Monthly Archives: August 2020

Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP set to claim this week’s Official UK Number 1 single – Music News

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The Official Chart: First Look, which airs on BBC Radio 1 today between 6pm – 7pm, offers a first glance of the Top 20 ahead of Friday’s Official Singles Chart Top 100. The chart is based on preliminary sales and early streaming reports.

It’s shaping up to be a close race for this week’s Official UK Number 1 single. In today’s Official Chart First Look (Aug. 30), Cardi B’s WAP ft. Megan Thee Stallion is set to take the Number 1 spot from Joel Corry’s Head & Heart ft. MNEK, with WAP currently ahead by less than 80 chart sales.

Boosted by viral success on TikTok, US rapper and singer 24kGoldn is on track to score his first UK Top 10 single with Mood ft. Iann Dior, so far up six places to Number 5.

K-pop girl group Blackpink are off to a strong start with their new single Ice Cream ft. Selena Gomez, currently at Number 12 and on course to be the group’s highest charting single yet.

Calvin Harris’ brand-new collaboration with The Weeknd, Over Now, is also on course for a Top 20 debut, currently at Number 19. As things stand, it’s set to become Calvin’s 35th UK Top 40 single.

The final Official Chart Top 40 will be unveiled on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart with Scott Mills this Friday from 4pm, with the full Official Singles Chart Top 100 published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm.



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Leonard Cohen’s estate ‘specifically declined’ RNC’s request to use Hallelujah – Music News

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Representatives from the estate of Leonard Cohen are “surprised and dismayed” after they “specifically declined” Republican Party officials’ request to use his song Hallelujah at their National Convention.

Two different cover versions of the late crooner’s famous ballad were played twice during the broadcast on Thursday, during which President Donald Trump accepted the party’s nomination for November’s election, but legal reps for the estate has issued a statement insisting the track was used against their wishes.

“We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request, and their rather brazen attempt to politicise and exploit in such an egregious manner Hallelujah,” a statement to Reuters read.

Calling the number “one of the most important songs in the Cohen song catalogue, estate lawyers insist they are “exploring our legal options.”

Brian J. Monaco, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, also confirmed the denial on Friday, adding: “On the eve of the finale of the convention, representatives from the Republican National Committee contacted us regarding obtaining permission for a live performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. We declined their request.”

He quipped: “Had the RNC requested another song, You Want it Darker, for which Leonard won a posthumous Grammy in 2017, we might have considered approval of that song.”

Trump has come under fire from a number of artists for playing their music on his campaign trail, with R.E.M., Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Guns N’ Roses, Neil Young and Tom Petty’s estate all threatened legal action against the U.S. leader.

Cohen passed away on 7 November 2016 – the day before Trump was first elected as President.



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Ozzy Osbourne: ‘I’ll never retire’ – Music News

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Ozzy Osbourne has no plans to give up his rockstar life.

The 71-year-old Black Sabbath rocker opened up this year about battling Parkinson’s disease, which is now affecting his ability to walk. But he tells Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper “retirement” is off the cards.

“You know the time when I will retire? When I can hear them nail a lid on my box. And then I’ll f**king do an encore,” he quips, adding, “I’m the Prince of Darkness.”

The star has been isolating against Covid-19 since March, but Ozzy insists that he will return to finish his last tour, which was axed due to his health issues, with rescheduled dates called off due to the pandemic.

“When you feel that audience jumping, it’s a better feeling than orgasm. It is the best love affair of my life,” he reflects. “The party is on, man. I feel honoured people still want to see me.”

Wife Sharon, who is also Ozzy’s manager, is also adamant her husband’s health issues won’t prevent him returning to the stage, sharing: “He may not be able to run up and down like he used to on stage, but it’s still about the voice and he’s still a funny f**ker.

“His voice is his legacy. You hear one note, you know that’s Ozzy,” she gushes. “Everything you want to say is right there in the music.”



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Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion collaborated on ‘WAP’ after meeting through their stylists – Music News

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The pair’s new track recently debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with the greatest number of streams ever for a song’s first week and the collaboration came about after they were introduced by their respective stylists.

Cardi’s business partner and the CEO of District 18 Entertainment Brooklyn Johnny, told Billboard: “Cardi met up with Megan Thee Stallion. Her stylist, Kollin Carter, and Megan’s stylist, EJ [King], they have a good relationship with each other; obviously, they work in the same space. And it’s funny, I’ve had a long business relationship with one of Megan’s managers, T Farris. He works with Megan and I work with Cardi and we would always be like, ‘It’d be dope for the girls to do something!’ But with artists, it’s better to let that naturally happen so that there’s an organic connection there. So we never forced it.

“But styling is a very sensitive thing. A lot of people may not know that, but it is. They spend a lot of time on ideas that visually have to do with the stylist. So the two stylists had a good relationship, and they were like, ‘It would be dope if y’all would communicate’. And Cardi, she’s a good spirit. So anybody she feels got good vibes, she’s like, ‘Sure! Let’s kick it’. And Megan, it’s the same thing on her side, ‘Let’s kick it!’ So they kicked it one day, they had a good vibe, and after that evening, I asked, ‘How was it? How’d it go?’ And she was like, ‘She’s a sweet girl, I got a very good vibe from her.’ Cardi’s very intuitive. She was like, ‘I like her, she gave me a really really good vibe. Maybe we’ll do something with her’.”

And Johnny revealed that the collaboration was seamless from the start.

He explained: “You know, it’s almost like when ketchup met French fries. Like cereal and milk. Like, ‘Oh, s***! This is it!”‘They complement each other. Two different flows, two different energies, two different accents, two different dictions, two different deliveries. In that moment, it just reminded me of old school hip-hop. And I was like, these two girls are about to create history together. You don’t usually see things like this happen.

“Artists don’t usually do things like this when they’re on the top of their games. This type of thing usually happens with one person tryna pull the other person up, or if the other person is on their way down, that’s the time you’d see that. But for two people to look at each other eye to eye like, ‘Yeah, we’re contenders, but we’re about to do this together’. I would say that from inception – and this is a quote straight out of Cardi’s mouth – It was like butter. The whole experience was like butter. It was dope.”



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Andy Bell has ‘nearly lost it all’ to fame – Music News

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The Erasure star admitted his bandmate Vince Clarke has helped him over the years, and although they have “different” personalities on stage, there are a lot of idealistic similarities.

Speaking to Classic Pop magazine, he said: “We seem quite different, but we’re very similar in how we view the world.

“What I’ve really learned from Vince is how to avoid the celebrity lifestyle. I’ve nearly lost it all to that a few times, but I’ve had Vince there to pull me back.”

It’s a mutual relationship where both members of the ‘A Little Respect’ hitmakers have benefited from their friendship.

Vince added: “Andy is the diplomat who makes me temper my opinions. Andy is such a fair man.

“He sees the good in everybody and realises there’s another story going on to the one someone is shouting at you.
“Thanks to Andy, I can sit back and listen, even when in my head I’m thinking, ‘Well, that’s wrong’. I don’t necessarily have to say it anymore!”

While their partnership is enduring, Andy doesn’t think the same can be said for the pop music scene – and he even suggested the end is in sight.

He explained: “Any art movement only has a 100-year period. Pop music has probably had 60 years now, and to me, it’s almost over.

“The kind of music Vince and I created, it’s the equivalent of the grand masters. My parents’ records from the 50s were the beginning of pop and, in that context, 80s and 90s music was the height of how it was done.

“I can’t get an angle on how pop and the charts operate now.

“You have to know how the systems work to be in it, but all the chart talk of how many streams count as a physical copy sold is an unfathomable minefield to me.”



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Cardi B surprised by notoriety of fame – Music News

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Rapper Cardi B realised how famous her smash hit single ‘WAP’ has now made her when she was recognised by a “crackhead” as she went into an IHOP restaurant.

Cardi B has become so famous because of her hit ‘WAP’ that even “crackheads” recognise her now.

The 27-year-old rapper released the single – a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion – in August and the track’s sexually empowering lyrics and memorable video, which features cameos from Kylie Jenner, Normani, Rosalía and Mulatto, have made it a chart smash all over the globe.

Cardi had already established her celebrity status with her debut album ‘Invasion of Privacy’ and 74.1 million followers on Instagram and 13.7 million Twitter fans but it was when a drug user shouted out her name during a visit to a branch of IHOP (International House of Pancakes) that made her realise the impact ‘WAP’ has had.

When asked where the strangest place she has been recognised is, Cardi answered: “The other day I went to IHOP and a crackhead recognised me and I was like, ‘Wow!'”

Cardi – who is married to rapper Offset – and Megan were criticised by ‘Tiger King’ documentary star Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue, for using white tigers and leopards in the promo as the pop pair roam through a mansion wearing matching animal prints.

Carole, 59, claimed the video glamorised the “idea of rich people having tigers as pets” even though she accepts that the animals used were not on set and instead placed in front of green screens.

In a statement, she said: “I was happy to see that it didn’t look like the cats were really in the rooms with the singers.

“In fact, probably most of the rooms were photoshopped in via green screen. That being said, you have to pose a wildcat in front of a green screen to get that image and that doesn’t happen in the wild … That’s never good for the cat. The worst part is that it glamorises the idea of rich people having tigers as pets. That makes every ignorant follower want to imitate by doing the same.”

Cardi has once again spoke out to dismiss Carole’s criticism insisting the big cats were “treated so nicely” during the shoot and told the conservationist to be more concerned about the allegations in the Netflix series that she murdered her missing second husband Don Lewis, who was legally declared dead in 2002.

Appearing on Nova’s Smallzy’s Surgery radio show, the hip hop superstar proclaimed: “You know, she says I’m sending a bad message because we had a leopard and we had a tiger in our video, but we treated them so nicely. Girl, you can’t be saying that.

“But you wanna know something? I’m gonna leave her for another day. She got other things to worry about, like the FBI.”



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Brandon Flowers feels ‘guilty’ for enjoying lockdown break freedom – Music News

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The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers admitted he feels a “bit guilty” for “enjoying” the chance to be at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Brandon Flowers feels a “bit guilty” for “enjoying” being at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Killers frontman admitted he’s been grateful for the time off the road, despite the circumstances surrounding the lockdown.

He told Music Week: “I feel a little bit guilty. I’m so used to travelling so much and being away that I’m enjoying the extra time being in such close proximity to everybody. It’s been a nice experience.”

Although live music is largely on hold and people are having a tough time, Brandon is hoping the band’s latest album ‘Imploding The Mirage’ – which was released on August 21 – has been a welcome boost.

He said: “In a lot of respects it’s no different, we’re trying to write songs that move us and that hopefully resonate with people. People need music now more than ever.

“Music has always been a place that I go to for comfort or escape, or to feel like I’m not alone, and I think those attributes of music are still alive and kicking and people need them now.”

And while he’s happy being home, the ‘Mr. Brightside’ hitmaker is desperate to get back on the road after the band’s recent tour was axed.

He added: “We were just about to go on our biggest tour that we’ve ever gone on.

“I was really looking forward to that and I’m still looking forward to that. But I just want to evolve and keep getting better.

“I have started to notice that songs are coming easier as I get older and as I write more and exercise these muscles that I’ve developed over the years.

“So I’m really looking forward to the next decade and it’s something that I’m definitely on top of.”



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Kesha makes sure her ‘eyes sparkle’ while wearing a face mask – Music News

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Kesha is placing more importance on her eye make-up nowadays as the majority of her face is covered by a mask when she steps outside.

The Tik Tok singer has always been a fan of experimenting with bold make-up looks and took her love for colourful cosmetics one step further by launching her beauty line Kesha Rose Beauty last year.

In an interview with Page Six Style, the popstar shared that she has been using the FTW Eyeshadow Palette from her brand to make her eyes pop when she goes out and about in a face covering during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Since I wear a mask everywhere I’ve been into making my eyes sparkle, as it’s the only part of my face people can see,” she explained. “I love to smile when I pass people on a walk, so I let the colours on my eyeballs do the smiling! I’ve been matching the colours from my palette to my mood and just having a lot of fun, feeling my emotions in colour.”

Earlier this month, the 33-year-old launched her new YouTube show, Beauty & BS with Kesha, with a video showing her creating the look for her Since I Was Young music video, with the virtual help of her make-up artist Vittorio Masecchia.

She has been forced to learn how to do her own make-up at home without the help of professionals during lockdown and she thought fans would appreciate seeing her figure out how to work with cosmetics.

“I wanted to show my fans and people that maybe aren’t used to doing make-up all the time. I’m learning the process by having to film things by myself at my house, so they’re learning with me,” she recently told Allure. “I’m expanding my perspective and showing the raw vulnerability of the fact that I’m not an expert and I’m not a make-up artist. But that’s not gonna stop me.”



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Disclosure chose hiatus for sake of their mental health – Music News

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The electronic duo – comprised of siblings Guy and Howard Lawrence – have revealed for the first time that they were “drained” after years of touring which is why they took a much-needed rest in 2017, following the release of their LP ‘Caracal’

In an interview with NME, Guy said: “I’m really glad we took that time off and we did do that for mental health reasons.

“I don’t think we said it or explicitly, but we were drained and we needed inspiration for life and music to be drawn from outside of the process of touring.”

The ‘Latch’ hitmaker admitted that apart from when they are on stage performing, the touring lifestyle and jet lag is horrendous.

He added: “You get to do what you absolutely love for an hour-and-a-half a day, and then the rest of it is pretty difficult living.

“It’s a jet-lagged living for sure. You could plan a perfect day while you’re on tour – but if you haven’t slept three days properly before it, that’s just a terrible day.”

The pair are grateful for being given the opportunity to perform around the world, and when asked if the non-stop partying was the dream, Howard quipped: “It is, but you try sleeping on a cramped bus with 12 farting men every night.”

Meanwhile, Disclosure – who have returned with their third studio album, ‘Energy’ – recently insisted they are a band “first and foremost” and therefore the album format will always be important to them.

He added to MusicFeeds.com.au: “I think we associate albums with bands, and we see ourselves as a band, the two of us.

“I’ve played drums since I was one year old, Howard’s played drums since he was four. We’ve learned DJing as we went along after we’d already released a load of Disclosure music.

“We’d never claim to be the best DJs in the world. We’re a band first and foremost, so we always wanted to keep doing albums.”



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Keke Palmer in Covid-19 testing overdrive ahead of the MTV VMAs – Music News

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Keke Palmer has had “over 10” Covid-19 tests ahead of the MTV Video Music Awards.

The host of the annual ceremony, which will be filmed at various locations outdoors across New York City on August 30, due to the pandemic, has revealed the measures the organisers have taken to ensure the socially-distanced event is Covid-secure.

Keke insisted that whilst it will be a different experience, it will provide some much-need entertainment amid the global health crisis.

She said: “I think it will have an impact but I do think we all are used to what is currently happening.

“I feel like the people over at MTV and the VMAs, what we have created within the show to fill that space is going to feel good as well.”

The 27-year-old actress said she’s had “over 10 Covid tests at this point” just to be safe.

Keke explained that she will be moving between the various locations in New York to meet the performers on the night.

She added to ‘Extra’: “I will say there’s something that makes it special in that regard, the fact that we are even attempting to put on a 2020 VMAs is iconic to me in its own way.

“I’m physically going to be in all these places, so, we’re pretty much going through the boroughs of New York and meeting up with everyone for them to do their live performances. So, that’s actually what’s going on.”

The likes of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, BTS, The Black Eyed Peas, DaBaby, Doja Cat, and The Weeknd have been confirmed to perform.

South Korean boy band BTS will be performing live from Seoul, due to the travel restrictions in place.
They will give the debut live performance of their hit single, ‘Dynamite’.

They said this week: “First and foremost, it’s an honour to perform ‘Dynamite’ for the very first time at the VMAs! Although we will be connecting from Seoul, we’re excited at the opportunity to perform alongside many incredible artists. We’d like to credit our ARMYs for their unbelievable support that allowed us to participate in amazing opportunities like this.”

Gaga and Ariana Grande lead the nominations with nine nods each.



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