Music

Olivia Rodrigo’s debut hit is one of the “25 Most American Songs of All Time,” according to Esquire magazine.

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Esquire has put together a list of what it describes as “songs that are distinctly American, addressing protest and leisure, joy and pain, wisdom and silliness, nostalgia and experimentation.”

Olivia’s “Drivers License” made the cut, with Esquire writing that it “demonstrated the eternal power of two of American pop’s defining themes — cars and heartbreak.” 

Furthermore, the mag says the song “transcended backgrounds and generations, creating a shared, uniquely national experience” and “stands as the … pinnacle” of 21st century pop.

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” is also on the list because it’s, according to Esquire, “the all-time biggest-selling single by a female artist” and an “an era-defining record.” The magazine also notes it “represented the culmination of America’s musical century, blending country-music storytelling, pop sonic architecture, and Black creative expression.”

Other songs that made the cut include Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Bruce Springsteen’s “The River,” “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar, “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett and tracks by Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Johnny Cash, KISS, The Chicks, Woody Guthrie, Bad Bunny, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and The Beach Boys. 

In case you’re wondering why “Party in the U.S.A.” or “Born in the U.S.A.” isn’t on the list, it’s because songs that mentioned “America” or “U.S.A” in the title or chorus were immediately eliminated, due to the 25-song limit.

As for why there are no songs by Prince or Michael Jackson, Esquire writes that the two men “possessed such otherworldly gifts that they seemed to stand for something beyond their native country.”

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Rod Wave has a message for his fans: Don’t Look Down. That’s the title of his new album, which is scheduled to arrive on Aug. 28.

Rod announced the project with a trailer that opens with him attending a funeral. He is pulled aside by a man who tells him, “I know this is heavy. I got you. And regarding the business, I’ma take care of everything, man. You take your time, alright? I gotchu.”

The trailer then shifts to Rod in his office with his team.

“From now on, forever, no more sneaky business, no more side deals, cutting out the middle man. Just keep building our own machine. We just keep going and we don’t look down,” he says.

When asked about his first move, he looks directly into the camera and responds with “the album.” Don’t Look Down serves as the follow-up to Rod’s Last Lap in 2024.

Speaking about his growth and mindset since then, Rod previously told Billboard, “I understand the hand I was dealt and pain I was going through, but now I’m older and I know how to go through it and how to balance it. Now I understand the business.”

“With my back against the wall, how can I make the most out of it to another level? How can I control the space I’m in?”

Limited-edition vinyl and CD versions of the album are now available for preorder. Fans can also purchase one of 1,000 signed copies while supplies last.

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Melvins drummer and onetime Nirvana member Dale Crover has released a cover of the Neil Young song “Harvest Moon,” coming full circle on a moment over 30 years in the making.

You see, Crover played a younger version of Young in the video for the original “Harvest Moon,” the title track off the folk rock legend’s 1992 album. According to Crover’s label, Joyful Noise Recordings, he also “crashed Neil’s car on set” during the video shoot.

Crover has now put his spin on “Harvest Moon” for an EP titled Get Yer Ba-Ba’s Out. His version is also a mash-up with the Melvins song “The Bit.”

The “Harvest Moon” cover is out now. Get Yer Ba-Ba’s Out will be released Sept. 4.

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“According to my mother, I’m the next Tanya Tucker, I’m gonna be a star,” Shania Twain sings in a sneak peek at the title track of her new album, Little Miss Twain. 

The pop/country icon shared the preview alongside a short video that shows her attaching an Ontario license plate to the front of the truck that appears on the album’s cover. 

She also revealed the song will drop June 26. It includes a guest spot by the “Delta Dawn” superstar, who, like Shania, started singing when she was just a kid. 

“This one is really special,” Shania writes. “I’m honored to say that @thetanyatucker features. This song is an homage to my mother, who believed with every ounce of her being that her daughter was destined to be the next Tanya Tucker.”

Shania’s seventh album, Little Miss Twain, arrives July 24. She’s currently in the middle of an extended run of shows at London’s Wembley Stadium. 

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Lil Nas X says he is “doing much better” after receiving care for bipolar disorder at a mental health treatment facility following his arrest in Los Angeles last year.

The rapper, born Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested in August and taken to a hospital after he was seen roaming nearly naked down a street in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old was subsequently charged with three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer, to which he pleaded not guilty.

In April, a Los Angeles judge granted the rapper mental health diversion, saying at the time that the charges against him could be dismissed if he completed a mental treatment program and didn’t break the law for the next two years.

On Wednesday, Lil Nas X took to Instagram to share an update on his health.

“I’ve been in rehab for a few months, and since then, I’ve been back at home trying to ground myself back to earth and get out my head,” the Grammy-winning artist said in a video.

He added that he had since received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and began seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist, who he said had been “really helpful.”

“When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn’t want to admit to it, because I didn’t want to have to take medication, and, I don’t know, have people think different of me,” he said. “I’m already Black and gay … I’m, like, living life on ‘extreme hard’ mode.”

Lil Nas X said he has been “doing much better” since receiving the diagnosis and undergoing treatment for it.

“I’m doing better. I’m feeling better. I’m creating freely, and there’s less fear in my heart, and I’m just, like, smelling the roses. I’m smelling the roses, man,” he said.

He added, “I want to let you guys know that there is new music on the way, and I’m not getting completely into that just yet, but I’m excited to do that, and I’m excited to go on this journey with you guys, this next chapter.” 

Lil Nas X ended his video with a message to his fans and supporters, whom he called his “Montourage.”

“We’ve been through so much together. Thank you guys for holding me down,” he said. “I love you, and all I wanna do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud. So, let’s go, dreamboy, let’s go.”

The rapper’s debut studio album, Montero, was released in September 2021. His second studio album, Dreamboy, has not yet been released; however, he has released several singles and promotional singles teasing the project.

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