Jon Pardi is planning to release a collaboration with Luke Bryan — eventually.
During a Country Countdown USA appearance, while discussing his upcoming Mr. Saturday Night album, Jon decided to drop some hints about his long game for the record, which features an eventual deluxe album that will include a mega-watt duet.
“I’m gonna drop a little hint that the Mr. Saturday Night deluxe version coming out next year will have Luke Bryan on it,” he detailed. “I’m pretty excited about it. It’s a very country song.”
That should be no surprise to Jon’s fans, who know him as a bit of a neo-traditionalist, but Luke sometimes catches flak from classic country fans who think his music strays from the genre’s roots. This collab will prove them all wrong, Jon hints.
“When we recorded it, he said to me, ‘You might make the traditional people like me now, because it’s country,’” he continues. “It’s one of my favorites, and it was meant for me and Luke to sing. It’s not about a girl, but it’s about hard work. I think it’s gonna be a big song.”
In the meantime, fans can look forward to the first release of Mr. Saturday Night, which features the Midland duet “Longneck Way to Go.”
Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford has premiered a new song called “Better Off High,” a track off his upcoming debut solo album, self-titled.
“Better Off High” is the third track to be released from self-titled, following the cuts “Cannibal” and “Grace.” The album, which includes guest spots from Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, Monica Martin and Julia Michaels, will arrive in full on September 16.
You can listen to “Better Off High” now via digital outlets.
Mumford will launch a U.S. headlining tour in support of self-titled September 19 in Boulder, Colorado.
Nowhere Special Recordings; Credit: Sentient Camera
cleopatrick has premiered a new single called “OK.”
The track, which is available now via digital outlets, was produced on the road during the Canadian duo’s tour opening for Royal Blood.
“We wanted this song to sound like it was recorded and produced using a sentient IBM computer from 2002,” says guitarist/vocalist Luke Gruntz. “We digitally abused this song, chopping, degrading, stretching and looping sections with no regard for the rules.”
“OK” follows cleopatrick’s 2021 debut album, Bummer, which includes the singles “Hometown” and “Family Van.”
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Joni Mitchell was presented with an honorary doctorate by the prestigious Boston-based institution the Berklee College of Music during an event held Tuesday at a private residence in Santa Monica, California.
The legendary singer/songwriter was bestowed with the honor by Berklee’s Office of the President and Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.
“Well, luckily I’m too old to get a swelled head,” the 78-year-old Mitchell said at the gathering after being introduced. “It’s a beautiful event. Words can’t describe it. I’ve got my good friends here with me.”
She added, “I wish my parents were alive. My mother in particular would be really proud of this because she wanted me to go to college. I went to art school and I quit after a year. She thinks of me as a quitter. So to see this achievement would be really impressive to her. I wish I could share it with her.”
Jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter were among the guests at the event, which included tribute performances by Grammy-winning artists Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding.
In an introductory speech, Berklee President Erica Muhl commented, “Since her debut in the late 1960s, Joni has been a force for change in the industry, blazing the trail for women in music with an unwavering commitment to achieving the status rightfully due her as one of the world’s great musical artists.”
Terri Lyne Carrington, founder and artistic director of the Berklee’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, added about Mitchell, “Her career and social principles stand for the values our institute pursues — imagination, freedom, equity, and identity. I can think of no one more deserving.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Carole King has contributed a guest essay in Thursday’s The New York Times, advocating for the protection of America’s forests.
Titled “It Costs Nothing to Leave Our Trees as They Are,” the essay calls on the U.S. government to take action against commercial logging.
“The effects of the climate crisis are undeniable,” the singer-songwriter writes. “People are suffering, and the scale of the problem sometimes makes us feel helpless. But the public can do something right now by asking President Biden — in numbers too big to ignore — to use all of his powers to stop the logging of the nation’s mature and old-growth forests.”
She implores the president to issue an executive order “immediately” to take steps to stop commercial logging on public land.
Carole concludes, “In 1970, my collaborator Toni Stern wrote the lyrics to my most popular song, ‘It’s Too Late.’ That title should not refer to the climate. That’s why, at age 80, I’m using my voice to call on President Biden to stop commercial logging in our national forests. Please add your voice to mine.”
Mastodon has shared a new documentary detailing the making of the band’s latest album, Hushed and Grim.
The full-length film, which is over 90 minutes long, dives deep into the heavy emotions of the recording process for the album, which is dedicated to Mastodon’s late manger, Nick John.
In between those darker moments, the doc “intertwines comedic skits that showcase the band’s lighter, more humorous dynamic.” You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.
Mastodon will hit the road in continued support of Hushed and Grim on a tour with Ghost, kicking off Friday in San Diego. Spiritbox will also be on the bill.
Shania Twain was one of the artists being celebrated at the ACM Honors ceremony on Wednesday night, and Kelsea Ballerini paid homage to the country legend in a very special way: by giving second life to one of Shania’s most memorable looks.
Kelsea turned out for the show wearing the very same long-sleeved white gown that Shania wore at the Grammy Awards in 1999. That was the awards show where Shania picked up Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for her enduring hit ballad “You’re Still the One.”
Glittering and floor-length with a turtleneck cut, Shania’s Marc Bouwer dress typically resides in the Grammy Museum these days, but it came out of retirement for the ACM Honors carpet. Kelsea even posed with it next to the living legend herself.
“She looks stunning. She looks like an absolute angel,” Shania told ET Online of the experience of seeing Kelsea wear her dress. “It’s very flattering to see her in the dress, and that she even wanted to wear it. I said, ‘I hope it’s not too dusty after being in the [Grammy Museum].’”
Kelsea and Shania teamed up in 2020 for a duet version of Kelsea’s single “Hole in the Bottle.”
Eminem and Snoop Dogg have been added to the lineup of stars who will be taking the stage at the 2022 VMAs. According to MTV, the two will come together Sunday to perform their recent collaboration, “From the D 2 The LBC.”
The performance will mark the first time both artists hit the VMAs stage in over a decade; Em last performed in 2010 and Snoop in 2005. It will also be the first show inspired by the Otherworld metaverse. The rappers reportedly teamed up with NFT company Yuga Labs to make it all happen.
The 2022 VMAs take place on Sunday, August 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. LL Cool J, Jack Harlow and Video Vanguard Award recipient Nicki Minaj are set to anchor the show.
The soundtrack album to the official David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydreamwill be released via digital formats on September 16, coinciding with the movie’s theatrical premiere, while a two-CD version will follow on November 18.
The collection, which can be preordered now, features songs that span Bowie’s entire career and includes previously unreleased recordings, mixes created specifically for the movie film and this album, as well as segments boasting dialogue from the late rock legend.
One of the album’s tracks, a newly remixed version of Bowie’s 1983 hit “Modern Love,” has been released as an advance digital single. It begins with an isolated piano track from the original recording and ends with a section that showcases the backing vocals a cappella.
The soundtrack also features a previously unreleased live medley combining “The Jean Genie” and The Beatles‘ “Love Me Do” that was recorded in 1973 at Bowie’s final Ziggy Stardust concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, with Jeff Beck on guitar. Other highlights include an early version of the 1971 gem “Quicksand” and a previously unreleased 1974 live rendition of “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me.”
A three-LP vinyl version of the Moonage Daydream soundtrack will be released in 2023.
Moonage Daydream offers viewers kaleidoscopic cinematic exploration into Bowie’s life and creative journey using his own narration, archival footage and live performances, as well as unheard music. The film was written and directed by Brett Morgen, whose previous credits include The Kid Stays in the Picture, the Rolling Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane and Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck.
Bowie’s longtime friend, collaborator and co-producer Tony Visconti served as the musical producer of the project.
Here’s the full track list of the Moonage Daydream companion album:
“Time… one of the most complex expressions…”
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix 1)
“Hallo Spaceboy” (Remix Moonage Daydream Edit)
Medley: “Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud”/”All the Young Dudes”/”Oh! You Pretty Things” (Live)
“Life on Mars?” (2016 Mix Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Moonage Daydream” (Live)
“The Jean Genie”/”Love Me Do”/”The Jean Genie” (Live) — featuring Jeff Beck
“The Light” (Excerpt)*
“Warszawa” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Quicksand” (Early Version 2021 Mix)
Medley: “Future Legend”/”Diamonds Dogs” intro/”Cracked Actor”
“Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me” (Live in Buffalo 11/8/1974)
“Aladdin Sane” (Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Subterraneans”
“Space Oddity” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“V-2 Schneider “
“Sound and Vision” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“A New Career in a New Town” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Word on a Wing” (Moonage Daydream Excerpt)
“‘Heroes'” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“D.J.” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Ashes to Ashes” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Move On” (Moonage Daydream acappella Mix Edit)
“Moss Garden” (Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Cygnet Committee”/”Lazarus” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Memory of a Free Festival” (Harmonium Edit)
“Modern Love” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Let’s Dance” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“The Mysteries” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix 2)
“Word on a Wing” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Hallo Spaceboy” (live Moonage Daydream Mix)
“I Have Not Been to Oxford Town” (Moonage Daydream Acappella Mix Edit)
“‘Heroes'”: “IV. Sons of the Silent Age”” (Excerpt)*
“★” (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit)
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix Excerpt)
“Memory of a Free Festival” (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit)
“Starman”
“You’re aware of a deeper existence…”
“Changes”
“Let me tell you one thing…”
“Well, you know what this has been an incredible pleasure…”
* = Performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop
Following his infamous Oscar-night slap of Chris Rock, Will Smith has said he’s been seeking advice from others in an effort to work on the issues that led to the incident.
However, one piece of counsel appeared to befuddle the star so much that he posted it to Instagram, along with his respectfully confused reaction.
Smith was apparently FaceTiming with an unidentified older woman, who advised, “I’m trying to tell y’all, don’t worry what people say about you.”
At this, Smith nodded thoughtfully. But he cocked his head in confusion as the conversation continued.
“They’re gonna try to belift [sic] you,” the woman said.
“They’re gonna try to satalize [sic] your name. They’re gonna try to satisvize [sic] your name. They’re gonna just do anything to sestroy you. To sestroy you.”
Whatever she meant, Will apparently took the advice to heart, captioning the video with, “Nobody likes having their name salvestized!”
The post has gone viral, bringing some much-needed levity to Will’s situation.
His pal, famed Philly music promoter Charlie Mack, was quick to chime in in agreement, with a comment that was followed by a collection of crying laughing emoji:
“Will I’ve been telling you this for some time now!!!!!!!!! You’ll listen to me one of this day. Until then, they’ll keep Salvestizing your name!!!!”
