Billboard

Beyonce explains forthcoming album

Beyonce

Beyonce has revealed the title and heaps of other details about her forthcoming fourth album.

The superstar spoke to Billboard about her fourth album, aptly titled 4.

But the chronology isn’t the only reason it got that name. She says, ‘We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me. It’s the day I was born. My mother’s birthday, and a lot of my friends’ birthdays, are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date.’

She says that she had more than 60 songs recorded, inspired by everything from Fela Kuti and Earth, Wind And Fire to Adele and Prince.

She said, ‘ also gave myself more freedom to really belt out some songs, and bring soul singing back: I used a lot of the brassiness and grittiness in my voice that people hear in my live performances, but not necessarily on my records.’

Beyonce also spoke about visiting Disneyland, dropping her father as a manager, her upcoming turn in the A Star Is Born remake, and her ‘risky’ new sound on the ‘Run The World (Girls)’ single.

4 is set to be released later in the year.

Adele’s ex-boyfriend wants share of profits for inspiring hit album

Adele

British songstress Adele has the #1 album worldwide with the lovelorn ballad-filled “21.” Now, the ex-boyfriend who inspired the album’s emotional tracks is demanding some of the royalties. Adele, who has said she wrote current hit “Rolling in the Deep” just a day after their break-up, has sold millions of records since the album and its lead single were released at the beginning of the year.

Adele was stunned when her source of inspiration contacted her to claim his cut from the profits. Adele’s unnamed ex had no hand in writing or producing any of the tracks on the album.

“For about a week he was calling and was deadly serious about it. Finally, I said, ‘Well, you made my life hell, so I lived it and now I deserve it,’” Adele told The Sun.

“He really thought he’d had some input into the creative process by being a p–ck,” she added. “I’ll give him this credit – he made me an adult and put me on the road that I’m traveling.”

Adele will keep rolling deep in cash as both of her albums, “21” and “19,” are in the Top 20 on Billboard. She’s also set to kick off a string of sold-out shows around the U.S. beginning Thursday in Washington, D.C.

Bob Dylan performs his first ever concert in China

The 69-year-old musical legend was granted permission to give the concert at the Worker’s Gymnasium in central Beijing after having his music vetted by censors, though some of his more well-known protest songs – including ‘The Times They Are A-Changin” and ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ – were dropped from his set so as not to offend the country’s communist government.

However, the two-hour performance saw the 5,000-strong crowd entertained by the folk singer’s classic tracks, including ‘Like a Rolling Stone’, ‘Ballad of a Thin Man’ and ‘Highway 61 Revisited’.

Audience member Zhang Tian told Billboard.com: “I was a little disappointed that he didn’t sing many of his songs because of the politics. What is the government so afraid of?”

However, the singer’s appearance impressed other fans.

Yin Yang said: “I know his songs from karaoke, but I’m really not that familiar with him. I think this was a historic concert and I’m glad I’ve seen him.”

The performance comes after Bob was refused permission to perform by China’s Culture Ministry – who must approve every concert that takes place in the country -last year.

Dylan will perform in Shanghai and Hong Kong next week as part of a tour marking 50 years since his first major live performance.

Bob Dylan’s China setlist:

‘Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking’
‘It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue’
‘Beyond The Horizon’
‘Tangled Up In Blue’
‘Honest With Me’
‘Simple Twist Of Fate’
‘Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum’
‘Love Sick’
‘Rollin’ And Tumblin’
‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’
‘Highway 61 Revisited’
‘Spirit On The Water’
‘Thunder On The Mountain’
‘Ballad Of A Thin Man’
‘Like A Rolling Stone’
‘All Along The Watchtower’
‘Forever Young’