Music Observer

Drag Race Philippines has Jiggly Caliente in the Judging Panel

Mabuhay, Pilipinas!

The first season of Drag Race Philippines is set to premiere in less than a month, and it’s already generating buzz across social media. The show has announced that 12 new queens will compete for the crown this year. 

Mama RuPaul has just released a new international edition of her award-winning reality race series. The mixed bag features some creative drag styles from the Filipino Werk Room, such as a pageant queen title holder, comedy divas, dancers, and established makeup artists, all eyeing the title for Drag Race Philippines

Previously, EW announced that Drag Race 4 and All Stars 6 star Jiggly Caliente would enter the series as a judge, with KaladKaren, an impersonator of journalist Karen Davila, and Paolo Ballesteros, a Filipino actor, comedian, and impersonator.

KaladKaren and Jiggly are the first trans women to head a Drag Race franchise panel together.

“I am overjoyed in a major way to be joining the judges panel for Drag Race Philippines,” Jiggly told EW. 

“There is a fierce Filipino drag scene, and I am proud to be returning to my home country in this new role as a Drag Race judge to shine a spotlight on these incredible artists to the world – or the universe, rather. Pak! Mabuhay, Drag Race!” 

Drag Race Philippines is coming to WOW Presents Plus on August 17th! This show has been primarily produced in English with some Tagalog dialogue. 

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Drag Race Philippines Queens and their Bio

Presenting the queens of season 1!

Brigiding

Official bio: “Brigiding is one of the most prominent names in the Philippine drag scene. She is known for her extravagant looks and show-stopping performances and has been featured in Pride parades and drag events both in the Philippines and abroad. She is also one of the founders of Drag Playhouse PH, a local drag content and entertainment provider.”

Corazon

Official bio: “A crowned pageant queen with a list of titles on her sash, Corazon has jumped from one beauty contest to another competing in both male bikini contests and provincial Miss Gay events and talent shows. In addition to drag, Corazon is a makeup artist and a designer; creating looks for fellow drag and beauty queens alike.”

Eva Le Queen

Official bio: “Eva Le Queen worked as an OFW in Singapore for eight years before giving up her corporate profession to follow her dream of becoming a drag artist. During the day she would work corporate, but at night she worked as a drag queen. Eva won first runner-up in Singapore’s Drag It Out All-Stars competition, only four months after she started doing drag. Eva’s drag is inspired by literary and cinematic villains. Her strengths are in being both a comedy queen and her looks. Eva is a resident queen at Nectar Nightclub and is also one of the founders of Drag Playhouse PH.”

Gigi Era

Official bio: “Gigi Era is the diva from Down Under. Hailing from Melbourne, she is popular in the Australian drag scene for her death-defying stunts and fabulous real-hair wigs. Gigi was a former dancer and airplane cabin crew member based out of Dubai. She is now back in the Philippines representing her hometown, Davao.”

Lady Morgana

Official bio: “A proud Davao queen who has been doing drag for more than 15 years, Lady Morgana is a true classic drag queen. With her spider lashes, high brows, creative wigs, and out-of-the-box costumes, Lady Morgana is known for her comedic and hosting skills, always making sure that her performances are sprinkled with love, laughter, and feelings. She works as a financial advisor during the day.”

Marina Summers

Official bio: “Marina Summers is a fierce tropical queen known for her fish looks, hot body, exceptional dancing, and all-around performances. Her drag name stems from her love for the beach. Marina left her bucolic hometown of Nueva Vizcaya and moved to Manila to create content for one of the biggest film companies in the country. She began performing as a drag queen in 2019 and recently released her debut single “I Have Arrived” on Spotify and iTunes. She performs regularly at Nectar Nightclub and is another one of the founders of Drag Playhouse PH.”

Minty Fresh

Official bio: “Minty Fresh serves looks that kill all day, every day. She is a model, designer, pop singer, make-up artist, and performer. A staunch supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, she slays the stage weekly at Nectar Nightclub. Ariana Grande reposted Minty’s lip-sync performance on her Instagram story as she led hundreds of thousands of people in an election sortie in Manila.”

Precious Paula Nicole

Official bio: “Precious Paula Nicole is one of the most known Filipino drag queens, having been in the drag scene for more than 11 years. She is a professional dancer and is also known for her comedy shticks and impersonation of divas such as Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Asia’s songbird, Regine Velasquez. A star performer at O Bar, the premier drag club in the Philippines, she is a mother to a host of other popular drag queens.”

Prince

Official bio: “Prince is known on social media for her make-up transformations. Before joining Drag Race Philippines, Prince was a social media strategist and is relatively new to the Philippine drag scene. Prince’s drag is heavily influenced by sci-fi and anime, and believes that extraterrestrial looks have a space in Philippine drag. Prince is also one of the co-founders of Drag Playhouse PH. Aside from doing drag, she manages her own make-up and merchandise line.”

Turing

Official bio: “Turing has been a professional drag artist for more than seven years, performing in one of the most known drag bars in the Philippines, O-Bar. A Broadway fan and a theater kid who used to be a cheerleader in college, Turing is known in the drag scene as a fierce dancer and a lip-sync slayer. She has openly discussed how drag has made her feel more comfortable in her skin, and is a strong advocate for body positivity.”

Viñas DeLuxe

Official bio: “Viñas DeLuxe is a triple threat and an all-in-one package. She started doing drag while at university with a background in theater that helped harness her sharp wit, performance skills, and knack for comedy. Viñas DeLuxe owns a wig business and has built a strong social media presence. She is also in a drag group called Te Divine Divas, who gained popularity during the pandemic, mounting digital performances and live streams worldwide.”

Xilhouete

Official bio: “Xilhouete is respected in the drag scene in Manila. She is the creative director and one of the owners of Nectar Nightclub. Xilhouete is considered a drag mother of many queens, especially those who are regular performers at Nectar. An entrepreneur, director, and artist, Xilhouete advocates for the legacy of the drag queens who have paved the way.”

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Ana de Armas Says ‘There’s No Need for a Female Bond,’ Talking About the Prospect of Changing the Character’s Gender

Ana de Armas has said she does not have a prospect on who should be cast as James Bond. However, her opinion is clear – it should not be a woman. 

The 34-year-old actress told The Sun that she doesn’t think a female version of Bond would be necessary.

“There’s no need for a female Bond. There shouldn’t be any need to steal someone else’s character, you know, to take over. This is a novel, and it leads into this James Bond world and this fantasy of that universe where he’s at,” she said. 

As she sees it, de Armas states that if there are already female roles in this franchise, they should be given their spotlight.

“What I would like is that the female roles in the Bond films, even though Bond will continue to be a man, are brought to life in a different way,” she stated. 

Then, she adds, “That they’re given more substantial part and recognition. That’s what I think is more interesting than flipping things.” 

No Time to Die was the last outing of Daniel Craig as James Bond; it made many wonder who would step into the iconic role next.

Women Don’t Think Bond Should be a Woman

Many people agree with De Armas and wish the role would stay as it currently stands – male.

The head of one of the most famous spy franchises has expressed her concerns about a possible gender swap.

“Bond is male,” she said in a 2018 interview with The Guardian. “He’s a male character. He was written as a male, and I think he’ll probably stay as a male.” 

“And that’s fine. We don’t have to turn male characters into women,” Broccoli continued. “Let’s just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters.” 

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Not even a year later, Rosamund Pike, who played the character of Bond Girl in Die Another Day in 2002, voiced the same view. 

“I think the character of James Bond is a man. He is really,” she stated. “Why not make a kick-ass female agent in her own right?” 

Unfortunately, this means that Craig’s replacement will have to wait. The next installment of the show won’t be in production soon enough. Last month, Broccoli said in an interview with Deadline that filming the latest movie was at least two years away, if not more. She added that “nobody’s in the running” for the role.

James Bond has one heck of a history

Ian Fleming, who created James Bond in his novels and short stories, has already written twelve books. But after his death in 1964, eight other authors have taken over the Bond novels – don’t fret, they are authorized. 

Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Christopher Wood, Sebastian Faulks, Raymond Benson, William Boyd, Anthony Horowitz, and Jeffery Deaver are the writers who took the responsibility to continue Fleming’s legacy. 

The most recent novel starring the iconic spy, Forever and a Day, was written by Anthon Horowitz and was published in May 2018. 

Furthermore, Charlie Higson has authored a series featuring young James Bond, while Kate Westbrook authored three novels inspired by the diaries of a returning series character, Moneypenny. 

The film has earned more than $7 billion in total, making it the fifth highest-grossing film series to date.

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Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary: A Combination of the Film and Musical Performances

Be their guest! 

Disney and ABC are asking their fans to join them in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast.

The network announced Tuesday that it would air Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration on December 15 on ABC.

Featuring a mix of animated series and live-action, the two-hour special pays homage to the famous film and its legacy by pairing the film with new musical performances.

Jon M. Chu will serve as executive producer alongside Hamish Hamilton as director. Cast members who will perform musical acts in the original film have yet to be announced.

Beauty and the Beast was always a game-changing cinematic experience for me,” stated Chu. 

“When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend. It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve, so the fact that I get to executive produce a tribute to all the creatives that made this masterpiece throughout Electric Somewhere company is a dream I didn’t even think was possible.

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“With our world-class creatives and talent to reinterpret the classic musical numbers (with a few surprises), I can’t wait for the audiences, in person and at home, to experience what we have in store for them. It’s a true celebration of creativity.” 

Moreover, the special will show new sets and costumes based on Beauty and the Beast, while the tracks will be played before audiences at Disney Studios. 

When Beauty and the Beast’s debut in 1991, it was a pioneering moment, gaining Disney’s first nomination for the Best Picture Oscar. It snagged Best Original Song for the title song, “Beauty and the Beast,” paying tribute to its legendary score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. 

Since then, the movie has become an essential part of Disney’s legacy, creating a pivotal Broadway musical in the success of Disney and the latest live-action adaptation featuring Emma Watson as Belle in 2017. 

The special will premiere on Disney+ the next day.

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Marvel Boss States Ryan Gosling is Has a Place in the MCU After Ghost Rider Remarks

Ryan Gosling could be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president, has confirmed that Ryan Gosling is welcome into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor allegedly stated his interest in playing Ghost Rider. 

“Hey, man. If Ryan wants to be Ghost Rider….” Feige said in an interview with MTV News’ Josh Horowitz at Comic-Con in San Diego. “Gosling’s unbelievable… I’d love to find a place for him in the MCU.” 

Talking about the A-lister’s role as Ken in the Barbie movie, Feige said, “He’s dressed up as Ken on Venice Beach and gets more press than giant movies coming out that weekend. Amazing!” 

Read also: Ryan Gosling Says He Has ‘That Ken-ergy’

Ryan Gosling Says He Has ‘That Ken-ergy’

Ghost Rider: A Huge Hit

In the past, Nicholas Cage played a role as the titular agent, Johnny Blaze’s version from the comics. Coincidentally, the first film from 2007 had Gosling’s wife, Eva Mendes, as a co-star. 

The movie is a century-spanning story of one man’s soul sold to the devil in exchange for a chance at the life of a loved one. Presently, he becomes the Ghost Rider, an agent of justice with a blazing skull for a head. 

Cage reprised her role in 2011’s Spirit of Vengeance, which starred future MCU star, Idris Elba.

Afterward, Gabriel Luna portrayed a different version of Ghost Rider in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. of ABC – Robbie Reyes, a mechanic who gets killed and resurrected as Ghost Rider. After that, Hulu attempted to make a spin-off of Ghost Rider, but it never saw the light of day. 

“You’re talking about Ghost Rider, we’ve got Blade, we’ve got Doctor Strange at the supernatural angles,” Feige said in the MTV interview. 

“We’ve got the street level with our announcement of Daredevil and, of course, Spidey going into the street level heroes. And cosmic, and that’s where our friends Eros [portrayed by Harry Styles] and Pip [Patton Oswalt] live.” 

Marvel has teased the whole of Phase 4 and Phase 5, but there are several films not yet confirmed in Phase 6, which involve Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars

Well, there’s always a chance that Ghost Rider will show up next!

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Batgirl Actress Leslie Grace Says She Feels ‘Blessed’ Working ‘Among Absolute Greats’

Following the cancellation of the alleged Batgirl, Barbara Gordon and Leslie Grace consider the decision shocking.

Grace took to Instagram to express her gratitude to the cast and crew for their efforts on the film and to Batgirl fans for giving her the chance to be “my own damn hero!”

“Querida familia! On the heels of the recent news about our movie Batgirl, I am proud of the love, hard work, and intention all of our incredible cast and tireless crew put into this film over seven months in Scotland,” said Grace on the post along with a set of behind-the-scenes images and clips. 

“I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process! To every Batgirl fan – THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’” #Batgirl for life! 🦇” 

Batgirl Directors Compliment Leslie Grace

Batgirl filmmakers Adil E Arbi and Bilall Fallah previously complimented “the great Leslie Grace, who portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication, and humanity;” however, they confessed that they were surprised by the studio’s decision. 

“We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” the two said in a joint statement on Instagram. 

“As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will insha’Allah.” 

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Among others in the cast are Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne, returning to the franchise after Tim Burton’s Batman movies. 

But Batgirl was not the only film not to see the light of day, the animated film Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, worth $40 million, was also withdrawn. 

Leslie Grace Martinez

Leslie Grace Martinez is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter and actress. Her singing career bagged her three Latin Grammy Award nominations. On the acting aspect, she has starred in Jon H. Chu’s In the Heights as Nina Rosario. 

In the Heights was critically acclaimed, with critics dubbing it one of the best films of 2021. Rolling Stone’s K. Austin Collins wrote, “Its highest accomplishment is that it succeeds as the star vehicle Hollywood seemed to demand.”

Read also: Ana de Armas Says ‘There’s No Need for a Female Bond,’ Talking About the Prospect of Changing the Character’s Gender

Sylvester Stallone Expresses Anger Over Rocky Spin-Off

Actor and producer Sylvester Stallone has been speaking openly about the latest Rocky spin-off Drago. He described producers as people who have “exploited” his successful franchise he made into “parasites.”

In an Instagram post on Saturday, the 76-year-old legend expressed his disgust, sharing a news article about the forthcoming movie and censuring those who created it.

He did not name any names, but his statements regarding the “94-year old producer” indicate that he is referring to series’ Irwin Winkler. While 91, he has received backlash from the actor countless times. He also seems to cite his children, showrunners Charles and David Winkler.

“Another Heartbreaker… Just found this out… ONCE AGAIN, this PATHETIC 94 year old PRODUCER and HIS MORONIC USELESS VULTURE CHILDREN, Charles and David, are once again picking clean THE BONES of another wonderful character I created without even telling me,” Stallone’s post read.

He ended his rant apologizing to fans, stressing that he didn’t intend for characters to be “exploited.”

“I APOLOGIZE to the FANS, I never wanted ROCKY characters to be exploited by these parasites.”

Stallone has strongly expressed his opposition to the film, but he clarifies that there are no feelings of resentment towards Dolph Lundgren, who plays Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and Creed II and is into filming the project.

“By the way, I have nothing but respect for Dolph but I wish HE had told me what was going on behind my back,” he continued. “Keep you REAL friends close.”

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Stallone Openly Expresses His Vision for the Franchise

It is no secret that Stallone has wanted to take control of this franchise for years. He uploaded a statement earlier this month in which he urged Winkler to hand him what was left of his right. 

“After IRWIN controlling ROCKY for over 47 years, and now CREED, I really would like [to] have at least a little [of] WHAT’s LEFT of my RIGHTS back, before passing it on to ONLY YOUR CHILDREN,” Stallone said.

“I believe that would be a FAIR gesture from this 93 year old gentleman?”

“I wanted to leave something of Rocky for my children,” he further said, “but it’s always great hearing from the loyal fans… Keep Punching.”

Rocky Balboa was made by Stallone, who was struggling at the time to make a breakthrough into Hollywood. He would helm five movies and even direct Rocky II, Rocky III, and Rocky IV.

Stallone then came back for the Creed films, featuring Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, Apollo Creed’s (portrayed by Carl Weathers in the Rocky films I – IV) son.

The actor voiced his frustration about not possessing ownership stake in the franchise in an interview with Variety in 2019.

“I have zero ownership of Rocky,” he stated. “Every word, every syllable, every grammatical error was all my fault. It was shocking that it never came to be, but I was told, ‘Hey, you got paid, so what are you complaining about?’ I was furious.”

Although it is not clear where this war may lead them, fans can expect Stallone to star in Creed III, dropping this November 23.

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Willow Smith Says She ‘Love and Accept’ Family ‘For All Their Humanness’

Willow Smith expressed her feelings for father Will’s infamous slap at the 2022 Academy Awards.

The 21-year-old singer reflected on the media fuss that followed after her father, who bagged the Best Actor award for his role as patriarch Richard Williams in Serena and Venus Williams sports film King Richard, slapped Chris Rock on stage following the presenter’s joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia. 

The fiery media backlash did not “rock me as much as my own internal demons,” Willow told Billboard. 

She added, “I see my whole family as being human, and I love and accept them for all their humanness. Because of the position that we’re in, our humanness sometimes isn’t accepted, and we’re expected to act in a way that isn’t conducive to a healthy human life and isn’t conducive to being honest.” 

Will Asks Apologies to Family and Questlove

Last month, after a hiatus on social media, Will posted a heartfelt video addressing the incident that occurred during the March 27 awards ceremony.

The 5-minute YouTube video begins with a title card noting that he’s done a lot of self-reflection and personal work over the last four months.

“I was fogged out by that point. It’s all fuzzy,” Smith stated, replying to a query on why he didn’t apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech after the slap. 

“I’ve reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out,” Smith said. “So, I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you, my behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.” 

He repeated that there is “no part” of him that “thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment” or an “optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults” following Rock’s joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. 

The actor also repulsed speculation that Pinkett Smith’s reaction was what pushed him to slap Rock. 

Read also: Will Smith’s Friends and Family Remain Strong in Their Support for the Actor After Jada Pinkett’s Controversial Statements

“I made a choice on my own from my own experiences and my history with Chris,” Smith stated, apologizing to his family and Questlove, who snagged the Best Documentary Feature award presented by Rock during the award show. 

“I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heart I brought on all of us,” he stated. 

“To all my fellow nominees, you know, this is a community. I won because you voted for me, and it really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment. I can still see Questlove’s eyes. It happened on Questlove’s award, and it’s like, ‘I’m sorry’ really isn’t sufficient.” 

After the slap, the Academy banned the Oscar-winner from attending its official events – counting the awards show – for the following ten years. Smith then stepped down as a member of the group. 

Jada Pinkett Smith Wishes for Will and Chris’ Reconciliation

Pinkett Smith urged her husband and Rock to make up in June in an episode of Red Table Talk about alopecia. 

“My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out, and reconcile,” she stated. 

“The state of the world today? We need them both, and we all actually need one another more than ever,” Pinkett Smith stated. “Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that keeps figuring out this thing called life together.” 

Although Rock has not publicly replied to Smith’s apology, he’s laughed about it on numerous stand-up sets. 

He allegedly told the audience in May, “I’m okay if anybody was wondering. Got most of my hearing back. Don’t expect me to talk about the bulls—. I’ll talk about it at some point… on Netflix.”

Read also: Sylvester Stallone Expresses Anger Over Rocky Spin-Off

House of the Dragon Producer Says the Show Portrays No Sexual Violence

Theories have floated about what could happen in HBO’s highly anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon. One very crucial question is how, or whether, the show will display any explicit sexual content.

After co-producer Miguel Sapochnik’s testimony on the blowout, Sara Hess, executive producer of House of the Dragon, sets things straight.

Despite Game of Throne’s popularity in portraying sexual violence, Sapochnik told Hollywood Reporter that the approach made in House of the Dragon is done “carefully, thoughtfully, and [we] don’t shy away from it.”

He continued, “If anything, we’re going to shine a light on that aspect. You can’t ignore the violence that was perpetrated on women by men in that time. It shouldn’t be downplayed, and it shouldn’t be glorified.”

The remark was talked about, seeing that it is subject to a civil war at the center of the show because “the patriarchy would rather destroy itself than see a woman on the throne.”

Discussions followed another statement from Sapochnik that childbirth in an ancient fantasy setting is inherently violent and potentially deadly.

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House of the Dragon: Domineered by Men

Many scenes have shown how the show’s female leads – Olivia Cooke’s Lady Alicent Hightower and Emma D’Arcy’s Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen – must compete to make a breakthrough in a world dominated by male kings and lords.

However, the statement serves as a reminder to several readers of the fiery controversies around Game of Thrones’ depiction of violence and left something to think about – whether House of the Dragon would also give us scenes that felt gratuitous.

Responding to the quotes, Hess clarified that the show’s theme treatment will not be as visceral.

“I’d like to clarify that we do not depict sexual violence in the show,” the producer told Vanity Fair. “We handle one instance off-screen, and instead show the aftermath and impact on the victim and the mother of the perpetrator.”

She added, “I think what our show does, and what I’m proud of, is that we choose to focus on the violence against women that is inherent in a patriarchal system.”

House of the Dragon drops on August 21.

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Beyoncé Bags Another No. 1 Spot with Renaissance

Renaissance, the newest album released by Beyoncé, has climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, according to Billboard. 

The album, in its first week, has gained 332,000 equivalent album units and sold 190,000 physical copies. 

Renaissance is the seventh album from Beyoncé that landed the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums charts (Note: seven out of seven solo albums), lately after Lemonade, Beyoncé, and 4. She is the first-ever female artist to have her first seven solo albums at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on its debut. 

In 2022 thus far, the only album with a more extensive debut week on the Billboard 200 charts than the LP by Beyoncé was Harry’s House by Harry Styles, which earned 521,200 units and broke the record for the first-week vinyl sales after previous record-holder Taylor Swift. 

Beyoncé’s chart triumph isn’t bound to the 200 albums chart. Instead, the Houston local set a new record when all the songs from Lemonade, her sixth studio album, snagged a spot on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the title for the first female artist to have over 12 on the chart at the same time. 

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Queen B is also a Queen of No. 1 Albums Chart

Years of her solo career have not been a flop as she has had seven songs to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well and had 20 singles snag top 10 spots. 

Renaissance dropped on July 29, 2022. The album was dubbed “Act I” – the first of the “three-act project” she recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Before the release, Queen B wrote on her website: “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking.” 

“Break My Soul,” the album’s lead single, was dropped in June.

Read also: Beyoncé Reveals Renaissance Tracklist Along with Songwriter Credits

The 1975 Reveals 2022 Tour, Shares Second Single for New LP

The 1975 has dropped a second single from their forthcoming LP Being Funny in a Foreign Language, titled “Happiness.” 

In addition to the new song, they announced a tour in North America called the At Their Very Best Tour. 

The 1975 lead vocalist, Matty Healy, told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe about his band’s new single. 

“’Happiness’ is like… there’s literally loads of us in the room on that track. Locked eyes… doesn’t really have much structure. It came through like jamming. And we haven’t done that in like years. So, we just wanted this record to be really like a captured moment and not be too constructed and even produced that much,” Healy said. 

“We did it in like a day or so. And it’s us having fun. And I think that there’s this real desire in art to see something remarkable with as little technology as possible.” 

Matty Healy Talks Teaming Up with Jack Antonoff

Healy also talked about teaming up with Jack Antonoff on Being Funny in a Foreign Language

“I love Jack’s work, and those Lana [Del Ray] records, in particular, like, some of my favorite stuff. So, we were talking about that. We became friends talking about production and what I was doing and what he was wanting to do and what was I wanting to do,” he said. 

“And then I kind of just thought, ‘Well, this is like a really nice new energy.’ I don’t… because we are so closed, me and George [Daniel], we’ve always been so closed. ‘Why don’t you like come down to the studio and see what happens?’ And then he did. And then, ever since, we were just great, great friends.” 

He further said, praising Antonoff, “He’s so good What he does is identifies what an artist is really good at or where the truth is coming from. And it’s a bit like, if you think of like a great comedian, the language of like sense of humor, they can sense where the humor is in the situation.” 

Healy even praised Antonoff for knowing what he does and diving into the aspects of his work. 

“Jack’s like, he’s like me, you know what I mean? He’s like culture vulture, he’s like full of references. He knows his shit, man. He understands what artists need at any given moment. And it happened very, very naturally. And I think we were just feeling loads of stuff out. And all these things just kind of came together,” he said. 

“Yeah, and me and Jack were just like talking about music and then conversations, me, Jack, and George. And then those conversations became about a 1975 record that felt more live. And then I was a bit like, ‘Well, why are we talking about this? Why don’t we just do this?’” 

Being Funny in a Foreign Language will be released on October 14 through Dirty Hit. 

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The 1975 Tour

The 1975: 

11-03 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Arena

 11-04 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

 11-07 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

 11-09 Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

 11-10 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem

 11-12 Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

 11-13 Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium

 11-15 Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre

 11-16 Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall

 11-17 Austin, TX – Moody Center

 11-20 Mexico City, Mexico – Corona Capital Festival

 11-23 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

 11-25 Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels

 11-26 San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

 11-28 Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

 11-29 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

 12-01 Portland, OR – Moda Center

 12-02 Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater

 12-08 Independence, MO – Cable Dahmer Arena

 12-10 Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom

 12-12 Toronto, Ontario – Scotiabank Arena

 12-16 Newport, KY – PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation

 12-17 Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center

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