Music

Luke Bryan recounts the early musical experiences he shared with his older brother, Chris, in his newly released tune “Songs You Never Heard.”

In the lyrics of the track, Luke tips his hat to country greats like Keith Whitley, Clint Black and George Strait. But there’s a tragic twist to the story he tells in the song: Chris died in a car accident when Luke was just 19 years old. 

In the years that have elapsed since his brother’s death, a huge amount of great country music has come out — including Luke’s own massive catalog of hits. Now, he sings in the song, he can’t help but think of tunes like Strait’s 2001 hit “Run,” which his brother would have loved, if he’d been alive to hear it when it was released. 

“Time marches on, there’s a lot of new/ Music and memories we’d be drinking to/ I think about it and I laugh until it hurts,” Luke sings. “‘Cause I can hear you singing along/ To songs you never heard.”

Luke also opens up about his brother’s death in the five-part docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, which is available to watch now via Amazon’s free streaming service IMDb TV.

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The expanded 50th anniversary reissue of George Harrison‘s classic 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass was released today in multiple formats and configurations.

Among the various versions available is a Super Deluxe box set featuring either eight vinyl LPs or five CDs and Blu-ray-audio disc.

The Super Deluxe reissue features a new mix of the original 23-track album, demos that Harrison recorded during the first two days of the All Things Must Pass sessions, and a variety of outtakes and studio jams. Forty-two of the tracks are previously unreleased.

The collection comes packaged with a 60-page scrapbook curated by Harrison’s widow, Olivia, that features rare images, handwritten lyrics, studio notes and more. A replica of the original album poster also is included.

Originally released in November 1970, All Things Must Pass spent the seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200. It features George’s enduring spiritual anthem “My Sweet Lord,” which spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other standout tunes on the album include “Isn’t It a Pity” — released as a two-sided single with “My Sweet Lord” — the top-10 hit “What Is Life,” “Wah-Wah,” and George’s memorable cover of Bob Dylan‘s “If Not for You.”

The All Things Must Pass reissue was executive-produced by Harrison’s son, Dhani.

In celebration of the reissue’s release, a living-art installation depicting the album’s cover opened today at London’s Duke of York Square and will remain on display until August 20. The installation includes two giant garden gnomes made out of flowers and foliage.

Visit GeorgeHarrison.com for a full track list and more details about the various versions of the All Things Must Pass reissue.

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Halsey just unveiled another new way to experience her upcoming album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.
 
After previously announcing an IMAX “film experience” set to the music of the album, the singer has now announced a one-night-only “global performance experience.”
 
The digital performance, presented by Moment House, takes place on August 29. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET at MomentHouse.com/Halsey.
 
The album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, comes out August 27. The If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power film experience will be screened in select IMAX theaters in the U.S. for one night only on Wednesday, August 25.

 

 

 

 

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Mary J. Blige rocks a stylish plaid suit for the September cover of InStyle magazine…”The Fashion Issue.”

“IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!” the Grammy-winning singer writes on Instagram, sharing photos from her cover shoot. “This black woman finally got her first @instylemagazine cover and a spread.”

In other photos, 50-year-old Blige wears a tiger-print jumpsuit, a leather hooded jacket, and a golden three-piece Gucci set paired with a long cape.

During the interview, the Queen of hip-hop soul reveals that she keeps her phone close by her bed to write down any inspirational lyrics that come to mind, especially in the wee hours of the morning. Lately, Blige has taken inspiration from other R&B vocalists, including H.E.R., whom she says “has a phenomenal voice and is a great writer.”

Blige continues, “Jazmine Sullivan moves me, Ella Mai moves me, [and] Lucky Daye. So many dope artists out there are doing something great.”

As a veteran in the music industry, Blige bluntly advises younger artists, “Stay on your business. Know the state of your money. Get life insurance. Get all kinds of insurance.”

Along with preparing new music, Blige says she’s finally embracing her single status after divorcing her husband of 13 years in 2018.

“Divorce, that took a load off. The day that I began to lighten up is the day my skin began to brighten, my eyes began to brighten,” she says. “Now I keep beautiful people around me. I’m single, without a kid, and I’m having a good time. I’m doing the most.”

 

 

 

 

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Scotty McCreery is hoping to bring fans together with his brand-new “Same Truck,” a song that points out that we’ve all got more in common than we might realize. 

“But we’re all in the same truck / Heading down a different two lane / Kickin’ up the same dust / Praying for the same rain,” Scotty sings in the song’s soaring chorus. “Closing down the same bars / Different wishes on the same stars…”

The song is the title track of his upcoming album, which is due to arrive on September 17. Also on the project’s track list is “Why You Gotta Be Like That” and his current top-ten hit, “You Time.” 

The truth behind “Same Truck” is one that’s become clearer to Scotty the more he tours and travels, he says. 

“We’re all more alike than we are different. I’ve witnessed that on almost a daily basis as I talk with people and watch them while traveling around the world to perform,” he reflects. “This is my way of saying that we’re all on the same team here; let’s all work toward getting along again. Let’s build each other up.”

While Scotty’s fans may all be driving the “Same Truck,” they’ve got the chance to pre-order a different — and exclusive — version of the new album starting this week. The limited-edition version of Same Truck features alternate cover art.

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After their two shows at Radio City Music Hall this week, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have released a new music video for their duet of the Cole Porter-written classic, “I Get a Kick Out of You.”
 
In the video, the two are seen in the studio trading verses on the jazzy tune. Whenever Tony starts singing, Gaga looks at him lovingly with tears in her eyes. She even goes to embrace him at one point.
 
Tony, who turned 95 this week, has been battling Alzheimer’s disease.
 
Bennett and Gaga’s two-night engagement at Radio City Music Hall, One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, marked Tony’s last live performances in New York City. It was recorded for an upcoming TV special.
 
Gaga and Tony’s new duets album, Love for Sale, will be out October 1.

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Michael Bublé is postponing his U.S. tour dates as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to rise. 

The Canadian native announced on Friday that his live shows for August in the U.S. have been moved to October “due to concerns over the rising number of Coronavirus infections,” according to a statement shared on his official Twitter account. 

The new dates begin on October 15 in Uniondale, New York and conclude on October 28 in Jacksonville, Florida. All previously purchased tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates.

The “Haven’t Met You Yet” singer is currently scheduled to resume the tour on September 9 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with more shows set for October and November. 

The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases surge in the U.S. due to the Delta variant. In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that more than 80 percent of new COVID-19 cases in the country were caused by the Delta variant. The CDC is now recommending that fully vaccinated people wear masks in indoor public places in areas of high transmission.

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Blink-182‘s Travis Barker and The All-American Rejects‘ Tyson Ritter have united with “Mood” rapper iann diorr for a new song from LILHUDDY.

The track is called “Don’t Freak Out,” and is a bit more laid back then perhaps its early 2000s pop-punk pedigree suggests — basically, it sounds like a more sensitive, earnest version of “Gives You Hell.” You can download “Don’t Freak Out” now via digital outlets.

“Don’t Freak Out” will appear on LILHUDDY’s upcoming album, Teenage Heartbreak, due out September 10. The record also includes the previously released single “21st Century Vampire.”

If you don’t recognize LILHUDDY from that song, you may know him as Chase Hudson, aka the star of Machine Gun Kelly‘s Downfalls High musical film.

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Megan Thee Stallion says there is no room in rap for homophobia, and is calling upon her fellow rappers to stand up for their LGBT+ fans.

Talking with People on Thursday, the “Body” artist was asked about the controversy surrounding DaBaby‘s remarks at Maimi’s Rolling Loud Festival last month that many deemed hateful and homophobic. Meg focused on the backlash and the resulting outpouring of support for the LGBT+ community that forced a national conversation about acceptance.

“It is about time,” the 26-year-old Grammy-winner declared. “Representation is important, and it is really crucial for us all to have compassion and acceptance of every human.”

Later in the conversation, Meg teased her upcoming project but declined to give much information about it, except for “it will be a complete shock and complete surprise.”

“I am just creating things that feel good to me right now,” she added.

The “WAP” rapper opened up about how busy she’s kept herself over the past two years and revealed how she doesn’t become overwhelmed by her rising fame and responsibilities.

“School has kept me grounded,” she said, referring to the degree in health administration that she’s currently pursuing at Texas Southern University.

Adds Meg, “I might have an amazing night but knowing I have to finish a paper, project or my homework to graduate, keeps my head on straight.”

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