Pop Music News
Katy Perry Blossoms on New Song “Daisies”: Stream
Katy Perry has entered the chat with her new song “Daisies.” It’s said to be the first official single from her as-yet untitled fifth album, which will be released August 14th via Capitol Records. Over a flower bed of acoustic guitar mixed with electropop, Perry sings an anthem of resilience and perseverance — speaking directly to those who “said I’m going nowhere… tried to knock me down.” The track was produced by The Monsters & Strangerz, known for their studio work with Halsey and Zedd. Check out “Daisies” below via a video from filmmaker Liza Voloshin. Perry is also apparently craving social contact as much as the rest of us, because she is crashing online listening parties for “Daisies”. To coincide with the new single’s premiere, the pop superstar announced she would virtually vi...
ABBA’s Entire Catalog to Be Reissued on Colored Vinyl for the First Time
Mamma Mia, here we go again! This summer, ABBA will reissue their entire classic catalog on colored vinyl for the first time. All of their albums — that’s eight in total — will be neatly collected in a box set featuring replicas of their original artwork. Officially titled ABBA: The Studio Albums includes Swedish group’s 1973 debut album, Ring Ring (red vinyl), along with Waterloo from 1974 (orange vinyl). ABBA’s timeless self-titled LP from 1975, boasting mega singles “SOS” and “Mamma Mia”, will be featured in a silver hue. 1976’s Arrival, anchored by fan favorite “Dancing Queen”, will be pressed on white vinyl, while ABBA — The Album from 1977, 1979’s Voulez-Vous, and 1980’s Super Trouper will be featured on green, blue, and gold, respecitvely. ABBA’s final ...
Taylor Swift’s City of Lover Concert Special Coming to ABC
Like all other major touring artists, Taylor Swift won’t be performing any of her planned concerts this year due to the pandemic. Fortunately for her fans, they will still have a chance to see the pop star “live” when the Taylor Swift City of Lover Concert special airs next weekend on ABC. The special will premiere on Sunday, May 17th at 10:00 p.m. EDT, and will be available on demand, on Hulu, and on Disney+ the following day. City of Lover captures Swift’s intimate performance at Paris’ 2,000-capacity L’Olympia Theater from September 9th, 2019. The show featured the live debuts to a number of songs off her latest album, Lover, which had come out two weeks prior. Airing immediately following the American Idol season finale, the hour-long special will likely leave out some of the 76-minute...
Christine and the Queens Sings “People, I’ve been sad” on Colbert: Watch
Christine and the Queens has spent the global lockdown perfecting the art of the intimate at-home performance. Last night, she showcased all she’s learned by singing “People, I’ve been sad” on Colbert. Perched on a windowsill in her Paris abode, Chris sang the track off the La Vita Nuova EP while golden-hour light cracked through the clouds on the other side of the glass. Even sitting still, her foot propped up against the frame, she proved to be one of the most emotive and graceful artists working in pop. Watch the replay below. If Christine and the Queens seems particularly comfortable with these sort of isolated performances, it’s likely because she’s been regularly delivering livestream performances for fans. Included in the streams have been covers of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”, T...
Kim Petras Parties in “Malibu” on New Single: Stream
It’s pretty tough getting your daily dose of Vitamin D while stuck indoors, but Kim Petras is back to bring sunny California straight to her fans. Today, the German pop singer has released a summery new single called “Malibu”. Inspired by Baywatch and the beautiful beach city itself, the track is a “return to color, the feeling of being in love, and the escapism pop that I love the most,” Petras explained in a statement. She said that after breakup bop “Reminds Me” and last year’s Clarity project “I had cried all my tears and moved on, so this is a reflection of how I’ve been feeling.” The Ariana Grande and Charli XCX associate hopes her fans, too, are lifted up by the single — especially during this pandemic. “I just want ‘Malibu’ to be a fizzy, refreshing drink that comes to you dur...
Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande Premiere New Collaborative Song “Stuck With U”: Stream
Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande may be stuck inside, but that hasn’t stopped them from recording new music together. Today, the global pop stars have revealed their new collaborative single “Stuck With U”. Though the two are known for their upbeat numbers, “Stuck With U” sways with ease, delicacy, and a retro sound reminiscent of the ’60s. The track’s tender nature is especially fitting, given that all proceeds from the streams and sales will benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation to fund grants and scholarships for children of healthcare workers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, police officers, and firefighters serving at the front lines during the global pandemic. On Instagram, Grande gushed over the song, writing, “i can’t fully articulate ……… howwwww...
Phoebe Bridgers, Rina Sawayama, Clairo Cover The 1975 Songs: Watch
No amount of album delays can stop The 1975 from hyping up Notes on a Conditional Form, their upcoming LP and fourth studio album overall. To celebrate its eternally impending release, frontperson Matty Healy asked an all-star group of musicians, ranging from Phoebe Bridgers to Rina Sawayama, to cover different songs from the band’s catalog on Instagram Live. Healy knew what he was doing when he curated today’s livestream extravaganza in partnership with UK magazine The Face. Every hour starting at 11:00 a.m. ET today, a new musician would take the Instagram Live reigns at The Face and put their own spin on an original by The 1975. All said and done, things went pretty smoothly. Pale Waves’ Heather Baron Gracie kicked things off with a cover of “Sex” and indie popper Cavetown followed...
Billie Eilish and Her Father Launch “me & dad radio” on Apple Music
Billie Eilish and her father, the actor Patrick O’Connell, have announced “me & dad radio”. The new show will premiere on Apple Music this Friday, May 8th, at 3 pm EDT. This will be Eilish’s second program on Apple Music, after her 2018 show “groupies have feelings too”. That preceded her Grammy-winning breakout LP, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, and now she has the clout to demand her dad be a part of the proceedings. O’Connell has a four-decade acting career, with bit parts in NYPD Blue, The West Wing, Supergirl and Baskets. As it turns out, he also has pretty good taste in tunes. “My dad and I have been putting each other on to music since I can remember, and we want to share it with you,” Eilish told Zane Lowe. She added, “My dad and I have had this relationshi...
Charli XCX Releases New Single “I Finally Understand”: Stream
Perhaps no one has been more productive in quarantine than Charli XCX: the pop singer is literally using the time to record a brand new album. In case you haven’t heard, it’s called How I’m Feeling Now and is due out next Friday — May 15th. So far, she’s unveiled two teaser singles in “Forever” and “Claws”. Now, she’s back with a third preview: a punchy electro-pop track called “I Finally Understand”. Take a listen below. Charli is working on How I’m Feeling Now with assistance from PC Music leader A. G. Cook and BJ Burton (Bon Iver). She’s been documenting the entire recording process on social media, and has gotten fans involved by letting them vote on artwork and other creative aspects of the project. How I’m Feeling Now marks the pop musician’s fourth album to date...
Lady Gaga Announces New Release Date For Chromatica
Lady Gaga’s fifth studio album, Chromatica, was all set for an April 10th release before the coronavirus pandemic caused led to its postponement. Now, Gaga has announced that her new LP will instead arrive on May 29th. The follow-up to 2016’s Joanne, Chromatica contains 16 tracks, including “Chromatica” parts I, II, and III. As fans learned when the tracklist leaked last month, it alsofeatures collaborations with Ariana Grande, the K-Pop group Blackpink, and Sir Elton John. Pre-orders have begun, and you can check out the artwork and official tracklist below. Editors’ Picks Previously, Lady Gaga shared the lead single “Stupid Love”. In April, she curated the coronavirus relief special “One World: Together at Home”, and this June, she’ll join Barack and ...
Adele Celebrates Birthday, Thanks Essential Workers in Rare Social Media Post
On Tuesday night, Adele celebrated her 32nd birthday with her very first Instagram post of the year. The rare photo captured the pop icon smiling ear to ear in a lush courtyard, as well as featured a special message of thanks to essential workers and first responders on the frontlines of the pandemic. “Thank you for the birthday love. I hope you’re all staying safe and sane during this crazy time,” the Grammy winner wrote on IG. “I’d like to thank all of our first responders and essential workers who are keeping us safe while risking their lives! You are truly our angels. 2020 okay bye thanks x .” Adele has been on social media only sparingly the last 12 months — yes, even that secret Twitter account has probably gone dark — in an effort to focus more on herself following her split from&nb...
Florence and The Machine Perform Digital Met Gala Concert: Watch
Grab your biggest sunglasses and get dressed in your finest garments: Florence and the Machine have announced they will perform a live digital benefit concert for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The livestream, dubbed “A Moment with the Met”, will take place this Monday, May 4th at 6:00 p.m. ET on Vogue’s YouTube channel. Watch below. The Met Gala traditionally takes place on the first Monday in May, but because of the pandemic, this year’s event has been canceled. In its place, this livestream will seek to raise funds for the Costume Institute and A Common Thread. In addition to a live set by Florence and the Machine, fashion designer Virgil Abloh will perform a DJ set, Vogue will recount previous Met Galas, and new videos will be released featuring Cardi B, Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler...
