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Trixie Mattel’s Twangy Cover, Aquihayaquihay’s Sunny Future, And More Songs We Love

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.

  • Aquihayaquihay: "Sencillo"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGcP5Ap_e58&feature=youtu.be

    Something is frayed on "Sencillo," the wonderfully languid latest effort from self-described "anti-boy band" Aquihayaquihay. As much as Steve Aoki's label signees sound embattled as they sing in Spanish, the sounds themselves direct the song's emotionality toward hope. Embracing both modern bedroom-production hallmarks and an exploration of past R&B-pop sounds, "Sencillo" plays like a completely welcome meeting of past and present while also pointing to a sunny future. —Patrick Hosken

  • Trixie Mattel: “Video Games”
    https://youtu.be/XeIHmYg7DJ0

    Trixie Mattel opened up a beer and said, "Get over here and play my 'Video Games.'" The RuPaul’s Drag Race legend takes her body to Pioneertown and gives Lana Del Rey’s 2011 melancholy single an Old West country-music twist. The dramatic cover features Trixie strumming her trusty autoharp, but it also serves cowboy shootout realness with some ominous desert outlaw whistles. We hope you like the bad girls, honey, because Trixie really brought it with this cover. Lana Del Rey? More like Lana Del SLAY. —Chris Rudolph

  • Kristen Ford: “Stick Shift Corolla”

    Nashville-based alt rocker Kristen Ford piles on the breakup feels in this moody track from No Plans, her new EP. Tension grows verse by angst-fueled verse. “I don’t want you back / Time don’t work like that,” Ford insists, although if the explosive guitar and drums punctuating the final verse are any indication, that realization doesn’t undo the hurt that’s been done. —Sam Manzella

  • Lulu Simon: “Strangers”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdB6Pq1w6I

    Pop music has a new rising star, and she comes from a pretty impressive pedigree. On her new single “Strangers,” Lulu Simon, daughter of Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, gets breezily bitter about an ex who can’t quite accept that a relationship has met its expiration. Over a stacked production of ’80s synths and electronica pops, Simon’s lyrics read like a diary or a heated string of texts — you know, the unhinged ones you send in quick succession to a friend when you’ve got some feelings and you’ve got to get them out. Considering that her sarcastic yet sweet debut “Wasted” is just as much of a bop, it looks like there’s more where that came from. —Carson Mlnarik

  • Cautious Clay: “Agreeable”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmXnfmwntnE

    Cautious Clay's voice is smooth, his arms are open wide, and on "Agreeable," he sounds about a thousand miles high. Much like "Cheesin'," the virtual posse cut he anchored earlier this year, the elastic artist stretches and flexes in equal measure here — but the party's over in just two minutes. Before you know, you're back on the ground. You might not even know you left it. —Patrick Hosken

  • John K: “Happiness”
    https://youtu.be/DPE2ZB7bfek

    The lyrical melancholy of the emerging pop crooner John K's latest single betrays its peppy title. Here, "Happiness" functions less like an expression of joy than a painful reminder of better days long gone: “Happiness, are you there? / Are you gone? Are you comin' back?” Yet, delivered by a voice that a new listener might mistake for Troye Sivan or Sam Smith, it seems pleasant all the same. —Coco Romack

  • Bosco: "4th of July"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aha-GtvOcnY

    The chorus finds Bosco directing your gaze upwards — "Bombs bursting into the sky" — but even fireworks on Independence Day might have a hard time keeping your attention in this plush ecosystem populated with silken guitar waves and a treasure chest full of booming R&B rhythm. Don't let the title fool you; this is a leafy autumn song through and through. —Patrick Hosken

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Van Morrison hits out at “crooked facts” in new anti-lockdown protest songs

Van Morrison has rallied against the government in three new songs that protest against the coronavirus lockdown.

The legendary blues singer reportedly claims that scientists are “making up crooked facts” in one of the tracks, which is yet to be released.

He sings on one track: “The new normal, is not normal. We were born to be free”.

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According to the BBC, Morrison’s anger reaches its peak on ‘No More Lockdown’ – which sees him likening the government to “fascist bullies”.

No more lockdown / No more government overreach,” he is said to sing in the track’s chorus.

“No more fascist bullies / Disturbing our peace. No more taking of our freedom / And our God given rights / Pretending it’s for our safety / When it’s really to enslave.”

Another track is said to reference a widely-shared Facebook post which states that “Covid-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK”.

While Covid-19 is not classed as a HCID – which typically boasts a high fatality rate – the disease is still considered highly infectious with cases rising across the UK.

Yesterday, new local restrictions were introduced in the north east of England to curb the spread of the disease.

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Van Morrison
Van Morrison performing as part of Music For The Marsden 2020 at The O2 Arena on March 03, 2020 in London, England. Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage

In contrast to Morrison’s views, the Prime Minister said yesterday that the government was doing “everything in our power” to prevent the introduction of a second nationwide lockdown.

“I don’t want a second national lockdown – I think it would be completely wrong for this country,” Boris Johnson told MPs at the Commons Liaison Committee.

“So when I see people arguing against the rule of six or saying that the government is coming in too hard on individual liberties and so on – I totally understand that and I sympathise with that, but we must, must defeat this disease.”

The three new tracks from Morrison come after he criticised the “pseudo-science” of socially distanced gigs in a new open letter to fans.

Despite playing socially-distanced shows at Camden’s Electric Ballroom and Newcastle’s Virgin Money Unity Arena, the singer said the appearances were not a sign of “compliance” from him.

“This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums,” he said.

“This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.

“I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this.”

Earlier this week, Noel Gallagher also attracted criticism after claiming that he refuses to wear a face covering in shops. 

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Watch Kylie Minogue perform ‘Say Something’ live for the first time on ‘The Tonight Show’

Kylie Minogue performed her latest single ‘Say Something’ live for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night (September 17).

Minogue’s remote pre-recorded performance sees her sing the ‘Disco’ track solo against a VHS-style intergalactic green screen, in a nod to the retro era her new music borrows from.

Watch it below.

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Minogue first released the single back in July, as the first single from her forthcoming album ‘Disco’, due out November 6.

  • READ MORE: Kylie’s Glastonbury debut, 14 years late: a surreal pop spectacle with a fake wedding, rainbow confetti and two famous dudes

The pop icon, who released her last record ‘Golden’ in 2018, revealed back in May that her upcoming 15th record would contain “grown-up disco”.

In an interview last month, Minogue elaborated on the record’s theme.

“The theme of disco is that you’re all hot and sweaty and in it together, but could be in a crowded room and shut your eyes, let the music and feeling in, and you could be in your own world. Or, there could be no one around and you feel like you’re having your own party,” she said.

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“I imagine it as a tour, but done in the round. You normally want people to watch the show, but I think, in this case, part of it would encourage you to shut your eyes and feel the energy.”

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Hear a previously unreleased song by Prince, ‘I Need A Man’

Prince‘s estate have released ‘I Need A Man’, a previously unheard song written by the star in the early ’80s.

The track previews a super deluxe reissue of Prince’s 1987 album ‘Sign O’ the Times’, which features 63 unreleased songs as well as a previously unseen concert film.

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As Consequence Of Sound reports, the track was originally written and recorded in 1981 for The Hookers, a new girl band Prince wanted to assemble that eventually became Vanity 6. ‘I Need A Man’ was one of the early Hookers songs that didn’t make the cut for Vanity 6’s one and only 1982 self-titled album.

Prince (1958-2016) performs onstage during the 1984 Purple Rain Tour on November 4, 1984, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. CREDIT: Ross Marino/Getty Images

Five years later, Prince was so impressed by Grammy nominee Bonnie Raitt’s performance at the 1987 ceremony that he contacted her to form a creative partnership. A completely reworked version of ‘I Need A Man’ was proposed but the collaboration never materialised.

  • Read more: 20 things you didn’t know about ‘Purple Rain’

‘I Need A Man’ is preceded by three other teasers of the upcoming compendium: ‘Cosmic Day’, ‘Witness 4 The Prosecution (Version 1)’ and a never-before-released 1979 version of ‘I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man’. The ‘Sign O’ the Times’ deluxe reissue is set for release on September 25 via Prince’s website.

In other news, Sheila E has spoken about working with Prince, saying the pair worked on many songs together that are still unreleased.

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The drummer and singer began working with the late star in 1984 on his album ‘Purple Rain’. He also went on to produce her debut solo record ‘The Glamorous Life’ in the same year, which led to them becoming frequent collaborators.

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The Ghost Inside say they made “wrong call” in firing bassist over racial slur

Members of The Ghost Inside have expressed regret over their decision to sack bassist Jim Riley after he admitted to using a racial slur.

Riley left the metalcore group in June after being accused by Bracewar’s Rashod Jackson of making a racist remark in 2015. The musician apologised in a statement, saying: “Its shameful and fucking embarrassing. I present myself as someone who gives a shit about progressive movements and ideas, and I was not living up to that.”

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The Ghost Inside have revealed that they felt pressured to act swiftly and sack Riley, which they now regret.

Guitarist Chris Davis told DEFIANCE podcast: “It felt that incident was going to take away the band again. It just felt so overwhelming that it’s like we have to… all five of us felt like we had to do something. Looking back now, we definitely acted hastily and definitely made the wrong call” [quotes via Lambgoat].

  • Read more: The Ghost Inside – ‘The Ghost Inside’ review: metalcore heroes’ stunning testament to strength and bravery

Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk added: “We were just feeling the pressure from fans, people on social media, and even some peers. We felt the pressure and we made a decision against the wishes of our management and label and as soon as we made that initial post about Jim not being in the band anymore.”

The Ghost Inside new album single
The Ghost Inside, 2020. CREDIT: Jonathan Weiner

He continued: “I think we all just saw something going on that was like a lose/lose and we just felt like that was the call to make at the time, and immediately felt bad and felt wrong. We knew that. We never stopped talking to Jim or anything. We literally have chatted every day since.”

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In June the band released a statement explaining why they dismissed Riley. “The Ghost Inside was born from a scene of forward thinking, understanding and progressiveness.

“Our music and message has always been one of hope and finding that light at the end of the tunnel. Racism and bigotry of any kind stifle that journey the light. It closes and locks doors that need to be broken open.”

It’s not clear if Riley is set to rejoin the group.

Riley’s departure came days after the release of The Ghost Inside’s self-titled fifth album, which NME reviewed here.

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Dave Grohl feels like quitting Foo Fighters after every tour: “It’s kind of a running joke”

Dave Grohl has revealed he wants to stop touring every time he returns home from a long period on the road – but always changes his mind.

The Foo Fighters frontman was talking to AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson for a new Sky Arts documentary when he opened up on the emotional toil of touring the world with the band.

“It’s kind of a running joke with everyone in my life where, after I’ve been on the road for a year and a half, I come home from tour and say, ‘I’m never doing that again. That’s it. That’s the last time. Never ever again. I’m going to take two years off'”, he said.

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“And all my friends look at me and say, ‘Bullshit. There’s no way.'”

But it seems Grohl’s friends are always proved right, with the singer admitting he’s always keen to return to the studio after a short break.

AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Dave Grohl (Picture: Sky Arts)

“And after a month and a half I’ve got a guitar in my lap and I’m writing songs and I call the guys and say, ‘Let’s make another record.’ Every time,” he said.

Earlier this week, Grohl penned a new song for 10-year-old drummer Nandi Bushell as part of a series of drum challenges they’ve been issuing one another.

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In the video, Grohl plays drums, bass, guitar and sings lead vocals, while his daughters Violet, Ophelia and Harper sing along to a song that hears him call Bushell the “Queen of Rock and Roll”.

Last month, Foo Fighters were forced to cancel their upcoming Van Tour that would have commemorated the band’s 25th anniversary.

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Puma Blue announces debut album, shares single ‘Velvet Leaves’

London singer-songwriter Puma Blue will release his debut album, ‘In Praise of Shadows’, on January 29, 2021. The record will hit shelves via indie label Blue Flowers and is comprised entirely of new music.

To celebrate the announcement, Puma Blue — real name Jacob Allen — has dropped the album’s first single. The track, ‘Velvet Leaves’, comes with a new music video, which riffs on the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Watch the Harvey Pearson-directed clip below:

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Per a press release, Puma Blue said that a personal tragedy inspired ‘Velvet Leaves’.

“On the summer of 2015, my sister attempted suicide. It was a lot to process personally and for us as a family,” he said.

“I always wanted to deal with it in song but I never had the language, lyrically or musically, to grapple with such a complex issue. Then last year, I realised I finally had a way of dealing with that.

“I’d like to think it ended up being a hopeful song, about the beauty of the way she got through it, and we all got through it. But there are definitely elements of the song which are just about how dark that veil is”.

In fact, Allen insists that his forthcoming record as a whole is concerned with “the balance of light and dark, the painful things you have to heal from or accept, that bring you through to a better place”.

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“It’s about finding light in darkness – and realising that it’s what got me here today.”

‘In Praise of Shadows’ will be Allen’s first record since his 2019 live album, ‘on his own.’

Before that, the singer-songwriter burst onto the scene with his EPs ‘Swum Baby’ and ‘Blood Loss’, released in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

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Field Music’s David Brewis writes song for “stupid shit” anti-masker Noel Gallagher

David Brewis has shared a song in response to Noel Gallagher saying he refuses to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Field Music guitarist/vocalist posted a clip on Twitter of him playing the acoustic number, captioned with: “Wrote a little song for Noel.”

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Yesterday (September 15) it was reported that Gallagher told Matt Morgan’s Funny How? podcast he refuses to wear a mask because “too many fucking liberties being taken away”.

“I don’t give a fuck. I choose not to wear one and if I get the virus it’s on me, it’s not on anyone else,” he said.

Oasis
Noel Gallagher. (Picture: Mariano Regidor/Redferns)

Brewis clearly disagreed so much with Gallagher’s comments that he counted them with a short diss ditty. The lyrics go: “Oh Noel/It’s not about whether you catch it/You stupid knob/It’s more about if you’ve got it/Asymptomatically/And you pass it on/To somebody who dies/You stupid shit.”

In the podcast interview, Gallagher described the use of face coverings as “bollocks”.

“The whole thing’s bollocks. You’re supposed to wear them in Selfridges, yet you can fucking go down the pub and be surrounded by every fucking cunt. Do you know what I mean? It’s like, ‘oh actually, we don’t have the virus in pubs but we have it in Selfridges?’,” Gallagher said.

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Wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth is mandatory by law in all shops and supermarkets in the UK, although exemptions are in place for children under 11 and people with health issues.

They are also compulsory on public transport, with Gallagher recalling how he refused to wear a covering on a recent train journey to Manchester.

When challenged by Morgan, who argued that the masks help to prevent the spread of the virus, Gallagher falsely claimed that it is not the law to wear a mask.

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Send us your questions for Todd Rundgren

The great thing about pressing play on a new Todd Rundgren release is that you genuinely have no idea what it’s going to sound like. Will it be a sumptuous slice of blue-eyed soul? Will it be an intergalactic prog opus, a la Utopia? Will it be a synthy studio exploration, or a note-perfect Beatles homage? Or perhaps all of those things together, as on his 1973 masterpiece A Wizard, A True Star?

But as you can hear below, “Espionage” is something new again for the ever-evolving Rundgren. Featuring Iraqi-Canadian rapper Narcy, it’s an impressively on-point cosmic hip-hop voyage that wouldn’t sound out of place on Brainfeeder or Stones Throw:

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“Espionage” is the first taster from Rundgren’s upcoming album Space Force, due to be unveiled in instalments over the next few months, with other guests including Sparks and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.

To celebrate, Rundgren has agreed to undergo a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers, for our regular Audience With feature. So what do you want to ask a multi-faceted musical legend? Send your questions to [email protected] by Friday (September 18), and Todd will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut.

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Madonna to direct and co-write her own biopic

Madonna has today revealed that she’ll be directing and co-writing the forthcoming feature film based on her life.

Universal Pictures will be developing the forthcoming biopic, with Diablo Cody – who won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2007 for Juno – set to write it alongside Madonna.

“I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world,” Madonna said in a press statement.

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“The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.”

This news comes shortly after Madonna shared a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process for the yet-to-be-titled film in an hour-long Instagram Live session last week.

In the video, Madonna described the movie as being about the “happy, sad, mad, crazy, good, bad and ugly” journey of her career, while also being about her “struggle as an artist trying to survive in a man’s world”.

Amy Pascal, who worked on The Post and 2019’s Little Women, will produce the film alongside Madonna, with Madonna’s associate Sara Zambreno and manager Guy Oseary on track to executive produce.

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