Multi-Platinum global pop superstar Kesha has announced plans for a milestone North American headline tour – the biggest live run of her already extraordinary career. Newly reunited glam-pop legends Scissor Sisters (Jake Shears, Babydaddy & Del Marquis) join on all dates, marking their first North American tour in over a decade.
Produced by Live Nation and in partnership with Feeld, the dating app for the curious, The Tits Out Tour kicks off July 1 at West Valley City, UT’s Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre and then hits arenas and amphitheaters across the continent through an August 10 finale at Tampa, FL’s MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre. Highlights include Kesha’s first-ever solo headline shows at such world-famous venues as Los Angeles, CA’s Kia Forum (July 5) and New York City’s Madison Square Garden (July 23). Pop disruptor Slayyyter (July 1-July 18) and rising UK artist Rose Gray (July 19-21, July 24-August 10) will also join as support on select dates. Full routing available below.
Kesha | Photo Credit: Brendan Walter
“The most political thing we can do right now is love. Love ourselves and love each other,” says Kesha. “Americans need to have more safe, consensual sex. Our administration is so disembodied and disconnected. I’m going TITS OUT this summer to bring as much safety, fun, acceptance, love, connection, and celebration to this country because we are just as much the fabric of this FREE nation as anyone else. We will not be quiet, and we will fight through joy! I think it’s time to make LOVE, not content. LOVE, not anger. LOVE, not hatred, and love, not war.
I’m committed to bringing my newfound freedom to a city near you. A celebration is in order. I have partnered with Feeld, a dating app for open-minded people, in order to bring our sexually liberated selves and give us a place to flirt, meet, connect, and dance.
Color-coded options will be available soon, but this summer wear RED if you are single, horny, and down to flirt!
Let’s fight chaos with love, so let’s see how much love we can bring to the summer of 2025.
And along the way, I’m looking for a sugar daddy, so if you bring a tall, hot, single friend, you get extra animal points.
Let’s help each other find some love and connection this summer.
Let’s go tits out!”
Fans can sign up now for access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 8 at 10 am (local) at keshaofficial.com and scissorsisters.com. Additional presales will run throughout the week. All remaining tickets will be available through a general onsale on Thursday, April 10 at 10 am (local). For complete details, please visit keshaofficial.com/tour.
“We are stoked to extend our reunion to the US and Canada this summer alongside Kesha,” says Scissor Sisters. “There has always been a bit of anarchy and chaos to both of our live shows – and we can’t wait to bring that ‘anything can happen’ energy across North America again.”
Scissor Sisters | Photo Credit: Kevin Tachman
To celebrate today’s announcement of The Tits Out Tour – which comes amid a recent swirl of cryptic teasers across social media – tonight will see Kesha play a special Boiler Room set in Miami.
Kesha Tour Dates 2025
^ with Slayyyter # with Rose Gray † Festival performance
May 29 – Glasgow, UK – House of Kesha @ O2 Academy 1 (SOLD OUT)
May 30 – Manchester, UK – House of Kesha @ Albert Hall (SOLD OUT)
June 1 – London, UK – Mighty Hoopla †
July 1 – West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
July 3 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
July 5 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum ^
July 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre ^
July 8 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion * ^
July 10 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ^
July 12 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre ^
July 13 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre ^
July 15 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater ^
July 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center ^
July 18 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center ^
July 19 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre #
July 21 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage #
July 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
July 24 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center #
July 26 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake #
July 28 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center #
July 29 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann #
July 31 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater #
August 2 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater #
August 3 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek #
August 5 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion #
August 7 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre #
August 9 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre #
August 10 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre #
Kesha’s Community-Minded Initiatives
In the spirit of finding her partner(s), Kesha is teaming up with Feeld, the dating app for the curious, for The Tits Out Tour to empower her fans along their journeys of self-discovery. Both Feeld and Kesha share a commitment to breaking barriers, embracing individuality, and encouraging people to live their truth. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity for Feeld and Kesha to host spaces where being unapologetically yourself is not just celebrated, but encouraged. With Kesha’s fearless attitude and Feeld’s commitment to create a platform for honest connection, their partnership will emphasize the importance of embracing who you truly are.
“I’m beaming with joy to be sharing this journey with Kesha, as we empower humans to find their authenticity,” said Ana Kirova, CEO of Feeld. “Her creativity and the courage in her expression that she carries so lightly have been a true inspiration for us, as they relate so closely with our mission at Feeld. The journey we’ll share this summer will give new worlds for everything we stand for – discovering who you are, living boldly as one’s true self and feeling the joy of freedom to be oneself.”
Additional support for The Tits Out Tour comes from Spot Pet Insurance, one of the fastest growing pet insurance providers in North America. Partnering with the ultimate Mother of Pets, Kesha, Spot Pet Insurance is making pet adoption the real star of the show, by spotlighting local rescues across the tour. This partnership highlights Kesha’s lifelong love of pets and Spot’s mission to help every cat and dog live their longest, healthiest lives. This collaboration realizes both Kesha and Spot Pet Insurance’s belief that every pet deserves a loving home, and every pet parent deserves the peace of mind that pet insurance can offer.
Kesha’s Upcoming Album: .(PERIOD)
The Tits Out Tour heralds the hugely anticipated release of Kesha’s long awaited new album, . (PERIOD), arriving at last Independence Day, Friday, July 4 on her own Kesha Records. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now.
. (PERIOD) – which arrives exactly one year since Kesha returned on her own terms with 2024’s smash comeback hit, “JOYRIDE” – was first unveiled last month with the premiere of the thrilling new single, “YIPPEE-KI-YAY. (Feat. T-Pain),” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. Produced by Pink Slip (Ava Max, Jason Derulo) and Nova Wav (Rihanna, Beyoncé), the track is joined by an official visualizer, premiering today via YouTube.
WATCH “YIPPEE KIYAY (FEAT. T-PAIN)” OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO
Kesha’s sixth studio album, . (PERIOD) – yes, it’s just a period. – is an unapologetic, unfiltered declaration of artistic freedom and fearless authenticity from the 2x GRAMMY® Award-nominated pop icon. Conceived, co-produced and co-written by Kesha, the 11-song collection transcends pop norms to create a raw, daring, and intensely personal sonic journey, a defiant act of self-expression that refuses to adhere to expectations or play it safe. More than just a new album, . (PERIOD) is Kesha at her most powerful best, turning her experiences into vibrant, audacious art with a spiked heel at the neck of pop culture.
Among its many exhilarating highlights, . (PERIOD) includes 2024’s aforementioned “JOYRIDE” and the blockbuster “DELUSIONAL,” both available everywhere now. Currently boasting over 103M streams at Spotify alone, “JOYRIDE” proved a true sensation since its Independence Day 2024 release, reaching #6 on Billboard’s “Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles” and “Hot Dance/Electronic Songs” along with the top 30 on “Pop Airplay” and chart success around the world from the UK to New Zealand.
Produced by Zhone and co-written by Kesha, Zhone, and Madison Love, the track marked the triumphant first chapter of a milestone new era for Kesha, celebrating both her long overdue empowerment as an independent artist as well as a powerful sonic evolution following 2023’s critically acclaimed fifth studio album, Gag Order. Along with its popular achievement, “JOYRIDE” has been met by high-profile critical applause from the likes of Rolling Stone,Variety, and Vulture, to name only a few. Perhaps NYLON said it best: “Everything about ‘JOYRIDE’ is a trip…The original glitter-faced party animal of the 2010s is back with a fiery vengeance.”
“JOYRIDE” joined by an equally acclaimed official music video streaming now at YouTube. Directed by Dimitri Basil (Kylie Minogue, Vance Joy), Cooper Roussel (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Miami Horror), and Laura Gorun (Joywave, Kings of Leon), the high-octane visual received wide-ranging attention from major publications and top online outlets around the globe, including Billboard, Vulture, and Rolling Stone, the latter of which raved, ““Kesha is taking her foot off the brakes and going full-speed ahead on her new video for ‘JOYRIDE.’ The video sees Kesha racing through the desert in a hot red convertible while being chased by a helicopter, gun-toting assassins, and a shirtless dude hell-bent on catching up to the pop diva.”
One of Spotify’s Top 100 Artists with close to 40M monthly listeners, Kesha will further herald the arrival of . (PERIOD) with a number of sold-out “House of Kesha” headline shows and festival dates around the globe, including a top-billed performance at London’s Mighty Hoopla pop extravaganza on June 1. For additional details, please visit keshaofficial.com/tour.
After much anticipation, 14-time Grammy Award-winner Lady Gaga has officially announced ‘The MAYHEM Ball’ tour with dates across North America, Europe, and the UK this year in support of her new album, MAYHEM, which received widespread acclaim from critics and fans upon release and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Stream MAYHEMHERE.
Following her 2025 headlining sets at Coachella, stadium residencies in Mexico City and Singapore, and landmark free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Gaga will kick off The MAYHEM Ball on July 16 in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. With multiple nights in Seattle, New York, Miami, Toronto, Chicago, London, Stockholm, Milan, Barcelona, Berlin, and more, this tour marks Gaga’s first North American and Europe/UK run since her iconic 2022 Chromatica Ball Tour.
“This is my first arena tour since 2018,” said Gaga. “There’s something electric about a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows. But with The MAYHEM Ball, I wanted to create a different kind of experience—something more intimate—closer, more connected—that lends itself to the live theatrical art I love to create.”
Lady Gaga | Photo credit: Frank Lebo
Lady Gaga 2025 Tour Dates
SPRING 2025 – PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Sat Apr 26 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio GNP Seguros
Sun Apr 27 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio GNP Seguros
Sat May 3 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Copacabana Beach
Sun May 18 – Singapore – National Stadium
Mon May 19 – Singapore – National Stadium
Wed May 21 – Singapore – National Stadium
Sat May 24 – Singapore – National Stadium
THE MAYHEM BALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
Wed Jul 16 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Fri Jul 18 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Wed Aug 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Thu Aug 07 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Aug 22 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Tue Aug 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sun Aug 31 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Mon Sep 01 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Wed Sep 10 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Thu Sep 11 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Mon Sep 15 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Wed Sep 17 – Chicago, IL – United Center
THE MAYHEM BALL EUROPE/UK DATES
Mon Sep 29 – London, UK – The O2
Tue Sep 30 – London, UK – The O2
Thu Oct 02 – London, UK – The O2
Tue Oct 07 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sun Oct 12 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Mon Oct 13 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Sun Oct 19 – Milan, Italy – Unipol Forum
Mon Oct 20 – Milan, Italy – Unipol Forum
Tue Oct 28 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Wed Oct 29 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Tue Nov 04 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Wed Nov 05 – Berlin, Germany – Ua
About Lady Gaga Tickets
NORTH AMERICA: Tickets for the North American tour dates will be available starting Monday, March 31 with various presales (details below). The Artist Presale will begin Wednesday, April 2 at 12pm local time. Fans can sign up for the Artist Presale now HERE until Sunday, March 30 at 8am ET. The general onsale will begin Thursday, April 3 at 12pm local time at LiveNation.com.
CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Lady Gaga North American tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, March 31 at 12pm local time until Wednesday, April 2 at 11am local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For details, visit www.citientertainment.com.
VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for Lady Gaga tour dates in the U.S. through Verizon Access. Presale tickets for select shows begin Tuesday, April 1 at 12pm local time until Wednesday, April 2 at 11am local time. More details at Verizon.com/Access.
EUROPE/UK: Tickets for select shows in Europe will be available starting Monday, March 31 with Mastercard presales. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale for all EU/UK dates beginning Thursday, April 3 at 12pm local time at ladygaga.com.
MASTERCARD CARDHOLDERS have special access to Presale tickets in Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, France & Belgium. Presale starts Monday, March 31 at 12pm local and ends Wednesday, April 2 at 10pm local. Preferred ticket access begins April 3. Details at priceless.com/music.
VIP: The tour will offer VIP packages including premium tickets, pre-show hospitality lounge, limited edition merch & more. Details at vipnation.com.
MAYHEM – The New Studio Album
MAYHEM continues to dominate the charts. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking Gaga’s seventh consecutive No. 1 album. In its second week, it remains one of the biggest releases of the year, maintaining Top 2 positions across key charts including No. 2 on the Billboard 200, Digital Albums, and US LP Vinyl Albums charts. It also retains the No. 1 spot on both the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart for the second consecutive week—the latter of which earned Gaga her eighth career No. 1 on the tally, making her the most successful artist of all time in the chart’s history.
“Gaga feels like her most authentic self from start to finish on this album: There’s no characters, concepts, or aesthetic impulses overshadowing the songs. Instead, she’s made one of her most sonically challenging and uniform albums yet: a mix of Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Prince and her Fame Monster-era self, rolled into the year’s strongest pop release yet.” – ROLLING STONE
The fastest-selling international release of the year, MAYHEM debuted at No. 1 in 12 countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and South Korea, and landed at No. 2 in the Netherlands and Sweden—further cementing Gaga’s global dominance. “Abracadabra” entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 3 and the UK Airplay Chart at No. 2, while in France, MAYHEM posted the biggest first-week sales since Born This Way. In Japan, it ranked among the biggest international albums in recent years; in Finland, it was the only international album to crack the Top 10; and in Ireland, three MAYHEM tracks landed in the Top 40—reinforcing its worldwide impact.
In its first week alone, MAYHEM amassed over 240 million streams worldwide, marking her biggest streaming week ever. It also marked her biggest vinyl week to date, with 74,000 units sold across 14 collectible variants, some of which featured exclusive bonus tracks like “Kill for Love” and “Can’t Stop the High.” The digital edition of the album includes music videos for “Die With a Smile,” “Disease,” and “Abracadabra,” all of which helped fuel the album’s massive first week impact.
“In a musical landscape concerned with “album eras,” Mayhem refuses to be easily categorized. Ranging from grinding industrial techno one moment to soulful, heartfelt balladry the next, Mayhem makes its title a thesis statement — the throughline is disorder.” – BILLBOARD
“Die With a Smile,” Gaga’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, continues to break records, holding the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Global 200 chart for a 13th consecutive week. With more than 100 million streams worldwide each week, the track is now tied for the third-longest-running No. 1 in chart history.
MAYHEM marks a return to Gaga’s pop roots, reaffirming that she is a master of reinvention, crafting an album that is as bold and eclectic as it is deeply personal. A declaration of artistic freedom, it embraces the fractured pieces of oneself and how they come together to form something unexpected and beautiful. The album mirrors this concept with its diverse sonic palette and thematic layers, combining elements of chaos, defiance, and vulnerability into a cohesive artistic statement. Gaga describes this process as assembling a shattered mirror: “Even if you can’t put the pieces back together perfectly, you can create something memorable and whole in its own way.”
“In a world of so-called lowercase pop, Gaga still has the caps-lock on in a bold, 96-point font, like she did in 2009. Throughout the album, she belts to the heavens and hits her marks with precision and flair, reminding her peers what a capital-E entertainer sounds like.” – NEW YORK TIMES
Billie Eilish continues to dominate the music scene with her unique sound and chart-topping hits. However, there are many other artists making significant strides with their new releases. Here are five mainstream artists you should definitely check out, spanning a range of genres and styles, most of who have recently released fresh tracks.
1. Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter has been steadily rising in the pop music scene, and her recent releases are a testament to her growth as an artist. Her fifth studio album, emails i can’t send, released on July 15, 2022, debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200, marking her highest entry on the chart to date. The album featured singles like “Vicious” and “Nonsense,” the latter peaking at number 56 on the Hot 100 and achieving Platinum certification. Following this, she embarked on the Emails I Can’t Send tour in September 2022.
In March 2023, Carpenter released a deluxe edition of the album, with the single “Feather” becoming her highest-charting song, reaching number 21 on the Hot 100 and number one on the US Pop Songs chart. She performed at high-profile events like the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2023. Her involvement in Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour as the opening act for several international shows further solidified her growing stardom. Recently, she released the single “Espresso” on April 12, 2024, which became her first top-10 hit on the Hot 100, peaking at number four, coinciding with her performance at Coachella 2024.
Renee Rapp, known for her Broadway roots in Mean Girls: The Musical, has made significant strides in her music career. She recently reprised her role as Regina George in the musical film adaptation of Mean Girls, released in theaters on January 12, 2024, and on streaming on March 5, 2024. However, Rapp has expressed her intention to focus solely on her music career due to the anxiety she experienced in the acting environment.
Rapp’s debut extended play, Everything to Everyone, released in November 2022, was followed by a deluxe version in February 2023. Her debut studio album, Snow Angel, dropped on August 18, 2023, and a deluxe version with additional tracks, including a remix of “Tummy Hurts” featuring Coco Jones, was released in November 2023. She has been actively touring, with her Snow Hard Feelings tour, supported by Alexander 23 and Towa Bird, showcasing her dynamic stage presence and deep connection with her audience. Rapp’s music blends pop and R&B influences, creating a sound that is both contemporary and timeless.
WILLOW has continued to evolve her sound and artistic persona. In February 2022, she withdrew from Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever, The World Tour due to production limitations but quickly bounced back by featuring on Camila Cabello’s track “Psychofreak” in April 2022. Her fifth studio album, COPINGMECHANISM, released on October 7, 2022, features collaborations with Yves Tumor and showcases a bold dive into alternative rock with singles like “Maybe It’s My Fault” and “Hover Like a Goddess.”
WILLOW’s recent releases continue to push boundaries. Her first single since COPINGMECHANISM, “Alone,” came out in November 2023, followed by “Symptom of Life” in March 2024 and “Big Feelings” in April. She announced her sixth studio album, empathogen, which was released on May 4, 2024. With a unique blend of punk, metal, and introspective lyrics, WILLOW’s new work explores themes of identity and self-discovery, solidifying her place as a dynamic force in the music industry.
Chappell Roan has been steadily carving out a niche for herself with her vibrant and catchy pop tunes. After moving back to Los Angeles in 2022, Roan worked a series of odd jobs before signing a publishing deal with Sony. Her independent single “Naked in Manhattan,” released in March 2022, was praised as a “queer girl bop” by NPR, highlighting her tender and nostalgic lyrics. Following this, she joined Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tourand Fletcher’s Girl of My Dreams Tour, gaining significant exposure.
Roan’s subsequent releases, including “Femininomenon” and “Casual,” showcased her versatility and willingness to experiment with different sounds and themes. Her debut headlining tour, Naked in North America, in early 2023, was a hit, featuring themed stops and drag queen openers. Roan’s first full-length album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September 2023, further established her as a rising star. Following the album’s release, she embarked on the Midwest Princess Tour, which saw her performing across North America and internationally. Her latest single, “Good Luck, Babe!”, released in April 2024, has already garnered significant attention, debuting at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving 7 million streams in its first week. Roan’s growing popularity on Spotify and high-profile performances, including at Coachella, mark her as an artist on the rise.
Olivia Rodrigo burst onto the scene with her debut single “drivers license,” and she hasn’t slowed down since. Her Disney+ documentary, Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U, detailing the making of her debut album Sour, was released on March 25, 2022. Rodrigo received seven nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, winning Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album for Sour, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “drivers license”.
Rodrigo’s second album, GUTS, released on September 8, 2023, debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was acclaimed as the most critically acclaimed album of 2023 by BBC News. The album’s lead single, “Vampire”, became her third single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to debut the lead singles from two career-opening albums at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Following the success of GUTS, Rodrigo announced her GUTS World Tour, which runs from February to October 2024. She also released a deluxe version of the album, GUTS (Spilled), in March 2024. On April 13, 2024, Rodrigo made a special guest appearance at No Doubt’s Coachella show, where she performed the band’s 2000 single “Bathwater” alongside them. Rodrigo’s music continues to capture the angst and emotions of youth, solidifying her place as a pop icon for a new generation.
Billie Eilish’s Latest Release: Yeah…We Couldn’t Ignore This One
You didn’t think we’d skip over Billie Eilish’s new album, did you?
On April 8, 2024, Billie Eilish announced her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released on May 17, 2024.
This album marks Eilish’s highest-performing album yet, with 339,000 units earned and over 193 million streams.
This album is incredible.
Despite a close race with Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, Eilish’s album debuted at number two on the albums chart. To support the album, she announced the Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, which will cover North America, Oceania, and Europe from September 2024 to July 2025.
While Eilish and Swift continue to dominate the charts, these five artists are proving that there is plenty of fresh talent in the music industry. Sabrina Carpenter, Renee Rapp, WILLOW, Chappell Roan, and Olivia Rodrigo each bring something unique to the table, offering new music that is well worth a listen. Whether you’re into pop, rock, or something in between, these artists have something for everyone.
Honorable Mentions
For those interested in more emerging artists making waves with their recent releases, here are a few to check out:
Featured photos (top, from left to right) by Anthony Arquier (WILLOW), Unknown (Sabrina Carpenter, Renee Rapp), Ryan Clemens (Chappell Roan), Nick Walker (Olivia Rodrigo)
“My intention writing this song was to get myself out of deep, heavy, painful feelings and move towards the light,” NYC-based art pop singer/songwriter BRIDGET BARKAN says, sprinkling positivity and support on our breakfasts this morning with her new single and music video “GOOD THINGS,” released May 21, 2024.
Sonically glam/pop meets Grizzly Bear meets Pat Benatar, this “actress of music” and former Scissor Sisters backup singer says, “theatrical performance is always there for music videos, and my dance background always finds its way back in, as well.”
Bridget Barkan “Good Things” Music Video
Emotionally weighted by personal tragedies, loss, and challenges exacerbated by the events of October 7, 2023 and the ongoing war in Gaza, Bridget was mired deep in a dark place. “I was going through a lot emotionally and personally that October, as were a lot of people in the world with the attack on October 7th and the impending war,” she explains. “All that I was going through personally exploded out of me, and I found connections between a lot of the experiences: the duality of sorrow and relief, as well as the heart’s true compassion… No matter the perspective, you can see that many truths exist at the same time.”
Losing her father (the celebrated songwriter/producer Marcus Barkan who wrote for Nat King Cole, Lesley Gore and even wrote the Banana Splits theme song “Tra La La”, among many others) during the pandemic meant she had to struggle with the loss in isolation due to the quarantine. Bridget also suffered a great deal of personal trauma in the last year from a miscarriage and a difficult breakup. “Good Things” finds her emerging from the grief to celebrate life and overcome all this hardship. The accompanying video is an incredibly beautifully shot and dramatized expression of the song, really showcasing her artistry and vision, capturing the beauty and wonder in life while also grappling with the inevitable pain– reminding everyone they are not alone.
Bridget Barkan Photo credit: Will Polanco
Written from a 5-step songwriting process Bridget invented as a songwriting workshop instructor at Carnegie Hall where, for the last seven plus years, she has taught incarcerated youth and NYC teachers, “Good Things” holds onto the glimmer of light in a dark and hardened world.
Bridget explains about a line from the song: “I used to love October changing leaves on Halloween, but this is the month I was almost a mother, now little pumpkins mean something different to me“:
“This lyric is probably the hardest to sing, but it came without effort and it rhymed without thinking. It’s such an honest feeling, and describes all of the fun things you imagine doing with your children on Halloween (putting your baby in a pumpkin costume, taking them trick-or-treating)… a deep sense of longing through a very simplistic description.” While expressing a very poignant take, the song remains upbeat and encouraging.
A regular in the NYC artsy pop underground that includes Bright Light Bright Light, Xavier Smith, and John Cameron Mitchell among many others, Bridget is a “Jill of All Trades” on a one woman journey through love and loss. She also formerly toured the world with Scissor Sisters and can be seen in their earth-shattering “Let’s Have A Kiki” video as one of Ana Matronic’s crew. Having inherited her father’s knack for songwriting, Bridget’s intrinsic artistry and talent is a legacy she proudly carries.
More About “Good Things”:
The video, directed and edited by Bridget, herself, and co-edited by Isabel Del Rosal and co-starring “twin-dancer” Casey Urban, shows Bridget using “dance to move energy and emotion through me. I feel it’s healing, so I consider this video a ritual to release the sadness,” she expresses. “The Boom Box Room was a perfect location. It has so many different light options, so I just went with it. There were some unplanned, organic things that happened with one rainbow light set up, which showed a more expressive and fun side of the song…”
Still image from Bridget Barkan’s “Good Things” music video
“…My co-director Isabel said she could see me outdoors in part of the video, and I realized, ‘Of course! Rain makes things grow, and sadness can make things grow!’ So, we went to the botanical gardens and stole some shots of the blooming flowers before we got kicked out.”
Still image from Bridget Barkan’s “Good Things” music video
More About Bridget:
Bridget Barkan is a chameleon artist who shape-shifts through genre and style with a thread of raw truth and soul, woven into every melody and lyric. A native New Yorker, she has toured the world with pop/glam band Scissor Sisters, opened for Lady Gaga with them, and has performed with Bright Light Bright Light and Slow Knights. Starring in LGBTQ romantic classic “Walk with Me,” as a singer/songwriter, Bridget was featured on the original album, as well.
As a singer, she has shared the stage with Drag legends Joey Arias, Murray Hill and more and has released singles with the House DJ/producer legend Todd Terry, as well as numerous of her own singles. She worked closely with Baz Luhrmann as the voice of Misty Holloway on the Netflix show “The Get Down.” As a child actress, she has appeared in countless commercials and Sesame Street. She has starred in HBO’s Everyday People, Sherrybaby, Redacted, God’s Pocket, Steven Soderbergh’s The Knick and had a recurring role as a one-legged “hooker” on Law & Order: SVU.
On stage, Barkan has appeared in numerous productions including Dog Sees God and alongside Lea Michelle in a workshop of Spring Awakening.
It’s a 2am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album. ✌️ I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine… pic.twitter.com/y8pyDK8VTd
I listened to Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, on Saturday while I was working out and walking. This is what I’ve been doing with countless other albums since the beginning of March. (I say “countless,” but that’s not true at all; I’ve actually been counting them in a spreadsheet.) I was kind of lukewarm on the proper album, but I enjoyed The Anthology(a surprise bonus album that was released along with TTPD*) a lot more.
*Reader’s Note: For the purposes of everything I’m about to write, when I refer to “TTPD”, I’m referring to all of the songs encompassed on both albums.
I’ve been reading a lot about TTPD, and I’ve been asked about my opinion on it more than logic might dictate, especially when you consider that I am not Taylor Swift’s target demographic. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I’m not her target demographic in a manner that’s different from my initial suspicions.
I once read an article about Swift wherein she mentioned that the majority of her focus is on the lyrics when writing a song. This makes a lot of sense; her songs are generally intensely personal and appeal to the type of people who are interested in breaking down the lyrics of the songs they enjoy, which is basically all Taylor Swift fans. This is why you’ll see so many posts from people, Swifties or otherwise, talking about how much they relate to individual tracks from TTPD.
I’ve always known this about myself, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a reason to express it until now: I’m not a lyrics guy. Considering the multitude of comedic songs (and personal songs) I’ve written over the years, lyrics typically don’t command my initial focus when I listen to a song for the first time.
I’m a music guy; I focus almost exclusively on the music in a song. If I’m paying attention to the words at all, it is because I’m interested in the melody. My favorite song on TTPD is “Cassandra”, and this is entirely because of the main piano riff and the way the vocals play off of that piano part during the verses. I didn’t even realize the song was about Greek mythology until someone else mentioned it in a post.
If I do focus on the lyrics to a song at all and end up enjoying them, that’s a bonus, but it’s not even remotely a priority. Even my favorite comedy songs are songs where I happen to enjoy the music, even if they aren’t as funny as other songs. For example, Bo Burnham’s “Welcome To The Internet” is arguably one of the funniest songs heard throughout his Netflix comedy special Inside, but I’d rather listen to “Content”, the opening number that merely summarizes what the special is meant to be, and is only a fraction as hilarious, and this is entirely because I think that song is catchier.
Because this is how I enjoy music (or why I sometimes don’t enjoy it) in totality, and because Taylor Swift is an artist who puts almost all of her emphasis on writing lyrics that are personal yet universal, I can appreciate the heck out of what she’s capable of while simultaneously understanding that our sensibilities are only going to parallel one another sometimes. Because a lot of the music on TTPD is bare and simplistic to allow the lyrics to have a platform where they can more effectively shine, there are fewer elements of those songs for me to personally really dig.
I think TTPD is a good album. But I’m not a person for whom it should exist, not because I’m not a Swiftie, and not because I’m a 40-year-old man, but because I’m a guy that hones in on different elements of music than where the intended audience casts their focus. And that’s okay, because it doesn’t matter how I feel about it; what matters is how YOU feel about it.
May 31, 2024 Update: Jennifer Lopez has canceled her upcoming stops for the ‘This Is Me… Live’ tour, including the Phoenix concert originally set for July 9 at Footprint Center.
Today, one of the most influential entertainers of our time, Jennifer Lopez, announced her highly anticipated return to the touring stage with “This Is Me…Now” The Tour. This marks her triumphant comeback to the touring scene after a five-year break, following the successful 2019 tour that grossed over $50 million and sold out venues across the country. The tour will feature Lopez performing her catalog of chart-breaking hits across her renowned discography as well as new songs from her album, This Is Me…Now.
This is Me…Now (Amazon Exclusive Vinyl)
Produced by Live Nation, the 30+ city tour kicks off on June 26 in Orlando, FL at Kia Center making stops across North America in Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, her hometown of NYC, and more before wrapping up in Houston, TX on August 31 at Toyota Center.
“This Is Me…Now” the Tour comes on the heels of Lopez’s announcement of her forthcoming album This Is Me…Now and Amazon Original, This Is Me…Now: A Love Story, out on February 16th. Most recently, Lopez was featured in Dunkin Donuts’ Super Bowl LVIII commercial and dropped a new version of “Can’t Get Enough ft. Latto” which she performed on SNL.
Tickets Available Starting Tuesday, February 20 at 9 AM Local Time via Presales
General Onsale Begins Friday, February 23 at 10 AM Local Time on LiveNation.com
Tickets will be available starting with a JLo Fan Club presale beginning Tuesday, February 20 at 9 AM local time. Additional presales (details below) will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, February 23 at 10 AM Local Time at LiveNation.com.
CITI Presale
Citi is the official card of the “This Is Me…Now” the Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for the U.S. dates beginning Tuesday, February 20 at 10 AM local time until Thursday, February 22 at 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit citientertainment.com.
Verizon Presale
Verizon will offer customers an exclusive presale for “This Is Me…Now” the Tour for applicable U.S. dates through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select shows beginning Tuesday, February 20 at 10 AM local time until Thursday, February 22 at 10 PM local time. For more details visit Verizon Up.
The release of This Is Me…Now, her first studio album in nearly a decade, is Jennifer Lopez’s story, in Jennifer Lopez’s words. The album serves as a rich tapestry of sounds and emotions, seamlessly blending elements of pop, R&B and hip hop influences to create a fusion of genres. Her lyrics delve into the highs and lows of life, love, and relationships with unflinching honesty and introspection as she unveils a genuine story of growth, resilience, hard work, and the transformative power of self love. Jennifer Lopez’s distinctive vocals intertwine flawlessly with captivating melodies, delivering a musical experience that is both commanding and deeply meaningful.
Written and recorded at her Los Angeles home in 2022 and 2023, Jennifer Lopez collaborated with a star-studded lineup of hit producers, including Rogét Chahayed, Angel Lopez, and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman. Additional songwriter-producers were HitBoy, Tay Kieth, Yeti Beats, Carter Lang, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, Jason Derulo, and Brandon Riester, who served as A&R for this project. The album can be preordered here
Streaming globally on Prime Video starting February 16th, This Is Me…Now: A Love Story is like nothing you’ve ever seen from Jennifer Lopez. Alongside director Dave Meyers, Jennifer has created a narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing. Dropping in tandem with her first studio album in a decade, this genre-bending Amazon original showcases her journey to love through her own eyes. With fantastical costumes, breathtaking choreography, and star-studded cameos, this panorama is an introspective retrospective of Jennifer’s resilient heart.
“Can’t Get Enough”, the first single from This Is Me…Now is available now on all platforms.
Last night on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, renowned musician, actor, and entertainer Justin Timberlake announced his first tour in 5 years with The Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
Produced by Live Nation, the first leg of his global outing will include 22-cities and kicks off on April 29 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC making stops across North America in Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Boston, MA and more before wrapping up in Lexington, KY at Rupp Arena on July 9.
Additional dates including stops in Europe and the UK will be announced soon. See full ticketing and routing information below.
Fans can expect to hear songs from his forthcoming new album Everything I Thought It Was, his latest single “Selfish” out now, and everyone’s favorite hits. Written by Timberlake, Louis Bell (Taylor Swift, Post Malone), Cirkut (Maroon 5, The Weeknd), Theron Thomas, Amy Allen and produced by Timberlake, Louis Bell and Cirkut, “Selfish” is the first taste of solo music from Justin since his 2018 Man of the Woods record.
Justin’s sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was is out March 15th. Pre-order HERE. This weekend, Timberlake will return to Saturday Night Live as musical guest, making the TV debut of his newly released single “Selfish”.
Justin Timberlake 2024 North American Tour Dates
Mon Apr 29 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Thu May 02 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Mon May 06 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
Fri May 10 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena*
Tue May 14 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego*
Fri May 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Tue May 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Wed May 29 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center
Fri May 31 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Tue Jun 04 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Thu Jun 06 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Mon Jun 10 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Jun 12 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
Fri Jun 14 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Sat Jun 15 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Fri Jun 21 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Tue Jun 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Jun 29 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Wed Jul 03 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Thu Jul 04 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Sun Jul 07 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse*
Tickets will be available starting with a fan club presale beginning on Monday, January 29. Existing Fan Club members will receive a unique code via email for access to purchase tickets. Additional presales including Verizon and Citi (details below) will run throughout the week. The general onsale begins Friday, February 2 at 10 am local time at JustinTimberlake.com.
TICKETS AVAILABLE WITH CITI AND VERIZON PRESALES STARTING TUESDAY, JANUARY 30
CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Forget Tomorrow World Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for U.S. dates beginning Tuesday, January 30 at 10am local time until Thursday, February 1 at 5pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit citientertainment.com.
VERIZON PRESALE: Verizon will offer customers presale access for the Justin Timberlake Forget Tomorrow World Tour for applicable U.S dates through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select shows beginning Tuesday, January 30 at 10am local time to Thursday, February 1 at 5pm local time. For more details visit Verizon Up.
VIP:
The tour will also offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include tickets in the exclusive VIP Stage Bar section with in-seat service throughout the night, specially designed VIP gift item, early entrance into the venue & more. For additional information, visit vipnation.com
American Singer/Song-writer Joe Settineri has released the official music video for his impassioned pop single “Hello Goodbye.” Originally premiered on Paste Magazine, “Hello Goodbye” was written in collaboration with platinum Nashville-based producer Mike Krompass (Smash Mouth, Nellie Furtado).
“Love lost, regret, and the power of saying, “goodbye.” Moving on, though is rarely that simple. Our love lives are tangles of good and bad – pushing and pulling – never wanting to let go, yet, needing to break free. Searching for that allusive feeling of ‘true’ happiness. Did we give up too soon? Will we ever know? Why can’t we forget? Does clarity ever present itself? This song emotively asks these questions and explores the purposeful intention to move on and the confusing, often conflicting emotions that come with it.
I said goodbye, but why can’t I forget?”
Searching for clarity — finding a new path – is never easy.” – Joe Settineri
“Clarity is never an easy path when it comes to this emotion called love, however, what Joe Settineri brings is his ardent musical talents as he carries his lyrics of rich passion simply and understandably. Joe’s vocals and the embracing notes from his piano show his arrival time is welcomed in the world of pop music while the video imagery is the perfect compliment to the heart of “Hello Goodbye.” Simply put, Joe Settineri’s music delivers the power to believe in love again.” – Paste Magazine
“… American singer-songwriter Joe Settineri has a habit of writing love songs, but just listen to his music and you’ll understand why … and understand the power of Joe Settineri.”
Originally from the mid-west, Los Angeles based singer songwriter Joe Settineri was a late bloomer. After the music world wooed him away from a finance career, and years spent being one of a handful of go-to singers in Los Angeles, Settineri established himself as an exceptional singer-songwriter in 2009 with his widely praised first studio album, STAY (LML Records). His second full studio album, BEYOND YOUR CONTROL, was released 2014 and followed up by his most recent EP, BE THE ONE in 2017.
Joe’s newest singles, “HELLO GOODBYE,” “BATMAN CRIES,” and “OXYGEN,” all collaborations with multi-platinum Nashville-based producer Mike Krompass (Smash Mouth, Nellie Furtado), are slated for release in summer 2018.
Joe lives in Los Angeles with his husband and two children.
PHOENIX — Anyone with nostalgia for the 90s would have been in seventh heaven Saturday night at The Van Buren as they hosted Club 90’s “Spice Girls Night”. Everywhere you looked, clubbers were decked out in their favorite Spice Girls attire. Girls rocking the signature Baby Spice pigtails could be seen laughing over cocktails, with their less formally dressed Sporty Spice counterparts, while a six foot tall male Scary Spice walked the event with his elegantly dressed Posh Spice girlfriend at his side. The air buzzed with the excitement of everyone ready to get inside and party like it was once again 1999.
If you were lucky enough to be one of the first 400 attendees, you got your choice of a pin featuring one of the fabulous five from the “Say You’ll Be There” music video, and this was just the first of many opportunities to show love for your favorite girl. A photo booth sat just outside the auditorium, giving hyped fans the chance to pose with different props and cutouts. There were “Team” signs for each girl, and fun accessories that jazzed up the photos, which printed out on a free photo strip — a unique gift for the partiers to take with them.
There was even a Spice Girls costume contest that commenced throughout the night, giving everyone the chance to vote for their favorite look alike. The competition was tough however, as there were so many groups that made a valiant effort to look just like them. Some even took on their personalities as well, talking in accents to one another and striking their signature poses for photos.
Onstage, DJ Jeffery could be seen amongst multicolored strobe lights and smoke, spinning anything from 90s to early 2000s pop, R&B, rock, and hip hop. In addition to the Spice Girls, DJ Jeffery played a great selection pop-favorites such as: Ace of Base, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Dream, A-Teens, Vengaboys, B*witched, Eifle 65, Destiny’s Child, and Sisqo – which turned the crowd amusingly raunchy like clockwork. Incorporating hit songs from other genres during that era, Shania Twain, blink-182, and Evanescence were also in rotation, and each new song was met with an uproar of cheers and arms carelessly thrown in the air as the DJ kept the party going.
The electrified dance floor was packed from start to finish as the diverse crowd danced the night away to some of their old favorites, creating a beautiful sense of unity. DJ Jeffery was into it just as much as the crowd on the dance floor, jumping up and down while occasionally chanting the lyrics, as the music videos flashed across a large screen — which really pumped up the fans.
He even took a minute between songs to engage the crowd in a cheer-based vote on which Spice Girl was the favorite. To no one’s surprise really, the winner was Posh (Victoria Beckham).
It was clear from the start that this night was special to anyone who attended it. Those that weren’t old enough to go out clubbing when this music was new were finally able to go wild to it as adults. It was a chance to relive that era alongside others who loved it just as much made it more than just a dance party. Complete strangers feverishly danced alongside each other to the nonstop beats, mouthing the well-ingrained lyrics to one another, and the energy level continued to soar as the night went on. Spice Girls Night brought generations and a unique fanbase together to commemorate the greatness that was 90s pop music and arguably the greatest girl group of all time.
PHOENIX – Arainy Valentine’s Day evening in Phoenix, Arizona – what a perfect night for one of the most bizarre acts to come through town. Moriah Rose Pereira, who goes by the name Poppy on the internet, is a multi-talented internet phenomenon. A young veteran in dancing, singing, acting, and creativity, Poppy was able to bring her peculiar act to the desert. Fans and onlookers of all shapes, sizes, and types gathered together at the Crescent Ballroom to see the internet come to life and behold the spectacle that is the “Poppy.Computer Tour“. It certainly did not disappoint.
What Exactly is Poppy?
Believed to be an android by many, acult leader by some, and an all-around weirdo by “normies” on the internet, Poppy found massive notoriety over YouTube after releasing her infamous video “I’m Poppy,” which can be viewed here. Produced with the help of Titanic Sinclair, another well-known internet phenomenon, musician, and director, Poppy was quickly able to gain the attention of the modern world, mostly through her series of outlandish videos.
She eventually turned this YouTube sensation into an effective tool in the pursuit of her ultimate dream: becoming a pop star. In fact, Poppy even won a Streamy Award in late 2017 for “Breakthrough Artist.” However, it would likely be more apt to label her an anti-pop star, as her work seems to revolve around calling out the absurdities of contemporary popular culture, pop music, and fame in the modern world.
While Poppy originally claimed not to be in a cult a little over a year ago, with Titanic Sinclair vouching for the accuracy of this claim, the “Poppy.Computer Tour” seemed to prove otherwise. This humorous take on possibly spinning criticism on its own head and turned it into another powerful tool in their digital and cultural arsenals; Titanic Sinclair and Poppy seem to embrace this cultish mentality, and they certainly took it and ran with it.
This cultish theme led to some fabulously interesting and entertaining moments during the show; from the computer-renderedspeech synthesis-style narration, to fans “drinking the Kool-Aid,” this cult-themed joke certainly balances itself on a thin line between satire and reality. Nonetheless, the screaming fans—aka “Poppy Seeds”—and fascinated observers did not seem to mind either way. After all, is this not the essence of modern popular culture? Undying fealty to those famous people all fans have sworn allegiance to.
Poppy.Computer Tour
The “Poppy.Computer Tour” is Poppy’s first time visiting real people as a musician, and it was originally planned to visit only 20 cities across North America, but likely due to its greater-than-expected success, the tour was expanded to include a stop in London, Tokyo, and 15 other stops in North America. Poppy and Titanic Sinclair planned this epic adventure in order to promote Poppy’s first official album, Poppy.Computer.
The most interesting aspect of this tour is that, with the exception of her Toronto show, there were no opening acts. Instead, Poppy substituted the time slot traditionally reserved for an opener for one of the characters off her YouTube channel – Charlotte the Mannequin. This same character also happens to be the main antagonist from Poppy’s new YouTube Red film, with a potential to become a series, titled I’m Poppy.
Poppy also traveled with two amazingly talented backup dancers, Alec and Jason. These two stole the spotlight during many points, yet they always made sure to give it back to Poppy when the time was right. They were their to support and augment her, after all, with their keytar dance moves, air drums, and even their own take on what looked like a Thousand Arms Dance. Complete with tutus, bleach blonde wigs, and face masks, they offered an unsettling yet oddly charming addition to the stage.
Charlotte the Mannequin
As fans eagerly awaited the unexpected, uncertainty swirled in the air. Would there be an opener? How would they start the show? What, exactly, was this going to be like? Those who knew Poppy from the internet likely had all sorts of wild ideas, and “Africa” by Toto was playing on loop as they contemplated the imminent future. As the song itself has become its own infamous meme, it seemed only fitting to fill the void of time while everyone waited for the show to start.
Charlotte Quin, or Charlotte the Mannequin, sat alone on the stage, aside a MacBook DJ setup and between two massive screens. She opened the show with a pre-selected audio set. While she isn’t the most animated character, she does have her very own YouTube channel where she occasionally copies Poppy’s ideas, makes her own versions of Poppy’s songs, and otherwise wreaks havoc on Poppy’s online presence. She also happens to have a diverse but excellent taste in music, sampling and playing songs of all genres and eras. There was certainly something for just about everyone in her playlist, and her transitions were seamless.
Songs and artists featured during this most interesting of opening DJ acts include: Daft Punk, Baha Men, Missy Elliot, N.W.A., Vanessa Carlton, TLC, Cake, Abba, Ke$ha, The B-52s, Of Montreal, Talking Heads, Madonna, Rihanna, LMFAO, Justin Bieber, Billy Joel, Britney Spears, Lou Bega’s Mambo No. 5, Jimmy Eat World, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Dr. Dre, Cyndi Lauper, Ed Sheeran, Nena’s (Original German) “99 Red Balloons”, and Miley Cyrus.
Throughout this playlist, symbols resembling every meme about the Illuminati played, mixed in with some of the visuals from Poppy’s videos—most notably, “This Birdcage” and “Where is Poppy?”, a video made in collaboration with entertainment company and internet phenomenon Super Deluxe. Strung throughout the set were also sound clips from various Poppy videos, most notably increasingly-frequent statements of “I’m Poppy.” Charlotte’s own statements of “Hello Internet“ and how she is going to be the “Queen of YouTube.” It also featured some sound clips of Poppy and Charlotte discussing the Bible, internet meme sensation Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That, and an old Blockbuster commercial.
Towards the end of Charlotte’s set, there was some banter between her and Poppy, ending with Poppy stating she was “Uncomfortable,” with Charlotte replying, “Uncomfortable? I’ll show you uncomfortable!” Poppy called for “Security!” As the final two songs played, the unusual opening act ended with the question, “Are you ready for Poppy?” playing over and over. They then played just about every ending theme ever, and random noises or themes, from things such as: The Simpsons, Castle Rock Entertainment, Windows ME, Viacom, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, and so on. It was hard to keep track of since they were only samples given in rapid succession, but the result was immensely entertaining.
Initiating
To capitalize on this hype, Titanic Sinclair came out on stage just before the show began. He presented what was most likely a delicious Poppy beverage (Kool-Aid) prior to sampling some himself. He then set down the pitcher and prepared the crowd for initiation. Warning messages popped up on the screens, and then fans were inducted into the Cult of Poppy over three different Programming Sequences, complete with all the necessary digital and broadcast noises to make it just weird enough. Titanic Sinclair proceeded to pour cups of the delicious Poppy beverage during this time.
With all the grace granted to an android, Poppy slowly and quietly proceeded on stage with her two gender-ambiguous backup dancers, taking her place center stage with her back facing the audience. Her fans were ravenous, but Poppy is the master of timing and patience. Once the appropriate time came, she began to perform her iconic song and first single from her new album, “I’m Poppy“. She followed this up with “Computer Boy,” the second single from her new album.
Once “Computer Boy” concluded, Poppy played her video “Doritos Monster Energy Drink,” because when else is a perfect time?
She continued the weirdness by asking the audience, “Do you love me?” She then proceeded to hand out her delicious Poppy beverage, passing out Kool-Aid to a few people in the front row. Titanic Sinclair and the backup dancers also helped with cup distribution. It was a beautiful, if not strange, moment.
Later on, Poppy also brought up the LOVE METER on the large screens, and her backup dancers hyped the audience up – everyone screamed, cheered, and clapped as loud as they could in order to fill the meter up. It turns out that the crowd does, in fact, love Poppy, as they were able to fill the meter up completely. What a way to spend Valentine’s Day!
Poppy performed many of her popular songs from the new album, including “Let’s Make a Video,” “Moshi Moshi,” “Interweb,” and “Bleach Blonde Baby.” The music videos, styles, and live performances are all uniquely performed and designed, and they are all quite reminiscent of Japanese Pop Music (J-Pop).
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (KPP) especially comes to mind when exploring Poppy’s musical styles and approaches – especially her songs “PONPONPON,” “CANDY CANDY,” and “Invader Invader.” The latter two of these are especially reminiscent of Poppy’s live performance, particularly regarding her backup dancers; CANDY CANDY features what is likely a male impersonator of KPP, dancing behind her with a wig in her same hairstyle and a mask that is an anime version of her face. In Invader Invader, she has many gender-ambiguous backup dancers as well. There certainly seems to be a lot of inspiration here from J-Pop, making Poppy’s performance a great mix of American and Japanese pop music styles.
Another marriage between pop styles can be seen with French pop artist Yelle, who is also famous for her interesting approaches to music, live performances, and music videos. While the connections aren’t as clear as between Poppy and KPP, Yelle’s upbeat and interesting approaches to pop culture certainly are sights to behold. Yelle’s hit song “Ba$$in” is particularly apt, as well as “Comme Un Enfant,” “Safari Disco Club,” “Complètement fou,” and “Ici & Maintenant.” If anything, her unique dancing styles are certainly comparable to Poppy’s own take on dance, which was Poppy’s first love.
In the middle of Poppy’s performance, she played her video “3:36“ and followed it up with some live additions: “Should we end the show early?” The audience, of course, said no, and she replied, “Okay.” However, it would not have been much of a surprise if she had ended it early.
Throughout the show, Poppy made excellent eye contact with just about everyone in the crowd. She was excellent at engaging people in that way while still maintaining her android-like, robotic façade. At one point, she did go through the front row and gave high fives or held hands, briefly, with as many fans as she could. Her backup dancers also, at one point, took 2 phones from fans in the crowd and took some photos of Poppy from their perspectives on the stage. It is clear that Poppy and company are trying their best to maintain their fans’ loyalty and love.
As the end approached, Poppy asked, “Can I be your Valentine?” The crowd, of course, agreed with great enthusiasm. However, all was not perfect, as Charlotte had to make her final attempt of the night at overthrowing Poppy – her voice popped up over the speakers, as she had just been sitting there, quietly, on stage throughout Poppy’s performance.
“Can I sing a song?” Charlotte asked. “You’ve already had your turn,” Poppy replied. She then requested for the crowd to join her in chanting, “Bye bye, Charlotte!” Apparently, at some point, Charlotte’s head was removed, so it is clear the crowd was quite serious about quieting her pleas for fame and recognition.
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Poppy’s penultimate song for the show was her song, “Where’s My Microphone?” The audience, backup dancers, Titanic Sinclair, and Poppy all joined in on worrying about where Poppy’s microphone was, but everyone was quite relieved when she realized it was in her hands the whole time! “Oh, there it is!”
Finally, the time came for Poppy’s last song, “Software Upgrade.” She gave it her all, and her energy was quite infectious. Most in the crowd were having such a great time singing and dancing along, with a few wallflowers hanging around and enjoying their interesting Valentine’s Day adventure. Poppy finished the song by assuring everyone that she loved them prior to departing the stage as mysteriously as she had appeared, and the crowd chanted and screamed for an encore.
Unfortunately, that encore never came, and it ended up being an early evening for Poppy fans and Crescent Ballroom guests. Charlotte the Mannequin had played her set from about 8pm to 8:40pm, and Poppy performed from that point until 9:30pm. It was a short show, but it can be said this was certainly not the most traditional concert or musical experience anyway. While it would have been nice to see Poppy perform a couple of her original songs prior to the Poppy.Computer album, such as “Money“ or “Lowlife,” it was still an immensely surrealistic and enjoyable experience to see such an internet phenomenon in real life.
Overall, Valentine’s Day with Poppy at the Crescent Ballroom was an interesting yet amusing way to spend an evening, and it is clear Poppy will be going places. Her partnership with Titanic Sinclair has, so far, been wildly successful, and it will be interesting to see where they go and what they do next. If they do choose to come back to Phoenix, however, it might be best to visit another venue – Crescent Ballroom was a bit too small for her sold out show, and the stage is too low for everyone in the audience to see the screens fully. At times, it was even difficult to see the backup dancers or Poppy herself, which was disappointing during certain moments. This was a show one did not want to miss a moment of – so many small details were hidden throughout.
One thing is for certain, though – the lack of encore and the resuming of “Africa” by Toto at the end of the show was the greatest troll moment of all. Disappointing and unexpected, yes, but one cannot help to smile after such a thoroughly bizarre experience.
News & Reviews from the Fiery Mosh Pits of Arizona
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