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R. Kelly: 'I've Written Like 25 Albums' in Prison

Rapper serving 30-year sentence sings on podcast, says bursting out in song is his 'uncurable' disease

(Newser) - From the J6 Prison Choir's songwriting to Sam Bankman-Fried's chess play , it sounds like our most headline-making prisoners are finding ways to stay entertained while behind bars. R. Kelly has emerged as the latest incarcerated Renaissance man, revealing that he's been spending his free time in North...

King Charles Reveals His Playlist
Get Ready for
DJ King Charles
Mar 7, 2025 11:47 AM CST

Get Ready for DJ King Charles

Monarch celebrates Commonwealth Day with his playlist of favorite songs via Apple Music

(Newser) - Watch out, Barack —Chuck now has his own playlist to recommend to the masses. Commonwealth Day is on Monday, and the British monarch decided to celebrate in advance by revealing the tunes he's got on loop, reports the Guardian . Apple Music on Friday introduced The King's Music ...

How Parton's Late Husband Figured in 'Jolene'

Flirty bank teller had 'terrible crush' on Carl Dean when Parton, Dean were still newly married

(Newser) - As Dolly Parton mourns the death of her spouse of 59 years, Carl Dean, the origins of one of her most popular songs, 1973's "Jolene," is making the rounds once again—because Dean, and a bank teller who was infatuated with him decades ago, were the main...

These Great Albums Each Claim a So-So Song

The Police's 'Mother,' from Synchronicity , tops Rolling Stone ?'s ranking as worst of the bunch

(Newser) - Much like a pitcher who screws up his perfect game in the ninth, there's nothing more frustrating than that almost-impeccable album that blows its streak with just one mediocre song—or, as Andy Greene puts it for Rolling Stone , a song that "sucks to such a profound degree...

10 Songs That Define David Lynch's Musical Legacy

Late film director also left his imprint in the musical world

(Newser) - The loss of visionary filmmaker David Lynch is also felt in the world of music, where he had inextricable influence on multiple generations of artists. Lynch composed music for many of his films, collaborated with others, directed music videos, released albums, and inspired legions of creatives. Learn about his musical...

Heidi Montag's Old Song Is No. 1 Again After Fire

Reality star's 'Superficial' shoots to No. 1 on iTunes after blaze destroys couple's LA-area home

(Newser) - Reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have a small bit of consolation after the California wildfires. Variety reports that on Friday, Pratt, 41, posted a bunch of photos on TikTok showing him in front of their scorched, destroyed home, along with a plea for fans to stream Montag'...

Well, We Now Have Our Next 'Baby Shark'

Moo Deng the viral and bouncy baby pygmy hippo has an official song released in 4 languages

(Newser) - In case you can't get enough of the little pygmy hippo Moo Deng from Thailand, there's now an official song featuring the internet's favorite baby animal—released in four languages for her global fans, reports the AP . The upbeat 50-second song "Moodeng Moodeng," available in...

Obama Drops His Summer Reading, Music Lists

Former president is having a 'brat' summer with Charli XCX's '365,' among other tunes

(Newser) - With the year's warmest weather heading into its final stretch, former President Obama has dropped his summer song and reading lists. "With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I've been listening to lately—and it wouldn't be my playlist if it didn'...

Think Pop Song Melodies Seem Simpler? They Are
Pop Songs Have
Changed in a Big Way
Since the '50s
NEW STUDY
Jul 27, 2024 5:30 AM CDT

Pop Songs Have Changed in a Big Way Since the '50s

Researchers find melody complexity has dropped big time, with simpler rhythms and pitch

(Newser) - If you've ever seen the viral clip of popular radio tunes that all use the same four chords , this latest study will, well ... strike a chord. The research published earlier this month in the journal Scientific Reports isn't about chords per se, but about rhythm and pitch—both...

Yes, That Was Michael J. Fox Performing With Coldplay
Coldplay Jams With 'One of the
Most Amazing People on Earth'
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jul 6, 2024 6:00 AM CDT

Coldplay Jams With 'One of the Most Amazing People on Earth'

Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox played with UK band at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend

(Newser) - Coldplay featured multiple cameos during its Saturday evening performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England, but there was one in particular that got the crowd on its feet. "Here's another legendary Michael/One who just totally rocks," crooned lead singer Chris Martin in introducing the band's most...

Rap Battle Song Hits No. 1, and 'It's a Bit Disconcerting'

Andre Gee of 'Rolling Stone' muses on lyrics in Lamar's diss track on Drake

(Newser) - Earlier this month, Andre Gee declared in Rolling Stone that Kendrick Lamar "won the great rap war " between himself and Drake, a long-running feud that has resulted in a recent slew of diss tracks—including Lamar's "Not Like Us," which ascended to the No. 1...

Eurovision Contestant Booted Right Before Finale

Joost Klein of the Netherlands was removed over a backstage incident now being investigation

(Newser) - A Dutch public broadcaster reacted angrily after the Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from the competition hours before Saturday's final over a backstage incident that's being investigated by police. The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said Swedish police were investigating "a...

ABBA, Biggie, Blondie All Have Something New in Common

More than 2 dozen performers are added to Library of Congress' National Recording Registry

(Newser) - Songs and others recordings that are at least a decade old are eligible to ascend to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, "based on their cultural, historical, or aesthetic importance in the nation's recorded sound heritage," per a release . This year, the registry welcomes 25 new...

Chechnya Bans Music That Doesn't Have the Right Tempo

It can't be too fast or too slow

(Newser) - Chechen authorities have reportedly shrunk the number of songs that are permissible in the Russian republic by banning music that's too fast or too slow. "From now on all musical, vocal, and choreographic works must correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute" in order...

Guess Who's Coming Back to Spotify?
Guess Who's
Coming Back
to Spotify?
Mar 13, 2024 8:20 AM CDT

Guess Who's Coming Back to Spotify?

Neil Young announces return to streaming platform, still complaining about 'low-res' files

(Newser) - More than two years ago, Neil Young yanked his songs off of Spotify, a protest against what Young said was COVID vaccine misinformation being circulated by podcaster Joe Rogan. Now the singer-songwriter has announced he's coming back to the streaming music platform, though the Consequence of Sound describes his...

To Listen to This Song, You'll Have to Buy a Slice

Metal band Belushi Speed Ball's apparent industry first: a piece of pizza that plays group's new single

(Newser) - What goes better together than headbanging and pizza? Nothing as much as the latest production from Belushi Speed Ball, a thrash metal band that's come up with a most unique way to deliver its latest single. Gizmodo reports that the band—apparently named after the drug combo that helped...

First a Surprise Swift Album, Now One for Bey

Beyonce drops 2 new country tracks during Super Bowl, announces release of 'Act II' on March 29

(Newser) - Beyonce was at the Super Bowl on Sunday in Las Vegas, but it was her Verizon commercial airing for viewers at home that generated the most excitement as she teased what turned out to be a surprise new album and the release of two singles. In the clip, which the...

Notes Finally Change in Organ Piece That's Played for 22 Years

Performance of John Cage's Organ2/ASLSP isn't slated to end until 2640

(Newser) - The late American avant-garde composer John Cage asked that his piece Organ2/ASLSP be played as its name instructs: That latter part is a nod to the phrase "as slowly and softly as possible," reports the Conversation . Cage, who died in 1992, never dictated just how slowly he meant,...

Here Are Obama's Top Songs of 2023
Obama's
Top Songs
of 2023
Dec 30, 2023 7:29 AM CST

Obama's Top Songs of 2023

All hail the former chief's favorite tunes from the year past

(Newser) - For those waiting with baited breath to see what all the hip sexagenarians were listening to this year, well, here's the personal list of the favorite music of at least one. That's right, former President Obama is out with his annual list of songs that he had on...

25-Year Search for Mysterious X-Files Song Finally Pays Off

Internet thread leads to songwriters who penned tune that appeared in 1998 episode

(Newser) - There was always mystery upon mystery layered in The X-Files, the popular sci-fi series starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, and now a big meta one regarding the show itself has been solved. The Washington Post reports on a melancholy country-western song heard in the background of a Season 6...

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