Pop
Here Are 17 of the Biggest Song Collaborations of 2022
In the year of twenty-double-two, there were a lot of artists who doubled up in the studio. Collaborations on songs — and, in one case, an entire album — offered up twice the star power on the radio, charts and streaming services this year, especially where hip-hop, pop and Latin music were concerned. In some cases, collabs in 2022 saw two titans of the same genre teaming up together. There was Bad Bunny with Rauw Alejandro, Drake with Jack Harlow. There was Rauw Alejandro, again, with Shakira, and Drake, again, with 21 Savage. And then there was pop royalty of different decades unifying for one epic remix. (Props to Elton John and Britney Spears.) In other cases, some of the year’s notable collabs featured two artists from different styles coming together for one amazing track. Dua Lipa b...
Here Are BTS’ Biggest Accomplishments In 2022
While 2022 was undoubtedly the year BTS shocked the world with their announcements of moving onto a “Chapter Two” and planning their individual military enlistments, there’s still a massive amount of records, achievements and moments that demonstrate why BTS are superstars without precedent in the global music industry. While the K-pop superstars have been breaking chart and attendance records for years, 2022 saw new triumphs from the septet. From never-before-achieved feats with the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry to breaking box-office and concert-gross records (not to mention hanging out in the Oval Office), 2022 was literally one for the history books. Even as the group announced plans to look forward...
From Stray Kids to J-Hope, What’s Your Favorite K-Pop Album of 2022? Vote!
There’s been no shortage of excellent K-pop albums in 2022 and Billboard wants to know which full-length has helped define your year. Though BTS remained on hiatus as the seven members prepare to start their mandatory service in the South Korean military, both RM and J-Hope delivered solo albums to keep ARMY happy. J-Hope’s Jack in the Box came first with its vintage hip-hop sound, colorful cover art by KAWS and concept inspired by Pandora’s Box. Five months later, RM dropped Indigo, complete with a star-studded guest roster that included Erykah Badu (“Yun”), Anderson .Paak (“Still Life”), Tablo (“All Day”) and more. BLACKPINK also came raring back with their full-length sophomore effort Born Pink while TOMORROW X TOGETHER dropped Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child and SEVENTEEN repackaged their...
Adam Lambert Needs a Hero for His Moody New Bonnie Tyler Cover: Listen
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a new cover song by Adam Lambert! On Friday (Dec. 30), Lambert shared his latest in a new string of covers with “Holding Out for a Hero,” his rendition of Bonnie Tyler‘s 1984 hit. For his version, Lambert brings the tempo down from its frenetic original pace, and replaces the iconic, chunky piano chords with a syncopated, sinister bass and guitar section that permeates the track. When it comes to his voice, though, the singer keeps the pure glam-rock sound alive with his signature growl as a choir joins him for the chorus. The new cover comes as Lambert preps his next album, High Drama, for release in the new year. The LP will consist entirely of covers, two of which the star has already shared with the world (his renditions of Noël Cowa...
White House’s 2022 Year-End Review References a Taylor Swift Lyric
Taylor Swift’s “22” completely changed how people think about its title number. Even the White House isn’t immune to the 33-year-old pop star’s contagiously catchy melody — at least, that’s what the executive branch’s official year-end review, posted Thursday (Dec. 29), would suggest. Written by domestic policy advisor Susan Rice and published on the White House’s website, the report summed up several of the Biden-Harris administration’s major accomplishments in 2022. But first, it began with the best, most obvious word-lyric association. “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling ‘22,” Rice wrote, referencing the lyric from the chorus of “22.” She also posted the quote on Twitter. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling ‘22. The past year undoubtedly brought its share of daunting challenges...
Naomi Ackie & Nafessa Williams Belt Out Whitney Houston Classics for Song Association
Naomi Ackie and Nafessa Williams stopped by Elle on Wednesday (Dec. 28) to play a round of Song Association filled with Whitney Houston tracks. Naturally, as the stars of the new biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody managed to fit plenty of Houston hits into their game using the words saving (“Saving All My Love For You”), broken (“Where Do Broken Hearts Go”), okay (“It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”), woman (“I’m Every Woman”), man (“All the Man That I Need”) and tonight (“I’m Your Baby Tonight”). However, the two actors also ventured outside the late icon’s extensive discography to belt out tracks like “In the Heat of the Night” by Ray Charles, Adele’s “One and Only,” “Who Wants to Live Forever” by Queen and “So Good” by Destiny’s Child. Ultimately, they went 13 for 15, matching previous score...
Taylor Swift Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Artist 100 for Record-Extending 58th Week
Taylor Swift rebounds to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Dec. 31), spending a record-extending 58th week as the top musical act in the U.S. thanks to the continued success of her album Midnights. Plus, RM re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 6, a new best for the BTS member as a soloist. Swift’s Midnights ranks at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart with 155,000 equivalent album units earned in its ninth week (Dec. 16-22), according to Luminate. Of those nine weeks, five have been spent at No. 1, making it her sixth album to have five or more weeks at the summit. Swift is the only woman with as many as six albums that have reigned for five or more weeks, tying her with Garth Brooks for the second-most among all acts, since the chart became a combined stereo and mono survey in 1963. ...
The Weeknd Teases New Music Video for ‘Dawn FM’ One-Year Anniversary
The Weeknd is closing in on the one-year anniversary of his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, and if you’re a fan, you might want to keep an eye on his YouTube page as the date draws nearer. In a Wednesday (Dec. 28) tweet, the 32-year-old hitmaker teased that a new music video for a song off the record is in the works, just in time for the milestone. Dawn FM arrived one week into 2022 on Jan. 7, two years after his No. 1 record After Hours was released. On Wednesday, a fan on Twitter asked the Toronto native — born Abel Tesfaye — “dawn fm almost a year old, how do you feel?” “i feel istheresomeoneelsemusicvideo-ish,” he simply replied. “Is There Someone Else?” is the 10th track on Dawn FM. So far, lead single “Take My Breath” and subsequent tracks “Out of Time,” “Sacrifice,” “Gasoline” and “How...
Watch BTS’ Suga Go Back to the Basics in a Hip-Hop Dance Class
Aside from singing, BTS is also known for its larger-than-life dance moves and crisp choreography. And despite going on 10 years of being in the septet, a good dance practice every now and then helps keeps its members in peak performance shape. Suga wanted to go back to the basics and shared a 10-minute video on Thursday (Dec. 29) to BTS’ official YouTube page of him taking a Hip-Hop Dance 101 class with the help of a private instructor. Before the lesson kicked off, Suga sat down at the camera and told viewers, “Hello everyone. At age 30, I’ve come to take dance lessons. Basic hip-hop moves. It’s been about 12 years since I last did this in high school. I’ll give it a try.” After dancing to tracks by Snoop Dogg, 2Pac and more, Suga exclaimed, “I feel like a trainee!” referencing his days ...
A Figure Skater Just Recreated Wednesday Addams‘ ’Goo Goo Muck’ Dance on Ice
Kamila Valieva took the 2023 Russian Figure Staking Championships by storm last week by performing a routine to The Cramps‘ “Goo Goo Muck” dressed as Wednesday Addams. Starting outside the edge of the rink, the 16-year-old sensation nailed her recreation of the herky-jerky dance on the Jenna Ortega-led Netflix series — all the way down to the hand motions, gothic party dress and long black pigtails. “When the sun goes down and the moon comes up/ I turn into a teenage goo goo muck/ Yeah, I cruise through the city and I roam the streets/ Looking for something that is nice to eat,” Lux Interior’s voice sang as Valieva executed the choreography flawlessly and the audience in the stands clapped along to the beat. Then, halfway through the program, Valieva went full TikTok as the music abruptly ...
Harry Styles’ Mom Shares Festive Peek at Family Christmas Celebrations
No place like home for the holidays. On Wednesday (Dec. 28), Anne Twist, mom to one Harry Styles, took to social media to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at how their family celebrated Christmas. “Christmas 2022,” she captioned the series of four photos along with a smiley face, Christmas tree and red heart emoji. The slideshow shows off Twist’s holiday decorations and cozy fireplace, Christmas Day feast including veggies, casseroles and Yorkshire puddings, and the family’s sparkling Christmas tree. However, the third photo of the bunch got fans most excited, with Twist posting a selfie with her pop star son, his sister Gemma Styles and Gemma’s longtime boyfriend Michal Mlynowski grinning ear to ear with their arms around one another. In the snap, Styles wears a blue hoodie beneath a ye...
Ariana Grande Sends Christmas Gifts to Children in Manchester Hospitals
Ariana Grande made certain that kids facing injuries or illnesses during Christmas this year still felt merry and bright. On Monday (Dec. 26), it was revealed that the 29-year-old pop star had sent presents to young patients at hospitals across Manchester, England, giving back to the city more than five years after it became the site of a horrific suicide bombing after one of her concerts. “Thank you Ariana!” tweeted the official Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity account. “We were so excited to receive Christmas gifts for young patients across our hospitals from Ariana Grande.” The foundation also shared photos of some of the gifts sent by Ariana Claus, each of them labeled with a tag reading “happy holidays! love ariana grande.” The presents were divided among “babies, children...
