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With the end of the year fast-approaching, now’s the best time to tune into some of the best new songs from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
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From Lil Nas X’s long-awaited new single to Elton John’s new collaboration with Brandi Carlile, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Lil Nas X, “Light Again”
Ladies and gentlemen, Lil Nas X is back. With his new(ish) single “Light Again,” the 25-year-old pop culture phenomenon proudly arrives ready to party, spitting out bars about where he’s headed and declaring himself the “king and the jester” of pop music. With some house-inspired production and a ballroom-adjacent bridge breakdown, Lil Nas makes sure to sink his catchy hooks into you before the song is over.
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Elton John & Brandi Carlile, “Never Too Late”
Even at 77 years old, Elton John wants to make sure you know that it’s “Never Too Late” to make a change. On his new duet with folk hero Brandi Carlile — which serves as the de facto theme song for his new documentary of the same name — John looks back foldly on a career filled with massive, groundbreaking successes, and then trains his eyes on the future. Armed only with a piano and some light drums, John and Carlile make excellent partners on this lovely new addition to the legend’s discography.
070 Shake, Petrichor
070 Shake has always been an experimenter at heart — but with Petrichor, she draws that label out to its fullest vision. Throughout this excellent new album, Shake plays with rock, pop, R&B, rap and just about every other musical concept that she can think of (including a left-field TIm Buckley cover with Courtney Love) in order to weave her particular tale of heartbreak and self-evaluation. She promises that “I remember everything” on immediate standout “Elephant” — and with the rest of Petrichor, she proves it, too,
Cat Burns, “Teenage Dirtbag” (Wheatus cover)
If you’ve been to a Cat Burns show in the last few years (or, hell, if you follow her on TikTok), then you already know that the rising UK singer has an affinity for Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag.” Now, with her own recorded version, Burns takes her queer-bent version of the track and gives it the full single treatment — guitars, drums and an astonishing amout of vocal melodies join in as the singer begs Noelle to “listen to Iron Maiden baby with me.” We’re sold, and after your first listen, we guarantee you will be, too.
Teddy Geiger & Yaeji, “Pink Ponies”
Ahead of Transa’s full release next week, Red Hot shared two more singles off the ambitious project for fans. While Julien Baker, Calvin Luber, SOAK and Quinn Christopherson certainly shine on their cover of Belle and Sebastian’s “Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying,” we’d like to focus on electronic star Yaeji and singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger’s stunning original “Pink Ponies” for a moment. On this gorgeous, hypnotic new song, both Geiger and Yaeji reflect on the often painful-but-beautiful truth of finding yourself in another person. It’s yet a stunning addition to what promises to be a deeply meaningful album.
Jordy, Sex With Myself And It Lasts Longer
Why not close things out with something fun? After laying himself bare (literally) on his last album Sex With Myself, Jordy is here to take a victory lap with the album’s deluxe version. Throughout his five steamy new numbers, Jordy keeps the dance-fueled highs of the original album intact as he takes you on a self-guided tour of his latest sexual encounters. But it’s on closer “Drinking of Me” that Jordy lands on something different — a hyperpop-assisted kiss-off where he bids is former flame adieu with a flexed middle finger. If that’s the energy you’ve been looking for in recent weeks, then look no further.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s 2024 Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
As our current political discourse gets especially dark, Lil Nas X is going out of his way to find the “Light Again” with his latest song. On Friday (Nov. 15), the rapper unveiled his new single “Light Again,” which comes off of his recently announced sophomore album, Dreamboy. Throughout the pounding, house-inspired new song, Lil […]
When it comes to reviving a 145-year-old comic opera, who better to enlist than drag superstar Jinkx Monsoon to liven things up? On Wednesday (Nov. 13), the Roundabout Theater Company announced its upcoming new musical Pirates! A Penzance Musical, starring Monsoon alongside Broadway veterans Ramin Karimloo and David Hyde Pierce. Billed as “reimagined, lovingly adapted […]
While plenty of Lil Nas X fans are hyping themselves up over his upcoming new single, dance artist Sega Bodega has a few questions for the rapper about one of his promotional photos. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a series of posts to his X […]
While Lil Nas X‘s new music feed has gone somewhat dark over the last few months, the singer is back with a promise — there will be “Light Again.” In a post to his social media accounts on Tuesday (Nov. 12), Lil Nas announced that he would at last be officially releasing his next single […]
It’s been almost 11 months since Lil Nas X boldly declared that “b—h I’m back like J Christ.” Now, the singer promises, he’s actually back for good. In a video posted to his X account on Sunday night (Nov. 10), the rapper revealed that “phase 1” of his new era begins on Monday (Nov. 11). […]
After the 2024 presidential race was called for Donald Trump on Wednesday (Nov. 6), plenty of people flocked to social media looking for catharsis. One such person was singer-songwriter Maren Morris, who decided to give those people something to listen to. In a post to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday night, the “Push Me Over” […]
In the wake of Donald Trump’s stunning win in the 2024 presidential election, singer-songwriter Ethel Cain is letting out her rage.
In a post to her Tumblr on Wednesday (Nov. 6), the “American Teenager” singer laid into the American political system, decrying the methods by which members of the electorate are turned against one another. “The problem is that America has beaten down its people for decades and gotten them weak and desperate and now promises a way out, a way to transcend and rise above, through selling out their fellow man,” she wrote. “An embarrassingly large chunk of white men are just straight up nazis these days as a way to dissociate from the rest of the carnage around them, even if they’re broke and uneducated and from an impoverished background themselves.”
Cain, who has been a vocal critic of both the Republican and Democratic tickets in the 2024 election, went on to say that modern political discourse has made everyone “so incredibly hateful,” and warned that the president-elect was far from the only issue in our current system.
“It’s not even about Trump at this point. He’s gonna get in office and do whatever he does and it’s gonna be a mess but whatever. This is indicative of deeper problem,” she wrote. “There is no solidarity and there is no love. Trump being in office or not doesn’t change the fact that America is a breeding ground for violent hatred … if anything COULD be done about it, Trump certainly wouldn’t do it. Honestly, Kamala probably wouldn’t have either. We are so deeply f–ked.”
The singer went on to deliver a direct message to any Trump supporters reading her post: “If you voted for Trump, I hope that peace never finds you. Instead, I hope clarity strikes you someday like a clap of lightning and you have to live the rest of your life with the knowledge and guilt of what you’ve done and who you are as a person,” she wrote.
As for the rest of her followers, Cain said that since “we can’t count on the government,” it would come down to them. “Just keep up the good fight in your own personal lives,” she wrote. “That’s literally the only thing to be done at this point. Stay safe out there. Maybe buy a gun.”
Cain joins a rising chorus of voices reacting negatively to Trump’s re-election. Cardi B wrote “I hate y’all so bad” after the race was called for the Republican nominee, while Billie Eilish said that his win represented “a war on women.”
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Betty Who is turning her uplifting ’80s infused pop music into the ultimate beauty tool through a new campaign with e.l.f. Cosmetics. The two teamed up to release a Get Ready With Me album featuring a mix of artists including Who that promises to only bring inspiring vibes as you complete your going out makeup looks — and the 33-year-old opened up about her makeup secrets.
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Her single off the album titled “Wings” doesn’t just aim to help you bring out your “inner light,” but acts as a bridge between beauty and music. The “Somebody Loves You” singer can relate to the messaging herself especially when reflecting on early in her career; when she while exploring stage makeup and discovering what techniques stuck with her the most.
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“A winged eyeliner was the only thing I knew how to do, really, that seemed impressive to me at the time” she says in an interview with Billboard.
Her eyeliner of choice? E.l.f.’s H20 Proof Eyeliner Pen, which is under $15 and features a precision felt tip to easily go from thin to thick lines.
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e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen
As you craft your wing or simple line across the lid, the eyeliner’s formula is quick-drying to avoid any smudging. Plus, its vitamin-infused ingredients will help nourish your lash line for practically all-day wear.
While there are many eyeliner techniques that claim to be the best, for the star, the secret to crafting the perfect winged eyeliner is knowing your eye shape.
“Whether it’s like my eyes are hooded, so it will look different on my eye than it will on my best friends,” she says. “And I think that it’s such a fun way to experiment and explore your self-expression through makeup. My individual wing is something that I’m always experimenting with and trying to get closer and closer to being the perfect eyeliner.”
It’s not just the skills she looked to hone in on though, the “Ignore Me” singer’s relationship with makeup has evolved over time shifting from a tool she relied on the daily, to a form of art that she uses to emphasize her natural beauty.
“I don’t have to put on a huge eyelash to feel like I’m allowed to be out in the world,” she says. “Instead of trying to change who you are, it’s about trying to accentuate who you are and it took me a little while to figure that out.”
Keep reading to shop some of her favorite makeup in addition to her holiday gifting picks.
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e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
Right now, the makeup product that Who is “obsessed” with happens to be the brand’s viral lip oil. Not only has it been considered a dupe for Dior’s popular lip oil, but comes with a nourishing formula that helps hydrate lips while providing a hint of color. For the singer especially, she finds it enhances her makeup saying she finds it brings “everything else to life.”
“That’s one of my favorite products to use on stage and just in life in general,” she says. “I think I have six of them now, and there’s one in every bag that I own just waiting for me to take out into the world.”
And when she’s performing on stage, Who has been experimenting with e.l.f.’s Power Grip Prime, which she claims is the primer “meant to keep everything on your face.”
“No matter what, I’m a sweaty little girl, I’ll tell you what,” she explains. “Because we dance so much, I often feel like I come off stage and I’ve done my best to keep [makeup] on my face. But if both my eyelashes are hanging on, I am very, very happy.”
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e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
The formula has gone viral for its long-lasting capabilities with more than 30,000 Amazon shoppers having purchased the primer this month. Using a gel-based formula, it aims to go on clear without clogging pores making it a universal shade to prep your skin with.
While the above makeup products make ideal celeb-approved beauty tools, Who also dropped a couple of gift picks for anyone looking to pick up a Betty Who-approved gift for the fan in your life.
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ETSPIL Embroidery Kit for Beginners (3-Pack)
One of the singer’s best gifts she’s ever surprised someone with was handmade cross-stitched picture from her and her best friend’s favorite movie The Swan Princess.“That was one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given because it took me so long, and it ended up being really cute,” she tells.If you’re new to the craft, this embroidery kit comes with three different pieces that you can cross-stitch a picture onto as well as all the possible tools you’ll need. Included are different sized needles, thread and a stitch ripper in addition to step-by-step instructions.
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Hyperice Normatec 3 Compression Boots
The songwriter still treasures a pair of compression boots that her husband got her during her time as Persephone in the broadway musical Hadestown. If you’re looking to splurge on the performer or athlete in your life, these compression boots will help stimulate bloodflow through massage. You can choose from seven different levels depending on your needs while the zip closure makes it easier to get in and out of.
“It has changed my life,” she says. “I wear them all the time, so that was one of the best [gifts] I’ve ever gotten. I was like, this is exactly what I need right now.”
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best gifts for musicians, gifts for singers and music lover gifts.
Election Day is less than a week away, and viral comedian Randy Rainbow is making one last pitch against former president Donald Trump in his latest parody video.
On Tuesday (Oct. 29), Rainbow sat down for one more fake interview with the twice-impeached former president, checking in on him as the businessman-turned-politican heads into the final stretch of his campaign (“You look like s–t, how are you feeling?” Rainbow asked with a smile), before wondering aloud why the polls were so close. “I can’t sleep nights,” Rainbow declared. “I keep imagining the dark, hate-filled, Orwellian, deep-fried, comb-over, fever dream hellscape this country will become if your crazy a– wins!”
With the premise set, Rainbow launched into his latest parody track, “Magadu.” Lifting the melody of Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra’s 1980 hit “Xanadu” from the film of the same name, Rainbow immediately takes the song’s premise of a mythical, heavenly place in the track’s title and flips it on its head.
“A place where nobody wants to go/ A country so lame and low/ They call it Magadu,” he sings. “But if you vote for this bag of d–ks/ As soon as Nov. 6/ We’ll be in Magadu!”
As Rainbow speculated about the “dark dystopia of absurd extremes” that would occur under a second Trump presidency, the singer made sure to point to Project 2025, the much-discussed 900-page document outlining a plan for Trump to consolidate power in his second presidency and help impose ultra-conservative policies around the country.
“In the year of Project 2025/ Those creeps gonna kick their creepy plans into overdrive/ No more protections or kindness or joy/ And guess who’s gonna be their poster boy?” Rainbow sings on the bridge. “When Planet Earth dries up and demagogues thrive/ No education and nobody’s free/ They’re gonna set us back a century.”
Closing out his song, Rainbow made his choice in the 2024 election clear as a clip of Vice President Kamala Harris saying “we will not go back” played alongside his final plea: “Let’s no go there, there’s no clean air/ Don’t wanna go, girl, just say no to Magadu!”
Watch the full video above.