New Music Friday: The biggest releases from Elton John & Britney Spears, Karol G, and more

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Rina Sawayama is one of a handful of artists who released an album just as the pandemic was beginning and watched, astonished, as their stars rose during lockdown. The Japanese-British singer’s debut, “Sawayama,” was a wild fusion of Lady Gaga with nu-metal guitars, but also showed a penchant for sentimental ballads amid the power chords and intensity. The album won a co-sign from none other than Elton John, and its videos got her cast in the fourth installment of Keanu Reeves’ “John Wick” series, due in March. In fact, Elton was one of many people who spoke out against Sawayama’s exclusion from eligibility for England’s BRIT and Mercury awards because she isn’t a U.K. citizen, even though she’s lived in England since the age of 5. After #SawayamaIsBritish became a trending topic on Twitter, the British Phonographic Industry changed the eligibility rules to include anyone who lived in the country for at least five years, including her.

Elton John has been on a farewell tour now for approximately the last 653 years (including a break to enjoy the pandemic, of course). If you wanted to see him perform one last time but didn’t manage to get tickets for any shows happening in your part of the world, well, worry not, because Disney+ has announced plans to livestream his last ever ever ever ever ever ever live show in the USA later this year.On 20 Nov, John will conclude a three night run at LA’s Dodger Stadium, ending the US leg of the farewell tour, with dates then remaining in Australia, New Zealand and Europe – the UK shows happening in April.

Disney have announced that Elton John’s last-ever performance in the US this November – a third consecutive show at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium – will be streamed live on Disney+.The show will take place at the 56,000-capacity stadium on Sunday November 20, rounding out the North American leg of John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour. For its streaming release – announced over the weekend at this year’s D23 conference – the show will be titled Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.

Paul McCartney, Elton John and Robbie Williams, has started to recirculate following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.The UK’s longest-reigning monarch passed away yesterday (September 8) at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, aged 96.As tributes continue to be paid to the Queen, footage of memorable moments from across her reign are being broadcast on TV networks and online.Footage of the star-studded Diamond Jubilee Concert, which took place outside Buckingham Palace in central London on June 4, 2012 to mark the Queen’s 60th year on the throne, is one such moment being remembered.Organised by Take That‘s Gary Barlow, the concert featured performances from the likes of John, Williams, Grace Jones, Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder and Madness.McCartney closed the show with a short set that included ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘Let It Be’, ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’.You can see official BBC footage of the concert-ending firework display below.McCartney was among a host of famous names to pay tribute to the Queen following the news of her death yesterday, writing: “God bless Queen Elizabeth II[.] May she rest in peace[.] Long live The King.”Elton John, meanwhile, spoke about the monarch during his show in Toronto, Canada last night.“She was an inspiring presence to be around — I’ve been around her and she was fantastic,” John told the crowd.

Elton John and Harry Styles took time out of their respective concerts on Thursday night to honour Queen Elizabeth II. The Rocket Man singer, who had paid tribute to The Queen on social media earlier that day, gave a speech about the late monarch during his concert in Toronto, Canada. "We have the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," he said.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Hours after Queen Elizabeth II’s death at the age of 96 was announced on Thursday, Elton John — who enjoyed the closest relationship with the Royal Family of any music artist — paid tribute at his concert in Toronto. “We have the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,” he said. “She was an inspiring person to be around — I’ve been around her and she was fantastic. She led the country though some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth. “I’m almost 75 — she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that she won’t be with me anymore. But I’m glad she’s at peace, and I’m glad she’s at rest, and she deserves it because she’s worked bloody hard,” he continued as the audience cheered.

Elton John has shared a heartfelt message following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at 96. The iconic singer is honoring the British monarch, showing his appreciation for her and reminiscing about her “inspiring presence.”“Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passion,” Elton wrote.

Elton John and the Rolling Stones have paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The royal, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, passed away at her Balmoral residence in Scotland with her family by her side on Thursday afternoon. She was 96.

The death today of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, prompted an outpouring of remembrances and tributes from politicians, musicians, film & TV personalities, sports franchises and cultural institutions.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced on Thursday, Elton John, who has had a close relationship with the Royal Family for the past several decades, posted a heartfelt remembrance on his social media accounts. “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth. “Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly,” he concluded. Indeed, John was 4 years old when Elizabeth ascended to the crown in 1952.

Naman Ramachandran Leaders and celebrities around the world are mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on Thursday, ending a historic 70-year reign over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Her son and heir, King Charles III, said: “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era. In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.”

died “peacefully” this afternoon at 96, sending shockwaves around the world.Buckingham Palace announced that the British monarch passed “peacefully” at Balmoral at 1:30 p.m. EST on Thursday.The Queen’s cause of death has yet to be revealed however the tragic announcement broke just hours after the Palace had revealed that doctors had been “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.”Her Highness — who was equally renowned for her devotion to royal tradition and love of Corgis — touched myriad lives during her record 70-year-reign.

Kali Uchis is back with a fun Spanglish dance song about love. “I wrote this song about putting love above all else,” Uchis said in a press release. “‘En el amor, no hay ley’ means ‘there are no laws to love.’ Be with who makes you happy, and don’t listen to what anyone else has to say about it because it wasn’t their business in the first place!”Romeo Santos and Justin Timberlake team up for a bachata power ballad.

Jamie Lee Curtis officially has the best “Teenage Dirtbag” photos.Apparently I’m now on TikTok.

Elton John has a lot to celebrate this week; not only has his new collaboration with Britney Spears, Hold Me Closer, clinched this week’s highest new entry on the Official Singles Chart (3) and landed the UK’s best-selling single of the week, but the Official Charts Company can reveal that his greatest hits collection Diamonds has now passed the impressive 1 million chart units mark in the UK too. 

Sir Elton John has paid tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 25th anniversary of her death, saying: “You will always be missed.” The 75-year-old veteran musician, who was close friends with the princess, shared a photo on Instagram of them laughing together to commemorate the occasion. Diana, the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, was 36 when she was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31 1997.

Britney Spears has reportedly rejected an invite to the MTV Video Music Awards. The 40-year-old pop star and Sir Elton John have topped the charts in the more than 40 countries around the world with their new single 'Hold Me Closer' - but Britney won't be among the audience at the award show in New Jersey on Sunday (28. 08.