Kenny Chesney on “Take Her Home” resonating with him, his fans: “I’m very proud of it”

November 28, 2023 by WDNY Radio

As Kenny Chesney continues leaping up the country charts with “Take Her Home,” he’s taking time to share how the message of his latest single parallels his life.

“The first time I heard ‘Take Her Home’ – in my head, I knew that it was a very well done song, but in my heart, I knew that it was a lot of my audience,” says Kenny. “I really did, because I feel like that my audience, No Shoes Nation, is all heart.”

He went on to explain why aspects of “Take Her Home” resound with him and his longtime fans.

“I try to record songs that I have lived, but I’ve also tried to record songs that a lot of people have lived. And there’s part of me that has lived this song, but I felt like when I first heard this, the message of it, that a lot of my audience, that it would resonate with them and I’m very proud of it,” Kenny shares.

“I haven’t had this kind of song in a while and it’s just going to fit in what we do out there on the road,” he adds.

“Take Her Home” is the first preview of Kenny’s forthcoming collection of new music.

Coming up, the “I Go Back” hitmaker will hit the road on his Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour beginning April 20 with openers Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker.

For a full list of dates and tickets, visit Kenny’s website.

This was Slash’s reaction to hearing “I’m Just Ken” for the first time

November 28, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Atlantic Records/Warner Bros. Entertainment/Mattel

While the soundtrack to the hit Barbie movie features mostly pop and alternative artists, the Ryan Gosling-sung song “I’m Just Ken” brings the rock thanks to guitar from Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen. Speaking with ABC Audio, the album’s co-producer Mark Ronson shares that he knew Slash would be perfect for “I’m Just Ken,” but didn’t think that getting the Guns N’ Roses shredder would be a possibility.

“We weren’t even gonna ask Slash,” Ronson says. “I was talking to George Drakoulias, the music supervisor, and was like, ‘That would be the dream, Slash, but who should we get?’ And he was like, ‘Just ask Slash, you never know. You don’t know until you ask.'”

So Ronson did ask, and Slash was game.

“He was like, ‘This is cool. Is that Ryan Gosling singing?'” Ronson recalls of Slash’s reaction. “Even when he texts, he’s still probably got sunglasses and the top hat [on].”

“He’s very cool and nonchalant, like, ‘I actually really dig this song,'” Ronson adds. “He sounded definitely surprised that he liked it.”

And if having a solo from Slash wasn’t enough, Ronson also brought in the son of Eddie Van Halen for some extra riffage.

“[Slash] just killed it, and then Wolf as well came in and played these parts and brought it, like, in spectrasonic,” Ronson says. “Whatever we had, they just lifted it up.”

In addition to bringing rock to Barbie, could Slash and Wolf bring rock to the Oscars if “I’m Just Ken” gets a nomination?

“It’s up to Ryan. It’s still his song, he’s the artist,” Ronson says. “I would love that and I think that, yeah, if Ryan was down with it, it’d be fun.”

Bernie Taupin recalls John Lennon’s last concert appearance with Elton John

November 28, 2023 by WDNY Radio

On November 28, 1974, John Lennon surprised fans by joining Elton John onstage at Madison Square Garden for what would be Lennon’s last major concert appearance. Well, it turns out Lennon really didn’t want to take the stage alone.

Elton’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin tells ABC Audio Lennon wanted him to come out with him, but he refused.

“I said, ‘To do what? What am I going to do? Just stand there, you know, like a wallflower?’” he shared. “I said, ‘I can’t do that. This is where you’re on your own.’ And that’s when he was propelled onto the stage. And the rest is history.”

Lennon eventually dragged Taupin out, but Bernie doesn’t think anyone noticed.

“Nobody could have cared less that I was on there,” he said. “I mean, I was just one of many and he was the one in the limelight and much deservedly so.”

Lennon’s appearance was the result of losing a bet with Elton over “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” which features Elton on backing vocals. Elton bet Lennon the song would go to #1 and if he won, Lennon would have to join him onstage.

Well, the song did hit #1, becoming Lennon’s only solo #1 single in his lifetime. He made good on the bet, performing three songs with Elton: “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” plus The Beatles tracks “I Saw Her Sanding There” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

Bernie recounts the night in his memoir, Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton and Me, telling ABC Audio, “That was such an important part of our lives and our careers and my interaction with John in general, that it was necessary for me to include that.” He added, “It was my fly on the wall part of that situation.”

50 Cent on ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin” turning 20, his least favorite track on the album and more

November 28, 2023 by WDNY Radio

50 Cent‘s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, surpassing the hopes he had for the record.

“If you had asked me to make a wish in 2003, I would’ve just wish that my music was a hit,” he tells Apple Music’s Rebecca Judd, noting he didn’t think that far ahead at that point in his life. “I’m just that at the moment for it to work.”

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ released on February 6, 2003, featuring 16 tracks. It included “Many Men (Wish Death),” which 50 reveals is his least favorite song on the project.

“’Many Men’ was my least favorite at that point because musically we was in the boom-bap phase. We was in that hard-hitting intensity, the energy on the records, and it’s the slowest song on Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” he explains.

Also featured on the album is his hit “In Da Club,” which is sometimes played for him on his birthday. “Sometimes I like it,” he says of those instances when it’s played in honor of his special day. “I hear that’s almost the birthday song outside of Stevie Wonder‘s ‘Happy Birthday.’ And it’s interesting because every day is someone’s birthday, so it doesn’t really get old.”

What didn’t make the final Get Rich or Die Tryin’ track list, however, was “Magic Stick,” which 50 originally wrote with the intention of working with Trina. After “they messed it up,” he eventually passed it on to Lil’ Kim.

“’Magic Stick’ was spot-on for her,” 50 says of giving the song to the Brooklyn rapper. “That was the right thing.” He’s featured on the track, which appears on Kim’s La Bella Mafia album.

Thirty Seconds to Mars goes to ’Wheel of Fortune’ to promote world tour

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust

Having already climbed the Empire State Building, Jared Leto has turned to another icon of American culture to promote Thirty Seconds to Mars‘ 2024 world tour.

The band has shared a new video in which Jared and Shannon Leto act as Wheel of Fortune contestants, complete with appearances by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. In the clip, which is streaming now on YouTube, Jared tells Sajak that he used to watch Wheel of Fortune with his grandmother Ruby.

“How’s Grandma Ruby doing?” Sajak asks.

“She’s gone, Pat,” Jared replies, and not, as Sajak guesses, “out of town.”

Sajak’s attempt at game show banter with Shannon doesn’t go much better, as the drummer gives almost exclusively monosyllabic answers.

When it comes time for the word puzzle, both Jared and Shannon guess the letter “z,” which is wrong both times. That’s when the third contestant, named Mary, jumps in for the solve: “Thirty Seconds to Mars World Tour!”

“Thx so much to the incredible Wheel of Fortune and the absolutely iconic Pat Sajak and Vanna White for letting us be the worst contestants ever,” the Letos write in the video’s description. “Very grateful to be a part of this great show. A dream come true for Shannon and me. This one is for you Grama Ruby.”

Thirty Seconds to Mars’ tour will support their new album, It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day, which dropped in September. The U.S. leg launches in July.

Music notes: Taylor Swift, SZA and more

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

It seems someone edited the new Eras Tour movie trailer a bit too swiftly. The extended version of the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concert film will be available to rent at home starting on December 13, and eagle-eyed fans noticed a spelling error in the teaser that accompanied Monday’s announcement post. The title of Taylor’s album Folklore had its letters a bit mixed up. It incorrectly read “Fokelore,” and Swifties had some fun making light of the mistake. “[O]kay who let travis edit the promo video???” a fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, referencing Travis Kelce‘s recently resurfaced old tweets riddled with misspellings.

Speaking of Taylor, she’s made it to Variety‘s annual list of the top songs and Hitmakers of the year. Her Midnights track “Anti-Hero” came in at #6, while “Cruel Summer” made it to #16. The pop girlies dominated the list this year. SZA in particular commanded the chart, placing at #2 with her song “Kill Bill” and #10 with “Snooze.” She was also named Hitmaker of the Year. Miley Cyrus also made the list, with “Flowers” ending up at #3. And while Olivia Rodrigo doesn’t have a song among the top 25 of 2023, Variety named her Storyteller of the Year.

And, if you want to participate in Cyber Monday, Olivia also has some new merchandise available. Spill your guts over a necklace and blanket themed to her sophomore album, GUTS. The blanket is in her signature lavender color, and the silver necklace features charms that spell out the word “GUTSY.”

Ride or Die: One of Madonna’s “oldest friends” joins her onstage in Italy

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Madonna has had many feuds with fellow celebs over the years, but one friend who’s always been by her side is actress Debi Mazar. So it’s no wonder that Madonna invited Debi to join her onstage over the weekend when her tour hit Milan, Italy.

Debi, who lives in Italy part time, joined Madonna during her Celebration Tour stop November 25. During the “Vogue” portion of the show, Debi served as a judge, holding up scorecards as Madonna’s dancers performed their sexy moves.

Praising Debi as “one of my oldest friends,” Madonna joked that the Younger star “married some Italian dude and moved to Italy and she deserted me.”

Afterward, Debi, who’s known Madonna since 1978, posted on Instagram, “How much FUN! @madonna ! Thankyou for your beautiful words & having me come play on stage for ‘Vouge’. It was like old times!! This show is special to me,as it shows a journey that spans all the incredible years of Madonna’s career and of so many collective moments in our combined lives…”

“Decades of dance,music,creativity, travel, friendships,deaths, births, re-birth.. OMG Truly a Celebration!” she added. “You’re the Queen @madonna ! Ride or die per Sempre !”

Madonna’s tour hits North America on December 13 in Brooklyn, New York.

Paul McCartney & Elton John to appear in Spinal Tap sequel

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney is ready to show us his comedy chops, with a planned appearance in the upcoming sequel to the legendary mockumentary This is Spinal Tap.

Rob Reiner, who directed and co-wrote the original film, revealed the news during an appearance on the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast, noting that McCartney’s not the only big name appearing in the flick.

“We’re making a sequel. We’re going to start shooting at the end of February,” he shared. “Everybody is back, Paul McCartney is joining us and Elton John and a few other surprises, Garth Brooks.”

Released in 1984, the mostly improvised This is Spinal Tap was a satire of traditional rock documentaries and followed a fictional heavy metal band, played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. It was a hit with critics and movie fans, and in 2002 it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

‘Variety’ unveils Hitmakers’ top 25 songs of 2023, including SZA’s “Kill Bill,” Miguel’s “Sure Thing”

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Webby Awards

Variety has revealed the 25 biggest songs of the year, and the list includes hits from some hip-hop and R&B acts.

SZA‘s “Kill Bill” came in strong at #2, while her track “Snooze” landed at #10. The Weeknd, who also made the top 10, secured the seventh position with his song “Die For You.”

At #11 is Pinkpantheress‘ “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” which features Bronx native Ice Spice. That track is followed by Rema‘s “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez at #12; “Creepin'” featuring Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage at #14; and Toosii‘s “Favorite Girl” at #17.

Metro Boomin also makes a second appearance on Variety‘s list, as “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” with Future and Chris Brown takes the #21 spot. That song is preceded by Miguel‘s “Sure Thing” at #20 and followed by Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex” at #22.

The full list can be found on variety.com.

Here’s your chance to grab discounted Opry tickets

November 27, 2023 by WDNY Radio

If you’ve been wanting to see a show at the Grand Ole Opry, now might be a good time to snag tickets.

This Cyber Monday, the Opry is offering country fans $25 off show tickets. Tickets purchased must be for shows from December to February at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Check out the full schedule at opry.com and use promo code “CYBER” at checkout to save $25 on your next show at the historic institution.

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