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Frank Ocean is launching his brand-new Homer Radio with Apple Music 1. The one-hour show is set for Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET.
“Someone’s vacuuming the carpets adding a distant layer of white noise to the sound,” Ocean said in a cryptic statement about the show. “Security is pacing off some boredom while pretending to check the rooms and the safes on a rehearsed patrol. A headset loaded with gadgetry helps a man who dons it to see, with its grids of light and lenses and loupes.”
The singer/songwriter’s show shares a name with his Homer jewelry line, which the artist founded in August 2021. The name is inspired by the Greek poet, Ocean said the in an interview with Financial Times.
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While Ocean’s fans are finally receiving a project from him in the radio show, the singer is known for his long breaks from both music and the public. His last album, Blonde, was released in 2016, while his most recent songs are “DHL,” “Cayendo” and “Dear April.”
It seems like Ocean is meshing the radio show with his years-old jewelry line. The launch of the show accompanied a post on the company’s Instagram page, set against a background image of the hustle and bustle of a city.
In addition to a lack of music, there’s been a lot made of Ocean’s lack of performances too. The singer has been vocal about how his mental health struggles have impacted his desire to perform onstage. But he does have at least two dates on the calendar next year: back-to-back weekends as a Coachella 2023 headliner.
Taylor Swift stopped by The Graham Norton Show in the U.K. on Friday (Oct. 28) to talk about her new album Midnights and dished on the process of re-recording her first six albums.
“I just figured if I made them the first time, I can make them again,” she said after briefly explaining how her back catalog from 2006’s Taylor Swift to 2017’s reputation was controversially sold to Scooter Braun after she changed record labels from longtime home Big Machine to Republic.
When Norton asked if the strategy behind re-recording was working at radio, the superstar said, “Yes … one of the things I was most thankful for was there’s a company of many stations in America called iHeart, and they have sworn to only play my new versions. And they’ve said that they’ll switch it out for the old versions every time I put out a new version of a song.
“Which is just, like, it’s so heartwarming to me,” Tay continued. “Because this is something that I care about, but I don’t expect other people to care about it. It’s something that’s very personal to me and it’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun and rewarding for me and I can’t believe people have actually gotten behind it the way they have.”
During the talk show, Swift was joined on the couches by Bono, actor Eddie Redmayne and former professional U.K. soccer star Alex Scott, all of whom seemed visibly supportive along with Norton about the superstar’s re-recording plan. Redmayne and the singer also got to reminisce in the joint interview about the ill-fated screen test they did together as Marius and Eponine for the 2012 movie musical Les Misérables — though the latter role ultimately went to West end actress Samantha Barks.
Watch Swift open up about her re-recording process below.
Taylor Swift has always been explicit in her songs — delivering crystal-clear messages with uber-specific details. And in the last five years, she’s also been explicit in the “parental advisory” definition of the word — meaning she’s now comfortable dropping an F-bomb here and there.
When Swift released her sixth studio album, reputation, in 2017, her return to music after three years was a triumphant one, as she took control of her own narrative and cemented her transformation from America’s sweetheart to proudly feminist idol. And her declaration in the album cut “I Did Something Bad” that “If a man talks sh– then I owe him nothing” formally marked her dive into the world of curse words.
Sure, there are a few instances of a pre-reputation Taylor letting out some of the less offensive expletives. If you listen closely, you’ll even find one in her debut album: “You never did give a damn thing, honey,” she sings in the bridge of the emotional ballad “Cold as You.” But the death of “OId Taylor” is when the swear words really began to soar.
With Lover in 2019 came the line “I’d be a bi—, not a baller” from “The Man.” But Swift’s first explicitly explicit tracks did not arrive until her pandemic-era 2020 sister albums folklore and evermore. Opening the former with the line “I’m doing good, I’m on some new sh–” was just the start; iconic lyrics like “’What a shame she’s f—ed in the head,’ they said” followed shortly after.
On her 10th studio set Midnights, the lyrics have become more colorful than ever. The 13-track project includes six explicit songs, with the curse words ranging from “hell” to “f—in’” to one we surely did not have on our bingo card: “di–head.”
As the pop superstar continues to embrace her honest lyricism, keep reading for 20 times Taylor Swift has cursed in her songs.
Niall Horan is gearing up for a return in 2023. After releasing his his second studio album, Heartbreak Weather, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the former One Direction singer and solo star told fans on Thursday (Oct. 27) that he’s ready to step back into the spotlight.
“Hello lovers, it’s Niall here. It’s been a while, which I know you’re very aware of,” the singer said in a video posted on Twitter. “But I just wanted to give you an update as to what’s going on. I’m back. I’ve got new music coming in the new year that I’m really, really proud of, and I appreciate you being so patient with me while I’ve done it.”
He noted that he’s shooting the upcoming 23rd season The Voice, which is slated to air in the spring. He’ll be slipping into the red chair alongside fellow newbie Chance the Rapper, as well as returning judge Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton, who will step down at the end of the upcoming season after holding down a coaching position since the series’ 2011 premiere.
“I’ve got a whole new album too,” he added, noting that he will also be doing something he’s wanted to try his entire career: playing festivals. “I’ve never really had the opportunity to do it. So I think we will be announcing some festivals in the next couple of days and weeks and months for next year, which I’m really excited about. Can’t wait to get back on the road and see you guys all over the world.”
And, as promised, Horan revealed his first festival date on Friday morning. The singer will join Pulp, Sam Fender, The 1975, Royal Blood, Kasabian, George Ezra and more at next July’s TRNSMT fest in Glasgow. The singer’s 2017 solo debut, Flicker, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, while Weather landed at No. 4 in its first week.
See Horan’s announcement video and festival poster below.
The drought is finally over for Navy. After years of waiting with bated breath for new music from Rihanna, fans finally got it Friday (Oct. 28) in the form of “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
The song — which serves as a tribute to the late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 at 43 after a battle with colon cancer — sees the pop star going the ballad route, accompanied by acoustic guitar as she sings “Lift me up/ Hold me down/ Keep me close/ Safe and sound” in a serene chorus, earning praise from her admirers.
“Rihanna’s voice has matured and turned so rich ?!!!!! Okay mama NOW I need solo new Rihanna no soundtrack attach to it. BAD GAL RIRI,” one fan wrote.
Another remarked how nice it felt to hear the pop star’s signature vocals on a track again, tweeting, “Didn’t realize how much i missed hearing Rihanna’s voice and new music from her until it all hit me when i pressed play on lift me up.”
Another Ri Navy member hilariously added that it will be hard for them to keep their composure when it’s time to watch Wakanda Forever in theaters. “Riri ate this up n left no crumbs, and I’m suppose to sit in the theater and hear this and act normal?!?” they wrote.
See how fans are reacting to “Lift Me Up” below:
Rihanna’s voice has matured and turned so rich ?!!!!! Okay mama NOW I need solo new Rihanna no soundtrack attach to it. BAD GAL RIRI— Mimi The Music Blogger (@mdaixo) October 28, 2022
didn’t realize how much i missed hearing rihanna’s voice and new music from her until it all hit me when i pressed play on lift me up— tejal (@tejschaos) October 28, 2022
Charlie Puth may feel turned on like a “Light Switch,” but his latest performance shows him getting downright naughty with an assist from a chart-topping song.
On Thursday (Oct. 27), Puth stopped by the studios of SiriusXM to promote his latest album Charlie, which debuted at No. 10 on last week’s Billboard 200. While at the studio, the singer decided to offer up his own acoustic rendition of “Unholy,” the record-breaking Sam Smith and Kim Petras collab that sits atop this week’s Billboard Hot 100.
Before kicking off his performance, Puth said that he “loves this song,” and that his decision to perform it was pretty spur-of-the-moment. “The first song we’re going to do is something I decided to do on the car ride over here,” he said. “I love the people involved in this song, and I just spoke to Sam this morning and told them that I would be doing this.”
Unlike the clanking, industrial-pop sound of the original, Puth’s version simply paired his voice with an acoustic guitar, as he crooned out the seductive lyrics to the hit track, including Petras’ Balenciaga-flexing verse.
The star also made sure to give fans a couple songs off of his new album, delivering live acoustic renditions of “Loser” and “Left and Right,” this time joining in the fun with some light piano. Speaking about the latter song (his collaboration with BTS’ Jung Kook), the singer said that he had a very specific band in mind while writing it. “I wrote this song thinking about the Beatles, because sometimes their voices would be on one side of the speaker due to the limitations of recording at the time,” he said.
Check out Puth’s cover of “Unholy,” as well as his live renditions of “Loser” and “Left and Right,” below:
Taylor Swift once dreamed a dream of starring opposite Eddie Redmayne in Les Misérables, but unfortunately, that dream quickly turned into a nightmare.
The 32-year-old pop star was a guest on The Graham Norton Show episode airing Friday (Oct. 28). Also on the couch was Eddie Redmayne, whom Swift recalled meeting 10 years prior during a screen test for Tom Hooper’s 2012 film adaptation of the musical based off Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel.
“Basically I was up for two roles,” the “Anti-Hero” singer explained, according to People and Entertainment Weekly. “I had the look of Cosette and the range vocally of Éponine, so it was established I was there for a good time but not for a long time.”
She went on to say that she knew immediately she probably wouldn’t be cast, but still decided to go through with the screen test knowing she would get to meet Redmayne. The Fantastic Beasts star had already been confirmed for the part of Marius in the film, and Swift said he was one of her “favorite” actors at the time.
“I wasn’t going to get the role,” she told Norton. “[But] this isn’t an experience I am going to get again in my life.”
When she arrived in London to audition next to Redmayne, however, it wasn’t the glamorous cinema experience she’d been expecting. “When I got there they put me in full 19th century street-urchin costume and told me they were going to paint my teeth brown, and I was like, ‘You are going to do that after I meet Eddie Redmayne right?’” she joked.
“They made me look like death and it became a nightmare,” she continued. “When I met Eddie I didn’t open my mouth to speak!”
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Theory of Everything actor either, though. “I thought we would just be singing off each other — I didn’t know we would be in each other’s arms,” he said. “My overriding memory of it is that I had pizza and garlic dough balls beforehand and all I could think about was my garlic breath while Taylor was dying in my arms and I was trying to show emotion.”
Suffice to say, Tay didn’t get the part. She did, however, end up getting cast in another of Hooper’s films just a few years later. When the director started working on his 2019 live action Cats movie, he immediately thought of Swift, who ended up starring in the project as Bombalurina.
“She rather brilliantly auditioned for Éponine. I didn’t cast her, but I got very close to it,” he told Vulture in 2019. “Ultimately, I couldn’t quite believe Taylor Swift was a girl people would overlook. So it didn’t quite feel right for her for the most flattering reason.”
“I knew she was curious to work on a musical,” he continued. “When [Cats] came up, I wrote to her and just said, ‘Would you like to meet? Would you like to see the world I’m creating?”
The Graham Norton Show episode featuring Taylor Swift and Eddie Redmayne — as well as U2’s Bono — airs Friday at 11 p.m. on BBC America.
Mariah Carey is going to make your holidays twice as nice. After announcing a pair of one-off “Merry Christmas to All!” shows at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena (Dec. 11) and New York’s Madison Square Garden (Dec. 13), the undisputed Christmas queen revealed on Thursday (Oct. 27) that she’s got room in her sleigh for two more gigs.
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“New Yoooork!! The demand has been so nice, we’ve decided to do it twice! I’m adding a 2ND Madison Square Garden show on Friday, December 16th!,” she tweeted of the double-down, with tix for both shows going on sale today (Oct. 28) at 10 a.m. ET. “Can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you all!”
And don’t worry Torontonians, she has more love for you, too. Carey also added a second Scotiabank gig for her Canadian lambs on Dec. 9; tickets for both Canadian shows also go on sale today at 10 a.m. ET.
According to a release, these will be Mariah’s only Christmas concerts this yuletide season and fans purchase a ticket will also get a chance to buy an exclusive t-shirt and a copy of the singer’s illustrated holiday fairytale book, The Christmas Princess, which is due out on Nov. 1.
The shows are nice, but as any jingle junkie knows the most exciting part of the seasons is the annual chart watch to see if Carey’s perennial Christmas classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” will hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth year in a row.
Check out Mariah’s announcements below.
Katy Perry has proven time and again that she gets the joke. Even when the punchline is seemingly out of her control and involves some pretty out-there conspiracy theories. Take, for instance, the weird moment at her Las Vegas Play residency this week when her eye started twitching so much she had to take a second to re-set her lid in the middle of the show. Decked out in a soda can dress, Perry seemed to struggle to open her right eyelid, so she blinked her left one in an effort to jump-start the stuck lid.
Of course the bizarre moment was caught on video and promptly went viral in a TikTok fan clip in which Perry calmly tries to manually re-open the stuck peeper while urging the crowd to “make more noise” for her band. Cue the rush of weird theories about what was “really” happening, including suggestion that she’d suffered a “mechanical failure” and had been replaced by a Katybot . She gets it, so on Thursday (Oct. 27) Perry re-posted the video and turned it into a wink-wink joke.
“Welcoming all my #flatearthers #spaceisfakers #birdsarentrealers #skyisntbluers to come see my broken doll eye party trick IRL in Vegas next year!,” she wrote, along with the message “POV: when you see new 2023 PLAY dates.” Katy just announced new dates for a 2023 run of the residency, telling any Katy Kats who haven’t woken up in Vegas what they can expect.
“The show’s set list is a fun through memory lane going all the way back to 2008, a time when we weren’t all frozen by the paranoia of our own echo chambers! This show is a nonstop party about finding unconditional love and strangely (for me) not political at all,” she wrote. “Heck I pour beer out of my t–s (that’s a party trick too… I don’t actually lactate hops silly goose!) Hope to sing along with you in 2023! And we’ll drink, this one’s on me, cause we’re all #chainedtothealgorithm.”
Perry just announced a string of news dates for her Resorts World Las Vegas residency from Feb. through April of next year.
Check out Perry’s tweet below.
Billboard’s First Stream serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Rihanna returns from a far-too-long absence, SZA tries out the full-length version of a long-teased fan favorite, Ice Spice goes under the sea and more. Check out all of this week’s First Stream picks below:
Rihanna, “Lift Me Up”
Rihanna’s much-anticipated return to music comes not with the kind of door-kicking, floor-filling lead single we once expected from her on a yearly basis, but rather with a lush, percussion-less ballad of domestic bliss. Co-written with producer Ludwig Göransson, Afrobeats sensation Tems and film director Ryan Coogler and featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, the stirring song showcases Rihanna’s still-improving vocals as she sings of the security she seeks in her partner and her life: “Lift me up/ Hold me down/ Keep me close/ Safe and sound.” A simple and touching love song, also written in part as a tribute to the late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman.
SZA, “Shirt”
It’s not quite as long-awaited as Rihanna’s comeback, but SZA fans have been waiting for the full version of “Shirt” since she first teased it on TikTok in 2020, spawning a dance challenge in the process. Safe to say the full version of the song fits just right, with the singer-songwriter’s typically scattered and piercing vocals racing over a booming beat, leading to an already trademark chorus: “Blood stain on my shirt/ New b–ch on my nerves.” If the song sounds like something that could’ve played on BET’s Planet Groove in 1999, there’s a reason for that: Turn-of-the-century R&B architect Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins co-produced and co-wrote the track, along with SZA and “Freaky” Rob Gueringer.
Jin, “The Astronaut”
Coldplay’s first blast off into the BTSverse went pretty well — the two groups’ “My Universe” collab debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the former group’s first time topping the chart since 2008 — so it’s not surprise to hear Chris Martin & Co. called on again for co-writing duties on Jin’s solo single “The Astronaut.” The bilingual love song provides the kind of sparkling pop-rock maximalism we’ve come to expect from the two groups, with Jin’s plaintive vocal perfectly selling the chorus sentiment (“When I’m with you/ There is no one else/ I get heaven to myself”) — with Martin’s own backing cries of course providing valuable assistance underneath.
Polo G, “Bag Talk”
After proving near-ubiquitous in popular music from 2019 to 2021, Polo G has had a more laid-back 2022, with just a couple features and a one-off single (“Distraction”) to his credit so far this year. “Bag Talk” suggests the break might coming to an end: Co-produced by heavy-hitters TM88 and Southside, Polo brings the urgency to the widescreen production, promising “You could pick any location in the city I’m good, b–ch/ Everywhere I go, I’m stamped… I need evеry dime, I stay on my grind/ Like Tony Hawk up that ramp.”
Dove Cameron, “Bad Idea”
Following in the mode of prior releases “Boyfriend” and “Breakfast,” “Bad Idea” is Dove Cameron’s third badass “B” single of 2022, another sultry and alluring pop offering performed with an audibly devilish grin. This time, Cameron also takes cues from another “Bad” singer: With its alternately jaunty and eerie production, darkly pulsing beat and whisper-cooed vocals (with occasional dips into sing-speaking), the song could’ve slotted rather naturally into the middle third of Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Ice Spice, “Bikini Bottom”
Everyone’s favorite viral Bronx hip-hop sensation — and Billboard‘s own R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for October — is back with a new single, and it might be her most irresistible yet. Ice Spice hopscotches through a skittering beat and a particularly springy RIOTUSA production in “Bikini Bottom,” spitting, “How can I lose if I’m already chose?/ Like, If she feelin’ hot then I make that b–ch froze.” Running a very replayable 1:46, you can bet that the staff at the Krusty Krab is getting down to this one at any opportunity.
