Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Congratulations  The Weeknd accepts International Male Solo Artist Award from Michelle Obama and performs “Save Your Tears”  Michelle Obama Presents The Weeknd the 2021 BRIT Award for International Male Solo Artist WATCH HERE> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_eW7ovTYI ----------------------------------   The Weeknd performs “Save Your Tears" (Live at The BRIT Awards 2021) WATCH HERE > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKm5-XtXcII

Ray Blk one of the realest, most challenging and important voices in music, drops her brand new single “Dark Skinned”, through Island Records.  Ray will also release a special live VEVO performance of the track. Speaking about the inspiration behind the song Ray says: “ This song to me is a celebration of being Dark Skinned. The conversation around race often feels heavy and negative, but I love my blackness and it is a privilege to be black. A lot of people told me it would be hard to break into this industry because of the colour of my skin, but I believe that whatever the situation, I am going to shine regardless and I refuse to cater to that ideology. I always try to remind people of this in my music, like with the ‘My Hood’ lyric ‘Through concrete flowers grow’ and now on ‘Dark Skinned,’ I say ‘I’m even glowing in the dark’. I want people to say yes to themselves when the world keeps telling them no. Listen to Dark Skinned here:   https://umusic.box.com/s/hr3anld7e

The Weeknd unveils the much anticipated “Save Your Tears Remix” with Ariana Grande via XO/Republic Records.  The diamond-selling superstar paired with Grammy winner  Grande , continuing a tradition of epic collaborations together such as  “Love Me Harder”  and  “off the table.” The original  “Save Your Tears”  remains a standout from  The Weeknd ’s multi-platinum 2020 opus  After Hours . The song not only went double platinum in the US and eclipsed 1 billion streams, but it also currently holds #1 at US Top 40 Radio. The Weeknd is the Most Streamed R&B Artist of 2021 and After Hours remains the most streamed R&B album of this year continuing on from its release in early 2020. He has the 2 songs in the Top 5 Most Streamed Globally with “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears”. Grammy winning, multi-platinum recording artist and international superstar, Ariana Grande, is the first artist to hold the top three Billboard Hot 100 spots since The Beatles in 1964 with