Are you ready to hear “DJ KHALED!” “Another one” and “We the real music” at least 14 times? You might actually want to.
I need to keep this short today. I work more now than I did with a job. I’m gonna give you guys a few tracks from Khaled Khaled, the 14 track album with an insane list of featured artists, including:
That…is why you might want to hear those 3 catch phrases 14 times.
DJ Khaled ft. Nas, JAY-Z & James Fauntleroy and Harmonies by The Hive – SORRY NOT SORRY
You guys…Khaled got Nas and Hova on the same damn track and I am suddenly back in 1998. I love it and I have nothing else to say.
Hear ye, hear ye, only kings stand near me Silicon Valley money mixed with Henny, that’s a Fendi Half a century almost, sliced the green like a lawnmower ‘Til we all on, never fall off, hear a boss talk You don’t hear me? That’s your loss Winner in life, fuck a coin toss I’m coin-based, basically cryptocurrency Scarface
Since this is the only music video from the album, so far…here is the whole damn thing on Spotify
Outside of Khaled Khaled, I haven’t had a chance to listen to the Spotify New Music Friday playlist yet today, so I’ll join you in doing so. Here is the one song I have heard…
Billie Eilish – Your Power
From her upcoming album Happier Than Ever, here is Your Power.
Try not to abuse your power I know we didn’t choose to change You might not wanna lose your power But havin’ it’s so strange
Here is the rest of the Spotify playlist. I’ll be back to see you all again soon!
Last night’s 2021 Grammy awards finally took place at the Staples Center in Las Angeles after being postponed due to COVID. In case you missed it, we have the full list of winners and the best…and the worst of the live performances.
I have to start by giving props to Trevor Noah. Hosting an awards show is hard enough as it is. He did it with NO audience. Just a few cameras in his face and the nominees sitting at socially distanced tables with masks on. It felt a bit awkward at the beginning, but he found his groove and he did an incredible job.
Performances
Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
Harry Styles kicked the show off with his hit, Watermelon Sugar. It was pretty cool to see the performers just performing for each other like a jam session. Here is Harry and his feather boa.
Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted
Billie took the stage with her bother, Finneas O’Connell to perform Everything I Wanted. I’m not gonna lie…I am a Billie Eilish stan. She’s incredible. Check out a short snippet here.
Haim – Steps
This is my first experience with Haim, and I gotta say…I’m a fan. There’s only a 38 second clip, so here it is!
Black Pumas – Colors
I love the Black Pumas. So soulful, so unique compared to everything that’s currently out there. They were up for 3 Grammys last night, including Record of the Year
DaBaby ft. Roddy Rich – Rockstar
It was a pretty dope performance. It’s a shame there’s only a 38 second clip to this one. I’ll give you an interview with ET Canada, which shows a bit more of the performance, and some 2 of my favorite Tweets from it.
This performance was pretty awesome. It felt like a music video. I have no idea what they said, but I enjoyed it.
Dua Lipa – Levitating ft. DaBaby/Don’t Stop Now
Dua Lipa is a crazy-good performer. Every movement is choreographed, from her steps to her fingers wrapping around the microphone. Precision at it’s finest. She’s a badass on that stage.
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – Leave The Door Open
This was probably my favorite performance of the night. That could be my bias showing, as I’m a huge fan of both of these guys. They really go back to the 70’s with this one. I love it.
Taylor Swift – Medley
Taylor Swift was doing Taylor Swift things on stage. Not my cup of whisky, but she is great at what she does and I respect the hell out of her. She looked great, sounded great, and the set was beautiful. Here is 6 minutes of Tay Tay.
Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak – Good Golly, Miss Molly (Little Richard Tribute)
These guys can do no wrong. A great tribute to the late Little Richard.
Lionel Richie – Lady (Kenny Rogers Tribute)
In a beautiful tribute to the late Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie sings a great rendition of Rogers’ hit, Lady.
Brandi Carlile – I Remember Everything (John Prine Tibute)
There is no video of this performance online yet, so I’ll give you Brandi’s interview about the performance.
Brittany Howard – You’ll Never Walk Alone (Feat. Chris Martin) Tribute to Gerry Mardsen
Brittany Howard is an absolute powerhouse. The Alabama Shakes singer teamed up with Chris Martin on the keys with this beautiful tribute to Gerry Marsden.
Mickey Guyton – Black Like Me
Sending a powerful message at a time we need it most, Guyton has a stunning voice and she really showed it last night.
Maren Morris and John Mayer – The Bones
Morris on vocals and Mayer on guitar…that’s a nice sound. I’m not a huge fan of the song, but Morris does have a beautiful voice and you can never go wrong with John Mayer on guitar.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion – WAP
Here’s where things get weird. Look, I respect both of these women and their art, and I congratulate them both on their achievements…but cancel culture has me a bit confused. You want to get rid of Dr Seuss books and Mr. Potato Head…but WAP (Wet Ass P*ssy) is cool to play on primetime television? I’m just confused where that line is for you cancelers out there. Personally, cancel culture is a bunch of bullshit and it’s getting out of hand.
Don’t get me wrong. They performed the shit out of this song. The choreography was on point and the set was dope. It also provided the GIF of the night, thanks to Post Malone. I laughed SO hard at his reaction.
I need to know what was in that red solo cup he was drinking out of during WAP. Post put on a great show. He didn’t miss a note and it was an emotional performance.
Lil Baby – The Bigger Picture
In the wake of the trial for the death of George Floyd and the anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s tragic death, this performance was poignant.
Doja Cat – Say So
I’m a fan of Doja Cat and her performance last night was off the hook.
BTS – Dynamite
BTS always puts on a show. K-Pop artists are trained and groomed for years before they even hit a stage. Everything has to be spot-on. There is a dark side to that part of K-Pop, but that’s another story. These guys are dope and seeing K-Pop blow up in the US makes me really miss Korea.
Roddy Rich – Heartless / The Box
The final performance of the night provided great ending to a fun night of live music that I needed.
Grammy Winners
Record of the Year
“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish — Winner
“Black Parade” — Beyoncé
“Colors” — Black Pumas
“Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
“Say So” — Doja Cat
“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
“Circles” — Post Malone
“Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
Album of the Year
“Folklore” — Taylor Swift — Winner
“Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko
“Black Pumas” (Deluxe Edition) — Black Pumas
“Everyday Life” — Coldplay
“Djesse Vol. 3” — Jacob Collier
“Women in Music Pt. III” — Haim
“Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa
“Hollywood’s Bleeding” — Post Malone
Song of the Year
“I Can’t Breathe” — H.E.R. — Winner
“Black Parade” — Beyoncé
“The Box” — Roddy Ricch
“Cardigan” — Taylor Swift
“Circles” — Post Malone
“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish
“If the World Was Ending” — JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels
“Copland: Symphony No. 3” — Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
“Lutosławski: Symphonies No. 2 & 3” — Hannu Lintu, conductor (Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording
“Gershwin: Porgy and Bess” — David Robertson, conductor; Angel Blue & Eric Owens; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus) — Winner
“Dello Joio: The Trial at Rouen” — Gil Rose, conductor; Heather Buck & Stephen Powell; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Odyssey Opera Chorus)
“Floyd, C: Prince of Players” — William Boggs, conductor; Keith Phares & Kate Royal; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; Florentine Opera Chorus)
“Handel: Agrippina” — Maxim Emelyanychev, conductor; Joyce DiDonato; Daniel Zalay, producer (Il Pomo D’Oro)
“Zemlinsky: Der Zwerg” — Donald Runnicles, conductor; David Butt Philip & Elena Tsallagova; Peter Ghirardini & Erwin Stürzer, producers (Orchestra Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin; Chorus Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin)
Best Choral Performance
“Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua” — JoAnn Falletta, conductor; James K. Bass & Adam Luebke, chorus masters (James K. Bass, J’Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers) — Winner
“Carthage” — Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)
“Kastalski: Requiem” — Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Charles Bruffy, Steven Fox & Benedict Sheehan, chorus masters (Joseph Charles Beutel & Anna Dennis; Orchestra Of St. Luke’s; Cathedral Choral Society, The Clarion Choir, Kansas City Chorale & The Saint Tikhon Choir)
“Moravec: Sanctuary Road” — Kent Tritle, conductor (Joshua Blue, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Dashon Burton, Malcolm J. Merriweather & Laquita Mitchell; Oratorio Society Of New York Orchestra; Oratorio Society Of New York Chorus)
“Once Upon a Time” — Matthew Guard, conductor (Sarah Walker; Skylark Vocal Ensemble)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
“Contemporary Voices” — Pacifica Quartet — Winner
“Healing Modes” — Brooklyn Rider
“Hearne, T,: Place” — Ted Hearne, Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & Place Orchestra
“Hynes: Fields” — Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion
“The Schumann Quartets” — Dover Quartet
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
“Theofanidis: Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra” — Richard O’Neill; David Alan Miller, conductor (Albany Symphony) — Winner
“Adés: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” — Kirill Gerstein; Thomas Adès, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
“Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas” — Igor Levit
“Bohemian Tales” — Augustin Hadelich; Jakub Hrůša, conductor (Charles Owen; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)
“Destination Rachmaninov – Arrival” — Daniil Trifonov; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
“Smyth: The Prison” — Sarah Brailey & Dashon Burton; James Blachly, conductor (Experiential Chorus; Experiential Orchestra) — Winner
“American Composers at Play – William Bolcom, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, John Musto” — Stephen Powell (Attacca Quartet, William Bolcom, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, John Musto, Charles Neidich & Jason Vieaux)
“Clairières – Songs by Lili & Nadia Boulanger” — Nicholas Phan; Myra Huang, accompanist
“Farinelli” — Cecilia Bartoli; Giovanni Antonini, conductor (Il Giardino Armonico)
“A Lad’s Love” — Brian Giebler; Steven McGhee, accompanist (Katie Hyun, Michael Katz, Jessica Meyer, Reginald Mobley & Ben Russell)
Best Classical Compendium
“Thomas, M.T.: From the Diary of Anne Frank & Meditations on Rilke” — Isabel Leonard; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Jack Vad, producer — Winner
“Adès Conducts Adès” — Mark Stone & Christianne Stotijn; Thomas Adès, conductor; Nick Squire, producer
“Saariaho: Graal Théâtre; Circle Map, Neiges, Vers Toi Qui Es Si Loin” — Clément Mao-Takacs, conductor; Hans Kipfer, producer
“Serebrier: Symphonic Bach Variations; Laments and Hallelujahs; Flute Concerto” — José Serebrier, conductor; Jens Braun, producer
“Woolf, L.P.: Fire and Blood” — Matt Haimovitz; Julian Wachner, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer
“Adès: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” — Thomas Adès, composer (Kirill Gerstein, Thomas Adès & Boston Symphony Orchestra)
“Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua” — Richard Danielpour, composer (JoAnn Falletta, James K. Bass, Adam Luebke, UCLA Chamber Singers, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus)
“Floyd, C.: Prince of Players” — Carlisle Floyd, composer (William Boggs, Kate Royal, Keith Phares, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
“Hearne, T.: Place” — Ted Hearne, composer (Ted Hearne, Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & Place Orchestra)
Best Music Video
“Brown Skin Girl” — Beyoncé, Saint Jhn & Wizkid Featuring Blue Ivy Carter — Winner
“Life Is Good” — Future Featuring Drake
“Lockdown” — Anderson .Paak
“Adore You” — Harry Styles
“Goliath” — Woodkid
Best Music Film
“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” — Linda Ronstadt — Winner
“Beastie Boys Story” — Beastie Boys
“Black Is King” — Beyoncé
“We Are Freestyle Love Supreme” — Freestyle Love Supreme
“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” — ZZ Top
Conclusion
Congratulations to Beyonce for breaking the record for most Grammy awards by a female artist. Congrats to The Weeknd, who is a Grammy winner in my eyes. Seriously though…what’s with the snub? Dude’s been in the top 10 all year. Number 1 for a good chunk of the year. Get it together over there.
Ryan: Welcome, Gabby! Thanks for joining us today. Why don’t you go ahead and introduce yourself.
Gabby: I am an eighteen year old Pop/R&B singer-songwriter from Orange County. I have been performing live for 6+ years. I currently gig at various locations in Southern California including The House of Blues Anaheim, and Copper Blues Live, singing and playing the piano. Right now I work as a hostess at a local restaurant and spend my free time studying to become a certified personal trainer. Rushing to sessions with my producer to work on my original releases, writing songs, and gigging at the venues that are fortunate enough to be open during this difficult time.
Ryan: Yeah, you’re definitely one of the lucky ones. Not a whole lot going on in Pennsylvania. It can be a bit depressing. So, tell me about your music.
Gabby: My artistry is a reflection of how I live my life through what I do. I never compromise the integrity of a song- whether I am writing it, playing it, or singing it. Embarrassing lines, stank faces, I put it all out there because the whole point my art is connection; and the best way I can do that is being honest in every form of the word. That’s what makes co-writing such a special experience for me, having the opportunity to share those vulnerable moments with someone and getting the privilege to help each other process emotions. Similarly, performing gives me the chance to connect with my audience in real time- something so foreign in our virtual world. That is why I gave up hangouts with friends/parties/dances throughout middle + high school to do music.
New Song
Ryan: Awesome. Dedicated is good. Not many 18-year-olds have that quality. Stank face is also good. You had a new song come out recently. Tell us a little about that.
Gabby:block u out was created in a post-breakup pandemic world. I was stuck in quarantine with nothing to do but stare at my white walls and overthink every last thing about the relationship and where I was at mentally/emotionally. It was written in a momentary feeling of letting the social media game influence my view of the relationship when it was present, admitting ‘..Feels like you never loved me the way I loved you.’ When something cuts you so deep, it’s hard to not question why it look so easy for someone else to live life like the boat hasn’t been rocked at all. In the end, the rest of the EP will go to show the realization that just because two people love each other doesn’t mean they’re better together. Life is about learning from your losses and moving forward to greater adventures.
Ryan: Lets have a listen to block u out by Gabby Neeley!
Ryan: What I love about the song is that it is SO relatable. I’ve been in that situation too many times.
Influence and Collaboration
Ryan: Who are your biggest influences?
Gabby: My biggest musical influences can differ based on what genre we’re discussing. Or whether it’s my favorite producers as opposed to songwriter opposed to singers..really just depends. My favorite songwriters are Julia Michaels,Violet Skies, Chelsea Lena, and Bruno Major; Whereas my favorites producers are Joji, the Band Camino, and Mike Woods. Favorite singers are definitely Jasmine Sullivan, H.E.R., and Lizzy McAlpine. My binge-artist of the month is Ben Kessler. A voice I could listen to on repeaaattt.
Ryan: Nice. Some solid names on that list. You can choose one artist to collaborate with…who ya taking?
Gabby: I would love to collaborate with Eloise. Her music is timeless, very acoustic and folk yet pop/singer-songwriter and always feels like one big hug no matter what she is singing about.
Ryan: Eloise is great! Good choice.
Life Outside of Music
Ryan: If you’re not making music, what are you doing?
Gabby: Before last year, I honestly didn’t have any hobbies outside of music because I went from being a full time student and partial professional musician to a full-time musician. But, after COVID hit, I saw an opportunity to make one of my other passions into a side hustle since live performing came to halt. I am currently studying up for the big NASM exam to be a certified personal trainer. Now you’ll be able to come to me for all of your music and fitness/nutrition related needs.
Ryan: What is this “fitness” word you speak of? Never heard it before.
Ryan: If music wasn’t an option, what would you be doing with your life?
Gabby: If music wasn’t an option, I would be studying Psychology and be on track to become a therapist just like my mother. It’s really the only other career I could ever picture myself having and being fulfilled. With that being said though, as long as I have the ability to play the piano / sing / songwrite either all together or individually, that’s what I’ll be doing.
Ryan: Hell yeah. It’s always an option. Have you ever had any weird day jobs?
Gabby: Well I’m not sure if this is weird but I am currently hostessing at a restaurant in addition to doing music full time, and the schooling for being certified as a trainer. It started out as being a job to merely cover the bills, but even though I could’ve quite a while ago with music picking back up a bit, I’ve grown to really love the environment and my coworkers.
Ryan: Nothing wrong with that. I have had far too many food industry jobs. When you get to my age, you will have no desire to do it again. haha
Youth & Keeping it Professional
Ryan: What was little Gabby like?
Gabby: I was annoying as hell as a kid! LOL. Singing in the shower, car, living room, school hallways, you name it. I always laugh when friends or colleagues say that my family is ‘so lucky’ to be surrounded by ‘that voice’ all the time. I’m sure there were times before the vocal lessons and knowledge of how to not be sharp or flat with every note that came out of my mouth that they wanted to duck tape it shut. Haha.
Ryan: I’m pretty sure every kid in the world was/is annoying a majority of the time. It’s not just you. haha. Let’s switch it up to present-day Gabby. You can go on a date with one musician…who are you picking?
Gabby: This is a hard one..?? I don’t even know, to be honest. I have always thought of other musicians in such a professional way because I’m constantly in the mindset of wanting to collaborate/work with an artist no matter their small or large scale of fame. Adding anything into the mix that could complicate those accomplishments has never really been in my mind. Especially being a woman in the industry, it’s even more important to keep things professional because of the extreme backlash we face unlike men, so that is why I think my subconscious breeded that mentality.
Ryan: That’s fair. You know what they say, “Don’t shit where you eat.” That’s really gross when I see it written out. Yikes.
COVID
Ryan: How are you staying connected to your fans during this difficult time?
Gabby: During the pandemic I started live-streaming way more frequently to try and stay connected with anyone following my social pages. Sometimes I play a set I would’ve been performing at gigs, other times doing Q&A’s about original music, and then simply just talking about random stuff when I was bored and felt like being around people, but couldn’t due to the circumstances.
Ryan: Live-streaming is a great way to do it. It does cure the boredom too. haha. If you could perform live in any city in the world right now, where would it be?
Gabby: If I could gig in any city in the world, I would play the Pantages Theatre in LA. I know you were probably expecting me to say somewhere more grand and ya know, more than 50 miles away haha, but that venue has always been on my wishlist. I’ve seen so many artists play there that inspire me, like Finneas, Todrick, Billie Eilish etc. so the space feels like a hometown scene for me.
Ryan: Hey, nothing wrong with picking your hometown. I’d probably pick AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. As far away from home as possible. haha.
Digital Age
Ryan: How do you feel about the music industry going digital?
Gabby: If it were up to me, we would turn back time to when people had to purchase songs for $0.99 or watch the video on Youtube. I love the features on apps like Spotify when it comes to helping listeners discover new music and making playlists, but the app practically ROBS the creators of the very music in which it relies on to survive! The minimal rate it pays artists, producers, and most of all songwriters, is ridiculous and is making it mere impossible to support yourself as an indie artist in this day and age. Especially with the absence of live music being an option for revenue.It is a major issue that needs awareness and change!
Ryan: I agree. I love my Spotify as a fan of music…but I also know about the low payouts. Going digital is a great thing…as long as the creatives are being paid fairly for their work. What keeps you going in life?
Gabby: My daily affirmations keep me going. My family keeps me going. My therapist definitely keeps me going. Lol. Although I try to do everything on my own, in the end, you simply can’t as an independent artist. You will indeed drive yourself to madness. Trust me. Even if that means creating all the music (producing, writing, mixing/mastering) yourself, you still have all the post-fun responsibilities to take care of….art work, promo content, release strategy, marketing plan, budgeting plan, playlisting opportunities, press release, interview opportunities, etc to sort out. Reminding myself that although I’m capable to doing each of those things, that doesn’t mean I have to or should do it all myself, was a pivotal moment in my mindset and helped me keep going because I saved energy and time.
Ryan: Therapy is the best haha. And you’re absolutely right. A lot of artists don’t consider the promotional and marketing side of things. They expect their music to just magically be heard by millions of people. Good on you for recognizing that at such a young age.
This Sh** Is Bananas
Ryan: You know you have one day left on this planet. How are you spending that day?
Gabby: If I had one day left to live, I would go for a walk around the lake across the street from my house by myself. Take in the beauty of my surroundings. Go to the beach with my family, eat at our favorite restaurant, head over to Palm Springs to see my grandparents and play cards like we always do. No point in rushing to try and accomplish tasks or try new things I never got the chance to. I’d want to feel at peace, so rightfully so I would do things and see people I know bring me much of that.
Ryan: Sounds like a nice relaxing day! How about if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life?
Gabby: BANANAS! Lol. Always been and always will be my favorite food.
Ryan: You will never have a potassium deficiency.
Conclusion
Ryan: Alright, one last question. What’s next for Gabby Neeley?
Gabby: Lots of exciting things in the works I’m looking forward to.. But for now I’ll just say there is much more to come! I have many co-writes releasing this year, lots of originals from my own catalog that I’ll be releasing, and I’m currently taking on more vocal and piano students if anyone is in the market!
Ryan: Awesome! Looking forward to the new music!
Follow Gabby
For more on upcoming releases and all of those live streams, follow Gabby Neeley right here:
It’s that time of the week again! All clocked out for the weekend and ready to discover some brand new music!
We have some early 2000’s nostalgia hitting us this week, so let’s start with that.
Foo Fighters – Making A Fire
This single comes off the band’s 10th studio album, Medicine At Midnight.
The Foo Fighters started in Seattle in 1994 by former Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl, after the tragic “suicide” of Nirvana Frontman Kurt Cobain.
Hear what Grohl had to say about Cobain’s death and how he formed the Foo Fighters in this 2018 interview with ABC’s Anthony Mason:
“Whenever I see a new artist that’s young and just blows up, and becomes gigantic overnight…I kind of get worried for them. I don’t think anybody’s cut out for it.”
Grohl was only 25 when he started the group. 26 years and 12 Grammys later, The Foo Fighters are still making great music. I guess Grohl was cut out for it, after all. The man is an absolute legend.
Here’s the new track, Making A Fire.
Are you afraid of the dark? I know a place we can start But if this is the last time Make up your mind I’ve waited a lifetime to live It’s time to ignite I’m making a fire
Hayley Williams – My Limb
This brings us to our second nostalgic sound of the week. Paramore lead singer, Hayley Williams dropped a surprise solo album today, Flowers for Vases/descansos.
This is her second solo album, which was written and performed in its entirety from her Nashville home during the pandemic.
The 32-year-old rocker intentionally leaked My Limb on January 28th, by driving to a Nashville fan’s home and leaving her a package containing a candle, a burnt copy of the track on a CD (like we used to do back in the early 2000’s,) and instructions to leak the single early.
Hayley williams drove to a fan's house and drop off a candle and a cd with her new song on it 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯LITERALLY THE BEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN The BEST promo EVER ! #HayleyWilliamspic.twitter.com/eTxac3kjEd
— 🇨🇴 ㋖ TOKIO HOTEL㋖ TIME MACHINE㋖ 皿😈🇨🇴 (@AlienPowerfacts) January 29, 2021
“Neighborhood watch has really got a tight butthole right now”
Here it is. Officially released today, My Limb.
If you gotta amputate Don’t give me the tourniquet You wished that I would runaway Sever what isn’t working
Cardi B – Up
Honestly, I’m just here for the comments section on this one.
Billboard’s 2020 Woman of the Year has released the second single off of her upcoming album, and just like her last single, W.A.P. Cardi holds nothing back with Up.
Cardi B songs always slap, and this one is no different. The beat hits hard and her flow is always on point, though she has caught a little flack for the hook. Mir Fontane and Mir Pesos claim Cardi stole their 2020 song, Stuck. While the hooks to both songs do sound similar, Chris Mench of Genius shows us that “If it’s up then it’s stuck” has appeared in dozens of rap songs. For Chris’ explanation and breakdown of the accusations, click the Genius link above.
This is NOT your kid’s Pixar version of Up.
But just for funsies, watch the opening scene from Pixar’s Up, then watch Cardi B’s Up…you’ll find yourself on a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Also note: the music video is NSFW.
I’m not crying. You’re crying.
I could make the party hot, I could make your body rock B*tches say they f*ckin’ with me, chances are they probably not
Can we also talk about the blatant disregard for COVID while the ladies slap their tongues together? Am I the only one thinking about that?
Dan + Shay – Glad You Exist
On a much more family friendly note, Dan + Shay are back with their air-tight harmonies and seemingly endless positivity.
“To us, ‘Glad You Exist’ is more than just a song, It’s a message of gratitude and hope. A message to everyone in our lives: our fans, our friends, our families, to remind them all how grateful we are to be on the planet at the same time.”
Here is the country pop duo’s newest single, Glad You Exist.
Here’s to all the late night drunk phone calls that you picked up Here’s to all the bad decisions that you didn’t judge All the love yous and the hate yous and the secrets that you told me Here’s to everyone but mostly us
Sia and David Guetta – Floating Through Space
This is the 10th collaboration between the two, and they clearly have a great chemistry between them. Out of the 10, they are most famous for Titanium, which was their first collaboration together, and Flames, which peaked at number 7 on the charts.
French DJ and Producer David Guetta has a nice collection of awards, including an American Music Award in 2012 for Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist, two Grammy Awards for Best Remixed Recording, and DJ Mag’s World’s Number 1 DJ Award…twice.
Australian pop singer, Sia, really blew up as a solo artist in 2014 with her top 10 hit, Chandelier. She has released several hits since then, including Cheap Thrills and Elastic Hearts.
The duo strikes gold once again with Floating Through Space. Sia’s voice is perfect for this track, and the lyrics are up-lifting. If you’re having a tough day…listen to this one.
So today, baby Remember it’s okay We’re all floatin’ through space
FINNEAS – American Cliché
23-year-old Finneas Baird O’Connell is a singer-songwriter, producer, and actor. He’s most famously known for his collaborations as a producer and co-writer with his younger sister, Billie Eilish.
In a recent interview with Carolyn Droke of UPROXX, FINNEAS says the siblings are close to putting the finishing touches on Billie’s upcoming album.
But this isn’t about Billie. This is FINNEAS’ moment. According to Droke’s interview, fans “cyberbullied” him into finishing this track…and he said he is happy they did.
Personally, I’m glad they did too. I’ve always had respect for his artistry, and his voice is good enough for him to be as big as his sister is.
Finneas deserves some time in the spotlight. This track could be it.
Here is American Cliché.
I’m an American cliché Missin’ a girl in a French café I say, “God damn, you’re beautiful” You blush and duck out of frame
There we have it. This week’s New Music Friday was fun! Let’s do it again next week!
Which of these six tracks is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
Happy Friday, music fans. We’ve got 9 new releases to talk about, so get your coffee and your headphones ready…it’s an interesting mix. Let’s get to it!
Billie Eilish & Rosalía – Lo Vas A Olvidar
Billie Eilish en español? Si. This long-awaited collaboration is finally here, and I’m kind of digging it. Lo Vas A Olvidar translates to “Will you let it go.” The Billie and Rosalía superfans likely won’t let this one go anytime soon (see what I did there?) The song is set to be featured in an upcoming episode of the HBO series Euphoria. I’ve never seen the show, but if you watch it…listen for this tune. The song is hauntingly beautiful and their voices blend perfectly together. Billie’s Spanish is surprisingly spot-on, too. The ladies actually had a bit of help from Billie’s family with the final line:
Love cannot be measured in a steady step One day I’m a god and the next I can break You say it to me like it’s something I have any choice in If I wasn’t important, then why would you waste all your poison?
This will be one for the Breakup playlists, for sure.
Have a listen and let me know what you think!
What the f*** is up with their fingernails?
Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Amorphous – Sunshine (The Light)
Not gonna lie…I did not have high expectations for this one. But the story of how this track was created is great, and the song is kind of catchy.
Amorphous is the real story here. The 22-year-old DJ, Jamir Reece Davis went viral as the MC Hammer appointed “Thanksgiving DJ” with his mashup of Rihanna’s Kiss It Better, and the Luther Vandross classic Never Too Much. The mashup got picked up for Fat Joe’s newest track, and Davis got official clearance from Rhianna to use her vocals in the track. Crazy how things can turn around so fast when you put yourself out there for the world to see.
In much stranger news: Fat Joe and DJ Khaled started a joint OnlyFans profile. For only $20 a month, you can see whatever the hell that’s all about.
This track is a vibe, for sure. Makes me want to buy a silk shirt and some Cuban cigars.
Let’s get to it…but look out for the horrible acting at the beginning of the video…
Lil Huddy – 21st Century Vampire
I don’t have much to say about this one. This was the first thing I said out lout after I listened to the song:
If you like it, that’s fine. I’ll only judge you a little.
Jason Derulo – Lifestyle (featuring Adam Levine)
I don’t have a whole lot to say about this one either. It’s your basic, somewhat catchy commercial pop song that will be played to death by top 40 radio stations across the country. I will say this, though…Jason Derulo is a goddamn entertainer, which is refreshing to see.
Lil Wayne – Ain’t Got Time
This one cracks me all the way up. Just two days after Trump pardoned Wayne for his crimes, he releases a song that seemingly references those exact crimes.
Full of vanilla, flyin’ over chocolate mountains I stare at the Pacific while I’m smokin’ on a kilometer The feds, they hot on us, one hundred on the thermometer They raided my private plane, I went got one that’s more privater
When police searched Lil Wayne’s private plane back in December 2019, they found him to be carrying a gun and bullets. He was facing up to 10 years in prison until he was pardoned.
This track is a banger, though…despite the hilarity of the timing of its release. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Silk City – New Love (Featuring Ellie Goulding)
Welcome back, Silk City. The Diplo and Mark Ronson duo bang out a new club anthem with Ellie Goulding. This is Silk City’s first release since 2018 when they teamed up with Dua Lipa on Electricity. It’s a shame clubs aren’t open. We’ll have to wait until this virus goes away. In the meantime, put your headphones on and flick the lights on and off. Close enough, right?
Can you spot Diplo and Ronson in the video?
Busta Rhymes – Czar (Remix) featuring CJ and M.O.P.
Yes, THAT Busta Rhymes. It must be 90’s rapper week. Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God is Busta’s first album in 11 years. Busta fortifies his status amongst hip-hop royalty in this record.
So far, shawties throw they bra And I need the lighter to light the perfect cigar Brand new jet (Jet), brand new car (Car) Leader of the new shit (Brra), brand new Czar (Czar)
According to the comments section on YouTube, this is exactly what hip-hop needs right now. I’ll admit…this track is FIRE. Well done, old man!
What do you think of the hip-hop legend’s newest release?
Madison Beer – Boyshit
First of all, let me say one thing about Madison Beer:
Thanks. I had to get that out of the way.
Madison’s newest song is about “knowing your worth and taking back your power” in a relationship that’s gone wrong. She says the video is “a nod to dealing with toxic masculinity.” Boyshit basically means bullshit, if I’m understanding that correctly.
Another one for the breakup playlist. Enjoy!
Weezer – All My Favorite Songs
Off of their upcoming album, Ok Human, All My Favorite Songs is one I’m sure we can all relate to at some point in our lives. It’s about how things that once gave pleasure are now depressing and everything sucks.
All my favorite songs are slow and sad All my favorite people make me mad, so mad Everything that feels so good is bad, bad, bad All my favorite songs are slow and sad I don’t know what’s wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh) I don’t know what’s wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Been there, bruh.
Rivers Cuomo, Weezer frontman sounds great. I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the album. I was a big fan of Weezer growing up. Don’t let me down, gentlemen.
That’s it for this week’s New Music Friday. I’ll be doing this every Friday, so for the newest tracks…subscribe! Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments!