Space Ranger Brings First Taylor Swift Cover to ‘Masked Singer' Just Before His Exit: ‘They Only Cleared It Because of Me!'
Space Ranger made his debut on last week's Masked Singer, bounding out with his neon-tinged swagger and a silver space suit topped by a glowing, planet be-decked cowboy hat. It was a fitting 'fit for what came next: an electrifying performance in which he bounced around, dropped to his knees and flashed finger guns with so much rizz that judge Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg was convinced he must be a famous comedian.
More from Billboard
'The Masked Singer' Winners: Which Mystery Musician Won Each Season?
Willie Nelson Spotlights the Songs of Rodney Crowell on 'Oh What a Beautiful World' Album
How Doechii Could Have Two Different Hot 100 'Anxiety' Hits Next Week
If you were paying any attention at all, the clues (and his one-of-a-kind voice) made it pretty obvious: He's futuristic, lives on his own planet and a childhood report card included an A+ in, ahem, 'PE.' Oh, also, sometimes, he said, you have to show them all that you're 'worth the hype,' as he showed off a belt that appeared to have a clock face on it.
His debut performance, of a track by his 'bestie,' was a spirited run through Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' that left judge Ken Jeong dumbstruck, while host Nick Cannon knew right away that it was one of his 'favorite people' on the planet.
Both Robin Thicke and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg agreed that it could be comedian/actor Tracy Morgan, while always-wrong Jeong — who said he's opened for Morgan on the road — thought the space case was retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Rita Ora suggested a showman like actor/comedian Marlon Wayans.
Wednesday night's Ghostbusters-themed episode was back with more super obvious clues, including one about his gig 'schlepping furniture' in New York as a young man before he and his partner came up with a crazy idea for a career change with help from a 'beastly band of boys' who boosted their career.
For his second song, he went in another direction with the swinging Busboys' Ghostbusters soundtrack album tune 'Cleanin' Up the Town,' which further showcased his showmanship and vocal dexterity. The second performance made Jeong think it was DJ Jazzy Jeff, even as Thicke doubled down on his Morgan guess, while Ora and McCarthy-Wahlberg totally figured out that it was none other than Public Enemy hype man rapper Flavor Flav.
Before his elimination, Billboard spoke with Flav, who described the joy of getting the special dispensation to cover Swift, his shock at the judges' guesses, and why he wanted to hang around just a bit longer.
You said being on the show has been on your bucket list for years. Why? What took you so long?
I don't know what took it so long 'cause I've been wanting to do this show for years! So when I was asked to be on the show, I said, 'Wow! Finally? OK, let's go!' One thing about me is I love surprising people, I love amusing people, and I love keeping people in suspense. So this show put me on that platform to do all of these things.
People know you as the hype man from PE, but were you nervous to try singing on national TV, especially a Taylor Swift song?
One thing about Flav — Flav is never, ever nervous. I always love being the center of attention. I love being the most positive, talked-about. I'm the biggest hype man, I'm the original hype man, so I could not wait to get out there on that stage and hype up the world.
You are the self-proclaimed 'King Swiftie' and there's never been a Taylor song on . Was that an extra layer of pressure?
Nah, I wasn't nervous at all, and I was honored that Taylor Swift and them did clear the song for me to do. Because Masked Singer been trying to get a Taylor Swift song cleared for years and they could not get one cleared, until Flavor Flav, King Swiftie, came on their show. [A spokesperson for the show confirmed that it was the first-ever Swift cover on the series.] They cleared it for King Swiftie. I'm honored and proud that Taylor Swift and them cleared me to do 'Bad Blood.' I said, 'I'm gonna have fun with this song and I know I'm gonna do a good job with it.' I ain't gonna lie, I am my biggest fan and I do amuse myself and I love watching me on TV.
Did she approve it because she knew you were going to do it?
They knew I was going to do it, that's why the song got cleared. They only cleared it because of me! They weren't clearing it for nobody else! And you know what? I don't think they're gonna get another Taylor Swift song after this.
You have an iconic, signature look. So how did it feel to be in that ridiculous costume? Did it help you relax to be covered up?
It was real fun jumping in and out of that costume. When I first seen the costume, I was like, 'Wow, how am I gonna pull this off?' But, you know, I can make anything work, I can pull this off. I really had fun… but it was a little hot and muggy up in there and I was running out of fresh air. But I said, 'Keep it going. KIM — keep it movin' Flav, you got this!'
Not gonna lie, I've been covering you for 30 years and so this was the easiest mystery to guess in the history of the show. From the way you walked out , to the super obvious clues and your one-of-a-kind voice it seemed almost too easy.
What do we say when we pick up the phone? 'Heloooooooo?' C'mon now, it was the biggest, easiest giveaway! My voice is distinctive like James Earl Jones, like Samuel L. Jackson, like Morgan Freeman. I have the most sampled voice in the history of music and my voice is very, very recognizable. So when you take my voice and match it up with them easy-ass clues… the easiest clues! The first one was 'PE.' C'mon now, everybody knows Flavor Flav is Public Enemy! Everybody knows that I'm famous for my hardware that I wear around my neck [holds up giant clock pendant]. It's clocks. And also the other easy giveaways was the clock belt and they showed the belt twice! I'm like, 'C'mon man, everybody knows that's Flav!' I was trending number 3 on Twitter [after his first episode] and everybody on Twitter was like, 'Man, that was the most easiest giveaway ever!' I think they should have did me better.
Be honest: Did you want to win?
I didn't go on that show to win. I went on that show to have fun. Did I expect to win? No. But I did want to last a little longer than I did and last as long as I can. At least I could say I had fun. At least I could say I was onstage with one of my favorite people on the planet too, Nick Cannon. I've always been a Nick Cannon fan and when Nick said 'I know who this is! This is one of my favorite people on the planet!' When he said that, you don't know how honored I was and how proud I was to hear those words come out of his mouth. 'Cause before Nick Cannon was Wildin' Out, I was wildin' out first, since 1986! The surprising thing was when the judges were trying to guess me… where the hell did they get Tracy Morgan from? [Laughs] The weirdest one was Floyd Mayweather. What in the world is Floyd Mayweather going to be doing in a costume?
Best of Billboard
Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1
Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits
H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Hozier's Historic Smash Has Finally Been Replaced At No. 1
Hozier started his career by releasing one of the biggest rock hits in recent memory. 'Take Me to Church' launched him into superstardom all around the world, and then for many years, it seemed as if it would remain his only major global smash. In 2024, the Irish singer-songwriter returned with 'Too Sweet,' which brought him back to charts globally and even helped him rise to new heights on several Billboard rankings. After a historic run on one of the company's rock rankings, 'Too Sweet' finally steps back, as Hozier is replaced by one of the hottest newcomers in music. Sombr Jumps to No. 1 Sombr leads the Hot Rock Songs chart, Billboard's list of the most consumed rock tracks in the United States. His single 'Undressed' surges from the runner-up spot to No. 1 in its twentieth frame on the tally. 'Undressed' Replaces 'Too Sweet' at No. 1 'Undressed' replaces 'Too Sweet' atop the Hot Rock Songs chart. Hozier's smash has now spent 72 frames on the genre-specific ranking — 70 of which have been in first place. That's a historic run on any Billboard roster, and even if the tune never returns, Hozier will likely forever claim one of the longest-running rock No. 1s of all time. Hozier's Smash Lives Inside the Top 10 'Too Sweet' remains a top 10 hit on five different Billboard charts at the moment, even 72 frames into its lifespan on each and every one of them. The track sits highest on the Hot Rock Songs list and also appears on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Hot Alternative Songs, Alternative Streaming Songs, and Rock Streaming Songs charts, coming in at No. 4 on the first two rosters and Nos. 8 and 10 on the latter two, respectively. Sombr Scores the Two Biggest Rock Hits Sombr has a lot to celebrate when it comes to the Hot Rock Songs chart. Not only does 'Undressed' become a No. 1, but 'Back to Friends' follows closely, as it improves from No. 3 to second place, meaning he controls the highest two spaces on the same tally. Amazingly, of the 25 spaces on the Hot Rock Songs list, Sombr fills four. In addition to his top 10s, new single '12 to 12' leaps from No. 16 to No. 13 in its second frame on the ranking, while 'We Never Dated' reenters at No. 25.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Bob Marley, Ozzy Osbourne Score Bestsellers Together
It's a relatively quiet period on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, which ranks the bestselling full-lengths and EPs throughout the United States. The tally differs from the Billboard 200, which ranks titles based on total consumption, and not solely pure purchases. As is often the case, the highest reaches of the Top Album Sales roster are filled with new releases. But there are currently more comebacks on the roster than debuts, as several superstars and some of the bestselling full-lengths of all time find their way back to the competitive list. Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Marley and Taylor Swift Return Together 12 projects return to the Top Album Sales chart this week. The ranking only features 50 spots, so that means almost one-quarter of all rungs are filled by sets that have already spent time on the list. In some cases, the comebacks have only racked up a few stays, while others have lived on the tally for years. Here's a rundown of all of the titles that make their way back to the Top Album Sales chart this week: Renee Rapp, $uicideboy$ and Yeat Debut Only seven projects land on the Top Album Sales chart for the first time. The list is led by Reneé Rapp's sophomore full-length Bite Me, which earns the singer and actress her first leader as it opens at No. 1. Also new to the top 10 are Thy Kingdom Come by $uicideboy$ at No. 2, Dangerous Summer by Yeat at No. 3 and Live at the Legion by Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton at No. 7. Three other titles by Buddy Guy, Roger Waters, and Fit for a King also launch on the purchase-only roster in what has turned out to be something of an odd frame when it comes to sales in America.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Black Sabbath's Career-Defining Album Returns And Soars
For the past few weeks, Black Sabbath's catalog has been surging in popularity following the passing of frontman Ozzy Osbourne. Eventually, after any massive uptick comes a decline, and both Black Sabbath's and Osbourne's music is largely falling on Billboard's weekly rankings. Even so, one of Black Sabbath's most famous collections manages to gain a bit of ground and even return to one list, as Americans aren't done honoring the late rocker's legacy. Black Sabbath's Biggest Album Reappears Paranoid can be found on six Billboard charts this week. The full-length, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest in heavy metal history and certainly Black Sabbath's most famous, reappears on the Vinyl Albums chart at No. 20. Throughout the years, Paranoid has only spent a month on the roster, and while it's never cracked the top 10, it has come close to doing so, as it once stalled at No. 11. Paranoid Climbs on Billboard's Sales Chart The same full-length improves its standing on just one Billboard roster, as Paranoid lifts from No. 39 to No. 32 on the Top Album Sales chart. Interestingly, while the bestseller rises, purchases are actually down. Luminate reports that from one tracking period to the next, Paranoid saw its sales decline by less than 1%, and it managed to sell just under 3,000 copies in the U.S. Such a decline is not unexpected, though it is notable that thanks to a lack of competition, Black Sabbath's famous project was still able to ascend. Paranoid Grows by 35% Paranoid lives on for additional Billboard rankings, and it falls on all of them. The title manages the least dramatic slip on the Top Hard Rock Albums ranking, stepping back from the runner-up spot to No. 5. It also backtracks outside the top 10 on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums lists, where it now appears at Nos. 17 and 20, respectively. Total consumption of Paranoid fell by almost 35% week-over-week. That leads Black Sabbath's decades-old effort to backtrack on the Billboard 200 from No. 27 to No. 90 — its greatest decline. 'Paranoid' and 'War Pigs/Luke's Wall' Black Sabbath sees four singles appear on at least one Billboard tally at the moment, and 'Paranoid' remains its biggest winner, even though it's falling on almost every one of the eight rosters on which it appears. A handful of tunes manage to hold steady on one or two lists apiece, while one track, 'War Pigs/Luke's Wall,' even climbs on the Hot Hard Rock Songs roster. That double song improves from No. 6 to No. 5, reaching a new all-time high as almost everything in the group's catalog descends.
