J. Lipshutz
Moss Kena, “Open Water”
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When it comes to buoyant indie-pop, Moss Kena simply doesn’t miss: new single “Open Water” elevates the formula that the singer-songwriter showcased on past tracks “Primadonna” and “Light It Up,” pushing forward with natural metaphors, vocal somersaults and subtle, synth-led production. With a new EP due in September, Kena is continuing to demonstrate his gifts as a pop savant. – J. Lipshutz
Snakehips feat. Muni Long, “My Body // Your Body”
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Sweaty and sumptuous, “My Body // Your Body” — released as a new single on the deluxe edition of British production duo Snakehips’ latest album, Never Worry — not only finds the dance veterans in top form, but allows recent R&B breakout star Muni Long depart her “Hrs and Hrs” tempo for a vocally captivating night at the club. It’s still technically July — plenty of time still left in the summer to add this to your favorite warm-weather playlist. – J. Lipshutz
Meernaa, “So Far So Good”
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Fans of idiosyncratic, relatively chilled-out indie-pop a la Aldous Harding, Westerman and Nilüfer Yanya should embrace “So Far So Good,” the quietly effective new track from Oakland native Carly Bond, better known as Meernaa. The elegant instrumentation supplements the delectable hooks without overwhelming the song’s catchiest moments, resulting in a handful of blissful refrains that beg to have their details pored over. – J. Lipshutz
LE SSERAFIM, “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife (Rina Sawayama Remix)”
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LE SSERAFIM’s latest K-pop banger, “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife,” trades its synth driven instrumentation for something grittier, darker and more becoming of Rina Sawayama’s eclectic style. The “STFU” singer hops on the remix of the track — a perfect complement to the voices of members Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, and Hong Eun-chae — and delivers her verse in a calm and collected manner, coolly boasting about women in history who have been movers and shakers, and suggesting women in the present have just as much fun. “We’re flawless and we’re fearless, deserve to have some fun/ Take the back seat, you know I like that,” she sings. – STARR BOWENBANK
Get out your magnifying glasses. Olivia Rodrigo has shared a video that teases the song titles on her upcoming album Guts, littered with clues for fans to decode. In the clip, the 20-year-old pop star can be seen from a bird’s eye view lounging in a bedroom, unpacking boxes and tinkering with everything from an […]
Kelly Clarkson would like to avoid being added to the steadily increasing pool of musicians who are victims of fans throwing objects at them onstage … but she’ll make an exception for one item. (Hint: They’re a girl’s best friend.) “If you’re gonna throw s–t, throw diamonds,” she told her concert crowd over the July […]
Harry Styles spread the love to more than just fans who attended his Love On Tour shows. Following the conclusion of the pop star’s impressive two-year run on the road, his team announced that the international trek raised more than $6.5 million for dozens of charities across the globe, benefiting reproductive health, environmentalism, gun safety and many more causes.
The donated proceeds were raised over the course of 173 shows in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and Latin America starting in September 2021, several of which were grouped as mini-residencies in iconic venues such as New York City’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ The Forum — both of which have permanent banners hanging from the rafters commemorating 15 consecutive Love On Tour concerts. As of a couple weeks ago, the tour had earned more than $590 million total, becoming the fourth highest-grossing tour of all time, according to the Billboard Boxscore.
Among the charities benefited by Love On Tour: Planned Parenthood, Choose Love, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Rebuild Foundation, REVERB, Black Voters Matter Fund – Capacity Building Institute, The Afiya Center, International Rescue Committee, Intermission Youth, Save the Children, CARE, Every Town for Gun Safety, and several more.
Styles officially closed out the run of shows with a jam-packed finale performance in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on July 22, during which he thanked fans in an emotional speech. “You guys being here tonight, I know you wanted to make it special for me. You make it special for me every single night,” he said during his last moments on a Love On Tour stage. “The atmosphere that you have created, the family that you have created, this safe space that you have created … I want to thank you for everything.”
After his final performance, the three-time Grammy winner shared a sweet video capturing some of the best fan moments from his shows, promising on his Instagram Story that he’ll “see you again when the time is right.”
“Treat People With Kindness,” he added. “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
Lady Gaga is rebooting her Jazz & Piano residency show at the Dolby Live at Park MGM. The singer announced on Monday morning (July 31) that the show will be back for 12 dates between August 31 and Oct. 5. Gaga launched Jazz & Piano in Jan. 2019, playing shows interchangeably with her more elaborate […]
There are way worse things you could be called than “too polite.” In fact, if you’ve been to Chicago’s legendary Weiner Circle hot dog stand anytime, but especially on a bleary late night/early morning for a double dog with all the fixins, you have likely been called way, way worse. After all, the 40-year-old stand’s […]
Though they were separated by more than five decades, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett shared a special magic. The “Million Reasons” singer paid loving tribute to her good friend and collaborator on Sunday night (July 30), 10 days after Bennett’s death at age 96.
“I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,” Gaga wrote alongside a photo of Bennett giving her a warm hug. “With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasnt an act. Our relationship was very real.”
Gaga added that, yes, of course Bennett taught her about music, and showbiz life, but she said he also showed her how to “keep my spirits high and my head screwed on straight. ‘Straight ahead,’ he’d say. He was an optimist, he believed in quality work AND quality life. Plus, there was the gratitude…Tony was always grateful. He served in WWII, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and sang jazz with the greatest singers and players in the world. I’ve been grieving the loss of Tony for a long time. We had a very long and powerful goodbye.”
Bennett died on July 21 in his hometown of New York City of undisclosed causes after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016; his family first shared the diagnosis publicly in 2021.
Despite the more than half-century that separated them, Gaga, 37, said Bennett was her confidant, age difference be damned.
“He was my friend. My real true friend,” she wrote. “Our age difference didn’t matter– in fact, it gave us each something neither of us had with most people. We were from two different stages in life entirely — inspired. Losing Tony to Alzheimer’s has been painful but it was also really beautiful. An era of memory loss is such a sacred time in a persons life. There’s such a feeling of vulnerability and a desire to preserve dignity. All I wanted was for Tony to remember how much I loved him and how grateful I was to have him in my life.”
She added, “But, as that faded slowly I knew deep down he was sharing with me the most vulnerable moment in his life that he could — being willing to sing with me when his nature was changing so deeply. I’ll never forget this experience. I’ll never forget Tony Bennett. If I could say anything to the world about this I would say don’t discount your elders, don’t leave them behind when things change. Don’t flinch when you feel sad, just keep going straight ahead, sadness is part of it.”
Gaga was there beside her friend at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in August 2021 when the pals headlined a pair of “One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga” shows a decade after her dreams of collaborating with her childhood musical hero came true on their first duet on “The Lady Is a Tramp” from Bennett’s Duets II album; Bennett’s son/manager Danny Bennett, announced that his dad wold retire from touring after the Radio City gigs . Gaga and Bennett also recorded two full-length jazz standards albums together, 2014’s Cheek to Cheek and 2021’s Love for Sale.
If she could impart any knowledge, Gaga concluded, it’s to take care of your elders, and if you do, she promised, you will surely learn something special from them.
“Maybe even magical,” she said. “And pay attention to silence — some of my musical partner and I’s most meaningful exchanges were with no melody at all.”
Check out Gaga’s tribute below.
Madonna was thankful for the kindness of her loved ones when she was hospitalized and recovering from a bacterial infection last month. The 64-year-old pop icon’s infection was “serious,” according to manager Guy Oseary, and landed her in the ICU for a few days. “Love from family and friends is the best Medicine. One month […]
Haim had some tricks up their sleeves for their second weekend on Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour. Este, Danielle and Alana arrived on stage wearing dresses like their “Bejeweled” video gowns when they joined Swift on “No Body, No Crime” in Santa Clara, California, on Friday (July 28). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]