Music

No band had a bigger breakout year in 2021 than Måneskin.

The Italian rockers started out the year by winning Europe’s long-running Eurovision Song Contest, which  previously helped launch the careers of artists including ABBA and Céline Dion. Soon, Måneskin made their way to the States thanks to their viral cover of The Four Seasons‘ “Beggin’,” which was the longest-running number-one single of 2021 on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart.

Måneskin kept the momentum going with the singles “I Wanna Be Your Slave,” which earned them a collaboration with Iggy Pop, and “MAMMAMIA.” They’ll close out 2021 with a performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022.

Here are a few of 2021’s other breakout rock and alternative artists:

It may seem strange to call Glass Animals a “breakout” artist of 2021, since they’ve been alternative radio mainstays for the past seven years. Still, it’s hard to deny that the U.K. outfit really kicked things up a level in 2021, thanks to their hit single “Heat Waves,” which hit the top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The leap was so big that Glass Animals received a Best New Artist nomination for the 2022 Grammys.

Wolfgang Van Halen released his debut single as Mammoth WVH in late 2020 with “Distance,” a song dedicated to his recently deceased father, the iconic Eddie Van Halen. “Distance” would hit number one on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay in early 2021, a chart Wolf would again conquer later in the year with the single “Don’t Back Down,” proving he’s more than just a famous last name.

British duo Wet Leg came out of nowhere in 2021 with their debut single, the Mean Girls-referencing, double entendre-ing earworm “Chaise Longue.” They’ll release their first full-length self-titled album in April 2022.

Canada’s Spirtbox helped bring new blood into the metal scene in 2021, thanks in part to Courtney LaPlante‘s compelling vocals. The band released their debut album, Eternal Blue, in September, and charted their first radio rock single with “Secret Garden.” Spiritbox might’ve gotten even bigger in 2021 if their tour opening for Limp Bizkit hadn’t been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Three weeks after begin introduced as Playboy’s first Creative Director in Residence, Cardi B has announced her first project for the iconic publication.

“Introducing CENTERFOLD, so excited to share this platform with so many amazing creators,” the “Please Me” wrapper wrote on Instagram. 

The Centerfold website is described as “a platform for creative freedom, artistic expression, & sex positivity. The home for the world’s top creators to interact with their fans.”  The site features photos of its “founding creators” — who include Playmates, Instagram stars, drag queens and adult film stars —  and an invitation to sign up.

When the Grammy-winner’s new position was announced, she said in a statement, ​​“It is a dream come true to officially join the Playboy family. I can’t believe this is real. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt connected to Playboy. It’s truly the original platform for uncensored creativity and I’m inspired by its incredible legacy of fighting for personal freedoms. I have so many ideas already—I can’t wait!”

Cardi’s role will include artistic direction for the magazine, digital editorial content, merchandise, expanding the Playboy brand, and more.

 

 

 

 

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After hitting number one in their native U.K., Elton John and Ed Sheeran‘s joint single, “Merry Christmas,” has now topped Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart.

The last time Elton was number one on this chart was in 1997, with “Something About the Way You Look Tonight.”  It’s his 17th Adult Contemporary number one overall, extending his record as the artist who’s topped that chart the most. 

In the number-two position is The Carpenters, who racked up 15 number ones from 1970 to 1981. Barry Manilow is next with 13, Celine Dion and Lionel Richie have 11 each, and Whitney Houston and Olivia Newton-John both have 10.

Elton also now has the longest span of number-ones on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Radio Airplay chart: It’s been 48 years, seven months and three weeks since his first chart-topper, “Daniel” to “Merry Christmas.”  The previous record holder was Chicago, who had a span of nearly 26 years between their 1971 hit “Beginnings” and their most recent number-one, 1997’s “Here in My Heart.”

For Ed’s part, this is the fifth time he’s topped the chart.  He first did it in 2015 with “Thinking Out Loud,” and most recently with “Bad Habits” earlier this month.

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Remember when Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat during a concert? It’s back, in NFT form.

According to Rolling Stone UK, the metal legend is launching his own run of non-fungible tokens inspired by that infamous 1982 incident. The collection, titled CryptoBatz, consists of 9,666 digital bats designed by Ozzy in collaboration with the NFT studio Sutter Systems.

“I’ve been trying to get in on the NFT action for a while,” Ozzy says. “I asked Sharon for a Bored Ape for Christmas after several failed attempts of buying my own, and she said no, so I decided to create my own.”

“CryptoBatz is a f***ing mental project for NFT collectors and fans,” the Black Sabbath frontman adds. “The design pays tribute to one of my most iconic on-stage moments and is a chance to acquire a rare piece of art history. I love it!”

CryptoBatz is set to launch in January.

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Jennifer Hudson loves Christmas so much that she began her holiday celebration right after the day of ghouls and goblins.

“Let me just say that Christmas starts the day after Halloween in my house,” the Oscar and Grammy-winner told Entertainment Tonight.  “All we do is watch holiday movies, shop and have festive moments.”

Her Christmas decorations have been up since November 1, and for this holiday season, she shared a special visit to a Christmas movie landmark with her 12-year-old son, David.  Since Jennifer lives in Chicago, she took David and his cousins to the McCallister House in The Windy City, where the iconic 1990 film Home Alone was shot.

Jennifer is rarely “home alone” herself — her house is known as “Camp David,” because it’s where her son is usually joined by numerous friends and cousins.

“Normally I house eight boys at one time and I hang out with them, play basketball with them, do whatever. I love it. It’s the best! Being able to experience things from their perspective,” the Respect star continued. “[We’re] the neighborhood house that all the kids want to come to and I love all the babies.”

The 40-year-old entertainer is nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from the Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect. The song is also on the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Original Song. Hudson previously won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls in 2007.

“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” is also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

 

 

 

 

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Chris Young gave his dad the ultimate Christmas present this year. 

On Monday, the hit singer shared a video that shows him gifting his father, Michael Harris, a new truck. In the clip, Chris is seen leading his dad outside where he’s surprised to see a new silver Chevrolet sitting in the driveway. A look of disbelief is splashed across Michael’s face as he realizes it’s for him.

The video also includes a close-up shot of the shiny new truck in a parking lot before it’s delivered to Michael. The father and son share a heartfelt hug as Michael Buble‘s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” plays in the background. 

“My dad has been driving the same truck for well over a decade. I decided he needed a new one this year. I love you dad!” Chris writes alongside the heartwarming video. 

“You are the best,” one fan praises in the comments, while another writes, “The way he looked at you! You’re a good son!”

“Beautiful truck! I am sure your dad is very deserving of your gift,” shares another fan. 

Chris has been open about his close relationship with his dad, who battled lung cancer in 2009 and has since been in remission.

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Muse isn’t going into 2022 quietly.

During an Instagram Live session over the weekend, captured by a fan on Twitter, frontman Matt Bellamy shared a teaser of a new Muse song, and boy is it heavy. Not just “Knights of Cydonia” or “Hysteria” heavy — we’re talking screaming vocals and giant, chugging breakdown guitar riffs heavy.

To demonstrate the track’s raw metal power, the clip shows what appears to be Bellamy’s son Bingham headbanging along as it plays in the background.

Muse teased over the summer that a new album was in the works. The trio’s most recent effort is 2018’s Simulation Theory.

GUYS WE GETTING METAL MUSE 🚨🚨🚨😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/oXzTvqGTRL

— Kyle (@AgitatedFury) December 26, 2021

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The Champagne Papi became the Christmas Papi for December 25.

Drake surprised random people on the streets of his Toronto hometown by handing out large stacks of 20-dollar bills on Christmas. The “Take Care” rapper was seen in a Twitter video giving out money as he rode in the back seat of a Mercedes Maybach.

“@Champagnepapi giving away racks for Christmas,” the video is captioned. “Legend of the city.”

As a woman held the money, she said, “Oh my God. This is crazy!” while a man with her responded, “Thank you, bro. I appreciate it, guys.”

The four-time Grammy winner enjoyed Christmas with his four-year-old son, Adonis. He posted an Instagram video of them having fun wrestling with another young boy, captioned “Merry Christmas From The Gang.” As the kids piled on top of Drake, he said with a laugh, “I’m gonna get up, I’m gonna out of this.”

2020 has been a special year for the Toronto MC, who won the Billboard Artist of the Decade award in May. He also dropped his long-awaited sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, in September, his first new project since Scorpion in 2018. CLB debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 613,000 units. It was the biggest week for an album in 2020 until Adele’s 30 sold 692,000 units the fourth week in November.

Certified Lover Boy also received 714 million on-demand audio streams in its first week. Only one album has ever scored a larger on-demand audio streaming week: Scorpion, with 746 million in 2018.

Drake giving away stacks of cash yesterday ‼️👀 pic.twitter.com/26lDaqFIjm

— RapTV (@raptvcom) December 26, 2021

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