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In Swifties’ defense, they have none for never leaving well enough alone — but it would’ve been fun, if he would’ve been the one. Fans are convinced that Taylor Swift hinted at her breakup from Joe Alwyn nearly two weeks before reports hit Saturday (April 8) when she substituted one Folklore song for another in her Eras Tour setlist, replacing “Invisible String” with “The 1.”
The switch happened at her March 31 concert in Arlington, Texas, at the midway point in her three-hour set. In switching gears from her Red era to Folklore, the pop star typically sings “Invisible String,” a folksy love song that is believed to give details of her six-year romance with Alwyn.
This time, though, instead of the track about being destined by fate for an eternity of togetherness, she sang “The 1,” which has pretty much the exact opposite message. “If you wanted me, you really should’ve showed,” Swift sings on Folklore‘s lead track. “It would’ve been fun, if you would’ve been the one.”
“You think you can just scroll and know the setlist,” she teased the crowd at the time in fan captured video. “Let it be said about the Eras Tour, we’re tricksy. We have got healthy setlist hijinks.”
At the time, that’s all it seemed to be: setlist hijinks. But flash forward to Saturday, when various publications reported the internet-shattering news that the “Anti-Hero” singer had split from Alwyn — who assisted in writing songs on Folklore and Evermore –and the song switch started to take on a lot more meaning for some fans. (Billboard reached out to both Swift’s and Alwyn’s reps for comment when news of their split broke, but have not heard back.)
“Hold on cause taylor switched from invisible string (a song about hopeful love) to the 1 (a song about past love) on the set list…,” tweeted one Swiftie after finding out about the breakup.
“i knew it as soon as she replaced invisible string with the 1,” wrote another, unsurprised by the breakup news.
Swift and the Favourite actor first started dating in 2016, and mostly kept a low profile. During their six years together, they rarely made public outings. They did, however, speak lovingly about each other in occasional interviews, and the 12-time Grammy winner opened up about falling in love with Alwyn in her Netflix documentary, Miss Americana.
See fans’ tweets about the “Invisible String” to “The 1” theory below:
hold on cause taylor switched from invisible string (a song about hopeful love) to the 1 (a song about past love) on the set list… pic.twitter.com/NPm4kMgIJs— c 💌 (@celestialswiftt) April 9, 2023
just got the swiftea. swifties are saying toe broke up bc he hasn’t been at any of the shows and taylor switched invisible string to the 1.— snotty eras tissue (@taylorsbedpost1) April 3, 2023
people saying “is this why she played the 1 instead of invisible string” and that is going to take a huge toll on my mental health pic.twitter.com/UVKGsv4YFj— yasmin (taylors version) (@misamericana) April 9, 2023
it’s throwing a wrench in my heart thinking about invisible string suddenly being replaced by the 1 on the setlist— monica (@sourvinyl) April 8, 2023
BTS‘ Suga finally dropped the full track list for his anticipated full-length solo debut under his alter ego Agust D on Monday (April 10). The 10-song album due out on April 21 opens with the collection’s title track, “D-Day” (produced by Vincent “Invincible” Watson and 2Live) and also features “Haegeum (produced by Agust D), “HUH?!” (produced by Agust D and El Capitxn, co-written by J-Hope), and “Amygdala” (produced by El Capitxn). The album’s second half includes a collaboration with recently deceased Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.
The second half of the collection features “SDL” (produced by the singer and El Capitxn), pre-release single “People Pt. 2 (feat. IU) (produced by El Capitxn), “Polar Night” (produced by the singer and El Capitxn), “Interlude: Dawn” (produced by the singer and El Capitxn), “Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Kim Woosung of The Rose) (produced by El Capitxn) and “Life Goes On” (produced by El Capitxn); the final track is one of two featuring a co-writing credit for J-Hope).
Speaking to Billboard about the album last week, Suga said he doesn’t have a “different mindset” when releasing music solo as Agust D or as Suga in BTS, explaining that, “Ultimately, the goal of releasing this music is for as many people to listen to my music as possible. So, ‘People Pt.2’ was made thinking about how people will receive Agust D’s music, which is why we also featured IU. It’s kind of a trial to release this music under the name Agust D. I’m actually a little bit worried.”
The singer added that “Pt. 2” deals with seeking connection and fighting loneliness, whereas the first part of the song, “People,” from the 2020 D-2 mixtape looked externally to other people’s judgements.
“I think loneliness is being together in modern society. I always talk about loneliness in my interviews, but regretfully, it isn’t always in the final interview,” he said. “Not only me, everyone has this loneliness inside them until the moment they die. However deep you are in a relationship, how much you engage with other people, how many friends you meet, or how often you meet with your family, you always have the loneliness inside… This album doesn’t really finalize everything in its message either. So, there might be a possibility there could be a ‘Part 3’ later on. For now, we’re just trying to say, ‘Let’s not hate each other. Let’s find a way.’”
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have split, ET reported on Saturday (April 8).
According to ET, a source said the breakup was amicable and “was not dramatic.”
“The relationship had just run its course. It’s why [Alwyn] hasn’t been spotted at any shows,” the source reportedly noted. Billboard has reached out to a representative for Swift for comment.
Swift began dating Alwyn, an actor seen in a number of film and television projects including 2018’s The Favourite and 2022’s Conversations With Friends, in 2016. They’ve mostly stayed quiet with the press about their relationship over the past six years.
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“I’m aware people want to know about that side of things,” Alwyn said of dating Swift to British Vogue in 2018. “I think we have been successfully very private, and that has now sunk in for people.” He added, “But I really prefer to talk about work.”
“I’ve learned that if I do, people think it’s up for discussion, and our relationship isn’t up for discussion,” Swift told The Guardian in 2019 of their decision to be discreet about their relationship. “If you and I were having a glass of wine right now, we’d be talking about it — but it’s just that it goes out into the world. That’s where the boundary is, and that’s where my life has become manageable. I really want to keep it feeling manageable.”
Alwyn won his first Grammy in 2021 for his co-producer and songwriter credits on Swift’s album Folklore. Under pen name William Bowery, Alwyn worked closely with the star, co-writing the Bon Iver duet “Exile” and the song “Betty.”
On Swift’s follow-up Evermore, Alwyn co-wrote “Champagne Problems,” The National-assisted “Coney Island” and “Evermore,” a second Justin Vernon collab. And on Swift’s most recent release, Midnights, he contributed to “Sweet Nothing.”
Folklore, Evermore and Midnights all hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart upon their release.
“Joe and I really love sad songs. We’ve always bonded over music. We write the saddest [songs]. We just really love sad songs,” Swift told Zane Lowe of her partner in 2020. “What can I say? It was a surprise that we started writing together. But in a way, it wasn’t because we have always bonded over music and had the same musical tastes.”
Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, which next stops in Tampa, Florida, for a trio of stadium shows from April 13-15.
Beabadoobee is currently living out her “Wildest Dreams” while supporting Taylor Swift during the superstar’s Eras Tour across the United States. For Beabadoobee’s first day supporting on the tour — March 25 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium — Swift dedicated “Our Song” to her, which the 22-year-old opened up about in an interview with People published Friday (April 7).
During the show, Swift told her crowd before launching into the third single from her self-titled debut that she had read an interview with her opening act. Said the star, “I figured for her first show with us, I’d play that specific song that she said she wanted to hear.”
Beabadoobee excitedly recalled that the experience “didn’t feel real” to her. “Imagine someone that you’ve listened to growing up and almost shaped your childhood being like, ‘This is for young Bea.’ And I’m like, well, f–k my life. I’m going to die,” she said. “It’s like all the problems have just been solved in that [moment].”
“She’s just so awesome. And the fact that she took the time to say that and to watch an interview, and to sing it and even just introducing me,” the “Talk” singer, whose real name is Beatrice Kristi Laus, continued. “It’s just mental that someone I’m a massive fan of appreciates my music as much. It was a trip. It was a massive trip. It was like I was on shrooms or something.”
As for how Bea is handling the pressure of opening stadium shows, she revealed that keeping her nerves under control is a tough task — especially considering that Swift is counting on her. “It’s actually pretty terrifying out there. Hope I get used to it. But I think it’s just when I’m on that stage, I not only think about like, ‘Oh, I’m going to play to all these people and that’s so terrifying as it is,’” she shard. “It’s more like, ‘Oh my God, I’m doing this for Taylor Swift because Taylor Swift wants me up here and she loves me and I love her.’ So it’s just a lot to take in when you’re up there.”
In addition to performing with Swift, Beabadoobee is doing a series of solo concerts and festival dates throughout the spring and summer after wrapping up The Eras Tour run on April 29.
Lewis Capaldi had quite the surprise up his sleeve at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night (April 6): the Jonas Brothers!
The Scottish crooner let the JoBros to take the stage during his encore, shocking the ecstatic crowd as Joe Jonas joked, “We are Lewis Capaldi, thank you for being here with us tonight.”
“We actually won a contest as Lewis Capaldi’s biggest fans to come up here and play a song for you,” Nick Jonas said, continuing his brother’s bit before launching into the band’s much-loved 2008 single “Lovebug.” After running through the first verse alone, Capaldi finally ran on stage to join the siblings for the rest of the song, singing, “I can’t get your smile out of my mind/ I think about your eyes all of the time/ You’re beautiful but you don’t even try/ Modesty is just so hard to find.”
After the show, the “How I’m Feeling Now” singer posted his own clip of the number taken from the wings of the stage, writing, “I can’t believe I’m now a Jonas brother” and captioning the video, “The bonus bonus jonas.”
The Jonas Brothers crashing Capaldi’s encore came just hours before they released “Waffle House,” the second single off their forthcoming ’70s-inspired studio set The Album. The boys are currently back in New York following their sold-out five-night Broadway residency to serve as musical guests in Studio 8H for this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Molly Shannon.
Watch Capaldi jam out to “Lovebug” with Joe, Kevin and Nick below.
Kelly Clarkson‘s upcoming Chemistry album is shaping up to be a divorce LP for the ages. After previously dropping a preview of the upcoming collection’s first single, “Mine,” Clarkson offered up another tantalizing breadcrumb on Friday (April 7) with a 30-second clip of the emotional ballad “Me.”
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The a cappella sneak peek is classic Kelly, her powerhouse voice unadorned as she opens up about taking care of business on her own, thank you very much. “I don’t need somebody to hold me/ Don’t need somebody to love me/ Don’t need somebody to pick these pieces up,” she wails.
“I put together my broken/ Let go of the pain I’ve been holdin’/ Don’t need to need somebody,” she declares forcefully, dragging out the second syllable of the final word before adding the ice-cold self-reliance coda, “When I got me.”
“Mine” is due out on April 14, while the release date for Chemistry has not yet been revealed. The upcoming collection will be Clarkson’s first original studio album of non-holiday music since 2017’s Meaning of Life; during that time she also released her second holiday song collection, 2021’s When Christmas Comes Again… and a 2022 Kellyoke EP.
“I’ve been working on this project for close to three years now. I wasn’t sure I was going to release it, but I am,” she said announcing the new album on her socials in late March. “This album is definitely the arc of an entire relationship. That whole relationship shouldn’t be brought down to one thing. There’s the good, the bad and the ugly kind of thing going on. Chemistry can be a really amazing, sexy, cool, fun thing, but it can also be very bad for you. So that’s why I named it Chemistry.”
Check out Clarkson’s tweet below.
Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” has grown into a rare concurrent multi-format No. 1 on Billboard’s pop and adult airplay charts, as it crowns the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary surveys dated April 15.
The song, released on Smiley Miley/Columbia Records, tops the mainstream top 40-based Pop Airplay chart for an eighth week, the adult top 40-fueled Adult Pop Airplay ranking for a seventh frame and AC for the first time. It became Cyrus’ third No. 1 on Pop Airplay and her first on Adult Pop Airplay, and now marks her second leader on AC, after “The Climb” reigned for 15 weeks in 2009.
“Flowers” becomes just the seventh song to have led Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and AC concurrently in the 27 years that the three charts have coexisted. (AC launched in July 1961; Pop Airplay in October 1992; and Adult Pop Airplay in March 1996.)
Here’s a look at the select seven songs popular enough across all three formats at the same time to rank at No. 1 on the three charts simultaneously. “Flowers” is the first since Adele’s “Easy on Me” last year, and the second in a row on Columbia, which has promoted four of the seven such hits, including three by Adele.
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, one week (to-date), 2023
“Easy on Me,” Adele, three weeks, 2022
“Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran, one week, 2015
“Hello,” Adele, four weeks, 2015
“Stay With Me,” Sam Smith, one week, 2014
“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, two weeks, 2011
“Because You Loved Me,” Celine Dion, five weeks, 1996
“Flowers” is from Cyrus’ new album, Endless Summer Vacation, which debuted at its No. 3 best on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated March 25, marking her 14th top 10. The set’s newest radio hit, “River,” rises to No. 19 on Adult Pop Airplay and No. 20 on Pop Airplay.
All charts dated April 15 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, April 11.
Jessie J had a pointed message for any of the looky-loos who checked out her recent baby bump pics before deeming them too racy. “I just want to remember this feeling forever,” wrote the singer who revealed that she’s expecting her first child in a January post.
“And anyone who has commented ‘inappropriate’ on this post. I bet you zoomed before you commented 😂,” she added. The snaps that appeared to offend included one in which the singer sat naked in a bathtub — her hand covering her breasts — in a selfie in which her baby bump is on prominent display in a reflection in the shower valve.
A second shot came from the other angle, with Jessie again showing off her bump and legs in the tub, followed by a video chronicling the baby moving around in her belly and a final snap providing a mirror selfie in which the singer smiles in a sports bra and leggings.
Jessie also got some love in addition to the haterade, including from one commenter who wrote, “they are not photos, they are works of art,” with fellow British singer Paloma Faith adding, “Amazing pics… Welcome to superhero territory.”
Last month J shared a sweet message for her unborn son in a U.K. Mother’s Day post. “Thank you for coming to me. Thank you for trusting me that my body can keep you safe. Thank you for gifting me with the most special experience already so far and with the most important role I will ever play in my entire life,” she captioned an image of her ultrasound in which the unborn baby appeared to be smiling.
“I love you so hard it blows my mind this is real. I’m yours forever my son. I cannot wait to meet you. And see this smile in real life,” she added. She also gave props to her baby boy’s father, basketball player Chanan Safir Colman. “I love your Daddy so much, you wouldn’t be on your way without him,” she wrote. “He is the most patient, calm and good looking man. You are going to LOVE him when you meet him.”
Jessie shared the baby news more than a year after she revealed that she’d suffered a pregnancy loss in November 2021.
Check out Jessie’s pics below.
S Club 7‘s Paul Cattermole died at his home in Dorset, England, on Thursday (April 6). He was 46 years old.
The singer’s bandmates announced the news on Friday (April 7) via the official S Club 7 social media channels. “We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul,” the other six members wrote alongside a smiling black-and-white photo of Cattermole. “There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.”
Cattermole’s death is a devastating loss for the British pop act — whose members also included Rachel Stevens, Hannah Spearritt, Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Jo O’Meara and Bradley McIntosh — who had just announced in February they’d be reuniting for a 25th anniversary tour of the U.K. and Ireland this fall, including three already sold-out performances at London’s O2 Arena. As of press time, there’s no word on how the singer’s death might affect those plans.
While S Club 7 earned only a single Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 over the course of their teen pop heyday with 2000’s “Never Had a Dream Come True,” their success was exponentially larger in their native U.K., scoring three top three albums on the Official Albums chart. Additionally, all 13 of their singles peaked within the top five on the U.K.’s Official Singles chart, including four No. 1 hits.
Over the course of the group’s first three studio sets, Cattermole provided lead vocals on fan-favorite album cuts such as “Love Train,” “Good Times” and “Summertime Feeling.” He also dated bandmate Hannah Spearritt — once in 2001 and again briefly in 2015 — with their relationship being written into the band’s TV series Hollywood 7.
Cattermole left the band in 2002 to start the short-lived nu-metal band Skua, while his former bandmates dropped the “7” from their name and continued on for another year as simply S Club before disbanding in June 2003.
For much of the next two decades, Cattermole continued dabbling in his pop roots, joining O’Meara, McIntosh and, eventually, Barrett to form the spinoff group known as S Club 3. In late 2014, he and the other six members officially reunited for their first reunion tour, Bring It All Back 2015. The pop star also struggled financially in the 2010s, even publicly auctioning off two of his BRIT Awards on eBay to keep himself afloat.
Read S Club 7’s tribute to Cattermole below.
It took more than a year for Labrinth to finally release “Never Felt So Alone,” one of his Euphoria season two standouts originally left off the show’s soundtrack — but it was well worth the wait. That’s because none other than Billie Eilish joined him for the song’s official release, a collaboration the 34-year-old producer revealed has been a long time in the making.
“I’ve been a fan of Billie for a long time,” Lab told Eddie Francis on Apple Music 1’s New Music Daily show in an interview that aired Friday (April 7). “I think she’s an amazing artist. I remember Noah [Cyrus] was doing some of the same shows Billie was in that time, and everybody kept on coming back talking about this Billie Eilish girl.”
“Then I think the first time I heard her on a record was ‘Bury a Friend,” he continued, noting he’d also met Finneas, Eilish’s brother and producer, years beforehand. “And I was just like, ‘This is a sick record.’”
It wasn’t until Lab sent “Never Felt So Alone” to Eilish that he discovered that she’d been a fan of his for just as long as he’d been following her. “Once I started piecing the song together, I was just like, “Do you know what? I think this is the moment where I think Billie would be a sick addition,’” the “Mount Everest” musician said.
“When we spoke, she was like, ‘Lab, I’ve been listening to your music for years.” I was like, ‘What?’ It was like, ‘Billie? What? You?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, been a fan.’ She was like, ‘I love this song as well, so I would love to do it with you.’”
The two artists first started teasing their team-up in the weeks leading up to its Friday release, with Eilish leaving comments on Labrinth’s promotional Instagram posts about the track. A figure that resembled her then appeared in a trippy teaser video for the project.
The clues extend even farther back, though, as the two performed the song together during Labrinth’s guest appearance at Eilish’s December hometown shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
“That was big for me because I felt like we both get each other musically,” he added of the new collaboration. “It didn’t feel foreign to me, and I love what she’s done on the record.”
Lab also explained why it took so long for “Never Felt So Alone” to be released alongside its fellow soundtrack songs: It had actually been intended for his upcoming album, which he’d sent to Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. “I sent him my album alongside composing music for the show, and they ended up using it on the show,” he recalled. “But I always planned in the future to make it into a song, and I just always loved that hook.”
“Then when it showed up in Euphoria, it just seemed like everybody felt the same way I did, but I always planned to make that into a song,” he added. “I just loved it so much. And I was like, ‘I’m going to turn this thing into something.’ And this was the moment I was just like, ‘I feel like I’m ready to do it.’”
Listen to “Never Felt So Alone” featuring Billie Eilish below:
