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From its 1975 debut on Broadway as “the super soul musical,” winning seven Tony Awards and spotlighting stars like Stephanie Mills, Hinton Battle, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Andre De Shields; to its Oscar-nominated screen adaptation starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson among others; to its sing-along songs like “Ease on Down the Road,” “Home” and “Believe,” The Wiz has become a modern-day musical theater classic — and in its retelling of The Wizard of Oz through the lens of Black culture and music, a landmark in Broadway history.
Yet the show has only had one official Broadway revival, in 1984, which ran for a grand total of 20 performances — until now. A major new production of The Wiz is playing at the Marquis Theatre, and four of the stars of its cast and creative team — actors Wayne Brady and Deborah Cox; choreographer JaQuel Knight; and writer Amber Ruffin, who created additional material working with the show’s original book — stopped by Billboard News recently to talk about why the show is still a groundbreaker and a hugely entertaining crowd-pleaser.
For all four, The Wiz was a formative show, influencing their career paths in entertainment and showing what was possible for Black artists. “It was one of the drivers that made me go, ‘Oh, I think I can do this,’” says Brady.
“The film was just life-changing — it allowed me to see life as a choreographer and understand the essence and energy of movement,” adds Knight, known for his work with major pop artists including Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Zara Larsson, J Balvin and more.
For Ruffin, The Wiz was “a real introduction to Black weirdness not connected to Black pain…The Wiz is the thing that gives you permission to be your artsiest, weirdest self and just do what’s in your weird little heart.”
Brady, who’s starred in previous Broadway productions including Kinky Boots and Chicago, plays the showman titular character, while R&B veteran Cox displays vocal pyrotechnics as Glinda. Both discuss The Wiz‘s enduring significance as a universally welcoming show — and proof that Broadway can continue to diversify and evolve.
“This show is a testament to what you can do when you display Black people and Black culture not as a monolith,” says Cox. “We are all of it, and we are the origin of it, and I think this show is the beginning of what you’ll be seeing a lot more of on Broadway.” Adds Brady: “It’s a true display of Black excellence in every form. It’s so rich.”
To hear what else Brady, Cox, Knight and Ruffin had to say, watch the video above.
He knows how to ball, she knows Aristotle – but swag surfing they have in common. Taylor Swift‘s first show back on the Eras Tour Thursday (May 9) featured multiple surprises as she debuted several new numbers from The Tortured Poets Department, including what appeared to be a subtle tribute to boyfriend Travis Kelce. While […]
Avril Lavigne revealed the track list for her first-ever hits compilation, Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits, on Friday morning (May 10). The 20-track collection due out June 21 will feature such iconic favorites as 2002 breakthrough anthems “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi,” as well as 2004’s “Don’t Tell Me,” 2007’s “Girlfriend” and 2011’s “What the Hell,” among others.
Several collaborations are in the mix as well, including “I’m a Mess” (feat. Yungblud), “Bois Lie” (feat. Machine Gun Kelly) and “Love It When You Hate Me” (feat. blackbear), as well as the Eragon soundtrack single “Keep Holding On.”
The Legacy Recordings collection will be available on 12″ vinyl — including a Target-exclusive neon green version — CD and digital formats, with the album packaging featuring new photos and a personal note from the singer to her fans.
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The singer will take her chart smashes on the road this summer with the 2024 Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits tour, which is slated to kick off on May 22 in Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena and include stops in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Ottawa, Toronto, Nashville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis and Winnipeg before winding down on Sept. 16 at Rogers Place in Edmonton; the shows will feature support from All Time Low, Royal & the Serpent, Simple Plan and Girlfriends on select dates.
Before hitting the road Lavigne will make her debut performance at the May 16 59th ACM Awards alongside best new male artist nominee Nate Smith. Also coinciding with the hits LP, four of Lavigne’s studio albums — 2004’s Under My Skin, 2007’s Best Damn Thing, 2011’s Goodbye Lullaby and 2013’s Avril Lavigne — will be released on 12″ vinyl editions including bonus recordings previously available as digital-only tracks.
Check out the track listing for Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits:
Side A1. “Sk8er Boi” (Let Go/single – Arista 2002)2.” Girlfriend” (The Best Damn Thing/single – RCA 2007)3. “What the Hell” (Goodbye Lullaby/single – RCA 2011)4. “Complicated” (Let Go/single – Arista 2002)5. “Don’t Tell Me” (Under My Skin/single – Arista/RCA 2004) Side B6. “I’m A Mess” (with Yungblud) (Love Sux Deluxe/single – Elektra/DTA 2022)7. “He Wasn’t” (Under My Skin/single – Arista/RCA 2005)8. “Losing Grip” (Let Go/single – Arista 2003)9. “My Happy Ending” (Under My Skin/single – Arista/RCA 2004)10. “Bite Me” (Love Sux/single – Elektra/DTA/2021) Side C11. “Nobody’s Home” (Under My Skin/single – Arista/RCA 2004)12. “I’m With You” (Let Go/single – Arista 2002)13. “When You’re Gone” (The Best Damn Thing/single – RCA 2007)14. “Bois Lie” (feat. Machine Gun Kelly) (Love Sux/single – Elektra/DTA 2022)15. “Smile” (Goodbye Lullaby/single – RCA 2011) Side D16. “Love It When You Hate Me” (feat. blackbear) (Love Sux/single – Elektra/DTA 2022)17. “Rock n Roll” (Avril Lavigne/single – Epic 2013)18. “Here’s To Never Growing Up” (Avril Lavigne/single – Epic 2013)19. “Keep Holding On” (The Best Damn Thing/”Eragon” soundtrack/single – RCA 2006)20. “Head Above Water” (Head Above Water/single – BMG 2018)
05/10/2024
Seven songs from ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ made their live debut at Défense Arena.
05/10/2024
BTS‘ RM is a big baby in the trippy video for his single “Come Back to Me.” The cinematic clip directed, produced and written by Beef creator Lee Sung Jin that dropped on Friday morning (May 10) features a scene where the singer plays an adult-sized infant, one of several roles he takes on in the twisty, nearly seven-minute mini-movie.
“Come back to me/ Like you used to/ Now, I could see/ What a life is about/ I told you I’m fine tonight/ Staying good/ Spring always been here/ I will sleep in her eyes,” the 29-year-old K-pop star sleepily croons over acoustic guitar and whistling. Elsewhere in the visual, RM is a devoted dad and a man at odds with his girlfriend.
The single from RM’s upcoming 11-track second solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person (May 24) was first performed last August during a surprise appearance at BTS bandmate Suga’s Seoul concert on his SUGA | Agust D Tour ‘D-DAY’ The Final outing. “Through ‘Come Back To Me,’ RM explores the central theme of the new album, ‘right and wrong,’ delving into the paradoxical desire to venture into new territories while longing to remain content in the present,” reads a statement announcing the video that co-stars actress Kim Minha (Pachinko).
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RM wrote the lyrics for the song, which also features guest musicians OHHYUK from South Korean band HYUKOH — who composed and arranged the track — as well as guitar and bass from Kuo of Taiwanese band Sunset Rollercoaster and contributions from singer/songwriter JNKYRD and San yawn of Balming Tiger.
“The music video captures the uncanny yet familiar sensation of feeling like a stranger in different surroundings, echoing the theme of the upcoming album,” adds the statement of the clip that ends with a surprise twist.
RM’s first solo LP, Indigo, was released in Dec. 2022, and peaked at No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and featured guests including Anderson .Paak, Erykah Badu and others. The members of BTS are all in the midst of completing their mandatory military services in South Korea, which RM enlisted in in December alongside band mates V, Jimin and Jung Kook.
Watch the “Come Back to Me” video below.
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Beabadoobee is getting ready to release her most intimate album yet. The 23-year-old singer announced on Thursday (May 9) that her third studio LP, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, is due out on August 16. “My most personal record, made with love from bea, jacob, rick and shangrila studios,” she wrote on Instagram, shouting out […]
Everyone knows that if you’re going to do a proper search for the next must-see viral star you need to assemble your It Girl Counsel for help. Which is exactly what Charli XCX does in the video for her new BRAT single “360.”
The clip that dropped on Friday morning (May 10) finds the singer running late for a dinner date with pals at a swanky restaurant. When she arrives she walks into a room packed with a who’s-who of influencers, apologizing immediately for disappointing them with the news that she is about to do her song and can’t join them.
“Oh f–k, um, we’re so sorry because the thing is we all really want you to do the song,” says actress Rachel Sennott (Bottoms), with Nasty Cherry singer/model Gabbriette adding, “We have to fulfill the prophecy of finding a new, hot internet girl. That’s literally why we’re at dinner.
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“Or else our kind will cease to exist,” adds Euphoria actress Chloe Cherry. “Forever.”
“Yeah, it’s terrible,” says Sennott as dramatic violin stabs amp up the drama. “And then after we figure that out you can totally do the song.” A resigned Charli agrees to join in the hunt for the new clickbait celeb, looking around the table and picking a woman at random.
That guest happens to be Uncut Gems actress, model and pants hater Julia Fox, who looks around confused as she sips red wine, her long silver nails wrapped around the glass. “Oh Charli, that’s literally Julia Fox,” Sennott informs her as Fox — her eyebrows dyed the same bleach blonde shade as her hair — sheepishly says hello.
The singer then focuses in on the tame server (Dream Scenario actress Greer Cohen) waiting on the group — which also includes Chloë Sevigny, Alex Consani, Emma Chamberlain, A. G. Cook, Hari Nef, Isamaya Ffrench, Matisse Andrews, Quenlin Blackwell, Sakura Bready and more — as they nod in agreement and Sennott praises her “total waiter vibes.”
The group then begins to give the harried woman a series of totally not helpful tips as Cohen furious writes down qualities including: je ne sais quoi, “really hot in like a scary way” and “be known, but at the same time unknowable.”
The music video them properly starts as the crew — which also includes Anna Collins, Blizzy McGuire, Tess McMillan, Salem Mitchell, Peri Rosenzweig, Richie Shazam and Niki Takesh –join Charli on a series of adventures, including riding atop a man headed for surgery as his gurney moves down a hospital hallway, a wine-and-selfies workout and a wind-blown photo shoot.
All the while, the retro synth pop track produced by Cook plays in the background and Charli cooly sings, “Yeah, 360/ When you’re in the mirror, do you like what you see?/ When you’re in the mirror, you’re just looking at me/ I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia/Ah-ah, ah/ When you’re in the party b-b-bumpin’ that beat/ 666 with a princess streak.”
“360” is the follow-up to the previously released single “Von Dutch.” Charli’s BRAT is due out on June 7 via Atlantic and she is slated to hit the road with Troye Sivan in the fall for an arena tour that will launch on Sept. 14 in Detroit at the Little Caesars Arena.
Watch the “360” video below.
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Camila Cabello knows what makes a good pop song, and that’s why she called on Lil Nas X for her newest track, “He Knows,” which arrived on Friday (May 10). Earlier in the week, the duo were seen partying the night away at FKA Twigs’ Met Gala afterparty, where they danced alongside the “Cellophane” singer […]
Taylor Swift is back at it! The 34-year-old pop star returned to her global Eras Tour on Thursday (May 9) following a two-month break, kicking off the trek’s European leg at La Defense Arena in Paris for the first of four planned shows at the venue — complete with several new costumes, dance numbers, visuals, […]
Olivia Rodrigo is ready to take over Asia and Australia with her Guts World Tour, and the superstar promoted her upcoming tour dates in a hilarious TikTok seemingly filmed by the singer’s rumored boyfriend, Louis Partridge. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the clip, the English […]
