Author Archives: Jennifer White
Taylor Swift Stories
In celebration of Ms. Swift slaying the stage at Wango Tango, we‘ve created the ultimate radio experience loaded with her music, influences and the stories behind all of it. Here are five things we learned:
1. In high school, Taylor was infatuated with Britney Spears. She wore her perfumes and everything. Now? When Taylor performs in Brit’s home state of Louisiana, she usually busts out a cover or two.
2. In 2010, Taylor teamed up with Stevie Nicks for a pair of duets at the Grammy Awards, prompting Stevie to predict that female artists like Taylor were going to save the music business. How did she know? (She must be a witch).
3. When Taylor moved away from Country music and became a bona fide pop star, a lot of artists in Nashville gave her the cold shoulder. Not Florida Georgia Line, though. “Hell yeah,” said Brian Kelly said, “More props to Taylor. It doesn’t matter the genre, if you’re advancing as an artist, people are going to flock to that.”
4. Taylor says that her friendship with Selena Gomez is the longest she has ever had. They met when Taylor was 16 and Selena was 13.
5. The longstanding feud between Taylor and Katy Perry is officially over. And now? Rumors of a collaboration are swirling all over the place.
For these stories, and tons more, check out Taylor Swift: DNA.
Cardi B's Last Hurrah...For Now
Cardi B hit the stage Sunday night for a show in her tri-state home area. She’s the rightful headliner of New York radio station Hot 97’s “Summer Jam," the equivalent of sitting on TV’s fabled Iron Throne.
Cardi, of course, couldn’t make “Summer Jam” last year because she was literally a month away from giving birth to her baby girl Kulture. While she’s rocked stages across the world, you know that Summer Jam has to be extra special. What 26-year-old NYC bred rapper hasn’t dreamed of headlining Summer Jam? Her husband Offset was also on the bill along with his group Migos, making it an extra special family affair.
This was likely the last time we’ll see Cardi onstage for a while, as her body is still healing from liposuction and breast lift surgeries. She spoke about suffering through physical complications from the procedures a couple of days ago in Instagram live, citing her plastic surgeon strongly advise she take a pause from concerts until she’s fully recuperated. “I hate canceling shows because I love money. I'm a money addicted,” she lamented. The last time Cardi performed was a couple of weeks ago at the Hangout Fest at Alabama’s Gulf Shores. Since then, a myriad of her schedule performance dates has either been cancelled altogether or postponed.
“I get paid a lot of money, a lot of money for these shows. A lot of money,” she continued to explain. “I'm canceling millions of dollars in shows, but health is wealth, so I have to do what I have to do."
At “Hangout Fest,” she teased new music coming out this summer and she just dropped a new single “Press.” The artwork is grabbing just as much attention than the actual music itself. On the cover she appears nude coming out of court surrounded by media cameramen. Another photo of the single art shows the Bronx native wearing nothing but handcuffs. The last photo released shows Cardi clothed, still wearing cuffs but sharing a pose similar to a photo of notorious serial killer Aileen Wuornos who murdered several men from 1989 to 1990 in Florida. Her grizzly exploits were portrayed on the big screen in the film “Monster.”
“Monsta's gon' tear it up,” she says as the song begins. “Bardi!”
Cardi keeps her energy high on the chorus: “Press, press, press, press, press./
Cardi don't need more press./
Kill 'em all, put them hoes to rest./
Walk in, bulletproof vest./
Please tell me who she gon' check./
Murder scene, Cardi made a mess./
Pop up, guess who, bitch?...”
Hear the new track, and all things Cardi, right HERE!
Archer Blasts Off!
Duff McKagan on G N’ R & The Clash
The title of the show comes from the opening of each episode, where artists talk about the moment that changed their life. For McKagan, it was a combination of two moments: seeing the legendary Clash in 1979 and establishing a punk rock ethos he still carries today. And even more so, discovering martial arts after nearly dying from excessive substance abuse during the infamous GNR party days. He talks about how martial arts and meeting his Sensei saved his life and made him the family man and successful author he is today.
Check out the inaugural episode of LiveXLive’s new podcast, My Turning Point, right here.
For Those About To Rock…
Here at LivexLive, we love to count stuff down. In fact, we offer a killer assortment of weekly shows that run through the top songs in every major genre. For example, we just launched the latest edition of the Weekly ROCK Countdown (and, yes, we put the word “rock” in all cap’s for a reason). Five interesting things about the countdown follow, and you can check out the whole, massive thing right here.
Thing #1: Slipknot scored one of two debuts this week, as “Unsainted” slipped in at #40. They revealed their new masks last week, and joined our countdown this week. Nice work, Slipknot.
Thing #2: I Prevail made the biggest jump, soaring from #37 to #22 with “Breaking Down.” The song raises awareness about depression for men and how it impacts relationships. It’s deep. And it’s kind of pretty. But it still rocks, so shut up.
Thing #3: Bad Wolves continue to kick serious ass. “Remember When” has held down the top slot for six weeks now.
Thing #4: Rival Sons have been stuck at #2 for the entire six weeks that Bad Wolves have been at #1. Don’t feel bad for them, though, they just announced a 12-city fall tour with Stone Temple Pilots.
Thing #5: Sevendust cannot be destroyed. Their track “Dirty” has been on the countdown for twenty consecutive weeks. That’s nuts, and they’re still moving up, jumping two slots to #22
There are plenty of other things to learn on the Weekly ROCK Countdown. So join us and learn. And rock.
Madonna’s Video Cheat
Europe’s outlandish, spectacular & always entertaining Eurovision Song Contest took place last week – it’s an annual competition where performers from up to 52 countries show off their most show-stopping talent. This year the 64th edition of the competition took place in Tel Aviv, and featured memorable performances by a Russian contestant singing in the rain, giant props representing Denmark, and a stage show from the Australian contestants that looked like those giant, floppy, car-dealership mascots took up opera. Although, when it came down to it, the winner was a simple piano ballad from The Netherlands.
The most hyped moment of this year’s finals was a performance from Madonna. She’s returning with her 14th studio album, Madame X, next month, and fans were excited to see what she would bring to the stage. Unfortunately her performance was panned by viewers as ‘pitchy' and ‘flat’.
Seems like Madonna wasn’t happy with her vocals either - in the clip posted to her official accounts on Sunday, she sounds… different. Better. Leading critics to conclude she doctored the video!
Madonna came to Eurovision and gave the worst performance of the night, by quite a margin. And yet, if you look it up on youtube you wouldn't have a clue why everyone was complaining. it seems that there is a bit of post-truth going on, so I thought I'd set the record straight. pic.twitter.com/mtjZHTMNYk
— Andrew Brook (@AndrewBrookLdn) May 20, 2019
EDC 2019 = Epic
Back in August of 1997, the very first EDC was held in Los Angeles, with 6000 people attending the event. Big party, right? Well check out this year’s stats and prepare to have your mind blown: 450,000 people from 96 countries showed up over three days in Las Vegas. That’s roughly the population of freaking Miami!
This was the 23rd year of EDC, and my, how things have changed. A ticket to the fest cost just $20 in 1997, and it was for one night only—EDC expanded to two days in 2009, and three days in 2011 when it moved to Vegas. This year, the entertainment ran from dusk ‘til dawn, with over 250 of dance music’s most notable names hitting the multiple stages.
The point is, EDC Las Vegas is the biggest dance music festival on the planet and it’s not to be missed. If you DID miss it, though, catch up on some of the video fun that LiveXLive has prepared for you by going here: https://www.livexlive.com/live-events/festival/edc-las-vegas
Alesso: The Songs He Loves
Tiësto Shares His Faves
Allow us to draw your attention to the EDM superstar who conquered the Kinetic stage when the clock struck midnight on the second day of EDC Las Vegas, 2019. Tiesto.
By happenstance, we invited the man that Mix magazine dubbed “the Greatest DJ of All Time” to host his own radio station. On Tiësto: I Am The DJ, he plays his favorite songs and tells the stories behind them. We cornered him in studio in Vegas where he broke down tons of his own tracks and collaborations, as well songs he admires from the likes of David Guetta, Clean Bandit, and his “buddy” Martin Garrix.