When the nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards are announced on Nov. 10, two country hits could be in the running for record of the year for the first time since Jimmy Carter was President.
Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Luke Combs’ remake of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” both have a very good chance of making the finals. Wallen’s song has logged 23 weeks atop Hot Country Singles. “Fast Car” has logged 12 weeks at No. 2. (Both songs dropped one rung this week, to Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, with the re-entry in the top spot of Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town.”)
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Combs’ hit probably has a better chance of being nominated than Wallen’s does. Combs has received six Grammy nominations over the years (though he has yet to win). And Chapman’s original version was nominated for record and song of the year. Wallen has yet to be nominated for a Grammy, so there’s no evidence yet that Grammy voters are ready to forgive and forget the 2021 incident where he was videotaped using a racial pejorative.
If both hits are nominated, this would be the first time in 46 years that two or more country hits have competed in this marquee category. (We define a country hit as a song that made the top 20 on Hot Country Songs.) In 1977, three top five country hits vied for record of the year – Crystal Gayle’s elegant torch ballad “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (which topped the country chart for four weeks), Linda Ronstadt’s exquisite pop/country version of Roy Orbison’s 1963 pop hit “Blue Bayou” (which reached No. 2) and Debby Boone’s megahit rendition of the Oscar-winning ballad “You Light Up My Life” (which reached No. 4).
In three earlier years, two or more country hits competed for record of the year. In 1967, Glen Campbell’s sublime reading of Jimmy Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (a No. 2 country hit) vied with Bobbie Gentry’s enigmatic pop/country crossover smash “Ode to Billie Joe” (a No. 17 country hit).
The following year, for the first and so far only time in Grammy history, three No. 1 country hits competed for record of the year. They were Jeannie C. Riley’s reading of Tom T. Hall’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” Bobby Goldsboro’s tearjerker ballad “Honey” and Campbell’s version of another Webb classic, “Wichita Lineman.” The Riley and Goldsboro hits each topped the country chart for three weeks; Campbell’s smash headed it for two.
In 1975, Campbell’s sleek version of Larry Weiss’ “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes” competed for the prize. “Rhinestone Cowboy” topped the country chart for three weeks. “Lyin’ Eyes” reached No. 8 on the country chart.
In 1979, two record of the year nominees had charted on Hot Country Songs, but only one of them was a home-run country hit. That’s Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” which topped the country chart for three weeks on its way to becoming his signature song. The other is a pop smash – Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond’s “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” – that was covered by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, one of the top country duos of the era. Both versions entered Hot Country Singles – as the chart was then called – on Nov. 25, 1978. But whereas the version by Brown and Cornelius made the top 10, the version by Barbra & Neil stalled at No. 70. (It had star-power to burn, but you can practically hear country programmers saying “It just isn’t country.”)
In recent years, it has been hard for even one country hit to wind up with a Grammy nod for record of the year. The last five country hits to be nominated in that marquee category (again defining a country hit as a song that reached the top 20 on Hot Country Songs) were Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” (No. 19 in 2019), Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together) (No. 1 for 10 weeks in 2012), Lady A’s “Need You Now” (No. 1 for five weeks in 2010), Swift’s “You Belong With Me” (No. 1 for two weeks in 2009) and Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” (No. 1 for one week in 1998).
The Recording Academy expanded the number of nominees in each of the Big Four categories (including record of the year) from five to eight in 2018. They expanded it again to 10 in 2021, but have announced that they are dropping it back down to eight for the nominations that will be announced on Nov. 10.
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Class is almost back in session! As students get ready to head back to school in the coming weeks, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy are slashing prices on big-ticket and low-cost items.
With a number of back-to-school sales circling the web, you’ll have even more opportunities to shop and save. To help you get started, we put together a list of affordable items and back-to-school deals for students (and parents) on a budget.
Below, find a roundup of backpacks, tablets, laptops and computer accessories, earbuds and other essentials to help you get back to school.
No sale needed! This protective cover is made with durable materials to protect against dust, dirt and debris and scratches and it’s only $18. The laptop cover is available in red, black, blue or pink and features a polyester foam padding layer with fluffy fleece fabric lining. Click here for more laptop bags and laptop covers.
Keep your schedule on track with a personalized academic planner from Papier! The 7-inch x 9-inch planner comes in multiple colors including hot pink, baby pink, black and orange and can be used to track grades, finances, deadlines, plan activities and more. Looking for something cheaper? See more academic planners here.
Apple Airpods are back on sale too! These 2nd generation Airpods are $99 at Walmart, Amazon and other retailers. The AirPod Pros are on sale for $199. Click here for over-ear headphones.
Make your space retro with this Bluetooth typewriter keyboard. It’s incredibly cute, up to 40% off at Amazon (when you apply the instant coupon) and available in sweet mint, baby pink, ivory butter, midnight and snow white.
Stay cool while you study with this cute little fan/lamp/pencil holder. The rechargeable, three-speed fan is equipped with a flexible goose neck and a small LED lamp (with three speeds of brightness). The fan can work for up to 14 hours, depending on the speed, and can be recharged with an adapter, PC, power bank, car charger, laptop and more.
Under Armour’s Hustle 5.0 backpack is a bestseller on Amazon and currently with over 9,000 customer reviews (rated 4.8 out 5), plus it’s 50% off. The water-resistant bag is equipped with adjustable shoulder straps, nylon lining, a breathable air-mesh padded back panel and a soft lined laptop sleeve that holds up to a 15-inch laptop.
Jansport started as a small family business in 1967 and has become one of the most popular backpack brands around. The Right Pack featured above is an update on a classic design and while it may be hard to find on sale, the durable backpack pays for itself after a few wears. It features the signature straight-cut/padded shoulder straps and suede bottom, a side water bottle pocket, a padded laptop sleeve designed to fit a 15-inch device and is available in 20 different colors. You can find Jansport backpacks at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kohl’s, WSS etc.
This extra-large backpack scored a 4.8 out of 5-star rating, with over 16,000 customer reviews. Perfect for school and travel, the large-capacity bag (available in blue and black) has three spacious compartments with hidden pockets, plus 20 independent pockets for large and small storage needs, an external USB port to charge your phone and other devices and conveniently placed, side elastic net pockets to hold umbrellas, water bottles and more gear such as travel accessories, stationery, notebooks, cord organizers and clothes. Click here for a longer list of backpacks to shop.
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Bring your lunch to school in a Bentgo lunch box, which offers multiple, leak-proof compartments and built-in portion control. The lunch box is available in blush marble, coastal aqua, blue, gray, purple and khaki green. For a heated option, check out this electric lunch box ($39.97).
Technically, utility carts qualify as school supplies. This rolling cart features three, deep baskets for storing your pens, pencils, books, notepads, small electronics and more.
Need a portable mouse? Logitech M240 bluetooth mouse has earned high reviews for being easy to use with a compact design. Aside from being available in rose, graphite and off white, the mouse is ultra-quiet and tracks fast and accurately on most surfaces, making it great for school, gaming, work, etc.
This Jumper laptop is a No. 1 new release on Amazon. The Jumper Laptop EZbook S5 has a 14 inch, full HD display screen, 12GB RAM, 256GB SSD, dual speakers and the battery lasts up to eight hours at a time (480 hours on standby).
Best Buy
HP Envy Laptop 2-in-1 15.6-Inch Touch Screen Laptop
Clearance deal! Save $300 on this HP Envy 2-in-1 Laptop. The Envy is a convertible laptop with a 15-6-inch display, high-definition screen and dual speakers with crisp audio courtesy of Bang & Olufsen. The laptop has a battery life of about 11 hours (fast charge the battery half way in just 30 minutes) and an AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processor with Radeon graphics. Click here to shop MacBooks on sale.
Stay connected to the world you love with the Beats Flex earphones. These earbuds are available in yellow, blue, black and white, and feature 12 hours of battery life, with rich, powerful sound, accurate bass and low distortion. Magnetic earbuds make listening even easier with Auto-Play/Pause2 that plays music when they buds are in your ears and pauses when they’re connected around your neck. When you’re not wearing them, the magnetic earbuds easily coil up into your pocket or purse for easy, tangle-free storage.
Looking for a portable speaker? The Bose Soundlink Flex is a waterproof, Bluetooth speaker with exclusive technology and a custom-engineered transducer to deliver deep, clear, and immersive audio — whether you’re at home or on the go. You can buy the Bose Soundlink Flex in multiple colors including stone blue, white smoke, carmine red and black (the battery lasts for 12 hours). For a smaller speaker option, check out the Marshall Willen speaker ($119).
Bluelight blocking glasses are designed to protect your eyes from harsh blue rays and high energy blue lights. They’re also supposed to reduce eye strain, fatigue, blurred vision and headaches brought on by staring at your device for too long. The glasses pictured above are available in 12 different colors, including the transparent design pictured above and if you’re looking for a basic pair of glasses, they retail for only $7.
Going away for school? Video chat with friends and family, set timers, stream music and more with the Echo Show 5. The all-new, third generation Echo Show 5 features Alexa voice technology and a 2MP camera.
Need a new desk? The Rolanstar Computer Desk offers a no-frills design at a great price. The 39-inch desk has a built-in power strip with dual outlets and USB ports, built-in wire-management, a cup holder and headphone/VR headset hook. Want something cheaper? This Mainstay desk is on sale for $65 at Walmart.
This Choo Choo computer desk measures 40-inches long and can also be used as a makeup vanity or console table. Ideal for a dorm room, bedroom, living room or home office, this double-drawer desk is made from MDF board with an x-frame to ensure stability and durability and available in multiple colors including black and white.
Need an affordable chair? Save 33% off the Neo ergonomic desk chair features a breathable mesh back, integrated lumbar support and the seat height can be adjusted.
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Jason Aldean’s controversial “Try That in a Small Town” music video was seemingly edited to remove imagery of a Black Lives Matter protest after the clip received backlash, with critics claiming that the video contained racist, pro-gun and pro-lynching messaging.
According to The Washington Post, the video is now six seconds shorter than when it was originally shared on July 14. There is no longer a clip from Fox 5 Atlanta depicting violent interactions during Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020.
Billboard has reached out to Aldean’s team for more information.
Last week, the country singer responded to recent claims that “Try That in a Small Town” is a “modern lynching song.” The song challenges those who “pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store” or “cuss out a cop” to, as the title suggests, try those actions in a small town and “see how far ya make it down the road.” The song’s video features footage of an American flag burning, protesters having confrontations with police, looters breaking a display case and thieves robbing a convenience store.
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to a comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” Jason wrote in his statement. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”
He later addressed the controversy during his Ohio concert on Friday (July 21). “It’s been a long week and I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that,” Aldean told the crowd in a fan-captured video. “I feel like everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, it doesn’t mean it’s true.”
He added, “What I am is a proud American. I’m proud to be from here. I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls— started happening to us. I love my country, I love my family, and I will do anything to protect that, I can tell you that right now.”
CMT has since pulled the video from its rotation after running it for three days, while Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, came to his defense. On the other hand, stars like Sheryl Crow and Margo Price have spoken out against Jason Aldean’s choice to perform and release the song.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2023-07-26 03:24:282023-07-26 03:24:28Black Lives Matter Clips Removed From Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Video: Report
Monsta X‘s Shownu & Hyungwon are the latest members of the group to branch out. The duo released its first joint mini album The Unseen on Tuesday (July 25), as well as a music video for the project’s lead single “Love Me a Little.”
The “Love Me a Little” video sees the duo preoccupied with the way the object of their affections makes them feel, from captivated to borderline insane. Even simple things like driving and lying in bed prove to be a task, as their thoughts overtake them.
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“Charmed by that unfamiliar scent/ You just won’t come to me/ Locked in your room, I get more excited today/ Love me a little, love me a little bit/ Your scent blows into my love you/ Love me a little, love me a little bit/ La la la love me,” the pair takes turns singing on a midtempo chorus backed by percussion, as they dance on water.
Shownu and Hyungwon’s The Unseen features a total of five tracks: lead single “Love Me a Little,” “Love Therapy,” “Roll With Me,” “Play Me” and “Slow Dance.” The set comes less than two years after Monsta X — which also includes members Minhyuk, Kihyun, Joohoney and I.M — released its second English album, The Dreaming, in 2021. The album peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard 200.
Watch the video for “Love Me a Little” above and stream The Unseen in full below.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2023-07-26 03:24:272023-07-26 03:24:27Monsta X’s Shownu & Hyungwon Team Up for First Joint Mini Album ‘The Unseen’: Stream It Now
Lady Gaga has fond memories of her beloved friend and musical collaborator Tony Bennett, who died on Friday (July 21) at the age of 96.
In a new People cover story remembering the late legend, the publication revisited a 2014 interview with Gaga, in which she shared that Bennett sketched a tattoo of a trumpet for her.
“I asked Tony to draw me a trumpet, and he sketched me Miles Davis’ trumpet,” she recalled. “Then I had it tattooed with his last name, Benedetto, underneath. Just so I would always remember this time together.”
Their 2014 jazz album, Cheek to Cheek, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. After Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, he went on to release a second jazz album with Gaga, titled Love for Sale, in 2021.
“Tony heard me sing [‘Orange Colored Sky’] and he asked to meet me,” Gaga said in 2014. “He said, ‘Do you want to do a jazz album together?’ I said, ‘Of course I do!’ We were fast friends.”
In 2021, Bennett announced that he was retiring from touring and performing after one last show in August of that year with Gaga at Radio City Music Hall entitled “One Last Time.”
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As construction jobs showed an uptick for the first time in 2023, Florida’s near-historic low unemployment rate remained unchanged in June. The Florida Department of Commerce on Friday announced the … Click to Continue »
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A Florida man is now accused of helping a U.S. Marine and his accomplice line up the firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, federal prosecutors said on … Click to Continue »
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2023-07-25 03:31:442023-07-25 03:31:44Florida man helped US Marine, accomplice in Southern California OC Planned Parenthood bombing, prosecutors say
The state Agency for Health Care Administration has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that is expected to lead to the Medicaid program providing incontinence supplies to adults with … Click to Continue »
The Florida Department of Education faced angry reaction from across the nation to new African American history standards suggesting some slaves benefited from skills they learned while enslaved. Responding to … Click to Continue »
Comedian Michelle Buteau tells us about her new Netflix film ‘Survival of the Thickest,’ why she was inspired to make the show, sharing a birthday with Jennifer Lopez, and more!
Michelle Buteau: Hey everyone, I’m Michelle Buteau. And you’re watching Billboard News. But you knew that already because you clicked.
Michelle Buteau: My new show on Netflix ‘Survival of the Thickest’ is a show that has been inspired by my book ‘Survival of the Thickest: Plus-Size Essays in a Small-Minded World.’ And so the themes are so important to me. We explore body positivity, sex positivity, inclusion, black, brown, queerness, what it’s like to live in the city, New York City, the best city in the world. And follow your dreams and hustle and what it looks like to be in a toxic relationship and in your mid 30s. And you got to make a choice, girl, what’s it gonna be?
Michelle Buteau: What is this show gonna be? You know what I mean? Like, I have stories, I have the book, but I have this platform in 190 countries with Netflix, you know, I could be funny all the time, obviously. And I’m a woman — how she do it? I’m like, I am going to use this platform for good. You know, I’m going to say something important. I’m gonna be authentic to my New York. And that is everybody, literally everybody, every shape, size and shade. And so I’m so proud of not only diversity in the cast, but also the crew. Listen, my cast was amazing. We had Peppermint, Michelle Visage, Garcelle Beauvais, Tone Bell, Nicole Byer. And let me tell you something, she nailed it. Nailed it.
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