Music – Page 3284 – 105.7 WDNY

Sting on the “insane” idea that produced an album that “makes people smile”

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

In 2019, Sting won a Grammy for 44/876, an album he made with reggae/pop star Shaggy. Now the two have re-teamed for Come Fly wid Mi, a recently released album Sting produced of Shaggy doing reggae versions of Frank Sinatra tunes like “That’s Life.”

Sting first came up with the idea when he overheard Shaggy singing during a boat trip in Norway, but admits that the concept is definitely “insane.”

“He was singing along with the Frank Sinatra CD. I just heard something in it that appealed to me, because it doesn’t sound like Frank. He sounded like Shaggy, because he’s got an equally iconic voice. But there was some authenticity there,” Sting tells ABC Audio.

“And so the idea just kept coming back to me. And a year later I said, ‘We should do that crazy idea,'” Sting laughs. “It’s insane! But I’m so glad that it’s actually seen the light of day now and people are responding in the way I thought they would.”

The album includes well-known songs like “Fly Me to the Moon,” but Sting had Shaggy sing some lesser-known tunes, too. He claims he was “very strict” when it came to Shaggy “singing the correct melody,” but, Sting adds, “He’s a good pupil.”

Sting predicted that Come Fly wid Mi would bring people joy, and he was right. At the album launch in New York City, Sting says, “As soon as [Shaggy] started to sing…everyone in the club…had this wide grin…it just makes people smile. And what does the world need more than a smile at the moment? I don’t know! We need a smile!”

It’s unlikely Sting and Shaggy will be performing together in the near future, though, since Sting is currently doing his Las Vegas residency My Songs, followed by a European tour.

Shinedown, Korn, Five Finger Death Punch headlining Rocklahoma 2022

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Shinedown, Korn and Five Finger Death Punch will headline the 2022 Rocklahoma festival, taking place September 2-4 in Pryor, Oklahoma.

“ROCKLAHOMA 2022! It’s time!!!” says Shinedown frontman Brent Smith. “We are so excited to announce that we will be one of this year’s headliners. We are bringing you guys and girls the biggest show of the year. We cannot wait to see you. LET’S GO!!!”

The bill also includes Evanescence, Megadeth, Seether, Three Days Grace, Jelly Roll, Cypress Hill, In This Moment, Skillet, Underoath, Ice Nine Kills, Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides and The Hu, among many others.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 10, at 10 a.m. CT. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit Rocklahoma.com.

Kate Bush reacts to ‘Stranger Things’-driven “Running Up That Hill” resurgence: “It’s all really exciting!”

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

season of Stranger Things, the often press-shy singer has shared a statement commenting on the song’s resurgence.

“You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix,” the statement reads. “It features the song, ‘Running Up That Hill’ which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show — I love it too!”

“Because of this, ‘Running Up That Hill’ is charting around the world and has entered the UK chart at No. 8,” Bush continues. “It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song.”

Since the new Stranger Things season, which is the first volume of the show’s two-part fourth season, premiered May 27, streams of “Running Up That Hill” have increased by 8,000%, according to Variety.

“I wait with bated breath for the rest of the series in July,” Bush says. The second volume of season four will premiere on Netflix July 1.

“Running Up That Hill” was originally released in 1985 as the first single off of Bush’s album, Hounds of Love. Meg Myers debuted a cover of the song in 2019, which eventually hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in 2020.

Jack Harlow works the drive-thru at KFC

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Last week, Jack Harlow announced that as part of his partnership with KFC, he’d be introducing a signature meal at the fast-food chain. Over the weekend, he personally made sure fans got a taste of the new menu item.

As previously reported, on Saturday, a KFC in Smyrna, Georgia was transformed into Jack’s Meal HQ, giving fans in the area the first crack at Jack’s combo of KFC Mac & Cheese, Spicy Chicken Sandwich with a side of ranch, Secret Recipe Fries, and lemonade. But Billboard reports that Jack himself turned up at the location, donned a uniform and surprised some customers at the drive-thru window.

The restaurant announced Jack’s presence with a massive KFC bucket in the parking lot adorned with the Kentucky rapper’s mug.

The “First Class” artist first teamed with KFC in December to donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross for Kentucky tornado relief.

Fan’s Hootie & the Blowfish memorabilia collection donated to library at band’s alma mater

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A massive collection of Hootie & the Blowfish memorabilia will now live at a very fitting location: the University of South Carolina Libraries. The members of Hootie first met UofSC and founded the band there.

The memorabilia’s been donated by longtime fan Rick Noble, who’s been collecting Hootie stuff — CDs, t-shirts, ticket stubs, posters, banners, golf balls and more — since he listened to his daughter’s copy of the band’s 1993 EP, Kootchypop.

“I really liked the band and the music. I liked the way they handled themselves. I liked the fact that it was UofSC where they met,” Noble says in a statement.

Noble first met the band in 1995 when they agreed to do a benefit concert for an event he was organizing, and they started giving him merch. The rest, he said, “was just a treasure hunt.”

You can see some of the collection on the school’s Instagram: It includes more than 500 CDs, 45 t-shirts, 65 banners and 60 magazines.

“The support of fans like Rick Noble over the past 30 years is what allowed the dreams we had as South Carolina students to become reality on stages across the world,” Hootie frontman Darius Rucker says in a statement.

He adds, “It’s such a special, full-circle moment to see his collection come home to the UofSC library and we couldn’t be more thankful to him for supporting both our band and our university.”

“Hootie & the Blowfish have always been really special to the university and definitely have supported the university,” says UofSC Libraries Dean Tom McNally says. “So, what better place for their collection to be?”

Roots Picnic 2022: Thousands of music fans enjoy two days of hip-hop & gospel from Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Tens of thousands of music fans filled Philadelphia’s Fairmount park over the weekend for the city’s Roots Picnic, hosted by legendary hip-hop band, The Roots. For the first time in two years, the entertainment and arts festival welcomed more than 50 podcasters and musicians, who delivered live performances throughout the picnic’s six stages and tents over the course of the two-day Black music showcase.

Mary J. Blige headlined Saturday’s show, delivering performances of popular new songs and beloved hits of the past such as “All Night Long” and “Love No Limit.” Blige was introduced by Roots co-founder and Philadelphia native, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, who, earlier in the day, drew fans close to the festival’s main stage with his performance alongside Rick Ross and Benny the Butcher.

Another Philadelphia’s native, Jazmine Sullivan, also rocked the Toyota Soundstage. While sporting her sparkly blue two-piece outfit, she encouraged fans to sing along to songs from her Grammy winning Heux Tales album, like “Bodies” and past hits like “Bust Your Windows.”

Under the cool shade of the Mann Center’s TD Pavilion, audiences enjoyed lively performances by DJ D-Nice, G Herbo and gospel legend Tye Tribbett, who brought his usual high energy with songs like “No Way” and “Victory.”

Sunday’s Mann Stage saw an electrifying performance from rising star Durand Bernarr as well as a soulful showcase of songs from Suzann Christine. Over on the main stage, up-and-coming singer Jordan Hawkins serenaded with his guitar.

The main stage rounded out on Sunday with performances by Musiq Soulchild with SWV and Keyshia Cole and Kirk Franklin who hyped up the crowd with “Melodies from Heaven” among other timeless gospel hits. Fans anxiously awaited Summer Walker who closed out the picnic with live showings of “Over It” and “Body.”

Lady A thank Brazilian fan for “flying across the world” for their show

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Country trio Lady A have gotten to tour internationally over the course of their career, but one fan is motivating them to go somewhere they’ve never been before: Brazil.

In a social media video message, bandmates Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood responded to a Brazilian fan named Victoria, who sent them a letter and even flew to Florida to catch a recent Lady A show.

“Thank you so much for just your support all these years, flying across the world — literally — to come and see us,” Hillary says. “We hope to make it to Brazil one day. That is on our bucket list. Because you have done more than enough traveling, and we need to travel to you. We love you and God bless!”

Hopefully, Victoria and the rest of Lady A’s Brazilian fan base will get a chance to catch a show in their country soon. Until then, the trio have plenty of stops planned across the U.S. this summer, including a two-night hometown stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in August.

Mike Campbell sings praises of guest collaborators on new Dirty Knobs album, ‘External Combustion’

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

This Thursday, June 9, founding Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and his current band, The Dirty Knobs, begin a stint opening for country star Chris Stapleton at various large U.S. venues that runs until late July.

Campbell and his group are supporting their sophomore album, External Combustion, which was released in March. A follow-up to the group’s 2020 debut, Wreckless Abandon, the new record is an 11-track collection that includes guest appearances from Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, and acclaimed alt-country artist Margo Price.

Campbell tells ABC Audio that he’s “a huge fan” of Hunter and Mott the Hoople, and explains that the collaboration came about after Ian had tapped him to add guitar to some of his new tracks, and, in return, he asked Hunter if he’d sing on one of his own new tunes.

“[W]e had this song called ‘It’s a Dirty Job,’ and he was gracious to do it,” Mike notes. “He puts some Mott the Hoople piano in it, and he sang a verse and some harmonies, and he really brought the song up with his presence.”

As for Tench, Campbell says he asked his longtime band mate to play piano on a tune called “Lightning Boogie,” which he figured Benmont would like.

“[H]e just killed it,” Mike notes. “He added his flavor to it, so it’s got a little Heartbreakers nuance to it.”

Campbell says Price’s contributions to External Combustion came about when he got together with her to do some songwriting. Mike wound up asking Margo to sing on two tracks — “State of Mind” and “Cheap Talk.”

“[S]he did a great job and really made the songs better,” Campell says.

Visit TheDirtyKnobs.com to check out the band’s full tour schedule.

Newly minted “Dr. Shaggy” talks “freakin’ nuts” new album, “transcending generations” with music

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Shaggy is now “Dr. Shaggy” after receiving an honorary degree from Brown University at the Ivy League school’s recent graduation ceremony. And Shaggy says he was shocked that the graduating seniors not only knew him, but all seemed to be big fans of his, too.

“I was blown away in many ways [by] that whole experience,” he tells ABC Audio. “I was walking and people were just yelling, ‘Shaggy, Shaggy, Shaggy!’ Right as…the president introduced me, the whole auditorium was like, ‘Shaggy!’ She’s like, ‘Okay, I got to give the man his degree, calm down!'”

And the “It Wasn’t Me” singer says everyone at the after-party recognized him too.

“There was a commencement dinner afterwards — y’know, a lot of the honorees, including Nancy Pelosi and a whole bunch of Nobel Peace Prize winners and…congresspeople and senators and donors. And again, it was a huge reception,” Shaggy says. “I was like, ‘Wow, I really transcend through generations here with these songs!'”

According to Shaggy, that’s because he’s worked hard to try and make “timeless music” — and his new album is certainly that. After teaming up with Sting in 2018 for a Grammy-winning album, the two reunited for Come Fly Wid Mi, which features Shaggy singing reggae versions of Frank Sinatra classics. Yes, Shaggy admits that the idea of him singing Sinatra was “freakin’ nuts,” but he was down.

“The thing that Sting and I have in common is that we are both allergic to boredom and we like to think outside the box…And so it wasn’t far-fetched for me,” Shaggy tells ABC Audio. “It was scary…singing isn’t something that I was very confident on.”

But Sting, who produced the album, says Shaggy did a great job.

“It just makes people smile,” he says. “And what does the world need more than a smile at the moment?”

Three Days Grace’s Brad Walst says “everything’s good” with ex-frontman Adam Gontier: “It’s been 10 years”

June 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

If you’re not on good terms with your former bandmates, then Three Days Grace is definitely not just like you.

Earlier this year, ex-TDG frontman Adam Gontier revealed that he had met up with drummer Neil Sanderson, marking the first time the two had seen each other since Gontier left the band in 2013 and was replaced by Matt Walst, the younger brother of founding bassist Brad Walst. As Brad tells ABC Audio, that goodwill extends to the rest of Three Days Grace, as well.

“It’s been 10 years,” Brad says. “Obviously, [Gontier’s] changed a lot, and so have we.”

“I think it’s good that [Gontier and Sanderson] got to meet up and have lunch,” the bassist adds. “Adam lives 20 minutes from me here, we often text and have coffee. So, it’s great. I’m glad he’s doing well and he’s happy. He’s got a good family going on, couple kids. Yeah, so everything’s good.”

In fact, the Walst brothers will see Gontier again when the three are honored at their old high school’s graduation this month.

“They want Adam, Matt and myself to be on their ‘wall of honor,'” Brad shares. “I contacted Adam and I contacted Matt, and I was, like, ‘You guys wanna do this?’ And they’re both in.”

Brad thinks the ceremony will be “pretty cool” for the trio, especially since he admits that they “weren’t the best students” in their later high school days.

“We were all rockers, and didn’t give a s***,” he laughs.

In addition to preparing to go back to school, Three Days Grace is getting ready for a U.S. tour in support of the band’s new album, Explosions. The outing launches in July.

Explosions, which features the singles “Lifetime” and “So Called Life,” is out now.

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