Tag: billie eilish

Billie Eilish calls out ‘pathetic’ Elon Musk for not donating vast fortune – National | Globalnews.ca
Billie Eilish had some choice words for tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Earlier this month, Musk, 54, won a shareholder vote that would give the Tesla CEO stock worth US$1 trillion if he hits certain performance targets over the next decade. More than 75 per cent of voters approved the plan as shareholders gathered for the annual meeting.

Following the reports, Eilish, 23, took to her Instagram stories on Nov. 13 and referred to Musk, who is already the richest person in the world, as a “f—ing pathetic p—- b—- coward.”

The Ocean Eyes singer shared infographics originally posted by My Voice, My Choice suggesting what Musk could do to help global crises with his vast fortune.

“Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire here’s what he could do with it,” the first photo read.

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The next slides suggested ways that Musk could help assist the world, including “end world hunger” and “choose to spend $40 billion every year to end world hunger by 2030 or provide universal safe clean water for $140 billion for the planet for the next seven years.”

A screenshot of Billie Eilish’s Instagram Stories.

@BillieEilish/Instagram

The following slide said that Musk could “save all 10,443 Critically Endangered species” by paying “$1-2 billion annually to bring all of them down to Endangered status.”

The last slide suggested that Musk could pay $53.2 billion to “rebuild Gaza and the occupied West Bank according to the EU.”

“Although the UN predicts this could be upwards of $70 billion for Gaza alone. If he wanted to spread the wealth, and aid further, he could also rebuild Ukraine and Syria at a cost of $793.2 billion,” the post read.

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A screenshot of Billie Eilish’s Instagram stories.

@BillieEilish/Instagram

In her final post, Eilish wrote: “etc…. f—ing pathetic p—- b—- coward.”

A screenshot of Billie Eilish’s Instagram stories.

@BillieEilish/Instagram

Musk has not publicly responded to Eilish’s comments as of this writing.

1:55
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Eilish’s criticism of Musk comes weeks after she suggested billionaires need to donate more when she accepted the music award at this year’s WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards in October.
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“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country,” Eilish said to an audience that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, as well as Star Wars creator George Lucas.

“I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it,” she added.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert introduced Eilish on stage at New York’s Museum of Modern Art by announcing that she would donate $11.5 million of the proceeds from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to causes dedicated to food equity, climate justice and reducing carbon pollution.

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In accepting the award, the Bad Guy singer added a polite-but-direct call to others in the room, saying that a lot of people, especially in the U.S., could use some help right now.

“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here who have a lot more money than me,” she said, as the room erupted in applause. “And if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? And no hate, but give your money away, shorties.”

Billie talking to billionaires about donating money for causes during her speech at the @WSJ Innovator Awards tonight in New York! 💙 pic.twitter.com/GY5aUQRIdU

— Billie Eilish Tours (@billieeilishtrs) October 30, 2025

— With files from The Associated Press
&copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Katie Scott

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November 14, 2025
Zuckerberg, Chan shift bulk of philanthropy to science, focusing on AI and biology to curb disease

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — For the past decade, Dr. Priscilla Chan and her husband Mark Zuckerberg have focused part of their philanthropy on a lofty goal — “to cure, prevent or manage all disease” — if not in their lifetime, then in their children’s. But during that time, they also funded underprivileged schools, immigration reform and efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion.

Now, the billionaire couple is shifting the bulk of their philanthropic resources to Biohub, the pair’s science organization, and focusing on using artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. The idea is to develop virtual, AI-based cell models to understand how they work in the human body, study inflammation and use AI to “harness the immune system” for disease detection, prevention and treatment.

“I feel like the science work that we’ve done, the Biohub model in particular, has been the most impactful thing that we have done. So we want to really double down on that. Biohub is going to be the main focus of our philanthropy going forward,” Zuckerberg said Wednesday evening at an event at the Biohub Imaging Institute in Redwood City, California. Three other Biohub institutes — in New York, San Francisco and Chicago, focus on addressing different scientific challenges.

Chan and Zuckerberg have pledged 99% of their lifetime wealth — from shares of Meta Platforms, where Zuckerberg is CEO — toward these efforts. Since 2016, when Biohub launched, they have donated $4 billion to basic science research, a figure that does not include operating expenses for running a large-scale computer cluster for life science research. The organization says it is now on track to double that amount over the next decade, with an operating budget of about $1 billion a year.

Last week, singer Billie Eilish told an audience that included Chan and Zuckerberg that rich people should do more to address the world’s problems.

“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here who have a lot more money than me,” she said, to a smattering of applause. “And if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? And no hate, but give your money away, shorties.”

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the couple’s charitable organization, has been faced with criticism recently for curtailing its other philanthropic work. Earlier this year, it stopped funding grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion, immigration advocacy and other issues currently in the crosshairs of the Trump administration — though the focus has been shifting to science and away from social issues for years, the couple says, long before the 2024 election.

“So we basically looked at the ecosystem of science funding and decided that the place that we can make the biggest impact was on tool development,” Zuckerberg said. “And specifically working on long-term projects, 10 to 15 years, where the output of them was taking on a biological challenge that would produce a tool that scientists everywhere could use to accelerate the pace of science.”

The organization earlier this year scrubbed its website’s mentions of DEI, including a statement saying “People of color and marginalized communities have experienced a long history of exploitation in the name of scientific research, and indeed science has itself been deployed as a tool of oppression.”

“Going forward, Biohub will be our primary philanthropic effort and where we’ll dedicate the vast majority of our resources,” Zuckerberg and Chan said in a blog post Thursday. “We will continue our other philanthropic efforts as well, but the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will serve as infrastructure and support for our initiatives.”

Zuckerberg and Chan’s increased commitment to science research comes as the Trump administration has cut billions in scientific research and public health funding.

Chan, who had worked as a pediatrician and treated children with rare diseases, says what she wanted “more than anything was a way to see what was happening inside their cells — how genetic mutations were expressed in different cell types and what, exactly, was breaking down.”

“Until now, that kind of understanding has been out of reach. AI is changing that. For the first time, we have the potential to model and predict the biology of disease in ways that can reveal what’s gone wrong and how we can develop new treatments to address it,” she said.

On Thursday, Chan and Zuckerberg also announced that Biohub has hired the team at EvolutionaryScale, an AI research lab that has created large-scale AI systems for the life sciences. Alex Rives, EvolutionaryScale’s co-founder, will serve as Biohub’s head of science, leading research efforts on experimental biology, data and artificial intelligence. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Biohub’s ambition for the next years and decades is to create virtual cell systems that would not have been possible without recent advances in AI. Similar to how large language models learn from vast databases of digital books, online writings and other media, its researchers and scientists are working toward building virtual systems that serve as digital representations of human physiology on all levels, such as molecular, cellular or genome. As it is open source — free and publicly available — scientists can then conduct virtual experiments on a scale not possible in physical laboratories.

Noting that Biohub launched when the couple had their first child, Chan listed off some of the organization’s accomplishments, ranging from building the largest single-cell data set, contributing to one of the largest human cell maps, building sensors to measure inflammation in real-time in living cells and researching rare diseases.

That work continues, with a focus on using AI to advance biomedical research.

“And to anchor it back onto the impact on patients, you know, why do this?” Chan said. “It’s like, why is a virtual cell important? We have cured diseases for mice and for flies and for zebrafish, many, many times. And that’s great. But we want to make sure that we are actually using biology to push the forefront of medicine for people — and that is so promising.”

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November 7, 2025
Billie Eilish calls on billionaires to donate more of their wealth:

Billie Eilish wants billionaires to donate more.

As the Grammy and Oscar winner accepted the music award at this year’s WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday night, she urged the ultra-wealthy to address more of the world’s issues.

“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country,” Eilish said to an audience that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, as well as “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. “I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it.”

Late-night host Stephen Colbert introduced Eilish onstage at New York’s Museum of Modern Art by announcing that she would donate $11.5 million of the proceeds from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to causes dedicated to food equity, climate justice and reducing carbon pollution.

Billie Eilish attends the WSJ. Magazine 2025 Innovator Awards at MoMA on Oct. 29, 2025, in New York City.

Taylor Hill / Getty Images

In accepting the award, the “Bad Guy” singer added a polite but direct call to others in the room, saying a lot of people, especially in the U.S., could use some help right now.

“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here who have a lot more money than me,” she said, to a smattering of applause. “And if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? And no hate, but give your money away, shorties.”

Through her Changemaker Program, Eilish has worked with the nonprofit Reverb for years on its Music Decarbonization Project and its Music Climate Revolution initiative, alongside artists ranging from Dead & Company to Harry Styles.

Chan was also honored at the event, receiving the “Philanthropy of Science Innovator of the Year” award. A spokesperson for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Brandi Hoffine Barr, said Zuckerberg and Chan have committed to giving away 99% of their Meta shares to philanthropy over the course of their lifetimes and have already granted out $7 billion. According to Forbes, Zuckerberg’s current net worth is around $224 billion.

Eilish’s comments come as the number of billionaires worldwide continues to grow, with 204 new billionaires added in 2024, according to a January report from Oxfam International titled “Takers Not Makers.”

The report found that the billionaires grew wealthier three times faster in 2024 than in 2023, pointing to an increased concentration of resources globally.

Oxfam predicted that at least five people will become trillionaires in the next decade, up from one person the year before. The group called for higher taxes on the rich and other measures to break up monopolies, cap CEO pay and require companies to pay living wages.

The wealthiest Americans have a long history of calling on each other to give away more of their money. In 1889, the steel magnate and industrialist Andrew Carnegie argued in the essay “The Gospel of Wealth” that the richest should give away their fortunes within their lifetimes, in part to lessen the sting of growing inequality.

In 2010, Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett took up that call by creating the Giving Pledge, a commitment for billionaires to give away more than half their wealth in their lifetimes or when they die.

Fifteen years on, some 256 billionaires have taken the pledge, with 110 of them coming from the U.S., according to a recent report by the Charity Reform Initiative of the Institute for Policy Studies. Those U.S. billionaires represent 13% of the total 876 billionaires in the U.S., according to the report, revealing the small portion of the wealthiest people who have publicly committed to giving away their fortunes.

The report found that of the 22 billionaires who have died since taking the pledge, only one gave away his fortune before he died. Meanwhile, only eight of the 22 deceased pledgers fulfilled the commitment by giving away half of their wealth or more at their death, though some of their estates are still being resolved.

Chuck Collins, one of the authors of the report and an expert at the Institute for Policy Studies, said Eilish’s comments are part of a growing realization that the rules of the economy favor those with assets over those who earn wages.

He thinks the Giving Pledge has created an expectation and competition for the wealthiest to give away their money, but the fortunes of many of the pledgers have increased over time, meaning they will need to move even more aggressively if they are to fulfill the commitment.

“In the end, philanthropy is not a substitute for a fair and effective tax system,” Collins said. “The level of extreme inequality will require some form of restoring progressivity to the tax system, a wealth tax as well as progressive income tax.”

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October 31, 2025
When Billie Eilish says ‘Shhh,’ Charlotte listens — then roars back louder

In a show that blended towering flames, lasers and heart-wrenching ballads, the most stunning feat of Billie Eilish’s first night in Charlotte for “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR” was a stretch of sixty silent seconds.

The megastar wrangled the audience as she whirled through her three-album discography — spanning from lo-fi ballads to rock to alternative pop — in the newly-renovated Spectrum Center Sunday.

Without caution, that whirl could’ve caused whiplash. But Eilish owned the basketball-court sized stage and guided with ease the nearly sold out crowd wearing bandanas, knee-length jorts, loosely tied ties and jerseys (I spotted no Carolina Panthers nor Charlotte Hornets swag).

After skipping and sprinting and rolling on a floating platform as high-energy hits “CHIHIRO,” “LUNCH” and “Therefore I Am,” spewed through the speakers, the 23-year-old politely hushed fans as she approached her sixth song of the night.

Billie Eilish performs on a floating platform during her first night in Charlotte on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. HENRY HWU

“I’m going to be using a little loop on my voice, creating harmonies that I’m going to sing over,” she said as she sat cross-legged on a blacked out stage under a single spotlight. “It will only work if the entire room is completely silent for about one minute straight… as soon as the silence is over, go right back in, do all the things you normally do. Yell and shout and all of it, but we have to be very, very, very, very, very quiet. Okay?”

The crowd listened. Only after Eilish gave them the “O.K.” with a flash of her trademark grin did they burst into “when the party’s over.”

Billie Eilish performs in Charlotte on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. HENRY HWU

That mute minute in an otherwise ever-bobbing, ever-shouting crowd (a portion of which camped outside the Spectrum Center) was a testament to Eilish’s ability to hold her own on a stage that — other than the occasional burst of fire and blitzing lights — had little frill.

Eilish has come to North Carolina three times before. She opened for Florence + The Machine at the Spectrum Center in 2018 at 16 years old. She also brought her “Happier Than Ever” tour to Charlotte in 2022 and her “Where Do We Go?” tour to Raleigh in 2020.

The hour-and-a-half-long set list peaked at those opening hits and at later performances of “bad guy” and “Guess.” It beautifully softened at the slower songs, including “Your Power,” “ocean eyes,” and “What Was I Made For?”

While sitting atop a stool across from her two backup singers, Eilish reflected on the life outside the stadium.

“The world is in such a terrible place right now, and it’s weird to be doing something so, you know, it’s so fun,” she said. “It’s kind of deceiving to what is actually going on in the world. There’s part of me that feels like I shouldn’t even be doing it.”

“Maybe it’s not appropriate,” Eilish thought aloud the day after uptown’s streets and cities across the nation filled with anti-Trump “No Kings” protestors.

“And then I think… it’s really important that we all have something to keep us together, that we all have art,” she said before beginning “Your Power.”

Billie Eilish performs an acoustic set at the Spectrum Center in uptown Charlotte during her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. HENRY HWU @HENRYHWU

Try not to abuse your power, she sang.

I know we didn’t choose to change

You might not wanna lose your power

But having it’s so strange

A neon pink sign shot into the air. “YOU CALM THE CHAOS,” it read.

Spectrum renovations unveiled

After that powerful acoustic set, I hit a two-and-a-half song lull.

In all fairness to Eilish, that drag may have been caused by my weekend spent at a wedding and the Spectrum Center soda fountains’ lack of Diet Coke.

The venue unveiled a $245 million renovation in tandem with Eilish’s show Sunday, touting 1,400 new lower-level seats, more signs, more bars and local flare to its food options. But none of the four soda stations I tried had Diet Coke. With a souvenir cup of full-sugar Coca-Cola, I may have been doomed to crash on song 13.

Several soda fountain dispensers ran out of Diet Coke during Billie Eilish’s first Charlotte performance on her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Julia Coin

The crowd didn’t seem to be swept under the rip-tide that I treaded through “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” “bury a friend,” and part of “Oxytocin.” At least not the four-time Eilish tour attendee beside me and the two middle-schooled aged girls in front of me.

Even the adult accompanying the pair rode the wave. Though she did put her hand over her heart with a look of shock on her face as Eilish played her… suggestive duet with fellow pop star Charli xcx: Guess. You can read the lyrics here, if you’d like.

Eilish’s parents made an appearance at the end of the show, too. Her dad stoically waving on the jumbotron as Eilish thanked them and Finneas — her brother, co-writer and producer.

After giving a peek at her family, Eilish ran with a handheld camcorder linked to the big screen, showing her polo-wearing band and the soundboard masters stationed below the risers.

It was the cherry on top of a packed show that somehow still felt intimate — an ultimate feat for any artist.

Billie Eilish’s Charlotte setlist

CHIHIRO

LUNCH

NDA

Therefore I Am

WILDFLOWER

when the party’s over

THE DINER

ilomilo

bad guy

THE GREATEST

Your Power

SKINNY

TV

BITTERSUITE (transition)

bury a friend

Oxytocin

Guess (Charli xcx cover)

everything i wanted

lovely / BLUE / ocean eyes

L’AMOUR DE MA VIE

OVER NOW

What Was I Made For?

Happier Than Ever

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM.

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Julia Coin

The Charlotte Observer

Julia Coin covers courts, legal issues, police and public safety around Charlotte and is part of the Pulitzer-finalist team that covered Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. As the Observer’s breaking news reporter, she unveiled how fentanyl infiltrated local schools. Michigan-born and Florida-raised, she studied journalism at the University of Florida, where she covered statewide legislation, sexual assault on campus and Hurricane Ian in her hometown of Sanibel Island.
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Julia Coin

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October 20, 2025
Raleigh to see more weekend traffic ahead of 1st full day of NC State Fair, 2nd day of Billie Eilish

West Raleigh is gearing up for the possibility of another round of traffic nightmares on Friday, ahead of a nice weekend filled with tons of large events in the area.

It comes with Thursday’s start of the North Carolina State Fair and back-to-back nights of Billie Eilish concerts at the Lenovo Center. The concerts start at 7 p.m. on Friday.

WRAL News did not hear of any reports of bad traffic or backup, compared to Tuesday’s Chris Brown Concert at Carter-Finley. However, since Eilish’s second concert day overlaps with one of the busiest days to attend the N.C. State Fair—and the start of a nice weekend—traffic is expected to much heavier than what Thursday brought.

Raleigh Mayor on major traffic in the city

“There’s just work to do to get this better,” Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said.

Cowell told WRAL News that Raleigh residents flooded her email inbox with complaints of traffic woes created by Tuesday night’s Chris Brown concert at Carter-Finley Stadium, coinciding with rush hour. Some people with tickets either missed several hours of the show or didn’t even make it to the venue’s first concert in nearly a decade.

WRAL News asked Cowell what her office is doing to try to alleviate the traffic issues around the Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium.

“The main solution I have is that the Raleigh Police Department, I would love to see them more directly involved,” Cowell said, adding the officers had “no formal role at all in the traffic” for the Chris Brown concert.

“So, the fact that NC State and the police are getting together to debrief this whole event next week, that’s, that’s what I want to see,” she continued.

People attending the Billie Eilish concerts should plan to arrive several hours early.

On Thursday, a Lenovo Center spokesperson provided a statement.

“We try to strike a balance between managing traffic and congestion without turning away world-class tours that have a limited window to visit North Carolina,” the statement reads.

The Lenovo Center has already sent a notice encouraging guests attending the Billie Eilish concert to arrive early due to fair traffic, writing:

“Local traffic is encouraged to consider alternate routes. Those attending events at Lenovo Center are encouraged to plan ahead, carpool if possible and arrive early. Lenovo Center parking lots will open at 1 p.m. prior to each event and are reserved for event attendees on the respective days.”

The fair’s opening night is usually a popular one. Gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Evening fair visitors and concert traffic will likely overlap. On Friday, the fair runs until 11:30 p.m. Evening visitors will again contend with concert traffic.

The state fair runs through Oct. 26. WRAL’s guide to the N.C. State Fair has tips for parking, shuttles and more.

The Lenovo Center is scheduled to host rapper NBA YoungBoy at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and country singer Tate McRae at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

North Carolina State Fair Division Director Kent Yelverton spoke with WRAL News about Tuesday night’s traffic congestion.

“When there are two large events, everyone suffers,” Yelverton said.

When it comes to the fair itself, Yelverton said they can handle huge numbers because the fair has turnover throughout the day, rather than a concert where everyone is trying to get to one spot at the same time.

“When a second large event is in the area, sharing the roads, sharing the parking, it certainly impacts the experience for everyone’s customers,” Yelverton said.

People driving in the area of the Lenovo Center and the fairgrounds in west Raleigh—including Blue Ridge Road, Edwards Mill Road, Hillsborough Street, Wade Avenue, Trinity Road, and along Interstate 440—should be aware of traffic before, during and after the Thursday and Friday evening commutes.

Planned renovations at the Lenovo Center could attract larger crowds

The Lenovo Center is planning a $300-million renovation project, which could attract more people to the area. The renovations do not include plans to improve the roads around the venues.

“We all have to pay attention to the infrastructure,” Yelverton said. “If we’re over-building for the infrastructure, then it makes it very hard to maintain that customer service and experience.”

The North Carolina General Assembly approved a $35 million boost to development plans around the Lenovo Center last month, which will impact the roads.

History of traffic woes around the Lenovo Center, Carter-Finley Stadium and the North Carolina State Fairgrounds

The area around the Lenovo Center, Carter-Finley Stadium and the North Carolina State Fairgrounds has a history of traffic congestion for big events.

It includes the February 2023 NHL Stadium Series event at Carter-Finley Stadium when the Carolina Hurricanes played the Washington Capitals. Traffic was backed up for miles.

Something similar to Tuesday’s traffic woes happened in May 2016, when some fans who paid hundreds of dollars to see Beyoncé at Carter-Finley Stadium got stuck in traffic and missed much of the show.

In 2009, when fans packed Raleigh for a U2 show, the same thing happened. Many drivers were tied up in traffic for hours and missed the show.

“We don’t want our customers sitting [in traffic] like that … for the Lenovo Center or the state fair,” Yelverton said. “We’ve got people on the street that are trying to get in and enjoy the fair [and] Lenovo Center has customers that have paid a lot of money to watch a concert, and they want to be there when it begins.”

The history of traffic woes has prompted the NC State football team and the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team to plan around the North Carolina State Fair.

In 2002, a large traffic backup occurred when the North Carolina State Fair, an NC State football game, and a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game were held all on the same day.

After the incident, the Carolina Hurricanes apologized to their fans and asked the NHL not to schedule any home games during the State Fair again.

NC State has not played a home football game during the fair since 2008, when the Wolfpack played on the first day of the fair. Annabelle Myers, the NC State associate athletic director, said that the school submits a request to the ACC every year to not have home games during the North Carolina State Fair.

The Hurricanes’ next home game is Oct. 28 at the Lenovo Center when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Wolfpack’s next home game is Nov. 1 at Carter-Finley Stadium when they take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

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October 17, 2025
‘Everyone suffers’: Traffic concerns grow in Raleigh for first day of NC State Fair, what to know

The North Carolina State Fair is just hours away from opening its doors Thursday afternoon. Gates are set to open right at noon.

While there’s much to look forward to, including new fair foods and rides, one big thing that most people—especially those out of the Triangle—will be dealing with is traffic.

All eyes are on the roads around the fairgrounds after recent days of major traffic backups that coincide with large events at other venues.

A Chris Brown concert at Carter-Finley Stadium on Tuesday evening caused a large traffic jam that was backed up for hours in Raleigh, and more headaches are expected this week as crowds flock to the North Carolina State Fair.

North Carolina State Fair Division Director Kent Yelverton spoke with WRAL News about Tuesday night’s traffic congestion.

“When there are two large events, everyone suffers,” Yelverton said. When it comes to the fair itself, he said they can handle huge numbers because the fair has turnover throughout the day, rather than a concert where everyone is trying to get to one spot at the same time.

“When a second large event is in the area, sharing the roads, sharing the parking, it certainly impacts the experience for everyone’s customers,” Yelverton added.

Chris Brown’s “Breezy Bowl XX” tour with artists Jhené Aiko and Bryson Tiller packed Carter-Finley Stadium at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

WRAL News has since received multiple complaints from people who missed at least two hours of the show due to heavy traffic in the area, likely caused by rush hour and the anticipated concert. Some on social media allegedly had to park on the side of the highway and walk alongside the heavy traffic just to get a glimpse of the show before it ended.

Whitney Watson, who attended the concert, said it was a traffic nightmare.

“When I was at 0.3 miles [away], it was, I think, an hour and 20 minutes,” Watson said.

Others said they missed the concert entirely.

“We were within 2 miles of the stadium for four hours. Literally, no parking. I’m so heartbroken,” one fan posted on an online petition urging Live Nation to issue refunds to those with similar situations.

WRAL News asked the Lenovo Center why it has four concert dates scheduled during the North Carolina State Fair and what it’s doing to improve the traffic experience. Lenovo Center personnel didn’t respond on Wednesday.

First day of large events

Major traffic jams near the North Carolina State Fairgrounds could happen again this week when the North Carolina State Fair opens on Thursday, Oct. 16. The first two nights of the state fair coincide with two Billie Eilish concerts at Lenovo Center scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Those are both weekdays, so rush hour could complicate things as well.

NBA YoungBoy is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 and Tate McRae is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

“Sharing the road, sharing the parking, it certainly impacts the experience for everyone’s customers,” Yelverton said.

The Lenovo Center is also planning upgrades, which could attract more people to the area. The renovations do not include plans to improve the roads around the venues.

“We all have to pay attention to the infrastructure,” Yelverton said. “If we’re over-building for the infrastructure then it makes it very hard to maintain that customer service and experience.”

The North Carolina General Assembly approved a $35 million boost to development plans around the Lenovo Center last month, which will impact the roads.

Something similar to Tuesday’s traffic woes happened in May 2016, when some fans who paid hundreds of dollars to see Beyoncé at Carter-Finley Stadium got stuck in traffic and missed much of the show.

In 2009, when fans packed Raleigh for a U2 show, the same thing happened. Many drivers were tied up in traffic for hours and missed the show.

“We don’t want our customers sitting [in traffic] like that … for the Lenovo Center or the state fair,” Yelverton said. “We’ve got people on the street that are trying to get in and enjoy the fair [and] Lenovo Center has customers that have paid a lot of money to watch a concert, and they want to be there when it begins.”

People driving in the area of the Lenovo Center and the fairgrounds in west Raleigh—including Blue Ridge Road, Edwards Mill Road, Hillsborough Street, Wade Avenue, Trinity Road and along Interstate 440—should be aware of traffic before, during and after the Thursday and Friday evening commutes.

People attending the Billie Eilish concerts should plan to arrive several hours early.

The Lenovo Center has already sent a notice encouraging guests attending the Billie Eilish concert to arrive early due to fair traffic, writing:

“Local traffic is
encouraged to consider alternate routes. Those attending events at Lenovo
Center are encouraged to plan ahead, carpool if possible and arrive early. Lenovo
Center parking lots will open at 1 p.m. prior to each event and are
reserved for event attendees on the respective days.”

The fair’s opening night is usually a popular one. Gates open at noon and close at 11 p.m. Evening fair visitors and concert traffic will likely overlap.

On Friday, the fair runs until 11:30 p.m. Evening visitors will again contend with concert traffic.

People attending the show should all be aware of traffic and plan accordingly.

WRAL’s guide to the N.C. State Fair has tips for parking, shuttles and more. The state fair runs through Oct. 26

Canes take road trip, NC State football schedules games around the state fair

In 2002, a large traffic backup occurred when the North Carolina State Fair, an NC State football game and a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game were held all on the same day.

After the incident, the Carolina Hurricanes apologized to their fans and asked the NHL not to schedule any home games during the State Fair again.

NC State has not played a home football game during the fair since 2008, when the Wolfpack played on the first day of the fair. Annabelle Myers, the NC State associate athletic director, said that the school submits a request to the ACC every year to not have home games during the North Carolina State Fair.

The Hurricanes’ next home game is Oct. 28 at the Lenovo Center when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Wolfpack’s next home game is Nov. 1 at Carter-Finley Stadium when they take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

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October 16, 2025
Record Store Day Black Friday: More Than 170 Limited Vinyl Releases Coming to Local Record Shops

Music fans will find 170+ special vinyl pressings at their neighborhood shops this Nov. 28. The Record Store Day Black Friday event brings rare cuts from Bob Dylan, Billie Eilish, Talking Heads, and Prince to turntables nationwide.

The star attraction is The Original Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which adds four tracks to the 1963 album: “Rocks and Gravel,” “Let Me Die in My Footsteps,” “Rambling, Gambling Willie,” and “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues,” according to SPIN.

Dylan fans get a second treat: a seven-inch vinyl single of “Masters of War” recorded in poet Alan Lomax’s apartment in 1963. The B-side catches an intimate chat between Dylan and Lomax.

The Wicked: For Good soundtrack is a double-picture disc set with fresh artwork and a poster, with color schemes that represent Wicked Witch Elphaba and Good Witch Glenda.

Billie Eilish’s live EP from the London Palladium arrives on 10-inch vinyl, with live versions of “Skinny,” “Wildflower,” “Birds of a Feather,” and “L’Amour de ma Vie.”

Talking Heads’ Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live comes from a rare 1974 tape that catches the band, then called the Artistics, before Jerry Harrison joined.

Prince’s Around the World in a Day: The Singles has seven-inch versions of four hits plus “4 the Tears in Your Eyes” from We Are the World.

Live 1975 shows Fleetwood Mac with new members Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. The set list includes “Hypnotized” and “Oh Well” from their Peter Green era.

This year’s Record Store Day Ambassador, Post Malone, drops Long Bed, with nine fresh tracks pressed on bright orange vinyl.

The sale starts at 8 AM on Nov. 28. The releases are split into three types: shop-only items, RSD first releases that might pop up later elsewhere, and small-batch regional pressings under 1,000 copies.

Dan Teodorescu

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October 10, 2025
Billie Eilish makes long-awaited Orlando return, and the show is very sold out – Orlando Weekly

Billie Eilish plays Orlando Credit: etros Studio

Billie Eilish will be in Orlando — on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour — in mere days.

This Orlando show marks her first return to the city since her show in 2020 just days before the COVID lockdown, and fans will get a setlist that mixes older hits with new tracks from her Grammy-nominated album Hit Me Hard and Soft, featuring standouts like “Birds of a Feather” and “Lunch.”

Expect an emotionally charged, visually immersive performance leaning into her very human storytelling abilities at this (are you really surprised?) sold-out show.

7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, Kia Center, 400 West Church St., kiacenter.com, SOLD OUT.

This article appears in Oct. 8-14, 2025.

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Emmy Bailey
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October 8, 2025
Finneas and Ashe Reveal That They Started the Favors in Secret—Now They’re Storming the Stage

Before the show, Willson was feeling hopeful. “It’s nice that we don’t have to carry the load by ourselves in this one,” she said. “Finneas is going to go on and make more solo records, as will I. But we have this special little moment where we can lean on each other—and I want more of that.”

Later on, O’Connell described the genesis of the album in a slightly more poetic way. “Ashe and I have all these ghost stories about New York,” he told the audience. “We kept on telling them to each other, and that’s how this album came together.”

The Favors, which includes bandmates David Marinelli and Ricky Gourmet, are touring, but it’s a strictly limited engagement. On September 18, they played a show on the stage attached to Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, and they’ll be playing one final show as a part of the Austin City Limits festival this weekend. The rarity of the moment was reflected in the night’s crowd: O’Connell shouted out his longtime girlfriend Claudia Sulewski—his fiancée as of last week—and his parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O’Connell, who were all in the audience. The VIP platform was full of the band’s friends, including actors Skyler Gisondo and Juliana Joel.

O’Connell and Willson were comfortable onstage, switching positions from center stage to behind the piano and sipping from their personal cocktails. “Can I take my shoes off?” Willson asked with a laugh, before slipping them off. The night ended with a tandem dance, choreographed in advance.

Erin Vanderhoof

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October 2, 2025
Supermom In Training: 5 Ways to help your kid develop a true love for reading

My son loves reading. I mean, loves reading! He’ll forgo cartoons on a weekend morning to continue with a chapter book I made him put down the night before (because it was getting so late).

I have always read to my son, every day, from the time he was an infant curled up in my arms. Going to the library was a regular outing once he learned to walk. We hid from cold winter days in bookstores, and we spent summers parked down by the St. Lawrence River, trunk popped, picnicking and reading in the trunk of our SUV.

People are always asking me how they can get their child to enjoy books more. So, here are 5 ways to help your kid develop a true love for reading.

Track their progress, and reward it too.

We have a chart with tally marks on the side of our fridge where my son keeps track of the amount of chapter books he’s read. We started it with the lockdown in March 2020. He just passed 75 books. Anyone that sees the chart asks what it’s for, and my kiddo is always proud to tell them what it is.

If your child works well with a reward system, implement one. Maybe for every 10 or 25 books, they get a certain reward. The incentive could be the thing that gets them reading – the love for books they will develop will create a lifelong habit.

Make it a part of your family’s lifestyle.

There are certain times when we read, period. The TV is turned off, we get a cozy blanket, and we curl up on the couch and read, whether it’s the newspaper, a magazine, or a book.

For the most part, screens are not allowed “on the go”. We don’t bring them to friends’ houses, on shorter road trips, or to appointments – these are perfect opportunities to read.

Keep books handy everywhere.

Not only does my son have a fully stocked book shelf (that is well-organized, I might add, for easier retrieval), but we have books on the coffee table in the living room that I regularly rotate, we have books in the bathroom, and we keep books in the back flaps of the front seats in the car. That way, if my son is ever bored, he always has a book within sight.

Seek out reading material whenever and wherever you can.

My son has had three magazine subscriptions: Chickadee, Highlights, and National Geographic Kids. They are all super fun and engaging, and they regularly provide new, updated reading material for him. My husband and I also receive magazines.

We go to the library often. My son even has his own library card. We also love bookstores.

When we have a family activity planned, like a trip to a museum, we bring any titles we have that might be related: we have a kids’ book of art that we take to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, animal books for trips to zoos, and travel books for when we go on vacation. In December I even do a book advent calendar with Christmas and holiday titles – a new book to read every day!

Let them stay up late!

I once saw an interview with Billie Eilish and she said her parents would let she and her brother stay up late but only if they were creating music. I adopted the same idea but with reading: my son has a little booklight and is allowed to stay up later (within reason) as long as he’s reading in bed. It has fostered a love for chapter books as he continues with different titles each night and often carries through to the daytime where he is excited to pick up where he left off.

A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.

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September 9, 2025
Lola Young Faces Her Fears in “Spiders”

With the upcoming release of Lola Young’s third album (within the short span of two years), I’m Only Fucking Myself (a.k.a. I’m Only F**king Myself), she seemingly can’t stop, won’t stop when it comes to releasing singles from the record. The latest one, following “One Thing,” “Not Like That Anymore” and “d£aler,” is “Spiders,” which is arguably her most vulnerable single from the album yet (hell, maybe even more vulnerable than “Messy”). Presenting herself, more than ever, as an unabashed “sack of need,” Young plays into the long-standing gender stereotypes regarding how a man completes a woman, and vice versa. Just ask Jerry Maguire. This conveyed in the unapologetic, unvarnished lyrics (that are part of the chorus no less), “I’m not a woman if I don’t have you/I’m not a woman if I don’t have you/And you’re not a man if you don’t have me.”

Such a “retro” admission might seem scandalous coming from a Gen Zer like Young, but then, that’s part of the point. To highlight that, in her darkest moments, these are the types of thoughts that run through her head—even in these “modern times.” Along with another gender-pandering one: “Please kill, kill all the spiders/‘Cause thеy’re in our room, and with them I can’t sleep besidе ya.” Although this is the only mention of spiders in the entire song, the purpose of choosing to make that creepy-to-most-people arachnid the central focus (in terms of both the song’s title and accompanying video) is to heighten the notion of being terrified of something. Something that many other people are also terrified of. In this case, a relationship. More to the point, being vulnerable in one. And also being vulnerable enough to admit, in effect, that she still can’t help but be a victim of centuries-long programming, with women conditioned from the outset of their lives to believe that a man is the “end game” (something that the likes of Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter also obviously agree with, even in spite of their nonstop barrage of “man-hating” songs). Try as many will to insist that things have changed since the proverbial dark ages of gender inequality that essentially brainwashed women into thinking a man was truly the be-all and end-all.

With such unbridled lyrics at play, it was only right that Young should caption her music video, directed by Conor Cunningham, as follows: “Sometimes, very occasionally, I write a song and feel very proud to have written it. This is one of them. I gave a part of myself away writing it, but it was a part of me that I needed to let go. I hope you can listen and let go too.” In some sense, she’s referring to the part of herself (and the part of others—regardless of gender) that continues to suffer from the idea that you’re never “whole” without a “better half.” Or, put in that other quintessential (a.k.a. Dean Martin) way, “You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you/You’re nobody ‘til somebody cares.”

Another reason still for Young to call the song “Spiders” was so that she could have an opportunity to create the video’s simple concept around actually holding a spider (while wearing a t-shirt with a spider’s image on it, to boot) and letting it crawl on her with mostly free rein—an ultimate way to face her fear of something that she’s always found to be terrifying. But by confronting the literal fear, it applies to confronting her fear on a metaphorical level as well. For once she conquers the tangible, the intangible can’t be far behind. And, to be sure, this sort of thinking is part of what makes the video have such a “Billie Eilish flair.” For she, too, is known for taking a “no-frills” concept and having zero trouble drawing it out long enough for the purposes of a video that will make many viewers feel squeamish, often both physically and emotionally. Case in point, “xanny,” during which Eilish surrenders to having her face act as a one-woman ashtray. Or the “your power” video, during which she lets an anaconda wrap itself around her body. Or the similar act of “simplicity made complicated” that occurs when she walks down a dark highway as passing cars nearly run over her in the video for “NDA” or when she’s being chased relentlessly by Nat Wolff in the video for “Chihiro.”

Young keeps it slightly less stunt-y with “Spiders” (more in line with the “chill sitting” “narrative” of “xanny” and “your power” than the riskier perils of “NDA” and “Chihiro”), holding a spider in her hands far less frequently than she can be seen smoking a cigarette and belting out her difficult feelings. Including, “Make me feel like I’m not incomplete for once” and “And then, then empty me right to the core/And suck me dry, suck me dry like you did before” (this, too, having certain vampiric “spider energy” to it). The brutal honesty of these sentiments is perhaps why the sound of the track is decidedly “90s alt rock” (ergo, so, too, is the look of the video, in addition to the sartorial style that Young sports in it). Produced, once again, by Solomonophonic and Manuka, the moody guitars on the single are just as important to conveying certain emotions as Young’s lyrics (like, say, “And blame, blame it on the gods/So we don’t feel like we did something wrong” or “Don’t say, don’t say a lie/’Cause I’ll see the truth behind your dark brown eyes”).

What’s more, the video being shot in black and white (a conceit that seems to be having a moment in pop culture lately, if Lady Gaga’s “The Dead Dance” video and Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend interview with Zane Lowe are anything to go by) lends an added layer to the sense of seriousness about this song. The weight of the feelings and emotions that Young needs to unburden herself of. And, as she said, that hopefully unburden the listener of their own feelings and emotions, too.

Genna Rivieccio

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September 7, 2025
Lady Gaga Focuses on Shaking the “Disease” of “Lee Quinzel”

It doesn’t seem coincidental that Lady Gaga would opt to release a new single soon after the critical and commercial failure of Joker: Folie à Deux. Even if it was by no means as remotely affronting as House of Gucci. In fact, Joker: Folie a Deux seems grossly misunderstood…and this is coming from someone who generally loathes Lady Gaga performances in film (and possibly in general). Regardless, it’s easy to discount one’s own internal voice when the negativity of others is so loud. Thus, it would appear that, despite how she might have originally felt about the role—being so effusive in interviews promoting both the film and the accompanying record she made for it—Gaga’s confidence has given way to all-out embarrassment. An embarrassment that has called for the immediate signaling of yet another new “era,” with some “insiders” positing that the failure of Joker’s second installment made Gaga see the light in terms of realizing she’s better suited to focusing on the pop star avenue.

Another “assist” in terms of coming to that realization was her fiancé, Michael Polansky, who Gaga cites as the person that convinced her to pivot back more fully to pop. Per Gaga, “Michael is the person who told me to make a new pop record. He was like, ‘Babe. I love you. You need to make pop music.’” Perhaps that’s part of the reason Gaga entrusted him to help her co-write “Disease,” the first single from what will be LG7 (for those who count Harlequin as LG6.5). And yes, apparently enough time has passed since the pandemic for such a track to come out. However, ostensibly not wanting to take any chances on whether or not she had a hit, Gaga tapped Cirkut and Watt to co-produce the moody, “Judas”-like music. And, speaking of that 2011 single, the “ah-ahhhs” she repeats are pointedly similar to the ones in “Judas.” Again, no coincidence, for she’s well-aware that everyone has been clamoring for her to return to, at the bare minimum, “Born This Way-era Gaga”—though many would prefer that she returned all the way back to The Fame.

And that she has, with the “dark pop” sound also recalling a single like 2010’s “Dance in the Dark.” But this song in particular bears lyrical traces of Depeche Mode and sonic ones that sound more like an Atticus Finch/Trent Reznor production. The Depeche Mode correlation isn’t difficult to find seeing as how they have a song called “Shake the Disease.” Released in 1985, it felt like a pointed time to wield such a title when taking into account the AIDS epidemic. Even if Depeche Mode was merely creating a “love metaphor” with the chorus, “Here is a plea from my heart to you/Nobody knows me as well as you do/You know how hard it is for me to shake the disease/That takes hold of my tongue in situations like these.”

Just as Lady Gaga is creating her own love metaphor with the “Disease” chorus, “I could play the doctor, I can cure your disease/If you were a sinner, I could make you believe/Lay you down like one, two, three/Eyes roll back in ecstasy/I can smell your sickness, I can cure ya/Cure your disease.” And cure it with what else but love, of course. A metaphor she already made use of on 2017’s “The Cure” (alas, not an homage to the band). Complete with lyrics like, “If I can’t find the cure, I’ll/I’ll fix you with my love/No matter what you know, I’ll/I’ll fix you with my love.” Things get decidedly non-consensual when she also adds, “And if you say you’re okay/I’m gonna heal you anyway.” With “Disease,” too, Gaga paints herself as something of an everyday superhero and her love a superpower—or at least a panacea.

So it is that she sings, “Screamin’ for me, baby (ah-ah)/Like you’re gonna die (ah-ah)/Poison on the inside/I could be your antidote tonight.” At least this time she uses the language “could be your antidote” instead of essentially foisting a potentially unwanted “cure” on the object of her affection. At the outset of the song, she assures, in a somewhat Ariana Grande fashion (read: “Ain’t got no tears left to cry”), “There are no more tears to cry/I heard you beggin’ for life/Runnin’ out of medicine/You’re worse than you’ve ever been.” But if the “medicine” has been Gaga all along, then how could he have ever run out considering her enthusiasm for administering the antidote?

As for medicine as metaphor, Jennifer Lopez also made use of it in her 2019 song, “Medicine” (obviously). But instead of presenting it as a “love injection” analogy, Lopez warns, “Think you need some medicine/I could be your medicine, yeah/Think you need some medicine/Give you a taste of what you give out.” Gaga, instead, prefers the romantic use of the allegory, continuing to insist, “I can cure your disease” (something Isabella “He put his disease in me” Rossellini would have been grateful for in Blue Velvet). One wonders, of course, which lyrics might be attributable to Polansky. Perhaps he was the one who thought to paint a picture of “Stefani” sleeping at night with the lines, “You’re so tortured when you sleep [sounds like Billie Eilish]/Plagued with all your memories/You reach out, and no one’s there/Like a god without a prayer.” Unsurprisingly, there had to be just a touch of Madonna in the lyricism (#likeaprayer).

But what is decidedly not Madonna-like in terms of Lady G’s music is the fact that her albums, for quite some time, have left most people disappointed when comparing them to her first two releases. With Madonna, it took arguably until her fifth studio album, Erotica, for people to be truly disappointed by her musical output (and that was largely due to the puritanism of the early 90s in America). With Gaga, by album three (Artpop), things were taking a dive.

And while “Disease” is being universally praised (a.k.a. most are just grateful Gaga isn’t putting out still more show tunes), it’s never a good sign when people say the phrase “return to form” in that it entails one has been out of step for a while in terms of “giving the people what they want.” Incidentally, something Lee tells Joker they should do. And it seems Gaga has taken Lee’s advice, even while in the process of shaking the “disease” that role turned out to be for her.

Genna Rivieccio

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October 26, 2024
How Much Are Billie Eilish Tickets? The ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ World Tour Has Begun

Billie Eilish is hitting the road in celebration of her third album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” which released on May 17, 2024. The singer announced her world tour in an Instagram post; it began in September 2024 in Québec, QC and will conclude in Dublin, Ireland in July 2025, and hit multiple cities in North America, Europe, and the U.K.

Tickets were originally available for presale purchase for American Express cardholders on April 30, with additional presales following for non-American Express cardholders. General tickets went on sale to the public on May 3, 2024.

A portion of ticket sales to the Hit Me Hard and Soft World Tour will benefit Eilish’s partnership with environmental nonprofit Reverb on the tour—the organization works to minimize greenhouse gas pollution, limit single-use plastic waste, support climate action and produce more plant-based food options with Support+Feed, among other actions.

The Hit Me Hard and Soft World Tour will be Billie Eilish’s seventh world tour and will feature new music from the upcoming album. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” MY THIRD ALBUMMMMMMMMMMMMM COMES OUT MAY 17THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH🥹🥹🥹 so crazy to be writing this right now i’m nervyyyyy & exciteddd 🫣 not doing singles i wanna give it to you all at once :PPP finneas and i truly could not be more proud of this album and we absolutely can’t wait for you to hear it. love you love you love you,” Billie wrote on Instagram.

So how can Billie Eilish fans grab tickets to the Hit Me Hard and Soft World Tour 2024? Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about snagging tickets on resale sites—including a discount code to save on your purchase.

How much are Billie Eilish tickets to Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour?

How much are Billie Eilish tickets to the Hit Me Hard and Soft World Tour? In the United States, face value tickets to see Billie Eilish range from $50 to $595 (plus fees) depending on whether you purchase standard admission or VIP.

Resale prices to Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour, however, are more expensive, but a solid option if your city sells out during general ticket sales. For trusted resellers like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketSmarter, and Event Tickets Center, resale prices for Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour can range from around $200 to $1,500, though those prices can fluctuate depending on the date, location, resale site and how soon your concert is.

Maya Gandara

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October 17, 2024
Love Is An Invisible String In Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” Video

For someone who is often seen as an “anti-Taylor,” the motif presented in Billie Eilish’s latest visual offering from Hit Me Hard and Soft, “Birds of a Feather,” is all about something Swift dissects in “invisible string,” from her 2020 folklore album. That something being, more specifically, that everybody has “their person” that they’re inextricably bound to, whether they know it early on or not. And while Swift might have written “invisible string” with Joe Alwyn in mind, it doesn’t change the fact that, even after someone’s gone from your life, whether literally or metaphorically, their influence on and connection to you remains.

To highlight this point, Eilish’s video for “Birds of a Feather” features her alone in a deserted office building setting (after all, this is the girl who loves The Office enough to have sampled extracts of dialogue from it for 2019’s “my strange addiction”) as an invisible presence pulls her in every direction. Like “Chihiro” (both the song and video), there is a haunting, otherworldly quality to the “narrative.” On that note, Eilish has undoubtedly been in a “way existential” mood for this record, with the video for “Chihiro” being more exemplary of that than, say, the ultra no-frills look of “Lunch”—though, to be fair, the technical aspects of that video are nothing to balk at.

As is the case with “Birds of a Feather,” which might be ostensibly “simple” in terms of its concept, but was “intricate” enough for Eilish to concede to actually letting someone else direct her—which hasn’t happened since 2021’s “Lo Vas a Olvidar” with Rosalía…and that was ultimately because it wasn’t entirely Eilish’s song. Just as it wasn’t with the remix for Charli XCX’s “Guess.” In that scenario, the director who managed to break through Eilish’s trust issues in terms of giving creative control to someone else (which stemmed from some ideological clashes while making 2019’s “when the party’s over”) was Aidan Zamiri, who Eilish had no choice but to work with on the “Guess” video, since Charli XCX was running the show on that one (side note: Zamiri also directed XCX’s “360”).

Zamiri apparently did such a good job that Eilish tapped him for “Birds of a Feather,” yet another very physical video (since, like Madonna, Eilish believes you need to suffer for your art). A physicality that begins at the twenty-four-second mark, when her arm is pulled violently upward, almost as if to match her own form of violent love, the kind elucidated in the opening verse, “I want you to stay/‘Til I’m in the grave/‘Til I rot away, dead and buried/‘Til I’m in the casket you carry/If you go, I’m goin’ too, uh/‘Cause it was always you/And if I’m turnin’ blue, please don’t save me/Nothin’ left to lose without my baby.”

The intensity of those words is summed up by Eilish (during an AmEx segment called “Story of My Song”) saying that she wanted the first verse to feel “a little toxic” and “lovebomb-y.” And yet, if one can get through the so-called lovebombing phase of the honeymoon period and realize that such passion can still not only endure, but also give way to a deeper kind of love the more that time goes by, then perhaps they really are birds of a feather with this other person. Even in the wake of their death. So connected by this “invisible string,” as it were, that they can still reach the object of their affection from beyond the grave.

As the ghostly presence in the office building keeps making itself more known to Eilish, a breeze whips her hair before her arm is grabbed even more severely and the chair she’s sitting on raises itself so that it’s only standing on two legs. Zamiri then furnishes viewers with an overhead POV shot of Eilish, almost as though we’re meant to experience what her spectral lover is as they whip her around in a circular motion on the chair.

After the ghost from beyond seemingly gets bored with treating Eilish’s body like a ragdoll in this particular setting, it drags her, still in the chair, across the room, at which time the force of the movement becomes so strong that she falls out of the chair and slams right through the wall and into the next room while (totally unfazed) singing, “I’ll love you ‘til the day that I die.” In the new part of the office setting, Eilish’s hand is still extended as though she’s holding onto someone else’s. This before falling to the ground in a pile of glass shards, at which time her own eyeglasses shatter. Clearly, this is a savagely passionate love.

But that doesn’t stop Eilish from picking herself up off the ground and ending up in another part of the office. In fact, this whole office theme is enough to make one believe that Eilish is secretly talking about the toxic relationship between employee and employer, with the latter having a forever hold on the former. Which is definitely one possibility considering that Eilish herself has said, “With music, my whole thing is that it’s for the listener to decide what it means. And it doesn’t matter what I wrote it about, what Finneas wrote it about, it really doesn’t matter as long as you interpret it however you need to.” This includes “Birds of a Feather” as an “ode” to corporate slavery dynamics within the context of the video.

As Eilish delves into the second verse, one is also reminded of Ariana Grande’s “pov,” during which she sings, “I wanna love me/The way that you love me/Ooh, for all of my pretty/And all of my ugly too/I’d love to see me from your point of view.” In Eilish’s version of that sentiment—the one about how the people who love us see us in a far better light than we see ourselves—it goes, “I want you to see, hm/How you look to me, hm/You wouldn’t believe if I told ya/You would keep the compliments I throw ya.”

In another moment that gives Ghost a run for its money, Eilish is positioned in one of the rooms filled with fluorescent light (as all offices are) while the darkened room next to it, presented almost like part of a split screen, seems to accent the divide between life and death. That those we’ve lost are not ever really gone, but simply in another dimension. One that only the greatest of loves can ever truly transcend. Just ask Orpheus. Or Beetlejuice. Toxic or not, their love for the person they obsessed over was strong enough to traverse the realm that divides the living and the dead.

Genna Rivieccio

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September 29, 2024
Meet The HIT ME HARD AND SOFT TOUR Openers: Towa Bird, The Marías, and Nat & Alex Wolff!

There are less than 30 days until Billie Eilish hits the stage at an arena near you. The big question on every fan’s tongue is who are the openers going to be. On Monday Billie posted to her Instagram story and the world went wild. We finally have our questions answered, and many fans are beyond excited about Billie’s decisions.

Meet the three openers for the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT TOUR! 👇

Towa Bird

This opener choice really came as no surprise to Billie fans, and we are so grateful that Billie chose Towa to take on the road! She’ll be performing on night one and two in Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, Cincinnati, OH, night one and two in St. Paul, MN and night one in Los Angeles, CA. We’re so lucky our shows landed on a few of these dates! We’re looking forward to seeing her shred it on the guitar from the barricade!

Haven’t heard of Towa Bird? We recommend listening to her latest album, American Hero, to prep for her set. Our favorite songs from the recent album are ‘May Flower’ and ‘Deep Cut.’ We know Towa will probably perform these, so make sure you’re ready and have memorized every lyric!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TOWA BIRD:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | THREADS | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

The Marías

This was such an exciting choice! We’ve recently been getting into The Marías more and more each day, and their latest album, Submarine, is a 10/10! If we had to recommend two songs to prep for their set, we would tell you to listen to ‘Run Your Mouth’ and ‘Hamptons.’

The group will be opening for Billie in Vancouver, BC, nights one and two in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, nights one and two in San Jose, CA, Glendale, AZ and night two in Los Angeles, CA. We were devastated to see that our shows did not align with these, but we may just have to fly out to Los Angeles to see them…

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARIAS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Nat & Alex Wolff

This choice should come as no surprise to Billie Eilish stans. Nat and Alex are besties with Billie, so of course has to take them on tour! We grew up watching the musical brother duo on Nickelodeon and seeing them live at our big age in 2024 was not in our bingo cards! We are beyond excited and hope we hear some of our favorite songs like ‘Glue’ and ‘If I’m Gonna Die.’

The duo will be heading out on tour with Billie in Quebec, QC, nights one and two in Toronto, ON, Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Detroit, MI, Newark, NJ, Boston, MA, Pittsburgh, PA, all three nights in New York, NY, nights one and two in Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, Omaha, NE, nights one and two in Denver, CO, and night three in Los Angeles, CA.

Y’all are going to have to tear us from the barricade when they walk onstage!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NAT & ALEX WOLFF:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

So which of these openers will you be seeing this fall at the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT TOUR? Let us know which one in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook 🐝

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BILLIE EILISH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

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September 13, 2024
Summer’s Ending: Here’s Your 2024 Summer Playlist

I hate to say it…I hate to even acknowledge it…but it’s the truth: the summer is ending. Sure, the solstice technically goes until late September, but we know the real summer ends after Labor Day.

And while we soak up these last few peaceful weeks of Summer Fridays and vacations on the beach, the looming threat of the fall and colder weather is quickly approaching. We avoid the very thought of it like the plague.

But, I want to make the most of the end of summer 2024. When you look back at it, we’ve had a crazy summer in terms of pop culture:
the rise of Chappell Roan, the reign of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Department, Charli XCX teaching us what it means to have a BRAT Summer, Billie Eilish’s enormous hit, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” and of course, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please” to soundtrack our summer.

Yes, the pop girlies have ruled the scene this summer…alongside major country vibes with albums from Zach Bryan, hit songs like “The Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, and even fresh country additions from Lana Del Rey and Quavo with their single “Tough.”

The Song of Summer 2024 may forever be up for debate, with a few top contenders already mentioned. Former President Barack Obama just released his Summer Playlist, and it got us thinking.

What I’m looking for are songs that are perfect for closing out the summer. Different from my usual Weekend Playlist, these songs aren’t necessarily new…but they’re still astonishing.

Some were released this year, and some just perfectly embody the end of the summer. If you’re already feeling a tad nostalgic and blue about summer 2024, here’s a playlist that’ll help you feel better:

“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter

Let’s start it off with Sabrina, who is becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world as we speak. Her new album —
Short ‘n Sweet, out August 15 — and she’s somehow still eligible for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s this year?

“Espresso” is an awesome start to the playlist because it also kicked our summer off with a bang. With fun little lyrics like “that’s that me espresso,” we can’t help but hit replay each time the song ends.

Spotify says, “Since June, the song has spent 20 days at #1 on Spotify’s global charts – topping 25 regional charts in countries like Australia, Malaysia, Jordan and Singapore.”

“HOTTOGO” by Chappell Roan

It’s the summer of Chappell Roan, we can’t even lie. Her insane rise to superstardom deserves to be marked in history books. Thousands flock to see her perform at festivals before it gets too tough to buy her tickets on Ticketmaster.

With hit songs like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOTTOGO” from her album,
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, have certainly soundtracked our summer. She’s one of the most exciting artists we’ve seen in forever, so of course we had to include this banger.

Spotify data says, “The song saw its biggest spike of the summer on June 10 (globally), the day after her
Gov Ball set in New York City.”

“Back On 74” by Jungle

This song is viral on social media because of its feel-good vibes. I love any Jungle song this summer because they keep it lighthearted, with a bit of a nostalgic, retro feel to their sound.

It’s an exceptional mix of modern and classic, and “Back On 74” delivered fantastic energy all summer long. If there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that Jungle can make a cohesive album throughout.

“Guess (Remix)” by Charli xcx and Billie Eilish

We are totally having a BRAT Summer, and when Charli and Billie collabed on this “Guess” remix…the world felt it.

When two representatives of today’s culture and music industry come together to create a fun, sexy track that combines pop and electronic music in the best way…it just works. This remix is like a shock of energy to the system from the second you turn it on.

Especially with Eilish and Charli having such huge summer albums, this feels like an acknowledgement that the music industry is going to be okay…and they’re in complete control.

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish

Obviously, we had to mention Billie Eilish’s solo work: her third album,
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, is a complete masterpiece. A how-to on production and high-quality vocals, Billie Eilish and her brother, FINNEAS, are up there with the best — and youngest — singer-songwriter-producers in the industry.

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is one of the singles on the album. A viral success that constantly tops charts and breaks records, this song is nothing short of sensational. It’s proof that Billie gets better with age, using all of her knowledge so far and channeling it into her latest album.

According to Spotify, “Billie had a refreshing return to tempo this summer with this breezy summer hit. A leading track from her third studio album, the song reached a fever pitch after a poignant performance at the summer games closing ceremony – quickly rising to #1 on Spotify’s global charts with over 678M streams and counting.”

“She’s Gone, Dance On” by Disclosure

Year after year, Disclosure gives us countless dance tracks to highlight our summers. They’re highly regarded in the house industry as juggernauts who know how to get people up and dancing.

“She’s Gone, Dance On” was previewed at
Coachella by Dom Dolla, as the American Royal Couple — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — danced in the crowd. Shortly after, the song was released to the public and we haven’t stopped listening to it since.

“360” by Charli xcx

Again, we can’t mention a Charli remix without an original
BRAT song. “360” is an introduction to what it really means to have a BRAT Summer. It’s carefree, fun-loving, and club-ready.

It makes us want to let loose and forget about our problems for a while. Charli XCX has started a movement, and solidified herself as our fearless BRAT leader.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey

There seriously hasn’t been a time this summer when I’ve been out at a bar and this hasn’t played. I would be biased if I didn’t include Shaboozey’s song in this playlist, because it truly has been everywhere. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is his follow-up after a massive feature on Beyonce’s
COWBOY CARTER.

Spotify data suggests that since June, the song has hit #1 on Spotify’s Charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the US and has been #1 on Billboard for six weeks so far. It reached #1 on Spotify’s US Chart for the first time on July 4th, proving it to be the perfect summer holiday anthem.”

What the song does well is capturing everyone’s attention early on and opening up into a full-out stomp-and-holler country song that we all love. It’s a
summer of country for a reason, and this is great for country fans and non-fans alike.

Jai Phillips

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August 28, 2024
Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo Work It Out on the Remix?

We’re in the best of times (brat summer), but we’re also in the worst of times (constantly fielding articles by Some Guy about how brat summer is dead). But how could brat summer be over if I feel it in my heart? If they’re still playing “Guess ft. Billie Eilish” at Tenants of the Trees in LA (where Charli XCX herself had her birthday party for some reason)? And if the impact of brat summer is still causing ripples through the culture it cannot be over.

No, I’m not talking about Kamala’s brat green rebrand. I’m talking about something more substantial — the very same thing that had last summer in the same chokehold: the infectious and irresistible power of girlhood.

Last summer caused a vibe shift. Culture started catering to women. Let’s be real: Women have been the drivers of pop culture for a long time. I, for one, will never forget that artists like The Beatles and Elvis, who are still taken seriously as iconic musical artists today, caused fanatical frenzies, not unlike artists like Justin Bieber and One Direction. Yet, despite our clear good taste, women have historically been written off as fickle while culture catered to men.

Just think of how the 2000s were defined by blockbuster summer movies. Usually, an action movie would dominate, followed by a “chick flick” that was relegated to date nights or the whims of teenage girls. Yet, when
Barbenheimer resurrected this dynamic, one had a clear chokehold on the internet and the world. And since I haven’t seen Oppenheimener-flavored Olipops, no prizes for guessing which one it was.

This summer isn’t defined by movies (Twisters and It Ends With Us aren’t the Barbenheimer redux we wanted) it’s characterized by music. And while the guys gave it the old college try — Kendrick did release the ultimate hater anthem with Not Like Us in the Spring — the girls take it yet again.

And despite seasonal albums from established pop stars like
Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, queer (or queer-coded) female artists have blown up this summer. All of them have also been grafting behind the scenes for years before finally getting their flowers. But now the world is listening. We’re learning. And we’re obsessed.

Of course, there’s the princess of the summer,
Sabrina Carpenter, who is the latest Disney veteran to make it big. We’ll get to her Disney drama later, but this summer, it’s all about our Short n Sweet queen’s infectious earworms. We called it earlier this year: she is the moment. Her rise to fame has been inevitable.

Then there’s the surprise star of the year,
Chappell Roan. So glad bisexual women decided not to gatekeep this absolute star. The fact that I’ve been listening to Chappell since 2020 and I’m still not tired of “Pink Pony Club” says a lot.

But
Charli XCX’s mainstream moment is arguably the most surprising. Charli is a giant to music lovers and, of course, the queer community. A real dyed-in-the-wool party girl, she grew up in the clubs and doesn’t just talk the talk, she throws the parties. Despite her collaborations with literally everyone, her Grammys, and her hits, Charli XCX is only now becoming a household name. Why? Because we’re finally ready for her.

Girlhood is brat. Brat is girlhood. Girl, it’s so confusing, but it’s about being a girl

Girlhood is the name of the game and Charli writes for the girls and the gays. Her album speaks to the desire to hold on to the feeling of youth juxtaposed with the realities of growing up. Who can’t relate? She talks about themes integral to girlhood: going on vacation and thinking it will change your life, going to a party and thinking it will change your life, and having dinner with a girl and thinking she hates you.

@thepopupdates The best duo everrrr #charlixcx #lorde #girlsoconfusing #brat #popmusic #music #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – Pop Throwbacks & Updates

The latter was the impetus for the internet-breaking track “The girl, so confusing version with lorde.” After Charli released the original version of “girl, so confusing,” the internet rightly assumed it was about her years-long pseudo-beef with
Lorde. Lyrics like: “I’m all about throwing parties / You’re all about writing poems,” and “People say we’re alike, they say we’ve got the same hair,” added fuel to the fire of their reported feud. So imagine our surprise when Charli released a version with Lorde herself. Like Miss Ella, honestly, we were speechless.

Lorde knew what she was doing when she said: “When we put this to bed, the internet will go crazy.” Sure enough, the internet erupted. And it did the same once again when footage was released of the two scream-singing their instant classic of a collab at Charli’s birthday party. What a way to put the feud rumors to bed.

Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo work it out on the remix?

@ce__1l girl girl 💚 // #ce__1l #fyp #foryoupage #lyricsvideo #music #sabrinacarpenter #oliviarodrigo #brat ♬ Girl, so confusing featuring lorde – Charli xcx & Lorde

After Lorde and Charli worked out their decade of competition over a Jack Antonoff beat, the internet speculated: who would be next to quell their beef with the power of song? If it seems like the plot of a Disney movie, get in for the ride — the Disney of it all has just begun.

A few weeks ago, sources reported that former Disney stars turned stadium-selling pop stars Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter might be collaborating on a song. With the upcoming release of Carpenter’s highly anticipated album sneaking up on us, fans speculate that this could be a surprise track waiting on the record.

If you don’t understand how earth-shattering this is, let me take you back to 2021, when
Olivia Rodrigo first took the world by storm with her song “drivers license.” The song, and subsequent album, chronicled her heartbreak about how her costar and ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett left her for “that blonde girl.” The blonde in question? Sabrina Carpenter.

That’s right. Our very own me espresso was the villain in
the “drivers license” saga. And you mean to tell me the two of them have put their boy drama aside to collaborate? Please, please, please tell me if this is true. If it is, I’ll be sat watching it unfold. As if I needed another reason to eagerly await the release of Short N Sweet.

In the meantime, I’m making a list and checking it twice about all the other celebs I want to see quell their beef. And yes, the list gets more and more unhinged as you go down, tis the summer of collabs. And our favorite artists are proving that magic can be made if they do it together. Billie and Charli did it. Kendrick and the entire rap community did it. Who is next?

@kittywaless their lore😍 (pls keep the comments respectful) #catherineprincessofwales #princessofwales #princesscatherine #princesskate #catherinemiddleton #katemiddleton #duchessofcambridge #brat #girlsoconfusing #britishroyalfamily ♬ Girl, so confusing featuring lorde – Charli xcx & Lorde

People we want to see work it out on the remix:

One Direction

This is my ultimate dream. The
Paris Olympics may have made you fantasize about what life would be like if you hadn’t quit JV basketball, but it made me dream about seeing my beloved One Direction again. After all, I can’t watch an opening ceremony without thinking about their performance at the 2012 London Games. Stranger things have happened than a boyband reuniting. The second they announce a tour, I’m quitting my job and dedicating my life to following them around on tour. Hold me to that.

Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan

The Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo feud is the closest our generation will ever get to experiencing the magnitude of drama caused by Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff. As the two defining Disney sensations turned movie stars of their time, Duff and Lohan were pitted against each other by the media. Everybody knew it: the two were rivals in their careers and in their relationships. We’ll never experience that kind of TMZ-stoked animosity again. But we’re older now. Duff and Lohan are both in new phases of their careers. If they worked it, the (millennial side of the) internet really would go crazy.

Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber

These two divas have been competing to be the prince of pop for years. And their silent feud runs deep. In a radio interview at the beginning of Shawn’s career, Justin responded to a question about the other Canadian crooner with the dismissive and deadly, “who’s Shawn Mendes?” Then, after Mendes appeared with Hailey Baldwin at the Met Gala in 2018, Bieber quickly reignited his relationship with our favorite nepo baby and married her. Talk about winning the battle. The two already have a song together, “
Monster,” but no one is buying that they’ve really worked it out. I want to see Shawn at Justin and Hailey’s baby shower or bust.

Justin Bieber and Harry Styles

Speaking of pop feuds, Bieber and Styles have been toeing a tension-laden line since 2012. Rumors swirled that One Direction was supposed to open for Bieber on his
Believe tour but the plans were canceled — and dreams died. Reasons abound as to why but I suppose we’ll never know. As someone who attended that Believe tour, I have been waiting for them to work it out on the remix ever since.

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers

Other feuds from my childhood I want fixed: the Disney Channel stars involved in the seminal sustainability single, “Send It On.” That was our Fleetwood Mac
Rumors. With loyalties crossed, relationships breaking friendships, and a whole lot of teen angst going on, the Disney Channel producers had one song and one song only to change lives. While we were watching “Send It On” play during Disney breaks, we had no clue about the drama simmering beneath the surface. But imagine if they put that to bed? The internet would go crazy.

Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift

Of all of Taylor’s exes, she’s clearly already worked it out with Taylor Lautner — who was backflipping across her Eras tour stages for a brief stint last summer. But the reconciliation I really want is between Taylor and Joe. Sure, she’s written some scathing songs about him. And she told the world on
Ellen that he broke up with her in 17 seconds. And she’s befriended Sophie Turner. But for a brief moment, Taylor made up with Kanye West, so stranger things have happened. Can you imagine a mashup between “SOS” by The Jonas Brothers and “The Story of US” by Taylor Swift? My Spotify Wrapped would become unshareable.

Katy Perry and Taylor Swift

Though allegedly this feud started due to the backup dancers, Perry has become one of
Swift’s famed list of enemies. And as the queen of “Karma,” Swifties know that all of Taylor’s adversaries never fare well — just look at Ye or Scooter Braun. Katy Perry’s comeback might be another one of these casualties. Ouch. If the two managed to reconcile their “Bad Blood,” imagine the album Katy Perry would create.

Nelly Furtado and Fergie

Remember the song “
Give It To Me” by Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, and Justin Timberlake? Thanks to TikTok, the song experienced a recent resurgence. But did you know the entire song is a diss track? Justin Timberlake’s verse is about Prince (more insane than “what tour? The world tour”), Timbaland’s verse is about Scott Storch, and Nelly Furtado’s verse is about Fergie. But what if we stopped pitting two pop icons against each other and instead begged them both to have a comeback … together?

The Don’t Worry Darling Cast

The
Don’t Worry Darling press tour pitted all our favorite stars against each other in the public arena: Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan. And while that trainwreck of a movie doesn’t need a sequel, I would animatedly watch one just to keep keen eyes on the press tour.

The It Ends With Us Cast

If we thought there would never be another press tour as dramatic as
Don’t Worry Darling, Justin Baldoni of the It Ends With Us cast just hired Johnny Depp’s lawyer — so it’s inarguably surpassed its dramatic predecessor. With Blake Lively and Baldoni both waging a press war, some are hoping It Ends With Us will just … end. But I need a little entertainment to tide me over into fall. And if the movie itself won’t provide it, the hope of a last-gasp reconciliation might.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake

I know this will never happen. In fact, if it did, I’d
lose some respect for Kendrick, honestly. But sometimes I like to imagine that all of this was just marketing for a joint album a la “Watch the Throne.”

LKC

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August 20, 2024
NERIAH On Her Summer Anthem ‘Driving Weather’

Interview and Photos by Jordan Edwards

This summer has been a celebration of female pop. Sabrina, Chappell, Billie, and Charli have led a wave of unforgettable music and women supporting women. If you like those artists, then NERIAH should be in your playlist. Her single “Driving Weather” and its new acoustic version is perfect for a summer road trip or night out with the girls.

Based in Los Angeles, NERIAH is one of the hardest-working young artists in the industry. Since debuting in the fall of 2020, she’s released her debut album, a pair of EPs, and several singles. Stars like SZA and Halsey have voiced their support.

We met up with NERIAH to talk about her latest music, dreamy aesthetic, and finding love.

It’s been almost two years since we last talked to you. How has your music evolved since then?
I feel like it has evolved so much. I am in such a different place in my life now, and I feel like I have really experimented with different sounds to be able to realize who I wanted to be as an artist.

Tell us about your latest single “Driving Weather?”
“Driving Weather” is definitely one of my favorites so far. I loved it so much that we decided to also release an acoustic version. To me this song is the perfect song to listen to with your windows down, blasting it with all of your friends.

Your previous single “First Time” has a late ‘80s feel. What do you like about that sound?
I love it. It’s super nostalgic. For this album, I spent so much time listening to old ’80s songs, I got inspired. I wanted to find a new way to bring it into my sound.

You’re now in your Lover Girl Era. What does that mean?
Taking a bit of a break from the breakup songs and finally writing happy songs. I always have to write about what’s going on and I’ve never been more in love in my life. I was so scared at first to start writing happy songs, because I’ve never really done it before, but it’s actually my favorite music I’ve ever made.

You’ve been working on your sophomore album. What has that process been like?
It has been so fun. I’ve definitely experimented a lot more with this album. I really wanted to make music that we can all be happy and dance to.

What’s the best time of day to record vocals? Do you have a routine?
Definitely nighttime. I like to record as late as possible. When it comes to final vocals, I think my main routine is just making sure that I do my warmups that day and drink lots of water and throat coat.

You’re such a visual artist. Do you think about the video for a song as you’re making it?
100%. I usually even have the cover figured out before I write it. I think having visual elements really help bring this song to life.

Who have you been listening to lately?
I have been loving all of my pop girlies. Griff, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Billie.

What are your plans for the rest of the summer?
Finishing this album and getting ready for a lot of shows.

You love to bedazzle things. What’s your proudest bedazzling moment?
Probably my piano. I bedazzle everything so that would probably change depending on when you ask me. I definitely get the most compliments on my piano.

– YouTube

For more from NERIAH, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

Staff

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August 15, 2024
Live updates: Paris 2024 closing ceremony

The 2024 Olympics are drawing to a close Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony at the Stade de France just north of Paris.It’s a more traditional setting after the Seine River was used for the audacious opening ceremony, but don’t expect it to be dull. There’ll be over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists, the organizers say. French indie band “Phoenix” performsWith an artistic show that celebrated Olympic themes, golden fireworks and thousands of athletes partying into the night, the closing ceremony put a final flourish to Paris’ first Games in a century.In their enthusiasm, crowds of athletes rushed the stage during the ceremony’s artistic portion, and stadium announcements in French and English urged them to double back. Some of them stayed, surrounding Grammy-winning French pop-rock band Phoenix as they played, as security and volunteers worked to clear the stage. Time for a light showThe lights are going down. The orchestra is tuning in. A light show is going on on the roof of the Stade de France.Last medals awardedThe closing ceremony saw the awarding of the last medals — each embedded with a chunk of the Eiffel Tower. Fittingly for the first Olympics that aimed for gender parity, they all went to women — the gold, silver and bronze medalists from the women’s marathon earlier Sunday.Bach hung them around the necks of race winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, silver’s Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and bronze’s Hellen Obiri of Kenya.Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead carry American flagAs night fell, athletes marched into the stadium waving the flags of their 205 countries and territories — a display of global unity in a world gripped by global tensions and conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza. The stadium screens carried the words, “Together, united for peace.” With the 329 medal events finished, the expected 9,000 athletes — many wearing their shiny medals — and team staffers who filled the arena danced and cheered to the thumping beats.Léon Marchand carries the Olympic flameFrench swimmer Léon Marchand, wearing a black suit and tie, walks around the Olympic cauldron.He picked up a lantern carrying the Olympic flame. At the same time, the Stade de France was roaring as Marchand was shown on the giant screens. Marchand was perhaps the most celebrated athlete at the Paris 2024 Olympics with 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.Zaho de Sagazan belts ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’The show is under way. French singer Zaho de Sagazan is singing the famous French song “Sous le ciel de Paris” in the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Olympic cauldron, in the heart of Paris.”The Last Supper” opening ceremony scenes were left out of a video montageThe video montage from the opening ceremony showed boats, cyclists and more. But it omitted the scenes with drag performers and others that were criticized for perceived references to “The Last Supper.”The closing ceremony is underwayWhistles and chants of “Allez!” are the soundtrack at Stade de France, and a few sections of fans did the wave. It has been popular at this Olympics.Video highlights of the opening ceremony are being shown on video screens, a reminder of the dazzling show on the Seine from July 26..Macron, Bach enter Stade de FranceFrench President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron arrived in the Stade de France as fans cheered.They were joined by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, IOC chief Thomas Bach, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and five-time Olympic Champion Martin Fourcade, who passed on the Olympic torch to kick off the 2024 Games.Security clears the way for performersSecurity has lined the perimeter around the stage, and musicians with their instruments are walking out onto the field. A few minutes from getting this show underway.Fans have started a slow clap with a couple of minutes before show time.Paris “waves” goodbyeThe crowd is doing the wave 10 minutes ahead of the closing ceremony.Who’s performing at the closing ceremony?H.E.R., the five-time Grammy winner, is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the closing ceremony.Other performances remain a mystery. Organizers said “the participation of world-renowned singers will complete the picture,” but didn’t elaborate on who those singers could be.They added: “Part of the show will take place in the air, while the giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting effects will take spectators on a journey through time, both past and future.”Sunset in Paris has been a special moment during these OlympicsThe sun is setting on the Paris Olympics for the last time. By day, Paris shines. But at night, it sparkles.And perhaps rarely so noticeably as during these past two and a half weeks.Exhibit 1: the Eiffel Tower, of course. As the sun sets each night, the lights come on, enhancing the beauty of the iron latticework. But the “ooh” moment at beach volleyball, played in an epically photogenic stadium under the tower, would come at 10 p.m. when the music would stop and announcers would ask the crowd to turn to the Eiffel (were they looking anywhere else?) and light their phones.Exhibit 2: The gleaming orb that seemed to float in the night sky above the Tuileries gardens – the Olympic cauldron, a 7-meter (23-feet) diameter ring of fire (not a real flame) supported by a giant air balloon.Large crowds formed each night in the gardens and in the neighboring courtyard of the Louvre museum — also stunningly floodlit — and wait for the launch, sometimes watching groups of breakers dance.A wave of gasps rose up from an appreciative crowd of not just tourists, but also hardened Parisians, awed by the nightly light show in their hometown.No rain for the closing ceremonyThe rain that soaked athletes and observers at the opening ceremony is a distant memory. It’s sunny and warm at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Sunset in Saint-Denis is 9:12 p.m. — 10 minutes or so into the show.Workers are still finishing the stage at Stade de FranceWith less than 30 minutes left before the closing ceremony, workers are still on hands and knees finishing the stage in the middle of the stadium. The stands are roughly half full, with more than 70,000 fans expected to be in attendance.A helicopter is circling overhead. Officials have said security is a priority as the Olympics reach the finish line.

The 2024 Olympics are drawing to a close Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony at the Stade de France just north of Paris.

It’s a more traditional setting after the Seine River was used for the audacious opening ceremony, but don’t expect it to be dull. There’ll be over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists, the organizers say.

French indie band “Phoenix” performs

With an artistic show that celebrated Olympic themes, golden fireworks and thousands of athletes partying into the night, the closing ceremony put a final flourish to Paris’ first Games in a century.

In their enthusiasm, crowds of athletes rushed the stage during the ceremony’s artistic portion, and stadium announcements in French and English urged them to double back. Some of them stayed, surrounding Grammy-winning French pop-rock band Phoenix as they played, as security and volunteers worked to clear the stage.

Time for a light show

The lights are going down. The orchestra is tuning in. A light show is going on on the roof of the Stade de France.

Last medals awarded

The closing ceremony saw the awarding of the last medals — each embedded with a chunk of the Eiffel Tower. Fittingly for the first Olympics that aimed for gender parity, they all went to women — the gold, silver and bronze medalists from the women’s marathon earlier Sunday.

Bach hung them around the necks of race winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, silver’s Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and bronze’s Hellen Obiri of Kenya.

Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead carry American flag

As night fell, athletes marched into the stadium waving the flags of their 205 countries and territories — a display of global unity in a world gripped by global tensions and conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza. The stadium screens carried the words, “Together, united for peace.” With the 329 medal events finished, the expected 9,000 athletes — many wearing their shiny medals — and team staffers who filled the arena danced and cheered to the thumping beats.

Léon Marchand carries the Olympic flame

French swimmer Léon Marchand, wearing a black suit and tie, walks around the Olympic cauldron.

He picked up a lantern carrying the Olympic flame. At the same time, the Stade de France was roaring as Marchand was shown on the giant screens. Marchand was perhaps the most celebrated athlete at the Paris 2024 Olympics with 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.

Zaho de Sagazan belts ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’

The show is under way. French singer Zaho de Sagazan is singing the famous French song “Sous le ciel de Paris” in the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Olympic cauldron, in the heart of Paris.

“The Last Supper” opening ceremony scenes were left out of a video montage

The video montage from the opening ceremony showed boats, cyclists and more. But it omitted the scenes with drag performers and others that were criticized for perceived references to “The Last Supper.”

The closing ceremony is underway

Whistles and chants of “Allez!” are the soundtrack at Stade de France, and a few sections of fans did the wave. It has been popular at this Olympics.

Video highlights of the opening ceremony are being shown on video screens, a reminder of the dazzling show on the Seine from July 26..

Macron, Bach enter Stade de France

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron arrived in the Stade de France as fans cheered.

They were joined by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, IOC chief Thomas Bach, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and five-time Olympic Champion Martin Fourcade, who passed on the Olympic torch to kick off the 2024 Games.

Security clears the way for performers

Security has lined the perimeter around the stage, and musicians with their instruments are walking out onto the field. A few minutes from getting this show underway.

Fans have started a slow clap with a couple of minutes before show time.

Paris “waves” goodbye

The crowd is doing the wave 10 minutes ahead of the closing ceremony.

Who’s performing at the closing ceremony?

H.E.R., the five-time Grammy winner, is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the closing ceremony.

Other performances remain a mystery. Organizers said “the participation of world-renowned singers will complete the picture,” but didn’t elaborate on who those singers could be.

They added: “Part of the show will take place in the air, while the giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting effects will take spectators on a journey through time, both past and future.”

Sunset in Paris has been a special moment during these Olympics

The sun is setting on the Paris Olympics for the last time. By day, Paris shines. But at night, it sparkles.

And perhaps rarely so noticeably as during these past two and a half weeks.

Exhibit 1: the Eiffel Tower, of course. As the sun sets each night, the lights come on, enhancing the beauty of the iron latticework. But the “ooh” moment at beach volleyball, played in an epically photogenic stadium under the tower, would come at 10 p.m. when the music would stop and announcers would ask the crowd to turn to the Eiffel (were they looking anywhere else?) and light their phones.

Exhibit 2: The gleaming orb that seemed to float in the night sky above the Tuileries gardens – the Olympic cauldron, a 7-meter (23-feet) diameter ring of fire (not a real flame) supported by a giant air balloon.

Large crowds formed each night in the gardens and in the neighboring courtyard of the Louvre museum — also stunningly floodlit — and wait for the launch, sometimes watching groups of breakers dance.

A wave of gasps rose up from an appreciative crowd of not just tourists, but also hardened Parisians, awed by the nightly light show in their hometown.

No rain for the closing ceremony

The rain that soaked athletes and observers at the opening ceremony is a distant memory. It’s sunny and warm at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Sunset in Saint-Denis is 9:12 p.m. — 10 minutes or so into the show.

Workers are still finishing the stage at Stade de France

With less than 30 minutes left before the closing ceremony, workers are still on hands and knees finishing the stage in the middle of the stadium. The stands are roughly half full, with more than 70,000 fans expected to be in attendance.

A helicopter is circling overhead. Officials have said security is a priority as the Olympics reach the finish line.

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August 11, 2024
We’re Freaking Out Over These HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Live Performances On Songline

If you thought Billie Eilish couldn’t get any more angelic, you were wrong. After weeks and weeks of fans begging for live performances of their favorite tracks from the singer’s latest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, prayers have been answered. Thanks to Amazon Music, we now have the most perfect performances of album favorites like ‘WILDFLOWER,’ ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER,’ ‘SKINNY,’ and ‘L’AMOUR DE MA VIE.’ Narrowing down our favorites is just simply impossible, but we’ll do our best…

Image Source: Courtesy of The Oriel Co.

Amazon Music’s Songline

Going behind the scenes to listen to our favorite artists’ most special songs is one of the most exciting parts of being a fan. Amazon Music’s new digital series, Songline, allows artists to strip down their songs in an intimate setting that really showcases the art. With just a few microphones and instruments, the artists’ voices get to shine through in a new way we’ve never heard before. In this new series, fans also get a chance to learn a bit more about the featured songs through documentary-style dialogue, which fans often don’t get the chance to hear otherwise.

“Songline offers an opportunity for artist songwriters and their collaborators to showcase their songwriting process, detail their artistic journey, and reveal the stories behind songs typically hidden away in studios; by placing songwriters and their craft at the forefront of culture, fans can learn how their favorite songs and records were made, driving deeper connection with their favorite artists.”

Tom Winkler, head of publisher, songwriter, and society relations at Amazon Music, stated.

Billie Eilish and FINNEAS

To welcome the start of this new music series, Songline’s first guest is none other than Billie Eilish. Her voice needs no introduction or autotune, so she’s the perfect guest to kickstart this new series. Joined by her brother, producer, and co-songwriter, FINNEAS, and Billie (along with a handful of their friends on backup vocals) give the fans what they’ve been pleading for – acoustic sets of fan-favorite HMHAS songs and behind-the-scenes looks at the makings of each of the songs.

Up first? The devastatingly, hauntingly beautiful ‘WILDFLOWER.’ If we had to narrow the entire album down to just one favorite, this track would come out on top. One of the world’s favorite attributes about Billie Eilish is her vocals, which really shine through on this track. Believe it or not, they shine through even more in the Songline live set.

Watch it below and thank us later.

We love how Billie decided to bring in some backup vocalists – they all sound so perfect together! This may just be our new favorite version of ‘WILDFLOWER,’ but hey, who’s complaining?

If you end up in tears by the end of this performance (don’t worry, we did, too), then you’ll be happy to know Billie performed three other songs in the same style. You can watch her acoustic sets of ‘SKINNY,’ ‘L’AMOUR DE MA VIE,’ and ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’ on Amazon Music right now, or if you’re like us, you can re-watch them over and over and over again until we get to hear them live on the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT World Tour later this year.

Did you love the Songline episodes with Billie? Good news! There are more artists to come! Let us know which artists you’d like to see on the next episodes by dropping a comment or chatting with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook 🐝

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BILLIE EILISH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

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August 4, 2024