Ashley Monroe was still a teenager when she landed her first record deal, kicking off a career whose highlights include a string of high-profile collaborations —a Number One duet with Blake Shelton, “Lonely Tonight,” and an ongoing membership in the Pistol Annies — and critically-acclaimed solo albums like 2018’s Sparrow. …
Read More »Aretha Franklin Funeral: See Stevie Wonder Deliver 'The Lord's Prayer' and 'As'
Stevie Wonder closed out Aretha Franklin‘s funeral Friday with a powerful rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” and “As” at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple. The singer opened his performance with a mournful harmonica version of “The Lord’s Prayer” before delivering a brief eulogy for Franklin, saying that without “God’s goodness,” “We …
Read More »See Marcus King Band's Blistering 'Where I'm Headed' on 'Conan'
The Marcus King Band made their late-night television debut on Tuesday night, performing on Conan O’Brien’s TBS show. The South Carolina blues-rock group played a blistering but soulful version of their song “Where I’m Headed,” off the band’s upcoming third album Carolina Confessions. The guitar ace King and his group …
Read More »Bob Dylan's 2018 Setlists Are Starting to Get Interesting
In the last few years, Bob Dylan‘s Never Ending Tour has featured plenty of thrilling moments with one major setback: little set list variation.While fans in the mid-2000s never knew what Dylan was going to play when he took the stage, since 2013 they have been all but guaranteed to …
Read More »Review: Blood Orange's Haunted, Sexy 'Negro Swan'
As Blood Orange, Dev Hynes uses the textures and tropes of Quiet Storm soul and New Romantic drama – styles not generally known for great creative depth – as vehicles for political consciousness-raising and channeling avant-garde pop ideas. It’s a slyly potent approach, as he proved on 2016’s identity-meditationFreetown Sound. …
Read More »VMAs 2018: Panic! at the Disco Enlist Brass, Strings for 'High Hopes'
Panic! At the Disco recruited brass and string sections for their cinematic performance of “High Hopes” on the MTV Video Music Awards. Frontman Brendon Urie, decked out in a sharp floral suit, opened the song on a rotating platform that slowly descended into the audience. “High Hopes” is the group’s latest single from Pray …
Read More »Aretha and Black America's Two Biggest Moments
On a cold day in February, Martin Luther King Jr. surprised Aretha in Detroit to present her with a special award on behalf of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference while she was in town to be honored with her own day, “Aretha Franklin Day”, by the mayor. Too sick to …
Read More »Ariana Grande Mimics Celine Dion, Gets James Corden Piggyback on 'Carpool Karaoke'
Ariana Grande impersonated Celine Dion, enjoyed a Starbucks piggyback ride and sang several of her biggest hits forThe Late Late Show‘s latest installment of “Carpool Karaoke.” The vocalist showed off her mimicry skills after host/driver/duet partner James Corden asked about Grande’s diva-like vocal runs. She recalled growing up listening to …
Read More »YG Recruits 2 Chainz, Big Sean for 'Big Bank' on 'Fallon'
YG enlisted 2 Chainz and Big Sean to perform their all-star single “Big Bank” on Tuesday’s Tonight Show. Nicki Minaj, who also features on the studio version, did not appear with the trio. The rappers utilized a minimal stage set-up highlighted by vivid lighting. They walked out one-by-one to applause, …
Read More »Swae Lee Steals the Show (Again) on Nicki Minaj's 'Chun Swae'
On Friday, Nicki Minaj released Queen, her fourth studio album. An early standout — outside of the internet-breaking “Barbie Dreams” — is “Chun Swae,” the Swae Lee-featuring, Metro Boomin-produced track that anchors the album’s midpoint. It’s an off-kilter, sweet and swirling song, and its unique tone is set wholly by …
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