Month: June 2022

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Pop Daypop

Halsey confirms the release of their new single ‘So Good’

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Halsey has confirmed the release of their new single ‘So Good’ — after the artist went viral on social media to complain about their record label’s refusal to release the song.

Halsey took to social media to explain the situation in a TikTok video, explaining how they are being prevented from releasing a brand-new song they have been working on.   The TikTok video has since been watched 8.9 million times, and their follow-up video, which added clarification to the situation, racked up over 4.8 million views. “My record company is saying that I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok,” Halsey said.

However in a turn of events, Halsey announced they will now be able to release So Good on June 9 alongside an accompanying music video the following day. Taking to Twitter, the singer wrote: “I didn’t expect so much conversation about this record, all I know is that I wanted you guys to hear it and now you can. So Good, song on June 9th and video the next day. Endy gave me my flowers.”

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Pop Daypop

Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’ debuts at No. 1 with new vinyl sales record

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Harry Styles has set a new record for first-week vinyl sales with Harry’s House, selling 182,000 copies in the United States. Taylor Swift previously held the record with last fall’s Red (Taylor’s Version), which sold 114,000 vinyl copies in its first week.

Harry’s House debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon its release, moving 521,500 album equivalent units. Styles will launch his tour of North America beginning in August, following a summer run in Europe.

Harry Styles breaks Taylor Swift’s vinyl sales record with ‘Harry’s House’

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Sports Daypop

Veteran MLB pitcher J.A. Happ announces retirement after 15 seasons

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Left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ announced his retirement from baseball after 15 seasons in Major League Baseball.  In an appearance on “The Heart Strong” podcast with Jessica Lindberg, the 39-year-old Happ told Lindberg that he worked out this offseason to stay ready in case an opportunity came his way; however, when he turned on the television on Opening Day, he realized that the time was right to move on.

Happ pitched for eight teams over the course of his 15 years in the majors, beginning with the Phillies in 2007. He went on to play with the Astros, Blue Jays, Mariners, Pirates, Yankees and Twins. Happ most recently pitched for the Cardinals in 2021, making 11 starts for St. Louis after he was traded by Minnesota in late July.

In 354 appearances in the majors, Happ made 328 starts, earned a lifetime 133–100 record and achieved a 4.13 career ERA. He earned 1661 strikeouts, a 2.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 21.5 wins above replacement. Happ was named an All-Star for the first (and only) time in his career in 2018, and was a part of the Philadelphia’s World Series championship team in 2008.

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Sports Daypop

Coco Gauff defeats Sloane Stephens in French Open quarterfinals to reach first grand slam singles semifinal

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No. 18 seed Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Sloane Stephens from the 2022 French Open in the quarterfinals Tuesday. The 18-year-old Gauff defeated Stephens 7-5, 6-2 to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. Gauff last faced Stephens at last year’s US Open, where she lost in straight sets. Stephens, 29, won the 2017 US Open and was a finalist for the 2018 French Open.

Gauff said after the win:  “Even last year I was too focused on trying to fulfill other people’s expectations. I know no matter how good or bad my career is, I think I’m a great person. So I think that’s a message for all the young players out here: Even in life in general, your results or your job or how much money you make doesn’t define you as a person. So just know that if you love yourself, who cares what anyone else thinks.”

Gauff will now face world no. 59 Martina Trevisan on Thursday for a place in the final.

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Entertainment Daypop

Rita Moreno joins cast of ‘Fast X’ as Vin Diesel’s grandmother

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Vin Diesel announced on Instagram that Rita Moreno will be starring in ‘Fast X’ as his grandmother. Diesel said in a video that includes Moreno and fellow Fast and Furious franchise star Michelle Rodriguez: “It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno and the fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile. I’m so blessed.”  Moreno replied:  “I think my old age was waiting for you to invite me.” 

Fast X, the 10th installment in the Fast and Furious series, is set to debut in theaters on May 19, 2023. Filmmaker Louis Letterier replaces Justin Lin as director, who exited the project in April.  The film also stars Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Charlize Theron, Jason Momoa and Brie Larson.

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Entertainment Daypop

Kevin Spacey to avoid extradition and ‘voluntarily appear’ in U.K. court for sexual assault charges

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Kevin Spacey will “voluntarily” appear in the United Kingdom to face four new sexual assault charges that were brought against him last week. If Spacey does not voluntarily appear in the U.K., British authorities plan to seek the actor’s formal extradition from the U.S. Spacey can be formally charged only following his arrest in England or Wales.

The 62-year-old actor provided a statement to “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, in which he says he is “confident” he can prove his innocence: “I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise. While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”

The charges against Spacey in Britain were announced last Thursday by the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a year reviewing a file passed to them by the Metropolitan Police. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men. He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”  Some of the charges are believed to stem from Spacey’s time at the Old Vic theater in London, where he served as artistic director from 2004-2015. Following multiple allegations of sexual assault against the actor in the U.S., the theater undertook an internal investigation which resulted in 20 victims coming forward who claimed he had behaved inappropriately toward them.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kevin-spacey-voluntarily-appear-uk-courts-sexual-assault-charges-rcna31197

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Pop Daypop

Tracklist for Post Malone’s “Twelve Carat Toothache” features Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Gunna & more

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Post Malone’s fourth studio album “Twelve Carat Toothache” will be his first album in three years, and the follow up to “Hollywood’s Bleeding”.  The project is set to drop on June 3rd, and Post has unveiled the full tracklist, which features a set of 14 tracks.

Guest collaborators include Doja Cat on “I Like You (A Happier Song)”, Gunna on “I Cannot Be (A Sadder Song)”, Fleet Foxes on “Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol” and The Kid LAROI on “Wasting Angels”.  The recently released “Cooped Up” with Roddy Ricch, and last year’s “One Right Now” with The Weeknd will also appear on the LP.

Check out the full tracklist via Apple Music.  Twelve Carat Toothache can be pre-saved – here.

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Pop Daypop

Dua Lipa and Young Thug join Calvin Harris in the video for their new song “Potion”

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Dua Lipa and Young Thug team up with Calvin Harris for their new collaboration “Potion,” and have also released the music video for the song, directed by Emil Nava.  “Potion” is the first single from Harris’ forthcoming album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, the follow-up to his Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 released back in 2017.  Vol. 2 is due out this summer.

Harris spoke of his upcoming LP in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, saying: “I wanted the original essence and I want the layers and the grit and the dirt and I don’t want everything to be mixed perfectly. I want things to be too loud and I want things to be like, you know, I want things to be like Sly and the Family Stone when it’s just mixed on the fly.”

Harris previously worked with Dua Lipa on “One Kiss,” and with Young Thug on “Heatstroke.”  You can take a look at the video for “Potion” – here.

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