The head of Florida’s state police force announced his retirement on Friday, 15 days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law giving him more authority over the commissioner’s … Click to Continue »
Latto is adding that real “Big Energy” to her 2021 breakout hit with an upcoming remix featuring Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled.
The rapper revealed that the new take on “Big Energy” is set to drop on Monday (Mar. 28). The announcement comes following a not-so-subtle Twitter exchange between Latto and Carey, in which the duo hinted at a collaboration through clever emojis.
The collaboration between Latto and Mariah Carey makes sense, as “Big Energy” samples Tom Tom Club’s 1981 single, “Genius Of Love,” which most fans will recognize from Carey’s “Fantasy.”
The song, released via StreamCut/RCA Records in September, hit No. 14 on the latest Billboard Hot 100, marking the 23-year-old Atlanta native’s first top 40 hit. The “Big Energy” remix also comes following the release of her album 777 on Mar. 25, which features star-studded guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino, 21 Savage, Lil Durk, Nardo Wick, and Kodak Black.
“I basically took this masculine, trendy ‘big d–k energy’ quote from Twitter and made it a thing where all genders can have ‘big energy’ and take it deeper than just [something] sexual,” Latto previously told Billboard of her song. “I wanted it to be empowering. It’s an aura that you carry and a confidence. It’s just an overall vibe and when you walk in the room, you have ‘big energy’ and no one can tell you otherwise. It’s an uplifting thing and turning a funny quote into something positive.
“My main thing that I like to push on my fans — or even if you’re not a fan and just tuned into my career — you can like the music or not like the music, but I want you to appreciate my come up, my hustle, my grind, my dedication to what I do,” she continued. “The proof is in the pudding. If you put your mind and hard work and prayer into what you do, it will happen. I’ve been doing this since I was eight years old, and I’m watching my dreams unfold. If eight-year-old Latto saw me being on Billboard — that’s huge to me. I would never take that for granted because these are things that I worked for to accomplish. The biggest thing I want them to take from me is if they stay down, the come up is near.”
With the release of The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm, Red Velvet once again reclaim their crowns as K-pop’s multifaceted, multi-genre-conquering queens.
While Feel My Rhythm‘s album artwork, and the Bach-sampling opening in the title track, all hint at a fantastical-pop approach, nothing is ever so simple for the quintet. Soon enough, clanging electronic production soon jumps into the mix, all making for a hit single equal parts experimental and elegant.
Feel My Rhythm continues to showcase Red Velvet’s range, with “Beg for Me” letting the group show how they’re “real nasty but still keeping it classy,” the sleek synths of “Rainbow Halo” letting them easily fit among some of RV’s best synth-pop gems, and the final half of the EP delivering different takes across R&B that Red Velvet tell Billboard are their favorite tracks.
While 2021’s Queendom EP was an enjoyable but somewhat safe return to K-pop after more than a year away from the scene, Feel My Rhythm sees Red Velvet at their shape-shifting best, yet still fully accessible thanks to the members’ sweet deliveries and loads of delicious hooks throughout this new collection.
Read on for reflections from Red Velvet members IRENE, SEULGI, WENDY, JOY and YERI on their Feel My Rhythm album, performing concerts again, and their growth as artists.
Starting with the title of the new album, The ReVe Festival 2022, is there any connection of this album to your three-part ReVe Festival series from 2019?
SEULGI: Through this album, we wanted to express Red Velvet’s unique “Imaginative World” worldview so we expanded and built on the themes that were showcased in our previous albums. You can see the connection to our previous works as well as a new side of Red Velvet that you haven’t seen before. Also, our “Feel My Rhythm” music video continues the dark fairytale concept for a new start.
Tell us about your new single “Feel My Rhythm.” What new sides of growth or evolution does this show of Red Velvet?
IRENE: Our new single starts with a sampling of Bach’s “Air on the G String” and has a very elegant and classic vibe. In the music video, you can also discover Red Velvet’s unique worldview: “Imaginative World.” We worked very hard to understand and make this track our own so you can look forward to hearing Red Velvet’s upgraded vocals. Please stay tuned for the performance as well!
The accompanying artwork and concept photos for “Feel My Rhythm” have been very whimsical, almost like a fairy tale with inspirations of what looks like princesses and ballerinas. Can you explain the visual inspirations?
YERI: While working on this album, we emphasized the “ReVe” concept that exists between imagination and reality. We hope everyone looks forward to Red Velvet’s stories in The ReVe Festival. Also, ballerinas and the garden in our “Imaginative World” served as the main visual inspirations for this EP. We took ballerina elements and emphasized the overall rounded silhouette to express a feminine mood. You can see we’re wearing a lot of corset designs with pearl pieces to give a classic look too. To capture the transition from winter to spring as well as the garden theme, we also wore elegant flower headpieces with white and pink pastel tones, which stand out visually.
Looking at all the tracks on the album, can each member share her favorite song from The ReVe Festival 2022?
IRENE: My personal favorite is “In My Dreams.” It’s a slow-tempo R&B ballad song, and I particularly love the signature orgel sound that reminds me of waking up after falling deep into a dream—and the chorus with the explosive energetic buildup.
SEULGI: I also like “In My Dreams” the most. I personally prefer delicate and fantasy-like music, so after hearing the demo, I immediately thought “This is my kind of music!” I had so much fun recording this as well and I hope ReVeluvs love it as much as I do.
WENDY: I can’t pick just one because I really like all the songs from this album. Hope you all enjoy listening to our new EP and let us know what your favorite song is!
JOY: My favorite track is “Bamboleo” because of the dream-like sound. “Bamboleo” means “to shake” or “sway” in Spanish, and the track captures the image of dancing freely throughout the night. I find the song to be charming.
YERI: My favorite track is “In My Dreams” as well because I like the lyrics the most. It’s a little melancholy and sad, but I can personally relate to the song very well so it was easy for me to bring out those emotions.
I’d like to get into the other album tracks too. “Rainbow Halo” has a really cool sound and title; I think it is going to be another beloved Red Velvet B-side. Can you explain the meaning?
WENDY: Thank you for liking “Rainbow Halo!” The signature sounds of this track are the restrained clap sound on top of a groovy bass along with the refreshing and subtly expanding bell sound. I think our vocals really stand out in this track! The lyrics metaphorically compare the person you love to a rainbow and describe the feeling of the moment when you are face-to-face with that person surrounded by the frame of the rainbow. The track beautifully expresses the feelings of love in the colors of the rainbow.
“Beg for Me” really stands out as a strong track, one of Red Velvet’s fiercest songs for sure. Can you talk about recording this song and embracing this strong side of yourselves?
JOY: As soon as I heard the demo, I was so excited that I literally cheered out loud! I love R&B music, so I’m happy that this album contains many R&B tracks! Beg for Me” has a playful but
also a sexy vibe, so it was especially fun to record this track. I did wonder if we should make it bolder and more expressive, but then I thought it would be better to refrain from the emotions a little and record in a nonchalant and chic manner and I am in love with how it turned out.
The second half of the album seems to be really loved by everyone: “Bamboleo,” “Good, Bad, Ugly” and “In My Dreams,” which are all a little slower and dreamier. WENDY has an amazing big note at the end of “In My Dreams.” Can you talk about these tracks and the second half of the album?
WENDY: “Bamboleo” is a different kind of retro, pop dance track with a dreamlike sound that is inspired by the image of dancing freely in front of the mirror throughout the night. “Good, Bad, Ugly” was fun to record because it sends a positive message to enjoy and look forward to the unpredictable moments in life. I like its jazzy sound as well. “In My Dreams’, which other members talked about the most, is a slow-tempo R&B ballad track based on a minimal trap rhythm and the lyrics express the desire to be together forever with the one you love even if it’s just in the dreams. Overall, with this album, you can listen to our upgraded, mature vocals. Throughout the entire process, we thought of our ReVeluvs who always believe in us.
Your live concert event “2022 The ReVe Festival : Prologue” needed to be postponed due to COVID-19. Can you share what to expect when it’s ready for the stage?
IRENE: We were all so excited and looking forward to the concert as well, so we were disappointed when it had to be postponed. However, everyone’s safety and health come first, and we know there will be another opportunity where we’ll meet again soon. Originally, we planned to perform our new single for the first time before the comeback but next time we meet, we’ll have amazing performances for our fans including songs from the new album so please look forward to it!
Is there any chance Red Velvet will bring their concerts to overseas fans? Any spoilers or hints you can share at this time?
YERI: From a while back, we’ve been planning our concert tour but it looks like we are going to have to wait a little longer for the situation to get better because the safety and the health of everyone including the members, fans, and the staff are our top priority! We really miss our fans from all over the world. We will share good news with you soon, so hold on a little longer!
Reflecting back to the 2019 ReVe Festival albums, Red Velvet has matured a lot and gone through a lot of changes! Can you share the ways you’ve felt you’ve changed and what you’ve learned since then?
IRENE: As we prepared for this EP, I definitely felt we’ve matured a lot. As we gain more years and experience in our careers, the work has become more natural and familiar compared to when we first debuted. We can grasp each process faster and our teamwork as a group has gotten so much stronger.
Is there anything else you’d like Billboard or your international fans to know at this time?
SEULGI: I didn’t know we wouldn’t see each other for this long. The circumstances are very unfortunate and we miss our fans so much. We have many exciting performances in store for you so we hope you enjoy listening to our album even though we are all far away from each other right now! Stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to meeting everyone soon!
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Following last year’s scaled-down ceremony, the 2022 Oscars will return to its pre-pandemic glory when the 94th annual Academy Awards air on ABC on Sunday (March 27).
Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes are slated to host the show, which is executive produced by Will Packer and will broadcast live from Hollywood’s Dolby Theater at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Andre Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Denzel Washington, J.K. Simmons, Ariana DeBose and Aunjanue Ellis are among this year’s nominees.
Coda, Don’t Look Up, West Side Story, Dune, Nightmare Alley, Licorice Pizza, The Power of the Dog, King Richard, Belfast and Drive My Car are up for multiple awards, including the coveted best picture honor. Encanto, Flee, and Summer of Soul are also nominated in various categories.
The show will feature a performances from Beyoncé, Billie Eillish, Reba McEntire, the first live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” and a special tribute honoring the 50th anniversary of The Godfather and the 60th anniversary of the first James Bond movie.
How to Watch the 2022 Oscars Online
If you don’t already have cable, don’t worry. There are lots of ways to watch the 2022 Oscars from your TV or laptop, such as Hulu and ABC.com (an antenna might also do the trick).
Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 a month for over 75 live channels including ABC and NBC, along with access to the entire Hulu streaming library, Disney+ and ESPN+. Similarly, Direct TV has streaming plans that start at $59.99 for a limited time (regular $69.99). The packages include live and local channels in addition to MTV, BET, E!, VH1, Trvl, CMT, A&E, FX, Comedy Central, TLC and other cable channels. And you’ll get free Showtime, STARZ, Epix and HBO Max for up to three months depending on which plan you choose.
Sling TV is another option for live television. Plans start at $35 a month, after a free three-day trial, and you can stream from multiple devices when you upgrade to larger plans. Sling TV includes 50 hours of DVR storage.
New York touring musicians – led by the Music Workers Alliance – are seeking additional pandemic relief from the state after a tumultuous touring season this winter.
Musicians including Esperanza Spalding and Marc Ribot are advocating on behalf of New York’s touring workers to be included in the New York State Legislator’s Small Business Recovery Grant — included in the New York State Senate’s budget proposal — as micro-businesses. Inclusion in the grant program would give music workers — or “independent arts contractors,” as they’re described in the budget — access to possibly hundreds of millions of dollars in relief funds.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) ended in September 2021. Shortly thereafter, touring musicians were inundated with another wave of cancellations due to the unprecedented increase in COVID-19 cases brought on by the Omicron variant.
Touring, particularly for smaller artists, can be a business of tight margins. If one member of a band, crew or team contracts COVID-19 and one or more shows are canceled, it can mean the difference between being paid to go on tour and paying out of pocket to be on tour. Additionally, 67% of NYC music workers rely on live or touring income and not recorded music, according to a 2019 survey of American Federation of Musician Local 802 members by the Indie Musicians’ Caucus.
Ribot, who is a founding member of the Music Workers Alliance, says touring during the omicron wave was like “swimming three feet ahead of a shark.”
“Berlin shut down two nights after we did our gig there [this winter],” Ribot says. “It’s not only the gig cancellations. It’s the travel disruptions. It’s the border restrictions. It’s new testing requirements. You haven’t lived until you’re told the night before entering Switzerland that you need a PCR test to get in.”
While the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Paycheck Protection Program have helped venue owners and other live music businesses, those funds were not awarded directly to performers, touring musicians or other individual music workers. In the 2022 MWA Lost Wages Survey, 77% of respondents said they lost over 50% of their income in the last year compared to pre-pandemic levels. Music workers also felt the need to turn down touring opportunities due to the risk of cancellations and sunken costs.
“Hotel, travel, testing, all that stuff – venues and promoters aren’t going to cover those on gigs that are canceled,” says Entourage Talent Associates booking agent Nathaniel Marro, who also chairs the policy and politics committee for MWA.
Under the Small Business Recovery Grant program, music workers would be eligible for grants between $5,000 and $50,000 depending on their annual gross receipts for 2019, which could make a significant impact on New York’s arts and entertainment community that saw an employment decline of 66% — the largest of any work sector in New York City, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
“A lot of the legislators and the common people don’t understand how music workers live. It is a mystery to them,” says Olympia Kazi, founding member of the NYC Artist Coalition and MWA. “In many ways, what we are doing is educating, and if we win this money, that’s proof that they got the lesson. So in the future, we have the benefit of getting quality programs that help this industry.”
According to Kazi, the state Senate has already included music workers as eligible entities for the grant, and several Assembly members – who are next to weigh in on the budget – have also voiced support for their inclusion. On April 1, the budget will be finalized and approved by New York governor Kathy Hochul, the state Senate and the state Assembly.
Pharrell Williams contributed the breezy “Just a Cloud Away” to the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack back in 2013, but TikTok has brought back the happy track thanks to a wholesome meme.
If you need a guide to follow along with Pharrell’s “Just a Cloud Away,” find the lyrics below:
This rainy day is temporary
The contrast is why we got ’em
‘Cause sun shining through is just a cloud away way way way way way
Way way way way way way (hey baby!)
So what you blown a fuse (you blown a fuse)
Well that happens to us all (that happens to us all)
When I come with great news (i come with great news)
The day could change (change) change (change) change (change) change (change)
We’ve all, of course, been there before
Been there cryin’, fightin’, the dark
Let good energy be your strong
Won’t get away way way way
This rainy day is temporary
The contrast is why we got ’em
‘Cause sun shining through is just a cloud away way way way way way
Way way way way way way (hey baby!)
Well today the rock star (today the rock star)
Feels like singing the blues (feels like singing the blues)
Don’t abandon that song (don’t abandon that song)
‘Cause the tune could change (change) change (change) change (change) change (change)
We’ve all, of course, been there before
Been there cryin’, fightin’, the dark
Gravity doesn’t need the earth
Snow-balling change (change) change (change) change (change) change (change)
This rainy day is temporary
The contrast is why we got ’em
‘Cause sun shining through is just a cloud away way way way way way
Way way way way way way
Everything is simply told
What goes around us come back around baby
Everything boomerangs
What goes up must come down
Love is warm, winter’s cold
Humility will keep your feet on the ground
So do your thing through the rain
If you understand, won’t you sing with me now?
This rainy day is temporary
The contrast is why we got ’em
‘Cause sun shining through is just a cloud away way way way way way
Way way way way way way
This rainy day is temporary
The contrast is why we got ’em
‘Cause sun shining through is just a cloud away way way way way way
Way way way way way way
Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHARRELL WILLIAMS
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