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“Wait… THEY Sang That?!” – 20 of the Funniest Songs in Music

Eric Alper
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“Wait… THEY Sang That?!” – 20 of the Funniest Songs in Music

Sometimes music is just a really good joke. You know those moments when you’re deep into an artist’s discography—serious, profound, legendary—and then bam, out of nowhere comes a tune that sounds like they swallowed a whoopee cushion and chased it with pure chaos? Those moments are gold.

So in the grand spirit of wait, what did I just hear?, here are 20 of the funniest songs ever written—from artists you’d never expect. Legends. Hitmakers. Guitar gods. Poets. Icons. All showing us that when the mood strikes, even they can be absolutely ridiculous just like us.

1. “They’re Red Hot” – Robert Johnson (1936, but released posthumously in the ’60s)

The OG Delta blues master who supposedly sold his soul to the devil… also sang about hot tamales. At lightning speed. Seriously.

2. “Detachable Penis” – King Missile (1992)

Philosophy majors in a band. Add a deadpan monologue about losing one’s genitalia at a party? Instant cult classic.

3. “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” – Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty (1978)

Country royalty roasting each other in a marital duet. It’s hilarious, biting, and weirdly wholesome.

4. “Coconut” – Harry Nilsson (1971)

Put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning? A groove so smooth, you almost miss the medical absurdity.

5. “Maximum Consumption” – The Kinks (1972)

Ray Davies wrote rock operas about British life… and then penned an entire song about eating too much. With a tuba solo.

6. “Muskrat Love” – Captain & Tennille (1976)

Two muskrats fall in love. That’s the plot. There are sound effects. This was a hit song.

7. “Cook of the House” – Wings (1976)

Paul McCartney lets Linda take the mic to sing about… kitchen appliances. There’s sizzling bacon in the mix.

8. “Big Balls” – AC/DC (1976)

They play it straight, but this is the most juvenile pun-fest in hard rock history. The punchline is the entire song.

9. “The Blue Nun” – Donald Fagen (1982, The Nightfly sessions)

Smooth jazz meets fake wine ads. Fagen flexes his love for lounge lizard satire with full commitment.

10. “Rural Route” – Eminem (2003, unreleased freestyle)

Yes, Eminem is usually wild, but this freestyle is peak absurdist Eminem. He impersonates Forrest Gump while rapping about chickens.

11. “Mr. Grieves” – Pixies (1989)

Starts with some doomsday existentialism… then breaks into a chorus that sounds like a demented polka. Unhinged in the best way.

12. “King Herod’s Song” – Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack (1970)

From a serious rock opera about Christ’s final days comes a vaudeville showstopper featuring Herod taunting Jesus like a game show host.

13. “I’m On A Boat” – T-Pain & The Lonely Island (2009)

The only time T-Pain’s auto-tuned glory meets yacht rock satire. He commits. Hard.

14. “Polka Face” – “Weird Al” Yankovic (2011)

Yes, “Weird Al” is known for funny songs, but his polka medleys—especially this one covering modern pop—are masterworks of parody orchestration.

15. “Insects” – Ash (2004, B-side)

Britpop alt-rockers go full-on surreal punk about… bugs. “I don’t like spiders, but I like you.”

16. “Onion Song” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1969)

From two of soul’s most passionate vocalists… a socially conscious track that compares civil rights struggles to onions. Layers, man.

17. “Yoga” – Janelle Monáe ft. Jidenna (2015)

From an Afrofuturist sci-fi visionary comes a track that includes the lyric “You cannot police me, so get off my areola.” Empowering and hilarious.

18. “A Spaceman Came Travelling” – Chris de Burgh (1975)

A prog-pop Christmas ballad… where the angel Gabriel is an alien with synthesizers. Just trust the journey.

19. “Man’s Not Hot” – Big Shaq (2017)

A parody that somehow became a global grime anthem. The joke became real. “The ting goes skrrrahh.”

20. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” – Elmo & Patsy (1979)

Because even novelty songs can chart—and traumatize generations of children every Christmas.

5 Wildly Unknown Facts About The Doors Movie

Eric Alper
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5 Wildly Unknown Facts About The Doors Movie

The Doors were a séance set to sound. And Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic The Doors tried to bottle that lightning—equal parts love letter and fever dream. Val Kilmer’s performance as Jim Morrison was so eerily accurate that even the surviving band members couldn’t tell where Morrison ended and Kilmer began. But what most people saw on screen was only half the story. For those who love digging behind the vinyl sleeve or the film frame, here are five lesser-known facts about The Doors movie that’ll make you want to crank “The End” and light some metaphorical fires.

1. Val Kilmer didn’t just play Jim Morrison—he became him.
Before CGI, before deepfakes, there was Val Kilmer. He spent six months rehearsing, learned 50 Doors songs, and recorded vocals so convincing that Ray Manzarek couldn’t tell them apart from Jim’s. Kilmer even paid out of his own pocket to film a full performance demo for Oliver Stone. But it wasn’t just mimicry—it was method acting gone full Lizard King. He wore Morrison’s leather pants, spoke like him between takes, and according to crew memos, requested not to be addressed by his real name on set. Now that’s rock ’n’ roll commitment—or possession.

2. The real Patricia Kennealy plays the priestess in her own fictionalized wedding scene.
Talk about meta. Rock journalist and Wiccan high priestess Patricia Kennealy, who actually participated in a handfasting ceremony with Jim Morrison in real life, appears in the movie—but not as herself. Instead, she plays the priestess marrying Meg Ryan’s Pamela Courson and Kilmer’s Morrison. The kicker? Kennealy has denounced the film’s portrayal of her, claiming much of her dialogue was given to Courson’s character instead. She called it a betrayal, but in a twist worthy of Morrison’s own poetry, she helped perform her own cinematic erasure.

3. The script was filtered through dozens of people—including Morrison’s parents and Elektra Records.
Oliver Stone didn’t just write a rock movie—he had to negotiate with lawyers, estates, labels, and parents. Morrison’s family only allowed dream-like flashbacks. Pamela Courson’s parents restricted any implication that she influenced Jim’s death. Meanwhile, the band members weren’t all on the same page: Ray Manzarek refused to participate, while John Densmore and Robby Krieger consulted on the film, each bringing their own version of the myth. The result? A movie as much shaped by censorship and grief as by art and music.

4. Kilmer’s live performances in the film weren’t lip-synced—they were sung live over original master tapes.
Most music biopics fake it with overdubs or studio trickery. Not The Doors. Val Kilmer sang live, blending his voice with the original multitrack recordings of the Doors, minus Jim’s lead vocals. The effect was chilling. He rehearsed daily and performed so hard during the five-day shoot of “The End” at the Whisky a Go Go recreation that he nearly lost his voice. This wasn’t a musical performance—it was a séance, captured on film and played back like a ghostly echo from the Summer of Love.

5. Nearly everyone turned it down before Oliver Stone picked up the torch.
Before Stone got behind the camera, the Doors biopic passed through Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and more. Bono, Michael Hutchence, Johnny Depp, and even John Travolta were considered for Morrison. But it was Stone’s obsession and Kilmer’s uncanny embodiment that finally got the film made. Stone even had to abandon Evita (sorry, Madonna) to make room for the psychedelic circus that The Doors became. The studio fights, lawsuits, casting drama—it’s a miracle the film ever made it to theaters. But like the band it depicts, it survived in chaos and emerged as something unforgettable.

The Doors hits like a fever dream trapped in a whiskey bottle and rolled across the Sunset Strip. It’s a film that believes in mythology more than memoir, in fire over facts. And in the end, maybe that’s exactly what Morrison would’ve wanted: not a documentary, but a hallucination.

5 Surprising Facts About Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Damn The Torpedoes’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ ‘Damn The Torpedoes’

Damn the Torpedoes was the moment Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kicked down the doors of classic rock history. Every track crackles with defiance, swagger, and a sound that turned Petty from barroom hero to arena headliner. But if you think you’ve heard all there is to know about this triple-platinum masterpiece, think again. Let’s go, full speed.

1. “Refugee” nearly broke the band—literally.
Before it became one of Petty’s signature anthems, “Refugee” was a recording nightmare. Guitarist Mike Campbell wrote the music at home on a 4-track, and Petty added lyrics that made the whole thing soar. But locking down the right feel in the studio? That took over 100 takes. Tensions got so high, Campbell walked out and skipped town for two days. It’s the only time he ever did that. But when he came back, they finally nailed the track—and captured lightning in a bottle. Sometimes the hardest songs to record are the ones that last forever.

2. “Even the Losers” started with a real-life heartbreak—and a washing machine.
Petty pulled this one straight from his Gainesville youth, inspired by a one-night fling with Cindy, a girl he’d crushed on since junior high. She liked him back… for one night. That bittersweet moment turned into a timeless anthem about fleeting glory. And that voice at the beginning? “It’s just the normal noises in here!” is actually Mike Campbell’s wife, Marcie, caught on tape during a home demo. She was answering Mike’s gripes about the noise from their washing machine. Pure rock and roll serendipity.

3. The title track doesn’t exist—but the phrase has a deep-rooted history.
There’s no song called “Damn the Torpedoes” on the album, but the phrase comes from Admiral David Farragut, a Civil War naval officer who shouted it as his ships charged through a minefield. Petty adopted it as the album title because it captured his mindset perfectly. He was in the middle of a legal fight with MCA over his contract, had declared bankruptcy to wrest control of his music, and was facing down a major-label machine. But like Farragut, Petty went full speed ahead. And he won.

4. “Don’t Do Me Like That” was almost a J. Geils Band hit.
Petty originally wrote this track with his old band Mudcrutch in 1974, and nearly gave it away to the J. Geils Band because he thought it sounded more like them than him. But producer Jimmy Iovine, who had a gift for spotting hits, convinced Petty to keep it. Good call—“Don’t Do Me Like That” became his first Top 10 hit and introduced Petty to a wider audience. It’s a perfect example of how sometimes the right producer at the right time makes all the difference.

5. “Here Comes My Girl” was saved by a half-spoken verse.
Tom wasn’t feeling the verses. The melody just wasn’t working. But when he started half-speaking the lines—drawing from the narrative style of The Shangri-Las and Blondie—the song finally clicked. That deadpan storytelling gave the soaring chorus its emotional punch. And, like “Refugee,” it was written during the same magical week with Campbell. Two classics, born from the same creative storm. The chorus? Petty said it was inspired by The Byrds, which explains that shimmering, heart-lifting jangle.

Damn the Torpedoes was a full-blown act of rebellion set to tape. It fused Petty’s Southern roots with West Coast shine, married snarling guitar riffs with pop sensibilities, and proved that artistic control could coexist with chart-topping success.

In the words of Farragut—and Petty—damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.

5 Surprising Facts About Wilco’s ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Wilco’s ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’

You already know Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of the greatest albums of the 2000s—no argument there. It’s Wilco’s most enduring record, a brilliant, fractured, genre-defying work of art born from studio chaos and label rejection. But here are 5 lesser-known facts that make this indie rock monolith even more legendary.

1. Wilco streamed the album for free… after being dropped by their label.
Before artists like Radiohead or Beyoncé made headlines with unconventional release strategies, Wilco beat them to it with a free full-album stream on their website—in 2001. After Reprise Records rejected Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as “unmarketable,” the band decided to share it directly with fans online on September 18, 2001, just one week after 9/11. This wasn’t a slick PR move—it was a desperate, beautiful act of musical defiance. The gamble paid off: the website saw over 50,000 hits in a single day, and fans were already singing along at shows before the album ever hit retail. It changed the way we think about music distribution and indie credibility forever.

2. The band got dropped… and then signed to another label under the same parent company.
In an almost too-perfect example of music industry absurdity, Warner Bros. dropped Wilco from Reprise Records—but then signed them again under their subsidiary label, Nonesuch Records. That means Warner essentially paid for the same album twice. Wilco recorded Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on Warner’s dime, got dropped, and then sold the finished product back to a different Warner-owned label. In a time when major labels were slashing rosters and chasing hits, Wilco’s loyalty to artistry somehow still led to a win. It’s a story that would feel like satire if it weren’t true—and it earned their place as unlikely industry survivors.

3. “Poor Places” sampled an actual numbers station.
The haunting, robotic voice that repeats “Yankee… Hotel… Foxtrot…” in “Poor Places” wasn’t a studio creation—it came from The Conet Project, a four-disc collection of real Cold War-era numbers station recordings. These cryptic shortwave radio broadcasts, believed to be used by intelligence agencies, added a layer of eerie mystery to the track—and to the album’s overall sense of paranoia and emotional unrest. Wilco didn’t get permission to use the sample, and the label Irdial eventually sued. The dispute was settled out of court, but the sample stayed, giving the album one of its most iconic sonic motifs. It’s indie rock espionage at its finest.

4. The documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart started filming the day the drummer was fired.
Talk about timing. Filmmaker Sam Jones began shooting I Am Trying to Break Your Heart—the now-classic documentary about the making of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot—on the very day original drummer Ken Coomer was fired and replaced by Glenn Kotche. The film captures not just the chaos of the recording sessions, but also the interpersonal tension between Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett, label drama, and moments of stunning creative clarity. It’s rare that the camera is rolling when everything starts to fall apart—and even rarer when what falls apart becomes a masterpiece. The behind-the-scenes footage was an emotional X-ray of a band tearing down and rebuilding its identity.

5. The album was almost called Here Comes Everybody.
Before landing on the cryptic and evocative Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the working title for the album was Here Comes Everybody, a phrase pulled from James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. It reflected the album’s themes of fragmentation, collective disillusionment, and the collision between personal and political grief. But the final title—drawn from military radio lingo—carried a vaguer, more unsettling weight. It felt like a coded transmission from a world falling apart, which, in the shadow of 9/11, burned even more deeply. In the end, the change was poetic: Here Comes Everybody was too specific. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot left room for interpretation—and became a symbol.

With Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco made a watershed moment in American music. It was messy, it was misunderstood, and it was magnificent. Sometimes, out of chaos comes clarity—and a few haunting numbers over shortwave.

Russ Ballard Premieres New Single “Courageous” and Announces Double Album ‘Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired’

Eric Alper
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Russ Ballard Premieres New Single “Courageous” and Announces Double Album ‘Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired’

Renowned rock singer Russ Ballard premiers his new single and accompanying video “Courageous”, taken from his upcoming double album “Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired”, out on April 25th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.

This release is a real treat for all rock fans: the first CD contains new songs, which show once again that the inspiration never left Russ, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits either penned or performed by him during the years.

About the new single, Russ Ballard says: “Living in a mad world” – aren’t we somehow? In a world where a little girl is a “mother to her brother for so long”. I had this strong story in my mind one day… A dark one with a good end – “You have the power to stand strong – Long may you shine one”.

He also expresses his excitement for the album: “It’s a buzz releasing a new album. What started as my “Lockdown-tapes” during the pandemic became an album! During lockdown, my studio was a life saver for me, and I found new ways of writing and recording. The result gives the listeners a good insight into this time – have a listen!”

Russ Ballard is simply one of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in pop and rock music.
His music career started when he was only 14 years old and he wrote a tune, which was recorded by the Shadows, appearing on their album “The Sound Of The Shadows” in 1964.

During the 70’s and 80’s, his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. From “Since You Been Gone” (Rainbow), “God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You” (Argent and Kiss), “So You Win Again” (Hot Chocolate), “New York Groove” (Hello and Ace Frehley), “You Can Do Magic” (America), “Winning” (Santana) or “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” (Colin Blunstone) – just to name a few – everyone who needed a great song knew that with Russ Ballard they could not go wrong.

Numerous records/artists were also produced by him, like Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks, Skindred or Sada Vidoo. In 1974, he started a solo career (after his stint with the band Argent in early 70’s), which had its highest momentum with the “S/t” album in 1984 (which included the hit single “Voices”) and the follow up “The Fire Still Burns”.

Since then, Russ released 10 studio albums and is still writing and producing hits. Three songs of his 1984 and 1985 album were featured in the TV-show “Miami Vice” and were extensively played on dancefloors around Europe.

“Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired” Tracklist:

CD1
1. Resurrection
2. Courageous
3. Journey Man
4. The One Who Breathes Me
5. The Wild
6. Charlatan
7. Soul Music
8. Sleepwalking
9. Last Man Standing
10. Make Believe World
11. The Family Way
12. Fearless
13. The Last Amen

CD2
1. Since You’ve Been Gone
2. Winning
3. God Gave Rock And Roll To You
4. Voices
5. New York Groove
6. You Can Do Magic
7. Liar
8. I Know There’s Something Going On
9. I Surrender
10. No More The Fool
11. So You Win Again
12. Free Me
13. On The Rebound

Jonas Brothers Announce ‘Jonas20: Living the Dream’ Tour And Release “Love Me To Heaven” Video

Eric Alper
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Jonas Brothers Announce ‘Jonas20: Living the Dream’ Tour And Release “Love Me To Heaven” Video

Following the massive success of JonasCon and a slew of exciting announcements earlier this week, including a 2025 stadium and arena tour and multiple new albums, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum superstars Jonas Brothers are back today with the official music video for their latest single “Love Me To Heaven” out now. Directed by Anthony Mandler [Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna] and shot in New York City, the video shows the band performing the anthemic and fan favorite track live in a recording studio. Stay tuned for a longer fan edit version of the video featuring fan testimonials shot by Mandler at JonasCon, coming soon!

Jonas Brothers debuted “Love Me To Heaven” live last Sunday at the milestone JonasCon fan event at New Jersey’s American Dream, where they celebrated 20 years of legacy, memories, and the Jonas Brothers fan community with over 75,000 fans from all over the world in attendance. JonasCon kicked off what’s bound to be an unforgettable year for the Jonas Brothers, including their new album, Greetings From Your Hometown, due out August 8th, and the highly-anticipated Jonas20: Living the Dream Tour.

Jonas20: Living the Dream Tour will kick off August 10th at MetLife Stadium and make stops at iconic venues like Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Hersheypark Stadium, and more. Marshmello will join the tour for the ten stadium shows, bringing his chart-topping hits — including his iconic collabs with the brothers — to life in a high-energy set that keeps the party going all night. The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls will also join as special guests in select cities.

In addition, it was announced that Joe Jonas’ much-anticipated solo album, Music For People Who Believe In Love, will arrive on May 23rd. The brothers also revealed the title of their upcoming Disney+ Christmas movie, A Very Jonas Christmas, which will stream on Disney+ later this year.

JONAS BROTHERS: “JONAS20: LIVING THE DREAM” TOUR DATES
*With Marshmello
+With The All-American Rejects
#With Boys Like Girls
Sun Aug 10 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium*+
Tue Aug 12 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park*+
Thu Aug 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park*+
Sun Aug 17 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium*+
Thu Aug 21 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre*#
Sat Aug 23 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*#
Tue Aug 26 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field*#
Thu Aug 28 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park*#
Sun Aug 31 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field*#
Sat Sep 06 – Los Angeles, CA – Dodger Stadium*#
Thu Sep 18 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena#
Sat Sep 20 – Portland, OR – Moda Center#
Mon Sep 22 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena#
Thu Sep 25 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center#
Fri Sep 26 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center#
Sun Sep 28 – Phoenix, AZ – PHX Arena (Formerly Footprint Center)#
Thu Oct 02 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena#
Sun Oct 05 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena#
Mon Oct 06 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center#
Tue Oct 07 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center+
Wed Oct 08 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center+
Fri Oct 10 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center+
Sun Oct 12 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum+
Tue Oct 14 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena+
Thu Oct 16 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center+
Fri Oct 17 – Austin, TX – Moody Center+
Sat Oct 18 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center+
Sun Oct 19 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center+
Wed Oct 22 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena+
Fri Oct 24 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena+
Sun Oct 26 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center+
Tue Oct 28 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Oct 29 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center+
Sat Nov 01 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena+
Sun Nov 02 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse+
Tue Nov 04 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center+
Wed Nov 05 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center+
Thu Nov 06 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena+
Sat Nov 08 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center+
Sun Nov 09 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center+
Tue Nov 11 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena+
Wed Nov 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena+
Fri Nov 14 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena+

London’s Natanya Announces New EP ‘Feline’s Return’ and Shares New Single “Daydream”

Eric Alper
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London’s Natanya Announces New EP ‘Feline’s Return’ and Shares New Single “Daydream”

London-based singer-songwriter-producer Natanya announces her new EP Feline’s Return due June 27th via Human Re-Sources. Feline’s Return marks a bold evolution in her sound, as she embraces a more classic pop-driven sound while building on the foundations laid in her debut EP and coming-of-age project, Sorrow at Sunrise.

Alongside the announcement, Natanya shares her new single and video for “Daydream.” Blending alt-rock, pop and r&b, she invites listeners on a journey of self-reflection and quiet courage, making it the perfect soundtrack for moments of introspection and personal discovery.

“Daydream is about the fear of sharing yourself with the world,” says Natanya.

Born in North West London, Natanya has always considered music her second language. She began classical piano lessons at the age of four and quickly discovered her perfect pitch. As a teenager, she attended the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy on weekends, where she wrote her first songs. Inspired by Janet Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Paramore, and Stevie Wonder, she started producing beats with friends. This pursuit culminated in her debut tape, Sorrow At Sunrise (2023), featuring confessional writing set against a rich sonic tapestry. Written as six diary entries, the tape details the first tastes of independence during her first year studying English Literature at University College London, all while juggling a budding musical career.

Last year she shared her single “boombox,” uncovering new facets of her production style. It leans into low-end, synth-heavy sonics mixed with afro fusion inspired sounds, juxtaposed with flowery instrumentation – something she first introduced in her last project. By extending the parameters of her musical tapestry, she further solidifies her promise as one of alt-pop’s most exciting and versatile future contributors.

Allison Ponthier Announces First-Ever Headline Tour Following the Release of “Karaoke Queen”

Eric Alper
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Allison Ponthier Announces First-Ever Headline Tour Following the Release of “Karaoke Queen”

Texas native singer/songwriter Allison Ponthier has announced her first-ever headline tour, kicking off in June. The news comes on the heels of “Karaoke Queen,” the first single from her forthcoming debut album, which arrived Friday alongside an official visualizer.

The five-date US run will begin in Boston on June 12, hitting NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on June 13 and wrapping at Schuba’s in Chicago on June 21 (full tour itinerary below). Presale begins April 2 at 10am local time, with general onsale beginning April 4 at 10am local time.

“Karaoke Queen” arrived Friday to critical acclaim, including an exclusive interview with Variety, who praised the “sweet” single. Billboard celebrated the “tender, fragile new ballad,” highlighting her “ethereal voice and unmatched skills at confessional lyricism,” while Rolling Stone hailed the track as a “Song You Need To Know.” Consequence commended the “luminous” single and raved, “There’s a whole world contained in the track.” Showcasing delicate finger-picked guitar and Ponthier’s warm, shimmering vocals, “Karaoke Queen” was written four years ago with Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzy McAlpine, Ryan Beatty) and Micah Premnath during a time of uncertainty when Ponthier was confronting her greatest fear-being dropped by her major label. Now an independent artist after experiencing her “worst case scenario,” the song arrives as a reflection on the fragility of dreams and the resilience to face our fears head-on, offering a comforting reminder that even when our worst fears materialize, things will turn out okay.

“I wrote ‘Karaoke Queen’ four years ago, after I signed my first record deal,” shared Ponthier. “The most terrifying outcome I could imagine was losing my deal by getting dropped, something that felt really possible because I came from Texas with no real knowledge of music business beforehand. With Ethan Gruska and Micah Premnath, we wrote a story about a girl who gets signed to a major, gets dropped, and has to move back to her hometown. She’s embarrassed and discouraged, but then she finds herself becoming the star of the local karaoke bar in town, and ultimately happy.”

She continued, “By writing this song, it helped me imagine my worst fear but with a happy ending. So when it actually happened to me in late 2024, I was crushed, but, like the song, it truly was one of the best things that I didn’t know needed to happen. I hope other people can relate to the moral of the story: sometimes you don’t get what you want, but you get what you need.”

Ponthier first broke through with the 2021 EP Faking My Own Death — a collection that documented her coming-out story and delivered a dreamy fusion of indie-folk, alt-rock, and left-of-center country-pop. That same year, the Brooklyn-based artist teamed up with Lord Huron for the hit single “I Lied,” then joined the band on the road + made her late-night TV debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

2022 saw Ponthier’s sophomore EP Shaking Hands with Elvis earn raves from the likes of Consequence, who compared the project to “the dynamic folk-tinged stoicism of Kacey Musgraves and Orville Peck.” She’s toured with Bleachers, Holly Humberstone, The Japanese House, Hayley Kiyoko, NIKI, and Maren Morris, and been championed by the likes of Elton John and Brandi Carlile. Ponthier was recently featured in John’s Oscar nominated documentary, Elton John: Never too Late + performed at Carlile’s annual Girls Just Wanna Weekend. Ponthier’s music + whimsical creative vision have been touted by the likes of Vogue, Rolling Stone, NPR, Vulture, NME, The FADER, V Magazine and many more.

Tour Dates:
June 12 / Boston, MA / The Sinclair
June 13 / New York, NY / Bowery Ballroom
June 14 / Washington D.C. / The Atlantis
June 20 / Dallas, TX / Club Dada
June 21 / Chicago, IL / Schuba’s

Ashley Monroe to Celebrate 10 Years of The Blade with One-Night-Only Nashville Show This July

Eric Alper
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Ashley Monroe to Celebrate 10 Years of The Blade with One-Night-Only Nashville Show This July

Celebrating a decade of her GRAMMY-nominated album The Blade this year, Ashley Monroe has announced a special anniversary show at Nashville’s The Basement East on July 25. The one-night-only event will see Monroe performing her critically acclaimed 2015 album in its entirety. Tickets go on sale here this Friday, April 4 at 9 a.m. CT, with an artist pre-sale beginning on Wednesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. CT.

Produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank (Blake Shelton, Kane Brown), The Blade features collaborations ranging from co-writes with Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jessi Alexander and Luke Laird to background vocals from the likes of Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Paul Franklin and Charlie Worsham.

The end result boasts enduring staples from Monroe’s catalog, such as the serotonin-boosting “On to Something Good” and the lamenting title track. The album was praised by Pitchfork, The Atlantic, NPR Music, Rolling Stone and more, while landing on numerous year-end lists upon its release.

“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I recorded and released The Blade with one of my heroes, Vince Gill,” says Monroe. “I always come back to singing these songs, and can’t wait to sing the record again top to bottom.”

The Ultimate Disco Cruise Sets Sail Again in 2026 with KC and The Sunshine Band, The Jacksons & More

Eric Alper
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The Ultimate Disco Cruise Sets Sail Again in 2026 with KC and The Sunshine Band, The Jacksons & More

The Ultimate Disco Cruise and Beyond will return to the Norwegian Pearl as it embarks from Miami, Florida, on February 23, 2026, for its 5-day voyage headed to Montego Bay and Grand Cayman.

Filled with non-stop music entertainment that includes KC and The Sunshine Band, The Jacksons, WAR, The Ohio Players, Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Sister Sledge ft. Sledgendary, Evelyn “Champagne” King, The Sugarhill Gang, The Hues Corporation, The Fatback Band, Boogie Wonder Band, Urban Guerilla Orchestra, and Miami Sound Revue in a special tribute to Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, this 6th sailing is destined to bring back all your disco dreams!

“This cruise is a chance to go back and relive an era that gave us some of the greatest music of our lives and memories we can never forget,” says Alan Rubens, Executive Producer of the Ultimate Disco Cruise and Beyond.

Music lovers of 70’s and ’80s great dance music will take a journey back in time with the most fun-loving songs that everyone sings along to all while the Norwegian Pearl comes to life with sparkling mirror balls, glitter, and a late-night dance club experience at Studio 55, the hottest nightclub at sea. All in all, the fun at sea will showcase over 40 live performances and countless themed events and parties.

The 2025 Disco Cruise and Beyond sold out, so don’t miss your chance to dawn your bell bottoms, platform shoes, and jiggy accessories. Cabins available include Club Balcony Suites, Balcony, Oceanview and Interior cabins with prices per person ranging from $2,299 to $4,199 per person, which includes all applicable taxes, fees, and gratuities. Monthly payment plans are available through StarVista LIVE. To book your cabin, visit ultimatediscocruise.com.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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