Music

Katy Perry kicks off her first Las Vegas residency, Play, at Resorts World this December, and if you thought her past productions were over-the-top, well, Katy says you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

Speaking to Variety, Katy says that the residency will be “Pop on ‘roids,” adding, “It is literally larger than life. Think: Super Bowl, but supersized.”

“This isn’t the next tour, next record, next era. This is an accumulation of everything I’ve been able to offer and the hits and what the people like,” she continues, adding, “It’s going to be big, colorful and it will have a level of humor to it that is probably the weirdest I’ve ever done….Its humor is dark. It’s a little wrong — but a good wrong.”

“I feel like we have the most unique show that a musician has ever brought to Vegas,” Katy concludes.

One reason Katy’s so eager to do Vegas, though, is because it fits so well into her new life as a mom to one-year-old Daisy. “I’m doing 40 shows a year,” she explains. “I’m able to see my baby. I get to take her to school. I’m also going to be able to do a lot of other things. It’s not the world tour, which I will go on eventually again, but it’s great.”

As for new music, Katy says she’s “carving away at my next sculpture,” but notes that what she’s writing “has so much love behind it.”

“That’s the driving force, which is great because I feel like I’ve written a lot from the perspective of yearning and desire and sometimes not feeling like I’m enough,” she explains. “Or I write these empowering songs to help remind myself that I am. Now it’s like a blanket of love. I’m excited.”

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After a federal jury in Brooklyn, NY found R. Kelly guilty on all nine charges of racketeering and sex trafficking on Monday, his ex-wife, Drea Kelly, wonders why he wasn’t brought to justice sooner.

After the verdict was announced, Drea told Good Morning Britain, “It’s really, really sad” it took so long.

“If any of his victims were blonde and blue-eyed it wouldn’t have taken this long,” the 47-year-old said. “Women of color tend to be lowest on the totem pole when it comes to subjects of domestic violence and sexual abuse.”

Drea was married to Kelly for 13 years, and divorced him in 2009. She previously detailed years of alleged emotional and physical abuse from him that was so severe, she contemplated suicide. She has three children with her former husband: daughters Joann, 23, and Jaah, 21, and son Robert Jr., 19.

“Unlike the rest of his victims, I also share children with him. I was married to him, so I wear two hats,” Drea continued. “I wear the hat of a survivor and an advocate, but I also wear the hat of a mother and an ex-wife. So it’s very difficult for me.”

The former dancer began revealing in 2018 she was a victim of abuse, and says she came forward after so many years of silence to help other victims of domestic violence.

“My heart definitely goes out to the survivors and the courage that it takes to come forward and tell the story,” Drea added, “but my heart breaks as a mother because this is now the legacy that my children will have to deal with and their children’s children.”

R. Kelly now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, but could receive up to life in prison.

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New music is coming from Blake Shelton! The singer just announced a new single, “Come Back As a Country Boy,” out on Friday, October 1. The song will be part of Blake’s new Body Language Deluxe album, which will be released on December 3.

“I think this song is an anthem for everyday hardworking country people out there,” Blake says of the song. written by Michael Hardy, Josh Thompson and Jordan Schmidt. “We have so much pride in who we are and what we do that, if we ever died and got the chance to live life over again, we probably wouldn’t do it if we couldn’t be country.”

Body Language includes Blake’s recent #1 hit, “Happy Anywhere,” with his wife, Gwen Stefani. A track list for the new album has not yet been released.

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Depeche Mode‘s 101 is finally coming to high definition.

The trio’s 1989 concert film — which captured their 1988 performance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the 101st and final concert on their Music for the Masses world tour — will be reissued in HD on December 3.

The deluxe box edition includes a Blu-ray of the original 101 “upgraded using 4k scans of the original film reels to create an all-new viewing experience,” along with three bonus performances. Additionally, you’ll find the original 101 live album on two CDs, two DVDs of bonus extras, and various memorabilia including a replica film poster and a photo box.

“It’s incredible to be able to see [co-director] D.A. Pennebaker‘s film and this period of our career presented in this new high-definition light,” Depeche Mode says.

For a more recent Depeche Mode concert film experience, you can check out 2019’s Spirits in the Forest, which was filmed during the group’s global tour behind their latest album, 2017’s Spirit.

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Elton John‘s definitely having a moment: First, his Dua Lipa duet “Cold Heart” has become his biggest hit in years, both in the U.S. and in his native U.K.  Now, he’s scored a chart feat he hasn’t pulled off for 23 years.

Billboard notes that “One of Me,” Elton’s collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X, has debuted at number 88 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100.  It’s Elton’s 69th Hot 100 entry and his second one this year, after “Cold Heart,” which is currently at #74. The last time Elton had two songs charting simultaneously was in 1998.

Posting a collage of his chart achievements, Elton wrote, “What!? Two tracks in the Billboard 100, #2 in the UK Charts, UK’s most downloaded single for three weeks now and 40 million monthly listeners on @spotify.”

“Thank you everyone!!” he added. “After all, you certainly know how to warm up my ‘Cold Heart.'”

That last sentence was also a reference to Elton’s latest release, “After All,” a duet with Charlie Puth.  Elton and Charlie performed the song together in Paris this past weekend as part of the Global Citizen Live event.  It was Elton’s final performance before he heads in for surgery to repair his hip — an injury that forced him to postpone his concerts this fall.

 

 

 

 

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Of Mice & Men has released a new song, called “Mosaic.”

The track, which premiered via Kerrang.com, is now available for digital download.

“‘Mosaic’ is about questioning whether or not we, as human beings, can overcome our seemingly primal need for combativeness, because it’s more prevalent than ever in our lives these days,” says vocalist/bassist Aaron Pauley.

“Mosaic” follows OM&M’s 2021 EPs Timeless and Bloom. A press release promises there’s “lots more” from the band still to come.

The most recent Of Mice & Men album is 2019’s EARTHANDSKY.

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Halsey celebrated their 27th birthday on Wednesday by showing off their favorite gift of all: their baby, Ender.

The singer posted two photos revealing the child’s face for the first time since giving birth back in July. Held by dad Alev Aydin, little Ender smiles sweetly while wearing a blue cap and a red, blue and yellow onesie.

“The best birthday gift there is,” Halsey captioned the post.

Last month, Halsey released their album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. They teased on Twitter last week that there’s more to come, writing, “There’s a lot of fun stuff on its way.”

On October 9, Halsey is set to perform on Saturday Night Live for the fifth time.

 

 

 

 

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Chris Young doesn’t know where he would be without music education, and he doesn’t want to know. The Tennessee native has been an outspoken advocate of promoting music education in schools, largely because he knows how influential his education in his early years helped inspire his own successful career.

“The reason I’m so passionate about music in schools is that’s one of the first things that gets cut and people don’t think it’s very important,” Chris tells Nashville Lifestyles. “But it is important. It’s just not always top of mind.”

Even for those who don’t want to pursue a music career like he did, the Grand Ole Opry member says music education is invaluable in young people.

“That is a way for kids to not only express themselves,” Chris says. “But even if it doesn’t become their job, it’s a really great way for some kids to learn … It’s been proven statistically — and in the real world — that having music as an option in schools only betters [students]. Period.”

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