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The month of August is upon us. And for Swifties, that means it’s officially Follklore season.
That’s because one of the most beloved tracks on Taylor Swift‘s 2020 album shares a name with the month we’ve just entered: “August,” told through the perspective of a character dubbed by the fandom as Augustine, who fills the role of “the other woman” in the teenage love triangle chronicled by Folklore.
Even Swift herself has taken to Twitter to ring in the start of the month, in spite of the fact that she’s released two more albums (Evermore and Midnights) since dropping Folklore at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (The album is just that iconic, and so is “August.”)
“get in the car it’s august,” the pop star wrote at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday (Aug. 1), referencing one of the song’s lyrics: “Remember when I pulled up and said ‘Get in the car’/ And then canceled my plans just in case you’d call?”
Her tweet received more than one million likes in just a few hours, with thousands of fans sharing their excitement in the comments. Many of them quoted more lyrics in Swift’s replies: “SALT AIR AND THE RUST ON YOUR DOOR!!!!” wrote one, while another added, “i never needed anything more (than this tweet).”
“august heads unite,” chimed in Jack Antonoff — who produced “August” — in a tweet of his own.
Other Swifties have also shared homemade memes and reverent tweets honoring the track, with several people declaring, “It’s officially august by taylor swift month.”
There’s plenty of evidence beyond Tuesday’s swirl of Swiftie tweets that proves “August” isn’t just any old fan-favorite song, but has the evergreen power of a seasonal classic, something diehard Swifties and casual fans alike will dust off every year. For instance, the track made a resurgence on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart just a few weeks ago, and returned to the top 10 of the Hot Alternative Songs chart — mirroring the chart boost “August” saw one year ago.
And, assisted by a heavy feature in Prime Video’s Summer I Turned Pretty season two trailer, “August” has also experienced a major streaming boost recently. The week the trailer came out, its streams went up by 24%, according to Luminate.
See Taylor’s tweet and posts from Swifties celebrating “August” below:
get in the car it’s august— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 1, 2023
for some people, today is national girlfriend day, for others, it is august by taylor swift. never both.— iya ★ (@hotmessjunk) August 1, 2023
happy august never forget that a man once texted me that he was “changing for the better à la taylor swift” and then proceeded to just…do the plot of August to me. a real commitment to the bit, i’ll give him that— ellie schnitt (@holy_schnitt) August 1, 2023
to live for the hope of it all— folklore lyrics bot (@folklorebot) August 1, 2023
It’s right there in the name: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, given that said bony-shelled reptiles are right in the demo, it’s fitting that in a new promo for the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie that is out on Wednesday (Aug. 2), Leo, Raph, Don and Mikey are unabashed members of the ARMY.
“This is it, guys,” Raphael laments in the 20-second clip in which the foursome are lashed to a giant bomb-like device that seems to spell their demise. “Oh, so many regrets,” he groans. “I just wish I could see BTS IRL,” says Donatello.
Leonardo, of course, has a creative idea, offering, “We could do some of the songs for you,” he says, with Michelangelo adding that he’d be down for a few bars. Leo then gets the gang started, singing the first lines of BTS’ global No. 1 smash “Butter,” while encouraging the others to join in. But, given their predicament — they are lashed to a wall by their wrists and ankles — the song comes out as more of a cry than a croon.
It’s all a bit sad, honestly and Don complains that they don’t even really know the words. To be fair, the tweet of the clip had a very stark warning message: “Jung Kook please don’t watch this.”
In addition to the four turtles (voiced by Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon), the film also features the voices of Rogen, Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Paul Rudd and Maya Rudolph; Rogen and producing partner Evan Goldberg co-wrote and co-produced the film directed by Jeff Rowe.
Watch the trailer below.
Jung Kook please don’t watch this. Get tickets now for the best reviewed comedy of the year – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: #MutantMayhem is in theatres everywhere Wednesday. #TMNTMovie— TMNT (@TMNTMovie) July 28, 2023
It’s the first day of August, which has us thinking about Taylor Swift’s timely song “August” from her 2020 album Folklore. Folklore was surprise-released on July 24, 2020 — so just ahead of August that year — and in the Augusts since, we’ve seen the song re-emerge on various Billboard charts timed to the month. […]
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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See latest videos, charts and news
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 […]
