State Champ Radio Pop
Page: 553
Like so many fans, celebrities and fellow artists paying tribute to Queen of Rock N’ Roll Tina Turner, Cher thought her friend was simply the best. The singer paid tribute to Turner, who died on Wednesday (May 24) at age 83, during a call in to MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber just hours after the news broke that the Grammy-winner and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had passed following a long illness.
“I started going to visit her because I thought, ‘I need to put this time into our friendship, so she knows we haven’t forgotten her,’” Cher told Melber. “So we all took turns going and spending time with her and it made her happy.” She noted that a friend said it was always a scene when they were together because they would crack each other up and laugh their “distinct” laughs.
Cher said the first time she went to visit Turner at her home in Switzerland the singer was laying on a chaise lounge she had positioned in front of a window overlooking a lake and warned that she didn’t have much time to hang out. “Then five hours later we were laughing like crazy and she wanted to get up and show everything that she’d bought in the house,” Cher said. “She was having a good time in spite of the fact that she was really sick and not wanting people to know about it.”
Though no cause of death was given, Cher said that Turner had “her dialysis machine in her house,” hinting that the “What’s Love Got to Do With It” star may have been employing the device typically used by people with kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. Turner was known to suffer from kidney issues and got a kidney transplant from her husband, Erwin Bach, in 2017.
“She fought this sickness for such a long time and she was so strong as you think she would be, but I know towards the end, she told me once, she said, ‘I’m really ready. I just don’t want to put up with this anymore,’” Cher said.
Cher called Turner “one of the great artists” in rock history, saying there was no one else like her. “As a woman, she gave you lots of strength and I’m sure she’s encouraged so many young people… she gave me lots of strength sometimes and I gave her lots of strength, too. I think we were perfect friends for each other truthfully.”
Calling her a “force,” Cher said Turner always approached life “head-on… She wasn’t about to stop. She might not have won every battle, but she fought every war. She was there fighting for all the things she believed in.”
Thinking about the last time they hung out, Cher — who first met Turner when she was in the midst of her abusive marriage to ex-husband Ike Turner — said Tina sent her home with a very memorable gift. “She gave me a pair of shoes the last time I saw her. What kind of shoes? Tina Turner shoes!” Cher laughed. “The big high heels that she just [walked] around in like they were nothing.”
Listen to Cher’s tribute to Turner below.
WATCH: Cher reflects on her close friend Tina Turner’s legendary life.”There was no other person like her. There was no other person who could come close to who she was.” pic.twitter.com/lqhuCeobwt— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 25, 2023
Sam Smith wanted to put on a very special show for fans in Manchester, U.K. on Wednesday night (May 24), promising before the gig that “we’ve got a surprise for you this evening… ‘Unholy’ won’t be the last song.” Unfortunately, things did not go as planned and the singer had to cut the gig at Manchester’s AO Arena short after just four songs.
“Dearest sailors, I don’t know what to say honestly. I fought off a virus a few weeks ago and since then we have travelled across Europe and had such incredible shows,” Smith wrote in an Instagram Story reposted by the venue about the issues that have dogged them on the tour in support of their Gloria album. “Today in soundcheck I felt fine and was so excited to give Manchester an amazing show tonight, with a special surprise at the end.”
But, Smith said, during the third song, “I noticed something wrong with my voice. I prayed it was just my voice waking up for the show but into the fourth song I could feel something was really wrong. I came off stage and have tried everything to get my voice back in gear but it won’t. I am honestly heartbroken I couldn’t finish the show tonight for you all. I love you all. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry x.”
A fan described the night in an essay for the Manchester Evening News, writing that they expected to see what they read was an elaborate production in three acts. The set opened with “Stay With Me,” followed by “I’m Not the Only One” and “Dancing With a Stranger.”
“Throughout the songs they did, Sam looked at ease, happy, and genuinely like they were loving life,” the fan wrote. “Their vibes were rubbing off on everyone else, and the whole room felt filled with love. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. That’s why it was such a shock when there was a sudden pause in the songs, with an overhead tannoy citing ‘technical difficulties.’”
She wrote that fans were not initially sure what was happening, but after 15 minutes they were told that the house lights would be coming on, as fans began making their way to the exits. “We sat for another ten minutes, hoping for good news, but the tannoy then notified us that due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ the show was cancelled,” she wrote.
Smith’s European tour was slated to continue on Thursday night (May 25) with a show in Glasgow at the OVO Hydro. On Thursday morning the venue announced that the gig had been canceled, along with a show in Birmingham on Saturday (May 27), with refunds for all three shows available at point of purchase. “Sam is heartbroken to have had to cancel these shows but they have been told by doctors that if they keep singing, they will do permanent damage to their voice. If they take some rest, they will be able to perform again,” read the statement. The next scheduled show on the tour is in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 31.
The bad news came just as Smith teased a mystery collaboration with Madonna earlier in the day on Wednesday. At press time no additional information had been released about what the project is.
See Smith’s statement below.
Sam is heartbroken to have had to cancel these shows but they have been told by doctors that if they keep singing, they will do permanent damage to their voice. If they take some rest, they will be able to perform again.— OVO Hydro (@OVOHydro) May 25, 2023
It’s been an incredible 10 years since BTS’ debut, and the international superstars are celebrating the milestone with BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA. The annual festival will take place on June 17 in Seoul, South Korea. The announcement was made on Wednesday (May 24) via a teaser video with the slogan “BTS Presents Everywhere” written across […]
On again? Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello were photographed in New York City on Tuesday, and fans of the erstwhile couple were thrilled to see them together. “THEY LOOK SO GOOD,” one fan declared in all-caps on Twitter, while another joked, “Camila cabello and shawn mendes looking like a high school couple with those huge […]
Taylor Swift had a major surprise up her sleeve on Wednesday (May 24) when she announced her forthcoming “Karma” remix with Ice Spice, and the Swifties are reeling with the news. The collab with the rising rapper is only one part of the surprise too: The superstar is also releasing an updated version of “Snow […]
The entertainment world is in mourning on Wednesday (May 24) following the death of icon Tina Turner at age 83. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of […]
Sam Smith surprised fans on Tuesday (May 24) by dropping brief teaser for their upcoming collaboration with none other than Madonna. The electrifying clip posted to the pop star’s social media accounts starts out with a blank screen before Smith’s voice cuts through the black to pronounce “Sam and…” — at which point, Madonna cuts […]
In the midst of her Eras tour, Taylor Swift has announced a handful of new releases related to her current era: the superstar has revealed that “Karma,” a fan favorite from Midnights, would be getting a new remix featuring rising rap star Ice Spice, out this Friday (May 26). Meanwhile, a different version of the Lana Del Rey collaboration “Snow on the Beach” would also be released, as would “You’re Losing Me,” a “vault track” from Midnights — all as part of a new Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) deluxe album.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Um. SO much to tell you,” Swift wrote in a message to fans on Wednesday (May 24). “I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch. So delighted to say that Karma Featuring the incredible @icespice will be out TOMORROW night at MIDNIGHT ET as a part of the new Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) deluxe album that you can pre-order now at store.taylorswift.com!
“In addition to Karma Ft Ice Spice…,” Swift continued. “You asked for it, we listened: Lana and I went back into the studio specifically to record more Lana on Snow on the Beach. Love u @honeymoon 🥰😆☺️.”
“Karma” originally debuted at No. 9 on the Hot 100 chart upon the October 2022 release of Midnights, and was among the tracks that helped Swift become the first artist in Hot 100 history to dominate the chart’s entire top 10 in one week. Swift has been closing out her Eras set lists with “Karma” — which rises three spots to No. 32 on the current Hot 100 — since the stadium tour began in March.
Meanwhile, Ice Spice’s popularity has exploded since she first shot to viral fame with “Munch (Feelin’ U)” last fall. Her debut EP, Like..?, arrived in January on 10K Projects/Capitol, and Ice Spice proceeded to score top 10 smashes on the Hot 100 with the PinkPantheress team-up “Girl’s a Liar Pt. 2” and the Nicki Minaj-assisted remix to her song “Princess Diana.”
“I saw all of my supporters being like, ‘She’s the People’s Princess! She’s Princess Diana!’ ” Ice told Billboard in her recent cover story. “At first, I was confused. I was like, ‘Um, Princess Diana? Out of everybody?’ But [then] I was like, ‘F–k it, she’s iconic.’ ”
“Snow on the Beach” is the lone Midnights track with a featured guest, as Swift and Del Rey worked on the song with their shared frequent collaborator, Jack Antonoff. Midnights is back up to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in its 30th week on the chart — and as Swift tours the U.S. performing her catalog of hits, nine of her albums chart in the top 40 of the current tally.
“But wait there’s more… for those of you going to the East Rutherford shows – we will have a new special edition CD available ONLY on site starting at 12:30pm ET on Friday!” Swift wrote. “This CD will have a never before heard Midnights vault track called ‘You’re Losing Me’!”
Swift’s Eras tour continues this Friday with three nights at MetLife Stadium outside of New York City in East Rutherford, N.J. In addition to the unexpected Midnights releases, Swifties can also look forward to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Swift’s third re-recorded album in her six-song project, set for a July 7 release.
Miley Cyrus meant what she said about not wanting to tour anymore. After some fans were left disappointed when she revealed in a recent interview that she has no plans to hit the road, the pop star has now posted a message to social media doubling down and shedding light on her decision. “For clarity […]
Rick Rubin is renowned for his great set of ears. Kesha discovered he’s also a great listener. The “Raising Hell” singer recently marked a return to music with Gag Order, her vulnerable soul-searching fifth album.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Rubin produced the 13-track set, which Kesha and her team had described as a “post-pop” act of “emotional exorcism” on which she finds empowerment in baptism-by-fire self-discovery and acceptance.
There were times, not so long ago, when it was the courtroom — not the studio — that was demanding Kesha’s attention.
She notably entered into a legal battle with Dr. Luke in 2014, when the producer and Kemosabe Records founder filed a defamation suit against her for alleging that he drugged and raped her in 2005. Just a few months ago, a New York judge scheduled a new trial start date of July 19 for the case after key issues made its prior February start date unworkable.
Making music with Rubin has been a salve. She’d fallen out with her craft, but working with the uber-producer, she told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, “has now made me fall in love with music again because I remembered why we all love it and why I loved it.”
Kesha sat for a chat with the New Zealand-born broadcaster, and Billboard has an exclusive sneak peek of the interview.
Joining forces with Rubin “was the first time in my life I sat with someone and they were like, ‘Let’s just make what we both think is cool,’” she recounts. ”You are not being a vehicle for something that you will please others with and get paid, admiration, et cetera.”
Gag Order, which dropped May 19 and features the dual lead singles “Fine Line” and the trippy “Eat the Acid,” was the product of some good-old fashioned communication.
“The whole process with Rick that blew my mind was being present in how I feel and making it come out into the song in a way that felt like it’s reflective of the feeling, a sound that reflects a feeling,” she recounts.
“And I just had never made art for that purpose before, like subconsciously. I didn’t really know, but in making these songs with Rick, we never once talked about singles, radio, any of it. It was just, ‘We’re making a song about how you feel.’ And that still kind of blows my mind because the entirety of my life, there was this illusion of what it was for.”
If Kesha was pleased with the process, fans were thrilled with the outcome. Music fans voted in a poll published May 19 on Billboard, choosing Gag Order as their favorite new music release of the previous week, raking in some 68% of the vote.
The interview airs in full at 1 p.m. ET on Apple Music 1.
Watch the exclusive clip below.
