Pride
Rebecca Black Transforms ‘Friday’ Into a Hyperpop Symphony With Help From Big Freedia, 3OH!3 & More
By the time 3OH!3 arrives to declare that they’re “sick of living through these Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays” for the bridge, the track completely changes once again to an ethereal, synth-filled chorale. But Big Freedia quickly rips the song back into a thrumming dance rhythm, as the Queen of Bounce commands you to “Make it clap like you’re grateful/ Make it clap like you’re blessed/ Make it clap clap, dance in your backseat, ain’t nobody strapped.” “I’d had the idea to do this remix of Friday for years leading up to now, but honestly it was also mildly insane for me to think anyone else would want to be a part of it,” Black said of the song in a statement. “As I started talking about it with other artists and producers, I couldn’t...
Joey Jay Is Bumping Lady Gaga, Pabllo Vittar & More For Her ‘Drag Race’ Elimination Playlist
Even if she didn’t walk away with the crown, Jay can confidently walk away with the title of trade of the season, from queens and fans alike. As silly as that title may be, Jay says she’s actually been quite touched being referred to as “trade,” considering that she doesn’t necessarily fit the hyper-masculine standard for the term. “I will disagree that I am trade, but I will take it,” she explains. “I just think it’s showing like we’re growing as a community, that you don’t have to be like a 300 lb. macho-man who played some football to be considered very attractive.” At the end of the day, Jay may be disappointed that she couldn’t go further, but says the fact that she was able to represent a very different sty...
Lil Nas X Previews New Song ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ in 2021 Super Bowl Ad: Watch
“DEFY LOGIC celebrates people pursuing their passions and breaking new ground, despite what current conventions, past precedent or traditional thinking might suggest is possible.” said Heidi Arkinstall, chief marketing officer at Logitech in a statement. “By spotlighting the stories of these extraordinary individuals, and on such a major stage, Logitech hopes to support new generations of creators, artists and activists ready to do amazing things that defy logic.” In addition to the other creative endeavors, the spot shows Lil Nas in the studio working on the song and interacting with fans on his socials. “We defy what logic says we should look like, sound like, be like,” he says urgently as the song’s swinging beat swells. “We defy genres, algorithms and enti...
SOPHIE’s 13 Best Songs, Productions & Features
SOPHIE, “Bipp” SOPHIE’s breakthrough single resembled nothing else in contemporary pop upon its June 2013 release, but its roots were clearly in pop: all of its blips, whirs, distorted beats and tempo shifts don’t work without a vocal hook, “I can make you feel better,” that’s somehow both metallic and warm. “Bipp,” which earned rave reviews and year-end list placements in 2013, was alien and catchy as hell, challenging the DNA of pop while embracing its soul; in this way, it would serve as a North Star for the rest of SOPHIE’s career. – Jason Lipshutz SOPHIE, “Lemonade” This deceptively simple 2014 single — which would eventually land on SOPHIE’S 2015 PRODUCT compilation – is, on its surface, a sonic wind-up toy about craving the titular citrus-based beverage...
Sophie, Electronic and Experimental Pop Great, Dies at 34
Sophie, one of the most important figures in the last decade of underground pop and dance music, has died. A statement tweeted by her Future Classic label on Saturday morning (Jan. 30) confirms the artist’s passing, explaining “Our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident. True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell.” She was 34. Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Sophie Xeon inherited an interest in dance and electronic music from her father, and started recording her own music at a young age. In the early ’10s, she struck up an association with a few artists on the PC Music label, soon to be at the experimental pop vanguard, and released her debut single “Nothing More to S...
Sam Smith, Rina Sawayama and More React to Sophie’s Tragic Death: ‘A True Visionary and Icon of Our Generation’
Experimental pop musician Sophie has died, as her label Future Classic confirmed on Saturday morning (Jan. 30). “Our beautiful Sophie passed away this morning after a terrible accident. True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and accidentally slipped and fell,” a statement read. The producer and singer-songwriter, born Sophie Xeon, was 34. Peers, fans and friends in the pop and electronic communities (and beyond) quickly took to social media to mourn and pay tribute to Sophie. “Heartbreaking news. The world has lost an angel. A true visionary and icon of our generation,” Sam Smith tweeted. “Your light will continue to inspire so many for generations to come. Thinking of Sophie’s family and friends at this hard time.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When...
JoJo Siwa Opens Up About Her Personal Life: ‘I’m Really, Really Happy’
Later on in her live session, she added, “It’s been 48 hours of the world knowing. It’s been the best 48 hours.” Siwa took a moment to give a thoughtful answer to a follower’s question of “What label are you?” “The reason why I’m not ready to say this answer is because I don’t really know this answer,” she candidly said. “I think humans are awesome. I think humans are really incredible people. Right now, I’m super duper happy and I, you know, want to share everything with the world, I really do, but I also want to keep things in my life private until they are ready to be public.” “Right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it’s OK. It’s awesome, and the ...
Rivers United defeat Bloemfontein Celtics in CAF Confederation qualifier
Rivers United are through to the final playoff round of the CAF Confederation Cup after they again defeated South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtics on Saturday. Despite playing at a neutral ground, at the Charles De Gaulles Stadium in Port Novo, Benin Republic, Rivers United posted a 3-0 win over Celtics to progress on 5-0 aggregate scoreline. The Pride of Rivers had registered a 2-0 win when they played the first leg in South Africa in December and despite the uncertainties that postponed and rescheduled the second leg, Stanley Eguma’s men delivered yet another flawless performance. Just as it was in the first leg, the duo of Fortune Omoniwari and Godwin Aguda were again the goal scorers for Rivers United on Saturday with the latter scoring twice this time. Rivers United now have their work w...
Asiahn Brings ‘Boss Talk & Big Vibes’ to the Bedroom With ‘The Interlude’ EP: Emerging Artists Spotlight
The three-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter also sings her own jams — often about loving your own body or having somebody else love it — and they can be listened to in the daytime at the beach or nighttime in the bedroom. “Be careful how you carry me, dear/ It’s automatic to be overcome with fear/ But let me love you still,” she asserts on the soulful “My World.” “My music is very grounded in positivity, self love, finding yourself, sexy, ethereal, soulful, healing, boss talk, and big VIBES for EVERYONE (especially girls that love girls),” Asiahn tells Billboard. Asiahn’s five-track EP The Interlude debuts at No. 25 on the Heatseekers Albums chart with 2,000 equivalent album units earned, according to MRC Data. The sing...
Why Lil Nas X Is Ready to Be ‘More Involved’ in Politics
“I now have a platform and I can really have influence over what people see and hear and think about everything that’s going on,” Nas says on “The View.” While Lil Nas X hasn’t always jumped in to political conversations, he told The View co-hosts on Tuesday (Jan. 12) that he’s ready to change that. “I definitely want to be more involved for the simple fact that I now have a platform and I can really have influence over what people see and hear and think about everything that’s going on,” he said in the new interview. “So even though it’s definitely depressing sometimes, they are conversations that have to be had, you know?” One of the earliest examples of the artist speaking up came in June 2019, when he decided...
Lauren Jauregui Responds to Twitter User’s ‘Sexist’ Rant: ‘Y’all Be Mad Pathetic’
On Tuesday night (Jan. 5), Lauren Jauregui responded to a tweet from a user named YogiOabs, who wrote a lengthy, derogatory tweet about women. “Call a wh–e for what she is. A WH–E. Men will sleep with these dirty prostitutes but not marry them. Don’t walk in their footsteps if you want a kind husband one day! The chase woman is more lovable. If you’re offended by this, YOU’RE A WH–E,” the self-proclaimed writer and relationship coach tweeted. The “Expectations” singer then quoted his tweet, immediately calling him out for his sexist comments. “Omg I’m a whore….?! Lmao y’all be mad pathetic and can’t even make a woman c-m,” she wrote. “Let us orgasm and enjoy sex in peace yogi. PS SW [sex work] is valid...
Rangers seek winning start in Port-Harcourt
File Photo Technical adviser of Rangers International F.C., Coach Salisu Yusuf has assured the club’s teaming supporters of a winning start in the match Day 1 fixture of 2020/2021 NPFL season as he leads his wards on a visit to Port-Harcourt for a date with Rivers United. Coach Salisu who monitored his wards as they rounded off training in the morning of Christmas Day 2020 inside the main-bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, was optimistic of getting a good result against continental campaigners, Rivers United in the opening day fixture. The former Super Eagles coach in a chat, said, “My immediate task is always to win and we have worked so hard and I believe we will have a good result there.” On the result achieved by the ‘Pride of Rivers’ in the CAF Confederations cup giving them an edge in t...
