Nicol Ostrc

Justin Bieber postpones rest of US tour due to Ramsay Hunt diagnosis

Justin Bieber has postponed the rest of his North American tour due to his ongoing battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. READ MORE: Justin Bieber – ‘Justice’ review: pop star finds his purpose again Last Saturday (June 11), Bieber posted a video explaining that he was recently diagnosed with the rare condition, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, “occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears”. Bieber, who could be seen struggling to blink, smile or move his right nostril, assured fans that his facial paralysis will subside over time. In a recent update, he said that “each day has gotten better”, noting that his Christian faith has helped him cope with the illness. Advertisement On Thursday (June 16), concert promoter AEG announced the rest of the North American leg of the pop star’s ‘Justice’ world tour – including his appearance at Summerfest – has been postponed due to his diagnosis. “Justin continues to receive the best medical care possible, is upbeat about his recovery and is looking forward to getting back out on the road and performing for his fans overseas later this summer,” AEG said in a statement (via Summerfest). Details about rescheduled dates and refunds… Read More →

17JUNNews

Bop Shop: Songs From Bartees Strange, Wonho, The Beths, And More

The search for the ever-elusive “bop” is difficult. Playlists and streaming-service recommendations can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new? Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection doesn’t discriminate by genre and can include anything — it’s a snapshot of what’s on our minds and what sounds good. We’ll keep it fresh with the latest music, but expect a few oldies (but goodies) every once in a while, too. Get ready: The Bop Shop is now open for business. Bartees Strange: “Mulholland Dr.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMJbUlHYE28 What a long, strange trip it’s been for Bartees. It actually hasn’t been that long — his fiery debut LP dropped in 2020, and since then, he’s toured with the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, his heroes in The National, and more. Importantly, he was always a headliner; now the bookings have caught up with his talents. That’s extremely apparent on “Mulholland Dr.,” a standout cut from his second album, Farm to Table, which is out today. The twinkly guitar and icy keyboard lines make it timeless, existing in a framework of indie rock not… Read More →

17JUNHit Singles

Al Stewart – The Admiralty Lights: The Complete Studio, Live and Rare 1964-2009

Riding high in the US charts at the start of punk rock’s annus mirabilis, Al Stewart was eager to make clear to an NME interviewer exactly how well he was doing. “Only two albums from the British folk scene have ever got into the American Top 30,” said the 31-year-old, who had moved to California a few months earlier. “Out of Steeleye Span, Incredible String Band, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Ralph McTell – you know the list – only two albums have ever made it. They’re Modern Times and Year Of The Cat – both by me.” ORDER NOW: THE BEATLES ARE ON THE COVER OF THE LATEST ISSUE OF UNCUT Having spent much of his career being regarded as a minor talent (“When I looked for respect all I got was neglect”, he fumed quietly on 1976’s “If It Don’t Come Naturally, Leave It”), commercial success proved to be intoxicating for Stewart. In the sleevenotes to this colossal summation of his life’s work – 21 commercially released albums, 18 live discs, eight sets of outtakes and home recordings and three more of BBC sessions, plus a 160-page book – Paul Simon’s one-time London flatmate remembers wallowing in his vindication as he… Read More →

17JUNHit Singles

Frank Sinatra – Watertown

Should you ever feel like being shredded, head to YouTube and seek out Nina Simone’s performance of “For A While” at Ronnie Scott’s club in 1984. Co-written by The Four Seasons’ Bob Gaudio and singer-songwriter Jake Holmes, the song is a simple and bottomless one that fits a loose lineage running from Hoagy Carmichael’s “I Get Along Without You Very Well” through to Bob Dylan’s “Most of The Time” – songs about how, when you suffer devastating loss, the world still just keeps turning around you, life goes on, and you gradually get pulled back into going along with it; until, suddenly, the memory of your loss comes rising up out of the everyday, raw as ever, to stun you all over again. Simone’s entire Ronnie Scott’s show is extraordinary, but “For A While” is its bleeding heart. She sings like she’s creating it from her own pain and, if you let it, it will tear you apart. ORDER NOW: THE BEATLES ARE ON THE COVER OF THE LATEST ISSUE OF UNCUT Simone was always ahead of the curve. By the time of that performance, “For A While” was a lost song from a forgotten record: Watertown, a suite of 10… Read More →

16JUNNews

Joey Bada$$’s new album won’t be released tomorrow due to sample clearance issues

Joey Bada$$ has announced that his new album ‘2000’ has been delayed due to sample clearance issues. READ MORE: Joey Bada$$ – Soundtrack Of My Life The rapper’s first full-length effort in five years – following 2017’s ‘All-Amerikkkan Bada$$’ – was originally scheduled to be released tomorrow (June 17), but he’s now said that this will no longer be the case. “Man I got some terrible news, my album won’t be coming out tonight due to sample clearance issues,” Joey wrote on Twitter this afternoon (June 16). “Right now, it’s unclear how long I’ll have to postpone it but my hope is no more than 2 weeks. I wanted to have a new date before I told you guys but it’s out of my control.” Advertisement With no new release date set yet, Joey said that he would keep everyone updated on the situation. “I’m almost certain I’ll have a new date by Monday,” he tweeted, before looking on the bright side of things and alerting fans to the fact that his new song with Chance The Rapper would still be released tomorrow. Man I got some terrible news, my album won’t be coming out tonight due to sample clearance issues… Read More →

16JUNNews

Phoebe Bridgers stops by ‘Fallon’ to perform ‘Sidelines’

Phoebe Bridgers stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night (June 15) to deliver a performance of her recent track ‘Sidelines’ – you can watch it below. READ MORE: On The Cover: Phoebe Bridgers: “I definitely feel a lot less apologetic than I did before” The song – which the singer-songwriter released back in April – features on the soundtrack for Hulu series Conversations With Friends, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name. Notably more optimistic than 2020’s ‘Punisher’, Bridgers recently explained to Variety that her new sound is the result of a shift in focus. Advertisement “I’m striving to do more stuff like that. I think it’s more challenging to sound smart and write well about happiness than it is about sadness. In the interest of not seeming trite, I lean toward darker subject matter, just out of comfort. And I think a challenge to myself, now, is being articulate about things that are good.” Bridgers released an official video for ‘Sidelines’ earlier this month, featuring behind-the-scenes footage from her current ‘Reunion Tour’ shot by her brother Jackson. For her performance on Fallon, Bridgers donned a black American football jersey emblazoned with her signature skeleton print. You can… Read More →

16JUNNews

Listen to Black Midi’s new song ‘Eat Men Eat’ about a disturbing desert adventure

Black Midi have released ‘Eat Men Eat’, another cut from their third album ‘Hellfire’. READ MORE: Black Midi – ‘Cavalcade’ review: sonic scientists continue to confound The song is accompanied by a Maxim Kelly-directed video, which you can watch below. It’s the second song taken from their forthcoming album after last month’s ‘Welcome To Hell’. ‘Hellfire’ follows last year’s ‘Cavalcade’ and the London experimental rock band’s 2019 debut, ‘Schlagenheim’. Advertisement ‘Eat Men Eat’ was written by Black Midi bassist/vocalist Cameron Picton and tells the tale of a disturbing desert quest. “The story starts in the desert with two men engaged in a desperate search for missing friends,” Picton said of the song’s inspiration in a press release. “Their quest leads them to a strange mining facility which, despite a dearth of natural resources in the area, opens its doors for even stranger hosts to welcome them. “That evening, with zero sign of their friends, a massive feast is laid on by the mine’s cantankerous Captain, who performs a long speech encouraging all to indulge as this is to be the workers’ last night before returning to their families. With good reason for suspicion the protagonists feign gluttony and consume as little… Read More →

16JUNNews

Tynemouth festival fails to find replacement following Lighthouse Family split

Organisers of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival have failed to find a last-minute replacement headliner after Lighthouse Family split. The Newcastle-formed duo announced last Tuesday (June 7) that they had “reached the end”, with singer Tunde Baiyewu now wanting to “focus on his solo career”. Bandmember Paul Tucker apologised for the break-up, telling fans: “I was really looking forward to this hometown show and playing our songs in this amazing place close to the lighthouses that gave us our name. I am as disappointed as you are. It breaks my heart to let you down.” Advertisement North Tyneside Council, which stages the event from July 8-10 in Tynemouth in the North East of England told BBC News that an appropriate performer could not be found at such short notice. Keane, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Eliza Shaddad and Newton Faulkner are still set to play at the Priory. Front Street and the Metro station will also host free acts and performances. I’m so sorry to let you know that our headline show at Mouth Of The Tyne Festival on 9th July has been cancelled. I have… Posted by Lighthouse Family on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 The Mouth of the Tyne Festival has been… Read More →

16JUNNews

Robert Plant claims he turned down a ‘Game Of Thrones’ cameo: “I don’t want to be typecast”

Robert Plant once turned down the opportunity to guest star on the HBO series Game Of Thrones, according to a new interview with the former Led Zeppelin frontman. Plant revealed the story during an interview with Canadian broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos, following up a question about the fantasy series. The singer said that, although he didn’t watch the show, he “got offered a part” in it. “I don’t want to be typecast,” he joked to Stroumboulopoulos. “I started that shit! Go back to [Led Zeppelin single] ‘Immigrant Song’, and Led Zeppelin being part of a cultural exchange between Iceland and the Icelandic government. They didn’t really know what they’d invited onto their little island.” Advertisement When asked what type of part he was offered on the show, Plant defers to his publicist. “It was undecided,” they respond off-camera. “I thought I was gonna ride a horse and go…” Plant joked, before lifting his head with a dramatic scowl. Watch the clip below: Did you know Robert Plant was offered a role in Game of Thrones? Here's why he turned it down. pic.twitter.com/vc00AenZNq — George FKN StroumbouloPHÒulos ? (@strombo) June 14, 2022 Although Plant’s music has been used numerous times across film and… Read More →

16JUNNews

Marlon Williams announces third album ‘My Boy’, shares ‘Thinking Of Nina’

New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams has shared details of his third studio album, ‘My Boy’, as well as its second single. The album, announced today (June 15), serves as the official follow-up to 2018’s ‘Make Way For Love’. The announcement was pre-empted on May 3 by the release of what has now been revealed as the album’s title track, which came out last month. To coincide with the news, Williams has lifted another single from the album, entitled ‘Thinking Of Nina’. An accompanying music video has been shared for the song, directed by New Zealand production collective Sports Team (not to be confused with the UK band of the same name). A press statement from Williams noted that the clip was inspired by music videos from the ’80s, including Duran Duran‘s ‘A View To A Kill’ and Spandau Ballet‘s ‘Gold’. Advertisement Watch the video for ‘Thinking Of Nina’ below: In the same statement, Williams noted the song’s themes of “the dangers of wearing different faces in different places”, and “of waging wars on multiple fronts”. “This is a song about… having so many selves as to not be a self at all,” he said. “Also at play is the dark… Read More →

15JUNNews

Post Malone asked Frances Bean Cobain’s permission to do Nirvana livestream

Post Malone has revealed that he asked permission from Frances Bean Cobain to do his Nirvana charity livestream event in 2020. READ MORE: Post Malone’s Nirvana tribute livestream sounded like a wild and heavy garage band in rehearsal Taking place in aid of The United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for The World Health Organization (WHO), the rapper/rocker performed a 15-song set in celebration of the grunge icons. Among the songs he covered were versions of ‘Lounge Act’, ‘On A Plain’ and ‘Heart-Shaped Box’. Post, who was joined by Travis Barker on drums, Brian Lee on bass and Nick Mac on guitar, also paid tribute to the band’s late frontman, Kurt Cobain, by wearing a flowery dress throughout the set. Advertisement In a new interview with Howard Stern, Posty, who had previously revealed that he had been given the blessing of Courtney Love – Cobain’s widow – to do the tribute, said he also asked the frontman’s daughter, Frances Bean, for permission. “We went to Kurt’s daughter,” he said. “It’s important to me because I loved Kurt so much, and he’s been such an inspiration to me, musically.” He added: “I could never want to offend anybody by trying to show… Read More →

15JUNNews

Watch the teaser trailer for Harry Styles’ new LGBTQ+ drama ‘My Policeman’

The first teaser trailer for Harry Styles‘ new LGBTQ+ drama My Policeman has been released – you can watch it below. Styles portrays the younger version of policeman Tom in the adaptation of Bethan Roberts’ 2012 novel, which centres on a love triangle between a man, a woman and a policeman. Set in the 1990s, the drama begins when an elderly man arrives at Tom and his wife Marion’s (Emma Corrin) home, kickstarting an exploration of “seismic events from 40 years previous”. Advertisement This teaser trailer focuses solely on those past events, in which Tom and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson) first discovered their feelings for each other at a time when same-sex relationships between men were illegal. Harry Styles in ‘My Policeman’. CREDIT: Amazon Prime Video/YouTube An official synopsis for the film reads: “My Policeman follows three young people – policeman Tom, teacher Marion, and museum curator Patrick – as they embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. “Flashing forward to the 1990s, Tom (Linus Roache), Marion (Gina McKee), and Patrick (Rupert Everett) are still reeling with longing and regret, but now they have one last chance to repair the damage of the past. “Based on the book… Read More →

15JUNNews

Watch Post Malone’s emotional cover of Pearl Jam’s ‘Better Man’ on ‘Howard Stern’

Post Malone has performed an acoustic cover of Pearl Jam’s ‘Better Man’ on The Howard Stern Show – check it out below. READ MORE: Post Malone – ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ review: his sobering comedown Malone performed the track to open his set for The Howard Stern Show, which was uploaded on YouTube on June 15. When asked why he chose to cover the 1994 Pearl Jam classic, he explained: “I remember my brother Jordan, he was a Marine, and he was stationed in Hawaii. And we went to go see him. I was 12, 13, maybe.” He continued: “And he played this song, and we were driving around.This was on an island you could drive around in a couple of hours. And he played it, and I guess I’ve just been thinking about that a lot lately.” Advertisement Elaborating further on the significance of the memory, Post Malone said that “every moment” reminds him of his brother. “It makes me fucking cry. He’s just a beautiful man and he introduced me to Pearl Jam in a big fucking way.” Watch the cover below. Elsewhere on the show, Malone performed ‘Reputation’ for the first time ever – watch it below. The… Read More →

14JUNNews

Post Malone shares his record for most cigarettes smoked in a day

Post Malone has shared his personal record for the most cigarettes he’s smoked in one day, as well as his average on a “good day”. The rapper is well-known for his smoking habit, often seen in interviews and photos with a cigarette in his hands. READ MORE: Post Malone – ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ review: his sobering comedown Speaking to Full Send, the star spoke about how many cigarettes he usually smokes. “There’s a really fine line between a terrible day and a good day,” he said when asked by the hosts what his average is for a good day. “40, 45? By the time I ask Ben for that second pack, I’m like, ‘Alright dude, chill out’. But then by the time I open that third pack, I’m like, ‘I’m a total piece of shit and I need to go to sleep’.” Advertisement Post was then asked for the most amount of cigarettes he’s smoked in one day, to which he responded: “Probably like 80?” He added that he “used to” smoke in bed, but now has a “special zone” in his house that has his “PC in it and my Magic: The Gathering shit, so I just go down there… Read More →

14JUNNews

Rob Da Bank wins court case over “unpaid” Bestival loan

Bestival co-founder Rob da Bank has won a court case in which the DJ was sued after allegedly failing to repay a £650,000 loan. Loan provider TicketLine Network Ltd has said it personally loaned Da Bank (real name Robert Gorham) about £1million to keep the festival going, but he then “refused” to pay back about £650,000. The case, which has been running for four years, was won by Da Bank (real name Robert Gorham) last week, who tweeted on June 10: “Truth and justice prevailed… thanks team da Bank for supporting us through 4 years of [shit]… we [love] you.” Advertisement The loan was taken out in 2018 to save the festival, which nearly didn’t go ahead due to financial struggles. The case centred on whether or not Ticketline Network Ltd’s loan was directed to Gorham personally and whether he was responsible for paying back £650,000. Gorham alleged that he never agreed to a personal loan and should not have to pay it back. He also told the judge at the time that he was not very involved in the financial side of the festival. In a statement to Mixmag, Gorham said: “Josie [his wife] and I are so happy and relieved… Read More →

14JUNNews

Post Malone announces 2022 North American tour

Post Malone has announced a slew of North American tour dates in support of his new album, ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’. READ MORE: Post Malone – ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ review: his sobering comedown Post’s tour will kick off in Omaha in September and run through to mid-October, with stops in Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Texas, Seattle, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and more. On many of the dates, Post will be joined by Roddy Ricch, who features on ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ single ‘Cooped Up’ and performed the track alongside Malone during a Saturday Night Live performance in May. See dates and venues below. Tickets are on sale here from this Friday (June 17). Advertisement ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ arrived on June 3, after being previewed with The Weeknd collaboration ‘One Right Now’ in November, and ‘Cooped Up’ last month. Other guests on the album include Doja Cat, Gunna, The Kid LAROI and Fleet Foxes‘ Robin Pecknold. In a four-star review of ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’, NME called the new album “another step up for Post Malone” following ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ in 2019, saying the new record “feels distinctively, inimitably him and succeeds in his goal of sharing his truth.”… Read More →

14JUNNews

Kanye West slams new Adidas slides as a “fake Yeezy”

Kanye West has called out Adidas over their recently-released Adilette 22 slide sandals, saying the shoe is “a fake Yeezy made by adidas themselves”. READ MORE: ‘Donda 2’: Kanye West’s ego is scuppering these half-baked, dashed-off sounding songs In a now-deleted Instagram post, the rapper shared an image of the slides – which sold out promptly following their release in May – alongside a message addressed to Adidas CEO Kasper Rørsted. “I’m not standing for this blatant copying no more,” West wrote. “This is for everyone who wants to express themselves but feel they can’t cause they’ll [lose] their contract or be called crazy.” Advertisement West goes on to say that the shoes “represent the disrespect that people in power have to the talent” before describing them as “a fake Yeezy”. West ends the caption by telling Rørsted to “come talk to” him directly. West is likely drawing comparisons between the Adilette and his own Yeezy Slide line, which he launched in late 2019. Both shoes feature a similar lightweight, slip-on design and come in an earthy, beige tone, with Adilettes being slightly cheaper at $55 (£45). As with all of West’s Yeezy shoes, they were released in collaboration with… Read More →

13JUNNews

Here’s the early weather forecast for Glastonbury Festival 2022

Glastonbury 2022 is almost here after a two-year delay following the coronavirus pandemic – see how the weather will fare below. READ MORE: We’re gonna need a bigger farm: why Glastonbury 2022 could be the best in history Those travelling to Worthy Farm from June 22-26 to see headliners Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar, as well as Little Simz, Róisín Murphy, Bicep and plenty of other acts, can mostly expect warm conditions. However, it might be worth packing your wellies as some rain is currently expected, along with the possibility of thunderstorms. Advertisement According to the Met Office‘s long range weather forecast for June 17-26, “Temperatures are expected to be warm for most and closer to average in the north, but possibly very warm or hot in the south, which could bring thundery conditions. “Fine but generally unsettled weather can be expected throughout the rest of this period, with the possibility of some showers or longer spells of rain mainly in the northwest and continued possible thundery outbreaks in the south.” Check out the latest forecast according to the BBC below. Wednesday June 22: Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze, with temperatures peaking at 17° and lows of 11° Thursday June 23: Sunny intervals and a… Read More →

13JUNNews

KARA reunite to celebrate 15th anniversary

The former members of K-pop girl group KARA have recently come together to celebrate the act’s 15th anniversary since their debut. READ MORE: Kang Daniel talks ‘The Story’: “I came to love myself more than anything else” On June 11, former KARA members Gyuri, Seungyeon, Nicole, Jiyoung and Heo Young-ji took to Instagram to share photos from their recent get-together to commemorate the group’s 15th debut anniversary. “It was the first time that everyone who went through ups and downs together under the name of KARA came together to celebrate, share their stories, laugh and cry together, and comfort one another’s sunken hearts, and it gave me hope that we can become a little happier,” wrote leader Gyuri on Instagram, as translated by Soompi. Advertisement All five ex-KARA members had also tagged their late former bandmate, Goo Hara, in each of their posts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 박규리 (@gyuri_88) While the group had previously gathered last year, this marks the first time Heo Young-ji, who joined KARA after the departure of Nicole and Jiyoung, has joined them to celebrate the occasion. The only former KARA members absent from the meet-up were Sunghee, who had left… Read More →

13JUNNews

Lizzo’s new song ‘Grrrls’ has been criticised for an ableist lyric

Lizzo has been criticised for using an ableist slur in her new single ‘Grrrls’, where in the opening verse, she sings: “Hold my bag, bitch, hold my bag / Do you see this shit? I’ma sp*z.” While used colloquially in the United States with a similar meaning to ‘freak out’ or ‘go crazy’, the term emerges from the word ‘spastic’, which is used medically to describe the spasms one might experience from a condition like cerebral palsy. The term is often used in a derogative manner to describe those with disabilities, especially cerebral palsy. After the single was released last Friday (June 10), fans and disability activists took to social media to acknowledge their disappointment over the lyrics. Some called for the track to be pulled down and re-uploaded with the line removed. Advertisement “I’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word “sp@z” in her new song ‘Grrrls’,” wrote advocate Callum Stephen. “There’s no excuse for using an ableist insult in a song in 2022. As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.” “My disability Cerebral Palsy is literally classified as Spastic Diplegia (where spasticity refers to unending painful… Read More →

12JUNNews

Billie Eilish pauses London show over fan safety concerns

Billie Eilish paused her latest London gig last night (June 11) after fans had to be pulled out of the crowd at The O2. The pop star is in the middle of a residency at the south London venue and will play six gigs there this month before and after headlining Glastonbury. READ MORE: Billie Eilish live in Manchester: the road to Glastonbury starts here (with a brand new song) According to reports, Eilish stopped the gig mid-show to check on fans, telling them to “take a step back” and “give everybody space” after noticing they were squashed at the front of the room. Advertisement “People were fainting and getting pulled out,” she said. “It’s hot, I know – it’s crowded, it’s hot. Are you squished a little bit? If someone looks a little woozy, just tell someone, OK? Don’t try to save feelings.” Credit: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images Earlier this year, the singer halted two gigs in the US to check on fans’ welfare. “If you want to sit down, you are allowed,” she told fans at one concert in New York. “Go ahead, sit down, take a breath.” Eilish will return to The O2 tonight (12) before dates in Glasgow,… Read More →