Music

Rachel Platten‘s single “Girls” was inspired by her daughters Violet, 4, and Sophie, 2. She just released a new version with a choir and strings, which she debuted on Good Morning America October 26. Rachel explained why the song needed more than her initial arrangement.

“I released the first version of ‘Girls’ on Mother’s Day, and it’s a very intimate experience. It’s just me and the piano,” she told ABC Audio. “But the song kind of has taken on a life of its own, and it’s been incredible to watch — it’s sort of reminding me of ‘Fight Song.'” 

“People are recording these beautiful videos of them with their children or their friends or doing incredible things,” she added. “And … it felt to me like the song was asking for more.”

“Girls” is from Rachel’s new album, due out in 2024. It was a last-minute addition, after she realized she hadn’t written anything for her kids. But, she noted, “I realized as I was writing it that it really wasn’t only for Violet and Sophie … it was for myself. And my inner child. And my mother and sister and all my friends and … all the girls in the world.”

Violet and Sophie like singing “Girls,” but Violet isn’t always thrilled with mommy’s career.

“One time she did say to me … ‘I wish you weren’t a singer,'” Rachel recalled, laughing. “And I was like, ‘I know, Bubba, I know. But I’m really good at it!'”

And Violet and Sophie certainly aren’t going as singers for Halloween.

“I think they all wanted to be Elsa. I think they wanted all of us to be Elsa,” Rachel laughed. “So I think we’re just a family of Elsas … I wish I could do better! My 4-year-old kind of, like, runs the show.”

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Sophie Lloyd is getting in the Halloween spirit with a new instrumental cover of Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman.”

The guitar virtuoso’s rendition of the metal classic is accompanied by an appropriately spooky video, which features guest appearances by a snake and a tarantula. You can watch it streaming now on YouTube.

Lloyd first made a name for herself with her viral YouTube shred covers, taking on songs by Nirvana, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. Her channel caught the attention of Machine Gun Kelly, who recruited her for his live band.

Lloyd will release a new solo album called Imposter Syndrome on November 10. The title track features Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale.

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One of Offset‘s three sons will dress up as someone very special for Halloween: his dad. 

“My son Kody, he wants to be me this year,” Offset recently revealed to People of the 8-year-old’s costume plans.

He noted that his daughters, Kulture and Kalea, are planning to be cheerleaders.

As for his oldest son, Jordan, Halloween isn’t really a holiday the teen looks forward to anymore. 

“I think my son Jordan wants to be — he’s 13, he was like, ‘I don’t know, I’m like getting older man, I don’t really care.’ I’m like dang bro. I was 13, I wanted to go.”

Adding that he still likes Halloween, Offset said that kids today are “different.”

Around Thanksgiving last year, Cardi B shared snapshots of a Halloween family photoshoot in which she dressed up as Batwoman, Offset donned a Joker costume, 5-year-old Kulture went as Harley Quinn and 2-year-old Wave dressed like his dad with a mini Joker costume. 

“Grateful for my family,” Cardi wrote. “Thank you lord for changing my life around.”

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When Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada first formed Black Pumas, they were just looking for someone to jam with. A breakout album, a hit single and a few Grammy nominations later, the duo now faces the dreaded E-word: expectations.

“There was no expectations on the first one, so it was a success however you shake it,” guitarist/producer Quesada tells ABC Audio. “But this time around you’re kinda having to live up to the last one. [We] certainly felt a lot of pressure.”

“I think at the end of the day, the best thing for that was to tune it all out and almost, like, start from scratch and really just remind ourselves that we had to make something that we like and that we were proud of,” he continues. “And whatever happens after that, happens.”

The result of that is Chronicles of a Diamond, Black Pumas’ sophomore follow-up to their 2019 debut, which spawned the single “Colors.” The album continues to experiment with the duo’s psychedelic soul sound, which Quesada feels is stronger in part thanks to his deeper relationship with Burton.

“I can just pick up on the vibe,” Quesada says of working with vocalist/songwriter Burton. “A lot of … what he writes is multilayered and not super obvious, but having worked with him for so long now and having played so many times, I can hear the emotion that’s coming out of the voice.”

Quesada also found that he and Burton had more confidence to speak up and disagree with each other on album #2.

“I think that’s all for the better this time around,” Quesada says. “Everything just sounds so much more intentional, and your hear both of strengths a lot more on this.”

Chronicles of a Diamond is out now.

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There’s no doubt that Luke Bryan‘s “But I Got a Beer in My Hand” has been a summer anthem this year, and no one’s more pleased with that than Luke. After all, the song’s an extension of the message he wanted to share with fans this past summer.

“I don’t want to be [a] third-person guy, but I hadn’t felt like I’d done a fun Luke Bryan song in a minute,” shares Luke. “When I heard ‘But I Got a Beer in My Hand,’ it was just fun enough and it was summertime.”

“I mean, obviously I know that heck, I’ve had a song, ‘Drink a Beer,’ [and] there’s been a lot of beer songs out lately,” he says. “I’m sure people want to critique that. But, it just felt like a song that really said what I wanted to say this summer.”

As “But I Got a Beer in My Hand” continues its ascension on the country charts, Luke has realized that more fans are growing to love the song, especially at his live shows.

“It’s been fun watching it catch fire and grow legs live and watching people hold their beer up when they’re singing,” notes Luke. “It’s a tip to the hat of me always really wanting to have some fun music on my album.”

Luke’s wrapping up his Country On Tour with two remaining shows in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina, on October 27 and October 28, respectively. 

For Luke’s full tour schedule, visit lukebryan.com.

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Depeche Mode‘s Strange/Strange Too video compilation is coming to Blu-ray and DVD for the first time.

The package will be available on December 8. It includes a total of 11 Depeche Mode music videos for songs such as “Never Let Me Down Again,” “Behind the Wheel,” “Enjoy the Silence” and “Personal Jesus,” as well as six previously unreleased outtakes.

Strange and Strange Too were originally released individually in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Both were directed by Anton Corbijn, who provides new liner notes for the Blu-ray/DVD release.

Depeche Mode released a new album, Memento Mori, in March. It’s the group’s first record following the 2022 death of original member Andy Fletcher.

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Drummer Mike Mangini may not be in Dream Theater anymore, but he’s already looking forward to new projects.

In a Facebook post, Mangini announced that he’s releasing his debut solo album, Invisible Signs, on November 11.

“Can’t wait for all of you to hear it!!” Mangini says.

The album news comes just a day after Dream Theater announced on Wednesday, October 25, that founding drummer Mike Portnoy had returned to the group, effectively ending Mangini’s tenure with the prog metallers.

“I understand Dream Theater’s decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time,” said Mangini, who’d played in the band following Portnoy’s 2010 departure. “As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience.”

“Mike Mangini’s drumming is otherworldly and I’m extremely grateful for the time he spent with us in Dream Theater,” added guitarist John Petrucci. “I’m very proud of all the amazing music we made together that culminated in our first Grammy win last year and the countless magical moments that we’ve shared on stage over the past 13 years. I wish him all the best of success in his future musical endeavors.”

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Elton John thanked Madonna for a tribute she gave during a Celebration Tour performance honoring the 40.4 million lives that have been lost to AIDS. “Thank you, Madonna, for your advocacy and compassion, and for raising important awareness of the ongoing mission to end AIDS,” Elton wrote on Instagram. “We must keep using our voices and platforms to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live full and healthy lives.”

Want to spend your Halloween with Taylor Swift? Then AMC Theatres has the treat for you. The theater chain announced that tickets to Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concert film are only $13.13 in any format on October 31. “Look what the fans made us do,” read the announcement post on AMC Theatres’ Instagram.

The 2023 Curebound Concert for Cures, the sold-out event that was headlined by Ed Sheeran on October 20, raised $5.5 million for cancer research. “I was excited to team up with Curebound for this very special one-night only concert in San Diego,” Ed said in a statement. “It is a brilliant night for a great cause.”

Britney Spears has launched a new merchandise line called the Legendary Quote collection, in tandem with the release of her new memoir, The Woman in Me. The collection features apparel that celebrates her biggest hits. Britney’s also reintroducing her first fragrance, Curious by Britney Spears, which originally launched in 2004.   

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