State Champ Radio Pride
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Birds of a feather stick together, and pop superstar Adam Lambert is happy to see the similar plumage between himself and Lil Nas X. On Tuesday night’s episode (July 11) of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Lambert gave a shout-out to the “Industry Baby” star. When a fan asked on-air about Lambert’s reaction […]
The Las Vegas residency is the new staple in the careers of pop icons — superstars such as Adele, Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson are currently lighting up the Strip with their shows. Now, Kylie Minogue is teasing that she might be joining their ranks soon. On the Tuesday (July 11) episode of Watch What […]
Rina Sawayama is still feeling a certain type of way, and fans believe that Matty Healy is the cause of it all. During her set at NOS Alive in Lisbon on Saturday (July 8), Sawayama went on a short rant during her performance of “STFU!,” her rage-fueled song about dealing with microaggressions. “So I’ve been […]
Barbie-mania may seem like it’s already reached a fever pitch, but pop superstar Sam Smith is ready to give you one more reason to ramp up your excitement for Greta Gerwig’s forthcoming film. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news On Monday (July 10), Smith took to their […]
While George Michael may be remembered today as a queer icon in his own right, the “Freedom ’90” singer’s former bandmate recently revealed that his delayed coming out cost the superstar dearly.
According to Michael’s longtime Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, the “Faith” singer’s decision to keep his sexuality secret before eventually announcing it on live TV in 1998 ultimately hurt him more than it helped. “I think it is fairly unarguable,” Ridgeley told People in an interview published Wednesday (July 5). “He made the point that it had a personal cost, which I don’t think he ever quite reconciled.”
“George was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’ll just come out and say it,’ and I thought, ‘Well, how’s this gonna change anything for us?’” Ridgeley also told the publication. “The music’s still great and once the initial sort of hullabaloo is over, then it’ll probably be just that. But that was not the case, and George says that for him personally, that was the wrong decision.”
Michael’s decision to delay his coming out was based out of fear for “how his father would react, along with the press and the label,” Ridgeley said. “He was all ifs and buts, but the fact is the decision was taken not to make his sexuality public, and that personally cost him.”
Michael hid his sexuality from fans for years before he was arrested in 1998 for lewd conduct, an event that essentially outed him to the public and led him to confirm he was gay in a televised interview on CNN. Before his death in 2016, the English musician said himself that he regretted staying in the closet for so long, even though doing so likely helped his career in the long run.
“I’d been out to a lot of people since 19,” he said in a 2007 radio interview. “I wish to God it had happened then. I don’t think I would have the same career – my ego might not have been satisfied in some areas – but I think I would have been a happier man … Then AIDS changed everything. I was too immature to know I was sacrificing as much as I was.”
The difficulties Michael faced before and after coming out are covered in the new Wham! documentary, which arrived on Netflix Wednesday (July 5). But while the “Careless Whisper” musician faced judgment and scorn from some listeners afterward, Ridgeley shared with People that for him, his longtime friend’s revelation didn’t change a thing between them.
“Shirlie told me George was anxious about telling me, which I found a little surprising,” he reflected, referencing former girlfriend and singer Shirlie Kemp. “When he told me it was like, ‘Oh, well, yeah. That explains a few things,’ but it was unremarkable. It was unsensational.”
Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef are divorcing after six years of marriage, the pair announced in a joint statement on Thursday (July 6). “For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect, and dignity for our children — […]
From ballads to bops, our staff picks the 25 best songs from LGBTQ artists in 2023 thus far.
It’s the last day of Pride Month, but certainly not your last chance to check out some new tunes 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 The Japanese House’s thrilling new album, to Mxmtoon’s team-up with Ricky Montgomery & Cavetown, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
The Japanese House, In the End It Always Does
“Perform my stupid rituals, everything in cyclical,” Amber Bain sings on her new album. “Hold on to this feeling ’cause you won’t feel it for long.” This is the prevailing sentiment behind In the End It Always Does, the sometimes-nihilistic, otherwise-curious new album from The Japanese House that ponders the patterns of our emotional inner lives. Whether it’s a lack of physical connection (“Touching Yourself”), or predetermination in the middle of a relationship (“Morning Pages” with MUNA), Bain examines the cycles of her love life with surgical precision, and through the lens of some impeccably-crafted indie-pop.
Mxmtoon, Ricky Montgomery & Cavetown, “Nobody Loves Me”
Turns out when you take three exceptionally gifted singer-songwriters and put them together on one song, you get a pretty great final product. “Nobody Loves Me,” the collaboration between Mxmtoon, Ricky Montgomery and Cavetown, sees the trio offering up their own interpretations of hopelessly pining after the objects of each of their affection. With soft, silky production that lends itself perfectly to the delicate subject at hand, “Nobody Loves Me” is exactly the kind of song to sit and introspect to.
Greta Van Fleet, “The Falling Sky”
No, it’s not Chicken Little — it’s just Greta Van Fleet letting you know that the sky is, indeed, falling. In this delicious rock single, the band struggles against the seemingly unyielding problems of the world, as frontman Josh Kiszka opines that “I don’t wanna lose this time.” Add in some flavorful guitars and even a brassy harmonica solo, and “The Falling Sky” quickly becomes a must-listen anthem for perseverance — especially given Kiszka’s recent coming out, and the state of affairs for queer people in this country.
Daya, “Juliene”
Looking for a sizzling, sexy anthem for your summer playlists? Enter Daya. “Juliene,” the singer’s latest single, follows Daya as she pursues the titular character down a burning-hot beach so they can find some alone time. Some A+ alt-pop production and an ethereal vocal performance later, “Juliene” transcends into a flowing, scintillating jam that’s bound to get stuck in your head shortly after your first listen.
Chika feat. Freddie Gibbs, “Truth or Dare”
If you’ve ever wanted to be let into a songwriter’s process, then Chika has exactly the song for you. On “Truth or Dare” (featuring a fabulous guest verse from rap superstar Freddie Gibbs) the 25-year-old rapper focuses her aim at the industry and her own career, calling out shallow trends and materialist incentives before turning her focus inward. Throughout the dexterous second verse, Chika slowly deconstructs herself before wondering if any of this is really even worth it. “Nowadays, music about a few seconds that make you sway from side to side,” she spits. “Why am I thinking so much ’bout my lyrics? Forreal I’m just wastin’ my time.” That may be how Chika feels, but we think pressing play on “Truth or Dare” is maybe one of the best uses of your time today.
G Flip, “The Worst Person Alive”
Ever had an ex that decided to treat you like Public Enemy No. 1? G Flip most certainly has, as they explain on their latest single “The Worst Person Alive,” a scathing indictment of the multi-hyphenate’s past relationship. Fueled by a pounding drum beat (performed by G Flip themselves) and seething lyrics that question any and all intentions from their former flame, “Worst Person” seeks to find answers amid the mess and drama of a relationship at its end.
MAY-A, “Lola”
Australian indie-rock star MAY-A wants to talk about growing apart. On “Lola,” the first single off of her forthcoming EP Analysis Paralysis, the singer-songwriter looks her relationship with two different people; the person she gets to be with in private and the person they change themselves into in public. Through the dreamy guitars and subdued percussion, MAY-A paints a vivid image of a relationship where no one knows where they stand, making this an excellently evocative single to kick off her new era.
Check out all of our picks in our Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Eureka O’Hara opens up about learning about drag for the first time, her love for Jessie J and Tim McGraw, and more for our Billboard Pride Cover with Maren Morris. Eureka O’Hara:I’ll never forget at my sister’s graduation: My dad saw my mom and was like, “Holy cow, you look like […]
06/30/2023
From beach party bliss to total reinventions, our staff picks their 10 favorite albums from LGBTQ artists in 2023 thus far.
06/30/2023
