Music – Page 2762 – 105.7 WDNY

Taylor Swift celebrates ‘folklore”s first anniversary with exclusive Urban Outfitters collection

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Taylor Swift‘s surprise eighth studio album, folklore, celebrated its first anniversary on July 24 and, to celebrate the occasion, the “Cardigan” singer is rolling out exclusive merchandise with Urban Outfitters.

Taylor’s partnership with the retailer allows her to roll out all the stops for her celebratory collection, which currently features a limited-edition hoodie, tee shirts, and an exclusive double-LP vinyl sleeve.

Each clothing item celebrates a track that appeared on folklore, with a burnt umber-colored hoodie bearing a lyric from “Peace” that reads, “I’m a fire and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm.”

The merchandise line also features an oversized white tee that bears Taylor’s face on the front and folklore‘s track list on the back.

Another tee shirt, which is also a burnt umber color, celebrates the track “August” with the lyric “August slipped away into a moment of time” emblazoned across the chest.

The folklore double LP features 17 tracks, including “The Lakes,” all of which appeared on the Deluxe Edition of folklore, and retails for $29.

Both tee shirts are being sold for $39, while the hoodie can be purchased for $75, all for a limited time.

Britney Spears’ lawyer says Jamie Spears is trying to “extort” her

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears‘ lawyer claims that her father, Jamie Spears, is trying to extort the pop star.

According to TMZ, which says they obtained copies of the legal documents, filed Tuesday, Britney’s law team claims that Jamie is requesting two million dollars from his daughter. While some of the funds would reportedly go toward paying the patriarch’s legal fees, Britney’s lawyer, Matthew Rosengart, stated, “The status quo is no longer tolerable, and Britney Spears will not be extorted.”

The “Toxic” singer’s team also suggested that the court suspend Jamie from the conservatorship if he doesn’t fully step away by September 29.

The claim comes just weeks after ABC News confirmed that Jamie filed paperwork to willingly step down as Britney’s conservator. Jamie has denied any claims he mistreated his daughter or otherwise acted against her interests, and has noted that he is stepping down without any grounds for his removal.

Former R. Kelly worker claims singer used to make women fight each other as punishment

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

R. Kelly‘s sex trafficking trial continued Tuesday with Suzette Mayweather, former employee, taking the stand to testify against the singer, alleging he would force his live-in girlfriends to fight one another as a form of punishment.

New York Daily News reports that Mayweather, who is no longer employed by Kelly but worked for him for several years, claims women were forced to fight each other at Kelly’s 2016 birthday party.

“He didn’t like an incident where they were twerking for cake… He had to have them get on each other. I think they were fighting,” Mayweather recalled, but admitted she did not see the chaos and only heard the racket upstairs.

Mayweather also recalled another time when one of Kelly’s live in girlfriends allegedly came to her, revealing red marks where the singer allegedly spanked her. She also revealed Kelly became enraged when she broke one of his strict rules by speaking to one of his live-in girlfriends, noting, “It was the first time that I’d ever seen Rob really upset… It wasn’t the tone, it was the look in his eyes.”

She also backed up claims made by other witnesses that Kelly would withhold employees’ pay over small mistakes, saying he used to call it a “fine.” Mayweather also claimed Kelly would confine women to their rooms for days at a time.

Kelly, 54, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces state and federal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women — three of whom were underage at the time — over the course of 25 years. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Carrie, Miranda, Dierks and more keep the CMA Fest party alive with ‘CMA Summer Jam’

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Even though the Country Music Association was forced to cancel CMA Fest for the past two years because of COVID-19, they’ve found a way to keep its spirit alive. On Thursday night, the all-new CMA Summer Jam premieres at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Recorded in late July in Nashville, the three-hour special promises big names like Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley, as well as the superstar collaborations fans have come to expect from CMA Fest.

“I do have a special guest, Dwight Yoakam, who is gonna be joining me,” Carrie reveals. “And we get to sing a couple of his songs together, which I’m super excited about, ’cause he just oozes coolness.”

Miranda will be bringing on the boys during her set as well.

“I’m singing with two of my pals, John and TJ Osborne, and Dierks Bentley,” she teases. “So I get to hang out with my buddies and sing some country music and some rock ‘n’ roll.”

The foursome tackle an Allman Brothers Band classic.

“[We] came up with an idea to do ‘Midnight Rider,'” Dierks explains. “It’s been done before, but it’s a great song that has a spot for four harmonies. We all get a chance to sing together, which is my favorite part of music anyway.”

In keeping with the spirit of their latest hit, “I’m Not for Everyone,” Brothers Osborne says they’re just glad to be invited.

“At some point in time, we will be irrelevant,” TJ offers, “so the fact that we’re here right now…is really awesome. And what a cool way to kick the touring season back off.”

CMA Summer Jam takes over primetime Thursday starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

“Stayin’ Alive”: The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb turns 75 today

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Here’s wishing a Happy 75th Birthday to Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of The Bee Gees.

Barry formed The Bee Gees with younger brothers Robin and Maurice, and the group’s first success came in Australia in the early 1960s after the Gibb family moved there from the U.K.

The Bee Gees’ career took off internationally after the Gibbs moved back to the U.K. in 1967.

The group’s first U.S. hit was “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ’67. Over the next several years, the group scored such other hits as “To Love Somebody,” “Massachusetts,” “Words,” “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You,” “Lonely Days” and the chart-topping “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”

In the mid-’70s, The Bee Gees began exploring a more danceable, R&B-influenced sound that featured Barry’s signature falsetto vocals, leading to hits like “Jive Talkin’,” “Nights on Broadway,” and “You Should Be Dancing.”

In 1977, The Bee Gees were catapulted to super-stardom with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which helped launch the disco craze. The album ultimately went 16-times platinum on the strength of the #1 hits “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Stayin’ Alive.”

The Bee Gees’ popularity began waning by 1980 thanks partly to a backlash against disco, but Barry and his brothers continued to have success writing songs for other artists, including their youngest brother, Andy, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick and Diana Ross.

The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Sadly, Maurice and Robin died in 2003 and 2012, respectively.

In recent years, Barry has focused on a solo career. His latest album, a star-studded duets collection Greenfields, was released in January.

Ex-GN’R drummer Matt Sorum explains how The Rollling Stones’ Charlie Watts influenced him

September 1, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Mark Maryanovich; Chris McKay/Getty Images

Former Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum counts himself among the many musicians who were influenced and inspired by late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died a week ago today at age 80.

Sorum is known for his powerful, hard-hitting style, while Watts’ drumming had more of a jazz swing to it, but Matt tells ABC Audio that he aspired to the way Charlie and The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr played so well with their respective band mates.

“I looked up to Charlie and Ringo as band guys, song drummers, and I always wanted to place myself in there,” Sorum explains. “I just want to play what’s right for the song. You know, I got some chops and stuff, and I could do stuff, but the most important thing is figuring out what’s gonna make the song sound great. So, Charlie was a really huge influence in that.”

Reflecting on what Watts brought to The Stones, Matt notes, “[He was] such a pivotal guy, like a guy that’s so important in the foundation and the heartbeat.”

Sorum says fans can get an idea of what Watts contributed to The Stones by watching the 1968 film Sympathy for the Devil, which documents how the band’s famous song of the same name came together in the studio.

“[I]t takes him nine days to find the groove,” Matt points out. “And you watch that and you understand why The Stones’ groove and sound is so great.”

As previously reported, Sorum is preparing to release a candid memoir titled Double Talkin’ Jive: True Rock ‘n’ Roll Stories in the coming weeks. You can pre-order the book now at RareBirdLit.com.

Alan Parsons releasing new concert album & video, ‘The NeverEnding Show,’ in November

August 31, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new concert album and video focusing on a 2019 show by veteran studio whiz, composer and musician Alan Parsons‘ current band, the Alan Parsons Live Project, will be released on November 5 in various formats and configurations.

The NeverEnding Show: Live in the Netherlands captures a May 2019 concert by the group at the Tivoli theater in Utrecht, Netherlands.

The concert featured performances of many of the Alan Parsons Live Project’s best-known songs from the 1970s and ’80s, including “Games People Play,” “Time” and “Don’t Answer Me,” as well as a medley combining the group’s oft-heard 1982 instrumental “Sirius” with its ’82 hit “Eye in the Sky.”

The NeverEnding Show can be pre-ordered now and is available as a two-CD/DVD set, a Blu-ray disc and a three-LP vinyl collection. Two limited-edition colored-vinyl versions of the release — pressed on crystal and on blue vinyl — can be purchased exclusively at the Frontiers Music’s online store.

The audio versions of The NeverEnding Show also will include a new studio recording of a song called “The Never Ending Show” as a bonus track.

You can check out a video of the Alan Parsons Live Project performing “Games People Play” from The NeverEnding Show film now at Frontiers Music’s YouTube channel.

The band recently postponed a U.S. tour because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trek had been scheduled to run from an August 27 show in Burbank, California, through a September 22 show in Minneapolis. New dates haven’t been announced.

Here’s the track list of The NeverEnding Show‘s CDs:

CD 1
“One Note Symphony”
“Damned If I Do”
“Don’t Answer Me”
“Time”
“Breakdown”/”The Raven” (Medley)
“I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You”
“Psychobabble”
“Luciferama”

CD 2
“Don’t Let It Show”
“I Robot”
“Limelight”
“Standing on Higher Ground”
“As Lights Fall”
“I Can’t Get There from Here”
“Prime Time”
“Sirius”/”Eye in the Sky” (Medley)
“Old and Wise”
“(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether”
“Games People Play”
“The Never Ending Show” (New Studio Audio Track)

Play Pop Evil’s ‘Versatile’-themed computer game

August 31, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Pop Evil has launched a new online computer game themed after the band’s new album, Versatile.

The game is essentially a digital Rubik’s Cube with sides inspired by Pop Evil and the Versatile videos and artwork. If nothing else, it helped keep frontman Leigh Kakaty busy as he recovered from contracting COVID-19.

“Over the last few weeks, I played the hell out of this game during my COVID isolation,” Kakaty says. “Just warning everyone, it’s not an easy game to nail down. Good luck beating [drummer] Hayley [Cramer‘s] score, she currently has the highest score on the bus.”

You can try it for yourself now via Game.PopEvil-Versatile.com.

Pop Evil is now back on the road after postponing dates due to Kakaty’s diagnosis. The tour continues Tuesday in Savannah, Georgia.

Versatile, Pop Evil’s sixth studio album, was released in May. It includes the singles “Breathe Again,” “Work” and “Survivor.”

Johnny Marr announces new solo album, ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1-4’

August 31, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Johnny Marr has announced a new solo album.

The fourth studio effort from the Smiths guitarist is titled Fever Dreams Pts 1-4. As its title suggest, the record is made up of four different EPs, the first of which arrives October 15.

You can listen to lead single “Spirit Power and Soul” now via digital outlets.

“‘Spirit, Power and Soul’ is a kind of mission statement,” Marr says. “I had an idea about an electro sound with gospel feeling, in my own words…an electro soul anthem.”

You can catch Marr live next summer opening for The Killers‘ North American arena tour.

Lil Baby gives back to hometown Atlanta with 200 free bikes and refurbished basketball court

August 31, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lil Baby is bringing end of the summer joy to kids in his hometown of Atlanta.

The “Woah” rapper recently donated 200 bikes to local children, and partnered with Foot Locker to refurbish a local basketball court.

Three weeks ago, the three-time Grammy nominee also hosted a back-to-school drive, providing children with clothes, laptops, and supplies from his Four the People Foundation, according to Revolt. “At This Point It’s About The Kids! #generationalwealth,” he commented on Instagram.

Lil Baby is featured with The Weeknd on “Hurricane” on Kanye West‘s new Donda album. Wednesday, he kicks off his Back Outside tour in Boston featuring Lil Durk and Coi Leray. They will perform 23 dates through October 19 in West Palm Beach, FL.

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