Adele Considered Three ‘Very Different’ Options Before Releasing ‘Easy on Me’ as New Single

Adele picked “Easy on Me” as the first single from her upcoming album, 30, but says she could have gone in a very different direction.

The singer spoke with BBC Radio’s Zoe Ball Breakfast Show for a segment that aired soon after releasing her new song and admitted that she had three strong contenders in mind.

“There was three options for the first single. Very, very different, all of them,” Adele said.

Without giving too much away, she dropped a few details about the songs that were almost chosen as the lead single from 30.

“Obviously ‘Easy on Me,’ and then there’s another one which is like, I got very into Goldfrapp again,” she noted.

“There’s another one that’s very sort of ’70s, like piano, singer-songwriter-y,” added Adele. “When I say piano, I mean it’s got a whole band on it, but just very Carpenters, like very Elton, whatever.”

In the end Adele went with “Easy on Me” because of its “soaring chorus” — and because it simply “just felt like a me song,” which felt important to her after not releasing a new album since 2015.

Adele’s “Easy on Me” arrived on Oct. 14 as the first taste of 30, and it’s headed for a noteworthy chart debut. Of the three albums she’s previously released, she’s had two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 albums chart (with a record-smashing first week for 2015’s 25, which sold 3.38 million copies in just its debut week in the U.S.) and four No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

Listen to the full BBC Radio interview with Adele here.

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Here’s How Drake Reacted to His Early Listen of Adele’s New Album

Drake got to hear Adele’s upcoming album 30 far in advance of its Nov. 19 release.

“I played it to Drake maybe last year, when he was in town,” Adele revealed in a new interview with Capital FM this week.

The singer recalled, “I’m like, ‘You think this is like what people want?’ And he was like, ‘Absolutely.’”

“I don’t send it around to like, various people, being like, ‘Can I get your thoughts on this?’” Adele clarified during her chat with the U.K. radio station.

“It’s always just been about how it makes me feel,” she said. “Quality control is my forte. I can write a song about my own experiences my own life, and stuff like that. People certainly aren’t waiting for a club banger from me. I feel like I’m gonna give people what it is that they’ve been missing while I’ve been away.”

Just the other day, Drake — whose own Certified Lover Boy just returned to No. 1 for its fourth nonconsecutive week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart — showed his support for his pal on Instagram, where he posted a Story about her new single “Easy on Me.”

“One of my best friends in the world just dropped a single,” Drake wrote with a smiley emoji, tagging Adele and topping his message off with “WOIIIIIII.”

Adele’s “Easy on Me,” just released on Oct. 14 as the first single from 30, is headed for a splashy chart debut. Her previous releases have given her an impressive track record on the charts that’s included two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 albums chart (with a combined 34 weeks atop the list) and four No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

Watch Adele chat about Drake’s preview of 30 in the interview clip below.

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Ronnie Tutt, Drummer for Elvis and Other Stars, Dies at 83

Ronnie Tutt, a legendary drummer who spent years playing alongside Elvis Presley and teamed up with other superstars ranging from Johnny Cash to Stevie Nicks, has died. He was 83.

In a Facebook post early Sunday (Oct. 17), Terie Tutt wrote that her father died at home surrounded by his family.

“It’s with deep sadness that my family and I share the loss of our beloved dad,” Terie Tutt wrote. “The Legendary Drummer, Ronnie Tutt, ‘has left the building.’”

Elvis Presley Enterprises noted Tutt’s death in a statement Saturday. The group that runs Graceland recalled how Tutt drummed for Elvis with the TCB Band from 1969 until 1977, joining the band put together by James Burton for Elvis’ 1969 Las Vegas opening and staying with Elvis until his death in 1977.

Beyond Elvis, Tutt played with some of the biggest names in music, touring with Neil Diamond’s band and recording and playing with Cash, Nicks, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Costello, Michael McDonald and more, Elvis Presley Enterprises wrote.

“In addition to being a legendary drummer, he was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland,” the group said in a statement. “We enjoyed each time he joined us here to celebrate Elvis Week, Elvis’ Birthday and many other special occasions. Ronnie was an amazing ambassador to Elvis’ legacy – sharing his memories of working with Elvis with fans – as well as bringing Elvis’ music to arenas around the globe through later Elvis in Concert shows and performances.”

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Fans Choose Adele’s ‘Easy On Me’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Adele’s new song “Easy On Me” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Oct. 15) on Billboard, choosing the 33-year-old British superstar’s beautiful piano ballad — which is aiming for a splashy debut on the Billboard charts — as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Easy On Me,” Adele’s first single in five years, brought in 69% of the vote, beating out new music by Coldplay (Music of the Spheres), Young Thug (Punk), PinkPantheress (To Hell With It), Paulina Rubio (“Yo Soy”), and others.

Created with longtime collaborator Greg Kurstin, “Easy On Me” is the lead single from Adele’s upcoming fourth album, 30, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 19. The song was accompanied by black-and-white music video, in which the singer drives away from an empty house with a “Sold” sign in the front yard.

Adele’s last three albums — 19, 21 and 25 — have all reached the top five on the Billboard 200, with the latter two hitting No. 1. Her most recent project, 2015’s 25, spent a staggering 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned the album of the year Grammy, selling 3.38 million copies in its debut week. It marked the biggest sales week for an album since MRC Data began tracking point-of-sale purchases in 1991.

Placing second on the past week’s tally with nearly 12% of the vote was Coldplay’s ninth album, Music of the Spheres, released through Parlophone/Atlantic Records. The Max Martin-produced set is the follow-up to the British band’s 2019 double album, Everyday Life, which led the Official U.K. Albums chart and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.

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Bowen Yang Brings Down the ‘SNL’ House as ‘Proud Gay Oompa Loompa’

Bowen Yang brought the Saturday Night Live house down when he appeared as a “proud gay Oompa Loompa” for a segment on “Weekend Update.” The comic was trending on social media Sunday (Oct. 17) thanks to the hilarious moment.

Dropping by to initially talk about the unsafe working conditions in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, co-host Colin Jost introduced Yang’s impeccable character as a “proud gay Oompa Loompa,” there to talk about the reaction to the first look at Timothée Chalamet’s upcoming Wonka.

“Oh, my God,” said Yang’s Oompa Loompa. “You just outed me on national television.”

Colin apologized for the confusion as Yang’s character explained all he wanted to do was talk about a possible Oompa Loompa strike over the unsafe conditions at the chocolate factory.

“Now I guess I have got to call my parents,” Yang’s Oompa Loompa said to big laughs. “They live in Loompa-land. It’s not as progressive as here. They, like, just got Will & Grace. So yeah, it’s gonna be a conversation.”

Pushing forward, Yang’s Oompa Loompa said, “You know what, Colin? You did me a huge favor because now I can be honest — about everything. Point blank: the man doesn’t know how to make chocolate! He’s an ideas man who’s never touched a machine. He just tumbles into the inventing room and says something like ‘What about a gumdrop that makes children dream silly dreams?’ And it’s like, ‘Yeah, b—-. What about it?!’”

Yang has quickly become an SNL fan favorite, his unique characters who drop by “Weekend Update” — including Fran Lebowitz and the iceberg that sunk the Titanic — creating comedy gold.

Watch the full segment below, and check out the full episode of SNL on Hulu here. The streaming service is currently offering a 30-day free trial, which you can sign up for here.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.

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Two tourists got Legionnaires’ Disease after staying at a Florida Keys resort, lawyers say

When Marcia Blanar stayed at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys during the summer, a decorative fountain surrounded by benches “was raging with active Legionella,” according to a lawsuit … Click to Continue »
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Lil’ Kim Says Nick Cannon Is Now Her Manager

Lil’ Kim’s career is being guided by Nick Cannon.

The rapper revealed her current connection to Cannon in Complex’s interview series “Hiking With Rappers,” for which she joined host King Keraun on some Los Angeles trails, but spent more time chatting about her career in a golf cart.

Lil’ Kim at first insisted she jogs five miles and takes a hike every day but later admitted, “I never hiked a day in my life, and I don’t like it.”

When asked about what’s next for her, Cannon’s name entered the conversation — since he’s apparently helping her make those decisions.

“I just shot a movie with Nick Cannon,” she said. “Nick Cannon, people don’t even know, like he’s one of my best friends. We’ve been best friends for years … And we just shot a movie called Miracle Across 125th Street. I really did that movie for Nick, but I love doing movies.”

“It’s part of my next level,” she added. “Nick is convincing me. You know he’s my manager?”

“I did not know that,” the host replied. “Your manager has like 20 kids.”

“Leave my manager alone,” Lil’ Kim joked.

(For the record, Cannon, who also keeps busy as a TV and radio host, is the father of seven children, four of whom were born in the last year. Earlier this month, he announced his plans to practice celibacy until 2022.)

Lil’ Kim’s most recent album, 9, was released in 2019. Three of her albums — 2000’s The Notorious KIM, 2003’s La Bella Mafia and 2005’s The Naked Truth — reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

She has an upcoming memoir titled The Queen Bee that’s slated for a Nov. 2 release.

Watch her discuss working with Nick Cannon in her hike-and-interview video below.

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How to Watch Big Daddy Kane & KRS-One ‘Verzuz’ Battle

Hip-hop legends Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One will go head-to-head in New York City for the next Verzuz battle.

The face-off between the two MCs — who helped define the genre with in the late 1980s and early 1990s — will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday (Oct. 17).

Kane, who rose to prominence in the ’80s as part of the Queens’ Juice Crew — which also featured Marley Marl — set himself apart from the pack with his double-time flow, signature high-top fade and casual cool style on early hits, including “Ain’t No Half Steppin’” and “Smooth Operator.”

KRS-One blew up around the same time as Kane, but followed a different path to stardom, focusing on conscious lyrics and social commentary, first as part of the Boogie Down Productions crew alongside late DJ Scott La Rock and then as a solo act. With an in-your-face, rapid-fire attack, KRS pulled no punches on songs such as the squealing “Sound of Da Police,” BDP’s “My Philosophy” and “The Bridge Is Over.”

The Kane-KRS’ showdown follows the mid-September Verzuz battle between rap icons Ja Rule and Fat Joe at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Verzuz matchup between Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One takes place Sunday (Oct. 17) at 7 p.m. ET. For those unable to watch live from the Barclays Center, fans can catch the action on the Triller app, FITE TV or the Verzuz TV Instagram account.

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5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (October 16)

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

Nicki Nicole’s Tiny Desk

Joined by an 11-member band, Nicki Nicole presented her NPR “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” this week, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The blossoming Argentine star gave a select of her hits a different twist, kicking off with a tango-infused version of “Colocao.” She continues to flaunt her effortless swagger and soulful, powerhouse vocals in tracks such as “Mala Vida,” “Wapo Traketero” and “Freestyle.” Nicki also performed her stripped-down, ultra-personal ballad “Parte de Mi” and wrapped up with the groovy, chachacha “Baby.” In case you missed it, watch her performance below.

Bad Bunny on ‘Allure’ Magazine

This week, Allure magazine revealed Bad Bunny as its November cover star. Rocking different bold outfits for the photo shoot, the Puerto Rican global star opens up about gender non-conformity in the article. “When I was starting to make my music, my style came as part of the process of liberating my mind and liberating spirit,” he said. “Since I was young, I had it in me — I just had to liberate it.”

Maffio Partners with Cadillac

Latin hitmaker Maffio, currently making the rounds with his Gente de Zona-assisted “Hablame de Miami,” partnered once again with automotive brand Cadillac. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the 2021 Sport Escalade, the brand highlights the Dominican artist’s passion for music, culture, and rise as a successful Latino artist. “Life is about your legacy, this is why I am excited to partner once again with legendary brand Cadillac,” he said in a statement. “At Cadillac, we champion big dreams and bold ambitions,” added Juanita Slappy, head of multicultural marketing for the brand. “Maffio’s sound is the soundtrack of our creative reflecting our drive — powerful and innovative.” Watch the video titled “Mi Cultura, My People” for Cadillac below.

KOATI Movie

A star-studded green carpet premiere took place this week at Miami’s Silverspot Cinema for the new animated film Koati. Directed by Rodrigo Perez-Castro and executive produced by Sofia Vergara and Marc Anthony, the film “follows the adventures of Nachi, a mischievous, solitary and good-hearted Coati who embarks on a journey to save his fellow animals of Xo after their beloved leader dies.” Showcasing the magical realism of the Latin American jungles, the cast stars Vergara, Joe Manganiello, Evaluna Montaner, Adriana Barraza, Karol G, and De La Ghetto, to name a few. Koati is available at select theaters and will soon premiere on Prende TV.

Las Villa & Their ‘La Tortura’ Cover

Colombian duo Las Villa, formed by twin sisters Laura and Lucia Villa, released their version of Shakira and Alejandro Sanz’s “La Tortura” as part of Amazon Music LAT!N’s Hispanic Heritage Month initiative. On their cover, the girls flaunt their mesmerizing harmonizing vocals without compromising the authentic, catchy melody. The exclusive song appears on Amazon Music’s Breakthrough playlist, which “features emerging artists that are redefining the future of music and diversifying the industry.”

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Adele’s ‘Easy on Me’ Off to Fast Start, Aiming for Splashy Chart Debut

One of the rarest events in music is upon us once again. It’s Adele Season on Billboard’s charts!

On Oct. 14, the superstar released her first new song in nearly six years, “Easy on Me.” The piano ballad premiered at 7 p.m. ET across streaming services and digital retailers worldwide, alongside its official music video. (The song premiered globally, so, while it bowed at 7 p.m. ET in the U.S., it arrived concurrently at 12 a.m. in the U.K. on Oct. 15.)

“Easy on Me” is the first single from Adele’s upcoming fourth studio album, 30, due out on Nov. 19. Adele last released new music in November of 2015, with the release of her third album, 25. (And the 25 album came more than four years after her second album, 21.)

Adele’s track record on Billboard’s charts is impressive. Among her achievements from only three studio albums: two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 albums chart (with a combined 34 weeks atop the list), four No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, four No. 1s on the Pop Airplay chart, five No. 1s on the Adult Pop Airplay chart, five No. 1s on the Adult Contemporary airplay chart and three No. 1s on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.

Her last two albums, 25 and 21, were led by the singles “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep,” respectively. Both tracks hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 — “Hello” opened in the top slot (dated Nov. 14, 2015) and spent 10 weeks at No. 1, while “Rolling” ruled for seven weeks in 2011.

INITIAL U.S. SALES & STREAMS 

“Easy on Me” sold nearly 15,000 digital downloads in its first five hours of availability in the U.S. (7 p.m.-midnight ET on Thursday, Oct. 14) according to MRC Data. Meanwhile, it collected over 3 million on-demand audio and video streams in the same time frame. (Digital retail stores and streaming services’ U.S. tracking week, as reported to MRC Data, ends at midnight ET [9 p.m. PT] every Thursday.)

On Friday, Oct. 15 in the U.S., “Easy” sold another 27,000 downloads, according to initial reports to MRC Data.

Adding up Oct. 14 and Oct. 15, the song has sold over 42,000 in a little over a day in the U.S. To put that number in perspective, only five songs have sold at least that many downloads in a single week in the U.S. in 2021, and four of them are by BTS.

Further updates on “Easy on Me’s” U.S. sales and streams, as well as its global sales and streaming performance, will be reported as the week progresses.

U.S. RADIO AIRPLAY

“Easy on Me” is off to a scorching start on U.S. radio.

The single drew 897 plays in its first five hours (7 p.m.-midnight ET on Thursday, Oct. 14), on 250 stations that report to Billboard’s all-genre Radio Songs chart (whose panel includes over 1,300 stations covering multiple formats). Those 897 plays translate to 3.1 million all-format audience impressions for the song in that span, helped by hourly plays on multiple radio chains.

In its first full day of tracking (Friday, Oct. 15), “Easy” was played 4,160 times, generating 21 million in audience, again propelled, in part, by hourly spins. It ranked as the No. 1 most-played and most-heard song on radio Friday, ahead of runner-up “Stay” by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber (4,114 plays, 13.2 million in audience).

“Easy” drew 25 or more plays from its release through the end of Friday on 111 Radio Songs reporters, including stations in each of the 10 largest radio markets.

The song is set to debut on at least three individual format radio airplay charts, which are due to update Tuesday, Oct. 19, on Billboard.com. It could launch in the top 10 on Adult Contemporary; if it does, it would claim the first top 10 grand entrance for a non-holiday song since the chart adopted MRC Data information in 1993. The track is also likely to begin in the top 20 of Adult Pop Airplay and the top 25 of Pop Airplay.

The charts measure plays on respective panels of adult contemporary, adult pop and mainstream pop radio stations in the U.S., with the next editions, dated Oct. 30, reflecting airplay covering Oct. 11-17. “Easy” could, thus, debut on the surveys from airplay over its first three full days, plus its first five hours of availability.

HOT 100

What will be the impact of “Easy” on the airplay-, sales- and streaming-based Billboard Hot 100?

The chart’s tracking week for those metrics runs Friday through Thursday each week. “Easy” is eligible to arrive on the forthcoming Hot 100 (dated Oct. 23; covering the tracking week of Oct. 8-14) from only its first five hours of activity on Oct. 14.  

“Easy” will make its first seven-day impact on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 30, as well as on the Radio Songs, Digital Song Sales and Streaming Songs charts dated Oct. 30, reflecting its performance in the Oct. 15-21 tracking week, the song’s first full week of release.   

Highlights of the Hot 100 are revealed each Monday on Billboard.com, with the full chart, and all other rankings, updating each Tuesday. Highlights of the Oct. 23-dated Hot 100 will post this coming Monday, Oct. 18, with the full chart updating Oct. 19, while those of the Oct. 30 Hot 100 will publish Oct. 25, with the full chart posting Oct. 26. 

BILLBOARD 200

While the 30 album will not be released until Nov. 19, expect Adele’s earlier albums to post gains on the Billboard 200 chart (dated Oct. 23), as well as the Catalog Albums chart.

On the most recently published Billboard 200 (dated Oct. 16, reflecting sales and streaming data in the U.S. for the week ending Oct. 7), 25 jumped from No. 174 to No. 83, while 21 surged from No. 198 to No. 119. Both albums rallied up the list in the wake of Adele’s Oct. 5 announcement of the then-forthcoming release of “Easy on Me.”

The top 10 of the Oct. 23-dated Billboard 200 chart is scheduled to be announced on Sunday, Oct. 17. All of Billboard’s Oct. 23-dated charts are scheduled to post in full to Billboard.com on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

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