Rina Sawayama Talks New Album ‘Hold the Girl,’ Acting in ‘John Wick 4’ and Being BFFs With Elton John

Elton John has added two more dates to the final leg of his global ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour.The pop legend will now play new dates at the The O2 Arena in London on May 30, 2023 and the Utilita Arena Birmingham on June 8, 2023.His tour restarts in Europe at the 3Arena in Dublin on March 28, 2023 following the completion of his stadium tour dates in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Earlier this summer he kicked off some UK dates in Norwich.Tickets for the new shows go on sale here this Friday (October 7) at 10am.

First Aid Kit have shared their new single ‘Turning Onto You’, the latest to be taken from their upcoming fifth studio album ‘Palomino’ – listen below.The Swedish sisters – Klara and Johanna Söderberg – returned in June with the single ‘Angel’, their first new music in three years.‘Angel’ was the first taster of ‘Palomino’, which is set to be released on November 4 via Columbia. The album was then previewed by another new track, ‘Out Of My Head’.

Harry Styles has broken a long-running US chart record with his mega-hit, As It Was.

Rina Sawayama has covered Billie Eilish‘s song ‘Happier Than Ever’ – check out the video below.The singer-songwriter played a live set on BBC Radio 1 today (September 27) as part of the station’s Live Lounge Month series. First up, she treated listeners to an airing of ‘Hold The Girl’ from her second studio album of the same name.Sawayama then delivered a haunting rendition of the title track from Eilish’s 2021 record ‘Happier Than Ever’.

Elton John has been awarded the National Humanities Medal by US president Joe Biden.The British icon was awarded the medal at the White House as part of an event titled ‘A Night When Hope and History Rhyme’ – which celebrated teachers, students, frontline workers, and LGBTQIA advocates. Over 2,000 people were in attendance, with notable attendees including former first lady Laura Bush, education activist Malala Yousafzai as well as AIDS activist Jeanne White-Ginder.At the event, John played a slew of his hits, including ‘Your Song,’ ‘Rocket Man’ ‘Tiny Dancer’, and ‘Crocodile Rock’, a song personally important to President Biden.

Sir Elton John became emotional after being presented with the National Humanities Medal at the White House on Friday (23. 09. 22).

Elton John was all in on a plan to perform at the White House before the world-famous rockin' piano player hangs it up — he says — for good. John is stopping by the South Lawn on Friday night for a show he's calling "A Night When Hope and History Rhyme," a reference to a poem by Irishman Seamus Heaney that President Joe Biden often quotes. It will be John's first White House gig since he performed with Stevie Wonder at a state dinner in 1998 honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

President Biden on Friday night will host a concert by superstar Elton John on the White House lawn — providing the exclusive venue for the filming of a TV special.Biden and first lady Jill Biden will speak at the 8 p.m. concert put on by A&E Networks, which will then air the special at an undisclosed future date.“Tonight, as you all know, we will be welcoming Sir Elton John,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her regular press briefing — after journalists heard mic checks from the adjacent driveway.

BLACKPINK have become the first-ever K-pop girl group to achieve a Number One album in the UK.The South Korean band hit the top spot today (September 23) with their second full length record, ‘Born Pink’, which was released last Friday (September 16).BLACKPINK previously peaked at Number Two in the United Kingdom with their debut album, 2020’s ‘The Album’ (via the Official Charts Company).Martin Talbot, Chief Executive at the Official Charts Company, said: “Congratulations to BLACKPINK.“Being any kind of chart first is a record which can never be taken away, so for their new album ‘Born Pink’ to become the first UK Official Number One by a K-pop girl group is a fantastic achievement – and puts them in the record books forever!”Back in 2019, BTS became the first Korean act to hit Number One in the UK albums chart with ‘Map of The Soul: Persona’.

BLACKPINK today become the first-ever K-pop girl group to achieve a Number 1 on the UK’s Official Albums Chart with BORN PINK.

BLACKPINK lead what looks set to be an all-new Official Albums Chart Top 5 this week, with BORN PINK tracking for the top spot.

Elton John has “fondly” remembered the time he danced with Queen Elizabeth II in a new tribute on social media.The Queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died at her Balmoral estate in Scotland on September 8. She was 96 years old.

Rina Sawayama has shared a brand new video for her latest single ‘Hurricanes’ – check it out below.The British-Japanese artist released her second album ‘Hold The Girl’ on Friday (September 16) via Dirty Hit, and shared the new video on the same day.Following visuals for the new album’s title track and ‘This Hell’, the ‘Hurricanes’ video sees Sawayama giving a stormy, energetic performance of the track inside a barn.In the track, Sawayama sings: “April showers finally making way for warmer weather / But yet I still feel the same / Doing yoga just to feel untethered / But my mind keeps running away.”Watch her ‘Hurricanes’ video below.In a five-star album review, NME called ‘Hold The Girl’ “the best British pop album of the year,” writing: “Genres may come and go, but Sawayama’s second album is defined by her ability to fashion each of these sounds into big, brilliant pop songs.”On Friday, the day of the album’s release, Sawayama appeared on the cover of NME for a new Big Read feature about ‘Hold The Girl’, her role in John Wick: Chapter 4 and more.During the interview, the singer revealed that Elton John has offered her some “great advice” regarding some as-yet-unreleased music.Rina collaborated with the legendary musician on a reworking of her song ‘Chosen Family’ last year, which came after the pair struck up a friendship, with John having praised Sawayama’s debut studio record on his Rocket Hour radio show in 2020.

Rina Sawayama has revealed that Elton John has offered her some “great advice” regarding some as-yet-unreleased music.The British-Japanese artist, who released her second album ‘Hold The Girl’ today (September 16), collaborated with the legendary musician on a reworking of her song ‘Chosen Family’ last year.It came after the pair struck up a friendship, with John having praised Sawayama’s debut studio record on his Rocket Hour radio show in 2020. He’s since been avid fan and supporter of her work.Speaking to NME for this week’s Big Read cover feature, Sawayama spoke further about John assisting her with clearing a guitar riff on her single ‘This Hell’, which bears similarities to the ABBA‘s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’.“I was stressed as fuck because I was like: ‘this is our first single, this is our lead single, and I can’t use the guitar riff that I want’,” she recalled, adding that John ended up putting her in contact with the Swedish pop icons.ABBA’s Benny Andersson subsequently gave Sawayama his blessing to keep the original part in the finished track.“Elton is always willing to help.

Rina Sawayama has shared the final preview of her imminent second album, ‘Hold The Girl’ – a soaring pop-rock anthem titled ‘Hurricanes’.At face value, ‘Hurricanes’ is one of Sawayama’s most upbeat tracks, powering ahead with sharp drum fills, glittery atmospherics and driving electric guitars, over which the artist herself sings with an emphatic, energised gusto.Its lyrics paint a more melancholic picture, though, as Sawayama sings in the first verse: “April showers finally making way for warmer weather / But yet I still feel the same / Doing yoga just to feel untethered / But my mind keeps running away.”Have a listen to ‘Hurricanes’ below:‘Hurricanes’ is the fifth single to come from ‘Hold The Girl’, following the May release of ‘This Hell’, June’s ‘Catch Me In The Air’, the title track in July and ‘Phantom’ last month. The album itself – said to be inspired by the “fake stories” on Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ – will be out this Friday (September 16) via Dirty Hit.Sawayama will tour ‘Hold The Girl’ in October, starting with a run of shows across the UK and Ireland.

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.

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.

From world leaders to her closest family members, there has been a global outpouring of grief at the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. And among those sharing their memories and tributes are a host of celebs, with everyone from Joan Collins to Sting honouring The Queen and her “incomparable legacy”. Dame Joan, who had met Her Majesty and was part of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, took to Instagram to pay her respects.

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.