Banger Brief: Ariana Grande's final tour, new Tate McRae music, and a rare Madonna x Ozzy Osbourne collab
It's the Wednesday edition.
We are halfway through the week. On the third edition of our new newsletter: Ariana’s tour, Tate goes deluxe, an Ozzy and Madonna treat, Taylor’s chart domination, Doja Cat takes over New Zealand, Nicki Minaj goes MAGA, and more →
Ariana Grande’s Final Tour?
Ariana Grande is hard at work on the press tour for Wicked: For Good, but interviewers are also bringing up The Eternal Sunshine Tour - her first tour in 6 years and apparently also her last one … for now.
During an appearance on the Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler, she said, “I do know that I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time. So I’m going to give it my all. I think that’s why I’m doing it, because I’m like, ‘One last hurrah. For now.’”
This means her tour will be one of the last chances for fans to see Ariana live. I saw her on the Honeymoon Tour and the Sweetener World Tour. She’s incredible live. Highly recommend it. Aaaaand, in case you didn’t know, Bops and Bangers is giving away a pair of tickets to one of her shows in North America. Enter now before it’s too late!
» More from the Wicked press tour
It is evident that Grande has been focused more on her acting career now. Not only does she clearly enjoy it, and it seems easier for her to navigate, but she also is good at it. This year, she was even nominated for an Oscar for her role as Glinda in part one of Wicked.
Other than dealing with crazy fan moments, the press tour for Wicked: For Good has been pretty good for Ari. Last night, she stopped by The Tonight Show where she sang a history of duets with Jimmy Fallon (see below - they covered everything from ‘Shallow’ to ‘A Whole New World’) and also taught him how to use a wand.
In other Ariana Grande news, she is also hosting the holiday episode of Saturday Night Live next month with musical guest Cher. SNL also announced Melissa McCartney + Dijon and Josh O’Connor + Lily Allen for its December episodes.
In lieu of the Bop of the Day, I want to share a performance of the week on today’s newsletter instead. RAYE stopped by Fallon’s show this week too. She did “Where Is My Husband!” live. She is truly one of the most underrated performers of our time. It was so fun. Check it out!
Tate McRae will release deluxe version of So Close To What and a new music video this Friday
New Music Friday is already looking good this week.
Tate McRae just wrapped up her massive Miss Possessive World Tour, but she is not completely done with work this year. The “Tit For Tat” singer is giving us the deluxe version of her latest album So Close To What this Friday.
This version of the album will come with four new songs: “Trying On Shoes,” “Anything But Love,” “Horseshoe,” and “Nobody’s Girl.” Tate will also release a music video for that last one; I can’t wait for that!
The Tater Tots are still getting fed good.
A rare, obscure Madonna x Ozzy Osbourne collab
Louis Osbourne, the eldest son of Ozzy Osbourne, appeared on his half-brother Jack Osbourne’s podcast this week. During his unusual public appearance, he mentioned that Ozzy and the queen of pop Madonna did a duet together for the remix of “Shake Your Head” by Was (Not Was).”
Jack first tried to correct Louis that the duet had been done with Kim Basinger (who ended up on the final song), but Louis explained, “It was Madonna originally. It was written for Madonna and Was (Not Was). It was when dad was popping in the early 80s and so was she. But then she kind of really popped and then didn’t give approval on the record.”
He then went on to say that it had never seen the light of day. However, it did make its way to YouTube. Listen to it below.
I am the jealous type when it comes to New Zealand. Doja Cat launched her Ma Vie World Tour in Auckland last night. Local news outlet, The Spinoff, published a great review of the show: Doja Cat just delivered the most electric live performance I’ve ever seen. The setlist looks great too.
Lorde’s festival trifecta: Lorde is in the middle of the European leg of her Ultrasound World Tour, but she is already booked and busy next summer. Just this week, she was revealed as a headliner for the Kilby Block Party fest in Salt Lake City, the Hinterland Music Fest in Saint Charles, and All Points East in London.
Olivia Dean is about to conquer the world. Last week, she announced her first ever headlining arena tour in North America happening next summer. The general ticket on-sales don’t start until this Friday, but demand is overwhelming based on pre-sale numbers. So much, that she’s been forced to add several more dates - including a whopping four nights at Madison Square Garden! See the dates here.
TMZ reports that D4vd is being looked at as a suspect in the death of teenager Celeste Rivas. New evidence continues to link the 20 year-old singer to the case. Police are also looking at a suspicious trip D4vd took in the middle of the night from LA to a remote area of Santa Barbara where he spent several hours earlier this year. Read more here.
Nicki Minaj spent her Tuesday at a United Nations event speaking out against the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Her agreeing to speak on this issue has sparked some debate as CNN points out that “experts have said the situation is more nuanced” than just Christians being victims of terrorism. The Cut even went on to publish that “Nicki Minaj has officially gone MAGA.”
In other MAGA-related news (sorry, but politics and music really collided this week), Keith Urban is getting slammed for performing Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” at a private Mar-A-Lago party attended by President Trump. Some people are even joking that Nicole Kidman was smart to leave him, while others wonder if Urban was trolling the mostly conservative crowd by choosing such a prominent LGBT anthem.
Billboard has released the charts dated Nov. 22, and for the sixth straight week Taylor Swift leads both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 with “The Fate of Ophelia” and The Life of a Showgirl. With “The Fate of Ophelia,” Swift now ties a rare record held only by Mariah Carey: they are the only artists ever to have two different singles debut at No. 1 and remain there for their first six weeks. Swift previously did it with “Anti-Hero,” while Carey achieved the feat in the ’90s with “Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day.”
Other highlights this week: Sombr earns his first top 10 song, as his breakthrough hit “Back To Friends” breaks into the top of the Hot 100 chart for the first time, landing at #10. Meanwhile, Rosalia’s new album Lux debuts at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Billboard 200 Chart
The Life Of A Showgirl - Taylor Swift
I’m The Problem - Morgan Wallen
KPop Demon Hunters - Various Artists
LUX - Rosalia
The Art Of Loving - Taylor Swift
Man’s Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter
SOS - SZA
Am I The Drama? - Cardi B
One Thing At A Time - Morgan Wallen
No Labels: Part 01 - Yeonjun
Billboard Hot 100 Chart
“The Fate Of Ophelia” - Taylor Swift
“Golden” - HUNTR/X
“Ordinary” - Alex Warren
“Man I Need” - Olivia Dean
“Opalite” - Taylor Swift
“Daisies” - Justin Bieber
“Mutt” - Leon Thomas
“Folded” - Kehlani
“I Got Better” - Morgan Wallen
“Back To Friends” - Sombr
Goo Goo Dolls bring hits to NPR Tiny Desk
The Goo Goo Dolls made their NPR Tiny Desk concert debut today, performing “Slide,” “Iris,” “Feel The Silence,” and this year’s “Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes).”
I love a good, divorced dad melodramatic pop anthem - and they surely deliver them. Ha!
This week, they also announced a residency at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas happening next May. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Nov. 21.
P.S.
Happy Wednesday!
Thanks for your patience with today’s later edition. The last couple of days were hectic, and I was wiped out last night. Moments like this are a reminder that Bops and Bangers is largely a one-man operation … with occasional help.
Hard to believe Thanksgiving is already next week. This year flew by. It’s still pretty warm here in Central Texas, but cooler weather finally seems close. I’m also putting together the Bops and Bangers holiday playlist and will share it soon.
Anyone going to any holiday tours this month or next? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks again for reading.
-Peter