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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Friend of Mine' Co-Producer Jon Bellion: Rihanna's New Single Resulted From ‘A Bunch of People Having a Blast'
At first blush, Rihanna's 'Friend of Mine' does not sound like a single from a kids movie. Unlike the superstar's previous soundtrack work for films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Home, which tended to veer toward sweeping pop balladry, 'Friend of Mine' is a thumping club track, with Rihanna's voice positioned as an elliptical refrain over a house beat. Jon Bellion, who co-wrote and co-produced the track last year, was initially surprised to hear that the song would be featured in the upcoming Smurfs film, in which Rihanna is voicing Smurfette. Then he considered the sonic profile of 'Friend of Mine,' and understood its mass appeal. 'From a product standpoint, I don't think you get such major chords and such a positive [message] over a dance record that doesn't sound like a kids movie too often,' he tells Billboard. 'So when do you nail the feel-good, family-friendly, high-taste, deep '90s nostalgia, that can also be played into the kids movie? Shoot it out into the world!' More from Billboard Nessa Barrett Announces 2025 Australian Arena Tour Sombr Announces 2025 Australia and New Zealand Headline Tour Eddie Vedder Covers Springsteen's 'My City of Ruins' After Trump Clash That's exactly what Rihanna did on Friday (May 16) with 'Friend of Mine,' which precedes the Smurfs soundtrack (out June 13 through Roc Nation Distribution) and her star turn in the Smurfs film (in theaters July 18). Three years after her last music release, Rihanna has offered 'Friend of Mine' as a long-awaited check-in with fans, and an unexpected song of the summer bid. The song came together during one of Bellion's writing camps at his vacation home in the Hamptons last summer, with the studio veteran producing the song with Pete Nappi and Fallen, and all three receiving co-writing credits along with Elijah Noll, Elkan, Tenroc and Rihanna. That group of writers and producers are part of Beautiful Mind Projects, Bellion's management, publishing and label company, and Bellion — who's helped artists like Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Maroon 5 score pivotal hits in recent years — says that the energy heard on 'Friend of Mine' is a reflection of his collective's collaborative spirit. 'It was a bunch of people having a blast, doing a music camp together, jamming on some DJ s–t and playing chords and just having fun,' he says. 'And I think that that's probably why it ended up sounding so new. It just felt like a natural thing, with a bunch of guys who like being around each other and want to make great s–t.' 'Working with [Jon] is always exciting because you know you're going to walk away with a real song,' the producer Fallen, who's also worked with artists like Doja Cat and Summer Walker, tells Billboard in a statement. 'He sees things through. He's the kind of person who will spend an entire week on a single track if that's what it takes. We spent about three days on 'Friend of Mine,' just refining and dialing it in. Coming from the hip-hop world, I'm used to making five songs in a single session, so this level of detail was new for me. But it's been the most valuable lesson I've learned working with him.' One of Bellion's earliest hits as a co-writer was 'The Monster,' the 2013 smash from Eminem and Rihanna that topped the Hot 100 chart for four weeks. In the decade-plus since that breakthrough, he's stayed in touch with Rihanna's team, and says that he's contributed 'a couple songs' to her camp over the years that have yet to be released. Considering that Rihanna's output has been scant since her 2016 album ANTI, Bellion was uncertain that 'Friend of Mine' would see the light of day, but the spontaneity of the track's creation stood out in his mind when it came together last year. 'The song is raw — like, she didn't really mix it further than the two track that we sent out,' he says. 'We [sent] it out, and I had it on my phone for a few days, and I just remember, every morning I'd wake up listening to it. I'd listen to it in the shower, like, 'This is kind of jamming!'' Bellion couldn't recall another Rihanna single that sounded quite like 'Friend of Mine' — and he says that, at some point after the song was finished, the realization hit him that unexplored territory was exactly what she had been searching for. 'She's not looking for 'We Found Love 2.0,' or 'Work 2.0,'' he says. 'The arrangement and the feel feels all very new — very cutting-edge, in front of what the next wave will be, because she usually tries to do that every time she puts something out.' 'Friend of Mine' arrives shortly before Bellion's third studio album, Father Figure, is released on June 6; the project marks his first solo full-length in seven years, and features guest turns from Luke Combs, Pharrell Williams and Jon Batiste. While Father Figure includes deeply personal reflections on fatherhood and its challenges, Bellion is glad that 'Friend of Mine' has arrived a few weeks beforehand, to give him a chance to pull off something he has yet to accomplish professionally. 'My whole career, I've wanted [a song] that plays at all the events — all the baby showers and sweet sixteens and wedding and Bar Mitzvahs,' Bellion says with a laugh. 'I don't think I've ever really had one of those, so it feels great, and hopefully it does well.' 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
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Navarro Claims There's ‘No Chance' of Jane's Addiction Reunion
Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro has apparently put to bed any hopes of further shows from the group, claiming there's 'no chance' of them playing live together again. Navarro's comments came about in a recent interview with Guitar Player where the famed musician looked back on the best and worst gigs of his career. More from Billboard Nessa Barrett Announces 2025 Australian Arena Tour Sombr Announces 2025 Australia and New Zealand Headline Tour Eddie Vedder Covers Springsteen's 'My City of Ruins' After Trump Clash In the latter category, Navarro turned to the band's last run of shows in 2024, noting that some of those gigs were his favorite, with the group working together in perfect unison. 'If you combined Grateful Dead and Radiohead, there were moments like that — just weird, experimental jams that we'd never done before as a band,' he claimed. However, it's Jane's Addiction's final performance, at Boston's Leader Bank Pavilion on Sept. 13, that takes the dubious honor of being his least favorite. That show made headlines last year when frontman Perry Farrell threw a punch at Navarro during a rendition of 'Ocean Size.' Navarro walked off stage following the incident, ending the show early, and soon after, Jane's Addiction announced the cancellation of the remainder of their tour dates. The announcement included a statement signed by Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, and drummer Stephen Perkins highlighting the 'behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell'. According to Navarro, the incident is 'still very tender and unresolved,' with the guitarist taking care not to be 'naming names and pointing fingers' while speaking to Guitar Player. 'There was an altercation onstage, and all the hard work and dedication and writing and hours in the studio, and picking up and leaving home and crisscrossing the country and Europe and trying to overcome my illness — it all came to a screeching halt and forever destroyed the band's life,' he explained. 'And there's no chance for the band to ever play together again.' Much of the sadness around the unexpected and unfortunate end to Jane's Addiction relates to the fact that the shows prior to their final performance were some of Navarro's favorite. 'I'll just say that the experience prior to that gig, when we were in Europe and gelling, really, for the first time — because at our ages, in our 50s and 60s, everybody's done what they're gonna do, and we weren't competitive with each other — we were getting along,' he explained. 'There was no ego issue; it was just four guys making great music, just like we did in the beginning. I was just us on a stage, with people going f–king crazy. 'And that gig, September 13th, in Boston, ended all of that,' he added. 'And for that reason, that is my least favorite gig that I have ever played.' In the wake of Jane's Addiction's final gig, Navarro, Perkins and Avery have reportedly been working on new music together, though it's unclear exactly what form this will take. 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
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
President Trump Alleges That Beyoncé & Bruce Springsteen Participated In an ‘Illegal Election Scam'
President Donald Trump has accused Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen and more stars of participating in an 'illegal election scam' run by Kamala Harris' campaign during the 2024 election, with the billionaire calling for a 'major investigation' into their allegedly 'corrupt' endorsements of the former VP. In two Truth Social posts from the early hours of Monday (May 19), Trump first accused the Boss — whom the POTUS also called 'highly overrated' and 'dumb as a rock' just a few days prior — of illegally accepting an undisclosed payment to appear at one of Harris' rallies last year before lumping the 'Texas Hold 'Em' singer, as well as Oprah Winfrey and U2's Bono, into the alleged scheme. 'HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT?' Trump began. 'WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS?' More from Billboard Musicians Donald Trump Has Insulted, From Taylor Swift to Snoop Dogg Nessa Barrett Announces 2025 Australian Arena Tour Sombr Announces 2025 Australia and New Zealand Headline Tour 'ISN'T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION? WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ? …AND HOW MUCH WENT TO OPRAH, AND BONO???' he continued early Monday morning. 'I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter. Candidates aren't allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment. In addition, this was a very expensive and desperate effort to artificially build up her sparse crowds.' 'IT'S NOT LEGAL!' Trump added. 'For these unpatriotic 'entertainers,' this was just a CORRUPT & UNLAWFUL way to capitalize on a broken system.' In a follow-up post about seven hours later, Trump doubled down on his claims. 'According to news reports, Beyoncé was paid $11,000,000 to walk onto a stage, quickly ENDORSE KAMALA, and walk off to loud booing for never having performed, NOT EVEN ONE SONG!' he wrote. 'Remember, the Democrats and Kamala illegally paid her millions of Dollars for doing nothing other than giving Kamala a full throated ENDORSEMENT. THIS IS AN ILLEGAL ELECTION SCAM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL! IT IS AN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION! BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, OPRAH, BONO AND, PERHAPS, MANY OTHERS, HAVE A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO!!!' When that 11-million figure first surfaced last year and made the rounds on social media, fact check organizations found no evidence to support the claim. Billboard has reached out to reps for Beyoncé, Springsteen and Bono for comment. The president's remarks come about three days after he first targeted the 'Born in the U.S.A.' rocker shortly after Springsteen slammed Trump's 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous' administration during a concert in Manchester. Trump called the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer a 'pushy, obnoxious JERK' who 'ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT' on Friday (May 16). That same day, Trump also wrote that Taylor Swift is 'no longer 'HOT'' following her September endorsement of Harris and his subsequent 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT' post. Springsteen was vocal in his support of Harris throughout the 2024 election, performing at rallies in Pennsylvania and Georgia as well as appearing in an advertisement supporting the Democratic politician's campaign. Beyoncé also appeared at a Harris rally in Houston, delivering a speech in which she asserted: 'I'm not here as a celebrity. I'm not here as a politician. I'm here as a mother. A mother who cares, deeply, about the world my children and all of our children live in.' An Irish citizen, Bono did not endorse a candidate in the 2024 U.S. election or participate in any campaign events. The E Street band leader and Destiny's Child alum were just two of many stars who backed Harris during the 2024 election, with Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Cardi B, Eminem and more throwing their support behind the former prosecutor's campaign. Finance records do not show that any of them were paid for their endorsements — something Harris would have needed to disclose if that were the case — and Harris' campaign has denied in the past that it ever paid artists to perform at events. 'We have never paid any artist and performer,' senior spokesperson Adrienne Elrod stated to Deadline when rumors to the contrary first surfaced last year. 'We have never paid a fee to that person.' Beyoncé's camp has also denied that she accepted payment for her endorsement of Harris, as has the 35-time Grammy winner's mother, Tina Knowles. 'The lie is that Beyonce was paid 10 million dollars to speak at a rally in Houston for Vice President Kamala Harris,' Knowles wrote on Instagram in November. 'When In Fact : Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrris's Rally in Houston. In fact she actually paid for her own flights for her and her team, and total Glam . They are not only lying and disrespecting Beyonce's name but they are trying to further discredit the power of our vice president! When does the lies and rumors stop?' There is record of Harris paying Bey's production company, Parkwood Production Media LLC, $165,000 after the Texas event; that payment would be in accordance with federal law, which prohibits corporations from giving directly to a candidate's campaign and mandates that campaigns reimburse the costs of large event production, according to The Hill. 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
