Music – Page 3555 – 105.7 WDNY

Dua Lipa didn’t submit “Levitating” for Grammy consideration; this may be why

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dua Lipa‘s “Levitating” is one of the biggest songs of 2021, but it isn’t likely to take home any Grammy Awards.

Lipa didn’t submit the song for Grammy consideration even though, according to Variety, “The single had major impact this year, and because it was a new remix, with DaBaby as an added featured artist.”

However, DaBaby’s controversial remarks about people with HIV/AIDS made during a concert in Miami back in July might have been the reason the singer chose not to submit it.

“Lipa presumably could only have submitted the DaBaby, and that would have been a lot to ask of voters, to pretend that the persona-non-grata rapper really wasn’t on it,” notes Variety. “Most likely Lipa was saving voters having to agonize over choosing between their love for her and their dread of giving the thumbs-up to a guy still considered toxic by much of the industry for his homophobic comments.”

Lipa does have one song on the ballot for record of the year, but it’s “Demeanor,” the Pop Smoke song that features her as an artist.

Fetty Wap arrested on federal drug charges during Rolling Loud music festival

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Fetty Wap, birth name William Junior Maxwell II, was arrested Thursday on federal drug charges, according to a law enforcement official.

ABC News confirms the 30-year-old rapper was taken into custody during the Rolling Loud music festival at Citi Field in Queens, New York. The charges stem from an alleged drug-related conspiracy involving heroin and fentanyl.

Fetty Wap is scheduled to be in federal court in Central Islip later Friday.

Report: Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik call it quits — again

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik have broken up again, nearly two years after reuniting, People magazine reported on Thursday.

“They are not together right now. They are both good parents though,” a Hadid family friend tells the magazine. “They co-parent. [Gigi’s mother Yolanda Hadid] is of course very protective of Gigi. She wants the best for her daughter and grandchild.”

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old supermodel’s rep says in a statement to People, “Gigi is solely focused on the best for Khai” — the couple’s 1-year-old daughter. “She asks for privacy during this time.”

The news of their split comes after a Zayn denied striking Yolanda during an argument. In a statement to TMZ, which reported that Yolanda was considering filing a police report against Malik, Zayn said in a statement, “I adamantly deny striking Yolanda Hadid and for the sake of my daughter I decline to give any further details and I hope that Yolanda will reconsider her false allegations and move towards healing these family issues in private.”

Ed Sheeran sings about fatherhood, love and loss in emotionally vulnerable new album, ‘=’

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

= (equals,) Ed Sheeran‘s fourth studio album, has finally arrived!

The English singer-songwriter released the 14-track album at the stroke of midnight on Friday, after over two months of teasing.

In classic Sheeran form, the studio effort delivers the perfect mix of pop hits and ballads, providing an easy straight though listen for fans. And, that’s exactly what he wants people to do.

While chatting with Apple Music, he said, “Please just listen to it once in order, that’s all I ask. I don’t care what you do after your first listen. Put songs on a playlist, put the album on shuffle—whatever you want. But you should listen the way it’s intended to be listened to at least once.”

As for the overall meaning of the album, the singer revealed, “The theme of the record is me turning 30, becoming a dad, losing a friend, trying to balance work and marriage.”

The lyrics from “First Times” prove just that as Sheeran sings of different moments from his relationship with wife Cherry Seaborn, whom he shares daughter Lyra Antarctica.

“The greatest thing that I have achieved/ Is four little words down on one knee/ You said, ‘Darling are you joking?’/ And I just said, ‘Please,'” he sings.

Again on “2Step,” he expresses his love for Seaborn singing in the chorus, “2 steppin with the woman I love/ All we need is us.”

= is the follow up to 2017’s ÷ (divide) and includes his previously released tracks “Shivers,” “Bad Habits,” and “Visiting Hours.”

The album is available to stream now.

Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock happy the whole band will attend, perform at Rock Hall Induction Ceremony

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Go-Go’s are among the artists being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday in Cleveland, and drummer Gina Schock says she’s excited that the whole band will be taking part in the ceremony.

Schock tells ABC Audio that at one point, singer Belinda Carlisle wasn’t sure if she was going to make the event because of a scheduling conflict, which really upset Gina.

“When I heard she might not be able to make it, I was like, ‘You’re f***ing kidding me!'” Schock recalls. “[T]hen I just thought, ‘I’m gonna let it go. It’s gonna work out the way it’s supposed to.’ Belinda was freaked out, you know. Called me up in tears…[But] it all worked out…[A]ll five of us are gonna be on that stage playing Go-Go’s songs.”

Schock says the band will be performing three songs at the ceremony.

Drew Barrymore will be inducting The Go-Go’s at the event, and while Gina notes that the actress wasn’t necessarily the band’s choice to do the honors, she’s happy about it.

“[I]t couldn’t be better, because [Drew] is a real fan, and has been forever,” Schock says.

Meanwhile, Gina shared how she felt about some of the other artists being inducted alongside her group.

“I’m a huge fan of the Foo Fighters…What can I say? I love them,” she declares. “And Tina Turner, she’s an icon…[And] I was a Todd Rundgren fan for years…[H]e’s iconic in the business as a producer, songwriter, musician.”

As previously reported, this year’s other inductees include Carole King and Jay-Z in the main Performers category; Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron for Early Influence; and Randy Rhoads, Billy Preston and LL Cool J for Musical Excellence.

Alice Cooper says he’s spending this Halloween recording a new studio album

October 29, 2021 by WDNY Radio

With Halloween taking place this Sunday, we checked in with shock rocker Alice Cooper to find out what his plans are for the scary, spooky holiday, and found out some exciting news.

Cooper, who wrapped up his 2021 U.S. tour in support of his latest studio album, Detroit Stories, last week, tells ABC Audio, “I would love to be home with my grandkids, taking ’em trick or treating, except I’m gonna be in the studio in Nashville recording the next album.”

The 73-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer reveals he’s actually “already working on three different albums,” although he doesn’t share any specifics about the projects.

He adds, “I mean, to me, that’s what I was put on Earth to do, is to make records and entertain audiences, you know, and do my shows.”

Cooper says he has no plans to retire because he still feels he hasn’t come up with his best material, and he still loves performing for his fans.

Alice shares a story about how Bob Dylan responded when someone asked him when he was going to retire.

“[H]e goes, ‘I write songs, I sing songs for an audience. That’s what I do,'” Cooper says with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter how much money or anything like that…It has everything to do with, I haven’t written my best songs yet.”

Cooper adds, “Paul McCartney would tell you the same thing. He’d say, ‘I haven’t written my best songs yet, so I’m gonna go do another album.’ And as long as the audience is still there for me, I will keep going until they don’t show up anymore.”

Alice’s next scheduled performance will be in February 2022 on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, followed by a European tour kicking off in May.

Foo Fighters headlining Lollapalooza Argentina & Brazil in 2022; score American Music Award nod

October 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Foo Fighters are headlining the 2022 editions of Lollapalooza Argentina and Brazil.

Dave Grohl and company will be joined on the lineups for both festivals by artists including Jane’s Addiction, The Strokes, Machine Gun Kelly and many others.

Lolla Argentina will be held March 18-20 in Buenos Aires, while Lolla Brazil takes place March 25-27 in São Paulo. For the full lineups and all ticket info, visit LollapaloozaAR.com and LollapaloozaBR.com.

Foo Fighters headlined the U.S. Lollapalooza in Chicago this past summer. The 2022 edition of that festival is set for July 28-31.

In other news, Foo Fighters are among the nominees for the 2021 American Music Awards.

The band, who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this Saturday, will compete in the Favorite Rock Artists category against Machine Gun Kelly, All Time Low, Glass Animals and AJR.

The 2021 American Music Awards will take place Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony will broadcast live on ABC.

For the full list of nominees, visit TheAMAs.com.

AXS.tv launching three-day Go-Go’s celebration Friday in honor of band’s Rock Hall induction

October 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

With The Go-Go’s being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 30, AXS TV will launch a three-day celebration of the all-female group at the AXS.tv website and the network’s app, kicking off on Friday, the 29th.

“The Go-Go’s Weekend Giveaway” streaming event will include exclusive interviews, performances and more, as well as offering fans the chance to win a prize pack. Among the programs that will stream during the weekend are two episodes of At Home and Social featuring, respectively, singer Belinda Carlisle and drummer Gina Schock.

Carlisle’s episode is a brand-new installment that will feature her reminiscing about The Go-Go’s being part of Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip scene and revealing how she found out about the group’s Rock Hall induction.

Schock will be featured chatting about her new photo book, Made in Hollywood: All Access with The Go-Go’s, sharing some of her favorite pics from the book and discussing how she’s getting ready for the induction ceremony.

The weekend special also will include an episode of Rock & Tell featuring Gina displaying some of her favorite pieces of memorabilia. In addition, a Go-Go’s-themed edition of Nothing but Videos will highlight six of the group’s classic music videos, as well as the clip for their 2020 single, “Club Zero.”

As for the giveaway, five winners will be chosen to receive a prize pack that includes Schock’s Made in Hollywood book and a copy of the 2020 documentary The Go-Go’s. To enter, you can visit AXS.tv through Sunday, October 31.

In other news, The Go-Go’s will take part in a Q&A event at the Rock Hall museum in Cleveland on Friday that will stream live online at 12 p.m. ET on YouTube and Facebook.

Hip hop legend Doug E. Fresh reveals that Prince was going to produce his live album

October 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh recorded and toured with Prince, and he reveals that the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer agreed to produce live album for him before passing away in 2016.

“When I was touring with him, he loved go-go,” the “Human Beat Box” tells HipHopDX. “So based on him loving go-go, he was going to produce my live album before he transitioned.”

Fresh was featured on the Purple Rain star’s 1998 tour with Chaka Khan and Larry Graham, and he recorded two songs on The New Power Generation‘s Newpower Soul album released the same year. Also in 1998, Prince, Khan, Graham and Fresh taped the Beautiful Strange concert video at London’s Cafe de Paris.

Meanwhile, the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards Icon honoree recently released his first album in 26 years, This One’s for Chuck Brown: Doug E. Fresh Salutes the Godfather of Go-Go.

Grammy nominee Brown is known as the leading force behind the go-go music created in the 1960s in Washington, D.C. In 1979, his signature song, “Bustin’ Loose,” remained at number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart for four weeks. The pulsating track has been used as a theme song for the Washington Nationals baseball team, Washington Wizards NBA team and Washington Capitals hockey team.

Brown died from heart failure in 2012 at the age of 75.

“Just from a cultural perspective, Chuck Brown is a culture icon, but not just from the culture of go-go music, more like what he represents,” Fresh says.

This One’s For Chuck Brown: Doug E. Fresh Salutes the Godfather of Go-Go, released September 24, includes the last verse recorded by the late Biz Markie, who passed away July 16 at the age of 57.

Plans in the works for an immersive Beatles attraction in band’s hometown of Liverpool, UK

October 28, 2021 by WDNY Radio

U.K. officials have announced plans to create an “immersive, world class” attraction focusing on The Beatles in the band’s hometown of Liverpool, the Liverpool Echo reports.

In a speech on Wednesday, U.K. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that two million pounds, equivalent to about $2.8 million, would be allocated for a Fab Four-themed attraction that would be located on Liverpool’s waterfront.

According to the Echo, the plans, which are in the very early stages, may feature hologram technology similar to what will be used for the upcoming virtual ABBA concert experience that’s opening in London in spring 2022.

Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram tells the newspaper that the plans for the Beatles attraction are “the culmination of many years of hard work to help develop this exciting project for our region,” adding, “This would be a truly world-class, cutting-edge immersive Beatles experience.

Rotheram noted that the attraction “would bring even more visitors from across the globe to build on our unique position as home to the single most influential musicians to walk the planet.”

Reflecting on the band’s impact on the city’s economy and cultural significance, the Mayor said, “The Beatles helped to firmly cement Liverpool on the map in the ’60s. Their legacy still draws millions of visitors over half a century later, which adds millions of pounds to our economy every year.”

The Echo pointed out, however, that the announcement about the monetary allotment did draw criticism from some local residents, who argued that the funds could be better spent to address such issues as poverty and deprivation.

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