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Keanu Reeves had an impromptu bass lesson from Flea

Keanu Reeves has revealed that he once received a lesson in bass guitar from Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The John Wick star, who also plays bass in the Los Angeles grunge band Dogstar, spoke about the encounter in a video posted to Fender’s YouTube channel. “I remember one time I was doing a film, and Flea was in it, or I was in a film with Flea,” he said. “And I remember there was a house, and there [were] amps and instruments and stuff like that.” Advertisement [embedded content] “And I was like, ‘Hey, Flea, can you give me a lesson?’ And he was like, ‘Sure, man!’ And he was like [gestures complex bass solo]. And I was like, ‘Alright, so?’ And he was like, ‘Just feel it, man. Just play.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah.’” Reeves and Flea both appeared in the film My Own Private Idaho, directed by Gus Van Sant and released in 1991. Dogstar were together for eleven years between 1991 and 2002, releasing two studio albums: ‘Our Little Visionary’ in 1996 and ‘Happy Ending’ in 2000. During the 2020 lockdowns, the band starting spending time together in quarantine, writing enough material to… Read More →

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Pearl Jam announce 30th anniversary reissue of ‘Vs.’

Pearl Jam have announced a reissue of their second studio LP ‘Vs.’ in celebration of its 30th anniversary. READ MORE: Pearl Jam – ‘Gigaton’ review: one of the biggest rock bands in the world return to semi-brilliance The physical release of the album will feature a 2xLP ‘Dreamsicle’-colored vinyl as well as a clear cassette via the band’s official fan club named “Ten Club”. A Clear 1xLP will also be available via Target in the US and other international retailers as well as a classic 2xLP black pressing. Fans can pre-order the album here. The ‘VS.’ 30th-anniversary reissue is set for release on November 17. Pearl Jam and Legacy Recordings have also shared a brand new Atmos spatial audio mix of ‘Vs.’ today, October 20) on Apple music along with brand new visualizer videos for each of the tracks on the album. Advertisement ‘Vs.’ follows the band’s 1991 seminal album ‘Ten’. It sold over 950,000 copies during the five days after it came out, setting a record for the most copies of an album sold within the first week of its release. That title previously belonged to Guns N’ Roses for their 1991 LP ‘Use Your Illusion II’. ‘Vs.’ also outperformed… Read More →

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Watch Fatboy Slim perform on world’s biggest holographic stage

Fatboy Slim – or rather, a holographic likeness of him – performed a surprise show at Alexandra Palace on the world’s biggest holographic stage last night. The gig was organised by EE and saw the DJ behind the decks in the form of a huge hologram, created using cutting-age technology and streamed on the mobile network’s Instagram. The 50 metre tall holo-gauze is the same height as the leaning tower of Pisa, and suspended from two cranes. Last week, fans were invited to submit videos of them dancing to the DJ’s hit ‘Praise You’, unaware that they would end up becoming his virtual backing dancers during the world-first set. Advertisement “Last night was a wild ride! We took over London’s skyline and made history,” said Fatboy Slim in a statement following the performance. “A massive shout out to all those fans who joined me on the world’s biggest holographic stage to kickstart a brand-new era for EE.” Fatboy Slim delivered a landmark holographic performance above Alexandra Palace on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/Q6Ow1B2m6i — London Live (@LondonLive) October 20, 2023 Despite being known for telecommunications, EE is currently expanding to become the UK’s largest subscription service. “New EE is committed to becoming the… Read More →

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Morrissey says Capitol are willing to give ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’ back to him “for a certain price”

Morrissey has said that Capitol are willing to give ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’ back to him “for a certain price”. READ MORE: Morrissey at Riot Fest review – pop’s problematic uncle wisely shuts up and plays the hits During an interview with Good Day New York today (October 20), the former Smiths frontman opened up about the current situation regarding his album ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’. He also performed ‘Sure Enough The Telephone Rings’, which is the 10th song from the LP. Speaking to journalist Rosanna Scotto, Morrissey said: “This album was recorded in January 2021 and Capitol signed it and didn’t release it, but they’re now prepared to give it back to me for a certain price. It’s been quite traumatic and quite sad because when you record something, you want it to be available immediately and it was very much of the time. For me, it was a very personal thing and the fact that it hasn’t been released has been torture.” Advertisement [embedded content] [embedded content] When asked if there is an idea of when fans may be able to hear it, he said: “I’ve got no idea. It really depends on when they’ll give it back to me and… Read More →

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Omid Djalili show cancelled due to “personal threats over Israel situation”

Omid Djalili pulled out of a show on Thursday (October 19), after the venue cited “personal threats due to the situation in Israel”. The comedian was set to perform at the Festival Drayton Centre in Market Drayton, Shropshire, but just hours before he was due to take to the stage, the venue announced the cancellation. Speaking to the Shropshire Star, venue manager Jodie Rudd said: “Due to security threats made against Omid Djalili, tonight’s performance at the Festival Drayton Centre has had to be cancelled.” Advertisement The centre has since revised their original statement, now saying that the decision was taken due to “circumstances beyond control”. They have said they are reaching out to ticket holders and would issue refunds next week. Meanwhile, Djalili commented on the cancellation on X/Twitter, writing: “Never thought I’d ever say ‘I’m going to N. Ireland for stand up gigs coz it’s way safer’”, referencing his forthcoming shows in the country scheduled to take place after the Market Drayton gig. Never thought I’d ever say “I’m going to N. Ireland for stand up gigs coz it’s way safer” 😊See yous all soon https://t.co/vKz5jiiZJ6 pic.twitter.com/fdaqA2GXsh — Omid Djalili (@omid9) October 20, 2023 West Mercia Police have… Read More →

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Watch Ren’s epic reaction to scoring this week’s Number One album

Ren earned his first Number One album today (October 20) with ‘Sick Boi’, and shared a video of his overjoyed reaction to celebrate. The Welsh artist is seen sitting with a group of friends, listening out for the announcement on the radio, and when it’s announced that he’s topped the album chart, they all jump to their feet, screaming for joy. Ren had been fighting neck-and-neck with Rick Astley for the top spot all week, but a last-minute surge in sales and streams meant he edged past Astley’s new album ‘Are We There Yet?’ in the last 24 hours before the chart was locked in. Advertisement Ren’s chart victory is especially significant because ‘Sick Boi’ was released without any label backing, and amid numerous health challenges for the artist. He has been living with various chronic health issues, including Lyme disease, which he documents on the album, and they have also prevented him from playing many shows. Ren told NME last week that he even had to turn down a slot at Glastonbury to focus on his health. Jewkakamansshaowwnwk pic.twitter.com/so4JlDno3j — Ren (@Renmakesmusic) October 20, 2023 Speaking to Official Charts, Ren said: “It’s all because of the fans that this has even… Read More →

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‘Loki’ producer explains Jonathan Majors’ controversial return in this week’s episode

Jonathan Majors, currently facing assault charges in the US, made his return to Marvel TV series Loki this week, unveiling his new character: 19th century inventor Victor Timely. But the show’s new episodes were completed long before allegations were made against the actor, producer Kevin Wright confirmed to NME. First reported in March, Majors was arrested on assault, strangulation and harassment charges in New York, after being accused of assaulting a 30-year-old woman during an alleged “domestic dispute”. Majors denied the allegations. He appeared in court in August, after which his criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry released a statement denying the allegations again and calling for them to be thrown out, claiming that they had delivered evidence to prove the woman had attacked Majors and “not the other way around”. Another court date is set for October 25. Majors has been dropped from a number of high profile film and TV projects since his arrest, including thriller The Man In My Basement – but is currently starring in Loki‘s second season despite some fans expecting his role to be cut. “In regards to our show, we had finished shooting [when Majors was arrested],” Wright told NME. “We were really happy… Read More →

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Listen to Charli XCX and Sam Smith’s collaborative new single, ‘In The City’

Charli XCX has released a new collaborative single with Sam Smith – listen to ‘In The City’ below. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Charli XCX: “I like playing games with pop music and poking fun at it” The thumping, club-ready dance track was co-produced by Charli, The 1975‘s George Daniel, ILYA, A. G. Cook and Omer Fedi. “The song is about finding the people you truly love and connect with through wild nights out and partying in magical places,” explained Charli in a statement. Advertisement “It’s about feeling accepted, the magnificence of being welcomed into queer spaces and those once-in-a-lifetime people you get to meet when you’re there.” Smith added: “Charli is a force and getting creative with her is so much fun. This track is about freedom and those unforgettable nights of abandon. I loved every minute we spent together making it.” Tune in here: [embedded content] Charli announced ‘In The City’ last week after sharing a snippet of the tune on social media. It marks her first release since ‘Speed Drive’, which features on the Barbie soundtrack. According to a press release, her team-up with Smith is a standalone single. Remixes of the song by DJ Heartstring are… Read More →

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Chuu says LOONA want to reunite “as soon as possible”

South Korean singer Chuu has opened up about her former girl group LOONA and whether the K-pop act would ever reunite. Chuu touched on the future of LOONA during a recent media showcase, which she held in support of the release of her debut solo mini-album, ‘Howl’. Notably, the singer was removed from the group in November 2022 by the K-pop act’s now-former agency, Blockberry Creative. The K-pop idol revealed that the 12 members of LOONA are still close with one another, saying that they “always play our songs to each other before the official release and boost each other’s confidence”, per The Korea Herald. Advertisement “We’ve talked countless times about the 12 of us performing together again,” Chuu added. “We’re always open to that possibility and want to make it happen as soon as possible.” Chuu won her contract lawsuit against Blockberry Creative in August 2023, following a nearly two-year-long battle. The remaining members of LOONA have since left the K-pop agency, with many of them singing with the Jaden Jeong-founded Modhaus or the newly established CTDENM. Member HeeJin, who signed with Modhaus, will release her new solo album ‘K’ later this month. The project will be her first solo… Read More →

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Ed Sheeran announces 2024 ‘+ – = ÷ x’ Asia tour

Ed Sheeran has announced the cities, dates and venues for the highly anticipated Asia leg of his ‘+ – = ÷ x’ tour. READ MORE: Ed Sheeran – ‘Autumn Variations’ review: a pumpkin-spiced snoozer Ed Sheeran will hold a total of nine concerts across Asia, from January to March 2024. It’ll kick-off in late-January with two show in Japan, before heading to Taiwan and Southeast Asia in February. The singer will also play shows in Indonesia and The Philippines in early-March, before wrapping things up with a sole show in India. Tour promoter AEG Asia has also announced that fellow English singer-songwriter Calum Scott will join Sheeran on the Asia tour dates, with more details including ticket prices set to be announced soon. The promoters have also warned that only tickets from authorised vendors will be considered valid. The dates for Ed Sheeran’s 2024 ‘+ – = ÷ x’ Asia tour are: Advertisement JANUARY 202427 – Osaka, Japan, Kyocera Dome31 – Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo Dome FEBRUARY 202403 – Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Kaohsiung National Stadium10 – Bangkok, Thailand, Rajamangala Stadium16 – Singapore, Singapore, National Stadium24 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bukit Jalil National Stadium MARCH 202402 – Jakarta, Indonesia, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium09 –… Read More →

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Christopher Nolan calls Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ movie distribution an “incredible lesson” for studios

Christopher Nolan has praised Taylor Swift for her innovative approach in releasing her concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, directly through AMC theatres. READ MORE: ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ concert film review: this is cinema (Taylor’s version) Nolan said that Swift’s deal with AMC is an “incredible lesson” for studios that are reluctant to embrace the theatrical experience, IndieWire reported. Swift’s concert film, which documents her six-night residency at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, broke records for the highest-grossing concert film or documentary of all time, earning $123.5 million globally in its opening weekend. Swift also notably sold tickets at $19.89 each (and $13.13 for children) in the US, in reference to her acclaimed album and her favourite number. She also bypassed the traditional studio system and negotiated a direct distribution deal with AMC, the largest theatre chain in the US. Advertisement “Taylor Swift is about to show the studios, because her concert film is not being distributed by the studios, it’s being distributed by a theatre owner, AMC, and it’s going to make an enormous amount of money,” Nolan said at a recent event at The Graduate Center, CUNY 1. “And this is the thing: This is a… Read More →

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U2 add more dates to Las Vegas Sphere residency

U2 are set to extend their residency at the new Sphere venue in Las Vegas, adding an extra 11 dates to the run. READ MORE: U2 live in Las Vegas: a dazzling opening night at the $2 billion Sphere Held at the newly launched venue in Nevada, the Irish rock veterans became the first artist to perform at the Sphere and are currently underway with their residency which sees them perform some ‘Achtung Baby’ deep cuts for the first time in 30 years along with other classic hits. The live shows – titled ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ – kicked off on September 29, and was scheduled to run until December 16. However, the band have now confirmed more dates for the residency following reports earlier this week that this would be the case. Advertisement A press release said the new dates, which will arrive in January and February, have been added due to “unprecedented demand.” DUE TO UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND, ADDITIONAL 11 DATES ANNOUNCED FOR U2:UV ACHTUNG BABY, LIVE AT SPHERE IN 2024. JAN 26, 27, 31&FEB 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18https://t.co/JseHnTNcHe paid subscribers may submit a Ticketmaster Request now through Saturday, October 21 at 10PM PT.…… Read More →

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‘Bodies’ soundtrack: every song in the new Netflix series

Stephen Graham stars in new Netflix sci-fi cop drama Bodies, which landed on the streaming service today (August 19). Set across multiple timelines, the series comes with an original score by Jon Opstad as well as using music from Vera Lynn, Katherine Jenkins and more. The Netflix synopsis of the show reads: “When a body – the same body – is found on Longharvest Lane in London’s East End in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053, one detective from each period must investigate. Advertisement “As connections are drawn across the decades, the detectives soon discover their investigations are linked, and an enigmatic political leader – Elias Mannix (Stephen Graham) – becomes increasingly central. Did he have a part to play in the murder? Or is something far more sinister at play? “To solve the mystery, our four detectives must somehow collaborate and uncover a conspiracy spanning over 150 years.” See the full episode-by-episode list of the show’s full soundtrack below. Stephen Graham in ‘Bodies’. Credit: Matt Towers/Netflix © 2023. Here’s every track on the Bodies soundtrack Episode 1: ‘You’re Dead Already’ 1. ‘Bodies Main Title’ – Jon Opstad2. ‘White Jazz’ – Joe Loss and His Band3. ‘Funk on Steroids’ – Cutta Crepe, Luke de Lux4. ‘The Love… Read More →

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Wes Anderson says his directorial debut ‘Bottle Rocket’ was a “disaster”

Wes Anderson has admitted that his 1996 directorial debut Bottle Rocket was a “disaster”. The Oscar-nominated director, who recently helmed the short Netflix film The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar, made the confession while talking to attendees at the Lumière Film Festival (via Variety), and added that he wouldn’t have made it had he known how much audiences were going to hate it. The film centres on the character of Anthony (Luke Wilson) just as he’s released from a mental hospital, only to find that his wacky friend Dignan (Owen C. Wilson) is determined to begin an outrageous crime spree. Advertisement Anderson said of the film: “I had an idea of what I wanted to do, and no one could convince me that we shouldn’t do it, my confidence was the highest, then. When we finally made it and showed it to an audience, they hated it. I was so shocked, it was a disaster.” He continued: “But that changed me: Had I known that before, I probably wouldn’t have made that movie, and I’m glad of that, because the blind confidence you have when you’re young, you need it!” Anderson recently explained how he first “blamed the audience” for the… Read More →

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Drake ties Michael Jackson for most Number One hits by a male solo artist

Drake and Michael Jackson have tied with the most Number One hits by a male solo artist in Billboard history. READ MORE: Drake – ‘For All The Dogs’ review: banger-less, bitter and deeply mid The rapper’s track ‘First Person Shooter’ which features J. Cole debuted at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 charts making it his 13th chart-topping song in the US charts which is a record that had yet to be surpassed since Jackson achieved it back in 1995. (per Pitchfork) Both musicians are now tied, sharing the title of fourth-most Number One songs to chart on the Hot 100. The Beatles currently hold the reigning titled of most Number One tracks with 20 songs on the charts followed by Mariah Carey with 19 and Rhianna close behind with 14. Advertisement [embedded content] Ironically, the lyrics in ‘First Person Shooter’ anticipated the milestone with Drake rapping: “I’m one away from Michael” and alluding to Jackson’s iconic 1982 hit ‘Beat It’. The track also marks Cole’s first Hot 100 Number One track. The song is featured on Drake’s eighth studio album ‘For All The Dogs‘. The LP also earned the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart making it the… Read More →

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Mark Hoppus had to learn “how to play bass again” after chemotherapy

Blink-182‘s Mark Hoppus has revealed the struggles he faced with getting back into music following chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Speaking to Zane Lowe for Apple Music ahead of the release of Blink-182’s upcoming album ‘One More Time…’, Hoppus spoke of his now-squashed bad blood with Tom DeLonge, who he told Lowe there was “not a chance” that he would share a stage with again. “I didn’t know that Blink would ever get back together or that I would ever share a stage with Tom. And I told management, I told Travis [Barker], I told everybody, I’m like, ‘I’m not setting foot on stage again with that dude. Not a chance.’ That’s the truth. But I’ve always thought Tom was one of the best songwriters in the world and one of my favourite songwriters, but there was a lot of bad blood and there was a lot of stuff in the press and feelings and all this stuff,” Hoppus said. Advertisement [embedded content] Hoppus was diagnosed with stage 4-A diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 2021 but was declared cancer-free six months later. When word got out that Hoppus was diagnosed with cancer, he realised that DeLonge was in his corner supporting him: “I got… Read More →

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Jimin says music for BTS is “not really about language”

South Korean singer Jimin of K-pop boyband BTS has opened up about how the superstar group managed to overcome language barriers with their music. In a new interview with GQ Korea, BTS’ Jimin spoke about how the boyband were able to transcend languages with their music. Notably, BTS have topped the Billboard Hot 100 with songs in both English and Korean. “To get to where we are now, our team has faced considerable struggles,” Jimin said, “occasionally losing our way and experiencing conflict, but always supporting each other.” Advertisement “The joy, sorrow, pain, delight, and love we’ve felt along the way – we’ve been candid about it all. I think these emotions struck a chord with people,” he added. “So, in the end, it’s not really about language, but the heart that bridges the gap.” The singer also spoke about how being a member of BTS and the challenges they’ve faced throughout their career have “laid the foundation for us to become ourselves”. “I don’t think that idea needs any further explanation. It’s something we should keep in mind as we get older,” he continued. “I believe a team is at its best and receives the most love when its members… Read More →

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EXO’s D.O. leaves SM Entertainment after 11 years with the label

South Korean singer D.O., a member of K-pop boyband EXO, has left his long-time label SM Entertainment after 11 years. SM Entertainment confirmed that EXO member D.O. would be leaving the K-pop agency after the expiration of his currently contract in early-November. The statement came after an exclusive report by South Korean news outlet JTBC. In a statement to The Herald Pop, the company said D.O. will “proceed with his acting and individual activities through the newly established agency founded by his and SM’s former manager”, as translated by Soompi. Advertisement The K-pop agency also noted that the decision came after “thorough discussions” with the EXO member. Additionally, the singer will also “continue his EXO activities” with SM Entertainment. D.O. is the second member of EXO to officially leave SM Entertainment, following inactive Chinese member Lay Zhang in April 2022. Earlier this week, it was reported that EXO‘s Sehun and Chanyeol signing with a different agency for their solo activities, though that was later refuted by SM Entertainment. Earlier this year, EXO members Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen had also filed to have their contracts with SM Entertainment terminated over alleged “mistreatment and unfair contract terms”, which the K-pop agency had refuted. The three K-pop idols… Read More →

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‘Overwatch 2’ announces LE SSERAFIM crossover event

Blizzard Entertainment has announced an upcoming Overwatch 2 event in collaboration with K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM. Today (October 19 KST), the Overwatch 2 developer announced the upcoming crossover event with LE SSERAFIM. It’ll kick off with the release of the girl group’s upcoming English-language single, ‘Perfect Night’, on October 26 at 9pm PDT. The collaboration will also feature a new game mode, inspired by LE SSERAFIM, as well as exclusive in-game items and Legendary hero skins. The in-game LE SSERAFIM collaboration will go live on November 1, with details being revealed on October 30. Advertisement In addition, the K-pop girl group will also make an appearance on the second night of BlizzCon 2023 on November 4, where they will perform their new single ‘Perfect Night’. Tickets for the annual gaming event are on sale now via the official BlizzCon website. LE SSERAFIM x OVERWATCH 2 ✨ 🌃 Oct 26 ’Perfect Night’ Music Video🎮 Nov 1 Exclusive In-Game Event🎤 Nov 4 BlizzCon Appearance Learn More: https://t.co/ujEgYWSx0U pic.twitter.com/qmrNrQEpxh — Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 18, 2023 As of writing, it is currently unclear if LE SSERAFIM member Kim Chaewon will be in attendance at BlizzCon 2023. Earlier this week, the girl group’s label Source… Read More →

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Timothée Chalamet addresses cannibalism allegations against Armie Hammer

Timothée Chalamet has spoken out for the first time about the allegations facing his Call Me By Your Name co-star Armie Hammer. The pair co-starred in Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 romance about a boy (Chalamet) who falls in love with his father’s graduate student assistant (Hammer) while on holiday in Italy. In 2021, Hammer was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women and rape by one woman. Hammer denied any criminal wrongdoing, but did admit that he had “one million per cent” emotionally abused two women, who had accused him of sexual misconduct. In both relationships he had with those women, he said that “the power dynamics were off”. Advertisement Hammer was also accused of expressing a fetish for cannibalism to a number of women via text. In a new interview with GQ, Chalamet was asked about the timing of the allegations, which coincided with his filming of Guadagnino’s cannibal love story Bones And All. “I mean, what were the chances that we’re developing this thing?” Chalamet said. On seeing reports suggesting that the film was inspired by Hammer, he added: “It made me feel like: ‘Now I’ve really got to do this.’ Because this is actually based on a book.” Asked… Read More →

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Grimes: “Taylor Swift is the only presidential candidate who can unite the country”

Grimes has said she thinks Taylor Swift would be the only person who could bring people together in the US if she were ever elected president. With just over a year to go till the next presidential election, discussion on the internet has turned to who the ideal candidate to move into the White House could be. As it stands, current president Joe Biden is set to enter the running for a second term, while Donald Trump will also be running again. Grimes has suggested in a series of tweets that Swift could be a good option. Replying to a previous tweet which argued that Swift “could course correct society and fix carbon emissions in 10 years”, she wrote: “In many ways Taylor Swift is the only presidential candidate who can unite the country,” before adding that “Trump v Swift is totally occurring in a parallel universe rn”. Advertisement In response to a user who said it was “actually not a bad idea, don’t know how good it would be for her mental health though”, Grimes replied: “It’s probably exceptionally unadvisable. It just probably would work.” In many ways Taylor Swift is the only presidential candidate who can unite the… Read More →