Month: January 2025

What lengths would you go to hear “the greatest album of modern times”?

It’s a question Ayo Edebiri asks herself in the trailer for Opus. The A24 film from writer and director Mark Anthony Green stars The Bear and Bottoms actress as Ariel, a writer for a music magazine who is invited to hear the new album from Moretti (John Malkovich), a pop star who disappeared from the public eye for 30 years. His home is, well, less of a home and more of a cult-like compound, with blue lobsters, odd requirements (“So, how’s the lady garden?” Ariel is asked about her shaving routine), and creepy voodoo-looking dolls. The tagline for the film: “There’s no cult like celebrity.”

The rest of the Opus cast includes Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder (so good in Prey), Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means. You can watch the trailer above.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

A young writer (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.

Opus opens in theaters on March 14.

On “American Idiot,” the title track from Green Day‘s 2004 rock opera, Billie Joe Armstrong sings that he’s “not a part of a redneck agenda.” That lyric was changed to “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda” while the band performed on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, and it got another tweak during a show this week at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Armstrong now sings, “I’m not a part of an Elon agenda,” a reference to Elon Musk’s cozy relationship with President Donald Trump.

You can watch the video here.

Musk previously accused Green Day of “raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it.”

When speaking about the “MAGA” agenda” lyric change, Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt told Rolling Stone, “The song’s 20 years old, and we’re Green Day. What did you expect? Come on.” He continued, “I think the best part about it is that it provoked conversation. It got people talking. First it was rhetorical, and then it got into conversation. Anytime you can get people talking, you’re always going to have the loudest voices [heard first], and then everyone else in the room is going to figure out what it really means.”

Lady Gaga has something on the way.

Currently, her website displays a countdown atop an abstract background, which is set to reach 0 on January 27. When holding and moving the cursor on the page, it “paints in” the foreground, which features the text “LG1” in a font that’s not unlike that on the cover of Gaga’s debut album The Fame. This would seem to suggest Gaga has news related to that album coming next week.

There’s no immediately evident particular milestone for the album happening soon, as it was released on August 19, 2008, which was nearly 17 years ago. The same is true for the 2009 reissue The Fame Monster. (Although, the Beyoncé collaboration “Telephone” was released as a single on January 25, 2010, which will be almost exactly 15 years ago when the countdown ends. Worth noting is that last year, there were rumors Gaga and Beyoncé would reunite for a sequel.)

Meanwhile, Gaga recently shared her thoughts on music festivals, saying, “I used to go to Bonnaroo a lot, actually, when I was younger. It’s a place to just put pause on everything for a minute. You fall into everybody around you, and you fall into the music and the lights. I don’t think there’s anything that’s affected me as deeply in my life as live music.”

Coldplay is hyperaware of its impact on the world. In fact, their environmental sustainability efforts while on tour has become a model for others entertainers to follow. During their recent show in India, the “Human Heart” musicians took it a step further.

On January 19, Coldplay kicked off their Music Of Spheres World Tour‘s second night at the DY Patil Stadium. Between tracks, frontman Chris Martin took a moment to drum up a sensitive history lecture. As part of the impromptu speech (viewable here), Martin thanked Indians for “forgiving” the “bad things” Great Britain has done–which includes colonization throughout the country.

“This is our fourth visit to India, and the second time to play,” he said. “First time we played a long show, and we could not have asked for a better audience. Thank you for coming today everybody!”

He continued: “Thank you for welcoming us even though we are from Great Britain. Thanks for forgiving us for all of the bad things Great Britain has done.”

Shortly after the video was posted online, fans expressed their divided (yet overwhelmingly confused) thoughts on Martin’s statement.

“What in the white guilt did I just watch,” asked one user.

“We love a self-aware privileged zaddy,” joked one user.

“CEO of fixing what he didn’t break,” chimed another.

“Man apologized for his forefathers,” laughed another.

Others relayed their issue with Martin’s comment.

“That was totally unnecessary stunt….. You’re a singer just entertain them that’s it,” penned on user.

“Technically he didn’t apologize. He thanked us for forgiving them. Completely different,” added another.

“Ok, but when did we forgive them,” questioned a native.

Chris Martin nor Coldplay has addressed the pushback.

Ethel Cain has a new album (Perverts) out. Unfortunately, the “Punish” singer’s recent controversial comments have diverted attention away from the project.

Over on Instagram, Cain’s rant about the US healthcare system took a dark turn. While discussing corruption in politics, Cain suggested residents take back control over their locally elected officials. However, Cain’s “kill more CEOs” hashtag (light of the assassination of United Healthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson) did not go over well with many. Now, conversation pundits and outlet alike have locked in on Cain. But, in a recent Tumblr, Cain brushed off the growing criticism.

Read Ethel Cain’s full response below.

I find it funny that conservatives try to paint me calling for the death and destruction of multi-billionaire CEOs as some radical “woke liberal” standpoint. As if that even has anything to do with politics, especially in this era of surface level circus politics. The same way they try to politicize the hurricanes or the wildfires destroying parts of America, as if climate change is somehow a red vs. blue issue. it’s no secret I’m from a deeply conservative family in the sticks of Florida and I still grew up hearing ‘I fought the law and the law won.’ The healthcare system has fucked each and every member of my family in a different way at one point or another, as is the case with pretty much every family in this scorched earth nation. remember when country music, the genre currently associated the heaviest with the most conservative faction of America, used to be staunchly anti-government and about sticking it to the man? remember when the coal miners, grandfathers to the ‘Trump-er hillbillies’ of Appalachia that everyone loves to write off as ignorant, fought tooth and nail for unionization because the companies that were built off their labor didn’t give a shit if they lived or died? since when has ‘upholding traditional values’ gone hand in hand with… defending lawmakers and oil tycoons. my family and I complain about the same issues at the dinner table. the men in charge better hope they can keep their digital smokescreens running as long as they can because the moment the rednecks and the hippies lay down their swords long enough to realize they have the same enemy, all hell is gonna break loose.

Midway through Notre Dame’s first appearance in a national championship game since their 42-14 loss to Alabama in 2013 it looked like it was headed for yet another embarrassing blowout loss, as they allowed Ohio State to score 31 points on their first five possessions of the game and trailed 31-7.

However, things got interesting late in the third quarter as the Irish, who hadn’t moved the ball at all since their 10-minute TD march to open the game, scored a TD and got a two-point conversion to make it 31-15 and then forced a fumble by Ohio State for their first stop of the game. On the ensuing drive, the Irish drove the field and seemed to find their groove, but stalled out some once they got inside the 10. Facing a 4th and goal from the 9 with 9:27 to play, trailing by 16, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman bizarrely signaled for the field goal unit to go out onto the field. Even with a make, it would only cut the deficit to 13 points (still two touchdowns), and there was no guarantee they’d get two more possessions.

Making matters worse, kicker Mitch Jeter slammed the kick off the left upright.

It was, genuinely, one of the most baffling coaching decisions you will ever see in a big game. Even understanding that passing the ball is not Notre Dame’s strength (although, they were moving the ball well through the air on their last two drives), in that spot with the time and score, you just have to go for it. If nothing else, you leave Ohio State backed up down 16, but at least have the potential upside of a one-possession game with a touchdown. Given Jeter’s up-and-down season the field goal was not a certainty even from close range, and that proved to be unfortunately true for the Irish when he yanked it off the upright.

It was also not the first controversial special teams decision from Freeman on the night, as he went for a fake punt on a 4th and 2 that failed in the third quarter rather than leaving the offense on the field to run a real play. It was not exactly a sneaky fake (Ohio State was in punt safe) but it did at least have a chance as it was a good route and throw but dropped.

The Irish were heavy underdogs going into the game (anywhere from +8.5 to +10 on Saturday, depending on the book) and had a pretty small margin for error in the eyes of most. That got removed completely by their first half performance, and Freeman will certainly face some heat from Notre Dame fans for the field goal decision.

Over the past several year Metro Boomin has set the music charts ablaze. From his solo project Heroes & Villains to his collaborations with Future (We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You), 21 Savage (Savage Mode II) and Young Thug (Business Is Business), the “Like That” producer has smoked ever joint venture he’s signed onto.

According to Local 10, music isn’t the only thing heated up in Metro Boomin’s life. Yesterday (January 19), the outlet claimed a yacht supposed rented to Metro Boomin caught fire while docked at a strip club near the Miami International Airport.

However, Metro Boomin quickly came out to deny the viral report in his Instagram Stories. He then used the moment to confirm his involvement with Young Thug’s next album.

“Don’t believe everything you see online,” he wrote. “Clout got the world in a chokehold. Back to working on @thuggerthugger1 album.”

In Local 10’s report they claimed the 95-foot yacht burst into flames early Sunday morning. Fortunately, the Miami Fire Department was eventually able to contain the fire. Unfortunately, the yacht, which reportedly submerged shortly after was not salvageable. Based on paperwork obtained by the outlet, 15 guests and crew members were supposedly aboard prior to the incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

The waterfront fire is still being investigated by authorities.

Matty Healy is man of many words. Some of those verbal outbursts have ruffled feathers and landed him in hot water.

Contrastingly, when it comes to the lyrical contents of The 1975’s Healy tends to avoid those same pitfalls. Fans of the “Oh Caroline” musicians like it that way. So, when a viral rumor claimed the band’s next album would stir away from this norm, Healy was sure to issue a subtle response.

Matt Healy is seemingly laughing off speculation that The 1975’s seemingly teased project included lyrics inspired by his breakup with Taylor Swift. “Huge if true,” snarkily wrote Healy on Reddit.

Days prior an insider told The Sun, The 1975’s album supposedly titled, God Has Entered My Body, included the lyric: “Keep your head up, princess, your tiara is falling.” Despite Healy reportedly being engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel, the source linked the line to his brief romance with Swift.

“Matty will never publicly comment on his relationships,” said the source. “But he lets his deepest feelings out in his songs and gets everything off his chest.”

However, The 1975 fans have pushed back against the anonymous statement. The Healy supporters believe the lyric is a reference to a past Instagram post from Healy. Considering Swift has been accused of doing the same thing, if true as Healy says it would make the exes even.

New music Fridays is slowing and quietly becoming a thing of the past. Behind Tyler The Creator and Earthgang, Bad Bunny is the latest superstar to ditch the traditional release schedule for his new album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. For the “Baile Inolvidable” musician, it has paid off.

Yesterday (January 19), the Billboard 200 chart revealed Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos had secured its No. 1 slot after its first full week of tracking. This achievement marked the global superstar’s fourth time snagging the coveted spot. Back in 2023, Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana held the top position. The year prior, Un Verano Sin Ti did the same and 2020’s El Último Tour Del Mundo upon its release.

For the week ending January 16, Debí Tirar Más Fotos brought in 203,500 equivalent album units, SEA (streaming equivalent album) units comprise 195,000 (which equates to 264.03 million on-demand official streams), 7,500 traditional album sales, and 1,000 TEA (track equivalent album) units comprise.

Bad Bunny’s streaming numbers marked the largest streaming week for any album since Kendrick Lamar’s GNX in December 2024. The feat also set another record for Latin music. Debí Tirar Más Fotos is now the majority Spanish language to top the Billboard 200 in 2025 and the 28th “mostly non-English” project to do so in the chart’s history. Debí Tirar Más Fotos is one of six Spanish language to achieve this milestone.

Taylor Swift’s Lover (Live From Paris) landed at No. 2. SZA’s SOS (at No. 3), Kendrick Lamar’s GNX (at No. 4), and Lil Baby’s WHAM (at No. 5) rounded out the week’s top 5 Billboard 200 positions.

The Golden State Warriors are not anywhere near being able to compete for a championship. The team entered Monday with a 21-20 record, then played host to the Boston Celtics and got steamrolled, trailing by as many as 45 points in a game they lost at home, 125-85. Even with Draymond Green missing the game due to injury, well, I do not think Draymond would make up a 40-point deficit against the defending champions.

There have been plenty of conversations about what is wrong with the Warriors, and what their path to getting back to the top of the Western Conference looks like. Steph Curry has heard all of that and is preaching patience, and while there were some disagreements on the Inside the NBA set about how the team should proceed, Kenny Smith was adamant that the team needs to do one thing: go young.

Smith drew similarities between the situation the Warriors are in to the one the Lakers find themselves in, with a big difference: For L.A., the team is built around LeBron James, someone who plays with the ball in his hands. As a result, the front office needs to build around that, particularly by bringing in older players who know how to play off of someone like that.

“I think with Steph Curry, he actually plays without the ball a lot, and he’s running off picks,” Smith said. “So now, you can bring in and say we’re gonna do a young rebuild, with young energy, to get him shots easier because he’s catching, shooting more, instead of beating people off the dribble. So, the rebuild is different. They should go young, through the draft, through trade, keep guys like Kuminga — not think about trading — guys like Kuminga and his age, that group is where they need to be.”

Charles Barkley, meanwhile, took a more nihilistic approach, saying that it doesn’t matter what the Warriors do unless they can get a superstar. “That’s their only chance,” Barkley said. “Because Steph is old.”

And when Shaq asked if he thought the Warriors should try to pursue someone like Jimmy Butler, Barkley said yes, saying that the only team anyone is sure of in the Western Conference are the Oklahoma City Thunder, and expressing his belief that Golden State can become a contender by bringing in a big name.